Spring is my favorite time of the year! It’s always exciting to see the snow melting and the start of new flowers and new babies. Spring definitely makes me happy and so when the opportunity to participate in this blog hop came up, I jumped at the chance.
Every author in the Hop will be posting a favorite recipe and/or a gardening tip. And while it’s not ‘quite’ gardening weather here in Alberta, I thought I’d pass on my favorite tip.
Gardening Tip:
Embrace your zone. This may seem like a fairly simple tip BUT there’s a reason that I’m sharing it with you. When my husband and I bought our first house I had big dreams to create this lush, green, garden paradise in my back yard. I bought gardening magazines and books. I sketched designs and created big plans. Then…I realized that I live in Alberta. When it comes to designing garden plans, it turns out that the zone you live in is a pretty major factor. Almost every plant on my list wasn’t available for my area or was considered an annual.
For awhile I moaned and groaned, but then…I learned to embrace my zone. It turns out that no matter what gardening zone you live in, you can grow beautiful things and have a stunning garden. But don’t fight it…love it!
Favorite Recipe:
I love to play around with recipes and food for my family but I seldom have a recipe. However, I do love my granola. I’ll try to approximate the recipe here:
3 cups Oats (I actually use spelt flakes)
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup flax seeds
1/4 cup chia seeds
Mix all ingredients together. Mix last three ingredients in a separate bowl.
1 Tbs coconut oil- melted
1 tsp honey or maple syrup
1 Tbs water
Toss dry ingredients with honey mixture and stir well. Spread on cookie sheet and bake in oven until slightly toasty.
**Enjoy with almond milk, Greek yogurt or chilled coconut milk.
But the blog hop isn’t over yet…
Enter to win a Kindle Fire by participating in the blog hop. Check out all of the great websites of some talented authors and look for the line to the story. To be eligible for the grand prize, readers must copy a short phrase that will be posted on each author’s blog post and assimilate them into the complete passage: “Authors in Bloom,” a vignette about a women’s personal growth and empowerment.
Here’s my line: Line 54: flowering into womanhood.
AND….I’m getting in on the giveaway too! I’ll be giving away two electronic copies of my newest release Sugar Crash and a $25 Amazon gift card. All you have to do to be entered is leave a comment on this post and if you want even more chances to win…For two bonus entries, sign up for my newsletter and ‘like’ my Facebook fan page.
And everyone’s giving stuff away. Don’t forget to visit the other authors involved in the hop, check out what they’re up to, enter their contests and grab the phrase so you have a chance to win a new Kindle or Nook!
Mmm the granola looks good! Please enter me for the giveaway! Thanks
It is yummy!
You’re entered in the draw, YJ. Don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter and like my page on Facebook for extra entries.
Finished Sugar Crash yesterday! It was so good!!!
Thanks, Jillian!! That means a lot.
I loved the “embrace your zone.” I just moved cross-country and am learning that very thing right now, having moved from a hotter climate to a milder one. I’m learning the names of the plants in my yard! It’s also a great metaphor for life, too.
Oh, Nadine. It is a GREAT metaphor for life!
I’ve fought my ‘zone’ for years. As soon as I started to embrace it…things really started to bloom.
Thank you for doing the blog hop! I am enjoying the contest and discovering new to me authors!!!
Great! Thanks Tobi. You’re entered three times!
Therea re some great authors participating. So fun for me too!
Thanks for the chance to win:)
brandon_savannah@yahoo.com
Great, you’re entered Savannah. Don’t forget you can get extra entries by liking my Facebook page and signing up for my newsletter too!
Your book is getting added to my Goodreads list–sounds so good!
I also like you on FB & have signed up for your newsletter
Thanks so much!
great competion have found lots of new books to read, x
This book looks interesting! Fingers crossed
Your granola sounds amazing!
I subscribed and liked on fb: Emily Rencich
I have never made granola before. I like the looks of this one. I think we will have to do this as a rainy day project!
Mel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com
FB: Mel Bourn
Newsletter: bournmelissa at hotmail dot com
i will be trying this recipe-yum! thanks for the chance to win!
The blog hop has been so much fun! I’m discovering authors and compiling a long to be read list!
THank you for the great blog post!
Thanks for the giveaway!
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
Like you on Facebook-Rae Pavey
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
I cannot wait to try your mix. My kids will love it.
Also added you as one of my Goodreads author. Helps me remember what to read next.
Your recipe looks great! and..you are right about gardens – just plant what you love, no matter how big ( or small ) your garden is..!
I would love to enter your giveaway! thanks so much!
Thank you for the fun hop and for the awesome giveaway!
Facebook: Shadow Kohler
Newsletter subscriber
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I signed up for your newsletter.
Thanks everyone for playing!! Check out the winners of the blog hop HERE…
http://elenaaitken.com/2012/04/19/authors-in-bloom-giveaway-winners/