Wolfie Weekend

Despite the nasty cold that refuses to leave my system, I forced myself out a bit this weekend in the name of wolfy fun.

Friday night Beren and I went to a new-to-us bar to see Grey Wolf, so glad that we made the effort as I so love this band! What a wonderful mix of music, from Elvis (my fave) to Jimmy Buffet..wow! They are definitely on my must-see Myspace calendar from now on.

Saturday my Sweetie drove me all the way to Naples for the Sacred Wolf event..sigh..though I didn't get nearly enough interaction with my wolves (plan for that later) as I needed, it was an amazing experience. I was able to sit next to my soul mate, holding his hand as we were led through a beautiful guided meditation..walked through the woods holding tiki torches, shivering slightly thanks to the unexpected cold front...warmed ourselves in front of a raging fire around a sacred circle that is apparently the focus of many pagan gatherings..drums thumping in the background..ah....just a lovely, dreamy, spirit-filled night.

Thank you, Beren, for making the drive, and for sharing the experience with me, for loving and supporting all the wild & wacky parts of me, for having fun in the most unexpected of ways! The fact that it was an anniversary-of-sorts for us..well, that makes it even more magical.

P.S. edited to add, Beren and I headed over to a local outdoor bar for the afternoon to hang with friends and listen to a band, walked up to the bar to find a huge wolf dog sitting there with his owner! Coincidence? A perfect ending to my lupus-themed weekend!

Peep Show

I'm not sure if Good Housekeeping airbrushes their models..grin...but there are some really cute Easter/Spring ideas in this month's issue.

These table decorations will be just perfect for our traditional Easter brunch!

On My Hearth: Roasted Sausages, Peppers and Potatoes

I'll be using turkey sausage for this dish to make it a bit more healthful.

Roasted Sausages, Peppers and Potatoes

COOKING TIME:
Active Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb Italian sausages
2 bell peppers, cut in 1-in. strips
1 bag (20 oz) red potato wedges
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp chopped garlic
1/4 tsp each salt and pepper
1/3 cup pitted Kalamata olives

Garnish: chopped parsley
PREPARATION

1. Position racks to divide oven into thirds. Heat oven to 500ºF. You’ll need 2 large rimmed baking sheets lined with foil (for easy cleanup).

2. Divide sausages, peppers and potatoes between pans; toss with oil, garlic, salt and pepper.

3. Roast 10 minutes. Toss; switch position of pans. Roast 10 more minutes until sausages are cooked.

4. Cut sausages into slices; toss with potatoes, peppers and olives. Sprinkle with parsley.

From Woman's Day April 1, 2008

Cloth vs Paper?

photo by Cotton Coulson

With Earth Day right around the corner I thought I'd share some green-living articles & tips that have impacted me. This first article from Care 2 debates the paper towel/napkin vs cloth issue. Here in the Castle we use mostly cloth napkins and dish towels/rags, rely on paper only when necessary and when more sanitary. (Pet "messes" come to mind). I buy the napkins at thrift stores so I have a nice array of styles & colors, keep them in a wicker basket on the kitchen counter right next to the dishes.
Cloth is so much nicer, makes even a simple meal seem more special!

How about you all?

Paper Towels and Napkins vs. Cloth


By Melissa Breyer, Senior Producer, Care2 Green Living

Have you ever wondered whether dishtowels are better for the environment than paper towels, or if cloth napkins are greener than paper napkins? Some argue that the energy used to make and repeatedly wash a dishtowel may exceed that used for the manufacture of a paper towel, and many argue the other way around. In the battle of paper towels and napkins versus cloth, here are the green, greener, and greenest options.

SIMPLE SOLUTION: I didn't always use paper towels, in fact for years I shunned them as a waste of natural resources as well as money. But then came the three dogs and two kids, and I suddenly couldn't live without a roll on the counter. Although I use unbleached, 100 percent recycled paper towels and I supplement with cloth napkins and dishtowels, it still seems like such a guilty convenience. I think I'm going to have to take Annie's lead here and transition to cloth, full time. You should see her giant kitchen drawer filled with cloth napkins—it is such a simple pleasure and so kind to the trees. But in the meantime, my curiosity inspired some investigation of the issue, and this is what I found.

So Not-Green, At All! Paper—Virgin Fiber, Chlorine Bleached
Virgin fiber is that which comes straight from a tree. Doesn't it seem a waste to use a tree for a single-use item? Well how's this: If every household in the United States replaced one roll of virgin-fiber paper towels with 100 percent recycled paper towels, we could save 1.4 million trees. If every household in the United States replaced just one package of virgin fiber napkins with 100 percent recycled ones, we could save 1 million trees. With those numbers in mind, using virgin fiber for single use items seems simply outrageous.

Next up, bleach. Gleaming, bright white paper towels and napkins don't get that way naturally. There are several methods of bleaching paper products, some far better than others. The one to avoid is Elemental Chlorine (chlorine gas). This is the worst of the bunch, and is responsible for the release of chlorinated compounds like dioxins and furans, which are powerful carcinogens and mutagens. These chemicals can adversely affect immune systems and reproductive systems and are dreadful for aquatic life and wildlife. Bad, bad, bad. Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) process may be okay—this method employs a chlorine derivative such as chlorine dioxide rather than chlorine gas, and is not the best choice, but is a cleaner process than the use of elemental chlorine.

Greenish: Paper—Partially Recycled, Alternative Bleaching
If you can't find paper products that are made of 100 percent recycled paper, look for ones with at least some recycled content. Also, steer away from products bleached with elemental chlorine and instead chose ones that use alternative bleaching. Process Chlorine Free (PCF) is a great choice, this process does not use not bleach with chlorine or its derivatives. Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) is the best choice—this is pulp that has never been bleached with chlorine or its derivatives.

Green: Paper—Totally Chlorine Free, 100 Percent Recycled
There are two types of materials used in recycled paper products: Post-consumer fiber and recovered fiber. Post-consumer fibers come from paper that has already been used by the consumer and sent to recycling. Recovered fiber is from paper waste leftover in manufacturing, such as trim, scraps, unused stock. When you are buying recycled paper products, strive for 100 percent recycled paper with a minimum of 90 percent post-consumer materials. The higher the post-consumer percentage, the more paper is being saved from hitting the landfill. Also look for Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) paper towels and napkins—these are brown, and a very pretty brown at that.

Greener: Cloth—Cotton
If you are hugely careless in your treatment of cloth napkins and dishtowels (like running a load of hot-water wash for a few barely-soiled napkins), paper can be the more eco-friendly option. But if you approach your cloth towels and napkins conscientiously, cloth is the greener option. Some say that washing cloth must be more energy-intensive than using paper, but electric dryers are actually twice as energy efficient as the manufacture of paper towels. When you factor in all of the components of making a paper towel or napkins (harvesting the material, processing and bleaching it, packaging it, shipping it, stocking it at a supermarket, transportation to and from the store to purchase it, etc). all for a single use, you find that the paper towels and napkins are about twice as energy-intensive and create more greenhouse gases overall. A cloth napkin or dishtowel may go through similar processes to get to your kitchen drawer, but it will stay there for many, many years, rather than being sent directly to the landfill.

Greenest: Cloth—Recycled and/or Hemp, Linen or Organic Cotton
Buy used cloth napkins and dishtowels. You can find lovely and fun ones at second hand stores, at flea markets and on eBay. You can make your own dishtowels by cutting up old sheets, towels, etc., and hemming the edges (same goes for napkins). If you are buying new dishtowels or napkins, remember that conventional cotton is a notoriously nasty crop in terms of pesticides, so aim to use organic cotton. Alternatively, choose hemp or linen which are more sustainable than conventional cotton. Follow the tips below for the greenest use of your cloth napkins and dishtowels.

Paper Towel and Napkin Green Tips

* Purchase paper towels made of 100 percent recycled materials.
* Look for paper products that contain a minimum of 90 percent post-consumer waste.
* Choose unbleached paper towels. If those are unavailable, opt for process chlorine free (PCF) next, or elemental chlorine free (ECF) as a last choice.
* Choose paper towels and napkins that have no added pigments, inks or dyes (say goodbye to that floral printed border).
* Select packaging with minimal environmental impact, such as that made of recycled and recyclable materials; imprinted with safe inks; and containing no toxic metals, dyes or inks.
* Seek items having the largest amount of product to minimize packaging, for example, high-capacity hardwound roll towels have 800 feet or more. Some brands are puffier and allow for fewer paper towels per roll or napkins per package.
* Avoid folded paper towels, it is too easy to use too many of them.
* Look for paper towels that are wound on a 100 percent recycled core.

Cloth Napkin and Dishtowel Green Tips

* Only wash when soiled. Most adults don't really dirty a napkin after every meal.
* Designate a place to store "in-use" napkins and use the same one until it is dirty.
* If you have a large family, designate a napkin ring for each member to identify their napkin between meals.
* Toss dirty napkins and dish towels in with other laundry.
* Use eco-friendly laundry detergent.
* Wash with cold water and line dry when weather permits.

On My Hearth: Pinto Bean Salad with Avocado, Tomatoes, Red Onion, and Cilantro

That Kalyn has done it again! Now that "winter" is past here in the tropics..groan...and we are back to 70 degree weather, I find myself craving salads & cool foods. The one fits perfectly into my newly-adopted WW CORE healthier-eating plan! (notice, I did not say the "D" word). Thank you, Kalyn!

Pinto Bean Salad with Avocado, Tomatoes, Red Onion, and Cilantro
(Makes 4 side-dish servings, recipe created by Kalyn)

1 can pinto beans, rinse and drain very well
4-5 tsp. white balsamic vinegar or champagne vinegar
1 avocado, diced into pieces 1/2 inch square
2 tsp. fresh lime juice
1 cup chopped tomatoes (cherry tomatoes cut in half would be great too, but I had medium tomatoes which I cut in eighths)
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro
1-2 T olive oil, or a bit more
fresh ground black pepper and sea salt to taste

Pour beans into a colander placed in the sink and rinse well until no more foam appears. Let beans drain well for at least 15 minutes. Then blot beans dry with paper towel, place in plastic bowl, and toss with white balsamic vinegar. Let beans marinate in the vinegar while you prep other ingredients.

Cut avocado into 1/2 inch pieces and place in small bowl. Toss with lime juice. Chop tomatoes, or if using cherry tomatoes, cut in half.

Chop red onion and cilantro. (I like to chop with a chef's knife, but you could use a mini-chopper or food processor for this.) Mix onions and cilantro into marinating beans. Then use a large spoon to gently fold in avocado and tomato. Drizzle olive oil over salad and season to taste with fresh ground black pepper and sea salt, and gently toss again. Serve immediately, at room temperature.

Variations: I think other varieties of beans would also be tasty in this combination. Tonight I'm making the salad for my dad and stepmother, and I'm using black beans because my dad loves them.

A Real Woman?

Though I used to be a pretty big Oprah fan, I'm not anymore. I don't watch her show, I don't buy her magazine, I pretty much avoid her at all costs. While she used to a be a woman's woman, the girlfriend we all wanted to have, a rags-to-riches story we weren't even jealous of. (ok, maybe just a little.) But lately Ms. O has gotten just a bit, to use an old family expression, too big for her britches. (no pun intended, truly). Her magazine advertises items no "average" woman can afford, same with the "favorites" she touts on her big giveway shows. Though I admire her for the charitable work she's done and consider her a smart, ambitious woman, that's where the admiration stops.

So, yesterday I was flipping channels, looking for something to watch while I plowed through the mountain of laundry to be folded. There was Drew Barrymore on Oprah. Huh. I like Drew ok, and there was nothing else on, so I paused. Drew was telling us all about her volunteer work in Africa, helping to feed hungry children. Cool. I put down the remote and settled in. Good topic, might learn something and perhaps be able to help in my own small way. After a few minutes, though, the conversation switched to Drew's upcoming projects and before I knew it there were two women abandoning their serious, admirable charity work discussion only to become absolutely giddy & weepy, gushing over their Vogue magazine covers! Before my very eyes these two powerful, intelligent women turned into shallow giggly school girls. The conversation went something like this:

Drew: It's every little girl's dream to be on the cover of Vogue"
Oprah: "It's some kind of validation that you're a real woman."
Drew: "It is. Especially if you're someone who is so utterly yourself."

HUH? First off, as much as I appreciate beauty and fashion and have occasionally been known to purchase an issue of Vogue here and there, my life's dream has never been to don the cover of said magazine, or any other for that matter. While I put as much time into my appearance as any teenager I spent more time honing my writing skills in hopes of becoming a journalist and protesting the baby seal hunt in Canada! Frankly, I'd be appalled if any of my daughters made looking pretty their top goal in life behind, say, working on their brains and spirits! Each of my girls has been approached about modeling, as a matter of fact, and I wouldn't permit it. I'm terrified of the eating disorders, of the pressure to be thinner, prettier, never good enough. Shudder. (By the way, as much as I love pin-ups, I do so for the very curvy-ness of them; you'll never see me put up a pic of Kate Moss on this blog.)

Secondly, wasn't it Oprah who did that whole expose in her magazine about how much work goes into her making her look cover-ready, showing her bare skin & body to show us how "normal" she looks sans make-up? What happened to that, Oprah?

Frankly, I'm furious with the whole "women's magazine" industry. Between the photoshopping and airbrushing to make already-gorgeous women fit up to some ridiculous standard of perfection and the never-ending articles on diet & other "self-improvement," I am just sick to death of it. A few years ago I boycotted such magazines because I was tired of paying to feel worse about myself, felt that my money could be better spent on those publications which helped me to grow as a strong, healthy woman both in body & spirit. Frankly, I'd rather read Playboy because at least it's a well-known fact that the centerfolds aren't "real," we all know that a ton of touch-up is done between photo shoot and magazine rack. But who would think that good ol' trusty Redbook would do the same thing?! I'm frustrated and angry and am not going to give them any more of my hard-earned cash.

Anybody with me?

A Magical Weekend

Thanks so much to all of you for your anniversary wishes! Beren and I had a wonderful weekend filled with laughter, love, and lots of romantic moments. We sipped pink champagne and nibbled chocolate on a horse drawn carriage, got up to see the sunrise over the water, shopped and drank and dined to our heart's content! It was a magical time, one that won't be soon forgotten.




Here's me enjoying my favorite drink at a fun little martini bar


Beren's laughing because I did something slightly naughty just before taking this picture...wink...wink...

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Today Beren and I are headed out of town to celebrate our Anniversary, the first "offical" one since it falls on Leap Year Day! We will be spending tonight and tomorrow night at a beautiful hotel on the water in St. Augustine! I'm so looking forward to some downtime with him, it's been a hectic, stressful few months and we are way overdue for some laid back couple time. 

Sunday we intend to put on our wanna-be biker garb and head to Daytona for Bike Week before returning home.

I have the champagne chilling and my overnight bag packed with Victoria's Secret, what more could we possibly need?

On My Hearth: Gingery Shrimp and Couscous

You all know how much I love shrimp so this simple recipe with the addition of ginger, another one of my favorites, is right up my alley!

Gingery Shrimp and Couscous
from Real Simple

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 tablespoons finely chopped ginger
1 cup white wine
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
8 ounces snow peas, cut in half on the diagonal
1/3 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 10-ounce box (1 1/2 cups) couscous

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Stir in the garlic and ginger and cook 2 minutes. Add the wine and bring to a boil. Nestle the shrimp in the onions and simmer for 2 minutes. Add the snow peas and stir to combine. Continue cooking until the shrimp are bright pink and cooked through, about 2 minutes. Stir in the cilantro, salt, and pepper.

Meanwhile, cook the couscous according to the package directions. Divide the couscous among individual bowls and spoon the shrimp and snow peas over the top.

Upgrade: Replace the couscous with brown rice or barley for a healthy whole-grain lift.

Yield: Makes 4 servings

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES 499(14% from fat); FAT 8g (sat 0g); SUGAR 4g; PROTEIN 34g; CHOLESTEROL 172mg; SODIUM 419mg; FIBER 5g; CARBOHYDRATE 65g

Replenishing the Well

After a wonderful fun-filled weekend I find myself exhausted & fighting a cold, Lily having already succumbed to it herself. She spent the day in bed which is what I longed to do but, alas, I had to bring home the (veggie) bacon.

I really value my alone time; part of the reason I work only part-time is so that I can come home and enjoy a couple of hours to myself while the kids are in school and my sweetie at work. Since I've been putting in a few more hours ath the office lately that's cut into my precious solitude and I am really feeling the affects.

So tonight it's going to be soup & sandwiches for dinner, a couple of hours flopped on the couch and then early to bed for this party girl! I have to rest and rejuvenate before the coming weekend but more about that later.

February 25, 2008
Replenishing Your Energy Well
Leo Daily Horoscope

You may feel compassionate toward others today, and spend time helping family members and friends. Your assistance might take the form of emotional support, helping with physical chores, or even monetary support. Because these activities can be draining physically and emotionally, you may find it beneficial to set aside some time to be alone and replenish your energy today. If you focus on activities that rejuvenate you and lift your mood, you will have more resources to share with those you love. Good activities might include immersing yourself in a period of peaceful solitude to write your thoughts in a journal, stepping out to enjoy some brisk physical activity to boost your energy, or engaging in creative activities that inspire and fulfill you.

Honoring our need for personal time lifts our spirits and energizes us, providing the stamina and enthusiasm we need to help others in meaningful ways. Though a desire to help our loved ones can encourage an abundance of energy, too much focus on others can quickly deplete our inner resources. By taking time to honor our own needs for rest, relaxation, and personal fulfillment, we automatically increase the amount of energy we have available. Not only does this allow us to more effectively help our loved ones, we are able to keep giving from a well of energy that is continuously replenished. With a focus on meeting your own needs first today, you can generate the energy you need to assist those you love.