JUST BECAUSE I CAN!!!!

THANKSMAS? ????

The turkey is thawing in the fridge and the table is set with the Spode turkey plates for the annual family Thanksgiving. Lots of family and a few strays.On the menu is a hodge podge of traditional Thanksgiving fare with a little Lebanese, some Mexican  and a sprinkling of Rule Britannia. It's a toast to our combined heritage of Lebanese , Mexican and British.  It's the United Nations on crack. Nothing says Happy Thanksgiving better than one side of the family that came through Ellis Island, the British side that came as a war bride and the Mexican side that probably swam across the Rio Grande. Plus we'll be missing my brother and his family who live in the Ukraine. Told you. We are quite the international conglomeration.

But in spite of the pimped out heritage, we have pumpkins and turkeys, mums and golden hues of orange, gold , green and brown  Add to that some killer Bloody Mary's .We all agree that we are privileged to be Americans and we celebrate it like there's no tomorrow. No decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving on my watch !!!! Thanksgiving is too good of a holiday not to be celebrated on it's own merit. so why, why, do these people eat their pumpkin pie surrounded by angels and Santa's? That's just wrong.

I hate driving through neighborhoods where the homeowners are confused . Christmas and Thanksgiving decor come together like an unholy alliance. It's the mullet of seasons, Thanksgiving in the front and Christmas in the back.  Pumpkins on one porch and elves peaking down from the rooftop. a mishmash of Turkey Trot and Silent Night. WTF. I love Thanksgiving...no gifts, just food and companionship. So while I am throwing out my pumpkins tomorrow and you have already set up your Christmas table, you might be a little smug and I might just be a tiny bit jealous. But tonight I'm just ready for  Thanksgiving. No Christmas allowed!!!


Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

 

hristmas WreathsOur fun-to-make Christmas wreaths come in unexpected shapes, dazzling colors, and out-of-the-ordinary materials.

YOU KNOW YOU LOVE IT!!!

I know...I know. The crockpot always seems to please at this time of the year. The
first time I ever tried white chili I was enchanted. So here's a crock pot version
that will make you sooooo happy when you come home after a busy day. Break
out the wine , or better yet a Corona with lime and enjoy. This recipe is terrific and
comes from the blog Design Wine Dine.

White Chicken Chili

Ingredients

Chili:1 1/2 lbs uncooked chicken breast (can be frozen) cut into 1-2″ chunks
2 – 15 oz cans of white beans
1 – 15 oz can of white corn
1 onion chopped (sweet/Vidalia)
1 clove garlic finely chopped (I love garlic so I used 2)
1 package taco seasoning
1 – 7 oz can of chopped green chilies
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 – 14 oz can of chicken broth

Toppings:
1/2 cup sour cream (I used low fat)
2 tbls lime juice
Finely chopped cilantro
Fresh shredded cheese (I used Colby-Jack)
Corn tortilla chips (the authentic yellow kind)

Directions

Place cut up chicken in the bottom of the Crock Pot. Add beans, corn and onion. Mix the next five ingredients and pour over the top. Cover and cook on low in the Crock Pot for 8-10 hours. (I was running low on time so I cooked mine on low for about 4 1/2 hours and then raised it to high for the last two hours).

Before serving use a potato masher to break up the chicken. (Make sure you do this very quickly with pressure and alternating directions… the consistency should change from brothy with chunks of meat and beans to a very thick and even consistency. If it is still brothy, keep mashing).

Add shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, a splash of lime juice, cilantro and chips before serving. YUM!

* Yield: 6-8

THE DEMI DEBAUCHLE!!!!

Happy Birthday Demi. This has been a rough year for you, girl. Your marriage ended and you have the pain of seeing the ex with a hot young number in the tablouds every week. Well it goes to show....you can be as beautiful and talented as Demi Moore and you can still get dumped. Especially if your husband is just about the cutest thing on the planet and happens to be 34, which would be three years older than my oldest son. Seriously Demi. Is there any chance in hell that a 50 year old woman, albeit a gorgeous one, can keep the interest of a man-child . Or for that matter would want to?

I'm sure they thought they were soul mates, and all that business. But at the end of the day , she needs her beauty rest and he is ready to Par-tay. Imagine the peppiness you'd have to pour on everyday. It's exhausting to even think about it. You'd have to have be "on" twenty four seven, and for most of us there isn't enough vitamins, exercise or medication that can keep us at the pace of a thirty four year old.

Is it just me, or is a fabulous dinner and a couple of drinks enough. I've done my time dancing on tables and staying out late with pretty boys. Give me a guy with salt and pepper hair and a reasonable amount of perky where it counts and I'm pretty happy.  Here's a hint ladies . If he thinks Crosby, Stills and Nash is a law firm, then he's too young for you. If he was born after 1960, leave him alone. That's the best advice I can give. Otherwise you're on your own.

But if you disagree and it's worked out well for you, you have my admiration. Tell us your story about your May-December relationship. Dying to know. And as for you Demi, get over it. You have a lot more living to do. So do it already.

WHO ARE YOU, STEVIE NICKS????

 

What on earth are we thinking? Why do middle aged women feel compelled to look like gypsies/aging hippies/peasant women from the Middle Ages?. What could possibly compel us to wear long saggy, flowy clothes that look like we just hiked from Uzbekistan . Seriously, they are so ugly. They make us look out of touch and totally not worth listening to. No offense Stevie Nicks, I loved your style when you were in your twenties. You rocked. But somehow , some idiot designers re giving our age group a bad name with this refugee look.

Believe me you would never see Barbara Walters or Helen Mirren in these get ups. They have clothing that fits and looks nice. You may say, "but I'm heavy" ," I can't wear tailored things they make me look fat." Are you kidding me?  No one is in the slightest bit fooled by your shape when you're dressed like a sheep herder. You are what you are. Embrace it.

Get in touch with a good tailor, and try classic shapes. They never fail to flatter. Let's face it, you may not have the waistline you had at 19, but I bet your savvy and life experience more than makes up for it. Get a great haircut. Go for killer accessories and simple shapes. You've still got a lot of living to do lady. So go do it with a little dignity.

YUMMY FISH BOWL!!!

Just because it's fall doesn;t mean you have to ditch salds totally. I know that those
great summer veggies aren't always available now. But there are some things you
can always count on. This fish bowl is sort of like my fave bowl at Chipotle's
but with fish, which we all know we should eat more of.. Plus it looks pretty and
 colorful and it's really tasty and really good  for you So here it goes..
.thanks to Pinch of Yum.

FISH BOWL

1 T chili powder
1T cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3-4 tilapia filets
1-2 cloves of garlic
1 cup sweet corn
1 red onion diced
1 red pepper diced
1 can black beans (drained)
Cilantro
2 cupscooked  brown rice
have on hand: avocado
                       shredded cheese
                       cour cream

Mix spices together in a bowl and rub on both sides of fish. Add salt and pepper

In a nonstick skillet over medium heat drizzle in olive oil to covere. Add garlic . Saute
one to 2 mins. Add fish. Grill fish on each side until done. Add corn , pepper and onion until tender . add black beans.
Put in lettuce lined bowl and top with cheese , avocadoes, sour cream.
Easy and nutritious.

KNOCKERS UP

When I was a high school cheerleader, this was our pre-game chant. Not that we had to worry about gravity at that point in our lives. But ladies, now is the time to get your boobs in order. Nine out of ten women wear the wrong size bra. I thought I was pretty savvy, I was fitted last year and bought a boat load of new bras and quite honestly felt pretty smug about it. But , like most of us, the weight goes up...then down. This time I was fortunate to have lost a few and I notice the lingerie just wasn't fitting as well. So I went back...Low and behold I needed a new size. Really? Is this just a ploy to keep your local lingerie department financially robust?.

Apparently it wasn't , because I feel renewed and somehow perkier (if there is such a thing for out age group). So here are the tips. Go in try on a size..bend over at the waist and get all that breast tissue down in it. Then opposite hand to opposite breast lift your breast into position. Sounds pervy, but you want it to fit right , don't you? The straps should stay in place and the front should fit snug and the breastbone. Don't hesitate to ask for help. They are on your side. Your clothes will thank you.

Check out recent copy of FIRST magazine at your grocery store. It says it can help you look fifteen years younger with the right bra. What have you got to loose?.