The leftover turkey sandwich on the Friday and weekend after Thanksgiving makes all of the stress of cooking worth it! We LOVE leftover turkey sandwiches so we thought we’d come up with a twist on the usual.  Here is our Leftover Turkey Panini sandwich recipe…feel free to add other leftover items that you have to the sandwich (i.e., mashed potatoes, other grilled or roasted veggies, etc.). ENJOY! Happy (black) Friday! If you are like us, you are nowhere near the malls today!!

* Makes two sandwiches.

Ingredients:
4 slices sourdough bread (or whatever leftover bread you have)
2 tablespoons butter, softened
4 thin slices of Swiss  or Provolone cheese
8 thin slices of leftover turkey (white or dark meat, your choice!)
A couple spoonfuls of leftover cranberry sauce or gravy (your choice…depends on your mood!)
A couple spoonfuls of leftover stuffing (optional)
Mayonnaise, to spread on bread
Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:
1. Spread butter on one side of each piece of bread.  Spread mayonnaise on other side of bread, then layer with one slice of cheese, four slices of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce or gravy (or both).  Then sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper, and follow with another slice of cheese.

2. Top with second piece of bread, butter side out.

3. Place on Panini grill over medium-high heat; put lid of Panini grill down to put weight on the sandwich while it cooks.

4. Allow sandwiches to cook for about 3-7 minutes per side, or until browned. Remove, slice on a diagonal, and serve warm.

Ingredients:

1 Lrg Red onion, sliced thinly

3 T Kosher salt

2 T Ev olive oil

2 T Red wine vinegar

1/2 T Parsley, chopped

Preparation:

1.  Toss onions and salt together in a glass bowl and let stand 20 minutes at room temperature.

2.  Place the onions in a collander and rinse under running water to remove the salt.

3.  Mix onions, oil, vinegar and parsley together in a glass bowl and let stand 1 hour at room temperature.

Cooks notes:  Serve onions on roast beef sandwiches or grilled chicken.  Try changing the vinegar or herbs or try mixing in some sugar with the salt for a sweeter flavor.

• 120 E. Michigan Avenue
• Paw Paw, MI 49079
• (269) 657-3654
• Website
• No Online Menu

When we leave home, I usually have a dining plan.  I take pride in researching and finding the best place to eat along our route.  For some reason, on our recent trip home, I didn’t do that.  We just got in the car and started driving.  J had just gotten off work and we were heading to Chicago for the holiday weekend. 

It was about 1:00 and we were both hungry.  I suggested just getting off in Paw Paw and seeing what we could find.  J thought she had seen a place downtown but when we drove by, it didn’t really look like a lunch spot.  I went to turn around in a parking lot off of Gremps Street and staring us right in the face was a sign for a Bistro.  We didn’t see it from Michigan Avenue, but a Bistro sounded like a good place for lunch.

Bistro 120 is on Michigan Avenue between Kalamazoo Street and Gremps Street.  The storefront is actually a O’Farrell McGuire’s Irish Pub.  The Bistro is behind the bar with the main entrance from the parking lot behind the building. 

We entered the Bistro and were met right away by someone who told us they were done serving lunch in the Bistro, but were still serving in the pub.  We followed a hallway around the corner to come into a typical Irish pub setting.  Along the wall were a number of two tops.  The tables in the middle were all set up for six to eight people.  The two tops were all filled and we didn’t want to take a huge table, so we took a seat at the bar.  The waitress handed us a couple menus and said she’d be right with us. 

We ordered our drinks while we were looking over the menu.  The selections seem to change daily which is why I couldn’t find one online.  I should have grabbed one of the days menus just to give you an idea, but I didn’t. 

J ordered the turkey sandwich.  They use fresh roasted turkey from Ottoman’s in Marshall.  It was sliced pretty thick and put on a sandwich.  What really sold J on the dish was a jalapeno cranberry sauce that was served on the side.  She put it on the sandwich and really loved it.  The turkey was very moist and tender.  She isn’t too crazy about big chunks of meat in any dish, but these pieces of turkey fell apart in her mouth.  Alongside the sandwich were some Ruffles potato chips and some coleslaw.  Before the sandwich came out, we both got soup which was included in the meal.  She chose a cheesy chicken soup which, again, she loved.  She said the broth was like a cheese soup, but it still had the chicken noodle feel to it. 

I went with the grilled ham and three cheese.  This thing came piled with ham on a grilled rye bread.  There were six slices of cheese…three above and three below the meat.  Without the meat, this would have been a good sandwich.  With the meat, it was great.  There was a lot more ham than I expected there would be and I didn’t have to worry about leaving hungry with all the food we got.  My sandwich also came with soup, chips, and coleslaw.  The soup I chose was actually Linda’s Spicy Chili.  It wasn’t really spicy, but it was good.  I’m usually a little hesitant with chili because it’s usually more beans than anything.  This chili only had a few beans and a lot of meat.  Exactly how I would make it at home.

Our bill was about $24, but we really got a lot of food.  Both of us were having trouble finishing and we didn’t even get bread before our meal.  Our waitress said they had so many Thanksgiving pies, there was no room for rolls.  She did get some done before we left though and she bagged them up and made us take them home.  We never would have known that were supposed to get rolls so it was really nice of her to go out of her way to  make sure we got some before we left. 

I don’t know what the actual Bistro is like, but the food was outstanding even if it was served in an Irish pub.  When we eat at places that call themselves a “bistro” I usually leave hungry.  This was not the case.  We got great food in family restaurant style portions.  We found Bistro 120 on accident, but it was a great find. 

Linda's Spicy Chili

Turkey Sandwich w/Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce

Grilled Ham and Three Cheese Sandwich

Ultimate (Leftover) Turkey Sandwich

A variation of the turkey sandwich from the Chesapeake Bagel Shop, this is a great way to upgrade the inevitable turkey sandwich you will be making the day after Thanksgiving!   Use the focaccia bread (see previous post) for a savory, crunchy base.

For vegetarians (of all types,) as in 75 percent of my household, the sandwich is great without the turkey, too. Vegans can replace the lettuce wih bean sprouts and seasoned / baked tofu for the turkey. My wife just slapped some butter on the focaccia bread, grilled it on a skillet, then added the tomato along with a little Havarti cheese. She loved it. Everyone wins, except maybe the turkey but that argument is for someone else’s blog.

Here’s what you do:

Slice about 3 inches of focaccia bread off of the loaf.  Then slice that piece in half, lengthwise forming two planks about a half inch thick or so.

Top the base with:

- shredded lettuce

- slice or two of tomato

- a little red onion slice, spread about

- cheddar cheese

- turkey (ahem…or other meat substitute)

- two or three pieces of crispy bacon (sorry vegans, can anything really replace bacon?)

The Ultimate (Leftover) Turkey Sandwich

Then spread a little cranberry jelly (or relish, even better) on the top plank of focaccia and top off the sandwich.

Viola!  You are ready to enjoy the savory bread, coupled with the sweet taste of the cranberry and the salty taste of the bacon.

Happy eating!

“Eat food. Not much. Mostly plants.” -Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food

I very rarely eat out at lunchtime. I usually bring a sandwich or leftovers to warm up in the microwave at work.

This morning, I forgot my leftover pasta at home, and although I ate a banana at the office, I seriously thought I might starve to death before I got home tonight. I decided to splurge and go to Subway for a sandwich. I decided to eat out for lunch! I looked forward to it for a couple of hours.

At 1:00 PM I left the office and drove to Subway. I parked, walked inside, and stood in line.

(Let me back up a moment and mention that I don’t eat much meat anymore. I’m not exactly a vegetarian, but working in the agricultural industry has given me an education about how animals are treated, and slaughtered, and I don’t want to eat them much anymore. If animals were treated with humanity during their lives and slaughtered in a quick, stressless, humane fashion, I wouldn’t mind eating them. I love pepperoni pizza and cheeseburgers.

At my job, and just by paying more attention while living my life, I’ve also come to understand most farmers’ attitudes in relation to the animals that they raise, kill, and sell:  in my opinion, they should feel grateful to the animals, but they just see the animals as a means to an end. Animals are just one more object to deal with along the way of earning a living. Turkey farmers refer to themselves as “turkey growers,” as if turkeys are just plants or inanimate objects to be grown. They wouldn’t want to refer to themselves as raising turkeys, because then consumers would remember that turkeys are actually live creatures. And did you realize that pig farmers are now called pork producers?)

So anyway, even though 99% of Subway’s menu—meat sandwiches—is not an option for me, they do have a delicious Veggie Patty that’s served hot, and I also enjoy the lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, green peppers, and onions that I can add to it. Here’s a photo I found of it:

And whenever I’ve ordered this sandwich at Subway, I’ve done so with a smidgen of smugness. It’s subtle, maybe even unconscious at the time, but I do acknowledge that I momentarily feel morally superior to everyone else because they’re eating animals, but I’m eating plants! (Note:  I’m poking fun at myself.)

So today, I got to the front of the line and here is the conversation that occurred:

Subway employee (grumpily): “What can I get for you?”

“I’d like a 6-inch veggie patty on wheat.”

“Huh?”

“I’d like a 6-inch veggie patty on wheat, please.”

“Veggie . . .  PATTY?”

“Yes.”

(Clerk looks at me sideways.)

“We have a veggie.”

“You don’t have the veggie patty?”

The clerk looks at me like I have just escaped from the local asylum and repeats:

“We have a veggie.” (As if this explains everything.)

Intuitively, I realized that she didn’t know I’d been to several other Subways that do offer a veggie patty, and that she apparently thought I was ordering it just to piss her off. So I said by way of explanation, politely:

“Oh. Well, some other Subway stores have a veggie patty,” and I was going to proceed with my order, but she interrupted me and said, clearly very annoyed:

“Well, some other Subway stores have pizza, too, but we don’t have that, either.”

I considered saying one of the following:

• “But I didn’t ask you for pizza,” or
• “I was just helping you out, so that if someone else orders a veggie patty from you sometime in the future, you’ll be ready to give your apologies and explain that you don’t have the veggie patty, but you do offer a delicious veggie sandwich,” or
• “Back off, you grouch! I am treating myself to a rare lunch out and you are spoiling it with your rudeness.”

But instead I just said:

“OK. I’ll have the veggie sandwich.” 

It was OK. It was actually pretty good. I’m not going to starve before dinner tonight, and no animals died so that I could eat lunch. I’ll moralize some more at you once I start walking the 20 miles to work and stop polluting the environment with my fossil-fuel burning car.

In retrospect, I’m glad I didn’t explain myself to the Subway employee. She probably makes minimum wage and stands on her feet all day. Maybe she is a student or a single mother or has a sick family member. Maybe her car broke down this morning and it’s going to cost a lot of money to repair. Who knows, Subway employees probably don’t even get a free sandwich after their shift. I have an ample supply of empathy with a person who can’t even communicate about a sandwich without getting upset at the person who is ordering it.

But I probably won’t be going to this Subway again for a long, long time. And someone should care about that, but no one does, so I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusions.

For a printable version of this recipe and complete ingredients listing, click here.

Oh my goodness, these were delicious!!

Today’s recipe post was inspired by a Hawaiian chicken sandwich at a local restaurant called “Back Yard Burgers.” I’ve been ordering this sandwich (click on “chicken” to see their Hawaiian sandwich) for years, but not how it appears on the menu. I always have to go through the long and drawn-out “Hold the mayo, hold the mustard, extra pineapple, add pepperjack cheese, and yes, I do still want the teriyaki sauce…” one-act play just to manufacture my perfect sandwich. So, after ten years of being a picky patron, I decided to figure out how to make one at home just how I like it.

Brown toast in the same pan to cut down on dishes afterwards.

The finished sandwiches were so tender and juicy I wished I’d made more, even though I was completely full after eating just one. Hubby, who always picks any fruits or exotic ingredients off of his meal before eating it, actually ate his whole sandwich with TWO big pineapple rings on it, and loved it, too! A success!! (And did I mention the whole meal only took about fifteen minutes to throw together on a weeknight?)

Begin by buttering and browning both sides of 4 pieces of thick bread in a deep skillet over medium heat. (You can also substitute hamburger buns or hoagie rolls if you like.)

I do the bread first for two reasons–1) I can use the same pan first for bread and then later for the chicken, thereby decreasing the number of dirty dishes, and 2) I can warm

Mix mustard, soy sauce and pineapple juice together.

 up the refrigerated cheese slices by keeping them between the hot toast buns while my chicken cooks and thereby make them good and melty by the time the sandwich gets put together.

While bread is browning, mix 1 teaspoon mustard, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, and the juice from one 4-slice can of pineapple rings (reserve the actual pineapple rings). Stir well.

Pour marinade over 2 chicken breasts and let soak until skillet is ready.

Place two chicken breast cutlets (thawed) in a shallow bowl and sprinkle with black pepper. Pour the liquid mixture over the chicken and let set until bread is browned and removed from skillet.

Place pepperjack cheese singles over two of the pieces of toast and temporarily cover with remaining toast to keep warm (I used two pieces of cheese per sandwich, but one is probably enough).

Using tongs, place the two chicken breasts in the empty hot skillet and increase heat to MEDIUM-HIGH. Transfer all of the liquid marinade from the bowl to the skillet by pouring over chicken breasts.

Cook chicken and pineapple together in skillet.

Place the four reserved pineapple rings directly in the skillet alongside the chicken. Cook chicken and pineapple approximately 8 minutes, adjusting

If pineapple rings brown too early, scoop them up and place on top of still-cooking chicken.

cook time for meat thickness and flipping whenever necessary.

If the pineapple begins to carmelize before the chicken is finished, move the pineapple rings from the bottom of the skillet to directly on top of the chicken breasts to hang out until everything is evenly cooked.

Once meat is thoroughly cooked, place chicken breasts over the pepperjack cheese layer on toast. Top with the cooked pineapple rings and large-leaf lettuce (Boston lettuce is absolutely perfect).

Cheese, then chicken, then pineapple, then lettuce!

 Place the remaining toast over the sandwiches and serve immediately.

Now that's a big, juicy sandwich!

The other students who were with me for our vegetarian cooking class shrieked when they heard the cha-ching, cha-ching of an ice cream vendor pass the restaurant.

“Ai Dtim! You dtim. We all dtim for ai dtim!”

The Thai version of the ice cream truck had passed.

“You have to try it,” they insisted.

“Put rice on top.”

“And make sure you get it in the bread.”

“Bread?” I asked.

“Yeah–ice cream sandwiches…realice cream sandwiches.”

“Make sure it’s not in the square thing.”

“Yah–it looks like it’s in a keg,” they explained.

“Okay, I’ll look out for it,” I promised.

Yesterday I spotted the familiar ringing and saw a woman wearing a pointy hat, pushing a keg on wheels.

“Ai dtim?” I asked.

She opened the lid to show me. Deep down was some white stuff. There was a row of small bread slices. This must be the stuff.

“Okay,” I said, and pulled out my camera.

She pointed to the bread and to some plastic cups.

I knew to choose bread.

She leaned over until her entire arm was buried and filled the bread with miniature scoopfuls while I snapped pictures. She drizzled milk from a can on top, then pointed to a plastic container filled with peanuts. I shook my head.

She was going to hand it to me, but I remembered the rice, so I pointed to the other plastic container. She unscrewed the top. Inside was cooked sticky rice.

Okay, I’ll try it.

She put a mini scoop of sticky rice on top, then more canned milk. I had her hold it while I took a photo and paid my 10 baht (30 cents US).

The first few bites were coconut milk. I loved it. I couldn’t tell if it was only coconut milk, or it had dairy milk in it as well. It went perfectly well with the crunchy peanuts. Surprisingly, the bread was a nice combination.

The sticky rice was strange, along with milk that wasn’t sweetened; it must have been evaporated milk, and not sweetened condensed milk, as I had thought it was.

As I got further down, the ice cream changed from coconut to nearly tasteless vanilla. So there must have been a combination of the two in the keg, and she obviously strategically planned it so the vanilla part went into the bread, soaking the bread as it melted. Very interesting.

Not sure I’d eat it again, if I had to have both flavors. I’d want only the coconut milk kind, with peanuts. If I could have only that kind, I’d definitely eat it again. Better listen for that bell.

When’s the last time you ate something so interesting?

My sister used to live in Brooklyn, in Sunset Park, a block in either direction from both delicious & cheap tacos (as in, order-in-Spanish-unless-you-want-to-feel-like-an-idiot tacos) and delicious & cheap dim sum (as in, eat-until -you-almost-barf,-but-hopefully-on-account-of-overstuffing-rather-than-of-having-tried-the-fried-chickens’-feet dim sum).

Now, I know I’m from Michigan and great culinary experiences (though in no way nonexistent!) may be fewer per capita and/or more geographically separated here — so yes, I’m open to the possibility, maybe even the likelihood, that I’m more easily impressed than someone in a more cosmopolitan location such as NYC, where great food of any and every national origin is never more than a short(ish) train ride away.  But I also have faith that really good food has the power to transcend individual differences such as personal experience and location.

So while some may be skeptical of my wide-eyed puppy love for any particular food item, I’m telling you — I know a god-damn delicious sandwich when I taste one.

But the sandwich in question… oh, this is so, so much more than a delicious sandwich.  This particular sandwich — a Vietnamese sandwich, or “banh mi”, from this place Ba Xuyen a few blocks from my sis’s former P.O.R. — is the only food I will ever need, and the only food I will ever love.  Or, at least that’s what I 100% believe to be true during the all-too-fleeting moments when I’m actively enjoying the miraculous creation that is this particular banh mi.  (Seriously — it’s really good.  I think it’s the #8 if you want to go try it.  Please bring me back one if you do.)

The banh mi — my banh mi (yes, I own it, it belongs to me — it will always love me, and it will never cheat.  I’ll share it with you only because I know that a higher power demands I spread the love of this sandwich like the most ardent cult fanaticism)… anyway, my banh mi from Ba Xuyen is a masterful ballet of ill-defined pork products (maybe barbecue?  Maybe pâté?) piled high with lightly fresh-pickled julienne carrots and cucumber, a mass of cilantro, & spicy sauce that would permanently disfigure a baby — all on a crunchy & soft freshly-made Vietnamese take on French bread.

I was heartbroken when my sister moved from Brooklyn to Texas and I could no longer use visiting her & my nephew as an excuse to get this sandwich.  Would it really be such a ridiculous thing to occasionally fly to New York, fill my carry-on with banh mi, and turn around & come back?  The sandwiches are very reasonably priced at a mere $3.50 a pop — compare that to the price of Jimmy John’s, and hell — if I buy enough of them, the trip will pay for itself!  (This is what my dad calls “female math”.  He’s wrong — it’s hungry math.)

I spent weeks going back & forth in my mind trying to figure out a solution to my banh mi procurement problem.  I moped.  I paced.  I began muttering to myself in public places.  I’m embarrassed to say that it’s clear to me now that during this time, I really let myself go.  Basic grooming practices went out the window one by one.  I started to smell.  My mom didn’t even want to call me anymore.  I became an untouchable.

And then, at rock bottom, I came to a realization that I should have accepted from the very beginning.  I’d have to find a suitable replacement.  I think the reason I had resisted this notion for so long was that I found it impossible to believe that anything could even come close to touching The Sandwich.  My love was so true — how could something so pure, so utterly perfect, be replaced?  But at my lowest moment, a voice — maybe my saving grace — spoke to me, and it said: “I dunno, man.  Maybe it can.”

Wait — what’s this?… Hope!  YES!  I would find a NEW banh mi to love!  Maybe it would not be the same, but that’s no reason why it couldn’t still be FUCKING AWESOME.  (This is impermeable logic.  Don’t even try.)

And so my business partner (who was now fully on board the banh mi worship wagon) and I tried to recreate it.  Pretty good, I had to admit… but not close enough to the one I wanted.  (The pickled veggies are an absolute must.  Next time…)  We looked and looked for a Vietnamese place near us, but none that we found served banh mi.

Until we discovered Que Huong in Madison Heights.  I’ll admit I was skeptical at first — what were the chances that this new place could win my heart after I had loved so hard?  Could my delicate emotional state withstand the pain of another “miss”?  (Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a very real thing, you know.)  For that matter, could my posture recover from such a prolonged period of me walking around like a live-action Charlie Brown, head hung low, or would my spine break along with my heart?

Obviously, to give this new place a chance potentially carried with it some very serious medical repercussions.  Such a decision could not be made hastily.  But then… was a life of banh mi and shower withdrawal really a life at all?  And so I was a woman with nothing to lose.

Since those dark days, everything has changed.  Que Huong did not disappoint.  These Vietnamese sandwiches are fabulous.  And they’re all between $2.50 and $3.50, which means, of course, that it’s perfectly acceptable for me to eat two in one sitting, even though each is regular-sandwich-sized.  No, they’re not exactly the same as The Old Sandwich — for example, I prefer the thinner julienne of T.O.S.’s cucumber to the single fat spear in these (though even that is growing on me), and I miss the chili sauce and mysterious pork pâté of yore.  But Que Huong’s BBQ pork is absolutely heavenly, and their French bread is to die for — amazingly fresh & delicious when made, and then again in a whole new way when the 2nd sandwich is popped in the toaster oven the next day to reheat and it gets all crusty on the outside.

And since this place is only a 40-minute drive from home, it’s almost reasonable to go every couple weeks to get my fix.  Sometimes I feel a little guilty enjoying this new sandwich as much as I do.  But I know that The Old Sandwich would understand, and would want me to be happy, at least until we meet again.

• 3320 S. Westnedge Avenue
• Kalamazoo, MI 49008
• (269)342-0323
• Website
• Menu

McDonald’s twice in one week?  I know.  I apologize.  This was one of those unplanned stops. 

J and I left Waldo Stadium about halfway through the third quarter to avoid the incoming rain.  Somehow, I ended up back in Portage after leaving the stadium, so we came home I-94 to Westnedge.  About the time we were getting to our turn, J said she was still hungry.  I didn’t want to say anything, but I was too.  We had only eaten a slice of pizza and some popcorn at the game and didn’t have much of a lunch.

J was craving a smoothie and the only place we could think of at 10:00 at night that would have a smoothie was McDonald’s.  We knew there was one just a mile or so down the road, so we skipped our turn and headed to the golden arches. 

McDonald’s in the South Westnedge neighborhood is on South Westnedge near Elys Way.  Like I mentioned in my McDonald’s review earlier this week, I hate drive thrus, so we parked and headed in.  The restaurant is open 24 hours, but the lobby closes at 11:00.  We got there ahead of that, so I wasn’t forced to argue with a speaker because neither of us can understand each other. 

I was pretty predictable again.  Double 1/4lber meal with a Sprite.  I did not make it a large this time though.  I don’t need that many empty calories that late at night, but I needed something substantial. 

J ordered a small strawberry/banana smoothie and a Chipotle BBQ Snack Wrap with crispy chicken.  Our bill was under $10.

We took it to go so we could get home.  We were both good and actually waited until we got home to eat….except for the few fries J stole from me.

My burger was what I expected and what I always enjoy from McDonald’s.  No surprises.

J said her chicken wrap was pretty spicy.  I didn’t take a bite, so you’ll just have to take her word on it.  I could smell the smoothie, but I don’t really like bananas or strawberries.  She enjoyed them both. 

I said it last time, I’ll say it again.  McDonald’s is what it is.  It’s cheap.  It’s quick.  It’s consistent. 

Strawberry-Banana Smoothie

Chipotle BBQ Snack Wrap

Hey everyone!!! Well, I am pretty much done for the day and I will be off from work for 5 whole days!!!! WOO HOO!!! Do you guys get a lot of time off for Thanksgiving too?

I feel like a bottomless pit today for reals!!! Around 10:30 I had a handful of trail  mix as a morning snack:

It had walnuts, raisins, dried cranberries, almonds and yogurt covered raisins.

Lunch was whatever I could through together this morning since we are in dyer need of a trip to the grocery store! I ended up making a buffalo tuna wrap.

• 1 can of tuna
• 1 glob of veggie sandwich spread
• 1 little bit of buffalo sauce

I mixed it all together and put it on a whole wheat wrap.

I ate it with a side of steamed baby brussel sprouts to get some veggies in. I really love buffalo sauce, and buffalo tuna is a great way to get the buffalo taste without all the fat and grease (and belly ache) of buffalo chicken wings!

I had an afternoon snack around 3pm of a Kashi dark chocolate coconut bar. YUM YUM, I really love these bars!!!

I have gotten a few e-mails from readers recently about how to stay fashionable in the cold weather. This is a great question, it gets really cold here in the winter and sometimes it is hard to look cute when you have to add tons of layers. I thought this would be a good topic to address here.

Here are my tips for looking hot in the cold weather:

1. Get a fun and stylish coat. My favorite is my black wool trench that has a flowy bottom. It makes me feel like I am wearing a little skirt!!! Get something that stands out, try a fun style or a bright color that makes it different and exciting!!!
2. It’s all in your head. You can loose most of your body heat through your head. Get a fun hat that is versatile, I have one that is winter white with pearls on it that I loooove. Oh, and make sure it covers your ear, nothing worse than chapped ears…ouch!!!
3. Wrap that neck! We all know I love scarfs, they keep you warm and can add so much to an outfit! Also, since they are fairly inexpensive, you and really buy a variety to change things up to match your outfit or mood Scarfs are “so in” right now so you will be able to find them literally EVERYWHERE!!!
4. No glove, no love! Want to know something not cute?! Chapped, dry winter hands. Protect those hands with some cute gloves or mittens. I love the ones that are insulated with Thinsulate, they keep your hands super toasty.
5. Layer it up! Layers are key! Often times it is freezing out and then you die sweating when you get inside, right?!. Try layering a cami, with a thin long sleeved shirt under a sweater.
6. Give em’ the boot!!! Don’t you just love boots!!! I love love love them!!!! I love the look flat of tall boots paired with leggings, dresses or skinny jeans. Not only is jeans tucked into boots adorable, but super warm too. It keeps the wind from blowing up your pant leg.
7. All Dressed Up! Just because it is cold, doesn’t mean you need to ditch your dresses! Pair them with a warm cardigan and a thick opaque tight for a warm winter look.

What are you tips for dressing cute in the cold weather?

In other news:

1. As you all know, in Honor of Thanksgiving being right around the corner, I will be posting something I am thankful for in every post. PLEASE feel free to join in in the comments section! So for this post:

I AM THANKFUL FOR: My Strong Healthy Body !!!!

Call me conceded, but I looooove my body!!! You can read more about my journey of self-love in this post.  My body may be far from that of the supermodels that grace the pages of the Victoria’s Secret catalog. But, it is healthy, strong and works like a well oiled machine!

(for some reason this picture will not re-size to something less huge…sorry!)

I feed it healthy food, get plenty of sleep and work it hard, and it turn it treats me well. I may not be the ideal in most people’s eyes, but I truly love every part of me.  I love my strong runners legs carry me through long distances, and TOUGH Body Pump Squat and Lunge tracks and look super hot in high heels.  I love my birthmark on my toe and my strong abs that have improved my posture. I have a hard working brain that allows me to do a million things as once, remember phone numbers for years back and has gotten me though college and will get me through grad school. I have a sturdy heart that never stops working and even gets itself up to 190 during really hard runs! I have strong arms that help when carrying heavy suitcases and groceries. I am also super thankful for for my new and improved rock-sold immune system (thanks Green Monsters!!!) I barely every get sick anymore!!!!!

Well, I am off to go home, change, go for a run, then head to the grocery store. Have a good night I will see you guys later

PS Don’t forget my Souper Giveaway, you have until 10pm tonight to enter!!!!

Post #11

Ever wanted to know exactly what a sandwich looks like? Scanwiches actually takes high-resolution scans of various sandwiches in all their delicious glory! This site makes me hungry.

At least three times a week I take over a small booth. I cover its tabletop with magazine clippings, notebook papers, scribbled on articles and my laptop. The humming atmosphere does not distract me, but instead keeps me writing. Chirping women, and playing children, they all add to the aesthetic of writing outside of my home. Coffee in hand, and my fingers tapping away at my laptop keys; this outside atmosphere inspires me to keep jotting down words, and ideas.

Once upon a time, I took over a table at Starbucks. Much to my surprise, not only would I have to pay $3.19 for my grande non-fat green tea latte, but also $3.99 for two hours of Internet use. Why not just buy two teas and travel on home?

Personally, two hours of Internet does me no good. I may as well stare at a blank page. I need time to think, and let what I see on my screen grow in front of my eyes and steep in my mind. Two hours provides none of that. Yes, if you buy in to the Starbucks Gold Card you will get two hours free day. I pay for an Internet membership at home. No, thank you.

Now one must think. All those hipster writers that flock to Starbucks with their expensive laptops and cliché ideas, where does their endless stock of money come from to support not only their expensive coffee habit, but their expensive Internet habit? Or, are those iconic cups really empty? This is why writers starve. Trendy writers that is. I go for the deal.

I sit in Panera, the delectable soup, and sandwich and salad chain. It is cozy, and lacks the bothersome employees many places seem to have. They let you sit for hours, writing and doing as you please. The menu is affordable and the Internet comes free.

Morning! It is rainy dreary day in Boston today!!!!

After work last night, I headed to class. It was actually really interesting, we watched a special Diane Sawyer did on cyber bullying. It was pretty eye opening. It made me thankful all of this technology wasn’t around when I was in middle school for sure! Ugh, imagine how awful that would have been? I was bullied enough by “mean girls” face to face and on the phone, I can’t imagine what it is like for kids now with the technology involved.  Here are some additional statistics I looked up about cyber bullying (because I am a big ol’ nerd).

• 42% of kids have been bullied while online. 1 in 4 have had it happen more than once.
• 35% of kids have been threatened online. Nearly 1 in 5 have had it happen more than once.
• 21% of kids have received mean or threatening e-mail or other messages.
• 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than 4 out of 10 say it has happened more than once.
• 53% of kids admit having said something mean or hurtful to another person online. More than 1 in 3 have done it more than once.
• 58% have not told their parents or an adult about something mean or hurtful that happened to them online.

Pretty crazy, right? Were you bullied in Middle School or High School? Which did you think was worse: Middle School or High School?

I was bullied and made fun of in Middle School, but not High School. High School was actually pretty smooth, but in Middle School I had some “friends” that were really mean. My mom used to tell me it was because they felt badly about themselves and said and did hurtful things to me to make themselves feel better. At the time, of course, I thought she was making that up, but now I look back and see how right she was. Oh moms, they really are always right!

While in class, I sipped a coffee that I got from the work coffee maker.

Dinner was eaten while working at my part-time job.

PB&J on whole wheat with an apple. It looks a little bit like a first graders lunch, but it did the trick…MUST GO TO THE GROCERY STORE TONIGHT!!!!!

After working, I headed to the Warren Tavern to play Trivia (which was actually more like  watching my others play trivia)and have a few beers with friends. The Tavern got two new beers on tap, so of course I had to try the new Hazelnut Porter !!!!

Clearly, it was a VERY dark beer. It was really good, it had a very nutty and coffee flavor to it. I liked it a lot   I also had a Blue Moon (or two).

Trivia got pretty intense too!!!!

That’s my bestie May’s dad trying to think of an answer to a tough question!!!! Their team came in third, Good Job Guys!!!!

As I was going to bed last night, I developed an awful migraine!!! I had to e-mail my running partner Julia and cancel for this morning because I knew I needed to extra sleep. Ugh, I was so bummed to have to do that. But, I am feeling a whole lot better today, so it was worth it. I plan on getting in a run tonight after work.

Breakfast this morning was scrambled egg whites with salsa and a little bit of shredded mozzarella and two pieces of cinnamon raisin toast with Earth Balance.

Here is today’s outfit!

Black Flats (Anne Klein), White Ruffle Blouse (Target), Black Sweater (Gap), Black and White Houndstooth pants (GAP).

I love classic black and white, simple and elegant!!!

In other news:

1. As you all know, in Honor of Thanksgiving being right around the corner, I will be posting something I am thankful for in every post. PLEASE feel free to join in in the comments section! So for this post:

I AM THANKFUL FOR: My Papa!!!

My Papa was born in 1927 here in Boston! He served our country in the US Navy during WWII. Soon after the war, he met and married my grandmother. They had three children my uncle Wayne (who died shortly after birth), my mom and my aunt Denise. My grandfather worked very hard his whole life as a master electrician and was also a boxer (pretty badass, right?). As a kid, my Papa was always playing practical jokes on us and playing with us. We always had fun when we were with him. My brother and I would sleep over my grandparent’s house almost every weekend!

Shortly after my Nana passed away very suddenly in March for 2007, he moved in with my parents. I get to see him everyday now, which makes me really happy. Every morning he is up and ready to greet Oscar when I drop him off before work. Papa and Oscar spend most of the day watching TV and playing I know a lot of people my age don’t have grandparents that are living anymore and I know I am very fortunate to my Pa.

I have so many great memories as a child and an adult with my Papa, Adam and I actually just purchased his house so we can raise our family where all those great memories were made (to read more about that check out this post).

2. Ok, you guys I have a SUPER EXCITING GIVEAWAY!!! After trying a number of Pacific products and loving them, (read my reviews here, here, here and here) the AMAZING people at Pacific have agreed to give three VERY lucky FFF readers a soup pack!!!!!!

This includes one of each of the following flavors: Black Bean, Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato, Creamy Butternut Squash, Cashew Carrot Ginger, Creamy Tomato and Curried Red Lentil.

But, that’s not all!!!!!!!! You will also get three of their fantastic iced coffees!!!!!

You will get one of each of the following:  Latte, Mocha Latte, and Vanilla Latte!!!

WOW!!!!! So here is how you enter:

1. Go to Pacific’s site and look around, then comment on this post one item you would love to try from them and (In Honor of Thanksgiving) 1 things you are grateful for today.

2. To get another entry, Tweet or Make a Facebook status about this giveaway and shoot me an e-mail to let me know you did that or link this giveaway to your blog and shoot me an e-mail with the link (if you do all three you get three additional entries).

Got it? Ok, go!!!!! You Have until 10pm tonight, then I will announce the winners!!!

Have a great day!!!!

*Stories: Goodnight Keith Moon is not safe for children due to alcohol, drug use, and adult situations. [coudal]

*Marketing: If you sit near me at work, you may know that I am working on something called KEEP IT AWESOME. This is somewhat related. SOMEWHAT. “The Swedish rock band Bob Hund released their single Fantastiskt (fantastic) as a one copy vinyl record that only allows 30 playings.”

*Dance: There’s a new style of dancing known as “Jerking.” I recommend an immediate rebranding.

*Anatomy: Scientific American examines the age-old question “Why do human testicles hang like that?” You may think that this, like so many items, is unrelated to music. OR you may recall a tune that was a favorite on playgrounds nationwide, “Do Your Balls Hang Low?” [harper's]

*Lists: This list of the 50 most interesting Wikipedia entries has been circulating the web, and it is, indeed, fantastic. I especially recommend the entries on humanzees (hypothetical human/chimp hybrids) and the Tube Bar prank calls.

*Food: I have a new blog to monitor obsessively: Insanewiches. It is about insane sandwiches. It’s not exactly insane, but my signature sandwich is a bagel, munster cheese, lettuce, spicy mustard, Tabasco, green olives and a stacker pickle. Best if eaten while wearing a rainbow-colored afro clown wig and reading an enormous RSS feed. [eat me daily]

*Holidays: You may consider this question from the San Francisco Gate a commentary on American culture: “You’ve gotten so popular that there are two Trans-Siberian Orchestras touring at once. Do you get to pick which coast you tour on?” [opp]

*Today’s links: Courage.

Disney’s Family Fun web site has this great idea to make your regular lunchtime sandwiches more exciting.  Not only are these turkey-shaped sandwiches fun to make, they’re healthy too! Click on the photo to learn how to make this turkey snack!

Afterward, satisfy your sweet tooth with these turkey sugar cookies!

All you need is a sugar cookie recipe, different colored icing, candy corn, and candy for the eyes. I think mini M&Ms make good turkey eyes. You can also use a small bit of red licorice for the turkey’s waddle. 

For one recipe, check out the Pillsbury web site by clicking on the photo.

These turkey-themed snacks are making me even more excited about Thanksgiving! What are some of your family’s Thanksgiving traditions? What food do you look forward to eating?

• 6400 W. St. Joseph Highway
• Lansing, MI 48917
• (517) 319-4124
• Website

If you would have told me two years ago one of the things I would miss most about Lansing was Quality Dairy, I would have called you crazy.  From the outside, these stores look like the typical convenience store.  Inside?  Not much different…at least until you dive into their unique goodies. 

For me, most Quality Dairy stops were Pepsi stops.  The thing I really loved about QD is that there’s almost always one near where you are.  I could actually plan a trip somewhere and know that I could stop for a 32 oz. pop on my way and not have to deal with the gas station hassle of everyone in front of you buying cigarettes and the clerk not knowing which package is which.  It was almost always a quick in and out.

My second day of work in East Lansing ended pretty late.  It was after 10:00 by the time I started heading back to my hotel.  I thought about grabbing a pizza in East Lansing, but I was tired and not really wanting to deal with Friday night crowds in a college town, so I just drove.  I didn’t want fast food again, but I really wanted a Pepsi. 

I took the Creyts Road exit off I-496 to get back to my hotel on Saginaw Highway.  Along the way, I came across a QD at Creyts Road and St. Joseph Highway.  There were also a couple gas stations in the area, but just because I had started a mission to hit every QD (31 in all) I crossed traffic to see if I could find something to eat.

If you’re in a doughnut or ice cream mood, Quality Dairy is a good choice.  They have some delicious fresh-baked (in Lansing) pastries and some great premium ice cream.  I wasn’t in the mood for either.  Some QD locations have pizza by the slice.  It’s not great pizza, but at least it’s warm.  This is not one of those locations. 

I grabbed my Pepsi from the fountain machine which looks to be pretty new.  Some of the older QD locations had some pretty sad-looking fountain drink machines.  This was not one of those. 

After that, I started looking around for food.  All I could really find were cold meat sandwiches.  I had picked up one of their sandwiches before and was pretty satisfied by it, so I grabbed a Triple Turkey Wedge. 

Tonight’s “dinner” cost me a whopping four bucks.  Hard to argue with that.  I waited until I got back to the hotel to dig into the sandwich.  It really isn’t much more than a truck stop sandwich, but instead of just two wedges, there were three.  There was a slice of turkey wedged between a slice of yellow cheese and a slice of white cheese (no indication on the package what kind it was).  I wasn’t super hungry due to a big lunch, but it was something before bed and I knew Saturday was going to be another day where I wouldn’t get a whole lot of time to eat. 

Quality Dairy came through again.  Like I said earlier, I know it’s wierd to miss a convenience store, but I’d really rather go to a place like this for a quick pop than a gas station.  At least I still have a few more trips to Lansing to see if I can hunt down the other stores I wasn’t able to make it to when I lived there. 

• 6400 W. St. Joseph Highway
• Lansing, MI 48917
• (517) 319-4124
• Website

If you would have told me two years ago one of the things I would miss most about Lansing was Quality Dairy, I would have called you crazy.  From the outside, these stores look like the typical convenience store.  Inside?  Not much different…at least until you dive into their unique goodies. 

For me, most Quality Dairy stops were Pepsi stops.  The thing I really loved about QD is that there’s almost always one near where you are.  I could actually plan a trip somewhere and know that I could stop for a 32 oz. pop on my way and not have to deal with the gas station hassle of everyone in front of you buying cigarettes and the clerk not knowing which package is which.  It was almost always a quick in and out.

My second day of work in East Lansing ended pretty late.  It was after 10:00 by the time I started heading back to my hotel.  I thought about grabbing a pizza in East Lansing, but I was tired and not really wanting to deal with Friday night crowds in a college town, so I just drove.  I didn’t want fast food again, but I really wanted a Pepsi. 

I took the Creyts Road exit off I-496 to get back to my hotel on Saginaw Highway.  Along the way, I came across a QD at Creyts Road and St. Joseph Highway.  There were also a couple gas stations in the area, but just because I had started a mission to hit every QD (31 in all) I crossed traffic to see if I could find something to eat.

If you’re in a doughnut or ice cream mood, Quality Dairy is a good choice.  They have some delicious fresh-baked (in Lansing) pastries and some great premium ice cream.  I wasn’t in the mood for either.  Some QD locations have pizza by the slice.  It’s not great pizza, but at least it’s warm.  This is not one of those locations. 

I grabbed my Pepsi from the fountain machine which looks to be pretty new.  Some of the older QD locations had some pretty sad-looking fountain drink machines.  This was not one of those. 

After that, I started looking around for food.  All I could really find were cold meat sandwiches.  I had picked up one of their sandwiches before and was pretty satisfied by it, so I grabbed a Triple Turkey Wedge. 

Tonight’s “dinner” cost me a whopping four bucks.  Hard to argue with that.  I waited until I got back to the hotel to dig into the sandwich.  It really isn’t much more than a truck stop sandwich, but instead of just two wedges, there were three.  There was a slice of turkey wedged between a slice of yellow cheese and a slice of white cheese (no indication on the package what kind it was).  I wasn’t super hungry due to a big lunch, but it was something before bed and I knew Saturday was going to be another day where I wouldn’t get a whole lot of time to eat. 

Quality Dairy came through again.  Like I said earlier, I know it’s wierd to miss a convenience store, but I’d really rather go to a place like this for a quick pop than a gas station.  At least I still have a few more trips to Lansing to see if I can hunt down the other stores I wasn’t able to make it to when I lived there. 

Triple Turkey Wedge

• 622 N. Homer Street
• Lansing, MI 48912
• (517) 351-6340
• Website
• Menu

Call me lazy.  I’m not completely proud of the fact that I’ve now eaten two fast food meals in a row, but once again, I’m trying to make as much money as possible, so going cheap on the lunch is a necessary evil.  I would much rather eat like this alone and be able to spend a little more when I go out with J.

Work day number two in Lansing started around 1:30.  I didn’t eat before going to work because I knew our lunch break was going to be pretty soon after we got to the job site.  Once we were released around 2:45, I headed to Frandor because I wanted to look at Staples for something.  After that was complete, it was on to lunch.  Sure, I had a bunch of options in Frandor, but since I was going to eat fast food anyway, I decided to go to a place I really like.

The Arby’s near the Frandor Shopping Center is located on Homer Street.  Because Homer is a one way street, there is also a back entrance from Clippert Street which is where I was coming from.  The building sits pretty close to Homer.  There is a huge parking lot in back and a few slots on the sides.  I took one of the side spots

Eating alone at Arby’s must have been the thing to do.  There were a number of solo diners in the restaurant when I got there.  Like almost every other fast food chain, I have a predictable order.  I get the sandwich they used to call “The Big Montana.”  Now, it’s just a large roast beef.  I got the combo and made it a large.  That’s not something I usually do, but I didn’t know if or when I would get to eat again, so I needed to load up. 

Arby’s isn’t one of the cheaper chains, but I still got my meal for under eight bucks. 

I sat down and dug in to the roast beef first.  The sandwich is pretty big and hard to get a handle on, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I must look like a caveman trying to eat it, but I was dining alone, so etiquette was not really on my mind. 

The fry situation at Arby’s always confuses me.  I really prefer their homestyle fries which most locations have stopped serving.  Still, there are some that do.  This is Arby’s not one of those.  I wasn’t given an option of anything but curly fries.  I don’t mind the curly fries, but I like the homestyle a lot better.  Never could figure out why they got rid of those.

When it comes to chain fast food, Arby’s is right at the top of my list.  J always laughs when we go out to eat with my family because Arby’s is usually their first choice.  When we go out with her family, there’s always a big discussion about which local eatery we should hit up.  Not so in my family.  It’s where’s the closest Arby’s. 

Large Roast Beef Combo

• 7240 W. Saginaw Highway
• Lansing, MI 48917
• (517) 323-2228
• Website
• Menu

My quest for cheap meals went on with one of the most obvious choices when it comes to dining on the cheap. 

My first day of work in East Lansing ended around 8:30.  I was exhausted and headed straight for my hotel.  As I was driving across town on I-496, I was trying to picture what I could grab quickly and eat in my  hotel room.  I was drawing blank, but I knew there were a couple options right there near the Red Roof Inn.

Like most cities, Lansing is littered with McDonald’s.  I chose the location on West Saginaw Highway and Vermillion Road in Delta Township for one reason.  It was close to where I was going. 

Being 9:00 at night on a Thursday meant I should be able to get in and get out in a hurry.  I’m not a drive thru fan.  In fact, I despise them.  Unless I absolutely have to, I never use them.  If J forces me to, she leans across the seat and yells into the speaker.  I guess I don’t speak clearly or something because I never have good luck.  I’d rather just take the extra few minutes and walk inside.  No one has ever died from getting out of their car for a hamburger.

I’m really predictable when it comes to McDonald’s.  For, oh 15 years now, I’ve gotten the Double 1/4 pounder with cheese plain.  That’s what I got this time.  I was starving so I actually made it a large.  It didn’t take long for the food to come up and since it cost me just a little over six bucks with a drink, I hit my goal of trying to eat cheap. 

McDonald’s is what it is.  I’m not going to trash the place because it is a go-to if you’re in a hurry.  You always know what you’re going to get and as long as that’s what you’re looking for, that’s not a bad thing.  There are times I just don’t want to think about dinner or I just want to get something and get back on the road.  No matter where you’re at, you can find a McDonald’s to accomplish that. 

• 7240 W. Saginaw Highway
• Lansing, MI 48917
• (517) 323-2228
• Website
• Menu

My quest for cheap meals went on with one of the most obvious choices when it comes to dining on the cheap. 

My first day of work in East Lansing ended around 8:30.  I was exhausted and headed straight for my hotel.  As I was driving across town on I-496, I was trying to picture what I could grab quickly and eat in my  hotel room.  I was drawing blank, but I knew there were a couple options right there near the Red Roof Inn.

Like most cities, Lansing is littered with McDonald’s.  I chose the location on West Saginaw Highway and Vermillion Road in Delta Township for one reason.  It was close to where I was going. 

Being 9:00 at night on a Thursday meant I should be able to get in and get out in a hurry.  I’m not a drive thru fan.  In fact, I despise them.  Unless I absolutely have to, I never use them.  If J forces me to, she leans across the seat and yells into the speaker.  I guess I don’t speak clearly or something because I never have good luck.  I’d rather just take the extra few minutes and walk inside.  No one has ever died from getting out of their car for a hamburger.

I’m really predictable when it comes to McDonald’s.  For, oh 15 years now, I’ve gotten the Double 1/4 pounder with cheese plain.  That’s what I got this time.  I was starving so I actually made it a large.  It didn’t take long for the food to come up and since it cost me just a little over six bucks with a drink, I hit my goal of trying to eat cheap. 

McDonald’s is what it is.  I’m not going to trash the place because it is a go-to if you’re in a hurry.  You always know what you’re going to get and as long as that’s what you’re looking for, that’s not a bad thing.  There are times I just don’t want to think about dinner or I just want to get something and get back on the road.  No matter where you’re at, you can find a McDonald’s to accomplish that. 

Double Quarter Pounder w/Cheese

McDonald's Famous Fries

The hunter has returned… deerless…. which is totally fine with me.  It was kind of nice to have some time to myself, but it’ll sure be nice to get a full night’s sleep again.  Living in the dark, kind-of-secluded woods and sleeping alone for a week wasn’t all the great, believe it or not.  So I’m pretty much out of groceries, and I wasn’t about to go shopping after a long weekend of work.  Remember that tomato spinach soup I mentioned the other day?  Well that was about the only option for tonight’s dinner.  The soup alone would have sufficed for me, but I felt the need to make some chicken too since the carnivore was back. 

Le wrap contains chicken, hummus, laughing cow cheese and BBQ. Yummy.

Tomato Spinach Soup
I saw this recipe originally on a Rachael Ray show yearsss ago.  I used to make it in college all the time because it was so easy and low-calorie.  I never really had the “recipe” for this, so it comes out a little different every time.

1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 can chicken broth
3 cans tomatoes of your choice (I used 2 cans petite diced and 1 can sliced stewed.)
1 bag fresh spinach or 1 box frozen spinach, thawed with excess water squeezed off (I prefer fresh but only had frozen today.) 
Salt, pepper, olive oil, and other seasonings if you desire
Parmesan cheese

Sautee the onion with olive oil in a soup pot.  Add garlic once the onions have softened and become translucent.  Cook another minute or two.  Add all the other ingredients, bring to a boil for a few minutes then let simmer.  Top individual servings with plenty of parmesan cheese.

• Red Wine
• Capelli New York Rain Boots
• Slips
• Swimming
• Stairclimber
• Deli sandwiches from the City Market
• Cabbage and broccoli slaw w/hummus, feta and cucumber
• Apples
• First 3 seasons of Seinfeld
• Brooklyn (still at it)
• Date nights. With myself.
• Sleeping with Lola (my dainty black cat)
• Sauna
• Sweating
• Sleep
• Spreadsheets (all about money)
• New Moon (shut up.)
• Hanging out. Alone.
• Motley Crue. Still.
• Boston Terriers
• Working overtime.
• Making money
• Saving money.
• Spending money.
• Being worried over the new pad.
• Money.
• Money.
• Money.

I sneaked up on the members of PRETTY & NICE as they were engaged in an intense match of Yahtzee around a table at NEW BROOKLAND TAVERN in COLUMBIA, SC.

I managed to distract a couple of them from their game for a quick interview before the show, and the guys kept me laughing. After discussing the finer points of Music Crammers and basement recording, we got into a heated debate about animal facts.

After their show, the dudes were kind enough to train me in the fascinating sport of Erotic Photo Hunt.

Ironically, they hate the way they sound on tape, so they made me promise not to post the audio.

Full Transcript:
Nichole Bennett: This is Nichole, and I am here at New Brookland Tavern with a couple members of a band called Pretty & Nice.
Jeremy Mendicino: Hi, I’m Jeremy.
Holden Lewis: I’m Holden, the other one.
NB: Alright, we’ll start off the bat talking about what hit people. I think a lot of people got introduced to you guys on this latest album. You guys fit a lot of sound space? Your secret?
JM: We have a machine that takes large sounds and compacts them.
HL: We call it our Music Crammer.
NB: Music Crammer. I knew it. I knew there was a secret.
HL: Or MC.
JM: A supa-MC.
NB: And at the same time, it’s not too sugary and not too in-your-face antagonistic. And one of the biggest labels from everybody that has written about you has been “pop.” For some bands, this is a bad word. For some bands, they’re okay. Pop has become a sort of vague thing. I didn’t know how you guys felt about being labeled that way.
JM: It’s a word.
HL: We were probably the first ones to use that, to call ourselves that. Unfortunately most people associate “pop” with Brittany and not The Beatles.
JM: And not Justin you mean? We’re more Justin than Brittany, it’s true.
HL: So no, the answer would be that we do not despise that.
JM: We don’t dislike any word really. We’re word acceptors. We’re word crunchers. It’s a by-product of the Music Crammer.
NB: It really encompasses more. It’s almost ironic sometimes to say pop.
JM: Well, we don’t use it ironically. We are a hyper-ironic band.
NB: Post-post ironic. Pretty & Nice.
JM: Yeah, I hadn’t seen the term post-irony written before I said it. Maybe I came up with it, but you just used it so…
NB: It’s a good word.
JM: We’re post-ironic pop…junk. It’s like if you have too much information, and you try to spew out a cohesive sentence, it either rambles or it’s just entirely off topic. That’s our music. It’s either rambling or entirely off topic.
NB: I like that. So, if you were to make your sound into a sandwich, what kind of sandwich would you make?
HL: Oh God.
NB: If you hate sandwiches, you can do a wrap or something.
JM: If our music was a sandwich, what sandwich would it be?
NB: Yeah.
JM: That’s hard. That’s easy, actually. It would be peanut butter and jelly with something inside, like chips…with chips inside of it.
HL: Crunchy peanut butter. And on toast.
JM: Toasted peanut butter and jelly with chips in the middle.
NB: We’re getting specific. What kind of bread?
HL: A simple wheat,
JM: You know how Fry Hoppers makes a country white?
HL: Oh yeah, that’d be good. Canadian white or country white…a thicker white bread.
JM: A thicker white bread so that when you toasted it, it doesn’t get all flimsy. I like to think that our music isn’t flimsy.
NB: I wouldn’t say so. You have an almost-familiar sound, like something that people forgot they liked and it comes up. And I know you guys have always been barraged with “You sound like this person…you sound like this person.” Probably another one of those questions that you guys hate having. I guess as far as your sound, has it been something you’ve planned or has it just happened organically?
JM: It’s pretty organic for the most part. The songs are written independently of the recording style. Often, we will go into making a record with certain concepts in mind, if not actual audio concepts then vague overarching, nonmusical concepts.
HL: Yeah context and feeling.
JM: Oftentimes a song will be written organically. We’ll kind of mash things around and edit things up. Holden will write some weird part that will go in the middle. And then, there’s it’s done…it’s a song. When we get to recording, it takes on a more specific personality.
NB: Do you guys tweak things a lot? I know you spent six months on this last one, was it? Is that true?
HL: Six or seven, yeah.
JM: It depends on what you mean by tweaking. When we have an idea, it is dedicated to tape. We don’t record everything clean and then decide what we want it to sound like later. It’s a very organic process insomuch that we make decisions on the fly, and they are printed to tape. And they are stuck…we’re stuck with it. If something ends up not working a month later, then we just get rid of it. So something that was once a cornerstone goes away, and everything on top of it is sitting on top of nothing.
NB: I think people can hear that when they listen to the album.
JM: There are parts of the record where things will just get yanked out of the mix and everything else just hovers above it. We’re not scared of excess. Not like Broken Social Scene excess. Not like 117 tracks excess. Not like My Bloody Valentine fucking excess. But if we have an idea, we’ll push it and push it and push it until it’s like way the fuck over the line. We like where things sit when they are over the line.
NB: If you could replace your arms with anything, what would it be?
JM: Robotic arms.
HL: Oh, one tentacle with suckers on it.
NB: Left or right?
HL: That would be my left arm, and then the right one…that’s tough.
JM: Soft robotic arms, I’m revising.
NB: Like cushioned? Or people-like?
JM: Like bionic arms. Red-velvet coated bionic arms.
HL: My right one would just have a shoe at the end of it.
JM: A tentacle and an arm with a shoe?
HL: Yeah, it would be a normal arm. I would just wear a shoe on the end of it.
JM: He’d replace his arm with that of another person.
HL: I do it already, and I like it so much. It’s worked so well.
NB: So your recording process, we were talking a little bit about it earlier…I’ve heard, and I want you guys to confirm it was all analog right?
JM: Yes.
NB: And also I’ve heard you use a lot of interesting equipment…junk.
HL: Yeah, we buy a lot of cheap guitars, cheap amps, and cheap keyboards. You know, kind of junky stuff and then play with it until it sounds nice.
NB: I like the sounds that come out of it.
JM: It’s cheap gear. It’s expensive gear. It’s analog. Certainly there are a lot of sounds that originate from digital sources. It’s a combo of everything.
NB: You guys have this basement lair in Boston.
JM: The last record was definitely recorded in a basement. Maybe for the next record we’ll venture out of the basement into the living room.
NB: You guys have such a more expansive sound. It’s almost like you made this one in a room with windows or something.
JM: Yeah, that’s honestly, literally what might happen. It might actually sound a little larger sometimes. And those moments would have been moments that would have been captured there.
NB: You’ll have all of the reviewers all over that. They’ll love that. So, you guys tour quite a bit.
HL: We try to. We didn’t for a while after the record came out and while we were working on it and that was kind of frustrating, but now we are. We have lots of tours going on.
JM: And no time to record.
NB: So if you could replace your tour van with a dinosaur, which one would you choose? Or you can keep your van as is.
JM: Our van is a cross between a raptor…
HL: I think a stegosaurus.
JM: It’s got a little bit of a raptor feel in the paint job, and it’s sort of a stegosaurus shape. But it also might just be a cockroach. They’re dinosaurs.
NB: Yeah, they’re dinosaurs. I guess. And you said originally it was tough touring all the time?
HL: Oh no, it was tough not touring. We were frustrated that we weren’t out more.
JM: Either we feel landlocked and bored, or we feel over-toured, like we’re getting nothing done but driving from city to city. It’s twelve one, half a dozen the other.
HL: Ebb and flow.
NB: Any fun stuff to keep you occupied while you drive around?
HL: We’ve played Yahtzee a little bit for the past couple of days.
JM: I listen to music. I can’t read because I get carsick, and I don’t like playing Yahtzee.
HL: My mom got me a gameboy.
NB: Oh man.
HL: We were watching The Venture Brothers for a day.
JM: We watched the entire first season in an evening.
NB: My favorite cartoon ever. So, I think Holden called me when you were doing press stuff for radio, and you were walking dogs.
HL: Oh yeah, cool.
NB: So, do you guys still have day jobs?
JM: Not at the moment.
HL: Yes and no. I might start doing that again a little bit in the middle of the summer, but I won’t for the next month and a half because we are touring and taking care of other business and family stuff. I think in the next two months, we’ll each be home for like a week and a half.
NB: I always find it fascinating when people have real lives outside of magical tour lives.
JM: Yeah, we’ll get some home stuff done. The intricacies of our schedules are really boring.
HL: We use the g calendar though.
NB: Yeah, I didn’t have a computer for a day, and I missed everything. So, your website says, that with every purchase, you get free pins and loveletters. Is that true?
HL: Um, it was true.
JM: When did we not?
HL: We haven’t been sending out the love letters as much.
JM: The love letters happen specially when you request them. But there are some people that we just don’t love. And we’re not liars.
NB: Yeah, I wasn’t sure if there were ranges of love.
HL: There are definitely ranges of love. Why shouldn’t there be? Should we love everyone equally? We’re not God.
JM: When Gorbachev ordered that T-shirt, I didn’t send a love letter with that one.
NB: Touching on the day job stuff…since this last album, you guys have been getting a lot more press. Has that changed anything?
HL: Some. Sometimes.
JM: I’ve changed my underwear.
NB: That’s good.
HL: Touring’s a little easier.
NB: Yeah, I imagine that getting booked is a little easier.
HL: Yeah, getting booked is a lot easier.
JM: Yeah, that’s it. It’s getting booked. There’s a notoriety that we’ve gained since the last record. But I wouldn’t say that anything else is going much easier.
HL: We haven’t exploded or anything like that.
JM: I’ve exploded.
HL: We only explode at each other, occasionally. But we’re still just a little hard-working band.
NB: And I’ll leave you with one question. If you could be any animal, what would you be? And possibly why.
HL: I’d be a dolphin. They swim and have fun all the time, and they’re pretty smart.
JM: I don’t know. I’d probably want to be a wolf. Like a timber wolf.
HL: Be a malamute, those things are huge.
JM: No, I just want to be a spry, mean. So I’d want to be a wolf still, though. And I’d have lots of wolf sex in the timbers.
HL: But they wouldn’t be having sex for fun because only dolphins do that.
NB: Bonobos…the chimps do.
HL: I thought that was more of a socialization thing.
JM: Yeah, that’s for fun. Any animal that has hot sex—that’s what I’d be. Because I just love the hot sex.