Formerly

I'm a little late to the game on this one. This article was featured in NYTimes Style section about 3 weeks ago and I completely missed it. Then I saw some cryptic tweets and had to go back and piece together what this was all about. Basically, Stephanie Dolgoff, a female author, decided to create a moniker for her station in life. Late 30s, early 40s, married with children and formerly hot. Ok, well I don't necessarily buy it. It has some underlying tones of a PR ploy. Make up something that creates controversy and get lots of publicity for yourself, your website and your upcoming book. So, I do think part of this was crafted in a 27th floor PR agency conference room. But you got to give a girl credit. As for the formerly hot bit, well, that's where I think it falls short. So, just because you are "older" and married with kids doesn't necessarily mean you lose your edge. I know lots of hot, got in going on in many areas of their life mamas (and you know who you are.) It's like saying that a 45-year old unever married man is gay. I don't subscribe to it. I checked out the website. More of the same. As for the book, it falls into the I-wouldn't-buy-it-but-I-might-get-it-from-the-library category. (a la Jill Zarin's Jewish Mother book.) I've decided that there a lot of things that I am formerly but I'm really interested in rehashing that.

Keeping Abreast

The women in my family take their breasts very seriously. Breast health is certainly important and fortunately, we have never had anything serious. However, the bras you wear, is a whole different story. We are a progressive group of women but you would never find one of us burning a bra. And guess where Mama Ruth wears her red Kabbalah ribbon? Coincidence? I don't think so. I remember being on the edge of puberty and having my mother schlep me to Saks so I could stand in a beige-toned dressing room and have my tiny breasts measured. by an 108 year old women, who paraded in with several styles. Talk about humiliation. A couple of years ago Oprah did a ground breaking expose about how 85% of women wear the wrong size. This story included lots of measuring and sharing, of course. When my mother found out that the store featured in the story was in Atlanta, she promptly scheduled a trip the following weekend. Now, every time she goes to Atlanta, she schedules time to meet with her brasmith. Anyone who has gone in search of proper foundation knows it is not cheap. Well, fear no longer. I received an email this weekend with subject line simply shouting: BRAS! Granted my mother does not know email etiquette but the irony of all caps was not lost on me. I opened the email to find a store located right here in my current state of South Carolina that sells all the "best names at discount prices." The interior of the email simply read as this: Order a lot, try them on - you can return them." Thanks, Ma. Now I will never be met with the hair raising comment that I look nice but if I was wearing a better bra I would look better.

For more hilarity in the breast department, I highly recommend the documentary short A Good Uplift. It's the best 13 minutes of your life.

2nd Avenue Deli

When I get asked what I miss about New York, I often answer Broadway shows (I didn't go all that often) or Central Park or Bloomingdales (which is a completely legitimate answer) or the energy of the city. But what I should say is 2nd Avenue Deli. I ate there a handful of times as a child although my parents were bigger Carnegie Deli fans. Citycrab took me on our first date there. I ordered something I am embarassed to admit and he still makes fun of me: salami and eggs. What was I thinking? I was thinking I am not going to go whole hog on a corned beef.

We spent many mornings waiting in line, our mouths watering over the rugelach in the case and we prayed for someone to pay their check and leave. Then, there was the pickled tomato incident. I grew up on pickled tomatoes. They were a mainstay at Sunday afternoon lunch at my grandparents. Well, one day while we were perusing our menus I ordered a diet Dr. Brown's black cherry and some pickled tomatoes. CityCrab shot me a nasty look as if to say, if you inconvenience the waiter, he'll serve us cold soup. Well, needless to say, he came right back with my tomatoes. And, to this day, CityCrab consistently eats them when I bring them home in jars. The other classic I love from there is the health salad. A sweet, tangy and slightly oily (but in a good way) coleslaw, if you will. As I have taken on canning as a recent hobby, I had dreams of 2nd Ave. pickles. Well, thanks to amazon.com and a purveyor of used books, I am now in possession of the offical cookbook.

In addition to the wonderful stories and memories listed inside, they have the 2 greats: pickles and health salad. Of course, CityCrab remarked, they do not have their corned beef or pastrami recipe in there but who can blame them? So, I got cracking on the health salad. It lives up to it's name with lot of cabbage and just 2 tablespoons of oil. I am fermenting a batch now and will can it tomorrow. That way I can enjoy 2nd Ave. all winter long. I'll conquer pickles next.

Diamonds ARE a Girl's Best Friend

A friend of mine reps a jewelry line called Stella & Dot. I am not a huge jewelry person. By that, I mean my lifestyle doesn't necessarily require that I accessorize meself on a regular basis. I do a lot of yoga pants and hair in a pony tail. However, when I saw these gems, I was smitten. So, I decided to host a trunk show, invite some friends, whip up some skinnygirl sangria and shop away. In the final analysis, although I could have bought a lot more, I ended up some really nifty things. My friends did, too. And, the skinnygirl sangria was a hit!

Here's the recipe:

Skinnygirl Sangria
Serves 6 to 8

8 peaches, sliced into wedges
4 white plums, sliced into wedges
1 pound of green grapes split in half
3 bottles of Prosecco
1 can of diet lemon lime soda
1 can of club soda
Combine all ingredients into a large pitcher and add ice. Chill for an hour to set or serve immediately.

And, if you want to check out the jewels, go here.

Knitting

As someone who knits, I don't do it often. I enjoy it but have to be inspired and motivated. Plus, I hardly ever get to my local yarn store. Not that I need any yarn. I've got yards and yards of all types.
A few weeks ago I was cleaning off papers from my desk and came across a pattern for a Leigh Radford-designed laptop bag. I had the perfect yarn to pull it off. So, I got started casting on and have been feverishly knitting the last 2 weeks or so. This pattern is super easy. You are bascially knitting a big rectangle which you then fold it half, sew up the sides and felt. The rectangle should be about 52" long. I knit and measure. Knit and measure. 18". 24". 32" Ugh. Another 20 to go? And, just when I could see the end, I looked at the bottom of my project bag (a repurposed Banana Republic shopping bag - nothing but the best!) to find the end of yarn.
What to do when you are halfway done with no yarn left? OK, so this is a serious knitting no-no. Especially since I am using a varigated, dyed wool. I'll never be able to match that dye lot. So, I immediately went back to yarn store where I got the original batch of yarn. None left. Wasn't even on the sale rack. So, I scoured the internet with the brand and a random UPC. No luck.

Off to ebay. I've always applauded myself for my excellent research skills and lo and behold, I came across 5 skeins of exactly what I needed at a significantly reduced price. I couldn't type in those 16 credit card numbers fast enough. And now, I am just waiting on my friends at the US Postal Service so I can resume my project.

So, when I was at the yarn store I saw the most delicious yarn that I had to have. It's 100% pure dyed baby merino and it is a cavalcade of warm browns that transition into pinks. It is the yarn equivalent of a warm brownie with caramel sauce on top. I bought 6 skeins and immediately got home and started another bag. Another really easy pattern so I think that while the US Postal Service works their delivery magoic, I can finish this bag in the interim. Pics and patterns to come.

As you know, I fancy myself a bit of a matchmaker. With one confirmed marriage (entering it's 3rd year!) and other matches under my belt, I'd like to think I know what I am doing. So, the other day the Today Show was on in the background as I was getting ready to start my day and Willard Scott came on. Oh, Willard! With your clever quips, crazy ties and Augusta National sport coats. The truth is I always tune in when Willard comes on. Why? Matchmaking, of course. Even though at 92 Mama Ruth is dead set on not dating, I really think she should try it. And, hey if she can get an older guy, all the better! The problem is that there are very few men, given male/female death statistics. I haven't found the right guy for her. Most are geographically undesirable with little chance of relocating. And, at 100+, probably set in their ways and clinging to their bachelorhood. But you never know and a good matchmaker never gives up.