Category — pêle-mêle (This n That)

I stopped with little sis Mary for a quick polish change last week at Arbre, and we both ended up joining Belly: a business loyalty reward card that works for multiple businesses!

Yes, you read that right: Belly doesn’t just work for our Arbe visits, it adds points if I visit NYC Bagel and Deli. Or Elly’s Pancake House. Or over 600 businesses in Chicago alone, with more joining everyday.

Founded and based in Chicago, Belly is growing quickly as businesses sign-up to take advantage of customers’ desire to be rewarded while not being inconvenienced. Targeted mainly at small and medium-sized businesses, Belly offers a customer retention program for small businesses whose customers may not sign up for a loyalty program for their store only: I won’t go to Arbre again, while the manicure was fine it’s not in my neighborhood: we simply had a few hours to fill before an appointment. But I joined up because I do regularly go to other businesses who use Belly. Starbucks I’m at almost daily: I’m happy to let my drink stars accrue toward a free drink. But Dog-a-holics I only visit a couple times a year. I can Belly at Dog-a-holics. Genius!

When we signed up, I used the in-store iPad and entered my email address, and received a plastic card for my wallet or keychain. But then I downloaded the free iPhone app: no more card to carry, I just bring up my barcode and rake in the points. With hundreds of locations already in Chicago, Belly is expanding rapidly, and I can find dozens of new locations in SoFlo, NYC, Texas, Arizona and even Nebraska!

And with all the points I’m raking in, I can get free cupcakes… and a whole bunch of other stuff like haircuts and comic books.

Loyalty cards have gone digital! Who knew?

If you follow my blog, you know I’m a movie junkie. So wherever I live, whatever the local language, regardless of the price per ticket, on any given weekend I’m in a movie theatre. And from November thru February, sometimes several movies each weekend so I’m prepared for the Academy Awards. But, I don’t typically watch movies on TV at home. I like the whole going-to-the-movies experience: the big screen, a darkened theatre, stadium seats, slightly stale popcorn, and annoying people checking their cell phones, chewing with their mouths open and talking back to the screen.

At home we have a large flatscreen parked across from a comfy couch. Fresh popcorn. Diet Ginger Ale. A cute little white dog sitting on moi lap. And a shelf full of both the latest DVD theatrical releases and oldie-but goodies. I have friends with theatre rooms: darkened, stadium seats, and a well-stocked snack bar. I’d just rather pay $12 and go to the movies.

And I don’t like reruns: Once I’ve seen the movie, I’m done. I make a few exceptions for movies I load on my iPad and love to travel with: Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House, Julie and Julia, Ice Castles. My ambition is not to be able to quote all the good lines (unlike my husband and son who love quoting Ferris Bueller and Top Gun).

But the week of April 4 I’ll be at the movies to see the new release of Titanic in 3D. I’m not a huge fan of 3D, but I loved the Titanic (which I’ve seen only once when we’d just moved to Paris: I thought I’d figured out which movies were presented in VO (version originale) and when the credits began in French I thought I’d screwed up, but a few moments later the movie began, thankfully in English!)

See you when we set sail on the Titanic!

Moi tip:

I’ll be seeing the Titanic for 3D for free! How? I Viggled my way to a free movie ticket just by watching TV!

Summer and barefoot go together: freedom, casual, easy living. Heading to a wedding on the beach? An afternoon on your yacht? Poolside at the resort? Don’t let your toes go bare with just a little polish: flash your feet with style!

No, I’m not talking ankle bracelets or toe rings: they’re soooo last millenium. I’m in SoFlo and the trendy beachwear are almost sandals…. literally: Almost Sandals.

I’ve seen them on the beach, but hadn’t seen them in stores until I saw Almost Sandals in the window of  The Legacy in downtown Delray Beach.

Perfect for when you want to go almost bare…with style! $19 at The Legacy or online. Personally: I like the shell style!

The Details:

Most ex-expat Parisians moan their loss of French cheeses, many still practically unheard of in the US. Personally, while j’adore le fromage Francais, I find the cheeses at specialty stores – such as Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and other gourmet shops – and the cheeses from my local farmer’s markets do a pretty good job of satisfying my craving for fresh, rich, indulgent cheese.

Until recently, the same couldn’t be said of yogurts. While many Americans jump off the plane and head straight to a Parisian street market or the local fromagerie, I headed straight to the Inno or Monoprix refrigerated section to indulge in richy, creamy, tangy French yogurt. While I  would readily have risked confiscation by smuggling yogurt into my luggage, I sadly feared 9 hours on the plane (plus 2 hours waiting for my luggage to bump down the belt) would curdle or liquify the yogurt.

Why French yogurt? I’ve always been a yogurt lover, but prior to my 1st trip to Paris I thought yogurt was overly-sweet, bright blue or red, lumpy, and pudding-like. More like a snack or dessert: good but not a meal. Back in the day I even bought myself a yogurt maker, and with a little plain yogurt starter I made my own plain yogurt and sweetened it with honey, fruit preserves and wheat germ (who’d heard of granola back then???) But lack of time (and counter space) due to family, job, house and dogs eventually buried the yogurt maker.

But now, Greek yogurt is firmly ensconced in the US and my craving for rich tangy yogurt is satisfied. Chez Moi I’m a huge fan of Fage, and TBG prefers the slightly sweeter Chobani. But this week, TBG made a grocery run and as usual, he didn’t stick to the shopping list.

And brought home Cabot Greek Yogurt. We were familiar with Cabot Cheeses: we love the American brand, always buy their cheddar. But I didn’t know they’re now making greek-style yogurt. Its rich, creamy, tart and a little sweet. Perfect with my morning berries and granola.

Yes, I’ll still buy Fage. But when I find only Cabot Greek Yogurt in the fridge I’ll be looking for a spoon, not my car keys.

Bon Appétit!

• Fage Greek 0% Yogurt: 17.6 oz $6.99

• Cabot Greek-Style Plain Yogurt: 2lbs $5.99

• Chobani Fat-Free Greek Yogurt: 32 oz $5.99

NOTE: Dairy prices vary widely by region. I’m in SoFlo now, so your prices may differ. For the best price, try Target or Costco.

Greek yogurt: it makes me happy!

I was Christmas shopping with niece Rachel and we found the perfect gift for her dad…and for TBG! Rachel’s dad has long been making dehydrated fruits and vegetables, which she says takes 3 days so they never do it. Shopping at Genevieve Lethu in Chicago we discovered TopChips for making chips in the microwave!

$25 for a set of 2 stackable trays. Machine washable, finished in 3 minutes: Done!

So this weekend I pulled out an idaho potato, sweet potato, and a couple Fuji apples. I peeled the potatoes, and sliced all 3 on 1/8inch on the mandolin.

First, the idaho potatoes:

I spread a single layer on each of the 2 trays, stacked the trays, and set the microwave for 3 minutes at full power. After cooking I let them set 2 minutes, but they were still soft and flexible, not at all crispy, so I put 1 tray in for 1 minute. Much better: thin and crispy and crunchy. I immediately sprinkled them with sea salt and put them in a little dish for the ultimate taste-test: TBG.

TBG’s vote: Make some more!

Next, I finished the remaining idaho potato slices, then went on to the sweet potato. I found they need to be cooked even longer than the idaho potatoes. I recommend closely monitoring so the chips don’t burn: after 3 minutes just continue cooking in 30 second intervals, remembering the slices continue “cooking and crisping” once they’re removed from the micro.

Finally, the apple slices. I left the peel on, did NOT core them, and just sliced them thin and microwaved for 3 1/2 minutes. I liked them plain, but they would be good with cinnamon or nutmeg too. They’re a little more chewy than crunchy but a easy healthy snack.

Moi tip: Mignette likes the chips too: without salt or any other seasonings, the perfect puppy treat! (btw…she likes potatoes and apples raw too.)

You can buy TopChips at specialty kitchen shops, amazon or online. $20-25, depending on the accessory package.

Lil Sis Mary was being released from the hospital after surgery, and had to be sure not to get her incision and staples wet in the shower. I’m on it: my friend Carla just shared a showering after surgery tip and I was thrilled to be able to pass it on to Mary:

Press’n Seal! Cut off a piece of cling large enough to cover the area you need to keep dry, press carefully around the edges to “seal” the cling to the skin, then shower! When finished, just toss out the used cling and tear off a fresh piece for the next shower. In addition to surgical scars, Press’n Seal would have worked great when TBG had a PICC line after surgery, and when he had his knee in a cast.

Simple, effective and cheap! Press’n Seal can be found at your grocery or home goods store, $5 – $8 depending on size.

Who knew?

From the bed of…

Little Sister Mary is unexpectedly in town this week: she flew from Texas to Chicago for an unplanned surgery, so arrived with 1 suitcase and 1 daughter, 1 husband and 1 son to follow shortly. In all the rush and confusion of course things were forgotten, so from her hospital bed Mary started giving me lists of things she needed from Target, Gap, Bed Bath and Beyond, grocery store, etc:

• hot pink pillowcases
• pink eyemask
• cotton t-shirts
• bottled water and Crystal Light packets
• Monistat Chafing Powder

Monistat Chafing Powder? Wait: you’re in the hospital, shouldn’t we check with your Doctors before you order yeast infection ointments?

Mary looked at me like I’m crazy: Don’t you read the blogs? I use Monistat powder as a primer for my BareMinerals makeup.  Hunh?

Once home I spent an hour googling it: she’s right. Since being introduced, women have discovered that Monistat Chafing Powder has similar ingredients to much more expensive makeup primers: $7.99 for Monistat v $20, $30 or more for similar cosmetic primers. I just converted from wearing moisturizer and concealer to BareMinerals make-up, and living in very humid climates, had been trying to deal with makeup dripping down my face. That’s why I need a primer!

(What’s a makeup primer? I didn’t know either, so I looked it up: it’s a basecoat for your foundation, that leaves your skin smoother and helps the makeup adhere better. So on hot humid days, your expensive powder foundation isn’t running onto your white tank top! Apply after moisturizer, before foundation.)

Who knew? Monistat is now in my medicine cabinet…and happily not for a yeast infection.

Thanks Lil Sis!

No matter where you look, you know it’s October National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And with my friends and families we’ve unfortunately had reasons to discuss all forms of cancers these past months. But this month, whether we’re watching TV, taking the bus, at a football game, reading a magazine, or shopping at the mall we are reminded that cancers are among us every day.

In one of our ongoing email chains, I happened to mention to several friends that I’d watched The Talk that day, and that Dr. Kristi Funk said women who have birth under age 20 were at a lower risk for breast cancer: yea for me! And later I emailed them that Dr Kristi also strongly recommends 3 cups of green tea daily as a cancer preventative: it’s those antioxidants at work. And I like to drink with style, so I’m sipping my hot tea from a zebra-striped thermal mug with a hot pink straw!

No problem: hot or iced green tea lemonade, I drink green tea daily because I like it. And the health benefits are a welcome bonus.

So do yourself a favor and drink up: Santé!

moi tip: Today I’m drinking Daily Green Tea The People’s Green Decaf

A few months ago I had an emergency closet intervention from Closet Works when my entire wire system collapsed. In a few days I went from this:

to this:

But sadly, even Tyler couldn’t make my closet any bigger, or help me add to the bags of clothes that had already been donated to the shelter. So, I’ve been trying a few tricks to maximize my closet space:

• switch from wooden to slimline flocked hangers ($29.99 for a box of 50)
• buy hangers with hooks so that blouses or tshirts can hang in rows
• add flocked clips to convert plain slimline hangers to pants or skirt hangers

But I have alot of skirts and trousers, and they simply take up too much room on a single hanger. The clips were an OK solution, but they too often fell off the hanger and really added to the width of each hanger, taking up even more space. The hooks built-in to the hangers tend to get caught on everything. In the good old days I had sets of metal and plastic pants and skirts hangers, with the clips attached and allowing 4 or 5 pants or skirts on a single hanger. Not available any more. I have a few sets left, but I had too many hangers holding only a single pair of pants or skirt.

Voila: Real Simple 4-tier skirt hangers. I can hang 4 pants or skirts in the space of 1. Sometimes the old ideas are still the best ideas. $7.00 at Bed Bath and Beyond. I bought 4 sets and had a $5 coupon.

And my bulky trousers have gone from this:

        to this:  

I’m highly competitive, and love word games so I’ve been a Scrabble addict since I was a kid. When we lived in Paris I bought the Scrabble version Francaise to help expand my French vocabulary, but never mastered French spelling so stopped playing that game. Moi husband and kids have refused to play Scrabble with me for years. Now with Moi iPhone and iPad I’m a Words With Friends addict: I have simultaneous games going with a young mother in England, a Marine in California, a Canadian in France, and countless sisters, nieces and nephews, and friends across the US: even my daughter will play WWF with me. I play in bed, in the car, on buses and train, in planes with WiFi, in line at Target (and to the annoyance of TBG at the dinner table, while watching TV, and anytime or place I can sneak a peak at my iPhone.)So while searching for the perfect birthday gift for a young friend turning 10 this month I bought him Bananagrams: sort of a free-form Scrabble/cross-word game. For 2-8 players aged 7-97. I’m ensuring I’ll be playing WWF for years to come! Completely portable and with its own case it’s perfect for home or on the road. $14.95  Fruits games also available: Appletters and Pairs in Pears.

Friend me on WWF!