It's been a while since I've done one of these posts, so let's get started:
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| For those who live in a cold weather climate, you know what it's like to have the constant cracked heels and hands. Very painful! This is the best product I have found to treat and prevent cracks on the skin: Surgeon's Skin Secret. Basically, it's a stick of beeswax. It's nice because it tends to stay on your skin longer than a lotion. I buy it on Amazon. |
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| Never having been a peanut butter fan, I am sort of late to the game with almond butter. I have been trying to add protein to my diet, so I decided to give it a try and there's been no turning back. I think I've tried just about every brand, but Trader Joe's is my favorite because it's not too oily/runny nor is it too thick where you can't spread it easily. I like it on my whole wheat waffles for breakfast. |
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| I just finished a major bingeing of Portlandia. These are my favorite characters, the feminist bookstore owners. For those who haven't watched, the show features the above actors in recurring roles of characters in a series of sketches. If you find life in the 21st century absurd, then you'd probably enjoy this show. I think they've covered every topic, from Brunch to Food Allergies. The sketch about having a safe word during sex had me crying. If you have a weird sense of humor, you will love it. |
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| I'm happy that we've had a few new restaurant chains move into the area. While we love to support local businesses, the hassle of driving downtown and paying for parking is not always appealing, especially since my husband works downtown and never wants to return at night or on weekends. It's nice to have new places to visit in the suburbs. BJ's makes their own craft beer and has a huge menu. I've always really liked the beers I've tried and we've also enjoyed the food. I highly recommend their fish tacos. Good prices, too! |
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| Another chain I love is First Watch. They only serve breakfast and lunch. In the past, I always got their Bacado Omelet, which had bacon and avocado inside. Now, I'm a serial Avocado Toast/Scrambled Eggs girl. If someone else would make me this every morning, I'd eat it for breakfast for the rest of my life. Good stuff! |
I also like trying different beers and like you I can't remember one that I didn't like, fish tacos are right up my alley too.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a stout fan, but I like most other beers.
DeleteI'm generally not a fan of chains, but we have BJ's up here and they are pretty good! Plus, like you said, it beats the hassle of going to a local restaurant.
ReplyDeleteI have very mixed feelings about Portlandia. I loved it for years, but now it just pisses me off.
What the heck? I haven't seen all the episodes; only what's been currently shown On Demand. I think you need to do a post about what's pissing you off! I want to know!
DeleteThanks for the Surgeon's Skin recommendation. I need to check that out. My hands are always cracked during the cold weather. I don't think we have BJs anywhere near us. I've never heard of it, but now I want to try it. Have you tried bacon and avocado toast? It's delicious, especially with a little salsa.
ReplyDeleteSo you're saying I should add some bacon and salsa to my avocado toast? That sounds stellar!
DeleteCan't blame him for not wanting to go back after working there all day. Haven't watched Portlandia. Cracked skin sucks a ton indeed.
ReplyDeleteI think you'd enjoy the show!
DeleteThanks for sharing Surgeon's Skin because being in the cosmetic industry, I always enjoy hearing about products I knew nothing about.
ReplyDeleteLOVE Trader Joe's Almond Butter! I also love their natural peanut butter as well. So good and very inexpensive.
I agree with you about Portlanda, hilarious show! I watch it on You Tube, where I can catch up on the episodes because I don't have cable, or ever watch TV. GREAT show!!!
That Avocado Toast/Scrambled Eggs looks HEAVENLY! I love everything you mentioned that's included. I could eat (and sometimes do) eat avocado five times a week!
Fun post, my friend!
Isn't Portlandia hilarious sometimes? I've had to watch some episodes twice just to catch everything. Those two are so talented!
DeleteLuckily it's not quite cold enough here for cracked skin to be a serious problem, but the one thing I need to moisturise and keep warm is my knuckles.
ReplyDeleteI love almond butter, but I haven't had any for a while. Must put that right!
Portlandia sounds great, but I don't think you can get it here unless you're on some special cable service. Jenny and I were in Portland a couple of years back. Oh, just read about it being on YouTube. Must take a look.
My comments keep vanishing from people's blogs. I don't know what's going on. I left a long comment earlier on but now it's evaporated.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't get cold enough here for serious cracked skin problems, but I do need to moisturise my knuckles and keep them warm.
I love almond paste but haven't had any for a while. I must put that right.
I've never seen Portlandia, it's never been on any of our TV channels. But I see it's available on YouTube so I'll take a look. Jenny and I were in Portland a couple of years back.
I'm sorry your comments are vanishing! I had a problem a few weeks ago getting the Publish button to work on blogspot blogs like mine. It seems to have corrected itself for now. I really hope to visit Portland and Seattle some day.
DeleteWell, I used to have problems with cracked skin but also with constant coughing and hacking through most of the winter. Both have been minimized now that we run humidifiers to keep the moisture in the air at better levels, but I may have to try that out for those below zero days that the humidifiers can't keep up with.
ReplyDeleteMay have to check out Portlandia now that Queenie is gone most of the time. She probably wouldn't get it .....
Fish tacos at BJs .... Hmmm
We've always had humidifiers connected to the furnace, but I suppose you need to really set it on high for it to take care of skin. I'm more disciplined using gloves whenever I even get into my car, so that's helping now too.
DeleteI'm not certain if my husband would like the show. He likes 'Baskets' which is really bizarre, so maybe, but he tends to not know a lot of cultural references. He claims it's because he has a job....LOL!
Yeah, we tried any number of furnace mounted humidifiers but none could keep up with the needs, even on high. We have 2 consoles (one for each floor) and while they have to be filled 2-3 times a day they do the trick. Somewhat ....
DeleteWhat are these cultural references of which you speak? ;-)
Jenn swears by Burt's Bees lip balm, probably for similar reasons to what you describe. . .
ReplyDeleteAnd we also love the almond butter; but alas, we don't have a Trader Joe's in OurTown. . .
And it wasn't a chain place, but the last time we were in SoCal, I had an amazing omelet that prominently featured avocados and bacon. Oh. . . my. . . goodness. . .
I have to drive 45 minutes to get to a Trader Joes, so I stock up! And yes! Isn't that a great combination in an omelet???
DeleteI have a Burt's Bee lip balm that I haven't opened yet. It's next in my line up!
Just like bacon, avocado makes everything better. lol I'll have to try that beeswax for my heels.
ReplyDeleteIsn't avocado the best?
DeleteHey there! Wow it has been so long! I am so excited to catch up with you! I noticed you mentioned Portlandia on this list... I feel like another blogging pal mentioned it in the past it is definitely on my must watch list. Looks like some interesting characters! I hope you are doing well and hope to catch up soon!
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you!!! Yes, I think you'd enjoy Portlandia!
DeleteThanks for the recommendation about the beeswax. I like the sound of that, and will try it (once my no-spend year is over!). I love peanut butter, myself, and buy they kind that is nothing but peanuts and salt. I suspect I'd like the almond butter, too.
ReplyDeleteBJs is a chain - I had dinner there once with my son in Murfreesboro, TN. They have a GIANT menu! And we have a new First Watch at our house. It's pricey, but our brunch was really good.
Oh, and the episode I remember most from Portlandia was when they went to that chicken commune farm.
DeleteThat's fun to hear that you've tried those restaurants, too. I did see the chicken episode. I'm slowly but surely making my way through the 8 seasons. On Demand is weird because they only make a few episodes per season available at the same time. Other shows I love, like Playing House, has every episode from all 3 seasons up for viewing.
DeleteI watched Portlandia on Netflix. I tend to run all the way through a series at once if I enjoy it.
Delete(And I meant we have a First Watch NEAR our house, not at it.)
I love avocado toast, especially on toasted sourdough bread. Now that we have two First Watch restaurants, it's on my list to eat there. The closest BJ's to us is in Orlando - we drive by it on the way to IKEA and the mall next door. We'll have to try it on our next trip.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love almond butter! If I don't make it to Trader Joe's for a while, I buy it at Aldi. It's really good on cinnamon raisin toast...mmm. Come to think of it, it have some of this bread in the pantry. Maybe that'll be my evening snack tonight.
Let me know how you like both places! I just bought some almond butter at Aldi because I don't have the time to go to Trader Joe. I'm hoping it's a good replacement for now.
DeleteHey, Bijoux! Thanks for all this great information. I've been thinking about a BJ's membership for a while. And I've got Portlandia on my list!
ReplyDeleteWell, BJ wholesale club is not affiliated with BJ Brewery, at least as far as I know!
DeleteA beer and a few fish tacos... sounds like a good meal. And that almond butter also got me salivating
ReplyDelete