Magazine Overload

I love magazines...their glossy pages, beautiful photographs, articles on how to entertain and how to build a gadget, yummy recipes, and oh so much more...but recently I've discovered / realized, I really don't read my magazines.  As a matter of fact, I am exactly one year behind...I confirmed this last night when I recieved an August issue and noticed I still have the September 2010 issue waiting to be read.  So I have a new goal in life.  I will get  caught up on all my magazines and will not renew some of my subscriptions.  Okay, maybe that is two goals. 

Let's start off with National Geographic.  I've been in love with this magazine since I was a small child.  Actually I've had my very own subscription since I was a teen.  The travels to foreign lands...the introduction of fascinating cultures...the history...the space exploration...the world...but now everytime I read a National Geographic, it's full of articles pointing out how I am directly responsible for the demise of plants and animals.  That I am a bad human being polluting the world.  That I don't recycle enough and that children in China are doing dangerous work recycling my waste.  That I'm fat and worthless and probably should die and be recycled.  It's frankly depressing.  I no longer love National Geographic.  And since it has convinced me that I should not be wasteful and need to recycle, I've canceled my subscription (so as not to create any unneccessary waste, nor kill any more trees) and I've caught up on all my National Geographic magazines and recycled the lot at the local transfer station.  However, Dearest NatGeo, if you ever do return to that bygone era of exploring the world and it's history and cultures, and stop preaching at me, then I'll be back on your subscription list.  I feel the loss of what you once were.  Your glory days are gone.

And because of my disappointment in National Geographic, I no longer subscribe to Traveler nor read Adventure.  After all, my idea of a good time is not backpacking through the wilderness while saving the rain forest and worring about eco-tourism.  If I want clean sheets in my hotel room, I darn well better get them. 

Next up is my various cooking magazines.  I have been weaning myself off them over the last few years anyway.  Though I admit, I find myself missing Martha Stewart's Everyday Food.  (If you do want a cooking magazine, I highly recommend this one).  As a matter of fact, I have all my old issues squirreled away and pull them out at random for an idea, much to my husband's gastro-delight.  The last cooking magazine to go will be Cook's Country.  I'm going to miss Mr. Kimball's folksy tales, and all the recipes tested over and over by those folks in America's Test Kitchen.  But honestly, I have enough recipes right now to last me the rest of my life.  And besides, there is the internet available, with food galore and food blogs, and whole websites devoted to recipes. 

Next up on my  "Do Not Renew" list is Better Homes and Gardens.  It was a mistake when I paid for my subscription.  Some clever marketer somewhere sent me a bill and in my over-complusion, I paid it.  Next thing I know it's glossy pages were coming to my home and assuring me I had good taste, that my flower arrangements would look that classy, my dinner table would be perfectly set for the dinner party I never have, that I could have white furniture...and that is why this magazine must go.  It's a horrible influence on me, and I find that after flipping through those glossy perfect pictures, and then look around my living room, with piles of junk and dog hair and a tv on a stack of 2x4's my husband calls a table, I am horribly morose and sad and dejected.  I will never have white furniture.  

I'll also be letting go of my gardening magazines.  All I have actually learned from them is that I am doing everything wrong.  Since my gardens are overflowing with flowers and  I don't baby my roses and they still manage to bloom, I think I can stop worrying about what my gardens should look like, and maybe start actually weeding. 

In the "maybe/maybe not" column is Smithsonian magazine.  It's my mental substitute for the old National Geographic.  Sometimes I enjoy it.  Sometimes I don't.  Of course I have about 6 months worth of this magazine sitting in my pile to be read.  I think I'll finish catching up and then make my decision as to whether or not I will renew.  Though I love the Smithsonian and their gift shops and I'm a sucker for history. 

I will be keeping Popular Science and Southern Living.  I've tried dropping Popular Science before and wound up going through withdrawal symptoms.  It was bad.  So when they finally sent that "won't you reconsider subscribing" I had a check in the mail to them that day.  I guess I'll always enjoy geeking out and being nerdy and find new gadgets and ideas fascinating.  So Popular Science has to stay.  I will also keep Southern Living.  In its' glossy pages I see glimpses of places I know and miss, and smiling faces, and recipes for things like grits and fried green tomatoes and mint juleps.  I'm reminded how good sweet tea on a porch actually is and that it doesn't matter that I'll never have white furniture. 





I guess I will still pick up a random crochet magazine (it's an addiction and admitting you need help is the first step).  I will also still receive a random dog related magazine because Isabella's some kind of fancy dog with a pedigree and I get random dog magazines because of it.  But otherwise, I have culled my magazine list.  Both mentally and fiscally.  I know I'll stick with this goal, because my husband gets my blog on his android phone.  :o)

If you have an addiction like mine, consider culling your subscriptions as well.  Also, as National Geographic would tell you, don't forget to recycle your old magazines.  They are also great to donate to senior centers and libraries.  Kids love to cut out pictures for arts and crafts, so check with your local schools and daycares as well. 

 

Happy reading everybody, and remember, you don't need white furniture to be happy!   



Happy Pi Day!

That's right, 3-14 is Pi day, because pi is 3.14 (rounded up that is). 

So in honor of Pi, I plan on making a...you guessed it...PIE!!!

Today's pie is a true classic.  It may be different that what you would expect.  I bet you have all the ingredients on hand, so a special trip to the store won't be necessary.  However, I suggest you don't let the name fool you...this is one tasty pie. 

VINEGAR PIE

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 whole eggs
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 stick butter
• 1 9" pie shell

Melt the stick of butter.  Mix together sugar, eggs, vinegar, vanilla and melted butter.  Pour into pie crust and bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick/knife comes out clean.  Let cool and slice and enjoy with a big glass of milk or cup of coffee.

Ahhh yummy.  Trust me and give this classic pie a try.  You'll be amazed.   

SMAWL 7th Annual Animal Fair - Mark Your Calendars

Two Crafty Women will once again join forces with Frannie's Grannies to participate in a local event, the 7th Annual Animal Fair presented by SMAWL.  It will be held at the St. Mary's county fairgrounds on May 7th.  We will have handmade afghans, pet harnesses, and various beaded items available for purchase.  Bring your furry friend and participate in all that the Animal Fair has to offer. 

Isabella is hoping to make an appearance as well! 

You can find out more about SMAWL here.

You can check out Two Crafty Women's website here.

Chocolate Soup

Do you like Chocolate Pudding?  Chocolate Mousse?  Chocolate Pie?  Chocolate Cake?  Well then, how about the newest sensation that is sweeping the fancy schmancy restaurants' dessert menus??  That's right, Chocolate Soup!!!

You can make your own variations to this basic recipe:

Chocolate Soup

Ingredients

• 3 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 5 ounces dark chocolate(or bittersweet chocolate), finely chopped
• 2 ounces baking chocolate, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons Frangelico or Godiva chocolate liqueur

Garnish

• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup chopped, toasted hazelnuts or almonds
• 1/4 cup finely chopped dark chocolate

Instructions

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the cream, sugar, and vanilla. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 40 minutes or until reduced by one-third. Stir in the chopped chocolate until well blended.  Remove from heat and whisk in the liqueur.

Whip the cream until frothy, then add the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla. Continue to whip until the cream holds soft peaks. Fold in the chopped nuts and chocolate.  Place a large scoop of the whipped cream in the center of each serving bowl and pour the warm chocolate soup around the whipped cream.

For the Readers

I love to read.  I always have, for as long as I can remember.  I was in pre-K and already reading.  I remember my father getting called to the school being chastised for teaching me to read, after all that was a teacher's job.  He said he didn't.  I don't know how I learned to read, or when, but I've always been a reader. 

I used to win all the library reading challenges in school.  It wasn't difficult for me.  I thought it was great to get rewarded for something I did naturally. 

However, being a voracious reader has it's disadvantages.

Over the course of the years, I've spent a lot of money on books.  I've also been fantatical about no matter where I lived or what I was doing, the first thing, the most important thing, was to get a library card. 

Authors, with the possible exception of James Patterson, just don't put out books quick enough for me. 

I also run the frequent chance of picking up a book to read that I've read before.  I can't remember by title alone if I have read the book, until I'm halfway through the first chapter.  Sometimes I don't mind re-reading the book, it's like discovering an old friend.  But other times, my mind is impatient and wants to devour some new material. 

I've read the gambit, romance, action, thrillers, cookbooks, non-fiction, history, political...heck I even read the role call roster sheets from the Civil War once. 

I'm explaining all this to you, to introduce my favorite bits of technology that has made this reader's life a very happy place to be. 

My newest love is a Nook.  My darling husband bought me one prior to us traveling to the Dominican Republic last year.  His motives were probably selfish, as he had more luggage space that way.  However, my husband is a technology fiend.  I know he did his research and there are tons of e-readers out on the market, but he chose the nook.  It was a wise choice.  His reasoning was that he can pop the cover off, change the battery himself, upgrade memory and a million other tech like things without paying to send it back to the factory to be refurbished...in short, it's technical.  But the other reason he chose it, was because after investigating all the e-readers on the market he said I would never have a problem reading any format, whereas some e-readers are limited.  He was right.  I can read any format, and can download audio books as well.  I can check out e-books from my local library and purchase books from anywhere, and the free books available online are unlimited!!  I've noticed at times the library will have two versions of an e-book.  One format will have a ton of people on a wait list, while I can zip through to check-out with the other format.  Oh, the best thing about an e-book library - I can visit from the comfort of my home in my pajamas!  Happy Happy Day.  I could rave on and on about my nook, but honestly, it has more features than I need, and I would be wasting your time.  If you've been on the fence about getting an e-reader, procrastinate no longer. 

My next great embrace of technology comes in the form of a website, Good Reads.  Even if you do not have an e-reader, this website is a reader's dream come true.  You can chat with your favorite authors, find out when new books are coming out, chat with other reader's in a forum atmosphere, get book recommendations, swap books with others, enter contests for advanced reading copies of new releases, search for any book that has ever been published, and more...One of the most important features to me is my virtual library.  There I can track the books I've read and the books I want to read.  I'll never pick up a book again that I've already read.  It also helps me keep up with which series I'm reading and where I was.  I can make notes to myself, and even give reviews.  A book nerd can get lost on this website.  It's also seemlessly compatible with your facebook account.  Another great feature is a section for e-books.  A quick search for a book will let you know if a book is available in e-format.  If it's free, you can download it right then and there without searching the rest of the internet.  If it's not free, it will provide you with a list of venues where you can purchase the e-book and how much it costs with each vendor. 

I do want to share one more thing about Good Reads...I recently entered a contest for an advanced reading copy of a book, and I won!  I'm eagerly awaiting this new book via parcel post and will review it for Good Reads and you as well.  The book is "Women Heroes of World War II: 26 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance, and Rescue" by Kathyrn Atwood.