Reboot, Recenter, Refocus

And get back on blog track again. Honestly, this blog has been feeling out of sorts to me, taking a back seat as I've been preparing for transitions and life changes this past year. I'll get back to the regular features I love to write about and maybe even try a few new ones. And I bet you're just as sick seeing the french fries at the top the page, too. -- this sunrise is much prettier and inspiring!

15+ Favorite Albums and CD's

Facebook currently has a meme going around, having people list their 15 albums/CD's that will always stick with you. I went a little over, because there were some I couldn't bear not to include. I associate music with people, places and events. And all of these have a connection to one, two or all three. I love creating playlists on my iPod to bring forth happy memories and good times.

In no particular order:

Tom Petty - Full Moon Fever
Belinda Carlisle - Greatest Hits
INXS - Kick
Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack
Gavin DeGraw - Chariot
Enya - Shepherd Moons and The Memory of Trees
Mary Chapin Carpenter -
-The Calling and The Essential Mary Chapin Carpenter
Gordon Lightfoot - Gord's Gold
Dan Fogelberg - The Innocent Age
Billy Joel - Glass Houses
U2 - Joshua Tree
Gerry Rafferty -
-Right Down the Line - The Best of Gerry Rafferty, City to City, Night Owl
Desert Rose Band - Greatest Hits
Clint Black - Killin' Time
Elton John - Sleeping With the Past
Scandal - Love's Got a Line on You
Al Stewart - Year of the Cat and Time Passages
Cat Stevens - Greatest Hits
Genesis - Genesis
Phil Collins - Face Value

Today's Favorite iPod Workout Song

Sixpence None the Richer - "Breathe Your Name" 3:56

I was surprised I hadn't posted this one earlier. It's on a regular rotation on my iPod, I even downloaded the video from iTunes.

The song's lyrics have an underlying religious meaning of one's faith journey. I find it comforting to listen to the song and hear the words, "the part of you that's part of me will never die, will never leave..." Especially since I had just lost a very close friend. I was on the treadmill and literally felt a shiver shock run up one arm and down the other.

Take a look at the video, very quirky and fun to watch. I love the parachute guy!

From Scratch Oven Fries - Southern Living

We tried the From-Scratch Oven Fries - September 2010 issue of Southern Living magazine, page 138. And again, and again! No frying, no mess. It's a keeper! Each time, I changed it a little bit more. I found just one good-sized baking potato gave us plenty. In fact, I'm even leaning towards a smaller one, especially when I cut them a little bit thinner than 1/2". Our current version uses olive oil--just enough to lightly drizzle the sliced potatoes and sprinkling a little of Kroger's California Seasoning Blend Garlic Salt. I also use the "rapid/speed bake" setting to get the fries crispier. Check out your grocery store's spice aisle and try other seasoning variations. Check the Southern Living recipe link for other variations and dipping sauces.

The basic directions are - peeled potato, cut into 1/2" strips (or thinner). Place in a bowl and drizzle some olive oil, toss with your choice of seasoning. Place on rack on a cookie sheet and bake at 450 (with speed/convection fan setting if you have one) for 30 to 45 minutes. Serve hot and enjoy! (You can be making these while you are making hamburgers using your Cuisinart Griddler)

Penzeys Free Arizona Dreaming Coupon Code!

I loved the smell of Arizona Dreaming so much, I bought it last month without the coupon! Penzeys Spices Fall 2010 catalog cover features a coupon for a free 1/2 cup jar of it, or use product code 15853C if you order online. Offer expires November 30, 2010. The catalog has lots of yummy-sounding recipes using Arizona Dreaming -- Ultimate Scrambled Eggs...Tacos Five Ways (Pork, Turkey, Steak, Lamb and Mushroom & Cheese)...Arizona Dreaming Salad Dressing (at Penzeys.com)...Black Bean Tostadas, Arizona Dreaming Burgers...Amaizing Fresh Corn Salsa...and Arizona Dreaming Wings and Dipping Sauce (at Penzeys.com)

Upcoming Jo-Ann's Pattern Sales

Three-Day Pattern Sale - September 16/18
McCall's - $1.99
Vogue - $3.99

Coupon Commotion - September 19/25
Lots of 40% off coupons!

September 19/25
Butterick - 99 cents
50% off entire stock of thread

Netflix Stars - I Love You, Man

Awful! Awkward, crude and cringy to watch. We kept waiting for the parts we saw on the trailer, which made us incur a momentary lapse in judgement to even think about adding this to our queue, but gave up and chucked it back to Netflix. I gave it 1 star only for the cast of supporting characters.

Netflix Stars - Cop Out

1.5/5 - Had its (very) occasional moments, and d r a g g e d. Not as good as I had hoped it would be.

Costco now has Gelato!

Just rolled out last Thursday, the Houston Galleria Costco is now making on the premises three different kinds of gelato.

Pistachio (which I sampled - YUMMY!), Mixed Berry and Stracciatella, which is vanilla mixed with chocolate shavings. And look at the price -- THREE scoops in a waffle cone for only $1.50 and hand-packed quarts for $4.99. Right now the only Houston Costco with gelato is the Galleria store.

Get Heart's new song, "Sand" for free on Amazon!

Download Heart's new MP3 song, "Sand" today for free on Amazon! It's not bad! Their new EP is "WTF + 4".

Farro, not Pharaoh

Latest shopping-while-hungry purchase at Costco -- Earthly Delights Italian Pearled Farro. Three pounds for $7.99 -Bonus it is organic, too! I had never even heard of this, but it sounded like a nice alternative to potatoes, rice and pasta. I also liked the versatility of this grain -- I sprinkled Parmesan cheese on top, then had the leftovers the next day for breakfast with just a little of the real stuff maple syrup drizzled on top. You can even use honey instead and add blueberries and walnuts for a really filling start to your day! They also say you can add it to soups and salads. It reminds me of a more rounded oatmeal. Sort of a nutty flavor, but nothing "off" like quinoa. The "pearling" process removes the outer husk of the seed, so it cooks much more quickly - in 15 minutes!

Take a look at what you get in a 1/4 cup serving:

170 calories, 1g fat (0 sat, 0 trans), 0g cholesterol, 30mg sodium, 35g carb, 5g fiber, 0g sugar, 7g protein, 2% calcium, 12% iron

Next time you are in Costco, look for this on the endcap display and give it try!

Better For You Brownies

This is from the September 1, 2010 issue of Woman's Day, page 198. Here's the link to the original recipe and here are my changes.

First thing I did was cut the recipe in half. Then I umped up the chocolate quotient with Ghiradelli 60% Bittersweet chocolate chips instead of semisweet. I also used a 4 ounce snack pack unsweetened applesauce container. (I learned this trick along the way, instead of opening a large jar of applesauce and having it go moldy before using it all. Best to pay a little bit more than to waste money throwing your savings away.) For the whole wheat flour I used King Arthur's White Whole Wheat. And I also found that using the silicone baking pans - mine is the Calphalon Bake for the Cure - releases the brownies easily without having to use parchment paper, releasable foil, or even Pam. I love it! The result: I've tried a lot of low-fat, "healthier" brownies, with usually less than satisfying results. They were too cakey, never gooey or chewy. Up until this recipe, I've about given up trying and just sticking to willpower and the real deal. These have come pretty close to sinning. With a 5/8" height, it's denser but you can still detect lighter feel. I really think the bittersweet chocolate keeps it more gourmet/unusual to help fool your tastebuds a little easier.

Better-For-You Brownies - Revised

1/2 cup Ghiradelli 60% Bittersweet chocolate chips
1/8 cup (2 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut up
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 - 4 ounce container unsweetened applesauce
2 large egg whites
1/8 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Heat oven to 350. Microwave chocolate and butter in a large glass bowl, stirring every 10 seconds until melted and smooth. Whisk in sugar, applesauce and egg whites until mixed well. Mix together flour, cocoa and salt then stir into mixture just until blended. Spread into pan, top with walnuts. Bake 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely. Makes 12 brownies. 118 calories, 2g protein, 17g carb, 1g fiber, 6g fat (3g sat), 5mg cholesterol, 61mg sodium

Upcoming Jo-Ann's Pattern Sales

Update - Hobby-Lobby has Simplicity on sale for 99 cents this week, September 6/11.

Labor Day Sale - September 3/6
$1.99 McCalls
$3.99 Vogue
40% off sewing and cutting tools
50% off notions wall and quilting notions

September 9-September 11 - $1.99 Simplicity

August 29/September 11
"Decades Price" Coats & Clark 400 yard thread with limited edition Jo-Ann's label, in Black or White

This is the first time in 13 years I haven't had to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunches. . .

Netflix Stars - Bread and Tulips

4.5/5 A change of pace love story. Even with the English subtitles (the movie is in Italian), it was fun and easy to follow along. If you are looking for a different romantic comedy bordering on slightly bizarre, you'll enjoy this one.

Peace Maple Pecan Crisp Cereal

A tasty transition into Fall! Corn flakes, rolled oat clusters and pecan pieces sweetened with real maple syrup without being overly maple-y and sweet. I also like the fact a serving is a filling cup.

240 calories, 6g total fat, 0.5g sat fat, 220mg sodium, 42g total carbohydrate, 3g fiber, 11g sugar, 5g protein, 2% calcium, 6% iron

14 ounces, 7 servings, $3.59 at Whole Foods

Thursday Tea Time

This week - Tazo Vanilla Rooibos Organic Red Tea Latte Concentrate

Cost: $3.99 for 32 ounces at Super Target
Caffeine: No
Type of tea: Red
Ingredients: Rooibos tea, vanilla extract, apple and peach juices, cassia, chamomile, licorice root, water, cane sugar

4 ounces of concentrate has 60 calories, 5mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate, 1g fiber, 12g sugar, 1g protein, 4% vitamin A, 2% calcium, 4% vitamin C, 4% iron

Opinion: Tastes like apple juice mixed with milk - yuck! I'll try it warmed next time, maybe closer to Fall for something more seasonal? Disappointed I couldn't detect the peach flavor. It's almost too sweet, and I certainly didn't use the suggested 50/50 proportions. More like 1/4 to 1/3 added to a little more than half filled glass of skim milk. Would I buy it again? Probably not. I'll finish it, maybe. I like the Green Tea Latte much better.

Upcoming Jo-Ann's Pattern Sales

August 20/22 - 5 for $5 Simplicity
50% off thread

Can't wait? Hobby Lobby this week has Simplicity for 99 cents.

Netflix Stars - The Bounty Hunter

1.75/5 Only because we played it all the way through, hoping it would get better. It seemed like it would never end. I guess I'm not susceptible to Gerard Butler's supposed charm? And to think I waited for it at the top of my queue...throw me another season of Las Vegas, please!

Sandra Betzina Today's Fit Vogue 1164 - View B Top

I finally finished the short-sleeved View B Vogue 1164. It had been cut and ready to sew on my sewing table for almost two months. It's been a busy summer! This view does not have darts, nor did I add the elastic to the back, as in my other versions of View A from February 27 and January 27 .

I used a lycra knit fabric, (it's hard to tell in this picture, but it is a cream/white/yellow/black print I bought from C & C Fabrics when they were at the Houston Quilt Festival last year) lined with a camo print lace knit from the Jo-Ann's Red Tag sale. Get a little creative and have fun with the front lining! As long is it is a lightweight stretchy knit, it will work. Sometimes that stretch mesh is hard to find, and can be a little pricey. Tricot is cheaper but also difficult to locate locally. The clerk at Jo-ann's just said, "Huh? We don't carry that!" (???) You should also note the sleeves are not as long as drawn on the pattern envelope. I even added 5/8" to the length. The 100+ degree temperatures this afternoon persuaded me to stay inside and improvise from my button stash, adding an extra button to the front. I may still try to find a cool button to showcase later.

FYI: Jo-Ann's is having their $3.99 Vogue pattern sale this weekend, and this pattern is currently on sale for $5.99 on the Vogue pattern website. Grab this pattern while it is still available...and at a considerable savings from the $27.50 list price. At least they still carry patterns!

Thursday Tea Time

This week: Cost Plus World Market Organic Jasmine Pearls

Cost: $4.99

Number of teabags: 15 individually wrapped pyramid "infusers"

Caffeine: Yes

Type of tea: Green

Steeping time: 5 minutes

Mix ins: CBTL Fat-Free Vanilla powder

Ingredients: Organic jasmine pearls

Double Dip: Surprise! Yes! I had left the teabag out overnight and the leaves somewhat reformed back into balls. It wasn't quite as strong, but still drinkable.
Opinion: I tried the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls tea as an iced latte in the store and loved it! It tasted (and with the crushed ice looked) like rice pudding! I went to purchase a canister, it rang up $20.20! Whoa, that's a lot! I put it back ricky-tick, and vowed to find a less expensive version first. When I found this at Cost Plus World Market for less than $5, I figured it was worth a shot. Each teabag contains 15-19 "pearls". I liked the fact the tea bags are sealed, keeping intact the jasmine flavor and fragrance. I tried this both hot and cold and loved both versions. So did my wallet! The fragrance and taste is very soothing and calming. Perfect when you need a recentering moment or just want a taste change of pace. Being organic is bonus, and if you join the free Cost Plus World Market "Explorer" program, you can get coupons for 10% off. I was also impressed at all the teas they had, I'll be back!

Rating: 4.25

Cascadian Farm - Vanilla Almond Crunch

Cascadian Farm Vanilla Almond Crunch - $3.49 at Whole Foods

Nice and tasty combination of oats, wheat, crisp rice, sliced almonds and vanilla. The generous 3/4 cup serving size is enough to sustain you throughout the morning and even a treadmill workout.

200 calories, 2.5 g total fat (0.5g sat, 0.5g polyunsaturated, 1.5g monosaturated), 190mg sodium, 125mg potassium, 41g total carb, 3g fiber, 15mg sugar, 23g other carb, 4g protein

Bonus they participate in the Box Tops for Education, too! I'll be buying this one again!

Thank Your Lucky Stars Hello Kitty

Found this Hello Kitty metal "take-out" candy tin at Cost Plus World Market for only $2.99!

Isn't it cute?! It measures 2 1/4" Haven't tried the candy yet, tho! I'm going to put this in my sewing room.

Frozen Hot Chocolate

When the temperature breaks 100...

I found this recipe in the August 2010 issue of Woman's Day magazine, page 100. It's by Joy Bauer from her book, Slim & Scrumptious. A book I will definitely be checking out from the library.

It is a take on Frozen Hot Chocolate, a signature dessert at Serendipity. My version is a little different, as I made it ahead and changed up the ingredients a little. It was actually more like a slightly creamy chocolate ice.

For starters, I used Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate syrup. And instead of 1 cup of the evaporated milk, I used the entire can - 12 ounces. So I increased the chocolate syrup from 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup, trying to keep the same proportions. It was really chocolate-y, I may decrease it to 2/3 cup. I also bumped up the vanilla extract to 1 teaspoon.

I mixed the ingredients in a 4 cup measuring cup and poured into 5 Chantal 1 cup sized custard cups. I put in the freezer around 1 PM and it was frozen by 6 PM. I pulled them out while we ate dinner and they softened just enough to be eaten easily with a spoon.

Another variation is to use 1/4 teaspoon mint extract instead of vanilla. To make the Mexican version, add 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon.

The result - 3.5/5.0 I will definitely make it again. It is much healthier than ice cream - no fat, no added sugar other than from the syrup. Perfect for hubby's late-night noshing.

Here is my version, followed by the original --

3/4 cup Hershey's Dark Chocolate Syrup

1 can (12 ounces) fat free evaporated milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix together, pour into cups and freeze

150 calories, 5 g protein, 0 g fat, 85 mg sodium

or

1/2 cup chocolate syrup

1 cup fat-free evaporated milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups ice cubes

Combine ingredients in blender until smooth, pour into glasses. Garnish with a dollop of whipped topping and chocolate shavings.

Upcoming Jo-Ann's Pattern Sales

Founders' Super Weekend Sale - August 6/8

$3.99 Vogue (gonna grab those new Sandra Betzinas!)
$1.99 McCalls

August 1/14
$1.99 Butterick

Netflix Stars - Purple Violets

3/5 stars - My goodness, who ISN'T in this movie?! (including uncredited Bill Hader) Ed Burns really is a jack-of-all trades in "Purple Violets" -- writing, directing, acting. What really struck me was the lighting throughout the scenes. Usually I don't notice or it doesn't really register. Perhaps because the movie did occasionally lag, but overall not a bad pick for your queue. Nice performance by Selma Blair, Debra Messing is second banana. Wonder if Donal Logue was speaking in his natural accent or if he American-ized it for "Grounded For Life'

Hello Kitty is back at First Colony Mall!

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

The Grilled Chicken (sorta) from the Grilled Chicken and Spinach Salad with Spicy Pineapple Dressing from Cooking Light

Inspired by the July 2010 issue Cooking Light Grilled Chicken and Spinach Salad with Spicy Pineapple Dressing, at least these directions --

"1. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Place chicken between 2 sheets of plastic wrap, and pound to an even thickness using a meat mallet or small heavy skillet. Sprinkle both sides of chicken evenly with chili powder and salt. Lightly coat chicken with cooking spray. Add chicken to pan; cook for 3 minutes on each side or until done. Remove from pan; set aside."

Only I used Penzeys California Style Seasoned Pepper and Smoky 4/S Special Seasoned Sea Salt. (I almost grabbed the Chili Con Carne and I think that would be a great less fiery substitute from the straight chili powder next time.)

My original intent was to make this salad, and I will eventually. However, comfort food combinations were needed that night (cheesy rice and green beans).

I liked the idea of using a package of Costco boneless chicken breasts, my meat hammer, grill pan and a great combination of Penzeys spices to cook up some chicken. Easy-peasy. And yummy!

Mango, Peach, Passion!

Actually, the commas and exclamation are not in this cereal's name by Peace Cereal, but they should be! Look at the pretty fair-sized bits of peach and mango, combined with the oat clusters and corn flakes - this tastes just like peach cobbler! Very filling, too. I can eat a bowl and then tackle the treadmill without running out of fuel. Found at Whole Foods for $4.99. I'll be going back for more and to see if they carry the other flavors. I also like the tasty fact it is low in sugar and fat. Here's the nutritional stats:

Serving size: 1 cup - 230 calories, 2.5g fat (0 sat, 0 trans), 320 mg sodium, 46g total carbohydrate, 2g fiber, 10g sugar, 4g protein.

Matchy-Matchy

I bought this "Peace" LeSportSac Asana Yoga Bag on eBags on clearance last month -- they have since sold out, but Amazon still has it for only $34.94. (Original price $56) Not only a cute print, it's also a great bag, plenty big enough to easily accommodate my rolled-up mat and Yogitoes towel without any #*%&-ing, especially after yoga class. Nothing like undoing all the blissful and mellow feelings before you even leave the building. (Perhaps it wasn't an accident my old canvas bag somehow bumped into a can of Diet Coke?!)

Imagine my surprise when trolling the DSW Clearance section...and I found MATCHING "Tortola" (Peace 969) wedgie flipflops! I didn't even know LeSportSac made shoes! And also on sale for $17.96 (40% off the mark-down price of $29.94, original price $39). If you also luck out and find these, you may want to go up a size, they run a bit small.

The box is cute, too -- there's even a grosgrain ribbon LeSportSac pull printed on both sides of the loop. While I wish it still had the cover lid - don't you hate it when they discard the lids when they clearance the shoes? Why do they do that? - I'll put it to good storage use in the sewing room. (I stash my flipflops in a covered wicker picnic basket near the front door for easy grab and go.)

Sometimes it is fun to be matchy-matchy! Especially in a cool print like this and on sale!

Thursday Tea Time

This week - Zhena's Gypsy Tea - Coconut Chai Black Tea

Cost: $7.99 at H.E.B.
Number of teabags: 22!
Caffeine: Yes
Type of tea: Black
Steeping time: 3 to 5 minutes, I went for 4 minutes since I would be adding milk for a traditional chai tea.
Mix ins: Skim milk and sugar. Next time I will try Fat-free Sweetened Condensed Milk as an alternative to the milk and sugar.
Teabag fragrance: Cinnamon, ginger, coconut...smells so heavenly! I even left the used teabag out for a few hours afterwards so I could still catch a whiff when I walked through the kitchen.
Ingredients: Indian black tea, cinnamon, ginger, cardamon pods, whole cloves, orange peels, nutmeg, black pepper, natural coconut flavor, natural cinnamon flavor. Even though it lists orange peel, and citrus fruit usually gives me migraines, I was able to drink and enjoy this without any headaches. Hooray!

Opinion: This is *the* tea everyone raves about and with good reason! It has a wonderful flavor, as you sip, you can taste the ginger and cinnamon and coconut, and then get a peppery kick. Perfect. Not the ack-ack peppery taste of other chais. And a pretty tin to boot!

Rating: 5+

Word is Zhena's will be debuting a Coconut Chai in a green tea version shortly! Can't wait!

Lois Update

Here's the most recent "Lois" the Corpse Flower picture, courtesy of the Houston Museum of Natural Science

Bread Machine Buttermilk Bread

This recipe is from Betty Crocker's Bread Machine Cookbook, 1995 ISBN: 0-02-860367-2

As I've mentioned in previous postings, this is one great book. If you can find it, buy it! All the recipes are for 1 and 1 1/2 pound loaves - most machines can accommodate one or both of those sizes. I've put the ingredients for the 1 1/2 pound size in ( ).

The buttermilk made this bread super moist--and yummy! Give it a try next time you have extra buttermilk left over, or need an excuse to buy some. (I get the low-fat version.)

BUTTERMILK BREAD

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1 1/4 cups) Buttermilk

2 tablespoons (3 tablespoons) Butter or Margarine, softened

2 tablespoons (3 tablespoons) Honey

2 1/2 cups (3 1/4 cups) Bread Flour

1 teaspoon (1 1/2 teaspoons) Salt

1/4 teaspoon (1/4 teaspoon - not a typo!) Baking Soda

1 teaspoon (1 1/2 teaspoons) Bread Machine Yeast

Place all ingredients in the order recommended by your machine's manufacturer.

Use Basic/White cycle, Medium or Light crust color. Do not use the delay cycle

Putting on the Feed Bag

Feed 100 Children for $10 bag at Whole Foods. A cute, sturdy bag for a good cause. . .

Whole Foods Market is providing 100 meals to kids via the World Food Program’s Rwanda School Feeding operation. Whole Foods already donated the $10 upfront and the costs to produce these high-quality, 100% organic cotton and natural burlap bags made as eco-friendly and fairly as possible in audited and certified facilities.

It's a good sized bag measuring in at 12" x 14". Copper rivets, compartment dividers and very sturdy with the burlap bottom. It folds and zips into an easy to carry 5" x 7" size. And I will enjoy using it.

However, I wish they would design one to benefit the hungry right here in the United States and help support our food banks, whose shelves are rapidly becoming depleted. So yes, if you can, buy a $10 bag to help Rwanda AND also make a $10 food donation in the grocery stores' red barrels, drop a bag off at your local food bank when you drive by, or even mail them a check - that's win-win. And hey, give them something good -- brand names every once in awhile, especially if there is a sale, buy 1 get 1 free promotion or coupon. There is also a need for healthy food - think sugar-free and low sodium items. When my daughter's Girl Scout troop helped out our food bank, the director mentioned how many of the families had underlying health issues, too -- Diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, the elderly or infirm needing soft foods like pudding, Jell-O, etc.

New Sandra Betzina Patterns!

Vogue 1197 Love, love, love the short-sleeved top!

and Vogue 1198 Jackets - can't wait to see Sandra's versions.

99 cent Simplicity patterns

On sale this week at Hobby Lobby, starting tomorrow, Monday, July 19.

J.Jill Organic Cotton Jeans for only $19.99!

Organic cotton-blend boyfriend jeans - a different take on denim and the now ubiquitous chinos out there. Here's a fun, comfy and stylish alternative. Originally $89, now marked down to only $19.99! And with the J.Jill card $18.99?! - I bought two! 99% organic cotton, 1% Lycra Spandex. The oatmeal-colored fabric sort of reminds me of the painter's pants of the late 70's. I thought they had a slightly narrower, yet still looser, fit through the hips and thighs compared to the traditional blue denim version. Perhaps because the fabric weight and stiffness was a little bit lighter and softer. At first I passed these over because I had tried the traditional jean version a few months ago and they really didn't fit me. But the "Boyfriend Jean" styling, sitting slightly below the waist and a little bit slouchy, was more flattering and forgiving in the fit department. Unrolled, the inseam is 31 1/2" Definitely ballet flats or flip-flops if I want to wear them that way. But they just look super cute with sandals, boat shoes and sneaks, and help contain the style when you do a 2x 1-1/4" roll.

If you are shopping in the Houston area, I found these at the Memorial City Mall J.Jill store - they are on a rack in the center towards the right side. I think they just marked these down, there were still lots of them. They are also available at the $19.99 price on their website and in Petite sizes, too.

Thursday Tea Time

This week - Tazo Matcha Green Tea Latte concentrate

32 ounces - $3.99 at Super Target

"A soothing blend of traditional green teas with real honeydew melon"

Sounded quick, easy and cool on a 97 degrees in the shade day!

I mixed 3/4 cup of concentrate with 1 cup of skim milk, no added sugar or sweetener. I tried it iced; I put the carton in the refrigerator first. I'm thinking next time I may reduce the concentrate amount to 2/3. It has a pretty strong "grassy" green tea aftertaste. The honeydew melon flavor is discreet and seems to be mostly there for balance. It disappears before the green tea flavor kicks in.

Ingredients - water, matcha and other green teas, cane sugar, honeydew juice concentrate, natural fruit flavors.

4 ounces concentrate has 60 calories, 0g fat, 5 mg sodium, 16g total carbohydrate and 15g sugar

Opinion: If this is the same that Starbucks serves, you can certainly save some money and traveling time with this. I saw there were other flavor concentrates, including chai, on the shelf I would be willing to try. I also remember seeing a three-pack of the chai concentrate cartons at Costco, I think priced around $9.

Get your stink on!

We are all waiting for "Lois" the Corpse Flower to bloom at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences. You can even follow her Tweets on Twitter! ( @CorpzFlowrLois ) And @hmns you can find additional Twitter updates and even haikus written to Lois. The museum is open around the clock right now, awaiting her "arrival" - click here for the latest official updates, links and videos.

Netflix Stars - Almost Famous

4/5 stars - I can't believe it took so long for me to see this (10 years?!). Everyone looked so young! Outstanding casting performances. (Billy Crudup looked a little like a scruffy John Oates from Hall & Oates.) A little hard for my millennium teen to grasp the era and all it entailed. (rotary dial phones?!) And and eye-opening history background for me - I was of the David Cassidy/Donny Osmond Top 40 bubblegum radio upbringing. Anyways, well worth adding to your queue if you haven't already, for those Netflix doldrum times. Did I mention I hate how they have to hold back new releases 30 days in order to give the studios time to sell in the stores and by PPV first?

Upcoming Jo-Ann's Pattern Sales

July 18-24 -- Butterick patterns 99 cents

July 25-31 -- 50% off notions wall

July 29-31 -- Simplicity patterns $1.99

July 18-31 -- 40% off Gutermann thread

Spinach, Tomato and Fresh Mozzarella Pasta Salad

From the Cooking Light Fresh Food Fast Weeknight Meals, page 123. I found my copy at Costco for $14.99

All the recipes are 5 ingredient, 15 minutes!

This one is a perfectly yummy combination for hot summer days. Great Italian vinaigrette recipe, too. While fresh herbs would be best, I made do with dried (eyeballing it) and it was probably just as tasty.

Ingredients --

2 1/2 cups multigrain rotini pasta...2 cups grape tomatoes...6 ounces baby spinach...4 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, cubed.

Dressing - 1/4 cup red wine vinegar...2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leafed parsley...1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or basil...2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil...1/4 teaspoon salt...1/4 teaspoon black pepper...2 garlic cloves, minced.

Cook pasta according to directions, omitting salt and fat. Rinse with cold water and drain. Combine dressing ingredients and stir with a whisk. Combine dressing and tomatoes in a large bowl. Add pasta and spinach, toss well and top with cheese.

4 servings - serving size is 1 1/2 cups salad, 2 tablespoons dressing.

As you can see, it is easy to substitute and play with the ingredients - bow tie for rotini, regular tomatoes for grape tomatoes, dried herbs for fresh. Even use bottled fat-free Italian dressing.

Netflix Stars - Bright Star

2.5 - if only for the cool fashion/sewing angle of Fanny Brawne. But even that couldn't hold our attention to this movie for very long. L read the book and said it was much better. Somewhat interesting enough to me - John Keats brought to life? Perhaps I may try it again later, and will definitely read the book at least.

Cooking Light - Hello Dolly Bars

Cooking Light - December 2007 - Hello Dolly Bars Also found on page 388 in the 2008 Annual Recipes book.

I used a 10" x 13" pan instead of a 9 x 9 pan. I also upped the graham cracker crumbs to almost 2 cups but kept the butter and water amounts the same. Don't fret about the lack of butter and crumbliness of the graham crackers, the condensed milk will seep down and help meld it all together. And don't skip lining the pan with parchment paper.

Hello Dolly Bars (aka Magic Bars, 7-Layer Bars)

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 9 cookie sheets)
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon water
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup butterscotch morsels
2/3 cup flaked sweetened coconut
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1 (15-ounce)* can fat-free sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350°.
Line the bottom and sides of a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper; cut off excess parchment paper around top edge of pan.
Place crumbs in a medium bowl. Drizzle with butter and 1 tablespoon water; toss with a fork until moist. Gently pat mixture into an even layer in pan (do not press firmly). Sprinkle chips and morsels over crumb mixture. Top evenly with coconut and pecans. Drizzle milk evenly over top. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly around edges. Cool completely on wire rack.

Nutritional Information (based upon 24 servings out of a 9 x 9 pan!)
Calories 123 (32% from fat)...Fat 4.4g (sat 2.3g,mono 1.3g,poly 0.6g)...Protein 2.1g...Carbohydrate 19.1g...Fiber 0.5g...Cholesterol 5mg...Iron 0.3mg...Sodium 64mg...Calcium 50mg

*as with everything nowadays, there's shrinkage in the packaging. My can was only 14 ounces. Not a crucial difference at all.

Netflix Stars - The Starter Wife

<---The 5 episode 2007 USA Network miniseries was so much better and more enjoyable than the 2008 TV series! ---> The TV series changed and deleted some of the stars of the miniseries, and took it in another direction. We ditched the 2008 version disc after about 20 minutes.

Thursday Tea Time

This week - Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Apricot Ceylon

Cost: $8.20

Number of teabags: 20

Caffeine: Yes

Type of tea: Black

Steeping time: 5 minutes

Mix ins: Both ways - straight and with vanilla powder

Teabag fragrance: Definitely deliciously apricot

Ingredients: Ceylon black tea, marigold flower, natural and artificial flavorings.
Taste: Faint apricot flavor

Opinion: Disappointed. I wanted to like this - I love apricots! You can even see the slices of apricots in the teabag. I tried it hot with the vanilla powder and iced - with double teabags for extra oomph. What you smell isn't what you long for in the taste. Compared to their peach teas, which are strongly peachy-keen, this one's a bit wimpy.

Rating: 2.5

Happy 4th of July!

Target Liberty of London box dimensions

Here are the dimensions (L x W x H) of some of the Target Liberty of London boxes:

Milk crate -- 11" x 10" x 8 1/4"

Media box -- 11" x 5 1/2" x 5"

Large tapered bin -- 14" x 12"(top), 10"(bottom) x 9 3/4"