Cripsy Bacon & Longevity

When I read this I thought you have got to be kidding me, bacon being linked with longevity. A little background is needed here bacon is not something I like or can even stand the smell of. These lips haven't had a piece of bacon touch them in over 15 years. Blame it on my nutritional class (Mr. SS does) and the information that was provided to me: bacon does not fit into any food groups other than fat. Now I know many other foods belong in the ugly fat group as well. Especially the sweets that call my name as I walk past a local bakery. But I have great will power to block their sweet voices out of my head and continue on my way.
Bacon on the other hand is just gross!



World's Oldest Woman Credits Longevity to Crispy Bacon






Medical science and conventional wisdom tells us that the path to a long and healthy life is paved with lean protein, whole grains and leafy green vegetables. However, the life and habits of Gertrude Baines, currently the world's oldest person at age 114, is proof that sometimes a little bacon is better.


Will you be included a little more bacon in your diet to help you live to be 114? I'm sticking with the lean protein and leafy greens...

Brrrrr

I have the great pleasure of working in freezing temperatures today. The high is -4 degrees with a low being -19 degrees. I couldn't even bring myself to look at what the temp will be with the wind chill factored in.

I'm thinking I should have asked for this for Christmas:




Although this one is pretty cute considering it is a ski mask.....




I wonder how many funny looks I would get if I actually did wear this.

What makes you smile

Sometimes you just want to hid under the covers and not get out of bed. This was me this morning, even the aroma of coffee couldn't get me up and moving. Finally after my third attempt at snoozing I surrendered and got into the shower. Personally I find it extremely hard to be motivated to go to work when the weather is so freezing cold and I'm in and out of my car all day long. While I was out schlepping through the wind, snow, and ice I started thinking back to when I was a little girl and how things were so simple. If I had a bad day at school I knew it would end eventually and my Mom always made me feel better. Back then a homemade chocolate chip cookie and a glass of milk always put a smile on my face and erased my bad day.

My husband is very good at making me feel better when I get home from a bad day at work. These days I am more likely to have a glass of wine or two and a hot bubble bath to bring the smile back and erase my bad day. This is where my hubby out does himself, I complained about my day multiple times today to him over the phone. When I came home a bottle of bubble bath and a bottle of my new favorite wine were waiting for me on the kitchen counter. Amazing how someone whether it is your Mom or hubby knows you so well and how something so small and simple can make a bad day end GREAT!








Here is my favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. I always keep some in the freezer rolled into balls so if I'm in the mood for a cookie I can have just one.

1 C. butter

1 C. firmly packed brown sugar

¾ C. sugar

1 t. vanilla

2 eggs

3 C. + 3 T. flour

¾ t. salt

¾ t. baking soda

1 – 12 oz. bag semi-sweet chocolate chips + another ½ C. chocolate chips




-Heat oven to 350 degrees.

-Combine butter, brown sugar, and sugar in large bowl.

-Beat at medium speed until well blended.

-Add vanilla and eggs. Beat 3 minutes.

-Add flour, salt and baking soda.

-Mix until well blended.

-Fold in chocolate chips.

-Freeze cookie dough for 1 hour OR refrigerate for 2 hours until firm.

-Remove dough from freezer or refrigerator.

-Shape cookie dough into 1” balls.

-Place cookie dough balls onto cookie sheet.

-Bake for 11 minutes or until golden brown.

Winter Pedicures

Something I look forward to every month is a pedicure. There is a great spa near my house that features a "seasonal pedicure" coordinating with the season. Not only do you get the aromatherapy mask, scrub, lotion you get a cocktail. How wonderful is this? The featured pedicure I received in December was peppermint and the beverage was a peppermint kiss, pure bliss. The only draw back for me getting a pedicure during the winter months is the dreaded walk to your car. No matter how careful I am I seem to slip walking on the snow and ice in my flip flops all the while my feet start turning blue they get so cold. A girlfriend has the same problem and she was so sweet she sent me a pair of these:


How cute are these?! I couldn't find a picture of the exact pair she sent me, but they are very stylish. White with pink and green polka dots all over them. Has anyone seen these or tried them?
If you are in the market for a pair of pedicure socks I highly recommend you check them out. These socks can be found here: http://www.pedisavers.com

So of course my mind goes into overdrive and I have to Google pedicure shoes and these come up:





A girls dream they provide the warm like Uggs, but again letting your pretty tootsies dry. Even better is the name of these adorable boots, bootiepies.
These can be found here: http://www.bootiepies.com


So don't let the cold weather hold you back from enjoying a wonderful pedicure. Or if you not wanting to leave the comfort of your own home here are some steps to give yourself a Spa Pedicure at home. Better yet this could turn into a girls night in and you could create your own cocktail to go along with the theme.
http://www.marieclaire.com/hair/beauty/products/perfect-pedicure-1