Valentine's Day Ideas

There is always so much pressure to get the right thing for Valentine's Day. But that pressure is coming from no one, but you - If it's coming from your partner, that's a whole different story/blog. Anyway, quit putting so much pressure on yourself! Unless your partner gives you a list (or you obsessively keep an ongoing list on your phone and update it every time your partner mentions "that would be cool to have", like me, because yes, I'm mildly insane) you probably could use some ideas. Here are a few fresh ideas on what to get that person in your life:

Beer Making Kit: From the Brooklyn Brew Shop. This contains everything you need to make your own home brews! brooklynbrewshop.com

Spike Your Juice: Have you read my blog entry? You should. This stuff is great! spikeyourjuice.com

The Hunger Games trilogy: This may not scream romance, but it will give you endless hours of conversation. amazon.com

Jonathan Adler Ceramics: charming and quirky ceramics and house decor for your stylish partner. jonathanadler.com

Other ideas - gift cards to a local spa, Living Social or Groupon deals to do as a couple, cupcakes or cake pops (Lollicakes! if you live in my town) at work or waiting at home.

My go-to gift websites: thinkgeek.com, uncommongoods.com, & etsy.com

The key - tailor gifts to your partner's tastes (obviously), but never underestimate the power of flowers at work and a homemade dinner. Valentine's Day doesn't have to be about grand gestures and romantic-comedy romance. It's about spending time with the person you love and letting them know how much you care.

Turn Juice to Alcohol

This is SO great! I found this kit while trolling the interwebz looking for Valentine's Day presents for my boyfriend. Maybe not his dream gift, but for $9.99, it's a great science experiment for me! 

Here's what happens: You buy some juice, any flavor you like. You empty this yeasty packet into the juice bottle and stop it up with the airtight stopper that comes with the package. You let the juice sit for 48 hours. While it sits, the yeasty mix converts the sugar in the juice to alcohol. The best part, since it's you making it, if you like it after the first 48 hours - go ahead and drink it. If you don't like the sweetness, just let it sit longer. The longer it sits, the more dry the juice becomes. You make it how you want it. How cool is that?  
Find it here: spikeyourjuice.com

Heel Caps

Do you have a favorite pair of heels that you wear all the time? But they are starting to wear down and are actually a little less comfortable that they used to be - and now you've noticed the nail head peeking out of the heel. At this point, you're almost afraid to wear them, because you love them so much, but they are starting to die a slow death.

This happens to me ALL the time. But! You can fix this! Well, not you, but your local cobbler. Your cobbler will take off the worn down heel cap and replace it with a rubber car. Here's what's so awesome about the rubber cap: it wears slower than plastic and being that it's rubber, it takes the brunt of the shock when you walk. So, it's actually more comfortable on you foot. Here's the very best part: rubber heel caps cost less that $10.00!!!

Save your shoes. You'll be so happy you did!

The Hunger Games

If you haven't read The Hunger Games trilogy, I implore you to do so. It's fascinating and well written. Let's face it. You've been hearing about it for months (I know I have been) - just give in and read it. You'll thank me when you do.

How To: Eat Popcorn

Obviously, you know how to eat popcorn. Take a kernel, pop it in your mouth, chew, swallow. As long as you don't choke, you've pretty much got it figured out. 

As far as I'm concerned (and thanks to a little help from a friend last night) there are four ways to eat popcorn.

1. Open your mouth and dump the bag/bowl in. Pieces will fly, but your desire for popcorn will be fulfilled. 

2. Fistfuls at a time. Reach your hand in the bag/bowl, grab as many kernels as you can and try to shove it all in your mouth. The problem with this method is the occurrence of crotch corn. 

Yes, crotch corn. Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about! ... When you are a little too aggressive with eating and the popcorn explodes and lands between your legs. And then there's just this piece of oily popcorn seeping into your jeans or the fabric of the seat you're sitting in. And it's all you can think about. Your focus is no longer on the movie or conversation, just on that piece of popcorn in your crotch. Wait... just me? Alright then, back at it.

3. A few pieces at a time, maybe two to four pieces. Just enough for a mouth full, but not enough to have the kernels explode out of your hand.

4. Eat popcorn piece by piece by piece. Unfortunately, this doesn't satiate your need very well - especially not when it is freshly popped full of salt and butter.

If you are on a date, with company that isn't your every day group, or with people you might want to use better manners with, options 3 and 4 are your best bet. Truth be told, my favorite method is 3. More than one at a time, but not enough to explode and create crotch corn. With that... go forth and pop!

Blinkers

Tonight, our topic of discussion has to do with blinkers. You know, that little stick on the left of your steering wheel that gives you the ability to flash this little light, which in turn, signals to let other drivers know where you are driving your car? That's called a blinker in case you weren't sure. 

As my lovely readers, I'm sure you all signal regularly to make sure those around you don't pummel their car into yours, as well as to keep your passengers safe. But for those who have come to my little town from up north, a lesson in blinkers is due! 

- When you change lanes, signal.

- When you are easing into a turn lane, signal.

- When you are turning onto a different street, signal.

- When you turn onto your street, sans turn lane, signal. 

If you ever move your vehicle from the lane it is in, regardless of what you do - use your blinker. It will keep you, those in your car, and those around you safe.

Asparagus

Asparagus. Yum. Whether baked, steamed, or grilled, it's so delicious. And if It wasn't 9am and I wasn't gulping down mocha, I would consider having some. Asparagus is so easy to work with - any sauce goes well with it. It's so versatile!

Normally at this part of the blog, I would begin to discuss recipes and meal combinations. But not today. As some of you may know, I'm a 3am thinker. If I have any anxiety, my body wakes up at 3am and I am flooded with thoughts of everything that I perceive wrong (I need to clean! Did I pay the cable bill? What am I going to wear to that wedding in three months?) Sometimes there are actual issues, but most of the time it's just a little dose of 3am crazy. Magnesium, I've found helps with these delightful episodes. Though last night, I woke up for just a second. And asparagus was on the tip of my lips. Yep, asparagus. Here's the thing, not on how to cook it... on how to eat it!

We all eat asparagus by cutting it into one inch to one-and-a-half inch pieces, then pick up a few pieces successfully (or unsuccessfully) with your fork. But it's frustrating, you can't always get the pieces you want and the cutting. Oh the cutting, that turns into squeaks that a reminiscent of fingernails on a chalkboard. Bah! I can't even. 

Here's the thing: of the etiquette books I've read (dozens), those that address this issue all say the same thing. Use your fingers. Seriously. Use your fingers. Emily Post even says so. But I personally can't get over the idea of being at a nice restaurant or at a dinner party and picking up asparagus to eat it with my fingers (though as much as I love asparagus, that would be a really quick way to shovel them in my mouth and get instant gratification). All I can see are my fingers covered in oil, butter, or cheese and a huge mess ensuing from there. No thanks. 

Here are my thoughts: fork or fingers... either flies with me. But be on the look out friends, I might be using my fingers. How do you think it's appropriate to eat asparagus?

Mascara Application

I have long eyelashes. I realize I'm very lucky to have these, but from years of wearing make up and an overly practiced hand - here's what I've learned. 

- Without mascara, my eye lashes are blonde on the end and are pretty extraordinary. With mascara, I've actually had people ask if my eyelashes are fake.

- Black mascara, always. ALWAYS. It's so important! My eyelashes, just like my hair, gets lighter in the sun. Black mascara makes your eyelashes pop.

- If you are naturally blonde, or not so naturally blonde, black mascara may seem harsh. It's not. You'll probably have on eyeliner and some shadow, as well - so it actually won't be so harsh. (Though if you're going to fight me, wear dark brown. But don't think I won't notice. Or suggest black as we check our lip gloss in the bathroom mirror).

- Clear mascara is a joke. It's supposed to magnify. It doesn't. Don't waste your money.

- DO NOT PUMP YOUR MASCARA. I'm not even going to go in the the reasons why. You should know better. And if you don't. Shame on you. Your mascara deserves better treatment.

- The most important step of application: at the root, wiggle your wand a little. This will separate the lashes, and make them look fuller. 

- To apply your mascara take the wand and from the root swipe up. A few times. And maybe just once over the top too. For your bottom set, just once will do the trick.

- Waterproof is awesome. Just check it out to make sure it really is waterproof, before your time of need (rain, sad movie, etc.) Raccoon eyes are something I've had many times in my life. I wouldn't wish that on any of my friends or lovely readers (maybe on my enemies...)

- Don't keep your mascara more than 6 to 9 months. Why you ask? Because this wand touches your eyes, which have been out in the elements and then goes back into the tube. Where the rest of the mascara is. To swirl together and then go back on your eye for later use. Eww. That could make anyone a germaphobe.

Go forth and mascara!

Renting Dresses

Spring is approaching, and I don't know about you, but for me, that means wedding season! I got this particular idea from one of my very favorite people. She has fabulous style, and frankly was half of my wardrobe in college. After a bit of Facebook stalking, I noticed that she had the most fabulous dresses. I wanted them! I needed them! So I asked where she got them... And low and behold, she rents them! Really???

I've heard of clothing rental sites, but never put any stock in them. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized, we only wear our formal/fancy dresses once or twice (you can only be photographed wearing the same dress so many times) and they cost way more money than even the nicest jeans - which are expensive, but worn to death so the cost to wear ratio drops. So, why not rent?

Renttheyrunway.com is the site that way recommended - but after a quick search online, there are dozens on rental sites! Depending on what you want to rent - that should help you choose your online service. I've seen designer handbags, jewelry, dresses, jeans, scarves, etc. Almost anything you want, from a litany of designers - all available to rent!

Done and done!

Lemon Bars

I'll be the first to admit it, I'm new to lemon flavored desserts. I love chocolate, caramel, and sugar... Why should I waste my time with lemon. Silly me. Lemon desserts are sooooo good!

I have the most wonderful client who just brought me the most beautiful bag of lemons! (three cheers for citrus season in florida!) Here is what I did tonight with these beautiful, tangy lemons.

Lemon Bars

Here's what you'll need:

2 sticks of softened butter (trust me - it's got to be soft!)

2 cups of regular flour

1/2 cup of white sugar

4 eggs

1/4 cup flour

1 1/2 cups of white sugar

2 lemons - squeezed

1. Preheat your oven to 350. Mix you butter, 2 c of flour, & 1/2 c sugar together. Once dough forms, spread in the bottom of a 9x13 dish. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

2. Mix the remaining ingredients in a bowl. Once your crust is done, pour your lemon mix in.

3. Bake for 20 more minutes.

4. Remove from oven (will firm up as soon as it cools down).

5. Totally optional, sprinkle with powder sugar once cooled & out of the oven.

Yummy! Enjoy - because I am right now. (I'd leave a pic, but I ate it all!!)

Dillard's Sale

Did you know, today begins Dillard's 50% off sale?

Everything on sale is an extra 50% off.

It's a madhouse here... But totally worth it.

You'll thank me later.