Mid Century Modern Shopping Gem in Daytona Beach

This is a picture of Rick and my front room. As you can tell, we've got a little love in our hearts for mid century antiques and reproductions. If you're like me, you know how impossible it is to find this kind of stuff in central Florida. One can visit Something Different Furniture in Orlando which has great stuff, but you'll pay New York/ LA prices for it. Luckily Rick discovered a true gem out in Holly Hill (near Daytona Beach) where you can find a huge selection at rock bottom prices.

If you're a lover of mid century modern, kitsch, retro, funky or primitive furniture or artwork, you have to check out Our Old Stuff Antique Mall located on Ridgewood Avenue. The most amazing thing about this place is that it is actually an 8,000 square foot building that houses items from over twenty vendors. Their supply of housewares, furniture, electronics, gadgets, books, fabrics, brick-a-brack and jewelry is constantly changing. You can literally spend all day here and still feel like you missed something when you leave. There are gems to be found in every corner and the biggest draw about this place is the price tag - they are so reasonable, you'll feel slightly guilty as you pay at the cash register!

The guys and gals working behind the counter are very friendly and knowledgeable, willing to cut a deal if you buy more than one item or if you just ask really nicely. The only minor inconvenience is the hours of operation: they close at 5 pm and aren't open on Sundays. However, the owner has mentioned that under special circumstances he can make exceptions, so I say always check with the owner first.

As you can tell, this is the kind of place where you will be rewarded to go back often and make friends with the vendors. You never know what you'll find. One things for sure, your house will thank you. Mine has!

Happy hunting -

VEGAN APPLE CARROT BUNDT CAKE

I love carrot cake, but the usual calorie count on a slice can be over 500 calories! I wanted a healthy alternative; one that would have virtually no fat and a lot fewer calories. What I came up with is not only yummy delicious, but super, duper easy! The best part is you can use the left over pulp from your juicer.

TIP: You can purchase flax seeds (typically a very expensive item) at your local grocery store and save a lot of money! I bought mine in the Mexican cuisine aisle at our local grocery store for only .69 cents.

Enjoy!

2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup brown sugar
4 teaspoons baking soda
2 tablespoons tapioca starch
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon pumpkin spice
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup flax seeds
4 cups grated carrots, with skin (or leftover juicer pulp)
2 cups grated apples, with skin (or leftover juicer pulp)
1 1/2 cups hot water
4 teaspoons vanilla
Optional: 3/4 raisins, dried cranberries or currents

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a bundt cake pan with non-stick spray, set aside. Mix flour, sugar, baking soda, tapioca starch, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, nutmeg, ginger, salt and flax seeds till blended. Boil water, when hot add to dry mixture. Add pulp/grated carrots and apples. Batter will be thick. Spoon into bundt cake pan, using the back of the spoon to smooth down the top of the mixture. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

Mind's Eye Sketch - The art of Ryan Firchau: Octo-simian Mermaid

Mind's Eye Sketch - The art of Ryan Firchau: Octo-simian Mermaid

Michael Jackson is Not Dead!

Okay, so let me be the first to report a growing theory on the net that Michael Jackson didn't really die. Several reliable sources cited a recently discovered record company memo from earlier this year that listed details about a "planned Michael Jackson coma" and death. It is speculated that the King of Pop hatched the plan himself, taking a lead from the continued popularity and high record sales generated by the passing of his ex-wife's father, Elvis Presley. The memo included a massive plan for an elaborate star-studded funeral event where the record company could be assured of high revenue sales from merchandise of the “This Is it" tour, renamed for the event, "This is it, now he's gone, he left this shirt to turn you on" Tour. In turn, his death would relieve Jacko of his massive debt while offering a way out from under the unabated paparazzi hounding.

Also interesting is the current speculation from sources close to the Jackson clan who claim that Jacko surprised the family last year in the spring of 2008 when he discussed interest in purchasing Drangey - an island in the midst of Skagafjörður fjord in Iceland. At the time many in the family believed it was due to his vitiligo but since Michael's staged demise and discovery of the telling insider documents, there has been new conjecture that the construction currently underway on the island (an Icelandic theme park dubbed "Never, Ever Again Land") might in fact be the current residence of Michael and his entourage. No one within the family is talking about Michael's state of being, which leads many to believe that they are perhaps in on the ruse.

There was also conjecture in the blogosphere that should the media coverage of his death break all known record sales and redeem Michael's fallen reputation, we can expect a dramatic return of the King of Pop in what will be dubbed the "Resurrection Tour" sometime around 2015.

Since we're on the topic of things that make me cry

Okay, so maybe it's not so much of a boo-hoo type of crying, rather a laugh-out-loud, tears-streaming-down my face sort of crying that's interspersed with the occasional and never-appropriate snort. I'm referring of course to listening to my current book on tape, David Sedaris' When You Are Engulfed in Flames. I'm a fan of Mr. Sedaris, having read Me Talk Pretty One Day, Naked and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim years ago during the time in my life when I still read books in print. Now, I find listening to them in the car is easier, as I am by nature a rather lazy person. I'm so lazy, in fact, that even though I only live two blocks from the public library I can't be bothered to go and pick up my audio books in person. I just have them delivered to my doorstep!

David's not the only Sedaris I love. Amy Sedaris (known to all of you Strangers with Candy fans from Comedy Central) is a talented actress and author in her own right having written I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence. This is a practical book - and the only one I've read in which I've learned how to make a macrame plant holder out of used pantyhose. I'd love to know what they fed those kids growing up in the Sedaris household because both of them are impossibly funny. If you've never read anything by David, I suggest you run out and purchase one of his books - or just tune in to NPR, since he's a regular contributor.

So as I was listening to him this morning on my drive in to the office I toyed with the idea that perhaps keeping a daily journal is an excellent idea, but I wonder how he does it. I read an article on him in the New York Times and apparently he is often amused that people think his writing is completely autobiographical when in fact, he embellishes the heck out of his stories. He calls them 'realish'. I love that term. But even if there's an overdose of fiction in his memoirs, I can't imagine opening yourself up like that to dissection from your friends and family. I'm mortified by the idea of everyone I know actually discovering how I really feel about them. Over the years I've learned the hard way that it's better to keep ones opinions to oneself. Certainly my friends and family don't want to be enlightened by my poignant observations. I think my best friend Suzanne said it succinctly when she told me (after I informed her of way she sips her coffees in the morning, making a rather loud slurping sound before swilling the hot coffee in her mouth like an expensive wine) that I should "keep my hard hitting journalism to my damn self".

So how does he get away with it? And how does he stand his friends and family saying, 'well, you know I never said that.' over and over again? I think it may have to do with the fact that he turns his most witty observations (and criticisms) on himself. I guess I'm just not that self-deprecating. British humor dictates it is infinitely better to laugh at others than at oneself and that's sort of how I look at comedy. Now I realize that the Brits are by nature very self-deprecating, but I think the distinction lies in the fact that while emotions and sentimentality aren't easy for the British, we (Americans) don't feel entitled to laugh at others. For example, it's gauche to laugh when your mother trips (which I do when she does), but one need only look at the characters Eddy, Mrs. Bucket, Victor Meldrew, or David Brent to understand that we're not laughing with them, but at them.

In any case, When You Are Engulfed in Flames is hilarious.

Inauguration Day: My thoughts

I believe in the common good. Today, I realized with teary eyes like some big cry-baby, just how much I believe in it.

I've always believed in personal sacrifice for the betterment of all Americans, and Obama is the first politician since I can remember who has spoken of the sacrifice and hardship that we HAVE to weather in order to achieve our goals of peace and prosperity - i.e. the common good. Who was it who said that compromise is when everyone leaves the table unhappy? That's what real compromise is - not trying to get the other guy to give up everything in order that we can have our way. But that's exactly what we've been doing in this country - asking too much from our environment, expecting everyone else to do the work and passing out blame at every chance we get. What we've ignored was our personal responsibility, making personal sacrifices or asking more of ourselves even when it meant leaving the table unhappy.

Today, watching Obama being sworn in as the 44th president, I realized how inspiring he is, and how he represents an optimism I've never experienced before. It makes me want to share in that responsibility, as Obama put it in his speech - for the values I believe in that are the 'price and the promise of citizenship.'

For me, today was about finding a president who represents everything that I love about this country and makes me aware of what being American means to me. For me, that was the true inspiration of today.

Here was my favorite bit from his speech:

"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace."

Visit the new White House website, and be a part of the change.