ThisNext Blog

Ever wonder why people say things always taste like chicken? Well, it’s because thanks to modern factory farming methods, today’s industrial chicken has become so bland as to taste like nothing. Producers pump their birds up with antibiotics, colorings and fluids to develop meat that is plump and springy, but is decidedly easier on the eyes than on the palate. You might as well be chewing on one of those novelty rubber chickens.

There is another way. Increasingly, local farmers are letting their chickens do what they do best — forage. These beyond-free-range chickens spend their entire lives outdoors, eating grass and seeds and living the good life.

The net result is birds that are leaner, but healthier. You won’t get busty chickens that look like little turkeys, but you will get breast meat that actually tastes like something.

Check LocalHarvest for farmers near you, or if there are none to be found, some vendors, like Gifts from the Good Earth, will fly those birds to your door.

Yeah, it’ll cost you more than those pasty Foster Farms in the freezer case at the Safeway. But wouldn’t it be nice to know what chicken actually tastes like again? 

If writing about music is like dancing about architecture, then what’s the equivalent of making a feature film about air guitar? I’m kind of not sure, but I do know that Alexandra Lipsitz’s new documentary Air Guitar Nation is one of the most exhilarating, fantastically awesome movies I’ve seen in way too long.

Before my first viewing of Air Guitar Nation (I caught it for the second time last night, at the L.A. premiere), I had no doubt that the “art” of air guitar was nothing more than a joke - and quite possibly a bad joke, at that. Turns out the joke was on me and any other naysayers out there: The air guitarists featured in the film have more passion, energy, spirit, and rock-star attitude than most dudes in big bands today. I just might be in love with every last one of them.

No word yet on whether there’s going to be a soundtrack, so for now you’ll have to air along to some of the movie’s featured songs, such Motorhead’s “Ace of Spades” (the title track off their 1980 classic), “Get Your Hands Off My Woman” by The Darkness, and “I Want You to Want Me” by Cheap Trick.

And when in doubt, just remember the words of Air Guitar Nation star Bjorn Turoque: “To err is human. To air guitar, divine.”

You’re thinking this rum and Coked up flip-flop is the stuff of a surfing art school student’s PhotoShop fun?

Nay, unlike La Lohan’s latest with Miu Miu, Reef’s “Dram” sandal is for real, and possibly your boy’s BFF come spring break. According to Reef’s e-boutique, its “polyurethane encapsulated canteen in heel has a screw cap” that “opens with included exclusive Reef church key/fin key.” 

Stashing an aiport security-approved 3 oz. of liquids, you may have found a way out of overpaying flight attendants for half-mixed cocktails on your way to Cabo.

Still, call your K old fashioned, but she’s sticking to stilettos and martini glasses.

 [Via ShoeBlogs.com]

Putting on your makeup too fast can end with some pretty terrifying results.  Apply your lipstick in the car, hit a pot hole…end up looking like Courtney Love circa 1994. Go the Homer Simpson route by using a “make-up gun” (just make sure that bad boy isn’t set on whore)…

Getting your makeup fix quick doesn’t have to end in April Fools-worthy results.  There are many time saving products on the market that help you look as pretty as a picture (or at least an acceptable member of society).

Making your lips perfect doesn’t have to be a multi step process; try Bare Essentials Quick- Stick it’s a lip liner and ultra smooth lip stick all in one. Lips not enough for you? Benefit has you covered. How about lips and cheeks in one handy package AND this package fits in your pocket!   And for the gal who wants it all, there is NARS The Multiple.  This chunky stick warms eyes, brightens cheeks, adds color to your lips, and even highlight your body if you so desire.  That’s one heck of quickie!

 

With the end of March madness and the beginnings of your April fooling, SheFinds found it’s time to…

» Look haute while hot. “Stella McCartney and Adidas have partnered up to make our lives easier with her trendy line of clothes that are stylish on the street and functional in the gym. One favorite is the tennis polo, with a long, no tummy-bearing waist”

» Be childish. “Recently I found my favorite four-year old sampling my beauty goods, but luckily she fell in love with my sample of Le Petit Prince and not my Chanel.”

» Start styling summer. “While this summery [embroidered circle tank by Kenzie Girl] has a whimsical, feminine charm, there’s still something undeniably sexy about it. “

» Be a fashion lioness in L.A.M.B.’s clothing. “The Montego tote is a must-have, black and brown leather bag, trimmed in gold with a bold stripe of white leather. This is just the thing to see you through the sunny days of spring and also those occasional cool ones that have you pulling out something warmer (and darker).”

» Slip on a little white suit. “Spring has officially sprung, so ditch the drab black and navy and spring for crisp, clean white (maybe wait for those May showers to pass first, though). This Calvin Klein blazer and pants suit is fantastic for brightening up your work world.”

Walking dolls for Tara Subkoff’s Imitation of Christ showing at L.A. Fashion Week Fall 2007 runwayed with porcelain pale skin, midnight-shaded hair, and jet black lips, playing up the collection’s glammy goth vibe.

And you thought La La Land was all 24K fake and bake tans, faux platinum locks, and pearly pink lip slicks.

Though your K’ll stick to her smoky eye, check your right for the fresh evolution of last season’s red lip.

The thought of black lipstick too much the stuff of your April Fooling your mamma during high school?

Check the limited-edition Smashbox for Imitation of Christ lipstick, which hung out in Imitation of Christ show’s goody bags. A sheer, deep grape, slick it on for a quick face update.

And top it with a black lipliner for dinner with your boy, to get him back for his buzzing his head bald last April 1^st. 

[Via OfftheRack.People.com]

Even though I’ve pretty much ditched the conventional toilet brush in favor of a much more sanitary disposable scrubber, I couldn’t help but chuckle at what I think might possibly be the cutest toilet brush ever.  Apartment Therapy: Chicago spotted the ever-sprouting Merdolino Brush by Alessi, and it just makes me smile.

Doesn’t it look like a cheery little plant is popping up by your toilet? 

I’m afraid I don’t have much room in my life for pranks and gags. It’s not that I don’t enjoy a good laugh, it’s just that I live in constant fear of being at the butt end of one of said shenanigans.

I won’t allow you to make a fool out of me, but I will allow you to make one for me. Fool is a traditional English dessert typically made with a fruit compote slathered in whipped cream or custard. Although it was originally made with gooseberries, today it’s commonly made with any tart fruit, especially rhubarb or raspberries. With strawberries just coming in to local markets, I’d say that’s a good place to start.

But whatever you do, be sure to use the best quality cream you can get your hands on. Here in Northern California, the choice, hands-down, is Straus Family cream. Their organic dairy products in recycled-glass bottles have a richness and sweetness that is unparalleled. Those berries might not stand a chance.

It’s been called the national dish of Egypt. Ful medames is a dish made from red fava beans, cooked with garlic, olive oil, lemon and herbs. It is then alternately lightly mashed to create a thickish stew or thoroughly pulverized into a smooth dip. It is then served with bread and, sometimes, sliced hard-boiled eggs. Hearty, nutritious and extremely filling, ful is most commonly eaten at breakfast.

Ful is easy to make, and recipes abound for it, but  it will require some special equipment. First up, you’ll need the main ingredient: Red fava beans, which just might not be lurking in the dark corners of your pantry.

But you’ll also need one piece of cookware you might not have: A copper pot. Evidently, though you can make ful in any pot, ful afficionados say it just doesn’t taste as good.

Sure, copper cookware can be costly, but think of it as an investment. Unlike cheap aluminum pots and pans, copper is durable, non-reactive and — perhaps most importantly — beautiful. With sufficient care, they will gracefully evolve from workaday products to heirloom pieces. 

If you can manage to look past all of the bad thoughts associated with birds… Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, dirty pigeons on the city streets, oh and there is that time a bird landed on my mothers head when she was checking the mail… you can actually appreciate their beauty. Atleast we ThisNexters can!

We are not the only ones either, the bird trend is swooping down on the fashion world with white dove and gold jewelry.  Birds are also hitting home decor with equal force; from bird mirrors, ornate figurines, and design friendly bird feeders- your home can go to the birds.

Could it be because birds are rumored to bring good luck and wealth when placed in your home? Or is it that they are can bring a touch of nature to our everyday eye candy? Whatever the reason… we like it!

 See more of this spring 2007 trend on ThisNext>

There comes a time when spray-painting your shoes silver just doesn’t help you get dates.  Dior has a solution for guys like you (um, I mean ‘us’). View details.

Gone are the days of starfish being limited to tacky beach houses.  Starfish are stepping out this spring/ summer ‘07 into fashion and home decor trends.

Starfish have put their foot down (or should I say feet?) and would like to be taken seriously for once. Leave it to the high end shops like Barney’s,  Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and the online mega boutique ShopBop.com; to shed some light on this trend from the sea.

 How to Wear It? Being the stars that they are, the starfish trend is best in gold and if you can swing it- adorned with diamonds.  Wearing a starfish sweater isn’t going to win you any cool points this spring; so keep the trend exclusive to accessories.

 See more of this trend on ThisNext>

Maybe it’s a throwback to Audrey Hepburn hip —

She was equal parts elegant lady and clean mod.

— As we shift from neo 1950s grooming and garb to ’60s chic.

Maybe it’s an easy exaggeration of most models’ full brows —

Check catwalkers at Lanvin’s spring double-oh-seven show. 

Either way —

Brow expert Anastasia’s Brow Kit will take you high brow for your spring fling with extra thick arches.

Because that bling thing is over and out but shiny shiny is still bright.

Because every A-lister lady is shimmering in sequins.

Because a Whiting + Davis clutch isn’t ever off season.

Bag this platinum clutch and rock it right with last winter’s very little black dress over wide-legged denim and platform pumps.

While your K’s digging this “In Paris” bracelet from Anthopologie for its wonderlust chic —

I just tied up a week in eastern Europe: Moscow’s Kremlin, St. Pete’s Winter Palace, and leggy ladies, oh my.

— Less about my being ready to play pretty across the pond in Paris, the bangle is more the stuff of spring double-oh-seven’s crush on accessorizing ’80s.

Those leggings still gotta go, though, doll. 

Double your soy latte, doll, go ahead and reach for another blueberry scone:

Because while your K was over that neo 1950s ish five minutes before it was five minutes ago —

The cherry lips, the fat and full skirts, the harsh hourglass.

— So’s finally the rest of fashion, with spring double-oh-seven forgetting your WASP-y waist for a more modern mod A-line, for a jazz baby drop waist, for a Marc by Marc Jacobs “Loreli” jersey dress.

Clean and fresh like your spring ought to vibe, unlike some of Marc-y Marc’s  designer duds —

You can rock this frock sans worries of getting sent to rehab with him.