Category — pêle-mêle (This n That)

We’re slowly adjusting to the 90° temps and dripping humidity of SoFlo in May: not complaining, just saying. Fluids, lots of fluids. Frappuccinos, of course. Diet Ginger Ale. But trying to keep it healthy and low cal, I was inspired by a Starbucks summer favorite and am now brewing my own green tea lemonade. Couldn’t be simpler, or cheaper… or lower calories.

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For the last few years for a variety of reasons we’ve juggled 3 households…it started when we lived overseas and were planning to repatriate, then it sort of became our norm: I knew I’d bought that pair of shoes, I was just never sure which state…or country…they were in. To manage the chaos without a household of help, I developed some time-saving strategies that I continue today, even though we’ve just “downsized” to 2 homes.

I never thought any of my habits were particularly genius, or even unusual, until a friend recently visited me and as I was preparing drinks, practically shouted at me: What’s in your freezer?

Huh? Just the usual:

• bananas, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, lemons
• wine and champagne
• cranberries
• milk, butter and Tazo chai concentrate

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Oops: it did it again! That’s right, my closet once again imploded and I came home to this:

Time to bite the bullet and have new closets professionally designed and installed. When we bought the condo 3 years ago our intention was to have closet organizers in each of the bedroom and hall closets, but there were so many delays (asbestos, plumbing, granite: you get the idea) that the closets simply didn’t happen. So we’ve been surviving with wire shelving. Until last Fall, when my closet made a loud swhoooof sound: I turned my head and my closet doors were partly opened and all my clothes, shoes, bags, scarves, belts and random stuff were in a huge, heavy pile. We called around to get estimates, but everything was 4-6 weeks. So we just called a handyman to put the thing back together, and $80 later, he promised this would last for years and hold my weight x5. [Read more →]

I’ve been fortunate to have visited Vatican City several times, but I took advantage of the opportunity to see Vatican Splendors: A Journey through Faith and Art at a special exhibit at the Fort Lauderdale Art Museum.

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A few months back I was searching for a tinted moisturizer…I never found one I really liked, and resorted to mixing my SPF moisturizer with a few drops of liquid foundation. But my readers had some great ideas. Recently I was killing time at the mall (I hate malls, even the gorgeous Gardens Mall in Palm Gardens) while TBG was at Apple trouble-shooting a software problem. I wandered past Sephora…and remembered the advice of Toma T, who suggested I check out Bare Escentuals.

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I was born blonde…really! On lazy summer days in junior high we laid out in the yard slathered in baby oil, squeezing fresh lemons into our hair: for that natural sun-kissed look. By high school I’d graduated to spraying my hair with Sun-In. And by 16, I’d become a Clairol Girl with natural blonde hair straight from a box.

I'm the blonde

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I know, nothing more boring to read about than another cleaning product, but this one really gets the job done! A while back I shared with you moi obsession with Mr Clean Magic Eraser to keep my walls clean: I even packed a dozen in my suitcase and gifted them to Paris friends! Now, Mr Clean has topped himself:

This new kitchen sponge is embedded with grease-cutting Dawn and cleans up spots and messes faster than the original Magic Eraser. About $3 for a 2-pack. (hint: with use the sponges turn black and disintegrate, so stock-up!)

I use my Magic Eraser for the Kitchen to clean the kitchen granite counters, stainless sink, electric stovetop, my white kitchen cabinets, around the light switch, and for spills inside the fridge. I don’t like cleaning my kitchen: but with Mr Clean Magic Eraser my kitchen gets cleaner, faster. That makes me happy!

Moi tip: Save $3 by going to the Mr Clean Magic Eraser website and sign-up for $3 promotional coupons on Mr Clean Magic Eraser and even more on other products.

TBG was raised on old fashioned, down-home southern style cooking. I was raised on a chunk of meat, a spoonful of canned corn, and an iceberg salad. We both had working mothers who at the end of a day had to cook dinner for an active family. After 35 years of marriage, his diet has become healthier and both of our diets have become more adventurous. But sometimes, you just want what you want.

Our typical dinners at home are:

• grilling salmon steak with a side of roasted asparagus and green beans and a nice glass of Sancerre
• baked chicken with a mustard and caper sauce à la The Barefoot Contessa, with a spinach and red onion salad and un verre rouge
• pasta dish of scallops, red peppers, spinach and spaghetti
• “garbage salad” (I heard that term at Canyon Ranch!) of field greens with corn, tomatoes, peas, onions, mushrooms, pecans, dried cranberries and chicken chunks

But then there are the nights when TBG wants his comfort foods, the recipes his Mom wrote down as a Christmas gift to all her grandkids one year: [Read more →]

As if Tuesday’s national crêpe day didn’t swoon your taste buds, Saturday is World Nutella Day! Sure you can always spread some nutella in a crêpe, but what not try a new nutella recipe? Lately I’m loving this easy recipe I discovered watching BravoTV’s Top Chef Just Desserts contestant Eric Wolitzky:

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Not on your calendar? Well, then you’re not in France. February 2 is the national holiday La Chandeleur, a Catholic feast honoring the Virgin Mary. Tradition says that the Pope offered crêpes to pilgrims who came to honor Mary. And the French have been eating them ever since.

Crêpes are a very large thin pancake with all types of fillings and rolled (like a sausage) or folded (like a blini) or stacked (like a cake) for serving. Crêpes are a popular dish through out France. Sweet crêpes (crêpes sucrées) made with wheat flour are filled with fruits, preserves, or moi favorite nutella, are served as a dessert or snack (not typically breakfast); and savory crêpes (crêpes salées ) are made with buckwheat and filled with vegetables, cheese, meats, seafood or eggs: sort of pizza-style!

These yummy crêpes are from Clotilde at Chocolate and Zucchini: moi favorite French food blog! I won’t be making my crêpes until tomorrow! [Read more →]