Will You Spend a Little More?

Organic produce, eco-friendly paper products, designer clothes; what are you willing to spend a little more on?  Even when we're being frugal there are things we are willing to economize on and things we're not.

I understand the value of organic produce but tend to choke at the price.  It's hard for me to spend $3.00 on an organic bell pepper when the non-organic one costs $1.50.  I understand the higher cost of raising organic produce and the health benefits in eating organic produce.  But for the most part I can't make myself shell out the money.

On the other hand I always buy the pricier eco-friendly products like 7th Generation dish soap, laundry detergent and paper towels.  Scott now has an eco-friendly line of paper products that are a little cheaper than 7th Generation but still more expensive than the "regular" products.  For some reason I don't think twice about spending more for these "better for the planet" items.

I think I'm not a slave to designer labels but I realized that while I don't much care about the top-of-the-line (and high price tag) names I do tend to buy my clothes at Talbots or Ann Taylor as opposed to TJ Maxx or Dress Barn.  Primarily because it's quicker and easier and frankly, I like the help that the employees give you.  That means I'm willing to pay something of a premium for convenience.

Although there have been exceptions, I usually clean my own house and cut my own grass but on the rare occasions I feel the need to have a clean car, I always pay someone else to do it.  I have no idea where that distinction comes from.

What about you?  What are you willing to spend a little more on and why?

Massage: What's it all about?

Have you always wanted to have a massage but haven't yet taken the plunge?  Are you a  little hesitant because you're not quite sure what goes on?  Do you have questions but don't know who to ask?  All of the preceding questions described me perfectly until this past week.  One of my good friends invited me to spend Thanksgiving with her on the Riverwalk in San Antonio at a very nice hotel with an excellent spa.  While she was doing her family stuff I decided to go for it and treat myself to a massage.  Assuming I'm not the only massage virgin left in the world, I want to share the experience with you!

Let me start by saying it's a wonderful thing and a perfect way to treat yourself during this hectic and often stressful holiday season!

Although every massage experience will be slightly different, I've asked around and my experience with Swedish massage was pretty standard.  First, you make your appointment and choose either a male or female massage therapist.  When you arrive at the spa you will be directed to a dressing area and given a robe and slippers.  You will disrobe completely and slip on the robe and slippers.  Lockers or baskets or some other way of securing your clothes, purse and jewelry will be provided.  Once changed into your robe you will be taken to your massage area.  (At the spa I visited you changed into the robe and then went to the "Relaxation Room" where you waited until the massage therapist came and collected you.)

The massage room will be quiet, with low lights, soothing music and candles.  The massage table will have sheets on it.  The massage therapist will step outside while you slip out of your robe and slide between the sheets, face down on the table, with your face in the face cradle.  Just like at the doctor's office, she'll wait a minute and then knock on the door before re-entering.

The massage therapist will turn back portions of the sheet to uncover only the part of your body that she is working on, recovering that part of your body before moving on to the next one.  Depending upon the type and length of massage you have chosen, your therapist will work his or her way around your body.  Once she's done, she'll hold the sheet up, looking away, while you turn onto your back.  She'll recover you and then do a little more work on your arms and legs.

Once your massage is finished, your massage therapist will step out of the room, giving you time to put your robe and slippers back on.  Many spas will allow massage clients to take advantage of some of their  amenities including sauna and pool.  When you're ready, you dress and pay your tab.  It is customary to tip your massage therapist the same way you tip your  hairdresser.  In my case a 19% gratuity was automatically added to my total, with the instruction that I could adjust that however I saw fit.  Because I dislike "auto-tipping" I left the amount exactly as it was, instead of increasing it.

I found massage to be an extraordinarily relaxing experience and plan to do it again soon!  Hopefully I've taken away some of your uncertainty about the process.  I urge you to take the plunge and get a massage!  If someone gives you a massage gift certificate, use it!  This year don't turn it into 2 pedis and a facial!

If you are a massage regular, please add your experience in the comments.  Let us all know if your experience was different than the one I described.  More information will help make massage newbies more comfortable!

Candied Pecans

The holiday season is upon us and that means parties!  These candied pecans are easy to make and are a perfect hostess gift.  They're also great nibbles at your own party.  Make a big batch and keep them on hand.  Try different seasonings for all sorts of delicious combinations.  Have fun creating different flavor profiles!

Set your oven to 250 degrees.

2 cups shelled nuts (I use pecans but any nut will do!)
1 egg white
1/2 cup sugar

This is the basic recipe, now add whatever spices float your boat!  I generally add 1 tablespoon of cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper for just a little bite.

Put the egg white in a bowl, add the pecans and toss to coat.  The egg white is the glue that will make the seasoning stick to the nuts.  If you need more, add another egg white but it doesn't take much.

You can put your seasonings in a bag, add the nuts and shake or put them in a bowl or on a plate and add the nuts and toss.  Whatever you're comfortable with.  Try to get the seasonings evenly distributed on the nuts.

Spread the coated nuts out in a single layer on a lightly greased baking sheet.  Stick it in the oven for one hour, stirring every fifteen minutes.  After an hour, pull the nuts out of the oven and allow them to cool.

Store your cooled nuts in an airtight container until ready to use.

Candied nuts are also an excellent way to bring a little sweetness to savory dishes.  Throw a few in a salad or rice pilaf.  Experiment and have fun!

Crostata di Frutti Fresca: November Daring Bakers' Challenge

The 2010 November Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Simona of briciole. She chose to challenge Daring Bakers’ to make pasta frolla for a crostata. She used her own experience as a source, as well as information from Pellegrino Artusi’s Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well. 

I was excited about this month's challenge because it involved two things I'd never made before: pasta frolla and crema pasticcerra (pastry cream).  I have a tried and true pastry recipe that I always use and I was tempted to use it for this tart but I stuck with the recipe given.  I was intrigued by the lemon zest and egg.  It made a very nice pastry with a slightly lemony flavor.  I liked it and plan to use it again!  Making pastry cream is like making pudding (not the instant kind!), you stir and stir and stir!  This recipe involved putting lemon peels in the milk as it heated.  I'm sure the idea was to create a sort of infusion but I didn't taste the lemon in the pastry cream.  Next time I think I'll use zest.  The resultant cream is not very sweet, which I liked.

I did not have a tart pan so I used a 9" pie pan for my crostata.

Here is the recipe from the challenge for the pasta frolla:

Ingredients: 

1/2 c. minus 1 tablespoon [105 ml, 100 g, 3 ••• oz] superfine sugar (see Note 1) or a scant 3/4 cup [180ml, 90g, 3 oz] of powdered sugar 

1 and 3/4 cup [420 ml, 235 g, 8 1/4 oz.] unbleached all-purpose flour 

a pinch of salt 

1 stick [8 tablespoons / 4 oz. / 115 g] cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces 

grated zest of half a lemon (you could also use vanilla sugar as an option, see Note 2) 

1 large egg and 1 large egg yolk, lightly beaten in a small bowl 

Note 1: Superfine sugar is often also referred to as ultrafine, baker’s sugar or caster sugar. It’s available in most supermarkets. If you cannot find “superfine” sugar, you can make your own by putting some regular granulated sugar in a food processor or blender and letting it run until the sugar is finely ground. 

Note 2: There are different ways of making vanilla sugar. I keep vanilla beans in a jar half-filled with sugar until I need to use them, for example, to make vanilla ice cream. After I remove the split bean from the custard that will go into the ice cream maker, I rinse it, dry it and put it back in the jar with sugar. 

1. Put sugar, flour, salt, and lemon zest in the food processor and pulse a few times to mix. 

2. Add butter and pulse a few times, until the mixture has the consistency of coarse meal. 

3. Empty food processor's bowl onto your work surface 

4. Make a well in the center of the mounded flour and butter mixture and pour the beaten eggs into it (reserve about a teaspoon of the egg mixture for glazing purposes later on – place in the refrigerator, covered, until ready to use). 

5. Use a fork to incorporate the liquid into the solid ingredients, and then use your fingertips. 

6. Knead lightly just until the dough comes together into a ball. 

7. Shape the dough into a flat disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Place the dough in the refrigerator and chill for at least two hours. You can refrigerate the dough overnight. 

If you are making a crostata di frutti fresca, you will need to pre-bake your shell. To pre-bake a tart shell, you line the unbaked tart (once you’ve placed it in the tart pan) with parchment paper or aluminum foil. You then fill the tart with pie weights. If you don’t have pie weights, you can use dried beans. You pour these on top of the parchment paper or aluminum foil to weigh the paper down. You then bake the tart for a period of time to ensure that it is at least partially cooked. The weights help to ensure that the tart base does not bubble up during baking and that it bakes evenly. The pre-baked tart is then cooled and filled according to the recipe instructions. I pre-baked my shell for 20 minutes at 250 degrees, then removed the parchment and dried beans and baked it for about 5 minutes more.

While the shell is cooling, make the pastry cream.  This recipe is from the challenge -

• 2 extra-large eggs [see Notes below on alternatives]
• 1/3 cup sugar (65 g) [see Notes below on sweetness level]
• 500 ml milk (slightly more than 2 cups) [see Notes below on milk options]
• 3 strips of lemon peel about 3" long and 1/2" wide (using a potato peeler to cut the strips makes it easier to avoid cutting the white part of the lemon) [see Notes below on alternatives]
• 3 tablespoons pastry (or unbleached regular) flour (25 g) [see Notes below on alternatives]

Pour the milk into a pan, add the lemon peel and warm up to to well below boiling point. In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs with the sugar until the mixture is bubbly. Sift the flour over the egg mixture and beat briefly until it is incorporated. Temper the egg mixture with a small quantity of milk, then slowly add the rest of the milk, mixing with a wooden spoon. Pour the mixture into the pan and set it to very low heat, stirring at least every couple of minutes. When the froth on the surface disappears completely, the crema starts to feel slightly thicker. From then on stir almost continuously. When the cremareaches boiling temperature and thickens, cook briefly (1-2 minutes), then remove the pan from the heat, remove the lemon peel, place the saucepan in a cold water bath, and stir the crema to bring down its temperature. While the crema cools down, stir it every now and then to prevent the formation of a film over it.

Now comes the fun part - assembly!  Pour the cooled pastry cream into the cooled pastry shell and decorate the top with whatever fresh fruit you choose to use.  I used strawberries and blackberries.  Have fun with it!

Link Love 11.25.10

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  What are you thankful for this year?  I'm thankful that my adventure is still going strong and that I got to spend the past year closer to family.  I'm thankful that my son graduated from college.  Mostly I'm thankful that even when things look grim in our world, there's still a lot of hope out there!

I'm also thankful that I had a little time to wander around the web this week.  Here are a few good articles:

Souffle Bombay has a terrific idea for a new family tradition.  I love this!  Too late for this Thanksgiving, it would work just as well for the other major eating holidays still to come!

Are you a knitter or crocheter?  Do you have a bunch of leftover yarn?  Make it into caps for preemie babies.  Caps for Good's project ends in February so GET TO WORK!  I'm doing this!

Here's an idea I can get behind - Travel Spirit is practicing 30 Days of Joy.  I love that!

Michael Ruhlman is making recommendations for gifts for cooks.  These are all in the +$100 range.  I have many of them and I agree, they make life in the kitchen better! Here's one more...

If someone on your list cooks with children, check out Souffle Bombay's Picture Me Cooking, part cookbook, part scrapbook, all fun.  A perfect way to share your love of cooking with kids!

Here's a story about an ultra-small house in Tokyo.  Although I don't think I could share it with anyone else, I do think I could live there!

That's it, the holiday season is launched.  Get out there and enjoy it!

Change is in the Air

This is a guest post by Carma who is joining the team here at  SimplyForties as a regular monthly contributor.  Carma is a very active retiree, living a good life down in Florida.  She's also my mother!  I think you'll enjoy her point of view.

Fall is arriving in Florida and the temperatures are cooler at long last. It is lovely to have doors and windows open and air conditioners off for a change. Of course, there is a lot more dust in the house from this, but at this point it is worth it. My energy goes up, golf scores go down, and I’m even getting a few projects done in the house and yard.

When you live in a community such as ours, yard work is part of what you pay for in your assessment, but that frequently isn’t as comprehensive as you might expect. Around here it means the grass gets cut, edged, occasionally fertilized, and debris blown away on a regular basis. Beds get fresh mulch annually. So that is all good and it is nice not to do it ourselves. However, any other chores are either done by us or hired done. So now, while it is cooler, is the time of year to get some of that work done in the planting beds - mine have looked pretty scruffy for the last few years and I don’t know how much I’ll actually accomplish but my intentions are really, really good!


After living in this house for nine years, I was ready for a slightly different look. We bought the house furnished and, except for changing the wall art and purchasing a few additional pieces, we have been living in it “as is” (or perhaps that is “as was”). I have no idea if this is a woman thing or not, but for me there always comes a time when I want a change. Several times in our lives together, about when that urge strikes, we have moved to a different house, and that is that. But I have done my share of painting, hanging paper, picking new carpet, etc. This time around, we are hiring it done - another example of how one’s life changes with aging.

We had a new floor installed, replacing some of the carpet and all of the kitchen tile with a wood-patterned laminate floor. (Hardwood was a consideration, but we’ve had it in our last four homes and I didn’t want it this time.) I love the look of this new floor and, along with replacing some wallpaper with paint and rearranging some of the existing furniture, we will soon have a new look. I will enjoy having our children and friends see what we have done.

My new floor makes me happy every time I walk into the house!

What about you?  Are you planning some changes this fall?  Have you made some changes recently?

Yoga Resource

So you'd like to try yoga?   You find a yoga class but feel like you'd rather do some at home before you go public.  You are overwhelmed by all the dvd choices but which one to choose?  Do a search for yoga classes online and you may be surprised to find there are lots of free ones out there.  YogaYak is a great resource.

I've been doing this practice and it is excellent -



Give it a try.  It's an intermediate class, which for me means there is plenty of room for improvement.  Just what you want to keep things interesting and challenging.

Yoga is good for flexibility, which is extremely important the older we get.  It sounds cliche but yoga is also good for the soul, and that's important no matter our age!

Apple Gateau

Are you traveling for Thanksgiving and need to bring a dish?  If you're looking for a tasty, portable dessert, this may the one!  Apples are great in the store right now.  If you're lucky enough to live in apple country, try the Farmer's Market!

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/3 cup whole milk
4 baking apples (about 2 lbs. total), cored, peeled, and cut into wedges

The Topping:
1/3 cup sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Butter a 9-inch springform pan and set it aside.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and sea salt, and stir to blend. Add the vanilla extract, eggs, oil, and milk, and stir until well blended. Add the apples and stir to thoroughly coat them with the batter.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake pan. Place the pan in the center of the oven and bake until fairly firm and golden, about 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the topping: In a small bowl, combine the sugar, egg, and melted butter, and stir to blend. Set it aside.

Remove the cake from the oven and pour the topping mixture over it. Return the cake to the oven and bake until the top is a deep golden brown and the cake feels quite firm when pressed with a fingertip, about 10 minutes.

Transfer the cake pan to a rack and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Then run a knife around the sides of the pan, and release and remove the springform side, leaving the cake on the pan base. Serve at room temperature, cut into thin wedges.

Online Personal Trainers - An Experiment

One of my girlfriends and I are embarking on a little experiment.  Like a lot of women our age, we're not happy with our slowly expanding menopausal waistlines and are at a bit of a loss at to what to do about them.  We've decided to try a little experiment and each report in once a month.

We're trying a new phenomenon, the online personal trainer.  It's commonly accepted that undertaking an exercise and weight loss program is more successful when done in community.  The idea of the online personal trainer is just that.  Less expensive than working out with a personal trainer in the gym, the online version gives you an exercise routine based on your answers to various questions.  The programs we are trying also include a nutrition plan.  You have several ways to report in to your trainer and can communicate with them about whatever issues come up.  We're just starting out but I imagine we'll get encouragement along the way.

My friend is signed up with GymAmerica and I'm using Changing Shape.  We specifically chose two different services.  Many online trainers only include exercise routines.  We limited ourselves to those that included nutrition programs as well.  GymAmerica charges $9.99 a month with a 3-month trial.  Changing Shape charges $29.95 for 12 weeks.  Here in Houston a real personal trainer runs about $50 for a half hour so if it works, this is a great deal.

We literally  just started today so the next two articles will be more in-depth looks at each of the programs; how they work and how you get started.  Stay tuned and wish us well!  Our first report will be the 11th of December.

If you're following any sort of diet/exercise program, including an online one, I encourage you to join us in reporting your results. After all, it's an experiment!  Are you willing?  We're taking up two Saturday slots each month.  I'd love to have two more participants.  Let me know if you want to play along!

Enjoy Events in Your City at a Discount

I moved to Houston about six weeks ago and have been attempting the impossible mission of doing everything there is to do in this fun, big city.  The cost of all those tickets to all those events can really add up so any discounts are appreciated.  I've come across two sources that are occasionally handy, albeit primarily in big cities.

The first one is TravelZoo.  The idea here is that you put in your location and receive a daily email list of "Today's Top Deals".  Most of the time the "deals" are plane fares and hotel prices but once in a while they do come up with some great discounts for things local to your city.  I got one TravelZoo email recently letting me know about a deal with the Houston Symphony.  For one day only you could get Tier 2 priced (2nd most expensive) seats at various performances for $14.92 each.  I clicked on the included link and immediately bought a seat to every show that had these seats available.  I figured it would have to really be bad not to be worth $15.00 so I wasn't picky!  I went to the first of these performances last night and really enjoyed it.  I was sitting in the $88.00 seat section so had a good view and the program was excellent.

The second "deal of the day" place I'm using is Groupon.  Again, put in your location and receive a daily email reporting a special deal in your area.  Today's deal, for example, is $25 for $50 worth of merchandise at Nordstrom Rack stores.  Yesterday was an all-day pass at a local "Putt Putt Fun House" for $15.    Frequently it's a restaurant or store discount.

The majority of the time Groupon and TravelZoo are just two more emails to delete each day but when I do use one, it's worth all the ones I don't!  Check out Groupon and TravelZoo and see if your town is represented.  If you live in a big city, it probably is.

Do you use any discount services?  Are you willing to share?!

Taste and Tweet at Whole Foods

I took part in an very innovative use of technology last night at Whole Foods in Houston.  Called a Taste & Tweet, participants around the country were invited to either come in to various Whole Foods stores or play along at home.  We were treated to a tasting of six of Whole Foods' Top Ten wines, along with accompanying cheeses and asked to Tweet the various offerings throughout the event.  It was an interesting experience.

Ten or twelve people showed up at Bellaire Whole Foods in Houston.  They had a projector set up with the real time Twitter feed showing so we could see what everyone was saying about the wines at Whole Foods stores across the country.  Twitter followers who could not come in to a participating Whole Foods were encouraged to buy the wines and follow along with a tasting at home.  We were assigned a hash tag (#WFMWine) so all the remarks could be sorted and followed.

The tasting started with a De Chanceny Cremant De Loire sparkling wine, which was paired with an Isigny Saint Mere Brie.  I love sparking wines and this one was light, fresh and bright.  At $13.99 a bottle at Whole Foods, you can afford to keep it on hand.  Don't save sparkling wines for special occasions.  They are great everyday wines!  Pair them with seafood dishes and spicy foods.

The second wine was a Romerhof Riesling.  I don't normally care for Rieslings but this one was an exception.  It was crisp and apple-y without being overly sweet.  It was paired with a fantastic French raw cow's milk D'Avergne blue cheese, my favorite taste of the night!  The Riesling was a bargain at $9.99.

Our third, and to my palate the least successful wine of the evening was the Chalone Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc.  I'm not a huge fan of Sauvignon Blanc and this one did nothing to change my opinion.  It's a fuller-bodied, fruity white which was paired with Whole Foods' own organic goat cheese.  I think I was the only person there who didn't care for the Sauvignon Blanc, which was $11.99, so you might want to taste it for yourself!  (As an aside, the Val Verde Winery in Del Rio, Texas, has an excellent Sauvignon Blanc.)

After the three whites we switched to the reds, which I tend to prefer.  The first red we tried was a very satisfactory Dievole Dievolino Sangiovese from Tuscany paired with a nice, smoky gouda.  It was a smooth, mid-bodied red, which is priced at a very reasonable $10.99.  At that price this is a good, everyday red table wine.  Buy it and enjoy it!

Fourth up was the very meaty Valley of the Moon Syrah.  They served this one with another blue cheese, which I didn't think was a particularly complementary pairing.  The Syrah was delicious and surprisingly full-bodied.  All of the wines were extremely affordable and at $12.99, this one was no exception.

Finally we were served a Paso A Paso Tempranillo, which was paired with a gruyere.  Lighter-bodied than the Syrah, it should have come 5th in the tasting with the Syrah last.  I love Tempranillo but this one was not my favorite.  I didn't dislike it but there are a lot of better Tempranillos out there.  At $10.99 a bottle though, it was bargain.

I greatly enjoyed meeting @VintageTexas, who is a wine blogger, and his wife at the event and look forward to seeing them at other Houston wine happenings.

All in all it was a fun evening.  I found the Tweeting while I tasted a little distracting.  I also imagine that the presenters may have been a little put off by everyone Tweeting away on their smart phones while the presentation was going on, even though that was part of the deal.  Evidently Taste & Tweets are becoming fairly common at various vineyards around the country but this was the first time I'd heard of it and I thought it was a clever use of the technology.

Have you ever been to a Taste & Tweet before?  What did you think of it?

Dealing with Mid-Life Crises

This is a guest post written by Che Lathan, who is a regular contributor for Exami.  If you would like to guest post at SimplyForties, please check the guidelines here.

The term ‘midlife crisis’ was coined by Elliott Jaques in 1965 and it is used to describe the period between the ages of 40 and 60 when there is dramatic self-doubt by some individuals.

Midlife crisis is caused by a cocktail of emotions which include a need for change and adventure, boredom with things and people, unhappiness with lifestyle choices and life itself, a desire for more intimate and passionate relationship/s, questioning life choices, anger with spouse and blaming them for feeling as if you are tied down, and confusion about who you are and where you are going.

These feelings may lead to alcohol and drug abuse, depression, an attempt to conceal physical bodily changes like baldness by wearing a toupee and wearing ‘hip’ clothes, buying expensive items such as sports cars, gadgets, and boats, and entering into a relationship with a younger person.

 

Cutting Ties with the Past

One way of dealing with midlife crisis is cutting all ties to the past. Remaining transfixed to the past while ignoring the present is like a disease. You should learn from your past, plan for your future, and live in the present. If you are having a problem letting go of your past, you should seek intervention. Family members and friends should be able to assist. Talking to someone who has gone through midlife crisis is particularly helpful. Seeking help from your spouse will let them know that you are not picking on them.

(I know what Che is trying to say here but I disagree with "cutting all ties to the past", as that would include friends and family!  I think the idea is to stop re-living your glory days and be in the present. SF)

Embracing Change

Midlife crisis is often unavoidable and so the best way out is to turn it into a positive experience. One way of doing this is by accepting change. If you are unhappy at your work place, consider changing careers. However, you should only change things that will not affect your finances, relationship(s), and other critical aspects of your life in a negative way.

Support from Spouse

If your spouse is going through a mid-life crisis, you should accept that it is happening and be as supportive as you can. A little empathy goes a long way in such situations. If you show your spouse that you still love him/her, he/she will realize that there is no need to hold on to the past. If your spouse takes on a hobby, you should consider joining him/her. Even if you do not agree with everything your spouse is doing, criticism will only push him/her away from you. However, you should not allow your spouse to engage in any activity that will hurt the children, the relationship, or the family’s finances. Children should also understand and support parents who are going through midlife crisis.

Finding Something to Look Forward To

You should find something to look forward to. Insecurity about the future is one of the major causes of midlife crisis. If you have children, you could look forward to being a grandfather or grandmother, spoiling them, and teaching them all that you have learnt in your years. If you are a businessman, you could look forward to expanding the business and leaving a legacy. If you have something to look forward to, you will not have time for regrets. You should find something you are passionate about because if you are busy, you will not dwell in the past. You could develop new hobbies such as reading and golf, start a business, and start writing.

Treatment

In some cases, midlife crisis in men is as a result of an underlying physical problem. You should therefore go for regular checkups when you get signs of midlife crisis. Treatments include Testosterone Replacement Therapy, psychotherapy, taking a proper diet for increased energy levels, exercising regularly to prevent such things as erectile dysfunction, lethargy, depression, stress, and poor self image.

 What do you think?  How did you deal with your own or your spouse's mid-life crises?  Is it still going on?! SF

Tiny House in West Texas

One of my friends out in west Texas recently purchased a tiny house to use as a guest house.  She gave me a tour when I was there visiting a couple of weeks ago and I was impressed!

(In place less than a week, please forgive the lack of landscaping!)

My friend bought this house from Dana Beck in Iraan, Texas, and it is the first one he's built.  It is 384 square feet and cost about $30,000.  Unlike many of the little houses I've written about in the past, with this house you are responsible for arranging transportation of the house away from Iraan and for all the setup arrangements on your end.  

My friend arranged to have her lot bladed and a foundation built with plumbing and electricity, ready for the arrival of the little house and she estimates that the total cost for the house, including transportation and setup was $45,000.

When I tour little houses I always ask myself if I could live there full-time.  In this case, the answer is yes!  The house was snug, modern and very livable.  It consists of a living space in the front, kitchen and generously-sized full bathroom in the center and bedroom with two good-sized closets in the back.  High ceilings, sacrificed in many tiny houses in favor of a loft, give a feeling of light and space.

(Looking through the house from the front.  Bathroom door is ahead and to the right, across from the kitchen.)

(Regular appliances could easily fit in this kitchen area.)

(Bedroom with full-sized bed.  Room for bedside tables on both sides.)

(Two good-sized closets in the bedroom are the main storage in the house.)

(Looking toward the front door from the kitchen.  Note the high ceiling.)

As a guesthouse, my friend chose not to put the usual appliances in the kitchen but there is room for them.  She quickly furnished the house with some extras she had but plans to re-furnish it with more appropriately-sized pieces in future, which will give her guests a little more room.   Keep in mind she'd had the house for less than a week when I toured it!

Tiny houses are difficult to photograph.  These pictures do not convey how spacious this house feels.  It's a perfect guesthouse.  As a full-time residence, some appropriately scaled, multi-use furniture with built-in storage would increase livability.  Additionally, a place to put a stackable washer/dryer unit would be high on my list of needed additions!

Keep in mind that tiny house living requires a minimalist approach to possessions.  A pared-down lifestyle would fit nicely into this space!

What do you think?  Could you live here?  If you'd like more information on this house, Mr. Beck can be reached at 432-302-0554.

Carnival of Personal Finance #283

I'm sorry to say I didn't use the best time management this week and, as a result, had to read all 86 submitted articles in one long blog reading marathon last night.  As a result, I had no brain power left to think up a clever theme for this week's carnival.  Alas, here is the unillustrated carnival, for your reading pleasure -


Editor's Picks -


Len Penzo dot Com did a personal expense audit recently and thinks he's been a bit penny foolish.


Trying to decide which health plan is right for you?  Gen Y Wealth has put together a guide to help you figure it out.


Pennywise 2 Pennyworth is debating the cost of personal health in the form of a gym membership.  I'm struggling with this issue right now too and was interested to read his take on it.


Blogging For Change has a great idea for a way to get good books on the cheap.  She suggest hosting a book swap.  My two favorite things - good books and a party.  What could be better than that?


Budgeting


Money Obedience suggests that spouses be on the same page when it comes to budgeting.  Good advice!


Credit


Hawking credit cards to college students is a real hot-button issue with me.  Before you Invest wants to be sure we've considered all the angles before signing up for one of those reward cards.


Go To Retirement thinks shedding credit cards may actually make us healthier.  Hmmm....interesting!


Credit Cards Canada wants us to remember that debit cards are not always a replacement for credit cards.  Sometimes credit cards are, gasp, better.  I agree!

Card Hub has some advice on choosing the right credit card.

Credit Card IQ is reviewing the Household Bank Premium Card.


Prepaid Cards 123 has a list of prepaid cards with rewards.

Free From Broke takes a look at Costco's True Earnings Card from American Express.

Should you close a credit card account?  Credit Card Forum helps us figure it out.

The Sun's Financial Diary explains how Google's credit card comparison tool works.  I didn't know such a thing existed.

Money Smart Life is looking at credit card rewards and holiday travel.

Nerd Wallet compares a couple of pre-paid debit cards.


Debt


Buy Like Buffet has some good advice for dealing with debts that have gone to collection.

Is student debt good debt?  Studenomics thinks so!

Are you thinking debt consolidation may be your answer?  Debt Tips has some things for you to consider before taking this step.

7Million7Years wants us to be sure we're going about our debt reduction in the right frame of mind.


Economy


Do you think the economy is improving?  Hope to Prosper has some pretty definite opinions on that subject.


Finance

How good are you at estimating risk?  That's the question Pop Economics is asking.  Overall he thinks the answer is, not so great!

Thinking about hiring a financial advisor?  Wealth Pilgrim has some advice.

A guest poster at The Smarter Wallet is taking a look at regional profiling and its effect on earning power.  In a nutshell, is your southern accent costing you?

Are your financial documents safe?  FIRE Finance suggests you think about it.

Soldier of Finance suggests having a "battle buddy" will make getting your financial house in order a little easier.


Frugality


The Red Stapler Chronicles has some innovative ways to save money on your wedding.  Pretty funny!

Jim at Bargaineering has five ways to save money on food.  Good place to start but what if you already do all these things?

Are you a Black Friday shopper?  Flexo at Consumerism Commentary suggests that we take another look at specials and coupons.  They may not be all they're cracked up to be!

Beating Broke is examining that age old dilemma of wants vs. needs and how it changes as income increases.

FruGal has a slightly different take on the subject of wants vs. needs.  She thinks a lot of personal finance bloggers aren't looking at the whole story.

Pondering the financial rewards of bringing vs. buying your lunch?  Check out DQYDJ's facts and figures.  Impressive!

Promo Code Center wants us to take a look at entertainment coupon books.

Taking Charge has an interesting article about the comparative cost of a flu vaccination at the doctor's office vs. another outlet.  Good to know!

Financial Highway is thinking about frugal giving this holiday season.  Are you?

The Digerati Life is sharing some of Kiplinger's recent list of freebies.  It's a good list!

Looking for gift ideas this holiday season?  PT Money has a list of 25 gift ideas for under $25.

Magical Penny suggests we consider saving on the big stuff for the biggest financial impact.

Modern Gal says shopping has become a chore.  That's a good money-saving attitude!

Investing


Green Panda Treehouse is helping us to figure out when to let go.  To our investments that is!


Chicago Financial Planner would also like us to take a look at when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em!


Dividends Value is talking about dividend investing.

Dividend Growth Investor is also talking about dividend growth stocks.

Dividend Stocks Online takes a look at Southern Company.

Oblivious Investor has some advice on investing for near-term goals.

Leveraged ETFs is, not surprisingly, talking about investing in ETFs.

The Intelligent Speculator loves trading.  It's good to love what you do.

Good Financial Cents takes a look at the market implications of the election.  Interesting!

Moneyed Up shares about index investing.

Spruce Up Your Finances has a short, concise post about employer sponsored retirement plans.

Money Management

Prairie EcoThrifter encourages us to look our debt in the eye as the first step towards reducing it.  After all, we can't fix a problem if we don't acknowledge it!  Good advice.

Good debt vs. bad debt, what's your definition?  Money Cactus is offering one way to look at it.

Do you suffer from lifestyle inflation infection?  The Financial Blogger does!

Have you seen the new show "Downsized"?  My Dollar Plan has and shares some lessons learned.

Moolanomy thinks that we need to change our mindset and get back to financial basics if we are to escape a repeat of the boom and bust cycle.  I think she may be on to something!

Are you familiar with RMDs?  I wasn't.  Christian PF explains Required Minimum Distributions.  Now I get it!

Budgets Are Sexy says don't go shopping when you're drunk; and a few other tips!

There can be a subtle difference between financial freedom and financial prison, says Step Away From the Mail.  Do you recognize the difference?

DINKS Finance is taking a fairly judgmental look at her co-workers in Same Job Different Money.

Squirrelers is sharing the secrets of millionaires.  Thanks!

Complex Search is talking about financial literacy.

Do you have any financial regrets?  Watson Inc. can think of a few!

Sweating the Big Stuff (next week's carnival host!) says, "Keep those receipts!".

Real Estate

Yes I Am Cheap is having some tenant issues.  Ah the joys of being a landlord!

Saving

Do you have a flexible spending account?  Passive Family Income takes a look at FSAs and thinks they're a good way to save money.

MomVesting has some good information on teaching children about saving money.  Always a good topic!

Taxes

Everyone agrees that government spending needs to come down.  Darwin's Money hits the nail on the head when he says that, as long as it's someone else's program, we're all for cutting it!  Will any of the Deficit Panel recommendations come to pass?  Time will tell.

Quizzle says if you need some cash, take a look at your withholdings.  Adjusting them may give you a little more coin in your pocket on payday.

Other

Do your parents know what's going on with their finances?  Maybe you should check.  Fabulously Broke in the City has got more proof that her's definitely don't!

While I don't totally agree with his premise, Rabbit Funds is warning us that if we broadcast our position via Foursquare or other social media our homeowner's insurance may go up.  Something to ponder.

Would you like to cut back on your working hours?  Free Money Finance has a case study on how to make it work.

Richly Reasonable gets a lot less done when she has less to do.  Me too!

Grumpy Rumblings of the Untenured had a bit of unpleasantness at the Farmer's Market and wants to know what we think.  It's a good exercise in price comparisons.

New car or used?  Canadian Finance Blog has some thoughts on the topic.

Mighty Bargain Hunter is pretty enthusiastic about his new scanner.  He thinks it will help him tame his financial paper monster.  I hope he'll report back if he's successful! 

That's it for this week's Carnival of Personal Finance.  If you're a contributor be sure and link to the carnival from your site.  Please help advertise the carnival through whatever social networking sites you frequent.  More traffic to the carnival helps us all!

 Next week's Carnival will be hosted by Sweating the Big Stuff. Articles should be submitted here.

Roquefort Souffle - Daring Cooks' November Challenge

Dave and Linda from Monkeyshines in the Kitchen chose soufflés as our November 2010 Daring Cooks’ Challenge! Dave and Linda provided many of their own delicious recipes plus a sinfully decadent chocolate soufflé recipe adapted from Gordon Ramsay’s recipe found at the BBC Good Food website. 

This challenge was very timely as I had recently come across a recipe for roquefort souffles and had been trying to come up with a reason to make them.  Although our challenge included several recipes we were allowed to use any other recipe we liked.  

Souffles get a bad rap as being touchy and tough to make.  In fact they're quite easy and you can put almost anything in one.  They're a great way to make leftovers beautiful!  The only caveat is to be ready to serve them the minute they come out of the oven as they fall pretty fast.  Compare the above picture with the one down a little ways in this post.  The above picture was taken less than 5 minutes after the one of the four souffles just as they came out of the oven.  When serving them to others, I like to have my guests already seated at the table when I pull them out of the oven so I can shlep them right onto the plates for maximum oohing and ahhing!

Here's the recipe  I used, which is from Food and Wine

1. 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus softened butter for the ramekins
2. 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
3. 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4. 1 cup milk
5. Pinch of salt
6. Pinch of cayenne pepper
7. 2 ounces Roquefort cheese
8. 5 large eggs, separated
9. 2 tablespoons snipped chives

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 375°. Butter four 1-cup ramekins and coat each one with 1 tablespoon of the grated Parmigiano.
2. In a medium saucepan, melt the 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the flour and cook over moderate heat for 1 minute, whisking constantly. Add the milk, salt and cayenne and cook, whisking, until very thick and bubbling, about 2 minutes. Scrape the mixture into a large bowl and whisk in the Roquefort and the remaining 1/4 cup of grated Parmigiano. Whisk in the egg yolks and chives.
3. In another bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until firm peaks form. Fold the beaten whites into the cheese mixture until no streaks remain. Pour the mixture into the ramekins, filling them three-fourths of the way; set the ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake the soufflés for about 20 minutes, until puffed and golden. Place the soufflés on plates and serve immediately.

Note: I took these out after 15 minutes and they were a little overdone.  Keep your eye on your souffles (through the oven window)!

Bear in mind the words of James Beard who said, "The only thing that will make a soufflé fall is if it knows you are afraid of it." So, have no fear, give souffles a try!  Savory or sweet, they're delicious!