Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION.

Simply Satisfying – slow cooked Pulled Pork

Southern Comfort. I have a sneaking suspicion that you can put a pork shoulder into a *slow cooker all on its own (with no rub, sauce, etc.) and it will still turn out pretty darn tasty…but why chance it. This delicious ‘once on occasion’ recipe (as filed under guilty pleasures or football games) was served on buns this past weekend (with other food like stuffed peppers, etc.) as a request.

Pulled Pork

One 3 or 4 lb. boneless pork shoulder (boneless is easier for shredding). Have butcher roll and tie for you if it doesn’t come packaged that way.

Combine the following dry spices and rub them all over the pork. Make sure you get all surfaces well covered. Place seasoned pork in a bowl, cover and refrigerate overnight.

2 Tbsp. brown sugar

2 Tbsp. kosher salt

2 Tbsp. smoked paprika

1 Tbsp. black pepper

1 Tbsp. ancho chili powder (or any Mexican chili powder)

1 tsp. ground coriander

1 tsp. ground cumin

Next morning – remove the pork from refrigerator.

Put into slow cooker the following:

1/2 cup of water

1 cup of apple juice

1 cup of barbecue sauce (if you buy it try to get one with a smoky BBQ flavor – I like Kentucky wild whiskey or a wild hickory smoke). See homemade version below.

Juice of 1 lime

hot sauce, to taste

Add pork shoulder, cover & turn on low for at least 8 hours.

When done, remove roast from stoneware (slow cooker), and pull the meat into shredded pieces using two forks. Pour out any liquid in the stoneware. Combine shredded pork with a chopped medium onion & put back into stoneware with about 1/2 cup of the reserved liquid & bit more barbeque sauce. Turn on low for one more hour. Keep warm until serving on hamburger buns or rolls. Warm up extra BBQ for buns if needed.

*If you don’t have a slow cooker then put it into a covered roasting pan set on a low heat (250 F) for same amount of time. Just be sure to check & baste periodically.

Homemade BBQ Sauce (great for ribs too). A little more time but I promise it’s totally worth it:

2 Tbsp. tomato paste

1 Tbsp. dark brown sugar

1 Tbsp. molasses

1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar

1 Tbsp. soy sauce

1 Tbsp. honey

1 Tbsp. ketchup

1 tsp. yellow mustard like dijon, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder and kosher (or Lawry’s seasoned) salt.

1 cup chopped onion (optional)

1/2 cup strong black coffee

dash of Louisiana-style hot sauce

(makes two cups)

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Whisk thoroughly or combine with a hand-held blender to ensure there are no lumps. Simmer over low heat while stirring frequently for 1 hour (this pasteurizes the sauce). Cool for at least 1 hour before transferring to an airtight container for storage. Store for up to 1 month in the refrigerator but you can also freeze what you don’t use.

This will feel like summer all winter long

FUN

Seen & Surreal – The Mystery of the Ordinary

“Art evokes the mystery without which the world would not exist.” – René Magritte

MoMa’s “Magritte: The Mystery of the Ordinary.” On view from September 28^th through January 12, 2014 takes a fresh look at early works by Belgian master René Magritte. The exhibit features more than 80 paintings, collages, and objects made between 1926 and 1938. If you live in or plan to visit New York during that time you can prepare to be perplexed by images such as ‘lovers kissing through gauzy masks’ & other intriguing pieces.

But surrealisly, how do you feel about Surrealism as an art form? I remember seeing an exhibit on Surrealism at the Guggenheim many years ago that made me think “what was the artist thinking?” There has to be a story behind it (at least somewhat) but the dreamlike paintings were nonetheless beautiful works of art. The mystery can be left up to the observer and it can represent many things to many people which is the true beauty of ART.

American artist Jeff Koons (who owns several Magrittes) explains that Surrealism was the very first art movement that he really responded to and he feels that Surrealism makes people go inward – to dive into the muck and understand themselves – and then return outward with a new sense of self-acceptance. He says “Art brings you in contact with feeling. When you see a Magritte, you feel something; you have an experience that can be very, very strong. He’s very poetic. One of the beautiful things about his work is that it’s really made for the viewer to participate in. It’s about creating a shared experience for you to experience this sensation.”(This as told to Lindsay Talbot).

It is what it is....what is it? — It is what it is….what is it then?

Similar to a good author or poet, you want to be drawn in and taken away to somewhere that’s anywhere but here…even if just for a little while.

FUN

Words….and their extravagance

You don’t have to be born beautiful to be wildly attractive – Diana Vreeland

Diana Vreeland began her now legendary 25 year tenure at Harper’s Bazaar, writing a column of audacious advice & extravagant ideas that helped redefine American women and 20th century fashion.

way ahead of her time – sounds like good practical advice to me!

A few quotes: “The bikini is the most important thing since the atom bomb”

“You gotta have style to get up in the morning”

“The first rule that a geisha is taught, at the age of nine, is to be charming to other women…Every girl in the world should have geisha training.”

“There’s only one very good life and that’s the life you know you want and you make it yourself,” Vreeland famously said. And she devoted herself to this infectious, all-encompassing idea that you could make yourself as interesting – as fabulous-as you wanted. Why be boring? She also, luckily for us, never seemed to say anything that didn’t qualify as a perfect (not to mention totally Tweetable!!) little life quote.

What a life, what a fabulously stylish life!

John Esten is the author of “Diana Vreeland, why don’t you, Bazaar Years”

FUN

B well – with mighty little ‘mini’ greens

Little healthful tidbits that go a long way…proving that good things do come in extremely small packages.We already covered the power of using seeds in our food, but what about the ‘seedlings’ called microgreens (mini-me’s?).

Every few years it seems like a new leafy veggie becomes the darling of the ‘farmers’ market – first swiss chard, then kale, and now….microgreens.

Harvested when they’re just seven to 14 days old, these pint-sized leaves can be far more nutrient dense than their full-grown counterparts, according to a recent study done in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. “Plants use stored nutrients to grow, so plucking the tiny seedlings early means they still have high levels of vitamins and minerals,” says study coauthor Zhenlei Xiao. Keep in mind, though, that these mini-me’s lack the fiber found in mature plants, so they should supplement the greens you already eat, not replace them.

The best part? Thanks to the concentrated flavour of these five diminutive standouts, they elevate meals in taste as well as nutrition.

Try:

Micro Cilantro – 11 times more lutein and zeaxanthin (nutrients that can reduce the risk of cataracts and age-related vision loss) than the same amount of mature cilantro.

Micro Red Cabbage – they outshine full grown cabbage with roughly 260 times the beta-carotene and more than 40 times the Vitamin E.

Micro Purple Mustard Greens – just 4 ounces meet your recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of Vitamin C. Perk: among the tastiest greens with a spicy zing.

Micro Green Daikon Radish – Vitamin E superstar, boasting 165% of your RDA per ounce. By contrast, mature leaves contain only trace amounts of the antioxidant.

Micro Garnet Amaranth (I’ve never heard of this one before) – light red with an earthy flavour, this ranks highest in Vitamin K which is essential for blood clotting and may reduce the risk of bone fractures. Best with grains.

leafy greens - big & small — leafy greens – big & small

Trader Joe's offers some great packaging — Trader Joe’s offers some great packaging

Taken from an article written by Leslie Goldman

**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

Personally speaking – it’s a Bazaar world!

Vogue, Elle, InStyle, W, Allure, Harper’s Bazaar and their various world counterparts give you the very best of the very latest stylish clothing & beauty trends. But if I had to choose only one magazine per month I would have to go with Harper‘s Bazaar. Here are my list of reasons why:

When Harper’s Bazaar was launched as a weekly journal in 1867, it was the first version of the modern fashion magazine in America and possibly the world.

Bazaar’s assemblage of photographers, artists, designers and writers deliver a “sophisticated” perspective into the world of fashion, beauty and popular culture bar none! The photography is unparalleled.

The incomparable DianaVreeland (the eye has to travel) was the editor from 1936 – 1962 among other notables like Carmel Snow.

The “style at every age” pages are for those ranging from their 20’s to 70’s+ (a wider appeal than most other magazines).

Stories are kept short and to the point & I’m attracted to the COVERS.

September Issue for Subscribers — September Issue for **Subscribers**

I just had to show you the difference between buying the magazine on the newsstand and getting it sent by subscription.

So why don’t you subscribe?

FUN

Beauty with Benefits – lash serum product review

RapidLash® Enhancing Serum

Last week I sampled the latest mascaras from too-faced. Ones that help to temporarily lengthen and thicken your lashes, but what’s all this hype about lash renewal serums? – the ones that promote your very own lashes to grow gradually over time? Some people claim to see longer lashes in about four weeks, with full growth at 16 weeks. I had to check it out.

By now everyone has heard of that other famous lash product called Latisse. I was curious to try it but decided against it. The reasons are such: 1) my own lashes are adequate enough. 2) Latisse is a prescription drug. 3) The effects of Latisse are not permanent and the drug can cause eye or eyelid discoloration (although it’s very rare) 4) Average Price: $125.00. I have heard that it definitely works.

We do not know exactly how LATISSE^® works; however, we believe it does so by increasing the growth cycle (anagen) phase of your eyelash hair cycle. Anagen is the growth phase of all hair. We believe that it increases the length of the anagen phase and the number of hairs in this growth phase. It’s easy, the treatment you apply yourself each evening to the base of the upper eyelashes.

Then I went to Costco in the U.S. and saw Rapidlash, a very similar product but you don’t need a prescription and the cost was significantly less at $49.95. Definitely worth the splurge – adequate is never enough right? So here’s what I found:

Friday, September the 13^th was exactly 8 weeks since I first started to apply it – at night only. I took before and after photos and it appears that my lashes increased by about 25%. By the end of the first week of November it will be 16 weeks and more than enough time to give a full product review since this product claims that you can see results in as little as four weeks.

This is what the company has to say (not sure about the part that you may never need to wear mascara or eyebrow pencil ever again):

RapidLash® Eyelash & Eyebrow Enhancing Serum

Enhance the appearance of lashes and brows with RapidLash® Eyelash Enhancing Serum. Infused with proteins, vitamins and powerful polypeptides, RapidLash conditions and moisturizes like no other product on the market. Contains Hexatein™ 1 Complex, an exclusive formula unique to RapidLash®. This effective product provides protection against breakage and naturally supports the appearance of healthier and more voluminous looking lashes and brows. You may never need mascara or an eyebrow pencil again! Innovative high-performance formula helps improve the appearance of your lashes and brows. The appearance of seductive looking brows and lashes in 4-6 weeks. Powerful polypeptides provide effective protection against breakage and naturally supports more voluminous looking lashes. Vital proteins and vitamins promote shine and suppleness Hexatein™ 1 Complex: A unique blend of lash enhancing ingredients exclusive to RapidLash® with six benefits specifically designed to target eyelashes from every angle: Polypeptides, comprised of beneficial amino acids, help protect against breakage and support more voluminous-looking lashes, Biotin (Pro-vitamin B7 / Vitamin H / Coenzyme R), an essential factor in maintaining healthier-looking, youthful lashes, Panthenol (Vitamin B5) helps coat the lashes and seal in moisture and nourishment for improved overall appearance, Amino Acids help replenish the building blocks of lashes by boosting the protein structure and resulting in healthier-looking appearance of lashes, Soybean Oil, rich in vitamins, helps impart sheen and luster to lashes making them appear lush and beautiful, Pumpkin Seed Extract, high in zinc, EFAs, amino acids, vitamins and phytosterols, helps balance and enhance more voluminous-looking appearance of lashes.

Average Customer Rating:

4.5 out of 5 (out of 164 reviews)

FUN

Timeless Trends – it’s a PLAID, PLAID World!

Alexander Mcqueen bias cut fit/flare plaid dress. Elle.com — Alexander McQueen bias cut fit/flare plaid dress – elle.com

Call it schoolgirl chic if you want to, but Real Women do wear Plaid.

How can we ever tire of throwing on a plaid shirt over a pair of leggings or jeans as soon as the weather starts to cool. It’s such a cozy staple.

Photo – Garance Doré

An obvious call for weekend wear or casual engagements, although cute skirts, and a bit of pattern on shoes or bags can offer a new chicness that’s hard to ignore.

Stella McCartney Bag

Gryphon pant – elle.com

But is plaid too prim? Hardly. Not with the modern take on tartan cropped jackets and separates. There might be something irresistibly naughty about a tartan

Reem Acra Dress – elle.com

baby-doll dress that skims the body in a quietly seductive way.

There’s nothing old-school about that!

Even the scotty dogs are looking

pretty good now!

Current-Elliott Jeans. Elle.com

boucle jacket – elle.com

Phillip Lim Sweater – elle.com

marc by Marc Jacobs – elle.com

FUN

simply satisfying – slow cooked curried chicken

Love curry? This is a great simplified version that you can prepare a night in advance or the morning of…in a slow cooker. Leftovers are delicious the next day when the spices have more of a chance to settle in.

If you don’t have a slow cooker than put it in the oven at a low temperature (325 F) for several hours.

Ingredients:

2 lbs. boneless (or bone-in), skinless chicken thighs (about 10)

1/3 Cup tomato paste

4 cloves garlic, chopped

1 Tbsp. freshly grated ginger

2 Tbsp. masala curry powder

1 tsp. ground cumin

1 medium onion, chopped

1 1/2 cups long-grain basmati rice

optional: 1/2 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt

2 scallions, thinly sliced

Chopped fresh cilantro for garnish.

Prepare the chicken: make a dry rub. Mine is a combo of equal parts – everyday seasoning, tumeric, powdered ginger, curry powder, black pepper, himalayan salt & chopped dehydrated onion. Pat chicken on both sides with rub.

In a 4-6 quart slow cooker, whisk together the tomato paste, garlic, curry powder, ginger, cumin and 3/4 cup water or stock (I prefer chicken stock). Add the onion and stir to combine. Place the chicken on top.

Cover and cook until the chicken is tender, on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours. Oven at 325F for at least 2 hours in.

Twenty minutes before serving, cook the rice according to package directions.

Just before serving, add the yogurt and stir to combine. Serve with the rice and sprinkle with the scallions and/or cilantro.

Serve with mango chutney, lime pickle, tomato chutney, or ALL. Naan break for dipping is excellent and you can buy it almost anywhere now. Cover in tinfoil & warm in oven beforehand.

I hope you enjoy this

FUN

On the Storefront – Lace Embrace Atelier

One should never rush when putting on a corset Dita von Teese, the queen of burlesque, adores her exclusive creations…. Cathie Jung, the Guinness World Record holder for the smallest waist, flies in to be fitted by her… Little wonder that the Tyra Banks Show recently invited Canadian Melanie Talkington to talk about her meteoric rise as one of fashion’s leading corsetières. I’ve met Melanie on a handful of occasions. From tango, to a corset fashion show put on by a friend and a photography exhibit showcasing local fashion talent. I was mesmerized by her designs and the way the models looked & behaved wearing them.

You only need to wear a Lace Embrace corset once to appreciate the true experience they offer.

Exquisite Corsetry, Superlative Quality, Sophisticated Workmanship

At Lace Embrace, they strive to ensure their corsets are an experience that will thrill you and embody your fantasies with a fit that is uniquely your own.

Each Lace Embrace corset begins with an inspiration from an antique corset. All patterns are verified with a sample product to ensure the correct historical shape is achieved. Upon attaining an authentic shape, a graded pattern is created to your measurements. Extra care is taken to ensure the corset moulds to your figure. All construction and placement of boning corresponds with the original corset. This precise method provides you with a corset made to support and shape your body in the same manner as the original.

Lace Embrace corsets combine the highest skill known to the art of corset making, actively working with historical and modern designs. With over 12 years of training and experience, they thrive on challenging designs of historical beauty and distinction.

BIO: Canadian-based Melanie Talkington’s unique, awe-inspiring corsets are wooing the world.

Vancouver, B.C. – With burlesque successfully crossing from fetish to mainstream and corsets becoming de rigueur, the world has gravitated to Ms. Talkington’s business, Lace Embrace Atelier. Her reputation as a corsetière developed through focusing her education on the art of corset making and reviving the lost art of foundation garments. Ten years later myriad people covet Talkington’s designs – often direct inspirations drawn from her antique corset collection, one of the largest in North America.

“I create reproductions of corsets that can withstand wear and allow people to have fun and feel beautiful,” she explains. “I intend to preserve my antique corset collection to one day open my own museum.” The Vancouver Museum has already featured her corsets for the 2003, unmentionables exhibition, as well as the Delta Museum in 2002.