What a Chick Wants...

A Chick Wants Pilates Abs for Christmas!

2009-12-22T12:20:00Z

I have been a Pilates Instructor for over four years and want to see you get those killer abs for Christmas! To be honest, I have taken the entire holiday season off from the gym since one week before Thanksgiving, which gives "Black Friday" a whole new meaning for my back-side. It is important to take time out to evaluate your routine and consider new fitness trends while you relax and eat pie, right? The holiday season is a busy time of year for everyone, including Fitness Instructors, so do not feel bad if you have missed more than a couple of workouts this holiday season!
While Cardio may be the best way to burn calories while strengthening your heart & lungs, & weight lifting may be the best way to firm-up while building bone density, Mind-Body exercises like Pilates are the best way to survive the holiday season guilt-free! Who can't use a "Get Out of Guilt Free" card this December? I am going to give you one pilates move that you can practice this holiday season that will take the stress out of the hub-bub while burning a bit of tummy-love, no gym membership required!

The Pilates Teaser is a simple exercise that you can practice each day after your shower. I recommend this because your muscles are already warm from the hot water making it easier on them to stretch!
So, after your bath or shower do a few light stretches such as gentle toe touches alternating with reaching for the sky plus waist twists. This will loosen up your midsection, back, and hammys (hamstring muscles found behind the thigh/knee area). If you are not used to stretching, do not overdue, and always keep your knees slightly bent to prevent them from locking which can cause dizziness.
After stretching, sit with your knees bent in from of you and together, feet flat on the floor so that you form a triangle between your heels and hips.
Now rock backwards to balance on your seat with your legs & feet tucked into your body whilst hugging your knees.
Begin by placing your hands under the calves and raise one leg at a time away from you to test your balance and flexibility.
(Modified Move) If this is challenging you may leave one foot on the floor while stretching the other leg away.
(Beginner Move) If you can balance just fine, try extending both of the legs away from you at the same time with the hands holding the calves while balancing on your seat.
(Intermediate Move) If your balance and flexibility feel comfortable, release the calves so that your legs extend away from you with pointed toes and bring the hands out straight so that they are parallel with your legs.
(Advanced Move) If you feel strong in your teaser position, try adding a large fitness ball to challenge your core (tummy) farther!
Hold each extension for 5 counts while breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. Do 5 sets of the teaser a day. This should take only 5 minutes after your shower, including stretches! And that's no teasing!

-Cheers to Christmas Abs!
(try a little Chai to make your teaser-time special...)

Organic Bath Company's Honey Chai Exfoliating scrub does wonders for the soles of the feet and soul!- www.luckyvitamin.com

Chai Tea Concentrate - Chai Tea Concentrate" src="http://base1.googlehosted.com/base_media?q=http://images.crateandbarrel.com/is/image/Crate/VanillaChaiTeaConcentrateS9%3F%24lg%24&size=18&dhm=8abcac46&hl=en" width=80 border=1>Crate and Barrel make a wonderful Vanilla Almond Chai Tea Concentrate that will warm you from the inside out (Chai it, you'll like it!) www.crateandbarrel.com

Cinnamon Chai Woodwick Jar Candle will add a glow of warmth to your winter workout while melting stress away! from Fresh Bet Home Fragrances: www.amazon.com

A Chick Wants A Self-Cleaning Home!

2009-01-31T17:45:00Z

Saturday mornings hold a special place in my heart where I can doze well beyond the usual 6am wake-up tune of my alarm clock, where I roll over and stretch in the warm sun that has actually risen before me, and open my eyes to find that my handsome husband has brought me coffee in bed on a tray with a bright yellow sunflower! After sipping my just-right cup of vanilla-Java while meditating on my day to the sound of singing birds and the scent of freshly cut grass, my giggling children all enter the bedroom carrying a tray of freshly baked blueberry pancakes with a hunk of salted butter melting underneath the hot maple syrup! They all take turns handing me something special: a sweet hand-made card from my youngest, my favorite pair of fuzzy-socks from my second-born, and a completed chore list from my oldest with all of the household jobs already finished for the day...
    And then I hear the leaf-blower next door and the sound of the neighbor's car alarm wakes me up from my real stupor, at which point I rub my sleep-encrusted eyes to find that I've stayed in bed snoozing well beyond the point of sleeping-in as noted by the loud chorus of "Who lives in a Pineapple Under the Sea" drifting up the staircase. I reach into my dresser to get my favorite Saturday morning fuzzy-socks, only to find that one is missing. After groping around the foot of my bed I manage to locate the other sock rolled up under my covers where it had been forgotten since last weekend. One clean fuzzy-sock & his dirty twin now on my feet, I head downstairs to see who else is up & if they have made coffee yet. I find that my handsome husband, ever the over-achiever, has risen promptly at 5am, and all that is left of the joe is no longer hot & has some grounds in it, but I heat it up in the microwave anyhow & turn to survey the damage. Either Krusteaz pancake mix has had a late-night party with his pals Aunt Jemima & Mrs. Butterworth, or my tween daughters (not twin, but tween, as in not yet teen, or in-between) have been baking breakfast again, because there is batter dripping from the side of the waffle-iron & onto the floor which I discover is now also on the bottom of my one clean sock. My youngest is happily pouring his third bowl of Frosted Flakes, strictly reserved for weekends, while simultaneously drawing pictures of Spongebob Squarepants, which he must be rather fast at because they litter the living room & dining room floor like confetti on New years. So, I locate & kiss each one of my family members good morning & rally the troops together over my cup-a-sludge to discuss the slated, yet dreaded, Saturday Morning Job list.
    Monday through Friday there is work, school, sports, spin class, and meetings to attend. The evenings consist of homework, dinner, baths, reading, and television shows that probably are a total waste of time which is why we love them, like American Idol! So when Saturday morning arrives, despite our best efforts to keep a tidy house throughout the week, we wake to find that the dust has settled an inch thick on every appliance, the bathroom bowls are not gleaming, and the garage requires nothing short of a snow-shovel to get through the piles of shoes, backpacks, and sporting equipment piled outside the laundry-room door, which is also over-flowing with it's own smelly loads! Since I don't really own a Self-Cleaning Home, that leaves just one one thing to do: clean-up the house, which is very different than picking-up the house, before anyone is really allowed to chill & enjoy their Saturday. Given the fact that I seem to be the only one not immune to the stench of old milk, full trash cans, and sweaty t-shirts, I can understand why they all let me sleep in so late on Saturday mornings! It is like they have their own Secret Saturday Society of Stinkyness and the number one club rule is Don't wake mom, she'll make us clean!
    In a perfect world things would always stay clean, but then again, we wouldn't appreciate clean unless we really knew dirty in the first place! My kids are hard workers once I get them a-workin', and so we get the usual done because we know that we have to. And though there may be quite a bit of grumbling at the get-go, every one settles into their tasks with gusto once the jobs get going.  We get some great music channels on TV that play very different stuff than our local radio stations and without all of the commercials, so I like to put it on the Dance Music Channel to put a swing in the sweeping, and a disco in the dusting! In the end, Saturday morning chores make a good transition from work-week to week-end, and we're always proud of our clean home & ready let-loose once the litter-load has been lightened!

    -cheers!

The Woolite Rug Stick can remove pet & people messes in a snap, & the smell is good too! www.amazon.com

To remove those ugly marks from the doors, walls & baseboards, give one of these to each kid & have them scrub those marks that are below the height of your waist! That will save your walls & your back! www.walgreens.com

A Chick Wants to Diet...WHAT?!

2009-01-26T14:31:00Z

The Water Diet?
Are you kidding me? How can over-consuming anything, even something healthy like water, possibly be that good for you, even if you are a water-sign? There are some bizarre rituals out there that worship the Goddess Slendora, and we are at the ready to make sacrifices at her alter, aren't we ladies? Eating too much meat, eating no meat, weighing food, journaling calories...it is all just so exhausting! I have been digesting vast amounts of...information about the various diet plans out there, even ones that claim to base your caloric needs upon your particular genome type (based on your answers to a couple of odd questions that completely got my body-type wrong, by the way!) , and have come to the same conclusion that I had before I began. The Goddess Slendora is an evil sorceress who laughs at your sacrifices & tortures you with her wicked lies! There is absolutely no need to fall prey to the many games out there intended to rob you of your money, your time, and your self-esteem! They may claim to rob you of your fat, but it is truly the former that they're after, and we are just good little consumers that innocently play along! What if there was another game out there to play, and this one didn't leave you feeling dizzy, tired, confused, or hungry? Let's now visit the less-popular Goddess Regula! She will not be found on Entertainment Tonight or adorning the sides of high-fiber cereal boxes, but underneath your covers beckoning you to rest a while. You see, your body has nutritional needs, but those are not the only needs that will make you a healthier person. Did you know that sleep plays such a huge role in your health & therefore your weight? That just by going to bed at the same time every evening & rising at the same time every morning you can help to regulate carb cravings, especially that 11pm nacho fix that makes you feel so guilty the next morning! When you are over-tired during the day, that causes food cravings as well, so just by being well rested to a particular schedule you should consume less crap! I can live with more sleep & less junk food, no problem! Not to mention the fact that the more your body gets used to those 8 restful hours of pure peace, it gets easier to fall asleep each night at the same time without that to-do list playing ping-pong in your mind! As you begin to get used to rising at the same time each day, you will also find that it's easier to drag your tired butt out from under the protection of the womb of covers & blankies that you're all wrapped up in! Since you are now regulating your sleep patterns, you suddenly realize one afternoon that you are less tired, & don't necessarily crave that crunch-a-lunch bar you're automatically used to cramming down every afternoon at 2:00. Perhaps you even feel like working out later, which couldn't hurt your health unless you hit the gym as hard as you're used to hitting the sofa late at night! So you start slow, perhaps walking on the treadmill while watching the nightly news with Tom Brokaw...taking in Oprah...catching up with Talk Soup...whatever! After a few days, this casual 1/2 hour of movement makes you surprisingly crave different foods with your dinner, like fresh steamed asparagus with a squeeze of lemon, and lightly salted edamame, not to mention the fact that you're effortlessly drinking that water because you're truly thirsty, not because you're water-dieting! So it goes, until after a few weeks you're getting dressed & suddenly find that your pants fit differently & you're shocked because you never went on a diet! Such is the magic of the great Mystic Regula, who likes to sprinkle lavender leaves on your pillow and innocently offers crunchy carrot sticks at 2pm! She is less popular because there is no money to be made in joining her cult! She follows the effortless rhythms of nature happily singing her own tune, while at the same time the evil Sorceress Slendora is after your very heart & soul, not to mention your checkbook! So, is it possible to lose weight without thinking about it, or do you have to hang a pair of skinny-jeans from the fridge & fill your glove box with 100 calorie snacks that have 0 nutritional value like the TV ads tell you? Just decide which side would you rather be on...but remember that diet is spelled DIE-t...
-Cheers

-Go ahead & indulge in that Strawberry Milkshake before bed, just do it in the tub with Philosophy's 3-in-1 shampoo, body wash, bubble bath www1.macys.com

-Next, slip into the Frankie & Johnny Blue Dottie Lounger Pajama to help you fall effortlessly into slumber www.sleepyheads.com

A Chick Wants Wine & Chocolove Night!

2008-07-11T19:41:00Z

Bite-size choco-chips nestled inside of freshly baked banana bread on an autumn afternoon...Creamy little cups of steaming hot cocoa on a chilly winter day...ribbon-wrapped white-chocolate rabbits in a springtime Easter basket... frozen fudgie pops on a hot summer night...any time of the year is a good time for a little chocolate lovin'!
    But as much as you love your chocolate, did you know that it was really loving you back this whole time? (To varying degrees, of course.)  This does not include the artificial, waxy, cheap-chocolates that you typically find displayed around the holidays in fun-colored foil. No, the true chocolate that loves-you-back is deep and mysterious. It is  dark in color, rich in antioxidants. It is firm in texture and breaks into chunks with an audible snap, because it's lower in fats. It has a rich flavor, so that it can be savored in smaller quantities, making you satisfied with less. Chocolate has many other health benefits as well, some of which I don't scientifically understand, but that I can relate to every month when the moon is full. Yes, I will include a link for you if you want to read further into the chemical properties of chocolate & their effect on the human brain, (http://www.deliverychicks.com/Chick_Click.html )but you will definetely have to go somewhere else for that.  For you see, I know that I don't have to explain to you the mysterious connection between women & chocolate. Don't misunderstand me, I do not live for candy, nor do I eat it every day, However...when the time is right & I am in the mood, just watch out & don't get in the way between me & my cocoa-latte fix!
    So the next time you find yourself craving a little cocoa bean, when you know you're needing some nougaty-goodness, when you just have to have that Hershey bar...go all out, girlfriend! Gather up the girlies, some red wine, and a great recipe for one evening of pure indulgence. If we're going to do this once a month, ladies, let's do it right!

Wine and Chocolove List:

-Have each guest bring a bottle of different wine & a yummy desert!

Almost Better Than Sex Cake (I don't know if it's THAT good, but this cake is pretty tasty!)

16 servings

1 german chocolate cake mix
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
caramel topping
12 ounces Cool Whip
3 heath bars, crushed

Heat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour 9 x 13 inch pan. Prepare cake mix as directed on package; pour into prepared pan. After 10 minutes of baking, sprinkle with chocolate chips. Continue baking until cake is done. While cake is still hot, poke holes in it with handle of wooden spoon. Pour sweetened condensed milk over cake; let cool. Top with caramel sauce, then whipped topping. Sprinkle with candy bars.

A Chick Wants to be Green!

2008-02-28T16:16:00Z

When it comes to being green, envy is not the most appealing of images. Neither is the thought of turning green from the sensation that comes with mixing roller coaster rides and corn dogs. Rather, being Green is now considered a lifestyle choice. It is a way of life that is good for the environment & future generations that actually want to have an environment in which to grow up! There are so many choices on the shelf at the market that cry out to our hearts "protect the planet" and warn our wallets "Buy generic, lady, I'm expensive". These very simple cleansers, cottons, and other miscellaneous home items advertise that they are "better for the earth" than their less-expensive counter-parts, and while that may be true, I just don't believe that you can simply purchase the concept of "being green". It is something that has to speak to your spirit and whisper in your ear not to be wasteful while you're cleaning out the fridge, or in a hurry. Green is not glamorous, it is an overflowing recycle bin in the garage that sometimes smells because the kids forgot to rinse out the last of the milk from the #2 plastic jug! Going green is not about walking through the produce aisle snubbing ordinary fruits and veggies shining happily in their pesticide-encased waxed-coatings. Sure, buying organic will put less chemicals into the earth, but it is possible to wash off those toxins, if you take the time to do it right. There are some fruits like strawberries that are so porous it is actually better to buy organic. But some things that are peeled, like bananas, are OK to pluck from the practical produce aisle. If you think that I'm missing the point behind sustainable farming, you're wrong. It is just that I recognize the difference between going extreme (which is usually expensive) and going green, which is rational. It is possible to make simple choices that won't raise your budget by a couple of hundred extra dollars each month, or even the hundreds of thousands of dollars that a major over-haul would cost in the form of solar panels, low-water washer & dryer, or hybrid car. My point is that even if you don't have it in your budget to replace all of your linens with organic cotton (I think it must be made from recycled twenty-dollar bills...), buy all organic whole foods from a snobby supermarket, or upgrade your entire power-consuming necessities, you can still maintain a greener way of life! Here are a few simple solutions to minimize waste, just in time for March!
Take out less trash Part 1
We've all heard of ditching the plastic shopping bags for cloth, but how many of us have actually done it? If you don't want to pay $15 for an organic cotton bag with that trendy Recycle logo on the side, just jet over to your local craft department! The natural-cotton-canvas bags go for about $3 apiece, so for the same cost as that over-rated green logo, you get five bags for the price of one! Whatever doesn't fit into your five bags at the store, go ahead & have it put into plastic ones, just be sure to use them as trash bags later on during the week.

Take out less trash Part 2
Spend Saturdays getting Green! Measure out two plots in the backyard, 3x3 feet. Gather found items, such as natural rocks, old railroad ties, or worn tires. Scrounge a salvage yard for old doors, windows, lumber, or siding. Now recycle these items into edging for your plots of earth. (Windows make great green-house-style lids in early spring!) Dig, rake, & till your dirt, adding potting soil, compost & mulch to one bed, and layering clippings, leaves, kitchen waste & dirt in the other. Water both, & you now have a garden & a compost pile! Plant veggies & flowers & you have created Free Organic Produce! Keep a bucket with a lid under the kitchen sink for salad clippings, coffee grounds, & egg shells. At the end of the week, spread onto the compost pile, layer with dirt & dried clippings & repeat! By the end of the growing season, churn this into your garden for terrific home-grown soil!

Take out less trash Part 3
Repurpose three old plastic crates or tubs as recycle bins in the garage! Then you have to actually use them! Wash out plastic & glass containers, and remove labels from cans & wash thoroughly before placing in bins. This will not only keep the smell down, but will make these items easier to recycle! Don't just put newspaper in there, either, recycle old magazines & you kids schoolwork, too! Junk mail goes in there too! If you have a shredder, your important documents can either go into the mulch pile, compost heap, or paper-recycle bin! Now that is re-using!

A Chick Wants Midnight Monster Cookies!!

2008-01-31T22:21:00Z

The house was dark, all was quiet, and my tummy had me wandering into the kitchen looking for a little somethin' somethin'. I love my monster cookies, and I was having a craving at, oh, around about midnight! When I went to the pantry, I found nothing there to satisfy my craving: a box of jello, raisin bran, Spaghetti noodles, and a couple of cans of Campbell's just weren't doing it for me! I considered making popcorn, but didn't want to wake up the entire house with the hot-air popper! Upon opening the fridge, I found the remains of Sunday night's pot roast, now permanently encased in a layer of lard that I seem to remember on Sunday as a sumptuous broth. Someone had evidently decided to sneak a peek at the salad earlier, because the plastic wrap was partially off, & the lettuce leaves were a little wilty. In the door were several pots of mystery sauces with fancy names like cilantro-walnut pesto & orange lavender sauce that had me shuddering in my slippers. The freezer didn't reveal much, either: frozen spinach, raw mystery-meats in various freezer bags for convenient packaging ( next time I'll have to label those...), and the infamous empty ice-cream carton that has the ice crystals in the bottom my children just don't seem to want to throw away, but yet that can't be scraped off the bottom of the container even with a metal spatula...I know, I've tried. Upon looking around despondently, there was only one thing left to do. I opened the baking cupboard & raided my supplies! I had no chocolate chips, but there were white chips from fudge made at Christmas. I even had half-a-bag of red & green M-n-M's that had somehow managed to survive for almost 4 weeks like a refuge on the shelf, without being discovered & devoured! Then I located the mint chips, and that creamy mint green color was calling to me! There was just one thing missing from my crafty concoction, the main ingredient to any late-night craving: Dark Chocolate! One final delve into the depths of my kitchen drawer & out came a box of dark cocoa powder. With excitement, by the light of the stove, I began measuring & mixing like Dr. Jekyll with his creation...I'm sure with the bed-head & robe, from behind we probably looked similar too. Before long, the Midnight Monster Cookies were born, and WOW, they were dreamier than anything I could've imagined in my midnight stupor! Not only were they created around midnight, but they are also as black as midnight. Now, if there is one thing that I love more than a cookie, it's a cookie with a hot cup of coffee. By the time the first batch went into the oven, it was something-in-the-morning o-clock, so I figured why not brew the java? It's 5am somewhere, right? A little late-night latte, and a large, warm midnight monster cookie later, and I was curled up on the couch sleeping like a baby! May my midnight monster cookies bring you sweet dreams as well!

-Cheers

MIDNIGHT MONSTER COOKIES:

2 cups shortening
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup vanilla soy milk or buttermilk
1 1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup dark cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
3 cups quick oats
1/2 cup m-n-m's
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup mint chocolate chips

Mix it all up, baby, & bake by the BIG BATCH, about 8 at a time! 400* oven, 10 minutes, then let 'em rest a few
Yummy!

Note:
Best eaten warm at midnight!

A Chick Wants to Have Balance!

2008-01-19T15:41:00Z

At the first of the year, when everything seems fresh & brand new, we are tempted to make these commitments for the year that are intended to make our lives better. For most people that means giving things up...things that they love! Now why, if we want to make things better, do we feel we have to go without things that we have come to love? Can't there be some middle ground in life, a way of balancing out the things that we tend to overindulge in with the things that we neglect? The approach is simply this: rather than think about the negative item (i.e. "I'm going to subtract this from my life") emphasize the positive item (i.e. "I'm going to add this to my life!"). Naturally, by adding more of what you are lacking, the habits that you have developed will have less of an impact in your life, thereby creating balance & harmony. When we strive to just remove something without filling that void, there is left behind this empty, very obvious moment when we are faced with do-or-deny. For many of us, that eventually leads to Do, which sets up bad patterns & habits. Worse than the original habit that we intended to rid from our lives, now we associate ourselves with failure to follow-through, or lack of self-control. Unfortunately, these subconscious realizations can sometimes be carried over into other areas of our lives, without a conscious clue as to why we continue to feel like we're "failing". It's really just a twisted cycle that needs to be straightened out. The way to straighten it is to find that middle line that you can walk: it is called BALANCE, and nothing else in life will make you feel better about yourself than being able to balance what you need with what you want.
        I can think of many, wonderful things that this life has to offer that I should indulge in more. I think I will select a few of them for the year to freshen my life up & give me a new perspective. Perhapsas I learn a few new things, I will spend less time on my old bad habits & they'll eventually fade into the distance. After all, the way to rid oneself of something is to not focus on it, right? I shall quit giving "junk" too much attention, & spend more of my valuable time on things that I Want in my life! Balance is naturally bound to follow!

-CHEERS

TUBBS Sojourn Snowshoes- Get out there! www.rei.com

          Glorious Foxgloves www.parkseed.com

A Chick Wants to Know-Vember

2007-11-05T13:58:00Z

While Fall sounds like a masculine season, bringing to mind images of barren trees against a stark gray sky, Autumn conjures up a more feminine scene, where patterned leaves drift quietly down to cover the ground in a blanket of soft colors. However you choose to envision this next month, pause briefly now and again to listen to the rustle of nature. The lazy days of summer are long gone, and this is a time of action. The little critters are busy readying themselves for what they instinctively know is to come, and yet humans are so inclined as to ignore it all and just go about our days as though this doesn't really affect us. When in reality, we are affected by the changes in nature at a much greater level than we take the time to honor. Yes, seasons change, and as they do, we should also be reminded of the changes that occur in our own lives. This season known as Fall where the weather begins to get colder should prompt us to prepare for the harsher times we know are coming. Wouldn't it be great if we could also sense when a storm was brewing in our personal lives & just like we chop wood to fuel the fire that keeps us warm in the winter months, we could also prepare for the harsh times in our lives that also require warmth & extra attention? So, why not take some time this next month to honor Mother Nature, and honor yourself? Before the holidays kick in, before company comes, and we start to plan menus & cook & clean & shop, readying ourselves for Thanksgiving feasts & Christmas parties, why not just give it a couple of weeks? Take some long walks in the crunchy leaves before they're all raked up, and notice the way they smell as you delightfully crush them under your shoes! Stoop to gather some naked sticks from the ground and admire the artistic lines of the barren branches over head. Sit quietly and watch the busy chipmunks rushing about doing all of their last minute gathering before the feast of the fall harvest has been blanketed with snow. When you do return indoors, look around at how the lighting has changed now that the bright summer sun is no longer gleaming through the windows. Bring in good lighting to read by & change old, burned-out bulbs. Place your artistic sticks in a vase in front of a window to help transition your living space with nature. Often, we spend too much time & money filling our domiciles with bric-a-brac from the corner drug-store that carries the usual holiday schtick, when what we are really craving is a unity with nature. Although we have such a wonderfully controlled indoor environment that we really don't vary our schedules much according to the seasons, instinctively we really want to, which is what leads to the desire to decorate our spaces with "autumn accents" and "faux fall findings" of the trendiest type. Perhaps just a nice walk, followed by a cup of tea and a good book read under some good lighting by the window where the artistic autumn sticks stare down at us, we can finally feel like we are a part of the earth once again. It is still November, and so there is time for holiday hub-bub later. Just sit awhile for now, by the gray November sky, and watch the changes go drifting by like a leaf on the wind...and get to Know-Vember.

This adorable little reading lamp is sure to warm up any interior! From www.rejuvenation.com

Curl up with the Wicked Warm Fleece Throw from www.LLbean.com

A Chick Wants Punkin' Spice Cakes!

2007-10-27T14:56:00Z

                It's Pumpkin Picking Time!
            The smell of dirt beneath my feet, the sound of my children running wildly through the tangled vines loudly proclaiming the largest gourd, the sight of green leaves, orange orbs, & tall stalks of corn in the early morning light...this, to me, has been our Autumn tradition since buying our first home at the turn of the millennium. There is just something earthy and wholesome about picking your own pumpkins fresh from the orchard! Usually we come away with bushels of apples, mounds of gourds of all shapes & sizes, large leaves, and even stalks of corn for decoration! Caked with mud & grinning from cheek to cheek, it is just the best! One of my favorite things to do that delights me as much as my children, is to place thoroughly washed & dried ornamental corn-on-the-cob into a brown paper bag, spray liberally with cooking spray, and pop it in the microwave! They really pop right off of the stalk, but not all of them! When you open the bag there are still some fluffy kernels clinging to the cob, and I love the excited squeals of delight from everyone at the wonderful forces of nature at work... even inside the GE appliances! Yes, harvest time is the ultimate reward after a couple of seasons of hard work. What better way to celebrate it than to have a punkin' pickin' party with your truest pals? Even if you are in the city or suburbs, you can still enjoy a pumpkin party with a few friends, some cider & popcorn! No matter that you "picked" your produce at the corner market, go ahead & enjoy that autumnal bounty! Wrap your porch poles in dried corn stalks! Get some wagons from the neighbors & fill with hay for a harvest ride for little ones. Hey, don't tell me there's no hay in the city, just jet over to your local craft store, grab a bale of decorative straw, and improvise - those urban kiddies won't be able to tell the difference any how! For a real authentic experience, throw some cider, apple wedges, & cinnamon sticks in the crock pot & let simmer on low so that the smell fills your home with the warmth of the season. Next, lay out some drop cloths, carving kits, pumpkins, and watch the fun begin! It's so funny to watch the personalities emerge from the pumpkins as everyone goes along. One year my daughter earned a dollar by scooping the pulp from my husband's pumpkin because he didn't want to get it all over him! The kids are thrilled to dig in, & we're usually covered from ankle to chin by the time we're done, although that could be due to the fact that my son loves to fling the seeds at us...!  Baking your fresh pumpkin is easier than you may think, also. Clean like normal, slice in half, and place cut-side down in 2 TBS of water inside a 9x13 dish. Roast at 350* for 30 minutes, then turn over & cover, cooking for an additional 20-25 minutes. Once cool enough to handle, scoop softened squash from the shell, and you have made pumpkin puree! I get mine off the shelf at the supermarket, now, because I just love to bake all fall long!  However you choose to enjoy your autumn gourds, happy harvest to you & your scarecrow buddies!

-Cheers

Punkin' Spice Cakes:

*350 degrees

1/2 cup shortening or butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
3/4 cup buttermilk or vanilla soy milk
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp ginger

vanilla frosting & clove spice

    Cream shortening & sugar, add vanilla & eggs & mix it up well, then add pumpkin & milk & blend thoroughly. I drop the flour on top of the wet ingredients, measure the other dry items on top, then gently mix the dry ingredients together with a fork, taking care not to disturb the wet ingredients underneath. Next just mix it all up & pour into 2 muffin pans lined with papers.   Bake for 25-30 minutes until firm on top. Once cool, frost with vanilla frosting & gently sprinkle clove spice on top! These are wonderful with a hot cup of coffee!

A Chick Wants Some Serious Spa Lovin' !

2007-10-05T19:56:00Z

It must be that time of year, when the weather is changing and getting colder, that makes my skin starts to get tight, a bit dry, a little bit itchy. I have gone from a very dry climate to a much moister one, which feels wonderful, however my complexion hasn't seen this many blemishes since my eighties-aqua-net days! My heels are finally soft to the touch, which is soooo much nicer than the lizard-in-the-desert feet that I used to sport around half the year, which is normal when you're living in southern Nevada. But my toenails are crying out for some love and attention, though, that my new work schedule just can not seem to accommodate! A new work schedule which has me shampooing my hair on a daily basis, something that my blow-dried, curled, and colored coifs can not seem to stand, as noted by their defiant frizz! And my roots have decided to grow in a bit grayer than I remember them, (hey, this was supposed to a stress-less move!)...perhaps those smile lines around my eyes really are laughing at the fact that I just had another birthday! Never-the-less, I am healthy, right? Anyhow, what I'm trying to say is...help, Hair-Hero! Lady of the Loofah, Siren of the Salon, Princess of the Pedicure, & Mistress of the Mud-Masque, come to my rescue! Pamper me with your luxurious spa treatments that will make my naughty roots and dastardly dry ends disappear! Refresh my complexion to a sweet peachy clean, and polish my ten little toesies into perfect unison! I will be forever in your gratitude...alright, I will want it again in another three weeks, need it in four, require it in five, and be desperately pleading in six! I should have a standing date with my stylist each month-but I don't have a stylist! You know what's amazing, is that I have moved to the smallest little town, but this place is covered with spas! Everyone is really into massages here, but I have never had one. Perhaps I should add it to my list of desired indulgences, one for each child that I've had, one for my wedding day, one for just being me...alright now I am really getting carried away! But, hey, a girl's gotta' dream!

So what if you can't make it out to the spaje'-don't forgo the love, bring it home baby, with New York's Own Bliss World Best of Bliss www.blissworld.com

Wrap up your day of indulgence with a Kashwere robe...Tiffani Thiessen & Sarah Jessica love theirs! www.sleepyheads.com

A Chick Wants Monster Cookies!

2007-08-23T15:02:00Z

It's Cookie Time!
The scent of freshly baked cookies wafting out of the kitchen is a force too powerful to resist. When a home is for sale & an open house is scheduled, it is recommended to pop a fresh batch in the oven to lure in unsuspecting home-buyers. (I also find that the cookie-scented candles placed strategically throughout the house work well also!) Yes, vanilla & cinnamon are so wonderful that men have been known to be attracted to women that smell like them! (Rather than rub yourself all over with the ingredients, try a vanilla-brown sugar body scrub!) But the best part about cookies, no doubt, is the way they taste! I find them to be the perfect food, and if stranded on a deserted island with the option of a couple rations, I would choose a barrel of coffee & a tub of cookies, hands-down! They keep forever, especially if sealed well, and you can even sneak in healthy ingredients without anyone in the family knowing! A bit of wheat germ added to the flour boosts protein, vitamins, and fiber while adding a very subtle texture that is rarely detected by my ravenous tribe. Oatmeal lowers cholesterol, & when you put it into cookies they warp into these healthy cereal-breakfast bites that no one feels guilty about eating at eight o'clock in the morning! So once all of the healthy ingredients have been added, sure there is room for some sugar! Whenever I bake cookies with my children they ask for a lump of brown sugar, but they have to close their eyes as I place it on their little tongues & tell them, "This is what the raindrops in heaven taste like!" (Imagine the line-up that would happen during Sunday Service if the pastor substituted that during communion! No one could leave without a smile on their face, & they would all say, "My God is a good God!") Yes, cookies smell amazing & taste terrific! In the right proportions, they can even be a complete food group all their own...(I call it breakfast). Following is a recipe that my mom started making when I was in middle school. I had not had these in over a decade, when my sister-in-law made them one day. I about flipped, because I had completely forgotten about them, so now I bake them quite often. I love the holiday colored MnM's that you can add at different times of the year, because then they're just festive, too. I hope that you bake up a big huge batch, and take them to your friends! When you seal them up tight in those reusable-yet-disposable zip lock containers, they just get chewier with time...oh yea! Oh, I almost forgot to tell you that they're called Monster Cookies because they are baked up so huge that they're bigger than your hand! So go ahead, & make that milk happy!

-CHEERS

MARILYN'S MONSTER COOKIES:

400* oven

1 CUP SHORTENING
1 1/2 CUPS BROWN SUGAR
2 EGGS
1 tsp VANILLA
1/2 CUP BUTTERMILK (or vanilla soy milk)
1 3/4 CUPS FLOUR
1 tsp BAKING SODA
1 tsp BAKING POWDER
1 tsp SALT
DASH CINNAMON
3 CUPS QUICK OATS
1 BAG PEANUT MnM'S
1/2 BAG CHOCOLATE CHIPS

Cream shortening, sugar, eggs & vanilla until light & fluffy. Stir in milk. Mix dry ingredients, then add to bowl, mixing well. Stir oats in completely, then add the MnM's and chocolate chips.
Drop by huge globs onto the biggest cookie sheet that you have, about 10 at a time. Bake in a hot 400* oven for about 10 minutes, then let rest a few minutes on the cookie sheet before removing to cool on wax paper on the counter. Once completely cool, seal in an airtight container...if they last that long!

This set of two cookies sheets from NordicWare comes with lids for easy transportation & storage-www.chefscatalog.com

Try lighting these wonderful Oatmeal Raisin Scented Candles from Illuminations, & watch the neighbors stop by for a visit! www.illuminations.com

A Chick Wants a New Handbag...or two...

2007-08-12T19:57:00Z

   So what kind of girl do you feel like being today, and does your purse reveal that to the world? Just because you are lugging around that over-sized Mary Poppins-type carpetbag doesn't necessarily mean that you're a nanny...Huge Hobo bags are totally in, right? Perhaps it's just time to ditch the one with the yogurt stain on the side from last month's quick breakfast-on-the-go that didn't cooperate with traffic! If your tote is saying gross instead of gorgeous, all that you really need to perk up your accessories is a new catch-all!
   When it comes to purses, the time of day really determines the clutch, doesn't it? Of course, place, shoes & belt all have their input as well, but what time of day it is really wears the pants in this situation. A sleek satin strapless number is perfect for evening, and I'm not talking about the gown. A buttery-soft leather slingback is great for a day-travel, & I'm not talking about the shoes. A flexible, oversized catch-all is great for the beach...& I'm definitely not talking about the suit! Let's face it ladies, the handbag is where it's at!
   Monday Mornings probably see your official carry-all, the black leather one with the matching day-planner, PDA pocket, business cards, lipstick & lint-roller. Tuesday afternoons are familiar with the worn-in gym bag, home to water bottles, soy bars, yoga sandals & a sticky mat. Wednesday night knows the Big Bunco Bag, packed with a deck of cards, mini wet-bar bottles of Vodka, & take-out menus. Thursday mornings see the practical purse with shoulder strap, tissues, old cough drops from last winter, & the aspirin that you need after Bunco night. Friday afternoons are familiar with the business-meeting briefcase that can stash all of the office work that you have to tote home over the weekend! Saturday night knows the sexy clutch with no room for anything but the essentials: sweet lipgloss, gum, matches from the hot-spot with his number on them, & your cell phone! And Sunday morning knows no other than the comfy handbag you've probably had since the very last Grateful Dead show, just the thing to slip out for Sunday paper & a latte with.
   We need different bags for each activity in our life that we participate in, & we also need different color variations within each separate category. The purse is more like an extension of the girl, really! So take a look at your favorite take-along and ask yourself what it is saying about you today. If that tattered old tote says tired, go grab a gorgeous new Gucci! If your leather bag looks badly beaten-up, pave the way for a prettier purse! If your Dooney & Bourke's not dead yet, kill it quickly & run for the boutique! Remember, when Grandma said, "It's what's inside that counts!" She was not talking about your handbag!
CHEERS-

What a cute little leather clutch from BCBGirls. www.zappos.com

-When you get the urge to hug a Spruce, try Keen's earth friendly bags made with recycled aluminum & tire rubber. www.keenfootwear.com

-What a yummy, brown leather satchel. www.fossil.com

A Chick Wants a Saturday Matinee!

2007-08-04T16:09:00Z

It's Movie Time!
   Outside in front of the ticket window, you can feel the anticipation in the air as you line up behind the balding man in the conscientious baseball cap and his date, the woman with the bright yellow blouse and too much aqua net in her mane.  Standing there checking out the rest of the line, you gaze up at the list of movie titles in big bold letters and try to guess what feature presentation each party is there to see. Of course, the point of this pointless activity is not necessarily to pass the time, although that is what naturally happens, but rather to discern whether or not everyone is there to see the same flick as you.  This determines if you are going to get primo seats or end up in the front row with your head tilted back for two long hours.  After evaluating the circumstances, you begin to weigh in the costs of the snackie-bar line. Do you have enough time to go straight to calorie-heaven, or should you first go place that sweater that you always remember to bring over the back of the best available seat in the house before tending to your tummy? Once that has been decided, you again start to suspiciously eyeball the other movie-goers present and still waiting in line for their tickets. That couple looks like they'll go for the jumbo-tub, but she looks as though she's never eaten a Raisinette in her life, so you'd rather stand behind her because that line will move faster! Now it's time to lean out and look sympathetically at all of people that are standing behind you, and turn back with smug satisfaction as you watch yourself get closer and closer to the ticket window. Those poor people should have left the house sooner, you were so practical to leave when you did that you want to give yourself a pat on the back! But there is no time for that now...the man in the cap and the lady with the up-do are getting their tickets, so it's almost your turn! With anticipation, you fumble anxiously for your cash, hardly believing that your time for tickets has finally come, and so soon for such a long line! When the couple steps away, you don't rush the booth. No, you have enough self-control to stand there, on the tips of your toes, and stare at the pimple-faced young fellow behind the glass until he makes eye contact with you and utters that word you have been so patient to hear! As he casually looks up, flipping one long "Flock of Seagulls" lock away from his left eye, he practically yawns as he utters, "Next" in the flattest voice he possibly can. You confidently step up, money in hand, rest your elbow on the small sill, and lean in close as though you have a terrible secret to share, "One adult for the Teary-Eyed Chick-Flick please". Just to show him that you're prepared, you hold up the little cute tissue squares folded neatly in the pocket of your sweater, grinning and winking like you both know something everyone else doesn't. Greasy-Locks looks at you like you need to have your head examined, and slides your tickets through the tiny slot at the bottom of the window. The toss of his bangs tells you he doesn't have time for any loners but himself, so it's time to get lost. Grasping the movie ticket in your hand, you look down to read it before moving toward the door, making sure that ganja-boy wasn't high when he printed your ticket, and didn't accidentally give you one to the Death-Fest of Doom instead. Smiling proudly, you head for the entrance, with one last glance toward the pitiful people still shuffling idly where you used to be. You smile and nod, thinking, "Oh yea, they're wishing they had left the house when I did, suckers!" and turn to let the graying colored woman open the door for you, "Welcome to the Mega-Multi-Movie-Plex, madam."
      As the double doors open, the theater lets out an inviting sigh of cool air that beckons you in out of the summer heat.  Inside, the lobby smells of fresh popped buttery goodness, but it's not time for treats yet. You were wise enough to wear your favorite pair of loafers, so you quickly speed-walk past the twins in the pumps to the ticket-tearing line. Fanny-swishing your way to the front, the older gentleman in the starched uniform takes your ticket, "This is a wonderful film," he smiles as he parts it in two, "Door number four on the Left, enjoy your movie." You delicately take your half of the torn ticket and place it in your back pocket, just in case you run out of tissue mid-movie and have to run for the restroom. The thought of being drug out by your elbows because you can't hold up the ripped ticket as proof of payment makes you shudder like the Zombie in You Go Ghoulfriend. Patting your back pocket for good measure, you turn and head down the long, darkened hallway.  Reading the screens posted above the doorways, you quickly realize that something has gone terribly wrong...1,3,5...where is door number 4? For a brief moment you begin to sweat harder than the girl in the Fangs of Fear poster on the wall above you, wondering if your ticket actually reads The Twilight Zone. But then you realize that perhaps you should just be looking on the left, like the fellow said. Once safely inside theater number four, you gaze up and down the rows of seats to spy two empty chairs in the back row, your favorite, because no one can kick the back of your chair. When suddenly, directly across from you is the Raisinette girl from outside. In slow motion, both of your eyes sweep from each other up to the vacant seats, and back again. Game on, girlfriend! You take those steps two by two, launching the sweater from over your shoulders to land gracefully upon the back of the chair like a superhero cape before Raisinette has even had a chance to make it half-way there...perhaps she could use a little more sugar in her diet!
   Ticket and seat securely in place, you follow the haunting aroma of junk food back down to the lobby. Pausing briefly, you check out the lines at the snack bar. Over there is shorter, but the mom with four snarfling kids all begging for ice pops and monster-munchies makes you get in the longer line behind the love-couple instead. With their arms around each other and hands stuffed into each other's back pockets, they move forward in unison in a way that takes you back to the time you won the three-legged man-race in the third grade. Looking up at the menu of carnival-food choices for gourmet prices on the wall, you wonder what food group Jujubes really come from. One auto payment later, you are handed a bag of crunchy popcorn and chilled cola. Fighting off the reptilian urge of your tongue to lash out and snatch up some of the salty snack without the use of your hands, you casually sip your soda on the way back to your seat instead. Plunking yourself down at last, you admire the armrest with the cute little round holder for your tasty beverage.  As the lights dim, and the picture begins to play, you finally toss a well-deserved handful of corn at your happy mouth: there's nothing better than a Saturday Matinée!

-Cheers

we love the curved details of Islandic Design's Hayden Sweater-
www.moosemtntradingco.com

A Chick Wants to Rough it!

2007-07-30T13:32:00Z

-It's Tent Time Girlies!
One of the absolute best things about the summertime is the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors without freezing your titties off! The air is fresh, the sun is warm, the lake is cool, and there are s'mores! What better way to honor Mother Nature, herself, than by spending a few evenings gazing up at the stars from the wild woods? Women really are naturals at roughing it (ask any woman who has had children & she'll tell you who is tougher!) and adapt perfectly well to a few days away from the comforts of modern conveniences! Though we may be known for over packing, when you rest your head on that inflatable pillow with the jersey-soft cover, you will see for yourself who can do the outdoors with style! After all, a few luxury items never hurt. Especially if you are car-camping, where you drive right up to your campsite, as opposed to back-packing where you carry everything in on your back. So grab a map and locate a nearby spot in the mountains where there is dirt, rock, water, plant & animal life, and plenty of smog-free air! Planning a trip ahead of time makes for a much smoother transition from city gal to ala' natural' , so pick a date on the calendar & call ahead for reservations. If it is a first-come, first-serve situation, plan on being on the road EARLY the day of your trip. Now here's the fun part...go shopping for cool camp stuff! Sure, your significant other may laugh now, but when he's chopping wood with the Lumberjack 2000, he'll thank you with a bonfire that is sure to toast your tootsies! There are so many lines of great outdoor gear now, that no matter what your budget is, you can find quality items. Check out the list of essential items on the CampChick Checklist below, and remember to pack the car the night before the trip to make for an easy-going first day. Just grab a cup of joe and hit the open road, trading the traffic for the trees, and the work for the woods! Go take a hike, nature girl!
-CHEERS

CAMP CHICK CHECKLIST:

tarp & tent
slumber bags & pads
fleece throw & travel pillows
axe & multi-tool
camp-stove & fuel
ironware - (this weekend you're earth friendly, so don't bring paper & plastic)
plastic tablecloth & citronella candle
lighter & matches
sunscreen & bug spray
sun hats & windbreakers
camp chairs & day-packs
heavy-duty water bottles & extra jugs of water
firewood
fully-stocked cooler & locking food storage (if going into bear country)
whistles & headlamps & flashlights or camp lights
rods & reels and tackle box
card games & camp-crafts for kids
all-weather clothing, including a warm hat
maps & binoculars
books on local birds, plants, & hiking trails
A Kumbaya attitude for other campers!
-Get the road trip going with Peter Paul and Mary's Around the Campfire. I've always loved This Land is your land . Cheesy, yes, but you'll be humming the songs all weekend! www.peterpaulandmary.com

-If you are bringing the pooch, be sure to have him haul his own gear! This dog pack will hold his leash, food, water, collapsible bowls, chewies, and even a drop cloth for him to rest on-how cute is that? www.rei.com

-This kids 4-in-one has a compass, thermometer, whistle, & magnifier, just make sure that everyone knows the whistle is for EMERGENCY use only! www.camping4less.com

A Chick Wants a Golden Tan!

2007-07-21T22:53:00Z

"Waiter, One summertime tan with a hint of honey, please!"
   There is nothing better to do in the dog-days than relax by the water and soak up some long afternoon rays! Here in Las Vegas it is HOT from May through September, always over 105*, so there is plenty of opportunity for at least a couple of days spent poolside. In fact, because it is so nice in Southern Nevada, enthusiasts can be found outside 365 days a year, so sun protection just becomes a way of life. Things like floppy hats, SPF 30, water bottles, and even sandals can typically be found on the floor of my family SUV year-round, (along with melted crayons, which have a 2 minute life expectancy in this heat before melting into a flat splotches on the floor mats that Jackson Pollock would be proud of!)  All messy vehicles aside though, sunny living does have its perks, and we know how to work those perks in Vegas, baby!
   I have tried everything from the old VHR tanning beds which made me feel like I was in a coffin, to the spray-on tan which left me looking like a very unnatural blond whose name should have been Juanita Ramirez. Once, before a date with my husband in which I was to wear a very revealing number, I zipped over to the corner-tan-shop where the perky teen behind the counter convinced me to use a super-accelerator tan lotion to boost my bronze. I realized something was wrong mid-way through my session when I began to feel as though someone had literally lit a match under my...ask me about that later. Anyhow, I showed up looking as though I had been slapped all over, red as hell, and still feeling as though I was standing too close to a campfire. Now, that was cute.
   So, today I just stick with a wonderful moderate, subtle lotion that deepens my tan over the course of a week rather than all at once, and contains a good amount of SPF to keep that lobster-look away. The kids are always slathered liberally in a 45 SPF that is waterproof and sweat proof, but their little bodies are always brown & beautiful from June through August anyway! That is just life when you live in Southern Nevada!

-CHEERS

For a true Southern Nevada hot-bod, try Synergy Tan's Diva Las Vegas lotion-12oz.
www.tanninglotionsource.com


For a little after-sun delight, smooth on the Swanky Girl's bun-firming lotion...Now that's the Cat's Pajamas!-18oz.
www.tanninglotionsource.com

A Chick Wants Some Rest!

2007-07-12T11:04:00Z

Everybody has those days...right?
There are days when you wake up and feel like you spent the entire night running the jackhammer down on Fourth Street. There are those afternoons, when you've sucked down two cans of RedBull, but still feel like old aunt Sophie just fixed you two glasses of warm milk instead. And there are those evenings when you have errands to run, dinner to fix, e-mails to answer, chores to do, phone calls to make, and yet...today you just can't keep your head up any longer. What you need, sweetheart, is a day of R & R ! No, that does not stand for Rat Race, it means that you must check yourself out of it for a bit. I know what you are thinking, that your boss will fire you if you don't show today with that report, your committee will be disappointed in your lack of commitment by not sending that batch of 237 e-mails you still have to prepare, the dust bunnies will be big enough to make friends with the bunny slippers under your bed if you don't vacuum, but, it just isn't true. Honestly, the world will not fall apart if you don't show up today! In Fact, it just may be better off! Now hold on, before you go Ranting & Raving, think about it for a moment. If you really don't feel up to the tasks at hand, perhaps you had better wait until you can do a better job at them. I'm not referring to those "I don't feel like it" feelings that make us procrastinate until the deadline is breathing down your neck, I'm talking about when you absolutely have no energy & can barely keep your head up, sugar. The truth is, it is rather vain to believe that the world can't get along without us for even one day! If you come back feeling Refreshed & Ready to tackle your tasks at hand, then perhaps they are better off! And what else speaks of your importance than when your presence is missed, right? So go ahead, indulge yourself in a day of true Rest & Relaxation. You need it! And what better way to start than by switching off the alarm & drifting back off for a while. Just because you're awake does not mean that you have to get dressed, either. Try taking a long, hot bubble bath with a tall, cool drink. Slather on your yummiest fruity lotion & put on fresh pajamas...in the afternoon! Drag your bunny slippers out from under the bed & away from their dust bunny friends, and pad into the kitchen to make yourself something with protein, like an omelet! Often when we're wiped out, it has a bit to do with poor diet, and you may just be in need of some real food. Or, if your car has seen the window of one-too-many quickie-stops lately, maybe drag out the heavy blender that you got as a gift two Christmases ago & fix yourself a smoothie-shake. Now here is the important part...walk past that telephone & flip the volume off, you can do it! Continue past the lap-top, don't you turn it on, not even for a minute! Turn off the cell phone & plug it in (that way you can explain that your battery was dead & you couldn't return any calls because you were charging it). Now locate that dusty stack of new magazines you've been too busy to read, grab that novel that has been waiting for you, and take you brunch & books back to bed, baby! Don't worry, we won't even tell if you get crumbs in the sheets! It is your day to Recover & Recuperate, so enjoy! Later on, light candles & put on that yoga video you've been meaning to try. Pull out your favorite stationary & write your sister a letter. Tomorrow, may you return Renewed & Reinvigorated!

-Cheers

-Try Crabtree & Evelyn's La Source Relaxing Body Lotion with soothing chamomile & borage oil. The light scent of relaxing herbs will leave you feeling like a garden fairy! store.crabtree-evelyn.com

-We love Candles by Claudine's all natural Soy Aromatherapy candles scented with pure essential oils. Lavender Vanilla is heavenly... www.candlesbyclaudine.com

A Chick Wants to Barbecue!

2007-06-28T15:42:00Z

Independence Day Barbecue!

   When it comes to the perfect bar-b-q sauce, many families have guarded secret recipes for generations. Even more important than the sauce itself, though, is the timing in which it is lovingly slathered onto the smoking meat. Yes, there is a zen lesson in the art of patience lying within the coals, just waiting to taught to the anxious American griller!
   Perhaps we should start there, with the coals. You can't just fire up the grill, throw on the ribs, & slather with sauce. The sauce will be charred long before the meat next to the bones is done. First, we must light the fire & let the flames burn nice & high! Take time to enjoy the primal sense that awakens within you as your eyes become mesmerized by the glowing red flames that lick the warm summer air...of course, once they start to water from the smoke, especially if you haven't cleaned your grill since last summer, you can go back inside to the comfort of your temperature-controlled environment.
   While you're inside, select your sauce ingredients. Anything from molasses, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, worstershire, smoke flavoring, honey could work, just not all together. Try to be selective in your condiment search, and definitely consult a recipe or three for ideas. Whatever YOU decide to use, whisk it together & set aside. Always wash your meat, & pat dry with a paper towel. Now is a good time to glance outside at the cooker. If there were remnants of grillings-past on there, perhaps you now have a lovely cloud of smoke rising from under the grill cover that would make Chief Joe proud. Take a moment to adjust your heat to low and let the coals begin to glow as hot little embers without the flame.
   Returning inside, grab a cold iced tea. Oh yea, that's good. Now, I suggest searing the meat on the hot grill with a salt & pepper rub. Don't worry about the salt drying out the meat, because you're going to wrap it up like a little parcel. Keep the lid off, watch it sear in the juices just until there are grill marks, & then flip it over to do the other side, which should take no more than four minutes. Immediately place onto some foil that you've spread onto a cookie sheet or 9x13 dish, & paint all sides with your secret sauce. Once you have it folded up in the foil so that no sauce drips out, return the meaty package to the grill & let it simmer in its sauces a bit longer than you would on the open flame. Don't flip.
   Before it is fully cooked, place it back on the washed tray & unwrap. Return to the flames & paint with sauce to create that gorgeous glaze, tossing the foil, but reserving the drippings. Keep your eyes on the prize. Don't overcook here, but remove just before done.
   Once grilled & saucy, return to the pan of juices, and tent with foil to let it rest for about five minutes. The meat will continue to cook while the natural juices will make it nice and tender. Slice within the tray & transfer slices to platter just before serving, pouring all of the drippings, juices & saucy goodness over your beautiful barbecue just before serving.  Drape lightly with plastic wrap or glass lid to keep moist if it is going to left on a buffet table for any length of time.
    Kick back with the fam, light off some snakes & sparklers, dip your tootsies in the kiddie pool, or pop a top on a cold one, for you are now officially bar-b-cute (see below for adorable accessories!)!
-Cheers!

This adorable apron in Ladybug patterns can be found at anthropologie.com
Cute & portable, too: the mini pink barbecue from Amazon.com

A Chick Wants a Pedicure!

2007-06-17T21:31:00Z

When I think of the ultimate special treatment, I think Pedicure! There is nothing that erases tension quite like dipping your tired tootsies into a tub of bubbling water & letting a complete stranger litterally smooth away your troubles. I covet the huge seat that massages my back and makes me feel as small as Goldilocks in Papa Bear's chair. Even though I am so jumpy that just the slight brush of a hand across my calf typically makes me squirm, for some reason I go totally limp as the minty lotion is massaged into my ticklish toes and ankles. I treasure the time that stands still as I close my eyes, relax, and let it all go away. It is as if, for a few minutes at least, nothing else matters except, well, ME. (It is even better when I also have an iced tea to sip, sweetened just right!) And I simply adore the way my cute little toes look once they are all painted & glamorized!
Yes, nothing says summer quite like a gorgeous pedi peeking out of a brand new pair of sandals...Guess what I usually do after getting my nails done? So, no matter who you are, or where you are, if you are in need of a pick-me-up, get a pedi! If your tulips feel wilted, or you're just hot and cranky this summer, do yourself a favor and drop into the salon for a quick half. Everyone around you will benefit also, both by getting to enjoy your elevated mood and pretty feet. That is what I am saying, You are helping the world be a better place by taking the time to treat yourself! Isn't that great news? Hey, someone had to give it to you straight, that's what friends are for!

-Cheers!

We love the selection of Orly toenail polishes at footsiesbiz.com

The next time you're in Vegas, stop by Elegant Nails at 7920 Tropical Pky. #130 LV, NV 89149. Call (702) 396-5300, and ask for Benny, who is the owner, & the sweetest!

A Chick wants to Chat!

2007-06-16T17:28:00Z

Welcome to my blog where I promise to deliver all sorts of things that us girls' want! Getting started is so excited, and I can't wait for us to gab often, so feel free to post your replies whenever you feel like it! Fix yourself a drink & make it fancy! If you're drinking tea, use that special cup & saucer that you keep locked away in the hutch-let it free to enjoy the tea it was meant to hold just for you! If you're having a cola, put a straw in it, or pour into a huge wine goblet with chunky ice! Drinking H2O- add a slice of lime for style, right on the edge of the glass, girl! A cup of Joe, splash in that creamer & put your softest slippers on! Whether we're together for the next twenty minutes or two minutes, we're friends and I want you to treat yourself like I would treat you if you stopped by for a visit! Pampered! Here's to what a chick wants...to chat with her girlfriends

-Cheers

Roasted fresh here in Las Vegas, we love to indulge in Jitter's Chocolate Raspberry Cream in the afternoon! Available at jitters.com