by Chrysa SmithEstee Lauder is famous for saying that what they sell is 'hope in a jar.' True, true. But now, hope does spring eternal as MAC Cosmetics is selling hope beyond the chronological, with the introduction of their newest model. Not an anorexic with martyr eyes and sunken bones, but a 90 year old woman with chutzpah. Iris Apfel, with her enormous black-framed glasses has taken MAC to another level---showing that beauty [...]
by Chrysa SmithAah. There's nothing quite like a man in uniform. Or for that matter, a good crab cake. And that's what makes Annapolis, MD so dreamy. You can have your admiral and ---hmm--crustacean too.Looking for a short getaway this winter, Mark and I took a ride down the Midatlantic seaboard to arrive in a charming Colonial city. With old brick buildings, cobblestone streets and marinas at the ends of shopping districts, there's [...]
by Chrysa SmithWe're all mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore! All of the political ads, news shows and special reports take up valuable tv viewing time with what seems like a never-ending circular discussion of the same issues day after day. UGH!Is all of this banter going to change the course of one thing? No.Do all of these slanted views do anything to promote unity? No. So I [...]
by Chrysa SmithOh, St. Patrick! I love your feast day; dislike your food. In fact, the one Irish dish I'll even cook up is Irish Soda Bread--not only because it requires no fights with yeast, but it is quite delicious.History is said to date back to 1817, when a British editor at The Gentleman's Magazine was asked to come up with a recipe using soft wheat. Soft wheat, or poor wheat was readily [...]
by Chrysa SmithThink Andrea Bocelli, Celine Deon and Piero's. Because this Huntingdon Valley, PA ristorante delivers on both food and atmosphere.Step inside, take a deep breath and say aaaahhh! You've arrived at a restaurant appropriate for dinner-- linen tablecloths, a clearly Tuscan decor, dimmed lighting and music to dine by. As you sit there you realize that this is how a restaurant experience should be. No hustle, no bustle, no noise. But certainly [...]
by Chrysa SmithI know. Cake mixes have been around for decades; nothing new, you say. Well, I've recently stocked up on a bunch. Not because I'm a sugar junkie (although I might be). But because I regularly make an appointment with The Cake Mix Doctor.If you choose to make your own appointment http://www.cakemixdoctor.com/, I must say, you will see healthy cakes in a whole new way. For instance, take a yellow cake mix [...]
by Chrysa SmithPardon me for the boys bathroom humor. I couldn't help myself. Because I wanted to talk about cheese-cutting: just in time for the Oscars.Oscars & cheese? Right. Because whether you're snacking on cheese and crackers, making nachos or any cheese-based dip, my recent purchase of a cheese plane is just what the chef ordered. For too long, I used a sharp knife to slice my various cheeses. Most Sundays, I leave [...]
