Product review :: juicer

Wheat grass is a good thing to have in your diet. After a few months of gathering the appropriate equipment (wheat grass juicer), ordering organic seeds to grow our own wheat grass and waiting for said crop to grow, Dave and I gave it a go tonight. We've already had shots of the stuff before so we knew it's not the best tasting drink to have...

Full trays of wheat grass growing in the warm January sun.

This is the product from CSN Stores that needs a review from me. It's a beauty of a machine, all stainless and best of all - you don't need electricity to run it, it's all manual crank. No assembly required except screw on the crank and presto you have a wheat grass juicer.

A side note - with all the praise I've done on all my previous deliveries this one was pretty banged-up when it got here but the juicer did'nt have one scratch so that's all that matters, right !

Unfortunately, I am sad to report that our much awaited juicer did not deliver as we had hoped. I can't blame the juicer, we think it's the wheat grass that doesn't give enough liquid. This batch I had grown in soil and I think it should be grown in my green sprouter and than you would have more liquid coming from the roots. Anyways, that's the only solution we have for now. I'm going to start a crop in the sprouter and we'll see the results in a little over a week.

From an entire tray of wheat grass we each had one tablespoon of liquid. Which should have been more than that.

Stay tuned for the results of plan B with the wheat grass.

CSN Stores :: everything you need for your home and life

As you may or may not have noticed, I've been talking a bit around this blog about CSN Stores. For those of you that have not yet taken the time to drop-in for a virtual visit... you should. More specifically, if there is a product that you are in need of and you are unable to find in your neck of the woods, this is the place - I'm pretty sure you'll find what you're looking for. I did !!! with my amazing clay bread baker (check out my blog category on "Products" to read more). I will soon be doing another product review (wait until you see this one, it's a good one people) but first check out the swingsets they carry. I don't think you need to be a kid to enjoy one of these; right.

(Taken from the CSN website) "Based in Boston, CSN Stores LLC began in 2002 and has grown rapidly into a Top 3 online U.S. retailer of home and office goods... Beyond providing unparalleled customer service, selection, and savings to our U.S. customers, CSN Stores has opened its doors to online shoppers from Canada, the U.K., and Germany. Recently named to the Hot 100 List of online retailers for 2009, CSN Stores continues to grow".

They pride themselves on providing unparalleled customer service and let me tell you, they go above and beyond to assure satisfaction. Many items have free shipping, hey, that's money in your pocket, a good thing in my book ! I am still blown-away at the stress free delivery they have.

CSN Stores is on twitter, facebook and they have a blog.

Do we really need new furniture?

Our son will soon be moving into his own cozy home with his fiancé. He has already started moving some of his stuff out so this gives us the perfect occasion to deep-clean and declutter our home. Even giving us cause to maybe buy a few pieces of furniture. Presently, our television is an older model that fits exactly (very tight fit) in the hole in the wall. If we are to get a new television set we would need new tv stands as we also have a television set upstairs that's in need of a good solid surface.

His room will become my sewing/crafting room and my present sewing room will be turned into a library.

We won't need too many new pieces of furniture. What we already have is still in pretty good condition and I don't believe in buying ''stuff'' just because. If and when we buy new furniture we give away as many pieces as we bring in. Today, we gave away a lazyboy chair and a used tv (only good for playing video games).

I might also be looking for a new sofa and chair set... we'll see.

CSN Product Review

Yes, another CSN product review is coming up on this ole blog but before that can happen I need to figure out, from the many, many, many products they have, what product I'm going to review this time around. I mean seriously, if you haven't taken the time yet to check out ''some'' of the items they carry... you should. I say ''some'' because with all that they carry you'll only be able to view ''part'' of what there is each time you visit. They carry everything from shower curtains, pizza wheels, braided rugs, diaper bags to fireplaces and yes, if you're in need of a dining room table they have that too.

I am less and less of a mall shopping person and loving this on-line buying thing ! And with CSN Stores there is no need to jump from one on-line store to another... it's all there, under one gigantic virtual store.

Stay tuned, my product reveal is coming up.

Product review :: Waffle iron

A few weeks ago I mentioned here that I was contacted by CSN Stores to do another product review. I've wanted to try homemade belgium waffles for a long time with a ''real'' belgium waffle maker (we've had a regular waffle maker for years, it's starting to show its age). So it was easy to figure out what product I was going to review this time.

First, let me mention here ''again'' how I am amazed at the shipping process this company has. It is so easy and stress-free to get something delivered from these guys.


We had a trial run with this beauty on Saturday morning. I can't think of anything negative to say about this cute little machine. It has a timer, absolutely non-stick surface, it flips (hence the belgium waffles) and it makes one giant round and thick waffle. I don't think anyone would go for seconds. All in all, I am very happy with the product I picked out this time. Check CSN Stores - they have EVERYTHING.

Wishing everyone a good Friday tomorrow !

Product review :: here we go again

I've been contacted by CSN Stores to see if I was interested in doing another product review. Well yes I do ! This on-line store(s) has everything and anything. You can easily spend hours surfing their over 200 stores. I find stuff here that I would'nt have access to any where else (I live in a very rural area; remember).

The other night I found myself in the Dining Room Furniture section of CSN Stores. Those that know me well enough know that I love a more relaxed, casual look in my home so you can well imagine my eye caught this, this and my favorite.

These favs will not be my review this time, a girl can dream right ! However, I'm pretty sure I know what I'll choose this time. Stay tuned, I'll let you know. But in the meantime, if you have a few spare moments one evening hop on over at CSN Stores. You'll love what you see.

Side note but still related - have you ever seen one of these? I have and they are not often seen in stores in my neck of the woods. Once you've tasted food slowly cooked in one of these, you'll be in love. Believe me...

Product Review :: Clay baker

About a month ago I was contacted by these guys to see if I was interested in doing another product review from one of their stores. The first product I reviewed for them was a beauty. You can read more about it here.

Of course I was interested. After searching their many, many stores to see what product I was interested in, I stumbled upon this beauty.

In this simple, organic lifestyle that is happening in our home - one of the things I enjoy the most is baking bread and the no-knead bread is our favorite... so moist, chewy and crusty. I've been baking it for a couple of years now and using my dutch oven pan to bake it in. It turns out perfect every time but I had read about and knew that baking this bread in a clay baker (or any type of bread for that matter) made it even more perfect. Since last year I've been searching stores in the city for one of these babies but never finding one. I went shopping on-line but most of the sites did not ship to Canada. CSN ships to Canada. And speaking of shipping - the process with CSN is such a breeze. As soon as you've finalized your order, they inform you that your product has shipped and the next thing you know (about a week later) you have a parcel on your doorsteps.

Soooooooo, I made no-knead bread this past weekend and look at the yummy-ness. The clay baker baked it more evenly throughout the loaf and it made a bigger loaf of bread.

You need to soak the lid for 30 minutes the first time you use it than 10 minutes every other times. Even though the bottom is glazed, you need to grease it because your bread will stick (believe me, I know).

I still look at this beauty on the shelf and get all excited that I actually own one now. Thanks CSN stores.

CSN Stores :: Another review

I think CSN Stores liked what I did with my first review. They've contacted me for another one.

We live in a 200 year old farmhouse. Although I would'nt have it any other way, there is always renovations to be made to an older home. Lately we've been thinking of replacing the bathroom vanity but it's taking me a longer than usual time to decide on a style. Of course I checked the CSN stores and came upon this site. It is unreal what they have over there. Check it out. There are so many favorites that I'm still trying to decide on one.

While surfing the many CSN Stores I came upon a few of my favs. I have my eye on this, this, this, this and this. Ever since CSN Stores contacted me for my first product review I've been regularly checking all their stores (200+ stores). Everything is here, I can't see why I have to go spend hours in a shopping mall or big box store to find what I need. I can do it from the comfort of my home, in my pj's if I so choose. They ship to Canada, yes folks they know where Canada is and they don't mind shipping here. That in my book - rocks !

How many times on this blog have I mentioned how much I love cooking fresh, organic wholesome meals - many times, too many to count. Making bread is probably one of my favorite things to do. It's like meditation to me, just like knitting is to me also. I often bake the famous no-knead bread. This bread is DELICIOUS. One tool I'm missing in my kitchen is this clay baker to bake this wonderful bread in :

So far I've managed to bake a pretty good loaf with the vessel I use but clay bakeware bakes evenly and you end up with a perfect loaf of bread. Yum.

Stay tuned for my next product review and see if it will be on the clay baker or something else.

Product Review :: Le Creuset

The first time I heard about CSN Stores was last month when they contacted me to see if I was interested in making a product review for them. I first told you about it here.

I got to take this little cutie for a test run in my oven this afternoon.

Le Creuset 12-ounce petite oval casserole in a shade of my favorite color - cobalt blue arrived via special courier a few weeks ago. I must say the entire process from the time I was contacted by them to the delivery of the product was 100% hassle free.

I was immediately smitten by the cute-ness of this tiny dish. I knew before hand that it was 12 oz. but it still surprised me when I opened the box. I've put my 2 cup measuring cup along side so you would have something to compare with.


It is a perfect size for baked dips or for baked shrimps in butter and garlic (pictured below).

I was already sold on Le Creuset products and this little buddy turned out just as I had imagined it would. It baked perfectly, non-stick, heated evenly throughout the base and lid. After baking with a Creuset product I'm putting a larger dish on my wish list for Christmas/Birthday gifts.

Another golden day

We had two beautiful sunny weeks, than we had a couple of days of rain and today the sunshine was back. Everything seems golden doesn't it.

Fancy shell found at the thrift store.

We ended up buying two more cords of firewood. At this time of the year we don't have a big fire going during the day when we're out of the house but in the evening we boost up the fire. And this can go on until the end of May.

Last but not least - the beginnings of our chicken coop.

My product review is coming up on the weekend... stay tuned.

CSN Stores :: product review coming soon

I am very much a homebody. Anyone that knows me can attest to that. I love our 200 year
old farmhouse it is our little piece of paradise and when I get home from work it takes a
lot to get me back out in the “real world”; especially going in stores with crowds to buy
stuff we need. I want to stay home to tend my organic vegetable gardens and cook with those yummy veggies. With today’s technology I find myself venturing more and more into
on-line shopping and might I add that I have had only positive results so far.

Today I found CSN. I never heard of them before but after discovering them this morning,
I spent my entire lunch hour browsing through the numerous products they offer. I just could'nt stop myself. They have over 200 stores to shop from with brand name products that we all could use, from cookware to cameras, to kids bedding. I'm not in the market for kids bedding at the moment but I almost wanted one of those baby cribs just to admire the beauty.

One of CSN’s stores is cookware.com. Let me tell you right now, you’ll want to check
them out. I already have a list of favorites. I’ve been looking for a clay baker to bake
my no-knead bread for over a year, they have it. Yes, I’ve clay bakers on-line but the shipping was more than the actual cost of the product. Am I the only one that hates it when this happens.

Enough said, you’ll have to visit to see all the cool stuff they carry in their wonderful stores. I am so excited because I get to review the Le Creuset 12-Ounce Petite Oval Casserole.

My ancestors are from France so my love of cooking (...and eating) dates way back and I prefer
the slow movement for cooking so products like this casserole are the perfect addition to my cooking tools. Go ahead check them out, if you don’t you’ll miss out on a great deal and let someone else have a go at it.

Stay tuned for my review of this product.