- Good food, good company, good advice from Grandma

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I received compensation from Equal® for this post.

Blackberry Lemonade with Equal® Sweetener

Nothing says “summer” quite like lemonade. If you’re like me, though, and have Diabetes, then you have to watch the sugars that you take in each day in your food and drink. For that reason, I usually drink water every day. Sometimes, though, I get a craving for some other drink. I loved lemonade when I was a kid, and my mother sometimes made it for us. Back then, Mama made our lemonade with sugar. Now that I am an adult, and have to cut down on sugar due to my diabetes, if I make a sweetened drink at home, I have to use a sweetener like Equal® 0 Calorie Sweetener.

The people at Equal® sent me a great box full of supplies for making lemonade using Equal® 0 Calorie Sweetener. When I opened up the box, here is what I found inside:

An Equal® mason jar style plastic drinking glass.
Skinny Pop Popcorn
Dark Blue Folding Hand Fan
Joie Lemon Juicer
Tovolo King ice cube tray
Equal® Product:
1. 115-count box of packets
2. Equal® 4 oz spoonful
Blackberry Sparkling Recipe Card from The Diabetic Chef Chef Chris Smith
Equal® Recipe Guide Booklet
Equal® iPad holder (it opens up to hold an iPad or a cook book)
An Equal® products fact sheet.

Back in 1965, when a scientist researcher at G.D. Searle and Company licked his finger to pick up a piece of paper, he discovered a sweet, attractive tast. He had inadvertently discovered aspartame, an ingredient that would revolutionize the “sweetener” category. For more than 30 years, Equal® 0-Calorie Sweetener has offered a great tasting sugar substitute in the trusted “blue” packet.

Now, Equal 0-Calorie Sweetener is available in packets; Equal Spoonful; and Equal Tablets. One packet of Equal measures like two teaspoons of sugar. Equal Spoonful measures cup for cup like sugar, making it perfect for use in recipes. Equal Tablets provide on-the-go convenience.

Aspartame and acesulfame potassium, Equal’s sweetening ingredients, have been tested in hundreds of scientific studies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada, and the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Food have affirmed these ingredients’ safety. Equal helps maintain a balanced diet, is suitable for people living with diabetes, and has been a long-time sponsor of the American Diabetes Association.

Sparkling Fresh Lemonade With Blackberries Recipe

1 1/2 cups sparkling water

1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 2 large lemons)

2 1/2 Tbsp Equal® Spoonful or

4 packets Equal® Sweetener

12 fresh blackberries, froze

Ice as needed

Fresh mint sprigs and lemon slices for garnish, optional

Stir sparkling water, lemon juice, and Equal until combined. Place 6 blackberries and ice cubes in 2 tall glasses. Divide the mixture between the glasses and serve. Garnish each glass with mint and fresh lemon slices, if desired.

You can find Equal® 0-Calorie Sweetener in most grocery stores.

One lucky reader of Fabgrandma will win a prize pack like the one I received. To enter, use the Giveaway Tools form

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Is Raising Chickens in the Backyard Healthy?

Karen · 3 Comments

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Jordan Walker has always been passionate for animals. He loves to share his knowledge and expertise about the animal kingdom through pet-related blogs. He leads the content team of Coops and Cages. In this article, he shares the common dog dangers to avoid this summer.

While raising chickens is as common as raising domesticated animals in rural areas, it is uncommon to see a typical home yard filled with these little white creatures. Although, in reality, raising backyard chickens can be as easy as pie once everything is set up, there is still a question that must be answered. “Is it safe and healthy to raise chickens in private places like the backyard?”

Before you venture into raising backyard chickens, take time to review these pros and cons first. By that, you will know if raising them in your place is healthy or not.

PROS

Fresh Eggs Everyday

Typical households spend hundreds of dollars for organic eggs at the local stores. But by raising chickens in the yard, you will be hitting two birds with one stone. Not only will you get fresh eggs and organic eggs, you will also get value for money.

They Don’t Require Frequent Maintenance

Chickens don’t really require much watering, feeding, and frequent coop maintenance. Because of that, they are easy to care in contrast to other domesticated animals. On average, the monthly food and miscellaneous expenditures for three chickens is around $25 dollars.

Healthy And Green Yard

The waste of chickens is a natural fertilizer. It will do magic as it revives the grass, and even some plants in the garden. Therefore, the more chickens you have in your yard, the greener and the healthier your surrounding is.

Natural Pest Control

These birds are considered natural pest controls. Because they feed on annoying pests and bugs, you don’t have to buy any other chemical lawn treatments or pesticides.

They Make Great Pets

Chickens might not be as adorable as dogs, but you have to admit that they have distinct personalities that make them lovable. And if you ever raise and deal with them starting at a very young age, they you might even learn to love them.

CONS

Initial Cost Are Expensive

At first, raising chickens may be a bit pricey because there are a lot of things you need to buy – feeders, watering and heating supplies, chicken coop, and some other miscellaneous stuff. Normally, the startup costs reach around $500. But, if you only become successful in the long run, the money spent will all return to you.

Changing Ordinaces

While the rules in each community vary regarding raising backyard chickens, every owner must ensure that the coops are made in accordance with the local ordinances. If you don’t follow, expect that the penalties would be grave.

Complaints From Neighbors

Sometimes, your neighbors might be happy and excited about you raising new pets, but along the way, you might cause them to suffer. Your roosters might be very noisy and wake them up at early dawn or maybe the odor of the chickens would not be very pleasant to them. Nonetheless, you can still win them over by being generous to them and giving them fresh eggs.

Incompatibility Of Breed

Each breed of chicken has its own unique personality. Some have the ability to lay more eggs. While others are plainly for pet purposes. In the event that you get a chicken breed that doesn’t match your lifestyle and needs, there are possibilities of you getting into trouble.

Coop And Maintenance

Chickens require very low-maintenance. However, every owner must make it certain that their coops are always clean, well-ventilated, and dry. Also, these animals require regular food and water supply. If you are the type of owner who travels a lot, or hates to pick up their poop, backyard chickens are probably not for you.

They Can Cause Damage To Your Yard

When these creatures are not supervised, they can cause some serious damage to your yard. And the worst thing that they can do is to ruin and destroy your lovely landscape and flowers.

They Can be Lost To Predators

Naturally, chickens have lots of predators, such as domestic dogs and coyotes. Even if you take precautionary measures, like putting them back into their coop before dark, there are still chances that you will lose some of them to predators.

Business-wise, raising backyard chickens is considered healthy as they provide excellent results – nutritious eggs and pest-free environment. But hygiene-wise, well, depending on some factors. Nevertheless, its cons can still be covered, with proper planning, and of course, maintenance.

Image Sources:

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Author: Jordan Walker

Jordan is the lead content curator for Coops And Cages as well as a couple of other pet related blogs. His passion for animals is only matched by his love for ‘attempting’ to play the guitar.

Decadent Chocolate Raspberry Cake With Glutino Gluten Free Mix

Karen · 9 Comments

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I am a Glutino Vip Blogger and received product from Glutino for this post.

Ohm my goodness. I had a lot of fun with my box of goodies from Glutino this month. I decided to make a Gluten Free Decadent Chocolate Raspberry Cake to have on hand for deserts this week.

It was very simple and easy to make, but it looks like it took hours. It really is pretty enough to take to a party or a pot luck, too. Fabgrandpa asked me more than once, “Are you sure this is gluten free?”

Glutino Decadent Chocolate Raspberry Cake

Here’s how to make this cake:

Gluten Free Decadent Chocolate Raspberry Cake Recipe

1 box Glutino Decadent Chocolate Cake Mix

5 Tbls softened butter or margarine

2 eggs

1/2 tsp gluten free vanilla extract

1 cup sour cream

1 can (12 oz.) Solo Raspberry Cake & Pie Filling

1 pint whipping cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/3 cup sugar or Splenda

Using an electric mixer, beat the butter or margarine until light and fluffy. Add in the entire box of cake mix. Beat until it resembles crumbs. Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat until mixed well. Add in the sour cream and beat three minutes more.

Spray an 8″ or 9″ round cake pan lightly with oil. Pour the cake batter in the cake pan. Bake in preheated 350° oven for 40 minutes. Remove cake from oven and let cool completely. I cooled mine overnight.

Remove cake from pan and place on a cutting board. Using a piece of string or thread, cut the cake into two layers. (Place the string on the side of the cake farthest from you, and pull gently until the string comes out on the side next to you. You will have two level layers.)

To prepare the whipping cream, pour the cream into a large mixer bowl. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Beat on high for 3-5 minutes, until slightly thickened. Add the 1/3 cup of sugar or Splenda. Beat until thick and spreadable.

Place one of the cake layers on a cake plate. Spread with Raspberry Cake & Pie Filling. Spread half of the whipped cream over the raspberry filling. Top with the second layer. Spread with remaining raspberry filling, then with the remaining whipped cream. Keep this cake in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Simple Steps You Can Take To Prepare For Your Next Flight

Karen · 1 Comment

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Do you love to travel but not so much the actual getting there? Do you hold your breathe during take off and landing, and wish in your head you had rented a car instead of flying? Then these tips from professional pilot Tim Griffin, CEO of FlyHome LLC, are for you!

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Here are some simple steps you can take to prepare for your next plane trip:

1. Anticipatory Anxiety is the number one issue with most fearful flyers. The only way to overcome this is by gradually learning to feel more comfortable during flight, so before hand, you will have less to worry about.

2. Don’t check the weather more than 2 days out from your trip. This can cause a large amount of anxiety if you should see a chance for rain or storms. The truth is, it is not that accurate that far out anyway!

3. Pack a few days early! Rushing around packing the night before while you are already anxious will only fuel the fire. The physical activity of packing things to take with you will keep your mind off of your anxiety over flying.

4. Exercise, and avoid caffeine. Exercising can help minimize the affects of anxiety, while caffeine can increase the effects.

5. At the airport, the TSA security check is an anxiety increaser, but not if you’re prepared. Take off all jewelry, remove all items from pocket, take belt off, all prior to getting in line. Put all of the items in your carry on, and this way, you’re not rushing to remove everything while everyone behind you is waiting on you. It’s the little things that alleviate stress!

If you want to get over the fear of flying that is holding you back from going places you dream about, then let FlyHomeLLC help you. Their fear of flying help for vacation travelers includes 3 one and a half hour classes and 2 thirty-minute preflight briefings. These classes cover:

• The physics of how a plane flies
• How pilots gain their certification
• The medical requirement to become a pilot
• Airline regulations
• What to expect during takeoff
• Fear of turbulence, what turbulence is and how pilots avoid it
• How pilots avoid collision
• Sounds that are common on aircrafts
• How Air Traffic Control works
• Weather and how it affects flights
• The differences in types of aircraft
• What to expect during landing

FlyHomeLLC experienced instructors are ready to assist you being able to conquer fear of flight by providing the knowledge and support you need. Flyhome’s clients that are afraid of flying are their first priority, whether it is fear of flight, turbulence or just anxiety, they are here to help!

Why Cruising is Becoming the New Holiday Trend

Karen · 2 Comments

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Cruising is a great way to vacation, as it provides cruisers with the ultimate in available luxuries, and combines multiple destinations to make for a holiday that is both relaxing and explorative. Whether you’re an individual, a couple, or a family and are looking to plan your next holiday, a cruise might be just the type of get-away that you’re after. If you have never cruised before, don’t worry! Here are a few tips to remember and some suggestions for a few of the best destinations.

Image by Roger W used under the Creative Commons License.

Why should I cruise?

Most people are under the false impression that cruises are constraining—forcing you to spend all your time on a confined ship at sea—and while today’s modern cruise liners are filled with so many amenities and fun activities to enjoy that you could easily spend all your time on-board, getting off the boat and exploring new destinations is an equally important part. Because of this, cruises provide two of the most important aspects of a great vacation, a sense of discovering something new, and the chance to relax and let someone else take care of the day-to-day chores and decisions.

What are the top destinations?

One of the great parts of cruising is that you have the ability to visit multiple destinations, and this means that you can often pick and choose where you would most like to go. Popular cruise tours include trips through the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, or through more isolated locations like the Norwegian Fjords or Alaska. So whether you’re interested in historic cities such as Dubrovnik and Naples, wish to relax on the island beaches of Cuba and St. John, or explore the dramatic landscape of Scandinavia, there is a cruise that will suit the specific style of holiday you’re after.

What will I be served on a cruise?

Today’s cruises are filled with multiple restaurants, bars, cafés, and dining opportunities, giving you the chance to pick and choose what you’re in the mood for and what you like best. There are the staples of pub food available, as well as different cultural offerings, such as Mexican food, Brazilian churascarria, Italian style pizza and pasta, and a variety of other healthy offerings like salad and fruit bars. If you’re looking for a specific culinary experience, be sure to try some local foods when you stopped in port.

However you decide to organize your future holidays, you will find that a cruise/cruises will bring you a style of vacation that you’ll want to keep coming back to.

Crazy 8 $2.88 and up Deals For Two Days Only!

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This post includes affiliate links.

Get $2.88 and up deals at Crazy 8 For two days only!
This sale is onlyvValid for TWO DAYS! 8/11/15 – 8/12/15.
2-Days Only! $2.88 and Up Deals at Crazy 8!

Don’t miss it!

Sprouts Is Celebrating The Grand Opening Of Their New Store In Roswell, Georgia With A Giveaway!

Karen · 40 Comments

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Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. is a healthy grocery store offering fresh, natural and organic foods at great prices. They offer a complete shopping experience that includes fresh produce, bulk foods, vitamins and supplements, packaged groceries, meat and seafood, baked goods, dairy products, frozen foods, natural body care and household items catering to consumers’ growing interest in health and wellness. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Sprouts employs more than 19,000 team members and operates more than 200 stores in 13 states. For more information, visit www.sprouts.com or @sproutsfm on Twitter.

Sprouts-Passion-Statement

The new Sprouts Farmers Market, at 10800 Alpharetta Highway, C-410 at the Roswell Market Place, officially opened on August 5, 2015, with a grand opening and ribbon cutting. In addition to Georgia, Sprouts Farmers Markets can be found in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. The 212 Sprouts stores pride themselves on their unwavering commitment to providing customers with affordable, healthy foods and friendly, knowledgeable and engaging service every day.

Sprouts-Storefront

At Sprouts, you’ll find mountains of colorful, fresh fruits and vegetables, barrels of wholesome grains, nuts and sweets, and full-service deli, meat and seafood counters—complete with handmade burgers and sausages. Roam around their spacious, low-profile aisles and you’ll find fresh baked goods, tasty and convenient, ready-to-eat meals, gourmet cheeses, sensibly-priced vitamins and supplements, and thousands of natural, organic and gluten-free groceries.

To continue the grand opening celebration, Sprouts is giving away a $50 Gift Card so you can shop one of their stores for yourself, and see the quality products they carry first hand. To enter the giveaway, use the Giveaway Tools entry form below. To find out if there is a Sprouts Farmers Market near you, check the store locator. If there is not a store near you, the gift card prize would make a great gift for a friend or relative who does live near one of the Sprouts locations.

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Angel Air Portable Air Purifier Review

Karen · 1 Comment

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I received a product from Air Oasis for review. All opinion are my own.

Fabgrandpa and I live in the country on a dirt road. When the weather is dry, like it has been for the last month or so, that dirt road is dusty. Cars passing by the house on the way to where ever they may be going stir up that dust, and it finds its way into the house. Last year, we replaced all the windows and the front door, and installed a storm door. During the installation process the work crew caulked all of the crevices around the windows and doors, but somehow some of that dust still makes its way in.

The dirt road that we live on — The dirt road where we live.

Because Fabgrandpa has COPD, the dust from the road sometimes causes him to have coughing spells. He has a “rescue” inhaler, that helps recover from one of those coughing attacks, but I thought it would be so much better if he didn’t have them to start with. So, when I was asked to review the Air Angel Portable Air Purifier, I was happy to say yes.

The Air Angel Portable Air Purifier is small, about the size of a hardback book, and can be used just about anywhere. Air Oasis has created the Air Angel just for families with children and/or pets to protect rooms from germs, viruses, aeroallergens, and harmful pollutants in the air and on surfaces. We might not be babies, but I have seen an improvement in the air quality in our bedroom from using the Air Angel in there. It comes with a DC cord to plug into a house electrical outlet, and a car type plug for using in the car.

One of the things that impressed me is that Air Oasis sent a kit to test for germs in the air before, and after, we set up the Air Angel in the bedroom. First, I opened one petri dish, added the liquid medium provided, and set the open dish in the middle of our bed for one hour. When the hour was up, I sealed the petri dish with tape, and set it out of the way. I turned the Air Angel on, and left it on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. At the end of one week, I set up the test again with the second petri dish. I set the second on in the same spot on the bed, and left it for an hour. At the end of the second week, I looked at the things that grew in both petri dishes. The first onemostly gray and dirty looking. The second one more white than anything else. To me, that is proof that the Air Angel IS removing germs and pollution from our air.

Before Using Air Angel	After Using Air Angel
Before	After

Air Angel is able to both clean and sanitize the air and surfaces in up to 250 square feet by using a proprietary technology developed by NASA requiring zero maintenance for one year. Delivered with a power cord, charger adapter and zipper case, the white mobile unit is designed to be plugged in on shelves and surfaces out of children’s reach to invisibly purify and sanitize the air and surfaces around them. Primary benefits of the Air Angel device include:

Provides clean air for a good night’s sleep
Destroys up to 99 percent (99%) of air allergens
Destroys up to 99 percent (99%) of odors (i.e. diaper pails, smoke)
Destroys up to 99 percent (99%) of germs in the surrounding air and on surfaces

Air Angel has created a unique coupon code exclusive to my readers in celebration of Air Angel winning the PTPA Seal of Approval. For 48 hours, you will have the opportunity to receive $50 discount off of the Air Angel by using kareneidson50 promo code

Sparkling Fresh Lemonade With Blackberries Recipe

PROS

CONS

Gluten Free Decadent Chocolate Raspberry Cake Recipe

Why should I cruise?

What are the top destinations?

What will I be served on a cruise?

Get $2.88 and up deals at Crazy 8 For two days only! This sale is onlyvValid for TWO DAYS! 8/11/15 – 8/12/15. 2-Days Only! $2.88 and Up Deals at Crazy 8!

Get $2.88 and up deals at Crazy 8 For two days only!
This sale is onlyvValid for TWO DAYS! 8/11/15 – 8/12/15.
2-Days Only! $2.88 and Up Deals at Crazy 8!