To Market, To Market June 24, 2014
Home of the original Whole Foods, Austin is chalk-full of health food stores. In my own little area of town, we are getting a brand new Sprouts in the coming months…right across from Randall’s!
Before I continue, I need to come clean in that I dread going to the grocery store and do not get excited about a Sprouts, Whole Foods, or even a Trader Joes. And, even among people I know who do anticipate a new store’s opening, their main complaint about these types of stores is that they are so much more expensive than your average HEB. It’s no secret that eating healthy and deliciously on a budget can be hard to do. “Readers Digest” recently ran a list of what to “splurge on” and what to “save on” and I found it interesting and educational. I hope you do too!
Splurge On
Honey. Cheap honey may be cute in its bear-shaped container but it’s also probably full of corn syrup.
Coffee. “Consumer Reports” says Gloria Jean’s and Newman’s Own coffees may be more expensive, but are hands down better tasting then other supermarket brands.
Pasta. You don’t have to spend a whole lot more for chefs’ picks like Barilla or DeCecco and by doing so you will avoid the often mushy mess you end up with when buying cheaper brands.
Extra-virgin olive oil. Always check for a regional seal of certification on the bottle and keep in mind that 50 percent of the olive oil sold in the U.S. may be full of cheap filler oils.
Vanilla extract. True vanilla, with its 200 flavor notes, is your best bet. My favorite isn’t from any store, but from Mexico!
Chocolate. Opt for real dark chocolate and avoid the tempting dollar bars that often combine 20-plus ingredients to make their bar-shaped amalgam of brown chemicals.
Save On
Ground beef. Avoid those “time saving” ready-made frozen burgers, as E. coli is more prevalent in them then in ground beef. Besides, is it really that difficult to form your own patties?!
Cheese. Are you melting or mixing your cheese? Then go cheap! They melt better and you’ll save money.
Everyday oil. When cooking with oil you can usually substitute vegetable or regular olive oil for the much-more expensive extra-virgin olive oil, which isn’t recommended for high heat cooking anyway.
Wine. In a blind taste test, both consumers and wine experts liked more inexpensive wines as much as, if not more so, their pricey counterparts. The Bogle line is one of my favorites.
Baking mixes. A “Consumer Reports” study showed that Duncan Hines brownies from a box are just as good as ones made from pricier gourmet mixes.
Bottled water. Don’t be fooled by the foreign or natural sounding name. Nearly half of all bottled water in the U.S. comes straight from purified municipal tap water, not some natural spring in Oregon or France. You can feel safe buying a store-brand label or better yet, avoid on all that plastic waste and use a simple in-home filter.
Frozen produce. It’s cheaper than out-of-season fresh produce and is often higher in nutrients and better tasting. Frozen broccoli is said to have 35 percent more beta-carotene by weight then fresh broccoli. Here’s a short list of what’s in season when:
Spring: apricots, artichokes, asparagus, strawberries, sweet peas and watercress.
Summer: berries, cherries, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, figs, melons, okra, peaches, peas, plums, rhubarb, summer squash, tomatillos, and tomatoes.
Fall: apples, cranberries, dates, figs, mushrooms, pears, pomegranates, sweet potatoes, winter squash.
Winter: Brussels sprouts, fennel, grapefruit, kale, limes, radicchio, tangerines, turnips.
BOUGHT. NOW WHAT?
Once you get home with all your groceries, where’s the best place to put them to ensure maximum life?
Cheese, covered butter, and all dairy products should go on your refrigerator’s top shelf.
Cooked meats and leftovers should go on a middle shelf.
The bottom shelf, which is the coldest, is ideal for eggs, raw meats and poultry, and seafood.
The door of your refrigerator is its warmest part so use it for less temperature-sensitive items like condiments and salad dressings.
Drawers are best for produce, but not all produce, and it does matter what you put in the same drawer, as some emit a gas that may accelerate the ripening of other produce next to them. In general:
Refrigerate
Apples, berries, broccoli, carrots, celery, cherries, grapes, leafy greens, and zucchini.
Don’t Refrigerate
Avocados, bananas, garlic, kiwi, lemons, limes, melons, oranges, peaches, pears, pineapple, potatoes, tomatoes, and onions…although…I do refrigerate my onions because it prevents them from making you cry when you cut them!
SELL BY & USE BY
How long does food stay fresh? Dr. Oz’s “The Good Life” warns readers that terms like “use by” often aren’t regulated and even the “sniff test” isn’t reliable because many illness-causing germs don’t always have a scent. Here’s a guide to go by:
In the fridge
1-2 days – raw ground meat
3 days – opened salsa or pesto
3-4 days – roasted chicken, Chinese takeout, cooked veggies, prepared chicken or tuna salad
3-5 days – raw steaks, chops, or roasts; opened deli meat
1 week – cooked rice
3-4 weeks – opened hard cheese, eggs (if they float in cold water, they are old)
5-7 days past “sell by date” – milk
1-3 months – butter
In the Freezer
1-2 months – hotdogs, lunch meats, bacon, sausage, fully-cooked ham
6 months – butter, hard cheeses, nuts
1 year – steaks, chops, roasts
In the Pantry
2-4 days – fresh bread
1 year past expiration date – dry and unopened dry pasta, crackers, and cereals.
1.5-2 years – solid chocolate
20 years – canned soups and veggies
Wow! That’s a lot of info coming from someone who hates to go grocery shopping! Let me know if you have any other tips or tidbits. Happy listing, shopping, bagging, unloading, and putting away! See why I detest grocery shopping! Can’t I just have this guy shop and cook for me?
Sunday Scripture: When All Hope Is Gone June 22, 2014
Do you ever feel like you’ve done all you can and you’ve prayed in earnest and yet your hope is gone? Trust me, I’ve been there. I found this prayer by Helen Smith today that made feel just a tad hopeful though:
Dear God:
As I begin this day let me turn my thoughts to you
And ask your help in guiding me in everything I do
Give me patience I need for my peace of mind
And with life’s cares I hope Dear God, some happiness to find
Let me live for today not worrying what’s ahead
For I trust that you will see I get my daily bread
Give me courage to face life’s trials and not from my troubles run
Let me keep this thought in mind: “thy will not mine be done”
And if some wish I do not get though I have prayed to Thee
Help me to believe and understand You know what’s best for me
I’ve failed many times I know, but when tonight I rest
I hope that I can kneel and say “Dear God I’ve tried my best.”
I know it’s hard to “keep calm” and to “keep the faith,” but when all else fails and I’m feeling neglected or alone, I try to remember that God loves me and that’s all that really matters. Whatever today, tomorrow and life holds for me, I will let Him have control.
Tuesday Tip: Sweet Dreams! June 17, 2014
I love my bed. I actually look forward to climbing into it every night. Not only is it comfy and cozy, next to it are books I’m reading, my TV remote for late-night viewing, and Boomer. Sometimes it even includes my daughter or my husband too!
Still, as hard as I try and as much as I buy, falling into bed at home never lives up to doing so in a high end hotel. What gives? Well, I’ve researched and dug, and here are some tips for duplicating that five star bed of your dreams. I hope the result will be sweet dreams for everyone, wherever you are!
The first thing you probably notice about a dreamy bed are its many layers. Much more than just sheets and a comforter, the perfect bed consists of sheets, a duvet, a coverlet, mattress cover, matress pad, and an abundance of fluffy pillows. Notice I didn’t say anything about the physical bed or actual mattress.
That’s because most experts (Who is a bed expert anyway?! Sign me up!) agree that putting your money into great bedding rather than into an overpriced mattress is the way to go. It’s amazing what good quality sheets and the right topper can do for a the quality of your sleep and comfort.
Your first step is to invest in sheets. To get that crispness we all love, look for 100 percent natural fiber sheets like cotton and a thread count of 200-350, any higher thread counts really don’t make a huge difference. As for pillows, buy new ones regularly and don’t be afraid to spend some money on them too. Consider how important they are to a good night’s rest and how much time you spend on them, and opting for higher-end ones won’t seem so outrageous after all. I prefer goose down pillows, which are fluffier than duck down, but if you have allergies or favor foam, there are so many options from which to choose. January is the best time to invest in new bedding, as annual White Sales offer deep discounts on most items.
Okay, now for the mattress. I sleep on a Tempurpedic, but I do feel they are slightly overrated. What I most love about it, is the feather mattress topper I bought that lays on top of it! A word of caution though: always put a feather mattress cover under both the mattress cover and the fitted sheet so as not to feel feathers poking out of just the sheet! I learned this the hard way.
What goes on over the top sheet is entirely up to you. I love my down duvet and comforter but my mom still prefers bedspreads. I also love quilts. Blanket-wise, I’m not as crazy about them as my mom, but even in the heat of a Texas summer, I like the weight of both of them on me and use them year round.
I recently watched a popular YouTube commencement address during which the speaker instructed graduates to make their beds every morning. I confess, I don’t. I do sometimes, but not always. I know, I know. Shame on me! But, when I do make it, I follow the standard rule of placing the top-sheet “upside down” so when folded over the duvet, the folded flap is right side up. I like having a contrast of pattern and/or coordinating colors among my bedding. If my sheets are solid, the comforter has pattern. Any shams and throw pillows will have a mix of both.
The comfort of your bed doesn’t stop at the mattress and bedding though. Your goal should be to make your entire bedroom a sanctuary of peace and comfort. Don’t have anything next to your bed that doesn’t delight or relax you and try to make even the most utilitarian items pretty. I love the idea of live plants in a bedroom and I much prefer table lamps as a bedroom’s lighting of choice.
Finally, how should you take care of all that bedding you’ve invested in? I’ve always been one to wash my sheets in hot water and use fabric softener so they smell yummy, but my friend Ann recently told me she learned just the opposite. Apparently hot water is not the way to go, nor is fabric softener, if crisp sheets are what you want. You decide.
I leave you with everyone’s “how to” question: how do I fold a fitted sheet? Here is an easy guide I found in Woman’s Day magazine. Good luck and good night!
To All You Dads Out There June 15, 2014
“God cares about the relationship between fathers and their kids. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” Malachi 4:6
Happy Father’s Day! Even though my dad passed away years ago, I’m blessed in that I get to celebrate the day through Smitty and Kristen. Sadly my dad never met Smitty, as he passed my senior year of college. Maybe that’s why this is one of my favorite collage pics:
My dad was a handsome and proud man who worked hard til the day he died. He proudly served our country and supported our family. He and Smitty would have gotten along great. In fact, in many ways I married my dad.
Photos are all I have left of my dad. I love taking photos and I cherish so many of them, my personal ones and others I come across.
I love this photo of a bride stopping to kiss her dad as she walks down the aisle after her wedding:
I also love this photo of a solider with his baby:
Let’s not forget all those dads who can’t be with their children today.
In our house, Father’s Day couldn’t fall on a better day for, as Kristen calls him, Pops. He has the U.S. Open, NBA Finals, and World Cup soccer to choose from all day on TV. In some households this might drive the women nuts, but in ours, it’s “dad’s perfect day, and mom and daughter are so down for it all too!”
As many of you know, I love quotes and sayings. One of my favorites about dads is when, in the movie “The Descendants,” George Clooney’s character says, ““Give your children enough to do something but not enough to do nothing.” Hollywood, yes but also so true.
Here then, are some more funny and philosophical thoughts about dads:
And from one of TV’s wisest and funniest dads:
Happy Father’s Day Smitty! Enjoy your day and your daughter!
Don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow. Live one day at a time. Matthew 6:34
My Cup of Tea June 12, 2014
So for me, nine out of the above 10 I agree with; cold Chinese food does nothing for me. But cold fried chicken or ice cold milk? Now we’re talking! I love milk and I drink it daily. If I were Fraulein Maria, I would sing about it as one of my favorite things.
Another one of my favorite things are those quizzes that are all over Facebook and Buzzfeed. They have you choose colors, decades of music, how you like to wind down and other random things to “determine” what country you should live in, what your theme song is, and other fun things. I love them! They make me happy.
When we get bogged down by the negatives in our lives, it’s important to remember the positives and the things that give us simple joy and make us smile. It got me thinking, which is also something else I love to do. So I thought and thought and came up with this: the things I consider to be “My Cup of Tea,” in no particular order. Obvious things like good health and the three Fs: faith, family, and friends, are not included because they kinda go unsaid. After reading it, I’d love to hear some of yours!
My Cup of Tea
Pearls
Dogs
Deep conversations
Football
The University of Oklahoma
Play Do
Lighthouses
Rain, particularly thunderstorms
Snow
Easter lilies
Daisies
Marcona almonds
Cashews
Fajitas
Sleeping late
Tervis Tumblers
Sharpies
The mountains
The beach
The smell of a new can of tennis balls
Chips and queso
“Gilmore Girls”
Shoes
Hot tubs
Spas
“Words with Friends”
Laughing
Coffee
My annual college girls trip
Stone crab
The song “My Girl”
Fruitstripe gum
Donuts
Cartier Love bracelets
Transferware
Sharpies
Pashminas
Rosebud Salve
Current events
The song “Ode to Joy”
OU Mom’s Weekend
Ugg Boots
Toms shoes
Lip balm
Adirondack chairs
The Chrysler Building in NYC
NYC
Votivo Red Currant candles
The smell of rubbing alcohol
The smell of gasoline
Praying
Lantern style light fixtures
“The Sound of Music”
Fashion
Books
Book stores
Stripes, checks and plaid
Photographs
Cows
Road trips
Nesting
Lazy days
Board games
Swedish Fish and most gummy candy
Beyonce’s “Halo”
Lists
Travel
Sinking a long putt
Fields of bluebonnets
Cowboy boots
Magazines
Geico’s camel “hump day” commercial
Coco Mademoiselle and David Yurman perfume
Pedicures
Hot stone massages
“Seinfeld,” “Friends” and “Will and Grace” reruns
“College Gameday”
“Good will Hunting”
“Sex and the City”
“Legally Blonde”
“Hope Floats”
Kendra Scott jewelry
George Strait’s “This Is Where the Cowboy Rides Away”
Vanilla Suede Scentsy
MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check enamelware
Mary Kay “Toffee”lipstick
Chanel lip gloss
Glitter
Churches
Planners
Sandpipers
Baby’s Breath
Peanut butter
Team mascots
Princess Diana
Christmas lights
Winnie the Pooh
Pajamas
Order and organization
Oxford shirts
Lettuce wraps
Snorkeling
Wild flowers
The Seed Sower
Donuts
New Mexico chile
Ping pong
Water volleyball
A great steak
Poppies
Macaroons
Petit Fors
Dinner at a really nice restaurant
Paella
Tim Tebow
Kevin Costner
Rubber ducks
Reading the paper
Crayons and coloring books
Chicken salad
My IPhone
This blog
Saints Francis, Jude, Ann, and Therese
Black, white and khaki clothing
Shutters
Tiffany blue
Thanksgiving
Yoga
Trivia
Tuesday Tip: Bringing Home Baby June 10, 2014
Happy Birthday Kristen!
Well, not really but yesterday, June 9, was supposed to be her birthday. It was my “due date” during my pregnancy and I heard the date non-stop for nearly nine months. Isn’t it funny how, 21 years later, June 9 is still a date that stands out to me? It always makes me think of Kristen as a little baby and ironically I just had coffee with my friend Kathy, in town from Florida, who I haven’t seen since…Kristen was that little baby we called “glow worm.”
Do you know someone who has recently welcomed a new bundle of joy to their life? Are you wondering what to take them or how to help them? In keeping with the fact that I wrote yesterday’s blog a day late, I’m doing it again today! In honor of my June 9 due date, here are some Tuesday Tips on how to help someone who just had a baby.
When to Visit and For How Long
First off, always call before planning to visit the new parents and avoid the desire to just drop in. During the first several weeks of having a new baby, 15 minute stays are the perfect length of time to stay, but as the post-baby weeks grow in length, so can your visit lengths as this is the time when long-term helpers and family members have probably gone back home, people have stopped coming by, and spouses have returned to work.
Wash your hands immediately upon entering the home, don’t wear any perfumes or scented lotions as they are often overpowering to both baby and mom whose senses are heightened, and if you have any signs of illness, don’t go!
Something else to keep in mind when visiting a new mom and dad is that the purpose of your visit is, yes to bring a gift and see the new baby, but mostly it’s to be of help. This is the time to do a chore without being asked. Cook a meal or clean up a mess. Load or unload the dishwasher. Sweep the kitchen floor. Fold clothes. Take out the trash. Scrub the toilet while using the bathroom.
Equally important is to always acknowledge the new baby’s siblings. Bring them a special treat and greet them right away. But, don’t bring your kids along unless they can independently and quietly entertain the baby’s siblings while you visit with and help out mom.
The Out of Town Guest
First of all, never invite yourself but if you are invited, offer to stay at a hotel. Chances are you will be welcomed to stay at the home, but leave the hotel option open.
Once in the home, it’s your job to be the new parents’ personal assistant. Drive them to appointments. Run errands. Pick up prescriptions. Babysit siblings. Cook. Clean. Do laundry. Everything! Remember that having a houseful of visitors, regardless of how close you are to them, can be overwhelming so try your hardest to do things independently. The less you ask things like “where are the garbage bags” and “what time does Suzie get out of school,” the better.
Nighttime is a the perfect yet often overlooked opportunity to help. Offer to stay up late with the baby while mom and dad catch some much-needed rest and after night-time feedings, volunteer to burp the baby and put him/her to bed.
Finally, don’t forget outside chores. Lawns still need to be mowed, weeds still need to be pulled, leaves still need to raked, and snow still needs to be shoveled when a new baby arrives.
If you live out-of-town and can’t manage a visit, the best gift is that of paying for services such as housecleaning, yard work, diaper service, food service, and even gift cards.
Other Ways to Help
Anyone who’s had a baby knows the joy of having quiet time either just with the baby or while the baby sleeps. If there are older siblings you feel comfortable with, take them somewhere on an outing. Offer to walk the dog or scoop the poop. Run errands for the new parents like school drop-offs or grocery store shopping. If you are on your way to buy your groceries, call and ask “what can I get you while I’m there?”
Help out anywhere you can but don’t give advice unless asked and keep in mind that parenting techniques and philosophies could very likely have changed since you had a baby, especially if you are a generation older than the new mom.
The Gift of Food
Who doesn’t love having to not cook, right? Well, new parents rank right up there with those who love it most. But, there are some important guidelines to consider before bringing over that spaghetti or meatloaf.
First off, ask about any food allergies or dislikes and don’t take anything that needs to be eaten within the next 24 hours. Also consider cooking breakfast meals, as dinner seems to be what most friends and families drop off. Paper plates, plastic ware, and disposable cups also make great gifts to bring with a meal. Always put whatever you cook in disposable containers and attach heating instructions and a note stating the dish does not have to be returned. In the early days of baby being home, front porch drop offs are more than appropriate, just be sure to notify the family of your delivery!
If the mom is breastfeeding, consider making items that have ingredients known to promote breast milk such as oatmeal, whole grains, dark leafy greens, beans, vegetables, and nuts. At the same time, avoid those that contain herbs like peppermint and sage, which reduce breast milk production.
Most of all, new parents often just want support and love. Ask them how they’re doing and listen to their answers to get a feel for what they may really need. It most likely is simple encouragement and to be told they are doing a wonderful job.
