Home Sweet Home

A hookah uses coal and can run out of water, both hazards in a family dwelling. One smoking session is the potency of inhaling 100 - 200 cigarettes.

It is amazing how much damage one hookha smoker can do to a Manhattan apartment building ... and how long it takes to undo all the turmoil caused by the fire of one careless person. The costs are great, and we are getting a maintenance increase later this year to pay for it, we are told. Management framed the undesirable hike in such politically correct language that you'd never know it had anything to do with the expense of cleaning up after the fire and flooding.  

Although I'm happy to be back home there is much to do to get the apartment back to normal. Due to the fire, flood and water damage, I had to clean and paint my entire apartment. My intercom, one of 5 areas where water streamed down, is out. Upon reporting it, I was told that I am "on a list," so I am not alone! Furthermore, furniture, shoes and various items are ruined. My plush 8' by 10' wool area rug is beyond repair. The carpet cleaning company gave me the heartbreaking news hours ago.😓

To replace walls, my cupboards were removed from the kitchen, but surprisingly management did not replace the now weathered and damaged wood, nor broken kitchen (and living room) floor tiles! Through no fault of the excellent Fire Restoration Company, chunks of wood are missing from my cabinets as a result of having to pry them off the walls so the waterlogged walls could be replaced. Floor tiles crumbled due to the flood, plus removing wall moldings to take down walls; and I now have a hole and crumbling wood in the back of one cupboard, which was simply returned to the apartment and put back into place! I asked management to step up ... fix the hole. However, I'm still waiting for resolution.

Additionally, I had to buy a new kitchen stove, but we continue to await for the cooking gas to be turned back on, therefore I eat lots of fruit, avocados and whatever I can microwave, as well as, restaurant food. Eating out gets tiresome when it's a must!

I now make German potato salad with microwaved potatoes, bacon and scrambled eggs! In fact, it is a hybrid potato salad, since eggs do not belong in German potato salad.

Another new dish is Ramen noodles. Please don't judge! How can something so bad taste so good!😄 I add leftover chicken (or cubes of tofu) and frozen mixed vegetables. Delish ... a hot savory (if unhealthy!) microwaved meal.

Usually I make pizza from scratch, yet without gas for the oven, I buy frozen Celeste Pizza Deluxe to which I add: pepperoni, extra cheese and dried spices (garlic, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes). The crust isn't great, but hey, another hot dish!

Thankfully my lovely readers, these are 1st world temporary problems. To be sure, there's no place like home. The building's mayhem makes me sensitive to the plight of chronic world hunger and homelessness, which are not temporary.

Suffice it to say, strawberries and blueberries; melted cheddar on grainy bread; and um, nacho tortilla chips are my friends! A gal needs to keep up her energy to forge on!

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Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day

Mark your calendars for one of my favorite days of the year, free cone day from my favorite ice cream makers ... Ben & Jerry's. Look how well they know me! I get an email each and every year, so I don't forget this special day. They even list their nearest store, so I'll know exactly where to go!

Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield were childhood friends, who opened their first ice cream parlor in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont. The year was 1978. In 1979, they marked their one year anniversary by giving away free ice cream. It has continued ever since, becoming an international celebration.

Another tasty flavor.

I love Ben & Jerry's for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the premium ice cream, with it's trademark chunks and natural, environmentally friendly ingredients is to-die-for delicious! There is none better! (No genetically engineered milk either.)

If I'm going to eat ice cream, I want the real thing: sugar, whole milk, cream and chunks of gooey goodness. Bring it on boys! But, I limit myself to 2 scoops (when I am paying). On Free Cone Day, Ben & Jerry's give away one scoop, which is generous and certainly enough!

Once I ordered two scoops of Totally Nuts, vanilla ice cream packed with all kinds of nuts, at a Ben & Jerry's only to be told, it was never, ever available at that location. So puzzling and unexpected to hear that I couldn't process the information until the server explained: The shop shared space with a mental health facility.

As suspected, Ben & Jerry's has built their business with a social conscience and a sense of humor. They are good to employees and customers alike. Join us on April 8th by swinging by your local Ben & Jerry's for a free cone. And please, leave a scoop of Chocolate Fudge Brownie for me!

Congratulations Ben & Jerry's ... and thank you for another awe-inspiring year! On my bucket list is a trip to your ice cream factory.

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Wendy's Chili Is A Great Deal All Around

Photo: The Village Voice

There are times when you need to find some cheap eats. Wendy's chili, which is meaty, beany and tomatoey, fits the bill. It is filling, low in fat and (in my opinion) tastes as good as homemade. Rare is the day when you can eat a nutritious meal for two bucks (before tax). At Wendy's I order either a large chili, or a small serving and a baked potato. I like the saltine crackers and packet of hot seasoning too.

I miss Dave Thomas, the founder, former chairman and spokesperson of the fast food chain, who died in 2002. When you watched Dave in a Wendy's commericial, you sensed he was a caring man. Thomas never met his birth mother. As an infant he was adopted, but after turning 5, his adopted mother died, and later he had to drop out of high school to earn a living. He took jobs working in restaurants.

Wendy's was named after Thomas' then eight year old daughter. After becoming successful, Thomas became a well-known advocate for adoptions and education, raising lots of money for both causes. He wanted to give needy children (and young adults who like himself had dropped out of high school) a hand up. In 1993, to set a good example for kids, Thomas earned his GED.

After paying for my order, I like to drop a few coins in the charity box at the Wendy's cash register in honor of Dave Thomas, who overcame an imperfect childhood, become an entrepreneur and made a difference.

What's your favorite fast food?

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The Prabal Gurung For Target Collection

For designer duds, it's Target again!  Mark you calendar for February 10th, the day Prabal Gurung's Target Collection goes on sale in stores and online.  Gurung is a Singapore born, Nepali bred, American designer.  He successfully designed for Bill Blass before launching his own label.   Michelle Obama, Kate Middleton, Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lawrence (+ other Hollywood red carpet walkers) wear his dresses.  He says his Target collection is inspired by ♥love♥ -- all of the stages from first crush to everlasting.♥♥♥  The apparel and accessories are colorful, fresh and feminine ... with a bite.

The limited edition collection consists of 80 plus pieces: clothing, handbags, shoes and jewelry.  The price ranges from $13 (crystal stone earrings in silver) to $200 (for a blue leather jacket), with most falling under $40.  To see the entire Prabal Gurung Target offerings, click here.  The designer claims that red is his favorite color, but I see lots of blue.  Gorgeous!  Decide: Which are your favorites?

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Add Red Oxblood To Your Closet ... Sounds Spooky!

Dress-Topshop, Pumps-Ann Taylor, Bag-ASOS-Nail Polish-Essie

Oh, but contraire!  Neutral colors are an indispensable part of a wardrobe.  You need a few dresses, skirts or leather basics, such as shoes and purses, in solid understated hues to stretch your trousseau. (Yesss, I'm teasing you with a fancy word, but you get my drift.) A few subdued, main-or-accent pieces will mix and complement other bright and flashy articles to form totally new outfits.

Perhaps it's my skin coloring, but I don't care much for beige.  What you see in my closet is black, navy blue and grey.

And now straight from the fashion runway comes a trendy color to join them.  Oxblood.  Darker than burgundy, oxblood is classic and bold, yet still appears understated and flatters nearly every skin tone.  Neither boring, nor overpowering, an oxblood blazer, or pair of heels look rich and warm.

This brownish-red color is ultra versatile.  Pair it with glitter or earth tones.  Also, red oxblood adds sophistication to busy patterns such as stripes, geometric designs and florals.

In a nutshell, oxblood is posh and down-to-earth ... bewitching and accessible.  You will not find a more perfect yin and yang color for your fall or winter wardrobe.  It is showing up as nail polish and lipstick too.

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Denim In Living Color

Colored denim isn't new.  I wore a pair of cardinal red and white striped jeans in the 7th grade.  But now they are designed for adults.  And nothing screams SPRING FEVER like lots of bright colors.  It's a happy trend.  Comfortable too.  And when a look becomes popular, you will find it at every price point.  Choose your favorite color, or something floral, or patterned.  Unlike in the past, there's no set style or jean length.  Wear what suits you, whether it's low or mid rise, ankle or capris, skinny or boot-cut.  People come in all shapes and sizes, and fashion should reflect it. There's a radiant hue for every body, budget ... and personality.  Get in on a fun fad with these retailers:

Citizens Of Humanity jeans

1. American Eagle

2. Citizens Of Humanity - Must shop for them in stores.

3. Forever 21

4. J brand

5. J.Crew

6. L.K. Bennett - a favorite of Kate Middleton♥ Here's a NYC location.

7. Old Navy - Lots of affordable style on sundresses, t-shirts, shorts, cotton sweaters and sports bras too. Sales galore.

8. Nordstrom

9. Uniqlo - Brilliant prices, promotions, design, quality and a huge inventory for Men and Women on pants and other casual wear.

10. Zappos – Free shipping both ways

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KNO Clothing Is Fashioned To End Homelessness

The models are students from The University of Pennsylvania 

KNO Clothing is not your typical fashion house, but an online retailer on a mission to end homelessness.  Co-founders and college friends, Stephen Caldwell and Anthony Thomas, first noticed the plight of homelessness in Pennsylvania, where they lived and saw that not enough was being done to restore the lives of people experiencing it.  So in November, 2010 they launched KNO Clothing, which uses 50% of its profits to fight homelessness and poverty in America through fashion.

Customers can feel good about a purchase.  For every article of clothing sold, the company donates an item to a homeless person.  Working closely with non-profits to determine needs, KNO also funds local agencies who provide shelter and services for the homeless.  So far the company has helped cloth over 500 people and house over 11,000 people in 102 communities.

KNO began selling t-shirts and expanded to tanks, polo shirts, hoodies and dresses.  The garments are soft and casual.

It is clothing produced with workers in mind.  KNO uses fairly traded and organic cotton, or a sustainable blend of organic cotton, recycled polyester and natural rayon fibers.  The company supports eco-friendly growing methods and is concerned about fair wages, the safety of the people who make the clothing, plus giving back to local communities.

A video on the website says it best: "KNO Clothing is more than the threads on your back. … [It's] fashioned to end homelessness."

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Keeping Up With The Joneses … In Denmark

On a recent show, Oprah visited families around the globe, featuring the lives of women. I'm a sucker for these kinds of programs. The place that appealed to me the most was Copenhagen, Denmark. I like the mindset and lifestyle of its people. Danes are ranked #1 as the happiest in the world by 30 years of scientisfic studies and polls. And if you watched Oprah, you learned why. Here's a summary:

1. In Copenhagen, people are concerned about the environment. – 1/3 of the population rides bicycles everywhere, even with small children and packages in tow.

2. The Danes don't worry about homelessness, poverty or unemployment. – If you lose your job, the government steps in to pay 90% of your salary for 4 years and helps you find new employment.

3. Health care is free to everyone. – The country wouldn't have it any other way.

4. The government takes special care of women and children. – Women get 6 - 12 months of paid maternity leave. Citizens get a free education and are paid $400 - $500 per month upon entering a university.

5. People are free to pursue careers based on interests and talents, in lieu of income. – Taxes are progressive. If you earn more, you are taxed more -- up to 60%. {Other sources say, the average worker pays 44% and the highest earner 62% in taxes. Details here.}

But the Danes support these equalizers. They don't mind paying higher taxes because they feel they get a lot for it. As explained by Nanna, a 44 year old resident of Copenhagen, “Then you have healthy, educated people in the world. What could beat that?”

I admire this way of thinking and how it carries into the home décor. I don't like clutter and apparently, neither do Danes. The typical Danish design is modern, clean, bright, sparse and organized. Plus, the big windows are divine! I'm use to more space (and coziness) than the family of five shown here. But what appeals to me – and makes my heart flutter! – is the idea of having everything you need, without the excess of things you don't need. Makes you think, doesn't it? Now you'll have to excuse me; I'm stepping away to get rid of extra stuff and to write a note.

Note to self: If you don't use it, lose it. Focus on what's important.