I got that “clean sweep” feeling the day after Christmas. Out
with the old, in with the new; get in shape (after the egg nog is gone); and do
nice things for others. Also, I can’t wait for Mardi Gras. Here’s some good
stuff for 2014:
Clock this
Doesn’t the New Year put you in the mind of clocks? If I told
you I’m looking at a clock that runs on water, you might make fun of me. That
sounds like both old school and modern technology mixed together. I’m truthing
you, eying my little round purple clock with a “digital” display. It’s Bedol’s Battery-Free
Eco-Friendly Water Powered Clock. It even has an alarm. Watch a video for a
very cute jingle that will get stuck in your head and a little lesson on
proprietary metallic plates inside the semi-transparent water reservoir that
channel the ions in the water into a current that powers the clock and
alarm. Got that? This is the kind of gift that is sold through museum gift
stores because it is so cool. Bed Bath & Beyond can hook you up, too. www.bedolwhatsnext.com
Leg Magic X
If I can
get an unidentified member of my family to like Leg Magic X as much as I do,
I’ll be so happy. And this other person will hopefully get more balance. The photos show older adults using this
to their advantage. This little exerciser folds out into a small space that you
can go by several times a day for a 60-second workout. That kind of routine is
my kind of heaven. Leg Magic X is “designed
to exercise the lower body large and small muscle groups according to their
natural movement, while standing in an upright position.” I’m loving it. Makers say the magic is
that “it increases muscle activity up to 400% and increases blood flow in the
legs by as much as 77% in only 60 seconds. The 9 degree slope uses body
weight for a low impact workout as it helps strengthen legs, lower body and the
pelvic floor without putting strain on the hips, knees and ankles.” That’s some
technical talk and ladies, makers say this 20-pound wonder works the Kegel
muscles. Seriously, go to www.trylegmagicx.com to learn more.
Got a
guitar for Christmas?
The topic
of guitars keeps coming up and I have been promised a Beatles song guitar solo
as an upcoming birthday gift. Not from Paul.
If you are
learning how to play as your New Year’s resolution, this book will inspire.
“Guitar
Aficionado: The Collections” is an oversized book of photographs and interviews
of “The Most Famous, Rare and Valuable Guitars in the World.” I liked reading
up on the pawn shop history of
Texas legend Stevie Ray Vaughan’s guitar, the Mickey Mantle autograph on
the back.
Some pages
will make you go “wow” and others nearly cry at the memories the music invokes.
If those guitars could talk…. Well, Tom Beaujour and Christopher Scapelliti are
making them talk about as much as the guitarists who played them did.
Get ready for stories from guitar greats including Brad
Whitford of Aerosmith, David Crosby of Crosby, Stills & Nash, Lindsey
Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, James Hetfield of Metallica, Mick Mars of Mötley
Crüe and more.
Cook like a food truck
What’s trendy now is noted community chefs taking it to the road
with gourmet creations. Let this be your food truck road trip year. “The
Southern Food Truck Cookbook” is Heather Donahoe’s trip that does more than
open the way for one of these traveling kitchens to roll into your life. This
guide to discovering the south’s best food on four wheels lets you get right to
it. Let’s start with Louisiana, because Heather didn’t make it to Texas. Learn
how to fashion the celebrated crab cakes of Bon Repas or ginger lime shrimp
salad from Freshjunkie in Baton Rouge. Keep going for honeysuckle gelato in
Atlanta, where they also make Bloody Mary watermelon pops and coconut rice in
Nashville. Heather hits Kentucky, The Virginias, North and South Carolina,
Arkansas and Tennessee as well.
This is a beautiful book with shots of fun trucks, like
Wrapper’s Delight; mouth-watering food spreads; recipes you’ll love; and the
author’s good anecdotes.
Mission Savvy of Charleston, West Virginia is a raw/vegan kinda
place. Here’s one of theirs, that goes with raw Thai spring rolls:
Almond Dipping Sauce
Gather it up: 1 cup almond butter
1 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 half tablespoon tamari sauce
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 seeded jalapeno pepper
2 cups water
Make it happen:
Add ingredients to bowl of food processor or blender and mix
thoroughly.
ddoiron@panews.com
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