Cause We're All Irish on St. Paddy's Day!

I see lots of people wearing green today and am hearing plans for celebrating the holiday tonight. But in the instance that you are looking to take your celebration to a deeper level, I think I can help (with a little assistance from who else but NPR :) ).

The first step to a deeper kind of celebration is letting it come from the heart. And how else do we get to the heart but through the stomach? How about a delectable St. Patty's day dessert?! That's what I thought. Check out this recipe for Chocolate Guinness Cake from Nigella Lawson. This may require an open-mind for some. In my case, I have tried Guinness-flavored ice cream before and am positive that trying another Guinness-flavored dessert is a step in the right direction. If I get a chance to try the recipe myself, I will certainly report back.

Now that the heart is covered, how about the mind? I will be the first to admit that I have a very romanticized idea of the Ireland. I knew that Ireland's economy is currently suffering in the same way as Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain. However, I did not know that almost immediately before that, they were experiencing an economic boom in the 90s that perhaps could've softened the blow. From history, we know that Ireland has never been a stranger to troubled times, but will they ever be able to leave the trouble in the past? Find out more by listening to today's episode of On Point entitled, "Ireland's Epic Boom and Bust".

All that being said, there is certainly no problem with celebrations that are only skin deep. I stumbled upon an amazing Etsy shop that sells handmade soaps some of which are made using our favorite brands of beer. I chose a Stout Beer Soap Made With Guinness and gave a couple as gifts and kept one for myself. My skin is oh so soft! Check it out!

Best o' luck as ye celebrate St. Paddy's Day!

Vacationland

Before 're-decorating' my blog, I left off with a post about preparing for a long, long road trip. Well let me tell you that driving was an adventure in itself, but Maine was well worth the effort! 24 hours into the road trip with still another three to go, I didn't know if I would end up praising Maine... but now I know that I can! It was b-e-a-utiful! Beautiful or not, it just so happens that you can't beat a well-deserved vacation. Traveling can be a great forum for finding new things to get into. Below are five things that I know I could get into as a result of this trip:

1. Driving - Okay, I'm just kidding with this one. Driving 27 hours to and from Maine was not appealing then and still isn't now but the bright side is knowing that we actually did it. Me and my driving buddy traded off and drove straight through without stopping. Go us!

View from the passenger seat. Doesn't do it justice, but you get the idea.



2. Making snacks - Cooking is pretty fun though I don't always feel like doing it. For me, choosing a new recipe for simple snacks like Granola, Chicken Strips, and Muffins can be somewhat exciting and the simplest way to bring along the comforts of home.


Home-made maple cinnamon granola which I ate by the handful. Mmmm!

3. Fall foliage - Is it just me or do fall leaves look more vibrant in New England? I'm convinced that I don't see the same colors at home in Nebraska, but then again everything looks better on vacation. Can I get a Mythbusters ruling on this one?

At our hosts' house, a panoramic view from the back porch. Again, I wish you could see this in full-size or even in real life. Or you can look for it in the dictionary next to the word 'tranquility.' :)




4. Antiques - I don't own a lot of my own furniture and I have yet to buy a home, but walking through a Bangor antique store really got me thinking, why not an arts and crafts movement armoir for the bedroom, a mid-century modern kitchen table, or an English oak chest for a coffee table in the family room? So much character! Antique shopping is not just for grandma anymore.




5. Bargain-shopping - I always love a good bargain, but to learn where to find them can take a little work. Imagine my sheer delight to have been introduced to Marden's Surplus and Salvage. There are 14 locations across Maine but nowhere else. I wouldn't have found it without some very special guides, so thank goodness for them. There is truly not quite like the thrill of a good bargain.

I found this pair of chairs at Marden's for $70 a piece. I know, right?! Anyplace else these would probably cost twice as much. (If only I had a bigger trunk... and a house to put them in.)

So, you can tell that our visit to Maine was adventurous and productive! Too many scholars have telling things to say about travel. For St. Augustine, "The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." Or how about Mark Twain, "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness."Also Robert Louis Stevenson, "There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign." I can verify that each one of these is very true and it only took a little over 3,200 miles to remember it.