This 'n That Thursdays: Food Guides from Around the World

Canada's new food guide (from Blue Zones).

Not long ago Canada updated its official food guide to the one shown above.  Their new guidelines image got me curious about how other countries depict dietary recommendations, so I searched online for images of food guides from various nations.  Below I have listed some of my favorites, and why they appeal to me:

1) Iceland

From Mic

What I like most about this food guide from Iceland is the fact that various forms of exercise are suggested in the ring around the dietary recommendations.

2) The Bahamas

From The Dietician's Pantry

This unique food guide from the Bahamas also recommends exercise as well as smart dietary choices, but all within an image of a goat skin drum!

3) China

From Mother Nature Network

Not only does this food guide from China (translated of course!) feature a lovely decorative pagoda as its dietary pyramid, it also recommends specific amounts of food as well as exercise.

4) Sweden

From CBC

What I love about the food guide from Sweden is its exquisite simplicity, where all of the information is brief but gets straight to the point, making it very easy to follow.  This is probably my favorite of all the global food guides I found.

5) United States

Image from Integrated 4x

The most recent dietary guidelines image from the United States has been greatly simplified, and is a big change from the food pyramids of past years.  However, it is perhaps a bit too lacking in specifics (no suggested amounts), does not include any information about fats, sweets, or beverages other than dairy, and there is also no mention of exercise.  I do like all of the bright colors, though!

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So what do you think about the different dietary guidelines images from around the world?  Do you have a favorite, either from these choices or perhaps a different nation?  Despite their differences, all of them do have very good advice to offer, and hopefully people will heed their suggestions!
               

Wish List Wednesdays: A Duo of Decapod Delights from Talbot's

Continuing the lobster theme from last week, here are two cute crustacean creations from Talbot's to add to any warm weather coastal-themed wardrobe.  Shown above is Talbot's Classic Cotton Shirt in Lobster Print ($69.50-$79.50).  The light blue background color is decorated with tiny navy dots and bright red lobsters.  This long-sleeved 100% cotton shirt also has a contrasting dot print along the insides of the cuffs for added interest.  And shown below is the large and colorful poppy red and gold Lobster Brooch ($49.50), a fun accessory for the lapel of your favorite blazer/coat/cardigan, or use it to pin a scarf or decorate a hat.

It may not be warm enough right now for a trip to the beach, but these lovely lobster items are sure to give you ideas for and a head start on planning that trip as soon as weather permits!
             

Current Events: With Friends Like These...

Created using SuperLame! with image from Asia News Network.

As our president prepares to wing his way to Hanoi for a rendezvous with his beloved Kim, we were reminded once again last week that little Donnie Trump may not be the best judge of character:

Trump with New England Patriots owner and major Trump donor
Robert Kraft, recently charged with solicitation of prostitution at a
 massage parlor suspected of involvement in human trafficking
(image from The Boston Globe).

Trump with Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, recently charged with
illegally concealing a plea agreement with wealthy hedge fund manager
Jeffrey Epstein, convicted sex offender who abused dozens of
underage women (image from Vox).

Trump with former campaign manager Paul Manafort, convicted last year
on tax fraud charges and recently found guilty of lying to the FBI,
Robert Mueller's investigators, and the grand jury after pleading guilty
to conspiracy and agreeing to cooperate with the Mueller team's
investigation (image from Chicago Tribune).

Trump with former campaign advisor Roger Stone, recently charged
with lying to Congress and obstructing the House Intelligence Committee's
investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election,
 and now barred from speaking about the criminal case against him after
posting a threatening photo of the judge assigned to his case
(image from Decider).

These examples are just the most recent in a long list of Trump associations gone awry.  Let's hope he has better luck with the North Korean dictator.  Or if not, perhaps Trump would be better off further pursuing his friendship with another Kim (since somehow this post seems to have ended up highlighting some of Trump's and his friends' sartorial selections as well):

Created using SuperLame! with image from Daily Express.

             

Weekend Wardrobe: Accessories for Spring Colors Basic 4x5 Wardrobe

It's time to put all of the accessories together for the spring colors basic 4x5 wardrobe shown above that was featured in last week's post.  Most of the clothing came from two previous travel wardrobe posts (here and here) and the same is true for the accessories.  I have only added two new pieces, both of them scarves.  As I did last week, I will only post links to the new items.

Let's start with those new scarves (plus a few other accessories), shall we?

New item top left: Hermès "Gronland" by Philippe Ledoux Silk Scarf in Pink and Light Blue; New item bottom right: Bally 1851 Chain Print Stole in Multi-Nude.

The next set adds the jewelry and watches:

All of these items were described in the previous posts.

The third set of accessories is comprised of handbags plus the suitcase from the travel posts:

All of these items were described in the previous posts.

And shoes are the focus of the final accessories set:

All of these items were described in the previous posts.

Normally I include a collection of outerwear with the accessories, but these items are actually part of the basic wardrobe since they also function as second top layers for spring, when the weather may or may not require outerwear.  However, this spring wardrobe really should also include a raincoat, like the one shown below:

Laundry by Shelli Segal Detachable Hood Trench Coat in Pinky

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So there you have it - the accessories for the spring colors basic 4x5 wardrobe.  These lovely light and fresh hues will brighten up even the gloomiest of rainy spring days, and when the sun shines they they will be a perfect reflection of spring's fresh and delicate but also earthy colors.  Now that we have the wardrobe, let's hope spring weather is now imminent!
               

Foodie Fridays: Slow Cooker Coq au Vin II

Whenever the weather turns wet and dreary, as it has in Georgia lately, I feel the need to make a comfort food slow cooker recipe that takes little effort but results in a warm and delicious meal satisfying to both mind and body.  I was in the mood for a slow cooker coq au vin, but decided to try a different recipe from a previous one I had made, mostly to use up some ingredients I had in the freezer and pantry.  I found a few recipes online and put together my own version, which requires less effort than most but is still full of flavor.  I try to avoid having to cook ingredients before putting them in the slow cooker, so I eliminated any frying, searing, and sautéing steps.  I did like the idea of boiling the wine down to concentrate the flavor, and I kept that step.  While there may be even more flavorful recipes for slow cooker coq au vin out there, I found my recipe to be quite tasty and effortlessly easy, which is just what I wanted.

Slow Cooker Coq au Vin II

1 bottle red wine
3 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 bag (12 oz.) frozen pearl onions, thawed
16 oz. whole mushrooms, cleaned and halved
1 bag (16 oz.) baby carrots
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 C. chicken stock
1/2 tsp. salt (or to taste)
3 sprigs fresh thyme
6-8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled*
3 T. butter, softened
3 T. flour

Pour the wine into a medium-sized saucepan and boil for about 15 minutes until it is reduced by half.   Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

Combine the onions, mushrooms, carrots, garlic, chicken stock, reduced wine, salt, thyme sprigs, and half of the crumbled bacon in a slow cooker and stir until well combined.  Season the chicken breasts with salt and nestle into the vegetable mixture in the slow cooker.  Top with the remaining crumbled bacon.

Cover and cook on HIGH for about 4 hours.  Combine the butter and flour to make a paste.  Add to the slow cooker and stir into the liquid.  Cook on LOW for an additional hour until the mixture has thickened slightly.  Serves 4-6.

*I used precooked microwaveable bacon.  If you cook raw bacon in a skillet, you can use the drippings to sauté the mushrooms and sear the chicken (dredged in seasoned flour if you like) before adding them to the slow cooker.  These extra steps will apparently add more "layers of flavor" to the end result, but, lazy cook that I am, I avoid any extra cooking like the plague, especially if frying is involved, and my version had quite enough flavor for my taste!
             

Wish List Wednesdays: Kendra Tamsin Lobster Dining Chair from Anthropologie

I have always enjoyed perusing the unique collection of chairs on the Anthropologie website.  Their chairs are always just a bit different from those found anywhere else, both in terms of design and color/pattern.  A case in point is the Kendra Tamsin Lobster Dining Chair ($148).  As I've mentioned before, my husband is an aquatic ecologist with an interest in crustaceans, so the colorful lobster print immediately attracted me, but I also love its sleek mid-century style.  And for those with no interest in lobsters, the Kendra Tamsin Dining Chair also comes in Strawberry, Flamingo, and Lemon prints (just imagine a simple round dining table surrounded by one of each of these fun prints!).  This chair almost makes me wish we were retiring to coastal Maine instead of New Mexico, so that I would feel justified in purchasing a few of them!

               

Current Events: Presidents Day Update

From Wallimpex

On this Presidents Day, we find ourselves in a state of national emergency over a southern border wall.  Naturally, right after declaring said emergency last Friday, our fearless leader immediately left town for a leisurely long weekend of golf in Florida (because that is what you do when you consider the nation to be in crisis?).  In case you missed it, you can watch Donald Trump's extremely long and confusingly rambling speech here, or you can enjoy yourself and watch the much shorter and definitely more coherent Saturday Night Live version below:

As a bonus, here is the Weekend Update segment from SNL, also covering the national emergency declaration:

Of course, little Donnie does have other things to worry about besides a national emergency.  He just completed his annual physical, and the verdict is in - Trump is now officially obese.  He probably decided that a weekend of golf was a good way to start a personal weight loss campaign.

From MLive

But maybe he should have addressed this issue last year when he was warned that he was only one pound away from obesity and was given guidelines for a healthier diet and more exercise by his favorite physician.  Instead, little Donnie felt that it was a great idea to serve fast food burgers, fries, and pizza at an official White House event, and also proceeded to go into self-imposed (and presumably physically inactive) confinement in Washington to protest not getting exactly what he wanted for his southern border wall.  No wonder he gained four pounds instead of losing the 10 to 15 recommended last year!

On this Presidents Day, when many federal workers and government contractors are still trying to deal with the aftermath of the longest government shutdown in history, political leaders of both parties grapple with the repercussions of a baseless national emergency, and our capricious president, like some modern day Nero, plays golf while the nation is in turmoil, let's try to enjoy our official government holiday.  Strange days indeed!

From Kiwi Hellenist

                 

Weekend Wardrobe: Spring Colors Basic 4x5 Wardrobe

Cotton Emporium Stripe Sweater in Multi Stripe/Off White

My two most recent Weekend Wardrobe posts were both travel wardrobes based on the colors of the sweater shown above.

 This week I decided to combine the apparel from those two posts to create a basic 4x5 spring wardrobe.  When combined, these items comprised an almost complete basic wardrobe, and only needed to be supplemented with a few pieces.  To save time and space, I am only providing links to the newly added items (see here and here for links to the items previously mentioned).

Let's start with a the first set of four, which features shades of pink:

All of these items were described in the previous posts.

The second set of four is comprised of apparel in shades of light blue:

All of these items were described in the previous posts.

This next set of four adds pants in the tan color, plus several ivory-colored tops:

New item top left: L.L. Bean Women's Short-Sleeve U-Neck Organic Cotton Tee in Sailcloth; New item bottom right: Coldwater Creek All That Glitters Tee in Ivory.

 The fourth set of four brings in the chocolate brown hue:

New item bottom left: H&M Women's Super Slim-Fit Pants in Dark Brown; New item top right: PurpleHanger Cap Sleeve Turtle Neck Tee in Dark Brown.

The final set of four features various tops to be layered over the tee shirts and blouses - they are all comfortable pieces, but run the gamut from very casual to nicely tailored:

All of these items were described in the previous posts.

And here is the complete 4x5 colors of spring basic wardrobe:

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Next week I will put together the accessories for this spring wardrobe, based upon those already featured in the two travel wardrobe posts.  I think it is the accessories that really make this collection unique because there are a number of warm metallic colors in both the jewelry and leather goods, based on the darker stripes in the sweater.  Maybe by next week everyone will be enjoying the same type of lovely spring weather we are seeing here in Georgia right now!
                

Foodie Fridays: Creamy Cauliflower and White Cheddar Cheese Soup

I recently tried a cauliflower and cheddar cheese soup from our local Publix deli section, and loved it so much I decided to find a recipe and make my own version.  I slightly modified the recipe I found online for Cauliflower and White Cheddar Cheese Soup, mostly because I wanted a smoother and less chunky soup.  I also added a little vegetable oil with the butter because this will prevent the butter from burning and scorching the bottom of your pot (I can't be the only one who has this problem!).  I actually prefer this cheesy cauliflower soup to the broccoli and cheddar cheese variety, and it will be the perfect comfort food for the dreary and rainy week we will be facing after today!

Creamy Cauliflower and White Cheddar Cheese Soup

2 small heads cauliflower
2 T. butter
1/2 T. vegetable oil
1 large onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
4 C. vegetable or chicken stock
1 pinch nutmeg
1 1/2 C. milk
2 C. shredded white Cheddar cheese
 salt and pepper to taste

Cut one cauliflower head into florets and put the florets into a large pot.  Fill the pot with water to cover the cauliflower, salt the water slightly, and bring the water to a boil.  Boil the florets until tender.  Drain well and set aside.

Cut the second cauliflower head into florets and set aside.  Heat the butter and oil in a 4-quart stock pot over medium-low heat until the butter melts.  Add the onion and sauté until tender.  Stir in the garlic and cook one minute longer.  Add the uncooked cauliflower florets to the pot with the vegetable or chicken stock.  Add the nutmeg and bring the mixture to a boil.  Boil until the cauliflower is tender.  Remove the pot from the heat and allow to cool.

Use an immersion blender to blend the soup mixture until smooth.  Heat over medium-low heat.  Pour the milk into the pot and stir well.  When the mixture is simmering, coarsely chop the cooked cauliflower florets into bite-sized pieces and add to the pot with the cheese.  Stir until the cheese melts and the soup has thickened.  Taste for seasoning, and add salt and pepper as needed.

At this point, you can decide if you want a chunky soup or a smooth one.  I opted for a smooth version, so I used my immersion blender again to create a velvety smooth texture.  Serve the soup hot, sprinkled with additional shredded cheese if desired.  Serves 6.

Notes: Here is a tip you may not know - if you use stock from a box, be sure to pour it out with the spout at the top rather than at the bottom.  This is the way you pour motor oil from the bottle into your vehicle, and it keeps the liquid from coming out in spurts due to air trapped inside the container. No more stock splashing all over the kitchen stove and/or countertop when you pour it out!

Another tip - this is a great recipe for using up any leftover dairy products in your fridge.  I had some leftover heavy cream and a couple of spoonfuls of cream cheese, so I stirred them in, replacing some of the milk with the cream and adding the cream cheese in addition to the Cheddar.  The additions enhanced the flavor of the soup and let me use up some leftovers before they had a chance to spoil, which is definitely a win-win situation!
               

This 'n That Thursdays: Five Daily Habits of Healthy People

From The Black Snapper

There are all kinds of healthy habits lists on the internet, but I thought I would share some of the ideas that I find most reasonable here.  I never like to start life changes at the very beginning of the year as that strategy always seems doomed to failure.   Now that we are well in to 2019, however, I decided to take a look at some suggestions for a healthier lifestyle and pick a few that I could easily add to my own life.  Here is my list of some of those recommended healthy habits:

From News from Brown

1) Get adequate sleep!

Seven to eight hours of sleep a night is the recommendation, but most people often do not get that amount.  Lack of sleep can lead to a variety of health problems, including weight gain, depression, cardiovascular disease, and even diabetes.  If possible, it is best to go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning.

From UIC Dentistry

2) Drink lots of water!

Adequate hydration is essential for a healthy body, and water is our most essential dietary nutrient.  Quite literally, our bodies cannot function at the basic biochemical level when dehydrated.  The recommended amount of daily water intake is 64 fluid ounces (eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day).  A more personalized amount can be calculated by dividing your body weight (in pounds) by half, and drinking that many ounces of water every day.  For example, if you weigh 140 pounds, try to drink 70 ounces of water daily.

From PayrollBozz

3) Take tech breaks!

Our lives are so full of high-tech gadgets that we can end up spending more time during the day looking at screens than anything else.  Taking time away from your gadgets can actually improve productivity as well as relieve stress.  Getting up and moving for a few minutes every hour will improve cardiovascular circulation, which is good for both your body and your brain.

From CrumbLink

4) Eat real food!

Consumption of whole, non-processed foods raised with as few chemicals as possible is highly recommended for a healthy diet.  The healthiest diets include mostly vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins.  The more colorful the produce, the more nutrient dense it will be, so choose fruits and veggies in all the colors of the rainbow!  The Mediterranean diet, which endorses all of these principles, was recently awarded the 2019 top spot as the best overall diet.

From SilverSneakers

5) Get moving!

A sedentary lifestyle is now considered to be almost as harmful to your health as smoking (although smoking is still worse!).  There are so many benefits to physical activity that it should be a priority every day.  At least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a day is ideal, but doing any type of movement is better than none at all.  If possible, incorporate exercise into your daily routine, like walking instead of driving, taking stairs instead of elevators or escalators, parking farther away from stores to increase walking distance, etc.  Every little bit helps!

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I need to work on improved sleep habits and could easily change mine for the better.  I can also always find ways to tweak my diet, and in winter especially I need to be mindful of drinking enough water, getting up from the computer more frequently, and maintaining my activity level despite sometimes uncooperative weather.  One bit of wisdom I have learned with age is that, with any lifestyle change I wish to make, I do not have to be perfect.  No goal is an all-or-nothing proposition, and if I happen to slip up once in a while all is not lost.  I can forgive myself for a misstep and get back on track, rather than just giving it all up as a failure.  All of my goals are easily achievable, and I intend to work on them as soon as possible.  Or at least right after I finish off or give away all of the Valentine's Day goodies, that is - okay just (sort of) kidding!

Happy (and healthy) Valentine's Day!

             

Wish List Wednesdays: Smithsonian Cherry Blossom Silk Scarf

Are you looking for a pretty scarf that would be perfect for spring?  Then you might want to check out the Smithsonian Cherry Blossom Silk Scarf (on sale for $39.99).  Cherry blossoms are very symbolic of spring, as are the colors of this imported 100% silk scarf, and it is generously sized at 58x14 inches.  Best of all, this lovely accessory is currently on sale at 33% off the original price.  I think it is time to start introducing a bit of spring color to our wardrobes, don't you?
             

Current Events: Working Hard, or Hardly Working?

Donald Trump's favorite way to start the day - watching
televised new stories about Donald Trump
(created using SuperLame! with image from Outside the Beltway).

I doubt that anyone was surprised to find out from the leaked information about Donald Trump's private schedule that he spends very little time actually engaged in presidential activities.  Only 15% of his day is spent in meetings, mostly made up of his daily presidential briefings (with an emphasis on "brief"), but a whopping 60% of his time is spent on activities such as watching television, reading newspapers, and tweeting or making phone calls in response to what he sees and reads:

Donald Trump, large and in charge - of the TV remote
(created using SuperLame! with image from Time).

The President's day starts very early, but he spends the first five hours in his private residence rather than in the Oval Office engaged in these unstructured activities, euphemistically dubbed "executive time" by his administration (but known in the real world as "recess", of course!).  It is no secret that the man who once claimed that he does not watch much television in reality watches about 4 to 8 hours a day.  And why does he watch so much TV?  Here is his own explanation:

No caption needed here! (image from Grabien)

Because who knew that governing the nation would be so much work, and why would you meet with federal government bureau and department experts in person for in depth discussions of important issues when you can just turn on the boob tube and let it tell you what to do?

               

Weekend Wardrobe: Box of Chocolates Valentine's Day Weekend Getaway Travel Wardrobe

From Harry & David

My Wish List Wednesdays post this week included the box of Harry & David Ruby Cacao Truffles shown above as a perfect Valentine's Day gift.  I decided that the soft pink, chocolate brown, and touches of gold from this image would also make a lovely color palette for a Valentine's Day weekend travel wardrobe.  Soft pink hues were also featured in last week's spring travel collection, and I reused some of the apparel from that post for today's wardrobe as well.  My thinking is that this week's wardrobe could be worn by the same woman who would own last week's clothing.  Like last week, the items selected are more casual then elegant, but also classic and simple.  The woman who wears this wardrobe does have a unique penchant for warm metallic accessories, so both jewelry and leather goods were chosen with this in mind.

Here is the outfit to wear for travel to a fun Valentine's Day destination (perhaps with a chocolate theme?):

Clockwise from top left: Stella McCartney Wool Blazer in Tulip Pink; Travelpro Maxlite 5 22" Carry-On Rollaboard in Dusty Rose; Kay Jewelers Puffed Heart Earrings in 14K Rose Gold; Foster Grant Hannah Sunglasses in Rose/Rose Gold; Kate Spade New York Lovebirds Scarf in Pink Majolica; Frye Panel Industrial Leather Belt in Silver Distressed; Armitron Women's Heart-Shaped Bracelet Watch in Rose Gold/Blush Pink; Kenneth Cole New York Women's Tyler Sneaker in Copper Leather; Travelpro Maxlite 5 Women's Tote in Dusty Rose; Land's End Women's Mid Rise Straight Leg Colorful Jeans in Vintage Berry; Madewell Whisper Cotton V-Neck Pocket Tee in Dark Coffee.

And here are the items to pack:

Clockwise from top left: Rosevictorian Escada Women's Silk Blouse in Pink; Land's End School Uniform Women's Short Sleeve Fem Fit Essential Tee in Ice Pink; Joy Jewelers Madi K Puffed Heart Earrings in 14K Yellow Gold; Coldwater Creek Endless Circles Necklace in Gold; SimpleBags BagsZoo Fashion Lips Clutch Evening Bag in Pink; Chadwicks of Boston 100% Cotton Boyfriend Cardigan Duster in Heather Chocolate; Khelmanbags Italian Leather Crossbody Bag in Golden Tan; Land's End School Uniform Women's Long Sleeve Fem Fit Essential Tee in Ice Pink; Berrylook Casual Ankle Boots in Pink; Investments MADISON AVE Straight-Leg Pants in Espresso; Center: Coldwater Creek Wood Heart Necklace in Brown.

And let's not forget about sleepwear - I like the cute and comfortable pajama set shown below - I am not fond of frilly and lacy apparel, and the humor of the "I Love Lucy" print is more my style!

Pajamagram "I Love Lucy" Chocolate Factory Pajamas

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Not all of the pink tops match, but I think that as long as they can all be worn with the darker pink jeans and do not clash too much with the pink accessories then it does not matter.  I am really loving that bag with the multi-colored metallic print - I think this woman is on to something with her warm metallic accessory choices!  Next week I think I will expand today's and last week's travel wardrobes into a basic wardrobe for spring by putting both collections together and filling in any gaps.  I have not done that before and I think it will be fun.  Have a happy Valentine's Day on Thursday!
                

Foodie Fridays: Low Carb Apple Butter Muffins

The holidays are finally winding down, although at our house we still have one more birthday and Valentine's Day to celebrate.  I am feeling the need to return to more health-conscious eating, but also to start using up a lot of my pantry items, in anticipation of getting ready for our big move to New Mexico in the near future (barring any unforeseen circumstances, of course!).  For some reason we have several jars of apple butter, so this recipe for relatively low-carb Apple Butter Muffins was just what I was seeking to satisfy both requirements.

The original recipe includes ingredients for a frosting, but I left them out as I do not think muffins need frosting.  These moist and tender pastries are so easy to make that the hardest part was finding enough whole walnuts in the bag to place on top of each one!  They would be great for breakfast or a light snack.  This muffin recipe is definitely a keeper in my kitchen.

Low Carb Apple Butter Muffins

5 eggs
1 C. apple butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 T. honey
1/4 C. melted coconut oil or butter
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 C. coconut flour
12 walnut halves

Grease a muffin tin or line with paper liners.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the eggs, apple butter, vanilla, honey and coconut oil.  Beat until smooth.  Add the salt, baking soda, and coconut flour and blend until fully incorporated.  Pour the batter into the greased or lined muffin tin cavities, dividing evenly.  Top each muffin with a walnut half and press each in lightly.

Bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes, until the muffins are set and slightly brown around the edges. Remove from the oven and cool in the pan for 5 minutes.  Remove and serve.  Serves 12.