Compass & Coffee Spoons

Caulk-Sure

If I had to choose one thing I hate about my apartment, the bathroom would be up there. It's fugly. Okay, it's not that bad, but it has a lot that could be changed. Oh, like the cracked tiles and the tub where all the enamel has worn off and a huge area of yellowed disgusting adhesive on the tub where an adhesive tub mat once was. Add to that dried and cracked caulk, and the whole thing is a nightmare. I can clean until I'm blue in the face, and it's still disgusting. Examine:

Keep in mind this is AFTER I just cleaned with an abrasive cleanser.

Yes, gross. I mentioned the caulk (which was not in great shape when I moved in 5 years ago) to my landlord once, but you know, given that I have decent rent, I hate to push things too much for minor problems. So, I've thought about doing it myself. My first and only other experience recaulking a tub was in 2000 when I lived in a group house. The landlady there was more or less a slumlord, so having her do it was out of the question and there was NO way I was living with the caulk that my roommates had never cleaned.  And so started my first adventure with the caulking. That was enough of an experience to keep me from caulking. It isn't pleasant. What had me come back was, sadly an infomercial, for this:

I saw the infomercial a long time ago, but it caught up with me again at a moment of  particular vulnerability last Friday at Bed, Bath & Beyond. A stressful office move, a 20% coupon, and clearance price all conspired to put me down the path of recaulking again.

On Saturday, I geared up, I was ready, and this time I had the tools for a job: The "As Seen on TV" product, rubber gloves, a utility knife, and flat head screwdriver. I was PUMPED UP! That caulk was going to get it good!

Now, I feel the need to warn you. What follows is not suitable for all viewers. Proceed with caution.

First, you slice the caulk on either side to loosen it.

And then you just dig, and remove and dig and remove...it ain't pretty.

See what I mean? Eventually, it will all be gone. By eventually, I mean like an hour later. You have this.

After that, you clean it out a bit with some bleach to kill whatever gross mold is in there and let it dry. I used rags and a hair drier, just to make sure. Then the fun could begin. My tools:

The caulk came with the As Seen On TV tool. It has "Microban" which is supposed to fight mold. The snaky thing is backer rod. Essentially, if the crack is deeper than 3/8", you need to put something else in there. I just so happened to have some from one of my other escapades.

I didn't photograph the interim process because, well, my hands were a mess. It's times like this I wish I had a husband...to take blog photos! :) The tool helped smooth out the "bead." The end results were wonderful and made such a HUGE difference!

It doesn't change the cracks and lack of tub enamel, but at least I don't have gross cracked moldy caulk anymore!

Western PA Vintage Finds

I went home to Western PA last weekend. I had a series of "had to dos" there, such as having my annual eye appointment with my wonderful eye doc, getting measured for a bridesmaid dress, and getting my oil change (just more convenient there). I of course got to see one of my favorite family members, Sammy. The dog.

I also got to go to my favorite Salvation Army. Despite telling myself I wasn't going to be selling anything on Etsy or Ebay anytime soon, I couldn't help but snap up all the wonderful finds. All the below for under $20:

• Two Kremerware canisters (sugar and tea)
• A "Mascot" vintage cooler
• A set of two spaghetti looking glasses
• A set of four yellow Pyrex-type bowls
• Two metal Mid-Century trays
• A little menagerie of Wade Whimsies (two elephants, two turtles, a bunny, and a lioness).

Yes! I do love a good vintage shopping trip!!!

 

WOWZA! It's been a long time!

Yeah, so it's been awhile. It's not that I don't think of you. Or this blog. I do. I just haven't been able to devote enough energy, mental or otherwise, to it.  I've thought of transferring my blog over to Blogger. Thoughts? Paying seems stupid. I used to have a Blogger blog. Actually still do, I guess, just not active. [Edited: Upon trying to "fix" the fonts...I ended up with a big mess...sorry. I don't understand why Typepad does this. And I pay for the privilege of a messed up blog]

I've been on a bit of a "product" kick lately. So, I thought I'd share a few of my material discoveries (also note that I've played with the image here in Picnik):

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 55 Liquid Sunscreen ($12.99 at Drugstore.com)

This stuff is 'da bomb. I had always wanted to heed the "wear sunscreen daily" mantra, but I HATED how the stuff felt greasy on my already oily-tending skin. This is one of the only ones I'm actually comfortable wearing. It's very light and non-greasy. As far as I can tell, it isn't clogging my pores. Another bonus is that this stuff goes pretty far, but is in a small enough container that you could pack it in your carry on!

Biore Enliven Cooling Eye Gel ($9.49 at Drugstore.com)I can't back up the claims it makes about making me look more awake (I'm sure those who have seen me in the mornings lately would beg to differ), but the stuff feels great.

Crest 3D White Vivid Toothpaste ($4.29 at Drugstore.com)I have used those strips before, but really hate having them in my mouth. Whether this "removes 90% of surface stains within two weeks" remains unseen, but I could tell within one use that it was doing something. That was enough for me. Their snappy ad with the chick getting the photoshoot and drinking wine against the orders of her manager didn't hurt.

The next thing I have "discovered" lately isn't a beauty product but a food. I bought a watermelon at Harris Teeter that was  bit mushy, but still sweet. Overripe, I guess. So, I decided to do what I'd seen on the streets of Taipei: make a sort of batido--blended watermelon juice. Basically took the chunks and blended them. Yummy and very refreshing. Today, I amped that up a notch. I froze the remaining chunks then blended them with pinot grigio for a fancy grown up slushee:

Big. Yum.

An Open Letter to Clothing Manufacturers

This is a representative example of the types of things sold to the 18+ market. For some, it might be okay? Maybe?

Dear Clothing Manufacturers:

After a day of clothes shopping, I thought it would be helpful to you if I share some of my insight. Perhaps you did not realize, since you are apparently based in China and India, but many Americans are fat. Actually, according to the news, obesity is an epidemic here. And, because of this, many people are actually larger than 0-12. I know! Crazy, but true! I just thought I'd point this out to you, because as I was shopping, I noticed that many things are only available in the 0-12 sizes.

I noticed this because I wear an 18/20 women's. From what I can tell, there are many women who also wear this size, because it's difficult to ever find anything in this size.  Other girlfriends of mine complain how hard it is to find clothes that fit, but what they don't understand is that for me, it's not even about whether it fits WELL, but whether I can actually find something sold in my size. I shudder to think about those who are in the sizes larger than mine that are not sold in stores. I don't have that problem. There is of course clothing sold in my size, but much of this clothing makes the erroneous assumption that a.) people of size are deficient in good taste b.) people of size are all over the age of 65 AND live in the 1980s. Neither of these things are true. They have taste and live right here with us!  I'm living proof!

Additionally, people of size have money. I know! I'm surprised too! And, as we know (or as I know), in retail, more selection means more buying. So, having a miniscule amount of sub-par clothing does very little to bring in revenues.Now, I understand that actually selling things to people can be embarrasing, especially people who are (come closer so I can whisper...) fat, but perhaps you could, I don't know, find a storeroom or something to sell them in so that other, thinner shoppers don't see. I know Michelle Obama is trying to make America thin, and that she is a thin and attractive woman, but the truth is, until that happens, if people feel like crap in their clothing, it does little to inspire them to treat themselves well.

I've noticed that you often carry men's sizes in larger sizes in "regular" stores or the regular men's section, where things are merely sold in larger sizes, maybe because that's less embarrasing? Because men are allowed to be bigger? I don't know, but it could work for women too if you give it a shot.

Finally, you might want to introduce new options slowly. If women of size all of a sudden have access to the same things as their smaller sisters, the choice might be too overwhelming for us and send us all into shock, so slowly but surely!Thanks for your consideration. I and other women above a size 12 will greatly appreciate your additional attention!

You're welcome for the revenues,

Christine

American Music is in my Sou-ou-ou-oul, Babyeee...*

I was at a party last weekend with a very international crowd: the hostess was Italian along with many of her guests and there were guests from Japan, Romania, Poland, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Guatemala, Peru, and probably other countries I'm forgetting. And, of course, there were Americans including me. Several of these Americans were part of Fieri, an Italian-American young professionals organization. Which brings me to my post topic.

I got in a bit of a heated discussionwith the woman from Romania who was essentially laughing at how Americans claim their heritage, such as being Italian-American. This was after I explained that I'm Italian, Polish, Slovak, and Slovenian. "You are all Americans, nothing else," she said. "You don't even speak the language."  I vehemently defended us, saying she just couldn't understand since she wasn't American.

I explained that while, yes, first and foremost, I and my fellow members of the Italian-American group were Americans, our heritage also defines us. Our families act differently, eat differently, and have other differences from, say, someone whose family came over on the Mayflower or from a Cuban American (this is in my mind now, having just come from Miami!) or a Chinese-American.

I found the funniest part to be when her partner (husband?) who was American (of Russian descent) said "Well, then, you've been here ten years. You're no longer Romanian." :)

This conversation stuck in my mind long after the party. I thought a lot about how so many people, from different cultures can come together and make a country. It makes me incredibly patriotic to think about it. There are so many cultures--both from every immigrant that has entered America hoping for a better life and that exist within our own nation now. For example, people identify as "Southern" or a "New Englander" or a "Pittsburgher" and this means something, becomes part of our being.

I just find it amazing that wave after wave of immigrants have come here against all odds, and bring the best of their culture to share, and eventually, America embraces them and makes them her own. We're tied together by belief in working hard, in belief in a better way of life, in belief of freedom and that despite the flaws, a life with freedom and justice is better than one without. We have pizza and tacos and bagels and vodka and egg rolls, among other culinary treats. American music, too, is an amalgam of every culture that has passed through, from that of those slaves brought here from Africa against their will to the salsa beat of those from Latin America.

I'm far from hearts and sunshine when I think about America--there are many problems and things that need fixing--but it's a pretty amazing experiment we have here, and one that I'm proud of despite the flaws.  

*apologies to Violent Femmes. Trying to be cutesy in post titles ends dangerously.

Greek Week

It's Greek Week in Christine's Kitchen. I typically like to pick a dish to make for lunch and one for dinner, to last me through the week. This week, through no premeditation, it just so happened to be of a Mediterranean vibe, from two yummy recipes from Cooking LIght online. Find them at the links below (don't want anyone getting legal on my butt).

Tabbouleh with Chicken and Red Pepper

Swiss Chard Spanikopita

Seriously, the flavors in these are magic. I don't know if it's the lemon or the mint or the parsley, but they sing.

The Tabbouleh...

From this:

And this...

To this:

 
 
 
And the spanikopita of sorts with delicious Swiss chard! From this:

To this:

All a girl needs for some fun is a big, rubber...

Spatula! (Get your mind out of the gutter, you cheek!) I scored a really awesome and BIG Le Creuset spatula/scraper in a fun olivey green at Home Goods yesterday. (A big THANKS to my friend Erin who incorporated a trip to Homegoods with a search for her new apartment. I don't go to Home Goods often, because they are not really accessible to me, but I like it because it's like the Marshall's or TJ Maxx home section (my favorite section of those stores) on steroids. Sure, you have to kind of ignore the sensory overload of the faux flowers and huge paper mache roosters, but you can find some good deals on essentials. I will definitely go there if I ever need table lamps; their selection in that department was fantastic. But, on to the subject at hand, my spatula.

The spatula is actually made of silicone with a wood handle. The head is detachable, too. I feel the spatula is really the unsung hero of the kitchen. What else can make sure you get that very last bit o' batter into your mouth...uh, I mean, pan? Or, the peanut butter out of the jar? This find was particularly exciting because it's added a new size to my collection:

 
  

I like my teeny one on the far left, from the Williams Sonoma Outlet, for getting the last bits out of jars. The two Pampered Chef ones are good all-rounders. I don't know why I have the black handled one...it was kind of a cheap, Kmart purchase a long time ago, but I guess I figure you can never have too many. However, as you can see, the new one trumps them all in size. Can't wait to dive into some new recipes to try it out!
  
  
  

Commuter sentences: oh where oh where has my little bus gone?

So, since I'm technically still on a part time schedule, but because of procrastination have to work every day, I planned to go in late today. However, that doesn't mean that I planned on wasting time trying to catch the bus. Here's the chain of events:
--I check nextbus 5 min until my bus comes! Perfect! I hustle out the door to the stop.
-- I check again...27 min. "What the..."
--so, I check the X8 which stops 4 blocks or so from there: 8 min. Awesome. I walk there, sit down, take out my book.
--I check again...25 min. ARGH!!!
--so I check the D6, my original bus. 12 min. I walk there again and wait, wait...
--on the bus now...later than expected...such is life.

Damn Those Australians and Their Licorice!!!*

That's all. Carry on.

 

*Actually, Australians are very nice people, and I'm sure it's not their intent to derail my nutritional program with the licorice, but there you have it.

Rainy Day Baking Fun

I am proud to say today was a much more successful day in my kitchen! I baked bread. I was suprised that although my food processor is 12 cups, they still only recommend making one loaf in it. Oh well. I credit the food processor with the wonderful wonderful resulting loaf. This greatly surpasses any bread I ever made kneading by hand. It truly makes breadmaking easy. It doesn't change the time greatly (can't make that yeast act any faster than it will), but it does make it a little less messy and made the bread turn out delish. Nice and soft and airy inside.

Yum-my.