Delicious Lavender Lemon Iced Tea Recipe

On the weekend I took part in a Local Vintage & craft tour, and offered Lavender & Lemon Iced Tea at my location along with some sweets.  The Iced tea tasted delicious & everyone was loving it and wanting the recipe.  I would definitely make it again, and it makes a lot depending on how big of a container you are needing to fill. I had used a Vintage style glass Mason Jar looking dispenser which you can get everywhere now a days, with them being extremely trendy.

I carry "Karla's Specialteas" from Mission, BC, and find all her flavours of organic teas dreamy with amazing blends that she either personally grows, or works with other organic growers in her area. She then blends them together for us to enjoy. Here is the link to her site to read more about her back story & why I love being apart of her creations. http://karlasspecialteas.ca/the-story/

Here is also the link to her site and more information on the products she produces. http://karlasspecialteas.ca/

In the meantime here is the Recipe that I made using her Earl Grey Lavender tea:

For Iced Tea use the ratio of 2 tsp of tea to one cup of boiling water. (So if you are making a large container you would be looking at using more than this, but its a guideline)
Steep your teas for 2-4 min. or longer depending on strength. I added slices of Lemon and Lime to the warm tea after steeping. You can also re-steep using the very same tea leaves that you just used. One of the things I love about her teas is you can make another batch without being waistful.  You can also steep your tea in cold water overnight or for 4 hours, in the fridge.

After your tea has cooled you can start adding your ice, and I added already made Lemonade to the teas mixture for the sweetness. You can also add honey or sugar to your sweetness liking and keep it in the fridge. Chill & enjoy!!!

Sidenote: The Lavender already in the tea is most likely a Culinary Lavender and only infuses a gentle amount of Lavender to the right taste on your palette. It isn't perfumey to the taste at all...just in case you were thinking of using Lavender out of your Garden. ;) There are different strengths and types of Lavender...and I leave it up to the Pros who know what they are doing. Petit Creek Lavender also sells a Culinary Lavender to add to baking and infused into honey it is amazing! Definitely need to use it to bake with to accompany the tea...next time.

PM me to get your hands on this Brand of tea. I also carry these delicious flavours as well, and can't decide which one is my favourite, because I love them all!! (The tea horder in me talking here. LOL)

Japan's Treasure - Green Tea
Earl Grey Cream
Chai Latte
Fireside
Midnight Mint
Pink Grapefruit
Lapsang Souchong (smoky flavour for Meat rubs)

Hope you try it and let me know what you think!!
Hope you are all having a great summer, and can kick back with a glass of this delicious Iced Cold tea on a warm summer's night.

Sincerely,
Diana aka Vintage Cove girl

Yummy Fluffy Pumpkin Pancakes

I have tried a ton of Pancake Recipes and always come back to the same Basic Pancake Recipe. Purity cookbook has been a staple cookbook in our family for 3 generations. I went off to College with a torn up, no cover, well loved copy of it. I have since then always made recipes out of it because it was recipes you could look in your pantry, and baking cupboard and easily make from what you have on hand. The book first was compiled in 1917, and the copy I possess is a revised reissued copy from 1967. Cooking, baking, preparing, and appliances have changed dramatically since the book was born. Iceboxes, woodenstoves, sifting, bread making, freezing, and canning have all now been changed to become the modern age way and recipes to suit new ways of doing things.

Here is my twist on a old standby Pancake Recipe:
Pumpkin Pancakes

Blend or sift together:
2 cups Flour
3 tbls Brown Sugar
3 tps Baking Powder
1/2 tps. Salt
1 tps. Cinnamon
1/4 tps. Ginger
1/8 tps. Nutmeg
1 tsp. Pure Vanilla

Combine:
1 beaten egg
1 3/4 Cups milk or more for thinner batter
3 heaping tbls. of Pumpkin Puree
2 tbls. Oil or melted butter

Combine liguids to dry Ingredients. Beat only until combined. (Can use a scraper to combine by hand)

Grease skillet, and measure out the batter to the desired size of pancakes.  Wait until bubbles appear to flip. Cook until golden brown. Serve hot with butter, and syrup, Enjoy! Yield 12-4" pancakes

Want to try the Pancakes minus the Pumpkin & Spice? Just leave out the Spices, and Pumpkin Puree. I still enjoy adding the hint of Vanilla in the Plain Recipe for a little extra flavour. The original recipe does not contain adding Vanilla, so try it both ways & decide which way you prefer it.

Make a Pumpkin Spiced Latte to compliment your pancakes by using the same spices and 1tbsp. of Pumpkin Puree with Coffee Cream & sugar with the amount you enjoy in your coffee. Add a drop of Vanilla to your coffee, stir in your ingredients to a large coffee mug with coffee already in it. Or simmer all the ingredients in a saucepan, until hot and not boiling, to add to coffee. You could make a large batch and keep in the fridge once it has cooled.

Vintage & Handmade Market Registration 2015

Vintage & Handmade market, hosted by Vintage Cove girl. 

Welcome Vendors & Prospective Vendors

This will be a very exciting event for all of us, once again this year.  2nd Annual Vintage & Handmade Pop-up Market, taking place Saturday May 30st, 9am -4pm. (Vendors can arrive a half hour before opening, and 1 1/2 hrs. after to clean up and take down your displays 8:30-5:30pm) Open to the Public between 9am-4pm.  Set up for Vendors is Friday May 29th, from 9am-9pm. Vendors can decide what time you would like to arrive and set up your booth, on this day.
Merritt Civic Centre is located at 1950 Mamette Avenue.  Directions to the event can be found on the events page, just follow this link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/269603336538905/

Vendor Applications are currently OPEN. (Vendors that fit in the Vintage and/or Handmade category that mix well with this type of theme, for this Juried Show.)

Booth Spaces are $70 for one 10x10 space, and $140 for 10x20 space.  This is a "Juried Show".
*No booth sharing, each Vendor must pay for their own space.  All Products must be Handmade, painted or embellished by the Vendor.  *No Commercial, mass produced products sold in your booth.*  (If unclear, please message myself) The exception to this rule is Chalk Style, Milk Paints, or other such Paints for purchase to consumers. Any Food or edible items must have a Food safe certification to be displayed.

Vintage Finds must be 30 years or older, and be good quality "Junk".  (We don't want to look like a Flea Market)

Decorating your booth Vintage Styled, or with Backdrops are encouraged to add to the Market feel. If you have a table booth, tablecloths are a must, and need to provide your own.  Bring your own extension cords, Power bars, ladders, tools, battery operated candles, etc. No burning candles please, as Fire codes do not allow open flame.

Please use the corked 12ft. borders for hanging things, with Thumbtacks, tape, putty or staples.  No tape on walls, floors or double sided tape on tables.  Please use Garbage bins provided for any take down garbage.
While setting up your booth, please make sure any Fire Exits near you are not blocked by merchandise or any other objects, and are free and clear once you are all set up.

Lots of  free Parking is provided at the Civic Centre.  If you are parking right up front to the doors, once you have loaded your inventory please move your vehicle, so other Vendors may also take advantage of parking close, and hauling items a short distance as well.

The Building is locked overnight with a alarm system, so there shouldn't be a worry for security. Please take any cash boxes or bags with you on Friday night, for safe keeping.

You are responsible for manning your own booth.  Have a friend cover for you for lunch, and bathroom breaks or kindly ask the Vendor next to you, and you could cover for each other, if you are alone in your booth.  Another Vendor will be on site that will be able to provide us with Lunch, snacks & drinks to purchase during the Market, as well as Vintage Styled Baked goods.

Advice: 
Price items reasonable to take advantage of making some great sales that day, but also make sure you are covering your costs as well.  It would be great to not have to haul anything back home again.
Bring lots of Business Cards. You can wear an apron, and/or Vintage attire & a Smile.  This will be such a Fun day, and can't wait to see you all!!!

Accepting application immediately, and until April 16th or we are full.  Approx. 40 Vendor single spaces available.
First come, first serve for availability.  Once application is approved, and payment is received, your Registration will then be processed.  Accepted Vendors will be notified by e-mail by April 7th at the latest.  Once payment is received it is non-refundable the 10 days prior to May 30st.  (Exceptions for illness, inclement weather, and unforeseen circumstances that keep you from attending that particular day.)  If another Vendor is on the waiting list and available to take your space, you will also be refunded as well.

Follow the Link to the On-line Applications here:
http://fs30.formsite.com/VintageCovegirl/Market-Registration-Form/index.html



If you have a Website or Facebook Fanpage, you will have a couple of advantages:
We can clearly see your style & products you may possibly have in your booth, for this Juried Event. Also closer to the Market dates, Vintage Cove girl's Fan Page as well as the Events page will be showcasing all of the Vendors for our Market goers to know what & who to expect there. A great Marketing tool for bringing everyone down for the one day don't miss event.

For the applications you will have 4 spots to download photos of product, as well as any of your booths you have decorated at previous shows, you have participated in would be great!

Contact me via e-mail once you have chosen your method of payment, so that I can keep track of the method used, and give you more information to complete the transaction.  Make any cheques payable to Diana Lorenz.  3391 Wildrose Way, Merritt, BC V1K 1K4
Need to get a hold of me on Market set up day, and can't find me?  Please feel free to text or call me at 250-378-7571. (Please do not use this number to contact me prior to the show, email or Facebook is the preferred methods)

Should you have any questions, or concerns that I may have forgotten to address here, please feel free to contact me through e-mail vintagecovegirl@gmail.com or my Facebook Fan Page, Vintage Cove girl.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vintage-Cove-girl/208794879172943

Sincerely,
Diana Lorenz, Vintage Cove.

Christmas in our HOME

This year getting ready for Christmas really "snuck up on me."  I was spending months getting ready for the Christmas Craft fair as always, and this year with all the other activities going on in our lives...well Christmas "snuck up on me." So without further a due here is our Home this year with all the Christmas touches.  We tried to scale back, and were hoping the less is more theme would be better.  But still lots of things made their way into the decor, maybe more than I wanted. One tends to forget from year to year what we have & tend to buy a little bit more each year.  I will have to try & stop myself next year...yah right!  Especially when I make something and want to keep one for ourselves.

Have a Very Merry Christmas this year & all the best in 2015!!  Enjoy.

Meanwhile downstairs.....

Haven Living Skincare

I became a stockist of Haven Living's Skincare line not just to sell it, but because it is a product I believe in. Which for me is huge! Haven Living is skincare that you can feel great about using on your whole family. Flip the jar over to the back & you will see it contains Coconut Oil & Soy. Well I can read those & pronounce them! So right there I am on board the Haven Living Skincare train. Just about every member of the family has sensitive skin, even Exzema. So to find a product that doesn't have Perfume or artificial fragrance is tough. I used to be a Cosmetician back in the day, and when I flip a package over, I thoroughly read the ingredients that I can recognize, and know what makes a product tick, or cause skin irritation etc. Perfumes & fragrance is one of the big ones. Just because a product says it is Perfume free doesn't mean it isn't fragrance free. The fragrance is usually artificial, as well as all the preservatives to keep a product stable for its shelf life.  Who wants all that?  Not me, nor do I want it for my family. Enter Haven Living Skincare. . .

For my first try I chose the Mandarin & Bergomot scrub, because it has "Therapeutic values of mandarin orange provide relief from inflammation and improve circulation, while promoting growth of new cells. Bergamot aids in the healing of scars and help to balance skin tone. The fresh citrus scent stimulates the spirit like sunny day in the orange GROVE."
From aesthetically pleasing packaging, and the smell, oh the smell, to a clean flawless feeling after you have used the Polishing Scrub on your face. Dry patches gone, oily patches gone, and shiny radiant skin in its place. My skin has been feeling like it has been lacking lustre since summer left, and I have been looking for a product to give it a "pick me up". Look no further, I found it and hope it will never leave.  As I added a touch of water to the scrub to emulsify it to a better consistency to apply to my face, I was taking deep breaths to take in the essence of Mandarin & Bergomot. Then as I was using it, making sure not to miss one square inch of my face, I used it around my lips and could taste it, and yes it even tasted good!! Rinsed it all off & towel dried my face & the feeling of renewed skin was instant. So I obviously had lots of skin cells build up, and that's why my face was looking and feeling the way it was. My other facial scrub wasn't cutting it.  I can honestly say my skin looks & feels younger today! It also completely got rid of my make up, which is a complete bonus.

Now to try the "Grounds" Body Pumice.
I only got to try this on my hands, but I tell you my legs & feet are next.  So soft, and supple after using this, and what a great morning ritual if you have the time once a week to quickly give your hands a treatment, or every other day. OK, Every day if you really had the time. Gets rid of dry, flaky skin that our hands are so prone to, as well as leaving them moisturized. It feels greasy while you are rinsing them, but the minute you towel dry, its completely absorbed and not a greasy residue what so ever.

So the last product so far that I have tried in the line-up is the Energizing Room & Linen Spray.  Well I can tell you a lot more laundry & ironing might get done with this product. Lemon & Ginger, Mmmm. Natural citrus smells that are so fresh. Once again flip the bottle around to look at the label, and you will see Distilled water, Witch Hazel & essential Oil fragrance blend.
Its Clear, and safe for your linens.

My next trial is going to be on the Sprout Baby soap, which I am going to use on the whole family.

Well done Desja of Haven Living, you have created a wonderful product that we can all feel great about using in every sense.

....now off to spread the word of natural, amazing, quilt free skincare.

Yours truly, Diana
aka Vintage Cove girl

Vintage Market Sneak Peaks

2 months to get ready for the Local Vintage Market should be enough time, right? I should hope so, but with all the ideas I keep wanting to make & do, plus be the perfect host will be a challenge.  I am up for it!!  So here are a few things that I have been working on this past week & will be coming with me to my booth.  Spread the word to all your friends & relatives who wouldn't want to miss this First (and hopefully not last) Vintage & Handmade Pop-up Market to hit Merritt.  Lots of Local & Out of town Vendors will be in attendance.  Still Accepting Applications, if you or you know someones wares that would compliment this Vintage Styled market nicely.  A Vendor list will be posted closer to the Market, so customers know what to expect, and who will be their first stop shop.

Vintage & Handmade Market Registration Applications

Welcome Vendors & Prospective Vendors

This will be a very exciting event for all of us.  Merritt's first Vintage & Handmade Pop-up Market, taking place Saturday May 31st, 8:30am -5:30pm. (half hour before opening, and 1 1/2 hrs. after to clean up and take down your displays) and Open to the Public between 9am-4pm.  Set up for Vendors is Friday May 30th, 9am-9pm.
Merritt Civic Centre is located at 1950 Mamette Avenue.  Directions to the event can be found on the events page, just follow this link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/269603336538905/

Vendor Applications are CLOSED. (Vendors that fit in the Vintage and/or Handmade category that mix well with this theme.)

Booth Spaces are $65 for one 10x10 space, and $130 for 10x20 space.  This is a "Juried Show".
*No booth sharing, each Vendor must pay for their own space.  All Products must be Handmade, painted or embellished by the Vendor.  *No Commercial, mass produced products sold in the booth.  Accept Paint, Tools, and supplies to help the customer achieve the project they want.  (If unclear, please message myself)

Vintage Finds must be 25 years or older, and be good quality "Junk".  (We don't want to look like a Flea Market)

Decorating your booth Vintage Styled, or with Backdrops are encouraged to add to the Market feel. If you have a table booth, tablecloths are a must, and need to provide your own.  Bring your own extension cords, Power bars, ladders, tools, battery operated candles, etc.

Please use the corked 12ft. borders for hanging things, with Thumbtacks, tape, putty or staples.  No tape on walls, floors or double sided tape on tables.  Please use Garbage bins provided for any take down garbage.
While setting up your booth, please make sure any Fire Exits near you are not blocked by merchandise or any other objects, and are free and clear once you are all set up.

Lots of  free Parking is provided at the Civic Centre.  Once you have loaded your inventory please move your vehicle so other Vendors can take advantage of parking close, and hauling items a short distance as well.

The Building is locked overnight with a alarm system, so there shouldn't be a worry for security.

You are responsible for manning your own booth.  Have a friend cover for you for lunch, and bathroom breaks or kindly ask the Vendor next to you, and you could cover for each other, if you are alone in your booth.  Another Vendor will be on site that will be able to provide us with Lunch, snacks & drinks to purchase during the Market, as well as Vintage Styled Baked goods.

Advice: 
Price items reasonable to take advantage of making some great sales that day, but also make sure you are covering your costs as well.  You don't want to haul anything home again.
Bring lots of Business Cards, wear an apron & your Vintage Smile.  This will be such a Fun day, and can't wait to see you!!!

Accepting application immediately, and until April 16th or we are full.  Approx. 40 Vendor single spaces.
First come, first serve for availability.  Once application is approved, and payment is received, your Registration will then be processed.  Accepted Vendors will be notified by e-mail by April 7th at the latest.  Once payment is received it is non-refundable the 10 days prior to May 31st.  (Exceptions for illness, inclement weather, and unforeseen circumstances that keep you from attending that particular day.)  If another Vendor is able to take your space, you will be refunded as well.

Follow the Link to the On-line Applications here:
http://fs30.formsite.com/VintageCovegirl/Market-Registration-Form/index.html

For the applications you will have 4 spots to download photos of product, as well as any of your booths you have decorated at previous shows, you have participated in would be great!

Contact me via e-mail once you have chosen your method of payment, so that I can keep track of the method used, and give you more information to complete the transaction.  Make any cheques payable to Diana Lorenz.  3391 Wildrose Way, Merritt, BC V1K 1K4
Need to get a hold of me on Market set up day, and can't find me?  Please feel free to text or call me at 250-378-7571.

Should you have any questions, or concerns that I may have forgotten to address here, please feel free to contact me through e-mail vintagecovegirl@gmail.com or my Facebook Fan Page, Vintage Cove girl.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vintage-Cove-girl/208794879172943

Sincerely,
Diana Lorenz, Vintage Cove.