Archives for October 2012

THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE

I’m a big fan of multi-functional furniture, and ottomans certainly fit that description.

I think every home should have at least one.

In the world of furniture, the word ‘ottoman’ originally referred to a particular sofa style.

I kid you not.

Of course, this was back in the 18th century, and things have changed somewhat since then.

Furniture historians aren’t exactly sure why this one-time sofa morphed into a padded stool, but there you have it.

Now, you might be wondering what’s so great about an ottoman, so let me explain.

In my living room, we have a large ottoman that is roughly 4 ft x 5 ft in size.

This one piece of furniture can hold multiple stacks of books and magazines, thereby serving as a coffee table.

Yet it can just as easily fill the need for extra seating.

In addition, if the top surface is flat and sturdy, it can even hold a tray of food.

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It’s National Cookie Month!

Did you know we’re celebrating National Cookie Month?

A few days ago, a pretty card arrived in the mail, courtesy of my chiropractor.

Which is how I learned that it’s National Cookie Month.

And who wants to miss out on that?

The card went on to say that a different cookie would be featured in their office every week for the remainder of this month!

And to think – my next appointment isn’t until November.

(I was ready to pick up the phone and make an appointment right away).

Of course, there was nothing to indicate these cookies would be gluten-free, or allergen friendly – in which case, I wouldn’t touch them anyway.

All the more reason to open my cupboards and bake some cookies of my own!

On this particular day – and for whatever reason – I was craving chocolate.

And nothing but a plump Chocolate Chip Cookie was going to satisfy those cravings.

So, I creamed together the butter and sugar, added the gluten-free flour, ground nuts and quinoa – then reached into the cupboard for a bag of chocolate chips.

Imagine my surprise, when I came up empty.

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WHAT DO TRAVEL AGENTS & INTERIOR DESIGNERS HAVE IN COMMON?

“Hiring a professional to do something you could yourself can be a good idea or a bad one. It comes down to the value you receive.”The Seattle Times, July 2011

 

I just got off the phone with my travel agent. 

Yes, I might be one of the few who still resort to this ‘dated’ practice, when it’s so easy to book your own travel plans online.

But here’s the thing.

Spur of the moment, my husband and I decided to plan a trip to Hawaii.

We called our favorite hotel and were told there was limited room availability at the start of the holidays – plus prices would be higher than usual.

Then we attempted to reserve a flight on the airline’s website, only to learn there was only room for one of us on any given flight.

Clearly, this wouldn’t do.

Enter the travel agent.

The beauty of working with a travel agent is that, for a minimal fee ($35 in our case) she was able to book a flight – for both of us – plus a hotel room at a reasonable rate.

She did all this, and saved us about $2000.

I compare hiring a travel agent to hiring an interior designer. I think you’ll be amazed by the similarities!

 

Expensive? Says Who?

Hiring a travel agent, or interior designer – or any professional, for that matter – won’t necessarily cost you more.

Changes are, you will even save money in the end.

This is because interior designers not only know the ins and outs of their business, they also know where to find you the best deals.

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Does Gluten-Free Food Taste Bad?

A client of mine recently commented that the gluten-free oatmeal she’d eaten for breakfast was “pretty awful”.

That surprised me.

Gluten-free oats shouldn’t taste any different from regular oats.

The primary issue with oats (which are inherently gluten-free) is cross-contamination from other grains.

This means that oats labeled as specifically gluten-free have been grown in dedicated fields – without any danger of cross-contamination.

Does that affect the taste?

Not that I’m aware of, but I’d welcome any feedback on this issue!

So, does gluten-free food really taste bad?

In a word, no.

Sure, there might be some products that are below par, but isn’t it that way with everything?

For those of us who are gluten-free, it’s a fairly common complaint that gluten-free cookies, breads and so forth pale in taste when compared to the “original”.

In our minds, we can still “taste” the fluffy pancakes or artisan breads that we were accustomed to eating, before we gave up gluten.

We’re forever making comparisons.

And disappointed by the results!

I think there’s another way to look at this, which is that gluten-free baked goods may taste different, yes.

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