Great Magazine and Website-Lucky

So I'm a wee bit fashion obsessed. Not go-into-debt-have-to-buy-that-new-Fendi-bag obsessed but a healthy I-like-a-challenge-to-find-it-on-sale obsessed.
I'll admit I have too many bags and coats (my addictions) but I pride myself on being a smart shopper. I teach an online shopping class at the library and with the magic of the Internet rarely pay full price (except that Louis Vuitton purse I bought in Europe, but it's an investment bag!) and enjoy showing the patrons how to save a buck.
One of my favorite magazines and one of only 2 I still subscribe too (besides Vanity Fair) is Lucky. This fun magazine includes a pull out sheet with little flag stickers that say maybe or yes that you can use to tag the items you want to buy. Stocked full of style tips, great bargains and profiles it's a great mag for the fashion lover. The Lucky website is equally fun to browse through with even more features than the magazine.
Check out the website here: http://www.luckymag.com/

Must see show-Jose Made in Spain

Over the New Years weekend it was cold and nasty here in Chicago so I bundled up in front of our fireplace and happily watched my latest food show addiction. The first season of Jose-Made in Spain is out on DVD and in my opinion is one of the freshest and best food shows on television. During each episode chef Jose Andres takes the viewer to a different region throughout Spain and then back to his home kitchen in Washington D.C. to create Spanish dishes. If Jose is cooking squid, he hops on the boat with the fisherman catches a large squid and then takes it to a friends beach side restaurant on the coast of Spain and cooks it! Ever heard of gooseneck barnacles? I hadn't either until Jose throws on a wetsuit and goes diving for them before preparing them. After watching the first episode I made his very easy dish of tomatoes, soft Spanish cheese, greens and a delicious dressing of extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar and honey. It was devoured quickly when I had friends over this weekend.
Jose has an easy demeanor with the camera and is charming and fun to watch, and his accent is lovely to listen to. If you are not a television watcher than definitely check out Jose's new book:
Made in Spain: Spanish Dishes for the American Kitchen
If your New Year's resolution includes healthy eating than Jose's delicious Spanish dishes are excellent. I'm a fan of the Mediterranean diet and Jose combines the freshest ingredients in simple and tasty ways.

Gotta any New Years resolutions?

Of course I do too, just wondering how long I'm going to stick by them.
In no particular order are a few of my more important ones:
1. Learn to cook
2. Stop swearing (broken on January 1, ah well... it was too f*cking hard)
3. Try to use the phone more, or at least Skype those I love to talk more than email
4. Cut back on the booze (do I really need that glass of wine?)
5. Love more easily
6. Give more
7. Stop procrastinating
8. Walk and water myself more
9. Travel (studying at Oxford in England in May,Spain in October, LA and San Francisco for fun, Florida and Colorado for family, Ireland for my soul)
10. Take more risks (new job, new opportunities...who knows?)

Happy New Year and the best to you in 2009!

I just watched Big Ben strike midnight and ring in the New Year in London and wished with all my heart I was there. Via CNN live video it was pretty cool to watch (and listen too, that unmistakable gong)and the fireworks that exploded over the Thames were beautiful.
I'm looking forward to an exciting 2009 filled with change, love and travel...Oxford here I come! Guess I better go get ready to celebrate the New Year in Chicago, always a good reason to dress up fancy.
Happy New Year!

Do you Skype?

A couple of years ago friends in the UK told me about the website Skype. I remember thinking "a website that allows you to make calls from your computer, how cool" and then promptly forgot about it. I've regularly used Yahoo instant messenger as my IM and video chat of choice but recently downloaded the free Skype software in order to video call my sister and new niece in Denver. All I can say is it's magic. I'm now a regular Skyper to my sister and other family members and am ready to toss my land line phone in the trash.
If you haven't used or seen Skype in action on Oprah or other tv shows then check out the website to see what a wonderful tool Skype is. You'll need a video camera (inexpensive at most retailers like Best Buy or Amazon and easily installed by plugging into a USB port) and a microphone (most are built into your computer or to the video camera) and you will need to set up a free Skype account and download the free software. That's it! The picture is so clear it's almost unbelievable and the sound quality is excellent.
During my recent Christmas trip to Florida my family Skyped my sister in Denver and enjoyed an evening of holiday tales and laughs with my sister and 2 month old niece, it was the next best thing to having them there with us.
http://www.skype.com/
If you want to add me as a Skype contact I'm under Shannon.Distel.Scanlan, Skype you soon!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah

Wishing everyone the very best holiday season. I hope for each of you easy travel, happy families, good food and lots of love for all.
I'll blog again next Monday when I return from Florida!

Flash Back Friday #21

I'm a little nostalgic for my childhood.
Here is Coca Cola's classic 1970's Christmas commercial I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing.