René of the Day // 9.24.11 // Gators vs. Wildcats

For my dad's 60th birthday and Father's Day this year, I surprised him with tickets to the Florida Gators versus Kentucky Wildcats football game in Lexington. He grew up in Gainesville, Florida and has been a diehard Gator fan since he was a kid. I don't believe he's been to a game since he moved to Cincinnati when he was 17 and I knew he'd be thrilled... We've anticipated the day since the early summer and I was so excited to take him. I really enjoyed riding down together, catching up, laughing and realizing we have the same favorite current country songs in common ("You and Tequila Make Me Crazy" and "Dirt Road Anthem") - I thought he still listened to classic rock all the time. But he's a good ole Southern boy so no surprise really. We had an early dinner at Pazzo's in Lexington, a pizza place a friend who's a UK alum recommended. We sat right in front of a 70" TV and watched the Alabama/Arkansas game which was great. The pizza was delicious but the wait was ridiculously long, considering they weren't slammed. But we did have some time to kill. But the ole boy wanted to get into that stadium to watch the Gators run out, even if we just sat and watched cheerleaders for a half hour til they were ready (okay, Dad, I get it, you're not dead.)

After dinner we drove to campus and searched for parking... He sure as hell wasn't about to pay $40 to park at a fraternity so we pulled down a residential street and a bunch of college kids were tailgating in their front yard and had a handwritten sign in the driveway: "$20: Spot and a Shot." DONE. Dad worried the kids would screw with his car since we were Gators fans but I told him we'd be good. A super nice kid helped us out and three of them offered us a drink as we walked from behind the house. They were clearly making bank on this parking situation so handing out a cheap drink to their customers was a great sell. Dad asked him if he was in business school and he said, "Yes sir." Dad replied, "Alright then good, because that's where you belong." I pulled out my Gators coozie, slipped it over the Bud Light a random girl handed me and we walked just down the street, over a little bridge and through the parking lot tailGATORs to the stadium. Granted, we sat damn close to the top but he was happier than a pig in sh-t. We had a great time watching Florida kill it. Their running back/track star Rainey is just impossible to catch. There was a group of six young dads behind us with their sons at their first UK game - they were super cute and entertaining throughout the game. Dad knows the game really well so it was enjoyable to talk through the plays and see how pumped he got. At halftime he grabbed us drinks and came back with two blue Powerades (of course, Wildcat Country.) He said a guy looked at him and said, "Shouldn't you be drinking Gatorade?" and he said "Y'all don't have any!" and he replied "That's how we do it." He got a kick out of that.

I was laughing all night because Dad and MR were going back and forth via my texts. Dad asked how he took Florida beating Tennessee the week before. I told him I didn't talk much smack. He goes, "I would've. I'd call him and say, 'This is your future father-in-law. CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP!" LOL Later he said, "At least one of the son-in-laws likes football." Then MR text me to say he was dressing up as the Tennessee Tech University golden eagle at halftime. Pepsi put on a big tailgate for their employees and their colleagues at Tech have been teasing him to do it for quite a while - thought that night would be good to show off for the employee's kids. Dad said, "Yeah right, golden eagle? It's probably a vulture costume." Ha. He said he shook his tail feather, posed for pictures, hugged randoms, cheered with the cheerleaders and took a knee for an injured player. He's a total ham so I know he loved it. They told him he can come back to do it anytime haha!

The Gators killed it and I'm so glad I decided to buy those tickets and take a day trip together. A few days later I called Dad to chat and asked if he had a good time. He said, "Honey, it was one of the best times I've had." That statement makes it all worth it. Go Gators!

Commonwealth Stadium

René of the Day // 9.23.11 // I love this bar

Maybe I have Toby Keith lyrics stuck in my head as I anticipate his concert tomorrow night... but one of my absolute favorite spots in Cincinnati is The Blind Lemon on Hatch Street in Mt. Adams. It's really not a hidden gem these days, but it surely is a special place. Inside it feels like a hobbit hole nestled into the side of a hill in Britain. Copper mugs, old political buttons, trains and other nostalgic paraphernalia line the ceilings and walls. You can count on a phenomenal acoustic musician to be tucked into dimly the back corner by the bathrooms, with their relaxing tunes pumping through the bar and out on the patio, which is a dreamy secret garden. With ivy-covered brick walls, cobble stone paving and woven white metal chairs you'd find on your grandparents sun porch, it's a lovely spot to relax around the fire pit and enjoy said music. Their beverage menu includes a hearty list of warm boozy beverages for blustery nights - last Friday I had the Hooken Effer which had, I believe had 4 kinds of liquor, lovingly swirled into hot chocolate and dolloped with whipped cream. Helllllo happy hour. This time of year is perfect for visiting The Blind Lemon - fantastic for a date night, a place to catch up with friends or to bring new Cincinnati visitors. Cheers!

René of the Day // 9.22.11 // Open up your heart and let the sunshine in

How blessed is our generation to be able to capture images, ideas and memories in digital format to have forever? With the Interwebs as our database, we can share and save, practically without limits.

"Open up your heart and let the sunshine in" is a song that my grandmother and her two sisters recorded in Cincinnati in 1954 as the Nunn Sisters (short for their surname, Nunneker.) They didn't write this song but they perform as the vocalists. I will admit, it sounds very cute, almost like the Chippets from Alvin and the Chipmunks! It's not like their other songs that sound much more like the music of the times, more mature, pretty voices. They made a number of records, during the same time as Rosemary Clooney was recording in Cincinnati. It's mindblowing to me to hear them on YouTube 57 years later - they would be absolutely thrilled! I'm so happy to have this to listen to, archived online - the last time I heard one of their songs was when it was played at my grandma's funeral four years ago. I'm not sure who this person is that posted it on YouTube for his mother but it is quite sweet of him. It's so special, I have to share it here. Enjoy.

Original 45 for the song recording.

René of the Day // 9.21. // Cloud 9

So I'm not quite there (on Cloud 9 if you follow) after dining at the new restaurant in the former Dancing Wasabi space but I was pleased with the experience. Katie texted me in the early evening to finally catch up after numerous failed attempts and re-scheduled dates and sushi just sounded right. I'd been wanting to see the new place but was also curious because their sign outside reads, "Half price! Same menu as Dancing Wasabi!" It didn't make much sense to open a new restaurant and keep it the same so it didn't excite me, but it was worth checking out. Of course they offer "half price" which has been the gig for at least two years now. They keep the prices high and you do the math to see how "cheap" it is - wow!

Cloud 9 doesn't have any of the tacky art work and junk on the walls that Dancing Wasabi had. They do have two small white boards that state that they offer toro (richer, fatty tuna, harder to find and pricier) on the weekends. The menu has expanded non-sushi options with more appetizers and entreé options. The sushi menu offers all of the rolls that Dancing Wasabi did, but features quite a few new options. Katie and I struggled with determining which to choose because so many sounded similar. Almost every roll was wrapped around shrimp. It was hard to find five different rolls that were enticing and not repetitive, and neither of us are picky, we do it all - eel, uncooked, veggies, tempura, spicy, etc.

We ordered:
Orange County (sushi shrimp, cucumber & crab topped with spicy tuna, eel sauce & spicy mayo)
Dynamite (California roll topped with torched Hot Mama - mix of chopped tuna, salmon, tilapia, white tuna, yellowtail, garlic, red pepper paste, sriacha & green onion - eel sauce & spicy mayo)
Red Double (tempura shrimp, avocado, crab, eel sauce, spicy mayo, tempura flakes & wasabi sauce)
Caterpillar (eel & cucumber inside with layers of sliced avocado and eel sauce on top)
Tempura (tuna, salmon, tilapia, white tuna, crab stick, asparagus, cream cheese - deep fried)

Ultimately, the Orange County was the only new one for us. The Dynamite has changed a little and it was very similar to the Red Double, which we enjoyed much more. Red Double, Caterpillar and Tempura are always easy wins. We joked that they need a chart of spreadsheet comparing the rolls since many are so similar, it's hard to compare (so much for leaving work at the office, ha).

A friend from work was also there and mentioned they had really slow service and their plate of sushi sat on the counter for a while before it was noticed and delivered to their table; not a great experience but I've had this happen before. I think I'll go back - the atmosphere of Dancing Wasabi in the old Beluga space has better ambiance but I'm so sick of ordering maki from the same menu over the past few years.

Their full menu is available on their urbanspoon page.

(As always, I'm not a restaurant critic. Just a foodie sharing my experiences.)

René of the Day // 9.20.11 // Falloween

On a trip to Michael's craft store to inspire the fall decor for my adorable Willow House glass thimble domes that are the highlight of my kitchen table, I came across some fun Halloween items that I had to have! I spent Friday night relaxing, watching "Something Borrowed," eating English chocolate and dressing up the little scenes. Yes, I sound old and boring and lame but after endless weekends of travel, it was nice to relax at home. (Never thought I'd say that.)

One has sparkly little spiders with creepy long legs, one has two little jack-o-lanterns and a tiny black cat and one has little piles of skulls. I knew I wouldn't be able to use a whole bag of fake spider webs and I didn't have cotton balls so I pulled apart the ends of Q-Tips to improvise and line the bottoms of the domes - I think they turned out quite cute! And I have my fall set-up planned for November. Just call me Mini Martha. ;)

René of the Day // 9.19.11 // Aunt Né Days

We need more of these... But between work and other commitments and my sister's plans, it does make Aunt Né Days with my 7 (almost 8) year old niece, Kylie, less frequent as I'd love for them to be. But we have a great time together. I mean, I'm a goof ball, she's practically as tall as me but I have a bank account and a car "that's Kylie-sized" - what's not for her to love? We plan little adventures like the Cincinnati Children's Museum or a day on "Kids Row" in Oakley - reading books and having lunch at Blue Manatee DeCafé, going crazy with the toys at King Arthurs Court Toy Store and rounding out the day with ice cream in a special silver bowl on a pink stool at Agalamesis Brothers. It's been amazing to watch her grown up from when she was born my senior year of high school. She's so bright, energetic and so damn cute - but hey, what aunt wouldn't say such things about their sibling's offspring? 

Our latest Aunt Né Day included "The Lion King" in 3D - which I hear is only in theaters for 2 weeks! - followed up hanging out at Grandmommy's. I blew bubbles in the yard while she pretended to be a "quarterback" and ran and popped them. Then Grandmommy cooked pulled pork with pineapple BBQ sauce and homemade cole slaw and mashed potatoes with olives and some delicious horseradish cheddar cheese. And later I made ice cream cones to eat in the backyard. I was also able to catch up on some laundry! It was a perfect Aunt Né Day - I'm trying to think about our next, perhaps making them a regularly scheduled date. I'd love to take her for a more grown-up outing like getting a mani/pedi or have her spend the night at the studio with me and her best buddy, Findlay. I'm blessed to have such a little sweetheart as my sidekick.

Check out our sweet 3D shades!

René of the Day // 9.18.11 // Restaurant Week @ Bouquet

Bouquet Restaurant and Wine Bar is located in Covington, Kentucky, part of MainStrasse Village. It's been on "my list" for years and when Becca and I were deciding where to go for Greater Cincinnati Independents Restaurant Week, it was one of my top choices.

The Restaurant Week menu - 3 courses for $26.11 - wasn't as appealing to me as some of the selections from their man menu. Becca really enjoyed the butternut squash soup, heirloom salad and Atlantic salmon. I decided to forego the deal and choose what sounded best. I started with the smoked salmon mousse, served with cucumber, pickled ginger, red onion, candied orange zest and lemon caper aioli (see photo below). I was surprised to see the mousse served in little tarts but it was fantastic - the crust was rich and buttery and not too flaky. I would love to try another dish in a larger shell made with this dough. For the main course I had game hen with roasted brussels sprouts, blackberries, bacon and smoked buttermilk grits. It was outstanding! It was plated with four meaty little winglets stacked on top of one another, atop the delicious medley listed. The brussels sprouts were crunchy and roasted, the bacon was in thick, juicy little hunks and the grits provided the perfect creamy texture. My only qualm was that the blackberry seeds kept finding their way between my teeth, but what can you do? Our server was wonderful - I'm looking forward to going back with my mom and Kiki - we've talked about going for a long time - or for a romantic date with MR - he thought the hen sounded great. It's a very small and intimate space, so reservations are certainly recommended, I'm glad we had one. It was a full house at 8pm on Saturday. Next time I'd like to tap into their wine list, too.

After dinner we went to Oktoberfest Zinzinnati to meet up with friends and it was an absolute cluster! Phone service was spotty and it was nearly impossible to find anyone. I have never seen the festival so packed - it made it hard to enjoy the evening. The weather that afternoon was beautiful so perhaps that would've been a better time to go. It was just a crowd of drunk fools and far too many insulting smells in every direction. I also hate to see how people trash our city - but I also didn't see many garbage cans at our disposal (literally.) We each had one Sam Adams Oktoberfest beer and chatted a bit then headed home. I'll need to re-think my visit to Oktoberfest next year because I just can't be bothered with that circus again.

Side story: Bouquet also holds a special spot in my memory because last May, Kristin and I went to MaiFest in MainStrasse one Saturday and decided to sit down with our Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ales at a little table right in front of Bouquet. We were chatting about how I'd been a single gal since college and Kristin gave me a great girl talk about how I'm too quick to judge and should give guys the benefit of the doubt and not be so skeptical. I took her advice and tucked it in my back pocket when she dropped me off in Mt. Adams to meet up with Lindsey & Maura an hour or so later. So when we left Monk's Cove and sat down at a table at Tavern on the Hill, the only open seat was across from the girls, next to a guy with a huge smile and a big laugh who started talking about the Vols - so I turned around and gave him - MR! - a big Gator chomp... I gave him a chance, just like Kristin said, and the rest is history :)

René of the Day // 9.17.11 // PetPeople

Since Hyde Bark has closed on Hyde Park Square, I was excited to see a new pet-themed shop opened recently in walking distance of my apartment. It was a gorgeous day so I took Findlay to PetPeople - a national chain pet shop that has opened in the former Blockbuster space by the Aveda Institute in Hyde Park. The store is very clean, bright and fun. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. They had a great selection of premium dog food, treats and leashes and collars, plus items to meet the needs of cats, bunnies (Rocky, get excited!) and other small animals. Findlay was a good boy and got a little squeaky hedgehog! I'm looking forward to going back - they had a lot of nice toys and treats at really reasonable prices.

We joined their PetPeeps rewards so we'll continue to make visits. I've been thinking about a new leash and collar - he's always had the same orange argyle set that I can't seem to part with. PetPeople also has a "pet wash" - for $15 to use the space to scrub your pooch and they provide the shampoo, towels and clean up. Luckily Fin fits in my tub when he just needs to be cleaned up but not groomed. I think we equally enjoyed our visit and I was pleased to see it was much more reasonable than Hyde Bark.

René of the Day // 9.16.11 // Private Selection Tasting

Open bar and taste testing? Obviously, I signed up! Made me laugh because my friend Nikki said, "Dang girl - I love your life - it's always so fun!" I can't disagree :) Junior League hosted a fundraising event with Kroger's Private Selection brand to invite us to taste some of their potential new products and provide our feedback. Kelley, Adam, Liz and I secured a cocktail table and filled our little plates with boundless goodies. The focus of the tasting was on flatbreads - loved the rosemary and olive oil and sea salt and cracked black pepper. They were a nice, wide size and snapped nicely to accommodate spreads and dips. They had a beautiful wheel of brie with walnuts and apples that we couldn't get enough of. Little sandwiches and bruschetta filled us as we tasted the cheese straws - my least favorite of the items to be rated. The blue cheese didn't have a hint of that flavor. The cheddar flavor wasn't very exciting. I do think the little cheese rectangles would've been good crunched in soup.

The two olive tables were a hit for Adam and I - the girls aren't fans. I told him it was like a martini bar without the vodka! Stuffed with everything from citrus, blue cheese - the best I've had - soft creamy cheese not a hard square shoved in the olive like they usually are, garlic - with a big crunchy ripe clove and a few others, all of which I loved! Lastly, the cookies - we all really enjoyed the little pumpkin spice tea cookies and my favorite was the raspberry cookies with chocolate-coating on the bottom - except I think the raspberry seeds got stuck in my teeth, which was annoying. The butter pecan cookies weren't as good as a pecan sandie from Keebler.

It was a fun way to spend the evening and may have convinced me to try shopping at Kroger again - it's always a zoo and the aisles break in the center and turn so you can't just work up and down as you go. But their private label brand does have great offerings. I prefer the aesthetics of shopping at Biggs but their produce has declined and they don't carry a lot of the great gourmet products they used to. Trader Joe's is my favorite these days. But it's great that the League was able to provide the little evening of entertaining and benefit our efforts for the year.

René of the Day // 9.15.11 // I'd Hit That

This week I finally was able to play in our softball league - I've been working or had other things to attend to the past few weeks. The weather was cool enough to make it comfortable and it was fun to get out and get a little dirty. Lucky we missed the impending storms that were expected. I didn't make it past first base the few times I made it there but had good hustle and the team was a blast to play with - and it's cool to meet people from other agencies and to hang out with co-workers who you don't always work with directly. I was thrilled that we went with the name I threw out there for the team: "I'd Hit That." Now I just need to work on hitting harder and remember my tshirt (left at my desk) and cooler of beer next week! Play ball!

René of the Day // 9.14.11 // SmashBurger

WOW! I think I've grown to love a good burger more in the past few years than I ever appreciated them when I was younger. This is in part to the insurgence of gourmet offerings and creative toppings to enhance it from a lump of dried chuck with ketchup blobbed on top. (Note: I do not claim to be a restaurant critic - just a foodie sharing my experience.)

For our monthly mentor lunch, Marcus and I checked out SmashBurger in Blue Ash. I'd heard about the chain from my mom and her co-workers whose office is across the street. It was a beautiful day so we sat outside and caught up and stuffed ourselves - the Baja burger with pepper jack cheese, fresh guacamole, lettuce, tomato, onion, zesty chipotle mayo and fresh jalapenos (nice thick slices) on a spicy chipotle bun, was fantastic! Loved the sweet potato fries, too. And any place with Cherry Coke on fountain wins my vote (don't tell MR.) It was so damn good I decided to go back the next night for dinner and had the BBQ, bacon and cheddar burger with crispy haystack onions - I think I liked it even better! I wasn't a big fan of the veggie frites - I was excited to try them but they weren't crispy - sort of limp. I'm sure I'll go back to try the Buckeye and the mushroom and swiss burgers - and again for one with fried egg on top. Hellllo fat kid! Ohh and the Haagen Daaz milkshakes - $4 but with flavors like NutterButter it's a must.

The burger was juicy and cooked well through and does look like the eat was smashed - not formed into a frozen patty. Although $11 is steep for a burger joint, it's worth a try - their toppings are what will bring me back. It's a national chain but each state has a special burger.

René of the Day // 9.13.11 // MAD MEN @ Banana Republic

SWOON!

Truth be told, I hate shopping. I may have said this in a previous blog post. I just want fabulous clothes in my closet for my ever-ready needs. I get tremendous guilt when I spend money on clothes - even though I wear them for years - I still have clothes from when I worked at the Gap in high school in my wardrobe that get worn. So as MR tells me, I should allow myself to a little shopping treat and not feel bad - isn't he the best? :)

I was walking through the mall and hit my regulars: Ann Taylor LOFT, J. Crew and then Banana Republic - and my jaw dropped when I caught sight of their window displays - MAD MEN Collection for Banana Republic! I mean, are you kidding me? I have recently become addicted to the show and am almost through the Season 4 DVDs. Always adoring the dresses worn by Peggy and Joan, I popped inside and scanned the racks. I would've loved to see more options in Betty's style. Honestly, I wear dresses or skirts almost every day. But I do have a difficult time justifying $75+ for one item of clothing - it's not that much but I still wince with guilt. With this being an exception, I may have to choose a favorite, something sassy and classy, and make it mine.

René of the Day // 9.12.11 // UC vs. UT

The Cincinnati Bearcats played the Tennessee Volunteers - the ultimate line up - MR's and my alma mater playing a packed house at Neyland. He sold his season ticket seats and bought front row seats for us and Vale and Maura - hell of a good time! UC scored firs and I was hopeful - but let's be honest - Big East teams can't hold a candle to SEC football. Nothing like Saturday in the south.

MR made me wake up at 6:30am on a Saturday, bless it. He dressed his in respect orange and I in black and red. We were tailgating in Knoxville by 10:30am. Had a great group of friends from Cincinnati and UT with good food and cold Yuengling. Tailgating there is like a hoiday compared to tailgating in Clifton. In Knoxville, every single park and parking lot is bumper to bumper with trucks loaded with beer, food and cornhole sets with orange flags flying. People pay $20 to park in a car wash spot and restaurants sell their parking spaces - brilliant. Lori and Andy joined us and I'm glad they got to experience it with us. MR is totally in his element and loves showing people around campus. He's been obsessed with UT since his Uncle Jim (UJ) brought him to a game when he was 10. Cut him open, orange will ooze :)

At half time, Maura and I had a fabulous time people-watching... all of the sorority gals had on orange dresses, every style you can imagine, totally adorable, with shit kickers and a button that said "KD loves Vols" or "KKG loves Vols." The culture is so different - I'd love to wear a dress to the games, but I'd be scoffed at in Cincinnati. I really hope my kids go to an SEC school so they can experience football season in the south. Fireworks and "Rocky Top" after every touchdown - it's hard not to be passionate with all of the pomp and circumstance. The Vols ended up taking the lead and holding it through the end. After the game we tailgated more - of course - with MR's cousin Drew from Nashville. Since you can't drink in SEC stadiums, we neded to get our buzz back and watched the end of the South Carolina-Georgia game, displayed on a flat screen in the back of an SUV. Then MR guided Lori, Andy and I through campus, telling tales of college and Knoxville. We walked all the way back to their hotel by the World's Fair park, which I'd love to go back to - just beautiful. Then we walked through Market Square which is a really cool little strip with shops and restaurants with cobble stone park in between. Had delicious pulled pork nachos and sat outside at this little pub with a great band and cool murals of Where the Wilds Things Are in the bathroom. Ran into quite a few people from Cincinnati in the Square, too. 

I was absolutely exhausted but cranked out a second wind and went back to the strip and hit a few bars and met up with old college friends, drank beer and danced like fools. By the time we took a cab back to our hotel, Maura and Vale were passed out. (Vale said he'd like for me to follow him around and blog about his life, so here's his debut!) It was one hell of a long and fun day... I hope we can still do this when we're 40!

Tailgating - house divided! 

Neyland Stadium is insane! View from front row seats.

Smokey!

Get it. Vale!

René of the Day // 9.11.11 // Remembrance

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." - John Fitzgerald Kennedy

René of the Day // 9.10.11 // SEC Football

This email gets passed around at the beginning of football season every year - it's too hilarious and accurate not to share, especially after my experiences in the past few years, going to college in the the north and having a boyfriend who has season tickets in the south and dad a who's an SEC fan. If you don't think it's true, join us one weekend and you'll see for yourself. Enjoy!

SEC Football

Planning for the fall football season in the South is radically different from up North. For those who are planning a football trip south, here are some helpful hints.

Women's Accessories:
NORTH: Chap Stick in back pocket and a $20 bill in the front pocket.
SOUTH: Louis Vuitton duffel with two lipsticks, waterproof mascara, and
a fifth of bourbon. Money not necessary - that's what dates are for.

Stadium Size:
NORTH: College football stadiums hold 20,000 people.
SOUTH: High school football stadiums hold 20,000 people.

Fathers:
NORTH: Expect their daughters to understand Sylvia Plath .
SOUTH: Expect their daughters to understand pass interference.

Campus Decor:
NORTH: Statues of founding fathers.
SOUTH: Statues of Heisman trophy winners.

Homecoming Queen:
NORTH: Also a physics major.
SOUTH: Also Miss America .

Heroes:
NORTH: Rudy Giuliani .
SOUTH: Herschel Walker & Peyton Manning .

Getting Tickets:
NORTH: 5 days before the game, you walk into the ticket office on campus.
SOUTH: 5 months before the game you walk into the ticket office on campus, make a large financial contribution, and put name on a waiting list for
tickets.

Friday Classes After a Thursday Night Game:
NORTH: Students and teachers not sure they're going to the game, because
they have classes on Friday.
SOUTH: Teachers cancel Friday classes because they don't want to see the
few hung over students that might actually make it to class.

Parking:
NORTH: An hour before game time, the University opens the campus for
game parking.
SOUTH: RVs sporting their school flags begin arriving on Wednesday for
the weekend festivities. The really faithful arrive on Tuesday.

Game Day:
NORTH: A few students party in the dorm and watch ESPN on TV.
SOUTH: Every student wakes up, has a beer for breakfast, and rushes over
to where ESPN is broadcasting "Game Day Live" to get on camera and wave to
the idiots up north who wonder why "Game Day Live" is never broadcast from
their campus.

Tailgating:
NORTH: Raw meat on a grill, beer with lime in it, listening to local
radio station with truck tailgate down.
SOUTH: 30-foot custom pig-shaped smoker fires up at dawn. Cooking
accompanied by live performance from the Dave Matthews Band, who come
over during breaks and ask for a hit off bottle of bourbon.

Getting to the Stadium:
NORTH: You ask, "Where's the stadium?" When you find it, you walk right in.
SOUTH: When you're near it, you'll hear it. On game day it is the
state's third largest city.

Concessions:
NORTH: Drinks served in a paper cup, filled to the top with soda.
SOUTH: Drinks served in a plastic cup, with the home team's mascot on
it, filled less than half way with soda to ensure enough room for bourbon.

When National Anthem is Played:
NORTH: Stands are less than half-full and less than half of them stand up.
SOUTH: 100,000 fans, all standing, sing along in perfect four-part harmony.

The Smell in the Air After the First Score:
NORTH: Nothing changes.
SOUTH: Fireworks, with a touch of bourbon.

Commentary (Male):
NORTH: "Nice play."
SOUTH: "Dammit, you slow sumbitch - tackle him and break his legs."

Commentary (Female):
NORTH: "My, this certainly is a violent sport."
SOUTH: "Dammit, you slow sumbitch - tackle him and break his legs."

Announcers:
NORTH: Neutral and paid.
SOUTH: Announcer harmonizes with the crowd in the fight song, with a
tear in his eye because he is so proud of his team.

After the Game:
NORTH: The stadium is empty way before the game ends.
SOUTH: Another rack of ribs goes on the smoker, while somebody goes to
the nearest package store for more bourbon, and planning begins for next
week's game.

HOW MANY SEC STUDENTS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB?

At VANDERBILT : It takes two, one to change the bulb and one more to
explain how they did it every bit as good as the bulbs changed at
Harvard.

At GEORGIA : It takes two, one to change the bulb and one to stabilize
the rolling beer cooler the bulb changer is using for a ladder.

At FLORIDA : It takes four, one to screw in the bulb and three to figure
out how to get stoned off the old one.

At ALABAMA : It takes five, one to change it, three to reminisce about
how The Bear would have done it, and one to throw the old bulb at an NCAA
investigator.

At OLE MISS: It takes six, one to change it, two to mix the drinks and
three to find the perfect J. Crew outfit to wear for the occasion.

At LSU: It takes seven, and each one gets credit for five Semester
hours.

At KENTUCKY : It takes eight, one to screw it in and seven to discuss
how much brighter it seems to shine during basketball season.

At TENNESSEE : It takes ten, two to figure out how to screw it in, two to
buy an orange lamp shade, and six to phone a radio call-in show and talk
about how much they hate Alabama .

At MISSISSIPPI STATE : It takes fifteen, one to screw in the bulb, two to
buy the Skoal, and twelve to yell, "GO TO HELL, OLE MISS".

At AUBURN : It takes one hundred, one to change it, forty-nine to talk
about how they did it better than at Bama and Georgia , and fifty to get
drunk and roll Toomer's Corner when finished.

At SOUTH CAROLINA : It takes 80,000, one to screw it in and 79,999 to
discuss how this finally will be the year that they have a decent
football team.

At ARKANSAS : None. There is no electricity in Arkansas

René of the Day // 9.9.11 // Inspired Ideas: Amy Tobin

My first GMM as a Provisional for Junior League was absolutely entertaining, with a presentation by Amy Tobin, culinary consultant, radio host and author. Her speech, titled "Inspired Ideas" was punctuated with quotes, announced by ladies of the League scattered throughout the audience and followed with heartfelt and hilarious stories by Amy.

I loved listening to what really charges her up - she has great energy and presence and is a fantastic speaker. Perhaps if she had any extra time on her calendar, she could lead a region for Toastmasters? :) She shared a snipit of her personal vision statement which got my wheels turning - this is definitely something I need to create for myself. But I'd like to share some of my take-aways from the evening. These are my thoughts, inspired by her ideas:

What you get is what you see.
Ever so true. I love moments when situations or scenes are explained to me by a fresh set of eyes. In all actuality, the way we choose to perceive something is ultimately what we extract from it. Huh. We can twist it to let a little light shine at a better angle - that's our own choice. Perhaps that may not be what Amy's point was, but that's what this idea says to me. Additionally, we have no choice but to consider that the other person's view may be right. She shared a tale with a coffee cup as an example: if you're holding it, the handle is on the right side; then to the other, it's on the left. Whose perspective is correct? Which side is it on? Who's wrong? Exactly...

Fall in? Swim to shore.
She wished for us all to experience a major failure. It's great for one's empathy, humility and compassion. I couldn't agree more. I had one of these moments or experiences, if you will - one that I thought was epic. Tragic, even. Embarrassing. But as Amy indicated, it provided more clarity and strength then I ever could have calculated.

She talked about the joy of receiving the instant rubberband of good karma - amen - and how the lottery doesn't give us pie. If what you're doing doesn't bring you joy, consider - why the hell am I doing this? And one note that I think is very important for myself and many of the people I know is that there is no action with a balance scale - we beat ourselves up because we fail to achieve work-life balance. Sometimes we will work weeks that make us wonder what "life" is like - and others, we are blessed with the company of our family and friends and enjoy wonderful food and drink and visit incredible places. But the teetering keeps it interesting and helps us achieve appreciation when the other side of the scale drops.

Amy talked about how hard work and passion are hardwired into who she is - I was able to relate to her on so many levels during her presentation. I was truly inspired and look forward to chatting with her more - she will be one of our celebrity judges at the Cincinnati Chocolate Festival. I'm also looking forward to taking one of her cooking classes at EQ at the Party Source - cheers to Amy for sharing her inspired ideas.

René of the Day // 9.8.11 // Quack

On New Year's Day, MR went duck hunting for the third time in his life. Cliché as it may be, third time was a charm. The first two trips, he and Elrod and Vale came home without any game. But on the first day of this year, they were successful.

I love duck and I tend to think of it as a "special" food. It's not going to end up in a gunky casserole or flash fried on a fast food menu. It must be prepared and cooked carefully. We had decided to stay in for New Years Eve at MR's new apartment in Cookeville, TN (superbly classy) and just enjoy the evening without waiting in line for drinks with drunks or paying an astronomical amount for a glass of cheap champagne and a sparkly blower thingy. woo-hoo. So I went to Findlay Market and bought duck breasts and towed them to Tennessee in a cooler... along with a fabulous yellow bottle of Veuve Cliquot. We made a maple orange glazed duck breast with homemade beer bread and mashed sweet potatoes - it was a wonderful meal to ring in the new year. Then we finished our champagne through a Wii tournament - which I won and am patiently awaiting my prize - dinner at The Celestial in Cincinnati.

But I digress - I spent a nice amount of money on duck and the boy turns around and kills them for free the following morning! Perhaps the meal fueled his victory. I find it ironic. But we had driven to our friends the Elrod's house and spent the night and the boys got up at the ass crack of dawn to go hunting. A few hours later, the sun was up and I could hear the boys in the backyard. I'd stayed in bed, careful not to wake Missy, who was 11-months pregnant. I looked out the window and saw feathers flying by the stone wall in the backyard so I got dressed and ran downstairs to congratulate them on their manliness. Elrod showed them how to cut and clean the breasts and they packaged them up for freezing. I've been telling MR for months that we need to cook them before they get funky in the freezer - I wasn't going to eat any foul fowl... so this past weekend, we decided to pull them out and enjoy them before the next New Year rolls around.

Originally we planned to make the classic duck recipe, a la orange. But after a full work week and a 4 hour drive, I didn't feel like spending 3 hours making a meal. We love to sit on the deck with drinks in the evenings and I hoped to spend most of my evening doing just that. We used a Bobby Flay Food Network recipe for Asian-spiced duck breasts with ginger-chile glaze. MR was a great sous chef and took care of the grilling and made the chili-garlic noodles as I mixed the spice rub and concocted the spicy glaze - ooh, was it spicy! It paired well with cold Yuenglings. I was thrilled with how much he enjoyed it and honestly, it was the best cut of duck I've ever tasted. It was natural from the woods of Tennessee so it wasn't oily or greasy... lean, not tough. We make quite the team - he kills, I cook. We'll see if the boys' next hunt is as successful! (I've never cooked a turkey before.)

I snuck a photo of the boys cleaning the duck from the bedroom window.

René of the Day // 9.7.11 // Ooh, Farmer's Market!

Of course I love the local Hyde Park Square farmers market, which has expanded this summer, and it's always a great adventure to explore the markets in other cities - Union Square in NYC is one of my favs. But this post is about one of my favorite scents. It's a common 21 questions or getting-to-know-you inquiry and in recent years, this has been my answer: Farmers Market candle by Yankee. They like to describe it as "Autumn's freshest bounty... sweet berries, juicy apples, succulent peaches and warm spices." MMM...

The scent isn't overwhelming and it doesn't smell too much like chemical jarred foods like many candles do. It's fresh, clean and bright. It's a seasonless scent and had become my signature for the apartment. So even after the vendors have packed up for the summer, I still enjoy the aroma.

René of the Day // 9.6.11 // Otto Armleder Park

One of our favorite places in Cincinnati is Otto Armleder Park. When Fin finished all of his puppy shots we used to go to the dog park there - it was fun but I didn't love it. You have to deal with yappy dogs, humpers, biters, toy-snatchers and weirdos who have one-on-one conversations with their pooches - not my cup of tea - or yard of shit. Just sayin'. But there is a beautiful 2-mile nature trail at the park. If it's a quiet time of day, I can let him off his leash and he roams on his own unless I call him - and he stops and cocks his head or runs right back to me - good boy! It's very therapeutic and quiet and a great workout. He's a really good runner but a lot of times I bring my iPhone and listen to This American Life podcasts. It's our little happy place... one path takes you to a little overlook and bench by the river. I'd love to rollerblade there - the pavement is smooth but I'll have to investigate... a friend recently told me she has taken it up and it may make you laugh since it was such the awesome thing to do when we were younger, but it's fun and great for your buns! It would be the perfect place to train for a 5k (yes, I need to get back to that).

There are pretty little bird sanctuary areas and it's amazing how the plants and wildflowers change every few months... from high grasses to beautiful wildflowers, it's always different. Earlier this year the entire park - dog park, soccer fields, playgrounds, everything - was flooded for weeks. See photo below taken from the overlook at Ault Park - one of our other favorite places.

But the Otto trail is my favorite place to clear my mind, get away and really enjoy Findlay's company and I love how he sacks out so hard for the next few hours when we return home. Truly a cleansing opportunity for us both.

Mr. Fin on the trail

View of Otto Armleder from Ault Park after the flood

René of the Day // 9.3-5.11 // Lazy Labor Day

Going into Labor Day weekend, I rarely ever make plans. Riverfest and the WEBN fireworks are such a cluster and my groups of friends are all over the place - so many people go out of town and some of us are dating, married or single and none of us really have great places to throw big parties, so things are usually up in the air. Generally, making plans on the fly makes me a nervous wreck. I worry I'll sit at home alone and bored - this never happens, so why I fret I do not know. It's my nature, I suppose. But the weekend turned out to be one of the best I've had during that holiday...

Saturday after brunch with Lindsey, I enjoyed a long nap and although MR was stuck in Tennessee working all weekend, his friends are wonderful and pulled me along with them to a BBQ. Our friends Eric and Katie had two 50" TVs set up in their living room with the TN game and LSU game and made homemade gumbo, which was delicious! We had around 15 people hanging out, playing corn hole and Beersbee in the backyard and watching the games, grilling out, enjoying drinks and then playing board games until 3am. Then Sanker, Dave and I walked to Dave's parents house to crash - they've been biking across the US this summer so the house was empty but sleeping without AC was a bit brutal. And per usual, they just rolled the party into the next day.

I had plans for brunch at nada with Lori. I'd been dying to go there for brunch and I was so pleased - the huevous rancheros was creamy, spicy, crunchy and lovely. We had bloody Marias (tequlia!) and caught up - and she asked me to be in her wedding in April! :) After that I took another nice long nap... Then Dave picked me up and we made it across the bridge the Newport to our friend Steph's amazing place. Ironically, she lives just a few houses down from our friend Danh who used to host Labor Day every year, but he's recently moved to Chicago. But he still has the house so I was able to walk down and see him like old times!

We had a phenomenal view from Steph's rooftop and played flip cup and darted inside when the rain started... we met some very entertaining and interested Kentucky characters and enjoyed showing our friend Caroline and her sister visiting from Connecticut a great time. Side note, but Caroline went to UVA and moved here in February and it's been a blast including her on a lot of great times over the past few months like Opening Day and canoeing. This year, the fireworks were a bit of a bust - literally. The music wasn't rock and roll, there were long pauses between bursts and the weather was crummy so they weren't as bright and beautiful. But the food and company were fantastic!

The next day, we woke up and decided brunch was in order... But it was a Monday and Labor Day so a lot of restaurants were closed and none of them were serving brunch. So we defaulted to B-Dubs. OMG - their new Thai curry wing sauce on boneless is so yummy (and I rarely use that phrase)! It was a chilly day so we spent the afternoon around a fire pit in the boy's backyard in sweats and made s'mores and just chilled our beans - it was so relaxing and random - I loved it. I need more days like this in my life.

Our lazy Labor Day bonfire

Soggy fireworks!

Our view

See us up on the rooftop? :)

Eric & Katie's delicious gumbo

René of the Day // 9.2.11 // Kings Island with KP!

It smelled the same. But it didn't look the same... I hadn't been to Kings Island in 5 years. My friend Pinzi from Scotland and I went 5 years ago when we returned from our summer in the woods of Connecticut. The evening we arrived in Cincinnati after a 12 hour drive and 3 months in open platform tents, I learned my grandmother passed away the night before and we spent the evening drinking champagne. And the next day I vommed on a kid on the Vortex.

Following my vow to make the most of summer hours and taking advantage of the big half day commencing Labor Day weekend, I received free tickets from a friend at work and was thrilled that Kristin was off work at 1:00 and has a Gold pass - w00t for free parking! We tried on silver shoes to match my bridesmaids dress for her upcoming wedding, shared exciting new news and downed a few Captain + Cokes before hitting the amusement park.

We had a hell of a time! It's amazing how many of my childhood and teenage memories are wrapped up in that place. So many recollections of when my parents were still married (until I was 6 years old) and riding & getting soaked on the log flume, the Smurf ride and scarfing blue ice cream. It took years for me to grow tall enough to ride the "big kid" rides and a few more years to muster up the courage to actually get strapped in and go for it. And spending the time summer in lines, sweating through spaghetti-strap tank tops with Bubba and Danni in junior high. I think we all had a running pad of paper with boys numbers and dead end puppy romances from those days - ha. "Hey girl, what's your screen name?"

Without Paramount, I do think it's lost a lost of the luster. Although I love the Peanuts & Snoopy, nothing will ever top Hanna Barbara land. I'm gutted that the old fashioned cars and the taller log flume are gone... Those were the days! So anyhow, the rides now have lame names and all of the pomp and circumstance that decorated the rides and faded into chipped paint and sagging set ups. For example, Top Gun, my old favorite, is now called "Flight Deck." womp womp. I loved that we didn't stand in any lines longer than 10 minutes but it almost seemed like the place doesn't attract the crowd that it used to. But we rode almost everything I'd had my heart set on - starting with Amazon Falls to get a little wet because it was a scorcher, Top Gun, Adventure Express, skipped a few that didn't really appeal to me (Drop Zone; The Racer and the Beast because they knock the hell out of you); the ride that used to be Tomb Raider isn't half as cool as it used to be without the movie parphenilia - it almost seems like they don't have the funding to keep things up like they did under Paramount ownership. I hated that Rivertown has been replaced with a garb shop for Diamondback - which was an amazing new coaster that luckily doesn't have hills (I didn't vom this year but I did need a break after the Vortex) but it's so neat how it dips down into water in the last dip. And of course we ended the day with blue ice cream - it's tradition! 

I definitely feel like I made the most of summer hours and I'm so happy I got to go to Kings Island because it was on my list all along and I wasn't sure I would be able to go - and for free at that! But to be honest, I think the next time I'll go I'll be pushing a stroller :) 

René of the Day // 9.1.11 // Happy Birthday, L~ers!

Happy birthday to one of my best friends, Lindsey! Many of my best college memories are with this gal. {Wake up, wake up, wake up, it's the first of the month!}
We celebrated her birthday over a few Dude vodka cocktails at Becca's house then went to nada and enjoyed my fav mango chile margarita - tangy, sweet and spicy - perfect! From there we walked to Mainstay, met batman in front of The Palace and drank big ass beers upstairs to the "Betty Bar." After that I split off with Julie to meet up with some of her radio personality pals who were quite the characters and hit Skyline in Clifton - I wished the other girls were still with us because all my memories there are SO college! As we get older (gasp!) it's more and more difficult to get the whole kit-and-kaboodle together so it was great to go out together.

The next morning Lindsey and I had brunch at Enoteca Emilia - a fantastic new Italian tapas and wine restaurant in O'Bryonville. We had wonderful service and loved the proscuitto, pear and goat cheese flatbread sandwich, "cheesy" bread (a little loaf, sliced, with cheese oozing through all the cracks) and little fried balls like beignets or donuts, dusted with powdered sugar and served with chocolate sauce and an orange marmalade. Divine! I'm really looking forward to going back for dinner and Sunday brunch.

Wishing a wonderful 25th year and avoidance of the quarter-life crisis to my favorite lil veggie!

Mango chile margarita at nada

René of the Day // 8.31.11 // Mastering the Toasts

You know a great speaker within seconds of them stepping in from of the audience. So that is the goal… I spent an evening in Northern Kentucky with my mentor, eating the longest pizza slices of my life – seriously. (I need to find out where it was from!) But I was there for officer training for Toastmasters. Little did I know that the position I was placed in was the second behind President of the club, but I’m really looking forward to the duties of Vice President of Education and informing our group of ways to excel and propel ourselves towards awards and achievements. Since it’s required of us, and everyone is so busy, it’s difficult to hone in on where we’re there and what the ultimate goal is. It was great to receive guidance on these items and to think about how we can make the best of the experience for our professional endeavors. In college, I always thought Toastmasters sounded so cool. I knew I wanted to join a club when I graduated and it’s amazing how the opportunity eventually presented itself. It will be interesting to see what our club can achieve and I’m excited to have the chance to contribute to our growth and learnings.

René of the Day // 8.30.11 // Reds vs. Phillies

As the season winds down, it's just as fun to spend an evening at the ballpark to watch the boys wind up. Even though I've been blocking out my evenings with events and plans through the week, per usual, I took up an offer to go to the game with Sid, Michelle and Beth. We had great seats under the smoke stacks and got to visit with MR's sister and brother-in-law who were also at the game.

It was an adventure riding the bus - public transportation in Cincinnati is much better than it used to be but it's not a highly regarded form of getting from A to B. But how can you beat round trip for less than $5? Parking downtown is at least double that. There's nothing like a tall boy from the UDF store inside the gates, warm summer breeze on the river and line drives and loud cheers. Only thing missing was a Skyline cheese coney - my only regret of the evening. The evening was a great escape from other obligations and I'm really happy Sid made it possible for me to squeeze one more game into the season.

René of the Day // 8.29.11 // Give people more...

“Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.”

What a fantastic thought! I believe I caught this in my Twitter stream and it’s an adage that can be applied to our professional and personal thoughts. It’s so easy to think, “That’s not my job or responsibility” or “Do I really have to do this?” But when we choose to make less-than-exciting tasks a good experience for all involved, the outcome is entirely different. How often do we consciously make an effort to do this? I’m going to make it a goal to think about this every day. 

René of the Day // 8.26-28.11 // The 'Villes

Another wonderful weekend spent in Tennessee… I must admit, I’ll miss Rocky Top when MR eventually makes his way home for good. Friday night we had a delicious dinner at a creole restaurant –boubon chicken, grilled asparagus & grits with cheese and  Yuenglings - in Cookeville with a really nice stone patio with bricks walls and ivy and sparkling lights in the trees. It was nice to catch up and enjoy a quiet evening – the challenges of long distance love. After dinner we had drinks on the deck and listened to music – it seems to be our Friday night tradition. As we went to bed, MR made a comment about the earrings I was wearing. They were just simple CZ studs – so of course after a bottle of wine I retorted with a snarky comment and before I could find, a box appeared in his hand across the bed. My jaw dropped and a huge smile spread across my face and the first thing out of my mouth was, “Where did that come from?!” and he just grinned at me. I started to untie the little black bow on the box and he laughed and told me to pull up… I was too excited to figure out the mechanics of the packaging, I just wanted to see the treasure inside! Sliding off the top, I found a pair of gorgeous diamond earrings – what a sweet surprise – just because. He seemed to enjoy my reaction – I put them on and jumped up to look in the mirror… Of course I put them back in their safe place for the night but I slept very happily.

Saturday we had lunch at their favorite spot, Broad Street Deli. Rebecca does a great job – her chicken salad with Craisins and pecans was delicious and she uses Boars Head meats and cheeses so we filled up for the afternoon. Then we hit the outlets on the way to Nashville but didn’t see anything we had to have.

We arrived at the Opryland and I was so ecstatic when I heard we had a Garden View room. The view was spectacular, looking over the gardens and the little river in the Delta wing. We had planned to stay there since we came for Ice last Christmas time so it was really fun to finally make it happen – thanks Kenny! We had a few drinks and got ready then MR’s co-workers picked us up to head downtown. After hearing about each other every day, it was nice to finally meet everyone and put faces to names. Dinner at Big River was good – awesome beers brewed on site. Then we walked across the bridge and saw the Nashville Bang This twins! Killer club level seats at the Titans vs. Bears game at LG Stadium – Charlie Daniel’s seats were at the end of the row but that night his son was there so we missed the ole devil ;) After the game we were exhausted so we had drinks on our balcony and relaxed – it was hard to justify not spending time in a room that has a price tag for one evening that’s close to what I pay for rent each month!

Sunday we had brunch at one of our favorite places in Nashville, Ellendale’s. The food and service didn’t hit the spot as it usually does. We tried to go to a movie and learned that showtimes on Sundays are 1:30 or 4:00pm so we just decided to head home. One more packed and playful weekend under our belts… It’s fun when every weekend is like a vacation but it is quite exhausting. It will be neat to look back on these days eventually… Until then, we’ll just keep hangin’ and bangin’. 

My gorgeous surprise!

Titans vs. Bears game

On the Delta River gondola

Our Garden View room

Our balcony was the third up on the left

View of the Delta wing at the Opryland from our balcony

View of the Delta wing at the Opryland from our balcony

René of the Day // 8.26.11 // Free Your Mind

And the rest will follow. C’mon – SWV had it right in the 90s. When we open our minds to ideas that are uncomfortable or foreign to our current knowledge, your horizons expand and you have the opportunity to embrace ideas that are generally not bouncing around in your head.

I hadn’t been to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center since college, shortly after it opened. It’s free to the public on MLK Day and having the day off of school, it was a cool way to spend the free time – pun sort of intended. For our Junior League Provisional welcome event, we spent the evening at the museum. It’s an incredible space – great for hosting events like this one. We split up and toured different exhibits and I was amazed at how much it has grown and expanded in what the NURFC had to offer. My group went through the modern slavery exhibit which I believe is the most relative, informative and mind blowing area of the museum. Ultimately, slavery did not end with civil rights. Chattle slavery – of the South – did cease but day to day, I don’t realize how many humans are trafficked in our own “free” country. There’s an island off the States that is U.S. territory where women from Asian countries are literally chained to sewing machines and make clothing every day that is then labeled as “Made in the USA.” People feel good about buying things that say this – and who knew that they’re made off shore by slaves. Sickeningly sad.

There are fishing boats off of Africa where 12-year old children work during the fishing season to swim under the boats and untangle knots. When the season is over, they’re shot and pushed into the sea. Human sex trafficking is the second largest black market behind drug trade. Young women have a period of 6 months from the time they’re placed in captivity and abused until they are beyond psychological return when saved. Can you imagine? That’s all the time it takes to ruin an innocent life. And many poor families sell their daughters or nieces into the business. It’s unbelievable and makes one so appreciative of the hand we’ve been dealt.

I understand the museum needs funding and return visitors. They’re revamping their YP program and I’m interested in viewing the new Civil War exhibit that will be shown though January. Many people think it’s “just about American slavery and black people” – it’s not. There’s a lot of really interesting history and art to be seen and stories to learn. It’s a humbling experience and one that everyone in Cincinnati should see and feel. We live on the cusp of freedom on the Ohio River. One challenge I do have with the museum is that it is a niche that is hard to bring new content to often – I can’t image visiting more than 3 times a year or having a membership. The new exhibition director seems to be doing a great job of keeping it fresh and interactive, though. The other challenge is the guilt – so I’m a fairly well do to (by global standards) young white female without a large sum of disposable income. How can I help? Here I am, affected by these horror stories – especially the modern day slavery – but I’m powerless when it comes to making a difference, right? It’s a dirty market and if governments cannot save, I surely cannot. I don’t have the power, the force, the funds, anything it would take to make a dent in these wrongdoings. So it’s depressing. But I still think it’s important to be mindful to the reality of what is going on in our world. And I know we could all feed our culture create a little more. 

René of the Day // 8.25.11 // Purging

I don’t have many “addictions” but when I begin to let go, I let it all out. Every few months I find a drawer or space that must be thoroughly cleansed and it makes me feel phenomenal. Living in a small space, I feel the need to eliminate clutter and keep “things and stuff” to a minimum. When I eventually move out of here, I want it to be an easy, compact mission. I’d prefer to do the purging before I have to haul it all out. Recently, my big purge contributed a few bags of clothes to Goodwill. Let’s be honest – I still fit in to quite a few items from my days of working at the Gap in high school, but I’ll never wear a lavender cordoury skirt again. It’s hard to get rid of things with great memories sewn into the fabric, but it makes space for one new fabulous fall item in my closet. But nothing feels better than getting rid of old crap that just cramps your style – literally.

It’s so refreshing to receive that jolt of organization and simplicity. Cleaning is my favorite stress reliever and even as a kid I would do it in my bedroom. I know it’s an addiction because I cleaned our friend’s kitchen and dining room during a party in full swing this weekend because I felt too tired to drink but I just couldn’t sit still. It was a problem I could solve. Perhaps some day my entrepreniual venture will be a professional home organizing – “Helping you get your shit together.” Sounds like a plan. 

René of the Day // 8.24.11 // Bruce's Sweet Potato Pancakes

I don't "know" Bruce, but Kristin’s mom introduced me to these sweet potato pancakes one weekend when I crashed at their house in Loveland. They are absolutely delicious and remind me of a great Southern brunch. The mix can be bought at Fresh Market and will last you for quite a while if you use them a special treat as I’ve chosen to. They’re very easy to make – just mix with water, let sit to rehydrate and dollop onto the griddle. Wonderful with a bowl of grits. I tend to prefer savory over sweet for breakfast foods and these tip toe the line between the two quite nicely. Butter and syrup are not even required to make them enjoyable. I also love the nostalgic bag that the mix is packaged in. They have certainly become a favorite for mornings when I have the urge to cook a big breakfast or to cook a batch on Sunday and grab one out of the fridge every morning before work. Ooh or an awesome main course for breakfast for dinner nights… and a decent diet staple, too. Try them already.