BOOK REVIEW: A Thousand Splendid Suns

Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner, has a unique way of turning fiction into education. A Thousand Splendid Suns does more than tell a story of two Afghan women enduring their lives among constant war. For most American readers, it will stir up an uneasy feeling of ignorance. Life is more than the walls around you. Across oceans in different continents, there is perspective that cannot be seen sitting at home, except possibly in Hosseini's books. While A Thousand Splendid Suns doesn't reach the intensity of The Kite Runner, it's still a good read: B-

Favorite Smart Phone Apps

1. Grocery IQ. The days of hand-written grocery lists are gone. Embrace technology and reduce, reuse, recycle. Share the app with other users to add to the list, get coupons, and have a list of favorite items to easily add on for future lists.

2. Retail Me Not. Coupons, coupons, coupons! Spend less, shop more. Look up specific stores and find coupons and special deals for the day. Big stores like Macy's, Hobby Lobby, and Banana Republic are a few good finds. Get both in-store and online deals.

3. My Fitness Pal. Track your calories, calculate calories burned through exercise, and keep up with your fitness goals. You can also connect with friends to help motivate each other. Great for keeping yourself accountable!

4. Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter. What's not to love about social media apps? Pinterest is my personal fave, followed by Instagram. Twitter is a great place to catch up on the news, as long as you follow reputable sources. ;)

Just for fun.
5. Sprinkles. I love Sprinkles cupcakes and the app is just too much fun. I usually only use it to play the memory-like match game which is surprisingly challenging. If you've got some extra time on your hands, treat yourself to some fun. And maybe a cupcake.

As You Wish Pottery Painting

That Scratch is a good sport when it comes to trying new things. Phoenix has a little place called, As You Wish, where you can pick a piece of pottery and get your art on. I'd been wanting to try it out for a while and convinced Mr. Young to come along. Now, it's not exactly a "cheap date" but it's good for getting out of the house and trying something new.
Scratch picked a planter pot, and I chose a mug large enough for a hearty helping of my favorite hot cocoa. It was difficult to make a selection -- there's so much to choose from! The little helpers told us all we needed to know about our unlimited paints to choose from, where to find the brushes, and we got to work. Don't be embarrassed if a child out-paints you. It's not about skill here. Spend as long as you need to paint, then hand off your work to be fired and pick it up a few days later. Voila! Homemade art.

The Power of Google: A List of Questions to Never Ask

Have you ever been Google slapped? The Power of Google can hurt. It's a sharp pain to any ego and a great lesson in humility. I don't like to see people in pain, but sometimes it's for their own good. Close friends will often Google slap each other, but sometimes co-workers and family members are shy to inflict pain. Here's a list of questions you no longer need to ask ANYONE, EVER:

• What's the address to Safeway (or any other common location on Mother Earth)?
• How do you sort in Excel (or any other basic function in any common software)?
• What's the phone number for Best Buy (or any business or public location)?
• How to tie a tie (or virtually any combination of words after "How to").
• Why does my head hurt when I yawn?
• Use caution when searching health-related questions.
• Product Reviews of any size, shape, or color:
• What's a good book to read?
• What nail polishes have staying power?
• What's the best cold remedy?

Please STOP annoying your family and co-workers. ALL of these questions can easily be answered through the Power of Google. Yes, it's true, with so many answers available online, why even talk to anyone? Precisely my point.

Beyond simple question answering, Google can provide so much more. More on that another time.

Nail Polish with Staying Power

I really like the look of the gel and shellac manicures, but I hate the price and what it does to my nails when I take it off. I thought I'd give Nutra Nail Gel Perfect a try. It was a gooey mess! Don't waste your money. I even paired the gel portion with regular polish, still not great. I was on a hunt for long-lasting polish and I FOUND IT! I have been converted to OPI for life. Here's my routine:

1. Remove any existing polish, file or clip nails, push back cuticles.
2. Wash your hands, focusing on your nails. It's important you have a clean surface to work on otherwise the polish won't last as long.

Skim Milk - 2 coats of Funny Bunny

3. Take a cotton ball and dip it in rubbing alcohol. Apply to each nail.
4. Next, apply the first layer of the OPI clear Top Coat.
5. Apply as many coats of polish as you need to get the desired shade (I'm using OPI Funny Bunny). I applied 4 coats. I didn't want skim milk nails, I needed 2%!
6. Last, apply another layer of the OPI Top coat. Be sure to brush the tip-ends of your nails with the top coat! This helps seal the ends so they a more chip-resistant.

After 5 days-NO CHIPS!

This process lasted me 5 days with NO CHIPPING! I typed on my computer for 8 hours/day, worked out, showered, did dishes, made dinner -- I wasn't gentle on my finger nails. My iPod attacked me on Day 5 which brought this manicure to an end, otherwise I think it would have stayed for at least another day or two! I was WAY impressed. Bless you OPI, bless you.

UPDATE 10/7: If you sit in a hot tub the polish will loosen and start to separate from the nail. I'm not sure if it's the chlorine or the heat that affects it, but just a side note!

BOOK REVIEW: OPEN - Andre Agassi's Autobiograpy

I love tennis. It seems so simple, yet, it’s very challenging. Andre Agassi, a tennis great, hated it. To him, tennis was the enemy. His father forced him to play. The media created his bad-boy image. His body paid the toll of years of training. It was only after Andre left the game, I like to think, that he fell in love with it. His book, Open, begins at the end and then rewinds to the start, where Andre begins his battle with “The Dragon,” a souped-up-by-dad ball machine. For a tennis fan, there is no reason to not read this book: A-

Andre’s divorce from Brooke Shields, his courtship with Steffi Graf, his school for the underprivileged, and his blatant honesty is refreshing. It humanizes a modern star athlete. It makes me want to play more tennis, but more importantly, it helps me understand and appreciate those that truly love me.

Thanks, Dad.

Oatmeal On The Go

I have a confession. I used to drink hot chocolate each morning, even during the summer ... in Phoenix. Yikes. Luckily, I've wised up a bit and have tried to come up with some healthy, low-maintenance solutions. My favorite go-to breakfast is oatmeal because it's filling and healthy. Quaker Oatmeal has done a great job with its individual oatmeal packets, but there's a cheaper solution. I make my own packets at home. You can buy a pound of quick cooking oats for $0.98 at your local Sprouts. What a deal! Here's what I do:

1. Fill small ziploc snack bags with 1/2 cup of quick cooking oats. (I usually put together about five packs at a time, but do as many or little as you need).

2. Fill another ziploc snack bag with dried fruits and nuts. (I like chopped pecans, craisins, and raisins).

3. When you're ready to eat, pour the individual bag of oats into a small bowl or mug. Then, pour hot water over the oats until they are just covered.

4. Heat in the microwave for one minute.

5. While the oats are cooking, cut up fresh fruit to add to the oatmeal. My favorite fruits to add are sliced strawberries, apples, or blueberries.

6. Stir in the fresh fruits, dried fruits, and nuts into the oatmeal.

The fruit gives the oatmeal enough natural flavor and sweetness that you don't need to add sugar. Save the calories! If you want a little more zing, try adding some spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice. You can add the spices during step 1 so it's ready to go.

What Brands Should Men Wear?

What brands should you wear? Well men, if you're a college graduate or over 25 years old and want to be taken seriously among your peers or as a professional, it's time to retire a few brands. Say goodbye to adolescence. Open your arms to adulthood. Here, we even put it in a nice, easy-to-read table for you more visual folks:

That's right, you read correctly. Walmart is more grownup than Tapout. If you're surprised, leave a comment below and we can meet behind Circle K later to fight it out.

Of course, there are exceptions to this guide, most of which come when clothing doesn't scream, "LOOK, I'M WEARING HOLLISTER!" For example, Express makes some great business-casual slacks and American Apparel has nice plain T-shirts. Now that you know what brands to wear, remember to dress for your body type. Oh, and try to avoid the "Identity Crisis" category (at least a man wearing Hot Topic knows he'll eventually graduate from goth). Happy shopping.

8 Reasons for an AM Workout

1. It's difficult to keep a regular workout schedule in the evenings because: A. You're exhausted from being at work. B. An event or dinner comes up with friends or family. C. The treadmills at the gym are full because everyone and their dog exercises in the evening. D. All of the above.


2. It starts the day off right. Sometimes it's difficult to get out of bed, but once the blood starts pumping, you don't regret it.

3. It's the only time of day when there's "extra" time, if there is such a thing. Calculate how much time you want to exercise and how long you'll need to get ready for the day. Just set an early alarm. You can do it.

4. Catch up on current events. Take a run on the treadmill and tune the TV to the morning news -- it keeps you distracted and gives you something to talk about with other humans.

5. Explore the great outdoors. An early morning workout gets you out of the house before many people are out of bed. Enjoy the quiet time, your neighborhood, or the morning sunrise.

6. Burn more fat! Working out in the morning on an empty stomach helps to burn 20% more body fat. It's science, people.

7. Sleep better at night. If you workout in the evening, it's often harder to unwind to fall asleep.

8. Exercising in the morning gives you an opportunity to double-up in the evening. Some days you may have time to fit in another workout, but that can't happen if you only schedule time in the evening.

There are plenty of reasons to get up and go early, but unless you have strong enough motivation all the reasons in the world won't get you to rise early. "I want to be healthier for my loved ones" or "I don't want to be fat" are both pretty good motivators.

BOOK REVIEW: Orange is the New Black

Much fanfare has been made about new, original content on Netflix, like Orange is the New Black, for example. Call it new and original if you like, but Orange is the New Black is based on the true story of Piper Kerman's yearlong sentence in prison.

Regardless of whether or not her short time of petty crime should be celebrated with a TV series, Kerman's book looks inside America's prison system -- and boy, is it bad ... not the good bad, either. Prison should be uncomfortable, yes, but why not also use it to help people? According to Kerman, the US prison population has more than quadrupled in the last 30 years, a trend unlikely to change anytime soon.

Kerman survived prison, in fact, she thrived in prison. Her positive outlook and willingness to help others helped her make friends. Prison helped her discover something she thought she would never find: her identity. Orange is the New Black is a good read: B+

Coconut Banana Bread

Some say grapes are the best fruit to ferment. And I say nay to you alcoholics out there! I patiently wait for my bananas to turn from green, to yellow, to spotted brown, to downright nasty and soft, so that I can make one of my favorite treats – banana bread. Either in bread or muffin form, it doesn’t matter. There are lots of good banana bread recipes out there, but this one is simply amazing. Maybe it's the coconut trifecta that makes it so wonderful. And the crust is just delighful. Here's the recipe:

Coconut Banana Bread
modified from www.fatgirltrappedinaskinnybody.com

1/2 c. coconut oil
1/2 c. white sugar
1/3 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. white flour
1-1/2 c. wheat flour
1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3 medium ripe bananas
1 c. light coconut milk
shredded coconut
chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly coat bread pan (either 1 large pan, or 5 mini loaf pans) with non-stick spray. In a bowl with a wooden spoon mix coconut oil and the two sugars together. Add in each egg, followed with the vanilla extract. In a separate bowl combine the flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a third bowl mash the bananas and stir in the coconut milk.  Alternately add the flour mixture and the banana mixture into the bowl with the sugar and eggs, stirring after each addition. Last, add the coconut and walnuts.

Pour the mixture in the bread pan(s). Place in the preheated oven. The mini-loaves take about 35 minutes; the large loaf takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Loaves are ready when a toothpick is inserted in the middle and comes out clean. Let the loaves cool. Enjoy!

How Should Your Jeans Fit, Men?

It's not the 90s anymore, folks. Baggy jeans are once again reserved for rappers and the morbidly obese. I feel like David Letterman saying this, but it's true -- Know Your Cuts of Jeans! Pretty much every major manufacturer now has several cuts available. Here's the breakdown for Levis:

I have several brands of jeans, but in Levis, I'm a 513 guy. If you're slender, wear a slender cut. This is real simple, guys, but so many of you are clueless. The world is changing, and it's not just metro-men that need to be fashion forward.

In fact, the same principle applies to dress pants and suits as well. Do some homework, it will payoff in the end. Admit it, especially if you're looking for work, style is half the battle these days. If you don't look the part, you'll be dismissed in the first 30 seconds of an interview. A few jean brands that I recommend include Joes, Nudies, and Levis, but so many brands offer multiple cuts. Know Your Cuts of Jeans!

BOOK REVIEW: The Skinny Rules

Bob Harper from The Biggest Loser has been my latest inspiration. Although, I've only watched his show a handful of times, his book really made an impression on me. On a recent trip to the Saguaro library, the yellow cover caught my eye. The Skinny Rules lays out a list of 20 rules for "getting thin." I was intrigued. I'm not overweight, but over the past few years I've been on a health-kick, and why not learn more? I still occasionally summon my inner fat kid and eat three Paradise Bakery cookies ... in one sitting. I'm a work in progress people. Don't judge.

Each rule has a reason behind it, which Bob describes in great detail. Possibly my favorite part about this book -- Bob provides meal plans and recipes! I think this is the hardest part of eating healthy, but this makes it so much easier. Here are my favorite rules, and the ones that made the biggest impact:

RULE 1: Drink a large glass of water before every meal -- no excuses!
RULE 2: Don't drink your calories.
RULE 7: No carbs after lunch.
RULE 17: Eat your vegetables -- just do it!

You'll find a copy of the 20 rules posted on my fridge at home, and on the peg board in my office at work. I look at it every day. I'm not doing everything on the list yet, but I'm getting there. These rules, in combination with my workout schedule, have made a difference. I can feel it. I'm starting to see it little by little. Grade: A

Men's Dress Shirt Fit Guide

Most major brands make several cuts of men's dress shirts. If you can see past this man's Blue Steel pose pictured below, let it be a simple guide to a great fitting dress shirt. Avoid a shirt that is too baggy for your body type. A well-made shirt will be long enough that it won't come untucked when you raise your arms. It also won't bunch or puff in the back near the waist line (like the Michelin Man), and one sleeve will fit just one arm, not two.

The ironing board is a thing of the past. If you're still ironing shirts, you're also probably using a typewriter. Purchase non-iron or wrinkle-free shirts. It might set you back a little more money, but the comfort and style is well worth it. Here's one of my favorites.

Salmon or Steelhead?

Lately I've been trying to increase my consumption of fish. I haven't always been a fan of the stinky, slimy things. But, like most things from my childhood, maybe it’s not as bad as I thought. Plus, it has great health benefits. The only fish I used to enjoy were sticks, now I’m starting to branch out to salmon, tilapia, trout, and even a little shrimp here and there.

Have you ever tried steelhead trout? It’s very similar to salmon in color and flavor, and slightly less expensive. The best way to have fish on hand is to buy in bulk from Costco, slice it up into serving size portions, then wrap it up and freeze. This way, you’ll always have fish ready to eat at home with just a little time to thaw.

Here’s a great way to prepare salmon or steelhead.

1. Heat up the skillet over medium heat with a little bit of butter.

2. Add a bit of lemon pepper seasoning to the fillets.

3. Place the fish in the heated skillet. Add about a tsp. of lemon juice to each fillet.

4. Cook the fish over medium heat about 8-10 minutes, flipping once. Depending on the thickness of the fillet it may take slightly more or less time to cook through.

Serving suggestion: Place on bed of spinach and top with alfalfa or chia sprouts. Serve with a side of fresh vegetables, like zucchini. You can never have too many veggies! And skip the breaded fish -- it isn't worth the calories.

New Pizza Place in Phoenix: Fired Pie Review

Chipotle for pizza. That's Fired Pie. I'm always looking for a great, new place for lunch. Lunch is often the best part of the workday. So, when I heard about Fired Pie, I had to check it out ASAP. As far as pizza goes, Fired Pie is unique. It's high(er)-end customizable, brick-oven pizza. Why a build-your-own pizza place hasn't been done before (successfully) is incomprehensible.

First, choose a sauce. Next, choose cheese(s). Then, choose meat(s). Finally, choose any additional toppings (roasted peppers, kalamata olives, artichokes, onions, etc.). Here's the great part, I owed a coworker lunch, and thankfully this place didn't break the bank. Nearly every combination of pizza is the same price: $7.75.

I still prefer La Grande Orange (LGO) and Spinato's, but Fired Pie holds its own, plus, it's quicker and cheaper. That'll do, Fired Pie, that'll do. Oh, the owners have serious pizza cred, too.

Favorite Lip Balms

Not all lip balms are created equal. During winter in Indiana my lips would chap and crack, and it was an ordeal to find something that would get them back to normal. Then, I moved to the desert. The winters are glorious, but all the dry air takes a toll on skin and that precious pout. Here are my top 4 favorite moisturizers for lips -- keep 'em silky smooth.

1. Vaseline Lip Therapy: $1.99. Petroleum jelly, a gift from the Gods! This stuff is simple and works so well! Vaseline helps to heal dry skin, is fragrance-free, and reduces the appearance of fine lines. This little Lip Therapy tub is adorable, but not super user friendly. Get the large size regular Vaseline since it has a ton of uses. (Tip: when dying your hair at home put some around your hairline so you can easily wipe off any misplaced dye from your face).

2. DHC Lip Cream: $8. I received this Lip Cream as a gift from my sister, Emily, and now request it each year for my birthday. This stuff is amazing! The "secret" ingredient is olive oil. It goes on so smooth and is perfectly packaged. DHC is a company out of Japan and has a slew of skin care products. Let's be real, Asians have youthful, fabulous skin. Check out their website for a listing of all products they offer.

3. Mary Kay's Satin Lips set: $18. This is a great duo I've been using since high school. The lip mask is a gentle exfoliator. Follow it up with the lip balm. Your lips are silky smooth for hours! The downside, you must contact an Independent Beauty Consultant to get it. If you don't want to invest in the lip mask try using a face scrub like St. Ives or do a once-over on your lips with the Clarisonic.

4. Sugar Advanced Therapy: $25. This stuff is great, but a little pricey. It's an anti-aging lip treatment that doesn't have a bunch of yucky ingredients, fills wrinkles, and plumps your lips. It smells phenomenal and the packaging is heavy duty! There are other Fresh Sugar lip treatments in a variety of shades available at Sephora.