ALTON BROWN!

Very quick post (and a promise to update on what's been going on the last couple months soon...) about the lecture given by Alton Brown that we went to last night at Oakland University. He gave us a few things that everyone should know about the science of foodstuffs. Here they are:

1. Beware Chinese chili.

2. Chickens do NOT have Fingers.

3. Eat more pretty colors.

4. Anything you can buy is not as good as anything you can cook.

5. Words like "diet," "lite," or "free" aren't real - stay away!

6. Never mix strawberries and watermelons - eat seasonally!

7. "Fresh" and "raw" are NOT the same.

8. Eat more little fishies - sardines, mackrel, anchovies, small tuna.

9. No government can keep our food safe - don't expect them to and don't ask them to.

10. Grow something...anything...

11. Try being a little thankful sometime.

12. Always serve the good beer first.

It was a fantastic lecture with the best of company (Vivian, Anna, and Margaret Mann) and Alton Brown while extremely educational is also extremely funny. We would definitely go hear him again AND we converted Margaret to his fantastic-ness (I know that's not a word) seeing as she had never heard of him.

Happy first of October and Happy Thursday, everyone!

From the City of

Hi everyone!

I am still here. Lots going on since my last post in April. Lots of busy months since then the most important of which involved the Mr. and me moving to Detroit. More updates soon!

Disneynature's "earth"

Several weeks ago when I first saw a trailer for this movie I said to Dean "I want to see that when it comes out!" He, of course, said ok and that was that. Well, being the wonderful husband and rememberer of details that he is he came home from working at Starbucks one night last with a voucher. A voucher for what you may ask? The movie "earth"! It was a voucher for two to an advance screening of the movie and get this: it was free! Even better. So on this delightful Wednesday evening when I have no obligations since all my extra-curricular activities are taking a post-Easter break I tied on my shoes and headed out to the movie theater. Dean chose not to come with so it was a nice little me outing. It was well worth it. Despite the dozen or so children in the audience (the screening was hosted by Radio Disney so what do you expect?) that seemed to squirm, ask questions and hide there eyes at the closest possibility of an animal on the screen getting her it was a wonderful experience. The movie was filmed in conjunction with the BBC and several other companies, etc. some of whom were involved in the Discovery Channel series "Planet Earth." So, might I recommended to you all that one week from today (which is Earth Day) you buy an inexpensive weekday afternoon movie ticket and see this movie. (or maybe just go see it whenever you have time) It's well worth the money. James Earl Jones is the narrator and they follow three animal families: polar bears, whales and elephants over the course of almost two years. There are some sad parts (a couple animals die...) but its a beautiful, well made film with some truly amazing shots. The beautiful earth which God created is shown in all its glory in this film and that was the best part.

Here's a link to the film's trailer and you can look up where the movie's playing near you!

http://disney.go.com/disneynature/

Spring Fashion

So I was in Target this afternoon to pick up my prescription and Target is just one of those stores that you MUST wander around before you leave. So I wandered over to the clothing section and then over to shoes. They have some really great things out right now for spring (hopefully I'll go back and get a new Easter dress and shoes) but there was one thing that caught my attention and a little smile. This year the slight nautical theme and combination of navy blue and white is in style again. This brought back the memory of a navy blue dress with jacket that I had back in high school and white and navy shoes that I had to match. They looked really sharp together and while I know I wouldn't pull them out again even if I still had them (and not that they would fit) but I'm hoping to pull off that fashion again this year with some updated navy and white. What fashions are you looking at bringing back for this spring?

P.S. Momma, (I'm sure I'll regret asking for an old picture of myself) but do you recall this outfit and do you have any pictures of me in it?

When it rains...

When it rains in Michigan it really rains. This makes sense given the fact that we're surrounded by lakes on all sides but one and if it gets cold enough it explains all the snow. Right? Correct. The only thing that's missing with all this rain? Character. Back home in Georgia when we start getting spring and summer showers there are the few that bring the rain but then the rest of the showers are thunderstorms. There is something to me that is comforting about hearing rain beat down on the rooftop and hearing the crack of lightening and the crash of thunder that comes with the storm. It adds character to the drenching wet that is coming down out of the sky. Now I'll take rain in Michigan over the snow any day (especially right now since it means spring is coming) but I'd like a little character every once in a while. I got super excited yesterday when I was driving home from church in the dark, rain pouring down, windshield wipers on high and I heard a faint little attempt at thunder. I immediately turned off my radio and waited for more. It didn't come but I'll listen for it next time. And maybe sometime soon we'll get a good thunderstorm in Michigan.