Mom...why do people get their lips pierced?

Taking the writing prompt from Mama's Losin' It...Describe an awkward conversation you had with someone recently.

Whoa! Yeah! Umm, that was awkward. We were in the car Monday night driving home from open gym night and both kids are talking about lip piercings. My daughter, ever the rule follower and announcer of rule breakers pipes in with "you have to remove piercings at our school. They aren't allowed because you could like get hurt in gym class. It could get caught on something." To which my son replies, "so and so had one and I remember he was playing basketball and got his ripped out, it was gross". Now normally I would reply that he was making that up, because he often makes up stuff (I really don't think piercings are allowed at his school, other than ear piercings), but there was no way I was heading into this conversation because the next thing I heard was "Why do people get their lips pierced?" And there was no way I was tackling that question. Of course my mind was distracted with the reasons. Lol! I pretty much let them talk amongst themselves and pretended I was engrossed in the song on the radio and pretended I wasn't paying attention. What was that song? I have no idea.

Talk amongst yourselves. Lol!

Lola's Diner ©2008-2010

Bookazine Review - Light & Delish: 400 Calories or Less

Recently I received a copy of Light & Delish: 400 Calories or Less, a special “bookazine” based on its successful food Web site Delish.com, which launched in September 2008 in partnership with MSN and quickly became a top 10 food destination online, according to ComScore. The Fall 2010 issue features 138 quick, easy and healthy recipes at 400 calories or less, inspired by popular restaurant dishes.
This "bookazine" is chock full of healthful recipes with lots and lots of photos. In fact, every single recipe has a photo! There are so many good recipes to choose from, it's hard to pick what to try first. And all of them are 400 calories or less! Who could ask for more?

There are healthy makeovers for Pasta, Mac 'n' Cheese, Chinese Food, Mexican Food, Desserts. And even wine pairings are offered.

Hearst Magazines Digital Media, has launched a new bookazine featuring quick and easy recipes at 400 calories or less. 138 recipes in all, many of the items are inspired by popular restaurant dishes. The bookazine will hit newsstands on September 7 and will be on sale until December 13. The cost is $9.99.This marks the second Light & Delish: 400 Calories or Less bookazine that Hearst has published and features recipes developed and tested by the editors of Country Living, Good Housekeeping, and Redbook. The Fall 2010 issue includes meal ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner, created in healthy portion sizes, with flavorful, wholesome ingredients, and divided in categories such as Family Style, Trattoria Tonight, Mexican Fiesta, and Guilt-Free Desserts.

The magazine highlights healthy makeovers, offering easy, low-calorie recipes for family-style classics, mouth-watering Italian dishes, Mexican favorites, Asian buffet staples, and Bistro courses, as well as delicious desserts. Also included are healthy cooking tips, advice for eating smart when dining out, and a guide to wine and cheese, with pairing suggestions.

Throughout the pages of Light & Delish, readers are driven to Delish.com for more recipes, tips, and how-to videos. In addition, readers can create their own online recipe book, access the advanced recipe finder tool, sign up for the free weekly newsletter, and get coupons."

The "bookazine", Light & Delish 400 Calories or Less will hit newsstands on September 7 and will be on sale until December 13. The cost is $9.99.

Lola's Diner Disclaimer: I was given this "bookazine" to review. This review is 100% my opinion and has not been edited or reviewed by anyone. I was not compensated in any other way for this product review.

Lola's Diner ©2008-2010

Cookbook Review - Two For Tonight - Pure Romance From L'Auberge Chez Francois, By Jacques E. Haeringer

I was so excited when I was contacted about reviewing Jacques E. Haeringer's new book, Two For Tonight - Pure Romance From L'Auberge Chez Francois. Soon after starting through the book, excitement turned into intimidation. That was until I tried 2 recipes. Then intimidation turned back into excitement.

What was the first recipe I tried? Expresso Mousse. I've never tried to make mousse from a recipe before. I've bought the package mix mousse that you can buy at the grocery store. The brand name rhymes with "hello". I've never used plain gelatin before. I had some instant chocolate putting on hand to cap off my romantic dinner just in case the mousse didn't turn out. I prepared the mousse in advance and put it in the refrigerator for later that night. It tasted great! The only complaint I have is my fault. I was not fast enough preparing the gelatin portion. I got side-tracked with something. (Note to self: don't walk away from gelling gelatin.) Thus the gelatin got a bit clumpy when I mixed in the chilled expresso. (And yes, I brewed up some expresso. Again, I got side-tracked while reducing the expresso and needed to brew a second cup.) I've never whipped cream before this and I was really concerned that it wouldn't whip, but my KitchenAid stand mixer performed the job admirably. When I folded in the expresso/gelatin mixture I noticed teeny, tiny bits of gelatin. Nothing I could do at that point, but it still tasted fabulous. I dusted the tops of the Expresso Mousse with Cocoa Powder. (I actually got about 3 ramekin servings because my ramekins were small.)
The second recipe was Bearnaise Sauce for the 2 steaks I purchased for our romantic dinner. My girlfriend and I love Bearnaise Sauce. Looking at the recipe, I was really intimidated. I flip flopped between giving it a shot and buying the packaged mix at the store. I decided to go all the way and try the recipe, and I have to say it was delicious! I can't wait to make it again. And I can't wait to try the Hollandaise Sauce recipe. (We love Eggs Benedict!)

While there are very few photos in the book, there are some really helpful tips in some of the recipes. For the Bearnaise Sauce recipe it said to beat the yolk mixture vigorously in a figure 8 pattern to incorporate more air. Good tip, I wouldn't have known to do that otherwise.

While my sauce is a bit chunky (I was hurried and did not finely chop the parsley), the taste was perfect, and it still looked good. Next time though, I will make a double batch, as we barely had enough sauce to cover the 2 steaks.
(The plate next to the steak is my girlfriend's version of Tempura Fried Green Beans. She was attempting to duplicate something she tried at a restaurant the day before. She made a sauce with Soy Sauce and Wasabi Paste that was delicious with the beans.

Next time I cook a romantic dinner at my house we'll try the Champagne Mousse. Can't wait!

Two For Tonight - Pure Romance From L'Auberge Chez Francois is available at Amazon.com, Barnes And Noble.com, Borders.com and your local bookstore.

Lola's Diner Disclaimer: I was given this cookbook to review. This review is 100% my opinion and has not been edited or reviewed by anyone. I was not compensated in any other way for this product review.

Lola's Diner ©2008-2010

August Top Commenter Winners!

Another close one. Harriet edged out Lin by 2 comments.

August's Winners:1st Place - 3 Week Ad2nd Place - 2 Week Ad
3rd Place - 1 Week Ad

1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

Join in, COMMENT, and come back October 1st to find out the winners!
Play nice Harriet and Lin!
You gals rock!

Lola's Diner ©2008-2010

Thursday Thunks...

Welcome to the September 9th edition of Thursday Thunks!

(which we always seem to post on Wednesday)
Where we make you think a little bit before you blog!
We pick a subject, and your job is to interpret it anyway you want.
Write about it on your blog... simple as that.
Maybe you can interpret it as a picture - we don't care!
Please only leave a link if you have written a Thursday Thunks post.
Don't forget to go visit the other participants' blogs.
Read and comment about all their Thursday Thunks responses!
That's what all this is about after all, isn't it?
We'll have so much fun and become lifelong friends....

Thursday Thunks: You've Got Mail

The TT questions are brought to you by Bud, the color of Meg Ryan's Blouse and the number 33.

1. From whom did you get your last e-mail? The last few emails in all of my accounts have been from online retailers.

2. What is the most recent movie that you have seen in a theater? I don't really remember. It could have been "Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs", but it may have been something more recent. I don't recall.

3. Have you ever seen a ghost? No.

4. Ever loved someone so much it made you cry? Who hasn't?

5. What are you most afraid of? Foreclosure.

6. What do you do when you are bored? Surf the net.

7. Other than the author of this mess of a meme, whose blog are you most curious to see their answers? Just about anyone.

8. Name three thing from your bucket list. Visit Europe, Las Vegas (yeah, I dream big). Can't think of anything else right now.

9. Who was the last person who complimented you on how you looked, that actually was a surprise? My girlfriend. (Actually not a surprise, but I can't think of anyone else at the moment.)

10. Do you remember Berleen? No.

11. What was the last concert that you attended where the band was much better than you imagined? I don't know. I've seen some awesome concerts. Rush, AC/DC, John Mellencamp (now he's too cool to use the name Johnny Cougar), Grateful Dead

12. What’s the next band you’re either planning to see or want to? I'd love to see Melissa Ferrick again and let my girlfriend experience one of her shows. Ferrick is awesome on acoustic guitar, but she's not playing anywhere in the Midwest. Come on! Have a show in Illinois! I'd also like to see Poi Dog Pondering. Missed the Ravinia show. Frank is awesome! He played at the church I used to belong to in Chicago.

13. What were the last things do you imagine that Kimber threw off the roof? No idea.

Lola's Diner ©2008-2010

Random Tuesday Thoughts

Things have been hoppin' here at Lola's Diner.

School started. Mad dashes to Targhay and Walgreens for those unexpected last minute items needed for school. Lot's of running for dental and doctor appointments.

Good news! My daughter passed her sports physical, so she will again be on the Girl's Golf Team again this year. (We were really sweating that one. For some reason the first appointment I booked for her she was soooo nervous that her resting heartrate was off the charts. They subbed in a female doc at Friday's appointment and all went smoothly.)

The Labor Day weekend was fantastic! Hope you had a good one too. The weather was great. Managed to get a few hours at the Naperville Last Fling. Didn't get to see any bands, but the kids had a good time with the rides and carny games. And of course funnel cake. Capped it off with an impromptu bbq Monday night.

Lola's Diner ©2008-2010

Jean Shopping at Fashion Bug

For any of my readers who shop at plus size stores, or actually I guess any women's store...here's a question for you...Do you think these stores employ carnival mirrors that make you look thinner than you are? I'm beginning to wonder, but then again, I have been losing a lot of weight and I'm not really used to seeing my thinner new self in a full size mirror.

I went shopping today at Fashion Bug for more lacy fun unmentionables and bit the bullet and decided to try on a pair of jeans. I had no idea what size to pick because every store seems to be different. (I absolutely love Old Navy's plus sizes online, I wear the smallest size when shopping there, gotta love that!) Anyway, I guessed a size and pondered over their Right Fit Jeans diagram. I will translate it for you into real talk:

Yellow- Straight - Do you have a straight figure, no hips or booty?
Red - Moderately curvy - Do you have slight hips and booty?
Blue - Curvy - Do you have big hips and booty?

I picked Red, because I have a flat booty and my hips don't really stick out. I tried them on. OMG! I looked in the mirror and was wondering if I was seeing the body of a different woman on the other side of the mirror. These jeans are AMAZING! I look totally hawwt! And I can't wait until my girlfriend sees me in these (and the lacy unmentionables underneath). I want to live in these jeans! It's like these jeans are custom made for me! It was all I could do to not buy several pairs of these jeans. I didn't, because I'm still wanting to lose more weight, therefore, I only buy 1 pair of pants at a time, because they tend to get baggy pretty quick and I can't afford to spend a lot since I will only wear them for a short time.

Fashion Bug is having a Buy One Get One 50% off sale right now. I bought a trendy jacket shirt that goes awesome with the jeans and got that for 50% off. I'm becoming a fashion plate, I swear! Bras are buy 2 get 1 free. Panties are 4 for $20. Including the lacy hipsters! The sale is in store and online. Go check it out!

Lola's Diner Disclaimer: My purchases at Fashion Bug were paid for by me. This review is 100% my opinion and has not been edited or reviewed by anyone. I was not compensated in any way by Fashion Bug but if they would like to give me gift cards for my next shopping visit, I would be happy to accept.

Lola's Diner ©2008-2010