Grandpa’s Great Escape

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Erin

Here are a few pictures of my grandpa that I was talking about the other week that had the brain bleed. Even when he was in the ICU he wanted nothing more than to come home, although he never lost his sense of humor. Joking (I think?? lol) about ways to get out of there, stories of the crazy people at the hospital and how they wouldn’t leave him alone, and asking for the check at the end of his meal so he could tip the waitress and finally leave this restaurant that he was in. I am very lucky to still have all four of my grandparents, but he is the oldest of the four. He will be 93 next January! I am happy to say he is doing well, and is getting better everyday.

Grandpa’s first evening back at home from the hospital! He was VERY happy to be back home if you couldn’t already tell from his smile.

This is his souvenir from the hospital. Grandma and Grandpa were joking that it looked like two eyebrows and a tiny nose. Grandpa was also joking that he was already for Halloween as Frankenstein. He has already gotten his staples out though, so he will have to find something else to be this Halloween.

This is an older one of him, but one of my favorites that I’ll cherish forever. Here he is celebrating his 90th birthday a few days early back in December of 2009. You can tell by the look on his face that this roller coaster is a piece of cake for him. He’s ready to go on California Sceamin’ next.

Who knows how much longer I will have my grandparents for, so I hope I can make the best of the time I have left with them. What are some of your favorite memories with your grandparents that you will treasure forever?

Mimi’s Power of Pink: Rooted in Hope + 2 $25 Gift Certificates Giveaway

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Erin

As I am sure everyone is well aware of by now, that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Mimi’s Cafe and the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) are teaming up this month to create and spread awareness for breast cancer. This past Monday, on October 1st, I was honored to partake in the kickoff of this years campaign at a pink ribbon tying ceremony at Mimi’s Cafe. Most of us know someone who has been affected by this terrible disease: whether it be a mother, sister, wife, cousin, aunt, friend, or perhaps you yourself are a survivor or are currently fighting breast cancer. I am teaming up with Mimi’s Cafe to help kickoff and support their Power of Pink campaign.

Every Mimi’s Cafe across the nation had their pink ribbon tying ceremony at the exact same time.

Toast to Mimi’s Power of Pink campaign.

Mimi’s introduces two new drinks during the month of October – Sparkling Pink Passion Mimosa and Pink Passion Sparkler. I got to try these out, and boy are they delicious! I love anything with passion fruit in it, so these drinks did not dissapoint. It also makes me feel good knowing that a portion of the proceeds from these drinks will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Ribbon Tying of the PINK ribbon on the Giving Tree of Life.

Here’s what’s happening at Mimi’s Cafe during the month of October and what YOU can do to help:

Each Mimi’s Cafe will have a Giving Tree like the one seen above. Guests who donate $1 dollar will get to place a leaf on the tree with their name and recieve coupons to use on their next visit. There are some awesome deals with these coupons, such as buy one lunch or dinner entree and get one free and a $10 off $30 coupon. That’s a pretty nice deal if you ask me! Guests who donate $5 will also receive a pink ribbon pin (see below as I could not resist donanting to such an amazing organization). Guests not able to visit a Mimi’s Cafe can donate via an online donation and will be able to place a digital leaf on the digital Giving Tree. Guests can also purchase the two drinks mentioned above as a portion of the proceeds from those drinks will also be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Loving all the PINK!!!

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Pink Strawberry Muffins!! YUM!

Guests who donate $5 will also receive this pink ribbon pin.

Giveaway Time

There are many ways to support breast cancer research when you visit Mimi’s Cafe during the month of October. To get you excited to go visit Mimi’s, two Horsing Around In LA readers will win a $25 Mimi’s Cafe gift card. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open until October 16, 2012 at 12:01 AM, EST. Good luck! Enter Here!! Good Luck!

Disclosure: I was invited by Mimi’s Cafe to attend the Power of Pink ceremony and was provided with lunch and a $25 gift certificate. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Happy Egg Co. Happy Hens Lay Happy Eggs. Free Range Eggs Flocking to Southern California Soon.

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Erin

Have you ever thought about where your eggs come from? Are your eggs caged-eggs, cage-free, free-range, or organic? Huh, What?? Luckily I was invited out this past week for a presentation by the Happy Egg Co.’s eggs-pert and third generation chicken farmer Cyd Syzmanski to learn about the differences and about their hens (affectionately refered to as “the girls”) to clear up any confusion on these very vague terms.

Caged- Eggs

Come from hens who live their entire lives in a wire cage that is so small that they cannot even stretch and flap their wings. These hens are definitely NOT happy girls! Who wants to live like that? I certainly do not! I LOVE my sunshine! Oh, and I like to be able to stretch and move my arms and legs too.

Cage-Free Eggs

Cage-free eggs come from birds that are not raised in cages, but usually are in an open barn. The hens have bedding material such as pine shavings on the floor and are allowed perches and nest boxes to lay their eggs. However, they may still be at close quarters with many other hens — just not in cages. These girls are also locked inside for their entire lives. They NEVER get to see the light of day, poor things. I don’t know about you, but I would not like to have to be forced to live this way either!

Free-Range Eggs

Free-range eggs are laid from hens that have the opportunity to go outside. Some farms may keep birds outside in a small fenced in area. They may travel in and out of a barn at free will or spend some portion of their day roaming outdoors. Finally some sunlight!! This is by far the best choice for the girls at the happy egg co, but they go even farther and give them a whole 4 acres of land to roam free on!! The Happy Egg Co. set the golden standard to what all “free-range” hens and their eggs should be held to.

“At the happy egg, the definition of Free Range is the best standard as it addresses the total welfare of the hen from balanced nutritious feed to acres of land to roam in the sunshine and fresh air as well as access to an enriched, safe barn with nests.”

Organic Eggs

BEWARE of this label!! Organic eggs are laid from hens that EAT an organic feed and don’t receive vaccines or antibiotics which is a GOOD thing of course, BUT these girls may be kept in a caging system unless specified otherwise on the carton. There are currently no standards requiring organically fed hens to be kept in a free-range system. For a company to be certified by the USDA as organic, the grains used for the hens’ diets must be grown on land that has been free from the use of pesticides and fertilizers for at least three years. Genetically engineered crops are not allowed, and the hens must be raised without hormones, antibiotics, or other drugs.

Allowing hens to be hens and to engage in their natural behaviors is the happy egg co.’s definition of Free Range and is truly the gold standard. Lovingly referred to as the Girls, they are never locked up in a cage, barn, or forced to go anywhere else that they don’t want to go. In an eggshell, farmers provide them with the freedom to flap their wings and fly as they roam across four acres of pasture.

The Happy Egg Hens are so happy because they have daily access to:

* 4 acres of pasture to roam free among the trees, shade, sand pits, and just to enjoy the fresh air and warm sunshine on their feathers with their favorite girlfriends.

*Large protective barn to keep them safe overnight from the elements, they have the freedom to choose where to roost for the night and can even choose their favorite nesting box, as well as some fun toys to peck at so they don’t get bored (since they don’t have access to any TV’s, computers with internet, or other technology to keep themselves entertained with like we do).

*Clean water and feed consisting of an all-natural formulated diet of corn and soy.

Happy eggs come from happy family run farms, which is the best way to raise happy, Free Range hens. No huge chicken factories here. Small family farmers are chosen based on several criteria, most importantly that they are good animal stewards who are very passionate about improving the life of the hens they care for everyday. With their network of small farmers, they will be scaling up to distribute across California and the nation.

Eggs are a staple in any home, and are packed with protein and nutrients galore which makes them perfect any time of the day. From fluffy omelets, to decadent French Toast, moist cakes, chocolate brownies, to quiches and more; the recipes for eggs are endless. To make the tastiest dishes, you want the highest quality ingredients, that you and your family deserve. The happy egg co. believes that the best eggs can only come from the happiest hens that are treated like gold and are well cared for, which just makes sense. I would be happy too if I were able to frolic and play outside all day as I pleased!

Now, look below at the packaging. How awesome is that? Not only are the hens, and the eggs happy, but even the packaging of these eggs are happy!! Adding a ray of sunshine to the otherwise dreary and boring gray, white and sometimes light blue egg cases, happy eggs are packaged in a happy sunshine-yellow carton with big pillars that cradle and protect the eggs. Cute pictures give you easy to understand information on the carton as well.

*Random Fact* Did you know that the color of the egg is determined by the color of the hens earlobe? The happy eggs girls are a Bovan Brown hybrid known for its egg-laying ability and easy-going temperament. Their girls always lay brown eggs, because their ear lobes are BROWN!!

So where can you buy the happiest eggs on earth? No, unfortunately not at Disneyland (although that would make sense to me too if you could since that’s the happiest place on earth) Schucks!! Starting Oct. 15, you will be able to find these happy eggs in their happy sunshiny day packaging at select Ralph’s and Fresh & Easy locations in Southern California, between Santa Barbara and San Diego for approximately $4.99 a dozen making it a breeze to add the best eggs possible to the family table.

At the Happy Egg Co, the goal is to make Free Range eggs available to everyone. Happy Hens lay Happy Eggs. Happy hens that are treated well will lay the highest quality eggs. Always putting the hen first, the girls roam free across acres of pasture on small family farms tended by experts who are passionate about what they do. The result? Only the highest quality eggs that will make your dishes the freshest, finest and tastiest as humanly (or is it henly?) possible.

For More Information on The Happy Egg Co:

*U.S. headquarters is in San Francisco. The happy egg co. brings its years of experience with Free Range eggs as part of Noble Foods Ltd. and the happy egg co. brand in the United Kingdom.

*Website: www.thehappyeggco.com

*Facebook: www.Facebook.com/HappyEggCoUSA

*Twitter @HappyEggCoUSA

Disclosure: I was invited to an egg-cellent presentation and brunch by the Happy Egg Co. All opinions stated above are my own and I will be looking for the Happy Eggs in my local super market in just a few short weeks!