GET WIRED WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP!

A big welcome to the GET WIRED WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP. I am very happy to be GUEST HOST this week. I want to say a special thank you to VICTORIA VOICE and THREE BOYS AND AN OLD LADY for giving me this opportunity. I invite you all to link up. 

                                                                     
In order to join:

 * Follow the Hostesses VICTORIA'S VOICE and THREE BOYS AND AN OLD LADY
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THE NUTRITIOUS BREADFRUIT!

         There is an abundance of breadfruit in my area of Jamaica at this time and my family and I have been enjoying a lot of roast breadfruit.  Over the years Janine and I have enjoyed many meals with this fruit. We particularly liked it with our national dish, ackee and saltfish. Below is  a picture of some of the roast breadfruit that my family and I have been enjoying:

     No sooner than I was thrilled to see this fruit in season again I got a FORWARD EMAIL with this information:-
    "Breadfruit has the health benefit of providing high energy to those who eat it through its carbohydrates that the body needs for warmth and maintenance during daily activities. Not only is breadfruit a rich source of energy, breadfruit also contains significantly high amounts of fiber. According to the American Heart Association fiber decreases bad cholesterol and triglycerides which increase heart attack risks. An increased intake of fiber lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in the body, while elevating HDL (good) cholesterol levels in the body. Breadfruit protects the body against heart disease and heart attacks. 
     Additionally, the fiber found in breadfruit can help those with diabetes to control the disease. Research shows that fiber can control diabetes by reducing the absorption of glucose from the food we eat.
     Another health benefit of breadfruit is that breadfruit helps to make our intestines and bowels work properly. Fiber regulates bowel movements and clears out the buildup of junk from our intestines; eating breadfruit on a regular basis can reduce the risk of developing colon cancer.
      Breadfruit benefits the body as it contains favorable amounts of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. These essential fatty acids help the body and mind to develop normally. Fatty acids also stimulate skin and hair growth, regulate our metabolism, promote reproduction and stimulate bone health.
      In addition to these health benefits breadfruit also contains Vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, iron and phosphorus. Further research is being done to uncover even more health benefits of breadfruit."


What nutritious fruit are you enjoying at this time?!

AWESOME STEVE JOBS' QUOTES!

       There are always times when one could do with a lift! I just love inspirational quotations and I read several every day. Here are  4 from Steve Jobs:

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living somebody else's life


Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking.  Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice.


Be a yardstick of quality.  Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected.


Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition - they somehow already know what they truly want to become.

IT IS GOOD TO BE VERSATILE!:)

     
          I must say a very special thank you to pargasjunkyard for passing on the Versatile Blogger award to me. I am truly grateful to you. Readers do check her wonderful Blog!  Now it is time for me to tell you 7 things about myself. As I approach another anniversary of my twin sister's death on October 16 I will mainly share things about my life with my twin:
1. I was born 5 minutes before Janine on November 4, 1961 but she walked, talked and did everything before I did.  You can see some baby pictures of us in the following posts ANALYZING SOME TWIN BABY FACTS and A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS.
2.  Throughout our  lives we attended a Preparatory School and 2 high schools - Marymount High for 5 years and St. Mary High for 2 years.  Before we started school our parents made us receive lessons from someone who would come to our home. Mom even had us wear uniforms to put us in the school frame of mind!:)  In Jamaica school uniforms are worn.
3. Janine and I dressed alike throughout our lives and while we had many similarities there were a few differences in our personalities.  I was more reserved and did not smile much in pictures while Janine was outgoing and always had a bright smile. Strangely enough I notice that since her death I seem to have more of her traits. It is not intentional, it has just happened.  Nevertheless only a few close friends and our immediate family could tell the difference. The easy way for many who went to school with us was just to call us 'Twiney.'
4. Throughout school we both did well in the Arts and pursued Journalism as a career. We wrote many articles together.
5. Where music is concerned we have always been fans of a wide variety of music, singers and groups with our favourite being our national music, reggae.
6.  We liked visiting various places in our country but most of all we always enjoyed our Christmas shopping trips to the popular tourist resort of Ocho Rios with our family. We are from a close knit family with 2 brothers and our mother. Our father died when we were 13 years old.
7. We have always had an insatiable curiosity about people, places, customs, wildlife etc from around the world and world affairs.  At the age of 12 we started corresponding with pen-pals from around the world.  We have had many pen-pals. These days I mainly exchange emails with my pals and several of Janine's pals are now my pals.


         I now take pleasure in passing on this award to the following 15 Bloggers:


         *the mommyhood chronicles
         *Discovering The Me in Mommy
         *Soul Speak
         *Home to 4 Kiddos
         *Mom Daughter Style
          *Maves Faves
         *bassgiraffe's Thoughts
         *Obstacles and Glories
         * The Spring Mount 6 Pack
         *Mama's Musings
         *Skylar
         *Life With Two Boys
         *MENOPAUSAL NEW MOM
         *Two Children and a Migraine
         *Tammy's Two Cents

BIRDS PAINTED ON SILK!

          The above picture has always been a favourite of Janine and me. I can remember the day when this painting arrived all the way from Belgium as a birthday gift from a pen-pal. She remembered that we were bird enthusiasts while holidaying in India and decided to get it for us.


          It looked so exquisite painted on silk so we decided that the best way to protect it was to have it framed. We therefore contacted someone who made picture frames and he had it done quickly. Since then this wonderful painting has graced our living-room wall.  It will always be treasured.

OLD CALENDARS DON'T GO TO WASTE HERE!

        When you go through my house you will see several calendars and notice that most of them feature birds. I know many of you are not surprised to hear this!  Over the years Janine and I have received many calendars from pen-pals with these beautiful wonders of nature as they know that we are serious bird enthusiasts.


        Well, before you know it another year will come to an end. When that last day arrives our calendars are taken down and safely packed away as those pictures will in turn decorate somewhere in our home. Above is a picture of one of the doors in my room all decorated with several bird pictures from old calendars. These beautiful pictures are also used to make big special cards for our mom on special occasions like Mother's Day, her birthday and Christmas. Of course as I continue this tradition Janine's name is still mentioned in the cards.


       The calendars that feature sections that you can write on serve as notepads for me. I also remember that one of Janine's pen-pals used old calendars to make some beautiful envelopes and wrap gifts. Does anyone else make use of old calendars? 


P.S. After doing this post I came across Eisy Morgan's great Inspired By YOU Wednesday LINK PARTY and linked up. Do check her Blog EISY MORGAN.

THE TIME FOR GOOD NEWS!

       Oh how I welcome good news as I approach some difficult dates in October, November and December due to the loss of my twin sister. Well, my latest good news is another award, the Blog on Fire Award, from Melissa of the mommyhood chronicles.  I am truly grateful to you Melissa. Please check her great Blog.  

   
               I am supposed to share 7 things about myself. Seven things about me were listed in a post I did about a previous award, the KREATIV BLOG AWARD titled OH! I AM FEELING SO-O-O GOOD!  I have met many wonderful Bloggers and appreciate everyone who has become a Follower and shared comments. Now to the Bloggers who I would like to pass this award to:-
                *Every Day Is A Country Song       
                *Sunray Gardens
                *Mama-press  
                *TREAT & TRICK        
                *RICH FAITH RISING
                *Frugal in WV
                *Self Sagacity
                *One Moment In Time
                *Pickle Jars and Pears
                *Katherines Corner
                *pargasjunkyard
                *All Things Important
                *Time And Oft
                *Debs Dealz
               * Indiana Coupon Savings
               *Cute-Ecakes

SUNDAY FUNDAY HIPPIDY HOP

Thanks for stopping by the HIPPEST Hop on Sundays, hosted by Cute-Ecakes and Beauty Brite!

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Do-Wa-Dippidy
Welcome to WEEK#14 of our Hip Hip Hop :)
(Yes that song is SOOOO in my head)
And ya don't stop
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NEW!!!

Each week we will randomly select one blog from the previous week’s entries to be our featured blog for that week. If that blog happens to be yours, you will get a cute little button to display on your blog, and you will also get the #1 spot for that week! If you are interested in co-hosting, EMAIL ME!

I'd like to Welcome our co host this week, Judy from A Twinless Twin

My name is Judy and I was born one of identical twins. Sadly I lost my twin sister Janine on October 16, 2008. I thank God for the almost 47 years we had together. On my Blog I share pictures, articles, poems, music videos etc. I write about the good times and wide variety of interests that my twin and I shared. In the process I cover a wide range of subjects.I also hope to help those who have faced loss and grief. I have been a freelance writer for many years and find writing to be a good grief management tool.I started my Blog in March of this year.

WHAT DO YOU COLLECT?!

       Janine and I have been big bird enthusiasts over the years.  Above is a picture of some figurines that we have had on a shelf for many years.  I am also glad that I have a huge collection in a display unit to remember the shared love we have had for our feathered friends. You can see a picture of this collection in an earlier post - BIRD FIGURINE COLLECTION.  I remember how happy we always were when we got another figurine. Some were bought and some came from  relatives, friends and pen-pals. As a matter of fact some travelled many miles to get to us!:)  Are you an avid collector of any item?  I would be interested to hear about it!

INSPIRATIONAL WALL HANGINGS!

         Over the years Janine and I have had several wall hangings in our home. We especially liked those that carried an inspirational message. Below are close up pictures of the messages on two of our favourites.