When I was about ten, my friend gave me a box with a soap shaped like a peach. It was realistic, even having a pit – also a tiny soap inside! You can see it in the picture at the left – but mine came in a glossy, pink box too. I think it was my first product from Avon. But I really liked it.
Although, I can’t say what made me remember this particular gift, it did get me thinking about how we are socialized into our gender – as determined by our culture – at a very young age.
What about you? Any childhood gifts that stand out in your memories? Do you have them still?
Some days you just have to meander through the city, have lunch with a good friend who knows you well (and happens to be a good photographer with her IPhone!), go window shopping and enjoy the spring weather . . . this is what Saturdays are for!
Photo T. WysopalPhoto T. WysopalPhoto T. WysopalPhoto T. Wysopal
Need a sofa or chair – but what you find on Craigslist or at garage sales isn’t the neutral color you were thinking about?
Consider working with it anyway. Adding color can be fun. In one larger piece or even in small doses, like the cups and saucers below. I remember long ago, newly married, we purchased a pink, orange and red sofa with modern lines. In fact it looked much like the sofa below.
I wish I knew then what I know now. With lots of white you can work with almost any bright color. It could have looked very fun. Our apartment was a tiny two-room dorm apartment. It had a tiny kitchen on one wall of the living area. Located on Lexington Avenue just off University in St. Paul, it had a beautiful view of the I94 freeway on-ramp 😉
alvhemmakleri.se
When I was 18 years old and lived on my own, I purchased from a friend’s garage sale a entire set of original Fiestaware dishes complete with handled soup bowls, wine decanter, water pitcher and lazy susan. The colors were bright, cheerful and full of lead (yikes!).
Instead you can watch for something safer and equally colorful – like these tea cups. Color can brighten our environment and make us smile – always a good thing.
Basically, I can eat pretty much anything. Also I like pretty much everything. Really there are only two things I really dislike: creamed peas and brussel sprouts. Ever since I was a kid I have hated creamed peas and brussel sprouts 🙁
Creamed peas are generally overcooked and the creamy texture is so unappetizing to me. I find the taste worse than bland. Brussel sprouts have always seem like overcooked, over-boiled small cabbages – also unappealing. However, for brussel sprouts, this has changed.
DH created a dish with brussel sprouts that was unbelievably delicious! Take a look. It’s also gluten free and salt free (if you use no salt broth).
Saute (cook until brown) rinsed and sliced brussel sprouts in 1 tbsp butter and 2 tbsp olive oil in a saute pan on medium high heat.
Photo R. Meshar
Add 2 cups of chicken broth and the juice of one lemon. We added one dried, broken shitake mushroom to our chicken broth.
Photo R. Meshar
Simmer 7-10 minutes until sprouts are tender.
Photo R. Meshar
Remove sprouts, add 2 tbsp of dijon mustard and reduce sauce on high heat, stirring while reducing.
Photo R. Meshar
Spoon reduced sauce over brussels sprouts. Serve with toasted garlic bread or maybe red wine.
Last fall I had the opportunity to visit the beach with friends for a weekend. We walked on the beach, went to the autumn market, enjoyed freshly baked foccacia and croissants, ate chicken salad sandwiches and drank lemonade. Then we walked on the beach some more and finally sat on the beach and watched the sun set.
I thought it might be fun to revisit this warm, autumn weekend in the midst of winter as a reminder that summer will come again . . .
Photo R. MesharPhoto R. MesharPhoto R. MesharPhoto R. MesharPhoto R. Meshar
When I was about ten, my friend gave me a box with a soap shaped like a peach. It was realistic, even having a pit – also a tiny soap inside! You can see it in the picture at the left – but mine came in a glossy, pink box too. I think it was my first product from Avon. But I really liked it.
