Gift for the golfer in your life

Here is the LINK to a cool website where you can design the colors of your belt.  The company is called Tie-ups.  It's one of those ideas where you think "why didn't I think of that".  The belt is a big hit in Italy and Japan.  They remind a little of the Swatch Watches.

Favorite Products

Here are some products I am liking this fall-

 Dove Dry Shampoo.   It gives my long hair some texture, without drying it out.  I'm not fond of the smell.  Not sure why companies always feel like they have to add a scent to a good product.

Bobbi Brown Extra Face Oil.  This oil penetrates the skin nicely.  I've been putting it on before my moisturizer this time of year.  I like the smell of this.  It has a nice earthy, natural fragrance.

Vitalumiere Aqua.  This is one of Lisa Eldridge's favorite foundations, so I thought I would try it.  It blends in very nice and gives your skin a dewy finish.   No scent!  Yay!!

Happy Halloween!

Here is an easy Halloween treat.  I think they are all over pinterest, but they are easy to make and cute for fall.

Square pretzels
Huggies Kisses
candy corn

Put pretzel on parchment paper
Set Kiss on pretzel
Cook in oven for 4 minutes at 250 degrees
Remove and press candy corn on Kiss
Let cool  (refrigerator is fastest)

This is what happened when I cooked the Kisses too long.  The chocolate melts too much and leaks through the pretzel.

Happy Friday!

Hope you have a nice weekend!

Fun makeup through the ages video  LINK

NORDSTROM is finally coming to Milwaukee!

This is the recipe I used when I made MOUSSAKA at home.  I did make another recipe that left out the allspice and cinnamon, which my sons liked better.

Bought this foundation this week and I like it so far.  LINK

I'm loving these BOOTS

I just wasn't impressed with PROJECT RUNWAY this season.  They cut Edmond last night, who was the only interesting designer through most of the season.  I'm sure Tim Gunn will save him.

Books

What books have you been reading lately?  Here are the last 6 books I've read-

I would recommend all of them, as does the New York Times bestselling list.  Most of them are books I didn't want to put down.  The John Grisham book took a little longer and is his usual lawyer themed book.  This one is about the coal industry.  My favorite is All The Light We Cannot See.

The food of Greece

Of course, the best thing about going to a new country is trying the food.  While in Greece I tried to eat the authentic food- from gyros (or as my sister and Greeks call it, souvlaki), Greek salad, grilled octopus tentacles and Moussaka.

The first night there I ordered Moussaka.  It was very good.  I have been trying recipes at home and will post them in the next blog.

This wasn't Greek, but an Asian entree with  coconut milk and chicken.  This was at a restaurant called The Green Rocket, which had a small menu, but a variety of food.

My sister talking to the one of the owners.

The traditional Greek salad.

Grilled sardines.  I think this was my favorite meal.  For an appetizer we had fried anchovies and then this was my entree.

I didn't get a picture of a gyro.  My favorite one was in Mykonos at a place call Jimmy's.

Here is the link

Athens

Taken from the rooftop bar at the Backpackers.

Mykonos

We spent a few hours on Mykonos.  

Tidbits about Greece

Today I thought I would share things I learned while in Greece.....

1.   Greeks do not flush toilet paper down the toilet.  Every bathroom has a little garbage can that is used to dispose of toilet paper.  My sister said it was because the pipes used for plumbing are very narrow.  Everywhere we went, even the ferry.

2.  Fava was on every menu as an appetizer.  It is yellow split peas, boiled down with spices, until it becomes a dip or spread.

3.  Siesta time is still practiced in Greece.  Especially on the island of Paros, most stores and businesses close from 2:30-6:00 pm.

4.  Lettuce tastes very good in Greece.  It was so full of flavor compared to the lettuce I get in the states.  Even romaine had flavor.

5.  Traditional greek salad does not have lettuce in it.  Is consists of tomatoes, cucumber, feta and olives.  I had that "just a few times" while there.

5.  Don't visit the Acropolis in the morning.  The cruise ship groups were there and it was packed going up the stairs.

6.  Grilled sardines and grilled octopus tentacles are very good.

GREECE

I just returned from my trip to Greece.  It was my first time there and I'm still trying to get into the American swing of things after being immersed in the Greek culture for 10 days.  My sister lives on the island of Paros, so that was our first stop.  It was nice having her as a tour guide as she has lived there for 5 years.  I'll try and share a little about my trip each day this week, starting with our villa in Parikia Paros.

Happy Friday!

                                                                     

Hope you have a nice weekend.  We are going to a 95th birthday party for my husband's great aunt and I would like to see the new movie with Meryl Streep.

Read this blog last weekend.  Would love to do this!

A wonderful poem about a dog that sounds a lot like Riley. (Except the biting part)

My sister-in-law works for Estee Lauder and told be about this.

Just bought this blanket for a trip I have coming up.  I sleep so much better on a plane with a blanket.

Read this book about a month ago.  It's one of those books I couldn't put down.

Saying goodbye to Riley

On July 6th, we had to put our beloved Riley to sleep.  She was 14 years and 8 months old.  Our family was her 4th owner by the time she was 2.  The story I was told was that first college kids had her, then a farmer and then a policeman.  The policeman wanted her for hunting, but she wouldn't retrieve.  She found a forever home with us!  A couple months ago we found a fast growing lump in her throat that quickly prevented her from eating.  The vet came over and euthanized her in our yard under her favorite tree.  From the time we found the lump, until she couldn't eat or drink anything, was about 3 weeks.  After she died, my middle son collected a bunch of her pictures and put together a video.  It was nice to remember all the good times we had with her.  Saying goodbye to a pet that was raised with your children is also saying a final goodbye to their childhood.

 

Favorite Exercise

What is your favorite form of exercise?  I love hiking, but in Wisconsin the terrain is not rugged enough for a great workout.  Have you ever tried the Les Mills classes?   Body Combat, Body Flow, Body Pump and Body Step are all offered at my local gym.  These classes are a great workout and offered around the world.  They last 1 hour and the music selection keeps you motivated.  The instructor makes a big difference.  Class seems to goes faster and you get a high energy workout with an energetic instructor.  Here is the link to Les Mills if you would like more info- http://www.lesmills.com

The routines are choreographed and change about every 8 weeks with a special class launch.  A good instructor will change up the routine, after a few weeks, with some old favorites.

Body Combat is a high energy mixed marshall arts inspired workout.
Body Flow is a yoga based workout.
Body Step is an energizing step workout, using an adjustable step for your level.
Body Pump uses a barbell to tone all parts of you body.

Any level of fitness can do these classes.  The instructors usually show low intensity to high intensity moves to make the workout right for you.

Elmo Birthday Party

Our nephew had a birthday party for his 2 year old this past weekend.  His wife and sister-in-law planned it and should probably be professional party planners!

Weight Loss

Last May, I changed my diet for about a month.  I had put on 5-10 lbs over about 2 years and I could not get rid of them.  I work out a lot and eat healthy, but they were stubborn.  I'm not sure how I put them on.  It was just enough where some pants/jeans/shorts wouldn't fit or were a little too tight.  Maybe it was the pumpkin spice latte and scone habit I had for awhile.  I'm 47, so weight doesn't come off like it did when I was younger.


I would eat the following during the week:

Fruit- apples, oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries

Meat- chicken, beef, whitefish, shrimp, trout, scallops

Veges- cauliflower, broccoli, onions, green/red/yellow peppers, celery, lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, mushrooms

Himalayan salt, pepper, vinegar, lemons, limes

Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with fruit as a snack in between meals.
Drink lots of water.
Anytime I felt hungry, I would eat an apple.

I would sauté in a little coconut oil if needed.
I did drink my coffee w/ half-n-half in the morning.  Black coffee or tea would be better.
I would eat a small piece of dark chocolate at night.
On weekends, I would take a break and eat a little more normal.  I would have a beer or wine if we went out to dinner.

Not much happened the first week, but after that the weight just seemed to melt off.  I lost what I wanted after a month-6 weeks.

It's been about 7 months now and the weight has stayed off.  I laid off the pumpkin spice lattes this winter, so maybe that is helping.  If anyone, wants to try it, let me know if you have any questions.   I think it's mostly laying off sugar, processed foods and starch.

Weekend Wanderer

Menominee River, Wisconsin/Michigan