smoothie bliss

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Let’s be honest- sometimes the only thing that gets me through my runs is the promise of a smoothie at the end. A smoothie that packs lots of nutrients and a little bit of protein is the perfect lunch or post run snack. After my long runs I usually buy myself a smoothie for a treat, but can’t really justify it 5 times a week. Because it is entirely too much work to make a smoothie evvvery daaay (the cleaning lady doesnt come daily??) I make one big batch and put them into popsicle molds, and have a freezer full of healthy smoothie pops that I can eat as-is or put into a glass in the fridge to melt before my run.

Afterwards I feel light and healthy. Some people like protein powder, but I’ve tried it and makes me feel like I have cement in my stomach. If you’re a protein powder person you can add it, the possibilities are infinite.

What are your favorite smoothies?

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consumerist series 5: vintage neutrals

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 All the early 20th century period films plus my recent main-lining of Boardwalk Empire are creating a hunger for that Prohibition era look.

1. Caroline paneled dress by LRK. It would go fab with my new MAC lipstick in Girl About Town.

2. I’ve been craving a head dress since my wedding. This is the perfect (& cheap!) solution.

3. Karen Walker cat-eye sunglasses. We are going to Zanzibar in a couple months for some fun in the sun. It will go perfectly with my…

4. High waisted 50s style bikini. Though I’ve recently come to terms with the fact that the one piece and high waisted suits are even harder to look good in than a skimpy bikini.

5. Loeffler Randall Octavia high top sneaker. They would feel and look divine while traveling.

**Welcome to the consumerist column, where I detail things I want. Because I want a lot of things and I’m not ashamed to say it.**

 

chipotle duck carnitas + habanero cream sauce

duckcarnitasduckcarnitas2duckcarnitas1duckcarnitas3One of my classic woe is me tales of living around the world is the utter lack of delicious Mexican restaurants easily available when a craving of enchiladas verdes or adobo pork carnitas should strike. We poor souls are left to fend for ourselves, but these duck carnitas almost makes up for being far away from Taqueria y Fonda (between 107 & 108 on Amsterdam, people!)…..almost.

This recipe is easy to do but a bit time consuming because you have to slow cook the duck breasts- you could do the duck part the night before or in a slow cooker while you’re at work, but I like it best for a relaxed Sunday meal.

Duck carnitas with habanero cream sauce (for 2):

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christopher plummer wears a bow tie.

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Christopher Plummer had pressing engagements and hardly a minute to properly tie his bow-tie like his mentor, Sir Elton John, taught him to all those years ago when he first graduated from university. Some might frown upon his blase manner, but he was late for a date with a lady- first drinks then dinner. She was charmed by the rough-hewn manner in which his bow-tie was tied and felt it added greatly to his already considerable sex appeal.cpwearsabowtie2

diy: correspondence

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In a world of texts and emails and instagram, sometimes real live paper invitations are a pleasure (anachronism?) to receive. No grown ass woman can be bothered on a regular basis but sometimes on occasions like Thanksgiving or P’s 30th it is fun to make it special and exercise your inner creative.

Supplies:
Watercolor paint/stamp/ink friendly blank cards and envelope
Watercolor paint
Stamps & ink
wax seal & sealing wax
optional: paper to line the envelope.

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a medicine cabinet full of nail polish.

Untitled-2My feet are tiny and they used to be cute (as cute as feet can be). After I started running pretty regularly this past year they became terribly ugly: blistered, calloused, black toenails, no toenails, or toenails that are growing back at an angle. Pedicures are a pointless, uphill battle (I haven’t yet tried shellack/gellish/biogel on my toes…does that work for anyone?). All I can do is schlup more and more nail polish on disguise my feet during sandal season (which is a lot of the time in South Africa). How do you keep your feet from becoming totally embarassing? Do blister band aids work for you? Shellack? Nylon socks? Two pairs of nylon socks?