SassyCityGirl

By Michele Costanza…bringing you a humorous view on consumer topics in an all-too-serious world

The other night, walking down the prepped veggies section of Whole Foods, I impulsively grabbed a container of pre-washed, cut kale. Of course, three days later, I had yet to open that package. However, instead of my standard pattern of leaving raw veggies in the fridge until they disintegrate into a smelly pile of goo, I decided to be ambitious and make kale chips. WHAAAAT???? I must be getting old, but there I was browsing all the cooking websites for kale chip recipes, wearing bedroom slippers. Someone stop me before I start collecting cats. Egad.

BUT, I learned something. Kale chips take exactly 60 seconds to prep with only 3 ingredients, bake in only 10 minutes, and taste shockingly good. Ok, I get why they’re the new fad…it’s like eating potato chips, but healthier and leave green remnants stuck between your front teeth.

Lazy Mamma’s Kale Chips

1 package of pre-washed, pre-cut kale (you can also use a bunch that has been washed, but you need to pat it dry and rip off the leaves from the hard stems)
1 tablespoon or so of olive oil
sprinkle with salt, or parmesan, or whatever seasoning you like

The easiest way to prep this is to toss the kale into a gallon-sized bag, pour in a tablespoon of olive oil (and parmesan if you want, but don’t use more salt later), then hold the top of the bag closed and shake the oil and kale together vigorously to evenly coat.
Spread the kale onto a large cookie sheet, sprinkle lightly with some salt and bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Voila! I guarantee your kids will not totally hate it. They might even like it if you don’t tell them what it is and serve it in a dark room. Maybe during a movie?

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I have to admit, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t the fresh, tasty selection that left us all asking for more. I have to apologize, because my photos from that dinner didn’t turn out well, but trust me, the presentation was lovely.

Here’s what I like about O’Asian:

Free Parking. You know this gets me every time. They validate an hour for lunch on the weekdays, and any day after 4:30pm for dinner.

They don’t use any MSG, which is extremely prevalent in Asian restaurants, along with high quality meats, including Kobe beef in their dinners.

The place looks and feels spacious and clean, with several small and large private rooms. We had a group of 10 for dim sum, and had our own room.

Huge bar area for Happy Hour, with a good selection of food and full bar. My quick recs for food? Wasabi-infused prawns, Honey-walnut prawns, Honey garlic spare ribs, and BarBQ Pork buns. As for drinks? Stick with the Classics, which were just as you’d expect…Manhattan with Maker’s, Martini with Absolute. We found the specialty cocktails to be far too sweet.  With the free parking with validation, this is a GREAT place to meet a large group of friends if you want to actually TALK…definitely not the place to BE SEEN.

Finally, each month, O’Asian is offering a four-course Prix Fixe menu for $30pp, with an optional three-wine pairing for $15pp. And, just for SassyCityGirl readers, they are offering a discount for one free dinner, with the purchase of one dinner, plus two wine pairings. It’s an inexpensive date-night! Just click on the link below and print out your invitation!

O’Asian January Global Wine Tour

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By Michele Costanza…bringing you a humorous view on consumer topics in an all-too-serious world

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An event for moms who are desperate to shop, but need to bribe their little kids to go along. Know the feeling? Jingle Belles, an event for moms and little kids, is a chance to take the grommets to get their mini-manis, or their hair done at the braid bar. Don’t fall prey to the sexist belief that only girls are welcome, as manly-manis are de rigueur with the testosterone-fueled power-brokers in New York. Get your boys AND your girls addicted to such pampering early in life.

What’s even better than spoiling your kids? The fact that the tickets to this event are only $5 per child AND all ticket sales go to Treehouse, a wonderful organization that benefits foster children in our community. That’s a Win-Win in my book.

Here are the event details, and tickets MUST be purchased online before the event. NO day-of tickets sales!

By Michele Costanza…bringing you a humorous view on consumer topics in an all-too-serious world

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Listen, ladies. Good jeans are expensive. Like, ridiculously expensive. I, too, balked at that high price tag for many years, but you know what? You have to look at every purchase by COST PER USE, and when I look at the number of times I wear all my good jeans, I can tell you that it’s a bargain. Certainly a better value (in cost/use) than almost anything else in your closet because you’ll actually wear them all the time. Splurge and get the ones that flatter your figure and put the RAAWWRR back in your step.

So when there’s an opportunity to save some dough on this extravagance, I want to know about it. Here’s your chance to save up to $125 on your total purchase AND to get a free class from Bar Method just for hitting the fitting room. If you haven’t heard of Bar Method, it’s basically the way yoga-pants-wearing moms get back into bikini shape….this event sounds like a serious WIN-WIN.

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Neiman Marcus &  Bar Method

invite you to

SAY YES TO SKINNY JEANS

at

THE DENIM EVENT

Saturday, November 2

1 to 3 p.m.

Meet Lindzi Cox from The Bachelor and

learn how to look your best with in-store demos

from Bar Method co-owners and instructors

Bev Currier and Maika Manring

Plus, try on a pair of denim and

receive a complimentary class from Bar Method

During the event, receive $25 off your purchase of one pair of denim,

$75 off two pairs, or $125 off three pairs

enter-to-win a Bar Method gift bag and $100 Neiman Marcus gift card

NM Bellevue

11111 NE 8th St

Bellevue, WA 98004

CUSP, Plaza Level

Please RSVP to 425.452.3317

 or RSVPBellevue@neimanmarcus.com

Please present this invitation for a complimentary stainless steel Neiman Marcus water bottle.

By Michele Costanza…bringing you a humorous view on consumer topics in an all-too-serious world

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I love Halloween. Costumes? YES. Cheap candy? Definitely YES. Food and cocktails with zombie-theme? Yes, yes, yes.

There are a million things to do in Seattle on this spooktacular night, so I’ll just share a couple good ones as the announcements hit my inbox.

First up: The Belltown Pub is hosting a FREE Zombie Apocalypse Costume Bash, where the key words are COSTUME, ZOMBIE, and FREE. It’s downtown in the heart of fun, so if you’re planning to get zombified anyway that night, swing by after 9pm and enter the contest, grab a bite from the “casket” and indulge in an aptly named dead-themed cocktail. Sounds like an easy win, and a cheap date.

Here’s the press release for your planning pleasure:

Seattle, Washington — The Belltown Pub welcomes all spirits on Halloween to a Zombie Apocalypse Costume Bash at their 4^th annual fright night on Thursday, October 31^st.  During this spooktacular evening, those dying to get in can celebrate the most horrifying time of year from 9pm to close.

Owners Erwin Arceo, Dave Tolan and Zach Nethercutt have orchestrated a thrilling evening of treats, eats and beats, including a special “open casket” buffet of “undead delicacies” for the hungry.  Those suffering from zombified thirst will enjoy featured cocktails like Zombie’s and Black Widows.  There also will be a DJ and dancing to top 40’s and 80’s mix.

A best costume contest is part of the evening’s eulogy. “If you have a creepy get-up, The Belltown Pub is the place to showcase your horror related design,” says Erwin.  “Join the invasion, we’ll put it to an audience vote and the most unsettling ghoul will take home a prize.  The contestants will have roughly 20 seconds to strut their stuff in front of the crowd. Our winner will be determined by the loudest cheers and applause from guests.”

There is no cover charge for the Zombie themed bash.  For more information, contact The Belltown Pub at(206) 448-6210.

By Michele Costanza…bringing you a humorous view on consumer topics in an all-too-serious world

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I’ve been SO BEHIND in all my reviews, interviews, etc. I apologize to everyone for that. Funny how life can get in the way of writing sometimes. : )

One of my absolute favorite local companies, and big-time award winner for their amazing Halcyon Gin, is Bluewater Distilling. This company is amazing, and their vodka and gin are nothing short of superior to everything else out there. It’s a big statement, I know.

I have a lot more to write about this awesome company in the near future BUT, the only way for you to know what I’m talking about is to get a bottle yourself and try it. And if you’d like a great fall cocktail recipe featuring gin, here’s one straight from the Bluewater website. Check it out:

FALL HAS ARRIVED The leaves are turning color and starting to cover the ground, which means it’s time for fall cocktails. Try our new fall favorite cocktail, Halcyon Cider.1 oz Halcyon Organic Gin 2 oz apple cider 2 lemon slices Ginger BeerMuddle lemon slices, add cider, gin, and ice. Shake! Pour tall over ice and top up with ginger beer. Enjoy!

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Follow me on Twitter @SassyCityGirl_

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Who is SassyCityGirl?

Just your average gal with two kids, a giant dog, an interesting life, and an ungodly obsession with certain quirky things. Sunblock for one. Electronics for another. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg…

My goal is to share fortuitous oddities and pearls of humor as I discover them. The best hair products, the worst customer service, the most delightfully random photos. You name it, I’ll share it.

I’m not just a Girl-about-town, I’m a Girl-about-town with a penchant for spreading the WORD.

In the spirit of supporting local businesses, particularly women-owned businesses, I introduce you to SwopBoard, the most logical business idea to hit in a long time. It’s one of those services we all want and need, but are too lazy to organize ourselves. Luckily there are people out there like Natalie Angelillo who are major doers, so the lazies (ahem) can just kick back and benefit. THANKS, Natalie! Here’s the press release…check it out!!

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Seattle Startup Connects Community Members to Buy, Sell,

and Give to Schools with Each Transaction

SEATTLE, Wash. – October 7, 2013 - Local start-up pro and power-Mom Natalie Angelillo (co-founder of Seattle’s award-winning Swink Style Bar) unveils a visionary look into buying, selling, wanting, and giving back with all-new company SwopBoard, an online community marketplace. SwopBoard lets parents put the items they have directly in front of people who really need them, in their schools, neighborhoods, and cities. It provides a trusted network for families to buy and sell, with a portion of each transaction going directly to their schools.

According to the Association of Fundraising Distributors and Suppliers (AFRDS), 94% of principals say their schools rely on fundraising, and Family Circle Magazine reported that many parents “worry that volunteering will require more time than they can commit, so they rule it out altogether,” clearly putting school needs and parent bandwidth at odds. SwopBoard offers parents a revolution, an opportunity to take typical household de-cluttering and turn it into charity. Plus, it’s simple to use.

“You no longer have to wait until spring-cleaning time or garage sales to get rid of old things,” said CEO and Founder Angelillo. “Families can engage in everyday philanthropy, keep things out of the landfill, and strengthen their communities by selling items they no longer need on SwopBoard.”

Unique to its perceived competitors, SwopBoard connects community members who, generally speaking, share similar lifestyles, increasing the chances of finding the right buyer and purchasing what users really need. “Initial users have found excitement in selling large items that cannot be shipped easily, saving on holiday decorations and winter sports gear for fast-growing kids – not to mention earning for their school,” Angelillo commented.

With its easy, good-for-the-planet re-commerce model, SwopBoard makes a difference for schools in three ways:

• Buy: After creating a SwopBoard account, users can access their marketplace and search for items in their school, neighborhood, and/or city. They can email sellers with questions via SwopBoard’s message system, share a listing on social media, and pay for the item on the secure site with a credit card, debit card, or PayPal.

• Sell: It is free to list an item and there are no shipping fees if users are selling to someone in their immediate community, which also eliminates interactions with strangers. SwopBoard serves as a powerful tool for users selling items that people in their community would want, like uniforms, furniture, textbooks, instruments, electronics, sports equipment, or clothes.

• Want: If users are looking for something specific, they can ask their community by using the simple “I Want” function. If someone sells the item they listed on their Want list, they will be notified via email.

For more information and to begin connecting with community members to benefit schools, visit www.SwopBoard.com.

About Natalie Angelillo:

SwopBoard was founded in 2013 by startup pro Natalie Angelillo when she needed to sell a large American Girl dollhouse and buy her son ski boots by the end of the week. She was inspired to build a place where users could put items for sale in front of people who actually need them, and donate to their schools in the process.

Angelillo has over 20 years of experience in shaping growth and development strategies, plotting new markets, and securing key venture capital. She is also the founder and co-owner of Swink Style Bar, Seattle’s premier blow dry bar, and has held c-level positions at Getty Images, PhotoDisc, and PhotoZone. 

About SwopBoard:

SwopBoard is an online community marketplace that allows users to put the items they have directly in front of the people who need them – in their schools, neighborhoods, and in their cities. Users can buy and sell items in a focused, trusted group of people, with a portion of each transaction going directly to a school on their behalf. Learn more athttp://www.SwopBoard.com 

By Michele Costanza…bringing you a humorous view on consumer topics in an all-too-serious world

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I don’t have cable at my house, and therefore don’t watch any commercials, which is weird in this day and age when commercials are an integral part of our culture. So the only way I’m going to see one is when it elevates beyond the small screen and onto Facebook or Twitter.

This one is worth watching, even though it was made by Chipotle, and had all kinds of bad potential. Instead, it’s amazing, beautiful, memorable, eerie. Between Fiona Apple’s haunting voice, and the compelling storyline, you won’t soon dismiss this.

Easy Banana Bread

By Michele Costanza…bringing you a humorous view on consumer topics in an all-too-serious world

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I know, I know…I’m not one to cook, so posting a recipe is strange for me. And yet, I’ve posted two in a single week. Well, now you know my weaknesses…sweets and cocktails. Surprise!

This is a recipe that I modified from several recipes I saw online. 

The applesauce gives this banana bread a moister texture. We only discovered it by accident when we forgot to buy enough bananas the first time..lucky mistake.

Easy Banana Bread

1/2 c softened butter

1 c white sugar

2 eggs

1/2 c applesauce

1 c mashed over-ripe bananas (about 2 medium bananas)

2 c all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

Cream the butter and sugar together until smooth.

Add eggs, stirring well until evenly mixed

Then add applesauce and bananas

Add flour and baking soda, mixed until well-moistened

Spoon into a greased loaf pan and bake 350 degrees for about 1 hour, or until toothpick comes out clean.

Seriously, this is the easiest recipe of the year. Guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser. Toast a thick slice and smother with peanut butter for breakfast.