A Woman's Network - for when life is like juggling huge exercise balls

Mexican Xmas Cookies

Cuervo Cookies---This is my kind of baking!!!!!!!!!

I know it's a little early, but it is time to start baking for the holidays.  This is the BEST Christmas Cookie recipe EVER!

Christmas Cookies
1 cup of water
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup of sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup of brown sugar
Lemon juice
4 large eggs
1 cup nuts
2 cups of dried fruit
1 bottle Jose Cuervo Tequila

Sample the Cuervo to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the Cuervo again to be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink. Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point it's best to make sure the Cuervo is still OK, try another cup just in case.

Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit, Pick the frigging fruit off floor. Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers just! pry it loose with a drewscriver. Sample the Cuervo to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt, or something. Check the Jose Cuervo.

Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find. Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. Don't forget to beat off the turner. Finally, throw the bowl through the! window, finish the Cose Juervo and make sure to put the stove in the dishwasher.

CHERRY MISTMAS

Happy Holidays from the Queen!

The Prince and I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you and your family the very best of holidays this year.  Please extend our warmest wishes to your loved ones.  We also wanted to wish you a very prosperous New Year!

Potato Latkes

My father makes the best latkes -- he always said that it was grating them by hand that made them so good.  It is not a latke made with love unless there is a little knuckle in it!

2 eggs
3 c. grated, drained potatoes (easy when using a food processor!)
4 tbsp. grated onion
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 tbsp. cracker or matzo meal
1/2 c. oil for frying latkes plus about 2 tbsp. for onion

Saute onion until slightly browned. Beat eggs. Add potatoes, onion, salt, pepper, and meal. Heat half the oil in frying pan and drop potato mixture by the tablespoon. Fry until browned and crispy on both sides. Serve with applesauce or sour cream. Serves 8.

Rosa Parks 1913 - 2005

An American Hero 

Fifty years ago when Rosa Parks made a simple decision to keep her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus, she had no idea that she had secured her place in American History.  At the time, the then 42-year old seamstress stood strong to her sense of right and wrong, and refused to give her seat up on a bus when asked by a white man.  This simple act of courage and conviction sparked a movement of justice and equality for blacks in this country.  She gave birth to the civil rights movement, galvanizing activists such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and many others.

Rosa Parks dies yesterday of natural causes.  She was an inspiration to all. 

Hurricane Katrina

American Red Cross Responds to Hurricane Katrina - Donate Now

Blogs

The beauty of blogging is the free sharing of information and experiences with those who you would never have reached without the Internet.  Periodically I will post an article about different weBLOGs I have stumbled across in my cyber journey that I have found engaging for one reason of another.  Basically when viewing blogs, I look for intelligence, creativity, originality, and a handsome face. These, my friends, are links to some of my favorites:

From the boardwalk at Coney Island to Jaques Torres' chocolate shop under the Manhattan Bridge -- if you love Brooklyn the way I love Brooklyn visit the Brooklyn Blog.  Written by a Brooklyn lover for those in ParkSlope and beyond.  Kick back and enjoy!

These photographs are fantastic! Visit Eric's site "curiously incongruous photo-poetic images of London"  -- Eric captures the details and the feel of the city as if you were walking the streets of London yourself.  Kudos to Eric -- I love these photos!!!!

stephencooks.com: This is the online kitchen notebook of an everyday home cook, making real food for real family and friends.  His photos are beautiful and original and his recipes sublime.  Now if someone would please cook me something!

From the gardens and canals of Venice, Ca. to ordering wine and shopping in Paris, France -- this website is written with a woman's sensibility and provides the inside track for women travelers and their companions.  Whether you go alone or with a gal pal, you will find well written and thoroughly investigated information on world destinations.  I recommend this site for the virtual traveler or the woman who is on the "get up and go". 

Diabetes - Blood Glucose Levels

The guidelines recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) are listed below:

Pre-meal glucose (mg/dl)
ADA -- 90-130
AACE -- Below 110

After-meal glucose (mg/dl)
ADA -- 180 or less,1-2 hours after the start of the meal
AACE -- 140 or less, 2 hours after the start of a meal

A1C (2 to 3 month average glucose)
ADA -- 7 percent or less
AACE -- 6.5 percent or less

Paramount to living a long and healthy life is compliance.  Testing your blood sugars often is key for all diabetics. 

Fall Colors

When I speak of "fall colors" I am not referring to the foliage during the first two weeks of October in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.  I am talking about hair color, eye shadow, lip tints and blush.  Yes -- it is time to rethink those summer highlights. Time to tone down your simmering hot look and take on some earth tones that will soften your look this Autumn.

If you are like me, your hair has probably seen enough highlights until next season.  It is time to tone it down one or two shades.  I have gone from a double process -- dark blond base with highlights a shade brighter -- to a light brown single process.  It has softened up my look in time for the festivals of fall. 

As far as eyeshadow choices -- I will put away my shimmering bright colors -- and begin to use warm browns, and other earth tones.  A few great products that have caught my eye this season are:

Smashbox Eye Shadow Trio  - These versatile, perfectly coordinated shadow trios take the guesswork out of the picture-perfect, three-color eye. 

Paula Dorf's Eye Color Collection -- particularly the Bark, Safari, Tribal and WetSand.

For your lashes -- you must get a good conditioner and lash builder -- Paula Dorf's Perfect Lash fits the bill.  This lash conditioner thickens every lash for a full, lush look. Plumps up thin, sparse lashes and also works great as a pre-mascara.  And don't forget a good mascara -- I use Lorac.

For the lips I always recommend soft natural colors for any season.  Nudes, soft pinks and natural browns are perfect for Autumn days and nights.  Lip Fusion color shines and lip liners are the answer for the soft look of this fall.  They also make a fine lip conditioning product.

Finally for the cheeks -- I say go easy.  A soft earth tone with a shimmer of pink on your upper cheek will highlight your cheek bones and open your eyes. 

Lauren Hutton's Good Stuff is really good stuff.  With different shades for different skintones -- you can't go wrong with this purchase.

Shari Kurzrok

A remarkable story of a brave girl and the love that surrounds her.

Relaxation

I was recently taught a relaxation exercise that I would like to share with those of you who find yourselves anxious, always in a hurry, strapped for time, and maybe -- even at times -- depressed.  Relaxation and mindfulness will lead to less anxiety, lower blood pressure, and it will reduce the cumulative damage that stress has on your body and soul. 

Take ten minutes a day -- find a quiet peaceful spot to relax away from the days disturbances.  Sit upright with a straight back, or lie on your back in a comfortable position.  Do not cross your legs and keep your arms relaxed at your side.

Focus on your breathing.  Clear your mind and focus on each individual breath.  Be aware of your lungs as they fill with air as you inhale, and as you exhale be aware of the air leaving your body.  Focus only on your breath circulating throughout your body, clear your mind of all other thoughts.

Count to 4 slowly on the inhale, and let the breath out slowly while counting to 8 during the exhale.  It is inevitable that your mind will wander to thoughts of the day, as well as noises and sensations in the environment, however, as these distractions enter your consciousness acknowledge them and then bring your awareness back to your steady healthful breath. 

I promise that after a week of this breathing exercise you will feel more energized and relaxed.  All it takes is 10 minutes to yourself -- who couldn't use a quick ten minute get away for the hassles of the day everyday?