Life In Blue Jeans

The Master "Catch-Up" Post

2012-01-14T12:32:00.000-05:00

I've been spending so much time focused on family and business that I haven't had much time to spend working on this blog! Well, here's what's happened in the last long while:

We had an incredible family Christmas holiday like nothing I've experienced in quite some time.
I had a catastrophic motherboard meltdown on a brand-new laptop and ended up going back home to Mac. I'm now the proud owner of MacBook Pro and am contemplating names for it.
I've traveled to London and back twice, am heading to L.A. shortly, and also have a trip to Uruguay in the spring. Plus, we're also looking at a Las Vegas weekend. It should be a busy spring.
We lost Lucky, the three-legged hamster on New Year's Eve and buried him the first day of the year. All of the other four hamsters are doing quite well and being spoiled.
I discovered and quickly became addicted to Pinterest (note my new "Connect with me" links on the right sidebar).

That's pretty much it. I'm working on launching Business in Blue Jeans Radio and getting my new web sites launched, and my annual, "It's cold so I need to make copious amounts of soups and stews and look at seed catalogs" sentiments are in full gear.

Stay tuned for more updates and fun stuff as I get back into the groove of posting!

Introducing A New Guest Blogger: Raemie Baroncini

2011-11-27T10:01:00.001-05:00

I've decided to do something I have never done before. I have invited a guest blogger to join me here on "Life in Blue Jeans." This is absolutely unprecedented (I haven't even invited a guest blogger on my business blog at Business in Blue Jeans!)

But here's the thing. My stepdaughter, Raemie, who's 12 (or, as she and her dad say, "Twelve-teen"), happens to be quite a talented writer. She's always had a gift for creativity, and I've always thought that her writing was beyond her years. She's already had some of her work published (most recently, the notable poem "Harry the Hamster"), and this morning when we were chatting on the phone, I offered her the very first guest blogger spot on my blog. Less than a half hour later, I had a story in my inbox. I honestly couldn't be more proud. So, without further ado, here's Raemie's first contribution to "Life in Blue Jeans":

Rose

By Raemie Baroncini

The sun beamed down on Rose like a spotlight. She wiped her sweat off her forehead and stared at the gleaming spade in her hand. Due to this she got back and ploughed the field as usual.

She sighed hopelessly and rushed to the next section to plough. Although the sweat formed a puddle around her, Rose did not notice and carried on with work. Rose had been working on the farm for 9 years now and still had not earned enough money to quit the job to have her normal life that she had always dreamt and never had! In addition to this, obviously, her life was about growth, gardening, animals and dirt.

“Hurry up Rose, you’ll have no tea if you don’t work hard enough for it!” belted her boss Mr. Green.

Rose turned back while wiping both sweat and tears away.

“How much longer do I have to work? Please, can I get the ploughing machine out to quicken things up?” cried little 12 year old Rose.

She knew if she ran away Mr. Green would always know where she would be hiding. Rose had become sensible over the years and had gained respect that if she was lazy, she wouldn’t even look at food! Despite that fact, she sometimes never even got one meal out of the day!

Rose became lonely as she grew into her teenage years, so she would sing herself the lullabies her mother use to sing her when she had her to hold and cling onto.

“Ssshh little baby, go beddy bye, mommy’s gunna hold you though the night.”

Rose smiled at the thought of her mother.

“Rose stop messing about and hurry up I need it done by half past five!” screamed Mr. Green.

Stay tuned to find out more about Rose and to see more stories from my new guest blogger, Raemie Baroncini!

The Bizarre Bazaar

2011-11-12T12:52:00.000-05:00

I just got home from the St. Luke's UMC Holiday Bazaar, a local church holiday arts and crafts fair, also known in my home as "The Bizarre Bazaar," not because of any characteristic of the bazaar itself, but rather because of the bizarre notion that I would enjoy going to such an event. I love crafts and doing artsy stuff at home- heck, I even have a craft room. However, I tend to eschew anything with a "country" vibe to it, and most arts and crafts fairs tend to promote that old Midwestern country thing.

The St. Luke's Holiday Bazaar, though, is a little different from other crafty fairs. First, the organizers require that everyone who has a booth offers only items that they have handmade. Thus, the quality level of the stuff for sale at the bazaar is higher than anywhere else I've seen. Second, they have a wide variety- you might see a couple of booths with similar ideas, but for the most part, every booth is different. Third, they have the cinnamon rolls. The cinnamon rolls are huge, plate-sized monsters that apparently are so good that they generate lines with ten-minute wait times. I confess, I've never actually had one of the legendary St. Luke's Holiday Bazaar Cinnamon Rolls (a fact that, whenever I reveal it to someone at the bazaar, evokes a reaction of shock and horror) but the aroma alone is enough to add ten pounds. It's not uncommon to see clusters of three or four well-dressed, normally well-mannered "ladies who lunch" hovering around a single styrofoam box, scarfing down mouthfuls of cinnamon roll as if they haven't eaten in weeks. So the cinnamon rolls are good for aromatherapy and entertainment value.

Finally, the most important reason I go to the St. Luke's Holiday Bazaar every year is because attending this event was something my sister and I did with our mom. We used to alternate years. I'd come home from grad school one year so I could go with Mom, and the next year, my sister would go. My mom loved the Bazaar. She'd see her friends there every year, scarf down a bit of a cinnamon roll, and buy jewelry, holiday decorations, and Christmas presents.

When my mom passed away almost eight years ago, I started going to the Bazaar myself, which always made me a little sad. But then, my sister and I started taking my niece and making it an annual traditional pilgrimage. This new tradition turned the Bazaar back into something special. Most years, we also run into my dad and stepmom and other family members, and that makes it even nicer to go.

My mom had some very specific strategies when she attended the Bazaar. She always went early, right when the Bazaar opened, she had a favorite entrance to the church and a favorite area in the parking lot where she could get the closest parking, and she always insisted that we leave our coats in the car, whether it was freezing or not. She said that we would get hot inside and we'd be carrying purchases and wouldn't want to carry our coats. My mom was like a shopping sensei. And in fact, when my sister and my niece and I go to the Bazaar, we do it the same way as we did with my mom, speed-walking into the church sans coats, shivering the entire way, and talking about how glad we are that we got good parking. It's the same every year.

One of the highlights at the Bizarre Bazaar (also so dubbed, by the way, because it's just fun to say) is the fact that there are quite a few repeat exhibitors who come back year after year. And even though sometimes they'll tell you they're probably not coming back next year (it's just occurred to me that this just might be a sales tactic), they're always there, in the same booth space as the year before. In particular, here are some of my favorites:

Cat Stuff: Camille has cat playtime down to a science. She has The Best of everything cat-related- beds that you can throw in the washer and dryer, kick toys that seem really simple, but have catnip at one end, so the cats grab one side and chew and kick at the other end...I don't know why, I just know my cats have gotten two of these every year for their entire lives and they love them. In fact, I actually wait all year to buy my cat toys from Camille. I don't even bother buying cat toys anywhere else.

Thelma's Stampin' Up Booth: Thelma is a Stampin' Up distributor. Stampin' Up is a network marketing company that has the coolest stamping and scrapbooking supplies, and Thelma takes it all to a whole new level. She always has the most beautiful cards, notepads, gift packaging...it's just insane what she's capable of, and I always spend way too much on her stuff.

Yawning Dog Designs: Denise used to just make knitting bags and in fact made a custom knitting bag for me last year (A million thank yous for the awesome pocket in my knitting bag, Denise!), but this year, Denise started making purses. Aaaaaah! They're gorgeous and simple and a really cool extension of what she was already doing.

Those are actually the only booths that I absolutely must visit each year, but there are tons of "regulars" that I look for whenever I go, and I've created dumb nicknames for them in my head. There are the "Raku Pottery Ladies," "The Soap With Stuff Inside It Lady," "The Christmas Tree People" (who didn't make it this year), and "That Amazing Lady Who Makes Such Happy Looking Ceramic Gingerbread Men and Stuff With Tiny Flowers." There's "The Carpet Hat Lady," "Honey Guy," "The Barbie Clothes Lady," "The Giant Booth That's In The Corner By The Bathrooms," "Wood Turning Guy," "Artsy Scarf Chick," "Knife Guy Who I Always Wonder If He Really Makes Those Knives Himself," and "The Church Ladies Baking Booth." Oh, and of course, "Cool Girly Girl Lady," who makes pretty little barrettes and purses that my niece raids every year (hey, I didn't say the names were particularly creative or impressive). Sadly, the hearing-impaired gentleman who always used to sell freshly-popped popcorn in the hallway, with a handwritten sign taped to his popcorn machine that read, "Deaf Popcorn," whose name in my head was always "Deaf Popcorn Guy," hasn't been there for a couple of years. When a regular doesn't show up, I wonder what happened to them, but I wonder in particular about Deaf Popcorn Guy, because he seemed like a very nice man and because he made excellent popcorn.

This year, there were a couple of new booths and because I foolishly failed to get their cards, they've been given their own dumb nicknames. There was "Awesome Confused Jewelry Lady," who told me she thinks her style is "all over the place and confusing" but who I bought a very cool bracelet from nevertheless, and "American Girl Doll Dress Lady" who supplied all of the gifts I'll be giving my niece for Christmas and birthday this year, and who said she is absolutely not coming back next year and will only be selling online (good job, me, for not getting her card- those clothes are usually crazy expensive, but her stuff was half the cost and twice the quality! Argh!).

And then there was The Vintage Key, and that one I remember because I did get her card. She makes very cool Steampunk jewelry, and she made up a nifty vintage typewriter key necklace for me while I waited, and told me about how her stuff made it into the Emmy gift bags recently.

The St. Luke's Holiday Bazaar is an Indianapolis institution and something I look forward to all year. It's more than an arts and crafts fair, it's a family tradition. And even though I just got home...I can't wait until next year.

The Miracle Of A Good Pair Of Jeans

2011-03-15T13:57:00.000-04:00

Recently, I had a revelation at The Gap. Think it can't happen? Think Gap isn't the place for a spiritual transformation? Think again.

Here's the situation: my jeans were too big and I needed to buy a smaller size. So I found myself in the "Curvy" jeans section, hunting through the stacks of perfectly-folded denim. As I searched for my size, an older saleswoman approached and asked if I needed help.

I looked up, miserable, and said, "Mmph."

She laughed and said, "Are you okay?"

I shrugged and said, "Is any woman ever okay when shopping for jeans?"

Then she asked if she could make a suggestion, which shocked me a little bit.

But that's the thing about this economy. Now when you shop you're no longer exclusively subjected to flip, insensitive teenagers who recommend Eddie Bauer to you, because, "That's where my mom shops." (Oh yes, that happened to me, and at the time, as I stared at this evil yet totally oblivious teen, it was of little comfort to me that one day, she would find herself staring in the mirror, wondering where the time- and her waistline- had gone. Karmic justice has little bearing when you've just been smacked in the face with the realization that, despite feeling quite similar to how you did when you were young, to a real teenager, you're old.)

But these days, no matter where you go, you'll find older, displaced workers who have either lost their "real" jobs due to the economic downturn or those who've taken retail jobs part-time to help make ends meet. Regardless of the reason, the result is the same: a re-emerging breed of sales help that is actually helpful and even a bit sensitive to shopping stress.

So the saleswoman asked if she could make a recommendation.

I sneered a little and said, "You can try." Shopping for pants always makes me a little cranky, plus I can admit that I often think I know pretty much everything. Undaunted, the saleswoman picked up a pair of jeans from the "Skinny" line and said, "Try these."

I gaped at her like she had just sprouted two heads and stammered, "Um...but...I don't think you understand," I held my arms out and waved helplessly at the lower half of my body, "I'm a curvy girl."

She shoved the jeans at me and said, "I know you think it doesn't make sense, but please at least try them. I swear, you'll thank me."

I rolled my eyes, prepared to protest more, but suddenly, I noticed a tiny glimmer of hope, just a little sparkly denim light, way in the back of my mind. I thought, "Well, she's older and wiser and maybe she knows something I don't."

I took the jeans.

A few minutes later, I stood in the dressing room, gaping at the mirror.

As soon as I'd gotten in the dressing room, I'd tried on the jeans she'd practically forced on me, assuming I'd feel that "Ha! I was right" kind of satisfaction (that kind of bittersweet self-satisfaction that's accompanied by a twinge of disappointment that there really are no miracles). I thought once I ruled out her foolishness, I could get on with the unpleasant business of finding the pair of curvy jeans that "sort of" fit. Instead, there I stood, staring dumbfounded at the reflection of myself...but at a version of me that actually appeared ten pounds lighter.

Anyone who tells you that there are no magic jeans has never tried on a really good pair. Anyone who tells you jeans can't make you look thinner than you are has never had someone wise tell them to try something new. And I'm telling you right now that these jeans, these perfect, skinny jeans, were suddenly my personal wardrobe miracle.

I twisted around, preening in the mirror, so fascinated with the transformation that I had to pause to multi-text my husband and my friend, "Magic Jeans!"

I was practically transfixed. I had walked into that store feeling bulky, tired, and dowdy, yanking up my too-big curvy jeans as I pawed through stacks of tiny size two jeans, looking for the jeans made for "normal-sized" women.

Yet here I was, a mere ten minutes later, feeling practically giddy with the kind of "Eee!" that one feels when one steps on the scales to discover one has lost ten pounds. I was the same size as before...I just looked like I'd been dieting for three weeks.

And as much as I want to tell you that none of this really matters, as much as I want to say that it's what's in my head that counts and in my soul that matters most...I still have to confess this womanly truth: regardless of how important intelligence, honesty, integrity, and spirituality really are...it's equally true that a good pair of jeans sure does make the day brighter.

Later, as the saleswoman handed me the plastic bag containing my new magical jeans, I told her she'd changed my life. I thanked her profusely and told her I'd be back to learn more. She smiled knowingly, like a Tibetan monk holding the secrets to a peaceful, content, denim-clad life.

Saying Goodbye To My Oldest Friend

2011-01-05T00:32:00.000-05:00

This evening Leo and I said a tearful farewell to our sweet little calico cat, Kate. She was twenty years old and suffered from a variety of maladies, including a thyroid problem, heart murmur, and most lately, a tumor in her jaw.

We didn't know we were taking Kate to the vet to say goodbye today. We thought we were taking her in for her regular bi-weekly antibiotic shot. The tumor in her jaw caused some infection, and these shots tended to keep the infection at bay. We had noticed that she'd been losing some energy and strength, and she was having trouble with the stairs and had all but stopped using her litterbox. We knew the time was coming, when we'd have to let her go, but I don't think you're ever really ready to say goodbye. But once the vet told us the tumor had caused so much damage that Kate was in real pain, we made the decision that it was time to let her go.

Kate came into my life as a rambunctious kitten twenty years ago. She was with me when I went to college and grad school, when I had my first apartment, got my first job, started my first company, when I was recovering from gall bladder surgery...she was with me through good times and bad. And she most certainly approved of Leo. One of her favorite things was to lay on Leo's chest, patting his face with her paws while he scratched her back.

What was most unique about Kate was that she was, as Leo dubbed her, a "cat-dog." She loved to fetch and would chase after a sponge ball for as long as you'd throw it. She had a stuffed animal all her own, a sheep named "Ewe" that would appear randomly throughout the house, wherever she left it after she'd dragged it around for awhile. She greeted us at the door when we came home and was extraordinarily affectionate. She never tired of playing and being cuddled. Kate was the softest cat I'd ever held- her coat was as soft as a rabbit's.

In the last few weeks, Kate wore a pretty pink-and-white striped sweater, which we gave her because we had to shave off quite a bit of her fur, as she'd lost the ability to clean herself and developed some mats in her fur. Yesterday, she changed into a pink sweatshirt with "Princess" across the back in rhinestones, which she really seemed to like.

Kate was around for so long that I honestly can't remember a single day of my adult life without her. I know Leo and I made the right decision in letting her go, but it feels strange to walk forward into my life without her by my side, weaving her way around my feet, leaving copious amounts of hair on the bottoms of my jeans. I can't quite wrap my mind around the fact that tomorrow morning, Kate and I won't have the same conversation we've had every morning for the last twenty years as I prepared her breakfast:

Kate: Rrrrowr?

Me: Good morning, Kate. Did you sleep well?

Kate: Rrrrrow!

Me: Ah, yes, well, what did you eat before you fell asleep?

Kate: Rrrrrrrowr.

Me: Hm. Maybe we should change your diet a little. What else happened last night?

Kate: Pddddddrowr!

Me: I guess we'll have to tell Leo to bait the traps with peanut butter again. Were there a lot of them?

Kate: Mrrrrowr.

Me: Well, that's not so bad. At least they didn't eat much of your food, right?

Kate: Rrrrrowr.

....and so on. How is it even possible that tomorrow morning, I won't trip over her a hundred times while cooking breakfast and demand that she stop trying to murder me in the cutest possible way? How is it possible that I'll never again push her away, complaining about her terrible breath? How is it possible that my oldest friend is gone? But saying goodbye this evening was the only choice that was fair to Kate, and the one thing that eases my hurt, even though just a little bit, is knowing that she's no longer in terrible pain and her end was quiet, gentle, peaceful, and very loving.

Losing a pet is similar to losing a family member in many ways, but having lost my mother, I can say without doubt that it's not the same as losing a family member. It is, however, a substantial loss. And having had Kate in my life for so long and enjoying her as much as I did, I will really, really miss her a lot and I know Leo will, too. That's all I've got for tonight, folks.

Green Isn't Always Healthy...Did You Know?

2010-12-31T12:40:00.001-05:00

Did you know that "green" and "eco-friendly" aren't always the same as "healthy?" We're in a time now when everybody's rushing to buy products that are sustainable and green, with the idea that surely what they're buying is better for the environment, and the assumption that these products are also healthier, too. But the truth is, green isn't always healthy.

Almost seven years ago, my mom succumbed to breast cancer. It was a recurrence of the cancer that she'd battled and defeated (we thought) almost five years before, and on March 5, 2004, we lost her. It was my mom's battle with cancer that made me wonder...what exactly was the cause? I've realized over time that it probably wasn't just one thing. I've done a fair bit of reading on potential carcinogens and causes of cancer, and as a result, I've taken action in my life to reduce my own exposure as much as possible without going overboard (I could go on and on about what "overboard" means, but suffice to say, I believe that enjoying life is just as important as taking care with your body and your environment).

Back to green and healthy...I learned a long time ago that sometimes green and sustainable products aren't the same as healthy products. For example, I could buy a nightstand for my bedroom that's made with reclaimed wood- this makes it a "green" product. But most of these tables are covered in polyurethane varnish, which typically offgasses toxic and carcinogenic particles for up to seven years.

And since my bedroom has been on my mind lately, let's look more closely at that room in particular. You spend 7-8 hours a night sleeping in your bedroom. That's a lot of time, especially if you've painted the walls with regular paint, used an average carpet on the floor, have bedding you picked up at Bed, Bath & Beyond, bought regular furniture and a regular mattress, plus standard IKEA furniture...you're in an offgassing nightmare with literally hundreds of VOCs (volatile organic compounds). And on average, you're breathing on those toxins 2,758 hours per year that you're spending sleeping in that room.

But what if you went green? So you bought low-VOC paint. You bought bamboo flooring. You bought a natural latex mattress and organic cotton sheets. You bought reclaimed furniture for the bedroom and darn it, you're green.

Believe it or not, though, there are still hazards for you in that room. Your low-VOC paint is still offgassing VOCs, your bamboo flooring and reclaimed furniture are covered in polyurethane, your latex mattress just might be held together with glue and stabilizers, and your sheets are probably smooth because of chemical agents used in the processing. So you're still breathing in that stuff. Sure, you've reduced your carbon footprint and you can feel good about that. But you didn't really do much for yourself or for your health.

It's only in the last few months that I've seen green, sustainable, and eco-friendly manufacturers using words like "indoor air quality" and "non-toxic," words I used six years ago when I remodeled my house and befuddled my contractors by ordering my own materials, hardwood floor stain, and zero-VOC floor varnish and wall paint.So it certainly is easier to find both green and non-toxic products and materials now, but it's still a challenge...less so, if you've educated yourself.

As we move forward with a market of more and more green and sustainable products, keep your eyes open and pay attention to what you're investing in for your home. If your health is at all important to you, ask yourself if your cleaning products, your furniture, your clothes, your bedding, everything around you is both green and non-toxic. While you don't need to go overboard, it would serve most people well to at least question what's in the immediate household environment and ask, "Is this good for me?"

Happy Birthday, Leo!

2010-12-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

On this day, my hubster turns 52! Now, I've planned a special day for him today, finished by a romantic dinner out, but in honor of his birthday, I wanted to share some photos of a recent trip we took to Target, where Leo was inspired by some of the home decor items (forgive the substandard camera work from my Sidekick, which is soon to be replaced). Enjoy!

Laugh	Joy
Peace	Love
Believe	A to Z...which confounded Leo a bit, I think, with regard to expression.

Happy birthday to the best man I know!
I love you, Sweet Pea!

We Shaved Our Cat!

2010-12-27T19:13:00.000-05:00

As some of you know, one of our cats, Kate, is twenty years old. Kate has lived a long and happy life, and is one of the most beautiful, friendly cats I've ever encountered. Well, sadly, we found out last month that Kate has a tumor in her jaw and probably won't be with us much longer. Currently she's not in pain and seems to be doing just fine, but we're keeping a close eye on her to see if there are any changes.

It's amazing what cats do when it comes to their own care, and Leo and I have discovered just how much they actually do, since Kate recently stopped being able to clean herself, and despite all attempts on our part, we can't do nearly as well as she did on her own. As a result, some of her hair on her back became matted and there was no real way to brush it out, so our vet suggested we shave the mats.

This being winter, we thought she'd be too cold, but Leo said, "Why don't we get her a sweater?" I said, "There's no possible universe where Kate will wear a sweater. She'll wiggle out of it. No way." But Leo insisted she'd love it and we bought it.

Well, I'll be darned if Kate doesn't love her sweater. She absolutely adores it and so here I am, publicly announcing: I was wrong. You know...this time. LOL

The sweater fits her perfectly and she's just delighted with it, so now our poor little shaved cat is wandering around the house in a pink and white striped sweater. I never thought I'd see the day.

My Latest Fave Avocado Treat

2010-12-26T13:30:00.000-05:00

Lately, I've been working out first thing in the morning, and when I'm done, my body is hungry for something really healthy. I've always loved avocado, but never craved it in the morning until recently, when a vague memory of reading about spreading avocado on toast resurfaced. I happened to have a really nice whole wheat bread and an avocado and I thought, "Hm, that might be nice," and I tried it and it's unbelievable. It's delicious. Plus, it's better than butter because you're actually getting a health benefit from the fats you're consuming (avocado is a "good" fat) and it's better than dry toast because...well, unless you're hung over or sick, who really likes dry toast? ("Me," says my husband, Leo, who actually does eat dry toast occasionally, but frankly, he likes to dip dry toast into sunny-side-up eggs, so as far as I'm concerned, it doesn't count)

Now, I have a couple of tips for your avocado toast treat. First, use bread that's substantial. I'm currently in love with Nature's Pride Extra Fiber Whole Wheat bread because it doesn't have any of the weirdo partially-hydrogenated nonsense or creepy high-fructose corn syrup, and it has a nice flavor.

Second, get an avocado that's ripe, but not too ripe. It should have a little give to it when you give it a gentle squeeze, but it shouldn't be mushy. If it's rock-solid when you squeeze it, you can put it next to some apples for a day or so to ripen it up. Apples give off a gas that makes other produce ripen faster. We have a three-tiered wire basket that hangs from our ceiling where we keep apples separate from other stuff, and it works great for ripening avocados, but you could also put an apple and an avocado in a paper bag overnight and it works even better.

Prepare your toast normally. While your bread is toasting, cut your avocado in half as in the photo. I use an avocado peeler (left) from Pampered Chef that I bought for $6.50 years ago. It's one of the best kitchen purchases I've made, because it's quite versatile.

Once you've sliced your avocado, take the side that doesn't have the pit and use your avocado peeler (or a table knife or a butter knife) to sort of...scuff the top of the avocado. You're not slicing here- you're creating a spread. Then you just spread the avocado over your toast. I probably use 1/8 avocado for one piece of toast, if even that much.

I save my avocado and use it daily until it's gone. If you're easily icked out, know that avocado changes color rapidly and will go from green to brown as it oxidizes. This doesn't mean anything about the quality of the avocado, but if it bothers you, squeeze a little lemon over the exposed part of the avocado. Alternatively, the next day you can just scuff off the icky brown part and underneath it'll be perfectly bright green. Enjoy!

Christmas Rocks!

2010-12-24T14:17:00.002-05:00

I love Christmas. Love, love, love it. Aside from the spiritual implications of the holiday, I love nothing more than a warm, cozy Yuletide with family, so the second Thanksgiving is over, I'm ready to decorate the tree.

Leo and I spend an evening with a roaring fire, eggnog (the real stuff!), and we decorate our tree together. I have stories about pretty much every ornament on our tree. There are some ornaments that are special because I've had them since I was a little girl, like the "Shrinky Dink" ones we made together. Others are important because they hung on my grandmother's tree. I have ornaments that were gifts- my stepmom used to give me an ornament every year, and each one was something totally different from anything I'd seen before- and ornaments that I made myself, like the satin ball I covered with beads from my great-grandmother's necklace. Then there are the "travel ornaments." Whenever Leo and I go on a trip together, we buy an ornament for our tree. And as we decorate, each ornament brings back memories and moments, creating one of the most pleasant nights of the year.

But it's not just the decorating that I love. It's the gifts. No, not receiving them (though I'm not going to lie...I do like receiving). It's the giving that I love. All year long, I'm like a spy, keeping my eyes and ears open and listening to my friends and family, trying to get some hints about what they want, thinking of what gifts might bring a smile to their faces. Sometimes I make gifts, sometimes I buy them online, but Leo and I always spend at least one afternoon out at the mall amongst the masses, enjoying the hustle and bustle.

The day before Christmas (or sometimes the morning of Christmas Day), I make my great-grandmother's persimmon pudding, a recipe that was passed down to my grandmother and my mother to me. As I read my Nana's handwriting, I think of her, and always laugh when I get to the part of the recipe that says, "Bake in a slow oven; 275 for an hour, then 300 for awhile, and 325 for a bit." It makes me giggle, wondering what "awhile" and "a bit" are supposed to mean, but Nana always made her pudding perfectly, and somehow, mine turns out just fine, too. Making the persimmon pudding is a special moment for me, as it really does connect me to the women in my family who I have loved and who are no longer with me. I feel like the keeper of a precious legacy that I will one day pass down to my children.

Christmas is a special day like no other. And though I don't get religious on that day and I haven't gone to church on Christmas Eve in years, there is a unique vibe in the air this time of year, something that's different from any other season.

Next year should be even bigger, warmer, and more exciting, as we'll have the whole family at our house for the big holiday dinner. Leo and I have already started planning. :)

Raw Lemon Avocado Pudding And My Juice Fast

2010-12-08T20:32:00.002-05:00

This week I'm doing a light, 3-day juice fast. I thought it would be good for me to detox a little. Leo and I have been working on getting our acts together where our health is concerned and this is a part of that effort. I researched juice fasts and found a fantastic web site called Cooler Cleanse. They offer a very schmancy service where they ship you three or five days worth of fresh juices for your fast. At $57/day, I thought it was a bit steep, so I printed out their 3-day plan and cobbled together my own home-based version at a third of the cost.

They had a couple of "cheat" recipes on their web site that you can make just in case you get a little desperate. The first was a seriously yummy raw zucchini hummus, and the second was this raw lemon avocado pudding, which I'm posting because I think it's kind of an interesting flavor and worth trying, if you're adventurous and willing to enjoy a few bites before deciding if you like it or not.-it took me about three bites before I could figure out if I liked it, because the flavor combination was so unfamiliar to me. Final verdict: Yum.

Ingredients:

1/2 avocado

1 lemon

1/2 c pitted dates, chopped

water

Instructions:

Peel the lemon and cut it in half. Remove the seeds. Combine the avocado, lemon, and dates in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. If you need water to improve your blending process, add a little at a time, just to get the blender moving.

I used an immersion blender, but I think a food processor might've been a good first step before moving to the immersion blender. I'd post a photo, but honestly, it's not a pretty product. The dates take the bright avocado green to a muddy color. So...be prepared for that.

Blend it long enough and the texture gets really creamy.

Toxic Secrets About Your Bedroom, Part 1 (ooh la la!)

2010-12-07T12:12:00.002-05:00

Did you know that your bedroom just might be one of the most toxic places in your entire home? We hear a lot about things like nonstick cookware, paint, and mold, but it's rare that we hear much about the bedroom. Yet you spend a third of your life (at least!) in that room. So does it make sense to fill it with toxins and poisons? No! Since Leo and I are currently revamping our own bedroom, I thought it fitting to discuss the potential toxins in the bedroom in a multi-part series. Today, the first toxin in your bedroom.

Think you know what's in your mattress?

Toxin #1: The Mattress

I was amazed when I recently flipped through Mother Earth News and saw a Tempur-Pedic mattress ad taking up an entire page. Why? Because Tempur-Pedic is an offgassing nightmare of toxins and poisons. Comfortable? Maybe. But is it worth it, when there are natural alternatives? Memory foam is bad news, and the worst part is that there are so many beds making use of it now that it's hard to avoid. Plus, most mattress salespeople are woefully undereducated about their product, so they'll tell you there's nothing toxic about the beds at all. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

If you think you're safe going with, say, an air mattress like the Sleep Number bed, think again, because they put memory foam in between the air channels, plus those air channels are made of plastic and rubber that offgas, too.

Okay, so why not just your standard Sealy or average mattress from your local mattress store? Well, first, there may be memory foam in those mattresses, too. Second, you may be dealing with other fillers from countries unknown- meaning you just don't know what's in them, which means you may be inhaling pesticides and other chemicals while you sleep.

Third, it's not just the filling of the mattress you have to worry about. It's the covering. If you have a cotton cover for your mattress, there may be chemicals in that- certainly most mattresses are built with a cover that's treated with flame retardants, as required by law. Of course, who wants to wake up in the burning bed? Still, there are natural alternatives to the chemical flame retardants, as you'll see in my solutions list. And, if you're still inclined to go with a regular mattress, you can have your doctor write a prescription so you aren't forced to have the chemical options.

So what's the answer to the mattress dilemma? Well, there are a few potential solutions to the toxic mattress problem:

Natural Latex. Natural latex comes from the rubber tree and can be a great solution that offers comfort as well as a toxin-free sleep. It's also an eco-friendly option. But beware: many natural latex suppliers use toxic glues to bind it together, as well as chemical stabilizers to maintain the shape needed for a mattress. You have to check with manufacturer to find out what you're getting. There are some expensive options in natural latex, but even IKEA has some fairly comfortable (albeit slightly on the firmer side) natural latex mattresses (note that IKEA has options that combine natural latex with memory foam and options that are solely natural latex with coil springs).

Organic Cotton. Okay, remember back when you were in college and slept on futons? Well, they're not so bad for you, actually, and they can be a great, non-toxic alternative. But that's not the only way to get organic cotton in your mattresses. You can also get the spring-style mattress that most of us are used to in an organic cotton version.

Wool. Wool is a great mattress filler, since it's both a natural flame retardant and also wicks away the heat in the summer and keeps you warm in the winter. Wool is also a great component in a mattress topper (I've had a wool mattress topper for years and absolutely love it), and good for people with allergies.

Organic Cotton and Wool. Since another concern is the flame retardant chemicals used on the outside casing of a mattress, many manufacturers use wool as a natural flame retardant. Wool is also used as a batting material and you can find some great spring-style mattresses in cotton and wool in a wide range of prices.

Organic Cotton, Wool, and Horsehair. One of the more interesting mattress fillers is horsehair, which is harvested in a cruelty-free fashion. Combined with cotton and wool in an innerspring mattress, this option can create an incredibly comfortable mattress. There are reasonably-priced models made here in the States and outrageously-priced models from Sweden, so you have a pretty wide range to choose from.

The range of non-toxic beds is wide enough these days that you have a lot to choose from. In Indiana, we had a difficult time finding any stores that carried non-toxic beds (worse, we couldn't find people who knew what we were talking about), but we did find some useful places to shop in Chicago (including IKEA, though I can't verify whether they use flame retardant chemicals on their bedding). If you're on the West Coast, you'll find a ridiculous number of options and suppliers. The web sites below should get you started.

Chicago Luxury Beds
Re-Nest Shopper's Guide
Pristine Planet Green Comparison (all may not be non-toxic)

In Part 2, I'll talk about the second toxin in your bedroom: Your bedding itself.

My Love/Hate Relationship With Woot-Offs

2010-12-01T18:20:00.000-05:00

I can't help it. I love Woot.com. They offer one deal every day. It's simple, it's easy, it's a great business concept and they often have cool stuff at great prices. Every single one of my Roombas (I have four) came from Woot (okay, I did get one from my dad, who got it from Woot). I haven't always had good luck with Woot. My dad and I both ordered a GPS from them and when they arrived, it turned out they only operated in Spanish (they accepted the return and apologized...in English).

But the Woot-Off...oh, the Woot-Off. A Woot-Off, in case you don't know, is when Woot offers deal after deal throughout the day (or a series of days). There's no set time limit for how long any item may appear, no one knows what items will show up, and there's always a "Random Bag of Crap," which typically sells for $3.00 (+$5.00 shipping) and could be anything. I once ordered a RBOC and it had...ready? A Roomba. Yep, one of my Roombas cost me a whopping $8.00.

Now, I love the Woot-Off because it's exciting and you never know when something awesome's going to show up. But I hate the Woot-Off for the following reasons:

It creates the worst of the worst in impulse buying. You don't know how in-demand something will be, so you only have a brief moment to decide, "Do I really need this?" I find it's best to start with the assumption that you don't need anything.
It creates a compulsion to sit at your computer all day, waiting to see what deals they'll put up. This is much worse if you're looking for a specific item. For example, I have been waiting for two days for a Scooba to show up, since I missed it the first time it came around at 3:30 AM yesterday morning, when I happened to have insomnia. It came up and sold out faster than my sleep-deprived brain could process. So now I'm waiting for a second Scooba to come up.
There's no automation like with eBay, so you can't walk away from it. Sure, there's Wootalyzer, so you don't have to keep refreshing your screen to keep track of the items, but you can't set anything to automatically make a buy for you.

So here's a business idea for a savvy programmer: If you can get Woot to give you access to their API, perhaps you could develop a program like the auction sniper software you can use with eBay. If I want a Scooba, I could choose "Scooba" from a menu of items that have been on Woot previously, set a price range I'm willing to pay, and select an option to just buy it when it shows up on Woot. And if you could automatically get me a RBOC, I'd be tickled pink. Let me know when you get it programmed and I'll happily beta-test it for you. Mama wants a Scooba.

Black Friday? Not a Fan. But Cyber Monday, That's A Different Story.

2010-11-28T18:03:00.000-05:00

I'll never forget the days of setting the alarm to get up at some obscene hour the day after Thanksgiving, to meet my mom somewhere for a morning of power shopping. My mom was a shopper like no other. You couldn't get her to exercise a bit, though she'd never admit to it; her treadmill, which she'd bought with the absolute conviction that she would use it every day, was a better clothes hanger than anything else, and under her bed were piled more than a few As-Seen-On-TV exercise gimmicks. But she could walk for miles at the mall or an art fair, carrying massive quantities of bags in varying shapes and sizes, and she'd never tire until a little after closing time. My mom was perhaps the best shopper of all time.

While I cherish my memories of shopping with my mom (I'm convinced she's my guardian angel of parking spots, and thank her every time I get "rock star parking" at the mall), I confess I'm not drawn to the sales in quite the way she was. The crowds, the noise, the pushing and shoving, the rudeness...it's not my thing and has a tendency to awaken claustrophobia and malcontent within me.

I'm not tempted by doorbusters; I've rarely actually procured one. And I've always found that Black Friday shopping tends to whip one into a buying frenzy, so that one ends up back at home late that night, credit card smoking and surrounded by bags, boxes, and regret.

And ultimately, I don't need much these days. I have almost everything that I want, and I'd rather spend money on adventures and memories, than on electronics and clothes. Don't get me wrong- I'm neither Luddite nor Amish. My head can be turned by an iPhone or a gorgeous handbag. But few of the things I truly want are on sale the day after Thanksgiving.

That said, tomorrow is Cyber Monday, Internet shopping's answer to Black Friday. It's said that a vast quantity of shoppers do their holiday shopping online, from work, the Monday after Thanksgiving, hence Cyber Monday. And that's when I'll be doing some of my deal-hunting. Frankly, I've already done my shopping. Windows are already open on the Mac, displaying the few items I want; all that's left is to refresh and see the new pricing tomorrow morning....and to make sure I'm appropriately "cookied up" to receive my frequent flier miles from my preferred airline. :)

And that, my friends, is the beauty of Cyber Monday: no parking problems, no pushing or shoving, no long lines or rude, overworked salespeople. No driving, no waiting, no noise, no crowds, no claustrophobia, no overbuying, no regrets. Just a few minutes, a little clicking, and I'm done with my shopping and have the rest of the day ahead of me. It's eco-friendly, it's peaceful, and it's quiet, and I don't even have to carry a thing.

I kind of think my mom would be proud. :)

MORE Hamster Babies!!

2010-11-23T21:22:00.000-05:00

This evening, we discovered that Imogen has had her babies, so we now have TWO litters of hamsters. I sure hope the pet store will take them!!! Should be an interesting few weeks coming up in our future. :)

We Have More Hamster Babies!

2010-11-19T11:32:00.000-05:00

Just last night, we moved our black female hamster, Fran Nancy, into a large aquarium. She was pretty fat and I thought she would be delivering soon, but I honestly had no idea she was this close. I was working at my desk this morning and heard the familiar ham-baby squeak, but I Fran's created this massive pile of cotton fluff and bedding so I wasn't sure...but then she shifted enough for me to see a wee little pink thing wriggling around underneath, so now I know...we've got more hamster babies.

Ned Nancy is happily ensconced in his own aquarium and Imogen and Lucky Smith are probably not too far behind with their own litter. In the meantime, Willa seems to be enjoying single life and exploring the house in her clear plastic ball.

More updates as we're able to count the new arrivals and take photos.

Best Pants Ever!

2010-11-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

I recently went on a hunt for some awesome, comfortable pants. I wanted something that was comfortable for long flights and something that looked nice for when we go out to dinner whether traveling or at home. What I found was the Everyday Pant from Lucy.com. Okay, so they're not blue jeans, but I'm telling you, these pants are like miracle pants. They smooth out all the unflattering stuff and pretty much just make you look the best you possibly can look. I don't know how they work; I just know they're awesome. I think I'll be wearing a pair of these on every flight from here till forever. They're just that amazing.

Continuing With My Tea Trend...How Much Tea Do You Need?

2010-11-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

As I've spent a little time these last few days studying tea, I began to wonder...there are all these great teas and they have all these benefits. But how much tea do you have to drink to get the benefits? I mean, if white tea hydrates my skin and helps me look younger, how much white tea do I have to drink to see the benefits? How long before I notice a difference?

So I did a little research and found this article that says four cups of tea per day is the minimum to get the hydrating and positive health benefits of tea. Wikipedia has this exhaustive rundown of the possible health benefits of tea and several of the studies mentioned indicate that four cups of tea per day is the amount to drink. There does seems to be some indication, however, that it's better if you don't drink the tea super-hot, but rather drink it about four minutes after pouring.

I'm super-excited about making my way through my tea cupboard. I'm enjoying reacquainting myself with all the yummy teas I've fallen in love with and I feel a sense of accomplishment (however silly it may be) when I make my way through one more tea tin. And because I have this self-imposed rule that I can't buy any new tea until I clear out that overflowing tea cupboard, it'll be so much fun when I finally am ready to explore some new teas!

Wow, I Did Not Know This About Tea Preparation!

2010-11-17T08:00:00.002-05:00

Awhile back, I bought a tin of Vanilla Coconut White Tea from Republic of Tea. I was super-excited about this tea. I love tea. I love coconut. What could possibly go wrong?

Except...this tea, my first white tea, was bitter. Really, really bitter. Every time I made it, it was the same. Bitter, bitter, bitter. Until I myself started feeling a little bitter about having even bought the tea in the first place.

But then I did a little research and learned something: the water I was using to prepare my tea was too hot, and that's what was causing the bitterness. Who knew the temperature of the water mattered? Not me, that's for sure. I always believed that you boil water in your teapot, pour it in the cup with the tea and presto! Tasty hot tea.

Not so much. According to Teavana (my latest discovery and my newest love), "boiling water is too hot for white and green teas and will make them taste bitter. Letting the tea leaves sit for too long in water can also make your tea taste bitter or harsh." Teavana actually has a full chart showing the correct temperatures and times for brewing tea here.

You can either stand around with a thermometer, trying to get the temperatures right, or you can invest in a teapot that does it for you. There's a schmancy Breville teamaker that will heat the water to the right temperature for you, then gently lower the tea into the water, steeping it for precisely the right time before raising the tea basket again. It's pretty cool, but it's $249.99. The reviews are incredible, but after I thought about my needs, I realized I really only make my tea one cup at a time. I like having a different kind of tea with each cup, and I don't need a fancy teamaker to prepare several cups at once. So I found that my needs could easily be met with the Adagio Utilitea, which heats your water to whatever temperature is appropriate for the tea you're cookin'.

Problem solved. :)

For The Love of Tea

2010-11-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

I've been a lover of tea for years. Red, white, green, black, herbal...I love it all, and I especially like trying all kinds of new teas from around the world.

For a long time, I've had two "go to" tea companies: Yogi Teas, for their tasty and therapeutic teas, and Republic of Tea, for their vast range, tasty mixes, and gorgeous tins, which preserve the tea's freshness for a nice, long time and happen to be easily recycled as decoupaged gift tins for jewelry and other small gifts.

One of my Republic of Tea favorites is a Ginger Peach black tea. This tea, made hot and with a healthy dollup of honey, is my personal comfort tea, because it reminds me of my mom, who introduced it to me. In our last days together, she and I would sit together in the evenings, sipping this tea and talking about life, love, and hope. When I'm missing her the most, this tea makes me feel closer to her.

But I have a confession to make. I'm about to cheat on RoT. Leo and I happened by a Teavana for the first time recently and I've fallen in love. In particular, I'm enamored with these double-walled teacups we bought. They're amazing. They keep the tea hot longer and you never burn your hand holding your teacup. Plus, they're the perfect size. Amazing! I totally love them.

The other great thing about Teavana stores is that they have loads of samples of their teas available throughout the store, which is really fun and yummy. Note: don't buy a cup of tea to take with you. They're outrageously priced. Period. I mean, like $7 for a cup of tea. Worse than Starbucks. Still, the tea is top-notch and super high-quality, so I can't really complain.

Currently, I'm "not allowed" (my rule) to buy any new tea until I've made space in my overflowing tea cabinet, so I'm drinking tea like crazy. Today alone I started my day with a little RoT Get Lost red tea, followed it up with some RoT Orange Spice green tea, and am just finishing off a little rule-breaker I picked up at Teavana, a Samurai Chai Mate (come on, it was just a couple of ounces and hardly took up any room at all!), before heading back downstairs for a bit of RoT Vanilla Coconut white tea. I'll make it through that cupboard...I will!

FREE Chocolate?!

2010-11-15T12:01:00.000-05:00

Did you know that Godiva Chocolates gives away FREE chocolate? I just found out! Here's the scoop: I'm a huge fan of loyalty and rewards programs, and frankly, I dig free stuff. And Godiva impressed me recently, because I totally forgot about how great this program is.

Leo and I wandered into the Godiva shop whilst noodling about a local mall. A sign about their rewards program reminded me that I used to be a member, and made me ask the sales associate if they still had my information. She looked me up and said, "Yep, and you still haven't gotten your free chocolate this month."

Seriously, people. So here's the scoop: all you have to do is sign up either at your local Godiva Chocolatier or online and then once a month, stop by the shop and pick up your free piece of chocolate (in December, they're giving away two pieces). Leo and I are both signed up. Plus, when you spend over $10, you get a free gift. And if you shop via the American Airlines e-shopping portal, you get four miles per dollar spent. It's win-win-win, and yum-yum-yum. :)

Dear Sephora.....

2010-10-27T14:56:00.000-04:00

If I wanted to go blind from over-glitterization, I would. But since I don't, please quit trying to make me "try out a new look." I'm not twelve, I'm not a drag queen, and I'm not planning to head out to a rave anytime in the next...lifetime. So...stop sending me ads for makeup looks that make absolutely no sense to a normal woman.

Thank you.

Updates, Hamwatch 2010, and A Few Introductions

2010-10-21T09:00:00.006-04:00

Where the heck have I been for the last few weeks? Well, heck, I've been busy! What with my annual year-end planning drawing near, my new relationship with Business.com, and an upcoming product launch, I've had a lot going on. And as much as I love blogging about the fun, more personal stuff, something had to give.

Today, I'd like to share what's happened with my favorite furballs, introduce you to our new permanent residents, and get back in the swing of things.

So where to begin? Well, sad news first: Abe has not returned. I hold out hope that he's still in the house, maybe living off whatever the heck the mice live on when they find their way into the house. Yesterday I found an adult hamster-sized dropping near a bookcase on the first floor, and I got really excited, thinking Abe was still around, we just hadn't found him yet. But then I remembered Willa had spent some time running around in her clear plastic ball downstairs recently, so it might've been from her, but...I kinda have a little hope that my sweet little furry Abe is still running around after all.

HamWatch2010:

The hamster babies before they
headed to the pet store.

We took most of the hamster babies to the pet store last week. Leo and I just loved the experience of watching the babies grow up, and the pet store said they'll take whatever babies we end up with. So we now have two couples and Willa.

Willa has her own space and spends most evenings touring the house in her clear plastic hamster ball, and seems to have a wonderful time exploring. We even took her to my dad's house to check things out, and she wasn't even remotely bothered by their three cats, who didn't quite know what to make of Willa, safely ensconced in her clear plastic.

Introductions:
The Smiths:

Mr. and Mrs. Lucky Smith

There was one hamster we knew we were keeping from the second week, when we were finally able to see the babies. One hamster was born with only three feet. He was always able to keep up with the others, and didn't seem at all troubled. Early on, everyone was calling him "Lucky," which I didn't love, but it stuck. So I gave him a fancy last name and now his name is officially Lucky Smith. Lucky is a black hamster, and I think he'll be a longhaired hamster like Abe was. Lucky spends his days with Mrs. Lucky Smith, a little blonde hamster who doesn't yet have a first name, but is quite a climber. I have a feeling we'll have to keep our eye on her, as she might be an escape artist.

The Nancys:

Mr. and Mrs. Ned Nancy

Another baby I wanted to keep was a blonde hamster who was super-friendly and seemed to really enjoy when I picked him up and patted him on the head. I'd marked his belly with a dot from a Sharpie to make sure I could easily locate him, and I named him Ned Nancy. Ned's mate is a little black hamster who also doesn't have a name yet. I suspect we'll come up with the names for our little ladies soon, but for now, this one's just "Mrs. Ned Nancy." She's a huge fan of Cheerios. That much I know for sure.

So we have three aquariums in the office now, and frankly, it makes my workday even more fun, because now that they're adults, they're mostly nocturnal, but every once in awhile, a hamster will wake up and walk around sleepily, and I can sneak in a little cuddle before they head back to bed. And on days when I work late, I finish around the time when they wake up. I do promise more and better photos in the future.

I never imagined I'd have five hamsters and be in the business of raising hamster babies (LOL, we made a whopping $12 on the litter we took to the pet store), and I'm really surprised at how much fun I'm having. Of course, I do have a sneaking suspicion that my enjoyment may be tied to a quietly ticking biological clock. We'll see where that goes. :)

So that's the big HamWatch news. In other news, Leo and I are contemplating where we're going to spend Christmas this year, I'm still trying to find the perfect time to microwaving a baked potato (and wondering if it can still be called a "baked" potato if it's been nuked), and in the rare free moments, knitting my first pair of socks of the season while making my way through the first season of Murder One on Hulu.Stay tuned...more to come.

Restaurant Review: Johnny Rockets, USA

2010-09-30T09:00:00.001-04:00

I'm not a huge fan of chains or franchises, but there are a few that do things so well that I don't mind the big corporate ownership. So, for the first-ever Life in Blue Jeans Restaurant Review of a franchise operation..Johnny Rockets!

Johnny Rockets is a 50s-style diner, complete with jukeboxes and servers wearing 50s-style diner attire. The menu is mostly burgers, fries, and shakes, but the "new millenium" version of this diner includes healthier choices and a vegetarian Boca burger option. If someone happens to play the right song on the jukebox, all available staff will jump out and dance, which turns out to be a fun, albeit slightly uncomfortable show (the fun part is the servers who really get into the dance and make it fun by trying new moves; the uncomfortable part is the servers who clearly only do the dance because they have to- watching them is probably the most uncomfortable thing about Johnny Rockets).

We frequent two Johnny Rockets locations in Indianapolis - one in Castleton and one downtown. I have to confess that the service we've gotten downtown has always been friendly, but the Castleton location is a bit spotty. There are a couple of staffers at Castleton who are...a bit dour. But if you happen in on the days when those servers aren't working, the staff is extraordinary, in particular, Lyndsay, who is always enthusiastic and over-the-top welcoming and friendly. So, assuming you're showing up on a day when you get the "happy staff," you'll be greeted and seated practically the moment you walk in the place.

Results of the Johnny Rockets Ketchup
Face Competition Leo and I accidentally
started recently.

There are more great surprises at Johnny Rockets. I'm a believer in the concept of what I call "The Buffer." The Buffer is a separate plate or dish that's used for any sort of condiment, to avoid the food itself getting soggy. I use The Buffer for ketchup for fries, syrup for pancakes, etc. At Johnny Rockets, they bring you a Buffer and then, using ketchup, draw a face in the buffer. The quality and creativity of the face depends on the server's experience and dedication, but Leo and I actually caused a small ketchup face competition during our recent visit, when we complimented our server on having made the best ketchup face we'd had yet, in full earshot of another server. Once he heard our compliment, he came over to say that he'd taught our server everything she knew...and it was on like Donkey Kong.

Another great thing about Johnny Rockets that makes it such a phenomenal place for families, is that they give unlimited refills on drinks and fries. Plus, Monday through Wednesday, from 4:00 to close, kids eat free. When you're feeding a family, value matters. And Johnny Rockets delivers value in spades.

And on our last few visits there, they've given us these sweepstakes cards that we bring back for the next visit. The manager opens up the cards and tells us what we get free. The first time, we got a free shake, which earned a big "meh" from me. But last time, we won two free burgers and they let me swap my burger for a Boca burger, which prompted a "yay!" from me. And if you go to the Johnny Rockets web site and sign up for their e-club, you'll get a coupon for a free burger.

Johnny Rockets isn't a romantic place. It isn't a fancy place. But they deliver an entertaining, delicious meal with high value, which is a major bonus in this economy. Big thumbs up from us!

Please Excuse This Interruption....

2010-09-24T09:00:00.005-04:00

Every once in awhile, I get a little writer's block. It's not that I can't come up with ideas or that I'm actually blocked...it's that sometimes...I just don't want to write. To be fair, I have a large number of writing gigs- web sites and outlets I've promised regular writing assignments to, and now and then, the sheer volume of writing that I do on a weekly basis just...gets to me.

I started this blog for fun- to have a distraction from the topic of business that I write about on a daily basis. And it has been exactly what I hoped it would be- a great source of joy, fun, and an opportunity for me to share my life and all the cool stuff that Leo and I do on a daily basis with many of the folks who have previously only seen my business side (even if my business side is still wearin' blue jeans).

But right this minute, I'm overwhelmed with writing assignments, and I have to take a day or two off to sort through them all. So please bear with me and excuse this interruption. I'll be back momentarily.

Restaurant Review: Udupi Cafe, Indianapolis, Indiana

2010-09-23T09:00:00.002-04:00

It's hard to find Udupi Cafe in Indianapolis, Indiana. In fact, I'd wager that Udupi rates as one of the best-hidden culinary gems in Indianapolis. First, it's on a side of town where one expects to find a great variety of ethnic cuisine, but not necessarily on a side of town where you'd really want to go. Let's face it, the area around Lafayette Square Mall just isn't what it used to be. Leo and I happen to spend a good amount of time in this part of town, simply because we live about five minutes away. But I never feel completely safe in the area.

Second, Udupi is hidden inside Indian Plaza, which I never even knew existed before two days ago. So even if you know the address (4225 Lafayette Road), finding Udupi's front door just isn't a simple matter. In fact, I've driven by this place for the last ten or fifteen years, noticed the sign for "vegetarian indian cafe", and I always assumed it had gone out of business, since there was no visible storefront.

Then, two days ago, I was out running errands and I was super-hungry. I didn't want to go grocery-shopping on an empty stomach, so I decided to treat myself to a dim sum lunch. Well, the dim sum place was closed, so I decided to go on an Indian adventure. And what I found amazed me.

The strip mall (yes, I know) where Udupi is located happens to have another Indian restaurant at the end. I assumed that was the Indian restaurant, but then noticed a door with a sign reading, "Indian Plaza." "What's that?" I thought, and decided to venture forth.

Inside, I discovered a small Indian paradise. A little spa beckoned me with eyebrow threading and facials. A boutique tempted me with sparkly, beautiful jewelry. A massive grocery offered huge bags of scented rice, fresh produce, some of which I'd never seen before, and avast array of music and Bollywood films. And nestled in all of this cultural richness was Udupi Cafe.

On my first visit, which happened late for lunch (2 PM) on a Saturday, the staff was just about to tear down the buffet to start getting ready for dinner. When I happened along, though, they were completely welcoming, asked about the books I had with me, gave me a guided tour of the buffet, including recommendations, spice levels, and even made up a dessert plate for me, complete with masala tea. The head chef wandered out into the dining room to shake my hand when I was finishing my meal, and I had a lovely chat with a cake artist who stopped by to say hello to the staff. And when I was paying my bill, (under $10 for full buffet including dessert, beverage, and tip) they surprised me with a little to-go tub of my favorite dessert that day.

I took my dessert (gulab jamun, fried dough balls made with milk and flour and soaked in simple syrup) home and shared it with Leo and told him about my adventure, and we decided to go back the next day so he could experience Udupi for himself.

When we returned, the staff remembered me and welcomed us in, asking about the book I'd been reading. I introduced them to Leo and they showed the exact same level of service and friendly warmth during a reasonably busy Sunday evening dinner that I'd experienced as the only patron mid-afternoon on Saturday. Leo fell in love with the buffet, too.

Dosas

The flavors of Udupi are rich and warm and focused on Southern Indian cuisine. The matter paneer, one of my favorite Indian dishes, which is a tomato-based sauce with peas and cubes of cheese, has a deeper flavor than I've experienced before. The sambar, a vegetable stew, is only mildly spicy (though I thought spicier at dinner than at lunch) and wonderfully accompanied by saffron rice, idlis (steamed rice cakes), any of the bonda (fried potato mixtures), or the fresh naan (a soft flatbread) they bring you on request. They'll also bring dosas, a crepe made from lentils and stuffed with a potato, lentil, and spice mixture. Though it's not to my particular taste, there's a cold bar as well, with an array of raitas and chutneys, plus puri, which is an unleavened bread that comes out a bit like crunchy, hollow balls that you can fill with a mint sauce, a chutney, or a cold mashed potato mixture.

Saffron rice, sambar, mattar paneer, and bonda

And just when you've overdone it on too many trips to the savory buffet, there's dessert: at least four choices of delicious sweets await you. The galub jamun is a personal favorite, but I also fell in love with the kheer, a sweetened rice pudding made with raisins, and shrikhand matho, a yogurt-based mango dessert with fresh peaches and pears stirred in. The sweetest dessert I've had at Udupi is the motichoor ka ladoo, made with milk, gram flour flakes, and puffed rice.

I have yet to have a single dish at Udupi Cafe that I don't like. Even if I discover something that isn't to my particular taste, it's all prepared so well that I still enjoy it. And the welcoming staff makes the dining experience even more pleasant. In fact, Suresh and Raj invited us to a Cultural Cannibals event featuring a friend's band, Bollywood Bahngra, next Friday...after we sample their Friday night Indo-Chinese buffet, of course.

My Favorite Garlic Mashed Potatoes

2010-09-22T09:00:00.011-04:00

I'm a huge fan of garlic for many reasons, but the biggest one is that it just tastes good. I love nothing more than throwing a head of garlic in the oven, drizzled with a little oil, and cooking it until it's nice and soft and buttery, then spreading it on some crusty bread with a little butter.

I also love adding garlic to my mashed potatoes. Potatoes seem to need a little garlic, and this is the easiest way I've found to make that happen.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs potatoes, red, uncooked
4 clobes garlic, peeled
2 Tbsp butter
1/2 c. milk or soy milk
salt and pepper

Chop potatoes into chunks. In a large pot, boil potatoes and garlic in water for 10-15 minutes until potatoes are soft and skin begins to fall off (if you don't like the skin in your mashed potatoes, peel them before boiling). Darin and transfer potatoes and garlic into a bowl. Mash with a potato masher, adding butter and milk as needed for consistency and flavor. Add salt and pepper to taste.

I used to roast my garlic in the oven first, but doing it this way saves a ton of time!

Operation: Abe Report, Day Seven and HamWatch 2010: Day Eleven

2010-09-21T12:02:00.001-04:00

Operation: Abe Report

As of this morning, I am very sad to report that there is still no sign of Abe, and I fear the worst has happened. Leo maintains a lot more hope than I do, I confess. I just have a bad feeling, because none of the food I've put out, not even the stinky Limburger cheese that Willa's gone crazy over, has been touched. Not in any room. Not even a little bit. I am very sad over this loss, and I keep trying to think of anything else I can do to find him, but I can't imagine what else I could do. I'll continue to put out little piles of food and leave his cage open on the floor, but I don't have a lot of hope that Abe's coming back.

HamWatch 2010

In much more optimistic news, the babies are incredibly mobile and active. I'm calling them "The Mob" and when The Mob wakes up, there's a wobbly feeding frenzy with morsels of food that are far too big for their tiny mouths. So this scenario is quite common: one little hamster sits with a giant piece of corn, trying to stuff it in it's cheeks, only the corn gets a little stuck, so the hamster tries to pull it out, only it can't get it out, so it wiggles around, pulling on the corn, and somehow manages to lose its balance and somersault backwards...and eventually, is able to remove the corn. It's also common to see two little hamsters sharing a big piece of food, both holding on for dear life, nibbling little pieces off of the larger chunk. And sometimes, they lay on their sides, holding the food like a toddler would cuddle a teddy bear, only unlike the toddler, the hamsters take little bites now and then.

The babies' eyes haven't opened yet, so how they're getting around so easily is a mystery to me. They're extremely wobbly still, though, and pretty unstable, so although they're also quite fast, there's a lot of stumbling and they perpetually appear as if they're just going to keel over. It's a lot like being on the streets of Newcastle in the UK just after the pubs close.


Willa, the Wonder Mom, is really effective at corraling the babies!

They also squeak a lot. There are two distinct squeaks- one is the "where's the milk?" squeak, and the other is the indignant, "Mom, put me down!" squeak. I don't mind telling you that having The Mob in the office is intensely distracting and I haven't been nearly as productive as I should've been this past week, because I keep having to get a closer look at whichever baby is taking a wobbly wander around the aquarium.

All of the black hamsters have white chins like Abe, which I love, because I loved his little white beard, so I'm glad to see the babies will be carrying on that trait. It's impossible to tell if they'll be longhaired like Abe, but I hope that some of them are.

The babies love to bring nuggets of
food back for naptime.

There is a runt in The Mob. One of the blonde babies is substantially smaller than the others. We've already decided that we'll keep that one, because it's just so darned sweet, plus there's one more that we're keeping for sure. One of the black babies was born with three feet and a wee little stump. It has no problem getting around, but I don't think the pet store will take that one, and besides, I've already fallen in love.

Stay tuned for more, and if you think of it, send up a wee little hamster-sized prayer for Abe.

Making Organic Eating Affordable

2010-09-21T09:00:00.001-04:00

Organic produce is almost always more expensive than regular produce. So how can you make it more affordable? The first and cheapest way to have organic produce in your life is to get some organic seeds (Seeds of Change and Natural Gardening Company are my two faves) and grow your own. Create a root cellar and learn about four-season gardening so you can have fresh produce year-round.

Second, explore your local farmer's markets. Most places have farmer's markets in the summertime, but you might be surprised to find that many states have markets year-round, and the produce is often very affordable. You can also join a local co-op or CSA that will allow you to get organic produce delivered to your home every week. In Indianapolis, a great option is Farm Fresh Delivery.

Amazon has tons of affordable organic foods, as do Wal-mart and Costco. At Costco, I buy giant jars of a totally yummy organic peanut butter, for example. We set up shelves in our basement and have a refrigerator and freezer there as well, which we use when we buy bulk (another great way to save money eating organic).

I wouldn't recommend jumping into organic immediately. Start slowly and go in phases. I started with milk and butter, and moved into produce, then realized the benefits of keeping frozen foods and bulk items in storage. Then we added gardens, and eventually, our own chickens for the freshest, most organic eggs.

Eating organic is possible, even on a budget - you just have to start slow, rethink how you spend grocery money, and ferret out the best resources.

Hummingbirds and Rosie

2010-09-20T09:00:00.002-04:00

Ruby-throated hummingbird

My mom and I shared a love of hummingbirds. I always loved hummingbirds, from the moment I first saw one as a little girl. When I lived in Colorado one summer, there were hummingbirds everywhere, flying outside my window, in and out of stores that left their doors open....and my adoration of the hummingbird increased every time I saw one.

When my mom passed away, I started seeing hummingbirds at important moments in my life - when I talked to Leo on the phone for the first time, when I sold my first book, when I was missing my mom so much. And when one of my best friend's dad passed away last year, the funeral was held in a church with a giant window behind the pulpit...and during the funeral, hummingbirds danced just outside that window, as if to say that my mom and my friend's dad were hanging out together watching over us.

Hummingbirds are delightful creatures, hovering here and there, pausing mid-flight for just a moment before speeding off. According to Wikipedia, they can beat their wings 12-90 times per second and are the only bird that can fly backwards. All I know is that they're special to me and I'm pretty sure they're a sign that Rosie's looking down on me with love.

The other day, I saw a pair of hummingbirds next to the side of my house. They actually landed - something I've never seen. I haven't seen very many hummingbirds lately, so seeing those two was special, and a good sign that a big transition I'm about to make in my life is the right one.

From The Mouths of Babes

2010-09-19T09:00:00.001-04:00

As told to me by My Sister The Dentist...

Recently, my three year-old niece started school. There was a little boy who was kicking, so after the teacher was alerted, a couple of days later, my brother-in-law went to school to have lunch with my niece. My brother-in-law (who looks like a slightly smaller, much tidier version of Hagrid from Harry Potter, and who wears two or three earrings) sat down next to The Little Kicker, who looked up at him and said accusingly, "Why are you wearing earrings?"

My brother-in-law explained that he liked them, they were jewelry, etc. and then The Little Kicker said, "I thought only girls wore earrings."

My brother-in-law said, "Yeah, girls....and pirates."

The Little Kicker's eyes went round as saucers and his voice softened as he said, "Ohhhh. Ohhh. Do all pirates wear earrings?"

My brother-in-law said, "Only the real ones."

Kicking problem solved.

The Coolest Thing I Ever Saw In London

2010-09-18T09:00:00.031-04:00

A few years ago, when I was traveling to London for the first time, I sought recommendations and advice from my traveler friends and from my Anglophile friends and family. And somewhere in the midst of all the suggestions was one I thought sounded a little odd: The British Library.

Now, I am a huge lover of the library. I visit our library at least once or twice a week and I'm constantly immersed in at least one novel and 4-6 nonfiction books at any given moment. But visit a library in a foreign land? Such a thing had never occurred to me.

However, my stepmother was adamant that The British Library was something special and something we'd enjoy, so I figured, heck, why not? What I discovered was the single coolest thing that one can see in London. Period. I've seen the Tate Modern. I've seen Victoria and Albert. I've seen the Tower of London and I've seen a lot of other stuff. And hands down, The British Library is the coolest thing I've ever seen in London.

So what makes The British Library so intense? Let's see...

Shakespeare's first folio.
The original Alice in Wonderland in Lewis Carroll's handwriting.
The Magna freaking Carta. The original one, the document known as the cornerstone of liberty.
Leonardo da Vinci's original notebooks with his handwriting.
The Gutenberg Bible, the first book printed on a printing press.
Illuminated manuscripts.
George Frideric Handel's Messiah, in Handel's handwriting.
The Diamond Sutra, the oldest dated printed book.
The original Canterbury Tales.
Original writings from the Bronte sisters and Jane Austen.

And that's just the start. I'm telling you, The British Library is an absolute treasure trove of moments that, quite literally, brought tears to my eyes, and if I had just one day in London, I'd spend it there. If you do go to London, do not miss it.

Operation: Abe Report, Day Four and HamWatch 2010: Day Seven

2010-09-17T12:03:00.001-04:00

Operation: Abe, Day Four

This is the fourth morning Abe is still missing. On Tuesday, he went missing. On Wednesday, he left a dropping and some bedding so we knew he was around. Yesterday and today...nothing. In the last few days, I've pulled out bookcases and filing cabinets, searched through closets, behind and under everything I can think of. But...no Abe.

The last two nights, I put out flour, hoping to catch Abe's trail. Several of the web sites I found suggested it, and I thought maybe it would work...but no dice. Here's all I got:

Flour Trap, Night Two


Flour Trap, Morning, Day Three

Now...is that really enough to go on? First of all, Abe has a "hair skirt" that I kept thinking would majorly disturb the flour. This could be a trail, but when I saw it, I thought it was a bit more like a bug could've done it. It's hardly anything. And it didn't go anywhere. This trail points directly to my bedroom, and that door is always closed tightly and has no space at the bottom, so there's no way that Abe could be in there.

Two nights ago, we also implemented our bucket trap. At a restaurant supply store, we bought this canister for rice. We haven't used it yet, and obviously we'll be sterilizing it before using it for rice, but I put bedding and enticing snacks in the canister. Leo and I created a staircase out of motivational books. I even used The Power of Seduction, which I received as a gag gift once, hoping it would seduce Abe into coming home. I baited the canister with peanut butter, even, thinking that would be enough. But...no Abe.

Last night, I didn't even bother with the flour. I was a little concerned that Abe was a little frightened off by it, so I just didn't put it down. I was testing my snacks on Willa to see what appealed the most to her. Peanut butter was a miss- Will totally ignored it. But she really seems to like apples, so I put a slice of apple into the canister.

I also put a slice of apple and three Cheerios in a room I hadn't previously tested- the laundry room. Our washer and dryer Bosch, which are often intended to go under counters. Since we weren't following European tradition and putting our laundry machines in the kitchen, we had to have a platform built to raise them up a few inches. The platform is a) hollow, save some acoustic foam, and b) open at the back for ventilation. Since the flour trail pointed vaguely in the direction of the part of the house where the laundry room is, I gave it a shot and put the snacks in there. But this morning, nothing. None of the snacks in any room has been disturbed. I just have no idea where Abe could be or if he's even still alive.

It's almost as if, during that first night, Abe packed his cheeks with food from his cage in preparation for a long vacation, because he hasn't touched any of the snacks I've put out for him.

Today I plan to empty the two closets in the office. I've already looked in the bottoms of the closets and taken stuff out of there, but there are clothes and coats that Abe could be hiding in, so I aim to do a pretty thorough search this afternoon. It kills me not to do something.

HamWatch 2010: Day Seven

On a happier note, the hamster babies are celebrating their one week birthday today, and they are absolutely thriving. Willa continues to mother beautifully- which the pet store confirms is kind of a rare thing for a first litter. The babies have grown a bit of fur and four are definitely black, eight are blonde. They make the most delightful squeaking sounds, which my clients confirm that they can indeed hear when I have a phone meeting, LOL (I'm lucky that my business isn't overly formal and my clients enjoy a bit of fun, or I think I'd have to move the hamsters out of the office).

I have been able to touch them a bit without upsetting Willa. Sometimes when she leaves the nest, a couple of die-hard nursers hang on and get dragged a few inches outside the nest. Without their eyes open yet, they can't really find their way back unless they're really close, so I've petted Willa and gotten her scent on my hands and then gently coaxed the wee babies back into the nest. I seriously can't wait until I can hold them, though. They are so tiny and so precious. And newsflash: the other day, Leo said casually, "What do you think about keeping one or two of the babies?" LOL Here we go again.

Operation Abe Update:
I just searched both closets in the office, but there was no sign of Abe. Where could he be? I also talked with a vet who said that if Abe packed his cheeks for a long vacation, he could be just fine, holed up somewhere, hanging out and relaxing. He may not come back until he's exhausted his supply of snacks. My hope is (somewhat) restored.

Knitting Season Approaches!

2010-09-17T09:00:00.045-04:00

I started knitting about ten years ago, when I was a graduate student. Every week, I would go to this tiny knitting shop where I'd sit with six other women and a man (which my boyfriend at the time called, "my coven") and we'd chat and learn to knit from a tiny, fascinatingly aggressive woman named Edyie (pronounced like the more traditionally-spelled "Edie"). I made my first scarf at that knitting shop, a scarf I still own, but can't wear (I'm incapable of wearing anything wool, no matter how soft or how low the wool content), and my first pair of socks, too. Edyie was patient with us, and boy, did I try her patience. As a left-handed knitter who does some things left-handed and some things right-handed, I confused the heck out of Edyie, but that woman could teach a girl to knit like nobody's business. In fact, Edyie taught me to make scarves, hats, and socks so well that I only made scarves, hats, and socks for years.

Edyie also introduced me to the the one book that has stayed in my knitting bag all these years: The Knitter's Companion. It's a small, spiral-bound reference book that has all of the basics of knitting spelled out with exceptional diagrams. I live and breathe by this book.

I only knit in the wintertime. I am incapable of knitting a single stitch when the weather is warm, and believe me, I've tried. I'll think, "Hey, I'm going to get a leg up on Christmas and make some stuff in the summertime," but it's literally impossible for me to pick up the needles.

When the weather starts to cool, though, I'm a knitting fiend. In fact, I'm kind of obsessed. Of course, I still mostly make socks, hats, and scarves, but you can really only make so many of those as gifts before people think you're on your way to becoming one of those weird old ladies with a million cats who watches Judge Judy and eats Cheese-its all day while knitting.

Last winter, I attempted my first sweater. I knitted it from a gorgeous, soft, wine-colored cotton yarn that came from Punta del Este, Uruguay, which seemed appropriate, since Leo and I took our first vacation there. But while the sweater came out perfectly, it had an unfortunate, unflattering, and ill-fitting shape, so this season I plan to unravel the whole thing and make myself a gorgeous sweater-hat-mitten combo instead. I think the problem stemmed from choosing a pattern that was easy, rather than one that was flattering, so I've chosen a pattern for this winter that I think will suit me better.

The Christmas socks I made last
year for My Sister The Dentist

In the meantime, I'm gearing up for another season of socks, which I always find relaxing and pleasant (and they always fit, no matter what). Leo can't get enough of the warm, sturdy wool socks I've made him, so I love making socks for him and for the kids (despite that all three of them share the same ridiculously long feet).

Hopefully, it won't be too much longer before the yarn manufacturers come up with a wonderful sock yarn for those of us who can't wear wool. After all these years of making socks for other people, I have yet to make a pair for myself.

Restaurant Review: Pat Flynn's Pub, Indianapolis, IN

2010-09-16T09:00:00.002-04:00

Leo, Jay, Sue and Raemie at Pat Flynn's

Last month, Leo and I took the kids to Pat Flynn's Pub (5198 Allisonville Road) for lunch. While the parking is somewhat limited and we didn't feel totally welcome when we first walked in, once we were seated at our table, the service was impeccable and the food was delicious. The atmosphere of Pat's is a bit more casual than I usually like. Unless there's a big sporting event or a good reason, I typically eschew places that have a lot of TVs. If I want to watch TV when I dine, I can do that at home. That said, Pat Flynn's is set up for families, with ample TVs and a game room in the back.

Hands down, the food is great. I had the fish and chips and everything was cooked to perfection. The fish batter had an ingredient that I couldn't quite identify - something that reminded me of sweeter dishes (maybe nutmeg?) and didn't quite belong. However, it was still the best fish and chips I've had to date in Indy (if you know of a fantastic chippie in town, do let me know!) Jay and Leo shared a plate of wings and Raemie ordered chicken fingers (I don't actually know if the menu calls them that, but that's what the kids call chicken strips that have been fried). Based on the commentary from the family, I can only conclude that their meals were just as delicious. The portions were ample and service was attentive and fast.

If you're looking for a romantic evening out with sophisticated fare, Pat Flynn's isn't the place to go. But if you're looking for an inexpensive, yummy, family lunch or dinner and you want great food, you really can't miss with Pat's.

The Abe Report (subtitle: When Hamsters Escape)

2010-09-15T10:00:00.004-04:00

Yesterday morning, I woke up and came into the office to say good morning to Abe and Willa. To my shock, Abe's cage door was open and Abe was nowhere to be found. I absolutely could not believe it. I knew I had closed his door firmly. How could he have escaped?

Leo was sure I just hadn't closed the cage, but I knew I had, so I took to the internet to find answers. It wasn't long before I found around ten YouTube videos of hamsters escaping from the very CritterTrail where Abe lives. Here are some of them:

Hamster Escape 1
Hamster Escape 2
Hamster Escape 3
Hamster Escape 4
Hamster Escape 5

So it's a thing, this escaping hamster bit, and more than that, it's something that happens regularly with that cage!!! Obviously, they should sell a lock with the cage.

Abe was missing and possibly hurt (his cage usually sits about four feet off the ground, so I'm pretty sure he fell), and the only clue I had was a dropping near the bookcase where his cage sits. And worse, I didn't even know what room he was in. Much of our house has doors with two-inch gaps at the bottom, because the house used to be carpeted pretty much everywhere, and the bottoms of the doors were cut high to accommodate the carpet. I replaced the carpet with hardwood and now there's a gap, which isn't a problem most of the time, but obviously, that gives a wide berth for a curious hamster, so I was afraid Abe had left the office, which left at least seven possible rooms he could've gotten into, on the second floor alone.

Have You Seen This Hamster?

I read on several different "How to find a lost hamster" web sites (and there are tons of these sites, so you know it happens all the time) that you should put out some food and water and sprinkle flour around the food and water so the hamster makes a trail wherever he goes. I figured that was a good bet, since Abe has kind of a "hair skirt" now, what with his development into a longhaired hamster.

I sprinkled flour everywhere, sitting on my floor like a coke addict, using two Business in Blue Jeans business cards to create tidy lines of flour in front of doors and around piles of food and water in virtually every room on the second floor.

And as of this morning, Abe is still missing. None of the flour was disturbed and none of the food was eaten. However, there was a dropping just outside the pile of food just outside Abe's cage (duh, why did I put one there anyway?!) and some bedding next to it, so I think Abe ignored the snacks and went for the food and water he knows in his cage. Duh. At least I have some indication that he's alive.

I emptied the bookcase next to Abe's cage and had Leo pull it out to see if Abe was behind or under it, but Abe wasn't there. I'm pretty sure he's still in the office, so I'm ready to move to Phase Two of Operation: Abe, which involves a bucket with peanut butter and snacks in the bottom and a wooden plank (or books) as a ramp so the hamster can get to the yum-yums. Hopefully, we'll catch Abe and get him back to his home and I can stop freaking out with worry and missing him.

In the meantime, Willa's still mothering the babies, they are starting to look less creepy, and the pet store confirmed they'll take the babies, so I have no worries there. Whew.

My Power Minestrone

2010-09-15T09:00:00.001-04:00

This is a recipe that Leo absolutely loves. I make it in the autumn, just around back-to-school time. It's warm and comforting, but it's also packed full of nutrients and good, healthy stuff! It's also easy to make. You start with a broth - you can make your own or you can use store-bought. I used to make this with my own broth that I made from scratch, but Leo introduced me to Knorr vegetable bouillon cubes, which I still haven't found in Indianapolis. We've found beef, chicken, and tomato with chicken, but not vegetable, so when we go overseas, we stock up. Last January, my checked bag aroused a little bit of suspicion due to the massive quantity of Knorr vegetable bouillon cubes and paella mix packed inside (at least now I know I can get Knorr from Amazon and avoid the raised eyebrows from airport security).

Ingredients:

3 1/2 c. vegetable broth

1 29-oz can Italian-style (or fresh) diced tomatoes

10 oz frozen green peas

1 c pasta (macaroni, shells, etc.), uncooked

1 lb fresh spinach leaves, washed and dried

1 19-oz can white beans, rinsed and drained

Parmesan cheese

Combine vegetable broth and tomatoes (with juice) in a large soup pot or Dutch oven; bring to a boil over high heat. Add peas and pasta; reduce heat to medium and cook 7-9 minutes until pasta is tender. Stir in spinach leaves and beans; cook over medium-high heat until spinach leaves wilt and soup is heated through. If soup is too thick, add water or broth and heat through. Serve in individual bowls and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese just before serving.

Variations:

You can substitute half of the tomatoes with 3/4 cup salsa for a little kick.
Substitute half the spinach with 1/2 lb of kale or rainbow chard.
Or, do both substitutions!

I've made this many times and it freezes really well, so you can make a giant vat of it, freeze it, and have yummy, healthy soup all winter long.

Raw Food And My DIY Dehydrator

2010-09-14T09:00:00.064-04:00

Last year, I decided to embark upon a test of the raw food diet. I have no problem eating vegetarian, but raw, while probably the healthiest dietary option, is a completely different choice, and I wasn't sure if I could tolerate it. So I borrowed a couple of basic books from the library and started my research.

It wasn't long before I discovered that "raw food" is a lot more complicated than it sounds. I assumed that people eating a raw food diet just ate a bunch of salad and fruit. Not so. Raw food is far more interesting, complex, and diverse than I ever imagined, and in fact, some of the most delicious food I've eaten to date came from a raw food cookbook.

"Raw" in the raw food diet doesn't mean, "completely uncooked" or "cold." In fact, many raw food dishes are served warm (a particular favorite of mine is a spaghetti dish made from zucchini - look for the recipe in an upcoming post). The theory behind raw is that critical enzymes are lost in the cooking process. But the destruction of the enzymes doesn't start until the food is heated to 106 degrees Farenheit. So as long as you keep the temperature below that, you're good to go. That means you can heat food and you can also dehydrate food, as long as you stay below 106 (I stayed around 100, just to be safe).

And that's where my dilemma came in. Quite a few raw food recipes require equipment, whether it's a food processor, a blender, a specific kind of rotary chopper, or a dehydrator. Now, I had a bunch of this stuff already, but the one thing I didn't have was a dehydrator. There was an awesome pizza recipe that called for a dehydrator, and I love my pizza! But as I did my research, I discovered two things: a) most commercial dehydrators heat food to over 130 degrees, and b) raw food dehydrators are kind of expensive, if you want to be able to control the temperature of the food. The Excalibur, for example, is over $200.

My DIY Dehydrator

Well, my birthday was coming up and Leo had recently proved his building prowess by remodeling a shed into a chicken coop and building a chicken run with his own two hands. So I asked for a dehydrator for my birthday, and the very next day, Leo took me to the hardware store, picked out some wood, had me choose handles and hinges and before I knew it, I had my very own, handmade dehydrator. And instead of costing over $200, it cost just around $30 for the materials, which is a far more reasonable investment, when you're just conducting an experiment and aren't ready to commit to a full-on lifestyle.

The dehydrator is heated with a lightbulb. It's controlled with a dimmer switch, and we use a simple kitchen thermometer to determine the temperature inside the box. There's a screened hole in the top for ventilation, and the shelves are removable. In this photo, I think I was making either pizza crust or flatbread - I can't remember which.

Most importantly, for my birthday, I received a beautiful, handmade gift that was made with love. What more could a girl ask for?

HamWatch 2010: Day 4

2010-09-13T14:23:00.001-04:00

Today I had a minor panic. Since the hamsters live in my office, I'm able to keep pretty close tabs on them all day long, which means I'm usually here during the rare moments when Willa gets up for a stretch. I keep my camera next to the hamsters and as soon as I hear Willa rustling around, I can hop up and snap a photo of the babies (as long as I'm not with a client, LOL).

This afternoon when Willa went on a little walkabout, I snapped this photo of the babies. I was editing the photo and it's become my habit to count the little critters a couple of times each day to make sure they're all there and healthy. This early, it's not uncommon for a baby to get lost, especially since their eyes aren't open and they're so vulnerable that getting lost means certain death, which I'd like to avoid. When I looked at this photo, though, I could only find eleven of the twelve babies.

I panicked, went back to the nest, and lured Willa out with some multigrain Cheerios so I could count again. Luckily, I discovered that all twelve were there, so it's possible that one was just covered up with bedding when I took the photo. Whew.

Well, as you can see, some of the hamsters are turning a bit dark. Four of the twelve, it seems, are going to take after their dad, Abe, who, as you know, is a lovely black hamster. It's fascinating to watch these babies develop daily and see them grow this way, and they make the most delightful squeaks throughout the day.

Speaking of Abe, Leo and I have been spending more time with him since Willa's been occupied with the babies. Abe's CritterTrail has an upstairs "condo" that's removable, and he'd brought all manner of bedding and snacks up to the condo, so the other night, we brought him (in his condo) downstairs to watch TV with us.

Here's the thing about Abe: he's kind of slow-moving most of the day. He only starts to pick up speed around 11:00 PM. So as we snuggled up in a blanket on the sofa, I felt confident taking him out of the condo and settling him on the sofa with Leo and me. Abe was quite happy to curl up on top of the blanket with some Cheerios and lettuce, and really seemed to enjoy "Top Chef" and "Leverage." But then he got curious and wanted to explore the entire sofa, and we were worried he'd fall off, so I brought him back up to the office.

This morning, though, I discovered that Abe has moved all his stuff downstairs, so I think maybe he didn't enjoy having his condo moved around. That said, he's getting much more comfortable with being handled, and actually seems to like being held, so I think there's more TV and movie viewing in Abe's future.

Oh...I've been getting e-mails about the cats. People want to know, "How are the cats handling the hamsters?" and "Where are the cats?" Here's the scoop: the only one of our cats that lives in the house full-time is Kate, who's almost twenty years old. Kate's almost blind, mostly deaf, and the fact that we even have hamsters barely even registers with her, so that's a non-issue.

Kate has no claws (certainly not my doing) and doesn't get along well with the other cats, who all have all of their claws. Kate's old and also has a heart murmer, and Leo and I don't want to get her riled up too much, so the other four cats live in a large sunroom and come into the house during the day, as long as they don't upset Kate. And when they're in the house, the door to the office (and thus, to the hamsters) is closed. I don't think the other cats even know we have hamsters, but I'm sure if they did, there'd be a lot of interest. Rest assured, though, the hamsters are totally safe and protected at all times.

Stay tuned for more HamWatch 2010, as we await the opening of the eyes, fur, and movement out of the nest!

My Love Affair With Airborne

2010-09-13T09:00:00.046-04:00

I have loved Airborne for the better part of two decades. Airborne is a dietary supplement that's purported to boost the immune system. It's also, by the way, an excellent entrepreneurial tale.

Airborne was developed in the early 1990s by an elementary school teacher who found herself catching cold after cold and was tired of catching all the bugs her students brought in. So she set about finding a way to boost her immune system to try to protect herself, and Airborne is the result.

Airborne contains Zinc, Ginger, Echinacea and 13 other vitamins, minerals and herbs. The ingredients have all been scientifically shown to boost the immune system.

Airborne rates quite highly in both my winter-stocked medicine cabinet as well as in my travel bags. I drink Airborne whenever I travel and several times throughout the year. Leo's adopted the same policy. We'v enoticed that we tend not to get sick when we follow this protocol, and recently when we traveled to England, I forgot the Airborne, and sure enough, Leo caught a cold and was sick for a few days when we arrived back at home.

I've been in love with Airborne for such a long time, I can't recall the last flu season I spent without it. My favorite flavors are the original orange and the newer lime. Pink grapefruit and berry were never my thing. The great thing about Airborne, though, is that it tastes good. I actually enjoy it, so it's not entirely uncommon to find me sitting in an airport Admiral's Club, reading and enjoying a glass of Airborne in between flights.

I still take my multivitamin (despite my recent post about vitamins, I do still taken them, just in case), but whenever I'm flying or planning to spend any quantity of time in a large group of people, I drop an Airborne into a little cup of water, wait for it to fiz down, and chug it like I'm at a frat party.

Willa's A Good Mom!

2010-09-12T12:00:00.001-04:00

We're heading into Day Three of HamWatch 2010, where Willa has had her babies (official count: 12) and is performing her motherly duties with absolute perfection. So far, it appears that all twelve babies are still alive and kicking and growing exactly as they're supposed to.

Willa is turning out to be a really great mom, which isn't always the case in the animal kingdom. When I was a teenager, we had a Yorkshire Terrier who had no idea how to give birth, much less take care of her babies once she had them. We had to help her a lot, and it was like she had no maternal instincts whatsoever.

As a result of that experience, I was worried that Willa, being a first-time mom, wouldn't know exactly what to do. But my fears were completely unwarranted, as Willa's instincts have really kicked in. She's maintaining her nest and continues hoarding food, but more importantly, she doesn't leave those babies alone for more than a few seconds. She will move about to stretch a little a couple of times a day, but for the most part, she's covering those babies, keeping them close and warm and letting them nurse, and doing everything she's supposed to do. And as far as I can tell, every single one of the twelve babies survived and is still thriving.

I don't think I'll feel totally safe until we've past the 10-day mark, but at this point, I'm cautiously optimistic that all of the babies are totally healthy and strong.

Baby hamsters; credit: ighor.info

Quite a few of my friends have e-mailed me to say that the hamster babies are really creepy looking. Indeed, they can seem a little odd, if you haven't seen them before. When I look at them, I see what they're about to become - tiny, sweet, irresistible little fuzzy hamsters. And even if they look a little...naked...when they first arrive, there's no doubt that they're absolutely adorable in just a couple of weeks.

From The Mouths of Babes

2010-09-12T09:00:00.002-04:00

As told to me by My Sister The Dentist....

Recently, My Sister The Dentist was at home with her three year-old daughter. My Sister The Dentist was doing an old Cindy Crawford workout tape and her daughter was watching and sucking on a pacifier. Somewhere through the workout, My Sister The Dentist stopped (I assume huffing and puffing was involved) and said, "This workout is hard!"

My niece took her pacifier out, looked thoughtful for a moment, and asked, "Is it hard for Cindy Crawford?"

Hotel Review: Marriott-Owned Hotels, United Kingdom, Part 2

2010-09-11T09:00:00.004-04:00

Last week I covered four Marriott-owned hotels in London. This week, we're heading north to take a look at a few other Marriott properties.

First, two "utilitarian" properties, one of which we've used quite a few times as "home base" when visiting the kids and one which was a recent stopover.

Newcastle Marriot Hotel Metrocentre

The Newcastle Marriott Hotel Metrocentre is not one of my favorite Marriott properties, but it's located near an IKEA and the Metrocentre, which is Europe's largest indoor shopping center, located in Gateshead, in the far northeast of England. If you want to get to the Metrocentre from the Marriott, you actually have to walk across two giant parking lots, which I don't mind on a pleasant day, but find cumbersome in the rain or snow. Unfortunately, the train station is located inside the Metrocentre, which means if you're coming straight from the airport, you have to drag your bags across these parking lots, unless you can get really lucky with the shopping center shuttle.

This property is a bit older-feeling than most. It does have a couple of rooms that are considered "fanta-suites" which was kind of a cool concept in the 80s, but I can't imagine that I'd enjoy staying in a "Wild West" or "Arabian Nights" themed room these days. At any rate, the hotel itself isn't a place I particularly enjoy staying. The service and food are good, but not great, which pretty much sums up the hotel itself. But in a pinch, if I need a place to stay in the Newcastle/Gateshead area, the Metrocentre property is pretty much the most convenient Marriott in the area, so unless I discover something better, it's the "go to" place when we're in town.

Durham Marriott Hotel Royal County

Not too far from Newcastle is the Durham Marriott Hotel Royal County, where Leo took me for a birthday weekend. Situated on the banks of the River Wear, the Durham Marriott has sections dating back to the 17th century. Plus, bonus, it's located quite close to a dynamite pizza joint (LOL)! Seriously, this hotel was gorgeous and we had lovely service and food there (the dessert menu was particularly delightful). The hotel wasn't located too close to the train station, which means taking a cab (or a long walk, if you arrive late at night, as we did), but it is located close to Durham Cathedral, which is absolutely stunning. Walking around the town of Durham and investigating the castle and cathedral is a wonderful, romantic way to spend an afternoon, and finishing the day at this hotel is the perfect way to cap off a lovely day. I'm surprised that Marriott doesn't rank this hotel higher. I'm sure they have their reasons, but I think the Durham property is very nice.

Dalmahoy, a Marriott Hotel
and Country Club, Edinburgh

Hey, did you ever want to get lost in Scotland? Well, if that's what you're looking for, there's no better place than Dalmahoy, a Marriott Hotel and Country Club. Now, I can't complain much, as this particular hotel in Edinburgh is where Leo and I stayed over Valentine's Day weekend when Leo proposed to me. So I have very fond memories of this place. But I have to say, this hotel is one of the most confusing hotels I've ever seen, owing in large part to its historical architecture. There's just a lot of "you can't get there from here" to the hotel, as certain stairs lead to some corridors that don't connect to other corridors, and it's all very confusing.

The spa at the Dalmahoy is nice, but nothing particularly special, same with the restaurant, and the service is just okay. You can take a convenient bus into downtown Edinburgh, and the walk to the bus stop takes you across the hotel grounds, which are awfully pretty. I'm not a huge fan of golf courses in general, but this one is kind of nice.

Manchester Airport Marriott Hotel

Similarly confusing and maze-like (albeit not nearly as visually appealing) is the Manchester Airport Marriott Hotel. I stayed here for a night recently. The room was pleasant, the pool was gorgeous (including a steam room, sauna, and cold pool), and they had what looked like a very nice spa. However...while the room service menu offered less pricey options than the actual restaurant, room service itself was highly inconsistent. The kids and I had room service twice and they forgot a couple of side dishes the first time, and forgot completely different items the second time. Plus, we ordered the same Spaghetti Bolognese dish both times, but it was prepared with spaghetti first, and penne the second time, which made absolutely no sense whatsoever. Still, the convenient location (just a very short and inexpensive shuttle ride from the airport) was worth it, and overall, both the kids and I had a good night's sleep, which is, after all, the entire point.

What it comes down to is that across the United Kingdom, Marriott has properties ranging from fabulous and incredible luxury hotels where you want to stay indefinitely to serviceable, convenient overnighters that deliver a tolerable place to rest your head.

Stay tuned for more hotel and condo reviews down the road!

Do People Really Enjoy Counted Cross Stitch?

2010-09-10T09:00:00.032-04:00

Do people really enjoy counted cross stitch? I don't. It makes my head hurt. I have a problem with the grids and counting the stitches, and maybe that's ADD-related. I don't really know. But truthfully, I don't think my lack of love for cross stitch is because I'm impatient. Rather, it's that I love crafts of two different varieties: 1) the kind that allow me to flow with my creativity and 2) the kind that allow me to relax in front of the TV. And cross stitch doesn't really allow me either of these things.

For creative flow, I love spending time in my craft room, where I can get tangled up in ribbons, get my hands dirty with rubber stamping ink, heat up the room with a lampworking torch. I just love seeing where my creativity takes me. Now, counted cross stitch...it's just something that requires constant, vigilant attention...attention I simply don't have. I've done some pretty cool things in cross stitch, but I sure had to force myself to stick with it. It wasn't easy.

Now, having said all that, I do envy cross stitchers. I think their work is stunningly beautiful, and I confess to having more than my fair share of cross stitch kits that I was absolutely certain I was going to complete...but didn't even start.

My favorite pattern from
Subversive Cross Stitch

Of course, today, I have a fairly firm grasp on the fact that I quite simply don't enjoy cross stitch and shouldn't invest any more money into that craft. That said, if I was going to try again, I think I'd like to try the kits available from Subversive Cross Stitch. Julie's been in business for several years and now has a wide variety of hilarious patterns, including one that says, "Shut your piehole" in the style of an old Amish sampler. The irony is what makes me giggle most.

So that's my take on cross stitch. Maybe it's just me.

Abe & Willa Are Parents!

2010-09-10T00:37:00.001-04:00

This morning, I had to go see My Sister The Dentist about a funny feeling in one of my teeth. The drive to My Sister The Dentist's office is pretty long, so Leo came along to keep me company (rockstar hubby points scored: 423). When we got home, I came upstairs to the office (where Abe & Willa live, currently in separate cages on opposite sides of the office) and started working. That's when I heard it: teeny tiny little squeaks. Sure enough, Willa had her babies while we were gone.

It took a few hours before she moved, so for awhile, all we could see was a teeny tiny leg here and a wee little pink tail there. But finally, Willa got up and ambled over to the wheel and there they were. And wow, there were way, way more of them than I ever expected.

When I was a kid, I had gerbils that procreated rampantly. I loved it, because I had a little business (always the entrepreneur) selling the babies to a local pet shop. But the gerbils, it seems, only had four to six babies at a time. And while I'd read that it was possible for hamsters to have up to fifteen, I never imagined that little Willa, herself only around twelve weeks old, would have such a massive litter! My best count is around eleven or twelve, but since we can't actually get close or touch them, we can't say for sure how many are there. Plus, it's not uncommon for one or two not to make it. I really hope they all survive, and I think we're going to need a bigger carrier when it's time to take them to the pet store for sale.

In the meantime, Abe's missing Willa like crazy. We moved him a couple of days ago because we were afraid that when Willa had the babies, he might eat them, which is quite common for males to do. Since he's been away from Willa, Abe's been moody and bored and stands up in his new cage across the room and looks longingly at "the main house" where Willa still resides.

Abe's escape attempt
from the CritterTrail

Er...actually, right now he's looking at me, which I attribute largely to the fact that earlier this evening, I discovered that Abe's learning. He's been living in Edison's old CritterTrail, which has bars and a door that opens. Abe's discovered where the door is and when he sees me come over, he waits by the door and attempts escape in a number of different ways. Luckily, he's not super-fast most of the time, though his speed increases as it gets later into the night and his nocturnal brain starts to wake up, so I have to keep a close eye on him, especially if I decide to feed him late at night. And now, he's making this frenzied attempt at escape, trying to chew the bars of the CritterTrail. He really, really wants to get home to Willa and the kids.

That said, this time that Abe's been forced to spend apart from Willa has given Abe and me a chance to bond. He comes out for sleepy cuddles throughout the day. This evening I brought a salad up to the office to eat while playing a computer game, and I gave Abe a couple of salad greens and we ate our salads together, Abe comfortably settled in his little colorful cage and sitting right next to me. It was sweet.

Abe and Willa, 6 weeks old

At any rate, I know many folks find the babies pretty weird-looking. One of my friends described them as "creepy" and "embryonic," which made me giggle, because I know how absolutely adorable they're going to become in a very short period of time. Heck, their eyes aren't even open yet! Remember, this is Abe and Willa at 6 weeks. It won't be long before these little babies are just as cute. Stay tuned for more updates!

Restaurant Review: Yank Sing, San Francisco, CA

2010-09-09T10:22:00.065-04:00

Yank Sing, 40 Steven St

San Francisco is one of my absolute favorite cites to eat, second only to New Orleans. And when I'm in San Francisco and I'm looking for really good dim sum, I head for one place: Yank Sing (either at 49 Steven St or in the Rincon Center, 101 Spear St). Yank Sing was the first place where I experienced dim sum, a Chinese cuisine involving small, bite-sized foods served in steamer baskets or on little plates.

Dim Sum carts at Yank Sing

Typical dim sum dishes are steamed buns and dumplings, fried puffs, roasted meats, steamed vegetables, and more, and the food at Yank Sing is exceptional and absolutely first-rate. At Yank Sing (as with other dim sum restaurants), servers come around with carts filled with steamer baskets and plates, and show you what they have to offer. And you get to know the carts and look for the dishes you want to sample a second time. More than once, I've waited for "that woman with the seafood puffs" or "the sesame balls cart." That's really the only drawback with Yank Sing - you have to wait for the cart that has the food you want. However, if you really want something, you can ask whatever server's closest to send the cart you want over to you.

But beware - it's far too easy to take things off the cart and keep looking for more, and before you know it, you've spent $65 on lunch for two (yeah, been there, done that). Dim sum, and Yank Sing in particular, can be quite affordable, you just have to keep an eye on what you're doing and exercise some restraint.

Sesame balls

Perhaps my favorite dim sum dish is the sesame balls, which are these delightful pastries, rolled in sesame seeds, with a little red bean paste filling. I've been known to stop by Yank Sing on the way to the San Francisco airport, just to pick up an order of these on my way out of town. They're totally bad for you, I'm sure. When you eat them, there's always oil residue left on your hands. So I'm 99% sure they're not a healthy treat. But darned if they aren't just super-tasty. I simply can't resist.

I'm always looking forward to my next visit to San Francisco, and Yank Sing is just one of the many reasons why.

My Yummiest Yogurt Snack Recipe

2010-09-08T09:00:00.001-04:00

Lately, as a part of my new health initiative, I've been hunting for some mega-healthy snacks. I'm a snacker. I can't pretend otherwise. And I figure if I'm going to have snacks (and I am), it's good to have healthy snacks, right? But having healthy snacks is something I tend to struggle with. I'm a bit of a carbaholic and my snacks always tend toward the carbtastic, which doesn't quite fit in with my new philosophy. So I went on a hunt for some new options.

I was reading through You: On A Diet and came across a recipe for a yogurt snack that sounded kind of tasty. Now, I like yogurt okay, but it's not at the top of my list of favorite foods, especially not plain yogurt. Plain yogurt has kind of a sour taste to it that I've never enjoyed. But since Roizen and Oz included agave nectar in the recipe, I decided to try the recipe from the book, with a few minor amendments of my own.

Yummy yogurt

Ingredients:
Plain, low-fat probiotic yogurt
Agave nectar
Dried cranberries (which the dried fruit industry insists on calling "craisins" these days)
Kashi Whole Wheat Crunch cereal

I put 6 ounces of yogurt into a bowl and stirred in a tablespoon of agave nectar. You can add more nectar as needed, depending on the level of sweetness you want. Agave nectar is calorie-rich, but is a natural, low-glycemic index sweetener that won't cause insulin spikes. So once I got the taste of the yogurt right, I tossed a few cranberries and some Kashi cereal on top and there's your yum.

The Kashi Crunch cereal is also a great snack when eaten dry (though I prefer dry multi-grain Cheerios), but the crunch is a bit too crunchy to be easily consumed. Adding it to the yogurt, however, allows the Kashi to get a bit of moisture into it so it still brings a nice crunch, without bringing potential danger to your dental work. I've enjoyed this as a snack, as a part of breakfast (as seen in the photo), and even as a dessert. It's multi-functional!

Follow Your T-shirt

2010-09-07T09:00:00.063-04:00

Have you ever wished you knew exactly where your t-shirt came from? Here's the thing: we live a pretty disposable lifestyle. You go to Gap, buy a t-shirt, wear it until it's worn out or stained and toss it. Or we buy a pair of jeans, wear them till they develop a hole, and toss them. No thought of repurposing or fixing...we just...throw them away. That is, unless we're civic-minded, and then we donate. Still, it's all very disposable, isn't it?

In The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy, an economist follows one t-shirt, from the creation of the raw materials to the production of the t-shirt. He talks of the people involved in the creation of his shirt and in doing so, somehow the t-shirt becomes more...real, more important. Less...disposable.

Here's the thing - you can make loads of stuff out of what you already have. When you feel the urge to go shopping for something new, whether it's clothes or home furnishings, start with what you already have. Look around. What needs a facelift? What could be re-purposed?

I recently found this site: http://www.giannyl.com There are several others in a similar vein, but this girl, GiannyL, is a 25 year-old Paraguayan who is awesome with recycling stuff like t-shirts, sheets, and pillowcases into really cute clothes, and she has tons of videos showing how she does it. Now, some of the clothes are a little young-ish for me, but this site gives you a really good idea of what's possible. I once spent an entire weekend watching Gianny make awesome clothes and looking over the projects at Instructables.com, Threadbanger.com, CraftStylish.com, and a few other sites, and I got dizzy at all the possibilities! It's pretty amazing what you can do.

In fact, there are ideas all over the place. If you watch HGTV, you'll find great ideas for re-purposing vintage treasures, flea market finds, and resale shop salvages. I've personally transformed many a coffee table with crafty paint and a creative eye, and even had some of the resulting "art work" commissioned for sale in a couple of shops in Broad Ripple. So, see? Sometimes re-purposing is great for freshening up your home, and sometimes it can even create a little side income.

The whole point is, what seems like trash can be transformed into treasure. In the coming months, I'll be sharing some of my own re-purposing ideas, complete with instructions for you to follow. In this economy, being able to look at stuff that you own and see those things in a new light will serve you very well. So stay tuned and look for cool projects to come!

What's Labor Day, Anyway?

2010-09-06T09:00:00.025-04:00

I always knew people took Labor Day off from work, but I never really knew where the holiday originated from or what we were supposed to be celebrating. I figured it might be a day to celebrate workers and maybe also a day to rest. So I decided to find out.

As usual, Wikipedia had a useful, succinct explanation for Labor Day. It's been around since 1882, was established by Grover Cleveland to celebrate the spirit and strength of the working people. We used to have parades and speeches. Today, it's pretty much just the symbolic end of summer and a sign for "back to school." time. Labor Day means the fun's over and it's time to get back to work....er...labor.

As for Labor Day weekend, well, it's a time for barbecues, last-minute family trips, and department store sales. Kind of seems sad that we don't honor and value the men and women who work so hard every single day...but then, maybe that's why so many jobs are getting farmed out to Third World countries. Happy Labor Day, folks!

An Abe and Willa Update

2010-09-05T09:00:00.035-04:00

Those of you who have been following this blog for awhile know that Leo and I have two hamsters named Abe and Willa. Since I hadn't posted an update on them for awhile, I figured it was time.

So here are the updates:

Willa, 9/1/10

Both Abe and Willa have grown a remarkable amount. That was to be expected, since we got them when they were about 6 weeks old, but they've doubled in size, at least.
Willa's an adorable, chubby teddy bear hamster. She's taken to eating in her sleep and is starting to look a bit fat. She's completely precious, and fairly normal.
Abe, on the other hand, has turned out to be a longhaired hamster, which is very interesting. Sometimes he looks very...pretty. Other times, he's a bit scraggly. The long-haired thing makes him look less "teddy bear" and more "skunk" or "porcupine," and kind of detracts from his masculinity, the poor little guy.

Abe, 8/27/10

That said, there's absolutely no question whatsoever now that Abe is male. All he has to do is turn his back on you and...well, it's quite obvious. And given the...aherm...flurry of nightly activity in Hamster Town, I'm pretty sure if Willa isn't already pregnant, she soon will be. At this point, I think she's just fat, not pregnant, but I'm not really sure.
Both hamsters are getting quite used to being held and are much more comfortable with us than when they first arrived. I attribute much of this to the kids, who during their August visit, were as enchanted by Abe and Willa as Leo and I are.
Finally, both hamsters have shown a great affinity for Cheerios and Rice Krispies. Willa stuffed 17 Cheerios in her cheeks one day and 24 Rice Krispies another day. It's one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

So that's the Abe and Willa update. I'm sure it won't be long before I'm blogging that "Willa's Got Some Buns in the Oven," so stay tuned!

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Hotel Review: Marriott-Owned Hotels, United Kingdom, Part 1

2010-09-04T09:00:00.082-04:00

I've stayed in London several times, and every time, I've stayed in a Marriott-owned property. Why? Because I'm a member of the Marriott Rewards Points program and happen to have more than a few points to burn, and if I can spent points instead of dollars to stay in a luxury hotel, why not go for it?

Renaissance Chancery Court,
London, England

I'll start my reviews with my favorite hotel in all of England, the Renaissance London Chancery Court Hotel in (obviously) London. This place is my favorite for several reasons. First, it's a block away from the Holborn Tube station and is on the Picadilly line and the Central line, which means getting pretty much anywhere is fairly simple and cheap. Plus, you can take the Tube straight to Heathrow for just a few pounds, which is pretty rocking, considering the cost of a taxi is around 100GBP.

Second, the hotel itself is pretty fabulous. It was built in 1912 and has the most gorgeous courtyard (which often has some incredible cars parked in it) and a stunning marble staircase. Room service has the most delectable options (assuming you opt out of the myriad of culinary options in London), they have an absolutely insane spa, and the service throughout the hotel is impeccable. I've stayed here twice and I've had no complaints whatsoever. Rates start at 199GBP, but can go as high as 495GBP for a two-level suite.


London Marriott Hotel Maida Vale

And now, my least favorite hotel in all of the UK: The London Marriott Hotel Maida Vale. I chose the Maida Vale last January because about 90% of the Marriotts in London are what's called "Category 7" in Marriott lingo, which means that spending a few nights will suck up your Rewards points pretty fast. Maida Vale is a Cat 6, which still eats up the points, but a little slower. It's well-located, close to the Maida Vale Tube station, and Maida Vale is kind of a neat, diverse neighborhood, so I figured we ought to give it a whirl.

Now, it happens that Maida Vale is where Leo was bitten an impressive 34 times by bedbugs during our very first night's stay there. So I have to confess that I'm a little bit biased against this hotel, not just because of the fact that this happened at all, but because of how they handled it. In my opinion, discovery of bedbugs are a serious problem that warrant the attention of and apology of a hotel manager, but the manager of Maida Vale apparently disagreed, though he did send his minions to relocate us to the Presidential Suite for the remainder of our stay (it sounds cooler than it actually was - sure, it was big and had a kitchen, but do you really want to cook your own dinner when you're staying in a hotel in one of the coolest cities in the world?). Even aside from the bedbug issue, I would never stay at Maida Vale again, simply because the property isn't as well-maintained and the service isn't quite as stellar as other properties in London.

London Hotel Marriott
Park Lane

Two other Marriott-owned properties in London are London Hotel Marriott Park Lane and London Hotel Marriott County Hall. Park Lane is a fairly schmancy hotel, a bit more contemporary than some of the other London Properties. I have to confess, I felt a bit...uncool...walking into Park Lane. I don't know why, exactly, just that there was something a bit snooty about Park Lane and I felt a little uncomfortable. That's saying a lot, actually, because there isn't much that can actually trigger that feeling in me.

As a side note, I think that's what I like most about Chancery Court. It's a super-schmancy hotel, but the staff are so friendly and nice to you that you never feel uncomfortable, even if you walk in wearing flip-flops. But at Park Lane, I felt uncomfortable walking in wearing my nicest clothes, and that speaks volumes. That said, the fish and chips with mushy peas from room service is absolutely delightful, and the view of Hyde Park is quite stunning, which might be enough to persuade me to set aside my discomfort to give them another shot.

London Hotel Marriot
County Hall

Now, I have to confess that I myself haven't stayed at County Hall,which is why I can't list it as a favorite, but Leo and the kids did stay there and absolutely loved it. The proximity to the London Eye and Big Ben is a pretty cool thing for anyone, plus it's located near one of our favorite fish and chips places in all of London, the Red Lion (review forthcoming).

Next week we're heading north, where I'll cover four other UK Marriott properties, in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Manchester, Durham, and Edinburgh.

It's Turtles All The Way Down, Stephen Hawking.

2010-09-03T11:31:00.000-04:00

British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking is coming out with a new book called The Grand Design, co-authored with Leonard Mlodinow. In this book, Hawking puts forth the notion that God did not create the universe and the "Big Bang" was an inevitable consequence of the laws of physics.

I've been mulling over this one for the last couple of days. Most of the physicists I know (and I know a few, since my grad school office was located quite near to the Van Allen physics labs where they make some pretty schmancy stuff to go into space) believe in God. Why? Because ultimately, there's always an unanswerable question looming out there: no matter what you're able to explain with mathematics and physics, no matter what you can comprehend, there's always something bigger, something outside that universe.

Let's say you understand our universe (ha ha), let's even say you understand the Big Bang (bigger ha ha). Taking that assumption, what caused it all? What created it? And let's say you come up with an answer to that question, and the answer is...I don't know...whatever...a giant turtle (we'll use that, because I once heard that some ancient culture or another believed that the world was balanced on the back of a giant turtle, and I think it's funny).

So say you decide that a giant turtle created the universe. Well, what created that giant turtle? Let's say you come up with an answer to that question - a bigger turtle created that giant turtle, of course. Well, what created that turtle? The thing is, those questions never really end. They extend into infinity, because there's always the question of what created the biggest thing you can possibly comprehend.

This is the dilemma that has always tripped me up with my belief in God and my personal faith (and please, don't try to convert me or start a religious debate- I'm neither interested nor truly equipped to argue on this topic- I just know that philosophy and science often get in the way of my faith, but I still sort of believe in God anyway, somehow, even though my concept of God might be different from yours). The truth is, I can't comprehend of anything that's so big that there's nothing bigger, or so big that it wasn't created from...something.

Maybe my brain's too puny to figure this one out. I'm sure Stephen Hawking's massive brain can conceive of things I can't even fathom. And maybe he can understand nothingness, which is a concept I can't really wrap my brain around.

But ultimately, for me, it's a lot like the last scenes in the Men in Black movies, where Tommy Lee Jones shows Will Smith how infinitesimally small we really are, whether it's that Earth is actually the marble in a giant alien's game of jacks or we're just the wee locker people in a much, much larger universe. I always think, "Okay, so if there is a God, who created God?" And I always end up going back to the same old answer: it's turtles all the way down.

My Top 10 Favorite Movies of All Time, Part 2

2010-09-03T09:00:00.152-04:00

Last week I started the list of my top 10 favorite movies of all time. Today, I'm finishing the list with a few more surprises.

French Kiss
Like Sabrina, French Kiss captures the feeling of France quite beautifully. Kevin Kline is absolute, pure comic genius in this role, and Meg Ryan, pre-facelift, is a breath of fresh air. Add in Jean Reno and Timothy Hutton, and you've got a surprising cast with a stunning chemistry.

I've seen this movie so many times that I fell in love with the blue dress Meg Ryan wears when she finally has the chance to get back her man, and contacted the costumer for the film to compliment her work and to inquire about the dress. Much to my surprise, the costumer (an Academy Award winner in her own right, for Pete's sake!) e-mailed me back and said she was so grateful for my words and told me all about the dress, which Meg Ryan also loved so much that she kept it. So French Kiss remains one of my top 10 movies of all time for many reasons.
Rat Race
Rat Race is just about one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. The all-star cast is absolutely incredible, including John Cleese, Whoopi Goldbert, Jon Lovitz, Kathy Najimy, Seth Green, Kathy Bates, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Rowan Atkinson, Paul Rodriguez, Dave Thomas...the list goes on. Rowan Atkinson is undoubtedly one of the funniest human beings of all time, and seeing him as an Italian narcoleptic has me in tears, pretty much every time I see this movie. John Cleese as a giant-toothed casino magnate getting his customers to bet on anything and everything he can conceive of is at his most hilarious. Add in about a hundred Lucille Ball impersonators and a cameo by Gloria Alred, and this movie can do absolutely no wrong. See it. As soon as possible.
Chocolat
Okay, Chocolat is a romantic movie. It's not a comedy and there's no action or aliens. So while it's true that this film doesn't quite fit into my usual fare, it does have three things I adore: 1) Chocolate, 2) France, and 3) Johnny Depp. I think Juliette Binoche is one of the most beautiful women of our time and I confess, I was surprised that Carrie-Anne Moss was able to carry her role in this film, but she did okay.

A word of advice: First, while watching this movie, make sure you actually do have chocolate with you, otherwise there's just no point. Second, if you must, after watching this movie, try hot cocoa with chili in it, do give a look to the mixture offered by Hotel du Chocolat. While it's not something I personally enjoy, the quality is good and it'll taste far better than if you try to make it on your own.
Every Star Trek Movie...ever.
I do love Star Trek. I wouldn't say I'm a "Trekkie," though. I don't dress up and I don't speak Klingon, but I have seen every episode of Next Generation and Voyager, and most episodes of Deep Space Nine and the original Star Trek series (and yup, even Earth: Final Conflict). And I've seen every movie, sometimes all in one day. So I can admit that I'm pretty geeky, but the truth is, from a purely sociological standpoint (watch me try to justify my nerdiness right here), I have always appreciated the point Gene Roddenberry was trying to make...or at least the one I think he was trying to make.

Star Trek, you see, isn't just a sci-fi concept. It's a social one. Star Trek examines a society in which we've gotten past racism, hunger, illness, war, even the need for currency, and have evolved into a race that seeks knowledge, understanding, and betterment. I've always wondered how Roddenberry thought we got to that point. Bottom line: Star Trek pretty much rocks on all levels. The movies have action, drama, and if you understand the Trekkie culture, even some comedy. And I'm just geeky enough to love it.
Every Christopher Guest Movie...ever.
I'll tell you something - the saddest movie day I've had in a long time was the day Christopher Guest said he wasn't doing mockumentaries anymore. From "This is Spinal Tap" to "A Mighty Wind" to "Best in Show" and "Waiting for Guffman," Guests movies are unparalleled comic genius. Period. I don't know a single person who hasn't seen his movies and agreed.

One of my favorite things about a Christopher Guest movie is looking at the cast and trying to figure out who's who from the other movies - Guest in particular is a chameleon who's appearance, voice, and accent shift dramatically from film to film, whether he's the flamboyant director of a small-town play, a backwoods bait-and-tackle shop owner who loves his bloodhound, or a curly-haired banjo player. It's really quite remarkable, if you can even pay attention to it in between fits of laughter.

The comedy isn't always "ha ha" funny, but more like a "Wow, that's genius!" kind of clever, but you'll be in stitches no matter which film you watch.

Honorable Mentions:

Pirates of the Carribean movies...all of them: Truth is, this one should've been in the top 10, but I only had 10 spots, and sorta forgot about these until I'd already posted the first five. If I hadn't already posted those, I would've adjusted my top five so that "Pretty Much All Marvel Comics Movies" was just one listing. That would've given me back a few more spaces. But since I can't do that, I'll just say that Johnny Depp is genius in these movies, and if you add in the Orlando Bloom eye candy, these films are fine, fine viewing. Even with the copious bad dental work.

Men in Black 1 and 2: Like Pirates, I kind of forgot about these movies until today. But the comedy genius of putting Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith together with Rip Torn just can't be beat. Of the two, the second is my favorite, but they're both phenomenal. And the cameos by Michael Jackson and Martha Stewart totally rock.

Amelie: I love this movie because a) it's in French, and b) it's quirky and sweet. Period.

Spaceballs: I remember thinking Spaceballs was the funniest movie of all time, and that's why it rates a mention here. Mel Brooks is so funny and the films he spoofs in this movie happen to be my favorites: Star Trek, Star Wars, Alien, Planet of the Apes...all the greats are included. Sadly, when I tried to share Spaceballs with my husband, I realized that in adulthood, Spaceballs seems a bit naive in the level of comedy, and is a bit less enticing than I remembered.

The Alien movies: I loved the Alien franchise from the first movie through the third. Sigourney Weaver rocked all three of these films in slightly different ways. I loved the military power of Aliens and Charles Dutton's performance in Alien 3, but the movies beyond that, especially Resurrection have flopped for me, which is why the Alien franchise hasn't made it into my top 10.

The Hulk movies: I liked the first Hulk movie, and loved the second. Ed Norton rocked as Bruce Banner. But the reason this Marvel franchise doesn't make my top 10 is because they keep changing actors, and I don't like that. I didn't like it with Batman, and I sure don't like it with The Hulk. (I also don't care for the use of the Human Torch as Captain America, but nobody asked me)

So there you have it, my top 10 favorite movies of all time, including the honorable mentions. If you add them to your Netflix or Blockbuster lists and take a peek at any of them, let me know. I'd love to hear what you thought.

Restaurant Review: Rhubarb, Terminal 3, London Heathrow Airport, England

2010-09-02T09:00:00.005-04:00

I rarely enjoy airport food. With the massive hustle and bustle and noise in the terminals, I can barely hear myself think, much less enjoy the cuisine, which is a word I think is a bit too generous for all of the Macaroni Grill-style chains that seem to pepper the hallways of every airport.

But in London Heathrow Airport, right in the heart of Terminal 3, there's a delightful restaurant called Rhubarb, which has become my favorite dining oasis. Now, don't get me wrong - I'm a huge fan of Gordon Ramsay's Plane Food in Terminal 5 at LHR. But since the Baroncini-Moe family's official British Airways Ban of 2010, we're never really in T5, so I may never dine there again (sigh).

Leo and I went there for the first time last January, on our way home from spending the holidays in Spain. We were excited to try it out because we were engaged at a restaurant in Edinburgh called Rhubarb (not at all the same company) and we liked the name and the style of the restaurant in T3. We were enormously pleased with our choice.

So now, if I'm departing London in the morning, I'm thrilled to wait for breakfast until I get through security, because I know that the most delightful vegetarian English breakfast awaits me at Rhubarb. The plate is generous and includes portabello mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, a poached egg, a mini-croissant with butter and jam, and a small pot of yogurt with berries, granola, pistachios, and almonds. The omnivore's version includes the tomatoes and mushrooms in smaller quantities, the egg, croissant, yogurt, some ham, and a Cumberland sausage. The food is exceptional and the presentation quite lovely. I'm actually looking forward to trying some of Food Design's other restaurants next time I'm in London, and have a hankering to visit the Admiral's Club in T3 as well, now that I know that the same catering company is presenting a buffet inside the club. Yummy!

The service is pleasant and friendly, if a little harried. During our most recent visit, our server went to the kitchen to find out for us how the mushrooms are prepared, so I can attempt a version of my own.

All in all, breakfast at Rhubarb is a lovely way to await your flight...and the food's better than anything else I've tried in that area of the airport. So if you're stuck in T3 at LHR, give Rhubarb a try. I can't imagine you could be disappointed.

Yummy, Fresh Pita Bread

2010-09-01T09:00:00.000-04:00

The pita bread recipe I use comes from The Bread Bible, an absolutely wonderful book by Rose Levy Beranbaum.

I've written the recipe using the variations I used, but in the book, Rose provides a hand-kneading method, an all-white pita, an all-wheat pita, and instructions for cooking the pitas on the stovetop using a cast-iron skillet.

Ingredients:1 1/2 c plus a scant 1/8 c unbleached all-purpose flour (Gold Medal, King Arthur, or Pillsbury)

1 1/2 c plus a scant 1/8 c white whole wheat flour.

2 tsp salt

2 tsp instant yeast (Fleischmann's Bread Machine Yeast or Rapid Rise, Red Star's QuickRise or Red Star's Instant Active Dry)

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 1/4 liquid cups water, at room temperature.

Equipment:a baking stone or a baking sheet

Mixing Using the Mixer Method: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine all the ingredients. With the paddle attachment, mix on low speed (#2 if using KitchenAid) just until all the flour is moistened, about 20 seconds. Change to the dough hook, raise the speed to medium (#4 KitchenAid), and knead for 10 minutes. The dough should clean the bowl and be very soft and smooth and just a little sticky to the touch. Add a little flour or water if necessary.

Rising: Let the dough rise. Using an oiled spatula or dough scraper, scrape the dough into a 2-quart or larger dough-rising container or bowl, lightly greased with cooking spray or oil. Press the dough down and lightly spray or oil the top of it. Cover the container with a lid or plastic wrap. With a piece of tape, mark the side of the container at approximately where double the height of the dough would be. Refrigerate the dough overnight (or up to 3 days), checking every hour for the first 4 hours and pressing it down if it starts to rise.

Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F 1 hour before baking. Have an oven shelf at the lowest level and place a baking stone or baking sheet on it before preheating.

Shape the dough: Cut the dough into 8 or 12 pieces. Work with one piece at a time, keeping the rest covered with a damp cloth. On a lightly floured counter, with lightly floured hands, shape each piece into a ball and then flatten it into a disk. Cover the dough with oiled plastic and allow it to rest for 20 minutes at room temperature.

Roll each disk into a circle a little under 1/4 " thick. Allow them to rest, uncovered, for 10 minutes before baking.

Bake the pita: Quickly place 1 piece of dough directly on the stone or baking sheet and bake for 3 minutes. The pita should be completely puffed but not beginning to brown. The dough will not puff well if it is not moist enough. See how the pita puffs, then, if necessary, spray and knead each remaining piece with water until the dough is soft and moist; allow to rest again and reroll as before. (However, those that do not puff well are still delicious to eat.) Proceed with the remaining dough, baking 3 or 4 pieces at a time. Using a pancake turner, transfer the pita breads to a clean towel, to stay soft and warm. Allow the oven to reheat for 5 minutes between batchs. The pitas can be reheated for about 30 seconds in a hot oven before serving.

Did You Ever Want A Goat?

2010-08-31T09:00:00.034-04:00

I first read about goats in Hobby Farms Magazine and the book, The Urban Homestead. It wasn't long after I'd agreed to raise chickens, and I was so delighted with the experience that I was curious what other kind of mischief we could get into. We haven't yet indulged our fantasies of goat herding, but....haven't you ever wondered about having one? Maybe you were at a petting zoo or a state fair and you had a chance to see a goat or feed it. Maybe you noticed how clever the goats were, and how oddly cute they are, and thought, "Wouldn't it be cool if I had a goat?"

But then someone said, "They eat everything. They'll even eat their way out of the fencing. They're terrible to keep!" and you gave up the thought.

These days, urban homesteaders are making poultry farming so commonplace that big-box stores like Petco are starting to carry chicken supplies. And goats aren't far behind.

Goats are great for milk, meat, and hair, depending on which breed you select. I can't speak much to the meat and hair, and I'm only speaking from what I've read, not what I've lived, so from what I've read, goat milk is no different in taste from cow's milk and many people find it easier to digest. I've read that goats need to be milked twice a day, which can be a bit of a burden (and is one of the big reasons we haven't actually delved into owning goats yet). There are dwarf and pygmy goats, which means you need less room, but you still need loads of attention and the goats require some training and socialization.

Leo and I are still pondering the possibilities (where would we keep a goat, are we even allowed to have one in our neighborhood, and do we have time to monitor our goat?), but don't be too surprised if you see sometime in the future that we've decided to add a goat or two to our little urban homestead. You just never know.

Why Eat Organic?

2010-08-30T09:00:00.032-04:00

We've all seen the signs for organic produce and foods. And with few exceptions, organic produce is more expensive than regular produce. So what's the deal - is organic food better than regular food? And is it worth the price?

I have to confess, while I try to eat organic as much as possible, I don't always enjoy the price tag that comes with organic eating (which is why we have a garden!) But when I think about the alternative, I have a hard time thinking that organic isn't better.

A lot of people don't actually know why organic food is cool or important. So what is "organic" anyway? "Organic" refers to a couple of different, important things. First, organic food is food raised without the use of toxic chemicals like herbicides and pesticides. Second, organic food is food that is in its original form, free of genetic modification.

Genetic modification is what certain companies do to try to improve the hardiness of various plants, using little changes to the DNA of the plant. For example, Monsanto once put some frog DNA into the genetic makeup of a strawberry plant to make it resist a certain weed or insect. The problem with genetic modification isn't just that it creates freakish, live Frankenberries, but also that we don't honestly know what the impact of such genetic modifications does to our bodies. And without that knowledge, I think GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) are a bit creepy and scary.

Now, one of the biggest problems with organic foods is that they've tried to keep the foods GMO-free, so that people are able to choose not to ingest GMOs, but because many plants are "cross-pollinated" (meaning the wind carries pollen from one plant to another, as in the case of corn or apple trees), these days it's getting harder and harder to guarantee that any food is GMO-free.

Most think that you can wash an apple and get the toxic chemicals like pesticides off, but it's quite difficult to get all of the pesticides off, and you can't wash off the GMOs, because they're in the building blocks of the food - the DNA.

So here's my thinking: if I can afford to avoid toxic, carcinogenic chemicals like herbicides, pesticides, GMOs, and the hormones they give to cows to help them produce more milk....why wouldn't I?

And that's where the price tag comes in. Next week, I'll talk about how to make organic produce more affordable - stay tuned!

What's It Like In Indiana?

2010-08-29T09:00:00.099-04:00

I'm not 100% sure what people imagine, when they think about what Indiana is like, but I suspect it involves a lot of cornfields and rednecks. Today I'll talk about what Indiana's really like.

The Weather

In Indiana, the weather is, predictably, hot in the summer and cold in the winter. But in the summer, it's not just hot...it's really hot. And it's humid. Indiana isn't as hot as Texas or as humid as Florida, but summertime is fairly uncomfortable nevertheless. In the winter, it's cold. Again, not quite as cold as Iowa, but definitely cold, and we do get a fair bit of snow.

My favorite time of year is springtime, when the temperatures are mild, humidity is just something you anticipate in the coming months, and there's an occasional gentle breeze. It's perfect. Autumn is similarly pleasant, and that's why my favorite seasons tend to be what I call the "in between" seasons (having said that, I should mention that Leo has told me several times that the Canary Islands are like my "in between" seasons all year-round, which has filled me with a longing of epic proportions...don't be surprised if you see us summering and wintering there someday soon!)

The People

Hoosiers (natives of Indiana) are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Americans, in general, are among the friendliest in the world. And while these days, most people (even in the Midwest) are overly rushed and overly-stressed, Hoosiers have a native hospitality and small-town warmth, even in our capital city of Indianapolis.

Indianapolis

Indianapolis, also referred to as "Indy" or "Naptown," has an estimated population of just over 2 million people. Indy possesses what I refer to as an "urban-lite" vibe, meaning that we have a downtown and some cool urban areas, but we still maintain a small town sentimentality.

On occasion, I think Indianapolis gets a little too big for its britches. Sometimes as a city, we think we're a little more cosmopolitan than we are. Don't get me wrong - Indy's a great town. But we're only the 23rd biggest city in America and certainly don't have as much cultural diversity or depth as other cities might. At least, not yet.

Sports
Indianapolis has plenty of sports to keep visitors and residents busy. While we used to be referred to as the "Amateur Sports Capital of the World," I'm not sure that we're still plugging that as a plus. We have a pro football team (Colts), a pro basketball team (Pacers), and a pro women's basketball team (Fever), but baseball (Indians) and hockey (Ice) are more like farm teams in whatever the second level of those sports would be. We even have a roller derby team (Naptown Roller Girls), if you're into that.

Museums

Indianapolis is home to The Children's Museum, which I think is the largest in the world. It's an absolutely fantastic museum, if not a bit expensive to visit. We also have the Eiteljorg Museum, which houses Native American art collections, and The Indianapolis Museum of Art, which is absolutely wonderful. (BTW, you'll find links to just about everything I'm talking about in this post in the links on the right side of this web site, listed under "Cool Stuff To Do In Indy") There are other museums in Indy, as well, including the Indiana State Museum, plus we have a really awesome zoo that's totally fun to attend (even if zoos in general make me a little sad).

Music
Indianapolis has lots of great music. We have a symphony orchestra, loads of theaters, and great places for cool bands to play. We also have a nice local jazz scene and a thriving folk community, where you can watch and learn to play unique instruments like the hammered dulcimer and the autoharp, and can learn old sea shanties and folk tunes. While the pro circuit is lacking, amateur music in Indy abounds.

Events
There's no shortage of things to do in Indiana. We have tons of festivals and events year-round. In fact, I can't even keep up with all of them. There are cultural and ethnic festivals, art fairs, farmer's markets, music events...there's even a covered bridge festival. I honestly can't even come up with a reasonable list, because there are so many wonderful events. You could find some sort of festival or fair every single weekend to keep you occupied throughout the year, if you wanted to.

Food
Sometimes, as in the case of Barcelona Tapas, Indy-area restaurants get it so horribly wrong. But we have absolutely tons of excellent restaurants that get it right, and many are also super-affordable for families. If you check the Restaurant Reviews link in the category cloud on the left side of this web site, you'll find that I've already reviewed quite a few Indianapolis-area restaurants, and there are more to come.

In Indianapolis, you'll find tasty restaurants of most cultures, plus restaurants devoted exclusively to breakfast, delicious dessert spots, and more. Within 5-10 minutes of my house, for example, we can choose from Mexican, Japanese, Italian, Indian, Chinese, Peruvian, Ethiopian, and an English or an Irish pub, not to mention all of the little American spots nearby.

Suffice to say, food in Indy is not lacking. I wouldn't say, however, that we're 5-star dining in Indianapolis. We do okay, but personally, I don't think we have any restaurants that really hit the highest Michelin rating.

Finally, Farming

Yes, we do have farming, and plenty of it. We have all kinds of farms in Indiana, but our biggest crops are corn and soybeans (referred to simply as "beans" by most Hoosiers). We have a pretty active 4-H community in this state, and the Indiana State Fair is a great time to see all the stuff our farmers are up to, get a sense of what 4-H is all about and how it serves the kids who participate in it, and eat a bit of fried butter or fried Pepsi while you're at it (ewwww!)

But as you've seen, Indiana is far, far more than just farming and hicksville rednecks. Indianapolis provides a welcome oasis of cultural diversity that surprises most visitors. To be fair, I haven't even scratched the surface here. Part of the reason for that is that Leo and I haven't taken the time to explore our city quite as much as we might have. As we venture out to learn more about our local resources, you'll find more reviews and discussion on what Indianapolis (in particular) is all about and what's here. And who knows? You might find yourself wanting to visit soon. :)

Cool Travel Accessories

2010-08-28T09:00:00.044-04:00

In my travels, I've found a few accessories that make my travel a heck of a lot easier. Today I'm going to share a few of the things I always take along when I'm on the road. Note that this isn't an all-inclusive list. I have a few more, but these are the top items.

iPod

I love, love, love my iPod. I have a 32Gig iPod that's about five years old, and I guard it with my life. One day, I'm sure I'll drop it and my heart will break (since the iPod has outlasted the backup drive I kept all my music on, and what's on the iPod isn't fully backed up), but then I'll upgrade to a bigger, better, and super-improved iPod.

My iPod rocks because it's small and can carry so much entertainment in just one little package. I've got music, TV shows, movies, and books on CD, all on this little device, and I could easily travel with just the iPod and stay fairly well entertained on a trip.

Flight charger

I love my in-flight charger. I can charge up my laptop, Bose headphones, iPod, mobile phone, all while I'm on the plane. It pretty much rocks, especially if I've got a lot of work to do and a limited battery life, or worse, haven't had time to charge up my headphones before the flight.

Bose headphones

My Bose headphones rock like nothing else. They're a little bulkier than I'd like, but they're amazing and I'm totally addicted to them. The headphones filter out all of that noise the airplane makes and reduces the annoying sounds of other passengers, making it much easier to relax, enjoy the in-flight entertainment (or your own), get work done, or just take a nap.

Subnotebook/Netbook

I admit it - I was one of the first early adopters of the Asus EEEpc. I have one of the first 200 to enter the US and as a result, it's crummy. Don't get me wrong - it's great for watching movies from my hard drive or iPod or getting some writing done while I'm flying, and it's actually really useful for Skype - the webcam's pretty decent - but overall, my particular v1 EEEpc leaves a lot to be desired. Personally, I'm dying for an operating system I understand, since Linux isn't my particular forte. I understand that in later versions of the EEE, they added Windows, which I'll be experimenting with this weekend as I play around with my stepmom's later version EEE.

I recently killed my EEE by deleting what turned out to be a pretty important file while attempting to set up a hamster-cam for Abe and Willa. I'll probably take it in for repair, but only so I can sell the thing and replace it with a subnotebook I like better. The greatest thing about a little computer is that they're so lightweight, you hardly even know they're in your backpack!

Sleep mask
I'm a big fan of a great sleep mask. Not the cheap, cheesy ones they give you when you fly business class, but a real sleep mask that actually does some good. I'm a fan of the 100% light-blocking sleep mask. I have one that's a gorgeous embroidered red Chinese dragon fabric and it is absolute heaven on a long flight. With the sleep mask and my Bose headphones, I can actually get a fairly nice rest, even in coach.

These are my top favorites and must-haves for travel, but I have a few more as well. Look for upcoming posts with more cool travel accessories as well as a post on which item speople tell you to take when you travel that you rarely need.

My Top 10 Favorite Movies Of All Time, Part 1

2010-08-27T09:00:00.145-04:00

I'm a big fan of movies. But I have to be honest- I'm not a fan of the kind of movies that win Oscars. In fact, winning an Academy Award is often the kiss of death for me. I like movies that provide absolute escapism in the form of cool sci-fi adventures, action that involves alien spacecraft, car chases, explosions, and awesome "tough guy" moves, and intelligent comedy.

It's not that I think indy films or dramas are bad. I actually think they're wonderful and when you see an actor who is truly exploring his or her craft, it's an extraordinary experience. However...I've had a taste of "real life" and the tragedy and sorrow it can bring...just a taste, mind you - I've been far more fortunate than most - but as a result of my life experience, I just decided that I would rather focus on movies that don't tear at my heartstrings or make me cry. I just don't need it. I can watch a Terry Gilliam film, for example, but only to placate my beloved husband. I would never watch one alone...at least not on purpose.

And don't get me started on how irritated I was when I watched "Million Dollar Baby." I was led to believe it was a movie about a tough female boxer...and when I discovered what that movie really turned out to be, I was unspeakably horrified and annoyed. My entertainment is strictly that- entertainment. And as such, I want excitement and fun.

So here are my favorite top 10 movies of all time, in no particular order (because I'm bad at deciding which I like best, and I pretty much love them all):

Planet of the Apes...all of them.
Planet of the Apes was a really cool series and is probably my favorite movie series of all time. I love the concept and I love the series. I love Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowell, and Ricardo Montalbán, and I love that they made not just a TV series, but a comic book and a cartoon out of the movies. The original series is the best, though I didn't despise the Tim Burton-Marky Mark remake, and I'm definitely looking forward to the 2011 Rise of the Apes.

The Planet of the Apes movies also give me an opportunity to explain my one caveat to my "No Academy Awards Winners" policy, which is that if a movie wins an award for music, makeup, or costumes, I will still watch it. Movies that win for "Best Actor" or whatever...forget it. Planet of the Apes won a couple of Oscars, but not for "Best Screenplay," which is why the series is allowed to maintain my top spot of all time.
Iron Man 1 and 2
I love all of the Marvel Comics movies, but I love the Iron Man franchise for two reasons: 1) Robert Downey Jr. is the quintessential actor for the Tony Stark role, as I can't imagine anyone who could carry the tragic-yet-witty-alcoholic concept more effectively, and 2) they've done an absolutely unparalleled job with the CG and special effects, like no other Marvel movie to date.

One of the things I love most about Marvel movies is how they're tying them all into the upcoming Avengers movie, which should feature Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and Nick Fury.

Incidentally, here's a tip for all of you who are watching Marvel Comics movies and leaving when the credits roll: stick around. There are usually extra scenes at the end of each movie after the credits, and these scenes give you hints about what's coming. For example, at the end of Iron Man 2, they showed a bonus scene where archaeologists discovered Thor's hammer. Stop leaving before the credits are over!

And here's something else I love about Marvel movies: they put little treasures into every film for the comic fans. In Iron Man, for example, you can see Captain America's shield, and it's something Tony Stark is working on. Plus, Stan Lee, creator of the X-Men and Spiderman, has a cameo in every film. In the first Fantastic Four, Stan Lee was a mailman. In the second Hulk, he played a guy who drank a beverage tainted with the Hulk's blood. He's also played Hugh Hefner, which I thought was hilarious. Among these treasures are images taken right from the pages of the comic books, and that's a big bonus for the fans.
Wolverine: Origins
I was super-excited about this movie, because it was just a few years before this film came out that Marvel released the Wolverine: Origins comic. Before that time, nobody really knew much about this character's history, and everyone was excited to learn where Wolverine had come from. Hugh Jackman's been a big surprise as Wolverine - when they announced he was playing the role at the very beginning, I was skeptical. But it's turned out to be an exceptional casting. So when they made this movie, I knew it was going to rock..And it did.
X-Men 1, 2, and 3
Let's face it, the X-Men franchise rocks. It's not just that the special effects are awesome, or that the makeup is cool. It's that the X-Men as a whole has always been an interestingly controversial comic, tackling issues like racism, religion, LBGT rights, and civil rights, and the movies treat that almost 50-year history with respect. And like the other Marvel movies, there are hidden gems and treasures for comic fans.
Sabrina
I figure after the high geek quotient of the last five films, this one would throw you for a loop. Remember, these aren't in order, and I'm doing this in two parts, because frankly, this is already too long. Fact is, I like other movies besides sci-fi and comic movies, and Sabrina is one of my all-time favorite films.

I'm talking about the remake, primarily because I still haven't gotten around to watching the original. Horrible, I know. I keep thinking I should watch it so I can discover which one's better. But I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

So why do I love Sabrina? First, Paris is one of my favorite cities in all the world, and Sabrina describes Paris so beautifully and lovingly. Second, who doesn't love Harrison Ford, and who could've expected that the combination of Ford with Greg Kinnear would be so funny? Third, Julia Ormond is a perfect Sabrina, and the way she interacts with John Wood as her father is sweet. Look, the movie is a bit sappy and probably falls far too close to the "chick flick" genre for my personal taste. But for whatever reason, Sabrina is one of my all-time favorite films of all time. I've seen it probably a hundred times and will probably see it a hundred more.

I'll continue this list next week, and there'll be a few more surprise on the way. In the meantime, go out and rent or buy a few of these, and sit down with a bowl of yummy, buttery popcorn.

Restaurant Review: La Jolla Mexican Restaurant, Indianapolis, Indiana

2010-08-26T09:00:00.032-04:00

They say location, location, location. In the case of La Jolla Mexican Restaurant, Indianapolis, Indiana, location is pretty much all they've got going for them.

La Jolla is located in Broad Ripple - to be more precise, La Jolla is located in what just might be one of the best locations in all of Broad Ripple. I say this because relaxing on the deck of La Jolla as the sun goes down in the late spring is one of the most pleasant experiences Broad Ripple offers....except for the food. You see, everyone I've talked to who has ever been there (and more importantly, who's gone back a second time) has gone for the location and the ambiance. Everyone agrees without reservation: the food at La Jolla stinks.

From the moment they set a basket of stale chips on your table, you pretty much know that your culinary experience isn't going to be good. The salsa's bad, the entrees are bad, heck, even the water is bad. Now, I myself haven't tried the drinks at La Jolla, but just to give you an idea of how this place is run, I have it on very reputable authority that the margaritas are made by the bucket and individual glasses are merely dunked into the bucket when a drink is ordered. Yuck.

Don't bother complaining about the food or your drinks at La Jolla - your server doesn't care. The service is bad, too. I've heard a lot of rumors about La Jolla, most of them about the owner, who has been trying to sell the place off and on for years, which could explain why the staff acts like they don't care. If your staff doesn't know from one day to the next if they're going to have a job, that can have a big impact on how they do their jobs.

Bottom line: if you're in Broad Ripple and you're looking for great Mexican food, stay away from La Jolla and go to La Piedad instead. On the other hand, if you're looking for a pleasant outdoor cafe to have a (non-margarita) drink and some stale chips, La Jolla fits the bill.

The Simplest Salad

2010-08-25T09:00:00.009-04:00

When I met Leo, I loved making big dinner salads with salad dressing. But since living with Leo, I've learned a much simpler way to create a salad. It's light, refreshing, and flavorful.

Ingredients:
Salad greens
Crazy-Good Pan-Seared Shrimp
Lemon juice or vinegar
Olive oil
Pine nuts
Salt

All you have to do here is spread the salad greens out in a bowl or on a plate, sprinkle some lemon juice or vinegar over it, add a little olive oil, throw some pine nuts onto the salad, add a dash of salt, and place your shrimp on top.

It's simple, I'll give you that. But then, many of the recipes I've learned from Leo are incredibly simple, but unquestionably delicious. And this one's no exception. In fact, he made it for me today for lunch and I couldn't have been happier. Sometimes he'll serve it next to a boiled potato, a little avocado, and some mayonnaise on the side, and that's even better. Give it a try - it might be simple, but it's tasty!

Cool Presents From The Heart

2010-08-24T09:00:00.030-04:00

When I give someone a gift, the last thing I really want to do is spend a fortune. I'd much rather give a gift that touches someone's heart, rather than something that impresses them with how much I spent. So how do you give a gift from the heart, to the heart, and show someone what they mean to you?

I start by thinking about the person. Who are they? What are their interests and hobbies? Maybe I'll find a book related to something that appeals to them or something I know they want to learn about. Or maybe I can find a tool they need for a hobby they enjoy.

Next, I think about what I can do that is from the heart, but also appeals to their heart. Not long ago, I used some of my mom's old piano music with her handwritten notes on it and decoupaged it onto some canisters for my sister. The music was falling apart and couldn't be used, and my sister and my mom bonded over their love for piano, so I knew it would mean something to my sister.

A few years ago, my dad made a CD for my sister and me called "Dad Sings!" on which he recorded himself singing some of the songs we grew up with. That's something I'll treasure forever, and something he recently gave to my stepchildren, passing on the tradition to another generation.

Personal, heartfelt gifts don't have to be made by hand, but they do require a personal touch. Our first Christmas together, Leo found a company that took a letter he'd written and printed it on a scroll, which they placed inside a heart-shaped bottle and nestled inside a beautiful box with a leather strap around it. It was an amazing, romantic gift, and so well-done that I was absolutely blown away.

The point of a present from the heart is that you think about the other person and what will be meaningful to them. Focus on the other person and what matters and is important to them, and you'll easily come up with a cool present. And remember, it's not about what you spend or how perfect the gift. It's about being thoughtful and giving from the heart.

Vitamins, Phooey. Give Me Broccoli.

2010-08-23T09:00:00.028-04:00

I take vitamins every day. But if you asked me if I want to take vitamins, the answer would probably be no. What the heck am I talking about?

Look, here's the deal: we're not actually meant to take vitamins, people. We're meant to eat the fruits and vegetables that come from the planet. If you eat a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, theoretically you should get all of the vitamins and minerals your body needs to maintain optimum health - no supplements needed. But if you eat chips and fast food and drink soda, you probably take supplements "just in case" you don't get all the nutrients your body needs.

Problem is, despite that over half of all Americans buy vitamins, the truth is, there's no real research to show that vitamins and nutritional supplements actually work. We do know for sure that our bodies synthesize the nutrients that come from food far better than the ones that come from vitamins, but I can say from a purely anecdotal standpoint that I feel a lot better when I take my Stress Complex B vitamins and evening primrose oil.

So...what's a girl to do? For me, lately, I've been too busy and too careless and simply haven't eaten healthy enough that I feel confident I'm satisfying all of my nutritionary needs. As a result, I take vitamins as a sort of "insurance policy," since the research just isn't clear. If I ate healthier regularly, I have a feeling I'd feel better, sleep better, and live better. So give me broccoli - I favor it over hard, ugly pills that smell funny anyway.

The Life of A Bibliophile

2010-08-22T09:00:00.004-04:00

I've had a longstanding love affair with books. I haven't stopped reading since I started as a tiny girl. Reading is the one thing I can do anywhere, anytime. I feel safest when I'm surrounded by books, and no matter what question I have, the answer can almost always be found in books.

Whenever I want to try a new hobby, I know I can find a book that will tell me what I need to know. When I want to improve a particular aspect of my life, I can find a dozen books with different strategies. If I need to study any topic in any field of interest...you guessed it. My preferred reference materials are books.

And when it comes to entertainment, well, there's nothing better than reading. As I wrote a few years ago...

I have...

...traveled the world several times over.

...fought in many wars.

...broke hearts and lost loves across the galaxy.

...jumped out of planes and been a spy.

...dined with kings and started with peasants.

...made and lost billions of dollars.

...traveled through time and space.

...lived dozens of fascinating lives.

...laughed with the gods.

Reading - the greatest adventure of all.

Secret City Tours

2010-08-21T09:00:00.001-04:00

Maybe you're a fan of the double-decker bus tours. Maybe you like traipsing around a city with someone carrying a brightly-colored umbrella. Or maybe you just can't get enough of the amphibious Duck Boats. As for me, I'm a fan of the Secret City Tour.

You won't find it in your guidebook and it doesn't appear in Google. The Secret City Tour, in fact, is simply a tour you can take just by asking your cab driver. Most cabbies are trained to conduct these tours and though they're rarely publicly advertised, all you really have to do is ask. You'll get a private tour that you can tailor to your own interests and curiosities, and you can ask all the questions you want. Most cabbies have a standard price for their tours, so you're not paying for time or miles, but rather for the tour.

Entertainment Review: Net Heads, Carmel, Indiana

2010-08-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

If you're a fan of XBox 360, Wii, or just gaming with other people, Net Heads, in Carmel, Indiana, is definitely worth checking out. Leo and I took the kids there recently for a fun family afternoon.

When we walked in, we were immediately greeted by friendly staff members who gave us the lowdown on how things worked. They've got a cool system, so if you want to leave your kids there for an afternoon (within their minimum age requirements), the staff will keep an eye on them and make sure they have a good time and don't play any games you've blacklisted.

The way it works is that you tell the staff what game you want to play and they set you up. It's pretty simple, actually, though frankly, sometimes the setup does eat into your play time, which is a little frustrating, since you pay by the hour.

We felt that the cooperative game list was a little bit limited, given that we had a 10 year-old girl and a 13 year-old boy with us. At home, we have a few games that we play together on our ancient XBox, but and it's fun to work together as a team toward a common goal. But most of the co-op games fell into the category of being either too young for Jay or too violent for Raemie.

And when Leo and I decided to play on the Wii (they only have one), they didn't have all of the necessary equipment for us to try the boxing game, which was a bit disappointing. Plus, the space where you play Wii is a bit limiting, which can be a challenge, given how much movement the Wii requires.

But those were really the only drawbacks we found. And since the food they do have is pretty tasty, given that Net Heads isn't actually a restaurant, we weren't too put off by the lack of healthy food options The cheesy breadsticks are pretty heavenly, I have to confess.

Net Heads is a lot of fun if you don't have a game console at home or want to try some of the newest games. What Net Heads does really well is that they've got an exceptional setup with solid equipment that allows you to have a great gaming experience. I mean, where else could you go in Indy where you'd have your own personal speaker system outfitted in a snazzy dome right over your game station?

If you're looking for a fun afternoon or evening out with the family (or heck, just by yourself), Net Heads is a cool option that isn't too pricey, especially if you do their Family Fun Night package, which includes two hours of game play, a sandwich, and a drink, for just $10 per person.

Restaurant Review: Cinema Grill, Indianapolis, Indiana

2010-08-19T09:00:00.102-04:00

I love dinner and a movie, so one of my favorite places to go for a great date night with Leo (or a family fun night with the kids) is Cinema Grill, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Cinema Grill has been around for a long time - not necessarily as a restaurant/movie theater, but "back in the day," it was Greenbriar Cinema, which was a fantastic place to see movies that were just slightly past being "new" at a huge discount. Today, the revived cinema features a full-scale restaurant that you can enjoy while watching a brand-new flick.

When you enter Cinema Grill, it's not the most impressive place. I suspect that the current owners haven't the necessary capital to remodel the place or even to quite maintain it. But if you can set aside the fact that the decor is a bit worn and nothing is quite new, what's most important is that the food is yummy and the prices are reasonable.

We recently visited Cinema Grill to see "Despicable Me," which was one of the most delightful films I've seen in quite some time, and definitely a movie I highly recommend if you're looking for a sweet movie with plenty of giggles.

One thing that I like about Cinema Grill is that their menu features plenty of options for weirdo eaters like me (you may recall I'm an ovo-lacto-pescetarian). I've enjoyed the almond-crusted tilapia quite a bit, and Leo has sampled their burgers and found them more than adequate. And their kids menu features reasonable portions at a reasonable price. A note of caution: if your young one is looking for pizza, the small-sized appetizer pizza may be enough for a little one, but is an inadequate portion for a teenager, as we discovered when Jay ordered this item and was still a bit peckish. The one food item I have a problem with is their popcorn, which itself is fine, but with the butter, takes on a slight chemical flavor.

Cinema Grill is a fantastic option for dinner and entertainment in Indianapolis, and well worth a try, especially if you have kids. They won't care about the less-than-new decor, and they'll have a great time doing something different.

The Great Sugar Cookie Experiment, Part 1

2010-08-18T09:00:00.047-04:00

One evening, not too long ago, following a tasty meal, Leo said, "I'm in the mood for dessert." We had nothing on-hand, so I decided to make Leo some sugar cookies. Unfortunately, we were completely out of butter, so sugar cookies from scratch were out.

I keep a few mixes on the pantry shelf for "emergencies" (even as I wrote that, my inner voice snorted and said, "Emergencies? Really? What emergency would require a Williams-Sonoma plum cake?"), so I went a-hunting and discovered a fairly old sugar cookie mix that my dad and stepmom brought back from a trip to Maine. It even came with a lighthouse cookie cutter attached. I wasn't too sure it would still be good (do mixes like that ever go bad?), but decided it was better than nothing and started mixing up the batter.

Well, it was late, and somehow I managed to mis-read the directions, so instead of 1/4 cup of water, I added 3/4 cup water. Oops.

I didn't actually realize my mistake at first. I just kept wondering why the batter was so soupy and how on earth I was going to make it into cookies. Finally, I checked the box and realized the error I'd made, and in a panic, started throwing ingredients into the mix. I added flour by the spoonful, then, fearing the mix would be bland and tasteless, added sugar, then an egg, then some dry milk, then a little vanilla, then more flour...until the batter resembled a thick, rubbery substance which, if it had been black, I might've used to repair a tire or two.

I was just about to throw everything out when Leo discovered me in the kitchen and wanted to know what mischief I'd gotten into. He was overjoyed to hear that I had been making him some surprise cookies, but dismayed when he heard I was considering throwing out the dough. We agreed we should at least see what happened when we put them in the oven.

The results of the Great Sugar Cookie Experiment, Part 1.

So I baked the creepy, rubbery dough as the mix instructions indicated, and...much to my absolute shock, the results were incredible and delicious! The cookies resembled something in between a cookie and a scone. They were a little bit fluffy, too, like a cake. And when we added a little of the lingonberry jam from IKEA, well, it was heavenly.

And Leo's dying for me to make them again. Only problem is, I don't know exactly how I arrived at these cookies to begin with. I saved the box from the mix and wrote down all the ingredients I added, but it'll be a bit of a challenge to make these cookies a second time, since I'm not entirely sure how much of anything was in the original formulation.

I plan to make one of those "cookie mix in a jar" recipes for sugar cookies. You know the one you make to give as a cool homemade gift? Well, I'm going to mix that up, then add three times the water I'm supposed to add, then add a bunch of the ingredients I added the last time to try to re-create the rubbery dough I had before. I'll actually keep track this time, and maybe over the course of a few attempts, I'll be able to recreate my fabulous sugar cake cookies. Keep your eyes peeled for future experiment results.

What's a "Fairy Egg?"

2010-08-17T09:00:00.029-04:00

Every once in awhile, we get a "fairy egg" from our chicken coop. What's a fairy egg? It's an egg that's about a third of the size of a regular egg. We've been getting about one or two a week since the weather heated up, and while they're adorable, they kind of freak Leo out so he won't eat them.

From what I've read, fairy eggs occur when a little reproductive tissue breaks away inside the hen. The body thinks it's an egg and treats it as such, crafting a shell around it and sending it out as an egg. Fairy eggs (or witch eggs, as they're also called) have no yolk, only a white, and are edible, but as I mentioned, not by my hubby.

I do worry a bit about which of our hens is having trouble, if it's just happening to just one of them, (maybe it's happening to all seven of them once in awhile, but just seems like it's happening more because we get the fairy eggs so often). Since none of our hens shows any signs of feeling less than perfectly grand, though, I think it's okay. The fairy eggs are really small, and to be honest, I just think they're kind of sweet.

My Love/Hate Relationship With Exercise

2010-08-16T09:12:00.000-04:00

Okay, I'm admitting it loud and clear. I have a love/hate relationship with exercise. And I can't seem to resolve it...yet.

When I was growing up, I loved being outside and playing in the sunshine. I liked running and jumping and skipping rope and riding my bike...but what I loved more was curling up on the sofa with a really good book. And that's always been my struggle.

A few years ago, I made a concerted effort to get in shape. I wanted to stop worrying about my figure and focus on my health. I exercised every day, going to the gym and walking around the track listening to books on my iPod or working with a trainer who loved inventing new exercises for me. For two years, I was dedicated to my fitness.

And then a few things in my life changed. I got married and Leo and I were living together, and I discovered we had different rhythms about exercise. He prefers to exercise at night. I love getting up in the morning and working out first thing (maybe that's a girl thing - I don't care for washing my hair twice in one day, so I'd rather get up, work out, then shower for the day and get on with things). My business shifted and I got busier and somehow, exercise fell down the list of what was most important.

It's been a year and a half since I was really invested in my health and exercising regularly. And recently I've started to really notice how much I'm paying for that lack of attention to fitness. I've gained some weight and I'm vain enough to say that I really don't like the way that new weight looks on me and I really don't care for how my clothes fit anymore. I don't have the feeling of power that I used to have, and though I never really felt that surge of energy that people claim they get when they exercise, I am getting tired faster and I don't have the endurance I used to have.

A couple of months ago, a fitness pro told me how important it is to exercise and get fit to be successful in your business. We talked about the benefits of exercise and nutrition for making your brain work faster and better, and for having more stamina for public speaking and client work. And I agreed with everything she said....and didn't do much about it.

Leo and I have committed to each other that we're going to do something about this lack of fitness in our lives. We're researching options, learning what we can, and talking about what we need to do to get healthier. I'll be posting what we've learned and the steps we take in this blog...and maybe, just maybe, I'll find a way to evolve my relationship with exercise into a love/love dynamic. Stay tuned.

Rainbows...Why?

2010-08-15T09:00:00.026-04:00

The horribly inadequate photo my Sidekick took from the car.

A couple of weeks ago, Leo and I were driving back from Chicago and caught an amazing double rainbow in the sky. What is it about rainbows that captivates us so? Because indeed, there is something special and magical about seeing a rainbow.

When I notice a rainbow, I'm inclined to pause whatever it is that I'm doing in order to be fully present in that moment and experience that beautiful, natural phenomenon in its entirety. It's almost as if for me, a rainbow is a signal to take a moment out of life to do nothing but appreciate something momentous and beautiful that doesn't happen every day.

I'm a bit sad that the camera on my Sidekick is so lacking and didn't actually capture the second rainbow very well. All you can really see is the first rainbow and a mere hint of the second, but I assure you, it was there, and it was stunning. Even better, when we passed this tree-lined area of the highway into a clearing ,we discovered that in fact, it was a full-arc rainbow - absolutely, undeniably magnificent.

Kid Stuff: The Great Taste Test Competition of 2010

2010-08-14T09:00:00.038-04:00

Recently, while watching "Top Chef," Leo and I decided we should try our own version of the blindfold taste test. In this test, chefs are blindfolded and have to taste various foods to try to identify them. Leo and I decided we ought to try this and see how sophisticated our palates are. But then we realized it would be way more fun to do this with the kids. Here's how we did it:

We went to Whole Foods with the kids and split off into teams. Each team had $5 to spend on fruits, vegetables, nuts, or sauces, and anything we already had in the house was fair game. The kids picked out and weighed their own produce, and took everything to the checkout to pay, and Leo and I chose our items and paid separately.

The food items the kids chopped up for Leo and me to test.

When we got home, we created score sheets on the computer (the kids like using WordArt in Word) and Leo and I went upstairs while the kids prepared their items. If you have younger kids, I'd recommend splitting teams so that there's one parent on each team who can supervise chopping. Then, the kids covered up all the dishes and called us downstairs. We were blindfolded (thank you, American Airlines, for the sleep masks from Business Class, which turned out to be perfect for this game) and in turn, given spoonfuls of each food to identify.

Beware: eating a large spoonful of onions isn't the most fun you can have, and it stays with you. :D

After Leo and I did our taste test and our scores were tallied, we sent the kids upstairs and prepared their test. We were all surprised at how well we did, which makes me wonder how the chefs on "Top Chef" can do so poorly, but then, I think part of our success had to do with how many items that were already in our kitchen were used - I know my ingredients pretty well, but given an unfamiliar ingredient or given something I didn't already know I owned...I'm not sure how well I would fare.

In the end, the kids definitely won, and a great time was had by all. Give this one a try in your own home - it's a lot of fun!

Is Friday the 13th Really Unlucky?

2010-08-13T09:00:00.019-04:00

We've been accusing Friday the 13th of being a bad luck day for centuries. Chaucer mentioned it as far back as the 14th century, but in the 17th century, Friday the 13th became widely referenced as a day when things went horribly wrong. People would put aside everything from daily household tasks to important medical decisions so that nothing could go wrong on Friday the 13th. And according to Wikipedia, some 17-21 million people are reported to experience a fear of this day. But is it really unlucky, or is it all superstition?

The Dutch Centre for Insurance Statistics reported in 2008 that there are fewer accidents and fires (or at least claims stemming from Friday the 13th), and explained this phenomenon as a result of people just being more careful due to the superstition. However, before that, in 1993, the British Medical Journal compared accidents on Friday the 6th and Friday the 13th and found that there were many more accidents on the 13th. My take? Much of this is probably spurious and besides that, you can find a statistic to support virtually anything you'd like to claim...so...it's hard to say.

All I can tell you is that for me, the only thing that's unlucky about Friday the 13th is that if I'm not out having dinner with Leo, my evening will surely be disrupted by TV channels that insist on showing scary movies...which I pretty much hate. I'm going with silly, annoying superstition on this one.

Restaurant Review: Sartori Robatai, Knightsbridge, London, England

2010-08-12T09:00:00.037-04:00

Last week I talked about kaiten sushi, or "conveyor belt sushi." This week I'm sharing one of my favorite kaiten sushi restaurants, Sartori Robatai, in Knightsbridge in London. The food at Sartori Robatai is far superior to chain kaiten sushi joints like Yo! Sushi, and I think the pricing is similar.

But what I love the most is the fun and the adventure of it. The best time to go is right when they open, so the food is freshest. The food comes around as they make it, and you have to decide right then and there if you want it. Take too long to decide, and you risk losing it before it has time to come back to you. Leo and I have had many giggle-filled moments trying to decide if we want something, and then leaping to catch it after it passes.

Another great thing about Sartori Robatai is the service. You might think that a kaiten sushi place wouldn't have great service, because the food is delivered via conveyor belt. But in fact, the service is fantastic. It's virtually impossible to be smothered, though, because the server really only comes when you need her. A little button is embedded in the bar where you eat, and if you need help, you simply press the button and she quickly appears.

The food at Sartori Robatai is absolutely delicious, but the star of the show for me was the plum wine, which is sweet and served over ice. All in all, Sartori Robatai is one of my favorite restaurants, and one of the few places I'll return to again and again.

Leo's "Sopa de la Abuela"

2010-08-11T09:00:00.038-04:00

"Sopa de la Abuela," or "Grandma Soup," as it's called by both names in our house, is an incredibly flavorful, comforting soup that Leo's grandma used to make for him. It's one of the simplest recipes, fast and easy to make, and we enjoy it year-round. It's best with a little crusty bread.

The pasta used in this soup is acini di pepe, which I'd never heard of before. It's a tiny pasta- acini di pepe means "peppercorns" and indeed they are exactly that size. They're really just tiny balls of dough.

We serve this soup as my husband eats virtually all soup - with a very healthy serving of Parmesan cheese. Leo's Italian side is partial to grated Parmesan and he's easily satisfied with a giant jar of Kraft Parmesan cheese from Costco, so that's what we use. It might be a little pedestrian for some who might prefer a freshly grated cheese, but Leo hasn't complained yet.

Ingredients:
Water (approximately 2-3 cups per person being served)
Knorr vegetable stock cubes (1 cube for every 4-6 cups water)
Acini di pepe pasta (approximately 1/4 c. per person being served)
Parmesan cheese to taste

Put 4-6 cups of water in a pot and throw in a couple of Knorr cubes. Wait until the water is at a rolling boil, then add 1/2 box of acini di pepe pasta. Let the pasta cook for about 10-11 minutes, stirring occasionally, then when the pasta is just a bit al dente, turn off the heat and ladle the soup into bowls. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese liberally over the top of the soup and serve with crusty bread.

Personal Injury Isn't Quite So Personal

2010-08-10T09:00:00.040-04:00

Last week, Leo had a little fender-bender in the Blockbuster parking lot. The other driver apparently looked to the left and to the right, but never behind her, which is why she backed right into Leo. Even though it was a tiny accident, there was a bit of damage to our car and I knew I'd want to have it fixed, so the police were called. I know most people just exchange information, but the one thing my mom and dad always taught me was that if there's an accident, you always call the police, so that you can make sure that everything gets properly documented by a third party. That way no one can make outlandish complaints later, and everyone is clear on who was at fault.

A couple of days after the accident, when we looked through our mail, Leo had three letters from attorneys. At first I felt that small sense of alarm that one naturally experiences when one sees something legal in the mail. But then I noticed the small "Advertisement" and "Advertising Material" printed in the corner and when we opened the letters, they were all from personal injury attorneys advising Leo that he had rights!

We've received more letters since then, and the question in my mind every time is, "How did they know?" It feels invasive and uncomfortable, a very similar sentiment to what I experienced when I got my first mortgage and mortgage companies were calling and sending me letters that included the exact amount of my mortgage, and when I last applied for health insurance and failed to mention a back injury from several years ago on the application. It had been so long and was so unimportant that I had completely forgotten about it. I received a phone call from the insurance company asking about it, and was surprised that they even knew about the injury at all, since I'd paid out of my own pocket for the treatments and never filed a claim with my insurance company.

We have so little privacy in our world today. Even as I write this, I'm thinking of the irony of writing about how little privacy we have, when I'm also writing about my personal life for all the world to see. Yet there are simple matters that I believe should be private - specifically, financial and health-related matters, but clearly, more than that. But I fear that we'll never be able to go back, so I'm left wondering...what's left in this world that is truly personal and private?

The Great Mosquito Bite Remedy Experiment of 2010

2010-08-09T09:00:00.038-04:00

We live in an area where mosquitoes abound. The "Mosquito Control" truck, with its trademark, low-pitched hum and clouds of fog, is a common sight in summertime, though how effective it truly is, I can't be entirely sure. As someone who really can't stand the uncomfortable heat and sticky humidity of Midwestern summers (and someone who works from home), I'm not overly affected by mosquitoes, as I don't really spend that much time outdoors in the summertime. Spring and autumn are my preferred times of the year.

I have to confess that Leo provides a distraction for the mosquitoes, as they like his warmer-than-normal body temperature much more than mine, so when I am outdoors, I am rarely victim to mosquitoes, as they naturally gravitate to Leo. As such, Leo is a big fan of repellents of various sorts, but we had yet to locate an adequate remedy to the itching, which, on Leo's foreign skin (which is, even after two summers here, still not entirely used to our domestic mosquitoes), is practically unbearable. Leo is so susceptible to mosquito bites, in fact, that when he first moved here, he was working in the yard and got a couple of bites on his face that swelled up so much that he looked a little bit like the Elephant Man. And though he's gotten a bit more used to them (I suppose he's slowly developing an immunity of sorts), his bites are much larger than normal and seem to cause him a great deal more distress.

So when Jay and Raemie came inside last week with their first American mosquito bites of their visit here, I immediately started searching the web for some fast solutions to the scratching.

The Common Plantain Weed

In my search, I was surprised when I happened upon a description of a remedy that involved simply squeezing the flower stalk of a weed and rubbing it directly on the bite, but more surprised when I looked up the weed and discovered it was something we have in our yard in abundance.

It's the common Plantain Weed, and it grows right outside our back door! I immediately asked Jay if he wanted to participate in a scientific experiment and of course he agreed. So we went outside, found ourselves a plantain weed, and rubbed it on two of his four mosquito bites. The itching stopped right away, and by the next day, the bites were remarkably smaller.

Last night, we conducted our secondary experiment, this time on a bite Leo had just received on the back of his hand. Raemie rubbed the weed on Leo's hand and poof! The swelling went down and the itching stopped, and this morning, his hand looks like he never got bitten.

So there you go - a brand-new, totally free mosquito bite remedy! The flower stalk of the common plantain weed, squeezed and rubbed onto the bite. It couldn't be simpler, and it's been totally effective in our family.

The Awesome Power of Music

2010-08-08T09:00:00.111-04:00

Music has been a part of my life for as long as I've been alive. My mother was a pianist and let us plonk around on the piano from a very early age. She loved to settle my sister and me on the piano bench, one on either side of her, and she'd play the piano and we'd sing Disney theme songs and Christmas carols.

My dad was a "jack of all instruments," loving the thrill of picking up something new. He liked the standards - guitar, violin, trombone- but favored the more unique, folksy sound of instruments like the zither, ukelele, and dulcimer.

When instruments weren't being played and experimented with, the record player was always active, especially during dinnertime. So music was a strong part of my childhood, but became even more personal to me when I turned six and started learning to play violin (I played until I was a sophomore in college, but that's a story for another day).

Regardless of what role music has played in my life, though, there's always been one constant - the way I use music as a kind of therapeutic device. Music has a great deal of power. One can become energized or depressed, joyful or morose...all by listening to music.

In recent years, I've formalized my therapeutic music, via my iTunes playlists. I have "Bring Me Up" playlists for when I'm feeling blue, "Time For Bed" playlists for when I need to relax for sleep, and "Energize Me" playlists for when I'm heading into a speaking engagement.

Basing my theory of music therapy on my work in neuro-linguistic programming, I've always used a "pace and lead" method of building a playlist - start the first song where my mood is, and gradually bring my mood up through music.

For example, if I'm feeling angry, I don't start with a happy song; I start with Motley Crue and work my way through Bon Jovi, and gradually work my way toward lighter and happier songs until I've achieved a gentle peace. If I'm feeling blue, I've created playlists based on why I'm feeling blue - any of these might start with Sarah MacLaughlin, Rufus Wainwright, Kelly Clarkson, Jimmy Wayne, Sister Hazel, or Bonnie McKee, but it's usually more about the tempo and the feel of the music than the lyrics.

And for a romantic evening with Leo, as we're cooking dinner and dancing round the kitchen, you'd be likely to hear Andrea Bocelli, Ben Folds, Chris Rice, John Mayer, Kate Bush, Marva Wright, Lizz Wright, Me'Shell Ndegeocello, or Josh Kelley. Heck, I even have playlists for power walking, precisely calibrated by metronome, for the exact pace that I like to walk, including a warm-up and cool-down.

Of course, music is highly subjective stuff. I highly doubt, for example, that most people get quite as upbeat and optimistic as I do when I hear my personal theme song, "MMMBop," by Hansen. People think I'm joking about that, but I'm not. Whenever I hear that song, I just feel happy. And I think everyone should have a personal theme song that makes them happy when they hear it.

Just A Carry-On For Me, Thanks.

2010-08-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;, Thanks&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>Did you know that you can travel for a week or two with just a carry-on? The biggest mistake I see travelers make is taking too much stuff along. Most people overpack, because they're terrified to leave something behind (and for a truly genius comic commentary on "stuff," check out George Carlin's "A Place for My Stuff"). But don't you know that no matter where you go, it's most likely that you can find what you need there?

Now, don't get me wrong - I'm pretty particular about a couple of things. I need my laptop on most journeys, though on many excursions, I can make do with an Eee PC. I'm dependent on my skin care and makeup regimens and my choice of shampoo and conditioner. But if I get to my destination and I don't have my toothbrush or toothpaste, it's no big deal to find replacements.

This knowledge was reinforced when Leo and I took the kids to Spain this past Christmas and British Airways lost our bags for virtually the entire trip. I quickly discovered that while I prefer my own deodorant and toothpaste (and even clothes), I can certainly make do with substitutions when the situation calls for it.

These days, my favorite way to travel is with a carry-on bag only. The Spain trip was an anomaly, and here's how that happened: Leo and I spent a lot of time during our courtship traveling back and forth across oceans and continents to see each other. But since we married in 2008, we haven't spent a whole lot of time traveling, so we got out of practice a little bit. As a result, we ended up overpacking for Spain. Still, even if we hadn't overpacked, it's likely we would've checked at least one bag, because in addition to our own stuff, we had Christmas presents for the kids.

After the lost baggage fiasco (which is still being resolved, seven months later, but there is hope on the horizon, as British Airways has just asked for my bank account information so they can wire my reimbursement finally), Leo and I agreed that whenever possible in the future, we'll travel light and stick to carry-ons when we can.

Generally speaking, carry-on only is a pretty nice way to travel and you get really good at taking only what you really need. Plus, you don't have to schlep heavy suitcases around, and that really rocks.

I've traveled around the States and to Montevideo and London using just a carry-on and it's so liberating, you can't even believe it. The trick is knowing what to take and how to pack. My first best tip is to make sure you have a great carry-on suitcase. Mine is a Briggs & Riley expandable bag, and I absolutely love it. Briggs & Riley is on the pricey side, but the quality is impeccable. OTOH, Kohl's regularly has amazing deals on Samsonite and you can pick up a really decent, durable bag for under $100.

Next, I have a little Baggallini fold-up tote bag that fits easily into my suitcase. It provides one more bag, so I can buy cool stuff in interesting places, and check a bag only when I'm going home - when I don't mind waiting a little while for my stuff.

Finally, I carry a backpack. Mine is a black and pink plaid backpack made by Roxy, which I actually bought at The Apple Store several years ago. I'm sure I could find something more sophisticated, but it's quirky and I like it. It has a side-access pocket designed with extra padding for a laptop, and it's super-easy to take the laptop out for security, though the extra padding makes the backpack a bit warm to wear sometimes. It has an outside pocket on each side, one that holds change and the other a bottle of water, and another outside pocket on the front that is good for storing stuff I need quick access to. There's a nice interior pocket with an organizer and a large interior pocket where I can fit file folders, books, notepads, and a change of clothes. Plus, it now has the "sentimental attachment" feature, acquired after I repaired one of the straps with heavy-duty nylon thread at a department store in Newcastle.

So that's what I carry on the plane with me. As for what goes inside...well, that's a subject for another day. Until then, travel light!

Abe & Willa Update

2010-08-06T16:40:00.000-04:00

Well, people, it's official. Abe and Willa are most definitely boy and girl (respectively) and they're growing up way too fast. At approximately 6 weeks of age, they're already mating. They've both grown really fast, and Abe, who was initially quite a bit smaller than Willa, is starting to catch up, though he's still not quite as big as she is. I suspect it won't be long before we have babies.

Abe and Willa have proven to be entirely irresistible to the entire family. The best treat so far is holding them and petting them and then hand-feeding them Cheerios and Rice Krispies, which they either stuff into their cheeks, up to four at a time, or hold in their tiny hands and crunch away at until they're gone. They're getting more and more friendly and seem to be getting more and more used to our presence.

During the day, Abe and Willa spend most of their time spooning in the corner of their habitat, but occasionally you'll find one or both of them squished up inside their little TV, one or both faces pressed against the "screen."

They continue to be avid wrestlers (though some of their wrestling has taken a decidedly "adult" turn) and are endlessly entertaining to watch. Leo and I kind of hope if they do have babies, they'll have them this month, so the entire family can enjoy the teeny tiny little ones. Stay tuned!