Foods that should never cross your lips… #4

On September 8, 2011January 8, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, HEALTHLeave a comment

Well, it’s Thursday and time for the Prevention magazine tip… from a wonderful article 7 FOODS THAT SHOULD NEVER CROSS YOUR LIPS, here is number 4:

Nonorganic Potatoes

Jeffrey Moyer, chair of the National Organic Standards Board, gives us the scoop:

The problem: Root vegetables absorb herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that wind up in soil. In the case of potatoes—the nation’s most popular vegetable—they’re treated with fungicides during the growing season, then sprayed with herbicides to kill off the fibrous vines before harvesting. After they’re dug up, the potatoes are treated yet again to prevent them from sprouting. ” Try this experiment: Buy a conventional potato in a store, and try to get it to sprout. It won’t,” says Moyer, who is also farm director of the Rodale Institute (also owned by Rodale Inc., the publisher of Prevention). “I’ve talked with potato growers who say point-blank they would never eat the potatoes they sell. They have separate plots where they grow potatoes for themselves without all the chemicals.”

The solution: Buy organic potatoes. Washing isn’t good enough if you’re trying to remove chemicals that have been absorbed into the flesh.

Budget tip: Organic potatoes are only $1 to $2 a pound, slightly more expensive than conventional spuds.

Well, good grief, is nothing sacred? The potatoes are coated in layer after layer of poison. Lovely. I DO only buy organic… just not as many. Works out fine!

ARTICLE RECAP: canned tomatoes, corn-fed beef, microwave popcorn and now… nonorganic potatoes!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Hydrogen Peroxide to the rescue! Always keep this in the house… helps to induce vomiting in dogs.

On September 7, 2011January 8, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn HEALTHLeave a comment

31MDnnk+8xL._SL500_AA300_ — Image: Amazon.com

Eyeeeew. I know. Let me start by saying the beast got ahold of an OTC cold medication while we weren’t looking. He didn’t have it long, just long enough. Eek, two pills gone and one out of the foil wrapper but intact. Couldn’t remember if a human popped it out of it’s airtight little seal or if the beast did it. We called the vet (very important step), he acted fine, BUT because of what this cold medication was we were told that unless we were 100% certain that he did NOT ingest any of it we needed to induce vomiting. Great. We were 99% sure he didn’t get to anything. We are oh so careful, but darn it… despite your best intentions he gets ahold of something anyway. We were told to induce vomiting with Hydrogen Peroxide (the regular 3% kind you get at the drug store), the vet told us the amount to give and to wait ten minutes, if no vomiting, repeat. Of course we had to repeat, then give a little water, then run around the yard to get it moving into his stomach and then whew… “it” happened. NO PILLS. Thank goodness, but better to be safe rather than sorry. He probably won’t trust us for a while, we’re both getting what we call “stink eye”. This dog has the uncanny ability to give a dirty look. Great! None of that “I love you no matter what” with Charlie!

Bottom line (if you’re a dog owner) I think it’s really important to have HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, and it’s extra nice to have an oral syringe, we used a ceramic chinese soup spoon. Best thing we had in a pinch. It wasn’t pretty. But it worked.

So be prepared… you don’t want to have to run to the store when you really can’t leave the beast alone!

Here’s a blip from dogs.about.com (click HERE for full article)

If you believe that your dog has ingested a dangerous substance, it is essential to act right away. However, you should never induce vomiting without first speaking with a veterinary professional. Begin by calling a veterinarian’s office or an animal poison control hotline. You should have the package and a sample of the toxin with you during the phone call, if available. The quicker you can explain what your pet ate, the faster therapy can begin.

After reaching a veterinary professional, he or she will advise you of the next steps. If the recommendation is to induce vomiting, you will most likely to be instructed to orally administer a small amount of hydrogen peroxide. It is a good idea to keep a supply of hydrogen peroxide in your home at all times. Syringes may also be very useful for administering the solution by mouth. The recommended dosage may vary depending on the type of dog you have and the present situation. Be sure to follow the instructions for the amount and frequency of hydrogen peroxide doses. In some cases, you will be advised to follow up with your primary veterinarian, but many times you will be told to rush to your veterinarian or an emergency veterinarian right away.

ALERT NOTE: Inducing vomiting is not always the correct method after ingestion of a dangerous substance. In some cases, vomiting can cause very severe consequences. DO NOT attempt to induce vomiting before calling for assistance. Always follow the instructions given to you by a veterinary professional.

Important Contact Information to Keep Handy

In case of toxin exposure, keep a list of important phone numbers in a visible, easily accessible location. Be sure pet sitters and other people who might be in your home are aware of the location of the list. The following phone numbers should be included:

Your primary veterinarian
One or more nearby 24-hour veterinary emergency clinics
ASPCA Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 ($50 fee)
Animal Poison Hotline: 888-232-8870 ($35 fee)
Pet Poison Hotline: 800-213-6680 ($35 fee)
An emergency contact number for you and your dog’s co-owner (if applicable).

So go add Hydrogen Peroxide to your grocery list now… and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Artist to watch… Peter Kalil

On September 6, 2011December 9, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

I think this is such a sweet painting, entitled AN ARTIST’S GARDEN, this painting was done by Peter Kalill. I love that little splash of bright light on the bench beside the flowers, the sunlight grass and the color of the sky! Peter is a fabulous artist from Cape Cod. You can see his work at Addison Art Gallery, he was part of the PAINTAPALOOZA artists a few years back in Port Clyde, Maine.

Here’s a little blip about the artist from Addison Art Gallery’s website:

Peter Kalill was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts. He began his first formal studies in art at Providence College in Rhode Island. In his third year of college, he studied painting, drawing, and art history in Florence, Italy. Peter returned to Providence and earned a B.A. in drawing in 1995.

After his graduation, Peter moved to Cape Cod and continued to learn all he could about painting. He combined his passion for art with his interest in travel, and spent many winters traveling to Honduras, and Guatemala and all over Mexico. It was on a trip to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where he befriended landscape painter Frank Gardner, who introduced him to plein air painting.

Upon returning home from his second winter in San Miguel, Peter was accepted into Addison Art Gallery, in Orleans, MA, where his first show in the U.S. was a great success. Peter’s work has attracted the attention of many collectors throughout the U.S. and Canada, and has been featured in many publications including Cape Cod Life, Cape Cod Art Review, andAmerican Art Collector magazines. His work has been exhibited in the Cape Cod Museum of Art, and at juried shows at the Copley Society of Art, and The Guild of Boston Artists.

Peter Kalill lives on Cape Cod with his wife Kathleen, and their daughter Violet. He continues to travel to San Miguel and places throughout the U.S., Mexico, Europe, and Canada in search of great places to paint.

If you aren’t near Addison Art Gallery in Orleans, MA, check out their website, it’s a good one! If you are near them… Go visit!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Husk Restaurant in Charleston, SC is the top new restaurant in AMERICA!

On September 5, 2011December 21, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn FOODLeave a comment

It’s pretty exciting that Bon Appetit magazine has named Sean Brock’s new restaurant HUSK, the top new restaurant in AMERICA! Woohoo… Sean Brock is a man with a vision. He renovated a worn out building (or two) and made it into one exquisite space! I know the old building, I’ve taken art classes there… I love the plan for HUSK, LOCAL INGREDIENTS… love it! Makes my mouth water… We look forward to visiting HUSK soon… CONGRATS SEAN!

Here’s a blip from their WEBSITE (gorgeous website, complete with the daily menu, check it out!), and pictures from the website below…

HUSK IS

centrally located in historic downtown Charleston, Husk, the newest offering from James Beard Award-winning Chef Sean Brock of McCrady’s and the Neighborhood Dining Group, transforms the essence of Southern food. Led by Brock and Chef de Cuisine Travis Grimes, a Lowcountry native, the kitchen reinterprets the bounty of the surrounding area, exploring an ingredient-driven cuisine that begins in the rediscovery of heirloom products and redefines what it means to cook and eat in Charleston.

Starting with a larder of ingredients indigenous to the South, and set within a building complex dating to the late 19th century, Brock crafts menus throughout the day, responding to what local purveyors are supplying the kitchen at any given moment. The entrance beckons with a rustic wall of firewood to fuel the wood-fired oven and a large chalkboard listing artisanal products currently provisioning the kitchen, but like the décor that inhabits the historic building, the food is modern in style and interpretation.

At Husk there are some rules about what can go on the plate. “If it doesn’t come from the South, it’s not coming through the door,” says Brock, who has even stricken olive oil from the kitchen. As he explains, the resulting cuisine “is not about rediscovering Southern cooking, but exploring the reality of Southern food.” This modern approach results in playful dishes such as Deviled Eggs with Pickled Okra and Trout Roe, and new classics like South Carolina Shrimp and Choppee Okra Stew with Carolina Gold Rice and Flowering Basil.

Seed-saving, heirloom husbandry, and in-house pickling and charcuterie efforts by the culinary team are the basis of the cuisine at Husk. The restaurant is as casual as it is chic, evoking a way of life centered on seasonality and the grand traditions of Charleston life—one lived at a slower pace, preferably with a cocktail and a wide porch in the late afternoon. It is a neighborhood gathering place for friends, and a destination dining spot for travelers, with a little bite of the South for everyone’s palates.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Sullivan’s Island Home Tour, Day 4!

On September 4, 2011December 16, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn HOMELeave a comment

I love going on home tours, what can be better? It’s especially nice doing it from the comfort of your air conditioned space wherever you may be, right? Like I mentioned in previous posts, this is a house that was built/remodeled by GRAY WADE, LLC. owned by Michael and Alison Brewer. They took a small, old, very rough cottage and renovated it, adding on a substantial amount of square feet, AND it’s mighty difficult to tell the old from the new. In the newly designed space part of the original cottage became the entryway and what I call the library/piano room. I asked Michael about the space and he said that the floors and the glass are original. Everything else has been made to look like the old… They found the push button switches at a specialty store, and whoa… those little details MAKE A DIFFERENCE! The light fixtures are custom made and the string and bulb matches the original… This cottage has been lovingly restored to it’s original splendor! Enjoy the pics… .

We will complete this Sullivan’s Island home tour next weekend! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Sullivan’s Island House Tour, Day 3…

On September 3, 2011February 1, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn HOMELeave a comment

Ok, it’s day three of the Gray Wade project on the beach. It’s a flawless design, perfect for beach living. So comfortably together yet each with its own defined space. I think this home is a very functional design. I love the UNfussyness of it all! Today is the kitchen… several pictures, mainly because I just couldn’t choose. I LOVE. THIS. KITCHEN. I love the windows instead of cabinets, the appliances, the simpleness of it all. I’m not fussy, I don’t care for busy, sometimes it’s harder to be more clean lined than it is to be fussy… Enjoy the pics and I’ll catch you back here for day 4 of the house tour!

100_4707 — Love the light and greenery through the kitchen window!

100_4715 — Love windows on both sides of counter!

100_4792 — A great place to sit with a cup of coffee!

100_4796 — View from the kitchen… Good times!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Artist to watch… Shannon Runquist!

On September 2, 2011December 9, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

Shannon Runquist always paints the neatest subject matter. Regular everyday things come to life with her paint brush! This painting is entitled HOW ‘BOUT A HUG? Here’s a blip from the Horton Hayes Gallery :

Shannon Runquist was born is Savannah, Georgia and has spent most of her life in the South. She has lived on St. Simons Island, Georgia and currently resides in the Lowcountry of South Carolina and spends summers on Cape Cod. Spending time near the shore, she has developed a great love for coastal regions and the elements that define them. She has painted and studied in Europe, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

Runquist has participated in many national and international exhibitions including consecutive years at the Salmagundi Club in New York City and the Salon International. She enjoys traveling and painting en plein air as well as working in her home studio. Her paintings hang in both corporate and private collections in the United States and abroad.

Artist’s Statement: “I would like for my paintings to convey a timeless aesthetic. They are often an extension of an emotion at the time I am painting but I hope my work remains ambiguous. I paint what is familiar to me, what I have collected or a place I have been. My favorite paintings are ones that tell a story but leave a little mystery for the viewer.”

Hey, if you get a chance, stop in the gallery… and if you aren’t in town, check out their website. It’s a gallery full of amazing artists!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Foods that should never cross your lips… #3

On September 1, 2011January 8, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, HEALTHLeave a comment

Here is this Thursday’s food that should never cross your lips. Thank you to Prevention magazine for another excellent article!

Microwave Popcorn

Olga Naidenko, PhD, a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group, gives us the scoop:

The problem: Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study from UCLA. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer. Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize—and migrate into your popcorn. “They stay in your body for years and accumulate there,” says Naidenko, which is why researchers worry that levels in humans could approach the amounts causing cancers in laboratory animals. DuPont and other manufacturers have promised to phase out PFOA by 2015 under a voluntary EPA plan, but millions of bags of popcorn will be sold between now and then.

The solution: Pop natural kernels the old-fashioned way: in a skillet. For flavorings, you can add real butter or dried seasonings, such as dillweed, vegetable flakes, or soup mix.

Budget tip: Popping your own popcorn is dirt cheap.

Ahhh, something else that’s good on popcorn? PARMESAN… woohoo!

ARTICLE RECAP: Canned tomatoes, corn fed beef and microwave popcorn!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Steak fajitas… quick and easy! Delish!

On August 31, 2011December 8, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe1 Comment

You know when you need to get out of a rut and try something different? Summertime is the hardest time for me, in the winter I can think up all kinds of things that bake, stew, roast, all with the oven on slowly making a meal into a masterpiece while heating the kitchen all at the same time. Then it’s summer. It’s hot and the last thing you want to do is spend too much time with the stove/oven on… enter FAJITAS. I usually make them with chicken, but on this day we needed a break from chicken. So I ran to the store and got 1/2# of flank steak. I whipped together a marinade in a ziplock with a clove or two of garlic (use the microplane!), some olive oil, and some lime juice (one nice big wedge squeezed into the bag). I then mixed the ingredients in the bag by mushing around with my hot little hands, then tossed in the hunk o’beef and let it sit and fester for a while (in the fridge of course!). Actually that night dinner plans changed so it sat in the bag for about 12 hours which was perfect! Fred threw the hunk o’meat on the grill, then right before it was ready he took it off, wrapped it in foil and allowed it to rest. Then we sliced it at an angle against the grain. We heated up some tortilla’s that we had, cut up some tomato, green onion, grated some cheddar and threw on a nice plop of greek yogurt! (We use it instead of sour cream). Oh, and we had some of that tasty salsa from Trader Joe’s… nice touch. It’s quick, you can put what you like on it, you can spice it up more (or less), add avocado, onions, etc. Use chicken, tofu, steak, fish or whatever else you may have. As they say… No rules, it’s just right.

Enjoy a fajita tonight! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Artist to watch… JB Boyd!

On August 30, 2011December 9, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

JB Boyd, an artist that shows such an interesting perspective on this painting… Kind of like when you’re a kid and you’re sprawled out on the grass watching the clouds in the sky… I love when paintings take on a new angle, something different. The way the yellow “pops” against the darkly shaded tree trunks and brilliant blue sky. JB Boyd is an interesting and accomplished young artist represented by Robert Lange Studios in Charleston, SC. Check him out if you get a chance! Here’s a blip about the artist on the gallery website, there’s more, but you need to see his work to appreciate the words! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Boyd currently lives and paints on Goat Island, a barrier island on the outskirts of Charleston, SC. Boyd is a graduate of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, has shown his work across the United States, and has been collected around the world. Boyd recently received the Michael and Donna Griffith Lowcountry Artist’s Award.

Please visit www.robertlangestudios.com or call for more information 843.805.8052.

Plantar fasciitis?? Any foot pain? THE FOOT STORE!

On August 29, 2011January 8, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn HEALTH1 Comment

Screen Shot 2011-08-18 at 3.15.21 PM — Image: FootStore.com

If you need a new pair of shoes. STOP HERE. LOOK NO FURTHER. I have the BEST place for you to go, ESPECIALLY if you have any kind of foot pain (or other pain caused from your feet, such as back pain)… I have had plantar fasciitis for months now. It’s debilitating. Extremely painful. Yet I kept on moving because if I stopped walking A) I wouldn’t sleep at night and B) I would basically have to stop eating (omg)… so gotta keep moving! After going to a podiatrist, getting orthotics for my shoes that cost about as much as a Vera Wang wedding gown (ok, I exaggerate a wee bit) I struck gold. Black gold. Texas Tea. (ohmygosh, how did the Beverly Hillbillies just pop in my head?)… THE FOOT STORE, conveniently located in Mount Pleasant, SC has knowledgable people working. Carolyn, the lady that helped me was unreal, she watched me walk, looked at my shoes to see how they were worn, tried shoes with my inserts and without… MEASURED MY FOOT! Well, if you haven’t had that done in a while you might want to… seems like your foot doesn’t stay the same size since you were 18. Go figure. This company has HIGH QUALITY footwear with EXPERT PROFESSIONAL people to help you. I was shown a few exercises and I can tell you within 2 days my feet felt 60% better… and each day will improve. I can tell! They have a fantastic WEBSITE as well as a rewards program. It’s well worth it! If you refer your friends there you get a credit after their first purchase. It’s all on the website, check it out! Tell them blogger Barbara sent you ;)

Truly, this is one business I will support with all my might, because after four months of pain I FEEL RELIEF! Woohoo… and hey, let me tell ya, she has the most happenin’ shoes you’ll ever see!! I don’t normally go to this extent on my blog, but I really want those of you who need to know about a place like this to have this information… so here it tis:

THE FOOT STORE
1909 N Highway 17
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Phone:843-849-1108
Phone:800-775-FOOT (Outside of SC)
Fax: 843-849-1170
Hours:Tuesday – Saturday; 10am – 6pm

Catch you back here tomorrow!

House tour… day 2… Sullivan’s Island, SC

On August 28, 2011January 31, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn HOMELeave a comment

Day two of the Sullivan’s Island house tour… This photo is taken of the dining room… This is one of the homes done by Michael and Alison Brewer of Gray Wade, LLC. They did a tremendous job!

This photo is taken from the dining room looking towards the back of the house. I love how you can see all the way to the back door. That big, wide, gorgeous back door. Lovely. Such nice touches. The openness that is so inviting, with a dedicated sitting area, perfect for getting together with old friends. It’s extraordinary how the sitting space spills into the kitchen area, feeling very separate (i.e. you don’t see dirty dishes, etc.) yet it feels uniquely together, one big comfortable space where you can sit and talk yet still have the ability to communicate with someone in the kitchen… a great house for entertaining, no doubt. Furniture placement is so important in a room and I think this was done nicely! (Click on photo to enlarge).

More house tour pics next weekend…! I can’t wait! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Sullivan’s Island Home Tour, Day 1!

On August 27, 2011January 31, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn HOME1 Comment

Welcome to Sullivan’s Island, SC. How would you like to pull up to this home? (And this is the BACK entrance…)! In the upcoming weekends I’m going to be taking you on a tour of this gorgeous home, so check back often, you won’t want to miss it! The renovating and building of this house is a result of just one of the homes done by the GRAY WADE company that is owned by Michael and Alison Brewer. They did a magnificent job of keeping the home looking like it could have in it’s very best days… I didn’t see it when they bought it, but from what I’ve heard it’s the first house they bought that they couldn’t walk all the way through (floors not safe). The part of the house that was added on was done seamlessly. Its nearly impossible to tell where the original house stops and the newly added portion begins. They went to great detail to have it be that way and it shows…the outside is fabulous in itself, but it’s the inside where the magic begins!
The innovative couple who renovated and built this home have since moved to another gorgeous home in a fabulous location. Perhaps that will be a tour we can take together in the future?. Enjoy today’s photos, more tomorrow!

100_4691 — Back door – love how it’s wider than normal!

100_4816 — View of pool area from upstairs bedroom

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Artist to watch… Frank Bruckmann!

On August 26, 2011December 9, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

uploaded-file-50821 — Image: http://fbruckmann.com

What a unique story this artist has! Meet Frank Bruckmann. I first ran across this artist when searching for blogs about Monhegan. I found one called MONHEGAN SOJOURN, it was fabulous, not only did it showcase Frank’s art, but it included stories and pictures of Monhegan Island, a great love for many of us! I see that since the family has moved off the island they have started another blog (click HERE), more great art, stories, etc. I urge you to check it out! Also check out the artist’s website! The featured painting is entitled FROM WHITEHEAD and can be found on the artist’s website under the MONHEGAN tab!

Here’s a blip from Frank’s website:

Frank began his studies at the DuCret school of Art in New Jersey, and then took classes at the Art Students League in NYC. In Paris he studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, and spent nearly a decade in France and Spain, copying the masters in the great museums, and painting landscapes in the cities and countryside.

Now a resident of New Haven, CT, Frank has found endless subject matter for landscapes in New England, but periodically packs his easel and travels farther and wider in his VW camper.

How exciting is that? Check him out! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Foods that should never cross your lips… #2

On August 25, 2011January 8, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, HEALTHLeave a comment

I happened upon a fantastic article in PREVENTION MAGAZINE, and I thought it was worth sharing… Each Thursday I’ll post another food that should never cross your lips. It’s a great article because it tells you WHY! I am doing it to the best of my ability!

Ok, here it is, from PREVENTION MAGAZINE:

Corn-Fed Beef

Joel Salatin, co-owner of Polyface Farms and author of half a dozen books on sustainable farming, gives us the scoop:

The problem: Cattle evolved to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today feed their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up the animals faster for slaughter. But more money for cattle farmers (and lower prices at the grocery store) means a lot less nutrition for us. A recent comprehensive study conducted by the USDA and researchers from Clemson University found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E,omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium, and potassium; lower in inflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats that have been linked to heart disease. “We need to respect the fact that cows are herbivores, and that does not mean feeding them corn and chicken manure,” says Salatin.

The solution: Buy grass-fed beef, which can be found at specialty grocers, farmers’ markets, and nationally at Whole Foods. It’s usually labeled because it demands a premium, but if you don’t see it, ask your butcher.

Budget tip: Cuts on the bone are cheaper because processors charge extra for deboning. You can also buy direct from a local farmer, which can be as cheap as $5 per pound. To find a farmer near you, search eatwild.com.

Excellent information from a reliable source. That’s why I read Prevention. If you haven’t subscribed, trust me it’s worth it… and it’s nifty size is so perfect to toss in your purse to take with you! Check it out! If you’re in the Charleston area I know EarthFare and Whole Foods carries it. The taste simply cannot compare to corn-fed. It costs more, yes. But we don’t need to eat such large portions, cut your portion and spend the same amount for something that’s better for your body and fill up on those veggies!

So to backtrack… last week it was CANNED TOMATOES… this week, CORN FED BEEF… What do you think it’ll be next time?

Catch you back here tomorrow!