Pesto and (Gluten Free) Pasta

It's officially autumn.  The trees are at their peak colors, sweaters are out of storage, and it's time to bring on the hearty foods!

As you might have seen, I have a lot of basil in my garden, so I decided to try my hand at making my first pesto.  And much to my pleasure, this recipe is simple, easy, and good!  And after it's made, you can easily toss it into a dish like...

Pesto and (Gluten Free) Pasta 

Ingredients:

• Pesto Recipe
• Gluten Free Pasta (of choice)
• Chicken Breast
• Shredded Cheese (of choice)

Instructions:

1.  Cook pasta according to package directions.  Strain. 
2. Cook chicken 4 minutes each side.  Once done, cut into strips and set aside. 
3. Toss cooked pasta with pesto, add shredded cheese and chicken.  
4. Enjoy! 

Total Time:  20 minutes 

Sun Streaks: Arkansas Sunset

I do love me a good sunset.  And the mid-south is abound with them.   Thank you, ma'am, for this moment!

Sun Streaks: Meet Me in Saint Louis

 I always knew Saint Louis was the Gateway to the Midwest.  And I always knew they had that "arch thing" and a very good baseball team.  But that's where my knowledge stopped. I never realized how much history and beautiful architecture the city had.  My loss, because I was very pleasantly surprised by this finding on a recent trip.

I wasn't able to take in the whole city, just a baseball game and the walk to and from the stadium from the hotel.  But a return trip is definitely in order to see more of what this city has to offer.  I'm told I MUST try the fried ravioli.

Sun Streaks: Picture from the Plane

I have a resolution in life to not take anything for granted and to enjoy the small pleasures.  It's one of the reasons I started this blog.  One of my small pleasures is always to remember to take "nature moments."  Moments where you just sit back for a small second and realize nature is a gorgeous and wonderful thing that's bigger than you and your life.  It puts things into perspective for me. 

For example, last night my plane circled the Atlanta airport for a good 45 minutes because of Hurricane Sandy.  However, one look outside the window and it put it into perspective.  Life is what you make it, and there's no use in getting annoyed at the details when there's beauty waiting for you.

Saddlebock Brewery

Whenever I find a diamond in the rough, I get excited.  And when it's a diamond in the rough that's all of three weeks old, I have to share the find!  Over the weekend, the man found a brand new microbrewery named Saddlebock Brewery in Springdale, Arkansas.  So, lovers of beer that we are, we took a drive there to check it out (and it's a beautiful drive!  The brewery is pretty far down a country road in Springdale.)

We're admittedly a bit on the "beer snob" side of the coin, however, the three available beers in the tap room were all very drinkable, not to mention impressive for a microbrewery that opened less than a month ago.  My suggestion?  The Dunkelweiz (picture here).  

Take a trip out to this horse farm and grab a beer. When you see a large red barn close to the road, that's your destination! Plus, who doesn't love a country drive and most importantly, a play on words?  Saddlebock?  For a horse farm?  Loving it!

Summer Reading: Bridgerton Series Review

As I previously mentioned, I've spent my summer reading (and re-reading) Julia Quinn's Bridgerton Series, eight romance novels about eight siblings in aristocracy of nineteenth century England.  Overall, though not the most mind-bettering activity, I wholeheartedly enjoyed the series.  Sometimes it was a little cliche, sometimes she recycled turns of phrase, and I did find more than a dozen grammar and punctuation errors.  But again, they're romance novels and not Vonnegut or Austen, there are some things you just gotta let slide.  Overall, they're easy, enjoyable reads and that's what I wanted!

A few things I liked  overall:

• Ms. Quinn put a little feminism into her characters.  All of the female "heroines" had a backbone, intelligence, and was a person in her own right.  In that way, it's not very factually accurate to have these women in the assigned time-period, but it was nice as a reader nonetheless.
• She kept the theme of the series, bringing back characters and nuances when it pertained to each story.  But each story could stand alone without the others.
• Who doesn't love a series that culminates in true love, each and every time?

As for the individual books, a few words on each:

• The Duke and I:  The first book I ended up picking up was the first book of the series.  Convenient, that.  This is about the first born daughter and her story falling in love with the Duke of Hastings and their struggles and triumphs within.  My favorite part was the overbearing brothers and the almost duel - because I'm pretty sure my overbearing men in my life would love to shoot someone too. 
• The Viscount Who Loved Me:  This is my second favorite book; at first I didn't like the first-born son (Anthony) because he was too much of a cliche for me.  But after a while, I was able to sink into the story with the help of the heroine, Kate.  
• An Offer From A Gentleman:  This was probably my least favorite and the most cliched.  The storyline was a recycled Cinderella theme from rags to happiness type of stuff.  It's fine in and of itself, but too hard to believe and get into. 
• Romancing Mister Bridgerton:  The overall tying thread of the first four books was Lady Whistledown, in this book you find out the mystery.  The book is the third son (Colin) and his search for love. I liked the heroine a lot better than I liked the hero, because I need a little more grit in my object of love.
• To Sir Phillip, With Love:  My favorite of the eight by far.  I've re-read this in passing or just to kill an hour or two on the weekends.  A very easy read and probably the most feminist bent - but with the love story included.  It all started with a note...
• When He Was Wicked:  I feel like this is the most "romance novel" of the eight with more graphic scenes.  But hey, it was a change in cadence!
• It's In Hiss Kiss: The struggles of the youngest, head strong daughter and her headstrong love interest.  This didn't stand out for me, but like I mentioned it was nice getting hints about the family and knowing the back story!
• On the Way to the Wedding:  Sometimes I feel towards the end of this series, Julia Quinn was straining for ideas.  This was a heroic end, but running to the church?  Hiding in a tree?  I'm not sure, it's not my favorite. 

If you needed more of the Bridgertons, Ms. Quinn is capitalizing on her series and has released "Second Epilogues" telling more details about life after the love story for each child.  Unfortunately for me, this is only on e-books and I only buy paper-and-spine books. So I'll have to wait a couple of months to further the reading.

Maybe the Movie Producers in the 90s were trying to tell us something....

Sometimes things just take you by surprise.  It's like your understanding of the world shakes by one simple little fact. 

Example One:  Who knew marshmallow was spelled like marshamAllow instead of marshmEllo.  Not me.  No siree!

Other thing that took my by surprise?  My favorite movies from my teen years were all based on English Literature.  I kid you not.  Here are some examples:

1. Clueless:  Based on Jane Austen's Emma.  Excuse me?!
2. She's All That: Based on George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion. 
3. 10 Things I Hate About You:  Based on Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew

Now that I'm settling into my old lady tendencies with staying at home on weekends, reading, and cuddling with the devil cat - I'm starting in on all the books my parents gave me when I was in college that they deemed "must reads for a liberal arts major".  (To be fair, I asked this of them one Christmas.)  So, I picked up Emma and it was shockingly familiar.  Oh, 90's movie producers, you knew the way to my old lady heart back when I was still young!  Thank you!  Since it is my personal belief that all books made into movies are better as books, I reccomend you pick some of these up.

From the Tarmac: The Golden Rule

I'm not sure what it is, most likely the stress of traveling or maybe humanity itself is not nice, but I've been witness to very mean people in airports.  Especially when it comes to re-booking a flight with those poor gate agents.

Trust me on this, they're not happy there was an issue with the flight - be it an electrical problem or a hail storm - and they are not responsible.  They are just trying to do their job in a stressful situation, and really, can't we all sympathize with that?  And with the lack of respect given them, I can only imagine it's a horrid job.

This is where my most basic, and best, rule comes in:  Do unto others as you would like to be treated.  The most basic of principals, the Golden Rule, seems to fly by the wayside when it comes to airports.

It's amazing to me what an understanding smile and laugh can do with these gate agents; you should try and throw in a sir or ma'am as a show of respect.  Yes, you want to get to your destination.  Yes, you might miss your connection.  Yes, you're in a rush because you're the most important person to yourself.  However, there are a hundred other people waiting to be re-booked and kindness goes a long way to your end goal.  Gate agents do have some control over when and where to rebook you - and if you enact this rule you'll more likely get a better outcome. 

Here's a personal example:  While in Rapid City, SD my small little Delta plane had an electrical issue and was grounded for at least a day.  With my travel outfit and KINDNESS of all things, I was rebooked immediately on a completely different airline with an upgrade to first class for the departing flight AND for my connecting flight.   The Golden Rule, I would recommend you forget it.

From the Tarmac: Flight Essentials

Along with dressing for success, you have to Pack for Success to make your travel experience as enjoyable as possible (and let's be honest, cramped into a metal tube 30,000 feet in the air careening forward at 450+ mph, is not that comfortable).

My flight essentials can be boiled down to these:

Comfort
1) Bring a pashmina or large scarf.  Not only can you wear it for easy transport, it doubles as a blanket.
2) If your traveling on a long trip, I would recommend the U.  You know, those neck pillows.  Lifepartner swears by these.

Battling Dehydration
3) Water.  Always drink as much water as possible.  The massive changes in altitude, combined with the recycled air, leads to dehydration.  And it can lead to illness. Let me say it again:  DRINK WATER.  If you're going overseas, I recommend buying bottled water (you just don't know what's in the water - and it may not be harmful to the locals because they are immune, but you are not a local.)  If you're flying domestic, stick to a reusable water bottle; there are drinking fountains in airports -- just be sure to empty it out before you take it through security.
4) Lotion and chapstick.  I may be obsessed with these two things but I must have them with me at all times.  I usually just take whatever travel-sized lotion is available in the hotel and my favorite lip balm (Perfumeria Gal Lip Balm in Lavender)

Entertaiment
- This is a high priority for me.  I'm a big fan of actual books on flights since I can read them during landing and take off (smalls pleasures).  However, I would highly recommend bringing some form of entertainment - iPad, phone (for games), Kindle, book, crossword puzzle, what-have-you.  The in-flight magazine is fine and good, however, there's only so much willpower to NOT buy that lawn gnome from SkyMall...

From the Tarmac: Dress for Success

I'm of those people that dress up for flights.  Not anything fancy and always comfortable - but always nice.  Being in an airport and on a flight means you're out in public; now it might not be anyone you will ever seen again, but you're still in public. 



How I dress depends on two things: what is the occasion for the travel and how long is the flight.  When I travel for business, I look like I'm ready to do business as soon as I disembark.  I don't wear a full blow suit, but a nice sheath dress and a cardigan does the trick nicely: 



When I travel for myself on domestic flights, I'll wear jeans and a blazer.  I know a lot of businessmen down this same uniform when they travel for business and in some ways, this is why I do it.

When I travel internationally and on longer flights, I like to be more comfortable than jeans and I'm most comfortable in maxi dresses (like this one).  A head of warning - some TSA gate agents will frisk you to make sure you're not carrying anything under there... however, I've also had them check on cuffs of jeans.  To each their own prerogative I guess.

You might be asking WHY I dress up instead of just giving in and downing pajamas or work out clothes to be comfortable. It's simple and it really boils down to three main things:

1. Foremost, business travelers receive precedence over leisure travelers to get re-booked on flights.  If you look the part then you play the part.
2. I have an issue with first impressions, mainly, if I don't dress to impress people stereotype me as the "buxom blond" while I in fact try to shield that genetic buxom-ness.  With this strategy, I gain more unspoken respect.
3. You never know who you're going to meet.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of talking to my seat partners and in fact do not initiate any conversation. I would much rather be working or reading.  Love it or hate it, I'm pretty approachable and people strike up conversations.  In one of these instances, I met a pilot who was jumping the flight to return home.  It struck me that every time I saw a pilot dead heading or jumping a flight, they always wore something nice.  Not a uniform, but a sweater, black pants, what have you.  The reasoning behind this is because they are representing their brand, their company.  In an ever increasing world of networking, why wouldn't you want to represent the most important brand of all:  yourself?

From the Tarmac: Path to Purchase

From experience, DON'T purchase from a third party travel site.  Seriously, just don't do it.  I've heard so many horror stories from friends about lost reservations, and lower boarding priority, and hidden fees, that it's really just not worth it.  However, if you're a novice traveler and looking for the best option, DO use these websites to research the best prices and schedules.  I recommend kayak.com and then if you're really into just the price, remember to check out southwest.com too. (Personally, Southwest terrifies me and I don't fly it.  However, I have friends that swear by it.)

Once you've found the best option for your travels, go on that specific airline's website and purchase directly from the carrier.  You are more likely to get good (or at least in the airline industry's definition of good) customer service versus the customer service of expedia or travelocity or whatever-other-site there is if heaven forbid something goes wrong.  Also, with airlines (and hotel chains for that matter) offering a best price guarentee, there's really no reason to have a middleman/website in the process.

And while your at it, sign up for the frequent flier program.  You might get nice perks even if you rarely fly.  I know of a girl, only the third flight in her lifetime, who got bumped up to first class because she was a member vs not a member. 





i honestly have no idea where this is, but doesn't this lake look like 'merica?



From the Tarmac: Understanding the Business

I enjoy traveling.  Be it for work and for pleasure but I tend to spend more time than the average person in airports.  Because of this, my less travel adept friends come to me asking for advice from everything from where to purchase to how to have less headaches while in the airport.  So I've decided to have a little series here on my blog with tips and tricks:  From the Tarmac.

The first thing I always tell people is to have a better travel experience, you should try to understand the experience from the point of the airlines. (This is a good theory in life as well, try to put yourself in another's shoes and you will feel more empathetic.) 

So here is the cold, hard truth:  The point of the airline business is to make money. They are corporations and this is the goal of a corporation - love it or hate it.  Now, my dear leisure traveler, what types of passengers do airlines covet?  The type that travels the most and therefore brings the most profit.  These are the travelers that airlines want, they're the ones that the airlines market to, they're the ones that airlines want in their loyalty programs.  And this, dear leisure traveler, is not you.  These passengers are business travelers - the ones that fly regularly and for that matter don't mind paying a little more for a ticket (since it won't be paid out of their own pocket, in most cases.)   It might be hard to hear if you're not used to the fast-paced corporate eye-on-the-prize environment - but it's the truth, these corporations are in it for the money.  In it to save themselves from bankruptcy.   So next time, when an airline doesn't re-book you  in favor of that man in a suit jacket, just take a deep breath and remember - he's probably given the airline a lot more money than you have and probably has loyalty with the airline.  They simply care about his business more than your bottom-dollar-not-much-profit-in-it ticket.

I'm sorry if that's too harsh for you, but once you calm down I hope you realize it's the truth.  And honesty really is the best policy.




flying over those fly-over states.



A Healthy, No Wheat Sandwich Option

Since I've tried to eliminate gluten from my diet, the one thing I'm beginning to miss is a sandwich. Something easy and healthy to pack for work that is still diet friendly.  I don't remember where I saw the option of replacing the bread with a a cucumber, but as I didn't come to that conclusion on my own I do not want to take credit for it.  However, it cuts out a ton of calories AND is wheat free.  What more can you ask for?!

No-Bread Sandwich

Ingredients

• 1 Whole Cucumber
• Meat, your choice
• Other Sandwich toppings, your choice 

  

  
• In the picture I used basil from the garden, deli sliced beef, Cedar Valley cheese, and green olives.  Nom Nom!



Instructions

1. Cut the cucumber in half then "core" the inside seeds to make room for your sandwich meet, etc
2. Compile sandwich and enjoy!
• I like making my work lunch the night before, so I wrapped this ditty up in some saran wrap.  The benefit?  It also keeps the toppings on as you eat and unwrap as you go.

Total Time: 5 Minutes

Frugal Shopping: Sam's Club

I'm unattached.  I don't have a bevy of children and I live with my longtime partner.  And to be honest, because of traveling schedules, I mostly live alone with a cat.  So I never thought I would have the need to go to a wholesale store; in my mind they were for the growing families with probably a lot of boys with very large appetites and a family probably averaging 6 kids. The point being, it just seemed like I would be wasteful if I bought products from there.

Boy, was I wrong.

Sam's Club is probably the best thing to ever happen to me; yes, you have to shell out $40 for the base membership fee, and yes, there are massive amounts of products you have to, by the nature of the store, buy in bulk.  But if you have the storage room, it's well worth the price.  I recommend ONLY buying products you know you will use; I've bought things I use on a regular basis like paper towels, toilet paper, deodorant, frozen chicken breasts, rice, even office furniture at Sam's.  The first trip alone paid for my membership fee.  And boy, I do love saving money and that of course leaves my pocket book open to the other stores in this #frugalshopping series.

Now, the next argument could be:  Why Sam's Club and not Costco?  That is a very good question, dear reader.  And honestly, I did not know originally either.  So after some online research, I came to determine that Costco had better prices for baby items (diapers, and... and... ok, I really don't know what else you need for a baby.  Butt wipes maybe?  Johnson & Johnson shampoo?  Regardless, apparently Costco is the better option for this.)  And since I obviously don't have children and since Sam's Club is only a couple miles down the road from me, well, the answer was simple.

Project Update: Gardening 2012 - And Then There Was Fruit...

I've been toiling away in my garden the last month or so; ok, you caught me, not really toiling, just keeping up with the game of watering and weeding.  And I noticed that my heirloom tomato plant is fruiting!  I got way too excited that it actually happened even though they are babies, but sure 'nough, there are three little tiny tomatoes.  Let's see if they actually ripen now...

To the right: August 19, 2012

Easy Recipes: Frozen Fruit Desert!

I was recently reading an article about the United States experiencing the warmest 12 months in it's history - and with temperatures routinely hitting 100+ for the past month, I can believe it!  Amazingly and despite the temperatures, my little garden is still living!

Now, one day I was browsing Sam's Club (through my love of frugality) and saw this huge bag of Dole frozen fruit.  And since this summer has been very... well, summery with the temperatures, I thought to myself  "what's more perfect in the summer than using your fresh herbs and your sense of cheapness to create something easy and good?"  The answer, my friends?  Nothing!  So here it is, the:

Easy Frozen Fruit Desert



Combined ingredients.



Ingredients:

· Dole Frozen Fruit (large bag)

· 1/4 cup sugar

· 1/4 cup chopped mint

Instructions:

1.      Combine fruit, sugar, and mint into bowl.  Mix thoroughly. 

2.      Set aside to let fruit thaw, melding flavors.

3.      Enjoy alone or as topping! 

Finished product!

4.      (Alternate:  If you don't like the texture of the mint leaves in your desert, infuse the mint flavor into the sugar.  To make mint simple syrup:  Add water and mint to pot, bring water to a boil. Add in equal part sugar (example: 1 cup water to 1 cup sugar), stir together until sugar is dissolved.  Set aside until cool. Strain mint leaves.)

Total Time: Prep 5 minutes.  Set 4 hours.





Easy Gluten Free Mac + Cheese

In the last couple of months, I've been trying to stay on a wheat-free diet but I've been really missing flour based foods and especially mac-and-cheese (Wisconsin girl that I am). I never realized how prevelant wheat was in this culture until I decided to go cold turkey!  However, I've enjoyed the adventure of trying different foods (some taste like cardboard like Glutino Crackers, but others are a great substitute!)   But back to mac-and-cheese... this mix by Simply Shari is the best one I've come across.  Little additions to pump up the recipe here and there, and it's a great meal solution!

Easy Gluten Free Mac + Cheese



Easy Gluten Free Mac + Cheese as lunch as work



Ingredients: 

• 1 Bag Simply Shari's Mac + Cheese
• 2 Chicken Tenderloins
• 1/2 Cup Shredded Cheese, your choice
• Salt & Pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Prepare Mac + Cheese mix as directed on package.
2. While pasta is cooking, cook chicken on stovetop (I use a castiron skillet and cook four minutes per side).  Set aside.  Cut into bite size peices.
3. Combine all ingredients and enjoy!

Total Time:  25 Minutes

Project Update: Gardening 2012

As I self professed, it's my first season trying to grow my own garden.  I didn't have much faith in myself actually, I planted really late and just hoped for the best.  Well, almost a month later I am happy to report that my little garden is thriving!

I'm as surprised at the next person that I haven't killed it yet. Above all, I would like to thank the Ozark region's humidity (for basically watering it by the air).   I have watered the plants daily (with the recent "extreme draught-like conditions I felt like I should).  I have also weeded weekly (this annoying grass weed that's more like a vine, likes taking over, really, anything, and it's everywhere down here.)

A wise man (or rather one with a greener thumb than I have) told me I should also cross-pollinate my fruit flowers to ensure best probability to fruit.  After a few blank stares, he explained that to fruit the pollen needs to go from one bud to another - more naturally done by an insect flying around.  For greater probability, just use a small paintbrush (I had some in my craft supplies, but those cheap Crayola ones would work nicely) and touched each flower with it on all three of the plants.  Cross-pollinate, I feel like a scientist!

My next steps are the keep watering and weeding, and apparently buy metal apparatuses for the tomato plants.  More to come! 



left: my little garden, July 24

right: flowering tomato plant

Frugal Shopping: DIY

My little "Frugal Shopping" headline has become a little series of mine....  but I think the thing that ties this series together with my little edge of the blogosphere, is my frugality and my creativity. 

The best Frugal Shopping in my mind is in fact getting your creative juices flowing and making your own clothes!  Here are just two examples that I have as part of my wardrobe.  More posts to come on more hand-made clothing :)


skirt!



cardigan!  you might recognize what's in my hand



Summer Reading: Trashy Romance Novels

Surprisingly (knowing my love of reading a good love story) I've never picked up a novel to read from the "Romance Section."  I was against it; I don't know where the prejudice came from but I just would not venture into that aisle.

That is, until a friend (that apparently knows me too well) suggested a Julia Quinn novel.  Said friend knew my favorite author is Jane Austen and each Julia Quinn book has a little quote stating she is the "Jane Austen of our generation."  I'm not quite sure of the comparison as it pertains to writing talent with one of the greatest authors to a romance novelist, however, when it comes to bringing together a love story in 19th-century England - I agree whole heartedly with the comparison.

I'm currently reading the "Bridgerton Series."  It's a series of eight books about eight siblings finding true love in the artistocracy of 1800s London.  It's probably not the most intelligent way to use my down time, but I find myself not being able to put the books down when I'm reading them.  Then I go BACK to re-read them.  I give kudos to Ms. Quinn on that one - her writing is addictive.  And I have an addictive personality so it's turning out to be a summer of reading. 

Full series review forthcoming, my pretties!  Starting the 6th book tonight.

above left:  five out of  eight books out of the series.

above right: the naked one looking annoyed i'm taking pictures, when she was the one crawling in my way.

Ode to Being a Cat Lady

The great thing about having a cat and also having to travel out of state for work, is that a cat can take care of itself overnight.  Or for multiple nights.  Just put out enough food and water for her and they'll do the same thing they always do:  lounge in the sun and only pay attention to things they want to pay attention to.  I'm not going to lie though, I do miss this wrinkly creature when I'm gone and I like to think she misses me (even if it's only to get fresh water and food).

Frugal Shopping: Gordman's

I live in a land of discount stores from TJ Maxx to Walmart to Ross, but when I learned Gordman's was only a few short miles from me I had simultaneous reactions: excitement and apprehension.  Excitement because out of all discount stores, Gordman's is by far and away my favorite.  Apprehension because with the store being just so damn close, I knew it would make my bank account just that much thinner.

It's one of those stores that doesn't allow you to shop online, but all the better for the treasure hunter in me.  I would classify Gordman's as in the same category as a TJ Maxx or Ross; it's a cleaner store with a wide selection but one has to search for a diamond in the rough.  But damn, there's many diamonds in the rough!

In the past two weeks I've bought earrings, a necklace, a watch, king bed sheets, a shower curtain, two pieces of wall art, a picture frame, cat treats, and a new dress.  It's THAT kind of store.  And this was me holding back.   The purchase I most enjoy is my new bronze watch, because I do love watches, and I do love large watches:

Happy Shopping!

Frugal Shopping 101: DSW



b.o.c. Women's Persian Sandal

 

Ann Marie Sharee Pump



As much as I dislike clothes shopping, I love shoe shopping.  And if you're like any woman, really ever, you love a great sale.  The trick is to know when is the best time to buy.

Every so often (ok, maybe multiple times a week), I eat lunch at my desk and peruse dsw.com to see their deals, and their deals are sometimes a huge steal. 

A little habit I have is if I like a pair of shoes I add it to my online basket, then continue to check back every so often to see if the price changed. With this habit, I have gotten great steals on shoes.  These two pairs are just two examples of this trick - and at $19.94 each they were surely a steal.  Thanks, DSW!

 



Frugal Shopping 101: JCP

I'm not particularly a fan of shopping for clothes. But when I do shop for them, I'm a huge fan of bargain shopping for them.  For some reason, I can blow $100 on a sushi dinner and can't spend more than $40 for a dress.

I do enjoy thrifting when I'm in the mood for it.  The feeling of going into a thrift store, or for that matter a Ross or TJ Maxx, and finding the diamond in the rough is exhilarating. I just have to be in the right mood to search down that item, and that honestly, rarely happens.

Of course, there are sometimes reasons I have to go shopping and let my inner woman out;  like my friend's demand that her bridesmaids look nice for her wedding rehearsal.  I didn't have anything I wanted to wear for it, so I dutifully trudged over to the mall in my new neck of the woods and started looking.  Not much to my surprise there wasn't many shopping options here; so I walked into a JC Penney.  Now, much to my surprise, it wasn't what I expected.  For some reason I always thought it was like a Dillards rather than a Kohls. Sorry, JCP.  I was wrong about you.  (Though, in retrospect, maybe I walked into the store because I believe in their advertising, being the marketer that I am.  Not many companies have the guts to do this, and then follow with this.)

Back to the point:  I found this amazing dress, on sale for only $22!  Honestly, I loved it when I tried it on in store but am not really impressed by the product image from the website.  But hey, I've gotten many compliments.  So thank you, JCP, I will be back!

product shot, jcp.com

a rather emo looking myspace shot, but there ya go





Project: Gardening 2012

I come from a line of gardeners.  My mother is a gardener, my grandfather was a gardener, and further back in my line there were farmers.  I'm not positive where the passion for it came from; however, I suspect that it had to do with two main things: 

1. We are frugal people.  Growing your own food is much less expensive than buying it. 
2. We are frugal people that love good food.  And let's be honest, something fresh from the garden is just that much more delicious. 

I've never held much of an interest in it, honestly.  Didn't understand where the sweat and conviction came from to bend over a garden every day and watch something grow.  While I was growing up my mother took me out to the massive garden we had on our land and I helped to plant everything from tomatoes, to raspberries, to carrots, to rhubarb, to any number of things she wished to grow that year.  Far back from my memory I remember a few things:  Plant in the spring, water the plants in the summer, and you have to weed.  I've decided to take this knowledge and forge out on my own.  After all, being in a new house in a subdivision versus an apartment in the city, there's things I should want to cultivate.  Like the garden plot on my lawn.

So I went out, bought gardening gloves, gardening tools, soil, and three baby plants to see what I could do.  I cultivated the plot, planted the basil and tomato plants, soaked them in water as I remember doing 20 years ago, and will now try to grow my own little garden.   Try being the operative word.  However, fresh tomato and basil salad sounds worth the work.  Ok, maybe I do understand why my ancestors loved to garden after all.  All your hard work reaps a delicious reward.



My Little Garden:  Sweet Basil, Lemon Boy Tomato, and Heirloom Maroon Tomato Plants



Fighting the Humidity, One Product at a Time

As previously mentioned, my move to a more humid climate is creating changes in my beauty habits.  I love the heat and even kind of love the humidity, one thing I don't like? The pools of sweat that form on my skin after just five minutes outside. 

A wise dance instructor once told me which lotion to use to combat this, and now I pass the knowledge to you.  Once you get over the stereotype of the product, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it in sweltery, sweaty summers!  It's cheap, easy to find (can be found really any where lotion is sold), and you'll thank me just as I still thank that wonderful teacher.

Jergens Age Defying Lotion

Dear Delta Airlines,

I wanted to take a minute and thank you for making my life easier with your phone app.  In my fast paced world, I do not always get a chance to sit at a computer and print my boarding pass.  This app solves that!  The app push notifies me when it's time to check in, I simply check in via the app and it issues me my digital boarding pass right there. I can look up my itineraries, flight times, and it notifies me of gates and gate changes.  Some may think that this small little post was solicited, it wasn't.  It's just nice to have a corporate entity have an app that works (looking at you HHonors) and makes my life so much simpler!

Sincerely,
Grateful Business Traveler

Welcome to the South! Here's a Mint Julep.

As mentioned, I recently moved from the Rocky Mountains to the Ozark Mountains.  Many people, myself included, consider this new neck of the woods to be the South.  It's a little bit of a culture shock, however, I'm already enjoying it!  We found a little 1200sqft house to rent versus an apartment and it's already making a huge difference.  He's excited he finally has a garage and the liberty to paint the walls, work on his car, sit on the porch, not have nosy upstairs/downstairs neighbors, etc.  I'm excited, with my new found interest in cooking, that there's a garden plot!  I have big plans for this including growing cucumbers, tomatoes, and basil (excited for those salads!). However, there's already something growing in it:  Mint.  That weed of a plant mint that is taking up 1/4 of the garden plot.  However, I thought I'd take advantage of it by welcoming myself to the South and enjoy a little drink on my new lawn.

Mint Julep

Ingredients:

• Simple Syrup
• Fresh Mint Leaves
• Bourbon (recommendation from a friend:  Four Roses Small Batch)
• Ice
• Water

Instructions:

1. To make simple syrup:  Bring water to a boil, add in equal part sugar (example: 1 cup water to 1 cup sugar), stir together until sugar is dissolved.  Set aside until cool.
2. To make Julep:  In glass, muddle (aka smash) mint leaves, fill glass half full with ice, pour in two shots Bourbon.  Add water and simple syrup to taste.  Garnish with mint leaves.
3. Enjoy!

Total Time: 5 minutes

Must Have: Dry Shampoo

CVS Pharmacy Brand Dry Shampoo
(compare to TRESemme)

I recently moved from the Rocky Mountains to the Ozark Mountains and therefore to what the locals call the "Mid-South."  Let me tell you, the hardest thing to get used to is the humidity! I also conveniently forgot from my time in the Upper Midwest what humidity did to my hair (read:  made it flat and oily.  Yuck.)  However, on a two week business trip to Atlanta I found my solution!  Dry Shampoo.

Now, to be honest, I sort of stumbled across this product when shopping for hairspray (for those of you reading along, you might have caught on to the container not being 3oz or under, but I go through a lot of hairspray and still refuse to check a bag.  This manifests itself in with these longer trips buying cheaper hairspray locally).   I'm really not picky on trips what kind of hair products I use; I even use the free products in the hotel.  And yes, honestly, I did think I was buying hairspray (I never had this hair issue at an altitude a mile above sea level!) but it's a mistake I'm now grateful for.  My hair tends on the oilier side in the summer with the humidity, but no longer!  Just spray it on in the morning or as a touch up during the day, and hair looks less oily and less flat. 

I will definitely be buying one of the brands when I return home.  Like this one: TRESemme Fresh Start Volumizing Dry Shampoo.

Mediterranean Pasta Salad

I'm the first to admit I'm not the best in the kitchen. I have a lot of people around me that are wonderful chefs and I use this as an easy excuse not to learn with statements like, "But so-and-so is great and loves cooking, my food just doesn't compare!"  That said, I've also realized at this stage in life eating out or simply making pancakes every night is way too much like my college days and I need to step up my game. So, I'm starting to experiment in the kitchen from tricks I’ve learned from others while passively observing their magic from safely behind the counter.

  

My first easy trick of the cooking trade is learned from my mother.  She had a hearty family of five to feed, so she needed to make large batches of meals for her growing clan. One of her tried and true answers: Pasta Salad.  She gave me her recipe from when we were growing up (over the phone, while I was in the grocery store – thanks mom!), but I quickly realized really anything can go into a pasta salad.  You just need pasta, meat and/or cheese (I am from Wisconsin after all), vegetables and some sort of sauce.   Hence my creation:  The Mediterranean Pasta Salad.   Enjoy!

  

Mediterranean Pasta Salad

 


Ingredients:

• 1 package of Spaghetti
• 1 small head of Broccoli
• 3 Roma Tomatoes
• Artichokes from Antipasto Bar, per personal taste (found in my local grocery)
• Assorted Olives from Antipasto Bar, per personal taste
• Kraft Italian Five Cheese, One Package
• Wishbone Italian Dressing, Small Bottle

Instructions:

1. Cook spaghetti al dente per package directions
2. While spaghetti cooks, cut up broccoli, tomatoes, artichokes, and olives into bite size pieces and set aside in bowl.
3. Strain spaghetti and wash in cold water (cold water prevents cheese from melting)
4. Combine strained spaghetti, vegetables, shredded cheese, and whole bottle of Italian Dressing together.  Toss together.
5. For best results, let sit overnight to merge flavors.

  

Total Time: 20 Minutes

Observation: Is Pauly D a Roma Gypsy?

I'm going to come right out and admit it:  I like reality television.  And while partaking in my fair share last night, something occurred to me while watching My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding,  something in the back of my reality TV numbed brain, but Pauly D from Jersey Shore looks a helluva lot like these American Gypsy boys.  Now, a note:  This by far not an educated guess and it's most likely just a coincidence.  However, once it hit me I couldn't get it out of my head.  It is also of note that I used Wikipedia for all of my "research."  My College of Liberal Arts professors are probably kicking themselves right now and wanting to rescind my degree...


However,  here are my three observations as to why Pauly D could be a Roma Gypsy:

1. "Most Roma do not communicate their ethnic identity to non-Roma, and may claim to be another ethnic origin..." (Wikipedia)
2. The Gypsy Wedding series, both in the UK and now in the US, depict gypsies as loving a good party.  Who better than the fist-pumping, GTL loving, Pauly D to love a party?  And HOST them with his DJ services? 
3. And most importantly and the thing that started me thinking about all of this:  the HAIR. it.is.exactly.the.same.  



Exhibit A - Pauly D
photo credit: contactmusic.com





Exhibit B - Roma Gypsy Teen Males
photo credit: screen grab, tlc.com



Just saying, people.  Something to stew over.