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Uncategorized Tasty Foodstuffs Style Bella Threads from the Web What I Wore Today Fun How To Inspiration

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More stuff can go here...

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1. Sales., 2. 4 bags, 3. Sales, 4. souls for sale???

Recently, I found myself lost in the shopping rush just before Christmas & like so many others, scrambling to find last minute presents. Again, in these last few days, I seem to have been compelled to join in the post-Christmas sales, waving my credit card around like a gymnast with a pretty ribbon. I’ll admit to picking up several bargains, but my sparkly new purchases come with a hidden cost. Time. Shopping is an extended activity & after wandering around a shopping center you could be left up to eight hours behind. This is what I call Marathon Shopping. It requires stamina, foresight & planning as well as the usual funds. Surviving eight hours of window shopping is an art form. So here are some tips I have picked up during my time as a Marathon Shopper.

1. Wear comfortable shoes.

Being on your feet for such a long time is very trying. Preempt tender feet by looking after them to begin with. A nice pair of comfortable flats will serve you well. Save the high heels for coffee with you friends the next day.

2. Wear sunglasses.

Shopping centers & malls can be hostile places full of short tempered people. If your the kind of person that wants to get in & out as quickly as possible you may find that an easy way to avoid unnecessary distractions & conversations is to don a pair of sunglasses. If people can’t make eye contact, they won’t usually speak to you. They’ll also stay out of your way - bonus!

3. Take regular breaks.

Be sure to take five minutes every now & then to sit down & center yourself. Don’t become a shopping center zombie! If you’re in a shopping precinct find a nice bench or a spot in a park to rest & revive.

4. Hydration.

Air conditioning is both a blessing & a curse. In the hot summer months people flock to shopping centres & malls to bask in the deliciously temperate air. However, the cool dry conditions can leave you feeling dehydrated fairly quickly. Pack a bottle of water & avoid the grumpiness, lethargy & headaches that accompany dehydration.

5. Take public transport.

Parking can be a nightmare. Avoid this by taking public transport where possible. It’s reasonably good for the environment &  will save you money as well. If you end the day laden with purchases, use any money you might have saved to splurge on a taxi for the ride home.

6. Wear headphones.

“Can I help you with anything?” was the most frequently heard phrase during my shopping escapades & quite frankly, it drives me nuts. Because I like to be left alone when shopping, I try to avoid sales representatives as much as possible. They are less likely to approach you if you’re wearing a pair of very conspicuous headphones. As an added benefit, you can listen to your favourite tunes, instead of those inane Christmas carols.

7. Take your lunch.

Save some dollars & take a packed lunch with you. Make your favourite sandwich or take a bento box. Mess free finger foods are best, especially the kind that don’t need to be heated up. A piece of fruit is a healthy & tasty snack to have on hand & will provide a little energy boost when you need it most.

8. Pay in cash.

Withdraw the exact amount you are willing to spend for the day & leave your cards at home. Overspending is not a happy habit & may leave you with buyers remorse. Cash is a tangible way to keep track of your spending. Just be sure to keep it somewhere safe!

9. Plan ahead.

You don’t need to be so particular as to plan out the exact route you will be taking, or when you will be scheduling toilet breaks, but it is good idea to start out with some sort of plan in mind. Make a mental list of the items you are after or the stores you want to visit so you don’t waste to much time or make silly purchases.

10. Bring some friends.

Shopping by yourself is a lonely business. Take a good friend who will keep you company & give you sound advice & a fashionable opinion.

11. Take your own bags.

You take reusable bags to the supermarket, so why not take them with you for the rest of your shopping? Strong bags with lots of room & wide shoulder straps or handles will make your shopping experience more comfortable as well.

12. Look after yourself.

Christmas shopping can be particularly draining, so be sure to look after yourself.  A little self love never hurt to much, so treat yourself after a long day of Marathon Shopping buy getting a pedicure or buying a good book. After purchasing all those gifts for others, you deserve something as well!

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I first saw this delicious sandwich on the pilot episode of Gossip Girl. It’s a delicious twist on the traditional grilled cheese sandwich, the twist being truffle oil! The famous New York restaurant Gilt serves up their own version using fresh sliced white truffles, which sounds decadent enough, but is difficult for us everyday gourmands to put into practice. Truffles are notoriously expensive & definitely won’t keep as long in your pantry as a small bottle of truffle oil will. Besides, the Gilt grilled cheese sandwich will set you back $50! So not only is this sandwich fairly cheap by comparison, it is also easy to put together & is delicious! I think that at 3am it would make a perfect ending to a big night out!

In this recipe, I have used sliced grain bread, which is chewy & dense, is low in carbohydrates & has a low GI. I also used Nimbin Natural cheese, an Elbo style cheese that is free of animal rennet & one of the best tasting cheeses I have come across. You can find small bottles of truffle oil at most delicatessens’ but expect to pay as much as thirty dollars for 100ml.

Gossip Girl Grilled Cheese Sandwich

• half a cup of good quality freshly grated cheese
• two slices fresh grain bread
• butter
• truffle oil
• salt & pepper

Heat a small spoonful of butter in a frying pan over a medium heat & preheat your griller (broiler) or oven. Brush both sides of the bread with truffle oil using a pastry brush & then top both slices with the grated cheese. Season with salt & freshly cracked pepper & place  each slice into the frying pan face up. Let the bread fry for one to two minutes & then transfer the frying pan to the grill or oven to melt the cheese. This shouldn’t take too long! Carefully remove the frying pan when done. Sandwich the two cooked slices together (cheese facing inward of course!) & cut in half. Enjoy while still warm & gooey!

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Apologies for the muted expression, but I was feeling a bit glum. I have a junk food hangover you see. No more nachos for me in the near future I think.

• Black jersey shirt
• Black velvet high waisted skirt
• Black patent PVC pumps
• Black ribbon (around left wrist)
• Pearls, pearls, pearls! (the faux kind: around neck, on ears, in hair)

A while ago I went on a shopping spree for faux-pearls. I love the shape & colour of pearls, & how lovely they look en mass. Pearls seem to me to be the epitome of femininity. I used to raid my mother’s jewellery draw for her strings of pearls & wear them whenever I could get away with it. I think that sometimes pearls really deserve to be the centre of attention. To take advantage of the white-on-black contrast they provide, I like to combine pearls with simple black clothing. Though, I have been known to wear pearls wrapped around tartan skirts, coiled around my ankles & thrown over bold T-shirts!

Also, my brother & I picked this cane lawn-chair up from the side of the road. Isn’t it awesome? It needs some tender loving care, but it should make for the perfect garden seat on hot summer days don’t you think?

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1. The silver threads of my tasbih, 2. The Rope, 3. Web and drops, 4. strings

• No Impact Man (always a pleasure!) shares a story from the Talmud that prompted me to think about our interconnection & taking responsibility.

• Also via No Impact Man is this New York Times piece by Al Gore which make for some interesting reading.

• This photo set is awesome. ‘Nuff said.

• Would you like to snack on a candied scorpion? Sprinkle some pearl dust onto your ice-cream? How about a champagne-flavoured lollipop embellished with flakes of gold? These & more can be found at Edible. Definitely not for the feint of heart!

• I recently found Tina Su’s blog Think Simple Now & I think its awesome! Her article Dealing with Difficult People is definitely worth a look.

• Sleeveface always manages to give me a bit of chuckle. Described as “one or more persons obscuring or augmenting any part of their body or bodies with record sleeve(s) causing an illusion” you can’t say no, & now they have a book!

• ideeli gives away free stuff!

• Sonja asks; did you unwillingly support the wrong candidate in the American election this year?

• I’ve been rethinking my approach to fitness lately. Anti-gravity yoga looks fun doesn’t it?!

• Also from Elastic Waist is this Holiday Survival Kit! Hilarity abounds!

• I wish I had a home like this!

• If you need some consoling after a break up, why not try the R.I.P scented candle from Greece is for Lovers? It promises instant redemption & pleasant scents to burn away your blues. It is of course, too good to be true, but why not give it go?

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Photograph by MagicTyger

This photograph was taken by my father earlier today. He says that the planets Venus & Jupiter only align with the moon like this every 28 years. It’s the gallaxy’s way of saying hi every now & then.

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