Apartment Projects

Let's not fool ourselves...unless you are in New York City where it is the norm, apartments suck. They are bland, white, asbestos ridden and bleak, no matter how often the gardener leaf-blows at 7 am or they replace the 80's linoleum with 21st century linoleum. It's up to the creative of minds to make it feel like home, and we usually don't have a lot of money to do it in. This month I decided to create a new wine bar and fancy looking tub bench seat like those awesome teak ones they sell in Sky Mall.

First up was the bench seat...I love taking baths, but hate looking at the gross corner mildew that nothing seems to get rid of, short of calling up the property manager and not being able to shower for several days while the caulking cures. My philosophy? Just hide it! I thought by creating a cool bench seat I could make the boring white tub/white fake tiles a little more interesting and spa like, so we picked up a batch of 1x1 (4ft long) redwood planks from Home Depot, and with some wood screws and water-proof stain we were done! It some how came out a little crooked (using the wrong edge as a spacer) but we're gonna shave off the edges with a chop saw, problem solved.

TO PINTEREST PEEPS: Sorry I do not have a step by step on this, it was very simple cuts using a chop saw and then short wood screws. It's very simple measuring from edge to edge of the tub, using a spacer to get the right slats between the boards, then using the leftovers as the 'grounders' underneath holding it all together. I highly recommend using a very water proof stain or polyurethane, as the normal outdoor deck stain tends to run off with the water hitting it constantly. Still way better than those pricey teak ones online!

Nice 'spa' wooden bench seat for only a few bucks!

Looked even nicer in my Mom's bathroom! (Build Location)

Second project was getting rid of my old rickety metal and glass wine bar that I always precariously run into in the middle of the night, jangling the glasses and scaring the crap out of me. Plus it took up what seemed to be an out-of-the-way corner near the kitchen but it just wasn't working out. Since I already had a nice free buffet hutch, I decided to purchase a $40 wall unit from Amazon and do some cute wine inspired decorations...but nothing overtly cheesy.

All I needed was a table runner, and a plate stand for the cool "Zinfandel" trivet my mom got me, and I already had the cool glass decanter and kept my favorite wine corks inside as a display. The rest I saved for my wall/table art.

Then I got to work on making my wine cork art, so I productively spent my work hours hunting for a blank wine bottle graphic and added in the text/color myself using Photoshop. I really wanted "In Wine We Trust" vs. the typical "In Wine, Truth", but "In Vino Nos Confidimus" didn't really fit in the graphic. Then I printed it out and taped it inside an existing picture frame I had without the glass, then glued my horde of wine corks onto the edges as a frame. Insta-art, to showcase  my unhealthy relationship/obsession with wine. It's currently propped up on the table after drying, but it can be used as a tray or hang on the wall like a picture, I haven't decided.

Things I've Learned on My Real Food Journey

Phew...it's almost like I'm back in college, rolling out of bed in my pajamas to take a dreaded midterm. My "MBA" in educating myself on real, wholesome, natural foods is going to be a lifelong education as it has been a study cram-session these past six months. What I had always thought was a superior knowledge of what was good for my body, I had to come to terms that I was a brainwashed product of the food industry just like every other person I secretly roll my eyes at guzzling sodas and KFC at their desks. Thanks to a wealth of info on my favorite blogs, Pinterest, and random Google searches, I feel like I've amassed a pretty solid foundation to make good food choices for the rest of my life, for myself and my future family.


1. Create a new 'norm'

I'm talking about, oh today I feel like a bag of chips, I'll get Pirate Booty or PopChips instead. Sure, that makes sense if you are only doing it once a week or so, but wouldn't a better ultimate goal be to ask yourself why you are craving the chips, and what would be a healthy alternative in general? Is your body going to be satisfied by that snack, or will you just be left with more cravings? Of course I'm never an advocate of an all or nothing lifestyle (take my wine and cheese, you lose a finger!), but if we can truly assess our personal needs vs.wants and think hard about what it is doing for us in the long run, maybe we'd reach for carrot sticks and hummus instead. Our bodies are truly surprising and can come to love our new snacks over time...I've found that the snapping sound of a V-8 can is just as satisfying as a Diet Coke now!

So you're saying...these aren't HEALTHY??

2. There's more to labels than calories

Oh yes, women are the ultimate guilty party here. Who doesn't want to think that an innocent cracker or cookie will harbor the evil caloric monster who's only job is to enlarge our cellulite and make men run from us in horror? However, calories aren't the enemy to me anymore, unnatural food additives are, anything that my body doesn't need to function or may harm me in the long run. This includes preservatives (potentially harmful by causing cancer and aggravating respiratory allergies such as asthma), food dyes especially Red and Yellow that are known carcinogens and banned in other countries, filler ingredients that serve no purpose other than to increase shelf life, and unpronounceable chemicals created in a laboratory. Why do I need these in my body? If a box of plain Triscuits or Ak Mak crackers with minimal ingredients are just as satisfying as crackers with corporate gunk in them, there is no need to reach for the less healthy alternative (except price, which I will address later).

3. Look beyond the Marketing

You know, I'm in Marketing/PR, and I get it. We have to make exciting claims that get people wanting to buy our stuff, and for foodies that includes words like "All Natural", "Multi-Grain", or "Organic". This is where consumers really need to take on the arduous task of educating themselves on what these labels really mean, which will involve LOTS of web searches, research, visiting food/health blogs, etc. While most of these claims aren't truly dangerous (unlike saying a product is gluten free and it isn't), it matters if you were looking for the most humanely raised eggs and spied 'organic' on the package, but that doesn't mean they are cage free or pastured. Multi-grain bread may have a variety of grains, but that doesn't mean they are the healthiest whole grains or mixed with enriched bleached flour. Marketing can also be your friend, just know to look for "100% Whole Grain", "Pastured", or "No Preservatives" on the box. Basically, go in a little skeptical, read labels, talk to the companies, and get as much feedback as you can before voting with your wallet.

You know it's 'real' if you cook it yourself!

4. Long Term vs. Short Terms Costs

Sometimes, I question the sanity of dropping $7 for a pack of organic nitrate-free bacon or passing over the $2 milk on sale for a brand I know to be hormone free and uses sustainable farming practices. Who wants to spend money they don't need to, and gaping at my $300 grocery bills for 2 people each month I sometimes feel greedy. There's so many people who can barely afford to feed their families, and here I am only buying the best ingredients to make dinner for two each night. However, I had to get past the short-term grocery bill shocks and know that over time I will be nourishing my body to perform at its peak, eschewing junk food to fill up on organic veggies and meat products, and feeling better about my effects on animals and the planet by only choosing farmers I know practice sustainability and treat their animals humanely. I'm anticipating lower health bills over time (high blood pressure, diabetes that run in my family) so I can justify the costs much easier now. So yes, cage free eggs may cost a couple bucks more, but having owned chickens myself I try to picture them stuffed into cramped cages never allowed to peck at bugs or come running when we come out the door with dinner scraps to feed them. I will prioritize top quality food for my family, and maybe spend less on unnecessary things like premium cable or nice cars.

Large food bills, low doctor bills is the ultimate goal!

5. The Battle Rages On

In my lifetime, I doubt the majority of America will be educated to the grass-roots causes surrounding our food system. Corporations will not suddenly stop lobbying to keep people ignorant from consuming their junk and presenting them with shiny marketing campaigns to greenwash/leanwash/and pinkwash our perceptions. I will need to keep involved in continuous research and vote on legislation that brings issues to light, such as the GMO labeling initiative that got shot down in California. No one else is going to do it for me, I have to take it upon myself to stay abreast of the latest research to make the best choices for my health.

Quasi Paleo for a Week

If there is one thing I can't stand, it's diehard (hah) crossfitters and paleo dieters...not because I'm personally against eating healthy and exercising in those ways, just that people get overly zealous and feel the need to constantly....talk...about...it. I don't need to hear you harping on how bad grains are for your body because cavemen didn't eat them or how many squat lunge thrusts you did with a truck tire. But now the tables have turned and I wanted to see for myself how this low-carb and low-sugar diet would fare for me. The only difference is that I have a diet buddy this week and am only texting her about my exploits, not going on and on to my friends each time they reach for a plate of pasta.

Sunday Night (unofficial start)
Came home tired from a ski trip and ordered the chicken burrito bowl from Chipotle with only black beans, grilled veggies, salsa, and lettuce. Paleos shun eating beans but to me they are a good source lean of protein, so there.

Monday
Breakfast - Soymilk smoothie with mixed berries, coconut water, protein powder, and kale
Lunch - Egg and bacon sandwich with no bread, spinach salad with almonds and cranberries
Dinner - Satay peanut chicken skewers with raw shredded coconut, asian inspired cabbage and cilantro salad with sesame dressing and cashews. I cheated and had one oatmeal cookie my grandma made....you wouldn't have me insult GRANDMA, would you?

I could live off that salad!

Tuesday
Breakfast - Plain ol' scrambled eggs with salt and pepper (I rarely salt anything!), coffee with soymilk
Lunch - Lean Cuisine turkey with cranberry, almonds, and green beans in a saucy gravy

Condo or Small Scale Patio

Everyone wants that cozy outdoor space to enjoy a fine lager and sit lazily with friends, but what if your situation isn't permanent or your budget confines you like a pair of skinny jeans? There's lots of great temporary patio solutions, but why not give yourself that high-end appeal with just a few bucks and a little bit of non back-breaking labor? The solution: river rocks and large tiles!

Why not use this indoors tile, outside?

Prices at $1.58 per square foot at Home Depot, these 16" x 16" porcelain yet 'slate looking' tiles are about $2.80 per tile, or a couple of pre-wrapped packages would only set you back about $50 to cover 30 square feet! I would make sure the porcelain has enough support underneath with some packed sand so no rowdy guests jump on it and make cracks. With this nice river rock selling for $15 for a bag covering 6 square feet (and I'm sure there's cheaper options at a local quarry), you're looking at a cute little patio that would fit a small BBQ and a bistro table for under $150! Even add some random tiles on the outskirts for holding large pots for plants. Perfect for rental condos with a dirt yard or a small lounge patio for houses.

For the sake of math:
2 x packs of 16 x 16 tiles covering 30 square feet: $50
5 x packs of rock covering 30 square feet: $75
Grand Total: $125

More Fun With Photoshop

If there's one thing I abhor, it's when people don't find the time to stage their house before snapping pictures for the world to see on major real estate sites. And if you're the realtor, bad marketing! Sure, I watch plenty of DIY and home improvement shows, letting me see potential where others would probably falter. Still, it doesn't hurt to have a visual aid when trying out new designs, colors, or layouts (I single handedly convinced my mom to paint a bold red accent wall after showing her the end result without any work on her behalf). I may not have fancy rendering software like my boyfriends on Property Brothers, but basic 'Shop skills certainly can come in handy!

Below is a house I had my eyeball on, it didn't have a lot of outdoor space and I don't think the current owners were using it to their potential. Crowded and cluttered, it was an eyesore and not a selling feature AT ALL:

No sense of landscaping, too much chaos with the empty pots and plant stand, and strange layout with the random step. I would refinish the deck to a bright redwood or cedar (gets so dark underneath those Semperviren trees!), and choose some tasteful planters that make use of the space without overbearing it. I would eventually get rid of the ivy for a more native plant or shade garden, but that was way too much work to hide :) Finally, privacy is key so a new fence and privacy bushes would be needed, topped off with a fresh and modern coat of slate grey paint, new trim, and a fun metal garden art piece on the wall. I can picture summer barbecues much easier now!

A Hairy Habanero Situation Turned Spicy and Delicious

Some days I'm shocked I leave the house with my shoes on the correct feet, but then there are those grocery store mishaps that I end up giving myself a virtual forehead slap. Always in a rush to get out of the cramped aisles full of people who seem to enjoy turning over each apple and inspecting every avocado for invisible imperfections, my strategy has always been the ol' 'grab and go', enabling me to get the food home, cooked, and immediately into my hungry belly.

This normally fool-proof method backfired on me several weeks ago at the Superbowl, when I unwittingly filled a produce sack with not a few, but a whole POUND of bright orange, deathly spicy habanero peppers I mistakenly saw marked as innocent jalapenos. Well, the mistake was made and I hate to waste food, so the best option I foresaw was to just beat those peppers at their own painful game.

First, I roasted them into submission, then pickled them for a week in sugar and vinegar, with a bit of dill and bay leaf for added panache. Then I decided to the most science-experiementy cooking endeavor that I had ever undertook...making spicy pepper jelly. What could possibly go wrong with just boiling and canning some pureed fruit? As it turned out, not much at all for once!

Though I was never a fan of chemistry (opted to take an AP natural science class that involved more bird watching than Bunsen burners), I decided that slowly following directions for once wouldn't kill me. I had my 'DOH' moment when I realized I added the fruit pectin a few minutes too early into the boiling process, and yet after cooling the jelly at room temp for a couple hours, I was shocked at how store-bought it looked (and tasted)!

My recipe was as follows:
1 cup red bell pepper, pureed
1 cup pickled habanero peppers, purreed
5 (yes 5!) cups of natural cane sugar (you know, trying to be healthier)
1 cup unfiltered cider vinegar from Trader Joe's because they are the only ones with that type
1 packet of liquid pectin (Pectin? What the heck is that? Thanks Google)

Final result was a sweet, slightly spicy, delicious mess that perfectly complemented a bagel and cream cheese along with a fancy quesadilla. Not bad for a first time chemist!

A Domestic Update: Compost Smells.

Oh, how silly of me to think that decomposing garbage wouldn't smell. Unfortunately due to laziness and user error, I now have an orange bucket of refuse that quite literally smells like poop. Scientifically, I had not spent enough time aerating (shaking) the bucket or adding more carbon-rich products like newspaper to my ever growing veggie scrap collection, causing the anaerobic bacteria to flourish and kill off the aerobic bacteria that apparently don't smell as awful when they excrete. Unscientifically, I lost interest in this project after getting a whiff of the unseemly mess I created.

Luckily, the slow process of fixing my error is in tow...I've held off on adding liquid-rich items like my endless coffee grounds and more water-laden produce to allow the good bacteria to build themselves up. I have been turning the bucket daily now, and leaving in the sun to allow the heat to reach a stable temperature for breaking down. Minor setback, but laziness does not pay when you don't want to deal with the odor of rotting garbage. I look forward to the day my compost smells like slightly orangey potting soil once more.

FEBRUARY UPDATE:
After leaving my compost to it's own devices for several months (more lazy disinterest ensued, cold weather), it has since turned into what resembles garden-ready dirt with just a few larger chunks left. No smell, and most of the excess moisture was taken care of with piles of carbony plant clippings. Almost success!