.

Candy Bacon!!

2012-01-02T14:57:00.000-06:00

That's right, I said 'Candy Bacon'. And no, it's not my new stripper name. It's an amazing extreme food that Jack and I cooked up today.

Oh..you want it now, don't you? You know you do. Well....I'll share the recipe since I'm so nice. Just slip me a folded dollar bill...

CANDY BACON!!
Bacon
Brown Sugar
That's it

Line the bottom of a broiler pan (see pic below) with foil and preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray top of broiler pan with Pam or rub with butter or a pig or whatever.

Coat bacon evenly on both sides with brown sugar. Place on pan in pretty wavy patterns. Bake for 40 - 45 minutes until crisp.

Remove onto paper towels. Remove pretty quickly from paper towels so it won't stick to the paper and onto a plate. Hold your breath and take a big bite. Listen for sounds of angels singing. Contemplate if they are singing because of the deliciousness or because you are actually eating candy bacon and therefore that much closer to being with them. Promise yourself to eat a salad tomorrow.

Line the bottom of the pan with foil

Bacon + Brown Sugar = Unadulterated Goodness

Coat the bacon evenly on both sides with brown sugar.

Let the heavy breathing commence

Yummmmmmmm

Jack deems the Candy Bacon a huge success

Princess Aliyah liked it, too and even gave Ozzy a bite because she is a kind and beautful Princess like that

French Onion Soup

2012-01-01T11:00:00.001-06:00

Prime Rib is my entree of choice to prepare for Christmas dinner. It's delicious, easy and the side dishes are easy to prepare, too. (Shhh...don't tell anyone)

So, this is Christmas dinner -- Herb crusted
Prime Rib with horseradish sauce, twice baked potatoes, Caesar salad, steamed green beans sprinkled with Marc de Champagne vinegar, ginger carrots, rolls.

The Prime rib was a monstrous 8 pound piece of meat, so after enjoying leftovers, sandwiches, etc...you are left with the rib piece.

What to do, what to do?

Put it in the slow cooker, and add
Three large yellow onions, sliced
heaping tbsp of minced garlic
1/2 cup wine (red or white...they both work)
Two cartons of beef broth
Splash of Worchester Sauce
Let it cook for a while and then start your seasoning-
Add (to taste) Salt, pepper and rosemary. I like to add gradually as I cook and that way it turns out perfectly seasoned.
Cook for about 6 hours

Serve with a toasted piece of French bread sunk down in it, top with slices of Swiss Cheese and pop in oven set on broil for a couple of minutes until cheese is all melty and bubbly.

This is the rib piece that is tied to the bottom of the Prime Rib aka Standing Rib Roast

In the slow cooker, ready to go

Looks like this when it's done

This is the ulitmate Winter comfort food...
Happy New Year!!!

Isla Mujeres - September 2011 - People

2011-12-19T21:13:00.008-06:00

One of the things I love most about Isla is my friends there...so here are a few of the people we hung out with. Friends both old and new. (I don't like 'old friend'....how about 'enduring'?) I missed getting pics of some people because believe it or not, I am kinda shy about shoving a camera in people's faces all the time. So if I missed you, I apologize.

Acting goofy...one of the things I do best

Geraldo, my cabana boy

This guy was working on the roof at Las Palmas. He had the coolest Elvis hair and he was working barefoot walking on beams over an open roof. It was like a show while we had breakfast at A & G.

Searching for sea glass on a beautiful day

Steve prepares the Coco Poo Poos - official shot of Casa Sirena!

Muy Guapo

Steve and Bruce -- hanging out

Micky was drawing something (always something cool) and Gerald was checking it out. This was at Punta Sur

Bev's golf cart doesn't do 'reverse'!

Finally, Bruce starts to relax. On a hammock at Bev's house

Tiffany and Brad. Love these guys!!!!

Natalya and Mark (from Ireland -- so fun!!!!) and Bruce. Bruce cracked me up with all of his little cute sayings and his talent of having a song to sing for every occasion

Steve and Micky

Josefina of Casa Luz Spa. Such a sweetheart. She rescues cats on the island and gives an awesome facial! (not to the cats. Well...not that I know of)

Me again -- look my hair stayed straight for about five minutes in the Sept humidity!

Gerald rises from the sea

Gerald contemplates never going home from the rooftop of Casa Sirena

Tiffany at Barlito with Micky

Tiffany with Chen and Lee's baby -- so gorgeous!

Awesome drawing by Micky of Steve's courtyard. It was presented to Steve at happy hour on our last night and we were all asked to sign the back of it. I was honored!!

Bruce is camera shy. Mmmhmmm

Mark, Bruce and Steve at one of our dazzling Lolo dinners. Ahhhh...

Jill, Lolo and me

Le Chien....yep, you're a person

Going away party for Chen and Lee - formerly of Comono

Micky rode to the airport with us and bought us our final drink. Sigh....another great visit. I miss my Isla.

Chocolate Coconut Pecan Pie

2011-11-23T19:29:00.000-06:00

Finished product

Ready to go in the oven

Okay, I don't make my own pie crust. Who cares?

Three words: Best. Pie. Ever. I always make this pie for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

1/2 cup butter (real butter, again..no fake crap in my house except blonde highlights in my hair)
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 cup sugar
2 eggs beaten
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans
1/2 cup shredded coconut
pinch of salt
1 unbaked pie shell (not deep dish, just regular)

Preheat oven to 350

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt chocolate chips and butter, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in sugar, eggs, pecans, coconut and salt. Stir 'em up good and pour into prepared pie shell.

Bake for 35 minutes. Pie will be soft in the center. It's a gooey brownie kinda pie. Serve slightly warmed in the microwave with a generous dollop of fresh whipped cream. Again..real whipped cream. Enjoy...this is what heaven is like.

Isla Mujeres - September 2011 - Delicioso!!

2011-10-31T12:37:00.000-05:00

Yes, it's true, I honestly believe that good food is an integral part of vacation. No calorie counting! Isla Mujeres has some of my favorite restaurants and chefs. I love to cook and love to eat and try new things. I don't really like to deny myself pleasure -- especially on vacations. This blog post is all about the food porn, Baby.

WARNING: DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU ARE HUNGRY!!!!! Really, I'm not kidding, don't.

A 'Vivian Salad' from Qubano. The salad and the it's namesake are two of my favorite things on the island. A light and flavorful dressing enrobes romaine lettuce, avocado, chick peas, carrot ribbons, jicima, topped with toasted goat cheese medallions.
I should've taken more pics of Qubano food - I think we had lunch there three times this trip - but obviously I was too excited about eating the food to photograph it. Vivian is a wonderful hostess, as well as an incredible chef and dear friend. I like to share books and recipes with her, too. (okay..mostly she just gives me recipes so it's kind of a one way share, but I just love her) Everything at Qubano is delicious and I think I've tried it all.

Pizza in Mexico? Yes, please! A 'Marinara' pizza from Rolandi's downtown and a couple of glasses of wine make the perfect lunch. Shrimp, herbs, and mozzerella cheese all melty on a thin crust from a wood fired oven.

"I can eat a lot of ice cream at one setting" (extremely obscure Monty Python reference)

Lovely, quiet and relaxing dinner at Velasquez with Mr. Wonderful. Tables in the sand with the boats pulled up on the beach that probably brought our dinner. Complimentary guacamole topped with pico that was fantastic.
Velasquez is family owned and a very old Isla establishment. The family was all sitting around watching tv when we came in and Grandma was napping with her head up against a wall. Well...it was pretty late. We eat dinner very late on the island. Partly because we have to fit in happy hour, partly because we are living at such a slow and relaxed pace and partly because if I stretch out the day, I can eat more. :)
This is the location (I'm told) where Jeff Bridges and Rachel Ward danced and fell into the water in 'Against All Odds'.

Garlic Shrimp at Velasquez. With salad, fries, beans ( there might have been some rice under there, too) Huge portion, cooked to perfection for about $11 US. The margaritas were really good, too, and you know I'm picky about my margs. Oh, yeah....I'll still drink em if you are buying, but I definitely have my favorites. :)

Papaya Agua Fresca at Alexia y Giovanni- Good Morning, Sunshine!

Food Porn at it's finest -- Chilequiles at A & G. With chicken and green salsa. It's like breakfast nachos.

A pineapple pastry and an afternoon read. I like to hit the Supermercado and pick up a few pastries. This one was good, but the palmiers are my favorite.

Amuse Bouche - Eating at Lolo's is so much fun and there are always new tastes to try and new people to meet. Lolo is the rock star chef of the island and a good friend. I've never met anyone quite like Lolo. I stayed with her during a trip in February and had a blast. Her restaurant is unlike any other. A beautiful feast for all of the senses in an enchanted, bohemian setting.

Lolo's Asparagus with Hollandaise. Perfection!

One of my favorite Lolo entrees - Seafood Cassoulet.

The Lolo dessert assortment is always the piece de resistance of the meal for me. Chocolate mousse, assorted pastries, a candied grape, Oh, Baby...take me now!

Greek Salad with Sweet Spicy Shrimp at Comono. Fabulous!

Kbobs and hummus at Comono. Delicious!

I think these are called Enfrijoladas. You can just call them 'breakfast' at Casa Sirena. Scrambled eggs in tortillas smothered in a black bean sauce and topped with chorizo and avocado. They are wonderful!

Guacamole at Capitan Dulche Museum. Not so great. Didn't taste fresh. Steve said 'Costco'.

Quesadillas at Capitan Dulche. They were good, but nothing great. Someone in our party (Bev, I think) had soup which looked delicious and she said it was wonderful.

Fruit and yogurt crepes with granola at Casa Sirena. Yummy, creamy and cinnamonny. Is that a word?

Pineapple juice with chaya on the beach. Ahhhh....

A good book, guacamole (really good and fresh from Na Balam/Zacil Ha), pineapple juice with chaya and the beach. Another day in paradise? You bet!

Mixture of peanuts and pepitos from beach vendor. Yes, I do -- I eat all day long in Isla.

Barlito panini with meatballs that are made from homemade sausage. This was cheesy good deliciousness. I love everything I've had at Barlito. Their food is incredible and Brad and Tiffany are some of my favorite people on the island. I don't know how they have the energy to do all that they do.

Barlito Chocolate cupcake, filled with ganache and topped with meringue frosting. Tiffany's cupcakes are as fabulous as she is and that is saying a lot.

Mojito station at Lolo's. Yes, be jealous because we ate there two times during this week.

Porcini Mushroom Soup with black truffle oil

My favorite - Lover's Salad. Shaved carrots and conch in a garlic ginger dressing. So different and delicious...so Lolo

Zucchini Souffle with Tzatziki Shot

Steamed Shrimp with Hollandaise Sauce and mashed potatoes. The shrimp were huge and absolutely divine.

Dessert! Creme Brulee, Chocolate Mousse, Strawberries, a yummy peach dessert. Oh, it's all too divine

Fresh Fruit at Casa Sirena. Swoon-worthy!

Huevos Divorciados (divorced eggs) at Casa Sirena. My favorite breakfast on the island.

Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes

2011-10-27T20:09:00.001-05:00

One more blog about cupcakes and I promise I'll get back to the last Isla trip.

These spicy little cupcakes are delicious and perfect for the holidays. In a rush? Cheat by using store bought whipped chocolate frosting. I won't tell.

Pumpkin Cupcakes
2 cups canned 100% pure pumpkin
1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
1 1/2 cups white sugar
6 eggs
1 cup of oil
4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp baking soda
3 1/2 cups flour

In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin and sugars until sugar is dissolved. Add all other ingredients except for flour and whisk until mixed. Stir in flour, just until mixed. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. This also makes a good layer cake.

Fluffly chocolate frosting compliments the pumpkin cake

Semi Sweet Ganache Frosting

12 oz Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup heavy cream

Melt chocolate in a saucepan over med/low heat, stirring almost continually. Remove from heat and add cream, stirring until it's glossy and smooth. Allow to cool completely, as it will thicken up. To get a whipped texture, use your mixer after it's cooled. You can even get fancy and pipe the ganache onto the cupcakes.
Decorate with Milano cookies (cut off the ends for small tombstones, write on them with edible pen), pumpkins and candy corn.

The cake batter is fragrant with spices

Nothing like some help from Ozzy to add to the Halloween spirit

Caramel Apple Cupcakes

2011-10-19T22:44:00.000-05:00

Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Apple Cake

1 box yellow cake mix
1 pkg (4 serving size) Jello French Vanilla Instant Pudding
1 cup water
4 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, coarsly chopped

Preheat oven to 350. Beat cake mix, dry pudding mix, water, eggs and oil in large bowl with electric mixer on low until blended. Gently stir in apples.

Pour into lined muffin/cupcake pans. (This also makes a fantastic Bundt cake, served with a drizzle of caramel topping and fresh whipped cream)
Bake for about 20 minutes or until done. Cool cupcakes completely before frosting.

Caramel Frosting
3 Tbsp Butter (real!)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/8 tsp salt
3 3/4 cup powdered sugar
3/4 tsp vanilla

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add milk, brown sugar and salt and stir until smooth. Bring to a boil for about a minute, stirring constantly, then remove from heat to cool (keep stirring a little while cooling)
When cooled, transfer to a large bowl and add powdered sugar and vanilla and mix with electric mixer until it's a good consistancy. If it gets too thick, add a tiny amount of milk and blend. Too thin? Add a little more powdered sugar.

Garnish with sticks (I used plastic coffee stirrers - the wooden ones would've been cuter, but they didn't have any at the grocery store and I was in a hurry) and a candy corn if ya want to. Happy Halloween.

Finished frosting

The cake batter will look lumpy due to the apples

Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Isla Mujeres - September 2011 - Random Pics Part 2

2011-10-17T12:32:00.000-05:00

A breathtaking view at Punta Sur with the ruins of the Goddess Ixchel's temple in the distance

Buckets of flowers at Playa Media Luna for a wedding at Maria del Mar

Yes, the water really is this blue

Ahhh....

The sunset from the East side of the island is pretty, too. The sky turns pink and vivid blue

Late afternoon fishermen

My friend Catz loves this blue wall. This old hotel was supposed to be torn down, but sometimes things in Mexico move slowly.

This orange and white kitty is so sweet and personable. She lives on the road by the cemetery on the way to Ixchel. My friend Christine loves her, so we refer to her as 'Christine's cat' and go by and feed her whenever we are on the island. Unlike some of the other stray cats, she isn't scared of people.

Mr. Crab had apparently lost his way while running errands downtown, so we gave him a lift back to the beach

Our view while dining at Velasquez. Gerald wouldn't get up and dance with me and fall into the water like Jeff Bridges and Rachel Ward in 'Against All Odds' (that part was filmed here)

Beautiful bouginvilla on the walk to Playa Norte

Playa Norte morning. It looked like rain, but never really did

Beach rakers ready to go to work in the morning

A beautiful view across Playa Media Luna

Waves crash on Playa Media Luna

Well...hello there!

Moto Carpool at the elementary school

Seaglass Sirena

All dressed up for the upcoming holiday

Seaglass!

A beautiful sunrise and the promise of another day in paradise

Sunrise at Playa Media Luna

Pick your poison. Good times at Casa Sirena experimenting with different drink tastes

Room #3 (half of it) at Casa Sirena. Gorgeous!!

Roses and a Mermaid Barbie!!!!

Isla Mujeres - September 2011- Random Part 1

2011-10-14T13:00:00.000-05:00

Some of these pics are from Capitan Dulche, the new Pirate Museum/event venue on Isla Mujeres. It is located on the West side of the island. It's a very cool place with a lot of old sea artifacts, a giant pirate ship/bar and a private beach. We had a tasty lunch there with friends.

The Pirate Ship is surrounded by a bar and the entire platform will (supposedly) turn slowly. We could see the mechanism in the decking and it looked pretty impressive.

A hill of corn grinding stones. There were lots of 'Children of the Corn' jokes because it looks a little creepy, like a graveyard. Cool, tho!

Next door the Shell house, I noticed this ancient bus or rv? It looks like something from Planet of the Apes or some sci fi movie

Very large dining area at Capitan Dulche Museum

Courtyard of Casa Sirena

This guy was rockin a Mohawk and a do it yourself Speedo effect swimsuit

Beautiful Beach Day!!!

There were about six or seven college age girls sitting to our left on the beach that day. They were having a good time and they really, really liked taking pics. :) After a while, a group of three or four college age boys sat down on our right, so we were the barrier between the raging hormones.

The boys went out about 15 feet into the ocean and sat down, positioning themselves like an audience for the girls. One of the girls (the brazen one with long curly hair) strutted her stuff out into the ocean and put on a fantastic show for the boys, inspecting her bikini, tan lines, or whatever. She was joined by one of the other girls. Then, POOF, the girls left! Nicely played, Girls!

The grounds at Capitan Dulce Museum. Look at that green grass!

Yo ho, Yo ho, a pirate's life for me!

Me, cooling off in the sea

The Shell House

Our favorite beach area

On our return ferry (The evil one, as opposed to the good one that brings us to the island) they unloaded a man from an ambulance and wheeled him onto the ferry. The gurney stayed parked in the aisle between the rows of seats down inside the ferry. The guy didn't look good at all. :(

There has never been a more beautiful and perfect day on the island

Everything You Wanted to Know about Downtown Vegas..But Were Afraid to Ask

2011-06-26T11:36:00.017-05:00

Vegas. Why? I needed a quick and cheap getaway with Pam. We decided to do Vegas because it's a cheap and silly place for a girl trip, and as an added bonus, our friend Jimmie was working out there this summer and we could hang out with him. Done. I'm so over the Strip and the large resorts that require a map to find your room. Miss Pamela and I took a gamble as would only be appropriate...on The Gold Spike. The Spike is a block off Fremont Street, newly renovated and very small. THE GOOD: $25 a night (that includes $7 mandatory 'resort fee') That's right, I said $25 a night. Not per person...per room! Hotels.com. The rooms were newly renovated and very clean. Comfy beds, plasma tv. No frills - no frig, no safe, no hair dryer, no iron etc, but if you know that and pack accordingly, it's no problem. The staff was super friendly and helpful. A/C went out in the middle of the night and after waking up long enough to put a piece of ice in my mouth from a cup on my nightstand and falling back asleep over and over again, we finally called maintenence. Up in a flash and fixed. It went out again later that afternoon, and we were given a new room within five minutes. Bartenders, Joe and Chris were great, Security guards watched over us when the bar got scary. Big security guard, Tyrone even let me feel of his bicep. THAT'S service. Security Guard:

The cocktail waitresses/dealers in casinos on the Strip dress in keeping with the casino theme, like the ones at Caesar's wear short sexy little togas. At the Spike, I think the dress code is 'the tiniest pieces of Spandex clothing you own and the highest heels'. All of the girls were meth addict skinny, but they were very nice. Downtown casinos have better odds (as usual this is based on my experience and I have no scientific evidence, but it's my blog so what the hell) and the food is cheap. Downtown is where you can still get a Vegas legendary $5.99 Prime Rib dinner and a 99 cent Shrimp Cocktail. The Gold Spike pool was nice. Not too big, but it wasn't crowded at all. Lounge chairs, towels provided and thankfully no loud booming music. I need a break from the 'gambient' noise now and again. The diner at The Spike was good. Incredible 4 cheese grilled cheese sandwich and fries. $3.50. Less walking. Okay, sure, we had our own personal driver and laughed at the hoards of people walking up and down the Strip as we zoomed past in air conditioned comfort, but when you are staying downtown, it doesn't take an hour to walk next door like on the Strip.

"Hurry, squirt the hand santizer around us in a circle. It's like holy water to the crack whore zombies!"- Jimmie, when we noticed that the bar was full of crack whore zombies and our pregnant waitress just sat down for her smoke break.

You won 200 nickels! That's like....ten thousand dollars. And fifty cents."- Pam

"You like theeees drink. Is berrynice!" - Cute little Polish cocktail waitress at Mermaid casino describing the shots she just brought us. I think they were vodka and Benedryl.

THE BAD AND THE UGLY: Honestly, the bar got a little scary at night if you looked around. One night at about 1:00 am, we noticed the bar was full of working girls and zombie like people singing bad, really really bad karaoke. We also noticed that the security guards were either sitting with us or right beside us whenever we were at the bar, so it was fine. No one bothered us, no one acted badly. It was a pretty good freak show, which is part of downtown's charm. And staying at The Spike made me feel a little bit like a bad ass. Wait..now, we're back to 'good'. The elevator smelled like a meth addict. And it was slow. Not a good combination.

"I could see myself spending a fortune just to amuse you"- Jimmie

Pam: "Call Room Service for coffee" Me: "There's no Room Service at the Spike. We don't even have a refrigerator" "Always wash your hands after you go to the bathroom and you HAVE to eat at Ellis Island! They have the best Prime Rib and mozzerella sticks THIS BIG!!!" - overenthused drunk man who talked with us for several minutes about these two things.

Jimmie acted as our driver, bodyguard and 'Julie, your ship's cruise director'. We got to use his employee discount to see a show - Absinthe at Caesar's, which was fabulous fun! He took us to a crazy good restaurant called 'Sammy's LA Pastrami and Burgers' http://www.sammysdoghouse.moonfruit.com/ The entire place was about the size of my kitchen. Their menu includes "The Big Ass Bacon Cheeseburger" - 1/2 pound of meat, 12 pieces of bacon and 1/4 pound of cheddar cheese. Also on the menu is the mind blowing "The Three Squares Fry" - 1 pound of french fries with a 1/2 pound each of pastrami, rib eye steak, chili, and topped with cheddar cheese, grilled onions, jalapenos, 1/3 pound of bacon and three fried eggs. Seriously! "You've won a new carrrr!" - Pam, upon discovering that she has a game show host voice talent We went to the coolest bar (way off the Strip) but I was told not to disclose the location. ;) Jimmie introduced us at one point to a lady as 'his goddesses' and I'm fairly sure she believed him. It is Vegas, after all.

Zip Line Worker about to push me off a five story platform: "Are you ready?!" Me: "I think so." Zip Line Worker: "When someone asks if you're ready you answer - I was born ready! Now...are you ready?!" Me: "I think so." On our last night we rode a zip line down Fremont Street. The video below isn't mine, but it is the same experience that we had. Sailing through the air beneath the Fremont canopy and over the crowds was fantastic!! I was a little nervous at first, but knew that like many things in life, it would be fun once I made the jump. It was!

Instant Manicure. Beauty Problem Solved!

2011-06-15T12:46:00.002-05:00

THE PROBLEM: I got rid of my acrylic nails because I was tired of the maintenance and cost. I still love to get manicures and pedicures, but have cut down on that drastically in a random attempt to save money. I don't mind painting my own nails and in fact, prefer my nails short and polished with a natural/pale pinky color in the summer. I think it looks neat and classy and works well with my sexy savage tan :). But...(here's the problem) Polish chips off my fingernails at an alarmingly rapid rate (like the next day!) and I don't have the patience to wait for polish to dry. THE SOLUTION: Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat. About $9 at your local Ulta store. This stuff really works!!! It now takes me about five minutes to paint my nails, top them with this stuff and they are DRY. I mean dry. It also protects the polish and is much longer wearing than other top coats that I've tried. With a pale (read, forgiving of small chips) polish, I can go for four or five days between polishes. PLUS, with an investment of five minutes, I don't mind doing it! Love, love, love this stuff!!!

Traveling Back in Time

2011-06-11T14:53:00.002-05:00

Technologically speaking, I consider myself fairly up to date. I email, I blog (duh), I facebook, I text and use my iPhone for everything, but I am resisting the pull of the electronic reader. Oh, I certainly can see the attraction of the Nook or Kindle, the convenience, no more shoving four books in my suitcase for a week at the beach. I get that. You know what my problem is? I'll admit it...I am in love with the library. There, I've said it. I am in LOVE with the library. I can go online and place books on hold and when they are available, the library will text me! I can get free DVD rentals (three week rentals!) and although the DVD selection ain't no Netflix, it's a good Netflix backup and they have a lot of older movies that are fantastic. Do you remember Bookmobiles? I loved those. They brought the books...TO ME!! As a child, I was no stranger to the library. My Mother used to take us there and we'd be allowed to choose three books at a time. I think we usually did that in the summer. Probably my favorite perk of the library is the cost. It's absolutely free! I get the most amazing feeling when I walk out through those cool double doors, my arms full of new books and movies and I didn't spend a dime. And if I start to read a book and don't like it, I slide that baby right back into the chute, guilt-free. I gotta go read now. :)

Fantastic and Fast Tortilla Soup

2011-06-08T12:31:00.003-05:00

I made this in about an hour (simmering time included) and it was some of the best tortilla soup I've had anywhere. Not braggin...just fact. Yellow Bell Pepper - diced Medium White Onion - diced 3 T Garlic - minced 3 T Olive Oil Rotisserie Chicken (meat stripped off the bones and shredded/torn up) 2 - 32 oz cartons of low sodium Chicken Broth 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes with jalapeno Juice of 2 limes 1/2 cup chopped Cilantro 2 pinches of Cloves Salt, Pepper, Cumin and Oregano to taste Toppings - Avocados Shredded Quesadilla or Monterrey Jack Cheese Store bought Tortilla strips or crunched up Tortilla Chips In a large pot, sautee the yellow pepper, onion and garlic in the olive oil. Sprinkle with a little cumin and oregano while they are cooking. After onion is soft, add the rest of the ingredients (except the toppings, of course). I used about 1 and a half of the cartons of broth. To serve, place about 1/2 of a diced avocado in a shallow bowl. Pour soup over avocado, top with shredded cheese and tortilla strips. :)

Central Cali- May 2011 Part 2 -Hearst Castle, Wine Tasting, Antique Cars. The perfect day!

2011-06-05T09:25:00.014-05:00

It was another beautiful day and we headed up North on Highway 1 right after breakfast. The weather changed her mind several times during our 30 minute drive, going from foggy to sunny and back again. By the time we reached Hearst Castle, she had decided upon sunny. When I think of Hearst Castle, the following words come to mind: Enchanting, Opulent, Decadent, Breathtaking. Condensed history of Hearst Castle- The Castle or 'The Ranch' as Hearst referred to it, is on a high hill overlooking the Pacific ocean near San Simeon. Construction was begun on this masterpiece in 1915 and was designed by architect Julia Morgan for gazillionaire William Randolph Hearst. Hearst is quoted as saying, "I would like to build something upon the hill at San Simeon. I get tired of going up there and camping in tents. I'm getting a little too old for that. I'd like to get something that would be a little more comfortable." The final result (three decades later!) was a compound of over 90,000 square feet and includes 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, 19 sitting rooms, 127 acres of gardens, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, a movie theater, an airfield, and the world's largest private zoo. Zebras and other exotic animals still roam the grounds. Comfy? I'll say! Hearst's family had owned this property for a long time, but his Mother wouldn't allow him to build on it because "He'd get carried away." ha ha ha. The Neptune Pool is magnificent! An ancient Roman temple is part of the design, having been purchased, shipped to the states and reconstructed on site. (Seen behind me in the pic) These lights surround the compound. Hearst Castle is magnificent because it combines three amazing things. First - it's breathtaking setting. Lush green hills, a view of the blue ocean, and a climate that can't be beat. Secondly, the building and design is incredibly beautiful. Details? Unbelievable. Even the winding drive up to the castle was designed to tease you, with the castle peeking in and out of your view as you climb the hill. And the third element is the art. This place is stuffed full of priceless works of art. Everywhere you look, you will see ancient Greek vases, paintings by European masters, ancient Roman sculptures, Egyptian sarcophagi (the statuary and such adorn the gardens, as well), but some elements of the building itself are also ancient. A ceiling from an ancient Spanish castle that was purchased, dismanteled and shipped over, then fitted to a certain bedroom in the house. Hearst Castle employs ten people just to dust this place and they do it twice a day. I asked. A great place to throw a party, you are probably thinking. No kidding! Lavish parties thrown by William Randolph Hearst and his glamorous movie star mistress, Marion Davies (he and his first wife were separated but not divorced for some religious? reason and he lived publicly with Marion for about 30 years until his death). The guest lists included Charlie Chaplin, Carol Lombard, Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, Cary Grant, the Marx Brothers, Charles Lindberg, Calvin Coolidge, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jimmy Stewart, Bob Hope and Winston Churchill. Hearst was not a drinker and worried about Marion's drinking, so although wine and beer were served at the parties, hard liquor was frowned upon. It's said that most guests were on their best behavior until Hearst retired for the evening. Then the party really began. Look closely at the tree in the picture covered with tangerines. All over the property are trees covered in lemons, grapefruit, and tangerines. During Hearst's time, the property was nearly self sufficient, with extensive gardens, orchards and cattle. a sarcophagus is garden art Note the door to the bathroom. It's from an old castle. Nice, huh? A bedroom ceiling A porch off of one of the bedrooms. Look at the big lion paws table legs A dress from their period costume collection is laid out on the bed. Imagine that you are a guest at one of William Randolph Hearst's legendary parties and your assigned servant has laid this out for you. Can't get over the view The architectural detail is incredible The kitchen was big and beautiful and contained the 'latest' electric gadgets, like refrigerators! This is about 1/8 of the kitchen. Swoon!!! The indoor pool: Real gold leaf tiles! Next stop? Cambria. A cute little town near Heart Castle with shops, restaurants and wine tasting. We went to Moonstone Cellars and enjoyed a lovely afternoon of wine tasting and then had lunch before heading back to Morro Bay. Back at Morro Bay we did a little shopping, got a coffee and napped. When we were shopping I saw an old VW hippie van that was totally rusted out. A cute little dog was sitting in it, waiting for his person. There was a 'For Sale' sign on the van. I think I probably could've bought it for what was in my pocket at the time. A view of Morro Rock Gerald walking down the street in Cambria Every time a bell rings... Pirate Prom Pic Morro Bay was hosting an Antique Car Show and we caught the evening parade of cars. Everyone was having a blast and the cars were gorgeous. Candy colored Tbird line up We finished up the day with dinner at a dockside restaurant where seals played in the water right outside our window. The food was delicious and we had a view of Morro Rock. The couple next to us provided a fun conversation for us to creep on. He was REALLY trying overly hard to impress her and we got a kick out of that. For more info on Hearst Castle, read Marion Davies' biography -

The Times We Had.

She seems like she was a very sweet person and the tales of living at the Castle are extremely interesting. Did I mention before how much I love Central California?

Blogging about Blogging?

2011-06-02T12:19:00.004-05:00

My friend Margaret - adventurer and writer - recently came to visit us. She is on a journey across the United States, visiting her facebook friends and blogging/writing a book about her journeys. I met Margaret in Mexico, on the island of Isla Mujeres, where she was working, managing a hotel owned by her family. On her recent visit we got to know each other better and spent our time researching the history of my little town, roaming the cemetary, drinking wine, dining and just hanging out. It was really fun. Margaret is one cool person. Interested in almost everything, very easy to talk to and laid back, which makes this project perfect for her! Ozzy fell in love with her, too, and he doesn't usually like anyone. That says a lot! Her blog is very interesting (especially the part about visiting me. LOL) and you should definitely check it out! Safe travels, Margaret! http://www.flitflitter.com/i-do-know-how-to-make-a-good-first-impression

Central Cali May 2011 - Day 1

2011-05-28T09:34:00.010-05:00

Partly because we had a couple of free flights to burn and partly because I'm a travel addict, Mr. Wonderful and I took a long weekend to hang out in California. I love California and when I say love....I mean LOVE. San Francisco is fun, LA has it's moments, but so far, Central California is my true love. First of all the scenery is gorgeous. Big Sur...Swoon. Charming coastal towns, fresh seafood, endless vineyards, cruising Highway 1? Well, it's almost too perfect. When it's a beautiful, clear day here in Texas and it's not too hot and not too cold, my daughter and I refer to it as a 'California' day. We flew into San Jose, which in my opinion, is a good starting place. I don't like to drive THAT much. To our dismay, Highway 1 was closed just North of Cambria, so we had to opt for Highway 101 and then do some creative looping to be able to drive some of 1. C'est la vie. Funny thing about Highway 101, even though it wasn't Highway 1, it turned out to be a beautiful drive. Farms as far as the eye could see. Palm tree farms (!), lettuce, vineyards, asparagus, neatly lined rows of orchard trees. Rolling hills of green and bursting with purple and yellow flowers. Grazing cows. The fields of dark purple lettuce were especially stunning. Town after little town passed and we got hungry. We stopped in a tiny town that was proclaimed 'Gonzalez' on the big water tower. There was a Mexican restaurant in the cute little downtown area that we thought might be worth a shot. You know, one of those 'this is going to either be really good or really bad' things. The decor was horrific, but it was clean. There was one person in the place and he was standing behind the bar, watching tv. There were no customers. Okay...it's a little late for lunch. I guess. 'Are you serving lunch?" I asked. 'Habla Espanol?' was the reply. I smiled big and said 'Muy poco' (I'm fluent in Faux Spanglish) He returned my smile and sprang into action, jumping out from behind the bar and throwing on an apron, while ushering us to a table. We were promptly brought menus and drinks and then....the salsa and chips. Jackpot! The chips were homemade and so was the salsa. Oh, Baby, I think we've chosen well. Gerald ordered a Chimichanga and I opted for tacos. Neither would disappoint. The chopped beef in the tacos was perfectly seasoned and topped with fresh onions, tomato and cilantro. I thought I was in Mexico. (I kinda was). The Chimi was wrapped in a delicate tortilla and deep fried. Not greasy and in so many thin layers, almost like a croissant. The food was inexpensive, delicious, and our waiter/cook could be seen through the kitchen door flying around working hard. We tipped well. On the road again... This stretch of Highway 101 is known as 'Camino Real' - The Royal Highway. Between 1683 and 1834, Spanish missionaries established a series of missions that were about a day's ride apart along this route. Legend has it that they sprinkled the route with mustard seeds, so it would be marked by yellow flowers. In 1892, a series of 450 bells that hang from tall Shepherd's Hooks were installed along the route. Although the original bells have been replaced by replicas, they are really cool. Back in the day, there were 21 Missions, four Presidios and two Pueblos along this route. We hit Atascadero and headed West...destination Morro Bay. The terrain turned hilly at once as we wound through avocado farms and breathtaking vistas of green. Morro Bay is a cool, hippie coastal town that boasts a rock. A huge rock. It was once a plug for a volcano, so they say, and it's as big as a mountain. Many different species of birds use it to nest including Peregrine falcons, seagulls, herons and sea gulls. We stayed at El Morro Masterpiece Hotel. Nice, clean, wine and cheese happy hour and b'fast included. Jacuzzi tub in the bedroom and a little balcony. Nice staff. We spent the rest of the day relaxing and walking on the beach and had a great dinner in a seaside restaurant. Surfers Tomorrow we visit Hearst Castle, my future home.

Girl Trip 2011 - Isla Mujeres - The Final Chapter

2011-04-22T10:02:00.021-05:00

What more to say than 'it was another beautiful morning on Isla Mujeres'? I awoke to the sounds of a basketball game and a rooster. Neither was terribly loud or at all annoying...just the diverse and happy sounds of the Colonias. I like the Colonias, and although I would definitely classify myself as a 'Downtown Girl', there is something so great about being mid island. First of all, it's so much less touristy. There isn't someone trying to sell you something at every step. But also there is a feeling of lives going on all around you while you are in this slow motion blissful vacation mode. But even though the locals are busy with their lives, they always have a moment for a warm smile, a wave, a nod of the head. I don't know if that adequately explains it, but if you've been there, you get it. Breakfast was hot, freshly made croissants. Yes, you read that right. HOT. Freshly made. I ate two, but could've downed ten and stuffed a few in my beach bag for later. Fruit and coffee were also featured on the breakfast table and were delicious. Evaristo's hands were red from some dye... Valerio is muy macho! He struck this pose after saving all of us girls from a bug. We met up with Nelsy (my wonderful student), Gloria (her Mother), Conchi (her younger sister) and Maggie of LGES at Mango Cafe for lunch. How could we not have a great time with a table full of girls!?! The food was great and the company even better. I was so impressed with Nelsy's English. It has improved by leaps and bounds since the last time we met up. Which is fabuloso because my Spanish has not. We talked about Conchi joining our scholarship program in the future and she let us know that she wants to be an architect! Nelsy and Conchi are both excellent, dedicated students, sweet, well behaved and kind. Everytime I meet up with them I am impressed. Gloria and her husband should write a book on how to raise children. I look like Will Ferrell in Elf in this pic! Because we were so lazy and Valerio is so cute, we stayed in Lolo's courtyard and hung out with him for a while. Pam and Valerio had so much fun playing a dice game. There was a lot of cheating and laughing going on from all involved parties! Angela gave Valerio a 'Mom' tat. Stud. Moving time again! We reluctantly left the Bohemian beauty of Lolo's and returned downtown for our last night at Bucannero's. It's a very nice little hotel. Basic and clean and right on Hidalgo. We wanted to be downtown on our last night and figured it would be easier to make a quick and less painful getaway the next day. Our leaving Lolo's was softened by the fact that she invited us to return that night for Steve and Vivian's birthday bash! Could this day be any more perfect? Not without Johnny Depp, it couldn't. I didn't take pics of the room at Bucannero's. I'm sorry, I know I should've, but we really spent very little awake time there. Showered and slept. The one thing that I did take pics of is the sliding window in the shower. If anyone can give me insight as to why this exists, I would appreciate it. I think all of the rooms have them. It's a little sliding window that opens from your shower into the hallway of the hotel. Yep, anyone walking down the hallways could slide that open and see you in the shower. WTH?? Maybe if someone was going to pass me a cup of coffee through it in the morning, okay... Abierto... Cerrado... We lazed the rest of the afternoon away at the beach and watched the beginning of sunset. And she walks along the edge of where the ocean meets the land, just like she's walking on a wire in the circus. Casa de Limon. Reasonable rates. Complimentary Happy Hour. Soft beds. Back to Lolo's! As soon as we arrived, we were put to work (SWOON! I'm plating food for Lolo and Evaristo is bringing me wine!) This was a surprise birthday party of Steve and Vivian. Vivian thought it was only for Steve.... Surprise!!! Steve thought he was just coming over for dinner. SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!! This was some sort of spray snow to remind Steve of Minnesota. The food was fabulous!! What a fun night! Look at all of these fun people!! I felt incredibly lucky to be included. The fabulous Kate and Fabio (?) She told me that was his name... ;) Evaristo and Me Sara Jane and Robert of Casa El Pio Bev and Evaristo of Dancing with (or under) the Stars Pam, Birthday Girl Vivian and Rachel (Rachel taught us to sing 'Don't Cry for me Ike and Tina' to the tune of 'Don't Cry for me Argentina' the previous night. She's funny. Birthday boy, Steve (fun girl in the background) Zina and Me And then...it was time for the cake. The smell of warm chocolate permeated the air and Lolo made the finishing touches on a cake that was so large and beautiful it would've taken me all day to make. Yes, it was as delicious as it looks. Then the Fire Dancers arrived for a private show! After the fire dancing there was more dancing and celebrating and finally we decided to call it a night and head back downtown. Lolo called us a cab and walked us to the front door. She had a glass of water for each of us. "It's a Jewish tradition," she explained, "to ensure your return". We each drank a bit of water from our glass and then Lolo threw the rest of the water on the sidewalk in front of her home. We drove off, waving and Lolo yelled 'PIRATE GIRLS' into the Isla night. She had talked Pam out of her crazy Pirate Girl tiara, proving that she was the ultimate Pirate Girl. The next morning we had our 'Last Breakfast' at Alexia y Giovanny. I had Chilequilas with chicken and green salsa, one of my absolute favorite meals. Then we stopped by the beach for a final goodbye and to bask in the sun for a few minutes before we showered, packed and prepared to say goodbye to my island. Princess of Denial - Who me? I'm not going home. I'm happy right here. The evil ferry The rest we will not speak of, except to say 'always make note of where you park at the airport'. Remember the part at the beginning of the trip report about my brain being frozen? Well...I guess I wasn't the only one. It was still freezing when we got back. A horrible shock. According to my friend, Nancy, now that I've finished my report from the last trip, I am allowed to go back. I'm ready!

Girl Trip 2011- Isla Mujeres Part 4- Livin' the Dream

2011-03-27T08:46:00.012-05:00

I woke up to another deleriously beautful, sun filled day and headed downstairs to hang out and have some coffee. Breakfast in the garden was a treat- coffee, delicious fruit and bread with butter brought to us by Evaristo. Doesn't get much better than that! Lolo was headed over to Cancun to do some shopping, so we headed over to happily lounge the day away at Playa Norte. This is the gigantic new palapa at Buhos. Where there used to be two bars, now there is only one. The eastern bar is gone and is now a hammock area. Some Mayan ladies brought by their beaded keychains. So intricate and colorful. I bought a parrot for my friend, Dale. Evaristo showed up and joined us at the Buho's swing bar for a drink (Yep..vacation. Drinks mid morning. Likey) We struck up a conversation with two couples at the bar and it turned out they had reservations at Lolo's for dinner that night! Fun coincidence. "See ya there!" We had lunch reservations at Qubano, for the Friday Special. Mmmm! Cuban chicken and rice with fried plantains! Good home cookin'. (Wow, I'm making myself hungry) Then...back to the beach to hang out. Life is definitely good and we took a moment to laugh at...I mean feel sorry for all of our friends back home who were snowed in. This little angel was playing nearby us and I couldn't help but snap a pic of her. Look at those blonde curls! Nothing to do but read, nap, lounge, talk, swim and enjoy a gorgeous, sun filled afternoon. This is heaven for me. Angela and Laura View from my lounger The beach in front of Na Balam has come back! Hurray! This guy has a tiny baby in a wrap laying on his belly Pam models some lovely little shoes that she found underneath our lounger I'm not at all sure what was going on here. The guy kneeling down was doing something to his partner's legs. If anyone has any ideas, please offer them up. The sun started to leave the beach, so we did, too, and returned to Lolo's just in time to get ready for dinner. Steve joined us, as did Brad and Tiffany and the two couples that we had met on the beach. There were several other people there, too - a really fun crowd. Steve had many bottles of chilled champagne and luckily, he sat by me. We stopped to feed 'Christine's kitty' on the road to Ixchel before heading back from the beach. She is a sweet little thing. Lover's Salad - shaved carrot and conch. Delicious! Gnocchi in a cheesy sauce. Comfort food heaven! Absolute Princess Valerio fell asleep and Lolo carried him to bed. He is such a precious little boy - we are all in love with him. Steve strikes a sexy pose and opens up another bottle of bubbly Steve's entree - Shepherd's pie. I had Seafood Cassoulet and it was fantastic. Yummy course - I think this was first. :) Lolo was diggin' Pam's Pirate Princess Tiara Dessert is both a work of art and an adventure in tastes. Everything was delicious and I love, love, love having several small desserts. It's really difficult to imagine a more relaxing day than this. Friends, beach, food, fun, champagne. Livin' the dream! Oh...and we get to do more of it tomorrow...

Girl Trip 2011 - Isla Mujeres Part 3- Carpe the Freakin' Diem!

2011-03-12T08:20:00.017-06:00

Pam and I woke up early and decided to carpe the freakin' diem and go sea glass hunting. We knocked quietly on Laura and Angela's door, but no answer, so we took off toward the sea. It was a beautiful morning, the sun was nothing short of glorious. The sea glass hunting wasn't stellar and I'm going to blame that on Becky, who had left the island the day prior to my arrival and most likely stripped the island bare of sea glass.;) But we had fun anyway. At one point, someone stopped on the malecon and looked down at us. It was Brenda! She jumped down off the malecon wall like an Olympic gymnast to give me a hug. Isla magic. Back to Casa Sirena for breaky and coffee. Breakfast was yogurt crepes and fruit, but I wasn't in a sweet mood (weird, I know) so I opted for bacon and eggs. But when Jose showed up with a birthday cake for Steve, I was ready for dessert. Yummy tres leches cake. Dessert for breakfast? Yes, please! Birthday Boy After our feast, we headed out for facials at Casa Luz Spa. JoAnne was meeting us and we found her cute little self wandering down the street. Casa Luz is only a block away from Sirena, which is very convenient. Josefina welcomed us to her spa with big hugs and cold bottles of water. If you are a frequent Isla traveler and an animal lover, you should get to know Josefina. She is an angel to the local animals and operates a cat shelter from her home in La Gloria. Josefina takes in injured, sick, abandoned cats and kittens and gives them food, love and medical attention. She works closely with Dr. Delfino to have them neutered and spayed. All of this is at her own expense and with donations she receives for food for the kitties. I highly suggest that you make an appointment at her spa because you will love it AND you'll be helping to support her worthy cause. If you're not a 'spa person', you can donate a few dollars or cat food! This is her website http://casaluzspa.blogspot.com/ and you can also find Casa Luz on facebook or look on facebook for 'Isla Mujeres Cats Need Help'. Last September, I found this tiny little baby in the vacant lot on the North end of Hidalgo the night before we came home. I emailed Josefina when I got home and she went to trap it, returning day after day until she was successful. She brought this tiny thing home and gave her meds, food and love and she is now spayed and ready for adoption. Gorgeous! JoAnne enjoying her facial Miss Pamela is very relaxed Josefina and Laura Spa Zombie!!! Gettin' Pretty!! We were moving over to Lolo's today, but were in no rush (Island time, Baby), and lunch sounded like the next obvious choice on such a perfect day, so we headed to Barlito on Hidalgo. I can't really say enough good things about Barlito and the owners, Brad and Tiffany. We sat at an outdoor table and enjoyed the perfect weather. Remember, I'm usually on the island in the heat of summer, so it was a real treat for me to sit outside and enjoy lunch and not even be hot! My dining and traveling companion, Pam, enjoys the day This is my review of Barlito on Trip Advisor: BARLITO, BARLITO, BARLITO... Remember the name, you'll be murmuring it in your dreams. Barlito is a fantastic addition to the island of Isla Mujeres. Owners Brad and Tiffany are a multitalented duo, creating the food, baking the bread, taking the orders and making everyone feel special. My friends and I enjoyed lunch at one of Barlito's outdoor tables where we could watch the world go by. I had the delicious Mundaca Torta, a sandwich on homemade bread with roasted chicken, bacon, lettuce, tomato and blue cheese mayo. Many side dishes are offered and I chose the roasted beets, which were yummy. (I had never eaten a beet before, who knew they were so good?) I also sampled the couscous salad, which was delightful. Dessert was a plate of gooey chocolate brownies and freshly baked cookies accompanied by milk shots! What fun! Brad and Tiffany are no strangers to good food and the island. In addition to running a catering service, they bake all of their own bread (including bagels for breakfast), smoke their own meats and fish, and create all of their dishes from scratch. Food is available to go, which would be perfect to take to the beach for a picnic. I truly wanted to try one of everything on the menu and look forward to returning. Jeff Current was kind enough to meet up with us while we were at Barlito and we got to chat with him. He has been a favorite facebook friend of mine because he always makes me laugh. I really wanted to meet his wife, Alison, also. Jeff and Alison run an organization called Isla Animals. http://islaanimals.org/ The work they do with adopting, neuter/spay clinics and education is nothing short of miraculous. Go to their website and look at the before and after pics of dogs they have adopted and 'rehabed'. I dare you not to tear up. Next time I'm on the island I am going to go by their house and meet Alison and the dogs. We packed up and moved down the island to our next location, Lolo Lorena's. We were like gypsies, sleeping around the island, because we're cool like that. Pam and I bunked in the 'Treehouse' room, which was really cool. It is situated above the kitchen and has a loft for sleeping and a huge downstairs area with a gorgeous bathroom and large living/dressing area. The upstairs ceiling is just over 6 feet tall and Pam looked like an Amazon in this pic, which made me laugh. More pics of our room: We were welcomed with a large, chilled Limonada, which was delicious and we hung out by the pool and visited with Lolo and Evaristo. Evaristo made mojitos for us and it was difficult to even want to get up and go anywhere for dinner, we were so relaxed. We headed into town later for dinner at Mocambo. Feet in the sand, delicious food, best girlfriends and cocktails. Really? What more could you want? Dessert! That's what more we could want. We went by Mogagua Grito and shared some crepes, sat on the lounge chairs and watched the world go by. I won't lie...we also watched our cute waiter. After dessert, we were ready for more drinks and some tunes, so we went by Ohm to watch Chucho play! Got a nice big round booth and chilled out, listening to awesome tunes and sippin' on a Sambuca on ice. Another beautiful day in paradise. We cabbed it back to Lolo's and crashed out. A delicious breeze blew through the open windows of the Treehouse room as I drifted off into a blissful sleep.

Girl Trip 2011- Isla Mujeres-Part 2: Beaches and Mango Poo Poo

2011-02-27T09:24:00.013-06:00

Is there anything better, really, than waking up in Isla on your first day of vacation? The sunlight streams through the windows and you roll over and smile a wicked little smile. Then you lazily rise, stretch and go look out the window for proof that you aren't dreaming. We all slept relatively late, our bodies recovering from a stressful albiet victorious day of travel and we meandered downstairs to breakfast. Chucho came by and picked up his keyboard and although I don't think I've ever seen him when he's not smiling, his smile was extra big that morning. He brought me one of his new cds, "Jesus Campuzano - Live" which was recorded last summer during his tour of Europe, which I jealously followed on facebook. He is a fantastic musician and plays all over the island as well. Check out his music here http://jesus-music.bandcamp.com/ and you can also download songs or complete albums. I have all of his albums because I'm cool like that. :) His music is original, funky and fun and if you have ever seen him play live, you can just see the joy in his face. Breakfast was delicious, as always at Casa Sirena. Sitting outdoors in the beautiful garden is a treat in itself, but add to that fresh juice, a beautiful plate of fruit, hot coffee and an amazing Mexican breakfast. A beautiful painting of Casa Sirena by Jess Zimmerman Our plan for the day was sheer genius: Get in some beach time, meet up with friends for happy hour, eat as much good food as possible and take our travel clothes to be laundered. (Steve's dryer was on the blink, normally his staff will do laundry for a minimal charge). The perfect panacea. "Really?!?" My room Beach time topped the list, so we high tailed it to Playa Norte and plopped our happy little selves down near Buho's. They have built a humongous palapa over the seating area of the restaurant and taken out one of the big bars and it looks really different! The palapa makes a nice addition for the sunburned beachgoer or if it rains, it would be a good respite. A big palm tree grows in the palapa area. I wonder what they are going to do when it gets tall enough to hit the roof? Angela bought a round of Pina Coladas and we were all deliriously happy. We lounged around until late afternoon when we got hungry again and then we headed over to Qubano to see Vivian. I couldn't sworn I took pics of our lunch, but I guess I was just too excited. :) We all shared a serving of Vivian's famous Hungarian Potatoes and some of her delicious Vegetarian Pate and then we shared a couple of sandwiches. Laura and I split the Vegetarian sandwich and Angela and Pam shared a Cuban. It was great to see Vivian and the girls just loved her. Pam picking up on a much younger man Later that evening, we met up with Tim and JoAnne, with whom I've been internet friends for years and years, but had never actually met in person. We've missed each other by a day or two on the island before and JoAnne was going to come into NYC to meet up with us last year, but had a broken foot. Well, the stars finally aligned and we got to meet. Needless to say....a good time was had by all. I had picked up a bottle of Mango Rum at the airport and we had given Steve a bottle of Havana Club for his birthday. Tim and JoAnne had brought a canister of alcohol infused Chocolate whipped cream. What to do, what to do?? Invent a new cocktail for the occasion!!! We sampled a few concoctions, but ultimately this was our fave: 3 parts Mango Rum (we used Cruzan brand) 1 part Havana Club Rum Combine and shake with ice in a cocktail shaker Pour into shot glasses Top off with a dollop of Chocolate Alcohol infused Whipped Cream Delicioso! Due to the appearance of the drink, we were calling it a 'Mango Poo Poo', however Pam came up with 'Midnight Mango', which sounds a tad more appetizing. Anyway, they were delightful and it was a really fun happy hour. Paul was awesome! Dinner was at Ballyhoo, as I was craving some of their tacos. I love to sit out on the dock and the food is fabulous. Steve joined us and we had a blast. Then it was off to dreamland. A fantastic first day that set a relaxed and happy tone for the entire trip. Supermodels tearing up the Ballyhoo runway. Girl Trip is often the height of ridiculousness

Girl Trip 2011 - Isla Mujeres- Part 1: Pirate Girls Escape from Siberia

2011-02-26T08:08:00.010-06:00

Angela, Laura and I woke up at my house at 3:30 AM, determined to get to paradise that day despite the forecast of a brutal Winter storm that was rapidly approaching. I had glowered at the sky and waved my arms at it while standing on my front porch the night before in an attempt to stall the storm, so I figured I'd either bought us a little time, or at least confused the neighbors. Pam had flown in the previous night and stayed at a hotel near the airport, so she was going to meet up with us there. Our flight was scheduled for 8:15 AM. 'Ting, ting, ting', said the sleet against the windows at about 4:30, so we threw our bags in the car and took off. Thankfully, Angela is a professional school bus/limo driver and she was driving, as the roads became more and more treacherous as we went. I-635 was like an ice skating rink and the lines for the lanes were not visible. I huddled in the back seat amongst luggage, posting my last will and testament on facebook. It took us a little over an hour, but we made it, only to find that Remote North Parking was closed (they couldn't run the shuttle busses out there, we found out), so we were given a coupon to park at the terminal for the same price as remote parking. About the time we saw that our terminal exit was closed, as well, I got a text saying that our flight had been cancelled. Oh, well...our plan was still to get to the American Airlines counter, find Pam and come up with Plan B. We parked at Terminal E and had to take a Terminal Link bus to Terminal D. We stepped out of the car and BOOM, my brain froze. Cold weather and me? Not so much. I just totally freeze up, both literally and figuratively and I was only wearing a jean jacket because who wants to show up in Mexico and lug around a big coat? You know those survival shows with the guy who shows you how to live in the wilderness or Arctic tundra and survive by drinking your own pee and curling up inside the cadaver of a freshly killed deer like a sleeping bag for heat? Yeah...I'd just freeze up and die as little ice tears trickled down my face. My only thought was 'Get inside the freakin' building!!!', as I grabbed my carry on, my rolling bag and the big cardboard box that contained a new keyboard for Chucho. We got inside and found a couple of guys who pointed us toward the bus. Yep, you guessed it, we had to go outside and wait for the bus. Finally, it showed up and as we boarded, lo and behold, sitting in the back of the bus as pretty as you please was Miss Pam! Yay! At least we were all together and if we had to huddle for warmth, the more bodies the better. It took the bus 45 minutes to get to the terminal next door due to traffic and road conditions! My feet were frozen by now, as I was wearing little ballet flats. Smart? Not always. Cutely dressed? You betcha. Arrived, checked in, changed our flight to the 11:45 flight (it was about 7:00 AM at this point and I knew where the $4 mimosas were. We had a bagel(first bad carb I'd had in a long time, I licked it for a while prior to devouring it) and then moved on for Mimosas and I presented Pam with her Pirate Princess Tiara. Then we shopped for bit and made our way to our gate. At about 10:30 they announced 'Well, folks...we have a plane for you here, but it's frozen. So, we're going to fly one in from Guatamala for you, so please hang tight." In hindsight, this has as much credence as the tooth fairy, but we wanted to believe so badly that we went with it. About a half hour later? Flight Cancelled. Da plane! Da Plane! At this point, people were directed to stand in line at a counter and 'try to get on the 2:45 flight' and it was kind of a mad rush to get there/get in line. But when we did, there was no one to help us, so we just stood there in line. Angela looked over at the next counter and recognized the American Airlines employee who had checked us in earlier that morning and had been very nice and personable and went over to talk to her. She was over there a long time while the AA employee tapped on the keyboard and finally Angela waved us over. 'I've got y'all booked on the 4:45 flight and stand by on the 2:45', said the wonderful AA employee! Score! We didn't know if these flights were going to get out, but it was the best we could do. One of the girls asked 'What if one of us gets standby and the others don't?'. They decided that if that happened, that they would send me on first and I could arrange transfers, etc. 'That will never happen', I thought. When they finished boarding that flight and started calling standbys it was like 'The Price is Right'. We all stood around looking anxious and waiting to be called to come on down! Finally....'Jana Epperson'. I walked over to the gate attendant and she said 'Okay, this is the last seat. Are you okay with leaving your party?' (The girls were yelling, 'Go! Go!'). I glanced back at them and then back to the AA employee. 'Sure', I replied. 'You understand that there is just one seat left?' she reiterated. 'Yes', I said, 'I don't care if it's the jumpseat, as long as I get out of this frozen hell'. 'Well', she smiled broadly, 'It's First Class!'. I didn't tell the girls until right before I ran down the jetway. I held up my ticket and yelled 'FIRST CLASS' and ran. Super evil laugh. PIRATE! Ahhh...First Class. A blanket, wine, free headphones, leg room, warm nuts. This was a pleasant surprise especially since we had to sit on the tarmac for almost an hour waiting to take off. A coach passenger wandered up to speak with my seat mate. "I believe you got my seat', he joked, 'lucky guy. AND you get to sit next to a pretty girl.' Ha ha...totally outed him as a First Class poser, just like myself. Luckily he was pretty quiet and it was a totally pleasant flight. The food was even good. Sunset from the flight The four people in the first four seats of First Class were AA employees. I don't pretend to know how the airline system works, especially with it being such a messed up day, and for all I know these people had to be off the clock, or whatever. But I couldn't help but wish that my girls were sitting up there. We arrived in Cancun, luggage made it (even the keyboard, which I was worried about since it wasn't mine), line for immigration was very short, 10 minute wait in customs, out the door and into the van. I arrived on the island at about 8:30. Dock on Cancun side at night Ferry Steve greeted me with a big hug and a 'Poor Baby, you've been through so much', which is just what I needed. I stashed my luggage in room 3 and made my way up to the roof where I found Jeff and Gail and a much, much, much needed margarita. Jeff and Gail stayed and visited for a while. We met them on our last Isla Girl trip and they are a lot of fun. Then they headed out in search of dinner and Steve and I stayed to drink more margaritas and wait for the girls because we're martyrs like that. It was actually very nice to have Steve to myself for a while. I just love that guy. About 10:30, we heard the doorbell ring and ran to the edge of the roof to look over. There they were and with huge 'we made it' smiles!! After their celebratory margarita, we left Steve and wandered over to Miguel's for a late supper. Drop your stuff and GO!!! Pirate Flags at Miguels...he was ready for us. We feasted on Coconut Shrimp, fresh guacamole, fajitas and Pomegranate Margaritas and then headed back to Casa Sirena for a good night's sleep. It was a beautiful night, warm and quiet and we had made it! And....exhale. **Many of the pics you'll see used in this series of blogs are courtesy of Angela Baldwin. Thanks, Ang!!!

Things I Learned From Charlie's Angels

2011-02-24T18:53:00.005-06:00

Once upon a time, there were three little girls who went to the Police Academy... As a female product of a 70s childhood, I wanted to be one of Charlie's Angels when I grew up (yes, I know I've told you that I wanted to be the Bain de Soleil lady, but that was later. For the record I also wanted to be Barbie and Iris Love). I had the Farrah 'do (I think that was mandated by law in suburban Tulsa, OK circa 1977-79) and I had the green bikini that looked just like Jaclyn's white one. Oh, yes...I had it all. I recently watched an old episode of Charlie's Angels and it was fantastic in it's ghastly campiness. It made me quite nostalgic for my childhood, especially since the Angels went undercover on a cruise on this episode, which kind of made it a cross between Charlie's Angels AND the Love Boat and if you could have thrown in some little guy yelling 'Da Plane, Da Plane!', too, well let's just say I would've been in heaven. And I realized as I watched that there were an abundance of lessons I learned from Charlies Angels. Maybe because this show hails from an era of after-school-specials or maybe because I'd had a glass of wine, I'm not sure. Let me recap. 1) A swift Karate chop to a bad guy works every time. I don't know how and I've never done it, but I'm pretty sure that I could or at least that I'd like to, given the chance. 2) If you're the smart one (Sabrina), you don't get to wear the low cut, super sexy outfits. And you are stuck forever with that 'smart' label and it doesn't matter if Farrah leaves the show and they bring in that scrawny little Cheryl Ladd, you STILL don't get bumped up to sexy stuff. Sad. Turtleneck? Why can't she wear the cool off the shoulder number like Jaclyn? And look at the pic at the top. A bikini....short shorts....and covered head to toe in wth...riding johdpurs?! Left to right: Covered up like a nun, hot, sexy. And finally...the same fabric, but Kate's dress is cut up to her chin. 3) There are basically four kinds of guys. a) the bad ones who want to kidnap you. b) the polite ones who refer to you as 'Miss' and are usually a step beneath you socially like a waiter or a cabin boy. c) The ones who call, but never show up and d) Bosley. 4) We all have to be whores sometimes. Of course, the Angels had to go undercover as whores, well not really whores because this was prime time tv in the 70s, so more like sexy magician's assistants or a cocktail waitress, anything in a skimpy costume. I had to dress up once in a Lieutenant Uhura Star Trek dress for a convention (it was a space themed convention!! Seriously, I'm NO trekkie. Give me a little credit) and every day I dress up in pretty clothes and go do things that I don't necessarily enjoy and I get paid for it. Anyway...the lesson is just roll your eyes and roll with it. 5) When you're really in serious trouble, just hang tight and your girlfriends will come to the rescue. If you can kind of halfway collapse in a seductive, helpless posture all the better. 6) Above all, stay glossed and perfectly feathered at all times. Especially when halfway collapsed. I have noticed that jumpsuits are back in style and I saw some luscious 70s wooden platform heels at Target last week. I bet I could pull out my curling iron and do a feathered do and then KARATE CHOP!!! Didn't see that coming, did you? See? It works.

Valentines Day Dinner Menu

2011-02-13T20:17:00.008-06:00

I prepared an early Valentines Day dinner last night for Mr. Wonderful because a) it was Saturday and I have more time to cook and b) the kids were gone. He lit a fire in the fireplace and I arranged pillows and blankets around the fireplace and served dinner there accompanied by a good bottle of red wine. It was relaxing, romantic and lots of fun. Course #1 Mexican Shrimp Cocktail Recipe from Ixchel's Kitchen (I cut the recipe in half and still had extra) 2 pounds cooked Shrimp, peeled and deveined 1 Tbsp crushed Garlic 1/2 C finely chopped yellow Onion (I used Green Onions because I had 'em on hand) 1/4 C chopped fresh Cilantro 1 1/2 C Clamato Juice 1/2 C Ketchup 1/2 C fresh Lime Juice 1 tsp hot Pepper Sauce (or to taste) 1/4 c prepared Horseradish sauce Salt - to taste 1 Avocado - peeled, pitted and chopped Lime I also added a little diced yellow and orange bell peppers because I had them on hand and they added some nice color. Combine all ingredients, adding avocado last. Season with salt to taste. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours. Serve in margarita or martini glasses. Garnish with Lime wedge. Course #2 Shaved Asparagus Salad Wash a bunch of asparagus and snap off the tough ends. Lay each piece down on a cutting board and shave into thin strips, using a vegetable peeler. This is the hardest part. Toss with a little Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Sea Salt and Pepper. Garnish with grated Parmesan or Romano cheese (no, not that crap in the green can, REAL cheese) and a handful of Pine Nuts. Course #3 Bacon wrapped Filet and Baked Potato Grilled on the 'Foreman', yeah....Baby. ;) Course #4 Flourless Chocolate Cake and White Chocolate dipped Strawberries Flourless Chocolate Cake This is amazing, rich and dense and oh,so chocolatey good! 4 (1 ounce) squares Semisweet Chocolate, chopped roughly 1/2 C Butter 3/4 C White Sugar 1/2 C Cocoa Powder 3 Eggs, beaten 1 t Vanilla extract Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Grease an 8" round cake pan with butter and then dust with Cocoa powder. In the top of a double boiler, melt Chocolate and Butter. Remove from heat and stir in Sugar, Cocoa, Eggs and Vanilla. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Easy peasy and you don't even have to dirty up the mixer. Serve with Whipped Cream (no Cool Whip, REAL Whipped Cream, it's not that difficult) Happy Valentines Day!!!

Slow Cookin' Sunday~ Stuffed Peppers

2011-01-29T08:49:00.004-06:00

This is one of the easiest and least messiest recipes ever. Stuffed Peppers 6 Peppers (I think the green ones have a bitter taste in Winter, so I went with orange. It would be really attractive to do a mixture of red, orange and yellow) 1 lb LEAN ground beef. At least 80% lean. 1 Cup cooked Rice (I used White rice only because I was out of Brown and forgot to buy more) 3 Tbsp Worchestershire Sauce 2 tsp each of: Basil, Minced Garlic, Oregano 1 tsp Salt 1 tsp Pepper A dash of red Pepper Flakes (I sprinkled a little more salt and pepper on my serving at the table, but I'd rather undersalt while cooking than end up with something too salty.) 1 can Fire Roasted Tomatoes 1 can Tomato Sauce (small can) In a large bowl, mix the Ground Beef, Rice, Worchestershire Sauce and spices. Wash the Peppers, cut the tops off (do it pretty, like a pumpkin so you can put it back on later!) and clean out the seeds, ribs, etc inside. Stuff the peppers with the meat mixture. That's right, you don't have to brown the beef first! Put the tops back on like a little cap. (I like a stylish dinner) Pour the cans of Fire Roasted Tomatoes and Tomato Sauce in the bottom of your Slow Cooker. As always, don't forget the liner! Place the peppers in carefully so that they all stand up. I cooked these at high for about 4 hours and they were done perfectly. I only did four peppers and made a little meatloafy thing out of the extra meat. I am thinking that they would freeze well, though, so I'll make six next time. Peppers are kind of pricey and I wanted to make sure we liked this recipe before making so many! Mr. Wonderful gave it two thumbs up!

Mediterranean Feast

2011-01-26T19:02:00.004-06:00

I made a meal last week that was reminiscent of the fabulous meals that we’ve eaten at Comono, one of my favorite restaurants on Isla Mujeres. Mediterranean Beef Kbobs (Being that it is winter, I made these indoors on my George Foreman grill. Yay, George! And they were delicious. You could make them on a grill, or as hamburger patties, too.) 1 lb Ground Beef 1/2 medium Onion, diced 2 Garlic Cloves, minced 1 Tbsp Parsley 2 Tbsp fresh Cilantro, finely chopped 1 tsp Paprika 1 tsp Cumin ½ tsp Salt ½ tsp Black Pepper ½ tsp Cayenne Pepper Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and get your hands in there and mix up really well. Like meatloaf, you can’t do this without getting your hands dirty. Refrigerate mixture for one hour. I formed these into small patties, about 3” across and grilled them on the Foreman. You can also form them into sausage shapes around a wooden skewer and grill on your outdoor grill or make large patties for Mediterranean Burgers. I served these with a Tzatziki Sauce (recipe below) Greek Salad, Pita Bread, Olives and Hummus. I didn’t take the time to make hummus from scratch (which is sooo good!) but I did add a generous sprinkle of Zatar and Paprika, as well as a drizzle of Olive Oil to the top of store bought hummus to ‘homemade it up’ a little. Since I am being ‘low carb girl’ right now, I cut a couple of Low Carb Whole Wheat Tortillas into wedges and toasted them in the oven for me in place of the Pita bread. It was still fantastic! I will make this again very soon. Tzatziki Sauce 1 small carton of Greek Yogurt – Plain, Unsweetened ¼ of a Cucumber, peeled 2 Tbsp Lemon Juice 2 cloves Garlic, minced 2 Tbsp chopped fresh Mint Dash of salt and pepper Put it all in a food processer or blender and puree. Add more lemon juice, salt, pepper to taste.

Head-to-Toe Winter Skin Makeover~ Under $70...

2011-01-21T10:12:00.006-06:00

This is a very easy, month long regimen that you do at home and it will transform your dull, dry, flaky, itchy Winter skin into smoother, softer, clearer beautiful skin - head to toe! All for under $70. That's hardly more than a good facial plus tip. Here are the things you will need: A QUALITY LIP BALM - Look at the ingredients. You don't want something that is a petroleum based product. The C.O.Bigelow Mentha Lip Balm Stick pictured here is made with Hydrogenized Coconut Oil and Shea Butter. It isn't glossy, and we all know how I love my gloss,so just apply under your gloss or lipstick. Apply generously at night, as well. You will need to exfoliate your lips, too, so either do that with a toothbrush or the body scrub that you will see down the list. Cost: $7.50. Available at Bath and Body Works. Soft smooth lips? Your husband or boyfriend will thank me. Maybe they both will. PHILOSOPHY INSTANT SKIN MAKEOVER KIT- This wonderful kit contains a daily Microdelivery Exfoliating Face Wash (I use each morning in the shower) and a two step exfoliating mask that consists of Microdelivery Peel Resurfacing Crystals and Microdelivery Peel Activating Gel. It also has a generous sample of their Purity Face Wash. I use the two step mask once a week and it really has improved my skin's texture and brightness. A little goes a long way. I've used it three times and am not even halfway through the product. Be sure to follow the Mask with a moisturizing serum (if you have one) and a good face moisturizer. (Philosophy 'Hope in a Jar' is da bomb). Use before bed because your skin is going to feel so clean and pure you aren't going to want to put makeup on after you do this. I have dry, rather sensitive skin and this works great! Cost: $32. Available at Sephora.com or your local Sephora store. HOMEMADE SUGAR SCRUB - This is easy, cheap and if you make extra, it keeps beautifully in the freezer. Use once or twice a week all over, even on your lips. Mojito Body Scrub (leave out the mint and lime for unscented) 2 Cups White Sugar 1 Cup Safflower OR Sunflower Oil (yep, cooking oil) 2 Tbsp fresh Lime Zest (finely chopped) 2 Tbsp fresh Mint Leaves (finely chopped) Juice of 1/2 lime Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Store covered, in a plastic food container or purchase pretty glass jars at a hobby/craft store. Make sure it is sealed well so as not to attract ants. QUALITY LOTION- This Neutrogena Moisture Wrap Lotion is unscented and it really gets the job done. Put on at night before bed. Cost: $12.00. Available at Walgreen's or your local drug store. BODY OIL- When you turn off the shower, don't dry off. Instead, liberally apply a body oil and rub in before you gently towel off. This really locks in the moisture and will leave your skin smooth. Most drugstores have their own knockoff of the Neutrogena brand. Make sure it's unscented and don't get baby oil. Petroleum. Ick. Cost: $7.00 - $13.00. Available at Walgreen's or your local drug store. This has worked wonders for me. Let me know if it works for you!

Isla- Sept 2010- And the rest...

2011-01-16T17:15:00.022-06:00

And, this, mi amigo, is where the trip report goes LOCO! I got so incredibly lazy that my journal just went blank. Nothing. Nada. So, we do it with pictures!!!! We moved over to Media Luna and I decided to go for a walk into town to pick up provisions. Okay, to shop and get food. But first I collected some Sea Glass. Carpool at the school! Casa Luz Spa Casa Sirena Street Cool House New Turtle Sculpture A stop at Qubano to visit with Vivian, refresh with some of her delicious watermelon water and get some yummies to take back to Mr. Wonderful New Recycling Bins! Mmmm...A Vivian Salad and Hungarian Potatoes to go, eaten seaside. Lazy afternoon at the pool Okay, this is bizarre - (enlarge pics below by double clicking) This guy and his wife were taking pics of each other on the beach. And he had his swimsuit pulled down under his butt! His entire butt was hanging out! It was so weird. They'd go behind the rocks and take some pics, then back on the beach. All the while his butt hung out. They were at this for about an hour. Truly bizarre!!! Mr. Wonderful All festive for the El Grito (or just for my visit, perhaps!) Festive Decorations in the Zocala Fabulous dinner at Olivia with Steve, Tio Bobby, Brad and Tiffany. I failed to get a pic of Brad. I'll get a good one in a couple of weeks when I'm back, to make up for it!!! The food at Olivia is to die for, the atmosphere is superb. We were seated in one of the Pavillions. I had a hot flash. My dinner companions iced me down and all was well. Good times! My Isla Kitty View from our 'outdoor living room' at Media Luna Breaky Cute kitty sleeps under my lounge chair A morning of Sea Glass hunting Food from Qubano --- OH, BABY!! Cool Airstream at the carnival Me and mi amiga, Miss Luna. Yes, black cats follow me. Coincidence? I think not. Mr. Wonderful. Breathtaking. Spectacular Sunset as seen from our table at Ballyhoo. Breathtaking, too. Betsy, Me and Gail at Ballyhoo This is Gregorio, whom I adore. I apologize for the video being sideways, I've tried every way to fix it. (lesson learned) He sings a beautiful romantic song for us! We found this tiny Siamese kitten the night before we left. I notified Josephina the next day via email and she was able to trap her. She is growing, healthy and happy now living at Josephina's home and is available for adoption! Last Breakfast before boarding the evil ferry home. A & G's is always a great pick. Bacon, eggs, rice and beans for Mr. Wonderful Chicken Chilaquiles with Salsa Verde for me. Absolute heaven! Repairs being done to the walkway at Playa Media Luna add an extra degree of difficulty! Adios, Isla! I love you!!! So that's it, until next time! Thanks for reading! Mmmmwah!

Sh*t My Mom Says

2011-01-09T09:20:00.003-06:00

Do you remember all those things your 'Mother always said'? Here are the things I tell my kids: 1) "Life isn't fair. Nobody told you it would be. I was there when you were born and nobody said 'Welcome to the world! It's fair here!'." 2) To my teenage son when he started driving "Rule number one : Remember that all other drivers are crazy and trying to kill you" and 3) "Be home by midnight. The only things open after midnight are Emergency Rooms and legs. You don't need to be in either." 4) "Always be nice to the nerdy-brainy kids. They're usually nice, and you may need to work for them someday." 5) This one is nightly: "Dinner's ready! Get your own drink. I'm a cook, not a cocktail waitress." In summary, be careful, don't get anyone pregnant, be nice, don't whine and don't expect me to serve you. Wow...I'm deep.

Asian Lettuce Wraps

2011-01-03T12:25:00.004-06:00

I didn't take a pic of these because I didn't know they'd turn out so good, so I admit that I stole the pic above. Deal with it. These were really, really good and pretty low carb. No, I'm not turning into some Atkins zombie, but I have significantly cut down on bad carbs. Translation: The December Sugar Plum Fairy Fest is over. My pants are thanking me. ASIAN LETTUCE WRAPS (This fed two of us for dinner and I had enough left over for a snack the next day) Head of Boston or Bibb lettuce (leaves carefully separated to keep intact, washed and patted dry) 1 lb lean ground beef 1 bunch of green onions 1 t minced garlic 1 t Ginger (recipe I looked at called for pickled, but I just used powdered) 1 can of water chestnuts 6-8 baby carrots (you can add more if you wanna 'veg it up') 4 T Rice Vinegar Soy Sauce Hoisen Sauce (recipe I looked at called for Hoisen, but I used Sechuan Stir Fry sauce because I had some) Chop green onions, water chestnuts and baby carrots. Dice the carrots small or matchstick size. Set aside. Brown ground beef with garlic and drain. Add the chopped veggies and the rest of the ingredients. Add Soy Sauce and Hoisen/whatever sauce to taste. Continue cooking until onions are partially cooked. Wrap the meat up in the lettuce leaves like a burrito and enjoy!

January....Yuck!

2010-12-31T13:26:00.010-06:00

January is my least favorite month. 1) It's cold I am not a 'Winter' person, which is why I live in Texas. I don't like snow unless it melts away quickly and I don't have to drive in it. I have been skiing, but I'd much rather go to the beach and I think that Ice Fishing and things like that are insane. I don't like winter clothes, as too many layers and socks make me claustrophobic. I just want to stay in bed and stay warm. Which bring me to... 2) Sleepy Maybe I'm just worn out from the holidays or maybe I just need to hibernate, but I just want to sleep all the time! This, actually is a bonus because it makes the month go by more quickly and I can't eat while I'm asleep. 3) Hungry Yep, it's time to drop a few pounds. I didn't gain anything over the holidays, which is a blessing, but I didn't lose anything over the summer like I usually do because I was writing a cookbook and those two things just do not go together. So, I am laying in bed curled up with a celery stick and in a foul mood. 4) W2s- I have a LOT of those to get out. I get tired of people calling me about them. Stop the madness or I will beat you senseless with a celery stick. Now, the big question -- since I'm not normally this bitchy and don't really like myself when I am (and don't want to drive away Mr. Wonderful) -- What am I going to do about it???? 1) I am going to come up with some tasty low cal recipes and post them on my blog. 2) I am going to make jewelry and shrines. 3) I am going to look forward to vacation and to Spring. A medically induced coma really sounds like the best plan except I don't have that many vacation days. Any other suggestions are deeply appreciated.

Isla Mujeres - Sept 2010~ Golf Cart Day

2010-12-31T13:25:00.018-06:00

We spent Sunday morning in the courtyard of Casa Sirena, sipping coffee with Steve and Tio Bobby and then we all walked down to Cafe Hidalgo for fabulous crepes. Later we walked over to Posada del Mar to visit with Tim and Vee. They were feasting on some divine looking rotisserie chicken and sitting in the bar at Posada. (Which, by the way, has a wonderful view!) We were the only people there - it was slow season, after all - and Tim and Vee were making cracks about the loud music they were playing in the bar and how they were trying to attract a crowd and make it look like a happenin' place, but when they got there, all they would find is 'some old people eatin' chicken'. Too funny! The view from Posada - for the guys They built a life size shrine for me, how sweet! Back at Casa Sirena we lazed about the rooftop, reading, lounging in the plunge pool, listening to the rush of the ocean and watching the ferries come and go from a distance. Ahhhh...contentment. My 'Carol Merrill' imitation View from our balcony - Room #1 And the frigate glide like kites on the wind hovering above the endless sea... Sirena Steve on the hammock deck Kids running around with their new puppy Happy hour with Sara Jane and Robert from Casa el Pio, Steve and Bobby. Everyone else had left because Steve was supposed to have left town, but had changed his plans. Yep, we had the run of the place, lucky us! Family next door to Casa Sirena enjoying a big Sunday family meal Gerald and I had dinner at Bucanero's, which was good. We shared Sopa de Lima, some Guac and an entree of Tortilla Crusted Fish. The only complaint I had was that they put a 15% tip on our bill. For a party of two. When asked, we were told 'Oh, there are a lot of Israelis on the island and they don't tip." We look very Israeli, so I can understand the mix up. Whatever. We entertained ourselves by listening to the conversation going on behind us (which, in our defense was very loud indeed). Miss Overly-Enthusiastic-About-Everything was over the top flirting with Mr. Come-Eat-At-Bucaneros, while her date just sat there silently. It's like he wasn't even there!! We saw her walking alone the next day. No big surprise. Monday Morning, and it was time to get up and do something and to beautify ourselves! Tio Bobby gave us both haircuts after breakfast and then we hopped on a golf cart, our beautiful golden locks flowing in the breeze and took off in search of adventure. Or at least in search of fun. Huevos Montulenos and a Haircut...two pesos Our mission? To deliver cookbooks. We ended up on Daniel's front porch and since no one answered the door, we just yelled for him. Luckily none of his neighbors called the police. We crossed the street to pay a visit to La Gloria English School just as Tim and Vee pulled up. Marbella was there and we visited with her for a bit, then headed South (Because no visit to Isla is complete without a trip down South) to visit with Carmita and Jim and to drop off Carmita's cookbook. Guadalupana La Gloria English School Vee, Me and Marbella Jim and Carmita (The Queen of Isla) greeted us with hugs and a cold drink. We sat out on their deck and enjoyed their incredible view and fun conversation. Next stop? Tim's Birthday Lunch at Playa Lancheros! Carmita We feasted on Tix n Xic and drank Mojitos and had a fantastic time. We watched the 'Cancun Cattle' come and go, with thier cool neon wristbands and their big boats. Playa Lancheros is still a lovely place to lunch and we recalled many years ago when the Cuban Stand there made the best Mojitos that I've ever tasted. Unfortunately, it blew away in Hurricane Wilma. They have recently redone the bathrooms there, and they are really nice. Hanging out with Tim and Vee was such a treat, they are so sweet and so much fun. Very interesting and intelligent and we just love 'em. Cancun Cattle Tim plays the fish bones like a harmonica Gerald and I moved over to Playa Media Luna later that afternoon, as it was time for Steve to kick us out and leave town. We lazed around the pool and I searched the beach for sea glass. We had a delicious dinner that night at Comono (It was full of those 'non tipping' Israelis!!! LOL) I just love Comono. The owners, Chen and Lee are so nice and adorable (can't wait to see how beautiful their baby, which is on the way, will be), the staff is friendly and the food is fabulous. Hotties - Gerald and Lee Fed some Hidalgo kitties and headed back to Media Luna and fell into a blissful sleep to the sound of the crashing waves.

Isla~September 2010: Soothing the Soul at Sirena

2010-12-26T09:43:00.008-06:00

Another glorious morning (of sleeping in - sunrise photos courtesy of Mr. Wonderful) and my favorite Casa Sirena breakfast (drum roll, please) Huevos Divorciados. Yep, divorced eggs. Deee-licious. After breakfast we wandered around the island and over to Posada del Mar to hang out with Tim and Vee at the pool. We had a wonderful and relaxing time and laughed at a couple of little kids, especially one little exhibitionist who was all of maybe three years old. New sculpture of La Triguena at the Malecon. I love it!!! Yummiest Catch We found Big Jim at Sancocho's (surprise) on the way back home and enjoyed his company and a beer. Chili Loco had recently closed up and they were selling off the plates and glassware. A sad sight. Sleepy Princess must wake up to go to Happy Hour Back at Casa Sirena we succumbed to a nap and then we were ready for another fun Happy Hour with Tim and Vee, Zina, Tio Bobby, Josh and Emily and of course our host with the most, Mr. Steve Broin. Anniversary gift from Steve Gerald and I had a very late supper at Ballyhoo, which is one of my favorite places to eat on the island. I had their incredible Fish Tacos and OH the green sauce and the tamarind sauce. Gerald wisely chose the Fish and Chips. Out of this world. It was a very quiet and relaxing dinner and we listened to Fleetwood Mac and the sound of the ocean, then wandered back to Casa Sirena and off to Dreamland. Another lazy and fantastic day! Let me take a moment here to count the ways I love Casa Sirena. Not only is it beautiful, conveniently located, and fabulously comfortable, it is also an amazing value - breakfast and happy hour are included! The breakfasts are HUGE and absolutely delicious and you don't even need lunch (just a little snacky). The sunset roof top happy hours are so much fun and we've met so many interesting people there. The name 'Sunset for the Funset' truly applies. The attention to detail is astounding. Comfy robes, handmade soaps, sanitizing gel, candles, and a moist cool washcloth upon arrival will spoil you. Services such as golf cart delivery, laundry service and massage services are available and can be arranged for you. You will want for nothing, as rooms include hair dryers, iron and ironing board, beach towels and a mini frig. All of this...and Steve, too! Steve is the perfect host and a good friend and you will be forever grateful that you have chosen to stay at his home. http://www.sirena.com.mx/ And, in case you're wondering...this trip report DOESN'T GET ANY MORE EXCITING THAN THIS!! This was the most lazy, relaxing, spoiled vacation of my life and I enjoyed every minute of it. I was recharging and doing exactly as I pleased, which was pretty much nothing. Steve!

Isla- Sept 2010 - Begin the Beguine

2010-12-21T18:44:00.016-06:00

Twas four days before Christmas and all 'round the net, folks yelled 'POST YOUR TRIP REPORT BEFORE YOU FORGET!' Okay, someone once told me (Hi Nancy) that I couldn't go on another trip to Isla until I'd done a trip report from the last one. Wise words. So grab a glass of wine and let's head South of the border! Our trip began with an extended stay at DFW Airport. We boarded our plane, only to be kicked off due to an A/C problem. (Can't we just open a window and go already??). Our estimated two hour delay turned into a five hour delay, but we amused ourselves with $3 Mimosas and made new friends at the bar. I used our $20 in lunch vouchers to buy everyone ice cream sundaes, so it was really pretty fun, all things considered. I figure if you're gonna be stuck somewhere, you might as well have fun. Apparantly not everyone shares this view. Finally we took off, arrived in Cancun and whizzed seamlessly through immigration and customs. I was a little weirded out about being stopped in customs with about 20 cookbooks, but they let me through. Yay! USA transfers had been tracking our flight and were ready for us. We watched the sunset from the van as we drove through Cancun. Not ideal, but could be much, much worse. The ferry is pretty at night. We sat atop and watched the ocean go by, all lit up by the blue ferry lights and saw our beloved island come into view and the stars come out to play. We arrived at Casa Sirena in time for happy hour. God Bless Steve!! Tio Bobby was there and a lovely couple who I believe were newlyweds, Lars and Christina. A margarita has never tasted so good. Gerald and I enjoyed a very late supper at Brisas and it was a beautiful quiet night. I enjoyed shrimp tacos and another margarita and Gerald feasted on blackened grouper and drank a rum and Coke. It hit the spot and we really liked the habenero oil that was offered on the table. It was a delicious blend of oil, habenero, garlic, onion and spices. Sorry a couple of these pics are really out of focus. It was very late by the time we finished dinner and we strolled slowly back to Casa Sirena. A breeze blew through the empty streets. It was like a ghost town. So quiet and serene. Off to bed. Buenos Noches! Friday was a beautiful day to sleep in while Gerald rummaged around. I was so happy to be on Isla after such a busy summer. I had just mailed out about a hundred cookbooks and Chloe had been in two plays back to back, so I was tired. And I mean like I've never been tired before. I was exhausted. Being at Casa Sirena was so peaceful, so comfortable and I was incredibly happy. Breakfast was delicious Chicken Enchiladas, a lush plate of fresh fruit, coffee and fresh squeezed juice. It was cool on the patio and we leisurely dined and chatted with Steve and Tio Bobby. After breakfast we ran around the island for a while, went to the beach and went hunting for sea glass at Playa Media Luna (there was a man in business attire sitting on a big chunk of concrete on his cell phone. Nice place to spend your lunch break!) and then over to Qubano to visit with Vivian and refresh with some of her wonderful Watermelon water. After a grocery store run, we hung out on our beautiful Casa Sirena balcony and then, in a sudden but short lived burst of energy, managed to make it up to the rooftop where we lounged the rest of the afternoon away. We were all set with Habenero potato chips, drinks, a plunge pool, lounge chairs and I was reading a new Alice Hoffman book - The Story Sisters (which I really enjoyed). All was right with the world as we relaxed in our own private heaven four floors above the world. There was nothing in my life that demanded to be cleaned, cooked, driven anywhere, processed or answered. Ahhh.... That evening Tim and Vee joined us at Casa Sirena for happy hour. It was so great to finally meet them, as Vee and I have been friends on the internet for years. They were so much fun! Vee and I were like long lost sisters. Tim and Gerald hit it off, too with their quirky senses of humor and the fact that they are both musicians. We were lucky enough to have Zina join us, as well and another cute couple, Josh and Emily. We all dined at Brisas (two nights in a row and no complaints from me). I ordered Tequila Shrimp, which was delicious and we dined, laughed, drank wine and basked in the glow of the beginning of our vacation and wonderful friends with our feet in the sand. A Blue Seahorse talking to a Pink Bunny Tequila Shrimp at Brisas Huge Plate O Fish! Josh and Emily Tio Bobby and Lars Zina is serenaded

You and Your Paycheck

2010-12-21T12:32:00.004-06:00

This is a public service announcement because I pay people for a living and it ain't always fun! Things you should know: 1) Death and Taxes - you know the saying...you can't get around 'em. No, I cannot pay your employees some mythical tax free bonus. Think for a minute...if I could do that, then EVERYONE would want to get paid that way ALL THE TIME. Right? 2) SUTA and FUTA are taxes. They are not Buddha's brothers. 3) I do not care how many allowances you claim on your W4. That's between you and the IRS. But if you claim 'EXEMPT', I will explain that to you. You won't like it, it's not good. Don't do it. In April you will call me and yell at me because I didn't take any taxes out of your check and you will want me to 'go back and fix that'. Now, Honey, if I had a time machine do you think I'd be sitting here? 4) Another note on that W4. You can't put a negative number in box #6 and get that amount added back into your check as a 'negative tax amount'. Nice try, tho. I like your style. 5) Yes, I'm brilliant, but I don't read minds. So, if you change your bank account, I don't magically know. Sorry. 6) I don't get to keep your tax deductions, insurance deductions or child support deductions. Again..would I be sitting here? And while we're talking about child support, when you call me and pretend you have no idea that you have a child, I don't believe you. I do, however say a prayer that you will never reproduce again. 7) I cannot make your check out to 'T-dog' if your name is Harold on your Social Security Card. Sorry, T-dog. 8) I've heard it all before. 9) Your Mexican Voter ID is not sufficient documentation to prove that you are an American citizen on your I9 form. I know...picky, picky. 10) Why have checked the 'Married' box and then listed your girlfriend as your emergency contact? Wait...I don't wanna know. 11) And about those Emergency Contacts? "John" with no phone number is not sufficient and '911' is funny, but this isn't a quiz.

Delusions of Sugar Plums Dance in My Head

2010-12-01T09:13:00.005-06:00

I'm uncertain what it is about this time of year, but I always get delusional somewhere shortly after Thanksgiving. Maybe it's the beautiful Christmas displays in shop windows, maybe it's an overload of sugar lingering in my veins from the Pumpkin pie or maybe it's simply the arrival of cold weather that has frozen my brain. Whatever it is, it settles on me like an overnight dusting of Texas snow...it's CHRISTMAS DELUSION SYNDROME. I imagine myself about a week prior to the Christmas holiday, lounging on the couch in my black silk robe, sipping a cup of Kahlua spiked hot chocolate and admiring the festive surroundings of my holiday decorated (and clean) home while Christmas Carols play softly on the surround sound system. A fire is ablaze in the fireplace, the gifts are not only wrapped and under the tree, but properly tagged and within my set budget. I am leisurely leafing through a cookbook, deciding on what to lovingly create for the holiday meal. And even as I write this, I know it's insane. Oh, trust me...I know. But let me have my delusional perfection (did I mention that I look extremely thin and young as I am lounging on that couch?) because that dream? Probably not going to happen.

Secrets of Men at the Grocery Store-Revealed

2010-11-16T15:16:00.005-06:00

As far as I can tell, men at the grocery store can basically be divided into three distinct categories. I have come to this conclusion because I spend an extraordinary amount of time there, let me tell you. All of the people at my local store know me, partly because my son works there and partly because they think I live back in a corner of the stockroom. Actually it may have been that big grape juice spill on aisle 10, but I digress. 1) Errand Boy for the Mrs. These men can easily be spotted by the cell phone glued to their ear and a wildy overwhelmed look in their eye. They have ventured into a strange land and are afraid to bring back the wrong thing. I've even seen one on the phone at the check out asking "Honey, paper or plastic?". I would categorize these men as more 'hunters' than 'gatherers'. 2) Lost Boys - These guys are lost, too, but instead of calling home, they ask random women at the store for directions. I have learned a lot about how people view me from these men and obviously, I look like a woman who knows where the Velveeta motherlode is kept. I've also been asked how to cook things and 'my wife sent me to get X, is this it?'. Being a good sport as well as a Grocery Goddess (Hell, I live there!), I always help them out. Kudos to them for asking directions. I know it's hard. 3. Man About Town - This man not only knows his way around the grocery store, but you can tell by the contents of his cart that he's got moves that put my cooking skills to shame. This, my Dear, is the man that you dream will say, "I would love to cook for you". The downside? He usually has another guy with him. BONUS GROCERY GUY: 'Mr. Friday Night' - He's a bonus category because he's like a super shopper special - only available for a limited time. I very rarely go to the store on Friday nights, but have had occasion to run by and pick up a few things. And I do mean 'pick up'. I had no idea, but apparantly (in my area) Friday night is Singles Night!! They're everywhere - nice looking men with shopping carts full of beer and frozen pizzas and that 'how YOU doin' look in their eyes. I counted once and had five guys said 'hello' to me. So, all you single ladies out there...now you know where they are. Get thee to a grocery store on a Friday evening! Since I'm happily married, I figured I'd pass this info on because I'm nice like that.

That's Italian!!

2010-10-23T17:13:00.015-05:00

I'm not Italian and I don't even play one on tv, but I love Italian food. We often eat at a wonderful locally owned Italian restaurant, owned by a Kurdish family, so I don't cook as much Italian as I should. The basil in the backyard was once again begging to be harvested and I have a really good bottle of red wine that some friends gifted me, so I was inspired. By my herb garden and a bottle of wine. And THAT is what make me a real chef. (Yes, I know that I am farrrr from a chef, much less a real one AND my herb 'garden' is just really pots of herbs, but play along, please). So, today I made Roasted Garlic, Marinara Sauce and Pesto. I have previously posted the recipe for the Pesto, so let's get to the others. ROASTED GARLIC This is amazingly easy and delicious (my fave two things). All you need is heads of garlic and olive oil. Cut the tops off of the garlic and peel away most of the papery skin. Make sure you cut enough off the top so that the individual garlic cloves are exposed. Place each garlic head in the cup of a muffin tin and drizzle with a couple of tablespoons Olive Oil per head of garlic. Pour it on slowly so that it gets all down in between. Cover with foil and bake at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes. Let cool. Pop the cloves of garlic out. Mash and spread on bread or mash with butter and a little parsley and make Roasted Garlic Butter. Mix with sour cream as a topping for baked potatoes or use in pasta sauce. Delish! Jana's Marinara Sauce This sauce has a lovely consistency and is very inexpensive to make. This recipe makes about three dinners worth of sauce and freezes well. It tastes MUCH better and is cheaper than storebought. 3- 28 oz cans of Crushed Tomatoes 3- 6 oz cans of Tomato Paste 1/2 cup chopped fresh Parsley 3 teaspoons Salt (or to taste) 1 teaspoon Black Pepper 1 White Onion finely chopped 3 teaspoons Oregano 1/4 cup Olive Oil 1 cup White Wine 4 - 6 cloves minced Garlic (depending on how much Garlic you like. I like a lot) 1 Tablespoon Splenda 1 Bay Leaf 6 - 10 leaves of fresh Basil or 2 Tablespoons dried Basil In a small amount of Olive Oil, sautee the Garlic and Onion in a large pot until Onion turns translucent. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Let cool and store in the freezer in zip bags or Tupperware. I love to chiffonade Basil. First of all because it looks pretty, like green ribbons and secondly because it is a French word and it makes me feel all sexy. Here's how (this works with any leafy item, spinach, herbs, etc) Take about five leaves and stack them on top of each other. Now, roll the leaves up And slice ribbons! This is really a pretty garnish for Garlic bread or a Caprese Salad or anything Italian.

A Fabulous Adventure

2010-10-21T12:52:00.003-05:00

Want some good reading? Check out my friend, Margaret's blog. http://www.flitflitter.com/ In her own words: This blog is a collection of stories from my life as a nomad, flit flitting all over the world. For the past six years, I have been changing locations every two years. There’s no magic to that number; it’s just when I typically get the urge to pick up and see & do something new. Newspaper reporter in Virginia. English language teacher in Spain. Hotel manager in Mexico. I didn’t really start documenting any of it till my last stop in Mexico, though, which you can read about here, in the Notes series. Now I am back in the country and more on the move than ever as I try to visit as many Facebook friends as I can in a year, traveling throughout the U.S and Canada in my 1977 Toyota camper, Roxanne, with my dog, Rennie. It’s called The Facebook Project but that’s probably just a temporary name, and it started Aug. 16, 2010. If all goes well, it will end Aug. 16, 2011, and you will be able to follow my progress through my posts. If you want more background on the planning that preceded the actual journey, you might read Notes No. 65 and No. 76, as well as these pre-trip posts. I am hoping that by the end of it all, I have a more focused idea for a book but until then, I am just writing about my adventures as they happen and without much analysis. Feel free to comment as I go. Maybe together we can come up with a theme.
I find this experiment fascinating and enjoy 'going along' with Margaret to visit many out of the way places in her travels. She's witty, fun and an excellent writer and I think you'll enjoy her blog. I look forward to seeing Margaret when she travels through Texas! Rock on, Margaret! We miss you when we're on Isla!

Best Friend ~ Country Style!

2010-10-06T21:11:00.005-05:00

My friend, Dale, and I have so much fun together. We are both 'artsy' and like to create things and we've even done a couple of ill fated art shows together. (It wasn't OUR fault that it rained/the temperature dropped 50 degrees/people didn't 'get' our art). We hang out at the pool in the summer and pretend to be on a tropical isle. We go to Watter's Creek and shop, drink and dine while scattering glitter throughout. We get together with our families and have Saturday night dinners. We laugh a lot. One of the weirdest things we do is talk 'country style'. You know, like hillbillies (which comes frighteningly natural to us both). She and her daughter and her sister started it and for some reason it really amuses us. So, you can imagine how excited I was last weekend when Dale presented me with the 'Best Country Style Friend' award. I should have had an acceptance speech ready, oh, I know I should've. But all I could do is laugh. And drink more moonshine. Love you, Dale (Country Style)!!!!!

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do?

2010-09-28T12:50:00.007-05:00

They say that breaking up is hard to do. I disagree. Don't worry!!! I'm not talking about Mr. Wonderful! I'm talking about my acrylic nails. I was tired of them and I dumped them. 'Jana...why?', you ask. 'Don't you want to look well groomed and polished and well...isn't it the law in Texas, along with big hair?' Well, yes and no. Let me explain. I found someone new (or something). That better fits my needs. It's a nail polish that is like gel nails. There is no dremmel tool or filing of your natural nails at all. It's just brushed on in coats, like regular polish, but in between coats your hands go into the little blue light box that sets the gel. What you get is a very tough, durable coat of polish on your natural nails that won't chip. It has to be redone every 2-3 weeks (I'm betting I can go 3) and the nail salon has to use some sort of special remover to take it off, but there's no committment, no drilling. YAY!!!! My old nail salon didn't offer this, so I switched salons and I'm very happy. My nails look fabulous! And they are strong. Even after removing the acrylic nails, which you probably know, leaves your nails paper thin, my nails feel stronger than normal people's nails. And the cost is about the same as it is for acrylics. AND you actually get the nice relaxing manicure, with massage and all instead of the drill! It comes in all different colors - naturals, reds, pinks, darks...it's OPI! Here's a link for further research: http://www.opi.com/ choose 'hands/feet' on the tabs and drop down to 'Axxium' ** UPDATE: One week later, my nails still look fabulous! (And I've been making jewelry and painting shrines!) They haven't chipped or broken and I'm going to have to file them off a little because they are getting too long!!

Isla Mujeres- July 2010

2010-09-26T09:13:00.020-05:00

As someone pointed out, I can't start the trip report from my September Isla trip until I finish the one from my July trip. A tough problem to have, for sure. I am only one big lotto win away from having this be the biggest problem in my life. :) I didn't journal during the July trip, so I am going to do the rest in pictures! I knew you'd like that anyway...so grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and let's go. This is the little kitty, who we call Luna, that lives at Hotel Playa Media Luna. She's very sweet and always hungry. There are always lots of hungry little souls to feed on the island. I can't stand to see hungry animals, so yes, I carry around cat food and feed them. These little cuties live down the street by Ixchel Condos. Chloe and I took a walking trip around downtown and visited the cemetary. Always a good place for pics. I love all of the pretty tombs there. They are all so creative and expressive. This one had a bag of white powder on it. No clue... Walking on the beach at Media Luna, looking for sea glass and shells. Chloe and I had fun playing together in the pool Nothing like an afternoon siesta after a couple of cervesas Golf Cart Day! Jack was fearful, but we only let Chloe drive on the driveway. (I'm an excellent driver) This is what we call a 'Mexican Mankini'. It's cheap air conditioning on-the-go and apparantly is quite cooling as you see a lot of it on the island. This gum dispenser looks like a lottery ticket dispenser. Lottogum? I like that idea. Beautiful vistas of Punta Sur We had a lovely lunch at Cafe Mango with Nelsy and her family. The food was delicious and the company was good. Even with the language barrier, we have fun and laugh a lot. One of the things I love about Nelsy and her family is their sense of humor. It's a little weird, just like ours. It was funny to see Nelsy give Jack a hug because of their height difference. Nelsy is a very talented jewelry artist and made some gorgeous jewelry as gifts for me and Chloe. I treasure these pieces and we get tons of compliments on them. Back to the pool for some cool! Jack enjoying the sea Chloe and I make a short trip over to Hortensia's to pick up some new dresses that she made for us. Hortensia's beautiful granddaughter is taking her afternoon nap. Lunch at Qubano!!! It was Jack and Chloe's first time there and they loved the food and loved Vivian, as well. They have excellent taste! Vegetarian sandwich - grilled eggplant, spinach, zuchini, onions, sun dried tomatoes, lettuce and goat cheese on yummy garlic bread. Chloe dives into her Cuban Sandwich, while Gerald poses Jack can't stop eating, but gives it a big thumbs up And the rain rain rain came down down down. A lovely day to lay in a hammock and read. The rain let up enough to wander into town for dinner later at Comono. Well...it was only sprinkling by that time. It started raining again after we got there, so we just made a nice long evening of it, and relaxed in the comfort of Comono, taking silly pics, eating, drinking and enjoying our time together. Greek Style Fish was delicious This is their Kabobs. Ground seasoned little meat patties that are wonderful! Two little babies found at 'Kitty Corner' on the North end of Hidalgo kind of across from Fredy's in the empty lot. Always lots of friends to feed there! Beach time The kids LOVE to hang out in the water and play in the small waves. The did that for hours, only coming out when they wanted to go over to Buho's for eats and drinks. It was fun for them to get to play together, since they don't usually do that because of their age difference (18 and 13). Mmmmhmmmm. Mr. Wonderful One of my fave things in life is to go to the beach and then go to Qubano for lunch. The kids had stuffed themselves full of french fries and stuff and Buho's, so they opted to go back to the pool and hang out, leaving Gerald and I on a 'lunch date'. The Vivian Salad: Fresh lettuce, tomato, avocado, radishes, chick peas, carrots and jicama, all in a light dressing with goat cheese medallions on top. This salad is amazingly both light and filling and one of my all time fave lunches. Oohhhh....Vivian's Goat Cheese stuffed burger with yucca fries. To die for! Look at that cheese oozing out.... We were lucky enough to be invited for Happy Hour at Casa Sirena and Chloe was especially thrilled because it is adults only. Steve told her that since she acts like a grown up, she could be treated like one. Chloe sipped her pineapple juice and the rest of us enjoyed a cocktail. Steve is the greatest and the kids just love him. They really enjoyed the beautiful views from the Casa Sirena Skybar! Jack and Chloe give the 5th floor Hammock deck thumbs up! We met up with Becky and Craig down at Deep Blue Condos and hung out until Bob and Catz arrived on the island. Becky had made some chips and salsa and my poor starving children scarfed that down. The condo was really pretty and the pool on the roof was cool and had an excellent view. Becky let Chloe use her laptop, so Chloe could get a Facebook fix! Bob and Catz arrived and we all headed over to Baseball Tacos for a late supper. Strike a pose...work it! This was the sweetest little dog and I wanted to take her home, but instead I bought her some tacos for dinner. Okay...I paid a tab so she could have tacos for several days. If you look really close at my forehead, you can see the word 'SUCKER'. Dogs and cats can see it even better. But look at that sweet little face. She was so incredibly skinny and had sad eyes. Our last day...it rained some more that morning as we packed up. We had some time to kill before catching the ferry, so we grabbed our bags and camped out at Ballyhoo. Leaving Isla is much easier with the help of Ballyhoo margaritas to dull the pain.

Fall - Don't be sucked in. It's only a gateway to Winter

2010-09-24T11:55:00.008-05:00

I used to really like Fall when I was a kid. The smell of new spirals, Halloween, crisp air and a new school year full of new possibilities (the possibility of new cute boys in my class?) Mind you, I said 'like', not 'love'. The main problem with Fall is that it is followed closely by winter. If you look up 'Fall' in the dictionary, you will see these definitions, among others: 'To become lower in degree or level' 'To drop down wounded or dead' These things are not good. The longer I am here on earth, the more I love summer and warmth rather than winter. The only good things about Winter, as far as I'm concerned are as follows: 1) Boots 2) Christmas (annual 'Bitchmas' party included) 3) GIRL TRIP 4) Romantic fireside picnics in the living room 5) My slow cooker Really...that's all I can think of. Thankfully, I live in an area that sees warm weather until Thanksgiving, so my suffering is not long. But, I am always sad to see the Fall decorations and pumpkins out at the store because that means the official end of Summer. And I am most definitely a Summer Girl.

Ixchel's Kitchen Cookbook

2010-08-13T12:33:00.011-05:00

COOKBOOKS ARE SOLD OUT!!!! Big hugs to everyone who purchased, printed, encouraged, pimped and contributed! I am now going on vaycay and will announce final totals when I return. XOXO Jana email me with any questions elvisrsb@tx.rr.com Over a hundred recipes from favorite Isla Mujeres establishments (Casa Sirena, La Bruja, Comono, Villa la Bella, Qubano, Olivia), residents of the island and fellow Islaholics. Recreate mouthwatering memories of your travels to Isla Mujeres, such as Cochinita Pibil, Ceviche, Chiles Rellenos, Tequila Shrimp, and Pepitos. Explore some new recipes, as well, such as Margarita Ice Cream, Mojito Body Scrub, and Cuban Picadillo. Plenty of delicious drink recipes are included and suggestions on how to throw a fabulous Isla Party (hey, you've got to do what you can when you can't get to the island, right?). Learn the difference between Tequila and Mezcal, perfect the art of creating beautiful Mexican paper flowers, become a salsa gourmet chef. With all of this newfound knowledge, you may well become the most interesting man (or woman) in the world! All the while (get this...you'll love it!) supporting La Gloria English School! That's right, you get a beautiful Isla Mujeres recipe book and an excuse to cook to your little heart's content AND be a hero. I know...I love you, too. And all of this for the low, low price of $30.00 US (includes shipping and packaging) ******The books will be shipped 'Media Mail' which is not fast, but it's cheap and that means more of your money goes to the school. We really have NO other overhead than shipping, the printing was entirely donated (thank you Jim and Kaye Vivian. YOU ROCK) so please be patient. I am a one woman tornado of an operation but there is only so much I can do at once. Thank you!!!**********

Straight Jacket Required

2010-07-31T13:49:00.007-05:00

I've always been pretty laid back (except for those couple of days a month when I'm licensed to kill) but lately I've felt exceedingly bitchy, anxious, sad for no reason sometimes - and not in a good way. When I think of something I need to get done, I feel compelled to DO IT RIGHT NOW so that I don't forget and end up with a bunch of half finished projects in the works and then I get overwhelmed. What is wrong with me? Am I going crazy? (she wondered....loudly, and how would I look in a straightjacket? Would I get to meet Mel Gibson if I were committed? Would I get some rest?) This morning I googled 'symptoms of menopause', and you guessed it-there was a picture of me! What's a nice girl like me doing in a place like this?!? Now if you're squeamish or would care to be able to honestly reply with "I seriously had no idea, Officer" at any point in the future, I would suggest you stop reading now and go on your merry little way. You've been warned. Here's what I found that pertained to me on a huge list: Irritability (ummm, yes. Much, mucho, grande. There are people tied up in my backyard and "I am in no mood!" is my mantra) Mood Swings, Sudden Tears (I often shower the tied up people with cupcakes and hugs) Crashing Fatigue (yes!) Anxiety, feeling ill at ease Feelings of dread, apprehension, doom Difficulty concentrating, disorientation, mental confusion Disturbing memory lapses (could be from drinking tho, JUST KIDDING!!!) Headaches Increase in allergies (my eyes are so swollen today that Chloe asked for a pedicure) Gastrointestinal issues, bloating - this one was actually good news, as I thought I was fat, but am pleased to know that I'm only bloated Problems sleeping (and weird doomlike dreams) Breast tenderness (I swear I thougth I was pregnant earlier this week) There were many symptoms that were on the list that I do not suffer from (knock on wood) and pray not to. I'll admit that I was always one to play the hormone card to my advantage. Male teachers and bosses (the smart ones, anyway) are easily put off with phrases like "I need to go home...it's a female thing". I used to claim "M"- which you guessed it, stood for Menstruation, as an excuse not to swim in Jr. High PE. My real excuse was that the Nazi issue swimwear and oil of a thousand teenagers floating on top of the pool was enough to make me hurl. My insurance paid for Endometrial Ablation a few years ago (and if you're female, look into that! Burn off your uterine lining and no more monthly visits from Aunt Flo. I had one tiny cramp after the out patient procedure and got to lay around and take Vicodin for three days, so it's a win/win thing). My point being (Difficulty concentrating, disorientation, mental confusion) that I don't think that I'm just making this up! I really thought that maybe I was starting to go a little crazy, but then I remembered that crazy people aren't usually as bitchy as I am. Or maybe it's just karma coming back to bite me in the ass for using hormones as an excuse all those years. I don't seem to be really crazy in a BAD way. It's more of a 'Hey-lets-drop-everything-and-go-to-Vegas' thing or 'Ice-cream-is-perfectly-acceptable-for-dinner' thing. So, there is an element of fun about some of it. I'm holding on and keeping all my arms and legs safely inside the car for a ride that's sure to be fun. To add to the adventure, it looks like my daughter and I will be headed in opposite directions through the same land at the same time. Let's meet for lunch. If we could harness that power, however, I believe we could take over the world and I've started shopping for an Evil Lair. This one might work well when the hot flashes come.

Making Pesto!

2010-07-25T18:24:00.010-05:00

The abundance of basil growing in the backyard was screaming to be made in to pesto, and well...the screaming got old, so I gave in. It was really easy and delicious. Step 1: Hire some migrant workers for the harvest (Toni and Pam happened to be here for the weekend) Step 2: Wash the leaves and put in a food processor 2 cups packed basil leaves 1 Tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp Splenda 1/4 c toasted pine nuts 1/3 cup Extra Virgin olive oil 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (yes real cheese, not the crap in the green can) heaping Tbsp of minced garlic (or 3 -4 cloves) dash of sea salt (to taste) Toast the pine nuts in a skillet over medium heat I know you're swooning over that pink measuring cup, circa 1986 Inspired by yesterday's pizza at Grimaldi's, I made Pasta with Pesto, Artichoke Hearts and Grilled Chicken. Yum! Chloe and Jordan helped and cleaned up.