Wednesday, June 30, 2010

The Grill Guru!


My dear friend Melanie Peskett has taught many classes on grilling so I asked her to share some of our tips with us!  They are great!  For private lessons with this fantastic cooking instructor, email goodsquaremeals@att.net.


  • low heat (200-275)- you can hold your hand 5" above thick ash covered  coals 5 or more secs.
    • good for grilling fruit

  • medium (325)   you can hold your hand 4 secs.
    • cook fish to 120, 10 mins per inch total time or until just opaque. cook skin side down
    • cook pork to 160, if it's an inch thick, about 4-5 mins per side 
    •  beef tenderloin- very rare 10-12 mins, rare 12-15 med rare 15-17, med 18-23 per side
    • lamb chops- rare 4-5 mins, med rare 6 mins, med 6-7, well done 8+ per side
  • medium hot (350)  you can hold your hand 5" above coals  with bits of red glow 3 secs.
    • cook chicken breasts to 180, boneless 6-8 mins, bone-in 10-12 mins per side
    • cook pork tenderloin to 160, 9-13 minutes per side
    • lobster 10-15 mins, tails 6-8 mins total time
    • shrimp 2-4 minutes depending on size total time
  • hot (375)  you can hold your hand 5" above glowing red coals 2 secs.
    • steak 1"  very rare 4-5 mins, rare 5-6 mins (130-135), med rare 7 mins (145), med 7-8 mins (155), well done 10+mins (165) per side
    • flank steak (fajitas) very rare 3-4 mins, rare 4-5 mins (130-135), med rare 5-6 mins (145), med not  recommended  per side
    • hamburger very rare and rare not recommended, med rare 5 mins, med 6 mins, well done 7+mins per side
Cooking times are approximate! It depends on the temperature of the food and how far away it is from the fire, wind and air temp.
Best grill tip: oil your grill before cooking. Take a paper towel, fold it up in a small square, saturate it with cooking oil and grab it with your tongs and wipe down your grill rack. you can also do this with a basting brush.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Look great in your Summer Scrapbook!

Looking good in a bathing suit shot is something I try to leave up to the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Models!  Sometimes I can't avoid having my photo taken while trying to relax in a swimsuit or at a pool party though!  Looking back through some old photos I found one where my arm seriously looked as wide as my thigh!  I was mortified.  It motivated me to do a little bit of research and figure out the little tricks that can help me photograph a bit better! Here is what I learned:

  1. Try to avoid photos taken at high noon as the light is harsh.  Morning light or just before sunset are the most flattering.
  2. Be sure the camera is at eye level or slightly higher.  Anything lower will give you a double chin.
  3. Don't look directly at the sun as it will make you squint.
  4. Check your posture before the shot!
  5. Smile....in a relaxed natural way.  
  6. Pretend you love the camera.  Often people who look the best in photographs genuinely like having their picture taken.  Join their club!  It shows!
  7. Lean slightly back with your weight on your back foot and turn slightly sideways.  I tested this.  It works!
  8. Remember, there is always photoshop!

Friday, June 25, 2010

Summer Safety!

It is so important to make sure your kids are safe when they are playing outside and goofing around this summer.  Helmets, sunscreen and bug spray are on my list!
-These adorable helmets from Little Nutty's are just precious and will make safety fun!  At $45 they are a great way to provide protection for your little cyclers, scooter racers and mischiefs!
-Sunscreen is so important!  Protect your children with Little Twig Non Chemical Sunscreen in SPF 30+. They skipped out on the chemicals and mineral oil and added antioxidents and made it water resistant.  It is alsoparaben,  nut, soy and wheat free and Pediatrician and Dermatologist reviewed.  Its great for the whole family, from newborn to adult.
-When you are trying to keep those mosquitos away, opt for a natural Deet Free bug spray like All Terrain's Herbal Armor Deet-Free Pump Spray.    It is a time release formula so it will protect your tots for hours.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Sunscreen or Vitamin D?

Here is a link to the wonderful article by Todd Whitthorne, President and CEO of Cooper Concepts about Vitamin D!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Spray Grounds!


Spray Grounds are all the rage.  They are the perfect summer fun because the parents can let their kids stay cool by getting wet and they don't need to worry about them going under!  Kids love it because they can get completely wet or just a little bit wet as they choose!  
Here is a partial list of Spraygrounds in the Metroplex:
ALLEN Open through Oct. 31. 214-509-4700. www.allenparks.org.
• Celebration Park, 701 Angel Parkway. Closed Wednesdays; open all other days 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
ARLINGTON Open through Sept. 7. 817-459-5473. www.naturallyfun.org.
• Don Misenhimer Park, 201 E. Lonesome Dove Trail. Daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
DALLAS Open through Sept. 7. 214-670-4100. www.dallasparks.org.
• Campbell Green, 6600 Parkhill Drive. Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesdays and Fridays 2 to 8 p.m.
• Danieldale, 300 W. Wheatland Road. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays through Sundays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Mondays and Thursdays 2 to 8 p.m.
• Ferguson, 1919 Gross Road. Daily 10 a.m. to
8 p.m.
• Lake Highlands North, 9940 White Rock Trail. Daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Mildred Dunn, 3322 Reed Lane. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays through Sundays
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Mondays and Thursdays 2 to
8 p.m.
• Pemberton Hill, 6424 Elam Road. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays through Sundays
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Mondays and Thursdays 2 to
8 p.m.
• Ridgewood, 6818 Fisher Road. Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesdays and Fridays 2 to 8 p.m.
• Umphress, 7616 Umphress Road. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays through Sundays
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesdays 2 to 8 p.m.
FORT WORTH  Sycamore Park
FRISCO Open through Sept. 7. 972-292-6500. www.friscofun.org.
• Bicentennial Park, 9349 Sunset Drive. Scheduled to open Wednesday. Daily 10 a.m. to
8 p.m.
• J.R. Newman Park, 8211 Twin Falls Drive. Daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Shepherds Glen Park, 12012 Shepherds Hill Drive, near Rolater and Coit roads. Daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
HALTOM CITY  Broadway Park
McKINNEY Open at least through Labor Day (Sept. 7), closing when the weather changes. 972-547-7480. www.mckinneytexas.org.
• Finch Park: 301 W. Standifer. Daily 8 a.m. to
8 p.m.; will switch to after-school hours after McKinney schools are back in session.
ROCKWALL Open at least through Labor Day (Sept. 7), closing when the weather changes. 972-771-7740. www.rockwall.com/parks.
• Harry Myers Park, 815 E. Washington. Daily
9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• The Park at Fox Chase, 4475 Tubbs, near Tubbs and Summer Lee. Daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• The Park at Hickory Ridge, 1910 Hickory Ridge. Daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Here is what you should take with you:
-Waterproof sunscreen
-Plenty of snacks and drinking water
-Beach type toys so that your kids can make the most of the fun fountains.
-A dry change to clothes and towels
and dress your kids in brightly colored swim suits so that they can be easily spotted!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Traveling with the Kids this Summer?

Summer is here and, as much as I love getting out of town with my son, it is not easy to travel with him! Julie gave me a great tip that worked really well on our last journey. She told me that I should buy a few small and inexpensive (but new) toys and gift wrap them! I went to the dollar aisle at Target and found some great stuff and gave it to him throughout the flight! As soon as he got tired of one toy, I would pull out the next one. The flight was not exactly what I would call relaxing but at least he was having fun and not fussing! There is a fantastic website called Flying with Kids that offers great tips for keeping your kids entertained during travel. You can go on the site and select your mode of travel (train, plain, or automobile) and then read up on their suggestions. It made me feel better about our upcoming travel! Here are a few of the tips they offered:
  • Take a small photo album with pictures of friends or relatives that you are visiting on the trip. You can practice names and make the faces more familiar.
  • Don't pack noisy toys or games. I made that mistake once and almost fainted from embarrassment as the elderly couple in the row in front of us expressed their disappointment in me! That is a mistake that is rarely made twice I imagine!
  • If your child is old enough, get them a rolling bag or backpack so that they can pack their own favorites and carry their own things!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Tips for Tanning


Gone are the days when we can sit in the sun slathered in Baby Oil holding a reflector.  I love looking tan but I get so nervous about sun damage!  I was never really crazy about self tanners because I had heard so many horror stories!  I knew that there must be a way to achieve the beautiful "kissed by the sun" look without the streaking and orange palms that come along with the self tanning experiments. The first think that you must consider is whether you really want to look like Jennifer Aniston? She always looks like she just returned from a relaxing vacation in paradise. Honestly, the gorgeous fair skin of stars like Anne Hathaway, Nicole Kidman, Liv Tyler and others can be very flattering as well. If you decide that you want to be bronze, here a few safe ways to get the look:

Spray Tanning and Airbrush Tanning are all the rage in Hollywood and here at home. The results last for anywhere from 5 to 10 days and you can get a spray tan in a booth at a tanning salon or a professional can spray you by hand. One Dallas hot spot, Bella Vita Rejuvenation Center in Preston Center does the Sun FX airbrushing by hand. After selecting your depth of color, they spray you with the non-chemical, non-streak potion and in 5 minutes, you are golden! This is a great option to help you prepare for a special occasion but be sure to do it the day before your event, not the day of.
Tanning Towelettes have gotten more and more popular as they are easier to use. Oprah recommends the Tan Towel. They are easy to use and you will see less streaking. They can leave your elbows and ankles a bit darker though!
Tanning lotions are wonderful if you use them properly. I love Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer and recommend it everyone! At only $7.99 it is a lot less expensive than a vacation to a beachy resort! It is made for Fair/Medium/Tan skin tones and contains Antioxidants and Vitamin E. It is very natural looking and impossible to mess up because the tan appears gradually. If you use it everyday for a week, you will have the perfect tan. When I use it every day, it can get too dark so I alternate days. My sister says that I smell bad on the days that I use it so I try to use it at night so that only my husband suffers!

Preparing your skin for a faux-tan is the most important part of the process. Here are few tips:
  • Exfoliate your skin everyday for three days before you use self-tanner.
  • Liberally moisturize your skin everyday for at least three days before you apply self-tanner but skip the lotions on the day you tan.
  • Tanning lotions are easier to use than foams.
  • If you have streaks, lemon juice might help lighten them.
  • Picking the perfect color can be a challenge so do a small test spot when trying out a new product.
  • My roommate in college used self tanner every few days and she always wore disposable rubber hospital gloves to apply it. It really worked! She never had orange palms or knuckles!

Friday, June 18, 2010

Father's Day Celebration

I was so stressed at the idea of setting a table for father's day.  It is hard to set a table honoring a man because I like things flowery and frilly!  When the idea of making a tablecloth out of neckties hit me, I went straight to the salvation army and filled a bag with them!  The bottom cloth is made of a houndstooth suiting fabric and the napkins are made from a man's suit shirt fabric!  I wrapped my father's day gifts in newsprint from the Wall Street Journal.  Hope you like the photos!  They are all from my book, Tablescapes:  Setting the Table with Style!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Swim Safely this Summer!

Swim coach Rachel Logan shared some fantastic tips for swim safety with us.  I hope you have fun splashing around but keep all of these things in mind!


Safety is important!

67% of all drownings occur in backyard spas, pools and bathtubs. If you are having a swimming party at your house hire a life guard to ensure the saftey of all children present remember it only takes 30 seconds for a child to drowned. 



  •  Drowning is the 2nd leading cause of injury death in the USA with people under the age of 15.




  •  In 18 of the 50 states, drowning was the number one cause of unintentional injury death of children 1 to 4 years of age.




  •  The majority of drowning incidents have occurred while the child's supervisor assumed the child was safely indoors.




  •  A child can drown in less time than it takes to answer the telephone. So put your phone down when you are watching your children around the pool!!!  




  • Know What to Do in an Emergency from the American Red Cross
    • If a child is missing, check the water first. Seconds count in preventing drowning
    • Know how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
    • If you own a home pool or hot tub, have appropriate equipment, such as reaching or throwing equipment, a cell phone, life jackets and a first aid kit
    Have fun in the pool saftely by reviewing expecations with children before they go around a pool.  Teach them how to jump in saftley away from walls and not on or near rocky edges, not to pull or tug on friends in the water, go over how the pool changes depth before entering if it is age appoprtiate, remind children they should only swim with adults. Example: You only swim when Mommy or Daddy are with you.  


    It only takes about thirty seconds for a child to drown and it often happens noiselessly. An infant can drown in water as shallow as a few inches. The steps to prevent drowning, meanwhile, are pretty straightfoward: a watchful adult, a fence around the pool, a locked back door so a toddler doesn't slip outside unnoticed."


    To have Rachel teach lessons to your little ones, email her at rach31780@aol.com.

    Wednesday, June 16, 2010

    Calling All Mad Hatters!

    It is always appropriate to wear a hat! The type of hat is more of the question- if you are wearing one out in the evening you probably want a shorter brim so it is easier to see people in a bar or restaurant (i.e. not a floppy sun hat).

    A cheaper hat is great if you are putting it on over wet hair at the pool or running around on your bike and just need it to last for a season.  Spend more money or go for a good quality vintage hat if it is your "signature" piece and you are wearing it on a frequent basis. A hat sits on the top of your head and is the first thing that people notice so you want to make sure it expresses you well. 

    At The House of MacGregor custom hat shop, people try on a variety of different shapes and styles to find the one that works on them.  They measure their customer's headsizes and pick out the materials together to get a custom fit they feel comfortable in.  Most of my customers that say they don't have a "hat face" but they simply have a hard to fit headsize and have not had a hat on that fit them before.  You want to feel comfortable in your hat!  To have a hat made just for you, check out http://www.thehouseofmacgregor.com

    Tuesday, June 15, 2010

    Does your father really want another tie?

    I doubt it!  Here are some cool father's day suggestions that every dad is sure to enjoy!


    -Red Envelope always has fun gifts that can be personalized.  I love these Monogrammed Branders!  Your grill master father can sign his masterpieces with his initials!  So unique!  


    -To commemorate this holiday honoring dad, give him a gift that will help him remember all of the other important dates throughout the year.  Find something that can be monogrammed that he will use every day, like a money clip, or have a plaque engraved that can sit on his desk and have special occasions engraved into it.  I would suggest including his anniversary, family birthdays and maybe even a Valentine's Day reminder!


    -I love unique gifts that provide a once in a lifetime experience and one of everyone's favorite restaurants, Benihanas, is now offering a Be The Chef program for Dads!  The "Be The Chef" package includes a training session with a Benihana chef where dads learn how to cook teppanyaki style on the hibachi grills; a full Benihana teppanyaki performance by dad; dinner for dad and three guests; an official Certificate of Completion certifying dad as a Teppanyaki Master; and a complimentary souvenir photo of dad that he can download and share with friends and family.

    Dinner includes Benihana's "Splash 'n Meadow" which features hibachi steak and shrimp, vegetable fried rice, onion soup, salad, hibachi vegetables, homemade dipping sauces, steamed rice, Haagen-Dazs ice cream and Japanese hot green tea. On sale at participating locations from May 17 through June 21, the "Be The Chef" package for four people is $140. Additional guests can be added for only $35 per person, and Benihana is offering a special price of $250 for eight guests.
    For more information about Benihana, visit www.benihana.com.

    Thursday, June 10, 2010

    Dog Parties on Go To Girls

    Thank you Go To Girls for featuring Dog Parties on your wonderful blog.  I always love to hear how people put it to good use!  Please send photos of your Dog Party!

    Sunday, June 6, 2010

    Travel: Toronto

    I love to travel!  I am constantly taking notes while on my trips and hunting down the best shopping, dining and activities!  I decided that it was time to stop hoarding my notes and start sharing them.  This is my first travel entry and I hope you find it helpful if you are ever in Toronto.  Toronto is one of my favorite cities in the world.  I grew up in a near by town and always craved my visits to the city.  It is incredibly cosmopolitan and everyone is so friendly.  The late spring and through out the summer are the best times to go.  The weather is amazing and it is a great city to walk around and explore.  Here are a few of my favorite spots:

    Accommodations:

    Always stay in the Yorkville area.  You will love it's charming streets and quaint shops.  There are so many delicious restaurants with patios so we never make dinner plans.  We just wander until we find a spot we want to stop at.  My favorite Yorkville Hotels are the Hazelton Hotel (extremely modern and private) and the Windsor Arms (where all of the celebrities stay!).  When we head in at the last minute we usually check in to the Park Hyatt and make massage reservations at the Stillwater Spa as soon as we can!

    Design:


    I love walking up and down Yonge Street in search of the perfect things for my home.  Parking is tough so put on your walking shoes and explore.  


    Decorum Decorative Finds (1212 Yonge Street  416.966.6829) is perfect for a treasure hunter like me.  On my trip there last week I found a pair of white gourd lamps, a mirror framed in creamy white shagreen and a bar table with Lucite legs and a rattan top.  There were hundreds of things I could have walked out with if I had a place to put them!

    For a mixture of new and vintage finds go next door to 1212 (1212 Yonge Street 416.646.1234 they have parking in the rear!) Their design sense is chic and fresh and I adore all of their decorative accessories.  You could walk in there and completely do a house from floor to ceiling. They have great gift items too!  You will find things there that won't see anywhere else.  They have a wonderful selection of books and I was so excited to see my favorite designer, Jan Showers' Glamorous Rooms front and center in their book shelf.

    Don't miss L'Atelier (1224 Yonge Street  416.966.0200)!  Their antiques and decorative objects are unique and chic!  Last year we bought glass water bottles for the table that are shaped like big Evian bottles.  We use them at every meal and every guests inquires about them.  We also found a fantastic vintage sail boat.  I stopped in last week and left with two amazing blue glass lamps with blue linen shades and a vintage leather desk set in the most odd shade of olive green.  I am going to give it to my husband for Father's Day.  We have searched high and low for a vintage desk set for him so I was thrilled to find one!

    A quick drive from Yonge Street takes you to a great little design area around Ronald Avenue.  There are flooring and carpet stores galore, re-upholstery and custom furniture shops as well as my favorite one-stop-shop, ELTE (80 Ronald Avenue  416.785.7885).  Elte is a home department store that carries a lot of stock on its fantastic furniture. They have everything from traditional Ralph Lauren to modern Kartell.  We were able to get a pair of white linen Mitchell Gold Bob Williams Dr Pitt Sofas delivered in two days!  Working with the right sales associate is key in a place this size so ask for Meghan Smith.  She is so quick and helpful!

    If you are looking for decorative accessories, lamps or side tables, check out La Compania Studio (367 Eglinton Avenue West 416.487.7747).  They have a fantastic selection of little accent pieces and fun items for entertaining and the owners are so helpful.

    Fashion:


    Toronto has great vintage stores both high end and scroungey (yes....I made up that word).

    For high end fashions check out Revival Couture (363 Elington Avenue West  416.480.0003). I stopped in last week and picked up a Marni dress and Chanel jacket.  They had a great Giambattista Valli dress in white and a Roberto Cavalli blouse that I was lusting after too but a girl has to stop somewhere!

    The Cat's Meow (180 Avenue Road 647.435.5875) is another great stop for fantastic vintage.  Don't miss it!  They have high quality and selective fashions from the 20s thru the 80s.

    Queen Street West is another great area to stroll around.  There are great little boutiques and lots of wonderful vintage.  Fantastic vintage finds for men and women at Cabaret (672 Queen Street West  416.504.7126).  Their website is fantastic too!  They give great styling tips and recommendations.  Also check out 69 Vintage (1100 Queen Street West  416.516.0669)

    Flowers:

    A stop at Cindiloowho and Jaidens Petals (130 Ossington Avenue  416.532.8040) will not disappoint!  You will love the random finds scattered throughout and the floral design is unique and stylish.

    Culture:


    Toronto has an amazing Cultural life and tons of activities that the entire family can enjoy.  I adore the new update to The Royal Ontario Museum.  The 1914 Beaux-Arts building looks like it was hit by a giant falling meteor.  A jagged crystal looking addition by Daniel Libeskindthru their exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls.  It was put together so beautifully and we were moved.

    The Art Gallery of Ontario just completed an amazing $250 million expansion by Frank Gehry.  Check out their website for a list of exhibitions, lectures and special events.

    The Canadian Opera Company has a dramatic new performance space at the Four Seasons Opera House.  It is amazing!  My aunt, Sandra Horst, is the Chorus Master and raves about it.  The season's line up can be found on their website and it is certainly worth checking out!

    I remember driving in to Toronto with my family when I was a teenager to see The Phantom of the Opera.  I had already seen it on Broadway but the Toronto show was even better!  If you like musical theatre, there are plenty of options while you are in Toronto.  They are now showing one of my favorites, Rock of Ages!  I also noticed lots of signs for Legally Blond and Jersey Boys while I was there.  Ask your hotel concierge for the additional options.

    Thursday, June 3, 2010

    Tricks for an easy Summer Party

    I love entertaining but summer entertaining in Texas can be tricky!  Here are few quick and simple tricks:
    -To keep pasta salads (or any cold dish) cool, use both a small and a large bowl.  Fill the large bowl with ice and then nest the smaller bowl in it!  It will help your food stay cool for up to two hours!
    -To keep your hands from getting sticky, cut a small slit in the center up a muffin liner and slide it under the Popsicle on the stick.  It will catch the drips and you can buy them in cute colors and patterns.
    -Load your hot dog and hamburger "fixin's" into a caddy or tote than go from the fridge to the table in a heartbeat!
    -Fill a cute basket with sunscreen in various strengths and bug sprays.
    -Use a beach towel as a tablecloth or runner.

    Wednesday, June 2, 2010

    Wedding Gift Guessing Game

    I love it when you write to me with your ideas, comments and questions at askkim@kimberlyschlegel.com.
    I recently got a note from a sweet gal named Lynda who is nervous because she doesn't think her parents are planning on giving her brother and his bride a wedding gift in addition to the beautiful showers and extravagant rehearsal dinner they are hosting.  She thinks that they definitely need to give them a gift and she wants to know what my opinion is!  Well, Lynda, I completely agree.  I know that weddings get expensive but I do think that, as the parents of the groom, your parents should present the newlyweds with a special gift.  I doesn't need to be expensive but it should be special.  Maybe you could suggest to your mother that she pull out a family heirloom to give to them.  They could also give them something that they received and cherished as a wedding gift when they were married.  Again, the cost is not the important part here (they are already spending a lot of dollars on the party!) but the thought is all that counts.  It is also a really nice time for them to sit and write a letter to the newlywed couple.  They could include their tips on a happy marriage, wisdom from their years together, or just a simple note saying how happy and hopeful they are for the new marriage.  Sentimental things like that are always cherished.
    Best wishes!

    Tuesday, June 1, 2010

    Al Fresco Entertaining Tips for Fine Living!

    Watch my video with tips for Alfresco Entertaining!
    - Mix and match your tableware.  Use fun prints and vintage finds for a fantastic casual feel.
    - Use napkin rings that have some weight so that the napkins do not blow away!
    - At night, line pathways with small votives to encourage people to mix, mingle and explore
    - An old trick:  Fill clear sandwich bags half full with water and hang them from a tree branch.  Their reflection will scare them away!
     

    design + development by kelly christine studio