Matthew's Puzzle and a mom putting it all together

Pearl Paradise Bracelet Giveaway

October 15, 2009 By Maryann

The Winner is

littledeadmommy said… 41 @ October 16, 2009 1:24 AM

I tweeted the giveaway. http://twitter.com/littledeadmommy/status/4909203684

littledeadmommy@gmail.com

You have 48 hours to claim your prize or a new winner will be selected.

Earlier this week Pearl Paradise gave me a beautiful pearl bracelet to review. They sent me a stunning lavender fresh water pearl bracelet with 14 kt gold clasp. I have never owned a good piece of pearl jewelry but was very excited to receive this piece. Before the bracelet arrived the only exposure I had ever had to fresh water pearls was the small, oddly shaped white peals strung on a delicate necklace I had gotten when I was much younger. Not a really nice piece. So when they told me they were going to send me some fresh water pearls I was really unsure of what to expect. I decided to go check out their website and found some amazing pearls. I’m totally in love with their golden pearls, they are simply beautiful. The offer white, pink, lavender, golden and black pearls in many styles such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings, pendants and rings.

I tend to wear only a few pieces of jewelry daily such as my wedding set, diamond stud earrings and a mother’s ring my hubby bought me (before we found out we were having a third baby!). I was delighted when Pearl Paradise gave me the bracelet because I really think it is something you can wear daily if you want or save for those special occasions when you want to dress up a bit.

When the bracelet arrived it came with a certified appraisal which included a picture of the bracelet (great for insurance purposes should something happen to the piece), the pearl origin: China, shape: near round (so no oddly shaped pearls here), body color: lavender, luster: Highest, Matching: Excellent, Surface/Nacre: 95% Blemish Free, Overall Quality: AAA, size: 7.0 – 8.0 mm, and clasp: 14 kt Gold. They also sent a pearl care kit containing two Pearl Sachets and a Microfiber Pearl Cloth to help me keep my pearls in good condition.

I believe this bracelet would make most women very happy, especially a mom who gives so much of herself that sometimes she forgets about herself. Pearl Paradise wants to give one of Matthew’s Puzzle readers the exact same bracelet they gave me ( the one pictured at the top of this article – lavender). All you need to do to enter to win is stop by Pearl Paradise and look around. Then come back here and tell me about some other pearls you would love to get this holiday season or for your birthday/anniversary.

Mandatory entry: go to Pearl Paradise, then come back and leave a comment telling me what other pearl piece you would love to own. Please leave your email address or make sure it is visible on your blog.

Extra Entries: you can get one additional entry for each of the following you do, but you must do the mandatory entry first.
1. Tweet about this contest and leave link to your tweet.
2. Blog about this contest and leave link to blog
3. Follow Matthew’s Puzzle on Twitter.
4. Subscribe to Matthew’s Puzzle via Feed Burner

This contest is open to US residents, 18 years and older. This contest will end Thursday Oct 29, 2009 at 11:59 PM EDT. The winner will be chosen using Random.org random number generator and I will contact the winner via email along with posting the winner on Matthew’s Puzzle. The winner has 48 hours to claim their prize or a new winner will be selected.

GFCF Pumpkin Apple Muffins

October 13, 2009 By Maryann

I was feeling really excited about Fall yesterday, and the fact that my cold is finally starting to leave me! So I decided to make pumpkin muffins. I found a great Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffin recipe on The Mama Sphere and decided to see if I could adapt it to be GFCF. I did! And they turned out great, so great that I thought I’d share the recipe. So here it is:

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour – substitute with GFCF flour blend given below
1.5 cups white sugar
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup canned pumpkin puree (you can use a whole 15 oz can without bad results if you don’t know what to do with the rest of it)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 cups peeled, cored and chopped apple (my boys didn’t love the apples, and I found out you can omit them)

Streusel topping – I didn’t make this, but instead used a cinnamon and sugar sprinkle on top before baking.
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour – sub GFCF flour blend below
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 teaspoons butter – use a GFCF butter if you do this

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease 18 muffin cups or use paper liners.
In a large bowl, sift together 2 1/2 cups GFCF flour blend, 1.5 cups sugar, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together eggs, pumpkin and oil. Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture; stirring just to moisten. Fold in apples. This will be a very thick batter. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons flour, 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle topping evenly over muffin batter. Or just use cinnamon sugar mixture and sprinkle on top of muffin batter.
Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into a muffin comes out clean. Remove from pan and cool on rack.

You can eliminate apples and use nuts if you want, or leave them out all together. You can also use a whole 15 oz can of pumpkin without issue.

GFCF Flour blend – I found this flour blend on recipe circus which is part of the GFCFrecipes yahoo group.
2 cups white rice flour – I didn’t have enough white rice flour so I used mostly brown and it turned out fine.
2 cups brown rice flour
1 c tapioca flour
1c potato starch
1/4 c potato flour
1/4 c xanthan gum
1/8 cup pectin

Recipe
Mix all ingredients together using a whisk until no lumps appear.
Store in an airtight container in a cool place.
Marcie’s Note: Due to cost I will replace the xanthan gum with guar gum.

Bloom Putty is offering 20% discount

October 12, 2009 By Maryann

I’m sure you remember when I was talking about Dokedo Putty a few months ago. Well recently they decided to change their name to Bloom Putty . And to celebrate this new move they are offering a 20% off sale. Simply use the code holiday09 and receive 20% off your purchases. This sale expires December 14, 2009.

If you don’t know much about Bloom Putty let me tell you a little bit about it. Bloom putty is made in the USA!!!! (you know I love, love, love this) and it is gluten, casein, nut and latex free. This is super for those of us that have little ones that either eat their putty or get it under their fingernails and then put their hands in their mouths. No chance of gluten or casein infractions here. Bloom Putty is scented, with yummy organic and natural oils, NO artificial fragrances used here. They come in 14 scents and colors, but they also offer 6 unscented colors.

I bought a few putties before and both the boys love them. They like to make putty bracelets with them and use wooden stamps to make marks in the putty. But lately our ABA therapist has been using them in Matthew’s therapy. She uses it as a preferred activity but also as one that helps strengthen his hand muscles. He gets a double dose of therapy without even knowing it.

So go check out Bloom Putty and get your holiday orders in early.

NYR Organic

September 30, 2009 By Maryann

I am now a consultant for NYR Organic – a natural and organic bath and body line from the UK! I’m really excited about these products and have been using them for a little over a month now. NYR Organic officially launched in the US on Sept 14th and is now available. If you would like to order any NYR Organic please go here. I can also do local in-home parties if you are interested (Maryland) so please use the Contact Me link on this page. In January NYR Organic is launching their order on-line, direct shipping to your home website, which will make things that much easier since you will then be able to order directly from me and the factory will ship directly to you. No need to ship to me first. I can’t wait. Go check out some of their great products. Two of my favorites are the White Tea Facial Mist and the Orange Flower Facial Oil. I use both every day. And I think the White Tea Facial Mist would make a great stocking stuffer, co-worker holiday gift or hostess gift.