Kristin van Ogtrop's Blog, page 395

Vote for Your December Book

Hello, Bookies:

 

It's time to pick your last book of 2010. Holy smoke, where did the year go? Next up as leader is Realsimple.com Deputy Editor Maura Fritz, and we'll be discussing the winning book of the four below. Be sure to vote by 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, November 21.

 

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Lee's powerful tale of childhood, race, and class is a Pulitzer Prize winner and an American classic.

 

The Best of Everything, by Rona Jaffe

Jaffe's 1958 debut, a classic of a whole other sort, revolves around young women who come to Mad Men–era New York to make a career in the publishing business.

 

Strength in What Remains, by Tracy Kidder

The latest from Pulitzer Prize winner Kidder is a powerful and inspirational true story of a Burundian refugee who arrives in New York City homeless and practically penniless and works his way to a medical degree and American citizenship.

 

I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith

Part Jane Austen, part Little Women, Smith's witty, romantic novel is a coming-of-age tale of an aspiring writer who lives with her eccentric family in a deteriorating English castle, and finds her life complicated when two rich American brothers move in next door.

What Book Should We Read in December?Market Research

50 Fab Holiday Gifts From Real Simple on Gilt.com!

 

Our favorite designer discount site--Gilt Groupe--is helping us to host a Real Simple Gift Guide sale tomorrow (Wednesday, November 10th) starting @ 12 noon...and it's a must-shop situation!

 

Shop everything from electronics, art, bedding, jewelry, and decorative goods--all expertly selected by the editors here at the magazine. 

The sale ends on November 17th @ midnight, so don't miss out!

 

Here is a sneak peek of the fabulousity...

 

Kevia rose cut stud earrings

Orinigally $150

NOW $60

CYAN table lamp

Orginially $330

NOW $185

 

Happy "Gilty" shopping!

   

A Call for Your Beauty Questions!

Now that we're settling in to cooler temperatures and the holidays will be here before you know it, our editors want to know what your biggest beauty questions and conundrums are during this time of year.

 

 

Maybe you're searching for an easy, but still elegant, holiday look, or you just can't seem to tame your static-y flyaway hair. Whatever it is, leave your question in the comments below, and it might be answered, right here, on Simply Stated.

 

(photo by Lucas Allen for Real Simple)

 

Before You Lease a Car, Do This

For the first time in more than a decade, leases makes up more than 20 percent of all new car purchases, according to the automotive Web site Edmunds.com. Unfortunately, many first-time leasers aren't thinking through the details.

 

Among the biggest mistakes: Failing to check the full ownership costs on the leased vehicles. People are often attracted to leasing because it allows them to drive luxury cars that they couldn't otherwise afford to buy. The problem: Auto insurance premiums are based on the value of the car, among other factors, and so those costs might be higher.

 

LeaseTrader.com is a site that works with people who can no longer afford their vehicle payment by transferring the contract over to another individual. It says the number of people escaping a lease because they didn't research the new car's impact on their auto insurance premium will account for 4.5 percent of transactions this year, up from 2 percent in previous years.

 

The mistake is especially prevalent among consumers new to leasing, says Sergio Stiberman, CEO and founder of LeaseTrader.com. "In a struggling economy people tend to be fixated on the car's monthly payment and nothing else," Stiberman noted in a press release. LeaseTrader.com says lease drivers facing higher insurance premiums are escaping vehicles such as the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C Class, Infinity G37 and Lexis IS.

 

If you're consider a lease on a luxury car, check out the free "True Cost to Own" calculator at Edmunds.com, which helps consumers compare expected costs of insurance, maintenance, fuel and other expenses before deciding which car to buy or lease.

 

Meanwhile, keep in mind that most consumers are better off a buying used car than leasing. For more on that, see this post.

Don't Get Stuck in a Rut

Routines are great for getting mindless work completed around your house -- sort the mail immediately when you get home from work, clean up after dinner so there aren't dirty dishes on the counter over night, put your dirty clothes in the clothes hamper. The more mindful and less tedious a task, however, and making that task into a routine can make life seem boring and monotonous. For example, if you were to cook the exact same meal every night for dinner, your spouse and kids would eventually revolt and head to the local pizza parlor without you.



Unfortunately, when our energy levels are low, we want to make our mindful activities more like our mindless responsibilities. We don't want to think about what to make for dinner, we just want dinner to magically appear.



Instead of making routines of mindful activities, put systems in place to help you accomplish these tasks. For example, on Saturday mornings, map out your meal plan for the coming week and make sure you have all of the ingredients on hand for these dinners. Your meal plan is the system that will help you to make interesting, delicious, and nutritious meals during the week.



Another example would be to create a list of fun things you can do with your family in two hours or less. This way, when you have a free evening, you don't sit around talking about what you could be doing -- instead you quickly pick something from the list and immediately start enjoying your time together. Put the list in a convenient area so everyone in the family can add to it when inspiration strikes. I also keep a list of date ideas (museum exhibits that spark our interest, new restaurants we want to try, bands that we like that are coming to the area) that my husband and I review to decide when we want to spring for a babysitter. Having the system in place to capture ideas keeps us from getting stuck in a rut.



Do you have systems in place to help you with your mindful activities? Would creating a system help you from feeling like these activities are boring and monotonous? What do you do to stay out of a rut?

4 Beautiful Accessories for Your LBD

The undisputed champion of a woman's wardrobe is the LBD (Little Black Dress)—and for good reason.

It can be dressed up or down with ease AND you always look chic and pulled together no matter what the occasion. Need I say more? I didn't think so.

I'm sure we all have many stories about one or two of our favorite LBDs—the awkward first date, the dream-job interview, the cool art gallery opening, the wild party where you met your husband—and the list goes on.... Here are four fabulous accessories that will help spruce up your LBD the next time you slip it on.

 

 

Urban Posh Jenna Earrings, $70; Ghost Frill Peep Toe Shoes, $125; KC Malhan Clutch, $24; House of Harlow Sunburst Ring, $50.

 

 

Happy LBD'ing!

Must-Have Thanksgiving Dish: Comforting Corn Pudding from Whipped

For the month of November, we have asked some of our favorite food bloggers to share recipes for their must-have Thanksgiving dishes. Join us to see what will be on their tables this year and for years to come.

 

Comforting Corn Pudding by Caroline from Whipped

 

My family is from small town Iowa, I grew up in Michigan, and now I live in Chicago. I am a Midwestern girl through and through. I have a slightly nasal Michigan accent.I love friendly down-to-earth people. I usually choose function over form. I've got meat on my bones. And, I love corn.

The dinner plate of my childhood almost always featured meat, a green vegetable and some form of potato or corn. Though my adult preferences have expanded to include almost all ethnic foods and an appreciation for vegetarian meals, I am still comforted by the hearty flavors of my formative years.

My love of all things corn could rival Bubba's dedication to shrimp—corn on the cob, creamed corn, corn bread, polenta, corn chowder and perhaps best of all, corn pudding. Though I've tried fancier versions, cheddar-laced corn casseroles and fluffy corn souffles, I always return to this corn pudding recipe with its simple pantry ingredients and one dish stir-it-up preparation.

Oh, Comforting Corn Pudding, warm and soft, sweet and savory, this year I am especially thankful for you. My heap of mashed potatoes would be lonesome without your company. My bites of succulent turkey would miss you as its slightly sweet counterpart. My Midwestern roots are contented by your presence and my childhood nostalgia is tickled by your taste. You will always have a place at my holiday table!


Comforting Corn Pudding

1 8 oz. package Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
1 16 oz. can drained regular corn
1 16 oz. can creamed corn
1 cup sour cream
2 lightly beaten eggs
1/4 cup melted butter

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Butter/grease a casserole dish. Or for individual corn puddings, grease a muffin pan thoroughly.

3. Combine all ingredients together in a mixing bowl.

4. Pour into the casserole dish and bake for about 35-40 minutes or until center is set and not jiggly and edges are brown.

5. If using a muffin pan, fill each one 3/4 full.  Bake for 18-22 minutes or until center is set.  Let the muffin pan cool for at least 5-7 minutes. 

6. Use a knife to gently circle the edges, loosening the puddings. Lift out the corn puddings, flipping them upside-down to serve.

During the day Caroline Lubbers runs a marketing and communications firm for small business, and runs her food blog Whipped at night. In addition to all things corn, she also likes cheese, Sunday mornings, and a good cup of coffee.

 

What is your must-have Thanksgiving dish?

 

A Couple of Answers From Rebecca Stead

Hello, Bookies:

Rebecca Stead, the author of our October book, When You Reach Me, had this to say in response to questions from NOBC members Chris H and EM:

A question for Ms Stead: How much did you draw on your own or friends experience when you created the character of Miranda and Sal? Or, are there other characters that you relate more closely with?

Posted by: Chris H| Monday, October 18, 2010 at 11:19 PM

Hi Chris,

When You Reach Me is set in the time and place of my own childhood (1970s New York City), and I relied heavily on memory while writing it, using all sorts of details that had been stored in my mind for years and years. Many of the characters in the book are based on actual people I knew (or still know, in some cases), although, as I wrote the story, many of these characters claimed their own personalities. I used Miranda's voice to express what I affectionately call the "weird inner thoughts" I remember from childhood, and I absolutely identify with her most of all.

Rebecca

Hi Ms. Stead, seems you are very interested in the scientific concept of people existing in other places and times. Have you done a lot of
research on the idea? To open up our thinking about our world, outer
space, the universe is interesting. Thanks for sharing your interests
in your books!

Posted by: EM| Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 10:05 AM

Hi EM,

Time travel is a fascinating subject, I think. It's a logic game with a lot of dramatic appeal. On a scientific level, however, it goes right over my head. I did attempt some research on the subject, but lacked the basic understanding that a real discussion requires. I absorbed a couple of basic ideas, such as the notion that traveling to another time might involve a sort of "faxing" process that recreates rather than physically transports. And, in the course of writing this book, I had to resolve a basic question for myself: Can the past be changed? I think that as we get older, we ask ourselves these "big questions" less and less often, and it's a shame.

Rebecca

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An Escape from Work and Life

For the last few years, the first weekend of November has been reserved for our annual Manic Mommies getaway, fondly known as The Escape. It's no mistake that we decided to call it that. It's exactly what the weekend is designed to be: an opportunity for listeners of our weekly podcast to indulge themselves in whatever it is they want to do. Whether it's shopping, dining, spa treatments, a long over due run or just sleeping in, we try to keep the weekend agenda purposefully light while still offering a few structured activities and opportunities to meet new women.

Going on the Escape is exciting.  While I am always happy to meet listeners of our show (hey, people actually do listen to us!) I am even more thrilled by the camaraderie and support that bubbles up over the two days. And yet I continue to be surprised by the number of women who will pull me aside to say, "Thank you for giving me a reason to get away. I wouldn't have done it otherwise!"

Really?

I am a fan of getaways. Girlfriend getaways and weekends away with the spouse (although I tend to do more of the former and less of the latter due to child care issues) rank high on my list of soul-nourishing activities. I think women should do more of this! It's easy to find an excuse not too. Too busy, not enough money, one more thing to plan. I get that. Really, I do. But if we don't make it a priority for ourselves, no one else will. It's unlikely your spouse or partner is going to come out of the blue and say, "Hey, Babe. I've been thinking. You should plan a getaway for yourself and leave me at home with the kids."

It's unlikely your boss is going to encourage you to take the day off to recharge your batteries.

But we need to. You need to. Ask yourself when the last time you took a weekend off from work and life was. Where did you go? What did you do? Did you lounge around reading the paper in bed and while drinking a hot cup of coffee? Or were you on an obligatory trip that included visiting relatives.

This weekend, we have a number of workshops planned. The two most popular? "How to Run Your Days So They Don't Run You" and "Speaking Your Truth." I think the popularity of these workshops say so much about the state of working moms today. Even more proof of why an Escape should be on every woman's to-do list.

Planning a weekend away is not difficult if you split the work among friends. Look for deals online. Go off-season to popular destinations. Hide out in a hotel nearby if you can. The important thing is to start planning your next Escape today.

You'll be so very glad you did.

 

Must-Have Thanksgiving Dish: Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Mustard Vinaigrette from Cooking After Five

For the month of Novmember, we have asked some of our favorite food bloggers to share recipes for their must-have Thanksgiving dishes. Join us to see what will be on their tables this year and for years to come.

 

Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Mustard Vinaigrette by Nicole from Cooking After Five

 

 

For a holiday laced with tradition in the form of sweet potato casserole, football games, and circling around the table sharing what we're thankful for, there had always been something missing at our meal: Brussels sprouts. For no apparent reason, we somehow settled into the habit of not serving them, so several years ago I decided to arrive with a little surprise of balsamic roasted Brussels sprouts with mustard vinaigrette.

 

I'd been cooking seriously for about five years, had started a food blog, and finally felt compelled to contribute something to the table. I was also mindful of everyone's interest in eating well, and especially the needs of several family members with gluten and lactose allergies. I'd hoped, at best, that a few people would pick at the Brussels sprouts and maybe shove them around on their plate, but to my surprise it was the first side dish to be eaten in its entirety. The biggest draw—aside from its health benefits to counteract the butter-laden mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie—was tasting new flavors amidst old favorites, and ultimately, starting a new tradition.

 

Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Mustard Vinaigrette

 

Brussels sprouts are delicious when roasted with only olive oil, salt, and pepper, but the balsamic vinegar deepens their flavor. To keep this dish lactose-free, omit the Parmesan cheese.

 

Serves 4

 

For the Brussels sprouts:
1 ½ pounds Brussels sprouts
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Parmesan cheese, for garnish (optional)

 

For the vinaigrette:
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

 

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Cut the stems off each Brussels sprout and halve lengthwise. Discard any tough outer leaves and place in a bowl.

3. Add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a good sprinkling of salt and pepper. Toss together with your hands until the Brussels sprouts are evenly coated, then spread on a baking sheet.

4. Roast for 35 minutes, tossing occasionally, or until the Brussels sprouts are caramelized and golden brown.

5. While the Brussels sprouts roast, make the dressing. In a small bowl, combine the mustard, lemon juice, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Gradually whisk in olive oil.

6. Toss the Brussels sprouts in a medium bowl with 3 tablespoons of the dressing; save the remaining dressing for another use. Scatter with shards of Parmesan cheese (if using). Serve warm or at room temperature.

 

Nicole Gulotta is a philanthropy professional by day and gourmet home cook by night. In addition to her full-time job, she writes Cooking After Five, a food blog dedicated to eating, entertaining, and wine tasting in California

(recipe and image by Nicole Gulotta/Cooking After Five)

 

What is your must-have Thanksgiving dish?