Key Fobs

Betty gave me one of these for Christmas and I love it already! I didn't realize how many times a day I refuse to make a second trip from the car and go into the house, keys in hand, arms full, dropping stuff. This key fob allows you to slip your keys over your wrist for such occasions and set your hands free for Target bags. In a way, it reminds me of those cheap ones from the 80's. The key to the 4th Floor Capitol women's bathroom has a purple one of those on it. But these are much nicer and you can get your name on it! And who, this side of the Mason-Dixon, doesn't love a monogram on polka dots? I am also quite anal retentive/obsession compulsive about key rings. I think a key ring can speak volumes about your personality. But I must admit that my deliberately streamlined key chain, often gets lost in the bottom of my bag. Now this helps me find them. I recommend them and if you want one, Betty can hook you up. Just let me know. Oh, and if you are like my sister, I recommend skipping the monogram and just adding your phone number in case your keys are ever lost. And if you just want one of these, I think there may be a stash someone on the 4th Floor of the State Capitol.

Socks

I am typically not a fan of socks. I don't know if it is the childhood memory of watching the neighbors chase firetrucks down the street in their sock feet or just my absolute love of going barefoot, but I never dreamed socks would make a favorite things list of mine. Old Navy sells these for $2.50. They may lose their soft, cozy, comfort over many washes and I am sure when Spring comes they will remained balled up in the bottom of my drawer, but I have had this pair on for the past 3 days. Yep. In a row. Under tall boots. Skidding around wood floors in my house. They're that cozy.

Music

If you get my Christmas Album from 2010 Jonsi is song #13. The song for 2011. This music will serenade me into the coming year. Praying it means a plane ride to Iceland with this in my ears as I land. With God all things are possible and the journey is exciting. But for now, he serenades me at my desk while I eat lefotvers from a Stryofoam plate with a gently used plastic fork waiting for the 4:30 bell to strike...daydreaming.

about go http://jonsi.com/go (click here to play full length songs from the entire album)

go contains nine songs amassed from the large pool of songs written by jónsi during his many years with sigur rós. the album is sung in english and icelandic, and was co-produced by jónsi, his partner alex somers and peter katis (the national, interpol).
when he began working on go, jónsi initially thought he would be making a low-key, acoustic album until, as he says, “somewhere along the line, it just sort of exploded.” that explosion resulted in sheer aural fireworks. not a straight ahead pop record, nor rock, folk, ambient or electronic, it encompasses all of these to create an expansive musical palette that’s been brought to life by jónsi alongside a number of free-spirited collaborators.
chief among these is nico muhly, the philip glass protégé who is renowned for his work with björk, antony & the johnsons, bonnie “prince” billy and grizzly bear. muhly has arranged all the songs on go, bringing strings, brass and woodwind to dance playfully alongside his offbeat piano playing. add into the mix the percussive genius of samuli kosminen, whose original drumming powers many of the songs along, and you have a sonic landscape that bears little relation to anything else around today, yet explodes from the speakers with sheer happiness and wonder, wide-eyed and eager to be heard.

Laptop Case

I have been wanting one of these for a long time. The hardback case keeps your computer safe from scratches and being crushed. And passersby will think it's a dirty ole book and not try to swipe it. I have been living in the ATL too long because I think in ways to protect yourself against theft. Yet, it is incredibly stylish too. They make them for iPads if you have one of those. They are $80 but www.horchow.com has them 30% off today with free shipping. I like these better than the Speck (http://www.speckproducts.com/) brand see thru cases that retail for $50 and they serve the same purpose, and for a little more you get that anti-theft measure and you get to look smart. Cases made by www.twelvesouth.com

Corduroy

j.crew toothpick cord. soft. forgiving. can be worn with tall boots. or ballet flats. comfortable.

don't you dare pay $79.50! order them online at the factory store on the weekends or get last seasons style at their site. or go to the outlet mall they are at least half price there at all times.

www.jcrew.com

Audio Books

Although this site really needs updating, the content it offers is worth enduring the very antiquated site. Librivox offers audio and text versions of all the classics and pretty much anything written over 100 years ago and not subject to copyright laws. You can find C.S. Lewis, H.G. Wells, Stephen Crane, Mark Twain ,the Bronte sisters and all the great poets and so much more. You can also volunteer to be a reader. I want to do that, but all the instructions are incredibly confusing- Boards to make posts and replies and saving files in a certain format and I am thoroughly confused. But oh what fun that would be! I have always wanted to be a book reader. I loved it when Librarian Harriett Brown would read to us as Hartwell Elementary School students. Stuart Little came alive and scurried across the large carpet among us. I think my Southern accent could fit nicely with a great Classic. But I can't read Snow White because I can't say the word, "mirror". It always comes out "mirrow" instead of "mirra" or "mirrrrrer". Which one is it? But if I ever figure out their system and I ever record a book I will let you know and even if the word mirror is in there, I will practice. In the meantime, check them out on iTunes as well. And if you have time to decipher the intricacies of how to record and book and save and send the files, let me know! Simon and Schuster might get wind of my reading, hire me and I can read books all day long!

http://librivox.org/

Stone Soup Kitchen

Jeremy Fare told me about this place. It is close to work. Nice restaurants close to the capitol are a big deal. Yet, over time, the rest of the capitol gang discovers it too and you can no longer go there and talk about work for fear of bashing the school superintendent for her close-mindedness for removing all references to evolution from curriculum, only to have her emerge from the booth behind you, giving you a cold hard stare and fake smile. I have not seen any suits here just yet. Just local Grant Park residents in need of a warm meal and great cup of coffee, kids in their PJ's and Patagonia, eating pancakes.

I like the fact that they have huge tables with outlets. You can go and perch and set up office and plug in and connect and work and sip coffee and have a delicious bowl of soup. I recommend going after the lunch rush, that way you can occupy a large table and not be taking up valuable space. They have vegan options on the menu and pretty sure breakfast is served all day. I like their Cuban Black Bean Soup. They serve Batdorf and Bronson coffee. They also have a little stash of yesterday's brownies and cookies for $1 at the front counter. If their stale cookies are good, I can pretty much guarantee the fresh ones are amazing.

http://www.stonesoupkitchen.net/

I didn't realize I was such a huge fan of cocoa butter. I generally am not a fan of lotion as I have explained before and there is just never enough time to put it on and I find it daunting. And messy. And greasy. Yet, hot baths and cold winters make some sort of moisture replacement a necessity. With this stuff a little goes a long, long way, but I like it. It is great for knees and ankles and elbows and in between. It would also make a great massage oil, if only...

Retail $5.00

They also have this now! Dying to try it! I use vaseline for eye makeup removal, up my nose in dry weather, on my lips mornings and nights, middle finger for lips, index for nose.

Retail $3.00

Body Wash

Back in July when I went to Fernandina with Angelique, the beach house had an outdoor shower. Don't all beach houses? With a Teak floor and walls and a small thin curtain protecting my bare flesh from whomever may be watching, I loved the outdoor shower. Hot sand encrusted skin, sea salt hair, all washed away by fresh H20 spilling from the tiny shower head. Someone had left this behind. It was hot from the sun. It smelled amazing and left me feeling clean and soft and smelling like butter cream with hints of cocoa and coconut. For a while I had trouble finding it at local Walgreen's, CVS, Target and the like, but have since noticed it on the shelves. It also comes in hand and body creams.Retail $7.99 Grab your loofah and enjoy. Inside or out.

Keyboard Protector

After hearing horror stories from so many friends who have spilled coffee across their laptops resulting in absolute ruin, I began to look into ways to protect her from me. This is certainly absolutely fool or klutz-proof, but it is something. It protects your keys and it lays in one solid piece across the keyboard which could also serve as a buffer from spills.

I got mine at www.ifuncity.com $8.49. Free shipping.

It is quite thin and doesn't interfere with typing and can quickly be removed if you are going to be working awhile and want to type without it. It comes in fun colors. I got the red one. It is a cheap investment that could save you thousands and just overall wear on your keys.

Sweet Potato Souffle' ala Christine Davis

Sweet Potato Souffle'
3c. cooked mashed potatoes
1 c. sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 c. milk
1/2 tsp salt
1 stick butter, melted
2 1/2 tsp vanilla
Combine all & put in casserole dish.
Topping:
1 c. nuts
1 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. flour
1/2 stick butter
mix all & sprinkle over potatoes.
Bake 350 until brown

Cranberry Sauce with a Kick

I made this for Thanksgiving. I waited too late to go to the grocery store and the Kroger on Howell Mill did not have a single solitary orange in the whole place. So I had to use juice instead of fresh squeezed and couldn't add zest. Despite that, I think it turned out okay. I liked having a hot version this year.

Tart cranberries and sweet orange pair beautifully with a little bit of jalapeno heat in this unique cranberry sauce recipe. This recipe can be prepared up to 4 days ahead of time. Refrigerate until use.

INGREDIENTS

12 ounces fresh cranberries

zest of 1 orange, finely grated

juice of 2 oranges

2 tablespoons tequila

1/2 cup sugar

1-2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely minced

INSTRUCTIONS

Makes about 1 1/2 Cups

Add enough water to the orange juice to make one cup of liquid.

Combine cranberries, orange zest, juice and water, tequila, and sugar in a large pot. Bring to a slow boil, stirring occasionally. When the cranberries begin to pop, add the chopped jalapeños and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. If the sauce seems a little thick, add a bit more water. Remove from heat, transfer to a bowl and chill.

Toothbrush

Yes, it is 2010 and No, I haven't had an electric toothbrush. Well, I did have those big battery powered kind that are real cheap. The Georgia Dentist Association gives us those at work. But they are big and heavy and you can't tell that much difference. It never made it from the desk drawer to my home. I was that unimpressed. Recently, for the first time since 1989, when my sister and I were living under the same roof, Carla and I were brushing our teeth side by side. She whipped out her electric rechargable Sonicare Flexcare toothbrush, and I, my buy one get one free FlexNeck Rubber Gripper Oral B. She looks at me and says, "I can't believe you still manually brush." I knew right then I must be missing out on something good. Within 48 hours I bought this:

Amazon sells it for around $50 and additional brush heads for around $10 each. This particular version has a 4.5 Star rating and over 500 reviews. I didn't compare it to the latest version, as I never considered it and refuse to pay $100 for a toothbrush. Be sure to select Amazon's "frustration-free" packaging. Otherwise, it comes sealed in that awful encasing that is impossible to penetrate and you have go find scissors and then you get impatient and reach in and try to pull it out and cut your knuckle on a sharp edge and don't realize it until you see blood on your white duvet cover where you go to sit crossed-legged while you open packages. I immediately threw away the little plastic stand for additional toothbrush heads. I won't be sharing my Sonicare with anyone and if a tooth brushing/sink sharing companion does come along, he can get his own.

The experience was riveting. Life changing. I cannot believe you manually brush.

Magazine

As posted before, I love this magazine. Tanga has it on sale today. The Coupon Code "FOOD" cuts the price to $5.99 for 8 Issues. (You can get an additional year at the same price). This is one I really read, use and keep and reference. www.tanga.com

Brunch

I cannot believe I am turning my back on Ria's Bluebird Cafe or even the American Roadhouse and going somewhere new for brunch, but I am. Betsy and I are going to try this place tomorrow. They claim to have this amazing vegetarian "pork" sandwich, but I am that much of a vegetarian that I don't like or want pork of any kind, even fake pork. So I don't know why I am trying it. I drove by it one Saturday morning and it was packed. I had not had breakfast and almost turned around and went back. For some reason it is beckoning me. Full review to come. I think I am going to get the omelet of the day and French toast. Yes, I already know today at 7:30 what I want tomorrow for brunch. I think I even have an outfit planned too.

http://www.homegrownga.com

UPDATE:

We went. At first it seemed very Hole-in-the-Wall. Kinda Jim's Grill Hartwell, GA Hole-in-the-Wall. But then I noticed Art on the Wall. For sale. I like places that display local art and offer artists a place to sell their stuff. Our waiter was young-ish and offered advice on what to get and I like that. Now that I am a waitress myself, I pay attention to things like this. I offer suggestions too. Because I am vegetarian I have not had over half the stuff on our menu, so I make stuff up. But I think this guy was the real deal. Betsy and I both got coffee, served in those diner type mugs with the little cups of half and half. I have had better coffee, but it was not horrible. We both got the omelet of the day, Arugula, Mushroom and something. Betsy got the cheese grits per the honest waiters suggestion and I got the French toast. Betsy said her grits were "to die for" and we both enjoyed our meal. What I loved even more was the price! $6. I think the coffee added another $2 to the bill, but we had like 3 cups each. Delicious brunch at a lovely price. Fun art and inspiring company. I will go back. And if you are looking for brunch or lunch and are near the Capitol, Braves Stadium, Oakland Cemetery or just lost on Memorial, you should go.

Chocolate

I have had German Ritter Sport Chocolate before and was not impressed. I really do not like milk chocolate. There is some Swiss Milk Chocolate out there that is without a doubt outstanding, but as a general rule, I am not a fan. But Dark Chocolate, I am a connoisseur. This Ritter Peppermint or "Pfferminz" has to be what Peppermint Patties taste like in Heaven. I have seen Ritter at Target, but not sure if they have this Peppermint kind, but within the next 24 hours I want to find out. If you see it, get it.

Furniture

I am completely in the wrong field of work. I seriously need to be in some sort of creative design career. If Interior Designers were not a dime a dozen I could be one. One of my 100 dreams is to decorate a whole house, a big, old, rambling one. I would put crazy loud expensive wallpaper in the foyer. I would go to flea markets and get rare finds and use antiques. I would take a trip to Southern France and buy Limoges and tapestries and I would love every minute of it. I would swing by Vietnam for fabric for silk curtains and bedding.

My old condo once was described as, "a page from a Pottery Barn catalogue" and that tore me apart. I wanted to stay away from typical design, mix all sorts of eras and fabrics and textures and not be oh so Ethan Allen Pottery Barn predictable. Boring. My current home is "Bungalow on a Budget" and is nothing like what I would really do if I had the money or the desire to invest my money in this little home. My ten year plan involves a lot of travel, and furniture is at the bottom of my needs list right now. Yet, I love to look, to dream, and still need functional spaces in my home. I needed a desk chair. I bought a lovely wicker bottom one at the antique auction but failed to sit in it before paying $14 for it and discovered it is rickety. I hit up Ballards. And so should you. Don't buy everything in the store. Do not buy their artwork. Although I love their vintage map of Africa and I think they are going to carry a new Penley line (great local Artist). I purchased my porch furniture cushions there, a few throw pillows and recently got this lovely dining chair for my desk. Retail $273. My price $65. Ballard Backroom is a full of wonder place for furniture, indoor and out.

Mother came along with me, won the best bargain and got this lovely upholstered bench in a pale sage velvet for less than $90. Retail $661.

And not long ago I got a hutch for the boys' room, still in the box for $20. No zeros at the end. Yes, $20. It retailed for over $400. New. In the Box! All wood. 3 drawers, two shelves, beadboard inside.

Disclaimer: Ballard Backroom is hit or miss. I used to get the name messed up and called it Ballard Backyard for years. There are two outlet locations in the Atlanta area. The Roswell location is much larger and has a wider selection of clearanced merchandise. www.ballarddesigns.com

Quinoa

Quinoa is gluten-free and contains a balanced set of essential amino acids and is therefore a unique complete protein among plants. And it is incredibly good. It is prepared the same as rice. 1 C. Quinoa to 2 C. Water. Boil. Cover. Simmer. 12-15 Minutes. Done. Fluff with a fork. Then I add things like this:

Then I pour on a simple oil and vinegar dressing. You can make a garlic dressing with one clove garlic and 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1/4 olive oil in a processor. I am a huge fan of Apple Cider Vinegar and EVOO sans the garlic. Be sure to drain those black beans and add lemon juice to your avocado. I think I must be of Mediterranean decent. I could eat like this all the time and never tire of some variety of this dish.