Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Keep your seat in the upright position....

So you're stuck on a plane for nine hours, and you don't have the luxury of having your cramped little row of seats to yourself...Who would you want sitting next to you?
Think about it.
Nine hours.
Nine. Hours.
And I'm taking your spouse, your significant other, your best friend, and every member of your immediate family off the list. 
If you could pick one person--dead or alive––that you've never met, who would it be? 
Personally, I can think of a huuuuuge list of people I'd want to be sitting next to on that extra-long nine hour plane ride. Many different people, and all for different reasons. Above all, though, one thing they all have in common is that they're people I respect. The fact that I could sell their picture or autograph or lip-stick smudged napkin on e-Bay for a pretty penny doesn't hurt things, but I want to sit next to these people for the sheer pleasure of their company. Because I want to delve in there and know what they think, how they think, and how they got to be where they are (or were, in the case of those I would have to resurrect from the dead...)
Robert Irvine, Julia Child, Gordon Ramsay. Coco Chanel. Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum (yes, I love me some Project Runway, but that's not the only reason I want them as seatmates). Bethany Frankel (I think we might have a lot in common––let's give it up for fantastically neurotic women). Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant...Jeff Foxworthy...I could go on and on. 
Hmmm. Maybe I should rent out the whole plane....
The only problem with that is that I wouldn't get one on one time.
Oh. Kay.
Yeah. In the realm of possibility of me ever being stuck on a plane with one of these people, the chance of that is nil, but still, a girl can dream.  
Sigh. 

Friday, September 21, 2012

Fishing for Ideas

Okay. So you're staring in the fridge, looking for dinner inspiration. And you come up with....nothing. So you move to the pantry. 
What to make, what to make? 
Your mumbling hunger is starting to scream for attention, but you've still got no ideas. All you have is a food-starved brain and...cans of tuna? But who wants just another, boring old tuna sandwich? 
Whip up a canned tuna dish that would rock a dinner party, yet is simple enough not to require oodles of ingredients or culinary skill. Check out 200 Best Canned Fish & Seafood Recipes (Susan Sampson) a new cookbook full of fun, inventive, and tasty recipes that use canned fish and seafood as the star ingredient. Great, colorful photos make this cookbook one that you'll be proud to have on your shelf. Go ahead––make Charlie the Tuna the king of your kitchen! Visit http://www.robertrose.ca/

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Thumbing the pages

Ahhh....September. 
Such a momentous month. And who can believe it's already almost over?
Where the heck did it go?
I, for one, am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that summer will officially be over in a mere matter of days. The cooler weather is starting to tickle the edges of the day, fall fashions are creeping their way into people's closets...And The September Issues are out on newsstands.
Say it with me, people: The. September. Issue. 
The issue of issues. 
If you're like me, you love the September issue. Especially when we're talking VOGUE. This year, it's nearly encyclopedic in proportion. No, make that Biblical. It's absolutely huuuuge. And gorgeous. 
But that's just me talking. 
Go ahead, call me a fashion junkie. 
I'm not ashamed.
And really, it's nothing to be ashamed of. After all, fashion is steeped in history and has great bearing on the way people look and feel about themselves. It speaks volumes about people's creativity, and even something as simple as a shoe can make you walk taller...literally and figuratively.
And who couldn't use that?

Monday, September 17, 2012

Powered-up

When I'm a good girl and actually remember to do it, I read the daily devotional Jesus Calling. Today's reading, appropriately, was a reminder not to try to control and plan our lives––perfectly timed on a day when wicked thunderstorms knocked out the power for three hours. I couldn't even leave the house to go somewhere and kill time, since my car was in the garage––which meant that my car was imprisoned in the dungeon whose entree and exit required electricity. (Try pushing the garage door opener when the power's out, and you're rudely awakened to the fact that EVERYthing needs power.) It was unplanned and definitely inconvenient, but it could have been worse. It could have happened in the dead heat of summer, leaving me hot, sticky, and miserable. It could have lasted far longer than just three hours. And, of course, there's always the fact that the wicked thunderstorms could have resulted in something much more devastating...like a tornado or some kind of structural damage to the house. So. In the midst of my monkey-wrenched day, I realized I had many things to be thankful for...like working electricity and the nice people at the power company who come out to fix said electricity when it goes out. As the sun started to go down; and the use of a flashlight became more mandatory than optional for my reading, the power popped on, reminding me that there are blessings even in the most everyday things.    

Friday, September 14, 2012

Gesundheit!

If you're like me, you're always forgetting to toss a pack of tissues in your car or purse...after all, who wants to take up space in the car with a bulky box or have to dig around for one of those tiny packs that gets lost in the abyss? Check out kiss-u Tissue Tubes––tissues that come in really funky tube-like containers that fit PERFECTLY in your car's drink holder! They definitely come in handy, especially when you're having to take longer drives someplace (holiday trips, vacations, random jaunts to really remote locations to score a great deal....) Make tissue-finding easier and safer––no more reaching down in the car to reach a fallen box of tissues. The tubes come in a variety of colors, available online at www.kissutissue.com 

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Tortured Beauty

sterling silver ring, Pitted Surface line
 
It's not often that I get the chance to send out raves over a locally made product, but I have absolute love for the Tortured Heart jewelry made by Stephanie Ritchie! I recently had the honor of getting a glimpse into the creative mind behind the inspired jewelry that Stephanie makes, and she truly does put so much love and thought into each and every piece that she makes. I wish that I had so much skill! Take a look at her exclusive designs online at http://www.TheTorturedHeart.com/ or if you find yourself in the Gulf Breeze, Florida, area, make sure to stop in her store. These pieces are rare treasures that will most definitely become heirlooms!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Safe and Sippy

So you're doing the fall clearing of all your clutter...Or you should be...And you realize you've got not only the thousand requisite food storage containers without matching lids (or vice versa), but also a thousand mismatched sippy-cup pieces. Here's a great solution for al least one of those problems! Rooware has introduced a new plant-based plastic product called the Roocup to their eco-friendly tableware collection. These great cups make it easy for children to learn how to drink from a regular cup the right way, but without all the spills and mess. They also feature adorable snap-on ear handles––perfect for little hands to hold. And when your little one no longer needs the trainer top or the handles, simply remove them and continue enjoying your cup. Roocups eliminate the need to buy a new cup for every developmental stage. BPA-free, Phthalate free and PVC free; made in the USA ($14.95). Visit  http://www.rooware.com


Parents of children with allergies can feel a little more safe and secure knowing their kids are better protected against unwanted allergens when they wear or use AllerMates products away from home. Send them off to school, daycare, parties, sleep-overs and play dates with the benefit of knowing that their caregivers have been alerted to allergies and have visible reminders. AllerMates products are based on 15 fun, original characters that represent the most common allergies: peanut, nut, gluten/wheat, milk, egg, shellfish, penicillin, insect sting, latex, pollen, fish, soy, sesame, cat, and the newest––asthma. AllerMates are hypo-allergenic, nickel, and latex free and have passed rigorous safety standards and testing. The wristbands are adjustable and fit most children. These fun products make having allergies less of a drag! Visit www.allermates.com and www.diapers.com

Painting Kits and Chewy Hits

Got a budding creative talent in the family? Encourage it! Give your future Rembrandt a fun way to tap into their creativity with the Vase Painting Kit by Family Games America, Inc. Kits include four porcelain vases, paint, a brush, and a stencil sheet. All your child has to do is paint and pop in the oven. Don't have any kids of your own? So what! These kits are great fun for a budget-friendly Girls' Night In! Break out the wine and let your creativity flow! Have a contest to see who can make the cutest vase for their space! Visit www.familygamesamerica.com/





It's time to start thinking about gift giving...and who doesn't love a good cookie? Snap these up for birthdays, anniversaries, hostess gifts, teacher appreciation gifts, bosses day, stocking stuffers...even Christmas party platters will be a major hit when you add the decadent, indulgent cookies from Coyote Oaties! Free of preservatives and made with wholesome, all-natural ingredients, these hearty, dunkable cookies are available packages of 6 or 12. They can also be ordered in a custom-engraved crate––perfect for your gift giving needs. These addictive, sinfully delicious Coyote Oaties are handmade from scratch in Glendale, AZ, and come in 5 varieties, including Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Cashew and White Chocolate Macadamia. Visit http://www.coyoteoaties.com/

Monday, September 10, 2012

Mmmmm...Small and Mighty

Guess what? You're not the only one who's fallen victim to the allure of the Cupcake Maker! And now, they have a great new cookbook to fuel the fire! Pick up a copy of The Big Book of Babycakes Cupcake Maker Recipes by Kathy Moore and Roxanne Wyss. The two women take their expertise on small appliances and rock out a colorful, fun book filled with great recipes that will completely legitimize your passion for that Cupcake Maker. (Yes, the color is beyond cute, too, but still, it helps to have tasty recipes to justify the counter space, right? No one can criticize if they're busy stuffing their faces with your scrumptious creations...) The cookbook is more in-depth, and with slightly more sophisticated flavors that reflect both current cupcake trends and old-fashioned delicacies. It’s a complete and wide-ranging cookbook that still packs in all of the fun of the first book; but also features specialty recipes for holidays, special occasions, entertaining, cooking for and with kids, and gluten-free and vegan diets. There's even a large selection of savory recipes––quiches, lunch and dinner pies, biscuits, appetizers, and finger foods. Dozens of large step-by-step photos depict decorating ideas and skills, providing easy-to-follow inspiration and ideas. They’ll show how to create various cupcake decorations, bake pies and phyllo cups, and more! Both novice and experienced bakers will delight in these photos and clear instructions. Visit www.robertrose.ca/books

Friday, September 7, 2012

Foxy Foxworthy

I have to admit something. I now have a small crush on Jeff Foxworthy. 
Yes, that Jeff Foxworthy.
The You Might Be a Redneck If...Jeff Foxworthy.
Why?
Because he's so much more than that. He's actually something that I really never expected. He's an incredibly well-spoken, passionate Man of God. Who happens to have a wicked sense of humor.
No, he's not Matthew McConaughey hot. In fact, he's slightly dorky. Dude, come on. He's a string bean with a funny accent. But if you look past that, you can see something much greater. And it makes my little heart go pitter-patter.
Yes, I know it's weird.
But I was in my car earlier this week, listening to an interview with him on the K-Love morning show, and he was discussing his new game show on GSN called The American Bible Challenge. What he was saying almost made me fall out of my carseat. Seeing as how I was buckled in, that was quite a feat. 
So just what did the talented Mr. Foxworthy say? While I can't quote him, I can say this much: he's got a huge heart for God, is a proud Christian, a loving father and husband, and wants the world to open its eyes to the true application of the Bible in our lives. 
Surprising, no?
I certainly thought so.
And now I have to admit a slight jealousy of his wife. After all, what's better than a husband who can make you laugh, loves you, and is a true man of God?
   

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Are You Courageous?

I've been thinking a lot lately about courage. 
It seems like such a simple concept, doesn't it? But, really, who decides what's courageous or not? What's seemingly so simple, so ordinary for one person to do might be terrifying for someone else––which makes doing that one "simple" thing an act of courage.
Crossing the street. 
Leaving the house. 
Shaking a hand. 
Using a public bathroom. 
Riding in an elevator. 
Crossing over a bridge.
They're things that millions of people do, millions of times a day, without ever thinking about them. But they're also things that many, many other people are afraid of. They're things that it takes an act of courage to do. 
What's easy for you might seem fearless to someone else––someone who's afraid of doing that thing. While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, courage is in the eye of the doer. Never assume that courage is achieved only on a grand scale. It's in everyday things. Every day is an act of courage.