Category: FUN

Anything to do with fun & enjoyment

FUN

Personally Speaking – what’s in a name?

The question is: What is the meaning of a name and how does a name influence a person’s character?2012-10-20 17.33.48 - CopyHAVE YOU EVER stopped to wonder why you have the name you have?  Why did your parents choose your name and if you were to change it and pick one for yourself, what would it be?

Because aside from having a different surname through something like marriage, many people have decided to change their first names too.

I’ve thought about if from time to time knowing that I came thisclose to having a totally different first name – something slightly more glamorous sounding. Something I might have preferred if I was given the choice. So If that was the case, would my personality be totally different?

For instance, how often have you been given the name of someone you haven’t yet met and assumed a personality type to fit the specific name?  For instance, a girl named ‘Paris’ sounds worldly & sophisticated while someone named ‘Tiffany’ appears to be spoiled.  Just saying..

So just for fun I located a website that gives you your ‘apparent’ personality type when you type in your first name.  Give it a try yourself and see if the truth comes out.

The Energy In Your Name and What it Means

The power of a name and its value has long been immortalized in prose, poetry, and religious ceremony. Everyone recognizes himself or herself by name.

cuban facebookBelow is a brief analysis of my first name only:

– The name Debbie creates a dual nature in that you can be very generous and understanding, but you can also be so candid in your expression that you create misunderstanding.

– You struggle with the requirement to soften your expression with tact and diplomacy and to consider the feelings of others.

I did NOT feed that ground squirrel!
No sir, I did NOT feed that ground squirrel!

– Difficulty in accepting or admitting that you may have made a mistake causes you to appear to be stubborn and set in your ways.

– Thus, you have too often created the wrong impression, and friendships have suffered.

– This name does offer creative talent where there is the opportunity for ingenuity and originality.

– You have a tendency, at times, to have too many ideas on the go, and thus your efforts are scattered and many things do not reach completion.

– You are included to do to excess the things you like to do.

– You have very intense feelings and find it difficult to maintain stability and happiness.

– If you allowed it, temper and self-pity could be problems.

Before you go criticizing my good/bad points, go ahead and try it yourself with the link below:

http://www.kabalarians.com/cfm/whats-in-a-name.cfm
FUN

Beauty with Benefit

Beauty Products

GLAM up & Away at airports - with the Pink Bus kiosk. If you can buy cupcakes and tacos on the go, why not satisfy your hunger for makeup!? That's exactly what the company thought.
GLAM up & Away at airports – with the benefit Pink Bus kiosk. If you can buy cupcakes and tacos on the go, why not satisfy your hunger for makeup!? That’s exactly what the company thought.

Have you ever been to the tiny Benefit flagship store in Mill Valley, California?  It’s so cute, mostly pink, very inviting & attention grabbing (as most of their product line is) at the same time – I dare you to walk by without stopping in.  Then you’ll come out with at least two products in your bag that you can’t wait to try on.  They’re one of the most fun cosmetic lines out there with many excellent  products.  Let’s narrow a few down because Winter is almost upon us and our skin tends to get dull and dry.  We need a pick me up in the complexion department.  Granted, these 3 products do “almost” the same thing with a slight twist so you really don’t need all three – maybe just one or two. Okay all three!

Highlighting the “HALL OF FAME” Highlighters

watt’s up!

benefit4

soft focus highlighter for face – Why we love it!

The soft focus highlighter turns “watt” ya got with a delicate champagne glow that’s gorgeous. With a cream-to-powder finish…it’s a switch on “wow” for all complexions. You’ll adore the smooth applicator & luminous sheen.

Who else loves it!

2011 Real Beauty Gold Star Award, Best Makeup Products from 2011

How to apply

Glide on cheek & brow bones…then sculpt with its soft glow blender for YOUR perfect gleam. Can be applied solo or over existing makeup.

high brow

benefit2

a brow lifting pencil – Why we love it!

This soft brow highlighting pencil is your instant brow lift! Perfect for all skin tones, the linen-pink highlight hue adds a lifted look to the entire eye area. It’s never been easier to raise a brow…or two!

How to apply

Apply pencil under your brow following the arch. Lightly blend.

high beam

benefit3

luminescent complexion enhancer – Why we love it!

This satiny pink liquid highlighter accents cheek & brow bones for a dewy, radiant glow. Use as a spot highlighter over makeup or wear under complexion products for subtle luminescence. It’s the “supermodel in a bottle!”

Who else loves it!

2012 TotalBeauty.com Awards, readers’ choice for best highlighter

How to apply

Dot and blend over makeup on to cheek and brow bones, or anywhere you want a glance to linger.

Available at Sephora & most major department stores.

*NEW – Glam Up & Away: with vintage pink bus beauty kiosks coming to airports across the U.S.

 Whoever said you can’t get your Benefit faves on the go clearly had never met a woman in 2013!  Taken from their blog:

Think back to your last 4-hour flight… you arrived at your destination wearing workout pants, hair in a messy bun, and skin feeling dry & lifeless. Let’s face it, you were more Page Six tragic than celebrity jet-setting status.

Landing into 25 locations before the end of 2013. – See more at: http://blog.benefitcosmetics.com/2013/09/28/glam-up-away/#sthash.2AYHQMHl.dpuf

FUN

Trending now (again) – once in a BLUE mood

blue5I’ve been feeling kind of blue lately – Cobalt to be specific.  The shade creeps up from time to time and last year we started seeing more of this bright color.

blue2Crazy for Cobalt: his season the intense blue made a statement on everything from cozy sweaters to swingy dresses.  It seems to have edged out olive and rust as this fall’s most prominent hue.  blue3

How many shades of blue are there exactly?  I don’t know but some editors seem to have a handle on it:

Meryl Streep to Anne Hathaway in “The Devil Wears Prada” – “You go to your closet and you select that lumpy blue sweater, for instance, because you’re trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don’t know is that that sweater is not just blue, it’s not turquoise, it’s not lapis. It’s actually cerulean. And you’re also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent wasn’t it, who showed cerulean military jackets? And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers.” …………………on and on she goes

blue1With its cool undertones, cobalt complements every complexion from porcelain to dark chocolate.

Derek Lam
Derek Lam

Best colors to pair cobalt with: neutrals like grey, black, white or a combo of either.blue4

FUN

Simply Satisfying – Braised Beef Short Ribs

Always braise on low temperatures. The low temperature & slower cooking time helps to break down the tissues in the meat & makes tougher (and cheaper) cuts of meat turn out nice & tender.

after
after

The amount of ribs will depend on the number of people – figure ½ lb. per person.

uncooked
before

Preheat your oven to 300°F.

·  Pat the meat dry with paper towels. This will help you get a nice brown crust on the meat in the next step. Sprinkle with garlic salt, onion salt + pepper.

·  Heat a small amount of oil in a heavy-bottomed oven-proof braising pan or Dutch oven over high heat. When the oil is very hot, add the meat. Brown the meat for a minute or two on all sides. Remove the meat from the pan and set it aside.

·  Lower the heat to medium and add aromatic vegetables like chopped onions, leeks, carrots and celery. You could also add a few cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed. Sauté for a few minutes or until the vegetables start to soften.

·  Deglaze the pan with a flavorful liquid, such as stock, broth or wine (you can even use beer).  I used beef stock. Scrape off any roasty bits (called fond) from the bottom of the pan and bring the liquid to a simmer. This liquid will add flavor to the braise. *The long, slow, moist heat of braising is the best way to soften tough cuts of meat.

·  Check the level of the braising liquid. The liquid should just barely cover the meat. You can now add other flavorings and seasonings, like whole peppercorns or bay leaves.

·  Bring the braising liquid back to a simmer, then cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid and transfer it to the 300°F oven.

·  Braise for 1 to 5 hours, depending on the amount of ribs used. Figure about an hour per pound but check to make sure they’re tender.

·  Remove the pan from the oven. Pour cooking liquid through a fine sieve set over a saucepan, discarding solids, and skim fat. If necessary, boil liquid to thicken it slightly, and spoon sauce over ribs. Or; to make a sauce or gravy from the braising liquid, first make a roux, then whisk some of the braising liquid (strain it first) into the roux until it thickens. Cook on low heat for a few minutes, then season.

 Any remaining sauce would be great served over egg noodles.

Stock vs Broth – is there a difference?

Turns out that there is a slight but significant difference.

Stocks and broths both start off the same way: various kitchen scraps of vegetable, meat, and bone are slowly simmered to extract as much flavor as possible. For stock, it stops there — this is an unseasoned liquid that doesn’t taste all too great on its own, but makes a fantastic neutral base for soups, sauces, and other kitchen creations.

Broths, on the other hand, get some seasoning. We add salt, some other spices like black pepper, perhaps a splash of wine — all for the purpose of making this neutral stock taste delicious on its own. A more technical definition for broth would actually be “seasoned stock.” Now that the salt and other seasonings are added in, broth is tasty and satisfying.

 

FUN

Words – It’s a Dog’s Life!

Can you believe it??
Can you believe it??

THE DOG NEXT DOOR……what can I say – I was drawn to this bookMe & JiaJia - Copy - Copy - CopyMe & JiaJia - Copy - Copy

In the perfect follow-up to A Prince among Dogs, Callie Smith Grant compiles a delightful collection of true stories that celebrate the dogs in our lives. These stories will touch our hearts, renew our spirits, and show us how God made these wonderful creatures for unique purposes.

Readers will love these uplifting glimpses into the lives of ordinary and extraordinary dogs and the people who love them. The stories are warm, captivating, and ideal for a good curl-up-and-read or a perfect gift for any dog lover.Portraitdoglove3doglove1

FUN

B well – caring for your canine

or you might find yourself in the DOG house…Jia Jia

Little healthful tidbits that go a long way – what to do when it comes to your pup’s extra poundage & what you need to know to help Rover get back in shape.

From time to time I will include a health section for pet owners – because a fluffy little friend who is also healthy will make you feel good too – and we all know that feeling good is a healthy thing for us humans too.

I would love to receive a basket like this
I would love to receive a basket like this

When that wagging tail greets us at the front door after a long day, stress fades away in a slobbery instant.  And all the love we get from our loyal companions makes us want to reciprocate – often with food. But showing affection with bones or biscuits can lead to extra weight gain – and extra pounds pose weighty issues.  “Dogs may suffer many of the same diseases as humans as a result of too much weight,” says Ernie Ward, a veterinarian and senior veterinary editor of the Pet Health Network (pethealthnetwork.com) – think arthritis, joint damage, blown knee ligaments, high blood pressure, breathing problems, and, in some cases, type 2 diabetes.  The following is a road map for keeping your dog at a healthy weight.

pups2Weigh In – Getting an accurate scale reading requires a trip to the vet, but there are indicators that you can check for at home. “You should be able to feel but not see your dog’s ribs; if you can’t, it’s likely over-weight,” says Louise Murray, a veterinary internal-medicine specialist and vice president of the ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital, in New York City. Chubby dogs may also have a saggy belly, visible from the side.  If your dog shows any of these warning signs, schedule an appointment with the vet.

Treat Lightly – People tend to blame canine weight gain on lack of exercise, but over-feeding, particularly of treats, is usually the culprit.  “Treats are silent saboteurs of good health, and account for a tremendous amount of calories, salt and fat,” says Ward.  He recommends nutrient-rich alternatives like small pieces of veggies (broccoli, green beans, carrots) or lean cooked meat, which taste better than processed treats. Single-ingredient store-bought treats, like salmon flakes or freeze-dried fruits and meats, are also good options.  Treat within reason.  If you notice weight gain, scale back.

Chat about Chow – how much to feed at mealtime depends on the type of food, the dog’s metabolism, and other variables like activity level, age and gender.  (Note: spaying and neutering can slow metabolism).  Portion guidelines on dog-food labels may be unreliable – they’re calculated to meet the most demanding canine lifestyles of active unspayed or un-neutered dogs.  As a result, people are over feeding their dogs by 25 to 50 percent each day.  Check with your vet to see what kind of food your specific dog needs and how much.

Get Moving – Dogs, like humans, may benefit from daily aerobic exercise.  Half an hour each day is recommended.

Milo was an active dog
Milo was an active dog

By Jennifer Tzeses

Check out these dietary supplements for ultimate health & well-being for your pet at http://www.myultimatepet.com/

**Check out Ward’s canine-to-human treat equivalent at http://www.marthastewart.com/treat-cheat-sheet.)

FUN

personally speaking – since when did a bad haircut become CHIC?

I DON’T UNDERSTAND why some women pay good money to look like she gave herself a BAD HAIRCUT!

Eva Herzigova in Prada Ad from last Spring.
Eva Herzigova in Prada Ad from last Spring.

I don’t know about everyone else but I’m thinking that when you go to the hairdresser you should leave feeling better than when you first walked in.  For me that means taking off an inch or two to help tidy up split ends, some layers that fall nicely around the face and a blow dry that lasts for a minimum of three days.  A good haircut should make you feel sexier don’t you agree?  Well as it so happens not everyone’s idea of sexy is the same….

bangs1THE BAD BANG THEORY:

Herzigova is beautiful but maybe she wants to distract people with bangs that look like they were cut with safety scissors in the dark.

Weirdly enough, there seems to be a lot of deliberately bad hair around these days.  Uneven bangs, lopsided looks, scissor marks & seemingly haphazard haircuts.  Case in point: a stylist who created a cut for a story in W magazine of a model wearing a Dior Haute Couture dress.  She may have been wearing haute couture but the effect the hair stylist (Malcolm Edwards) was going for with his zigzag coif was that of a kid who cut her hair with the kitchen scissors.  But of course for that shoot, the model wore a wig.  However the idea is for the reader to deliberately witness a crazy cut.  As if Dior needs something to distract you from a beautiful dress?

Lena Durham in Girls - season finale
Lena Durham in Girls – season finale

Also, in the dramatic season finale of Girls, Lena Dunham hacks away recklessly at her tresses but in the end miraculously ends up with a sassy, cute little pixie cut – which suits her quirky style.

Lena Durham's cute pixie cut.
Lena Durham’s cute pixie cut.

No longer is cutting your own hair considered a desperate cry for help (Britney??)

Erin Anderson has handled the hair of Mila Jovovich and Chloë  Sevigny.  She works out of Woodley & Bunny in the Williamsburg neighbourhood of Brooklyn (a part of town where the girls who look like they cut their hair themselves probably live).  “The DIY haircut has been around for some time,” insists Anderson.  She recalls a time when a client of hers went so far as to ask her to cut his hair with her eyes closed.  Anderson’s strict rule:  Never cut your own hair while under the influence of alcohol or marijuana.  “Everything tends to look good if you’re drunk or stoned,” she says.

A hairdresser who goes by the name of Duffy (he’s also a classically trained stylist from the Vidal Sassoon school) has a request for a bad haircut…..he understands exactly what the customer is asking for.  “We have a painting at home by an artist called Alistair Frost – a canvas with a squiggle in it,” he says.  “The kid was 26 and had the confidence to make this gesture and turn around and say, ‘This is my work.’  That’s what this haircut is about.  The uninfluenced gesture.”  Still, it’s a hell of a lot easier said than done.  “For me to forget all I’ve learned and cut your hair like a kid did it is 10 times harder than if I were just to simply give you a graduated bob,” Duffy says.  He tells this customer that if she had fine blonde hair, he could make her hair look like it was chewed by a rat in six minutes but with her curly hair even if he hacked the crap out of it, it would be hard to see the damage.  So the good & bad news for this customer is that it would be difficult to give her a bad haircut.

As seen in W Magazine

Lesson – a GOOD STYLIST trying to give you a bad haircut is different from a BAD STYLIST trying to give you a good haircut.

What do you think?  Is the Hatchet Haircut for you?

FUN

Beauty with Benefits – Best of the BB Creams

bb7This post comes a bit after the fact because unless you’ve been living under a rock (or you’re a man) you might still be confused over which of the supposedly one-step wonder BEAUTY BALMS really works.

Never mind the new crop of “CC” creams which claims to offer color & correction to boot – we’ll get to them another time.  I haven’t even finished sampling the multitudes of BB creams yet, so give me another year & hopefully by that time they will not have introduced a ‘DD’ cream too.  After all, how much can one tube really offer?  Unless you’re 12 years old or have a perfectly perfect complexion my opinion is that none will put the beauty company face primers, powders or foundations out of business anytime soon.  In the meantime they will help cover up a few skin concerns.

 Here’s what the buzz is all about:

 The “it” beauty product has everyone from MAC to Maybelline adding one to their line – nobody wants to miss out.  But why all the fuss over these quirky named creams?  Two words – quick and easy.  A BB cream works as a moisturizer, foundation, and sunscreen all in one.  Yes, that’s right!  A good one will do all that.  They deliver the lightweight feel of a tinted moisturizer with the complexion-evening powers of a foundation and help to conceal oiliness.  These creams might be new to us but they actually originated in Germany in the 60’s and then became a Korean phenomenon.  There, women used BBs to give their skin a smooth, porcelain-like quality.  However those formulas were too heavy and their shade range too limiting for North American women, so they were slightly re-worked for the U.S./Cdn market, with an emphasis on sheerness,  shade variety & SPF.

They are regarded as an ultimate multi-tasker.  For now, the  bounty of BBs out there means lots of options, but subtleties of formulations can be the difference between a product that’s your new skin saviour and just another tube hogging space on your bathroom shelf.

 So to help, here are a few recommended for different skin types:

bb1Combination – Garnier Skin Renew BB Miracle Skin Perfector (SPF 15) is an all-in-one skin care that hydrates, corrects imperfections, protects, evens and brightens skin tone.  It offers anti-shine, minimizes pores & evens skin tone.  Comes in 2 shades, light/medium, and medium/dark.  For the price you can’t beat this one.

bb2Sensitive – Clinique Age Defense BB cream (SPF 30) with skin calming ingredients like caffeine and a licorice extract to help minimize redness and inflammation.  If you’re susceptible to rosacea it could be your salve-ation.

bb3Oily – Smashbox camera ready (SFP 35) contains silica which helps absorb oil throughout the day.  It has a cream-to-powder finish which creates a beautiful soft-focus effect.

bb5Mature – Hydroxatone Anti-Aging BB (SPF 40) contains ceramides & glycerine to keep complexion hydrated through the day.  It contains peptides to help promote collagen production.                                                                        **Side note:  I tried this one & honestly as nice as it was, the Garnier (with less SPF – but good for winter) & less money worked out just as well for me.

bb6Young (I also refer to this category as ‘Normal’) – Maybelline Dream Fresh BB (SPF 30) is more of a gel than cream.  It has subtle coverage but is also oil-free, making it excellent for teens and 20-somethings prone to blemishes.

bb8Dark Skin – IMAN Cosmetics Skin Tone Evener BB (SPF 15) has a luminous quality which keeps complexions from looking ashy.  Because dark skin is prone to hyper-pigmentation, this cream packs ascorbic acid, which improves texture, and licorice-root extracts to suppress melanin production.

esteeDry Skin – Estee Lauder Day Wear Antioxidant BB (SPF 35) is a combo of intense hydrators which keep complexion from flaking.  Contains hyaluronic acid to draw water to skin and glycerine to prevent moisture from escaping.  It’s featherweight & soothing.  Comes in 2 shades so you may need to layer on something else over it.

Any other recommendations?

 

FUN

Timeless Trends – the MOTO Jacket

cropped-moto1.jpgWhat can we say about the Motorcycle jacket that’s new? moto6

Hardly a trend but the Fall runway introduced fresh colors and feminine touches.  This season’s versions haven’t lost an ounce of coolness with their intricate network of zippers, still keeping the bad-ass vibe.moto10

Even though, the look is more deliberate than in the past.  You can toss one over a silky dress, casual denim or even pair them with coordinating bottoms (often made of leather) for a dressier feel.  Jackets were also worn zipped, functioning more as a top.moto3

Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde

A big trend this Fall is contrasting sleeves and to mix it with luxurious fabrics like brocade or velvet for a different take.

Kate the great
Kate the great
Gwyneth, Angelina, Jessica
Gwyneth, Angelina, Jessica

moto5moto4frontrowmagazineWhich style is your favorite?

FUN

Simply Satisfying – stuffed Portabello mushrooms

grilled stuffed portabello
grilled stuffed portabello

This can almost suffice as a meal on its own, but giant portabello mushrooms are terrific as a side dish for grilled fish or steak, or as a vegetarian main dish because they have that meaty ‘steak like’ texture.  They’re healthy, filling and so satisfying.  Here is a recipe that’s not really a recipe.

How-to:

Remove stems from mushrooms and reserve for another use, such as stock. Hollow out a bit of the mushroom taking care not to cut through the whole thing – just scoop out some of the flesh to make room for stuffing. Brush mushrooms all over with oil.

Prepare quinoa or rice (I recommend wild rice if you don’t want to use quinoa) ahead of time.  Wash 1 ½ cups of quinoa or rice & place in pot with 3 cups of water/stock (I like chicken or veggie ‘better than’ bouillon).  You’ll have more than enough – but more is always better.

In a separate pan with a bit of extra-virgin olive oil sauté the following vegetables (although you can improvise using whatever veggies you prefer).

I used what was on hand:

1 chopped onion, 1 chopped red pepper, french-cut green beans, sundried tomatoes & a few mushrooms (you can also use the stems which you must remove from the Portabello).  Just sauté with s+p (plus other spices) until tender but still slightly crisp. I then added cuban-style black beans, corn, peas & quinoa (you decide how much)  to the mix.

Place mushrooms, cut side down, on greased cookie sheet (or pyrex) in a 350F oven just until juices start to release, about 4 minutes.  Take out of oven.

Turn mushrooms and spoon filling.  At this point I added sliced green onions & feta on top (although parmesan would be nice too), drizzle with a bit more olive oil and cook mushrooms until tender, about 15 more minutes.

Enjoy!