Here’s looking at you kid: A crock pot love affair

It is embarrassing to admit, but I think I have a culinary crush on my crock pot. It is crock pot Thursday. That means after working all day I get to come home to a delectable, home cooked meal that doesn’t require me to do…anything! You can slow cook an old running shoe with onions, garlic, roasted tomatoes, ginger, horseradish sauce, and wine and it will taste like a meal from any 5-star restaurant. Crock pots are amazing. I think Jesus wants everyone to have a crock pot.

My favorite crock pot recipes:
Beef or pork roast with horseradish wine sauce served over Israeli cous cous
Pork butt carnitas with orange juice and green chile served with roasted garlic, cilantro, queso fresco, and fresh corn tortillas
Stewed chicken with southwest spices and green chile served over rice or with tortillas

Busy moms and workaholics alike should invest in this is vital piece of technology. It prevents wasting money and sacrificing healthy habits by avoiding the inevitable fast food option (I’m still trying to severe my craving for PizzaHut). I think Apple should invest in smart crock pot technology! I throw in several ingredients and it tells me the remaining items to add for a gourmet meal. I’ll be sure to pitch that the next time I meet with Tim Cook. I’m sure he’ll just love it. ;-)

Wedding Bullshit-Part 1

Le Fat Cat is back!

So, it was never my intention to have a wedding. Not only have I been married before (thank goodness for divorce!), but I thought it ridiculous to have a wedding for a couple that has lived together for 8 years. We already have the house, towels, shower curtains, ice cream bowls, cheese graters, and the random wall art. We already argue over who is going to clean the litter box, unload the dishwasher, and pick up laundry off the floor. Aren’t weddings for people that don’t know enough about each other to be terrified? Perhaps it’s about looking for a day to buy really expensive shit (more on wedding expenses in future blogs).

 

 

My plan was to elope to Jamaica and get married on the beach. All I needed was sand, sun, rum punch, and a stoned minister that asked you to consent with a “ya, mon”. However, the journey into My Fair Weddings has begun. Familial obligation has vetoed all Caribbean based bad behavior and drunken nuptials. Where is Bob Marley when you need him?!

 

 

I am now well versed in contracts for photographers, flower designers, and receptions. I have a color coded folder with notes. I have pulled out the “I’m-a-project-manager-card-so-don’t-screw-me” card more than once. All the while working full time and finishing up an MBA. I find thatnothing brings out the best (and worst) in people than weddings and funerals. Each function is highly detailed, emotional, and in the end you always feel like you need to kiss someone’s ass.

 

 

However, with all that vented, I have to say that I’m actually kinda excited. And those of you that know me well know that it takes a lot to evoke a real reaction. I have a wine based ceremony and reception, I have a fantastic dress, wedding photos done in Paris, France, and I’m having donuts in place of a wedding cake. Really, what more could you want?

 

 

If I don’t make the Oxygen Channel’s wedding of year I’m going to be pissed!

Day 1 and 2--Milan, Italy

After a very long flight through JFK we finally arrived in Milan. Thankfully, the flights were uneventful, but we were all suffering through serious jet lag the first day. I hired a car service, Milano by Car, to meet us at the airport for transport to the hotel. We got a large 7 person van and had it filled to the top! The driver got us into Milano in a little over an hour which was good since it was rush hour when we arrived. Our hotel in Milan, Hotel Berna, was highly recommended on TripAdvisor so I decided to give it a shot. The staff are wonderful and very helpful and friendly. They arranged for our taxis and gave us dinner recommendations that were very good. The rooms are basic, but big by Italy's standards and very clean. Free Wi-fi too! The best part has been the elaborate breakfast buffet. OMG! It has everything you can possibly imagine plus made-to-order coffees. http://www.hotelberna.com/ The first day we just walked around and explored the city center around the Duomo. We went out in search of shopping which was not quite what we expected. I expected more boutique shopping with interesting fashions, but it almost all large stores like D&G, H&M, Louie Vutton, etc. I haven't even bought a pair of shoes yet! Guess I need to remedy that situation in Como. In the evening we walked near the hotel and asked several local shopkeepers and a lady walking her dog where we should go for good local food. We found a little pizzeria with a lovely antipasti buffet and cheap wine. It was very good! The second day we had to leave the hotel early as we had reservations to take the Autostradale city tour. We took a very short tour of the Duomo, Vittorio Emmanule shopping area, La Scala (where they were rehearsing a new ballet--gorgeous!), Sforza Castle, and of course The Last Supper. The Last Supper was truly amazing. It looks just as beautiful in person as in pictures. They only let 25 people in at a time and only for 15 minutes. No pictures :( That was the highlight of Milan in my opinion. Milan is a big city and very dirty. I just started to see the charm of the city last night while wandering around in the Brerea Arts District. It is a cool and distinct part of town with lots of art galleries, cafes, and boutiques. I hope to have more time to wander around there and go back to the specialty food market at the end of the trip. Today--Lake Como!!

Lizard Face-Day 7

Today I was almost back to normal. I had very little redness and I'm now starting to see the effects of the peel. I don't have sunspots on my cheeks or my forehead anymore. I still have a few on my nose, but they have lightened considerably. My skin is very even toned and my pores are smaller. I think I would probably do this peel again in 8-12 months to try to get rid of the rest of my sun damage. For someone who is outside all the time riding a bike or running, I have a feeling I will need to get these peels on a regular basis for maintenance. At $300 a pop, I'm not sure I care to do it more than once or twice a year. Overall, I'm very happy with the results!

Lizard Face-Day 6

Day 6 was a work day and I was finally able to put on make up for the first time in almost a week. I had to put on a layer of thick moisturizer, a layer of SPF 70, and then a layer of foundation to help even out the red spots. I wasn't really peeling much, but after three layers of products on my face you wouldn't have been able to tell anyway. If you want a great sunscreen use Neutrogena Dry Touch SPF 60-70. I also use Lancome Photogenic foundation. It looks very natural. The evening of Day 6 was pretty much the same routine--wash with a mild cleanser and then apply a heavy moisturizer. Most of the peeling had stopped by bedtime.

Lizard Face-Day 4 and 5

Day 4 and 5 were pretty much the same. Lots of peeling! I felt like I had duct tape on my face and I wanted to rip it off at any given time. The peeling process is very uncomfortable and it itches like crazy! Unfortunately, I did scratch at my neck in the middle of the night and woke up to unsightly red marks on my neck. However, the derm told me to keep a heavy cream on it for a few days and it would go away.

Lizard Face-Day 3

Today is the most uncomfortable day so far. I am now visibly peeling on my chin and nose area and my face itches like crazy. The peeling will get worse over the weekend. I'm not allowed to touch my face except to wash it twice a day and apply the face cream and sunscreen I was given. If I peel away the skin myself, I could possibly scar the fresh skin underneath. No touching! While peeling I can't wear makeup so I will just have to deal with the red lizard face while watching re-runs of Deadliest Catch and ordering in Chinese food. Maybe this isn't such a bad idea after all...