bohoBlack's Top 5 Beauty Products

bohoBlack's Top 5 Beauty Products by bohoblack featuring Kerastase

Kerastase styling product, $24 / Leah Flores Summer Lovin / Amazon.com : Philosophy Amazing Grace Multi-Tasking Oil-1.6 oz. : Body...

bohoEATS///pickled jalapeños & pickles from Gwyneth Paltrow's cookbook, It's All Good

i am so excited bohoSarah and bohoJulie are cooking- let the recipe sharing begin!

I recently read in GQ, what David Chang, NYC restaurant owner of Momofuko, Ssäm Bar, Ko, and Má Pêche thinks we should stop emphasizing on Freshness and start keying in on ROTTEN!  He predicts the new food rage is pickling, aging and curing food!

from his article: " We reflexively recoil from the word “rot” when it comes to food, and we shouldn’t. We pay a premium for dry-aged beef because we know the older the steak, the more tender it is and the more umami it develops. That beef is rotting (okay, “aging”), but under our terms and to our benefit. Many foods are rotted to make them edible at all: olives, chocolate, coffee. And there are those that we rot to improve: pickles, cheese, wine. I find it hilarious that even the freshest foods are seasoned with rot. We dress salads with vinegar, a.k.a. rotten wine. I can’t even come up with a list of foods that I enjoy fresh more than aged—it basically stops after orange juice."

So, let's start pickling! … recipe from Gwyneth Paltrow's cookbook, It's All Good

pickled jalapeños

yields 1 veganaise jar

3/4 cup white wine vinegar

3/4 cup water

1 tablespoon coarse sea salt

a pinch of celery seed

1 teaspoon coriander seeds

1 teaspoon black peppercorns

8 large jalapeños, thinly sliced

1 bay leaf

1 garlic clove, thinly sliced

Combine the vinegar, water, salt, celery seed, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a small saucepan over high heat, bring to a boil, and turn off the heat.  Meanwhile, pack your empty Vegenaise jar with the jalapeños and stuff the bay leaf and garlic slices in and and among the peppers.  Pour the vinegar mixture over the jalapeños, bring sure to get all the seeds into the mix.  The liquid should completely cover the peppers.  Let the jar cool to room temperature, then tightly screw on the lid and stash the  jar in the fridge.  The peppers are good to go after a week, but they keep up to a year in the refrigerator- seriously.

-our jalapeños didn't even make it to a month in the refrigerator :)

bread & butter pickles

yields about 1 pint

1 Pound cucumbers, ends trimmed, sliced into coins (the smaller the cucumbers you can find, the better; we like Kirby and Israei cucumbers best- it will take about 6 of these small guys to yield 1 pound)

1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons coarse sea salt

1/2 c white wine vinegar

1/2 c xylitol or raw honey

1 teaspoon coriander seeds

1 teaspoon black mustard seeds

1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns

A pinch of celery seed

1 bay leaf

Combine the cucumbers, onion, and salt in a large mixing bowl of very ice water and let them sit for 2 hours ( this will help keep the pickles very crunchy).  

Meanwhile, bring the vinegar, xylitol or honey, and seasonings to a boil in a large pot.  Drain the cucumbers and onions and add them to the pot.  Bring back to a boil, immediately turn off the heat, and transfer the entire mixture to a glass jar.  Once the jar cools to room temperature, put a lid on it and store in the refrigerator for up to a month (though the pickles rarely last that long!)

-i omitted the xylitol and added fresh dill.

order the cookbook here.

Enjoy!

bohoJC

Nannygate

I took on this nanny gig to bring in some extra income while Prohibition remains under construction. It's been great and rewarding and fulfilling and I love getting to be a kid again, but I am F'ING TIRED man. You want to know what I just googled? 'I feel so drained after dealing with a toddler'. I felt incredibly stupid as I was typing it but still, I continued in search of someone who might tell me that I'm simply unhealthy and what I really need is more protein and less alcohol. Instead I have stumbled upon a plethora of poor, parenting souls who are just as tired and still have to continue on with their daily lives...and these people have REAL jobs! How do they do it with all of the critical thinking involved? On one hand I'm trying to outsmart the lil' tyke by essentially tricking her into everything: 'It's not a bed, it's a magical cloud made for pretty pretty princesses! See watch...' Then I try to gracefully fall onto the bed without instantly falling asleep and leaving her unattended. On the other hand, I feel as if my brain has atrophied because my daily arithmetic consists of counting from 1 to 20. Over. And over. And over. 

My creative genius has died of fatigue. It's like someone has taken my brain and wrung it out. I'm plum out of nap-time stories. Don't even ask. My next one will probably sound like this, 'Once upon a time a princess named Marlobora smoked her first cigarette. Then she coughed up blood and died. The end.' Then I'll leave and feel guilty for being an asshole and go back and tell her the most elaborate story I can come up with. I can already see it, I'll be drying my tears, having unloaded a fairytale metaphor for some pathetic phase in my life that I would never repeat to a grown adult, and she'll bat her pretty eyes and say, 'Anudder one!'. Ingrate. 

I used to think: How do parents do it?! Now I know. You're all tired. You're all so fucking sleepy. Every single one of you needs a nap and a vacation and a drink and maybe some crystal meth. 

One might assume that a nanny would have some profound perspective on parenting. Well you know what, I can't help you. And google can't help you. And nobody can help you but God Himself. Say your prayers and may the force be with you. 

In God's Guide to Parenting We Trust,

Grace 

My Due Date is Coming & Probably Going…….

Today is my due date. Last week I had convinced myself that Donovan was going to come on August 10th or 11th because of the Supermoon which was obviously not the case. I was saying it out loud, throwing it out into the universe, trying the whole 'mind over matter' thing only to wake up Monday morning and find the only thing that happened Sunday night was I completed Donovan's room and slept like crap.

Getting ready for work Monday morning Driscoe was abnormally clingy to me. He usually sees his Nana and is fine with mommy and daddy going to work, but this day was different. I got to work late because it was so hard to leave him. I decided to take my mother in law's wise advice and make Monday my last day at work so I could hopefully spend some time with Driscoe before Donovan comes. So alas, it's Tuesday, my due date, and Driscoe and I just had the best day ever.

First, we slept until 8. #winning He was so excited when he woke up next to me, 'Hi mommy!!?' Melted my heart. Then we got ready for our 'adventure'.

Yes he had to bring his 'pack pack' full of trains.

First we went to get Daddy's car washed because it was probably the filthiest vehicle in Houston. SOAP on Richmond has a kids area complete with a train track, so as you can imagine, Driscoe did not want to leave.

After that we dropped some paper work off at the new school Driscoe will be attending twice a week in September. We got a little tour and he loved it, though it was pretty difficult not playing with all the toys he saw.

Then we decided to stop by Daddy's office to say hi. We were pretty exhausted at this point. After he almost took a painting out with the golf clubs they have laying around there, we decided it was time to go. I'm so bummed I didn't get a pic, but we had both turned into Godzilla by now because we were so hungry. I decided next stop would be Memorial City Mall for some food court action, just the fuel we needed.

After we ate and turned back into Mommy and Driscoe we hit the carousel for 2 rides in a row, I was SO dizzy! Not the best idea to stand up and snap pics on a carousel after a big lunch….BARF. But Driscoe loved it!

After that we got our land legs back and did some mall walking.  I decided to take him to Build A Bear Workshop for the first time and he was SO cute. He picked out a black bear, made a wish for him, and gave him a heart. Then he dressed him up as a Firefighter, just like Grandma used to be! I was so excited and swooning over the whole experience, almost in tears at every single cute thing he did. Then of course I tried to get a pic of him with his new bear and he chunked it at me saying he doesn't like it. A nice reminder that he is 2.5. Deep breath.

Making a wish!

His new bear needs a bath of course.

Then we stopped and played at the playground they have inside the mall and he was wild as can be.
I finally had to bribe him to leave with a  popsicle and we headed home. He was asleep before we hit I-10.

Today was a great reminder to me that God is definitely in control here. I'm so thankful my 'mind over matter' didn't work and that I was able to have this day. My feet are swollen, my hands are swollen, but my heart is so full. My cousin Erica takes 1 of her 3 kids on 'dates with mommy' all the time and I remembered that today as we were strolling around the mall.  Our lives are definitely about to change, obviously for the better, but in case Driscoe has a hard time sharing our attention, I can always recreate this amazing day with just him and me, just like Erica does. And that alone has really brought me some peace.

Now, back to the couch for some more backwoods labor induction techniques Sarah and Big Mar keep telling me to do! If they work I'll share, if they don't I will not be sharing because they are pretty strange.

Stay tuned….bohoBaby #5 will be here any day now!

Love, bohoBoolie, 

AboutToBeMotherOfTwo!

Happy Birthday Sarah!!

How can one possibly find the right gift for a person who has dedicated their life to the art of giving?  

I'm talking about my sister Sarah. From the best advice, to designer hand-me-downs, to her checkbook & unexpired driver's license when Julie & I were in college and broke and still needed a way to buy beer because we were minors, Sarah never stops giving. She spends her entire Christmas bonus on children's toy drives. She is a never ending well of love and generosity. Every person she comes into contact with feels the unending love Sarah has for her family, friends, & neighbors. Sarah IS love.

So strong & loving that- while in search for her birthday present this year- I have been inspired to make one of the boldest movements of our time. It is a quest to end sex inequality in daycares and households everywhere. I am fighting for men's rights...to babysit! 

For your birthday, Jules & I chipped in to give you Paulo: Your new MANNY! (male nanny)

 Paulo grew up in Spain. Because he has a hard time finding work as a manny, he can't afford new clothes. He only wears white v-necks (that are just a little tight but not TOO tight) and a black leather jacket. His jeans are always rugged and worn, poor thing! He always has a five o'clock shadow because he skips his morning shave to make Mommy breakfast-in-bed before gently rousing the children with soft tunes from his acoustic guitar. Paulo deserves a chance too.  

 With just a $5 donation to Mannies of 'Merica you will receive this free t-shirt. 

Yes, you can get excited now.

We love you Sarah. Happiest birthday! 

Love, your bohoSisters

August Horoscopes

ARIES

You are in one of the most fun filled periods of your year - perhaps your life (much depends on your age). Life is something to be enjoyed and this is a month where you explore this dimension. In leisure there is luck, said Andrew Carnegie. Sometimes the best way to make things happen is to let go, relax and enjoy yourself. Too much tension and stress actually blocks the good. Love is happy and carefree - especially after the 12 . A happy romantic or social meeting happens from the 17th to the 19th.  Until the 12th love happens through the family or family connections. But afterwards it happens in the usual ways - at parties, sports events, resorts and places of entertainment. Children or children figures in your life are playing cupid. Those already in relationships are having fun with their partners. Love has that honeymoon feel these days. Finances are excellent this month too - especially after the 12th. The 17th to the 19th brings a very nice payday. Speculations seem especially favorable that period. Financial opportunity comes as you have fun - perhaps on the tennis court, golf course or party. Your personal creativity is very marketable now. Career will be stronger in coming months, but some very nice opportunity happens from the 23rd to the 27th.

TAURUS 

Many planets are stimulating eclipse points this month. So it is like having many “mini-eclipses”. A nice payday from the 1st to the 3rd causes important financial changes on the 5th and 6th. Venus moves over an eclipse point from the 18th to the 20th and Jupiter from the 24th to the 31st - avoid risk taking activities those days. The Sun, your family planet, moves over an eclipse point on the 1st and 2nd – be more patient with family members then. There could some short term crisis at home. Emotional wellness is still the theme of the month ahead - especially until the 23rd. Many people don’t realize that the main thing that blocks them from their goals are old traumas and pain memories. These need clearing. Emotional wellness will not only improve health but the self esteem and bottom line as well. This is not an especially strong career month. Home, family and emotional issues come first. But there is a nice career opportunity happening from the 7th to the 10th and it looks like it comes from a family connection. Health needs more attention until the 23rd. As always make sure to get enough rest. Enhance the health further through right diets and give more attention to the heart from the 12th onwards.

GEMINI 

A happy month ahead Gemini. Enjoy! Your 3rd House of communication - your favorite House – is chock full of planets - and benefic ones. This spells success in marketing, writing, teaching and media activities. Also good for trading. Love is still close to home - in the neighborhood. Romance blooms from the 1st to the 3rd and from the 17th to the 19th. Your gift of gab is a romantic turn on and appreciated by the beloved. Foreign travel is much better now than it has been the past few months. Career is in a bit of a lull right now but this is all in the natural order of things. Nothing to get worried about. Your career planet is retrograde and most of the planets are below the horizon. Give more attention to the home, family and your emotional well being. Only time will straighten out career issues. Drive more defensively on the 1st2nd, 5th and 6th. Love gets some minor testing from the 24th to the 31st. There are some dramas with friendsfrom the 10th to the 14th. These are little bumps on the road. Short term issues. Health is good most of the month, but after the 23rd becomes more delicate. If you’re experiencing problems (god forbid) its most likely coming from lack of energy. Your energy levels are not what they should be - a temporary thing caused by the transits. A good night’s sleep will be a big help.

CANCER

Your are in one of the most prosperous periods of a prosperous year. Earnings are even stronger than last month. The focus is on finance as it should be. Its understandable that your financial focus might hamper the love life. Perhaps he or she feels neglected or not appreciated. Singles are probably not dating as much because of this. Love is not such a priority this month. This is a short term issue. By the 23rd social harmony is restored. There is a happy romantic or social meeting with someone of high status from the 23rd to the 27th. Singles have opportunities for office romances that period. Attending the right parties or gatherings helps the career. Wealth is a wonderful thing - a blessing - but if not used properly can create health problems. Wealth should bring blessings not pain to others. The financial intuition is super form the 1st to the 3rd. (Spiritual healing goes well that period too). Wealth is not only physical but mental and intellectual as well. Wealth of ideas - which is happening then - is also wealth. By the 23 many of your short term financial goals are achieve and you can feed rd your mind. Read more. Attend classes and seminars. Health is basically good.

LEO  

A very happy and prosperous month Leo. Enjoy. There are some bumps on the road - we have many mini-eclipses this month (this is when planets activate eclipse points) - but overall happiness and success is not really affected. You’re in a strong party period now. The year ahead will be one long party, but this month more so. And, boy do Leos know how to party! Important to watch the weight this year - this is one of the down sides of the good life. Leos of appropriate age are very fertile these days. If there are areas of your life that need fixing, this is the month to do it. You’re at maximum personal power now. Leos are known for their “presence”. When they walk into a room, you know that they’re there. But this month the personal presence is even stronger. The personal appearance shines and the opposite sex takes notice. Love is very happy this month but still complicated. Singles are easily meeting new people and dating more. Existing relationships are much more harmonious. But the Love Planet is retrograde and so there’s no need to jump into any permanent commitments. Prosperity is strong too. Financial windfalls happen (the 1st to the 3rd looks especially good). Financial opportunity seeks you out. You’re not chasing after money, money is chasing after you. I can hear the laughter from miles away!

VIRGO 

Jupiter in your 12th House is not just bringing spiritual breakthroughs and understanding. He is preparing the way - inwardly - for prosperity and success next year. Before it can happen as it should, the ground needs preparation and this is what is happening. The power in your 12th House of spirituality is really the main headline this month. 50% of the planets are either there or moving through there. This is a lot of cosmic power. You’re a very down to earth practical kind of person. Its good every now and then to set aside practical affairs and explore the spiritual realms. And, it will turn out to be very practical in the end, but in ways that you didn’t expect. The financial intuition is super from the 12th onwards. It is especially super from the 17th to the 19th. A very nice payday is happening. You are much more generous from the 12th onwards. You seem charitable and a free spender. Yet prosperity happens anyway. There is a nice payday from the 1st to the 3rd too. You’re very independent these days. You want your own way (and mostly get it) but this can complicate the love situation. You and the beloved seem distant from the 15th onwards, with opposite perspectives on things. Both perspectives are valid. If you can bridge your differences, love will go well.

LIBRA

There is turbulence here and there as many eclipse points are getting re-activated, but overall this is a happy month. A very social kind of month. The focus is not so much on romance but on friendships and group activities. New and significant friends are coming into your life these days. You are manifesting many of your ‘fondest hopes and wishes’. You’re ability to handle high tech is much enhanced. A great month to upgrade your high tech skills and to learn more about astronomy, astrology and science in general. If you’re in the market for high tech equipment, this is a good month to buy them. The judgment is good. Children or children figures in your life have happy romantic experiences from the 7th to the 10th. If they are very young this can show new friends. A marriage or engagement of children of appropriate age could easily happen this month. Finances are still being re-organized and are perhaps slower than usual, but you have help from the spouse, partner or current love interest. A business partnership or joint venture could materialize too. But no need to rush those things. There is a nice payday from the 17 to the 19th. There is luck in speculations that period too. Health and energy are good.

SCORPIO

You’re in one of the best career periods of your life right now. You’re attaining to your goals. You’re recognized for your professional achievements and being rightly compensated. In many cases there are honors and awards happening. The career is still the main headline this month. Many planets - all beneficial - are in or moving through your 10th House. Its as if the universe is conspiring to bring you success. Your good professional reputation is like money in the bank. It enhances your bottom line. Bosses, elders, parents or parent figures are favorably disposed to your financial goals. They are cooperating. If you have issues with the government, this is a great month to deal with it (last month was good too). You’ll get best case outcomes. You career success draws love into your life. The opposite sex seems galvanized by it. There is a very happy romantic meeting or opportunity from the 17th to the 19th. It seems like a nice payday as well. For singles love opportunities happen as you pursue your career goals and with people involved in your career. You have the aspects for the office romance these days. You’re mixing with the “high and mighty” from the 12 onwards. And these meetings further bolsterthe career. Don’t let a hyper active career overly deplete you. Make sure to get enough rest.

SAGITTARIUS

There are bumps and adventures this month, but basically this is a happy month. Your 9thHouse - your favorite House - is chock full of benefic planets. So you’re traveling far and wide andenjoying it tremendously. Try not to be on the road the 1st and 2nd and from the 24th to the 31st. Schedulearound these periods. College students are successful in their studies and admissions look good for college applicants. When the 9th House is this strong there is a passionate interest in philosophy and theology. The visit of a Guru or Minister is more interesting than a night out on the town. Religious and philosophical breakthroughs are there for those who want it. There is a Grand Trine in the fire element this month and fire is your natural element. Thus you have the energy of 10 people. Your zest and enthusiasmfor life is boundless. You can see your goals - and they are high - into fruition. Nothing is impossible or difficult for you these days. There is a feeling of invincibility. After the 23rd overall energy is a bit less and it’s good to get more rest. You enter a period of career success then. Focus on your career goals. The success you enjoy this month is only a harbinger - a shadow - of the success that will happen this time next year. Love is happy this month - especially from the 1st to the 3rd and the 17th and 18th.

CAPRICORN

 A very prosperous month Capricorn. Enjoy. It is prosperous for both you and for the spouse, partner or current love. It is not just earnings that are increasing. Your line of credit is probably increased. If you have good ideas there are investors willing to back you. You have good access to all the capital you need. Money can come from insurance claims, tax refunds or estates and trust funds. If you’re unemployed there are happy job opportunities from the 1st to the 3rd. This is also a good period if you need to hire people. Health and energy are better than they’ve been all year. Most of the planets are either harmonious to you or leaving you alone. Health and energy will improve after the 23rd. Personal reinvention - personal transformation - has been an important interest for some years now. This month these projects go well. It is a month for “resurrection” activities - for raising things that look dead. After the 23rd happy travel opportunities will come. Try to schedule these things before or after the 24th to the 31st. If there are still any unattached Capricorns left, there is a happy romantic opportunity from the 17th to the 19th. It can be light and fun, but not likely to lead to anything serious. A happy career opportunity also happens then.

AQUARIUS

Love is the theme of the month and for the year ahead. You’re in one of the best social periods of your life - and in many cases, it is the best of the life so far. Singles are not likely to remain single too long. And even if marriage doesn’t happen, there are relationships that are “like” marriage. Your 7th House of love is chock full of benefic planets. The Universe is conspiring to bring you love. The whole month is a romantic month - but especially until the 23rd. Unattached Aquarians have significant love meeting from the 7th to the 10th. Singles have many, many options these days. There are creative types, athletes, show business types, art and intellectual types. You seem to get on with all of them. There’s a large menu to choose from. Finances are a bit slower than usual. Your Financial Planet is retrograde for one thing and you’re not paying that much attention to it. Earnings are adequate, but not gang busters. Do more homework if you’re making major purchases or investments. Health and energy need watching until the 23rd. The most important thing is to eat right and get enough rest. If you have insurance claims best to deal with them after the 23rd.

PISCES

Health and work are the themes of the month. Job seekers have good fortune this month. Those of you who hire others have no lack of help. This is a great month to find a good doctor or therapist, or to plan your diet or health regime. Good health is your mission in life this year. With good health you can achieve wealth and career success, without it, those things don’t matter. You have an excellent work ethic these days - superiors are making note and this helps the career. Good relations with co-workers also seems important in the career. The career is starting to become more important from the 23rd onwards and its good to focus on that. Even the family seems supportive of the career - especially from the 1st to the 3rd. Career will become much more successful in coming months. On the 23rd your 7th House of love becomes strong. You enter one of your most active social periods. Singles will date more. All of you will be attending more parties and gatherings. A very happy love opportunity happens from the 1st to the 3rd. This could be with someone involved in your career. In general love and social opportunities happen at the work place or with people involved in your health.

*images via Pinterest

Cheers to Three Years

 Dax is 3

He is silly and wild.  

Sensitive and caring.  

Happy and dramatic.  

Curious and clever.

The more he grows the more I can see his sweet happy soul.  And although I feel a ping in the pit of my stomach that these years are flying by, watching this amazing little person grow has been a blessing I am most grateful for.  

I love you Dax Joseph DeVon,

bohoSarah