The Voice Premieres On NBC

A new reality show is about to hit the airwaves tonight.  The Voice, a singing competition, looks promising ... and for all the right reasons.  It's based on talent.

Allow me to digress momentarily:  Most reality shows are dreadful.  Just as processed foods are food-like substances, a show such as Kate Plus 8 is a show-like substance.  I have zero interest in it, or in pseudo-celebrities like Kate Gosselin.  She seems perfectly nice, but I don't need to know about her life.  When I see her being interviewed on The Today Show, I use that time to blow-dry my hair.

I am amazed by how much time legitimate journalists spend on scandals and meaningless news.  Everyday a barely recognizable name is speaking out about fluff.  Fine.  But why are Meredith and Matt and Barbara interviewing them?

It's not like we're short of issues that could be examined on the air.  Aren't we wondering how to extricate ourselves from a war in Iraq?  What about the popular uprisings against tyranny in the Middle East?  What's going on with that oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico?  Oh, and how are the Tea Partiers faring in Congress?  Has anybody on Capitol Hill solved our economic woes yet?

Now back to The Voice.  Of course, not everything on the small screen has to be hardcore.  There are times when we watch television for the pure joy of it.  Entertainment has its place, and we need it to unwind.  But please, no more banal show-like substances.  Personally, I'm a sucker for shows that provide spotlights for someone with a God-given talent to be discovered.  Even after years of hard work, it's an uphill battle for any singer to get a lucky break.  And it's exciting when a gorgeous, but totally unknown voice, steps up to a mike and SHINES!  That's the kind of reality show I want to watch.

On The Voice, the singers will do their auditions blind and be judged solely on their voice.  Nice.  The Voice will have four “coaches” all currently successful in the music industry, namely: Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton.  The music pros will mentor the amateurs through all the phases of the competition until America selects a winner.  If the show lives up to it's potential, everyone wins.  Viewers get a show featuring real talent and the best performance.  And the contestants will have a chance to gain experience and confidence in front of a national audience.  I like the concept.  Let's hope America, along with a few TV execs, take notice.  We need a reality with beautiful voices, genuine talent and a few goosebumps. Hosted by Carson Daily, tune in tonight at 9pm for the two-hour premiere.

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It's Easter Sunday

The custom of giving eggs began as a pagan practice, but was adopted by early Christians.  Easter eggs are used as symbols of new life, the arrival of spring and the resurrection of Jesus.  Plus, kids love dyeing them.

Michelangelo's Pieta, which depicts the body of Jesus on his mother's lap after the Crucifixion, is poignant, equally human and divine.  Easter remembers this, but more importantly, celebrates the resurrection of Jesus -- a miracle in the Christian faith -- showing how it is possible for good to conquer evil and life to overcome death.

Happy Easter Everyone!  Enjoy your Easter egg hunt, basket of treats and family dinner. And take a moment to remember ...

Life is good.

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Booking Cheap Airfares Like A Pro

With the sun peeking out, is it time to book your summer getaway?  Pauline Frommer, a budget travel writer (and daughter of Arthur Frommer) thinks it's the perfect time for June.  As for July or August, you should watch and wait.  Her tips for finding the best airfares include:

1) Book on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the lowest fares.

2) Include a Saturday night stay for the best deals.  Business travelers don't want to stay the extra night.  Airlines know this, and charge accordingly.

3) To get the cheapest fares, book from 24 days up to 2 months in advanced.  If you book too far in advanced, for example, 10 months before a trip, you are less likely to get a discount.

4) Avoid booking on weekends.  Prices can be slightly higher, and since decision-makers are off, fares rarely drop on Saturdays and Sundays.

5) Some hotels will reimburse your “checked baggage fees,” so remember to ask.

6) You pay an extra $25 for booking over the phone, therefore go online to save $25, instantly.

7) Usually you get lower fares by booking on aggregator sites versus the individual websites of airlines, or 3rd parties.  Aggregator sites search for cheap fares on multiple travel sites simultaneously -- including airline and third party sites -- without charging booking fees.

Travel experts stress:  Compare several aggregator sites for deals.  And be persistent.  Check back often for drops in ticket prices.

Here is a consensus of reliable aggregator sites to check.  The following 3 appear on everybody's list:

Kayak

Mobissimo

Bookingbuddy

Other websites give you great budget travel advice:

Bing Travel – Tries to predict the best time to book airline tickets.

Trip Advisor – Is user-generated content; fellow travelers post information and reviews.

Pauline Frommer's “Spend, less, see more”page – Is an overview of helpful hints.

Armed with tips from the pros and the ease of the internet, you can book your flight and still have money left to spend on vacation.


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What I Like About Mad Men And The 60s

I enjoy watching Mad Men and wish its season ran longer.  It's interesting how few of the other characters know anything about Don Draper, the show's lead ... and how the themes of identity and trust run through the series.

Another aspect of the show I like is, it takes place in the 1960s, a time when Camelot and excellence were admired.  Celebrities and successful people rarely left home without looking glamorous.  Everybody dressed up for an outing, and most tried to be on their best behavior.  Airing your dirty laundry in public was scandalous, not rewarded.

At the time, there were no reality stars.  Entertainers were famous for their talents, not their antics; and one was distinct from another.  Not only were Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Durante and Elizabeth Taylor at the top of their game, but they were all one-of-a-kind.  When you think about other actors, singers and comedians of the era, no two were alike.

 As much as appearances mattered back in the 60s, there was an authenticity about it, that also runs through the fictional television show.  And ignorance was bliss.  Wouldn't we all like to drink and smoke like the characters do on the show and not think anything of it? Oh, go ahead, admit it ... flicking ashes off of a cigarette, with experienced fingers, looks debonair and grown-up.  Mad Men's fifth season is set to premiere on AMC in March, 2012, but that's a longtime to wait.

 Meanwhile, let's salute the show with a Mad Men-like drink, a whisky sour … in moderation of course ... since we don't live in the 60s anymore:

Whiskey Sour

2 ounces bourbon (whiskey)

½ oz fresh lemon juice

½ teaspoon sugar

1 cherry

½ lemon slice

Directions:  Put all ingredients in mixing glass and add ice cubes. Strain into highball glass. Add lemon slice and cherry to garnish.


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Cooking Tagines In A Tagine

Recently I walked into Williams-Sonoma and was intrigued by a Tunisian tagine.  It's the name of a hand-painted and glazed terra-cotta pot, as well as, the spicy dishes that are slowly simmered in it.  Tagines are at the heart of Moroccan cooking and are characterized by their rich, complex sauces.

The clay pot has two parts, a flat, circular base and a dome-shaped cover that fits inside the base during cooking.  When placed in an oven, the top is designed to return all the juices to the bottom, continually basting the food to moisten and tenderize it, intensifying its favors.  You end up with a hearty medley of meat, vegetables and savory tastes.  Comfort food, North African style!

In addition to traditional Moroccan stews [recipes here], you can use a tagine to prepare seriously, succulent beef shot ribs.  The tagine can be used on a stovetop with a heat diffuser.  Here's a mouthwatering recipe from William-Sonoma:

Red Wine Braised Short Ribs

3 tablespoon olive oil

3 ¾ pounds bone-in beef short ribs (6-8 pieces)

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 celery stalk, diced

2 carrots, diced

¾ cup finely diced shallot

1 tablespoon minced garlic

3 tablespoon tomato paste

¾ teaspoon crushed Aleppo chili

1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

½ cup beef broth

¾ cup red wine

Mashed potatoes for serving

1)  Soak the tagine according to manufacturer's instructions.  Place the tagine on a diffuser over medium-high heat; warm 1 tablespoon oil.  Season the ribs with salt and pepper.  Dredge in flour; shake off excess.  Brown half of the ribs on all sides, about 10 minutes total; transfer to a plate.  Repeat with 1 tablespoon oil and the rest of the ribs.

2)  Reduce heat to medium; warm 1 tablespoon oil.  Cook the celery, carrots and shallot for 7-8 minutes.  Add garlic and tomato paste; cook 1 minute.  Add the Aleppo chili, thyme, broth, wine, salt and pepper; bring to simmer.  Return the ribs to the tagine.  Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook, turning ribs occasionally, until tender, about 4 ½-5 hours.  Makes 4 servings.

Now the base becomes a platter.  Serve with mashed potatoes, a bold Grenache and enjoy!

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Your Spring Wardrobe

It still feels like winter, but we have definitely moved into Spring , the time to start thinking about a more colorful, transitional wardrobe.  Taking stock of what's hanging in your closets, you may need to add a few basics like lighter sweaters and accessories, which you can wear now … and later.  Here are three retailers where you can go for fashion and value.  Each offers simple, yet elegant, ladylike style at very affordable prices:  

Newport News – Sign up for their emails to get unbeatable discounts on already low price points, plus previews of their latest collections.  Newport News is always in step with the latest trends and is known for their affordable and large selection of cute clothing.  Check out their New Spring 2011 Boutique for romantic lace dresses; urban denim jackets; or crochet and tapestry floral tops.

NorthStyle – Features versatile pullover and cardigan sweaters, with long and short sleeves; rose lace tops; open-stitched shrugs with scalloped edges; charming, retro floral dresses; ruffle-trimmed shirts; and crinkle swirl skirts.  There is also a wide selection of adorable, sterling silver jewelry embellished with genuine stones and fresh water pearls.

Elaine Turner – She designs a full array of handbags, shoes and leather goods.  You get glam, smart design, much of it for under $100.  Everything in her line is inspired by the family trips she took as a child to the Caribbean.   Her collection captures the casual sophistication of the islands.

Lace and florals are big this season.  Now you can get your Spring fashion fix, or simply update your wardrobe at prices you will like.

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The Health Benefits Of Tea

Do you know that tea, not coffee, is the most widely consumed beverage in the world ... second only to water?  And perhaps that's good, since many studies indicate, drinking 4 to 6 cups*per day has huge health benefits.  Tea is produced from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis tree.  It is loaded with antioxidant polyphenols -- microscopic compounds thought to help stabilize free radicals, which trigger diseases like cancer, heart disease and Parkinson's.  While debatable, scientific studies say drinking a lot of tea helps to thin the blood, as well as, lowers the risk of strokes, diabetes and Alzheimer's. Other studies suggest, tea aids digestion and helps to prevent dental cavities and gum disease -- if you omit the sugar.

 As it turns out, tea is an important source of vitamins and minerals, such as carotene (turns into vitamin A), vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, nicotinic acid, pantothenic acid, folic acid, manganese, potassium, and fluoride.

Based on the maturity and processing of the leaf, you get different varieties of tea, including the familiar: 

White – It's the least processed; unoxidized

Green – Also unoxidized

Oolong – Partially oxidized

Black – Most processed; fully oxidized.

If not dried quickly, tea leaves oxidize.  Oxidation turns it darker.  Whereas, white and green are the least processed -- their tea leaves are simply steamed quickly;  oolong and black teas are dried, crushed and fermented.  But regardless of processing, all 4 varieties contain polyphenols, so you can reap the health benefits by drinking the tea you like best.

Interestingly, herbal teas are not produced from the Camellia plant, so although some may have healing properties, they lack polyphenols along with those benefits.  Most herbal teas aren't really tea at all, but are blends of flowers, herbs and spices.  They are properly called "tisane" beverages.  Personally, I'll continue to call them "tea," thank you very much.

If you read my blog regularly, you know I believe in treats.  Perhaps most of the time, we can be happy with just tea.  But people can't live on tea alone.  So here's a “healthy” version of a favorite sweet.  Like many of you, I tend to use what's in my pantry, so here's the original recipe along with my tweaks in blue:

Art Smith's Healthy Hummingbird Cupcakes [with my tweaks]

Ingredients

Dry Bowl

1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour, or spelt flour

¼  cup whole wheat pastry flour [I use one flour, 1 ¼ cups whole wheat flour]

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon baking powder [I use 1 teaspoon.]

¼ teaspoon salt
Wet Bowl

1 ripe banana, mashed

½ cup crushed pineapple, with juice

2/3 cup organic granulated cane sugar [I use honey, instead.]

¼ cup canola oil

1/3 cup applesauce [I use all crushed pineapple, so extra 1/3 cup]

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ cup walnuts, finely chopped

Directions

1) Preheat the oven to 350°F.  Line a muffin tin with paper liners.  

2) In a large bowl, shift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.
3) In a separate bowl, mash the banana with the pineapple, then whisk in the sugar, oil, applesauce and vanilla until completely incorporated and relatively smooth. Fold in walnuts.  You can also add coconut flakes.

4) Gently mix the wet bowl into the dry bowl, stirring until just combined.

5) Pour batter in the paper liners, which are resting in the muffin pan.

6)Bake for 25 minutes, until a tooth pick is inserted and comes out clean.

7) Cool on a baking rack.  Next top with icing and sprinkle with walnut pieces.

Frosting Preparation:

1 container tofu cream cheese (or non-dairy cream cheese) [I substitute low-free cream cheese]

½ cup soy margarine [I use 2 tablespoons real butter and skim milk, adding a little at a time]

2 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice

Combine the cream cheese and margarine.  Slowly add the powdered sugar, then vanilla and lemon juice.  Do not over beat the frosting.  Makes 8-10 servings.  Now get ready to throw a tea party!

*Doctors say avoid too much caffeine if you are pregnant, have high blood pressure or take coumadin.

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Does Your Hairstyle Flatter Your Face?

The spectacular Sarah Jessica Parker has more style hits than misses

I love to watch makeovers.  And truthfully, I enjoy when someone lets me make him/her over!  All of us have the ability to look our absolute best.  One of the reasons, celebrities look so glamorous is, they can hire a cavalcade of stylists to help them pick out a look to accentuate their best features and hide their flaws.  And, once in a while even they make a mistake.  But we can all learn from each other.  Beautyriot.com featured the best and worst celebrity hairstyles for a particular face.  Now, consider your own bone structure, the size of your nose and how wide your eyes are set apart; then, find the celebrity who shares the shape of your face in the photos below to learn what to do and what not to do with your hair.   Choosing the right hairstyle -- and avoiding others -- will help you to always look your fabulous best:

Best	Worst
Oval	Oval
Round	Round
Square	Square
Heart	Heart
Oblong	Oblong
Flatters  Every Face	Flatters Every Face

Celebrities: 1. Oval: Halle Berry, Kim Kardashian; 2. Round: Carla Gugino, Kirsten Dunst; 3. Square: Jessica Alba, Jennifer Aniston; 4. Heart: Hayden Panettiere, Christiana, Ricci; 5. Oblong: Kelly Rowland, Sarah Jessica Parker; 6. Flatters Every Face: Jessica Biel, Jennifer Lopez Figuring out the shape of your face, click here

It's all about symmetry and looking polished.  When you see it, you just know it. Thankfully, we, non-celebs, can switch it up and make all our hairstyling mistakes in private.

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5 More Home Remedies -- Cool Stuff To Know

A few more home remedies I find fascinating are:

1. Aspirin – It contains acetylsalicylic acid, a salicylic acid derivative.  Use it to brighten the skin and treat acne:  Add 2 aspirins to water, mix thoroughly, rub into the skin and wait 5 minutes before rinsing.  Repeat once a week for a clear complexion and to lighten and brighten your skin over time. 

2. Celery – Chewing on stalks of celery whitens your teeth.  Plus, it's good fiber and low in calories.

3. An apple, or a slice of hard cheese – Both will remove food from your teeth and bacteria from your month, if you are without toothpaste and can't brush your teeth.  Apples contain malic acid, which also removes stains.

4. Black tea – Soaking feet in unsweetened black tea curbs the production of sweat and cures foot oder.

5. Vinegar – is a natural way to get rid of oil:  Mix 2 tablespoons of cider vinegar with one egg yolk to use as an emergency shampoo.  Vinegar, or lemon juice will act as a natural hair rinse also.  Plus, rinsing with cold water will add shine to your hair.

Isn't it great to have options and know what to do in a pinch, or if away from home?   With knowledge and a little ingenuity, you never have to go without ... not when there's an inexpensive, natural solution.

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