What's up Bunches?!?!

I'm here to report that tonight's post will not be lengthy...in fact it will be itty bitty...teeny tiny....itsy bitsy. Reason being:

• Casa is getting some work done. Translation: Major headache alert! Why? Because workmen, tools, and machines galore are all up in Mah Shizz. Oh yeah...and the furniture is, yet again, in upheaval, and dust is omnipresent. <SIGH>...HOWEVER, I know she's gonna be *real perty* when we call a wrap on it tomorrow. 
• Yours truly was working her tail off editing a fresh cut VLOG for your beautiful eyeballs to see TOMORROW!!!!!!!  GET READY to have some...

FuuuuuuuUUUUUUUuuuuuUUUUUnuN this Friday!!!

In the meantime...chew on this:

Booyah!!!

I'll be seeing y'all TOMORROW!!!!!!!

Nighty Night. Sleep Tight.

Besos 

Mrs. LDCizzle xo 

M

Good Afternoon & Good Eve My Precious Bundles of Love! 

I must admit, I'm not yet in my "Let's chat Organic vs. Conventional" element, because I (FINALLY) received the *Most Special* surprise EVER in the mail...

Here is PROOF that I not only have the most BEAUTIFUL niece & nephew in the Universe, but they're also the 

SWEETEST, most thoughtful little munchkins alive!!!

They made & sent their Auntie Lola the most Beaaaauuuuuuuuuutiful pieces of art I've ever laid my eyeballs on!

Move over Miró, Matisse, & Picasso...It's time to make way for some SuPerB abstract expressionism by

Ella Claire & Maximiliano Jr.

It should go without saying that these two masterpieces are hanging up LOUD & PROUD in the Casa. 

<Sigh> ...I feel so lucky, & so LOVED! 

Now that I went gangbusters over my darling niece & nephew, I can move forward with the HAPPS of the EVE:

Buying Organic vs. Conventional

I find that for many people, the only difference they see between the two, starts with a "C" and ends with a "T" (answer: COST), am I right?! Many can't fathom spending an extra couple bucks on strawberries, when they can get the "same" thing much cheaper. Sound familiar?! The good news is that I'm RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, ready to enlighten your buns on this very matter, so listen up!

I'm going to preface by saying that ENTIRE books are written about this, because anything having to do with the food industry is maddeningly complex these days, so despite a great plethora of information on the topic, I'm going to keep it real, and serve things up nice & SKINNY for ya!  (Ode to Bethenny Frankel....xx). 

What Does Organic Actually Mean?

In essence, Organic used to be the way ALL FOOD on this earth was. Untouched, whole, and natural. But because the food industry today is a a profit-driven money suck, sh*t has literally hit the fan. Animals and produce are pumped & sprayed with all sorts of nasty, so that they grow faster, and bigger, so that farms can produce & sell more product = Make more Dolla Dolla Bill$!

Thank goodness, we've wizened up, and now have the OPTION to buy healthy, high quality product.

<Enter: ORGANIC>

According to www.sustainabletable.org, the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture), all organic agricultural farms & products must meet the following guidelines:

• Abstain from the application of the following prohibited materials for at least 3 years prior to certification, and then continue throughout their organic license:synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, & sewage sludge).
• Prohibit the use of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms)
• Farms must employ positive soil building, conservation, manure management & crop rotation practices
• Provide outdoor access and pasture for livestock
• Refrain from injecting animals with antibiotics & hormones
• Animals are sustained on 100% organic feed
• Avoid contamination during the processing of organic products
• Keep records of all operations
• Prohibit the use of hydrogenated and trans fats

BUT, it's not that black & white...

• When a product wears the seal "USDA Organic," it doesn't always mean it's 100% organic! It must say "100%" on the label! 

• The USDA Organic seal usually means that 95 to 100 percent of its ingredients are organic. 
• Products with 70 to 95 percent organic ingredients can still advertise as being "organic," but without the USDA seal.
• Products less than 70 percent organic ingredients, can only include the list of "organic" products within the standard nutrition label.

Here's Why I Recommend Going Organic:

• Keep chemicals & other pollutants off your plate!
• It tastes better! As if this is a surprise! Organic products aren't stripped of their flavor because they're not tampered with, like conventional sorts.
• By starting to eat organic now, you're paving the way to healthier future for kids! Some conventional products are sprayed with cancer-causing pesticides, that could be detrimental after years of consumption.
• Save the Environment! Because organic farms have to follow such a strict regimen to keep their soil healthy, that in turn keeps the water more pure. It also saves an immense amount of energy! According to Whole Foods Market and the Organic Trade Association, more energy is spent on producing synthetic fertilizers than actually tilling, cultivating, and harvesting the crops!

With that said, it isn't absolutely necessary that you go gaga, and buy all organic 100% of the time, because you and I both know that is not always an option, however here is a GREAT reference list to help you prioritize what you DO buy organic, and what you don't. (Source: http://www.ewg.org)

Try to Buy These ORGANIC: (Most Contaminated)

• Peaches
• Apples
• Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Pears
• Grapes
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Potatoes

You Don't Always Have to Buy These ORGANIC:(Least Contaminated)

• Onions
• Avocado
• Bananas
• Frozen Sweet Corn
• Pineapples
• Mango
• Asparagus
• Frozen Sweet Peas
• Kiwi
• Cabbage
• Papaya
• Broccoli

<SIGH> ... That was a WHOPPER!

...and we barely scratched the surface! Oy Vey!  I hope that I've cleared the air for ya a bit on the matter, so you can go to sleep tonight with a better understanding as to why buying Organic really is worth it! 

Wham! Bam! Thankyouma'am!

I'm outta here, Luvahs! It's been REAL, as always...

Big Kisses To ALL!

Mrs. Daily D xoxo 

What up Homie Luvahs?!?!?

I hope y'all took my advice, and DECIDED to make today a GREAT one!  ...<Cough Cough> Come again???....Yes Peeps! Ya heard me loud & clear:

It is, in fact, YOUR DECISION to make your day one that's enjoyable. 

I get that sh*t happens that's OUT of your control, but it's HOW YOU REACT to the sh*t that separates the sexy from the nasty, and we're all about SEXY here, aren't we now?...I'll answer that for you....

YES YES YES we are! 

So before blowing a gasket over minutia, people who blow a$$, or other insignificant nonsense, I encourage you to do the following:

• Breathe! Two Deep breaths minimum!
• Think! Process the situation INTERNALLY, before speaking, and effing yourself into deeper sh*t
• React or Don't: Sometimes things are better left unsaid, plain and simple. If talking is required, remember you're sassy & classy, not trashy. Be respectful.
• MOVE ON ALREADY! Don't waste another SECOND upsetting yourself. Instead...

You go get your HAPPY ON, GIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRRL (or Boy) 

There are NO NEGATIVE HATERS allowed in DailyDubieLand, so if you can't handle my juice, it's best we part ways until you get that attitude adjusted. Are we clear?  Fabulous! Now let's move on! 

Since I'm strapped for time here (I have to blow dry & get ready for my HOT SAUCY date with Honey Bunny-licious), I'm going to give y'all a snappy preview of what's in store for the DD in the next few days:

• Get clear on buying Organic versus Conventional food

• Lucy Walkabout Dress Review: I scored myself this sassy new frock, so I'm gonna go ahead and model that shizz for all your eyeballs to see! GET EXCITED!

• Vlog #4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's all about FUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNN this Friday! Woop Woop!

That's all in the nutshell, Pumps! You can go ahead and raise a glass to that sexiness! 

Peace for the Eve!

Hugs & Kisses 

Mrs. Daily Dubes 

P.S.: Can't get enough of Mrs. Daily D?!?! Well then sign up for my Newsletter, Suckas! Just Click my pretty "sign up" button at the top right hand side of this page, and you're GOLDEN! 

What's shake n' bakin' My Sweet Lover Pies???

I hope y'all enjoyed my THIRD VLOG post, where I Banana-fy your LIVES! If you haven't already caught the sassy clip, I highly recommend you click here --> http://youtu.be/OeYAF-jAanA ...Or , simply scroll your buns down to the very next post! BAM! Easy pease! 

So, what to talk about this Monday...this dark, dreary, misty, & cool Monday-(in New York, that is). The bright side to this not-so-bright weather, is the fact that it's a toasty 44 degrees, so no complaints here, HOWEVER, I am going to venture on to say that I do favor sweet, glistening snowflakes to this rain nonsense. <Sigh>...Whadareyagonnado?!

MAKE SOUP! That's What!...

There's nothing as comfy, cozy as homemade, hearty soup when it's chilly outside! Now, before you irritatingly sigh, and blow off this suggestion because you're a novice in the kitchen, strapped for time, or have little patience, I command you to

Listen Up, Buttercups!

Truth be told, when I began to get my Batali-on in the kitchen, I avoided soups like the plague, because I had this hair brain notion that they were 'too involved, difficult, and messy to make!' and, frankly, I didn't want to bother. Sound familiar?! Well...once I got myself OUTSIDE MY COMFORT zone, and took a plunge into Mama J's homemade chicken soup, I began to warm up to the idea that soups can really be quite easy!

Here is why Soups Are The Bomb:

• They're an ENTIRE meal rolled into one! No need to worry about side dishes here! It's wham! bam! thankyouma'am all jammed into one bowl!
• They're HIGHLY NUTRITIOUS (without excessive use of cream, butter, or cheese -duh!).
• They're HIGH IN VOLUME! Even a small portion will leave you feeling FULL & SATISFIED, because they're usually jammed with veggies, legumes, and/or lean proteins. 
• SECONDS are okay! No need to worry about portion control when it comes to broth-based, veggie-filled soups! Because they're so high in volume AND NUTRITION, they'll naturally fill you up quickly.
• They're SIMPLE to make! Unless you're planning on making your own stock, soups shouldn't take more than a hop, skip, and a jump to make! On average, I find that it takes me about 20-40 minutes (including prep time) to make soups.
• Cleanup is nearly non-existent! You only have to clean One pot! One measly pot! Oh yes, and maybe a knife & cutting board for veggie prep. BIG DEAL!
• You can cook once, & eat twice! Unless you're cooking for a football team, you should have some leftovers! Serve it up for lunch, or even dinner again the next night! You can spice it up by adding fresh herbs, lean protein, whole wheat pasta, brown rice, quinoa, 1/2 a sandwich etc. Not a fan of leftovers Not to worry! Pour extra soup in an airtight container, and FREEZE that baby! Then, a few weeks-heck even months!-down the line, when you want something healthy and warm in a pinch,  just thaw that baby out (before you leave work, put in fridge), and re-heat on the stove 20 minutes before serving.

It's too good to be true!

Here are some more tips that will make your soup-making life easier!

• Buy chicken, or vegetable stock. *I recommend Organic 
• Buy already chopped veggies. Almost EVERY grocery store has this option. However, for what it's worth, I prefer to buy whole, organic veggies & chop them myself. It takes all of 10-15 minutes longer, AND gives you a little bun-burning action! 
• Slow Cook your soups - Take 10 minutes in the AM to throw all of your ingredients into the slow cooker, and set to cook for as much as 12 hours! When you come home, dinner is served, my friends! 
• Buy Immersion Blender! I like the BAMIX brand. This is great for pureeing soups (like I did last night!) without the hassle & mess of a blender/food processor---Only mine was missing the very piece I needed to purée, so we had no other option than to fuss with the food processor -  <sigh>

So you see now, Sweet Lovernesses, how soups can actually give you PEACE in the real, busy, rushed, stressed, & frazzled world?!?

...And if you're really feeling ambitious, and have some time to prepare (say, on a weekend!), why not bake your own bread, too?! There's nothing like homemade bread paired with your homemade soup -- MMmmMMmmMMMMMmm...and that sweet, buttery smell will waft through the air, smelling up the casa real good! This is also SUPER DUPER easy if you have your own bread making machine. Similar to the soup method, you throw all of your ingredients into the machine, hit a few buttons, and BAM! A few hours later, you have a nice warm loaf to sink your teeth into! 

Here is what last night's Sunday Supper looked like at Casa de Constantiner:

Vegetable Purée:

Ingredients:

-Olive Oil

-Chopped Onions

-1/2 Cup Chopped Carrots

-1/2 Cup Chopped Celery

-2 Cups Chopped Broccoli

-4 Cups Vegetable Stock (Add filtered water if you want it more thin in texture)

+

Homemade Honey Wheat Bread

Now, with all that jibber jabber in mind, want to take a stab at what we're having for dinner TONIGHT?!?!?

You win ONE MIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNN Dollars if you guessed

Leftover Soup + Bread!

Cook once, & eat twice, Dolls! Mrs. Daily D practices what she preaches! 

I'm out for today! .... See ya'll SOON! 

HUGS & KISSES 

Mrs. Daily Dubie xoxo 

ATTENTION!!! ATTENTION!!! 

Beloved Readers of MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!

VLOG NUMERO 3 is IN - THA - HIZZZZOUUUUUUUUSE!!!

What are you waiting for?!?!? .... PRESS PLAY, and watch me go BaNaNaS, Mutha Luvahs!!!

I hope you enjoyed my always nerdy self  & some Hollaback Girl - thought that pizazzed it up a bit! 

Some Afterthoughts For Y'alls...

• Brand I swear by 'til the day I die for the cacao powder, cacao nibs, & maca powder is a brand called GO HUNZA! Serving up some of the best raw, organic products around! I buy mine at Whole Foods

​

OFFICIAL RECIPE: Serves 1

• 2 Med-Large Sliced, Frozen Bananas
• 1-1.5 T Creamy Almond Butter
• 2 T Raw Cacao Powder
• 2 T Rolled Oats
• 1 heaping tsp Maca Powder
• Unsweetened, Vanilla Almond Milk (Try HOMEMADE! --> http://bit.ly/yz5Vt0)
• Topping Suggestions: Walnuts, Peanuts, Chia Seeds, Flax Seeds, Almonds, Pecans, Hemp Seeds, Cacao Nibs, Chocolate Chips, etc. Get creative! 

...and FINALLY! We have ourselves a WRAP! 

Wishing you all nothing but Beautiful, Hot, Sexy, Sassy, Healthy, SLAP-HAPPY WEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEkends! 

It's been REAL, Peeps.

All My Love, 

Mrs. Daily Dubie Delight xoxo 

What's Up My Mutha Luvahs!?!?!?!

Okay, so first things first...Homemade Almond Milk was a CAPITAL

H-I-T  Hit !!!

Wham, Bam, Thankyouma'am! Won't be buying that store-bough nonsense much now, because you and I both know that:

The cleaner, the better! The Less ingredients there are, the MORE nutritious it is!

And making my own almond milk was as easy as Paaaaaahhhhhhhhh-(Translation: "Pie" with a Southern accent). So there you have it, My Friends. Mama Daily Dubie's givin' it to ya STRAIGHT-Keepin' it REAL 'til the day I die....

Now that we have that behind us, let's move on today's business...errrrr....maybe lack thereof more appropriately describes the jibber jabber that's in store...But regardless, let's 

Get To Talking Already!!!

Without further ado, here are today's announcements:

1. Woop! Woop! Attention! Attention! I have a fresh new NAIL REPORT! Comin' to ya LIVE from la oficina. Today's color choice: Purps with blue undertones! 

This vibrant color makes me so HAPPY!  ...It's funny how the darndest, and seemingly insignificant things can instantly lift my spirits and splash a smile on my face! Some of these things give me an instant HAPPY-ON! 

• Freshly manicured & painted nails & toes
• The color of my underwear (has to match my outfit)
• The color of my socks
• Freshly cut and colored hair
• Fresh Flowers

• Potted plants & Herbs

• Colorful, fresh fruits & veggies
• Soft, Snuggly Blankets & Pillows-(goose-down!)
• Photos of My friends & family 
• Precious Doggies (I'm partial to Yorkies): Meet Rexi Pie!

• Babies - esp. My Own! Ells, Max, and Gracie Pie

• Hilarious Movies: Wayne's World & Clueless are the ticket for me right now...
• Hugs
• Snugs
• Kisses
• Shaved legs & arms (yes I shave my arms!)
• A fully stocked pantry & refrigerator
• A fully stocked bathroom (MAJAH products, products, products, People!)
• Perfume - gots to smell good!
• Sick Jams (music)
• My "Sauce Boss" kicks

• Fireplaces
• Deliveries
• Mail
• Candles
• Cooking (sans cleaning)
• Freshly baked cookies!
• Inhaling a whiff of that smoky smell of wood burning outside
• Warm cozy flannel pajams or my tiger print jumpin' jammerz

• Soft Socks
• Sunshine!

• Snowflakes

• Warm weather
• Deep sleeps
• Vacuuming

• BLOGGING!!!!!!!

• VLOGGING!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, okay! I'm going to put a HALT on that now because clearly that could go on for DAYS...and we don't have days now, do we People?! No! We don't!...Onto the next order of banter...

      2. If you haven't caught it already, I am SO PROUD to share that my article on New Year's resolutions has been published! Che-che-check it out! --> http://bit.ly/wbzGek There will be MANY MORE to come! I've only just begun!

      3. If you'd like to know MY SECRETS to keeping things hot, spicy, and sexy in your life and in your kitchen, be sure to click on the pretty "sign up for my newsletter" button, located at the top right hand side of this page! If you're already a part of my Newsletter fun, then you're golden - you don't have to lift a finger! This FRESH material will be arriving in FEBRUARY-the month of hearts, hugs, LOVE, and kisses!  If you snooze, you lose! 

      4. And last but not least, don't forget that VLOG #3 will be airing TOMORROW!!! Get those eyeballs ready to WATCH me go BAH-NANAS in the kitchen!  Loads of fun!

Alright, that puts a wrap on it, Dolls! As always, It's been REAL...

All My Love 

Mrs. Daily D xoxo 

What's up Lover Dovers?!?!

I know it's been a few, but Mama Daily Dubes has had a LOT cookin' in her kitchen!  (All to YOUR benefit, of course!) ....

While I wish I could blog up a storm right here, right now, I only have a small window of time to bang one out for ya reeeeeaaaaal quick! ....BAM!

Let's get down to the dirty business then, shall we?!? ...(business is not so dirty, but inserting"dirty" gave it a nice jingle).

<ENTER>

MY HOMEMADE ALMOND MILK!

HECK-to-tha-YEAH!!! 

Truth be told, I haven't tried it yet, but it smells YUMMY in MY TUMMY! I cannot WAIT to try it in my Banana Blends! Now, you might wonder why I decided to try my hand at homemade Almond Milk, and the primary reason behind this decision, is due to the fact that: 

the packaged almond milk I regularly buy at the grocery store contains many ingredients, some of which I cannot pronounce,

which is totally against my religion---Okay, that's a slight exaggeration, HOWEVER, I am a MAJOR STICKLER when it comes to buying QUALITY foods! 

• I usually stick with whole, unprocessed, & unrefined, and in the event I reach for a packaged food, there must be as few ingredients as possible, and they must be pronounceable, whole, & healthy to boot!
• IF there are a LOT of ingredients, and you can't understand a lick of what's listed, DROP IT & RUN the other way as fast as you can! Skedaddle! Because...

When in doubt...Keep things REAL, My Friends!

So...I went ahead and broke out the dreaded <sigh> food processor that takes eons to clean (I'm hoping to get my hands on a shiny new VITAMIX soon- cough cough-Birthday gift?!), but it was WELL WORTH it, because now I have myself some

PURE + RAW + HEALTHY Milk!

Here is how it's done, People!

1. Soak 9 oz. RAW, unprocessed almonds in 6 cups of water for 18-24 hours in refrigerator.
2. Pour water + almonds into food processor
3. Optional: Add a little Agave and Vanilla Extract to sweeten (1 tsp-ish)
4. Blend for 90 seconds....annddddddddd

Voila!

You should have yourself some frothy, fresh Almond Milk!!! Yes, It's THAT EASY!!!

Aight, I've got to run! ...There's so much more to come in the next few days!!! GET. EXCITED!

WARM HUGS & KISSES! 

xoxo,

Mrs. LDC xoxo

P.S.: Get ready for VLOG NUMERO TRES in two days, Luvahs!!! This week will feature a "FOODIE FRIDAY" post! That's right! I'll be inviting you into MY KITCHEN!