Raige Creations

Carry on. What we must do. It is hard, these days, but in the end, we must carry on. A popular WWII slogan the English came up with back in 1939. Much unknown then, it's resugence took the world by storm in the 2000's. The original was  Keep Calm and Carry on . The original displayed at Barter Books Many  Keep Calm and.... slogans  are out there. So, so many variations; some are funny, some are motivating, and they all have Keep Calm to start, because that is actually very good advice in so many situations. This song is a fun song, (yes I know, the name of the band too , but it really is an uplifting fun song), it lifts the sprits. Mine anyways.   Cause we are We are shining stars We are invincible We are who we are On our darkest day When we're miles away So we'll come We will find our way home A good reminder to keep that one foot moving forward, carrying on. We are who we are, after all. We must remember to Keep Calm a...

I tried. Finally. Had this recipe up for almost a week, vowing to make this delicious concoction of healthy apples and sweet cinnimon, so easy, no dairy so safe for Hubby. I procrastinated, as I am prone to do , and have blogged about many, many times. But finally decided that I would be Miss Accomplishment and bake it before work today. I put on some music, and began the mixing and cutting of apples, wondering why I don't spend more time baking and cooking. It is these simple pleasures that I want to bring more to the forefront of my life. There has been too much negativity, fighting, and just plain unpleasantness going on, yet while I was mixing and cutting to music, it all fell away and I was relaxed and enjoying the process. The apples and cinnamon smelled so good, the apples weren't browning, I stirred often. The wet mixture was ready. Then all that was left was the dry ingredients - and only two of them. I was in the homestretch with time to spare. I p...

Photo Courtesy of Raige Tea, those deliciously 'evil' hazelnut and chocolate sticks, and the chili stirring spoon makes for a lovely Sunday. It means all the chores were done by the time football starts. The laundry folded and put away, the dinner prepped (just stirring intermittenly throughout the afternoon), showered and in Sunday comfy clothes.  You might not understand the big deal of the Pirouline's  . These, once upon a time way back when we were a younger family who was content with enough to be able to treat ourselves with yummy treats and the time for tea, were our favorite. A very fancy to us, decadent treat we allowed ourselves when times were good financially. When we took the time to enjoy tea, sweets, and each other.  We then hit tougher times, busier times. We were working harder, for less rewards. We cut back, we skimped, we scraped by. No chocolate hazelnut goodness. No tea time.  Years went by living under these circumstances. We accepted...

'Times when the day is like a play by Sartre When it seems a book burning's in perfect order'... As I sit and stare at the boxes in the basement, living room, and piles of stuff throughout the house, at least I have this peppy tune to make light of the situation. I am prepping for a yard sale, compiling piles of our things that we no longer need or want. Add to that about 20 boxes of books just picked up at an auction, and I wholeheartedly agree with the lyrics posted at the beginning. A book burning may just be a good idea! A few of the boxes But no, these were bought in the hopes of re-selling to make a wee bit of money to actually help us in our move. The reality is that this is a task I am quite overwhelmed with. I love books, but this is ridiculous!  'Too much of a good thing can be taxing' , as Mae West said . A few more of the boxes If I had the time, it would be great to sort through, scan some, and read others, If I had time t...

source: Pinterest Especially GOOD chocolate! I was lucky enough to WIN a box of Godiva chocolates . A huge thank you to M.L. Gardner - one of my favorite authors. Her books are a wonderful place to visit, in my favorite era, and that she gives away chocolate too! I love!! Book 1 of the 1929 Series. Right now, it's FREE! {Right now you can begin the journey into her wonderful series with Book 1 of the 1929 Series, Jonathan's Cross - for FREE! Click HERE! } I never, ever bought Godiva chocolates myself. I always thought is was a luxury I could not give in to.  I heard they were good, but..... that, it turns out, is underestimating their decadent deliciousness.  The chocolates I WON!! photo courtesy of Raige Creations More on my chocolate escapades later....but know this: Chocolate has a power.  It has the power to bring people together, to relax (especially with tea), and to help us enjoy the simple pleasure in life. So never feel bad about enjo...

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Yup, I am cold.  But, I haven't been outside, but I have been in the basement to store some old files.  Old files that we are not supposed to throw away for at least seven years, but now have filled up my filing cabinet so that I don't have room for the new stuff.  It is the first attempt I have made to take care of year end stuff. Mainly, I am trying to get motivated to compile everything needed for the dreaded taxes. But so far, cleaning out the filing cabinet is as far as I have gotten. And since under the basement stairs is a good place to store such piles of papers, I was under there digging out my bin of papers. The floor was cold, the basement cold, and my bin was jam packed. This lead to searching for a file box, which incidentally was full of stuff that wasn't files.  So, I had to empty it, find places for that junk, and then put the new old files in the file box. I was down there for quite a while, in only my fuzzy socks , leggings, and a sweatsh...

My favorite hour of the day............. There is the early morning, if I happen to be able to get out of bed, just while it's getting light. The birds are just starting to make noise, the sky is a beautiful hue, and there is so much possibility. I make coffee, do the morning routine until it is finished brewing, and then sit and ponder what the day has in store. source Or else it's Tea Time. I love tea in the afternoon, if I am not too tired by then to put the kettle on. It is a time to re-group and relax a bit. Sometimes it is just the right thing to get me motivated to cook dinner. source: Raige Creations Sometimes, my favorite time of day is when I wake up in the middle of the night, glance at the clock and see it's only 2am! I still have 4 hours to stay in bed, in the quiet darkness, no chores to hop up and get started, no thoughts of the stresses ahead.  from Random Betrayals on tumbler.com Quiet darkness, cozy covers, time to dream some more. What...

Good Monday to you all - and Happy Earth Day.  This morning had me noticing the landscape. The green filling in all the trees, the beautiful flowers daring to bloom after the cold nights we have had, and of course enjoying the bright sunshine.  At the shop, we have been enjoying tea from Cindi's Sacred Garden , and today is the last day of this sample. So I thought it fitting Sir Paul McCartney serenade us while we enjoy some Strong Body Tea. Perhaps not proper English Tea, but oh so good, and good for you. This weather, the sunshine, flowers, green grass and leaves on trees, it makes me want to sit in miles and miles of an English garden, stretching past the willow tree ...... Hope I can sit and enjoy some tea in my yard later this afternoon, even though there are no willow trees, and the garden is sparse with a few bulbs, not yet blooming. But I am determined to enjoy.  Enjoy your day, every day, even if it is just for an afternoon tea, in a less than Engli...

YUM. 'Nuff said.   Featured Artist - The Sticky Wrapper This week's Featured Artist on Share the Love, Blogger's Unite is The Sticky Wrapper! A world of delight for all you "Sweet Tooths"! Wonderful treats for your special some one, parties and more! Come to your senses with The Sticky Wrapper, where we spend our time reinventing classic flavors. We love to push the envelope to bring you new and creative treats that are sure to become fan favorites. You will always find creative and classic treats that will bring you back for more. My candy is made to order and in small batches. I can customize any order and would love to make favors for weddings, showers, or any party. You can find the Sticky Wrapper On: Craft Cafe   Etsy   Facebook Twitter   Pinterest   Blog Are you On Fire for Handmade? http://onfireforhandmade.com Grab the code for your blog HERE

Yup. Think it finally has hit me. I. Am. Burnt. Out.   How do I know? It could be that I wake up every day wishing for a vacation.  - Or -  That when I am getting ready to go in to work I just wish I could hire someone to go in for me.  - Or  - That I can't even find the motivation to get out there and run/walk (knowing this usually gives me the energy to get through the day.) - Or - On my one day off I spend in sweatpants and fluffy socks, not brushing my hair, not doing any chores, barely getting off the couch. I couldn't even get up to put the kettle on for a nice cup of tea. Source:  behance.net  via  Victoria  on  Pinterest My Spark Burnt Out! - Or - It could be that I wasted 2 hours before I HAVE to go in to work just trying to find pictures for my neglected blog that I didn't even feel like writing for the past week. Not even Music Monday!   - OR - Worst of all..... 1950's Housewife, complet...

Whether it be High Tea or Low Tea , tea is the perfect drink for soothing and relaxing you any time of the day.  Even if it turns out a bit like the Mad Hatters Tea Party , partaking in a cup of tea is one of the most enjoyable things I have found to help me through the day .  It inspired me to find all kinds of tea goodies on Zibbet ~ here are just a few. Cup of Tea Glass Tile Pendant Necklace by Izzy's Place Make Tea Not War teabag storage box by Breath of the Dragon Milkman Mouse by Handmadefuzzy Papercut Silhoutte Mad Hatter Tea Party by The Sketchy Easel Mad Hatter Tea Party Teapot by Blue Sky Pottery Mad Hatter with Teapot Custom Shoes by Inkwear99 Spirit Tea by Body & Soul Products Dried Calendula Flower Petals for Tea by Breitwork Cafe Au Lait Sun Catcher Sparkler by Dancing Rainbows Tea Bag Charm by Just Charm Me So go put the kettle on and enjoy a cup of tea. It is the perfect way to get through the ...

These words were mumbled one morning over coffee by hubby. Once you hear these words, Clouds in my Coffee , well you just can't get them out of your head.  They are in your head, of course, in music, followed by You're So Vain, you probably think this song is about you......   What does it all mean??   "Clouds in my coffee" are the confusing aspects of life and love. That which you can't see through, and yet seems alluring...until. Like a mirage that turns into a dry patch. Perhaps there is something in the bottom of the coffee cup that you could read if you could (like tea leaves or coffee grinds). ~~Carly Simon 5/17/01   So here you go - perfect for a Monday actually. We are all cloudy on Mondays, right? If reading the words don't get it stuck, and the song on top still doesn't get it stuck right in your head, enjoy this collection of clouds, coffee, and creamy cloudy goodness. Clouds In My Coffee   Curated By: RaigeCreations ArtFir...