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

Veggie Good Pad Thai

This is one of my favorite Vegetarian dishes. It hits all the taste sensations; sweet, savory, sour and nutty.

One of the things I love best when ordering Thai food is Pad Thai. One of the things I like least when ordering Thai food is Pad Thai...when it is not up to par. I’ve been disappointed more than once. So I’ve been making my own.

Making Pad Thai is much easier than you think. You can tweak ingredients to your own liking and add chicken and/or shrimp to make it non vegetarian or omit the egg to make it vegan. Experimenting with flavors is best. For me personally, I love an excellent homemade vegetarian Pad Thai using rice noodles. Depending on my mood I might switch up the veggies or make more or less of the sauce. So this is kind of a non-recipe recipe.

Before we get started a few basics you should know:

TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST PAD THAI

Prep your ingredients. Have all your ingredients prepped and ready before you begin. Cooking Pad Thai is a very fast process and by having your ingredients prepped and within hands reach, this will ensure that everything goes smoothly.
Continuously stir. I use a huge frying pan (you can also use a wok). You will need to continuously stir veggies throughout the cooking process to ensure even distribution of heat and even cooking.
Do not overcook the noodles. I always pre-cook noodles in a separate pot and add them last (they may appear a bit lumped together if you don’t use them right away, however they do separate once you add them to the pan). Cook the noodles according to package directions and drain. Cook veggies until the sauce dries. The noodles should still be firm and not mushy when you add them to the pan. Fully-cooked noodles will change color from transparent to white. If you are new to stir-frying noodles, I would recommend turning down the heat while cooking, as things move fast.
Serve hot. Pad Thai is best served immediately. Once the noodles turn cold, they will start to lose their texture and flavor.
Toppings are Everything. Serve Pad Thai topped with fresh bean sprouts, green onion (cut on the bias), cilantro, shaved carrot, chopped peanuts and lime wedges.

Ingredients (for two):

1 package Flat Rice Noodles (you can find ones specifically for Pad Thai)

1 Red Bell Pepper cut into strips

1 Onion thinly sliced

2-3 Garlic cloves, chopped

1 inch chopped fresh Ginger

Extra Firm Tofu cut up into cubes

1 Large Egg, slightly beaten (optional and added to hot pan before noodles)

Handful of Snap Peas

1 Carrot (cut into small chunks)

The above is my go-to but you can also add sliced mushrooms and/or broccoli

Right before serving add the following:

Handful of Peanuts finely chopped

Fresh Bean Sprouts

Chopped Cilantro

Chopped Green onion

Shredded Carrot

Lime wedges

Cook the noodles according to package directions and drain.

You can use a combination of some or all of the below ingredients for the sauce. My suggestion is to try what I recommend at first and then adjust according to your taste. Omit any that don’t sit well with you. For instance, I don’t always use fish sauce.

These are general guidelines as I don’t have a set recipe.

2 Tbsp. Toasted Sesame Oil, 2 Tbsp. Rice vinegar, 1-2 Tbsp. Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce, 1 Tbsp. chili-garlic sauce, 2 Tbsp. Fish Sauce (optional), 2 Tbsp. store bought peanut sauce, 1 Tbsp. Lime Juice, 1 Tbsp. tamarind paste (not difficult to find in the Asian section of almost every grocery store).

TO MAKE *SAUCE:

Pour about 2 Tbsps of toasted sesame oil in a large frypan or wok. When hot. add the garlic, ginger, onion + pepper. Stir until fragrant. Add any other veggies (snap peas, carrot, tofu, mushrooms, etc.) and then add your rice vinegar, soy, fish sauce, chili-garlic sauce, tamarind paste and lime juice. With wooden spoon, stir veggies and coat with sauce. When all veggies are just about done, add the slightly beaten egg, then the noodles to the pan or wok.

TOSS together then:

Add peanut sauce to the pan; to taste. Divide mixture among two plates and top with bean sprouts, green onion, cilantro, shredded carrot and chopped peanuts. Serve with lime wedges. If you like it spicier add a bit more chili sauce.

Let me know how you like it.

*you can buy store-bought pad thai sauce to try if you like, but some of the ingredients are things like ketchup, corn starch and sugar. Some people making homemade sauce add ketchup and a bit of peanut butter to the sauce. I omit ketchup all together (really not necessary) but I like adding some spicy peanut sauce. It’s all up to personal taste.

FUN

Monday Mood: Musings

What a difference a year makes

Reflections on where I was and a few of the things I was doing last February,

Some things I’ll be missing this winter – sunsets like this, restaurants like this and vintage shopping with friends like this.

**Happy Hour with Friends.** This was at **Tac/Quila,** Palm Springs

Celebrating Chinese New Year at **Jake’s**

VINTAGE SHOPPING with the SPECIALISTS

**This collection was (is) the ticket! So much fun.**

Miss the Caftan Crowd (minus Bernie)

Like they say…there’s always next year!

Health + LifeStyle

Sunday Supplement: NAC

To someone reading this for the first time: this new addition to my overall site started as I decided to take stock of whatever vitamins/supplements would be the most beneficial to help strengthen our immune systems, especially during Covid. I refer to them as Covid Combatants… although taking vitamins alone is not enough of a prevention for getting the virus, and it’s meant for generally healthy people to begin with. I also believe that during this time we may all benefit from boosting our intake of superfoods/vitamins/minerals that we otherwise might not have needed so much of in our pre-pandemic world.

As I’m no authority on the subject (although my brother *Brad King is a leading health expert, and my science writer boyfriend is a supplement enthusiast), I urge you to do your own research and/or check with your health practitioner before starting a new regimen. There can be upsides and downsides to taking too much or too little of anything. So having said all that…here is a narrowed down version of a supplement I knew little about until recently.

It’s called NAC (N-Acetyl-Cysteine) – and it helps support cardiovascular and respiratory health, as well as alleviate asthma-related symptoms. Whenever I begin to get run down I develop a low-grade asthma and have to use an inhaler. This usually happens once a year during cold/flu season. Since taking my extra supplements for almost a year now, I have luckily (and thus far) not experienced any asthmatic symptoms.

NAC is popular among athletes, and anyone who wants to improve their physical performance. It can help lengthen the time to fatigue, meaning that you don’t get tired as fast due to NAC’s ability to manage lactic-acid build-up. NAC seems to be most effective for medium-intensity exercises.

Protecting Our Cells – means protecting ourselves.

Because NAC has been used for decades as an aid to boost athletic performance, and to help improve lung health, it has become a popular supplement with an excellent safety record with a large body of research behind it. So, it’s easy to see why many better-informed health practitioners are recommending daily NAC supplementation to help safeguard folks from developing severe cases of Covid-19, which are known to cause serious respiratory distress issues.

Your body uses NAC as a precursor in making Glutathione, one of the more potent antioxidant nutrients that help quench free radicals thereby preventing oxidative stress in cells.

Glutathione is also thought to have neuro-protective properties and operate like a neurotransmitter, thus potentially contributing to the promotion of mood and overall mental health.

While the components that give rise to L-Glutathione can be found in various foods, especially particular meat and dairy products, taking NAC will help your body produce it in larger amounts. NAC is especially recommended for anyone following a vegan or vegetarian diet.

NAC is known to help protect the liver from the effects of certain toxins. NAC is so effective in protecting the liver from damage that it is sometimes given to patients in acetaminophen (paracetamol) overdose cases. NAC may also be useful in preventing damage to the kidneys, and it’s often used in conjunction with medications that may harm the internal organs.

If you happen to be searching for NAC to help you improve immunity or respiratory health, remember it is a safe amino-acid that can be taken in combination with other nutraceuticals.**

NAC is available on prescription for specific conditions, but you can also buy it over-the-counter as a food supplement.

*Brad King – is an award winning nutritional formulator and was honored with the Best in Canada Award for Health Motivator/Educator and Public Speaker in 2010, was inducted into the Canadian Sports Nutrition Hall of Fame in 2003 and sits on the board of Directors for CHI the premiere sports nutrition education center.

Brad is the author of 10 books including the international best seller, Fat Wars 45 Days to Transform Your Body and the award winning Beer Belly Blues: What Every Aging Man and the Women in His Life Need to Know . He’s been interviewed on numerous TV shows some of which include “The Today Show”, “Canada AM” and “Balance TV” and featured in many magazines articles.

**Caveat: Some recent research has raised questions about NAC’s ultimate safety, so some cautions are warranted. For more on these reservations, see: “N-Acetyl Cysteine: A Warning Shot”, Derek Lowe 4 October, 2019. Science Magazine.

Source:

How Long Does It Take for NAC Supplements to Work?

**Life Extension** is a preference of mine – available in the USA – can order online into Canada. However there are many companies that provide NAC, e.g. AOR.

beauty

No ordinary company

Here’s something refreshingly abnormal…

Photo: d. king

An umbrella of brands focused on advanced functional beauty.

Recently I’ve been introduced to an abnormal beauty company through a beautiful friend of mine. Someone who’s advice I trust and who, like myself, has tried a lot of different skincare + makeup products. She lives in LA and orders her products online because the company resides in Canada Whaaat??

The company is called Deciem (inspired by the Latin word decima, which means “tenth”) – a Canadian company originating from Toronto. Deciem’s tagline is “The Abnormal Beauty Company.” The brand of products she’s referring to are called “the ordinary.” But the best thing about the ordinary is not ordinary at all, especially in the overpriced, over marketed beauty industry of today: the line is marketed with effective products at very reasonable prices. You had me at effective and reasonable.

Photo: d. king Store Location: South Granville, Vancouver.

Since I do not like to waste what I have not yet finished, I only bought three of their products for now – a surface hydration formula called “Natural Moisturizing Factors+HA, Hyaluronic Acid 2%+B5 and Retinol in Squalene (starts at 2% plus). The hyaluronic acid & retinol are in dropper bottles.

Allure Magazine has this to say: the company is shaping up to be a serious player in the beauty biz. Deciem’s portfolio of products includes affordable skincare, makeup, supplements, and haircare items designed to appeal to a wide audience, including millennial skin-care geeks, people who dabble in injectables, and beauty editors like me alike.

In an industry that’s often called out for dubious behavior, like misleading ads, indecipherable ingredient lists, and questionable claims, a refreshingly transparent beauty brand like Deciem naturally stands out.

I’m already hooked.

Here’s an article on the founder himself taken from Allure Magazine:

https://www.allure.com/story/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-deciem#:~:text=Its%20unconventional%20founder%2C%20Brandon%20Truaxe,doesn’t%20operate%20like%20a

About the Company:

https://deciem.com/

Have you tried any of their products?

STYLE

Style: on Track

Referring to the track suit as casual weekend wear. Remember them? Like many things, they’re coming back.

Paris Hilton & Kim Kardashian. Photo: Courtesy of SKIMS for Vogue Magazine (October 2020)

After all, they’ve had a successful track record (pun intended) in the past. They were a wardrobe staple for so long that we took them for granted. Then they seemingly disappeared, until the need for covid coziness combined with fashion brought this classic option back.

I loved the ubiquitous ~~lazy~~ comfy fit. Not talking sloppy; more like the “Juicy Couture” loosely fitted style that was so popular in the 90’s. There were of course many knock-offs, but the Juicy label looked the best. You could consider them the Lululemon of the track suit world.

When Juicy Couture took over the trend landscape in the late 1990s, original founders Gela-Nash Taylor and Pamela Skaist-Levy knew from the get-go they were poking fun at high fashion. But many women and tons of celebrities wore them as an essential, comparable to the skinny jean or leggings.

Britney Spears (in)famously had a custom set made for all her bridesmaids ahead of her marriage to Kevin Federline. Unfortunately for her, the tracksuit outlasted their marriage.

You could say that Velour Tracksuits are also making a comeback! I’m happy about that because I just bought a pair of flared track pants (with added front seams) from a company in Los Angeles called Garbe Luxe. They come in velour or soft bamboo cotton fleece which I first saw in Palm Springs and really wanted, but they were sold out. I was lucky to get a pair recently sent to me. I must admit I wasn’t sure about wearing velour at first but I guess what goes around comes around. And they make my butt look good.

https://**garbeluxe.com/**collections/pants/products/giselle-track-pant

Photo: Courtesy of SKIMS for Vogue Magazine – link below

Garbe Luxe – Casual flared track pants with added front seams make the Giselle Track Pant extra special.

Vogue Article:

https://www.vogue.com/article/skims-velour-collection-kim-kardashian-west-paris-hilton

How do you feel about this look? HIT or MISS?

Butt then again; they’re not for everyone.

Food + Drink

Gluten-Free Spiced Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

These cookies are simply delicious!

I’ve never adhered to a totally gluten-free diet, however I’ve been experimenting with changing original recipes by trying to make them taste as good, or better by making them gluten-free. That’s mainly because eating gluten-free foods makes me feel less full and less bloated.

This recipe originally called for 1 cup of all-purpose flour. *Oat flour gives baked goods more flavor than regular all purpose flour, though it may also give them a chewier and crumblier texture.

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened

1 ½ cups dark brown sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/3 cups oat flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp. ground cloves

½ tsp. allspice

2 cups gluten-free rolled oats

1-2 cups raisins

Preheat oven to 350F. Cream butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add sugar. Add eggs, vanilla and 2 tsp. water and beat until smooth.

Sift dry ingredients together. Add to the butter mixture and mix well. Fold in oats and raisins. Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet, leaving enough space for the cookies to spread out. Bake approx. 10-15 minutes, until golden.

Makes about 2 dozen good size cookies

*Not only is oat flour packed with antioxidants, it also has more protein and fat than most traditional flours, and up to 8g of fiber per half-cup serving. One half-cup serving of oat flour contains: 191% of the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of manganese. 41% of the RDI of phosphorus.

The gluten conundrum

By now you’ve heard of gluten, and you probably even know it’s the wheat protein that gives bread and other foods their shape and texture. But going gluten-free when you don’t have a diagnosed wheat allergy or celiac disease doesn’t promise weight loss or better health, according to science. That hasn’t stopped millions of people from giving the diet a try. Experts recommend consulting your primary health-care provider before making any drastic changes to your diet. Check out some reasons you should not go gluten-free.

Art & Culture

Tile Story

I’ve always had a thing for old world tiles.

This kitchen belongs to Diane Keaton – taken from *Introspective Magazine*

Tiles invoke a certain era and impression. I’ve collected tiles from various travels and integrate them on walls, doors and floors around my home. They take me back to that place in time.

Have you ever wondered how people first started making tiles?

the below was taken from https://artsaics.com

The history of tiles is a long and winding tale that starts in Egypt, circa 10,000 B.C., around the time of the pyramids. From there it went into Babylon, Assyria and the ancient Persian Empire.

After that, the Greeks and Romans took over this ancient art and made it their own with fine mosaics that lined the floors and walls of their bath houses, luxury villas, and temples. Around 206 BC, the Chinese got in on the act with their contribution to ceramics: porcelain.

However, they were mostly isolated from other cultures. It wasn’t until much later that Europe began using ceramics and soon they would be incorporated into their churches and palaces too.

Today, modern stone masons have taken tile making to a high art, just as when it started in Egypt, to allow the average homeowner to explore the wonders of this ancient art.

As can be seen, in every age and country, tiles were modified and improved and the technology grew over time to create even new possibilities. In Egypt, the humble terracotta and limestone tiles became ceramic works of art that survive to today. The Romans may have made stone mosaics available to the adoring eyes of the Roman public, but it wasn’t until the British started mass-producing ceramics that the ordinary person began to be able to use them in their homes.

Today’s newer waterjet technologies now allows anyone to cut stone tiles that would have been considered miraculous in earlier ages. Thus, it is easy to surmise this art will continue to develop even further as new materials and technologies transform it over time.

How do you feel about tiles?

Health + LifeStyle

Sunday Supplement: Magnificent Magnesium

My main purpose in adding this health section to my site was brought on by the Coronavirus. I took an interest in researching whatever extra protection might prevent me and those I care about from getting a serious case of Covid. I’ve been learning a lot in the process and realize that there are many components to overall health. Having said this, I’m not a fanatic in any sense about taking high dosages of just anything and everything I see on the shelves. I’m only sharing what I deem to be the most important missing pieces of a complicated puzzle. Of course, our bodies are very complex propositions, but what I know for sure is what you know too – those of us with a weakened immune system are the first to get knocked down. I started with Vitamin D last week. Now let’s check out several more Covid Combatants starting with…

Foods containing natural magnesium. Chocolate, banana, cocoa, nuts, avocados, broccoli, almonds.

MAGNESIUM may be the MOST important mineral/electrolyte in the body. Indeed, if you were forced to only take one nutritional supplement, Magnesium would likely be your best bet. That’s because no other single nutrient plays as many roles as Magnesium as it’s essential to 300+ (some claim the numbers to be much higher) enzymatic reactions.

(Health Secrets) After oxygen, water, and basic food, magnesium may be one of the most important elements needed by our bodies. It is vital for heart health, bone health, mental function and overall body maintenance.

Magnesium is more important than calcium, potassium or sodium, and it regulates all three of them. Contrary to popular misconceptions, it is magnesium that is actually most important in building strong bones and preventing bone loss. Recent research has revealed that lack of this mineral may put your heart and your overall health at significant risk. This research also found that a deficiency may be linked to cognitive dysfunction and mental decline.

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of magnesium for adults is 420 milligrams (mg) per day. Yet that’s an average amount since it depends on a number of other factors such as one’s body weight, level of physical activity and the amount of sugar one consumes. Generally speaking, the heavier you are, the more active you are, and the more sugar you consume, the more your body needs on a daily basis.

So what are the best food sources of Magnesium? High-fiber foods such as dark green leafy vegetables, unrefined grains, nuts and beans. Yet since so many North American diets are lacking in this regard, it should come as no surprise that most diets are 40-80% deficient. Most people can get enough magnesium by eating the right foods but If you’re concerned about low magnesium, ask your doctor for a blood test, preferably an RBC (red blood cell) magnesium test.

*Magnesium is needed for many cellular metabolism tasks. It’s involved in more than 300 chemical reactions in the body. Muscles need this mineral to contract; nerves need it to send and receive messages. It keeps your heart beating steadily and your immune system strong.

However, low magnesium intake is relatively common.

It’s primarily found in people who follow a typical Western diet, one containing lots of processed foods and refined grains while lacking in leafy green vegetables and legumes, which provide magnesium and other important nutrients.

**The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for magnesium for adults is 310–420 mg depending on age and gender.

I eat exceptionally well and supplement with an additional 300 (sometimes less) mg of Magnesium Citrate daily.

But every individual is different. The table below shows the recommended daily allowance (RDA) or adequate intake (AI) of magnesium for adults, infants, and children.

Age	Male	Female
Birth to 6 months (AI)	30 mg	30 mg
7–12 months (AI)	75 mg	75 mg
1–3 years (RDA)	80 mg	80 mg
4–8 years (RDA)	130 mg	130 mg
9–13 years (RDA)	240 mg	240 mg
14–18 years (RDA)	410 mg	360 mg
19–30 years (RDA)	400 mg	310 mg
31–50 years (RDA)	420 mg	320 mg
51+ years (RDA)	420 mg	320 mg

Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency:

The symptoms of magnesium deficiency are usually subtle unless your levels become severely low. If you believe you may have a magnesium deficiency, your suspicions can be confirmed with a simple blood test.

You may have a deficiency if you feel the following…

Muscle spasms, cramps or pain, fatigue, high blood pressure, insomnia, anxiety, headaches, heart arrhythmia, osteoporosis, nausea, weakness, decreased appetite.

As magnesium deficiency worsens, symptoms may include: numbness and tingling.

Here’s an excellent book on the subject written by a medical doctor and researcher who is considered to be the world’s leading expert on the actions and uses of this vital mineral.

Source:

*Harvard Medical:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/what-you-should-know-about-magnesium2

** Healthline.com (for different types of Magnesium Supplements):

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/magnesium-dosage#recommendations-by-age

Health + LifeStyle

Feel-good Friday: Happy Feet

Well if this isn’t feel good then I don’t know what is!

Replenishing your well-being, from your toe to your soul.

A one hour reflexology foot massage is what I’m talking about. With a glass of champagne for added relaxation.

ToeToSoul Relax Lounge opened its doors with a fresh new outlook on reflexology and massage therapy – they say with an aim to infuse the chic and luxurious lifestyle of modern urbanities with the promotion of bodily health and soulful relaxation. Sounds good. Only problem is…I could get hooked on this!

While unwinding in a luxurious leather recliner, pressure is applied to reflex points on the feet that correspond to vital organs and glands in the body. This helps reduce body tension, increase blood circulation, restore nerve function, and establish balance within the body.

Relax, Rejuvenate, Refresh, Repeat.

https://www.toetosoul.com/

fyi – my sister supplied the bubbly and treated me to my latest addiction

Have a soulful weekend!

beauty

Don’t forget to wear your mask at night too

No, no; don’t worry…I’m not talking about that mask. It’s enough that we have to wear those masks everywhere as is. I’m talking about an overnight face/lip mask that’s like a breath of fresh air. One where you’ll wake up with much softer skin. Who wouldn’t love that?

One from a Korean luxury beauty company called Laneige. You should know that the Koreans are taking over as a leader for innovative beauty products. They’ve been quietly doing this for quite some time. They’re pretty darn good at making other things too, like cars for instance (which maybe are not so beautiful as much as they’re practical – but that’s another story).

LANEIGE is extremely popular throughout Asia. Meaning “the snow” in French, Laneige pursues water science as its philosophy to help women achieve a radiant, dewy complexion.

I first found out about this company when I went to choose my VIP birthday gift from Sephora this month. There were three different popular and useful sets to choose from. I think it’s safe to say that almost everyone who’s shopped at Sephora at one time or another is considered a VIP. And once you start racking up points there’s no turning back. But It’s a nice incentive on your birthday month and a chance to try different products. Otherwise I wasn’t wanting for anything. I already had full size products of their two other gift sets (former beauty junkie that I am was). So I went for the overnight masks since my skin is drier in winter. And I’m loving them. Especially the lip mask. I’m really picky with everything lip products as my lips are very dry and this one is one of the best I’ve ever tried. I’ll tell you about my favorite hydrating lip color another time.

LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask

Recharge dehydrated skin while you sleep with this quick absorbing, deeply hydrating mask. Formulated with highly concentrated Hydro Ionized Mineral Water to deliver high doses of moisture to stressed, parched skin. Calming Sleepscent™, infused with orange flower, rose, and sandalwood provides a relaxing and comforting scent while apricot and evening primrose extracts helps visibly brighten and purify fatigued skin.

LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask

What is it? A leave-on lip mask that soothes and moisturizes for smoother, more supple lips. Lip Sleeping Mask has a softening balm texture that closely adheres to lips for quick absorption. Enriched with vitamin C and antioxidants, its Berry Mix Complex offers a nutritiously sweet and fragrant blend of raspberry, strawberry, cranberry, and blueberry extracts to indulge the senses. Very much like a smoothie for your lips.

btw I’m guilty of using this daytime too.

For more info visit:

https://www.laneige.com/