Tale As Old As Time

I grew up on Disney movies. I also had a few books of fairy tales at the same time, so I knew what Disney was leaving out. I managed to grow up without learning any lessons, but I also am not dead, and have not done any spinning or eaten any dastardly apples, so I think I was a success.

My favorite Disney movie, whose best-known fairy tale is one of the least terrifying (not that that makes a difference), is Beauty and the Beast. Belle is my favorite Disney Princess. Gaston is one of my favorite villains. The Beast is definitely cuddly, but I'm still undecided about his transformation into an average-looking prince.

And the songs! I once received a DVD set that contained a few versions of the movie. One of my superpowers is the ability to turn into a small child at will, so yes, I watched every one of them, and my life was a musical for the next week.

What, then, am I coveting today? The Blu-Ray version. My Blu-Ray collection has already started, with a Christmas gift of a four-disc DVD/Blu-Ray Fantasia combo pack. I don't mind upgrading periodically with some movies. Some, like every animated Disney movie ever (except for most sequels).

Buy Beauty and the Beast on Blu-Ray through Best Buy for $29.99.

xoxo,

Maureen

Where Will 1.21 Jigowatts Get You?

We all know how much Cate loves time travel. And how much I love time travel.

Yes, yes, she was discussing Abraham Lincoln and nostalgia. But trust me. She loves time travel. And I was talking about chins in addition to time travel. But we both love time travel. I also like clothes. Cate likes clothes, but she prefers fashionable things. I prefer nerdy things, because when people see that I am a huge nerd, they will forgive me for having no fashion sense and not knowing the difference between some shades of blue and purple.

I can assure you, however, that the Police Box on this t-shirt is blue. And that the DeLorean that just ran into said box is gray.

I'm not good at impulse purchases; I spend too much time waffling and fretting and worrying and not knowing where my money is. I still don't own this shirt, but I might one day, thanks to Shirt.Woot's Reckoning, where the top t-shirts fight to see who can sell for the longest. The DeLorean-TARDIS collision has been on the chart for eighty-five weeks. I think I'll have a chance to buy it. And if not, maybe I can catch a ride with one of the many time travelers in my life.

Buy through Shirt.Woot for $15.00.

xoxo,

Maureen

An Ice Cold Nuka-Cola

As you know, Bob, I am a huge nerd. I'm a book nerd like Cate, of course, but I'm also a video game nerd. And one of my favorite video games is Fallout.

In the post-apocalyptic world of Fallout, the most popular drink is Nuka-Cola, though I'm told something called "Sunset Sarsaparilla" is well-liked in New Vegas.

Now, whichever you drink, you can proclaim your love for possibly irradiated post-apocalyptic beverages with the help of one talented Etsy seller who has strung bottle caps--also currency, depending on the game you are playing--on cord and selling them as necklaces.

It is up to you to decide if you want to pay for something that is worth a dollar in-game, but that red Nuka-Cola cap is calling out to me.

I would post a picture, but I am using a borrowed computer, and I try not to make my adventures with other people's things too complicated. I suppose you will just have to follow my link and find yourself that much closer to buying a fictitious bottle cap necklace of your own.

Buy through Etsy for $12.00.

xoxo,

Maureen

What the Devil?

At my house, we enjoy a good deviled egg from time to time, usually during some holiday. This Christmas, the task of making said eggs fell to me. Luckily, I had recently received the Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook (15th Edition)--you know, the classic red plaid one--to guide me along, as I had no real idea of what I was doing.

The basic gist is this: cut your hard-boiled eggs in half lengthwise, scoop the yolks into a bowl, add mayonnaise and mustard to taste, plus a little vinegar, then stir it up--taking care to achieve a creamy consistency--and put the filling back into the eggs.

Mom likes hers with sweet pickle relish, so I threw some in (the brand I used was, of course, Mount Olive):

Then they had to be arranged on an egg plate. The one my father put in front of me is, apparently, quite old, but they're still widely available in different designs and shapes. I put the relish eggs in the middle and surrounded them with the regular ones, and the end result, while crowded, looked pretty okay:

Some people top their deviled eggs with paprika; we usually do that, but there was none in the house that day. (A word to the wise: make sure that you've grabbed the correct container, as opposed to some other red spice like, say, chili powder, which my brother did once.)

So next time you're looking for an easy appetizer, consider going with the deviled egg. They're simple and pleasing, and they'll probably be gone in ten minutes flat.

-Cate-

PS In other news, I'll be taking a short break from Food We Covet. Posts will resume on Wednesday, 19 January.

The Bluest Blue

Sometimes all the jewelry a girl really needs is a simple, elegant necklace. Or at least sometimes that's all this girl needs. Because, you see, I'm not much of a ring wearer, and I usually buy pretty cheap-o bracelets since I know how hard I am on them. But necklaces (and, in fact, earrings) really appeal to me, and I try to make good choices when it comes to them. Today, I'm coveting a particularly lovely pendant:

I love the deep blue and the simple shape. This pendant would accent a gray dress very well, I think, and catch everyone's eye even though it's very uncomplicated. 

What kind of necklaces do you look for?

Buy through Keweenaw Gem and Gift for $89.50.

Image via Keweenaw Gem and Gift.

-Cate-

PS Since my semester is starting up, I'll be taking some time off to address some academic business. But have no fear: my trusty wayward sidekick Maureen will be posting here while I'm away, and she's sure to tickle your funny bone with her witty brand of covetousness. Enjoy!

Cutie Pie in Class

So, I'm a graduate student, and that means I'm occasionally required to carry books and folders around. I like to be stylish when I do that, and when it comes to business documents, I carry a black briefcase-type bag. Unfortunately, said briefcase isn't conducive to all of the back-and-forth between classes on the bus, and so I have to look elsewhere for my toting needs. Awhile back, I told you about my experiences with Eddie Bauer backpacks, and I stand by that post. But when it's something cute you're looking for, you should always turn to JanSport.

For example, they have this bright and cheerful model, the All Nighter in Cabesa Blue:

Several years ago, I found the cutest JanSport at an outlet mall; it was white with a lemon, lime, and orange slice print, and to this day, I wish I had bought it. Alas, I had no need for any such thing at the time. Last month, I made it up to myself by buying a houndstooth JanSport. And I can't wait to carry it.

Buy the All Nighter through Zappos for $50.00.

Image via Zappos.

-Cate-

Sky High

One of my new favorite brands is Casadei. Almost all of their shoes are beautiful, and they are frequently outrageous. Take, for example, their Triple-Platform Pump.

Yes, you read that correctly: Triple-Platform.

Ladies and gentlemen, we're talking about two full inches of platform action with a total heel height of five and a half inches. I hope you have strong arms to catch yourself in case you fall in these, because it's a long way down, even if you're not particularly tall to begin with. On the other hand, your legs will look so great!

The color shown here isn't available, but you can get these in black, which would be perfect for an epic night out on the town, don't you think?

Buy through Neiman Marcus for $590.00.

Image via Neiman Marcus.

-Cate-

Zesty

Back at Thanksgiving, I made a cranberry chutney. It was delicious, and the recipe is relatively simple. There's only one problem: if you don't have a grater or zester, it's kind of difficult to zest an orange.

I started out using a paring knife while Mom and Dad searched for a grater that was incredibly elusive. Then Dad and I got this genius idea to use a single-blade razor. It didn't work. So he popped the bottom safety cover off of it and we tried again. No dice. I went back to the knife, which is the same method I'd had to use the previous year (the first time I tried this recipe) due to a lack of a grater or zester in my own kitchen.

So then my aunt heard this story and took pity on me. On Christmas Eve, we exchanged presents, and she had given me a glorious thing: a zester with a safety cover:

Unlike the one in the picture, mine has a yellow handle, which I quite like--it's cheerful AND easy to spot in the drawer! I'm very excited to use it, and I think you'd enjoy having one, too.

Buy through Bed Bath & Beyond for $14.99.

Image via Bed Bath & Beyond.

-Cate-

Eating Out: Roosevelt's Pub

I have a confession to make: when I drink beer, I almost inevitably get cravings for mozzarella sticks. And if I'm at a bar that doesn't have mozzarella sticks, I get so bummed out. Sometimes we have to stop on the way home and pick up some frozen ones that I can make in my kitchen. More often than not, though, I just don't get any. Except for this one time in Philadelphia.

It was 4th of July weekend two years ago, and I was visiting some friends in Philly. We decided to go out and ended up at this place called Roosevelt's Pub, which sits at the corner of 23rd and Walnut (in Rittenhouse Square). The first thing I noticed about the place was that they sell Yuengling--which, for those of you who remain uninitiated, comes from America's oldest brewery and is sold only on the East Coast. The second thing I noticed were these totally badass ornaments on the bar railing:

And then there were these two bartenders, hereafter referred to as Chris and Mozzarella Dude (so called because we never learned his name). They were pretty awesome. We got to the bar just after the kitchen closed; apparently I looked incredibly sad when I found out I couldn't have any mozzarella sticks, because Chris consulted with Mozzarella Dude, who very cheerfully offered to fire up the fryer so I could get my fix. They were perfectly nice about the whole thing--no rolling of the eyes, no grunting about how much work it would be. Clearly they were my new best friends.

When the sticks came out, I was extra-happy because they were actually little mozzarella triangles. I'd never seen that before, and of course it impressed the hell out of me. I ate them, enjoyed them, and declared my undying love for both Chris and Mozzarella Dude, then wandered out into the balmy night, satisfied at last.

So Chris and Mozzarella Dude, if you're out there reading this, please know that you made this girl's first visit to Philadelphia a memorable one, indeed. And for those of you who may someday trek to Pennsylvania, keep this place in mind. I think you'll like it.

Visit the Roosevelt's Pub website.

-Cate-

PS Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful, delicious time last night!

Also, check out my post at What We Covet tomorrow for a discussion of my brand-new zester!

Happy New Year!

My 2011 wishlist includes a sequined tank from Michael Kors, a pair of citrine earrings, a key necklace from Tiffany, a handbag from Reed Krakoff, eyeshadow from Burberry beauty, a pair of heels from Christian Louboutin, an apple minaudiere, and, of course, Alexander Skarsgard. What's on yours?

All images via Polyvore.

-Cate-