Eco-Friendly Options for Straws + Giveaway

Happy Tuesday blog readers!

Only 12 more days till Christmas, and I can hardly stand it.  I am so excited for Christmas morning and just having time to hang out with my children and extended family...plus the meal.

Oh my goodness I cannot wait for the meal.

So many good things to serve up, but I just need to get cracking on the menu.

While I am doing that I will be taking sips from my glass straws:

Yes you read that correctly glass straws.

I was given the opportunity by Glass Dharma to try out their glass straws.

And I am so very impressed. 

First of all they came in this fantastic eco-friendly packaging (notice the local newspaper used for cushion).



These are the prettiest and most functional straws.  I was sent a sipper straw (blue dots), a bent straw, a smoothie straw, and a ice tea straw (red dots).

The straws are made by David Leonhardt in Ft. Bragg, California. 

David has a mission to help curb the waste caused by plastic straws (in 2008 McDonald's published that they serve 52 million meals a day can you imagine how many straws that is?).

Now if you are skeptical as to how long a glass straw will last please know that Glass Dharma has a lifetime guarantee against breakage, and if it should break they will replace it.

I know this may seem a little silly, but it really feels so cool and hip to drink from these straws.  My kids have put dibs on the straws and at each meal pull them out for their beverage. 

If you are looking for a Christmas gift it's not too late to head over to their site and purchase a couple for stocking stuffers.  Be sure to purchase a cleaning brush to go with it and if you want to take it with you in your purse or lunch box they sell carrying cases made from hemp.

This really is a fantastic frugal and eco-friendly gift (for yourself, a friend, or both).

Do you have questions about the straws? 

David and his staff are very quick to respond on Twitter and Facebook to questions by consumers.

Now because I am in love with these straws and I would like to share the love I am going to giveaway 1 ice tea straw and cleaning brush to one of you lucky readers.

The giveaway will be open till Thursday December 15th. 

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Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap

I am very excited that I was able to participate in The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap, hosted by Lindsay and Taylor of Love and Olive Oil as well as Julie of The Little Kitchen.

I was the lucky recipient of 3 dozen vegan cookies sent to me by three very talented bloggers.

First up Anginetti (Italian Lemon Drop Cookies) from Shannon over at Killer Bunnies Inc

These were so soft and light perfect for my morning cup of hot tea, plus I shared with the people in my office.

I thought about hoarding these but then that wouldn't really be keeping with the holiday spirit.

Second "What the Hell?" cookies from Sarah at The Smart Kitchen (apparently naming the cookies Cinnamon Chocolate Peanut Butter Maple Coconut Seduction Cookies was too long...I don't know I think it has a certain to it ring ). 

I gotta say I was very psyched to open my package and see these were from Sarah...see I very much love her blog (although I don't comment very much).

These are perfect snack size cookies that I have had to basically give up share with my husband (he loves chocolate and peanut butter combined).  Sarah I might have to order some more cookies just so that I can enjoy more then 1.

Third were Cranberry Macadamia Buttons from Jacqueline at Beyond N finity.

These are perfect to pack in lunches as they hold together well and have some healthy cranberries.  YUM!

Ladies thank you so much for sharing your talents with me. 

For the cookies that I sent out I made my grandmother's Mexican Wedding Cookies. 

As a child I always loved these because the powdered sugar coating would get stuck to my fingers and that is was so much fun to lick off.

These cookies are super simple to make and contain very few ingredients.

Mexican Wedding Cookies
makes approx. 4 dozen

1 C Earth Balance
1/2 C sugar
2 C cake flour
1/2 C almonds (finely chopped)
1/2 tsp vanilla
powdered sugar (for coating)

Cream the Earth Balance and sugar together.

Then add in your flour, vanilla, and almonds.

Place in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Scoop teaspoon size balls out from dough.  Roll into ball and place on cookie sheet.

Gently press each of the balls flat.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Allow cookies to cool slightly and then toss them in powdered sugar.  I put the powdered sugar in a 1 quart plastic bag and then tossed the cookies in there for complete coverage.

Allow the cookies to completely cool before storing in an airtight container, any excess moisture will ruin the cookie.

What is your favorite cookie to prepare for a cookie swap?

This cookie swap has been so much fun and with over 600 hundred bloggers/readers involved you know there are really going to be some winning recipes (just not in the Charlie Sheen way).

If you think you would like to participate in the swap next year head over to here for updates.

Please hop around to the various other blogs as today was our reveal day :)

Happy Monday to you all!

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Fun Friday Foto #4

Happy Friday!!!

The weather has finally turned cold here in North Carolina.  I think the days of 60 degree t-shirt weather has come to an end.

Time for soup and hot tea/coffee/cocoa (whatever your preference is) is upon us.

Speaking of soup I am guest posting for Jenny on Savour the Senses.  I have a vegetable noodle soup to share with you all so please do head over there and check it out.

To whet your appetite here is a quick look at the finished product.

I don't wish for any snow and ice, but the cooler temperatures do put me in the mood for soup and Christmas (which by the way is only 16 days away...WOOHOO).

To prep for a busy weekend (lots of baking to do and share with you next week) I have a few fun photos I would like to share, just to get you in the right mood!

"I don't need a fork to eat nutella covered pancakes"

"Oh please make it stop"

This is my "I promise I didn't do it" look

Self portrait

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