The only reality shows I watch are the ones usually on TLC, Discovery or A&E about people leading "interesting" lives, for lack of a better term. From women behind bars and life as a Hell's Angel, to 'I have a 60 pound tumor growing out of my face' or the 600-pound virgin, I'm fascinated by the sordid, challenging and in some cases, downright crazy lives people lead. This interest really began in college when my roommate and I would plant ourselves in front of the tv in hopes of catching a marathon of medical mysteries, murder mysteries, plastic surgeries gone wrong, etc... So when she suggested a new documentary that I "just had to see", I didn't hesitate to search for it online.
It's called "Strange Love: Married to the Eiffel Tower". Part one may be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STCOo9Hh5lE. And part two at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5Yuc7XSCJ4&feature=related. It is a documentary about women who fall in love with inanimate objects. Strange – yes, like the title says. Addictively intriguing – absolutely!
You really have to see it to believe it.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
More brain candy
I no longer window shop. I web browser shop.
1. Banana Republic's Leather Knotted Belt
I'm not a big belt fan since all my shirts sit past my waistline so I always think, what's the point? But I recently bought this cute dress that begs for a belt, and this one has a unique design beyond the standard look. However, I hope the more intricate design is not indicative of a complicated buckle. Another possible reason I've stayed away from belts...
2. Elva Fields Bright and Possible Necklace
I'm starting to love all things green. Admittedly, I don't wear a lot of it, but it adds a certain pop and makes for a perfect accessory color. Unless it's a drab olive or outdated forest, green looks cheery and reminds me of spring in bloom. Others must have agreed since this necklace is completely sold out. Oh well, it's still fun to look at.
3. Michael Kors Uptown Astor Sandal
Don't get me wrong, I love Michael Kors with his fake-and-bake, orangy glow (as seen on Project Runway) and those melodramatic, sardonic critiques he likes to dole out. But I have to say, when I look at this sandal I think "yikes". Between the studs, the animal print and then the rubber sole (which is the part I appreciate most about this four-inch heel), I just think it looks like he's trying to accomplish too many trends in a single shoe, making it look a bit tacky. I'm sure the Housewives of Orange County already have their pairs.
1. Banana Republic's Leather Knotted Belt
I'm not a big belt fan since all my shirts sit past my waistline so I always think, what's the point? But I recently bought this cute dress that begs for a belt, and this one has a unique design beyond the standard look. However, I hope the more intricate design is not indicative of a complicated buckle. Another possible reason I've stayed away from belts...
2. Elva Fields Bright and Possible Necklace
I'm starting to love all things green. Admittedly, I don't wear a lot of it, but it adds a certain pop and makes for a perfect accessory color. Unless it's a drab olive or outdated forest, green looks cheery and reminds me of spring in bloom. Others must have agreed since this necklace is completely sold out. Oh well, it's still fun to look at.
3. Michael Kors Uptown Astor Sandal
Don't get me wrong, I love Michael Kors with his fake-and-bake, orangy glow (as seen on Project Runway) and those melodramatic, sardonic critiques he likes to dole out. But I have to say, when I look at this sandal I think "yikes". Between the studs, the animal print and then the rubber sole (which is the part I appreciate most about this four-inch heel), I just think it looks like he's trying to accomplish too many trends in a single shoe, making it look a bit tacky. I'm sure the Housewives of Orange County already have their pairs.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Damn those macarons! Please, stop being cute
So I've been very upfront with my feelings on macarons and their (somewhat) incomprehensible popularity. Well, Bakerella and her annoyingly creative abilities (yes, I'm going to be a hater for a moment) with all things sugary on a stick may have started to sway my opinion. How cute are these?! Besides the fact that I have a developing festish of miniature foods, these macaron pops personify all that is adorable and delightful.
Dare I try to make them with the recipe provided on bakerella.com. Nah, I'll just stare at them with a cheeky grin and wish I had the patience to draw little hearts on little cookies.
Bzzz
Patty Stanger, the "Millionaire Matchmaker" on the Bravo channel, calls it like she sees it and does not hold back one bit, even when her words are like acid to your ears. You wince a little, and it confirms that the truth hurts.
But it's the image of her yelling into the phone at her "Botox Bitch" client (her choice description, but very fitting), "YOU ARE NOT ALL THAT", that has consistently popped into my head today, and I wouldn't mind sharing that sentiment towards a few people I've encountered myself.
Wouldn't we all like to dole out a touch of the Stanger Sting at times.
But it's the image of her yelling into the phone at her "Botox Bitch" client (her choice description, but very fitting), "YOU ARE NOT ALL THAT", that has consistently popped into my head today, and I wouldn't mind sharing that sentiment towards a few people I've encountered myself.
Wouldn't we all like to dole out a touch of the Stanger Sting at times.
A weekend that satiates
Productive weekends make me happy, whether it’s accomplishing tasks that affect the quality of my life or just the quality of my meals that day, I relish in getting stuff crossed off the list.
Here’s the quick rundown from the weekend:
Hal made us tasty chili on Friday, and the realization that we had lunches for the following week made me supremely glad as I portioned them up into our glass containers for individual helpings. For some reason this just sounds very Martha Stewart to me, but no, Hal did not ground the chili meat himself nor did I hand blow the glass. Although, I did clean out our pantry shelves and yes, everything has a shelf life.
On Saturday, I labeled our pantry shelves thanks to my label maker, which still has me smiling since Christmas. After having our fill of chicken lettuce cups, we later enjoyed sundaes with homemade ice cream and brownies – well worth the stomach ache that ensued the next morning. Eating an egg sandwich with overly charred ham is the key to getting over the belly pain, apparently.
Sunday was not celebrated with sentiments of saccharine love (although I have been enjoying the flowers Hal gave me), but stuffing our save-the-dates did warm my heart. Devouring the Indian buffet at Karavalli for dinner was truly our Valentine’s Day treat.
Laundry, going to an open house, bonding with the elliptical, and that dreadful work stuff were also added to the mix. But I can’t complain, especially when the weekend finished on such a delicious note. Reading this over, it looks like my productive weekend was mainly defined by making and/or eating lots of good food, and I'm totally okay with that. Bring on next weekend!
Here’s the quick rundown from the weekend:
Hal made us tasty chili on Friday, and the realization that we had lunches for the following week made me supremely glad as I portioned them up into our glass containers for individual helpings. For some reason this just sounds very Martha Stewart to me, but no, Hal did not ground the chili meat himself nor did I hand blow the glass. Although, I did clean out our pantry shelves and yes, everything has a shelf life.
On Saturday, I labeled our pantry shelves thanks to my label maker, which still has me smiling since Christmas. After having our fill of chicken lettuce cups, we later enjoyed sundaes with homemade ice cream and brownies – well worth the stomach ache that ensued the next morning. Eating an egg sandwich with overly charred ham is the key to getting over the belly pain, apparently.
Sunday was not celebrated with sentiments of saccharine love (although I have been enjoying the flowers Hal gave me), but stuffing our save-the-dates did warm my heart. Devouring the Indian buffet at Karavalli for dinner was truly our Valentine’s Day treat.
Laundry, going to an open house, bonding with the elliptical, and that dreadful work stuff were also added to the mix. But I can’t complain, especially when the weekend finished on such a delicious note. Reading this over, it looks like my productive weekend was mainly defined by making and/or eating lots of good food, and I'm totally okay with that. Bring on next weekend!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Our updgrade to a 20th century bathroom
This morning marked a glorious moment. For the first time in nearly 2 1/2 years, I dried my hair in our bathroom. Sounds like it shouldn't be a big deal, right? Well, it is if you've lived without an outlet in your bathroom. The sound of the hair dryer was music to my ears. Thanks to the future hubby aka handyman a la casa, we can plug electical things into our bathroom wall, which has us both giddy.
Hal inspecting the wires by which I mean attempting to not electrocute himself. Notice the fashionable light strapped on his head. He loves that thing!
Our nifty new switch and outlet. So pretty...
Hal did all the work but somehow that earns Rascal the down time.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
3 pieces of brain candy
The weekends have become the only time I can really read through all my wedding and gossip blogs as well as catch up on fashion and food magazines. I know it's not intellectually stimulating in any way but this brain candy keeps me from banging my head against the wall from all the work stuff eating away at my mind. When I sit and do my internet thing or flip through those glossy pages, it's like exhaling from a long week. It's lovely really.
As I mentioned, it's brain candy but here are 3 products that caught my attention:
1. 2 Love My Lips lip gloss
Created by the Brits, not only does this product give your lips a pretty or sultry, shiny sheen, it detects whether someone has slipped a date rape drug in your drink. Crazy right?! If your drink's been tainted, your lips will turn blue! So before you leave the bar with 'that guy', make sure you check yourself out in the mirror to see if your lips are a scary shade of smurf.
As I mentioned, it's brain candy but here are 3 products that caught my attention:
1. 2 Love My Lips lip gloss
Created by the Brits, not only does this product give your lips a pretty or sultry, shiny sheen, it detects whether someone has slipped a date rape drug in your drink. Crazy right?! If your drink's been tainted, your lips will turn blue! So before you leave the bar with 'that guy', make sure you check yourself out in the mirror to see if your lips are a scary shade of smurf.
It's about time a company recognizes that men are body conscious too. While I have yet to try Spanx, I hear they're the wonder undergarments. I just don't know if guys will really buy into a "compression" undershirt that firms, flattens and supports for $58 when they can just stick to their Jockeys or Hanes 3-packs for $10.
Inspired by her character on Sex and the City, Sarah Jessica Parker's latest perfume is described as flirty and floral. The bottle displays a menagerie of patterns which is funky and very SJP. I have taken a whiff thanks to a magazine sample and I have to say it's fun and youthful (but not in a bad throw back to pre-pubescence when it was Exclamation! perfume all the way). I'm looking forward to its debut, which I believe is this month.
And that's all I found in the candy jar that's fit to print.
And that's all I found in the candy jar that's fit to print.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Sesame paste
Monday night I used tahini for the first time. I was prepared for its paste-like consistency, similar to that of peanut butter. I was even prepared for the separation of the paste from its natural oils, which you have to mix together. I was not, however, prepared for how difficult it ended up being to thoroughly blend the separated mixture to an edible form, nor was I prepared for how disgusting it would look in the process. Hal heard many an "ew" and "gross!" coming from the kitchen before he came to my rescue.
But ultimately it did its job and transformed our eggplant dip into the right consistency, putting me one step closer to matching that of The Greek Village's recipe.
Yes, this dip (which was on its way to our mini food processor) may look gross, but it's very tasty with warm pitas and flatbreads. Tahini by itself? Not so much.
And when Hal had trouble locating the tahini in the grocery store, he suggested we make our own. Ha! I couldn't imagine how many sesame seeds you'd need to ground, and thanks to the stuff that comes in a can, I don't have to.
But ultimately it did its job and transformed our eggplant dip into the right consistency, putting me one step closer to matching that of The Greek Village's recipe.
Yes, this dip (which was on its way to our mini food processor) may look gross, but it's very tasty with warm pitas and flatbreads. Tahini by itself? Not so much.
And when Hal had trouble locating the tahini in the grocery store, he suggested we make our own. Ha! I couldn't imagine how many sesame seeds you'd need to ground, and thanks to the stuff that comes in a can, I don't have to.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)