Author: Michelle Kenneth

My Favorite Soup: Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

One of my favorite soups is this Vegetarian Tortilla Soup recipe I originally found on Martha Stewart’s website. I’ve been using this recipe off and on for 15 years. Since I have a hard time finding the recipe on the website, I’m posting it here (so I can find it later).  

Martha’s version of the tortilla soup is good…but my version makes everything taste better (which is what you’ll find below). I just like it when my taste buds sing. That’s why I made these little changes to her tortilla soup recipe.

Also, as a bonus, you’ll find my guacamole recipe that my friends (and, in the past, when I worked for the Senate, Senators) loved below this soup recipe. I hope you enjoy!

Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

Michelle Kenneth
Vegetarian Tortilla Soup adapted from Martha Stewart.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Soup

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes in juice
  • 2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn kernels
  • 1 cup water
  • coarse salt and ground pepper
  • 1 cup crushed Tostitos Hint of Lime tortilla chips
  • 1 tbsp fresh lime juice, plus lime wedges for serving

Instructions
 

  • In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium. Cook garlic and chili powder until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes (with juice), beans, broth, corn, and 1 cup water; season with salt and pepper.
  • Bring soup to a boil; reduce to a simmer. Add tortilla chips; cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in lime juice, and season with salt and pepper. Serve soup with lime wedges and, if desired, more chips.

In addition, I like to add a tablespoon of guacamole to garnish.  Here’s the recipe to my guac…

2 ripened avocadoes (peeled & mashed)
1/2 cup of diced onions
2 limes (or lemons)
1 tomato diced
2-4 red Thai Chilis diced (use based on varying degrees of spiciness to your liking)
2-3 pinches of sea salt

1.  After mashing avocadoes with a fork, add onions, tomato and chilis.  Squeeze juice from both limes into mixture.  Add 2-3 pinches of sea salt and mix together.

Remember…the trick to a good recipe is to add in a little at a time until consistency is to your tastebud’s liking.  In this recipe, you should add the limes (or lemons), salt and chilis a little at a time until it’s the consistency you like. 

2.  Add a dollop of guacamole to the tortilla soup with the Hint of Lime chips on top and it kicks the flavors in the soup up a notch…all complimentary flavors.

What to Read When You Want to Learn How to Be French

When you think of French literature, one book that comes to mind is the famous children’s classic, The Little Prince(or Le Petit Prince) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.  What most people do not know is that this classic was written and first published in New York City.

The Morgan Library and Museum in NYC recently had an exhibition showcasing the American side of the story. The story’s origins and how the exhibition came to be…that is a bit of a remarkable story.

As he prepared to leave the city to rejoin the war effort as a reconnaissance pilot, Saint-Exupéry appeared at his friend Silvia Hamilton’s door wearing his military uniform. “I’d like to give you something splendid,” he said, “but this is all I have.” He tossed a rumpled paper bag onto her entryway table. Inside were the manuscript and drawings for The Little Prince, which the Morgan acquired from her in 1968.

I loved this part of their description of the story:

his beloved story that reminds us that what matters most can only be seen with the heart.

Sorbonne (c) 2011 Michelle Kenneth
Sorbonne (c) 2011 Michelle Kenneth

When I was in Paris a few years ago, I spent some time on the Left Bank (Rive Gauche) perusing titles in bookstores, especially around Sorbonne.  Beyond picking up a few Moliére and other French classics, my mission was to find Le Petit Prince, which I found in a ‘newer’ bookstore (like Barnes & Noble).

I wanted to read the book the way it was meant to be read: in French.  Luckily, you don’t have to buy the book if you want to read it in French.  It’s available via PDF online.

After I finish Donna Tartt’s “The Goldfinch,” I’ll be opening up my copy of Le Petit Prince to enjoy all over again.



Blogs to Read

I have a few favorite bloggers that cover the topic of France and the French lifestyle.

1. Paris in Four Months: This Swedish lady, Carin, spent four months in Paris to learn the language before returning back home to Stockholm.  She began to miss Paris so she moved there in 2013 and started a brand new adventure.  Through her photo blog, I came to fall in love with the way she saw beauty.  She shares that beauty in her photos.  They’re all so beautiful.  One of her subjects (or models) has her own blog: Gary Pepper.  If you want to fall in love with beauty…follow both of these blogs.  It’s a little bit of breathtaking beauty every single day. [Fashion/Lifestyle/Photography]

2. French Country Cottage: The key to a fabulous blog all lies within the pictures.  It’s like looking in a magazine.  That’s what you’ll find here at the French Country Cottage.  I also follow her on Twitter because there are pointers and photos and conversations going on that for those who love home decor and beautiful home decor, will be genuinely pleased with what she offers.  [Home/Entertaining]

3. French Revolution: Born and raised in New York with a French mom (who loves food and to cook) and a father who has a love for great food?  I give you French Revolution.  Highly recommended for those who love a good story to go along with a recipe.  She loves her food, so that means she loves good food.  A must follow. [Food]

4.  Oh So French: What is it about the French lifestyle that makes us feel so glamorous? Whatever that je ne sais quoi is, you, too can live it up like the French with me this month.  Oh So French shows you how. [Lifestyle]

5. Jen Reviews: At Jen Reviews, Jen has come up with 15 classic essential French dishes that everyone should learn how to master.  She takes you through all 15 recipes from Bouillabaisse to ratatouille and the Croque-Monsieur (my favorite).  If you want to challenge yourself in the kitchen and learn how to cook French food, this is an excellent place to start. [Lifestyle, Food, Health, Travel]



French Literature

How many classical French literature books have you read in your lifetime?  As I was perusing the Goodreads.com list, I noticed I not only have read a lot of them, but I own the majority of them.  That’s a lot.  Considering I don’t feel like I’ve read a lot of classical literature books, it ends up the majority of the classical literature I gravitated towards were all French.

Here are some of my favorites I highly recommend:

The Stranger (Albert Camus)
Madame Bovary (Gustave Flaubert) [Note: this book is steamy]
Les Misérables (Victor Hugo) [I love this story]
Tartuffe (Moliére) [Everyone needs to read Moliére. This was the first play I ever read from him]
Candide (Voltaire) [I don’t even know why I liked this book, but I remember reading it one summer while I was in college and felt wiser because I had.]

For those wanting a bit of French culture and great literature, I highly recommend The Paris Wife (Random House Reader’s Circle Deluxe Reading Group Edition): A Novel.  This is the story of Ernest Hemingway and his first wife.  I read this book before I went to Paris last time.  I ended up going around Paris trying to see the city through the eyes of Hemingway.  A literary adventure is always the best adventure to take while traveling.  My favorite moment was walking into Shakespeare & Company (the place where Hemingway ordered all of his English/American books) to see photos of Hemingway and his son as soon as you walk in.  To think that Hemingway once stood in this store, perusing titles, talking to the owners…you can’t help but feel more connected to him.  As a writer, it’s chicken soup for our souls.  A definite MUST READ.

What are some of your favorite French reads?



Extra

When I’m in Paris, I always spend time in bookstores looking for French books and classics.  One author I am constantly looking for is Goethe…the man who made Faust what it is today.  Goethe is a German writer, but his works have been transcribed into French. I am always looking for any version of his work in French, but as close to the original date of first publication.  I was fortunate to find a piece from the 1800s the last time I was in Paris.

When I returned to the US, I happened upon an antiques street festival and came across the original Goethe works in German.  The binding had to be replaced, but the inside was pristine.  I snatched up every single book, took it to the register and they said $5.

So I walked away a happy customer, because I had finally found the books I had spent countless hours looking for while I was in Europe.  One woman realized what I had and chased me down the street trying to purchase them off of me.  I looked at her funny and walked away.  When you’ve spent years looking for something and you finally find it, there’s no way you’re going to ever give it up.

xxoo,

Michelle

2015 Book Challenge

A resolution I make every year is to read 52 books a year (a book a week).  These last two years I’ve kind of slacked off due to dramatic life changes.  In 2015, I plan on getting back on track.

While perusing Pinterest, I saw that Popsugar had pinned this reading challenge from their site.  I think it’s a brilliant way to come up with ideas on what to read next.  So I’m joining the Popsugar Book Challenge.  You should join us!  You can click here for a downloadable printable.

Here’s their challenge:

2015 book challenge
PopSugar.com’s 2015 Reading Challenge.

If you find a great book this year, please pass the information along in the comments!

Resolutions 2015

The Christmas holiday rush is over.  Now is the time to reflect and ponder over how you want to approach the new year.  What changes do you need to make in your life?  What realistic changes do you want in your life?

There are needs and then there are wants.  A need is something that you need to do with your life to set it on the right track like resolving to pay all of your bills on time, or saving enough money for your emergency fund, or going to the doctor to check out that strange condition you have.  A want is to lose 10 pounds before your high school reunion, or to go on a much ‘needed’ vacation to X locale.  Whatever it is you resolve to do, be it a need or a want, create a plan to make it happen.

I’ve been thinking about my resolutions since Thanksgiving.  I’ve already started putting my plan to work.  Here’s my game plan and my resolutions.

1. It starts with a notebook.

ks1 ks2If you want to stick to your resolutions this year, start off by getting a notebook that suits your needs.  I purchased a nice Kate Spade notebook for this year’s resolutions to reflect the journey ahead.  I chose this one because it was pretty to look at from the outside.  I liked the simplicity of the notebook.  It was wire-bound (which makes it easy to flip pages) and pretty.

I also bought a Kate Spade agenda mainly for it’s functionality for what I do.  It will allow me to keep track of this year’s resolutions while making it easier to visually see upcoming events, blogging projects, and schedule games for me and the Devils’ photographers and writers (as well as my NY Rangers assignments).

This agenda was perfect for me because it has a blank monthly calendar at the beginning of each month and then a daily lined calendar following it to write in more detailed info.  I’ll get into why this is important in the following points.

Agenda, $36; Notebook, $14.

2. Write out your resolutions.

There are many things you may want to resolve to do this year to improve yourself or your quality of life.  Try to be realistic in those goals.  Write out each resolution in your journal and then use the journal as a diary to see how you are making those resolutions happen.  It’s okay to admit failure.  As you go along, you may find that the resolution is no longer what you want in life.  That’s okay.  But if you find you still want to make that resolution come true, start finding a different way to make it happen.  If at first you don’t succeed…

Here are my 2015 Resolutions:

  • Focus More. So much time is wasted away by focusing on everything else but the main thing.  I plan on focusing more by taking these steps: 1) Deleting all Game Apps from my phone (with the exception of the Mahjongg strategy game that actually helps develop brain functionality).  2) Focus on the task in front of you so that you can complete it without any distractions (that means, if I’m writing, I need to have the TV turned off as well as the phone and any social media applications).  3. Spend down time on the commute reading books, instead of wasting time on mindless activities.
  • Be more in touch with humanity.  One thing that bothers me is being so connected to technology that I fail to connect with actual human beings.  What happened to the written card or letter in the mail?  What about a phone call instead of a text message?  By putting a device between us and the person we are communicating with, we’ve started to lose touch with humanity.  I want to spend this year reconnecting with people.  I’ve lost touch with good friends over the years.  I plan on reconnecting with them next year.  Everyone loves to get a card in the mail.  I’ll be sending more of those out next year.  Maybe I’ll even visit a few friends this year in person.
  • Read 52 books a year (a book a week).  This resolution has fallen to the wayside in the last 2 years.  In 2015, I plan on correcting that.  If I want to read more youth focused books like Percy Jackson, I’ll read it.  But I have to read at least 5 classics this year.  Those take a little longer to read, but youth books are usually easy to breeze through.  I also want to read “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy as my one BIG book to read throughout the year. [2014’s big read was “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas.]  I’m also going back to my rewards program for each book completed.  I’ll reward myself a dollar amount according to the book read and how it was acquired (if purchased, 3x cost of book; if borrowed from the library, $50; if a classic, $100.)
  • Buy what you need. Buy what you want only 2x a year.  To combat having more than enough in the house, I want to bring back what was so special about birthdays and Christmases.  Throughout the year, I’ll be making a list of the things I want and only splurging on them for the two occasions (with the exception of the new fall wardrobe in August).  Throughout the year, I’ll only buy what I need (food, etc.).  [Only exception to the wardrobe rule is life changes like: if I lose weight or become pregnant and need to purchase new clothes.]
  • $500 Emergency Every Day Fund.  I want to have an ongoing $500 emergency fund for every day expenses for the ‘just in case’ I forget my lunch and need to dine out, or need to buy a book for an upcoming event, or whatever happens during the daily course of life that I did not budget for that month.  This is more than enough for those items I didn’t see coming.  Basically, this is the miscellaneous budget that needs to be refilled every month, not the big emergency fund.
  • Make a better Christmas.  Throughout the year, I’ll be planning for Xmas 2015.  Since my brother missed Xmas 2014 because he is deployed, 2015 will be bigger and better than ever.  Throughout the year, I’ll be not only shopping for Xmas but creating a better Advent by buying gift cards for those in need.  This year’s Advent will focus mainly on charity.  Throughout the year, I’ll be preparing for that Advent season and Xmas.  And yes, I plan on being overly generous to those in need.
  • Mission 40.  In a couple of years, I’ll be 40.  I told myself in my 20s that I would have an amazing yogalicious body by the time I was 40.  I got this idea after seeing a photo of a 40-year old woman who practiced yoga.  She had the most amazing body I had ever seen.  I wanted to be like that when I grew up: strong, lean and healthy.  So with that dream just 2 years away (did I procrastinate or what?), 2015 and 2016 will be devoted to that dream.  That means living a better, healthier lifestyle dedicated to being a better yogi and athlete.  That means going to the gym 3 times a week and rewarding myself monetarily with each objective (to go towards the birthday/Xmas wish list).  This also means coming up with a realistic weekly plan (using the agenda).  For each week I’ll state a goal on what I would like to accomplish and work towards doing that each week.  The agenda will also be used to track exercise/food/water intake.
  • Build a better blog.  I’ve actually been working on this for the last two months.  A good blogger develops blogging resolutions.  While I’d like to say I’d like to write every single day, some days I have too much to write about and not enough time to write about it.  In other words, blogging every single day is not realistic to me.  But blogging 3x a week may be more realistic for me.  I want to make sure this site and my other two sites have better, qualitative content.  As I evolve, so too will the blogs.  I am trying to keep in mind that this is a “Diary” so I need to focus on making this more about that journey to being a more perfect me.  {That’s why I’m sharing my resolutions}  It’s not limited to just doing something I love like cooking or sharing journeys I’ve come across…this is also about becoming the person I envision myself to be.  She’s not necessarily a perfectionist, but I want to be that perfect person I see that I have the potential to be.  She is not perfect, but she is striving to be a better human being.  So in the next few days you’ll see a new, revamped site.
  • Pay off all bills; save for down payment on new house; generate a million dollars.  Everyone has some sort of financial goal.  Me?  I’ve got the simple, the difficult and the outrageous.  Simple is paying off all bills.  Difficult is saving for that down payment because I am a spender.  Generating a million this next year?  It’s outrageous, but I created a dream board a couple of months ago.  I keep looking at it thinking I must be nuts that I want those things.  But then I keep looking at that house on the beach, the view of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (from an apartment), that yogalicious body, the qualities in life, love and joy that I want and that million dollars in the making and I start to re-evaluate what I want out of life.  It provides me with a mission to pursue the type of life I want.  If you can dream it, only you can say yes or no to it.  I choose to finally say yes to it.  Every dream has its own time.  Try making your own dream board.  You won’t believe how it can truly change your mind about what you think you can have.  It opens your mind (daily) to the possibility that those things you dream about can become yours.

 3. Keep track of your resolutions.

Using the journal, I like to put down all of my ideals on how I can make those resolutions happen.  I set up rules for myself.  Take for instance the 52 books a year resolution.  I have rules set up for how much I can earn money by reading.  That money goes into a “Fantasy Wardrobe” fund.  I usually throw the money I earned from this resolution towards obscene purchases like a Balmain skirt or a YSL bag.  It’s my treat fund.  Since I’m only buying things for my birthday and for Xmas, that is the money I’m using for whatever designer purchase I have my heart set on at that time.

I’m also setting up rules for fulfilling my Mission 40 goals.  It’s better for me to set up monetary rewards than it is for something like a “spa day” or a “manicure” or whatever floats your boat on things you like.  Setting up a reward I want and will appreciate will help me work towards another goal that is more satisfying than a spa day at Bliss.  Who knows, that money earned could go towards a pre-birthday wardrobe (i.e. if I lost weight and dropped a few sizes, I’d need a new wardrobe…that money earned from the Mission 40 goal could go towards that new wardrobe).

I was watching “When the Game Stands Tall” and saw a neat trick the coach had his players perform.  Each week they had to put their goals on an index card and read it out loud to the team.  The first was their training goal.  The next was their practice goal.  The third was their game goal.  They created weekly realistic goals and went out to accomplish each of those goals on a weekly basis.

During my first week for Mission 40, here are the goals I am setting:

1. Go to the gym 3x a week (1 day can be for golf if too sore).

2. Do 100 sit-ups; 75 push ups daily.

3. Do yoga 2x a week.

4. Eat less carbs, more fruits/vegetables, drink more water.

5. Monitor, journal all food/exercise/water.

6. Walk 10,000 steps daily.

While this may look like too much in that first week, let’s look at this realistically…

The main challenge is #1…getting to the gym.  My gym is Chelsea Piers.  A number of conditions can crop up in January like polar vortexes or snow storms.  Those two things could prevent me from getting to the gym.  There are a number of excuses I can come up with on why I can’t go to the gym…but if I make it a goal that week, I have to see to it.  Maybe that first week I can get there once, what’s the back up?  It’s actually everything else you see there.

Doing #2 and #6 daily…that’s still exercise I can do at home or at the office.  I can go outside and walk around my neighborhood (unless there’s a major storm).  In midtown NYC, I can walk underground.  There are ways to stay out of the elements during the week that can net me 10,000 steps a day.

Doing #3 is actually simple for me in the AM.  I just pop in the Yoga for Abs DVD and roll around in bed doing the moves (because the floor is too hard on my back).

The rest is about diet and journaling my food intake and activity.

For each weekly goal that was not accomplished, I have to re-evaluate at the end of the week what I need to change.  If I can’t get to the gym 3x that week, but could make it 1x, then the next week, I will try to match that and get there 1x, but I’ll also try for 2x…and then work my way up to 3x or more.  During the hockey season, more than 3x is unrealistic for me.  But 1-2x is realistic.

Sometimes we set our sights too high and when it doesn’t work out we quit.  Instead, after each week, re-evaluate the goal and change it into a weekly goal that is realistic for you.  You’ll find that the more you work at that goal, the more you’re ready to take the next step towards a bigger goal for yourself.  It takes baby steps to making a resolution work.  Just remember that.  Baby steps to the finish line, not leaps and bounds and then you’re magically there.  It takes a lot of work to make a dream happen.  Anyone that tells you otherwise is lying to you.

Notice I didn’t put “Yoga class” for that first week.  Taking classes takes a lot of courage.  I find that trying to just get myself into shape at the gym, doing some yoga at home, and then working up my self-esteem towards taking a class…like I said, everything takes baby steps.

What you mark out as those baby steps you write down in your journal.  This is where you find your confidence to take the next step in your journey.  Resolutions are really a journey in changing yourself.  You have to look at it as that, or don’t bother making one.

Use your agenda to map out your weekly goals.  This is a way for you to keep track of your daily progress.  Log your feelings, emotions, triumphs, etc. in your journal, as well as your ideas to better yourself and your resolution.  I highly recommend that Kate Spade agenda because it puts your daily/weekly/monthly agendas all in one place.  If you’re like me, you need to see what is going on monthly, but you also do most of the detailed daily stuff in the weekly agenda.  This agenda puts both types of calendars in 1 spot.

Keep in mind that you’re not going to achieve every goal on a weekly basis.  It doesn’t mean you are a failure.  It just means you need to re-evaluate your game plan.  The only way you will find success is in doing what works for you, not what works against you.  So don’t beat yourself up if you didn’t accomplish your goal that week.  Just do better the following week by re-evaluating how you can make the goal work for you. Do you need to take a step back?  Do you need to push yourself more?  Whatever it is, come up with a new game plan if the current week’s game plan didn’t turn out the way you hoped it would.  If you accomplished all of your goals that week, reward yourself.  Don’t reward yourself with something that will work against what you’re working so hard to accomplish (i.e. if you’re trying to lose weight, don’t reward yourself with an ice cream cone).

Reward yourself to a small reward like a manicure, or a new book, or do like I do…pay yourself for accomplishing your goal and save that money up for some luxury purchase you’ve been dreaming about (like a trip to South America).  At least with the monetary goal, you’re using that reward towards another goal/dream in life.  Out of all of the years I’ve instituted a rewards program for achieving my goals, only the monetary reward worked.  As you’re working towards your goal, you can see moneywise how well you are doing by how much money you’ve earned along the journey.

4. Enjoy the ride.

Resolutions are not always a solo journey.  You meet a lot of people along the way when you are working towards achieving a dream.

My 52 books a year, netted me a book club where we can discuss books together.

Mission 40, I meet new people at the gym or at the golf range all of the time.

Making a better Christmas, part of that is meeting people and knowing what their story is.  My plan is to give out $200 gift cards to people I know personally that are in need and could use $200 at Xmas time.  It means visiting the food pantries.  It means talking to a random homeless person and understanding why they are where they are today.  It means reconnecting with the world instead of judging them because of where they found themselves in life.

This Christmas, I found myself overflowing with very expensive gifts.  I had over $520 in gift cards to spend at Target.  I love Target, but I hate shopping there because every time I go, there’s always some family I run into that has only a few dollars to spend on food or no money to spend on a toy a child wants.  They take a look at my overflowing cart and they look away ashamed that they are so poor, while I’m overflowing.

My friend told me today not to be ashamed of that cart.  My heart breaks for those families, but it’s not like I’ve never shared the wealth.  She told me to look at how overly generous I’ve been with so many other families.  Those kids in shelters (and the foster system) that asked for extravagant gifts for Xmas this year, I bought them everything but the Xbox and the bike (I can’t ship the bike and the Xbox…for obvious reasons).  I felt so bad about the bike that I sent her a collapsible scooter instead, because that was easier to ship.  There are so many families I helped over the holiday season that my friend reminded me that I paid it forward well in advance of the holidays and I was overly generous to each and every child.  The universe saw what I did and rewarded me handsomely for it by being overly generous to me during the holidays.

It’s in my character to give.  It’s hard for me to take something for myself without feeling bad about it.  My mother told me I was always like this.  I was always willing to give, but when it came to getting what I wanted, I’d take into account our financial situation and pick the cheapest toy on the shelf, even if I could have the $20 Barbie doll.  I’d stare at that doll longingly, but choose the toy I didn’t want because it was the least expensive item on the shelf.  Even if she said I could have that Barbie doll, I’d profess I didn’t want it and walk away with the other toy.  I’d do this because I take nothing for myself.  When I do, there is a level of guilt there.  It goes along with the Cancerian territory.  It’s a trait of ours.  We give of ourselves freely, but seldom take for ourselves.  When we do, we feel extreme guilt.

That’s me, every single time I shop in Target.  For some reason, while I’m there I always run into one of those families in need.  I watch people complaining about how they can’t afford X, Y and Z bill but walk out with a $60 game or some other frivolous expense.  What it reminds me of is to give freely to those who really are in there with $8 to spend on food for a family of 6, and it also reminds me how to write for people that are still searching for ways to get their lives in order.

That’s what this post is really about in the end.

Moving into 2015…

So as we move into 2015, this site will change.  I’ll keep you posted on my resolutions throughout the year, because this is a diary of a perfectionist wannabe.  I’m keeping the favorite topics you love here.  I’ll be delving into different culinary pastures as we try to keep it in sync with my resolutions.  Yes, I can be a foodie and be on a diet at the same time!  I’ll show you how this year.

I’ll still be doing my arts, entertainment, reading, etc.  Travel…it’s not something I’ve done much of since my surgery.  I’m waiting for my wanderlust to kick back in again (plus, with the latest addition to the family being a little high maintenance, it’s a little difficult to leave him alone because he will trash the house out of anger).  Plus, with saving for a house, spending $10k on travel this year just isn’t on my list of priorities.  I want the house more.

Throughout the year, I’ll also be sharing tips on how I’m decluttering and reorganizing at home.   I’ll also be sharing some financial tips, and sharing with you what I find and what’s working for me.  In other words, this will become an all around lifestyle blog without the sports. 🙂 You’ll have to go to my hockey site for that information.

Looking forward to chatting with all of you in the new year.

xxoo,

Michelle
New Year

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

xmas13This year, I couldn’t wait to get the tree up, so on Thanksgiving Day, while the ham was still roasting in the oven, I put the tree up, decorated it, and began putting together the Advent gifts.

In November, I did all of the Christmas shopping I needed to do.  I was done long before Black Friday hit.

This is the second year I’ve joined in the Frosty’s Friends program.  This program is sponsored by Jersey Cares.  People that sign up get a letter from a child with their Christmas toy wishes.  This year, the kids asked for a lot of expensive gifts from Xboxes to DS2s to bikes, to not 1 Monsters High doll but 5 dolls, plus a Barbie and her car!  I almost had a heart attack when I got the letters because I sponsored five children and they were all demanding really high ticket items including the now sold out Elsa’s Castle from Frozen.

Because I believe that children should have at least one amazing Christmas in their lifetime, I went ahead and bought them what they asked for…except for the Xbox One and the bike.  I can’t ship bikes and the Xbox was out of the question.  He asked for a DS too, so he got that instead.

I know a lot of people say I go above and beyond for these kids, but I believe that every child should have a Christmas, no matter how horrible their circumstances are.  For these kids to be in the Frosty program, it means they wouldn’t have a Christmas if it weren’t for these gifts.

xmas11I will say this, I’m only going to sponsor one child next year.  They are just asking for too much these days.  This year’s gifts topped 4 figures between all 5 kids.  I will say that shopping for all of them the second I got the letters actually helped me to score all of their coveted gifts long before they were sold out, including that now sold out everywhere Elsa Castle.  I just hope the kids get their gifts and love them.

Part of me wishes I was there to see them open up their gifts, just to see their faces light up when they see that Frosty got them what they had been wishing for.  To me, that look of joy and excitement on a child’s face…that’s what makes Christmas a happier day for me.

As for other charitable works this season, I ended up sending a Christmas box for the troops.

My brother is currently deployed, so he’ll be missing Christmas this year.  We usually spend it together.  With him away, that means we’ll both be spending this time without family.

He left Afghanistan a few weeks ago.  I have no idea where he’s stationed now because they’ve been very secretive with each of the locations.  He can’t tell me where he’s stationed until after he’s left each country.

We still stay connected on Skype via text messages.  In those messages, he updates me on what he needs/wants while he’s out serving his country.  His last message to me was that there apparently was no laundry detergent where he’s currently stationed.  He asked me to send him some laundry pods.  It was really fun discussing with the post office lady what was in the box I had to send through customs.  She asked me, “What?  They don’t have laundry detergent in the country he’s stationed in?”

Apparently not, because that was an emergency text he sent me.

The day after I shipped the Tide pods, I shipped out a huge box filled with goodies for him and his squadron.  His only request was Ramen and Sriracha.  He’s a huge gummy lover, so I made sure to fill it up with plenty of candy, too.

xmas8He just by chance mentioned that he didn’t have a bowl for the Ramen, so I ordered a bowl from Crate & Barrel with chopsticks so he could have his Ramen soup.  What’s great is that Dollar Tree was selling all of this food for $1 each. A 5-pack of Ramen is $1.  That beats what you pay at the grocery store these days.

I also found a few Thai microwavable products.  I have no idea what it tastes like, but I’m sure he’s missing some good ole Pad Thai by now.

When I told him I shipped out the boxes and that there was more than enough for him to share with his colleagues, he responded that what I did was a good thing.  I was supporting the troops.

It’s funny how he worded it, because he knows me.  I don’t support war.  I think our troops would be better off protecting us back at home.

This was the first time I’ve ever sent a care package to the troops.  I think I felt more of that Scrooge spirit disappear after I mailed off the box.

xmas6 xmas7 xmas3As for trying to bring the Christmas spirit into my own home, I’ve been opening up a new Advent box every day.

A couple of years ago, I started doing Advent projects.  The first year it was all about connecting to the spirit of Christmas.  I had spent so many years not celebrating the holiday, that I decided to get reacquainted with the true meaning of Christmas.

I made sure to have plenty of Christmaslike activities planned from reading Charles Dickens, “A Christmas Carol,” to watching holiday movies, to learning all about the story of how Santa Claus came into being…that was my first year of Advent.

Last year, I opened up a bag with a new ornament for each day of Advent.

xmas10This year, it’s all about boxes.  Each Advent gift had to be in a box with an activity for the day.  This year, there were a lot of baking moments from cookies to pancakes for dinner.

Tonight, I’m having peppermint hot cocoa while watching a holiday movie.  And yes, when I’m not at a hockey game, I’m watching holiday movies.  On the weekends, ABC Family is on all day as they host their 25 days of Christmas movies.

With my latest addition to the family, Matthew Lucifer, around, I have had to put the tree and presents up on the kitchen table so he he won’t get into them.  He’s super bad.  Here are a few of his outtakes so far this season…

xmas9 xmas5 xmas4 xmas1 xmas2From trying to sneak out with the boxes to the post office, to standing on the charity gifts while I’m wrapping them, to laying on top of the boxes to be shipped out (which happen to be right next to the Christmas stockings), to getting into the decorations, to sitting on the charity presents…he’s been a handful.

That last picture…that gift…he ended up trying to rip open. Trust me, he’s been doing a lot of things he’s not supposed to be doing at Christmas.  He gravitates between the naughty and nice list every single day.  Naughty more times than nice.

This will be our first Christmas together, so I’ve already purchased his itty bitty toys.  I had to give him a new Eeyore, because the other one he had he completely shredded.  I still have to find a new harness for him and a few sweaters.  Although, if worse comes to worse…we may stick to just bow ties because they’re much easier to get on him.  {I learned he is a medium sized dog in clothes.  Small is too small for him. He has a very large chest.}

xmas12All in all, I thought at first I was nuts for putting the tree up on Thanksgiving Day, but it ended up being a smart thing to do.  Ends up Christmas started a little earlier for me this year.  I needed to ship out everyone’s gifts weeks before Christmas.  Thank goodness I finished shopping for everyone back in November.

Since my brother really can’t get any real gifts this Christmas, because he’d have to lug it from country to country for the next however many months, I decided to prepare for a bigger and better Christmas next year since he is missing Christmas this year.

This year is going to be a bit of a dry run.  This is the first year I’ve done a Christmas tree.  I plan on upping the ante for next year, including more incredible gifts than he got last year (because we are making up for a missed Christmas) and prepping the home to make it friendlier for his visits.

My brother is a gamer, so I ordered a new video game system, got a bigger, smarter TV, and now he can’t ask me about why I don’t do Blu Ray.  In other words, this should be a big surprise for him.  The last time I got a new flat screen, he showed up and looked at it and said, “Who got this for you?”  I responded, “I did.”

“I mean…who helped you with this?”

“No one.  I bought it by myself.”

I’m known to play dumb when it comes to technology, that’s why he gets all of my electronics for me.  So doing this without him…I’m hoping he’ll be surprised when he shows up next Christmas.

As for this Christmas, I plan on keeping it low key, opening up gifts and then watching movies at home with some take out Thai food.  Technically, that’s what my brother and I would have done anyway if he was home for Christmas.

I still have the Food Pantry to drop off items to before Christmas so my days of charitable giving are not yet complete.  That means, more shopping to do.

I just want to end this with one last note on giving…for me, I don’t really need presents for myself because I buy what I want when I want it.  I’m never truly in want of anything.  But I realize that God gave me such an amazing life, career, and has taken care of me very well over the years.  I have to share the wealth of what God has given to me.  That means I donate to charities every month (St. Jude’s, Soles for Souls, World Wildlife Foundation and ASPCA).  Once a year, I donate gifts to children in need.  Every season I donate clothes and other items to the Vietnam Veterans of America.  When I do a food order, I order extra items to donate to the food pantry.  It’s an ongoing cycle of giving, because when you give to those who need, the universe returns the favor and provides you with the things you need.  That is why I share the wealth God has given to me.

Giving is not just a one time deal around Christmas, it’s an ongoing thing.  Yes, I am used to donating all of the time.  It’s not a big deal anymore like it was when I first started donating.  It’s part of the life I live.  I know there are people looking for ways to get involved or to be giving during the holidays.  Don’t just think of donating one time a year, do it all of the time.  You’ll find that when you share your wealth with those who need help like children with cancer, animals that need protecting, or families that are hungry, you’ll find that your wealth ultimately grows substantially.

Every great financial adviser in the world will tell you that (and if they don’t, find a new one).  It’s probably the smartest thing you could ever invest in…helping others.  I go above and beyond because that’s what my heart demands.  It has nothing to do with growing my own money.  It’s just what my heart tells me to do.  When you follow your heart, that is what makes this life worth living, because our universe becomes a much more magical place on this journey we are on when we give back.

If you are constantly depleting the bank account of good fortune in life, you’ll end up using it all.  You have to constantly keep making good karmic deposits into that bank account if you want to continue living an incredible life.  It’s just the way it works.

This may be my only post this month, because I’m working on upgrading this site for 2015 and working on new and improved content.  I want to wish each and every one of you a Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!  Many, many blessings to you and your loved ones.

xxoo,

Michelle

Giving Thanks C-Z

The days just start to get away with you and before you know it…the holiday is already here, so I’m going to put together the rest of my list…

Giving Thanks from C to Z….

C- Charlie.  Little brothers, no matter where in the world they are, are always important.  Charlie is deployed overseas right now.  He just left Afghanistan.  Who knows where he is now.  I am thankful I’ve had such a supportive brother.  He’s stood by my side through thick and thin because he believes in me.  I’m thankful for him.  {A little sneak peek into next month’s feature…I’m putting together his military Xmas package.}

D- Dorothy.  She’s one of my closest friends.  One thing she said to me that left a strong impact on me was: “Your family is not normal.”  When she said that, I had to take a step back and look at my family from outside of the box.  She’s right.  This family is completely dysfunctional, so why do I even care if I don’t agree with the values they are choosing to embrace?  She introduced me to her family & made me a part of it.  From them, I’ve learned what it means to be a family.  Before her mother died, her mother was teaching me how to raise children.  I’ll never forget her for that.  I’m just thankful Dorothy came into my life when she did.  She showed up when I needed someone like her the most.  She showed me what a family was.

E- Ethel.  She’s a new friend, but she is constantly making me think of ways to be more creative.  Whether it’s a DIY project or a home cooked meal, we are constantly looking for ways to make our projects more amazing.  It helps that she’s a foodie just like me.  It makes for a lot of interesting conversations.

F- Friends.  I’ve been blessed with some great friends.  They’ve made me part of their families. They’ve taught me many things about love, laughter, friendship and families.  At this age, it’s about going through life together.

G- God.  Through him all things are possible.  He’s a father.  He’s a best friend.  He’s a companion.  He’s the best thing that ever happened to me.

Mads MikkelsenH- Hannibal.  If it weren’t for the TV show, this site would probably not exist.  Hannibal awakened my fascination into the beauty of perfectionism.  There is something to learning more about culture, music and becoming a culinary artist.  These days I can pick out a classical tune in 3 notes thanks to the world of Dr. Hannibal Lecter.  Of all the things this man does, it’s the perfectionist in him that draws me in.

I- Inside Hockey.  I’ve been with IH for 7 years now.  They weren’t the first publication I wrote for, but they were the first to push me into the press box.  That moment made me go down in the NHL history books as the first 100% internet based website to be credentialed into the NHL.  IH has given me so many amazing opportunities over the years.  For the first few years, I was the one that was traveling all over the world to cover the game.  Now, I’m trying to focus on less, but more qualitative work.  I have a team of people I work with now.  Before, it was just me.  Now, instead of covering every single game, I’m focusing on just feature stories, which ironically requires much more work and research.  It’s harder work, but it’s more of who I am now.

I’m also thankful for Itty Bittys.  They’re Matthew’s favorite toy.  Instead of chewing on me at 3AM, I hand him his Itty Bitty and he starts chomping away.  My hands thank whoever makes Itty Bittys.

J- Joseph Delaney.  If there is one name that is repeated again and again on my books I’ve read this year list, it’s Joseph Delaney.  His Spook series (“The Last Apprentice”) has kept me entertained all year long.  I’ve read every single one of his books.  I just can’t get enough.

K- KitchenAid Mixer.  Who knew that this old school mixer would not just be the most beautiful thing in my kitchen but also the most important appliance?

L- Love.  There is no greater thing in the universe.  When you love and feel loved, it is everything.

matthew2M- Matthew Lucifer.  The latest edition to my family may be the cutest little guy on the face of the earth, but he can also be Lucifer himself reincarnated into a cat.  Either way, as much money as this Maine Coon has cost me over the last 3 months, he has been worth every single penny.  He’s learning to tame his Lucifer side as the days go by.  He has been a little godsend because he makes me laugh.  He’s still a little kid inside, and that’s what makes him so much fun.

N- New York City. God, I love this place.  I have enjoyed every single second here.  NYC is not a place I regret.  It’s a place I fall in love with every single day.

O- Oprah.  While this may be funny to some, Oprah (and her magazine “O”) has really made me think a lot about life.  She puts out there thoughts to consider on how to live your best life possible.  She’s found the secret to happiness and she’s trying to help the world discover it for themselves.  While I know what that secret is, I’ve learned that there is so much more to learn and understand.  Life is more fulfilling when you realize what the secret to happiness is and how to make it grow.  Oprah is constantly pointing us in that direction.  I always love hearing from the people she’s found.  Knowledge is a wonderful thing.  I’m thankful for the knowledge she is sharing with all of us.

P- Pinterest.  Pinterest is a wonderful place.  It’s filled with so many ideas, so much food, and it pushes me in the direction of discovering a new blogger that I may enjoy.  I love sharing pins with friends and even trying out a few pins here and there.  It’s become my filing system for recipes galore.  Gotta love it.

Q- Queens.  You either love it or you hate it.  Queens hosts Flushing, NY, my favorite Chinatown.  I hate going there because people are so rude, but it has what I need and the food there is AMAZING.  The food outweighs the bad behavior.

R- Red Basil. This is my favorite Thai restaurant.  What makes me love the restaurant so much is that the food tastes just like Mom’s home cooking.  But it’s not just the food there, it’s the people.

S- Surita.  My other cat in my life.  She’s been with me for 14 years.  She is the one that loves me most.  I can’t imagine going to bed without her by my side.  Sure, she’s been mad at me for bringing home a Maine Coon, but I think she likes him.  She just doesn’t like to share me.  She’s still boss.  She never let’s any of us forget that.

T- Todd English’s Ca Va. This is my favorite restaurant in all of NYC.  They make food the way I love food…with flavors that just burst on your tongue with every single bite you take.  Before my surgery, I was a regular there.  Post-op, not so much because my taste buds weren’t there.  In 2015, I plan on going back to my weekly haunt.  Why?  Because they treat me so well there.  I’m thankful to them for making food just the way I love it.

U- The Universe.  The Universe is a wonderful thing.  When you learn how to tap into what the universe can offer, you’re in for one amazing ride in life.

V- Vinegar.  Vinegar is a wonderful thing.  You can add it to your food when you need something a little tart.  It is your cure all for cleaning in a non-toxic way.  That heat stain on my brand new black table?  Applied vinegar onto it, soaked a towel in vinegar and put it over it (reapplied)…heat stain is gone in a couple of days.  Vinegar is my miracle juice.

W- Willy Wonka.  Everyone has their favorite childhood candies.  Mine come in the form of Willy Wonka.  From Nerds to Laffy Taffy to the good ole pixie sticks.  Willy Wonka has been providing me with my sugar highs for the majority of my life.  Where would I be without him?

X- X-Men.  Because who knew you could look so hot in your mid-40s?  Hugh Jackman’s definition of what he does for his character Wolverine can put anyone’s diet and workout regimen to shame.  That is dedication.  I’m thankful for X-Men for making Hugh Jackman work so hard at being hot.

Y- Yoga.  I’m thankful for yoga because it has helped me in so many ways, including rolling out those aches I get in my lower back.

Z- Zen.  Being ‘zen’ is probably the biggest challenge for everyone on this planet, but it’s a meditative thought process we should all learn to achieve.  Knowledge is power.  Applying those principles to our daily lives is the challenge.  Once it ceases to be a challenge, you are an enlightened being.  I am thankful that there are principles like these out there to help human beings evolve into better human beings.

All in all the thing I’m most thankful for is this amazing life.  I’ve been very fortunate over the years to have a good job, good friends, a dream career, amazing health insurance, more than enough, and an amazing adventure.  It’s the adventure I’m on that I’m most thankful for.  I thank God for giving me the amazing adventure in life every single day.  It’s a charmed life.  It’s not luck.  It’s about being on your path in life.  When you’re on your path in life everything works out more magically than you can ever imagine your life to be.  If you’re not on your path, nothing works out.  I’m just thankful that life, the good and the bad, happened the way it happened.  If it hadn’t, it wouldn’t have made me who I am today.  I’ve enjoyed the ride.

Vive La France!

Sacré Cœur (c) 2012 Michelle Kenneth
Vive La France!  Photograph of Sacré Cœur (c) 2012 Michelle Kenneth.

Over the course of this next month, we’re going to take a look at the French culture.  From macarons, to the delectable French cuisine, to the art and literature, to fashion icons, and so on.  We’ll dive into what we love about the French culture.  We’ll even try out a few recipes to dispel the myth that cooking French food is difficult. Vive la France!

Giving Thanks: B

b

There are a lot of things I can think of this year under the letter B that I’m thankful for.

1. Borbay.  One of my favorite painters based in NYC created Mads as Hannibal for me as part of his Antihero series.  Mads is done.  He’s an expensive Christmas present to myself, so I’m making sure Borbay holds onto it for me so that my new cat (Matthew Lucifer) doesn’t get into the presents and decide to rip it apart before it is hung up on the wall.  I’m really thankful that Borbay suggested doing this painting for me back a few months ago.  It now allows me to own one of his works after admiring his artwork for so many years.

2.  Books.  I love to read.  I love to write, too.  Books have been able to help me understand life as a whole, allowed me to escape into an adventurous story, feel an angel’s kiss on the lips, and dive into the stories of an entire village.  From Cassandra Clare’s books to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s stories to The Count of Monte Cristo to One Hundred Years of Solitude, I’ve grown as a human being because of books.  As the hockey season came underway, I usually never read hockey books, but this season, a bunch of hockey books came out that demanded my attention.  They even allowed me to meet the writers, and even uncover the story of one player’s childhood that had me gasping in disbelief…”If this is what it took for him to make it into the NHL, I feel so sorry for him and heartbroken.”  Those are the stories I read.  One thing I’ve learned by reading and meeting these authors…it makes writing my own book as real as ever as I listen to their pointers and learn what is so great about the stories they’re telling beyond it just being a good book.

3. Bauble Bar.  Bauble Bar is my favorite jeweler.  The majority of my jewelry collection is from this young company.  They’ve grown dramatically since I first discovered them a few years ago.  The famous peacock cuff I purchased from them for the NHL Awards just a few weeks after they launched their site was the cuff that skyrocketed them to stardom.  If you don’t believe me, just ask their staff and owners about that hockey writer and the peacock cuff.  It was that cuff I wore to the NHL Awards that gained them a huge and very loyal following.  This month, American Horror Story: Freak Show’s Emma Roberts is their guest bartender.  I think it’s awesome that they’ve now gone Hollywood.  I highly recommend them if you’re trying to build your jewelry wardrobe.  Their prices are reasonable.  They have sales.  But most of all, their jewelry is qualitative and beautiful.  Check them out.  After all, Christmas is next month.  You’ll not only find fabulous gifts, but you may even find a few things you’ll want for yourself.

*****ETC.*****

This weekend I’ll be cooking up some Thanksgiving meals to share here.  Thanksgiving can be one of the most difficult days of the year to put together a meal.  I’m starting the tradition a little earlier to give you a chance to pick up some ideas on what to make on the big Turkey Day.

One of the key things about making TDay successful is to also have a good enough meal that will allow you to reinvent amazing dishes with the leftovers.  I have one special turkey recipe that without fail turns each dish I create afterward into something any foodie will sing over.  It’s all in the details of how the turkey comes out.

So if you’re a foodie that’s thankful for amazing food…stay tuned.  Details to follow next week!

Giving Thanks: A

From Pinterest.
From Pinterest.

Today, we’re starting off with things to be thankful for starting with the letter A. So let’s get started…

ANGELS

From Pinterest. DesertUSA.com
From Pinterest. DesertUSA.com

Throughout my life I’ve researched the stories of angels.  From cultures in the most remote areas of the world to the folklores each religion tells, they all speak of angels appearing to humanity since the beginning of time.

Each age has spoken of the contributions angels have made to humanity.  From fire to farming to medicine, they have been credited as giving direction to mankind on how to survive.

These days, their roles have evolved even more as they continue to be our saviors…helping us in our most dire need.  It doesn’t matter which religion or background you come from, angels (in their spirit form) seem to still be aiding us and continue to be a large part of our lives and culture.

You can see their mark.  They protect the one doctor at the Boston Marathon just a few yards from the bomb as it goes off.  Why?  So that doctor can help save as many people as possible after the bomb has gone off.  Sure, you could ask why they didn’t just stop the bomb to begin with…in my experience, evil will happen, regardless.  They just find a way where even though the evil act will happen, they need to find the one soul that can contribute the most good during that tragedy.  One angel chose that doctor to help the survivors that day, because at that very moment, that is what the survivors needed more than anything.

While I have yet to see angels stop evil from taking its toll on humanity, I’ve seen them tap the shoulder of certain human beings that will end up helping those who need help the most when the time comes.

One of the first memories I had return to me after I lost so many of them after my surgery last year was the angel of death himself paying me a visit.  While most cower at the thought of that, I view him a little differently.  He’s helped me in so many ways over the years, including forcing me to deal with something that lay hidden within my soul that needed to be dealt with. These are the things you can’t take with you when you die.  If you do, it will keep you out of heaven.

He forced me to deal with the last guy that broke my heart.  I thought I was over it, but his focus was on forgiveness.  Forgiving him for hurting me worse than anyone had ever hurt me before, and forgiving myself for hurting him by leaving.  It was the latter part that was the most difficult…forgiving myself for hurting someone I loved by leaving.

Since our first encounter in Vatican City, I see him a little more frequently and I’m not that scared of him like I used to be.  I understand his role in the grander scheme of the universe.  Death and rebirth is a natural part of the universe.  We see it in the seasons.  Without fail, the leaves fall.  In the spring, they are reborn.  We see the constant wheel of life spin as things die and then the most beautiful things emerge.

I’ve watched in one family as they lost a mother to cancer, a year later a baby arrives.  {In this family’s case, two babies arrived.}  This is the circle of life.  Within loss and great sorrow, new life will emerge and bring joy.

Back to the surgery, one of the last things I remember before the anesthesia took effect was the angel of death visiting me while I was being prepped for surgery.  He told me I didn’t need to worry.  He wasn’t there for me that day.  He was there for someone else down the hall.  He wished me luck and let me know I was going to survive this…for a good reason.

In the few months leading up to the surgery, the doctors told me to prepare for the worst from the second we discovered the tumor.  The worst is death.  I was told to get my house in order because I may not survive this.  I spent those few months preparing myself and everyone for what was to come.  And then Death visited me to tell me I was going to live right before the surgery.  Believe me when I say that a weight of worry had definitely been lifted and at the right time.

When I was in the recovery room dreaming I was floating on a river watching the world go by, I could hear a nurse yelling at me to wake up and breathe.  I wasn’t breathing.  She needed me to concentrate on breathing.  I realized I was dreaming, which meant I was alive, so I opened my eyes to see people around me trying to wake me up.

I started focusing on my breathing to get the machine next to me to shut up.  I laid back and realized that I was floating on that river of life I always see in my meditations, the never-ending sea of God’s love, and I felt drunk on that love.  That’s when I realized that there was a good reason why I was given another chance at life.

The events of what happened last year changed the course of my life.  There’s my life before the surgery, and then there’s life after the surgery.  It’s focusing on that ‘good reason’ that I am shaping my future.

Angels, no matter what their ultimate role is, are here to help us in our journey in life.  I am thankful that they’re always helping us, because God knows, I need a lot of help navigating this adventure.  It’s also nice to see their mark on humanity.  It reminds me every single day that we’re not alone.  We are never alone.

Other A Things…

Other things I’m thankful for…Asian culture and food, apples, Anne Rice, Amy Tan, artichokes, Anthropologie and ART.  And probably a whole hell of a lot more stuff… 😉

November: The Month to Give Thanks

From LaurenConrad.com
From LaurenConrad.com

Even though I have 5-6 sites to write for, I’m going to try and put in daily content here, so I do apologize for not posting as much as I do in the summer months, but with hockey season in full gear, hockey takes up a lot of my writing/research time.

Now with that disclaimer (of sorts) out of the way, I’m going to talk about our focus for this month: Giving Thanks.  Thanksgiving is just a couple of weeks away so what better way to do a month filled with Thanksgiving posts than to talk about Giving Thanks.

Being in NYC, the center of the planet, every culture is represented here.  We have people from all over the world here in this fine city (that’s why it’s the center of the planet).  Everything you could possibly want from any part of the globe you can find here, nestled into the many communities throughout the boroughs.

That being said, each culture brings something unique to this American holiday.  Children grow up with the traditional, mixed in with a little something from their native land.  That’s what we’re going to explore this month.

Maybe you’ll find recipes to try out on Turkey Day, or even recipes to try out with all of the leftovers.  Whatever it is you’ll find here, I hope it turns out delicious!  This means I may be cooking more than one turkey this month for Diary of a Perfectionist Wannabe (“DPW”).  {I’m saying MAYBE.}  I’ll even show you a few hacks out there to make the good old classics taste better.

That’s just the food portion.

The rest of the month I’ll be sharing things to be thankful for.  November is a good time for reflection to humble ourselves as we move into the more charitable month and then the month of renewal.  Each step of the way is important as we move towards starting a new year.

Also, throughout the month, I’ll be talking more about what goes into a Perfectionist Wannabe life…as in, sharing with you the vision I have for this site.  By the new year, this site will be taking on a whole new look, so if you see the templates change every now and again, it’s because I’m testing out the direction I want this site to go.

I know what you, the reader, likes to see, so I’ll be expanding on those topics more.  But for now…we’ll be focusing on Giving Thanks.

A little something I have not drawn your attention to over these last few months is a tab above that says A-Z List for NYC.  Over the past couple of months, I’ve made it my mission to go out and do things from A-Z in NYC over the course of a few months.  I’ve done a fair amount of things so far, and have a few events in the works in the next couple of months.  I anticipate on completing the list by year end.

Going along with the idea of the A-Z list, I’m going to start from A and go all the way to Z on the things to be thankful for.  So join me by making your own list this month on the things that you are thankful for.

xxoo,

Michelle

Walking Down the Supernatural Lane

As the days of October wind down to the big finale (HALLOWEEN!), many throughout America celebrate the season all month long.  Each of us recognizes the holiday in various ways.  Some throw parties, others get dressed up and take their kids out trick or treating, while others take in as many scary flicks as they can.

dracula untold2For me, I like to take in the classics…like Dracula.  This month, Dracula: Untold featuring Luke Evans hit the big screen.  It was definitely well worth seeing more than once this month.  While it’s not scary at all, the special effects watching Vlad turn into a whirlwind of bats and then back into himself was spectacular.

While the guy next to me was freaking out every time they showed silver (Did he think he was a vampire or something?), it had some of its unbelievable comical points…that is, if you’re watching the movie with someone that laughs at that stuff.  I’m a serious person, so I take things very seriously.  But when I realized that some of the stuff was actually comical because of its predictability, I actually wanted to punch the guy next to me for laughing.  In other words, don’t laugh at Luke Evans when he’s not in a comedy.  It’s ruining the film for me.

For those who enjoy American Horror Story, I’ve been watching each of the seasons in its entirety on DVD.  I can’t decide which is my favorite, but Asylum is the only one that really scared me and left a lasting impression.

The only movies that really scared the hell out of me was Evil Dead and House of a 1000 Corpses.  Some of you may be chuckling over the former.  I was watching the movie alone and had no idea it was supposed to be comical.  All I know is that it scared the hell out of me.  I have yet to watch it a second time.  The later movies that branched from Evil Dead were comical from the get go.

Speaking of Evil Dead…how about Evil Dead: The Musical?  Don’t ask me how I stumbled upon that, but it’s showing in Cleveland, Ohio, which ironically is where Ebola case #3 cropped up.

As for Rob Zombie’s first movie, in the words of the woman who was on the other side of the theater when the credits started rolling, “That was fucked up.”  I remember sitting there in complete and utter shock, unable to move from my seat.  The only thing that brought me out of that freaked out trance was that woman yelling at the screen.

I had nightmares for the next three months after watching that movie.  I had to have cartoons on all night just so I could dream in cartoons instead of dreaming in Rob Zombie’s fucked up world.

The reason why this movie traumatized me…and traumatized is the correct word here…it was because in college, my boyfriend at the time was taking a serial killers class.  I read his text book while I sat in his office (he was a police officer).  Every single case of serial killers were put together in one movie…Rob Zombie’s movie.  It’s one thing to read about these cases, quite another to see it flashed before your very eyes and you know these things really did happen.

Everything from the lampshades being made out of human flesh to sex with corpses…it was in that book.  I felt like Zombie had read the same text book and decided to put every single case of serial killers into this one movie.

Thank God for The Devils Rejects.  I almost didn’t watch the film, but after I saw it, it brought closure to House of a 1000 Corpses and allowed me to sleep peacefully at night.

While there are movies that have scared me to death over the years, there are also the movies I watch every single year because you need to embrace the kid inside of you.  I’ve been watching the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Hocus Pocus every year since I was a teen.  They’re not scary at all.  They’re scary stories geared towards children.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJTFpXCsvfg]

These days, Sleepy Hollow is just a short train ride away for me.  What’s great about this old town is that they celebrate their history made famous by Washington Irving [see previous link].  This month, they are offering so many different ‘scary’ things to do as tourists go down the historical supernatural Sleepy Hollow lane.  If you really like the Fox TV show (like I do), this would be a great day or weekender trip this month (or next October).  They cater to children ages on up to adults.  I’m considering heading over next Saturday to partake in their festivities.

Like Hocus Pocus, catering to the stories that make Halloween what it is today, The Book of Life is a great way to get kids to learn about different cultures and how they celebrate the dead.  That movie comes out tomorrow (October 17, 2014).  If you’re in NYC, you can see it tonight.

What I love about October beyond the weather officially turning into fall weather, being able to wear sweaters again, apple picking and pumpkin carving, the leaves starting to change its colors as some of the most colorful and magnificent sunsets appear on the Western horizon in NYC, this is the month you can dive into culture and have fun with it.  I’m talking about that demonic, scary, supernatural, witchey culture that religions told us to stay away from.

But here in America, those stories of witches and ghosts are a part of our history.  Old towns like Salem, Massachusetts and Sleepy Hollow, NY (formerly Tarrytown, NY) keep the tradition going.  It’s not just about folk tales; it’s also about our history.

So take some time to dive into some culture and learn about our scary history.  It will leave you in wonder.

Freak Shows are Coming to Broadway

If you’ve become engrossed in this season’s American Horror Story: Freak Show, then you’ll be happy to know that a couple of freak shows are coming to Broadway in New York City.

From Playbill.com. Photo by Joan Marcus.
From Playbill.com. Photo by Joan Marcus.

The first show, Side Show, will begin on October 28, 2014 at the St. James Theatre (246 W. 44th Street).  As you look at the photo, you’ll see it is very reminiscent of AHS:FS.  The show is based on a true story about two sisters joined at the hip and their quest for first love.

If you take a walk through Schubert Alley just a few steps away from St. James, you’ll find another theatre decked out in the old time carnival style.  Here, they are housing the Elephant Man starring Bradley Cooper (Silver Lining Playbook, The Hangover I, II, and III) and Patricia Clarkson (The Maze Runner, Simply Irresistible).

elephant man2
From NY Daily News

What is interesting about the Booth Theatre is that they are all decked out and ready for the Elephant Man to hit Broadway on November 7, 2014.  In the last 10 years of walking by this theatre every single day, not once have they ever been so incredibly decked out as they are now.

Even the flyers they mailed out to subscribers were fantastic.  Here’s a glimpse at what they sent out to everyone:

elephant man

How beautifully done is that placard?  I hope that their posters look like this because it’s definitely one that will look amazing up on the wall.

So if you’re in New York City later on this month (and next month), get a peek at these amazing and fantastic creatures as two freak shows grace Broadway.

Fall 2014 is definitely the year of the Freak Show.

October Reading Material: The Vampire Chronicles Continue

prince lestatOne of the items on my bucket list is to read all of Anne Rice’s novels.  I’ve read many, but not all of her works.  When I finally read Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, I started to rethink keeping this wish to read all of her books on my bucket list.  From darkness comes light and if she was going religious on me, I wasn’t going to continue reading her work.

But alas, she decided to return to what made her so famous to begin with…Vampire Lestat has risen from the dead (again).  Mrs. Rice has decided to resurrect her anti-hero, the Vampire Lestat in her new novel, Prince Lestat.

Here’s a little snippet from Barnes & Noble:

The novel opens with the vampire world in crisis…vampires have been proliferating out of control; burnings have commenced all over the world, huge massacres similar to those carried out by Akasha in The Queen of the Damned . . . Old vampires, roused from slumber in the earth are doing the bidding of a Voice commanding that they indiscriminately burn vampire-mavericks in cities from Paris and Mumbai to Hong Kong, Kyoto, and San Francisco.

As the novel moves from present-day New York and the West Coast to ancient Egypt, fourth century Carthage, 14th-century Rome, the Venice of the Renaissance, the worlds and beings of all the Vampire Chronicles—Louis de Pointe du Lac; the eternally young Armand, whose face is that of a Boticelli angel; Mekare and Maharet, Pandora and Flavius; David Talbot, vampire and ultimate fixer from the secret Talamasca; and Marius, the true Child of the Millennia; along with all the other new seductive, supernatural creatures—come together in this large, luxuriant, fiercely ambitious novel to ultimately rise up and seek out who—or what—the Voice is, and to discover the secret of what it desires and why . . .

And, at the book’s center, the seemingly absent, curiously missing hero-wanderer, the dazzling, dangerous rebel-outlaw–the great hope of the Undead, the dazzling Prince Lestat . . .

This being the month for all things spooky and scary, reading any of Anne Rice’s supernatural books will not only make you fall in love with these villains, but they will also make you look at history very differently.  Rice’s re-telling of history through the world of the supernatural is what makes me love her stories so much.

Stuart Townsend as Lestat in Queen of the Damned.
Stuart Townsend as Lestat in Queen of the Damned.

One of my favorite novels by Rice is Memnoch The Devil.  The way she depicted the temptation of Christ made me wonder if perhaps the devil was just misunderstood.  She gave new meaning to the term ‘sympathy for the Devil.’  That book made me look at the Bible very differently.  What if everything about the Devil was just a misunderstanding between God and his angel?  The Bible vilified him, making him out to be the bad guy, when instead all he wanted to do was to help.

If an author can change your way of thinking like this, they would have to be a master at their craft.  Anne Rice is definitely the master of hers.

After reading why the Christ the Lord years happened (she was close to death on several occasions and turned to religion during that time), and then why she turned away from Christianity afterward, I forgave her for the Christ the Lord years.  Those years were the years she needed to know something bigger than all of us was looking out for her.  We all find ourselves in those moments in our lives.  The Christ the Lord years were just the years when she needed God.

When you look at the progression of her work, you realize that the books she placed before us were just a reflection of her own world at that time.  It was about her own spiritual growth, it was about dealing with the death of her child.  You begin to see that these books are not just supernatural chronicles, they’re a chronicle of the things she was going through in life.

Even in Memnoch, she was grappling with the duality of good and evil.  That perhaps, the way religion is taught to us is a lie.  The Devil was and still is an angel.  What if his whole story was just a lie?  What if he was only trying to help, not deceive?

These are questions she posed to the reader.  She made you re-think how you viewed the world.  Instead of going on what religion tells you is the truth, what if there was another truth?  That was the whole purpose of Memnoch.  What if there was another truth?  It was her way of making you re-evaluate how you perceive life, God, and the world, that makes me believe that, like the gothic novelists before her, her works will be celebrated and adored centuries after we’re gone.  Why?  Because you’re a different person after you read her work.  She awakens your mind to question what you believe and take on the possibility that what you believe may not necessarily be true.

It’s understanding that, you begin to realize there are always other truths.  You will never know which truth is the real truth.  Every story has many different sides.  You can’t just listen to one and consider it the only truth.  You have to hear all sides.  Even when you hear all sides, you’re not always going to come up with one singular truth.  You begin to see that the duality between good and evil is really not a duality.  It’s just a misunderstanding of what is good.

While I’m only in the sixth book in The Vampire Chronicles (The Vampire Armand) out of 11, I will definitely be purchasing Prince Lestat to add to my library.  The Vampire Chronicles are worth spending time enjoying.  It may not scare you, but the stories will stay with you.  I’m glad to see Lestat is back.  I didn’t start to love him until The Tale of the Body Thief.  To see that he lives to see another novel, this, indeed, makes me happy.

The book is due to be released on October 28.

UPDATE: Just a few minutes after posting this, Anne Rice tweeted that her first book signing for Prince Lestat will be on 10/28 in NYC at 192 Books.  You must purchase the book through 192 Books in order to attend the event. DETAILS.  Space is limited {I have my order in for the event!}.

It’s Autumn!

I’m going to do things a little differently this month.  While I try to focus on a certain region on this planet, I seem to be lacking the time to do posts and create the delicacies lately.  So I’m going to make this easier upon myself (especially since the new hockey season has begun which means I’m much busier than the summer months).

This month, we’re going to be talking about all things autumn and October.  In other words, I’m going to be sharing with you some of the things I love about this time of year.

FOOD

Matthew Lucifer's autumn pic.
Matthew Lucifer’s autumn pic.

While I was shopping around at the local farmer’s market for mini pumpkins to use to decorate at home, I came across some interesting looking squash varieties and decided to pick them up.  They were called carnival squash and sweet dumpling squash.  While the mini pumpkins can’t be eaten, the carnival and sweet dumpling squash can.

The farmer told me how his wife had made them for him.  He exclaimed that it turned out so good.  Just treat it like a baked potato in the microwave, add butter, salt and pepper.  It tastes a lot like sweet potatoes or butternut squash.

Since this recipe was so simple, I decided to cut them up in half and roast them.  The results…the aroma alone smelled so good I couldn’t wait to dive in.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Meanwhile, cut carnival/sweet dumpling squash in half.

3. Remove the seeds and put to the side.

4. Place squash on baking sheet.  Drizzle with olive oil.  Add salt and pepper, sprinkle grated Romano or Parmesan cheese on top.

5. Bake for 20-30 minutes.  At the 20 minute mark, remove from oven.  Test to see if there are any hard spots left.  If so, return to the oven and bake for another 5-10 minutes until done.

BONUS

If you like roasted pumpkin seeds this time of year, take the seeds you put aside from the squash (you don’t have to remove the guts from the seeds) and place them on a section of the same baking sheet as the squash. Drizzle olive oil over the seeds.  Add salt, pepper and the grated cheese.  You can remove the seeds from the tray at the 20 minute mark when you pull out the squash to test it.

The seeds taste amazing with the squash or with a salad.

Reading Material

During this time of year I like to pick up a gothic classic to read.  Last year, I read Frankenstein and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  In previous years, it was Dracula, Rebecca, The Raven and The Picture of Dorian Gray.

This year, I’ll be reading Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The House of Seven Gables and the works of H.P. Lovecraft.  It’s important to read Hawthorne’s book first, because it is the book that inspired H.P. Lovecraft’s stories.

One of the reasons why I like to choose gothic classics this time of year is because I walk away with a better understanding of myself and the world.  Last year, I read Frankenstein because I was feeling a little bit like Frankenstein after receiving a cut across my neck from a surgery I had just 9 days before Halloween.  Usually you never think much about a cut, but when it appears in places like the neck or the face, it can unsettle you.

They say that reading classical literature will make you smarter.  It is true because you walk away with a greater appreciation and understanding of humanity and yourself.  These stories have survived centuries, not because they were good, but because they had an everlasting effect on your mind and your soul.  These are the stories that made you a different person after you read the tale.

For those who have been watching the series Penny Dreadful, reading these classic horror tales lays the groundwork for the series.  As they weave together the stories of Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, Dracula, and even the tales of Jack the Ripper, you begin to understand what is happening…and what to expect next.  As many hockey fans were watching the series this summer, I was surprised at how many had never read any of these gothic classics.  These classics were genius.  Hollywood leaves out the stuff that leaves you the smarter person…they leave that for the book itself.

People didn’t understand how I knew what was going to happen in Frankenstein’s part of the story.  Did I read a spoiler?  I sure did.  I read the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.  After I read the book, I had to ask myself why I hadn’t read it earlier on in life.  It was brilliant.  But I guess like all things in life…everything has a time and a purpose.

{Other books I’m reading this month are: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Book Club Choice), Boy On Ice: The Life and Death of Derek Boogaard by John Branch (hockey research), and The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (New Year’s Resolution).}

The Things That Make You Fall In Love With Autumn

For me, autumn begins in August.  Why August?  Because when I was a kid, that’s when we would get ready for the end of summer and the start of school.  School began 2-3 weeks earlier than they do out in the East.  We were usually in school by the second week of August (which meant we got out in May).

I could tell myself all summer long that I have more than enough Fall/Winter clothing that I don’t need to buy anything.  But when August finally hits, I get that inkling…I have to go shopping for new clothes and school supplies.

These days, the latter part either goes to charity or to my home office.  I upgrade my electronics, stock up on journals and pens, and prepare for the hockey season in September.

By September, I have a new fall wardrobe, new gadgets in tow, while I’m sitting in a cold ice hockey rink with a pumpkin spiced latte in hand watching training camp.  At the New York Rangers games, I grab a cup of coffee and some M&Ms as I await the start of the game.  In New Jersey Devils territory, it’s Twizzlers and Starburst candies that I share with my press buddies.  I prep the calendar, the credentials and the content for the hockey sites with my team of writers and photographers and we begin our coverage.

By October, my friends and I are planning what cool things to do for Halloween.  It’s not just a day for us.  It’s an entire month.  The decorations go up, both autumnal and Halloween.  The candy and baked sweets come aplenty.  The planning for costumes and parties start to overtake our days.  We start to go through lists of scary flicks to decide what to see.  Top of our list this month is Dracula Untold for our movie club.

By November, we start to consume as many Halloween candies as we can find lurking around the office and home.  We start to plan our Thanksgiving feasts both home and away.  The turkeys are bought. The invitations are out. We try to maintain a peaceful setting at our bountiful tables without World War III breaking out.  Chances are, the latter eventually breaks out at some point during the course of the meal.  By Friday morning, Christmas shopping has been completed (or just starting) and leftovers start to pile up in every meal we consume for the next two weeks.  We start to say goodbye to fall, and welcome in the winter.

An Easier Risotto?

For those who have made risotto, you know how tedious it can be.  The constant stirring and adding in cups of broth makes you understand why you’d rather go out for risotto instead of making it at home.

PureWow sent an email out talking about an easier way to make risotto.  I did a whole…’pffft…that’s not possible’ when I saw it.  But then again, if they found a way to make risotto easier, then it is worth giving it a try.

Low-Maintenance Risotto

risottoThis recipe from PureWow is officially Perfectionist Wannabe tested and true.

Low-Maintenance Risotto
A PureWow Original Recipe

Makes 4 main-course servings or 8 side-dish servings
Start to Finish: 45 minutes
Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, finely minced
1 garlic clove, finely minced
1 cup arborio rice
⅓ cup dry white wine
3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Sautéed mushrooms, optional (see Finishing Touches)
Directions

1. In a medium pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, and cook until the onion is translucent, 4 to 5 minutes.
2. Add the rice and stir to combine, 1 minute. Add the wine and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Simmer until the liquid is nearly absorbed, about 6 to 8 minutes.
3. Add the broth 1 cup at a time. Bring the first cup to a simmer and cook until the rice has nearly absorbed all the liquid, 10 to 12 minutes. Then add another cup of broth and let simmer until nearly absorbed. Repeat a third time so that all the broth has been added and absorbed.
4. Add the butter and stir vigorously until the mixture is combined and the butter is melted. (The vigorous stirring brings out the natural starches in the rice, which makes the risotto creamy.)
5. Add the cheese and mix well to combine. Season the risotto with salt and pepper to taste. To serve, spoon the risotto onto plates and top with sautéed mushrooms, if using. Serve immediately.

Definitely go for the mushrooms on top.  For recipes calling for mushrooms, I like to use dried porcini mushrooms.  Just place the mushrooms in a bowl filled with water to let them re-hydrate.  Usually this takes about 10 minutes.  For added effect, keep them in the water throughout the course of making the risotto.

Because I wasn’t sure if the risotto would actually be cooked all the way through, at the very end, I removed the mushrooms from the bowl, and began sautéeing them in a pan with olive oil.  I used the mushroom water leftover in the bowl as an added cup of broth at the end.  This actually complements the mushrooms with the risotto.

Now, if you really want to up the ante on this dish, I recommend eating this dish with roasted peaches and nectarines.

How do you roast peaches/nectarines?

It’s simple enough.

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Slice the peaches/nectarines in quarters and place them on a baking sheet.

3. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20-30 minutes.

4. Remove from oven when you start to hear the juice start to sizzle on the pan.  That means they’re soft and ready to eat.

5.  Let cool before serving.

If you’re eating the risotto with the roasted peaches/nectarines on the side, trust me, you will love it.  The roasted peaches/nectarines really make the dish complete and makes you want to keep coming back for more.

EXTRAS: Corndog Casserole

cornbreadNow, I will admit it.  I love hot dogs and corn dogs.  While I was on Pinterest, I saw a recipe for Corndog Casserole come across and thought, “NO FRIGGIN WAY!”

I used this recipe from The View from 510 over any of the other casserole recipes just because I loved her background story on how her mom used to make this for her and her siblings when she was a kid.  The only thing I did differently was add some of my corn relish I made a few weeks ago (I highly recommend the Food & Wine corn relish recipe.  It is by far the best corn relish I’ve ever had).

The end result?  I think it took my love for cornbread and corndogs to a whole new level.  It was sooo good!  It is so easy to make, too.

If you have kids at home or just want an easy meal to make, this is it.  Just beware…you may want to eat the whole batch in one sitting.  Remember, eat in moderation!

Opening My Closet for Charity

As I wrote in an earlier post, I donated two bags filled with designer merchandise to Fashion Project to raise money for UNICEF.  Two of the items have finally hit the site.

diorChristian Dior Blazer, US Size 10, $79 SOLD!!!

fendi

Fendi Satchel, $199.  SOLD!!!!

There is a skirt that goes with that Dior jacket, so I’m a little surprised they didn’t list it as a complete suit or made the skirt available.  Maybe they’ll list it later.

Even if these items aren’t your cup of tea, the site boasts so many designer vintage items available for sale.  The original donor of the items picks the charity they want a portion of the proceeds to go to, so you’ll see many different charities listed throughout the site.

You’ll find a lot of great deals, especially if you are trying to build your own fantasy wardrobe with major designer labels.  What’s also great about it is the feel good moment knowing that your purchase also goes to benefit a charity.

Even though I spent most of last month trying to declutter, there was just something about giving away a Fendi that told me I needed to replace it with a new one.  So I did.

#ootd First Day of NJ Devils Training Camp 9/19/14
#ootd First Day of NJ Devils Training Camp 9/19/14

I’m going to let you in on a little secret.  This ombre Fendi zucca I ordered from Overstock.com.  Most fashionistas do not think of Overstock when they think of purchasing their designer wares.  But they offer some of the best deals.  This tote ended up being $100 less than the retail price.  Plus, I joined the Club O Rewards.  I got credit to use towards a future purchase by purchasing this bag.  Add on the 2.5% cash back from Ebates, after my little shopping spree at Overstock, I ended up with an additional $50 cash back.

All in all, besides just the savings from the purchase, I ended up with a FREE pair of Fendi sunglasses thanks to the amount of rewards credit I built up shopping at Overstock through their Club O Rewards program, and I earned $50 in cash from Ebates.

They don’t have this particular bag left, but it does come in yellow.  They do have a few accessories in the ombre zucca in pink, teal, and yellow.

#ootd details: Ann Taylor coat, $198; J Crew sweater (not available online, but available at Factory), $74.50; Ann Taylor fuschia long-sleeved tee (old); Lane Bryant Bootcut Jean with Tighter Tummy Technology, $74.95; Brokedown scarf, $78.

UPDATE….

They’ve just added a few more items I donated.

dior2

Christian Dior skirt, size 12, $79.

bm

Badgley Mischka Heels, Size 8, $99.

Mediterranean Pasta

medpastaWhat’s great about Mediterranean food is that the dishes are very simple and focus on fresh ingredients.  I decided to take some inspiration from Heather’s French Press and make my own version of Mediterranean Pasta.  She made hers with chicken, I made mine using only fresh ingredients I picked up from the farmer’s market and the local Italian deli.  I didn’t use any meat.

This is a very tasty and light dish.  It’s perfect for Meatless Mondays, Vegans and Vegetarians.  You can use any type of olives for this dish.  I had Gaeta Olives on hand, so I decided to use those.

Gaeta olives come from Gaeta, Italy, a town on the Mediterranean coast of Italy, between Rome and Naples.  The olives usually come pitted, and are tart to salty, as compared to regular black olives.  These olives are great as appetizers, as a tapenade, or even in a pasta dish, like this one.  

I found these olives in my local Italian grocery store.  

Mediterranean Pasta (Vegan)

2 Tbsps of olive oil
3 garlic cloves
1/2 of a medium-sized onion, diced
4 roma tomatoes, diced (red/yellow)
1/2 jar of gaeta olives (found at Italian grocers)
1 jar of marinated artichoke hearts
1 stem of fresh basil (leaves only)**
salt and pepper, to taste

1 box of tagliatelle noodles (found at Italian grocers) *

  1. Prepare the noodles by bringing a pot of water (with salt) to boil.  Add the noodles and cook according to the instructions on the box.
  2. Meanwhile, add olive oil to a pan along with the garlic and onions.  Cook until onions are translucent, and garlic is somewhat brown.
  3. After onions are translucent, add the tomatoes, olives and artichokes.  Add salt and pepper to your liking.  Cook until tomatoes have softened.  
  4. As the sauce mixture is finishing, add the fresh basil leaves.  Cook for a few seconds longer and then turn off the heat.
  5. Add the cooked pasta noodles to the mixture, toss and serve.  

* You can use fettuccine noodles if you don’t have tagliatelle noodles.  

** It is important that you add the basil leaves at the very end so that they don’t brown while cooking.

 

Santorini Through My Eyes

One of the most beautiful places on the face of this planet is Santorini, Greece.  To be more specific, Oia, Santorini, Greece.  For those looking for a honeymoon destination, I highly recommend booking yourself in Santorini.  

A little unknown fact about Santorini…this island is ruled by the dogs.  You’ll find them all over the island.  The people of the island help take care of them.  You’ll find buckets and bowls filled to the rim with dog food and water as you make your way around the little shops and buildings.  

The dogs are seen as guardians of this ancient island (believed to be the resting point for Atlantis, which is buried somewhere underneath the Mediterranean waters near the volcano that you can see sitting across from the island).  

Just so you understand the importance of these dogs…

When I was in Oia, Santorini, I hadn’t told my girlfriends that I knew my cancer had returned.  I had planned on telling them during this trip.  But because I was tired all of the time and barely eating, I had to tell them what was going on.  Leave it to the dogs to out me.

On our first evening in Santorini, one of the dogs was walking around with a couple of tourists, but then he stopped and saw me walking up.  He abandoned them to walk with me.  He stayed with me for the next hour, acting as a tour guide.  I told my friend we should do something different.  Let’s follow the dog to see where he takes us.

He took us from one important spot to the next.  We didn’t know where he was taking us until the next day when we ventured to those same spots during daylight hours.  He took us to every single point that produced the best photograph of the island and its landmarks.  

As we went from one section to the next, I realized that his territory ended.  Within 30 seconds, a new dog picked us up and started walking with us.  We’d walk into a new territory, the dog would stop, and then another dog would pick us up and walk with us.  

This happened all throughout the trip.  My friend said that when she went out alone, the dogs never bothered with her.  She said she noticed that they only did this with me.  She said that she’d never believe this if I had told her about it.  Witnessing it with her own eyes, she was just amazed.

During one of our outings, I sat down to rest and I saw one of the dogs that had walked with us through most of our time there.  He was walking with an old man that you could visually see had an ailment.  The old man got to the top of the steps and took a seat near me, while the dog accompanied him.  I started to watch the tourists walk by and the dogs paid no attention to them.  It ends up they only paid attention to those that were sick.

While we were out walking one evening, my friend was going on and on about this Albanian she met during dinner.  One of the dogs was with us when we stopped and she decided to go into a grocery store.  I stood out in the street waiting for her.  This Albanian she met earlier was walking down the path.  The dog with me started growling and then barked.  Within seconds, a whole pack of dogs came running out of nowhere.  Three of them surrounded me and started pushing me towards the wall.

The rest went after the Albanian man, growling and barking at him.  The dogs were livid.  

My friend saw the commotion and how the dogs had surrounded me and were pushing me towards safety.  She came out and saw the guy.  She started chatting him up and introduced us.  The entire time, I kept looking at all of the dogs surrounding us.  I understood what they were all saying.  This guy was really bad news.  

I excused myself and my friend and said I wasn’t feeling well and needed to get back to the hotel.  My friend obliged and we started walking away.  The dogs walked with us down the road, huffing and puffing all the way.  I turned to my friend and told her that I thought that guy was bad news and told her what happened when the dog saw him.

All of those dogs were protecting me.  She even pointed out to me that they were only like this with me.  They could care less about her.

I think that was the moment I almost cried, because I realized that I was in bad shape if the dogs could sense it.  That cancer my doctor kept saying had returned…it was really there.  This was back in 2009.  It took 4 years for the cancer to make its appearance as a tumor in my parathyroid gland.  Back in 2009, we were only discovering that it had returned.  We were waiting to see where it would show up.

Santorini is a very beautiful island.  The sunsets here are the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen.  The best spot is down by the castle wall in Oia.  

You’ll see in one of these pictures a black dog sitting on a wall.  At every sunset, he comes down to the castle wall and watches the sun setting.  I’ve never seen a dog do that before.  Every night when I went to watch the sunset there, without fail, he showed up and watched from the castle wall.  

It just amazed me how special these dogs are.  They know the beauty of this island.  They are caring, protective, and giving.  

The people of the island of Santorini understand that about these dogs.  That’s why they all pitch in to take care of the guardians of the island.

[LEGAL: All pictures are © 2009 Michelle Kenneth.  You may not use any of these photos for any purpose without the express permission of the owner.]

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A Night Out on Broadway: Matilda

MatildaI’ve been in NYC for a decade now and one thing I always wanted to do prior to moving here was go and see Broadway shows all of the time.  But that ended up going to the wayside because who wants to drop over a hundred bucks all of the time for 2.5+ hours of your time?

Granted, I joined a Broadway club, which doesn’t meet as frequently as I’d like it to.  Our last outing was back in April.

I’m always looking for deals to shows where I don’t wait in line at TKTS like the tourists do.

Now, there’s an app that puts all of my needs at my fingertips.

I was able to get tickets to Matilda for $27 ($37 ticket + $10 fee – $20 off coupon=$27).

Here’s how it works.

  1. Download the Today Tix app.
  2. Find the show you want at the price range you want to pay (they usually list the lowest price for the show in the corner of each banner).
  3. Look online for a voucher code before submitting payment.
  4. Plug in the voucher code and pay for your ticket through the app.
  5. You’ll get an email confirming your purchase (or letting you know if they were not able to secure a ticket for you), as well as the location where you will meet the concierge (which is usually near the theatre).
  6. 30 minutes prior to the show, find the concierge at the designated location, pick up your ticket(s) and go to the show.

It’s such a simple process.  No lines at TKTS.  Just order the tix through the app, meet the concierge near your theatre, pick up your tix and go.  You don’t even have to spend time in line at the box office to pick up your tickets.

If you’re in NYC looking to see a show, use the Today Tix app, and the code KCZJB to get $20 off your order.  This is a special code they gave to me to share as a thank you for using their app.

As for the show, it was a lot of fun.  Not all of the elements from the movie were in it, which was fine.

I think my favorite part was Matilda’s storytelling.  She came up with the most ridiculous story, but in the end, it wasn’t such a ridiculous tale she was making up to tell the librarian.  Matilda is definitely the master of cliffhangers.

These kids are so talented.  The adults threw in so much character.  They all did an amazing job.  It is worth bringing the family to see.  The show is around 2 hours and 20 minutes (plus a 15-minute intermission).  All of the kids around me really enjoyed the show.

Just make sure to unplug yourself from your devices during the production.  There is nothing ruder than to turn your phone on when the production is going on. Save your texting, tweeting, Instagraming, or whatever the hell else you use your phone for, for the intermission or before/after the show.  If you must text or call someone, excuse yourself from the area and use your phone in the hallway. Do not use it in the theatre.  The screen distracts everyone that can see it, which, at any given moment, is everyone sitting behind you and to your side.  That’s a lot of people you’re pissing off.

If you cannot unplug, you should probably not go to a theatrical production.  It is also a sign that you have a problem.

I also wonder what manners you’re teaching your children when you take out your phone and use it during a theatrical production when you know you are not supposed to have it on.

That’s my mini rant.

At any rate, if you can and know how to unplug yourself from your devices, try out the app if you’re wanting to head to a Broadway show.  No waiting in line, and better prices than TKTS, Playbill or any other discount site is offering (plus they have voucher codes)!

I’ll be using Today Tix more often now, because I have a long list of shows I’ve been wanting to see.  I’m thinking Cinderella or Hedwig & the Angry Itch as my next show.

September is Mediterranean Month!

Oia, Santorini, Greece (c) Michelle Kenneth
Oia, Santorini, Greece (c) 2009 Michelle Kenneth

We’re switching gears now for the month of September.  This month, we’ll be diving into the Mediterranean culture.  No, we’re not just talking Greek, here.  We’re going to be exploring several countries that surround the Mediterranean Sea.

The countries bordering the sea all lend their own hand in what has developed into the Mediterranean cuisine.  But keep in mind that there are many cultures that sit along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea.  Each one has its own unique cuisine, but many of them share in the development of various dishes and culture around the Mediterranean.

For instance, couscous (Morocco) finds itself in various cuisines across Spain, Greece, African/Arab countries, and France.  The Moroccan chicken citron tagine can even be found in variations in Greece and Italy.  The point is that no one single country can put a claim to the cuisine of the Mediterranean Sea.  It’s all shared and shared alike.

Lately, the Mediterranean diet has been purported as being the best and healthiest diet out there.  But what exactly is the Mediterranean diet?

 

From Pinterest. Originally from the Cleveland Clinic.
From Pinterest. SOURCE: ClevelandClinic.org

Looks simple enough, right?  The most important part of this diet is how it makes you feel.  Believe me when I say that a simple dish can make you feel lighter and healthier.

Here are a few things I started off with this month: feta and lemon dip, tzatziki, flat bread pizzas and lentil soup.

Feta and Lemon Dip/Flat Bread Pizzas

Feta & Lemon Dip
Feta & Lemon Dip

If you make only one thing this month, let it be this.

This is a very simple recipe to make.  No cooking is involved.  You just throw the ingredients into a blender.  You only need five ingredients to make it: a lemon (you’ll use the peel and the juice), olive oil, 7 oz. of feta cheese, 1 garlic clove, and red pepper flakes.

What’s great about this dip is that it’s good as a dip for crudites and crackers, but also good as a base for flat bread pizzas.  Did I mention how good this was?  [It was soooo good.]

Flat bread pizzas are a wonder in itself.  You can use so many different toppings from hummus to fresh veggies, artichoke hearts, olives, etc.  You can also use flat bread or pita bread for the crust.  It also makes for a light version of pizza on a weeknight when you just need to throw something together.  You can microwave it, bake it, or just eat it cold.  You can come up with a variety of ways to create your own flat bread pizza using ingredients popular in the Mediterranean.

Try these on for size:

Mediterranean Tacos

Mediterranean Hummus Pizza

Mediterranean Vegetable Flat bread with Goat’s Cheese

[Photo: West Elm textured dipping bowl, salad plate from Marshall’s]

Tzatziki Sauce

Tzatziki Sauce.
Tzatziki Sauce.

Another staple I like to make is Tzatziki sauce.  I am a bit of a cheat when it comes to this, because I have all of the spices pre-mixed.  Granted, this was the spice I picked up while I was in Santorini, Greece a few years ago.  It was the best thing I brought back with me (besides the honey).

But since I don’t expect you to have this special batch of ingredients direct from Greece, here’s how you make it from scratch.

I forgot to add the dill when I made my batch, but it turned out just as good, dipped with flat bread.  It really made for a nice afternoon snack.  I was going to save some for a Greek sandwich, but it didn’t make it that far because it was just so good.

What else can you do with Tzatziki sauce?  Serve it up on a lamb burger, on the side of a grilled chicken dish, use as a marinade for kebabs, or use it in chicken salad (instead of mayo)…I mean the list goes on and on.

What makes this such a great, healthy condiment is that it uses fresh cucumber, dill, lemon, garlic and Greek yogurt…all ingredients that are healthy for you.  So skip the barbecue sauce, mayonnaise and ketchup and try this on for size.  It will definitely add a zing to your meal.

[PHOTO: Japanese dipping bowl was a gift, salad plate from Marshall’s]

Lentil Soup

Another base to the Mediterranean diet are lentils.  You can find a variety of ways to prepare lentils from one country to the next.  I made this Halal recipe of Mediterranean lentil soup in the crock pot over the weekend.  In her recipe, everything is stove top, requiring you to soak the beans overnight.  If you don’t have the patience, just make the soup in a crock pot.

In order to do this, the only thing I did on the stove was sauté the garlic and onions with olive oil.  Everything else, I put into the crock pot.  After the onions/garlic were ready, I added them into the crock pot, stirred, put the crock pot on high and left it alone, occasionally stirring the batch once an hour.

On high, it can take 4-5 hours to cook.  If you set it on low, it will take 6-8 hours to cook.  You can set it depending on your schedule and when you want it to be done.

After four and a half hours, my soup was ready.  I served up a bowl with some bread on the side.  It was definitely good.

Since the beans soak up the majority of the liquid, you’ll need to add water (or broth) if you want to continue to eat it as a soup during the week.  Or don’t add water and use it as a side dish.

What I like about this Halal recipe is that it is very flavorful, and not boring at all (like beans usually are).  If you’ve never tried a Halal recipe, you are missing out.  Halal food is very flavorful and is always pleasing to the tongue.

***

So that’s it for this past weekend’s recipes.  These recipes are what I started with as a base for the week as I continue to make Mediterranean recipes throughout the month.  What I like is that everything is fresh, simple and easy to make.  The food is also rich with flavor, and always feels light, and not heavy.

This month, I’ll also have a few guest contributions as we make our way through the countries of the Mediterranean.  These guests have been dying to share their recipes and knowledge since I told them I was going to do a Mediterranean month. Of course, they’ve known about this since June!