Monthly Archives: November 2019

Gobble, gobble: US Edition

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Happy Thanksgiving, dear US readers!

If you’re wondering what wine to bring or serve with turkey, here are the top suggestions, according to a search of the all-knowing Internet:

  • Chardonnay.
  • Pinot Noir.
  • Viognier.
  • Gamay.
  • Dry Riesling.
  • Zinfandel.
  • Champagne.

Plus, a few hints to avoid overeating today — or at any large holiday meal this season:

  1. Your brain can only crave 3 or 4 things at a time.  So decide what you most want to eat, instead of trying a little bit of everything.  If you go back for seconds, that’s the time to sample other foods — you’ll eat a lot less.
  2. Experts say that a serving is the size of your loosely held fist, not the entire plate.
  3. Eat slowly and stop after 10 minutes to let your brain register whether you’re satisfied. After a five-minute break, you may find that you don’t want much more.
  4. Plan ahead to “save” room for dessert, rather than “making” room for dessert; ie, be sure you’re actually still a bit hungry.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday, however you’re spending it! xx, Alisa

bread food plate light

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Good News Monday: The Future Looks Less Sh**ty

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Breaking news: Scientists have developed a way to keep poop from sticking to toilet paper. (Does this make your day, or what?!)

Apparently, the slippery spray-on coating — like Teflon for TP — could prevent bacteria build up, reduce the amount of water needed to flush, and leave the toilet cleaner.

Want to read the whole story? Click here.

white toilet paper

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Pet Peeves

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Our small homeowners’ community in Oregon is currently debating what to do with our uncovered tennis court, which few people use and which needs to be either repaired or replaced with something else.

Several neighbors have suggested turning the area into a dog park.  We don’t have a dog so I haven’t had strong feelings either way. But when I read this article about rude dog owners and proper “pet-iquette”, it gave me paws… er, pause.

Major no-no’s include: not cleaning up poop, not disposing of it properly (hint: your neighbor’s trash can is not one of those places!), letting your dog pee on private property, dogs that are overly aggressive OR overly friendly, excessive barking, jumping on people, and so on.

A well-mannered dog is a joy.  A clueless owner? Not so much. Bark twice if you agree.

man in gray crew neck t shirt walking beside woman in black v neck dress

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The Ick Factor

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Something new to worry about — with an easy fix.

According to a microbiologist, we should be washing all our towels after three uses, max.  That’s because damp towels are breeding grounds for bacteria, which we’ll then transfer to our bodies. Yuck, right?

The solution: sniff your towel. If it stays damp too long it will develop an odor, which is your cue to wash it, pronto.

bathroom bathtub ceramic clean

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Good News Monday: Where’s The Beef?

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Did you ever wonder what “sustainably produced beef” actually means? According to the World Wildlife Fund, there’s a big difference between cattle ranching where the intact grassland ecosystem is compatible with grazing — such as the Northern Great Plains in the US — and in parts of the world where forests are converted to pasture.

Costco to the rescue! Collaborating with the WWF, ranchers and others, the Northern Great Plains Sustainable Beef Pilot Project — now, there’s a mouthful — is working towards greater transparency so that consumers will know just what they’re eating and understand its environmental impact.

Dare I say the “steaks” are high?

selective focus photography of beef steak with sauce

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Good News Monday: Polar Bear Patrol

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No, the bears aren’t on patrol… although that would be something to see! Picture a group of polar bears armed with walkie-talkies, alerting each other to salmon sightings, thin ice, and the nearest watering hole (aka, cool bar).

Nope, this is actually something serious. As summer ice continues to shrink due to climate change, polar bears are staying on land for longer periods of time.  This is dangerous to both humans and the animals who are killed in self-defense.

In Wales, Alaska, a patrol started in 2016 actively protects both bears and people using deterrents such as noisemakers, better lighting, and warning plans when bears enter communities.  The WWF is actively  helping other Alaskan villages launch similar programs.

nature couple love heart

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Good News Monday: Saving While Shopping

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I should undoubtedly shop less and spend less, but sometimes there is simply something I want to acquire.  And I don’t want to pay a penny more than necessary.

That’s where ShopTagr comes in.

Having recently discovered this app, I find it an easy way to track an item I’m interested in to see if/when it’s going on sale or coming back in stock.

Once you’ve downloaded the ShopTagr app, their icon will also automatically pop on when you’re shopping — whether or not it’s on your saved list — showing coupons you can use.

Overall reviews for the app are good, although the above link shows some negative feedback from a Safari user.  I use Chrome as my browser and have not had any issues so far, knock wood… (hmmm, possibly a new myrtlewood salad set?)

banking business checklist commerce

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