Posts by Mel | theclothesmakethegirl

Jun 18, 2013 Posted by Mel

Aspic and Jell-O and Marmalade… Oh, My

[photo] Are you familiar with aspic? It’s like a savory Jell-O mold, and while I’ve never eaten an aspic dish in my life (perhaps I should?!), I feel pretty confident labeling it “unappetizing” or “not a chance.” (Fascinated by the technicolor of aspic? Take a lookie at these images.) Why, you might ask, am I even mentioning aspic? Is it a new paleo recipe path to... read more

Jun 17, 2013 Posted by Mel

Strength Monday 6/17/2013

In my quest for lean superhero-ness, Dave and I are hitting the craptastic gym in our Converse to lift heavy stuff and work on skills a few times a week. (If you’re new to strength training, here’s a great overview of what all the lingo below means.) Longtime readers know, for about 18 months or so, I’ve been using the Wendler 5/3/1 strength training program. It did a brilliant job of... read more

Jun 14, 2013 Posted by Mel

Back In The Kitchen

Oh, friends! I noshed my way through Central Europe! There wasn’t a piece of Slovenian cake, a slice of homemade bread, a plate of ćevapčići, a glass of Czech beer, or a carafe of Croatian wine to which I said no. It was glorious, and I enjoyed every non-paleo bite. Now that I’m back at home, I’m on my fourth day of a Whole30... read more

Jun 12, 2013 Posted by Mel

The Challenge Of Transitions

In my late 20s, I decided I was going to be a (slow, but determined) triathlete. I devoured books and magazines on the subject, and participated in races, starting with just-for-fun short ones, eventually working my way up to a half-Ironman. While I was educating myself, every book and magazine and triathlon veteran cautioned newbies about the same thing: the transitions are really tough. They were so... read more

Jun 5, 2013 Posted by Mel

Review: The Paleo Coach

I’ve been following Sarah Fragoso of Everyday Paleo since the beginning of my paleo days, and I always enjoy guest posts from her partner-in-health, coach Jason Seib. He writes with passion and delivers tough love that we sometimes need to hear, like this post called The Secret that stresses the idea that we should train our bodies with love (see also: You Can’t Fix a Body You Hate). Now... read more

May 25, 2013 Posted by Mel

Balkan Cevapcici (aka, Cute Sausages)

I’ve been eating grilled, flavorful, luscious, case-less sausages called ćevapčići (say it like “ch-VOP-chee-chee”) all over the place since we departed Prague to explore Slovenia and Croatia. These tasty little nuggets are available from street vendors and at sit-down restaurants, and can be served with kaymak cheese, chopped salad, french fries, and ajvar (a roasted pepper condiment... read more

May 19, 2013 Posted by Mel

Review: Rich Food Poor Food

When Dave and I made the commitment to eating high-quality, real food — dino-chow, paleo, whatever you want to call it — we spent a memorable few hours in the grocery store, reading labels and yelling things like, “WHY DOES THIS SALSA HAVE WHEAT IN IT?!” while angrily slamming jars back onto shelves. It’s a sad truth of making the switch to paleo that the grocery store can become a... read more

May 17, 2013 Posted by Mel

Jane Eyre… In Slovenian

Longtime readers know that Jane Eyre is my very favorite book, and I collect unusual copies just because I love the book so very much. On the first day of my first visit to Prague in 2010, I found a copy in an antikvariat to add to my collection, and today, I found this two-volume set in Slovenian at an antikvariat here in Ljubljana. Yes, the cover and spine are in English, but the back says... read more

May 17, 2013 Posted by Mel

Do I Need A New ‘Do?!

I know Madonna is wearing a wig in this photo from the Met Gala, and I also know that my all-too-real hair won’t look this perfect, but I am ridiculously tempted to get my hair chopped like this. Maybe even while I’m on vacation! Truth be told, I wouldn’t mind owning that jacket either — but maybe with skirt for me,... read more

May 16, 2013 Posted by Mel

Czech Garlic Soup

Just as we were preparing to leave on our trip a few weeks ago, Dave started to get the sniffles. By the time we landed in the Czech Republic, he had a full-blown head cold, and a few days later, I was taken out by germs, too. The weather in Prague was rainy and cool — perfect for my black leather jacket and a bowl of fortifying Czech Garlic Soup (in Czech: česnečka) at the pub around the corner from... read more

May 14, 2013 Posted by Mel

My New Tattoo: Story In Photos

May 1 was my birthday, and I celebrated the way any mature, responsible, 45-year-old woman might: I decided to get a new tattoo while on vacation in Prague. And then I sweet-talked Dave into joining me. Here are the snaps from the day we got matching star tattoos to celebrate aging as loudly and inappropriately as possible. We chose Tribo, based on recommendations from Reddit. The shop was booked, but... read more

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Reading right now...

The Redbreast: A Harry Hole Novel
I'm about two-thirds of the way through this detective thriller, and I'm hooked. It's set in modern Norway with flashbacks to WWII (catnip for me!) and features a somewhat grim hero that engenders empathy. I can't help pulling for the guy as I watch him struggle with his case and his life. The cast of characters is a realistic but motley crew, and it reminds me of other favorites set in cold, snowy climes: the Millenium Trilogy and Smila's Sense of Snow.
Recently finished...

The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million
I picked up this book after reading an interview with Lee Child (author of the Jack Reacher thrillers). He referred to The Lost as "the book of the century" and since I devour as much as I can about the Holocaust to try to make sense of it all, I decided I needed to read it immediately. Part memoir, part detective tale, this book was thoroughly engrossing. It's intelligent, annoying, moving, frustrating, and ultimately, rewarding and beautifully written. It challenged me in ways I didn't expect, and I was sad when it was finished.