Sugarplumfaery - I Am Here

Think this is an awesome idea

For any lesbian, gay, bi, transgender folks alone for the holidays...

http://www.yourholidaymom.com/ is a blog run by a bunch of moms (and sometimes other parents) who will post a letter to you daily until Christmas with words of acceptance and welcome.  It was designed specifically as a project for kids and adults who face rejection over the holidays because of their sexuality or gender.  This meant a lot to me the first year that I was isolated by my family, and I wanted to share it with all of you.

Roza Khamitova -Shovava Wing Scarves , Feather Of Me

Artist on Tumblr | Etsy | Facebook

Shovava clothing:

Women scarf Hand painted Wings and feathers in cotton

It’s been 49 days since the Connecticut Department of Children and Families imprisoned a sixteen-year-old trans girl of colour without a charge or conviction. She remains in solitary confinement in an adult prison indefinitely. The case is only beginning to receive mainstream national coverage in publications like the Advocate, Salon, and CNN, but more awareness and public outcry is desperately needed in order to free Jane.

To learn more, and stay updated about rallies and demonstrations in support of Jane, follow Justice for Jane on Twitter.

To send Jane personal letters of support, email aaronromano@attorneyaaronromano.com.

Also, sign the Yale Undergraduate Prison Project’s petition in support of Jane.

Awwww! :D

Fantasia, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (1940)

Admit it, flavored water is fun. Throw in a bunch of your craziest combinations together or your favorite fruits together and you might never look back! 

Better yet, it’s a great activity to do with your kids and the variety of colors in the water may just attract them. Moreover, aside from getting your hydration in, you are also downing the extra vitamins and minerals from the various herbs, veggies and fruits you put in. Do you need any more convincing?

Tips about flavored water:

Fresh vs. frozen fruit. When in season, I prefer to use fresh fruit. However, when fruit is out of season, the fresh version can be tart or flavorless. Because fruit that is to be frozen is picked at the peak of ripeness, it is often the better option for the best flavor, sweetness, and nutrients. I find this to especially to be the case with berries and peaches.

A variety of fresh herbs. Use whatever herbs you like or happen to have on hand. I picked all of these from my herb garden and have tried them in flavored waters. It’s surprising how well they blend with most fruit flavors, and they amp up the refreshing factor of the water. Mint is the most obvious herb choice. I also have tried basil, rosemary, sage, thyme, lavender, and tarragon. All good.

WASH FRUIT THOROUGHLY! The citrus and berries need to be really, really clean to keep contaminants and bacteria out of your flavored water. I recommend organic fruit, if it isn’t going to be peeled. 

Use your veggies too. Have leftover carrots or cucumber from cooking? Throw them in!

Recipes #1

Minty Cucumber Lime

1/2 a cucumber, sliced 1/2 a lime, sliced 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves

Strawberry-Lemon with Basil

1/2 cup sliced strawberries 1/2 a lemon, sliced 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves

Watermelon Mint

1 cup cubed watermelon 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves

Pineapple-Orange with Ginger

1/2 cup cubed pineapple 1/2 an orange, sliced 1 tablespoon freshly-grated ginger

What You’ll Need:

1-quart jars

Water

Wooden Spoon

Agave or another sweetener (optional)

What to Do:

Choose which recipe you’re making — or come up with your own combination — and gather all of the ingredients. 

Place the fruit, herbs, and/or spices in the bottom of one of the glass jars, and muddle with a wooden spoon. (That basically means mash up the fruit in the bottom of the jar to release some of the flavor-filled juices.)

Fill the jar with water and give it a taste. (You can also fill the jar with seltzer water for a fizzy treat.) If you’d like something a bit sweeter, try adding some agave (and mix until dissolved).

Enjoy as-is or refrigerate overnight for maximum flavor.

Recipes #2:

All Citrus Flavored Water

1 orange, 1 lime, 1 lemon, Water

Raspberry + Lime Flavored Water

Pineapple + Mint Flavored Water

Blackberry + Sage Flavored Water

Watermelon + Rosemary Flavored Water

Recipes #3 

Well, here are just some of the combinations you could toy with.

Watermelon and mint (pictured above)

Cucumber and mint

Lemon and mint

Cherry and lime

Watermelon and cucumber

Ginger and lemon

Orange and pineapple

Lemon and lavender

Lime and mint

Cucumber and lime

Lemon and basil

Strawberry and mint

Blackberry and ginger

Lemon and blueberry

Thyme and blackberries

Cucumber and rosemary

Cantaloupe and watermelon

Cucumber, lemon, and mint

Lemon and lime

Strawberry and basil

Cranberry juice and lemon (use a capful of unsweetened cranberry juice)

Ginger and lime

Pineapple and mango

Strawberries and lime

Orange, lime, and lemon

Lemon and a pinch of cayenne

Papaya and mango

Carrots, grapefruits, cucumber, mint, lemon. 

This list is non-exhaustive, so don’t stop here. Be creative and who knows you might just discover your personal favorite.

Enjoy drinking your way to health! :D 

I just realized I haven’t posted my Inktober sketches here yet, so here they are!

Nothing, Nobody