Final notes on 2010

I'm about a week behind on the end of year wrap-up.  However, I was able to enjoy the busy holiday season with family, so it's worth it.  I finished another 18 magazines over the last month or so through the end of December.  Most importantly, I completed a periodical purge and cleared out about a hundred magazines that I hadn't gotten to in 2010.  Since I dropped them off at a local Half Price Books, I'm hoping that someone else will get to enjoy them. 

1. Health (December 2010) - Good read for the gym.  I pulled out two gift idea items (Dylan's Candies in an ornament and Garnet Hill pillowcases) that are now sold out and this netbook for the files.
2. InStyle (November 2010) - I read this one in the car during a holiday road trip.  Several good ideas for purchase - this black trench coat (with a ribbon as a belt), these wedge booties, the Zeno hot spot tool, this dress, Honora jewelry, and this lotion (for protection during our outdoor winter hikes). I also saved a handy checklist of the sites highlighted in the 2010 "Best of the Web" article. 
3. Better Homes and Gardens (December 2010) - Great inspiration for the season!  Pulled this necklace, this mini loaf pan, and these heirloom seeds for the files. 
4. Entertainment Weekly (Dec. 3, 2010) - We are somehow getting this title for free for a year, so I read this one.  Interesting, by not likely to make it into my regular rotation. 
5. First for Women (Nov. 29, 2010) - I don't usually read this title, but the cover story on Vitamin D deficiency pulled me in.  I also saved an article about winter-proofing your car.  One tip was using water-repellent wax on your headlights to prevent grime from building up and decreasing visibility.  I also pulled out a Christmas gift idea for my brother.  Success!
6. Women's Day (December 2010) - More seasonal inspiration!  I saved a half dozen recipes to try this year - spinach & herb quiche, pb&j french toast sticks, chocolate fudge, jelly doughnut holes, red wine short ribs in the slow cooker.  I also saved a great article that inspired me to record just one or two sentences each day: micro-journaling seems like a great way to re-introduce a manageable amount of creativity to my life in 2011!
7. Fitness (Nov./Dec. 2010) - Great motivation at the gym!  I saved an ad for the Gaiam Zone Trainer and an article mentioning Origins Night Health bedtime balm. 
8. Hemispheres (November 2010) - I picked this up on a flight back from San Diego in November.  It had a couple of cool adventure travel articles, and I saved one ad that explained the different shapes of pearls. 
9. Glamour (January 2011) - Took another look at this title from my sister's list, and it wasn't bad for the car ride home from Christmas.  Good section on partner compatibility (and a quiz to see if you could answer the questions immigration officers ask when one spouse is applying for citizenship - surprisingly challenging!). 
10. BBC Knowledge (December 2010) - Just started subscribing to this one, and I loved my first edition.  Fascinating article on epigenomics!
11. Time Out Chicago (Nov. 18, 2010) - Good issue, as usual.  I saved a mention of Renegade Handmade, an article for my dad, and this awesome product - a local foods wheel!
12. Health (November 2010) - Another gym read... I saved a recipe for single serving stuffing muffins, an article about how munching on fennel seeds sweetens your breath naturally, and a few yoga poses to help tame holiday stress (wide saddle side stretch, seated forward bend, and star pose).  I also saved the info on the fitbit product that tracks your sleep patterns. 
13. Midwest Living (Nov./Dec. 2010) - Always love and makes me so happy!  I saved a recipe for a goat cheese, artichoke, and ham brunch strata. I hope to try this one in January. 
14. Seasons (Winter 2010) - This is a small magazine that I receive from our local arboretum; definitely makes me want to get outdoors and enjoy. 
15. Time Out Chicago (Dec. 9, 2010) - This one caught my attention with the title article "100 Best Things We Ate (And Drank) This Year."  Interesting, but nothing that I couldn't live without. 
16.  Whole Living (November 2010) - Always a favorite.  I pulled out mentions of Hotel Alt in Montreal and Quebec City, Origins Zero Oil cleanser,  a recipe for roasted cauliflower with paprika, and a series of stretches for optimal lymphatic functioning. 
17. InStyle (December 2010) - I didn't save much from this one, but I'm consoling myself with the knowledge that I must have toned my arms lifting all 438 pages!  I did save this solid perfume option and two links for boots that can withstand the winter (Hunter Wellingtons and Sorel Caribous). 



18. Real Simple (December 2010) - Great as always; I picked up some ideas for Christmas...a faux fur scarf from the Limited, a state-shaped cutting board,  a LBD from Loft, ruffled "touch" gloves from Nordstrom, and this book.  Finally, I saved an ad about using Excel for mini graphs called Sparklines to research this month. 

For 2011, I'm going to aim to post twice a month with my current reading and notes. 

It's been too long...

Many apologies, I am way behind on the updates.  I've been really busy on the work front after receiving an unexpected promotion in early October that turned my normal schedule upside down.  But, I'm starting to get my feet back under me and did get a little bit of reading completed in the last six weeks.  Thank you , reading = stress relief! (I think it's best if I just skip the detailed "Month-end wrap up: Part Two" update I had planned previously in favorite of a super-quick recap of the last many weeks.)

#1. National Geographic (May 2010) - GREAT article on Mount St. Helens thirty years after the blast, fascinating article on China's Tea Horse Road, amazing pictures (as always), and the Iberian Lynx.  Love!

#2. ShopSmart (October 2010) - This was the first time I read this magazine, and it looks like a keeper.  I found a helpful article on how to buy clothes that fit properly that lead me to get a couple dozen items in my closet tailored.  It's like having a whole new wardrobe for minimal expenditure.  Also, my current eco-friendly laundry detergent (Method) didn't fare well in their tests, so that's good to know.  Their eco-friendly winner was Kirkland Environmentally Friendly Ultra 2X HE and the runner-up was Seventh Generation Natural Powdered HE.  Finally, I pulled out a pic of a pretty scarf (Sisley square dot silk $24) slightly similar to this one. 

#3. Time Out Chicago (September 16, 2010) - I'm new to this title too, but I always learn something new about Chicago when I have time to read one.  From this edition, I saved an article about fall foliage at city parks (and then visited a couple of their picks) and a description of the faces on the mural of Puerto Rican independence at Humboldt Park.  I'd always wondered...

#4. House Beautiful (July/August 2010) - Total house lust and a great series on well-decorated small spaces from a 450 sq. ft. studio to a 1,400 sq. ft. cottage.  I saved a couple of chair pics and an absolutely perfect pale pink ceiling paint job.  (I know it sounds hideous, but it's really pretty and not at all overly cutesy.)

#5.  InStyle (August 2010) - Pretty, totally impractical... this was a nice break from reality. 

#6. Smart Luxury Travel (Fall 2010) - Cool articles on Bornholm, Denmark and Tulum, Mexico.  Plus, I saved some details about the superior ice wines of Niagara, Ontario.  Who knew?

#7. Fitness (June 2010) - Finally finished this magazine that's been in my gym bag since early summer, and - now that it's getting cold again - I'm not sorry at all that I took my workouts outdoors this summer and fall.  Decent distraction for the gym, but the only thing I pulled out was this tennis sleeve from their Summer 2010 gear guide. 

#8. Inc. (April 2010) - Really solid information including great articles on the virtual office and keeping tabs on the competition. 

#9. Should I eat this? (from ShopSmart) - A fifty-page booklet about healthy food options.  My fav facts include learning that a potato with skin has twice the potassium of a banana and that root beer is better for your teeth compared to other soft drinks because it doesn't have phosphoric and citrus acids, which can be corosive.  Another fact for the "good to know" file...

#10. AAA Living (September/October 2010) - Well, I don't get this on purpose, it just comes with the membership.  But, they did have an okay article on Alaska and a brief sidebar on Michigan fall drives that I found interesting this time around. 

#11. Real Simple (October 2010) - Always great!  Organization, discount tips, great meal ideas, pretty age-appropriate clothes, relationship advice... if they would just weigh in on work issues, they'd pretty much have my whole life covered.  I pulled out a dozen items, but don't have the time/space to list them all here today. 

#12. Foreign Policy (November 2010) - This arrived right before a work trip, so I had lots of uninterrupted plane time to read it all.  I particularly enjoyed the coverage of womenomics, global aging, and the ten ideas proffered to turn around the next two years of President Obama's term. 

#13. Rails to Trails (Winter.11) - Loved!  And saved an article on a local trail I haven't yet hiked. 

#14. Whole Living (October 2010) - Always relaxing and interesting... I saved a couple of articles (yoga move that increases serotonin, how to re-finish a table, info on a white noise machine, and a couple of yoga-to-errands outfits). 

#15.  Kiplinger's Personal Finance (April 2010) - Loved the personal finance content, but could have done without most of the investing reports.  I did end of saving a couple of articles (buy vs. rent, value vacation destinations, and a free credit score website.)

#16.  Sierra (November/December 2010) - I was new to this title and was not disappointed - great content throughout.

#17.  Real Simple (November 2010) - Another well-done issue, and I pulled out a couple of products to investigate later.

Total magazines read in the last six weeks - 17
Magazines in queue - 169 - 17 = 151 plus 27 new arrivals = 178. 


 

Month-end wrap up: Part One

It's been a busy last two weeks at work, but I was able to read another batch of magazines.  Nothing overly exciting, but I'm glad to be wrapping up a month's worth of data on what I've been reading and learning... and which titles haven't been worth my time this month.  This batch was a really varied mix, and I'll try to add a re-cap of the second batch tomorrow. 

#1.  The June 2010 edition of National Geographic was fantastic - as always!  I never regret the time I spend learning something new about this world we all share.  My favorite article was the cover story about Greenland.  Check out some of the pics here.  Both the coverage of the vanishing ice in that country and the coverage of the changing weather patterns affecting the people of Greenland were so eye-opening. Also, the coverage of the biodiversity present in New Guinea's Foga Mountains - wow!  This video about their efforts to protect the golden-mantled tree kangaroo is amazing. 

#2. On a much lighter note, I also read a recent (September 6, 2010) People magazine.  The cover story on Elin Nordegren's side of the Tiger Woods scandal caught my attention.  What a beautiful, courageous woman; I hope she finds much happiness as she moves on from all this. 

#3. Cooking Light covers a variety of topics beyond just cooking.  Surprisingly, I wasn't compelled to pull out any recipes from the July 2009 issue (just a little behind...).  But, I did pull out a couple of pages of travel articles - New Zealand, Pompeii , and Barcelona.

#4. The May 2010 issue of Nutrition Action was a solid read.  I've already tried a recipe for simple, cooked leafy greens that worked out great.  Sauté a little garlic in olive oil for a minute or two, add the greens - I used chard - and cook until soft.  It took about 10 minutes, and then we added a squeeze of lime juice.  (Full disclosure here - this was so easy my husband actually made it!)

Total magazines read this month – 5 + 4 = 9
Magazines in queue - 168 - 4 = 164 plus 5 = 169. 
(A new batch of October magazines came in last week...)

Where to go next?

It was a busy week at work and home, but I was able to squeeze in some reading here and there.  Earlier this week, I bribed myself to get some exercise on the stationary bike by finishing an old (Spring 2008) Real Simple Travel.  I love travel magazines - especially when I don't have the next trip booked and am looking for ideas.  So many places out there to experience!

1. The best article in this magazine offered solutions for where to go when you have a limited travel budget but plenty of frequent flier miles.  The suggestions?  Fez (Morocco), Budapest (Hungary), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Cusco (Peru), Koh Lanta (Thailand), Panama City (Panama), and Tulum (Mexico).  Buenos Aires has popped up in several articles I've read this year, so it's definitely on my radar.  Lonely Planet has a good overview here.

2. A similar "problem/solution" article addressed where to visit if you need a country where English is widely spoken.  Belize, Croatia, India, Israel, Norway, Sweden, and Vietnam are all great suggestions.  I would also add Ireland.  I was there earlier this year, and it was definitely a different cultural experience without having to study up on a new language before the trip. 

3. I pulled out two cute totes perfect for hauling your gear to the pool or beach; it's a little late for that this year, but at least I have a couple of options before the next trip.  The first option is made of upcycled boat sails - love these! The second option is made of raincoat cotton, and though they don't have the same style listed on the website (it has been two years!), they have other cute options. Check out this one in the blue (gulf stream) option.   

4. I picked up a new safety tip - not listing your address on your luggage tags.  Listing a home address tells, as the article puts it, "a potentially unscrupulous baggage handler" that no one is home at that address.  I'd never thought of that!  My husband travels a lot for work - so glad that he's been using a business card (with his work address) on his luggage tags. 

5. Finally, I also pulled out two random articles on A.) a quick long weekend trip to the Dominican Republic on $1,000 (sounds promising, right?!) and B.) the best time to travel to Machu Picchu, Peru (definitely on my long-term list).  If you're wondering, the best time for Machu Picchu is in March...

Total magazines read this month – 5
Magazines in queue - 168

I don't own a house or a garden…

But, I do periodically read Better Homes and Gardens.  I had some rare downtime on Sunday, so I read the whole September 2010 edition.  In a hectic workweek, reading a few BHG articles can be peaceful and soothing.  The photo styling is always spot-on, and I can count on learning at least one new thing.  I ended up pulling out quite a few pages for my files from this edition. 

               

#1. Possibly the most beautiful chair ever - The Mullins Tufted Side Chair at Wildflower Organics.  Out of my price range right now, but so perfect!  

#2. I love gummy bears, but I don't want the high-fructose corn syrup and artificial ingredients, so I rarely eat them.  BHG has my solution - Gummy Pandas made with organic sugar and real fruit from bissingers.com.  Yum!
#3. I pulled out a couple of (most likely too difficult for a novice like me) recipes plus two that I could actually pull off.  The first is for slow-baked tomatoes with garlic and mint.  Only four ingredients and 15 minutes of prep time, so this one has potential for me.  The second was an ad for the National Pork Board featuring “the perfect pulled pork” recipe.  Pork + water + a few spices in the slow cooker while I’m at work = easy dinner one day this fall. 
#4. As luck would have it, I had some figs that I needed to do something with asap on Sunday.  BHG had an article about how to buy, store and eat figs.  Excellent!  How did they know?! They suggested a sprinkle of sugar, baking for 10 minutes, and serving with ice cream.  I didn’t have any ice cream or sugar, but I did cut them in half and bake them in a 375 degree oven for 10 minutes.  I used one teaspoon of splenda on half of the figs and about a half tablespoon of agave syrup on the other half.  I would cook them for about five more minutes next time, but they were pretty good.  And, the best part was that they didn't go to waste.
#5. 10% off promo code for overstock.com.  Not sure if I'll use it yet, but it doesn't hurt to hang onto it for a couple of weeks.
#6. Goody's Simple Styles Spin Pin looked promising, so I looked it up online and checked out this video.  Looks easy and the cost is really reasonable at about $6.  Might keep an eye out for it on the next Target run.

Total magazines read this month – 4
Magazines in queue - 169

Why aren't more magazines sized to fit in a purse?

Saturday was an errand day for me this week, so I grabbed the only magazine that was small enough to throw into my purse – Prevention.  I’m still getting caught up on magazines I missed this summer, so this one was from July 2010, but I was glad I had it when I got delayed waiting for my car’s oil to be changed. There wasn’t anything in this edition that really warranted being pulled out to keep or investigate further , but it did help reinforce some good healthy habits that I’m already practicing (drink enough water, eat more fruits and veggies, exercise outdoors when possible).  The cover never really pulls me in and some of the material (plus the copious multi-page drug ads) skews old for me, but they do consistently have solid, practical health advice.  And a little extra motivation is always a good thing.  I saved one very simple-looking recipe to try out soon; I'll post a pic if I get around to making this one. 

Slow-cooker beef fajitas: In a slow-cooker, combine flank steak, ground cumin, lime juice, and jarred salsa.  Cook on low 8 to 10 hours, and then shred the meat and serve in tortillas. 

(Prevention reported that this recipe is from Slow Cooker: The Best Cookbook Ever by Diane Phillips.)

Total magazines read this month – 3
Magazines in queue - 170

Success!

So, a couple of days ago, I wasn't very impressed with fall edition of InStyle Makeover.  However, I did promise to check out the free offers at Ulta that I stumbled across while reading it.  I'm happy to report it was a success! Yes, the sales girl was a little annoyed that she had to check for them, but I had torn out the offers to bring to the store, so that seemed to help.  Here's the final tally:
#1: Cosmedicine oil control lotion with spf 20 (0.5 oz) - FREE
#2: Dr.Dennis Gross Skincare alpha beta daily face peel (1 use) - FREE
#3: Murad sun undone 3-step daily regimen (cleanser, serum, and spf lotion - 0.125 oz. each) - FREE
#4: bareMinerals matte spf 15 foundation plus brush (reportedly a 10 day sample) - FREE
#5: Smashbox Photofinish primer - SOLD OUT – But, they seem to have replaced it with Cargo Activating Face Primer (0.12 oz.) – FREE

Ulta had some other great deals and free offers with purchase going when I was there, so I’m really glad that that I happened to read the magazine before I stopped in.  Score one for reading magazines in the same month they come out!