FUN – Page 68 – Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION.

AWay with Words – quotes about veggies

Vegetables are interesting but lack a sense of purpose when unaccompanied by a good cut of meat. Fran Lebowitz

Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.
Jim Davis

“Please understand the reason why Chinese vegetables taste so good. It is simple. The Chinese do not cook them, they just threaten them!” – Jeff Smith

Do vegetarians eat animal crackers? – author unknown

“An onion can make people cry but there’s never been a vegetable that can make people laugh.” – Will Rogers

Go vegetable heavy. Reverse the psychology of your plate by making meat the side dish and vegetables the main course. – Bobby Flay

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B Well – turning over a new leaf

Step aside Kale….there are some new produce powerhouses that deserve attention.

Known for their A-to-Zinc spectrum of vitamins and minerals, leafy vegetables like spinach and collards have long been rated among the healthiest foods on the planet. But those old standbys – and their suddenly stylish cousin kale – are hardly the only greens that should be in your diet. Shake things up with these four super nutritious choices:

1) Bok Choy – belongs to the cruciferous (cabbage) family, a group known for its anticancer properties (which may be due, in part, to a high concentration of the antioxidant kaempferol).

2) Mustard Greens – may be more effective at lowering cholesterol and decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer than cabbage, broccoli and green peppers. But the way you cook them matters: according to a recent study in Food and Nutrition Sciences, mustard greens had greater cholesterol-lowering potential when sautéed than when boiled, steamed, or served raw.

3) Beet Greens – a good source of potassium, a mineral that can help control blood pressure. One cup delivers nearly 60 percent more potassium than the same amount of spinach. The leaves also contain vitamin A, which promotes good vision, and vitamin K, which may strengthen bones.

4) Chard – just one cup of cooked chard delivers almost 50 percent of your recommended daily value of magnesium, a mineral that may have the ability to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of diabetes. A scientific review of several studies found that increasing magnesium intake by 100 milligrams a day (that’s just 2/3 cup of cooked chard) can lower the risk of stroke by 8 percent.

Taken from Feeling Good – “O” magazine. Article by Johannah Sakimura.

Also;

**Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad King for the most evocative and informative up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health professionals – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America.

FUN

Personal Post-it: Breakfast

A good Breakfast. I have a few specific criteria for getting a great breakfast in a restaurant and usually I’m disappointed by at least one of them. 1) The home fries must not come out of a package 2) coffee must be above average 3) bread must be fresh 4) your bill should be met with something a bit more imaginative than a stale mint candy. Something like cookies would be perfect.

Fable on 4th in Vancouver surpassed my expectations.

In Palm Springs Cafe Europa did not disappoint especially with being able to sit outside in an attractive courtyard setting. The weather may have had something to do with it.

cafe europa with french press coffee. — Cafe Europa in Palm Springs with french press coffee.

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INtrigue INsider – Margarita on the Move

We’re pleased to announce the addition of Margarita Active Wear to Intrigue Imports.

With a vivid palette of latin inspired color and a cute daisy logo, the flattering Brazilian cut style means that you will get “bottoms up!” Made in Israel with quality, detail and comfort. Here is a sampling of the colorful brand’s attire.

Please note that we’re currently in the process of adding more stock so please check back for frequent updates. Now at http://www.intrigueimports.com 510

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style & design – Prints Charming!

It could be because I’m in Palm Springs and under the influence of the “mod squad” but lately I’ve been noticing a lot of Pucci designs.

Emilio Pucci (1914-1992) was crowned “The Prince of Prints” by the international fashion press and hailed from one of Florence’s oldest and noblest families. The press were smitten by his exuberantly colored prints and simple, effortless designs, so radical for the time. Their feminine and free-flowing body-conscious shapes translated seamlessly into weightless silk jersey dresses, resort-style sportswear and glorious evening gowns — must-haves for the jet-set crowd. Not to mention a good friend of mine who is in the process of buying out the recently re-launched Pucci sunglass collection that bears her same last name.

Vogue shoot by Irving Penn - 1990 — Vogue shoot by Irving Penn – 1990

The Pucci brand is famous for its pattern with geometric prints in a kaleidoscope of colors. Not for the faint of heart. Along with swimsuits, scarves and lounge wear for suburban moms, he designed uniforms for flight attendants, insignia for the Apollo 15 astronauts and outfits for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Marilyn Monroe and even Madonna.

Pucci is today widely known for its fashionable luxury items and is 67% owned by the French Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton Group.

You can shop for Emilio Pucci accessories, including handbags, scarves, hats, shoes and eyewear, from eLuxury.com, Net-a-Porter.com, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and at many boutiques around the world. The Emilio Pucci official website (Visit the Site) features runway videos, backstage photos and information about upcoming items. Coming soon to Intrigueimports.com (I wish).

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Simply Satisfying – Orange Cranberry Breakfast Cake

As soon as I saw this recipe on a food blog I knew that it would turn out wonderful. Especially since I had orange flavored cranberries at home. I didn’t have brandy but substituted with over proof rum. Okay, so it was a little bit stronger but nonetheless tasted excellent.

Ingredients:

1 cup of dried cranberries

½ cup of brandy (I used overproof Rum)

½ cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter, room temperature

2/3 cup of sugar

zest of 1 orange

1 egg, room temperature

1 tsp. vanilla extract

½ cup of milk, room temperature

juice of 1 orange (mine rendered 1/3 cup)

2 cups of all-purpose flour

2 tsp. of baking powder

1 tsp. salt

turbinado sugar to sprinkle on top

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-ince square baking pan.

In a small sauce pan add cranberries and brandy (or rum). Warm through over medium heat, about 5 minutes. The brandy should evaporate. Turn off heat and set it aside to cool.

Using a standing mixer, cream butter, sugar and orange zest until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla extract and beat until combined. Then add in milk and orange juice and continue mixing until combined.

In a medium bowl whisk flour, baking powder and salt until combined. Slowly add in the flour mixture into the wet ingredients. The batter will be thick. Fold in ¾ of the boozy cranberries into the batter and spread it evenly into the greased pan. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ of the cranberries on top. Then sprinkle some turbinado sugar evenly on top of everything else (batter and cranberries).

Bake for 30-40 minutes or until toothpick/tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the breakfast cake cool in the pan on the cooling rack.

Adapted from “For the Love of Cooking” by unihomemaker.com and then by intrigueimports.com

FUN

Scene in the City – Real Estate

THE COST OF HOUSING – In and Around PALM SPRINGS

If you compare the following prices to the equivalent in Vancouver, B.C. you’ll find a HUGE difference. You can buy a palace here for the same price as a knock down there. It’s just the way it is. Here is what you can buy in P.S. for just under $100,000 +

For an asking price of $99,900. – a 900 sq. ft. two bedroom, two bathroom condo in secure gated community about a 15 minute drive from the center of town. Living area has a vaulted ceiling, newly re-modelled kitchen and the balcony off second bedroom overlooks pool and hot tub with partial mountain view. Quite attractive. See below:

From front entrance - one bedroom with ensuite on left. — From front entrance – one bedroom with ensuite on left.

Balcony off second bedroom. — View from balcony off one of the bedrooms. Mountain view to the right. Asking $99,900.

Kitchen as new granite counter top and tiles. — Kitchen has new granite counter top and tiles. Asking $99,900.

For an asking price of $279,000. you can buy a 1,400 sq. ft. Adobe style home with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Two beautiful outdoor spaces – one off kitchen with private hot tub and a gorgeous large upstairs deck with mountain views. Complex has a swimming pool and there’s a golf course close by. See 2 photos below.

For an asking price of $535,000. you will get a 1,500 sq. ft. uniquely private home in a gated community close to town with only 12 houses in the whole complex. Absolutely gorgeous home with 2 spacious bedrooms (each with own ensuite) at opposite sides of house. A nice office space, 2 car garage, outdoor living with private salt water swimming pool, hot tub and mountain view. Large kitchen area. See 2 photos below.

This complex across the street was originally selling for $1,000,000. (I know because I looked at it a few years ago) and now it's going for $500,000. — Units in the complex you see across the street were originally selling for $1,000,000. (I know because I looked there a few years ago) and now the only two remaining are going for about $500,000. – half the original asking.

These are just tiled stairs that I really like. I love Mexican tiles.

A Road Runner — Until now the only Road Runner I was familiar with was on Bugs Bunny.

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AWay with Words – Quotes about Modernism.

By Modernism, I mean the positive rejection of the past and the blind belief in the process of change; in novelty for its own sake; in the idea that progress through time equates with cultural progress; in the cult of individuality, originality and self-expression. – Dan Cruickshank

Don’t bother about being modern. Unfortunately it is the one thing that, whatever you do, you cannot avoid. – Salvador Dali

Modernity is the transient, the fleeting, the contingent; it is one half of art, the other being the eternal and the immovable. – Charles Baudelaire

Post-Modernism was a reaction against modernism. It came quite early to music and literature and a little later to architecture. And I think it’s still coming to computer science. – Larry Wall

“The modern artist is working with space and time and expressing his feelings rather than illustrating.” – Jackson Pollock

Parker Palm Springs Lobby — Parker Palm Springs Hotel Lobby

“The pure modernist is merely a snob; he cannot bear to be a month behind the fashion.”- G.K. Chesterton, All Things Considered

“In his own way the modernist becomes as irrelevant as the fundamentalist. The fundamentalist has something to say to his world, but he has lost the ability to say it. The modernist knows how to speak to his age, but he has nothing to say.” ― William E. Hordern

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B Well – other intriguing uses for Herbs & Spices.

Did you know…..

Ancient Romans hung Anise plants near their pillows to prevent bad dreams?

Pinning a Bay Leaf to your pillow on the eve of St. Valentine’s Day lets you see your future spouse in a dream. This according to Elizabethan lore.

Clove oil is a natural pain killer, used for centuries. In 17^th century Britain, cloves were literally worth their weight in gold. Unfortunately times have changed.

In the Middle Ages, Cumin was believed to keep lovers (and chickens!) from wandering. **That’s why you should always use cumin in cooking.

Drinking Dill water removes a witch’s spell. So happy to finally get that ~~bitch~~ witch off my back.

Studies have shown that Fenugreek can increase milk production in nursing mothers by up to 900%.

We all know that Ginger helps to cure a sore throat but ginger is also extremely effective for curing nausea.

Cleopatra wore Lavender perfume while seducing Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. In the 19^th century it was used to cure vipor bites and swooning fits.

Hippocrates used Oregano as an antiseptic. Ancient Greeks crowned brides and grooms with sprigs of oregano to banish sadness.

Tarragon was believed to cure snake bites.

In the middle ages, Thyme was believed to bring courage to the bearer. Too bad the Lion from Wizard of Oz didn’t know about that.

Tumeric can be used to deter ants in the garden. I suppose this can also be used in the house but only if you don’t mind your wood floor or carpets dyed a bright yellow.

It’s nice to know about these other ancient purposes but I’ll stick to using them mostly for cooking.

But does anyone know where I can get an Anise plant?

Also,

**Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad King for the most evocative and informative up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health professionals – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America.

Here’s the link: http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/1686/transforming-health

FUN

P.S. – Some books I really like.

Books are some of my favorite things.

More and more people are using a kindle but there’s nothing

I should have written this one. — This should be mine. Glamping by ~~Debbie King~~

like turning the pages of a book. I’ve always fantasized about having a library. My friend Natalia has built an enviable floor to ceiling library in her house in L.A. – if only I had the space. I go into stages of reading and not reading and have many books to catch up on. My friend Louise recently gave me the book “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle which I’ve wanted to read for the longest time. I must be the last person on the planet to be reading it. Here are a few coffee table types that recently caught my eye – from and about Palm Springs.