Whip It. Whip it Good.

As autumn weather sets in it's hard to resist cozy coffee shops and the warm drinks waiting inside. Gathering your books, laptop, or friends is essential to any coffee shop experience, but unless you're going to sit in and get the most out of your caffeinated experience it's best to stuff your wallet back into your purse. Our addictions can cost us an average of $20 a week. Iced or hot teas and coffee are easy to put in your thermos or to enjoy at home, but it seems every cozy drink comes frothed. Looking to save money and refusing to give up on my steamed-milk options I researched ways to achieve similar results.

I started with this conversation about steamed milk. I think I may just go in for the espresso machine at some point, but I'm really not interested in getting a cheap espresso machine. It might make good froth, but what's the espresso like? So I'm thinking of picking up one of these steamed milk contraptions for the time being. Seems cheap, easy, and fun. Looking forward to cafe au laits and chai lattes more often!

Cinnamon Oil can be used as a disinfectant

"STOP USING THE ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP!" I want to scream at my coworkers every time they take a pump of the bubbly liquid. It's only making bacteria stronger and increasing our problem.

The New York Times just came out with an article about cinnamon oil and its uses as a disinfectant. My reaction after reading it? Thieves oil eh? Well they need not worry. My jewelry isn't going with me to the nether world.

Find out what I'm blabbering about and read the short piece. It will get you thinking and it won't take you more than a minute or two.

Fistful of Crumbs: Kim Sunée leaves her mark

A week ago I came across a memoir writing course on Mediabistro.com taught by Kim Sunée. I've always wanted to write a memoir and though I don't quite feel it's the time yet, I already have my central theme in mind. Curious about the course I did a little research on the instructor and came across her first memoir, "Trail of Crumbs: Hunger, Love and the Search for Home."

The freelance writer and food editor known for her culinary contributions to The New York Times, Elle and Southern Living published "Trail of Crumbs" January 2008. The memoir recounts Sunée's limbo life from the age of three through her mid-twenties. Left by her birth mother in a crowded Korean market with nothing but crumbs in her tiny fist, Sunée was adopted and raised in New Orleans. The book matches mouth-watering recipes from her life to each of the chapters detailing her university years in France and her decade living, working and trying to love in Europe. I recommend the book--though an old read--to anyone with a love for memoirs and food. Readers will find themselves cooking through Sunée's memories, inviting the tasteful dishes as memorable additions to their own lives.