Food Matters

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I'm on a bit of a health kick with my reading these days. I have two books to review for you this week and next and they're both related to living and eating well. Lucky you!

Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating by Mark Bittman is all about reducing our country's dependence on meat. Apparently, our need for meat-based protein sources has skyrocketed in the last 30 years and far surpasses any other country in the world. He claims some (healthier) countries eat only 3 oz. of meat a day. That's not even a true servings worth here! Bittman says that if we find other sources for protein we can lessen our impact on the enivronment as well. Fewer animals produced solely for the factory farming industry, less gas used transporting said food and animals all add up to a happier you and a happier planet. He also gives a plethora of recipes following these strategies.

While I found a lot of his facts interesting (and shocking), I'm not ready to give up meat yet. I only eat red meat about once a week (if that) and really, I only eat a full 4 oz. serving of meat-based protein at dinner. The few chunks of chicken in my daily soup lunch probably don't constitute a serving. So, that made me feel pretty good about my dependence on meat. I'm actively pursuing protein in other ways as well, but that was happening prior to reading this book. I thought Food Matters was enlightening but like I said, not quite ready to go Vegan just yet.

Rating: * * *

Recipe Reblog #13

I'm back in the kitchen with two new recipes this week after taking a week off. I didn't take a week off cooking, just off trying new stuff. So, here goes!

Apple Cider Vinegar Broccoli Slaw: We had this alongside fish tacos. The link gives you a fish taco recipe too but I used my old standby. This slaw was a nice complement to the tacos. It had a bright flavor to it and I had all the ingredients on hand, which I love, as you know. I will say, the flavors on this do not need to marry. Make it right before eating. I had some leftovers the next day and I didn't think it was quite as good. Still, a nice alternative to your regular old slaw.

Crockpot Hawaiian BBQ Chicken: I love a good crockpot meal. My sister sent this my way. It is super simple and delicious! I served it over brown rice. I did add red and green peppers to pump up the non-existent veggie quotient. I will also say you probably don't need to use an entire bottle of BBQ sauce. Hold back at least a third to half cup to save some calories. It will not suffer. Also, I didn't use the special Target sauce they recommended because I wasn't going to Target. We picked a sweet, brown sugar sauce and it was fine. Give this one a try!

Beauty Fail

A few weeks ago, I got the idea stuck in my head that I should just wax my own eyebrows for a fraction of the cost that my salon charges. Brilliant, right? Luckily, this post does not end in tears and I still have both eyebrows. Sorry to disappoint. I don't get my brows waxed regularly. I usually just tweeze into between waxings, which only happen about 3 times a year. So, you could say I'm mostly a tweezer (person, not
object).

Sally Hansen

At Ulta, I puchased this Sally Hansen eyebrow waxing kit for $6.00. It comes with a microwaveable pot of wax, cooling cream, applicator, tweezers and brow guides. Not bad for much less than one salon waxing, right? I had let far too many stray hairs grow before I tried my hand at waxing. So many times I wanted to tweeze but had to stop myself. I wanted there to be plenty to pull off.

The instructions said not to heat for more than 2 minutes. Well, 2 minutes later and I could barely get the plastic paddle into the still hard wax. So I kept going. Here's where things got really sticky........

I was finally able to stir up some liquid wax and spread it on my skin between my eyebrows. This kit doesn't come with strips. The wax hardens in seconds and you rip that off instead. Well, it pulled out some of the hairs, but not all. I really don't think the wax was hot enough. So I tried again. And again. Then I tried under my brows where the actual shaping happens. Things didn't go so well there. The wax wasn't pulling off any hair!

There is a spot on my right brow where I got a tad overzealous and managed to take off more hair than intended. When I asked John what he thought after he said, "Ohhhh, they're really thin." I said, "I didn't even wax that part. That's what they always look like." Thanks, honey. Then I asked about the part on the inner edge that I screwed up and he recoiled in horror. Thanks again. Luckily, my glasses and bangs provide a little camouflage. I'm not showing a pictures because it's embarrassing.

Did I learn my lesson to leave it to the pros? No. Next time, I'm heating the wax for much longer. I really think that was the problem and will give me more accuracy.

Have you ever waxed your own eyebrows? Any tips or am I just crazy?

The Bronze Horseman

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This book was recommended by one of the book blogs I read. The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons is the first in a series of three books. And we all know I love a good book series.

Set in Leningrad during World War II, Tatiana is a 17 year old Russian girl struggling to survive with her family in a time of hunger and strife. She lives in a two room apartment with her sister Dasha and brother Pasha, two parents and grandparents. When sent out to buy rations for her family, she meets Alexander, a Russian soldier, and becomes enamored with him from that day forward. Theirs, however, is a forbidden love for a big reason I won't spoil for you. As the war carries on, the family's troubles grow, along with their hunger. The fear that food will stop coming to the city is always on their minds. Through all of their tribulations, Tatiana and Alexander's love grows.

What a love story! Simons has some good, descriptive writing going on here. She does a brilliant job conveying each character's emotions. Fair warning, some of the scenes are quite racy and explicit. If that's not your thing, you might want to skip over those. There are many in one particular part of the story. I liked this book so much I went to get the second one from the library even before finishing the first only to find out my library doesn't have it! I had to buy a book, guys. You know, even though I love books, I try my darnedest to only borrow and not buy. I did get it used for $5 on Amazon though so that makes it a little better. Extra bonus, I got it in paperback so it won't be nearly as heavy in my carry-on to Florida in 3 weeks. (!)

If you like impossible love stories, give this one a try! Quite long but you will become so wrapped up in the characters that those 600+ pages will fly by.



Rating: * * * *

Thursday Things

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Y'all been watching SMASH on NBC? If you are a fan of musicals and haven't checked it out, shame on you. If you're not a fan of musicals, this is not GLEE (Which I love, don't get me wrong). There is a plot. Not just a plot that is attached to the music. Plot first, music second. Glee, take notes.


Nicki Minaj - I used to hate her music and now I can't get enough of it! This happens to me with a lot of artists. Do you think I look ghetto fab rapping along with her in my CRV? I probably do. No matter what you say. There's a good chance itunes will be seeing some activity from me in their store. Starships? Super Bass? Yes please! Awesome running music.

The newest issue of Bon Appetit graced my mailbox the other day and I squealed with delight when I saw the cover. Normally I think their recipes are mostly above my skill level but an entire issue dedicated to Paris? Oh yes! I am pining for Paris and planning a trip as part of my 30 Bucket List (more on that another day). Thanks, Bon Appetit, for kicking off my research!

Buy it here

A friend gave me this lip butter as part of my birthday gift and I love it! It's so creamy and makes your lips feel instantly healthier when you put it on. Plus, all organic! The one I have is plain flavored, not Sweet Fig as pictured but I can't find the original one online. Get it at Target and enjoy!

Buy Here

One more lip goodness and then I'll have you on your way. I don't like to pay much for lip gloss/balm/butter and admittedly, it was a freebie. However, it sells for around $20 at Sephora and it would be worth it. Worth it! So smooth with just a hint of color and shine. I have the Rose and it's not that bright at all. Don't be scared. I also have the untinted kind. I now have so many tubes of lip stuff that I have to rotate so they don't get jealous.

Au revoir, mes amis!

To the MAX(i skirt)

Confession. I have the biggest blogger crush on Leanne from Elle Apparel. This is the third tutorial of hers I've used and I love them all! I'm also really jealous of her hair. If try really hard, will my hair get to be that length and not look gnarly? OK, enough about that and onto the sewing. Despite John's cries that I'd look like a hippie, I sewed up this maxi skirt anyway.

Remember this fabric? It looks purple and pink in the pic but really it's red and navy. I fell in love with it months ago and immediately bought the rest of the bolt on a subsequent trip to Joann's. I used it to make my long cardigan, also an Elle Apparel tutorial. No, I will not be wearing the cardigan with the skirt. Please.

The tutorial was easy to follow and while I would have liked a little more yardage to have some more flare at the bottom, I'm still pleased with the way the skirt turned out.

There was a slight snafu with the hem, however. I wanted to attempt to use a double needle. This is 2 needles, attached at a crossbar at the top. It allows you to sew parallel lines giving a really professional finish. Double needles are not expensive. I ordered mine on Amazon for $4. I was SO excited to use it. I read tutorials, I watched videos. Then, I loaded that double needle for some practice stitching. That's where things went south. Fast. There was some choice language flying in Atelier d'Ashley (that's what I call my sewing studio because I like French things). I took great care in threading the needles (you have to use two spools) so they wouldn't cross and tangle. Everything seemed okay but when I started sewing, nothing was catching.

I know it's hard to tell but this is a picture of failure.

I still don't understand what happened. Furthermore, I can't continue to fix the problem because after a good 30 minutes of effort, this happened.

Bye bye double needle - I hardly knew ye




And then I cried. John tried to cheer me up with a green monster smoothie (PBJ!) It was good but it didn't take away the sour taste of defeat.

I have a feeling the timing was off with the bobbin or something. Unfortunately, I've also just given my back up machine to my sister. I thought all was lost. I took apart everything I know how to take apart (sans manual, because I accidentally gave that away too) and put it back together. Then I sewed the hem with a single needle. Thank goodness the machine isn't broken. But, I think it's on its last legs. It costs about $90 just to have your machine cleaned and oiled. My question is: Is that worth it when I really want a new machine anyway? I guess it depends on if I have an extra $400 lying around. That's how much the one I want costs.

ANYWAY!

Back to the maxi.........it has a yoga waistband and is super comfy. Chances are I'll be living in it this summer. John also took back his hippie comment and said it looked cute on me. Success!

Are those squats paying off yet?



Photobombed by Sadie.......again



Why is it always windy when I take these pictures?



Love that rugby stripe, don't you? I wish I could find it in a wide assortment of colors. Or at least black and white. I'm definitely going to make more of these. Watch out!













April Beers

Two new and opposite beers this past weekend, folks.

Breckenridge SummerBright Ale

I have professed my love for Breckenridge Brewery many times in the past. Their regular and seasonal ales are hands down some of my favorites. In fact, I've never had a bad beer from them (skipping those IPA's though - girlfriend does NOT like IPA's) So last week when John said he saw SummerBright in the cooler of our fancy gourmet grocery store, I got pretty giddy.

At $9.99 / 6 pack, it's not the cheapest but all of their beers are priced like this and worth it. From the website: "A golden ale with a hint of natural citrus." Hint? More like a faint whisper. The bottle says "brewed with orange and lemon peel" but the citrus flavor was so subtle, it was barely there. While I did like the SummerBright, I don't know that I would buy it again. There are so many other summer beers that do it right (for less) that I think I'd rather go back to my old favorites. Sorry, Breckenridge. I'll see you again in the fall!

Sam Adams Griffin's Bow

Every Friday at the local liquor store a beer tasting is held. It's a buck a (generous) taste. One weekend, Sam Adams was on tap. Sam Adams (like Breckenridge) is one of the favorites around Chez G for its seasonal beers but also for the everyday ones too. We skipped some of the ones we'd had before and tried this small batch brew instead.

Griffin's Bow is an oaked blonde barleywine ale in the Limited Release family from Sam Adams. From the website: "From the aroma and notes of sweet honeysuckle, pineapple, and grapefruit, to richer hints of burnt sugar, and toffee, this intriguing brew is full of complex flavors. The distinct character of toasted oak adds depth and contrasts the light fruit sweetness. This unique take on a barleywine ale surprises with its smoothness and balance of fruit, hop citrus, and warming strength."

I really enjoyed this one. It was $5.99 for a 1 pint, 6 oz. bottle so John and I shared it. Also, it's 10% alcohol (hence the price) but is surprisingly smooth with a nice sweet aftertaste. If you can find this, give it a try!