Friday, September 10, 2010

A few favourites for Friday

A flower I picked yesterday, when it was raining, love how the raindrops stayed on the petals.
This is my favourite hand cream, from L'Occitane the shea butter is exceptionally concentrated and an ideal beauty balm for dry or damaged hands.
French Women don't get fat ~ by Mireille Guiliano
I enjoyed reading this book and if you are looking for a new book to read, you may want to check this one out.
Stylish, convincing, wise, funny the ultimate non-diet book, which could change the way you think and live.

French Women don't get fat, but they do eat bread and pastry and drink wine.
In her delightful tale, Mireille Guiliano unlocks the simple secrets of this "French paradox", how to enjoy food and stay slim and healthy. Hers is a charming, sensible and powerfully life-affirming view of health and eating for our times.
When I am ironing I love to use this Lavender linen water, in the steam iron.
I actually enjoy doing the ironing, in the evening while watching TV.


I will share my Carrot Muffin recipe, with you.
This recipe was given to me by a friend, when I was in Canada and they are very easy to make and are delicious.
I think there are about three left, so someone must have liked them.

Carrot Muffins.

Beat 2 eggs {very well}
Beat in 1 cup of soft brown sugar {or you can use white sugar }
Add 1/2 cup of cooking oil
1 and 1/2 cups of flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
pinch cloves.

Add 1 and 1/2 cups of finely grated carrots
1/4 cups raisins/or walnuts, whatever you prefer.

Bake in a moderate oven, at 180 { 350} for 20 - 30 minutes.
Makes 1 dozen large muffins.

The warmest welcome to new followers and a grateful thank you to the kind folk that leave a comment and visit me.
Wishing a great weekend to you all!
Hugs
Carolyn

32 comments:

  1. Gorgeous flower. I wish I had some here. Thanks for the recipe. It may come in handy tomorrow. I will be baking for a gang that will be white water rafting for a couple of days. Have a great weekend.

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  2. love l'occitane hand cream. I have a little one in my purse. I also use lavender linen water... specially on bed sheets. love it!

    Have to try the recipe for the carrot muffins... they look delicious!

    xo

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  3. Yummmm, lavender is such a beautiful fragrance!

    Iron?!? I can't remember the last time I ironed, LOL, only for crafting!

    xxoo

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  4. Thank you for sharing the muffin recipe, dear Carolyn! It sounds very yummy!
    I hadn't heart about linen water before. That seems to be a great idea.
    Have a great afternoon!
    Hugs,
    Julia

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  5. Wonderful muffin recipe dear Carolyn! Will try it this weekend!

    Have a lovely weekend yourself!

    XOXO LOLA:)

    PS Have Borges oils here in my kitchen too!

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  6. Dear Soul Sista Carolyn - the L'Occitane hand cream is my absolute favourite too! Have a super weekend.
    Millie ^_^

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  7. What was in the Laduree box - pray tell?!!
    I love anything from L'Occitane - their candles are great too.
    I must replenish my lavender linen water (annoys me it's so spensy here and cheap in France rrrr);

    AND your carrot muffins look yummy - I must try them!
    Such a lovely post to end the week with Carolyn!
    Have a relaxing happy weekend!
    hugs
    Shane
    PS I'll let you know about the fair.

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  8. Love L'Occitane hand cream too. Gorgeous flowers!!! and... post. And thank you for sharing the muffin recipe...
    Kisses from Spain!!!!

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  9. Mmmmm - yummy, thanks for the reiceipe, dearest Carolyn! And for the book-tipp: "the ultimate non-diet book, which could change the way you think and live", that really sounds like a book that I could like (if you see my newest post you will understand better why I wrote this ;o)) The flower you picked in the rain is wonderful!!!
    I send warm hugs to you - have a great weekend,
    yours Traude

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  10. So beautiful flowers!
    I really love lavender.
    Oh, that book. I "must" borrow it from library. It seems relly good;)
    I have heard about it.

    Your muffins, they look so delicious!!

    Have a sunny and happy weekend to you, my dear, sweet friend!!

    Marge

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  11. Carolyn, --beautifull post,
    your photoes are so lovely,----
    and I guess it is true: French wemen don`t get fat--------
    your "bread" looks so delicius, uuhhhmmmm,-thanks, and have a happy week-end.
    Hugs,Dorthe

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  12. Ciao "dolcisssssssssssima" AMICA!!!

    Mhhhhhhhhh...che buoni, sento l'odore fino qui!

    I tuoi "muffin"!

    GRAZIE della ricetta!

    FAVOLOSA!

    Wonderful recipe, but never like YOU!

    SM"U"AKKKKKKKETE! ;o) NI

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  13. Merci for your sweet visit and these great favourite tips..
    and the carrot muffins recipe,(going to savour them this w'end)
    love the camelia with the rain drops still..
    wising you a beautiful w'end:))

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  14. I love all of your favorite things, Carolyn! Those muffins look yummy! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
    Have a great weekend!
    Hugs ~ Jo

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  15. What lovely things:). I love to use lavender water for my ironing too:).

    Blessings,

    Kim

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  16. Thanks for the yummy muffin recipe. So loved the post. That is a cool book you mentioned.

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  17. You are chock full of wonderful tips, Carolyn! The lavender water in your iron is a super idea....especially for sheets and hankies. (really? you like to iron? I confess, I don't!)

    I've never tried that particular hand cream, but I will now.

    Have a lovely weekend!

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  18. Love your favorites, darling Caroline, especially that hand creme!

    xoxox,
    CC

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  19. Everything makes me sooooo happy over here today..I love carrot muffines and I adore lavender l'occitane hand cream....hugs for a great weekend. xoxo

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  20. I just left you message ~ Did you get it???? It seemed to disappear. ;-(

    xox
    Constance

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  21. Hi Carolyn! Can you believe I forgot to hit that follow button? So, I'm your newest! Is that white flower real? Wow, it's so pretty! And that book is still on my to read list, so thanks for the reminder. Also, thank you for leaving your sweet comments on my blog. Enjoy the rest of the weekend! Maureen xx

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  22. Hi Carolyn! Can you believe I forgot to hit that follow button? So I'm your newest! Thanks for the book tip, I still have to read that one and the flower is so pretty, beautiful white. Also, thank you for leaving such sweet comments on my blog! Enjoy the rest of your weekend! Maureen xx

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  23. I could use some of that hand balm. My hands are horribly dry right now with the weather changing.
    Your carrot muffin sounds VERY yummy too!

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  24. G'eve Carolyn ~ Oh, yummy, more delicious recipes to try.

    I used to sell linen water in our shop ... lavender is the best seller, tho I can't get near it.

    Have a beautiful weekend ~
    TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

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  25. Oh, how sweet and lovely! I adore lavender, so calming! XX!

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  26. Hi Carolyn! :)

    I love the things you have shared here! :) Especially the book! :)

    I saw an interview of the author, on t.v. :)

    The concept of food is different in America, people are so focused on counting calories and not eating, yet they are so fat! In Europe and in, for example Japan and China, eating is a part of culture, a beautiful experience to share with friends and family, we don't think about things like calories and not eating too much. Personally, I think the concept is, "if you love food, food will love you, if you look at food with no love, it will not love you, either" :)

    Beautiful flower, as always! :)

    C

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  27. I agree with the L'Occitane hand cream - use it myself and it's brilliant! Thanks for the carrot muffin recipe! I'll definitely be trying that out myself :) Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

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  28. Hi Carolyn,
    Oh how I enjoyed your Friday favorites. Gorgeous flower and the rain drops are beautiful. The hand cream looks like a good one especially after a long day of painting or gardening.
    I will look for that book too. Looks like a fun read.
    The linen water makes the clothes so scented through the iron. I love to iron actually and always have. Friends find that strange, but I just do. I find it relaxing.

    Thank you for sharing the yummy looking recipe for carrot muffins. It sounds like a good one.

    Hope you had a nice weekend and off to a great week.
    See you again soon dear friend.
    Love to you always,
    Celestina Marie

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  29. What a great post! I have missed your beautiful Blog so much and lok forward to catching up on everything that I missed.:-))) I have to say that the book "French Wmen Never Get Fat" is one of my favorite reads when it comes to diet advice. But, again, if I am to live in Paris, I am sure I would not be able to eat much anyway:-))). Wishing you very beautiful week ahead.

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  30. I love that L'Occitane cream as well! And I have to read that book. Right now I'm reading Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl and I just love it :)

    Hope you had a fabulous weekend! xoxo

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  31. all your simple pleasures are lovely, Carolyn,!! they can make a day a really good day, aren´t they?!!!
    cariños,
    maria cecilia

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Carolyn xx