What to Take, What to Pack?

Ever start packing for a trip and not know where to begin? Ever bring more than you really needed? If yes, you are just like me. Currently I am packing for a two week European trip with a pit stop at a wedding. I started to pull out all the clothes I loved and wanted to wear, 20 minutes later I came to the conclusion that once again I would over-pack. So I pulled out my trusty GOOD ADVICE file and discovered this great list. There's also one especially crafted for us ladies. The check-list is general and you do have to keep in mind that you should adjust it to your needs and your destination. I will be attending a two day wedding, so I must add two cute dresses and shoes, bags etc... to match. Enjoy!

Workout Pick and Choose

Women's Health magazine has an interactive custom workout page. Check it out!

Love Sushi

This is a great recourse site for all you sushi lovers. http://www.sushisecrets.com/

Cucumber Madness!

According to a tweet by Good Health magazine, and i quote "Cucumbers contains silica, which improves the complexion & health of the skin. Plus, they're a good source of fiber, potassium, & magnesium."

For a simple but oh! so healthy salad, mix diced or sliced cucumbers with green seaweed, add some almond flakes and tah-dah! Bowl of delicious nutrition... effortlessly.

Sale!!!

CK website had done it again! Check out the summer sale. This great dress is $89.
http://www.calvinklein.com/

Glasto!!!

Had to share! The Glastonbury Festival!

Rain drops keep falling on my... bbq...

Here in the New York area it's been raining every day for over a month... tonight my sister and I are hosting a bbq - it will probably rain again. So here is another party planning tip to add to the check list: tents and tarps. Tents if you have the extra $150 for rental, most of us do not, so tarps. Home improvement stores like Home Depot and Loews have semi-clear tarps for around $15. The semi-clear lets enough light so your guest don't have to fell like they're in a cave. To smooth out the crudness of the tarp, conceal the corners & decorate the edges with vine, lanterns, or streamers. :)

H2O

Get your space bikinis ready! The surf might be churning on Saturn. Full article.

Tweet-tweet!

Now on Twitter!
https://twitter.com/HousewifeU
:)

Light Spring Rolls - Another Gem Recipe from VegCooking.com

These Asian favorites make the perfect summer appetizer—they're quick and easy and don't require a stove!

12 6-inch round rice wrappers (available at Asian groceries)
6 oz. rice vermicelli or cellophane noodles, cooked and drained
1/2 cup bean sprouts
1 cup shredded Chinese cabbage
12 snow peas, trimmed and cut into thin strips
2 scallions, chopped
2/3 cup grated carrot
1 cup shiitake mushrooms or baked tofu, slivered
1 bunch fresh mint leaves
Hoisin sauce

• Immerse the rice wrappers, one at a time, in a bowl filled with cold water and let stand until the wrappers soften. Spread a towel on a work surface and place each wrapper on the towel.
• To assemble the rolls, arrange small amounts of each of the remaining ingredients, except for the hoisin sauce, on each wrapper, about halfway between the edge nearest you and the center of the wrapper. Fold the edge nearest you over the vegetables, then fold in one side and roll up lengthwise into a tight roll. Repeat with the remaining wrappers.
• Serve with hoisin sauce for dipping.

Makes 6 servings

Scary...

This is a fascinating web-page... sadly it bears bad news. It is called the DEBT CLOCK, and it clearly and through streaming updates all the frightening numbers that affect us all. Check it out for yourself. :/

US vs. China

The Obama administration files a WTO case against China. Read more here.

Designer to watch...

Check out this contemporary label http://www.elizabethandjames.us/

Hand made wonders!

I have been complaining about the lack of diversity in retail market for quite some time now. The brands that we find at the global malls these day like to play it safe... resulting in the same t-shirt being sold under various labels at various prices. If my little heart desires something more innovative, unique or even avant guarde, I have to look to the fashion gods across the pond in EU, and happily fork over my weekly paycheck. Well!!! there is another way... ESTY.com.

It's all handmade by the sellers and well one of a kind, unique, avant guarde, etc... check it out for yourself, contact the artists for more info about the item you love before you buy, or if you're crafty set up an account yourself and start selling! :)

Fashion at the Met!

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Special Exhibition
The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion
May 06, 2009–-Aug 09, 2009
This Costume Institute exhibition focuses on iconic models of the 20th century and their roles in projecting, and sometimes inspiring, the fashion of their respective eras.
The Tisch Galleries, 2nd floor

Happy Father's Day!

4th of July Party Preparations - Part Two

All this party planning for the bbq is coming along nicely... and my latest fun party prop is not for the buffet table, but for you! A super cute "Stars" hair pin. They are made from reclaimed suede and attached to a snap-clip. This is sure to be another party hit!

Available for purchase at etsy:

Radon

This is a very important thing to ask your landlord about [if you are renting] or if you own your home, take the appropriate steps to test your home. Radon is a radioactive gas that has no odor, taste or color and it is harmful. The website below provides important information about radon and how to protect yourself and your family.

http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cayenne
pepper
3 large sweet potatoes
1 Tbsp. olive oil

• In a small bowl, combine the cumin,
  salt, and cayenne
  pepper. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Peel the sweet potatoes and cut in half lengthwise. Cut each half into 6 wedges. In a large bowl, combine with the olive oil and the spice mixture. Toss until evenly coated.
• Place wedges in a single layer on a baking sheet and place on the middle shelf of the oven. Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until cooked through and edges are crisp.
• Serve immediately.

Serves 6.

Biggest Diamond Ever!!!

BPM 37093, the name of white dwarf star that is completely made up of crystallized carbon, a.k.a. DIAMOND! Astronomers estimate the mass of this sparkling star to be the same as our sun, making it a 10 billion trillion trillion carat rock. Twinkle, twinkle!

Eww! Margarine!

Below is a re-post from an e-mail I received this morning. Checking with a few sources to see if it's legit. DO YOU KNOW.. The difference between margarine and butter? Both have the same amount of calories. Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams compared to 5 grams. Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Studyeating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods. Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few only because they are added! Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavors of other foods. Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around for less than 100 years. And now, for Margarine.. Very high in Trans fatty acids. Triple risk of coronary heart disease. Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol). Increases the risk of cancers up to five fold... Lowers quality of breast milk. Decreases immune response. Decreases insulin response.. And here's the most disturbing fact..... HERE IS THE PART THAT IS VERY INTERESTING! Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC... This fact alone was enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and and anything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing the molecular structure of the substance). You can try this yourself: Purchase a tub of margarine and leave it in your garage or shaded area. Within a couple of days you will note a couple of things: * no flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (that should tell you something) * it does not rot or smell differently because it has no nutritional value ; nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny weeny microorganisms will not find a home to grow. Why? Because it is nearly plastic . Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that on your toast?

4th of July Party Preparations - Part One.

My lovely sister and I are putting together a "little" 4th of July celebration party. And since the theme is included in the holiday, we'll keep it with the simple Red, White & Blue.

We decided that the Strawberry Sorbet recipe [from my previous post] would be a great item to serve at the party. So I started looking through my enormous collection of everything for some ideas on how to present it in a festive and inexpensive manner... Here it is:

Ikea has a nice glass pitcher, it's 34oz. and costs $3 [most likely made in china]. We're going to line up three, filled with the home-made sorbet. I'll post photos once we set it up. Stay tuned. :)

Another Find From VegCooking.com!

Strawberry Sorbet

Cool down on a warm spring day with a delicious yet healthy strawberry sorbet.

1 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups water
4 cups whole strawberries, rinsed and hulled
2 Tbsp. orange juice

• In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and the water and bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly.
• Reduce the heat and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, or until reduced by one-fourth. Remove from the heat and cool.
• In a blender, combine the strawberries and the orange juice until smooth. Press through a fine sieve.
• In a large bowl, combine with the sugar mixture. Cover and freeze until set.
• Whisk until smooth, freeze for an additional hour, and whisk again. Repeat twice.
• Serve when creamy.

Makes 1 quart