MindComet

Scientific Support for Chocolate

As chocolate is something of a hobby for me and I always love it when I run across scientific backing for chocolatey goodness.  Recently, I ran across an article in the Harvard Gazette that says that chocolate, in moderation, can help reduce the risk of a certain type of stroke.  The study says it may be through chocolates positive effects on blood pressure and blood vessle flexibility that help reduce the risk of strokes.  All it takes is a few squares of dark chocolate per day.  That is a prescription I can really get behind!

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Posted by Jennifer Carey on Mar. 04, 2010

More Valentine’s Day Gift Suggestions

If you are still looking for the perfect gift for your special someone and didn’t find it in the last round of suggestions, I have a few more for you.

For the girl looking for the ring.

It’s always a good idea to remind your special someone why they are special to you.

Sometimes Valentine’s Day is a painful reminder of better times.  If that’s the case for you or “a friend of yours” you may want to check this out….

The Ex Block, not just a knife holder!

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Posted by Jennifer Carey on Jan. 25, 2010

Don’t Wait Until The Last Minute To Get Your Valentine Something Special

If you’re like me, you always wait to the last minute to find that perfect gift.  (That technically isn’t true, I am a habitual planner and always have my gifts in plenty of time.  But for the purposes of this article, lets pretend I am one of “those people”.)  To help you over that stressful hurdle, I have a few suggestions guaranteed to be adored or at least get a laugh.

This is a super sweet cherry necklace is a nice throwback and is perfect for Valentines age 13 - 16 and me.  I like it too! 

This little gem is for the more discerning Valentine and would be perfect for Valentines age 35 - 50.

A Valentine’s Day classic is now a perfume!  So if your gal is watching her waistline, this might be a suitable alternative.  I just hope it doesn’t smell like chalk.

Ladies, if you don’t currently have a special guy, you may want to purchase this for yourself.

If you don’t like these suggestions, you can go with the old standards; flowers, chocolates, dinner.  But what does that say about you?  Slacker.

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Posted by Jennifer Carey on Jan. 18, 2010

Is Kitchen Equipment Really The Way to a Healthier You?

There are a lot of articles out this week in preparation for the “New Years Eve” Resolution phenomenon.  Most have to do with the classic resolutions of losing weight or increased exercise.  While reading,  I ran across an article that said your kitchen equipment has a lot to do with your health.  They recommend you have the following ten items on hand.

1.  A Blender - I do not have one of these, mainly because I don’t really like frozen cocktails.  I guess I could use it for other things (like smoothies)
2.  A Cookbook - I do not have this either.  I mainly use recipe engines online to get ideas and recipes.
3.  A Crockpot / Slow Cooker - Finally!  I do have this and I use it.  I make a mean barbecue pot roast!
4.  A Grill pan - I have this too and have never once used it.  I cannot figure out what to cook on it that won’t be a gross mess to clean up.
5.  A Kitchen Scale - I always thought that my measuring cup would do the trick here… I believe that if I have to weigh it, it’s too much trouble.
6.  9 Inch Dinner Plates - Thanks IKEA!  I have those too.  What am I now, 4 for 6?  67% isn’t bad!
7.  Nonstick Pans - Unless you’re getting professional grade cookware, isn’t it all non-stick now?
8.  Rice Cooker/Steamer - I do not have this and really do not see a reason to get it.  The article says it saves time.  You know what else saves time?  Minute Rice.
9.  Spices/Seasonings - I will admit, I don’t have as many of these as I should.  In fact, I had to substitute maple syrup for vanilla extract this cookie making season.
10. Subscription to a specific magazine - I will not give you the name but you can follow the article link if you want to find out.

Based on this list, my kitchen measures only at 50% health capacity.  Hmm… Maybe I will buy that blender after all.

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Posted by Jennifer Carey on Dec. 30, 2009

My Holiday Traditions - The Series (Part 3)

One of my favorite traditions, one I started on Cabooses’ first Christmas, is the Christmas Pajamas.  Every year, I buy matching pajamas for everyone in the family.  I’ve bought sock monkey, polar bear, red plaid, cartoon character, and gingerbread man pajamas, among others.  I wash all the pajamas in a special lavender wash so they’re soft and smelly and ready for unwrapping on Christmas eve.  We all go to sleep with our special matching pajamas and in the morning we’re fresh and ready for the Christmas festivities.  Pajamas might seem silly, but I still have all of mine and I remember the holidays they were bought for…  So I suggest you start your own silly tradition and run with it.

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Posted by Jennifer Carey on Dec. 10, 2009

My Holiday Traditions - The Series (Parts 1 and 2)

In this series, I am sharing the traditions and memories I have and observe during the holiday season.  As a kid, you grow up with the traditions of your family and those of your local area.  As an adult, you practice those same traditions and occasionally create new ones.  If for some reason, you move away from your family or hometown you begin to see how your traditions match up or differ with those of your new area. 

I grew up in Cincinnati as part of a German catholic family.  As a child, I would excitedly wait for the start of the Christmas holiday and eagerly embrace the traditions.  It would start with the Advent Calendar (You know, that December 1st count-down mechanism to Christmas.  Some were as simple as paper chains, others more elaborate like little houses with 25 opening windows each with a little present inside - Mine was a red and green construction paper chain.).  On my paper chain, I would always mark the 6th link, as “St. Nick Day”.  This was a big day.

The Feast of St. Nicholas was the way we delivered our Christmas lists to Santa.  On St. Nick eve, we would put our final Christmas wish lists in a stocking for St. Nick to collect.  (SIDEBAR - Let me elaborate on the “stocking”.  It was not the fancy holiday stockings they sell at Target or WalMart.  We used to use my fathers knee-length tube socks.  We elected to use these because, surprisingly, they held more “stuff”.)  We would then go dutifully to sleep and in the morning our lists would be gone and in their place were traditional presents.  Traditional presents consisted of; Apples, Oranges, Nuts, Chocolates, and a single small present.  To clarify, the nuts were not shelled.  We had to use the nutcracker to get to the nut, which was a lot of fun and probably a huge mess for my mother.

As an adult, I’ve brought the traditions of the Advent Calendar and the Feast of St. Nicholas to my son, Caboose.  His Advent Calendar is much nicer than mine.  He has a wooden Santa that slowly falls down a chimney.  He really likes puling the sticks and watching Santa fall.  As for St, Nick, we finalized his list on Sunday and now it’s patiently waiting for the December 5th pick-up.  Unlike when I was a child, Caboose doesn’t receive the traditional gifts.  Instead, he gets a few small toys and non-chocolate candy.  But he is as excited about it as I was as a child and I am hopeful that he will carry the tradition along.

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Posted by Jennifer Carey on Dec. 04, 2009

Attention Moms!

I usually do not do this, however I feel compelled as a parent.  I took my eight year old son, Caboose, to see Disney’s holiday animated movie and was completely underwhelmed and just a little appalled.  A Christmas Carol is a beloved holiday story by Charles Dickens that has been told many times and in many formats, as it is a wonderful story of redemption.  I will go on record and say that I love this story so much that I have seen countless versions (my favorite is Alastair Sims’ “Scrooge“), so I am extremely familiar with the story.  This latest rendition, Disney’s A Christmas Carol by Robert Zemeckis, is a crime against Dickens.  I am unsure where to start this little rant…. Oh, let’s start with Jim Carrey.

Zemeckis tried to recreate the Polar Express formula with A Christmas Carol, in that he used a single actor or “give life” to multiple characters in the film.  It worked with Polar Express because Tom Hanks is an extraordinary dramatic actor.  It did not work in A Christmas Carol because Jim Carrey is not an extraordinary dramatic actor.  Every character, with the exception of Ebenezer Scrooge, is an over-the-top, over-done, and ultimately irritating hallow imitation of Dicken’s original characters.  At no point did I feel compassion, empathy, or connection with any of the characters.  The redemption of the character and the moral of the story didn’t reach me (or anyone else) as the focus of this movie was action.  Zemeckis tried to turn a dramatic masterpiece into a Michael Bay’esque blockbuster.  It’s an #EPICFAIL.

Ultimately, I am unsure who this movie is for…. Not for young holiday movie viewers (as it is way too intense) and not Dicken’s fans.  I am searching very hard to figure out who this movie was supposed to target?  This is just one Mother’s opinion, but I like my holiday animated movies to be tender, heart-warming, and fun.  Disney’s A Christmas Carol was none of these.  Don’t waste your holiday time or holiday money on this offering.

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Posted by Jennifer Carey on Nov. 12, 2009