Dear LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers: I was in the British Virgin Islands in February on vacation (Rough life, I know!) This was my third time visiting the BVI and as such I already had my "routine" of places I regularly visit. One of those places is Sunny Caribbee spice shop on Tortola. (Read more about it here.) I love the spice mixes, condiments, sweets, kitchen gadgets, artwork and syrups from Sunny Caribbee. There are several Sunny Caribee spice mixes that I use religiously. One of these items is the Down Island Dill spice mix. (Read about my lemon dill coconut bread recipe using Down Island Dill here.) Before my BVI trip, I had used up all of my beloved Down Island Dill spice mix. Although you can order Sunny Caribbee online, I decided to wait to stock up until my trip. And then the horror struck ... when I arrived on Tortola, I discovered that both the Road Town and Soper's Hole Sunny Caribbee stores were out of Down Island Dill Mix and they weren't sure when it would be back in stock - "maybe a few weeks, maybe a few months" I was told with the typical "Relax, it's island time" attitude. Well hello, I am an American jacked up with a Type A/Gotta Have It NOW NOW NOW mentality. This island time was not sitting well with me. When I returned to the States, I basically checked the SunnyCaribbee.com website every couple of days like a neglected girlfriend stalking her ex-boyfriend. After 2 months, I gave up. Oh Sunny Caribbee, you have broken my heart. But then a ray of light ... Wednesday evening - in what surely was a fit of self-loathing and need to be disappointed, I checked the SunnyCaribbee.com website once more. I typed in the word "dill" in the search field and ... The angels sang. I wept. The clouds parted. THERE WAS DOWN ISLAND DILL AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ONCE MORE! I know this may seem a tad overly dramatic for some dill seasoning, but it is really is that good and I use it on everything. Also great for yourself or for gifts is Sunny Caribbee's most popular Herb Pepper Blend. I also love their "Bloody Mary Magic" as well as their Passionfruit tea. I also am a huge fan of their spices that come in their own grinders because both the grinders and the tin shakers are refillable. Less waste - reduce, reuse, recycle! Now if you'll excuse me, I have an online order to place at SunnyCaribbee.com! P.S. I receive no compensation for writing about SunnyCaribbee.com but any time they want to send me some Ginger Beer Syrup; which is not available on their website. I would gladly accept it! Google Affiliate Ads: Have you tried this dill pickle popcorn seasoning? If you have, please leave me a comment and let me know how it is. I am both intrigued and scared ...
Please share this blog post on Twitter, Facebook, via email, snail mail, messenger pigeon, etc. Thank you!! Hello LilyOnTheLam.com Readers: Is it just me or does it seem like we have been getting hit with one tragedy after another? The movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado; the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut; the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, the Boston Marathon bombings, the garment factory building collapse in Bangalore, the Texas building explosion and now the tornado devastation in Oklahoma. I watched the news yesterday, praying that the ever-increasing death toll was a reporting error and luckily today, it is now being reported that the death toll was half of what it was earlier reported. However even one life taken is too many and many of the dead were young school children - lives taken too soon. How does one rebuild when so much has been taken away? I felt a heaviness in my throat and chest as I watched images of the Oklahoma barren wasteland of scrap metal and ruin that once was happy communities. The now infamous picture of mud and blood covered parents running with their children captured the horror and helplessness. Sitting in my living room in Florida, I felt such sorrow and helplessness watching people who have had their home and lives completely thrown into chaos and destruction in such a short span of time. When the Boston Marathon bombings occurred, I felt very fortunate because a small group of people I knew who ran the marathon were all safe and sound. But I felt so ... stuck, I think is the best way to describe it. I wanted to help in some way, but I didn't know how and I just felt sad, angry and helpless. While there are many victims' organizations for the Boston Marathon, I felt like I needed to make a difference closer to home. At my liberal arts university, one of the prevailing mottoes was "Think globally, act locally." I decided that I needed to channel my sadness into an act of positivity locally. Sadness wasn't going to help the situation. I needed to take action. At the same time news of the Boston Marathon bombings seemed to be everywhere, I stumbled upon a much smaller news story that to me was just as sad. Five years ago, I remembered hearing a story that literally made me cry. An 18 year old Asian-American woman was returning books to the local library when she was attacked, raped, beaten and left for dead. She suffered traumatic brain injury and was placed in a medically-induced coma. When she was brought out of the coma, she could no longer speak, walk or control her muscles. Her mother quit her job to stay home to care for her full-time. The attacker is now serving a 65 year sentence, but the young woman is also serving her own type of prison sentence. She was 18 years old at the time - she had her whole life ahead of her and this man stole it from her.
The family of the young woman who was attacked (I hate to use the word "victim," as she is a survivor and deserves respect not pity) chose to keep her name out of the press. However five years later after the attack, with rising medical and care costs; the family has recently created a websitewww.JoinQueena.com to give progress updates on the young woman named Queena, give hope and inspiration and receive donations to help defray the daily expenses necessary for her care. (Read more about it here and here.) She also has a Join Queena Facebook page with updates. In the midst of all the overwhelming sadness of the Boston Marathon bombings, I decided that while there was nothing I could do to reverse time and stop the bombings from happening - I could help this young local woman, who like the Boston Marathon bombing victims was an innocent who had her entire life changed in one horrific episode. I made a contribution to JoinQueena.com. I am not a millionaire (I wish I had won the recent $590 million Powerball!), but I do believe that it is always better to give something rather than nothing. Making a donation didn't change what happened to Queena or what happened to the Boston Marathon bombings, but I felt like "OK, having sadness and feelings of overwhelming anxiety are not productive. Helping is productive." Action is what it takes to rebuild and move forward. Feeling sad doesn't change anything. I also signed up to volunteer at several local organizations. Actions do not have to be just donations. Yesterday when the tornado in Oklahoma hit, I once again felt completely overwhelmed, sad and anxious as I watched the horrific news footage of the devastation. I looked at my email and there was a thank you note from Queena's family on behalf of Queena. It said "Thank you for your support and for making a difference in my life!" Talk about perfect timing. It was a reminder to me that while it is OK to be sad about tragedies in the world; I needed to pair my emotions with action. Volunteering, donations - anything I could do to help. If you are looking for ways to help, please check the following articles and links: Links for How To Help Those Hit By the Oklahoma Tornado Oklahoma Tornado Victims Humane Society - Oklahoma American Red Cross JoinQueena.com
At the bottom of Queena's thank you email are the words "I AM GRATEFUL." In the face of so much tragedy in the world, I find that taking time to consider all that I am grateful for is the way I can keep from feeling consumed by despair and sadness for all the victims. If you're feeling overwhelmed, you may wish to channel your energy into positive actions - whether donating money, donating your time, mentoring others ... find the way that you can help whether locally or on scene of the tragedy. There is so much in life to be grateful for and yet entire lives turned upside down and changed forever in a minute. I try to help others when I can, because sadly I could easily be the victim of a tragedy and would hope others could see it in their hearts to help me. I wish all of my readers positivity and strength amidst this seemingly endless array of tragedies. I hope you will take time or give of your pocketbook to help a worthy cause. Life is short, let's make the most of it by helping others and ultimately helping ourselves. Thank you for reading!
Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers: Trader Joe's expansion into Florida is underway, but no signs of a Tampa location in sight. With stores already open in Naples, Sarasota and Gainesville and plans for a Pinecrest (Miami) and a Winter Park (Orlando) location underway (probably 2014 opening), I assume the best I can hope for (if Tampa ever does get a Trader Joe's store) is a 2015 Tampa opening or sadly even later. Sigh ... why do you want to make me so sad, Trader Joe's? My pal, the exquisitely sassy Mr. CB formerly of Atlanta and now back to his home roots in Orlando, made sure I knew that he would be getting a Trader Joe's store before me. Oh Mr. CB - so pretty and yet so cruel! But on the bright side it gives me more excuses to visit Mr. CB and his lovely boyfriend Mr. DS. But until Tampa gets a Trader Joe's of its own, I will continue road-tripping to the other locations. This past weekend I dropped the top on the convertible and headed down to Bonita Springs for lunch. Sure, the Sarasota Trader Joe's is much closer to me but I prefer the Naples store. Plus the world's biggest and fabulously rich mile high coconut cream pie is there! It was a glorious beautiful warm soon to be summer day in Florida and I was happy to take the drive. Some of my most popular LilyOnTheLam.com blog posts are my reviews of Trader Joe's products. I am having some friends over for dinner soon and I thought they'd make fine guinea pigs for more blog posts on Trader Joe's products. I feel a little Hannibal when I say that. (NBC better not cancel that show, I'm fully invested in Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal Lecter.) So when I was in the Naples Trader Joe's location, I was a girl on a mission! And when I spotted "Trader Joe's Chicken Pot Pie Bites" in the freezer case, I knew I had found the equivalent of the Holy Grail ... if it were dipped in gravy and wrapped in pastry. If you are a regular reader of LilyOnTheLam.com you will know that I am a Pot Pie-afficianado. If you're new to LilyOnTheLam or if you have short-term memory issues, check out this Pot Pie-related blog post: A Tale of Four Pot Pies So to spot "chicken pot pie bites" - it was like the angels were singing and throwing Powerball tickets at me. (I am bitter that I am not the Florida winner!) I had told myself I would wait to bake the chicken pot pie bites until my dinner guests arrived later in the week. I lasted about 18 hours before I baked them. I was so excited!
Now the box itself says that the picture is enlarged to show detail. Out of the box, the frozen bites look like this ...
Not exactly the most appetizing looking delights, but I had faith.
Then I read the directions - 55 minutes of baking time and then 5 minutes of resting time. An hour for tiny little chicken pot pie bites? These buggers better be good! I have zero patience!
Once baked the pot pie bites looked like this. The box said they are stuffed with chicken and vegetables. I didn't see any vegetables whatsoever. But how did they taste? If you like your pot pies with 97% crust and a quarter teaspoon of gravy, you will LOVE these. If you like a pot pie loaded with chicken, vegetables and gravy with an appropriate crust to filling ratio, you'll be tremendously disappointed. I barely tasted chicken. It felt like there was only one drop of gravy and I didn't taste any vegetables. I was yearning for some fresh spring peas! I am a big time crust lover, but these were even too much for me. If I were serving these at a party, I would have a bowl of shredded chicken in a light gravy and use these as dippers. But I guess that's like saying "Do you know what would make this banana pudding taste better? If you dipped it in really good banana pudding." These would also make a nice faux-crouton in a big bowl of chicken stew. But on their own? Ehhhh ... I'd pass. So if you're using the chicken pot pie bites as part of a bigger meal - either with a rich dipping sauce or as a decoration for a stew with chicken and vegetables, you could have a winner on your hands. But as a on its own appetizer, I would not serve these. I thought I could love you, dear chicken pot pie bites ... but like many past boyfriends, you promised much and delivered little! Trader Joe's, I expected more from you!
P.S. Why, oh why, has Trader Joe's not brought back their awesome smoked sea salt? No store in Tampa, no smoked sea salt and subpar chicken pot pie bites? SAD, SAD AND MORE SAD!
Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers: It has been quite a giddy time in social media circles lately. In my "day job," I am working on a global social collaboration project - but let me tell you I am having much more fun on Twitter promoting my blog. Awhile back, my friend actress Jillian Kinsman was doing a role on "Drop Dead Diva" with comedian and actress Margaret Cho. Jill knows I live, breathe and perspire Margaret Cho (OK maybe not perspire ... that sounds a bit gross.) Jill (a true and wonderful friend) asked Margaret to pose with a sign that said "Hi Lily" and Margaret graciously agreed. This picture now graces my blog. (Read more about this here.) I have seen Margaret Cho live maybe five or six times. Twice from the first row. For her most recent "Mother" tour, I flew to Portland, Maine to gawk at her from the front row. I think I radiated "stalker crazy" because Margaret made sure not to spend too much time in front of me on stage. I am pretty sure I was sporting some full-on "crazy eyes." But recently I received some Margaret Cho love in the form of an email ...
An email announcing that Miss Margaret Cho herself is following me on Twitter! OK maybe Miss Margaret Cho's social media elves are following me on Twitter, but whatever I still received a message saying "MARGARET CHO IS FOLLOWING YOU!" God bless ya, Miss Margaret! I will say that I am so full of myself that after my initial squeal of delight at receiving the email, I then squinted at Margaret Cho's picture on the email and said "WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?" Evidently my periods of gratitude are short and sweet. With this Twitter encouragement, I basically am going to continue with my Margaret Cho obsession until her website has a picture of me holding a sign that says "Hello Margaret." And it's going to happen because I said so ... law of attraction, the Secret, Stalker's Guide to Miracles and all that! Dream it, live it, be it! But in all seriousness, growing up 1/2 Asian in an almost exclusively Caucasian Minneapolis suburb I felt completely isolated and alien. I would get picked on by the local neighborhood bully for being a "Chink." Seeing Korean-American Margaret Cho on television in her series "All American Girl," made me feel less alone in the world. If Margaret Cho could break down the barriers, surely I could too. (I will for now, not go into a rant about how there are still not enough lead roles for Asian females on television - Lucy Liu shouldn't be our only contribution!) So I appreciate Margaret Cho for her outspokeness, her humor and for taking hard knocks to open the door for women everywhere - not just Asian women. Thank you, Miss Margaret Cho for all you do. To further increase my social media glee, I also had a real live in person and on Twitter experience with Bravo TV's Dukes of Melrose King of Fabulousness Cameron Silver when I was in New York City. However that moment was so fantastic that it merits its own blog post, so I won't write about it now. Wait in suspense! But the true star of this blog post is not Miss Margaret Cho, is not Duke of Melrose Cameron Silver ... no. The true star of this blog post is Seattle singer-songwriter Miss Mary Lambert. Like many people, I first heard Mary Lambert's angelic tones on the Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' song "Same Love." I then purchased Mary Lambert's EP "Letters Don't Talk" on iTunes and fell in love with her song "Body Love" (check it out here.)
While I enjoy big arena concerts, I also enjoy small concerts where you really feel like you connect with the artist. I recently was on a sailing trip in the British Virgin Islands with the wife of country singer, Levi Lowrey. Wait, wait - let me fetch a long black cigarette holder, a poodle and a mink coat and then say that again -- "Darlings, I was vacationing in the Islands with the lovely wife of an up and coming Country Music Star..." Yes, yes, that's much better. Anyway, Levi's wife, the lovely Sharon Osborne-in-training, Stephanie was wearing some of Levi Lowrey's merchandise on the sailing trip. I loved his logo and had promised myself that when I returned "stateside" that I would order the same shirt. Well I must have been on a music t-shirt frenzy, because I also ordered a t-shirt from Mary Lambert's website. I love her logo as well! This past weekend a package with rainbow stickers arrived. It was my Mary Lambert merch order. But imagine my surprise when I opened the package and there was not only the t-shirt, but pictures and a handwritten postcard addressed to me with a personal message. Now the postcard was signed "Mary Lambert" - so I am going to assume (hope) the handwritten note was actually from her and not her minions. Regardless I thought it was super sweet and I was reminded why I love supporting up and coming artists - you give fan appreciation and support and they give it right back to you!
Mary Lambert was on the May 1st episode of "The Colbert Report." I hope it is the start of a long career of television appearances. I'll be in Seattle this fall for a half-marathon, I am keeping my fingers crossed that the Gods of Music Booking will cause Mary Lambert to have a live show while I am in town. Dream it, live it, be it! Thank you actresses, comedians, fashion icons and musicians for entering my world through social media, in person, photos and music - as a bunch of little animatronic dolls sing it is indeed a small world, after all.
