Red meat is back in the news , and once again it’s being singled out as being uniquely bad for you. Here’s the sound bite: Eating red meat increases stroke risk while eating poultry reduces it. But, there’s a little bit more to the story. (There usually is.) Continue reading “Red Meat and Stroke Risk: Beyond the Headlines” »
Red Meat and Stroke Risk: Beyond the Headlines
Subscribe to this Blogger's RSS feedJanuary 13, 2012 By View Comments
LIVING UNSCRIPTED: A Thorny Paradise
Subscribe to this Blogger's RSS feedJanuary 13, 2012 By View Comments
Hock und Sterb (“Hook & Stab,” the nickname of a thorn tree that grows in the Bush)
There are few more striking symbols of Africa than a thorn tree —
its gnarled branches, graceful form, jagged thorns and abundant blooms,
in many ways reflecting the paradoxes of the continent.
— www.wildwatch.com
Picture this: a king size bed under a white tented canopy in a floor-to-ceiling windowed room with a Continue reading “LIVING UNSCRIPTED: A Thorny Paradise” »
Eco-Stiletto: A New Cradle (to Cradle) for Keri Russell
Subscribe to this Blogger's RSS feedJanuary 9, 2012 By View Comments
Keri Russell, Photo: Elle Decor
Good people make good people. That’s why we were so thrilled to hear the news that Keri Russell gave birth last month to her second child with husband Shane Deary, according to PopSugar.
Born on December 27th, Willa Lou joins big brother River in the couple’s sustainable home, a Brooklyn brownstone they restored from studs to seams by repurposing old materials.
Keri, who starred as a devout environmentalist in Fox’s short-lived “Running Wilde” last year, detailed the eco-friendly renovation for Elle Decor last month. Shane, a contractor, transformed trashed shutters into window casings, reclaimed wood into tables and old pipes into closet poles.
Now the couple has a new cradle to add to their cradle-to-cradle home!
LAUGHLINES: When It Comes to Movies, Once Is Not Enough
Subscribe to this Blogger's RSS feedJanuary 7, 2012 By View Comments
There are two kinds of people: those who see a movie once, and those who don’t.
I’m a multiple viewer, a serial movie-lover who can see some movies 2, 3, 6, 9, 12 times. I know every line of dialogue, every note of the music soundtrack. I memorize the background, the license plates of passing cars. I can tell you how many sugars the leading man takes in his coffee, and the color of the leading lady’s nail polish. Continue reading “LAUGHLINES: When It Comes to Movies, Once Is Not Enough” »
LaughLines: Your Dogs Social Life
Subscribe to this Blogger's RSS feedJanuary 3, 2012 By
Puppy Training Part II–Like some of us, Puppies take time to warm up to other dogs as well as people. Make sure you allow your dog to get comfortable with everyone in the house, give her time to learn scents and recognize everyone. Smothering your dog can hinder her social development. It’s important that you instruct guest to allow the dog to sniff around them and maintain a sense of calm while the pup gets comfortable with this new person.
Caffeine and Sugar: An Unexpected Link
Subscribe to this Blogger's RSS feedDecember 16, 2011 By View Comments
Did you know that caffeine reduces our perception of sweetness? Researchers found that if they took the caffeine out of a sweetened beverage, they could then remove about 10% of the sugar without altering the taste. I had no idea! The researchers go on to suggest that removing caffeine from sweetened beverages could allow manufacturers to lower the amount of sugar in those products, thereby reducing the amount consumed by the general population and aiding in the fight against obesity.
That doesn’t seem terribly likely. First of all, people who consume caffeinated beverages are usually looking for that caffeine bump. (See also: Benefits of Caffeine) Secondly, we already have caffeine-free versions of many sweetened beverages. And interestingly, caffeine-free Coca-Cola and Sprite both contain the same amount of sugar as regular Coca-cola.
Nonetheless, it’s an interesting finding. Have you ever noticed this effect? For example, does caffeine-free Coke taste sweeter than regular? (I find both types to be unpleasantly sweet so I’m not a good judge.) If you drink sugar in your coffee, does it take less sugar to sweeten decaf to your liking?
FRUGAL FASHIONISTA: On the Hunt for Faux Fur
Subscribe to this Blogger's RSS feedDecember 16, 2011 By View Comments
“Lions and tigers and bears.” “Oh my!”
Yes, it’s that time of year again when “The Wizard of Oz” makes its first appearance on TV screens across the country, signaling that cold weather is officially here.
This year, I’m hearing the call of the wild where anything goes when it comes to expressing your animal instincts. Leopard and zebra “fur sure” but, this season, feel free to expand your exotic collection to include: tiger, antelope and bear, and if you have a fondness for firemen; Dalmatian is a girl’s best friend.
As an animal lover, I would never advocate wearing “real” fur. Animals are our friends, so the question is: Friend or Faux? The answer is easy since there are so many affordable fun fakes to choose from.
Once you’ve decided on your prey, the hunt is on for the best fuzzy piece to add to your wardrobe. You may choose to go all out with a stunning full length coat. But if you’re not ready for a lengthy commitment, a cropped jacket or a vest may be your best bet.
When making your decision, keep in mind the proportions that flatter your figure.
If you have a slender torso and are not too busty, a long haired faux fur vest may be perfect. (think Rachel Zoe). However, if you can’t afford to add inches around the middle you might consider opting for the accessories instead
A zebra bag gives an edge to your basic black and a big woolly tiger hat might be really grrrrrreat! Color comes into play this season as well. What could be better than a fabulous faux fox in fuchsia ?
And, of course, it would be a real “faux paw” to forget the feet. I’m thinking Mongolian lamb boots in orange…now that would be Haute!
Check out these links for some ideas!
- New York and Company’s The Faux Fur Vest
- Faux Fur Pompom Boot at Victoria’s Secret
- Sanctuary ‘Natalie’ Faux Fur Vest at Nordstrom Rack
LaughLines: Time to Light Up! Holiday Decorating 101
Subscribe to this Blogger's RSS feedDecember 15, 2011 By View Comments
White lights? Multi-colored? Single-color? The Great Holiday Décor Debate heats up in our house right after Thanksgiving.
Yup, we’re in for the usual knock-down, drag-out about this year’s holiday decorations.
I’ll soon be running down to the basement closets to check out the Christmas décor. Those lights, garlands and tinsel sure stir some wonderful memories. Okay, I admit some of the stuff doesn’t ring a jingle bell — Continue reading “LaughLines: Time to Light Up! Holiday Decorating 101” »
LIVING UNSCRIPTED: A Life of Couch Surfing
Subscribe to this Blogger's RSS feedDecember 12, 2011 By View Comments
I wasn’t quite sure that anyone would really understand my resistance to settling back down in to a routine when I got back from my six-month travels, but when I gingerly mentioned to one of my investors that I wasn’t ready to unpack my bags — “just yet,” she responded with “I’d love to lose my furniture…Just get rid of it and travel.” Her husband was in the backseat, listening in to our conversation and wrote me in an email later that week, that he, too, would love to break free the shackles of responsibility and take the time he’s earned, to do/see what he’s always wanted to do/see — while he still can. They’ve actually done a good bit of exotic traveling in the last few years but always on organized tours for specific amounts of time, not open-ended and certainly not by the seat of their pants. Continue reading “LIVING UNSCRIPTED: A Life of Couch Surfing” »
Eco-Stiletto: It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane, It’s Daryl Hannah
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Daryl Hannah and filmmaker Leslie Iwerks at the premiere of “Pipe Dreams.”
Where there is environmental protest, Daryl Hannah is sure to follow. Once starring in mainstream fare like “Wall Street” (ah, the irony), today Daryl is perhaps best known as a veggie-diesel powered superheroine of sustainable living—a woman who’s willing to go to jail for what she believes.
In August, Daryl was arrested protesting the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline, which would run from Alberta, Canada to Texas. Continue reading “Eco-Stiletto: It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane, It’s Daryl Hannah” »
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