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My system does not handle coffee--or caffeine, or acid, or most things--very well. So hot tea has been my favorite comforting drink for many years. I thought I'd share some of the different drinks I've learned to enjoy making for myself at home, rather than wasting $4 per beverage at a fancy coffee shop or chain. Of course, I started out with plain old tea bags and sugar, still a favorite in which I indulge on the regular. I did get an electric tea kettle a year or so ago and have never looked back. It's a real game changer, and I love that the temperature is consistent every time and the base will keep the kettle warm for me if (when) I want another cup. It's so nice, and quick. Plus it frees the stove top for more actual cooking. I have this Hamilton Beach  kettle. I purchased it from Bed Bath & Beyond with a gift card, but I saw it's currently on sale for $39.99 and you can receive 4% cash back right now if you order online through Ebates

As a Type 2 woman--learn about energy profiling here --I am soft and subtle by nature, so I choose not to wear black, stark white, or other pure hues. They don't suit my blended coloring, so blush or taupe and grey have been my standard go-to neutrals these past few years. These are my absolute favorite shoes that I have found for those occasions that require a bit more than a comfy sandal. They are reasonably priced and have withstood the test of time and wear for me (which is admittedly less than some people as I am a much more casual person and have not proven very hard on my clothing or other belongings--very unlike my husband, which is another subject, entirely). First up,  DREAM PAIRS Women's Moda Low Heel D'Orsay Pointed Toe Pump Shoes  from Amazon I've owned more than one pair of dress heels from this brand, but these Nude Nubuck ones (pictured above, left) are my favorite. They are neutral, but still pretty bright and light. I love them for

I thought it would be fun to share five things that I'm loving - favorites that are either new finds or tried and true oldies. As a means to sort of introduce myself and any new products you may not even know you're in the market for. 1. I love   Teeccino herbal coffee. If you have followed along on Instagram, or maybe even my Facebook page for any amount of time you have probably seen numerous photos of my Teeccino and Silk Dairy-Free Soy Creamer. It's the best snack, dessert, treat--you name it. I'm in love. One day I believe I'll write a post on my favorite homemade teas, which saves a lot of time and money if you are a regular Starbucks patron. Mauve and Green source 2. My favorite color is mauve. I also like eggplant. Any dusty tones of purple are just lovely to me. These are followed closely by seafoam green and teals. Mmmm. Forrest Gump DVD  on Amazon 3. Top 5 favorite movies: Forest Gump, Invincible, Sle

Finally! The promised next recipe. I've been meaning to write this and share it for weeks, but somehow Summer busyness is a thing and sneaks up on you last minute. I actually have not been able to spend much time in our kitchen the last couple weeks. But we're pretty much back to normal now, and here is the last family meal we enjoyed. My husband absolutely loves this, and that's saying a lot. Especially for a fairly healthy dish. And it's so easy, it's foolproof. All you do is toss the ingredients into a baking dish and bake it for an hour at 350 degrees Farenheit. Literally. That's it. Ingredients: Chicken tenderloins- or breasts, whichever you prefer. Chicken is not my favorite meat, simply because it tends to seem very dry to me. I prefer the tenderloins because I find them to be less dry than chicken breasts. You can use as much chicken as you deem necessary for your family/dinner party. I usually use four if it's only two of us, bu

We've been very busy visiting and hosting family the last week, so I did not get to cook at home much and was not able to prepare the new recipe to share with you all today...que lastima. BUT! I am very pleased to fill any readers in on a bit of good news I received over the weekend regarding my Etsy shop, JacobJewelry : I will be featured today on @etsyachiever Instagram account! Go check it out! While you're there, check out all the other talented Etsy shop owners and their beautiful creations available for purchase! There are some really neat items, and some great deals going on for the holiday week -- ALL listings in my shop  are 40% off through Wednesday, July 4 so be sure to check them out soon! On a deeper note: It's been very flattering, and humbling, watching the number of followers and attention for my shop slowly climb. I can't believe one of my life's dreams is actually coming true. It hardly seems real