Happy World Oceans Day. “Flowers by the Sea” by William Carlos Williams is a poem I carry in my wallet as a reminder of its beauty and majesty.
World Oceans Day
Recipe: Chicken Tortilla Soup with Lime
There’s a delicious chicken tortilla soup at a favorite local restaurant, Tlapazola Grill in Venice. What makes their soup so special is in the name; it’s listed on the menu as lemon chicken tortilla soup (and they’re generous with the lemon juice). We tried it at home with leftover chicken and used fresh lime juice.
For our version of chicken tortilla soup with lime:
Add leftover chicken to a simmering pot of homemade chicken-vegetable stock, with roughly chopped celery, carrots, and fennel. Simmer until vegetables are softened but still firm. Before serving, add the juice of one or two limes and chopped avocado, then finish with broken tortilla chips. Optional: Add queso fresco (i.e. Mexican cheese) and cilantro. Serve and enjoy.
Kitchen Sources for Beauty: Corn Starch
In my quest to eliminate unnecessary products and waste, I have tried to cut down on shampooing. I’ve actually tried to stop shampooing altogether (google “no poo” and you’ll find tons of testimonials from those who have successfully stopped shampooing; there’s even a “no poo” Wikipedia entry), but I lost patience during the dirty, greasy hair phase. So now I try to shampoo once or twice a week and get through the in-between days with corn starch. There are plenty of dry shampoos on the market and I tried a few from the beauty closet when I worked for a fashion magazine, but most of these products contain artificial fragrances and other ingredients I won’t use. I read that straight-from-the pantry corn starch could be used and I’ve found it works just as well. I keep it in the bathroom and dip my fingers in the jar to apply to roots on non-shampoo days. Hair maintains its natural shine from healthy hair oils, while roots get a quick de-greasing. Until I try quitting shampoo again….
Message on the Steps
Photo taken at Big Red Sun in Venice, CA.
A Woman Can Admire Without Envy
Love this old newspaper clip on “Things a Woman Can Do” posted on The Hairpin today.
My favorite: “She can admire another woman’s stylish bonnet without saying ‘I wish it were mine.’ “
American Flag Waving in the Neighborhood
…And Here Comes Summer
Style Soundbite: Perfect Dress
Overheard snippet from a conversation about a TV show: “She should plummet to the ground more often. That dress is perfect for the situation.”
Purple Blossoms
Blooming lilac, jacaranda, and chive flowers. Purple blossoms all around.
Street Art: Jon Stewart, Maverick
Photo taken in West Hollywood, CA.
Tangled Up
Nod to Dylan
Suddenly I turned around and she was standin’ there/With silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hair/She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns/‘Come in,’ she said, ‘I’ll give you shelter from the storm.’
Bob Dylan, “Shelter From the Storm”
Monday Morning Zen: Coffee at the Shore
Walk to the shore, finish coffee, fill cup with shells.
Here Comes the Safe Sunscreen
For the last couple of years, I have found myself eagerly awaiting the day the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Sunscreen Guide comes out, so I can forward the link to everyone I know. Protection from the sun? Important. Protection from harmful chemicals in most sunscreen products? Equally important—but so many consumers are unaware of the dangers inside the bottles and tubes. I remember being shocked to find out about all the unnecessarily harmful ingredients found in most sunscreen products by “trusted” brands, but then I was relieved to discover safer alternatives that are effective in blocking those dangerous rays. I’ve tried a lot of the sunscreens that test well and personally favor the Badger line. I keep the sunscreen stick (pictured) in my bag and also use the SPF 30 lotion. Find more information, recommendations, and results of tests on other sunscreen products from the Skin Deep’s Sunscreens 2011 report here.
White Before Memorial Day
Exhibit of white shoes by trees on Abbot Kinney Blvd. during the Venice Art Walk on Sunday.
Rapture Mixed Tape
I like to think every occasion deserves a mixed tape (and I prefer “mixed tape” to “playlist,” even if it shows my age.) With Blondie’s “Rapture” stuck in my head all day–I started singing it when I read something this morning about the proposed end of days on May 21–I decided to get it out of my head by listening to other songs appropriate for the occasion. Radiohead’s “Reckoner” popped in my head, then Prince’s “1999” and, well, a lot of my favorite artists have something that seems just right for judgment day. More to be added to this, I’m sure…. Songs on Grooveshark are here.
“Reckoner,” Radiohead
“Today is the Day,” Yo La Tengo
“Rapture,” Blondie
“1999,” Prince
“It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine),” R.E.M.
“The Night’s Too Long,” Lucinda Williams
“The World’s A Mess; It’s In My Kiss,” X
“What Difference Does It Make?,” The Smiths
“Road to Nowhere,” Talking Heads
“Road to Joy,” Bright Eyes
“Paint it Black,” Rolling Stones
“The Promised Land,” Bruce Springsteen
“Save Me,” Aimee Mann
“We Shall Overcome,” Pete Seeger
“We’ll Meet Again,” Johnny Cash
“When the Ship Comes In,” Bob Dylan
“Blue Thunder,” Glaxie 500
“After the Gold Rush,” Neil Young
“Redemption Song,” Bob Marley
“Highway to Hell,” AC/DC
“Hell Yes,” Beck
“Raising Hell,” RUN DMC
“Jesus, Etc.,” Wilco
“Stairway to Heaven,” Led Zeppelin
“Just Like Heaven,” The Cure
“When the Stars Go Blue,” Ryan Adams
“What a Wonderful World,” The Ramones
“Gimme Gimme Gimme,” Black Flag
“Hallelujah,” Leonard Cohen
“Good Morning Heartache,” Billie Holiday
“Here Comes the Sun Again,” M. Ward
“Here Comes the Sun Again,” M. Ward
“Here Comes the Sun,” The Beatles
Preparing for the Rapture
How to Look Punk (Or, Well, Almost)
I love this ’zine from the ’70s on “how to look punk” and its declaration that the symbol of punk is the safety pin (via Boing Boing, via threadbared). One of my favorite ’80s accessories was a watch with a band made entirely of safety pins (similar to this one). Lately I’ve been wearing a vintage gold-toned safety pin with faux pearls on a string (made of excess fabric from a recycled T-shirt). Not quite punk—but a nod in that direction.
Love on a String
I believe that handmade items are the best gifts. I was having a bad day when I found this in my desk: a beaded string necklace made by my niece Mary. I recognized her initials when she gave it to me, but I asked about the others: “That stands for Aunt Stef,” she told me. That’s a good memory to cancel the badness of the day.
Recipe: Kale Salad with Radish, Fennel and Parm
I’m suddenly crazy for kale and made this salad, based loosely on one a friend recently ordered from the deli section of Rose Cafe in Venice–I reached across the table with my fork to try it and made a mental note to make it at home. I don’t recall all the ingredients in their version of the salad and it’s not on their online menu, but I remembered the kale and radishes. To make it more of a meal, I added quinoa. To make: Simply blanch the kale and let it cool, then toss it with some quinoa, radish, fennel, and a handful of shaved parmesan. Dress it with a basic lemon-olive oil vinaigrette. Yum.
Stef McDonald 