Sunday, September 27, 2009

Words Straight From the Heart!

Looks like it's a wedding every weekend from now until the dawn of spring for the Domestic Diva and crew; tis' the season, I guess! With 2009-2010 being "THE" year of the wedding, the search of a extraordinary and extra economical gift is inevitable. My creatively crafty mother has always had a way with words and poems. She just has the innate knack, you know? Mother is always being asked to compose a song for this, write a poem for that, you would think the woman is the next William Wordsworth in waiting?! We recently resurrected her talents for a wedding toast poem and boy, was it a home run hit! We placed a copy of this delightful ditty in a sassy teal baroque picture frame, gifted the framed folly to the love birds and it's currently on display in their humble abode. Now, besides the fabu frame hunting at Marshall's and Ross, the TIME is what you must invest in this gift. First off, devise a short questionnaire for someone close to the bride and groom. You want this to be completely customized so be sure to get the juicy details that only they would know about; i.e. where they met, how they spent their first date, how he proposed and maybe even include details about the wedding or honeymoon. If you are presenting the poem as a toast as well, you may also want to incorporate details about your relationship to the bride or groom- the more personal the details, the better! Also, remember the select your words carefully, no rambling and KEEP IT CLASSY! (I know my readers wouldn't think otherwise!) The frame should be unique and exclusive to the couple as well. Use their wedding colors, motifs or their home decor as inspiration! This personalized poem is also a great gift for showers, anniversaries, peas in the pod and even birthdays; get jiggy with it! If you are at a loss for words or the cat's got your tongue, Mother Dostal is always at work in her wordy workshop and would be delighted to devise a custom poem for you! Email her ruthkdostal@yahoo.com for more information.



Here is a copy of her latest literary feat:



Christina, Christina, what can I say?
Who'd ever thought we'd be here today?
Times have passed; it seems like yesterday,
We were carefree teenagers, partying the time away!
A Knight and a Wildcat, who would have guessed,
The bond we would have is really the best!
I bugged you at Bennigan's til you said OK,
The Club One Christmas party, we laughed and we played!
Then on to Orlando, Hawaii, and A-town,
And...Vegas..we won't tell about what went down!
Local fav's--Bar-Bar, Deja Groove, and 51 degrees,
Don't forget Spanky's where we had 'em on their knees.
Rockin' with us as we danced in our chairs,
Flashlights, techomusic--you had to be there!
On the softer side, I know you as a listener, a thoughtful friend.
You've been giving and caring as we got thru tough times and MEN!
It seems the Cosmos matched us Gemini and Libra til the end,
Old Navy and The Limited, and the CASH we liked to spend!
Your favorite color is pink--just right for one so calm,
Your smile is always welcomed--gentle and warm.
On this day of days, You know I hope for only the best,
You sure picked a good one;Mat outshines the rest!
I've known him since 10th grade when we gave Ms. Marshall a fit!
I knew Mat was special and I'm so glad you're it!
The one he picked to spend a lifetime of love,
You're a perfect couple, blessed from above!
I'm handing you over to Mat today, but I hope we'll remain friends in
EVERY SPECIAL WAY!


Be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Jeepers, Creepers, Where'd Ya Get Those Peepers?

Whether you are sleepless in Seattle, wide awake in Wichita or a night owl in Orlando (like me), your precious peepers are bound to face fatigue. Unfortunately, almost everyone is familiar with those dark and puffy rings you sometimes find hiding out under your eyes. There are various causes as to why these ghastly and ghoulish imperfections make their debut. Factors such as too much stress, lack of sleep, sun exposure, nutrition deficiency, age and excessive use of drugs or alcohol are among the top sabotages.

Here are a few home remedies that will get those baby blues, gleaming greens or bashful browns back sparkling in no time!

*Veggie Therapy: Chilled cucumber or potato slices work wonders for your tired eyes! Both veggies contain enzymes which help diminish any dark discoloration. By chilling the slices, the cool cukes and potatoes help constrict blood vessels and decrease puffiness.

*Go Nuts!: Apply a few drops of almond oil around the eyes before going to bed or in the morning after your shower. Almond oil has been used for centuries to combat under eye circles, starting with the ancient Greeks. (Ladies, I prefer the nightly method as I tend to cake on the eye make-up in the morning. Almond Oil + Liner= Raccoon Eyes!)

*A "Tea-riffic" Treatment: Steep chamomile tea bags in boiling water, chill them and apply to your puffy eyes. Chamomile is known for it's oh-so-soothing properties. This treatment is best accompanied by a warm bubble bath and a glass of champagne...ahhhh...

*Don't Forget Your Vitamins!: Applying a cream that has Vitamin E and Vitamin C will also give great eye brightening results. Many of these skin care creams can be purchased over the counter in the cosmetic (a.k.a attempts to turn back the hands of time) section! ;o)

*"Mint" To Be: Crush a few fresh mint leaves, mix with a little water and apply the mixture over your dark circles. Leave the herbal aid on for 15 minutes and wash away. Don't fret, any extra mint can be used for those Cha-Cha Cherry Mojito's you have been dying to make!

*Slow Down the Sodium: Try to reduce the salt intake in your diet to get rid of puffy eyes and puffy everything! As with any ailment, those recommend 8 glasses of water a day will also help ease your eyes.

They say "eyes are the window into the soul" so lets be sure those peepers are pretty! You never know who may want to search your soul next!

Be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Chicken Soup for the Sick Soul

After livin' the life with some fellow divas in "Hotlanta" this weekend, the common cold has decided to rear its ugly head. Leave it to me to catch a cold during the final hoorah of the summer, sheesh! Despite the stuffy nose, scratchy throat, watery eyes and achy muscles, one must always find a way to BLOG! I have continually wondered why we have turned to that steamy, sodium-laden concoction we know as Chicken Noodle Soup for comfort during our sicknesses. It was only until I found and tested this recipe that I truly knew how much solace a piping hot bowl of this magic stew can provide. Besides the homey and hearty taste of the soup, medical research has proved that some components of chicken soup spark an anti-inflammatory effect in the body that could lead to temporary ease of the illness. This recipe also contains fresh ginger which has been used for many moons to cure everything from congestion, nausea, unsettled stomachs and now even heart disease! Whether this poultry filled potion is for you or for a friend in need, consider freezing half of the batch for future use as flu season is upon us.


Asian Inspired Chicken Noodle Soup


Ingredients


1 pound boneless and skinless chicken, cut into 1-inch pieces


1 cup water


2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into bite-size sticks


3 cans (14 ounces each) chicken broth


2 tablespoons vinegar, rice


2 1/2 teaspoons ginger, fresh


2 ounces rice noodles


6 ounces frozen pea pods, thawed


1 tablespoon soy sauce


Directions


In a skillet, cook chicken in hot oil just until browned. Add cooked chicken, carrots, broth, water, vinegar, soy sauce and ginger into a slow-cooker (crock-pot). Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 4 to 6 hours or on high-heat setting for 2 to 3 hours. Stir in noodles and pea pods and season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and cook for 10 to 15 minutes more or until noodles are tender.


For easy transport to a sick neighbor or friend, ladle this super soup into a large mason jar and put the lid on tight. For added flair, slip a square of red gingham cloth under the lid's rim and tie a copy of the recipe on with raffia. Who knows, maybe a jar of Chicken Noodle Soup for the Sick Soul may land on your doorstep one day!


Thanks for all the well wishes and be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!