by Chrysa Smith Finally, a place where women rule. They make all the decisions.And according to a piece on the TODAY show, it is the only culture where men walk around with their mouths covered by tropical sheets (hopefully, high thread count cotton), and the women show their pretty, smiling faces. Nirvana, you say? Well, not quite. Actually, Timbuktu. No, I'm not joking. Timbuktu is not only real, but it is located in [...]
by Chrysa SmithWith a name like mine, could I be anything but a goyem? (Gentile)Right. I spent the better part of my education in some sort of blue plaid or herringbone Catholic School uniform. But growing up in NYC gave me some very nice advantages: great food, plentiful work, cultural diversity and the knowledge of some very phonetically-cool Yiddish words and expressions that express words and expressions like no English word could:Stop your [...]
by Chrysa Smith Starting right about now, my nesting instincts kick in. I've got my scented candles burning, my fireplace roaring and I'm curled up on the sofa with a cozy blanket and two furry friends. The throw pillows have been 'seasoned' in slip-covered shades of sage green, burgundy and gold. And I've pulled out all the seasonal decor: fresh mums, fake pumpkins and dried willow branches. It's cozy. It's inviting. It feels [...]
by Chrysa SmithIf you're like me, around this time of year, you brace yourself for that end-of-year, holiday weight gain. It always begins at Halloween, with those innocent-looking, miniature, snack-size chocolate bars. You know the ones you buy, thinking you'll lose 10 lbs by New Year, because they're only 50 calories each and pre-wrapped (a weight watchers secret psych tip) ----then proceed to eat six because they're just so darn tiny? Before you [...]
by Chrysa SmithI walked across the maze of yard, paint and home repair supplies that is my garage. A loud, girly scream and I was back into the house like a flash. 'There's a dead rat out there! It's right by the work bench!' I shakily told my husband. After his own inspection, I got what you'd expect from a Montana guy, 'It's not a rat, it's a possum. I bet it had [...]
Ever get smacked in the head with a bologna sandwich? Howabout a pie in the face?Luckily (or unluckily in some ways) most of us are long removed from the high school cafeteria, where food can sometimes take flight. But equally as inappropriate (at least to me) are all these food shows that boast testosterone-laden names that imply some sort of physical violence, strength, intimidation: Cupcake Wars? Iron Chef? Hell's Kitchen? Only a man, [...]
by Chrysa SmithWhen the temperatures dropand the moon rises highIt's time for some pumpkinin bread, cakes & pieSo break out the canned pumpkinor scoop out your gourdfor some fine, festive foodfit for King, Queen or LordI like Libby's boxed bread mixthat's natural and freeof chemical additiveswhere they should not beSo easy to make,even in hastethen make it your ownwith additions to tastePecans and chocolate chipsadd a nice kickdried mango and coconutare my favorite [...]
