Happy Mother’s Day

There is nothing like a mother’s love.

Princess Caroline at the 2009 Rose Ball in Monaco

Princess Caroline

Princess Caroline’s purse and bracelet made of champagne toppers

Princess Caroline’s dress

Pretty Princess Caroline

Remembering Natasha Richardson

Natasha Richardson as Sally Bowles performing “Maybe This Time” during the 1998 Broadway Revival of Cabaret.

Read more about Natasha Richardson’s career here.

Live a Long Life

There is an interesting article on msn.com that lists the
Surprising Signs You’ll Live Longer Than You Think.

The Signs:

• Your Mom Had You Young (with her younger healthier eggs)
• You’re a Tea Lover (fresh-brewed green or black)
• You’d Rather Walk (walking is beneficial even if you’re overweight)
• You Skip Soda (even diet soda is bad for you)
• You Have Strong Legs (they hold you up better in your old age)
• You Eat Purple Food (like blueberries and red wine, yum)
• You Were a Healthy-Weight Teen (less risk of diabetes)
• You Don’t Like Burgers (lay off the red meat)
• You’ve Been a College Freshman (smart people don’t smoke)
• You Really Like Your Friends (helps reduce stress)
• Your Friends Are Healthy (chances are you have similar health goals)
• You Don’t Have a Housekeeper (cleaning is exercise)
• You’re a Flourisher (keep a positive attitude)

Read the article on msn.com for more details.

Stuffed Peppers

In my search for vegetarian meals, I’ve adjusted a recipe that my mother used to make: stuffed peppers. She would fill green peppers with a mix of rice and ground beef. I substituted the beef for cannelloni beans and I used brown rice instead of white. The meal came out really well, so I thought I’d share it with you.

Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients:
4 large green peppers
1 can of cannellini beans
1 cup cooked brown rice
2 Tbsp seasoned bread crumbs

Clean out center of green peppers and rinse. Par-boil until softened but still firm. Alternate adding layers of cooked brown rice and cannellini beans. Top with bread crumbs to seal. Spray a pyrex dish with non-stick cooking spray. Place the four peppers standing up. Cook uncovered in 400-degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until the tops start to turn brown. Serve with marinara sauce. Serves 2.

Notes:
-Select peppers that have an even bottom so they will stand up in the pan.
-I heat leftover spaghetti sauce to pour over the peppers after I remove them from the oven.

Happy Birthday, Madonna

Getting Into the Groove of 50

Madonna Louise Ciccone turns 50 years old today, August 16, 2008.

I went to see Madonna on her Like a Virgin tour in the 1980s. The Beastie Boys were the opening act. I remember being more shocked that she only performed for an hour and fifteen minutes than I was of her routines.

My girlfriends and I all rushed out and bought black rubber bracelets and tied lace ribbons in our hair. She’s had many style incarnations but I think I liked her original look the best.

Madonna is an inspiration to women like myself because she took charge of her own sexuality. She didn’t fall into the trap of early feminists who thought they had to be more like men. Madonna is feminine, pretty, sexy, shapely, healthy, assertive and intelligent. She does whatever she wants. That is true feminism.

Here are some pictures of her throughout the years.

Happy Birthday, Madonna.

Read the Associated Press story on Yahoo.

Terminator Salvation Trailer

The thought of yet another Terminator movie didn’t excite me until I found out Christian Bale was playing John Connor.

Yum.

Here’s the trailer.

18 Million Cracks

Some memorable quotes from Senator Hillary Clinton’s speech today:

To all those who voted for me, my commitment to you is unyielding. You have inspired and touched me. You have humbled me with your commitment.

Eighteen million of you from all walks of life — women, and men, young and old, Latino and Asian, African-American and Caucasian, rich and poor, middle class, gay and straight … you have stood with me.

I am a woman, and like millions of women, I know there are still barriers and biases out there, often unconscious, and I want to build an America that respects every one of us. We must make sure that women and men alike understand the struggles of their grandmothers and mothers.

Although we weren’t able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it has about 18 million cracks in it and the light is shining through like never before.

Children today will grow up taking for granted that an African-American or a woman can, yes, become the president of the United States.

Thanks, Hillary.

Happy Mother’s Day

Serenity Gift Set by LUSH

Because of my love for all things beauty related and my penchant for mixing up my own soaps and lotions, friends are always letting me know of new products they’ve tried and giving me samples of things they’ve picked up.

A friend discovered LUSH while travelling on business. She was looking for ways to pamper herself while she had a prolonged stay in a hotel.

The Serenity Set by Lush – $35.45

A beautiful collection for calming, inspirational baths
Some people go an entire lifetime without experiencing a waking moment of serenity. Some of us have got to the point where we think that five minutes a day is pretty wonderful, but wouldn’t ten be better? Up your friends’ serenity quotient by giving them our Serenity box with five soothing treats, including A Ring of Roses buttercream for soft skin and Bathos bubble bar for a lovely, peaceful bath time.

Set includes:
Alkmaar Handmade Soap, Ring of Roses Conditioning Buttercream, Bathos Bubble Bar, Butterball Bath Bomb, Ceridwen’s Cauldron Luxury Bath Melt

Available at LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics

Price: $35.45