Today's Favorite iPod Workout Song

Back in the pool again!
Grateful Dead- "Ripple" - 4:10

One last shot

The sun came out this morning. . .
This was one huge and only bloom on the bush. I've never seen one this big before.

And finally --

"Pink Promise" rose today!

February Garden

Pink Promise rose - I love how our recent cold fronts have deepened the pink.

Here it is on Thursday. . .

and this morning!

My "Chocolate Chip" (Ajuga) plant not only survived the drought but bloomed in pretty purple flowers! Who knew, on either counts?!

And my "Mr. Nicks"

Love is patient. . .

Isn't this a cute box? I found it half price ($3.50) at Another Place in Time today. They also have the "Love is Kind" in a red/orange rose. I have always loved the 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 passage.
It's also a reminder for me to finish my "Love is Patient" cross stitch and "Love is Patient" Prisma colored pencil project.
Love IS patient, but really! I do need to and will get back on task this week.

Friday Flowers

"Cool Water" roses from Randalls (a gorgeous shade of pale purple!)

Thursday Tea Time

This week - Republic of Tea Raspberry Rose Hibiscus

Cost: $9.99 -- Found at Whole Foods in Bellaire, I did not see this at the Sugar Land location.

Number of teabags: 36

Caffeine: No

Type of tea: Herbal

Steeping time: Per label 5-7 minutes

Add ins: 1 Splenda packet

Teabag fragrance: Deeply raspberry with a hint of rose

Ingredients: Hibiscus, rosehip peels, apples, stevia, raspberry flavoring, rose flavoring, vanilla flavoring, rose petals

Opinion: A Limited Edition tea, it must have been for Valentine's Day perhaps. Be a sweetheart to yourself and grab it while you can. This is delicious! I used two teabags in a large 20 ounce mug, with just a couple taps of a Splenda packet. I guessed correctly the stevia already starts it sweet. It brews to a pretty deep pink color and is very raspberry. I can't wait to try it iced. The hibiscus makes a great background, I honestly don't detect the rose flavor. There is a slight rose scent when you open the container. Sometimes I think rose teas can taste a bit soapy. Perhaps imprinted from my younger days mistakenly thinking Nana had rose candy in the bathroom soap dish.

Rating: 4.75

Upcoming Jo-Ann's Pattern Sales

March 1/3 - Butterick 99 cent
March 4/10 - Simplicity $1.99

And of course, Coupon Commotion is March 4/10! Lots of 40% off coupons, even a 50% off a regular priced item. Including ones through the 17th, St. Patrick's Day!

Penzeys $5 off Coupon

What a nice surprise attached to the new Spring 2012 catalog --

$5 off your next $10 or more purchase! Telephone and online coupon code is 00002C

It's their second annual health issue - visit their website and get your copy. Healthy can still be tasty though -- be sure to check out the Date Kisses on page 51, a low sugar cocoa mix on page 60, and slow cooker potato soup on page 18.

Seek out new Horizons

Once upon a time, we believed the world was flat --
That beyond a certain point, there would be nowhere to go.
And though we now know the world is round,
we still fear falling off imaginary edges,
too often thinking there is only so far we can stretch,
so hard we can push.
But the most dangerous limits are those in our own head.
When you feel you're at your edge, look again --
You can go farther.

Self Magazine, February 2012

Thursday Tea Time

This week - The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Limited Edition Caramel Cream Rooibos

Cost: $8.20

Number of teabags: 20

Caffeine: No

Type of tea: Herbal Infusion Red Rooibos

Steeping time: 6 minutes

Add ins: I got this in the store as a hot latte, fat free/sugar free vanilla powder. Yum!

At home with fat free half & half and a little bit of honey. If I want to be truly decadent and sacrifice (for the greater good!) a couple of my carb counts, a dollop of fat-free sweetened condensed milk. But I'm trying to get away from that, and with this tea, you really don't need it. So save those carbies for something else.

Ingredients: Rooibos, marigold flowers, natural flavorings

Opinion: Oh. My. ! It's creamy caramelicious! I almost wanted to add salt to it to make it like a salted caramel. You really don't need to add any additional sweetner. This is just tea magic!

Rating: 5! Grab this while you can. I got the last canister in the store, but I'm sure they've restocked.

Tea Map App

--- Cute icon!

Adagio Teas' Tea Map is finally available for the Android and free! (Search under TeaMap - no space, cap'd letters -in the Market) And there is now a new updated 2.0 version for iPhone.

It's a little bit buggy (you can't use the "go back" key but if you hit "recents" you can. It would be nice if the menu key functioned, too.) Includes reviews and the opportunity for you to post a review, and some places indicate if they are open. It also lists the hours, which is helpful as not all the icons/locations show if they are currently open or closed. A few coffeehouses are listed, but not Starbucks! The map feature is helpful, too. All in all, I think this will be great to explore new tea places and teas when traveling, and even discover in your hometown.

Netflix Stars - Moneyball

4 stars! Even if you don't really like baseball, Brad Pitt is still very appealing to watch. And if you are an Astros fan from way back, did you ever expect to see Art Howe portrayed by Phillip Seymour Hoffman?!

Thank you, allfreesewing.com!

Conversation Fruit!

"You're the apple of my eye!"

"Orange you glad you're my valentine?"

"I'm going bananas over you!"

"I love you berry much!"

"I'm plum crazy for you!"

"You're just peachy!"

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love is the art of mind and beauty of heart

Well, I think we all know how she got her beads...!

Esmerelda loves to get waisted, and is such an exhibitionist!
Her clothes seam to fall off at the drop of a pin!

Gratitude

Chocolate + Love + Words

Chocolove!
As in Chocolove Chocolate Bars with a Love poem!

I found out about this Belgian chocolate brand after a yoga class - I tried the Ginger Crystalized in 65% Dark Chocolate. Whole Foods carries them, so while still in a state of chocolate Zen bliss, I got another bar and the Almonds & Sea Salt in 55% Dark Chocolate. And they were on sale, too. There you go. What is also cool is the "Love" poem inside the wrapper. This was the one underneath the Almonds & Sea Salt --

From Astrophil and Stella

Who will in the fairest book of Nature know

How Virtue may best be lodged in beauty be,

Let him but learn of Love to read in thee,

Stella, those fair lines, which true goodness show.

There shall he find all vices' overthrow,

Not by rude force, but sweetest sovereignty

Of reason, from whose light those night-birds fly;

That inward sun in thine eyes shineth so.

And not content to be Perfection's heir

Thyself, dost strive all minds that way to move,

Who mark in thee what is in thee most fair.

So while thy beauty draws the heart to love,

As fast thy Virtue bends that love to good;

"But, ah," Desire still cries, "give me some food."

Sir Phillip Sidney

(I like how this was continued from Chili Cherry and continues on Peppermint.)

Neat concept, great tasting chocolate, even a pretty label.

Wouldn't this make a great Valentine's gift?!

All good!

Namaste!