Jack Handey Quote of the Week

"A man doesn't automatically get my respect. He has to get down in the dirt and beg for it."

A Book Review

Yesterday I finished reading The Opposite of Love , a debut novel by Julie Buxbaum. I enjoyed it, as I enjoy most novels, probably because they're the only place where people allow themselves to fall apart. This particular novel was about a twenty-nine-year-old lawyer named Emily Haxby. The three most important things about her are that her mother died of cancer when she was fourteen, she hates her job defending evil corporations at a prestigious law firm, and she dumped her boyfriend, whom she loved, because she was afraid he would leave her first. It had all the makings of a "chick lit" book but wasn't, its depth punctuated by the discussion questions at the back.

To me, this story was unique because it managed to be poignant and realistic while still delivering a happy ending. My favorite part is when Emily interviews for a job as a pro bono family lawyer, and her boss-to-be wants to know why she wants the position. Emily says, "Because if I am going to spend at least seventy-five percent of my waking hours doing something, I want that something to have meaning. I am tired of wasting my time. I am starting to realize that I want my life to matter in every way that it can" (Buxbaum 291). Admittedly, this part is a little unrealistic because it's one of those things that most people think but never say. That's part of what makes it so great, though; it gives the reader hope that people, like characters, can break out of their pre-programmed shells. In a way, Emily's declaration is echoed by the author's own experience. Like Emily, she was a dissatisfied lawyer. Only, she took things a step further, giving up law altogether to write fiction. How could a reader not be charmed by such a fairy tale-esque yet real life parallel?

Thanks for indulging me in this post and others like it. I was an English major who never quite got over writing about books. This blog provides a nice venue for my musings. On a lighter (and unrelated) note, most of the shoes I ordered online recently are a little too small. I'm wearing a pair today anyway, my toes crunched in like little mutilated badges of honor.

Postcard from the Edge

I've only bought one thing from bebe in my entire life, and that was a dress I found on clearance in the Las Vegas Venetian store when I was there on business for my old job. I guess I must have signed up for their mailing list when paying for it, because they sent me this postcard the other day. Well, to be precise, they didn't send it to me, but to a severely butchered version of my parents' address. They misspelled the street name and got the town wrong. Yet it still got there, the powers of bebe having prevailed. Here's what it said:

Hi, Tracy --

Just wanted to let you know that the Kardashian line has arrived in our store. Please call me to make an appointment.

Thanks!!
Jenn, Bebe Rockaway

Surely you see why I felt the need to share. I was unaware, although unsurprised, that the ever-enterprising Kardashian clan had launched a clothing line for bebe. Had I been a fan (of the store or the TV personalities), I might have found myself hopping a train to Rockaway, New York, to snag a signature piece. I couldn't help but wonder just what sort of person would do that. Because there must be someone, somewhere, who would. Hence the postcard.

Some New Handmade Buys

I acquired some tasty handmade treats from Etsy in recent weeks and decided to show them off:

Variegating Rainbow Rhinestones Statement Necklace, Sparkle Beast Design

This is a really cool collar necklace. The rhinestones are mounted on white netting to give the illusion that they're floating. It reminds me of Rainbow Brite, which just happens to have been my favorite childhood toy.

Rustic Sunset Barrette, Baublettes by Beth

I love the glam combination of feathers and rhinestones in this rockin' accessory. It'll go with lots of my dresses.

Love Vase, PoppyLuxe Designs

PoppyLuxe Designs was my most recent featured artist. I couldn't resist this fun decoupaged vase, which currently holds court on my nightstand. But wait, there's more . . .

I also received these adorable felted hair pins and magnets as a special thank you! I'd seen them in PoppyLuxe Designs's shop, but they turned out to be even cuter in person!

That's all for now. I suspect it won't be long before I have more newly bought wares to flaunt.

Cooking With the King

Last Christmas, my sister gave me a cookbook called Are You Hungry Tonight? Elvis's Favorite Recipes (compiled by Brenda Arlene Butler, the author of such classics as I Am Elvis: A Dictionary of Elvis Impersonators). It was so quirky and unexpected (I'm not an Elvis fan or anything) that I laughed out loud. But it wasn't until today that I actually attempted to make one of the recipes. In honor of Easter, I went for the Banana Coconut Chiffon Pie, which I'll be bringing to my parents' house tomorrow. But before I plunge ahead with the recipe I'd like to share the paragraph that accompanied the recipe in the cookbook. Just so you get the full effect of Elvis kitsch.

"Imagine you're driving through the South in the 1950s. Your way is marked by the old white U. S. Highway shields, not the red, white, and blue of the Interstate signs. The place names crop up on little white signs, not those huge green things. Memphis. Jackson. Tupelo. Shreveport. It gets awfully hot in the car, so you swing into one of those little roadside cafes for a glass of iced tea. My, but it's cool inside. They've got one of those little glass cases with all the pies displayed, and goodness doesn't the banana coconut chiffon look good!

As you leave, and push through the screen door, a big Cadillac with a bunch of boys in it pulls up. You chat a bit and they tell you they're headed to Shreveport to sing on the radio - on the Louisiana Hayride. You wish them well and promise to tune in."

Now that the scene's set, we can proceed:

Ingredients:

Baked 9" pie shell (recipe on page 49) {Let it be said that I did not consult page 49, opting instead to buy a premade Keebler graham cracker pie shell. As someone uninterested in winning any Martha Stewart awards, I found no shame in this.)

1 envelope unflavored gelatin

3 eggs, separated

1 cup ripe, mashed bananas

1/3 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt (I omitted this, partly because my salt had somehow solidified, partly because it sounded gross)

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/3 cup finely grated coconut

Instructions:

Soften gelatin in 1/4 cup of cold water. In the top of a double boiler (or saucepan, for those of us not living in 1955), slightly beat the egg yolks. Stir in the bananas, sugar, and salt. Cook over boiling water (er, low heat), stirring constantly, until slightly thickened. Remove from the heat and add the softened gelatin to the banana mixture. Stir until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Chill the mixture until it begins to thicken.

In a large bowl beat the egg whites until stiff but not dry. (I started to do this until I realized that the egg whites would not be cooked. This skeeved me out, so I tossed them.) In another bowl beat the cream until stiff. Fold first the egg whites, then the whipped cream, and then the coconut into the banana mixture. Pour into the pie shell. Chill the pie until firm, about 4 hours. Garnish with additional whipped cream and banana slices, as desired.

So far it looks pretty good, but I won't know for sure until tomorrow. In closing, I'll leave you with this quote from the forward of the cookbook:

"He [Elvis] preferred honest, hearty, rib-sticking food, the kind that Southern women have always fed their tired men at the end of a long day."

That's certainly something to ponder.

Jack Handey Quote of the Week

"Today I accidentally stepped on a snail on the sidewalk in front of our house. And I thought, I too am like that snail. I build a defensive wall around myself, a "shell" if you will. But my shell isn't made out of a hard, protective substance. Mine is made of tinfoil and paper bags."

Introducing Photo Shoot Fridays

It's no secret that I like to post pictures of myself in my favorite outfits. But you may have noticed that I haven't posted any lately. Not because I'm not wearing anything interesting, mind you, but because the bf and I are just too busy to photograph as often as we (OK, I) would like. So I thought, how can I maintain the outfit momentum without it becoming a nuisance? And that's when it came to me - I'll post just one outfit a week, on Friday. It may be a picture taken that day, or it may be something I unearthed from my considerable archives (such as today's -rest assured that I did not sport a faux fur coat on this glorious spring afternoon).

To add to the fun, I've decided to invite you - yes, you - to submit your pictures for possible posting (I'd let you know ahead of time about your day in the limelight, so you could blog, Facebook, tweet, or whatever). You can be wearing something handmade, vintage, or straight off a department store rack - I don't care, as long as it's fab. Please email all photos to me at thetotetrove@gmail.com for consideration.

Now, about today's outfit. I've dubbed it "primarily primal," (um, because of the primary colors and leopard). I'm wearing a KensieGirl dress I got on sale at Macy's. I'd been lusting after it for ages, and there was only one left in my size, so I knew the time had come to make it my own. The girl who rang me up approved, adding that she'd wear some funky, crazy colored pumps with it (but of course). I myself opted for classic black patent hooker boots (sorry that you can barely see them) this time but foresee countless other "sole" mates being paired with it. (That was bad, I know. The bf and I are both suckers for a good pun, and spending so much time together has made our cheesy word spinning powers insufferable.)

My awesomely edgy, rainbow chainmaille bracelet is the handiwork of EtsyNJ's own Deepshade Creations. You may recall that I posted a feature about Deepshade's cool jewelry a few weeks back. Not for the first time, I fell for one of a featured artist's pieces. I'm glad I nabbed this one, because it's delightfully punky and goes with everything.

The aforementioned faux fur leopard coat has been in my closet for years and was a birthday gift from my mom. The belt is fraying a bit, but I think that gives it character.

As for the yellow clutch, you've seen it many, many times before. It's Chinese Laundry and is a great staple piece, even if it is kind of annoying to hold while shopping. I think my mom bought that for me too.

That's all for now. Have a fashionably fun Easter. And if any of you break out an Easter bonnet, then I want to know about it. :)