Willy Wonka Inspired Chap Stick

Willy Wonka chap sticks ... not! ... but they could be.  I buy a lot of lip balm.  Whether at work, home or on the road, one is always within reach.  I keep chap sticks just about everywhere ... in my purse, at my desk and inside my nightstand.  There is usually one in the pocket of my jackets and coats too.  Now you can get them in many delicious flavors, including your favorite candy, soda pop and even breakfast cereal.

As sets, I think they make fun, inexpensive gifts, not to mention, perfect Christmas stocking stuffers for kids and adults alike. You'll want to eat your lips, but won't expand your waist, nor sugarcoat your child's teeth.  And as we move into the fall and winter, we will need the extra protection to keep our lips soft, smooth and shiny.  Some varieties have sun screen also!

Look for candy and soda flavored chap stick at Walgreens, Walmart and Target.

Online retailers carrying sets of popular flavors for cheap include:

Amazon - Flavors include:  Skittles, Coke, Dr. Pepper, 7-Up and more. [Use Amazon's search box to find a flavor and pull up sets.  It's a fabulous tool to see what exists.]

The Lakeside Collection - Has: Fruit Loops, Frosted Flakes, Rice Krispies and others.

My Lip Stuff - They are the most expensive, selling sets of 6 at $13, but offers 500 different flavors.  If you can't find a favorite flavor elsewhere, look here.
Because ... taking care of your lips tastefully shouldn't cost you an arm and a leg.

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Sidney Poitier: Actor, Author ... And More

I don't remember a world without Sidney Poitier.  Lilies of the Field, In the Heat of the Night, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, To Sir With Love,  A Patch of Blue.  I remember his movies vividly even though I watched them at a tender age before I should have understood what they were about.  And yet, the way S.P. played a character, I did understand what his films were about.  I especially remember his presence.  He brought a strength and grace to every role he played.

Mr. Poitier's memoir came out in 2000.  Like his acting, The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography is expansive, timeless and worth revisiting.

The book shares memories of his Caribbean childhood, celebrated life and acting career.  He says his parents and boyhood in the Cat Islands gave him his self-worth and unwavering sense of right and wrong.

Poitier was born prematurely in Florida on a trip his parents took to sell tomatoes grown on their farm.  He wasn't expected to live.  His parents spent 3 months nursing him to health before returning home.  He grew up in poverty, but learned to enjoy simple pleasures in a world without material distractions.

At 15 he was sent to live with a brother in Miami.  He moved to New York at 17, working menial jobs and living in a toilet at a bus station.  He joined the Army and later worked as a dishwasher until an audition won him a spot with the American Negro Theater.  Poitier became an actor to earn a paycheck, but worked doggedly to overcome his dialect and develop his craft.

A stage role lead to an opportunity to play a black doctor treating a white bigot in a 1950 film, No Way Out, which lead to other roles, more prominent than what black actors usually were offered in those days.

He talks about his religious faith, thoughts on racism, the influence of world leaders like Gandhi and Mandela and how it was to break barriers along the way.  In 1963 Poitier became the first black actor to win an Academy Award as a leading man for Lilies of the Field. ("I stand up!")

He writes with clarity, passion and humility about being a husband, father and artist.  Throughout his book, he probes personal values and the importance of character. He had less than a 6th grade education, but became an avid reader, as well as, a student and citizen of the world.  In both his private and public life, Poitier strives to honor his upbringing and the legacy of his parents.

In the 70s he became a successful director and producer of films, including Stir Crazy and Uptown Saturday Night.

His talent, morals and likability made him one of the most respected actors of all time.  Today S.P. is 84 years old.  His autobiography is a great book to keep on your shelf for inspiration and life lessons.  In 2008 he published a new book: Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great Granddaughter.

 I'm not exaggerating when I say, as a child, I knew Sidney Poitier personified dignity even before I knew what the word meant.  When you see it, you just sense it. 


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Real Italian Cooking

This week I was invited to a Casa Barilla event held in Central Park, where celebrated chefs shared their joy of Italian cooking.  I watched demonstrations and tasted succulent, mouthwatering Italian food.  It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.

Each of the chefs used simple, but quality ingredients like fresh tomatoes, garlic, parsley and extra virgin olive oil.  Quick and easy, all of the dishes were prepared on a stovetop using skillets and a big pot for boiling pasta.

There are 4 cardinal rules for boiling pasta: 1) Never break the noodles; cook them long; 2) Never put oil in the boiling water.  It doesn't keep pasta from sticking, and you are wasting good olive oil; 3) Cook the noodles al dente [firm].  Soft pasta is overcooked and unhealthy; 4) Never rinse the pasta; you don't want to remove the starch.  As a guide: Cook one pound of pasta in one gallon of water with one tablespoon salt.

At the Barilla event, professional Italian chefs walked us through the steps of making 10-12 seasonal, authentic Italian dishes with fresh ingredients available at farmer's markets and, increasingly, at supermarkets.

Chef Lorenzo Boni recommends cooking pasta one minute short of what the directions on the box say, then finish cooking it in the sauce to pick up flavors.  Other tips: Don't cook ... warm extra virgin olive oil to preserve flavor and its health benefits.  He uses only a small amount of extra virgin olive oil to tenderize vegetables, then dribbles more on to finish the dish right before serving. 

Here are the recipes for two seafood dishes I plan on making at home:

Linguine with Sundried Mullet Roe and Parsley

Ingredients:

1 box linguine

6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 piece sundried mullet roe, grated

1 tablespoon parsley, chopped

Red pepper flakes to taste

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to box directions.

2. Meanwhile, in a skillet, warm the olive oil and add the garlic, frying until golden.

3. Add the pasta, and toss with grated mullet roe and chopped parsley. [Our chef grated the flesh of a fillet.]

4. Sprinkle on red pepper flakes and serve.

Vermicelli Mari e Monti

Ingredients:

12 mussels

12 small clams

½  pound calamari

2 garlic cloves

¼  cup extra virgin olive oil, divided

10 medium shrimp

½  pound sea bass

1 cup porcini mushrooms, sliced

1 box Vermicelli or thick spaghetti

3 tablespoons parsley

Salt to taste

Black pepper to taste

Directions:

1) Steam the mussels and clams in a covered skillet.  Discard the shells.

2) Cut the calamari into thin rings.

3) Chop the garlic into very thin slices.  Heat half the oil and garlic in a skillet.

4) Add the seafood and saute for 2 minutes.

5) In a separate skillet, saute the mushrooms until golden.  Add the fish sauce.

6) If needed, add some of the pasta cooking water and simmer two more minutes.

7) Meanwhile, cook pasta according to box directions, drain al dente and toss with the sauce and some cooking liquid.

8) Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

Trust me, the cost of the seafood in each dish is well-worth the splurge.  Italians are famous for "celebrating the good things in life: food, culture, family and friends."  They "believe in the power of food."*  Let's all be Italian for a day. 

Mangiare bene e piacere!

*Quotes from Barilla event

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Zac Posen Rules The Runway

Zac Posen exhibited his Spring 2012 collection in New York during Fashion Week after a two year absence.  Like several other high profile designers, he showed in Paris in recent years, but not here.  Thank goodness he's back at Lincoln Center this year.  Even if you don't buy high fashion, browsing is fun, inspiring and sometimes gorgeous.  Zac Posen is a favorite designer of mine, and I'm not alone.  The reason?  He truly knows how to dress a woman.  Weather it's his sultry party dresses, or a two-piece, night-out-on-the-town ensemble, you can entrust your curves into his capable hands and creative mind for a romantic, sweet and ultra modern look.  With satin and tulle fabrics that are perfectly cut,  Zac Posen always makes a woman look feminine, elegant and very pretty.  Styled to flatter a woman's figure, he gives you a little drama.  It's edgy without being ridiculous.  Thank you, Zac!  You're a dressmaker, who really likes women.  I love you too! ♥

Click here to view his complete collection.

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Kate Middleton Has Something I Want ... Sleeves

Fashion's Night Out Is Thursday

This year there are over 1,000 stores participating in New York City and many more in major cities around the world. Stores are open late and hosting free food, spirits and plenty of exciting entertainment.  Don't miss out on the ultimate party scene as only the fashion industry can throw it.  Go to these in-the-know sites to get a complete list of all the fashion, fun events and giveaways: FNO {All cities} and Metro {New York}.  Get ready to enjoy the celebrities, music, and champagne! 

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What Would You Do If You Were Losing Your Hair?

I feel for men who are going bald. Today baldness is considered hip, but thinning hair has to be traumatic. Hair is such a big part of our identity, a symbol of youth and not everyone looks good with a bald head.

According to several medical sources, male pattern badness affects about 40 million men in the US alone.  Men have a 4 in 7 chance of inheriting the baldness gene.  Studies indicate that early baldness is passed on through the X chromosome, but the Y chromosome plays a part too.  Castrated men don't go bald.  Interesting fact, but yikes!  Don't try it at home.

Male pattern baldness begins with a receding hairline (from the lateral sides of the forehead).  Usually, a woman's hair doesn't start to thin until she is in her 80s.  

In spite of websites that claim to treat baldness, there's not much you can do to slow it down, or regrow your hair.  Two FDA approved treatments, finasteride [Propecia] and minoxidel [Rogaine] have limited success.  And hair implants are costly, painful and not very effective either.

Hollywood types like William Shatner, Nicolas Cage, Matthew McConaughey, Jon Cryer, Jude Law and Gene Simmons are rumored to wear hairpieces while in the public eye.  As did Michael Jackson.  Elton John does too.  It doesn't take experience to know that fake hair is an ordeal to wear.

I don't blame a person for doing whatever he has to do to deal with hair loss.  If it were me, I'd get some tony, happening hats like Micky Dolenz and Cee Lo Green.

Life is change.  Since the beginning of time.  Every body changes.  But, you're in good company.  Many other men are going bald too.  Hopefully, losing one's hair makes a person a little more compassionate.  No one is perfect, and if it's not one thing, surely, it will be something else.

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The End Of Summer

Goodbye Summer

Here are five simple things I will miss about summer:

1} The long, endless days – Daylight lasting until 9 PM.

2} Cotton and linen fabrics – So comfortable to wear, or wrap around yourself.

3} Skimpy clothes and sockless feet/No layers to bother with – Grabbing a wallet and a set of keys and heading out the door dressed as you are, in a crisp summer dress, or a pair of shorts and a soft cotton t-shirt.  I love not having a lot of stuff weighing me down.

4} Fresh picked fruits and vegetables – Especially peaches, strawberries, blueberries, watermelon, tomatoes and corn-on-the-cob.  It's true you can eat them all year around, but they don't taste the same.

5} Summer rain – It sweeps over you swiftly, and an hour later the sun is back out.  I don't mind walking in the summer rain.

So long summer.  Until next year ...

Summers go by so quickly.  And once again fall is right around the corner.

Hello autumn.

Five simple things I like about fall include:

1} Boots

2} Cashmere sweaters

3} A lack of humidity

4} Falling leaves and 

5} Freshly picked apples.

Stay tuned, friends.

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Feather Hair Extensions, Patterned Nail Polish And Smoky Eyes

Smoky eyes and feather hair extensions on Hilary Duff and Selena Gomez

As the summer winds down, it's not too late to take a walk on the wild side. Embrace one of these popular tends.  I don't think they will end anytime soon:

1. Sultra's Natural Feather Hair Accents are authentic rooster feathers, dyed in 4 color combinations that you clip in your hair like a braid.  They are easy to attach and remove.  You can also curl, wave and straighten them for a 1970s glam look.  Costs: $25 at Sephora.

2. Another fun fad is wearing fancy patterned nail polish.  But you don't have to spend a fortune, or hours at a nail salon to get your nails done.  Sally Hansen offers a set of new Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips that you press on yourself at home and go.  Get intricate graphics and colorful patterns.  There are 23 color combinations.  It is real nail polish, but requires no time to dry and lasts about 10 days.  Costs: $10.

3. And, the smoky eye endures.  Sephora sells a Beauty In A Box Smoky Eyes Patelle that is mistake proof.  It is a collection of handpicked colors, tools and illustrated instructions on how to achieve classic smoky eyes in six steps.  Costs: $36.

With these fashion-forward accessories, there's absolutely no need to stick with the same-old, same-old.  Here's your chance to break out of your comfort zone and have a little uninhibited fun​.

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Fashion's Night Out

German Chocolate Sauerkraut Cake

Believe it or not, I don't have a sweet tooth.  I crave salty snacks.  Hickory smoked nuts, French fries and cheddar nachos are my weaknesses and calories of choice.  That's not to say I don't enjoy sweets, occasionally, like today.  I'm having friends over for afternoon coffee and tea, which is all the motivation I need to make a scrumptious cake.  The one I'm serving calls for two unusual ingredients: sauerkraut and mayonnaise.  But don't be fooled.  It's not how you start, but how you finish.  You end up with a moist and rich chocolate confection your guests will love!  Here's the easy recipe:

Tip before starting: Be sure all your ingredients are room temperature as you will get a flaky cake. At times I've made the mistake of using cold butter or eggs, which results in a dense cake texture. Live and learn!

German Chocolate Sauerkraut Cake

Ingredients for the batter:

¾ cup butter

1 ½ cups sugar

3 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 ½ cups whole wheat flour (or half all purpose flour)

¾ cup real cocoa (plus blocks of dark chocolate)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1 ½ cups buttermilk

1 cup chopped sauerkraut – I pour the liquid off, but don't strain it.

½ cup flaked coconut

½  cup finely chopped pecans, oven roasted for 5 - 8 minutes

Extra skim milk, if needed, to get a not-too-dry (or runny) batter consistency – add a few drops at a time.  You want a thick, but liquid batter that you can stir and pour into a pan without difficulty.

Directions for the batter:

1. In a bowl, mix the 14 ingredients in order, adding one at a time.  Beat until smooth.

2. Pour into two greased 9 inch cake pans and bake at 350° for 25 minutes, or until the center is done.

3. Remove from the oven.  Cool

4. While the pans are still warm remove the cakes.

5. Set aside and cool completely.

Ingredients for the frosting:

12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips, melted

2/3 cup mayonnaise, regular or light (but not non-fat)

2/3 cup flaked coconut

2/3 cup finely chopped pecans, oven roasted for 5 - 8 minutes

Directions for the frosting:

1) Melt the chocolate by putting the chips in a mixing bowl and microwave it about 30-40 seconds.

2) Remove and stir in the mayonnaise.

3) Add about half of the coconut and pecans.

4) Spread the frosting on the inside layer, then frost the top and sides.

5) Sprinkle the top and sides with the remaining flaked coconut and chopped pecans.

I prefer this chocolate frosting, but click here for another choice.

And now a quiz: Name the country of origin. ??? Au contraire: German chocolate cake did not begin in Germany.  The name comes from the chocolate, not the country.  When Englishman Sam German created dark baking chocolate for his American employer, the Baker's Chocolate Company in 1852, the product was named after him.  According to several sources, the first recipe for German Chocolate Cake was submitted by a Texas housewife to a local Dallas newspaper in 1957.  It became an instant hit, driving up the sales of the chocolate.  I don't know who, later, added the sauerkraut, perhaps a crafty sauerkraut company.
🤔💡

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Personal Care Products: Get Stellar Results For Less

What's In A Name?

Once you pay for a product and walk out the store, it's nobody's business how you use it.  Recently I discovered that diaper rash rub makes an awesome hand, cuticle and eye cream.  The active ingredient is zinc oxide, making it highly effective in treating dry skin.  So far, I love it.  It's richness will protect hands all winter long.  A good one, available at drugstores, is called Boudreaux's Butt Paste, so you know the inventor has a sense of humor.

The idea of consolidating toiletries by finding new uses for old products is appealing.  So is saving time and money by finding drugstore counterparts that work as well as their high-end-cousins.  Why buy three different products if one gets all the jobs done?  Or, overpay to achieve identical results?  On occasion I may want an expensive cosmetic.  But if I choose to spend twenty times more for a luxury brand, I have to like it twenty times more than the cheaper version.  I like products with more than one use to reduce clutter.  And whenever possible I want to keep life simple with one-step shopping at the corner drugstore.

You don't have to change your personal care items all at once, but as a savvy shopper, ask yourself why you use them and what you expect them to do for you.  Consider: (1) does a product work; (2) what are its active ingredients; (3) and, can you get similar results for less?

Below are a few items to compare:

If you like:	Try:
Kiehl's Lip Balm – $15 for .5 oz.  It's 91% petroleum jelly.	Eucerin Aquaphor – $2.19 for a pocket size .35 oz tube, or Vaseline, $3.49 for a 14 oz jar.
Frederic Fekkai Shampoos and Conditioners, .08 oz at $24 and up.	Pentente's Shampoos and Conditioners in several formulas to treat your specific hair type. 25.4 oz at $7 and under.
Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara, $30.  It's a great mascara, but so are drugstore options.	Maybelline – $7.  There are mutiple formulas to choose from, in waterproof or washable.
Lancome Huile Douceur Remove All Deep Cleansing Oil – $35 for 6.8 oz.	Noxema Original Deep Cleansing Cream – $3.99 for 14 oz.  It contains Eucalyptus oil and camphor to soothe skin.
Go Smile Go Whiter Whitening System – $89 for a kit.  I'm afraid of most home whitening treatments.  It's better to go to a dentist if you need extensive whitening.	Dr. George's Dental White –  $10 for 5.2 oz.  This is a hydrogen peroxide gel that's safe on enamel.  You can buy a kit with a tray for about $15, or use a dab of gel as a toothpaste booster when needed.

When you travel, you quickly learn that many cosmetics can be used for several purposes.  Lipsticks easily double as check color.  Bronzers too make excellent blush and eyeshadows.  Talcum power keeps the shine off your forehead and your feet dry and comfortable.  Doesn't it make you wonder why we accumulate so many personal care products?  As I've stated elsewhere, these days I try to put a little more thought into why I buy things ... learn about products and make better choices.  Plus, lessen my carbon footprint whenever possible.

Sorry Madison Avenue.  But.  Have you found a cheaper brand that works as well as a designer one?  Or, have you found a new use for an old standby you'd like to share? 


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