Column

The year is off to a roaring start and time is not slowing down. January is in the books and here we are in February. Love is in the air and retailers have been gearing up since January 5th to share the love of more spending. Yes, you read that correctly. I was in a local store on January 5^th, wondering the aisles, looking for the deeply discounted holiday merchandise, hoping to stock up on wrapping paper and bows for next year and “poof” just like magic, the aisles had been transformed from a holiday wonderland to a sweet celebration with an endless supply of heart-shaped boxes filled with tasty treats.

I stopped and thought, wow, the term “that’s a wrap” has taken on a whole new meaning! Folks are still trying to get over their holiday spending hangover and settle into their new year resolutions. You know the resolutions: to cut spending, start saving, get out of debt, and live a healthier lifestyle. Meanwhile, retailers are pulling at your heart strings by providing the perfect balance between temptation and impulse buying.

Seeing all those tasty, sweet treats provides the temptation to 1) get you shopping again (because the holiday season did not give us enough retail therapy). 2) Break your new year resolution to live a healthier lifestyle (one chocolate won’t make a difference). 3) Fill your mind with the FOMO (fear of missing out) symptom that if you don’t impulse buy today, the treats will be gone, and you won’t have a card, stuffed animal, or heart-shaped box filled with candy for your loved one(s). Before your heart skips a beat from the stress of shopping for the loves in your life, take the time to review the goals you set in January and develop a plan to stay on track! Believe me, there are plenty of ways to share the love.

Valentine’s Day has become a multibillion-dollar day. According to the National Retail Federation, consumers will spend $19.6 billion. So how do you share the love without experiencing the spending rush followed by the sweet spending crash once the day is over and the bill arrives in the mail? I have mentioned these tips before but, repetition is the key to forming new and improved habits (especially when it comes to spending).

Start by making a list of the family members and friends that you want to buy for (e.g., spouse, children, siblings, grandparents, friends, coworkers, teachers, etc.). Write down the name of each and what you want to buy for each. List items like cards, candy, gift cards, and dining out. Then, review the list and determine if you “really need” to buy for everyone on the list. If you don’t, eliminate names from the list.

Next, set a budget of the maximum amount that you want to spend on everyone and divide the amount between those listed. For example, if the maximum amount you want to spend is $100 and you have four loved ones on your list, note $25 for each. Or, spend $40 on one person and $20 each on the remaining three. If you plan on dining out that evening, be sure to include that figure in the budget too and then reduce the amount for each person on the list.

When you venture out or online to shop, take the time to search for deals and coupons online, stick to your list and your designated budget, and don’t waiver and buy additional items. Once you fill your cart (either online or in the store), review the total of all the goods to confirm that you are within your budget. If you are over, put items back and get creative. I know this sounds harsh, but the reality is, cards and candy add up quickly. Last year, I had four cards in a basket, when I added the price of the cards up, the total was $25! The cards went back on the shelf and I got creative. 

Getting creative will help you stick to a budget, help you avoid the temptation of spending, and could help the recipient with a new year resolution too! If you know that a loved one is trying to eat healthier or exercise more, give the gift of a coffee card and a walk together versus a box of chocolates. If a friend or relative is trying to get out of debt, support them by cooking a meal at home versus going out. If cards put you over your budget, make fun cards for your loved ones. If sweet treats are a must, take the time to bake festive brownies or cookies. Recipients will appreciate the time you invested in making a homemade goodie, card, meal, or joining them on a walk far more than a store-bought gift. Getting creative allows you to stick to your goals, help a loved one stick to their goals, and give gifts made from the heart. Isn’t that what this day is all about anyway?

Need additional ways to get to the “Heart of the Spending Matter,” visit my website, www.jodeebrydges.com where you can find blog posts and links to purchase my new book “Digging Out.” Digging Out has a wealth of tips that will help you stay on track and meet your financial goals in 2019!      

When I meet with authors who are considering working with us to have their book published, I am sometimes asked, “What is your most successful book?” Generally, what they really want to know is, have we –ALIVE Book Publishing—published any books that have become commercially successful? Are there some “best sellers” amongst the many titles ALIVE Books has released over the years?

While I suppose it’s a fair question, this exchange is always a bit awkward because I know my answer is likely to be, for lack of a better word, unfulfilling.

“It depends,” is what I tell them, “upon what you mean by ‘successful.’”

The awkwardness comes precisely at that moment when the author rightfully realizes that the potential for commercial success (or failure) for his or her book has absolutely zero relation to that of other books we have published.

The question is asked innocently enough—the author wants to know if we “know what we’re doing.” Is ALIVE a reputable publishing company? Does ALIVE have the marketing and distribution capabilities to get their book into the market? But that’s not all. They also want to know if we can “make” their book become a bestseller. Do we have the “secret sauce” that will put them on the New York Times list?

We’ve had authors break down and cry when we handed them the first published copy of their book—the fulfillment a lifelong goal, realized. That was “success.” I have heard countless accounts of how lives have been touched and even healed, not by anything we did, but by the heartfelt labor of one author’s investment in a 25+ year project, now realized in a three-volume history of the Vietnam War. This is “success.”

Secret sauce? No such thing exists—a fact that applies to everyone in every area of life. If no one has ever told you, I am telling you now: Success can mean many different things. Don’t ever judge yourself or your potential, based upon what others have done.

To my knowledge, every book we have ever published has been a smashing success, albeit none have yet been noticed by anyone at the New York Times.

February has arrived and with it comes the romantic promise of Valentine’s Day. What better to enjoy with your beloved than the taste of fine, sweet wine? Sweet wines have been sadly looked down upon of late, mostly owing to mass-produced wines like white zinfandel, or the sickly sweet moscatos that flow through the aisles of our supermarkets. Yuck. Just let them flow right past you.

The sweet wines you should take note of have nothing to do with the cheap, sugary stuff people consume as sort of an alcoholic equivalent to Coca Cola. World-class sweet wines are refined and elegant and can be served at the finest of tables with great pride. Because Valentine’s Day is associated with beautiful gifts of decadent chocolates, it is well advised to offer your true love an equally decadent wine. The perfect wine to pair with chocolate, be it milk chocolate or dark chocolate, is aged tawny port.

There is some confusion about the pairing of chocolates with wine. Many insist that chocolate can be happily paired with a dry red wine, such as red zinfandel or syrah. This is, sadly, incorrect. The firm and fast rule is that the wine must always be sweeter than the dessert with which it is served. Chocolate is decidedly sweet and the sweetness of the candy will make any dry red wine taste bitter on the palate.

The same rule holds fast for Champagne. Once upon a time when Champagne was a sweet, sparkling wine, it DID pair nicely with desserts such as chocolate. But nowadays, it’s difficult to find a sweet (“doux”) Champagne at all and a dry Champagne served with chocolates is never the right choice. As with the dry red wine, a dry Champagne will seem bitter when consumed with chocolate, and what a terrible waste of good champagne that would be.

But the lovers of the world should not despair. Aged tawny port is the answer to their Valentine’s prayers. With a luscious sweetness and sumptuous notes of caramel and walnuts, aged tawny port effortlessly highlights the flavors of fine chocolate and warms the hearts of all who dare to sip its sweet perfection.

Port has been produced in the Douro Valley in northern Portugal for hundreds of years and never goes out of style. The grapes used to create port include Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, and Tinta Cao, as well as up to 80 other local Portuguese varieties. Port is a fortified wine, meaning that the wine has been strengthened or “fortified” with a colorless grape spirit during the winemaking process. The addition of this grape spirit stops the fermentation process of the natural grape sugars, thereby making the wine sweet. Port is usually around 22% alcohol as a result of fortification.

Aged tawny port gets its reddish amber color from barrel aging. The bottle will be labeled to indicate the age of the wine: 10, 20, 30, or 40 years. The wood of the barrel affects the color of the wine and imparts warm, spicy flavors as well as creating a decadent, silky complexity on the palate. It is a perfect pairing with any sort of chocolate, as well as rich desserts such as crème brulee, pecan pie, or salted caramel.

This Valentine’s Day, bring a touch of class to your gift giving and include a fine bottle of tawny port with that box of chocolates. It might just be true love.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Cheers!

It’s awards season for the films of 2018.  Rotten Tomatoes actually has a calendar for them on its website.  I counted over a dozen for February alone, with the grand finale of the Oscars on the 24^th.  Here are questions having to do with movie awards:

1)  The first Oscar broadcast was on radio in 1930, and television in 1953. Who has hosted the most Oscar telecasts?

2)  The New York Film Critics Circle has been around almost as long as the Oscars. An award from them is considered very prestigious, and they consider themselves a bit more serious about film. As an example, instead of voting for the movie pushed by Harvey Weinstein in 1998, Shakespeare In Love, which won the Best Picture Oscar, the NYFCC gave their top award to what Spielberg film?

3)   Who is the only woman to have won a Golden Globe for directing? It was for a 1983 musical.  

4)  Her current romantic partner is director Stanley Donen, but she is better known for a different partner, her improv partner, from many years ago. She was nominated for a screenwriting Oscar for Heaven Can Wait.  She is 86, and in 2016 she won a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Writers Guild of America. Name her.

5)  The BAFTA awards are Britain’s equivalent to the Oscars, and they’ve been around for 70 years. What English-Australian actor won five BAFTA Awards for Best Actor, including one posthumously in 1978?

6)  The Razzie Awards are given to the WORST films of the year, and they are held the night before the Oscars.  What film won a Razzie Award for Worst Picture of the Decade in 2010?  Star John Travolta had called the script, “The ‘Schindler’s List’ of science fiction.” 

Parents of special needs children have a lot on their plate. Every day is filled with choosing what tasks are priority and what tasks can wait until tomorrow. Then there is the turmoil of what if the right choice isn’t being made and in fulfilling that choice, are we doing enough to complete what is necessary for our child to function successfully? 

Then there are the “nos” we must present to others along with ourselves; so much that one must sacrifice to meet the daily demands of the special needs world. Then there are the daily demands we must present through the correct channels to ensure our special needs loved one is given every opportunity possible. Daily living and advocacy are a juggling act for any parent. The “not knowing where to start” thoughts can immobilize one to the point of not evening bothering to start. It is a subconscious detriment of an “all or nothing” attitude. Sometimes, if we just remember to start with small steps, just showing up will start the ball rolling faster then we imagined. 

Call me an overthinker, but the above is more common than one might realize. I decided on the second Tuesday of January to stop thinking and just “do.” As a parent who is part of the Mt Diablo School District and being only a five-minute drive from the district office, I had no excuse for not attending the monthly meetings sooner. I am a typical human being who habitually goes through the motions to climb the problem mountains (don’t I already have a pile of stuff to do?) instead of flowing in the solution with ease. This time, the solution was to attend a meeting of educators and parents working together. It is, appropriately titled, Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and I realized how my “why bother going” was only a distorted perception that it was going to be a meeting filled with legal jargon that would have me yawning. Far from it. 

The meeting on January 8^th was an educational experience that included a presentation called “Be Your Own Advocate” that educated the parents attending about the benefits of IEP (Individualized Education Programs) meetings. The CAC meeting gave me a better understanding on how to approach the IEP documents and discussions. The meeting also helped me realize that I am not the only special needs parent filled with emotions of being overwhelmed with information, let alone the emotions that come with having to read the details of all the challenges children like mine must overcome.   

I was filled with gratitude as I listened to the reviews of representatives from the Board of Education, Budget Advisory, and Parent Advisory, to name a few. I felt a sense of relief to hear about all the actions in process for the special education area and the amount of resources available to special needs families as we were given information about educational and supportive workshops and events. The parents in attendance were given the opportunity to share concerns and comments.

After the meeting, it was reassuring to be warmly approached by the MDUSD educators and employees. The meeting was particularly beneficial in that it opened the door to my involvement in school policies that affect my child. 

If you are a special needs parent and have not yet taken the first step in a legislative direction because you don’t know where to begin, begin locally. Start small. Attend one meeting within your school district to see what it is that keeps the engine running and maybe you will find out that you can add solutions for the parts that seem to slow it down. In the meantime, you will connect with others who are dealing with similar situations and learn the value of a “village.”  Don’t just show up for your child but show up for yourself.  Connecting to a support system is much easier than you think. 

For more information about CAC, visit www.mdusd.org or contact your local school district to inquire about informational resources for your area.  

Stefanie Boggs-Johnson is the mother of a pediatric stroke survivor and is the Northern California Facilitator for inClusion ClubHouse. She is also the published author of “I See You, Little Naomi” and “I See You, Little Andrew,” educational children’s books that promote special needs awareness and compassion.  For more information, please visit inClusionClubHouse.org or her Facebook page @ItTakesASpecialVillage.

We would like to cordially invite you and your friends to spend an evening with Sentinels of Freedom at our Annual Gala. The evening is filled with inspiring and heartfelt stories of our Sentinels, great food, and community camaraderie.

The Gala is a wonderful way to honor our Sentinels, as well as other local veterans in attendance.  Listening to their heroic journeys from their military careers to overcoming their injuries to their educational successes is something you don’t want to miss! We host the event to bring the community together to celebrate the achievements of our incredible Sentinels and your part in their journey from military to civilian life. Your help provides them with a way to complete their education and make new lives for themselves.

You will have the opportunity to meet Sentinels like Derek Abbey, a 23 year Marine Corps veteran, who will be graduating this spring with a PhD in Leadership Studies from the University of San Diego; Sentinel Chris Lamy, a 10 ½ year Air Force veteran, pursuing a law degree from Louisiana State University; and Sentinel Joshua Smith who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Services and Administration with a 4.0 GPA! The list continues with so many more journeys to hear—it truly is something special.

The Sentinels of Freedom Annual Gala will be held on April 13, 2019, at the Blackhawk Museum in Danville. To learn more and purchase tickets and sponsorships, please visit www.sentinelsoffreedom.org/2019-GALA

We hope to see you there!

The musical, The Phantom of the Opera was, without a doubt, a truly phenomenal masterpiece of the late 20^th century. It was both remarkable in its musical makeup and format and marvelous in its popular audience appeal.

Andrew Lloyd Webber is the creator of this immensely unique, important musical theater work. An English composer, he is best known for his musical theater creations for stage and film.

The Composer: Lloyd Webber was born in South Kensington, London in March 1948, to musical parents. His father, William Lloyd Webber, was an organists, composer and director of the London College of Music. His mother, Jean Johnstone, was a piano teacher and violinist. Obviously, Lloyd Webber was exposed to music at a very early age. He studied piano, organ, violin, and French horn. At nine years of age he was proficient on organ, assisting his father at his performances.

His education included the Westminster School, Magdalen College, Oxford University and the Royal College of Music. He did not finish at the university, as his early fascination with musical theater was so strong, he left to concentrate on composing. By the time he left school, Lloyd Webber had already written nine musicals. It was obvious to him that he didn’t need any more schooling to be a successful composer.

He was married three times; with his first and third wives he fathered five children. His second marriage, the most famous one, was to the brilliant soprano, Sara Brightman in 1984. They had no children and at times it was a difficult relationship. He envisioned the role of Christine Daae, in The Phantom of the Opera, for Brightman, and wrote the role for her. She was the first of many Christine’s and undoubtably the most famous.

Knighthood and Politics: Lloyd Webber has had quite a few titles bestowed on him. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1992 as “Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber.” 

In 1997 to the present, the titles “Lord” and “Right Honorable” were added to his name. From 1997 to 2017 he was a member of the House of Lords. Being a strong supporter of the conservative party, he sat on the conservative side bench, when he infrequently attended the House of Lords sessions.

Awards & Honors: Lloyd Webber’s awards, honors and accolades are far too numerous to mention them all, however a few of the most significant are certainly worth citing. He has won three Grammy’s, six Tony’s, an Emmy, a Golden Globe, plus an Oscar in 1996, for best original song from the musical, Evita. 

In addition, he was inducted into The Song Writers Hall of Fame. He won the Brit Award and is a Fellow in the British Academy of songwriters, composers and authors. Lloyd Webber was also honored with the Kennedy Center Award and the Laurence Olivier Award. He is only one of very few people to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and an Oscar; quite a feat for anyone to accomplish.

His Music: The most widely known and famous shows are: Jesus Christ Superstar in 1970, Evita in 1976, Cats in 1981 and the blockbuster, Phantom of the Opera in 1986. With the opening of the rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar (composed when he was a mere 21 years of age), his fame became meteoric!

Lloyd Webber has written in many forms and genres of music including a Latin Requiem Mass in 1985. Also, many classical style pieces, rock, and jazz. He is truly a musical renaissance genius, composing and arranging music.

Lloyd Webber is an impresario, owning several theaters in London. Financially he is most likely the richest composer ever, in the field of music.

The London Sunday Times estimates his net worth at $1.2 billion! He is known as the most successful composer of our time.

Phantom of the Opera: Is Broadway’s longest running show, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe. The show has been popular since opening in 1986. In some venues, tickets are very hard to get and pricey. “The Phantom became the most successful, highest grossing entertainment event of all time,” wrote Steve Shelokhonov, in an article on the production.

The musical is based on a novel by French writer, Gaston Leroux. The novel was first published in 1909. Ideas for the story came from historical events that occurred at the Paris Opera House in the 19^th century. The story centers around a lovely soprano, Christine Daae. Raised in the opera house after her father dies, she is the object of obsession by a facially-disfigured and mentally-troubled musical genius who lives in the bowels of the Paris Opera House. Elements of adventure, comedy, romance, and tragedy are cleverly woven into the plot.

Songs that appear in the show are: Think of Me, Angel of Music, The Phantom of the Opera, The Music of the Night, Prima Dona, All I Ask of You, Masquerade, Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, and The Point of No Return.

The music is engaging, combining excitement, romance, unrequited love, and frightening scenes; it is endearing with both superb drama and beautifully composed music. Most people consider this show unforgettable. Lloyd Webber is quoted as saying, “The crashing of the chandelier in The Phantom is the most theatrical moment I ever conceived.”

The Phantom has been produced in different languages in 20 countries using the same staging, direction, costumes and stage sets. It is so popular it is known virtually all over the world. It’s musical score, on DVD recordings alone, have brought in many millions of dollars over the years.

My wife, Jan, was so enamored by the production, she has seen it in seven different cities, the first one, shortly after it opened in London. “The music and the drama are so touching and beautiful, one never tires of seeing it,” Jan said. A young lady waiting in the ticket line in London said she had seen it 36 times, and she couldn’t wait to see it again. That says it all!

Forgiveness.  It can mean so many things. When this movie came to the theaters in 2015 I put it on my short list.  It came and went and since it didn’t apply to my rule of “go big or go home,” I didn’t see it.  By the way, my rule has to do with the filming and content of the movie; some movies are so big in scope they must be seen on a large screen, i.e., Gone with the Wind or Superman. 

Philomena is not in that category, however, it does fit into “brilliant.” Set in Ireland in the 1950s, this film spans 50 years. Philomena is seventeen and alone at her hometown carnival. She meets a handsome boy and as a young Irish Catholic girl is instantly smitten. She never sees him again but soon realizes she’s pregnant. Her mother had died when she was young and her embarrassed and horrified father takes her to the Abbey and drops her off never to return.

Judy Dench is, well Judy Dench.  She is superb as the older Philomena Lee.  Fifty years have passed and all she has of her precious Anthony is a small picture smuggled to her by one of the younger nuns.  It’s Anthony’s fiftieth birthday and she is wondering,   what happened to her son and did he ever think of her again?  Not a day has gone by without her asking herself that question.

The unwed mothers worked in the Abbey doing laundry by hand, twelve hours a day, seven days a week.  One precious hour a day they got to be with their children.  Until…they were adopted by any rich American with 1000 pounds. Without a hint to these young mothers, one day their child would just be gone. The difference was, Philomena saw her little Anthony driven away looking out the rear window for his mother. An image forever imbedded in her heart.

Philomena is the story of her journey to find Anthony. She is only able to do this with the help of Martin Sixsmith, a semi-disgraced, former journalist with the BBC.  Their journey ultimately finds them in Washington D.C. where Anthony, now very notable, Michael A. Hess, is found. 

Judy Dench’s perfect complement is Steve Coogan who plays Martin Sixsmith.  Originally just a business arrangement, their friendship develops into caring and honesty.  I don’t want to spoil the true life plot but they end up interacting with the nuns, young and old.  There are lots of twists and turns but Philomena Lee is finally reunited with her son.

Back to where I started. Philomena shouldered the responsibility for her actions her whole life. “I enjoyed the sex, he was so handsome and I was floating on air.” She learned to forgive. Her new friend, Martin Sixsmith was angry.  Her response to that, “It must be exhausting.” 

True forgiveness is not a feeling, it’s a decision.  I am often in awe of how some people can forgive. I know it can’t be that easy. This is a truly wonderful story, beautifully portrayed by incredibly talented actors. Philomena is a “must see,” even on your home TV!  As always, I love your comments at Carolyn@carolynhastings.com.

By the time February rolls around everyone is ready for a little sweetness. Most of us have tried to walk the straight and narrow since January 1, but between football games and ushering in The Year of the Pig and Valentine’s Day and any other holiday-centric excuse we can find for feasting, our New Year’s resolve may be fading. Embrace it. February is nothing like the sugar-fest of December, and it’s time to settle into a more realistic approach to eating. A few carbs here; a few fats there. It’s all good.

Through thick and thin, the farmers’ market remains the portal to healthy living. Incorporate a shopping trip to the market into your Saturday morning walk, and find endless varieties of greens, the last of the winter squash, apples, pears, kiwi, a myriad of juicy citrus fruits, and many other sweet reminders of a bountiful winter. Early crops like sugar snap peas and the very-first strawberries offer a sneak-peak of coming attractions.

And before you leave the market buy a big sack of oranges to make candied peel; and buy a bouquet of farm-fresh flowers to brighten up a gloomy winter day for someone special—even if that special someone is you.

CANDIED ORANGE PEEL

5 navel or other thick-skinned oranges, preferably organic, well rinsed

Water

2 cups granulated sugar, plus 3/4 cup for coating

1 tablespoon light corn syrup

• Cut off about 1/2-inch from both ends of each orange, revealing some of the flesh. Using a small, sharp knife, make cuts through the skin of each orange from top to bottom, at 1-inch intervals. Make sure the cuts go through both the skin and the white pith. Using your fingers, carefully remove the sections of peel from the oranges. Cut each section lengthwise into strips about 1/3-inch wide. (Reserve the orange flesh for another use.)

• To blanch the orange strips, place in a large heavy saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover by 2 inches and bring to a boil over medium heat. Let boil for 5 minutes. Drain and repeat. (This will remove any inherent bitterness from the orange peel.) Drain in a colander and set aside.

• In the same saucepan, combine 1 1/2 cups of water, the 2 cups sugar, and the corn syrup. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Stir in the blanched orange strips and cook without stirring until the syrup has thickened, the orange strips are glazed and shiny, and the temperature reaches 225 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 30 minutes. Swirl the pan periodically to ensure even cooking, and lower the heat as needed to prevent scorching.

• Place a wire rack over a parchment-lined baking sheet to catch any drips. Use tongs to transfer individual orange strips to the rack, placing them skin-side up and not touching. Let stand for about 1 hour, or until dried slightly but still feel tacky. Discard the remaining sugar syrup, or save for another use.

• Place the remaining 3/4 cup sugar in a medium bowl. Drop in a few candied orange strips at a time, tossing to coat completely. Transfer the strips to another parchment-lined baking sheet or large platter. Repeat with the remaining orange strips. Let stand overnight at room temperature to dry completely. Store the sugar-coated strips in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, or in the refrigerator for longer storage. Makes about 50 pieces.

COOK’s TIPS

• For the best looking Candied Orange Peel, opt for unblemished oranges.

• Step 4 instructs you to “Discard the remaining sugar syrup, or save for another use.” If you are wondering what that other use might be, think about sweetening hot or iced tea, or any cocktail that would benefit from a hint of orange. The syrup will keep in the refrigerator for months.

• Pass a plate of Candied Orange Peel at dessert time, or serve as an irresistible nibble with coffee or tea. For extra pizazz, dip one end of each strip into melted bittersweet chocolate.
• Package Candied Orange Peel in small cellophane bags or in jars as Valentine gifts for friends and neighbors.

• Sprinkle chopped Candied Orange Peel over ice cream or use to garnish other desserts—especially those flavored with orange juice or liqueur. Chopped candied peel can also be added to sweet breads, cakes, scones, chocolate truffles, or biscotti or other cookies.

• Use this same technique to candy the peels from 6 Meyer lemons or 4 Ruby grapefruits. To be on the safe side, blanch those peels in boiling water 4 times (instead of twice) to remove bitterness.

The Danville Certified Farmers’ Market, located at Railroad & Prospect, is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For specific crop information call the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association at 1-800-949-FARM, or visit their web site at www.pcfma.org. This market is made possible through the generous support of the Town of Danville. Please show your appreciation by patronizing the many fine shops and restaurants located in downtown Danville. Buy fresh. Buy local. Live well!

Blazers have been in style for a while now. They’re a great choice for adding structure to an outfit. Whether you’re wearing one in the business world or for the finishing touch to a weekend outfit, blazers are a great option.

It seems fair to say blazers are a classic piece of clothing—perhaps even considered conservative. What excites me about blazers is how they can be worn in ways that are outside the traditional sense. Nonetheless, whether worn classically or as a way to add a unique touch to an outfit, a blazer can be included in so many different fashions. They are extremely versatile—a closet staple for sure!

Did you know that, initially, blazers were worn in boats by rowers at Oxford and Cambridge Universities? The first time the word “blazer” appeared was in 1952 when it referred to the red jacked worn by Cambridge’s Lady Margaret Boat Club as a “red guernsey” or “blazer.” Red in color, it was referred to as “blazing red”—leading to the name, blazer! (Town and Country: How the Blazer Got Its Name, 2015). Eventually, these rowers started wearing them outside the confines of their boats as a kind of letterman’s jacket, which eventually trickled down to everyday fashion. How fascinating that the structured, finishing touch to the outfits we wear today was once worn strictly for functional purposes; keeping rowers warm while rowing.

I’ve owned a couple blazers throughout the years but ended up giving them away. I’m kicking myself for that decision now. A classic like a blazer may go out of style for a while, but it always manages to make its way back. I’d be rocking them if they were still in my closet.

You’ll see women wearing blazers for day wear, paired with boyfriend jeans and sneakers. Blazers are a great addition to creating a sassy out-for-a-date night; with a lace tank, ankle jeans, and heels, or for a classic look paired with a turtleneck, dark skinny jeans, and booties.

Play up the Masculinity

This blazer has a business like feel with the material, padded shoulders, and double-breasted buttons. The compelling detail is the mix of professional and casual attire. Pair your business blazer with a casual tee, boyfriend denim, and sneakers. It’s interesting to pair unexpected items together—a great way to get creative with your wardrobe.

Preppy Fun

Equestrian in look and feel, the plaid pattern adds a preppy touch to the blazer. Pair it with a cream turtleneck and dark skinny jeans for a classic outfit. Instead of wearing a pair of riding boots, opt for Chelsea booties to add a unique touch.

Give it Some Sass

Sweater blazers are a fun way to add a blazer to your closet. They’re more casual—the perfect mix of a cozy cardigan and structured blazer. I love the way this outfit comes together. It’s sassy and sophisticated. Pair your sweater blazer with a lace tank, frayed ankle skinny jeans, and a pair of leopard print heels for a polished day-to-night outfit. The masculine style of a blazer paired with feminine pieces, like a lace tank and heels, is a great way to mix styles and create a visually compelling outfit.

Thanks so much for reading, dear ones. Stop by maccarose.com for shoppable links to create these outfits and others.