The Getting To Know You Game

Hi! Welcome to my blog. For those of you tuning in for the first time, Id like to introduce myself. My name is Jody Katz and I'm a Nail Tech in the Carrollwood area of Tampa, Florida. I spend my days doing something I love: Pampering People. I specialize in Gel Nails, Acrylic Nails( Both Regular with Polish and Pink and White), Manicures, Pedicures, and Listening.(A very important part of the job). Please visit my website www.tampanailchick.com for more details. I work at the Nail Shop of Carrollwood with an amazing group of women. It's very rare in the beauty industry, to find a workplace that is drama-free, clean, and filled with welcoming people. We have accomplished that and I invite you to come and check it out for yourselves. We offer not only nail services, but we have a wonderfully talented hairdresser and 2 ethsteticians. In addition, we also offer eyelash extensions and permanent make-up. How's that for full service.

I have several other passions that I share with my readers: TV, Movies, and Cooking. My tastes in entertainment range from romantic comedies to weird sci-fi and lots of territory in between. The last movie I saw was "Eat Pray Love" starring Julia Roberts. It was longer than I expected(133 min.),and a little more serious than I thought it would be, but I really liked it. The scenery was exquisite, and the story was one of self exploration. It accomplished what it set out to do; draw women to the theatre, who then recommend it to other women. My description:A good, thought provoking chick-flick.

So thank you for sharing a bit of my world with me. I welcome your comments and look forward to keeping you tuned in.

For more info on Gels, Acrylics, Manicures, Pedicures, and Nail Care visit www.tampanailchick.com .

Update on Beauty Parlor to Salon

In a piece I wrote, not that long ago, we took a little journey from the sixties to the present into the look of the Beauty Salon. Now we are seeing the emergence of a new concept in Spa design and operation. In this new set up, the space is divided into rooms and rented out as such. Generally these rooms are about 100 sq. ft. of space to decorate , equip and secure(lock up when not in use) by the nail tech, hair stylist, massage therapist, or esthetician. All are independent contractors, keeping their own schedules and hours; in essence each is a salon owner. In most cases, the only common areas are the restrooms and the lobby(or waiting area), and some offer laundry facilities. Another commonality is the upscale style of the salon. I have visited 3 of these new style salons and I've been impressed by the concept and classiness of each one. Having just said that, keep in mind that each room is the decorative canvas of it's occupant and there's no accounting for taste. This concept seems to be catching on, as I see many of my colleagues making the change and moving into the new era in our industry.
As for myself, I always look forward to the next great adventure. So thank you for reading my blog, and for info on gels, acrylics, manicures or pedicures visit me at www.tampanailchick.com .

New and/or weird TV

Summer usually brings us new TV series, some last, and some don't. I've gotten hooked on a few that I would miss if they flopped. The 3 that stand out most for me are The Glades, The Gates, and Haven. The Glades is a crime drama that takes place in south Florida and taped partially in the Tampa Bay area.(The big pink hotel is The Don Cesar) Our hero, Jim, is a former Chicago police detective who was falsely accused of having an affair with his bosses wife; his boss shot him, and with the large settlement he got, he moved to a small town in south Florida. He joined the Sheriff's Department, thinking it would be a slow, quiet job, but that didn't last long. Jim is a bit cocky, defies authority, has a soft spot for kids, and gets the job done. His flip side is the coroner, who is "by the book", navigates the politics of the system well, and never made waves before, but gets talked into bending the rules for Jim. And , of course, there's a potential love interest with an obstacle(Her imprisoned loser husband).
The Gates is one of the weird ones, but I like weird. The Gates is a planned community that houses vampires, werewolves and other assorted interesting folks. The new police chief knew nothing of the local residents when he moved his family into this beautifully manicured hamlet, but is quickly learning the secrets of "The Gates."
Haven may just be my favorite. It is based on a Steven King book,(so you know it's a little out there), called "The Colorado Kid". Haven, Maine is a small town who's residents possess special abilities; some might call them curses. These "curses" help some people, while hurting or even killing others. Our heroine, Audry, is on temporary assignment from the FBI to help solve a murder. She is surprised to find a newspaper clipping of an unsolved murder case showing a picture of a woman who looks remarkably like herself(the woman is not the murder victim). Having been adopted, she concludes this woman is most likely her mother. After solving her assigned murder case, which of course was a "curse-case", she decides to stay in Haven to assist the sheriff's deputy solve more strange cases, while searching for her mothers identity. She admits, finally, that the weirdness of this little town does fascinate her and that draws me in. I like weird.
So, in conclusion, summer has always been a time for new adventures(summer camp, summer flings etc.)and this summer's TV line- up is no exception. Enjoy with me, I welcome your comments and input.

For info on nail care, acrylics, gels, manicures and pedicures, visit www.tampanailchick.com.

Left-Over Dilemma

What to do with left-overs; an age-old question with many, many answers, one of which I will share with you today. One of my mom's favorites was Chicken A La King. When ever Gram made chicken soup, mom made this out of the boiled chicken. It's easy comfort food that still puts smiles on all our faces.

Chicken A La King

1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 bag frozen peas
1 jar diced pimentos
2-3 cups cooked cubed chicken

1. Pour both cans of soup into large frying pan and cook on medium heat for 5 min.(Do not add water)
   
2. Add peas and stir, cook for 10 min.
3. Add chicken and pimentos, stir, cover and cook for 15 min., stirring occasionally.
   

That's all there is to it. Mom served it over white rice. I like it spooned into Pepperidge Farm puffed pastry shells; they make a nice presentation. Enjoy!!


For info on manicures, pedicures, acrylics or gels visit me at www.tampanailchick.com.

Movie Review

As promised, my thoughts on "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"-I loved it! There aren't many Nicolas Cage movies I don't like, but this is now one of my favorites. It blends legend, fantasy, sorcery, romance and humor. It begins with Merlin and his three apprentices, then takes us to 2000AD Manhattan, and onto today(also in N.Y.C.). Nicolas Cage's character must find the "Prime Merlinian", to defeat Morgana, and free the love of his very long life from her prison inside a nesting doll. I think Nicolas Cage gets better with age and his young costar, Jay Baruchel, may just do the same. He is a little geeky and awkward, and plays that part really well, but looking to the future, I can see him maturing into something great. Its almost like watching a father and son. I would recommend this movie to everyone.

In addition to movies, nail care, acrylics, gels, manicures, and pedicures are also "My Thing" so visit me at http://www.tampanailchick.com/.

Double Feature

Movie Review-

As previously stated in my blog, I am a movie maven. I have been known to do the double, or even triple feature. I love going to the theatre; the smells, the people, the stadium seating, the excitement of it all. It still holds the same thrill for me as it did when I was a child. Sometimes I go with friends, sometimes alone, sometimes with my nieces and nephews. I enjoy all three, and always walk away better for the experience, even if the movie sucked. Happily, that wasn't the case for either movie I saw this past weekend. On Saturday, my friend Sharon and I saw "Inception" starring, of course, Leonardo DiCaprio. (Sharon loves Leo.) It was pretty amazing; a real thinker. It explores the concept of creating and sharing dreams, and planting seeds of ideas, that the dreamer believes are his own. The dreams become multi-layered and very complicated. The movie goer is forced to think, to keep the layers of the dreams straight , so the storyline makes sense. I loved this flick and I'd see it again. It's one of those movies that you know you'll catch more details each time you see it.
On Monday(one of my favorite days to catch a movie), I talked my friend Joann into seeing "The Last Airbender" with me. 9 times out of 10, the movies I see with Joann are ones that she would not pick on her own, but she ends up enjoying them. Such was the case with "Airbender". It's a family-friendly movie about people who can control the elements: Air,Fire Water, and Earth. It is based on a Nickelodeon animated series, but this live action. The critics panned it , but Joann and I really liked it. The ending leads into a sequel, which I plan on seeing.

Still to come-"The Sorcerer's Apprentice"- next weeks movie.

Movie theatres great places to beat the heat; so are salons. Treat yourself to a manicure, pedicure, a full set(acrylics or gels) or fill. Visit my website for details: www.tampanailchick.com.

Summer Comforts

Summer can be a hectic time of year- kids out of school, people taking vacations and others having to cover their duties at work, not to mention the oppressive heat. To counteract some of these summer symptoms, I have 2 sure-fire cures. The first is total self indulgence, by way of a manicure and pedicure. The other is a seafood "comfort food" dinner. My favorite is mussels, but clams would work just as well for this recipe.

Mussels in White Wine Sauce

Ingredients
1 medium size onion chopped
1 clove garlic
4oz. olive oil
2 cups white wine
1 tbsp parsley
1 1/2lbs mussels

1. In a large frying pan with cover, saute onion and garlic in 3 tbsp olive oil until onion is translucent.
2. Add remaining olive oil, wine, and parsley, bring to a boil, lower heat and allow to simmer 15 minutes.
3. Add mussels, cover and steam mussels unit they open-about 5-8 minutes.

I serve this over spaghetti in my favorite bowls with Pillsbury garlic bread sticks. Any shellfish can be added for variety. One of the joys of cooking is experimentation, another is sharing the experiences, so please, enjoy my Summer Comforts and feel free to share yours with me.

To contact me or for info on nailcare, manicures, pedicures,acrylics or gels, visit www.tampanailchick.com

Not Just For Kids Anymore

Movie Reviews

My love for children and movies helped me create a tradition with my nieces and nephews. Not only do I take them to the theatre, but we use our shared experiences in games of Charades and Trivial Pursuit. My most recent trips to the movies were with my nephews, Spencer and Andrew. Spencer and I saw "Toy Story 3" in 3D. Andrew (and Aunt Patty) joined us for "Despicable Me" in 3D. Both were animated flicks aimed at kids, but cartoons are not just for kids anymore. There is plenty for a grown-up to get out of most animated movies today. "Toy Story 3" is about a boy getting ready to go away to college, and therefore going through and getting rid of his toys. As in all the "Toy Story" movies, it's seen from the toys' point of view. What children see is funny: the toys go to a day -care center and make new friends and enemies, and eventually escape. What adults see is a child growing up, no longer needing his toys(or parents) anymore, and how quickly time passes. I cried, Spencer giggled. All was right with the world. "Despicable Me" on the other hand, was a hysterical romp through the life of a villain. In order to steal the the moon, our super villain, Mr Gru must first steal the Shrink Ray from his enemy, Vector. In order to gain access to Vectors house, Mr. Gru adopts the 3 little girls who sold cookies to him. Both the villains, and the cute little girls kept us in stitches, let alone the minions(little yellow guys, some with one eye, some with two). Between the music, the story-line, the animation, and the script, this is a laugh riot for all members of the family.
My outings to the movies with "my kids" are one of the greatest joys in my life.

For info on nail care, manicure, pedicures, acrylics or gels, or to contact me please visit http://www.tampanailchick.com/

"Set It and Forget It"

Recipe of the Day- Roaster Bag Chicken

The last recipe I published was a little complicated, so today I'm sharing one of my favorite simple and quick chicken dishes.

Ingredients-
1 Reynolds Oven Bag(large size)
1 4lb. chicken
1/2 bag frozen green beans
1/2 bag frozen crinkle-cut carrots
1 can mushrooms
paprika
1/2 bottle Kraft Lite House Italian salad dressing
1 bag Success Jasmine rice

1. Prehat oven to 350 degrees
2. Wash and pat dry chicken.
3. Season on both sides with paprika and set aside.
4. Open Cooking bag and place in roasting pan.
5. Place all vegetables in bag and cover with 1/2 of the dressing.
6. Place chicken in bag, breast side down, on top of vegetables and cover with remaining dressing.
7. Close bag with fastener.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour 20 minutes(20 min. per lb.).
9. Cook rice according to package directions.

This is one of my favorites because as the title states, you set the timer and forget dinners cooking. There's no basting or turning. The bag does it all. Of course, any vegetables can be used and any dressing or sauce will work. I love this recipe with Duck sauce too. Experiment and enjoy !!!

For info on nailcare, manicures, pedicure, acrylics, gels, or to contact me please visit http://www.tampanailchick.com/.

Barter System is a Beautiful Thing

Cut and Color for Decadent Lunch

In the beauty industry, like many other businesses, bartering is a great way to receive services you need, without having to lay out cash. For most, this means trading service for service, in the case of my hair however, my friend Jenn and I trade cut and color for lunch. We have a favorite little diner-type restaurant where we go for a very decadent chicken melt sandwich and fries. This quaint family restaurant is called Sub World. It's on Dale Mabry in Old Carrollwood, where it's been forever, but lots of people still don't know about it. The food is great and the staff makes you feel like family. Chicken Melts were not on the menu until Jenn and I started ordering them, now I send everyone I know there for this cheesy, gooey delight. They also make incredible breakfasts, salads and subs. So I get my hair done, Jenn and I both cheat on our diet for lunch, and we spend some quality time together. Bartering is a beautiful thing.

For info on nail care, manicures, pedicures, acrylics or gels or to contact me please visit http://www.tampanailchick.com/.

Grace Couldn't Be Saved

T.V. Farewell-Saving Grace

I really enjoyed this unusual show starring Holly Hunter as Grace Hanadarko, a detective on the Oklahoma City Police force. She is complicated, to say the least. Her job has her battling demons on the streets, while her personal life has her battling her inner demons. She does both with the help of her "Last Chance Angel " Earl. In the final season, Grace comes to understand that a true evil has been influencing events in her life and the lives of those around her - including all those lives taken in the Oklahoma City bombing(one being her sister-Mary Francis). In the 2 part finale, she identifies him, faces him, and takes him out. Unfortunately, to accomplish her ultimate goal, Grace sacrifices her own life. In the end, Grace couldn't be saved, but she is the world's Saving Grace. The cast was amazing and had chemistry like any other dysfunctional family. A series definitely worth renting when available.

As always, for info on nail care, manicures, pedicures, acrylics, or gels or to contact me please visit http://www.tampanailchick.com/.

Variety is The Spice of Life

Recipe of The Day- Since the phrase of the day is "Variety is the Spice of Life" I thought I'd shake things up by sharing one of my favorite chicken recipes:

Jody's Chicken and Yellow Rice

Chicken parts(skin on-bone in)2 legs or thighs, or one breast -per person
Extra Spicy Mrs Dash
Paprika
2-3 large onions
1 green pepper
1 clove garlic(chopped)
vegetable oil(for sauteing)
1 jar diced pimentos
1 can green beans
1 can peas
1 can mushrooms
1 package Vigo Yellow Rice

1. Wash and pat dry chicken.
2. Season on both sides with Mrs Dash and paprika, set aside.
3. Slice onions and green peppers the long way.
4. In a 15 inch or larger electric frying pan or deep skillet with lid, saute onions, garlic, and green pepper in oil until onions are translucent.
5. Add chicken to pan and brown on both sides.
6. Add pimentos and 2 cups water.
7. Lower the temperature, cover partially, and simmer 45 minutes, turning chicken often so it doesn't stick and adding water as necessary.
8. While chicken is cooking, prepare rice according to package directions.
9. Drain canned vegetables, and add to chicken.
10. Simmer 15 more minutes.

Since presentation is important, use a round or oval platter and arrange rice in a ring around the outer edge. Place chicken in concentric rings on the platter, ending with one piece in the center. Garnish with some of the vegetable mixture(sparingly). Serve remaining vegetable mixture(my family calls this "the goop") in a separate bowl and do the same with any rice that didn't fit on the platter. Enjoy!!!

*This recipe is based on what will fit in the aforementioned frying pans. If more chicken is need to feed your hungry mob, use more than 1 pan. For a recent family soiree, I needed to feed 14 people, so I made 3 batches of this recipe- 2 electric frying pans ,and 1 skillet on the stove and 2 family size packages of rice. An enjoyable labor of love.


As always, for info on manicure, pedicures, acrylics or gels or to contact me please visit http://www.tampanailchick.com/.

Salon Tanning

Salon Experience of the Week-

I tried Airbrush Tanning for the first time yesterday, and it was a very interesting experience. My friend Linh, owner of The Nail Shop of Carrollwood, bought the whole set-up(a pop-up tent, airbrush machine, tanning solution, hairnets, and mitt) to be used in the salon. Meghan, another dear friend and nail tech at the shop, sprayed me while Lihn supervised. To say the least, we all had a great time. At first, one may feel a little self-conscious, but very soon you're laughing and having fun and the awkwardness is gone. Meghan was the artist and I was her canvas. It takes about 20 minutes to do, and the results are definitely worth your time. There is no orange tint. When I was a teenager, the first spray tanner came out and it was called Sudden Tan. My brother thought it would be a great thing to try and subsequently turned himself bright orange. We've come a long way baby. I look like I spent a day at the beach, which is exactly what we're looking for when we do this. A nice tan always looks good with your beautiful nails. So the next time you're in a salon, getting acrylics, gels, a manicure, a pedicure, or any combination thereof, treat yourself to a staycation tan.

Restaurant Review-

Ruby Tuesday's
For a long time, years ago this was one of my favorite restaurants. I loved the salad bar and you could always get a good sandwich or quiche. Then, I'm not sure when it happened, they went downhill fast. The salad bars were not kept supplied or clean,and the menu changed so I just stopped going. Today, a friend and I started at Olive Garden, but the wait was too long so we went to Ruby Tuesday's on Gunn Hwy. She and her husband go there often, so I figured it was worth a try. I was very pleasantly surprised. The salad bar was stocked with fresh foods, the service was good and my burger was cooked the way I like it. (Not at all dry- like the last place I tried). If, like me, you haven't been to a Ruby Tuesday's for a while, give it a shot.

Movie Review-

"Killers" is a deceiving name for a very cute movie. Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigel are a great pair in this romantic comedy about a woman who finds out 3 years into marriage, that her husband is a spy. Her response is all that you would expect and more. Thom Selleck plays her protective father, and there's more to that than meets the eye. Another great chick-flick. We can never have too many of those.

For more Nail info or to contact me please visit http://www.tampanailchick.com/.

From "Beauty Parlor" to "Salon"

Beauty Reflection of the day-

As a child of the sixties, I've seen changes in almost every facet of our day to day lives; from the way we get our information to the way we "get beautiful". Mine was the first house on the block to have a color TV,a microwave oven and an HBO box. Telephones were rotary, and TV sets had dials. Computers filled a room and were seen mostly in science-fiction movies. The "Beauty Parlor" was a place ladies went, one day a week to get a manicure and have their hair done(wash and set). As a little girl, I would go with my mom on occasion. It was like a fantasy land for a girly little girl like me; all the smells of hair spray and nail polish, all the ladies gossiping and getting beautiful. I would imagine all the fancy and exciting places these now beautified ladies were off to. But I digress, the subject today is changes in these amazing establishments. That is what I saw as a child. My teen years saw unisex hairplaces in the malls. It was at this point in time that the gods invented Blow Dryers. The times, they were a-changin. No more wash and sets, which meant a faster service. Men were wearing their hair longer, blow drying, and were now getting haircuts in the same places as women. The Beauty Parlors were few and far between. The eighties brought a new sanctuary for women in the beauty industry-The Nail Salon. These new places were where ladies now went just to get their nails and toes done. Some also offered waxing or facials. In the nineties, more and more women were wearing acrylics, gels, silkwraps and fiberglass nails and the nail shops became very popular and lucrative. The late nineties and early twothousands saw the emergence of the Asian nail salons. The Asian community saw the opportunity for monopolizing an industry and they jumped on it. This is not a criticism, mind you , but an observation. Since then, we, as English speaking nail salons, have a responsibility and a duty to keep up with what was once and will always be a female rite-The Ritual of "The Beauty Parlor" AKA"The Salon",AKA"The Nail Salon"AKA"The Salon Spa".

Restaurant Review-
Burger Monger- a new concept for a burger place in Carrollwood. It's a place your order and pay at the counter type place. You get your own drink and condiments and take a number on a stand to your table. Your food is brought to you. The restaurant is clean, there are several TVs, and there are booths and tables. Now come the disappointing parts- the food and the price. I ordered my burger medium rare with mushrooms, cheddar cheese and barb-b-que sauce. In my mind, there's nothing better than a juicy, messy burger. I still don't understand how this sandwich came out dry, but it did. For $13.00 and serving myself, I was not thrilled. To be fair, Burger Monger was only open 2 days when I tried it, so I would consider going back in a couple of months when hopefully the kinks are all worked out. So far, my favorite places for burgers in Tampa are BJs in the Citrus Park Mall, In The Zone Pub on Gunn Hwy (next to The Nail Shop of Carrollwood), and Square One Burger in South Tampa.

For more info on nails or to contact me please visit http://www.tampanailchick.com/

Special Events

Nail Informational of the day-

I work in one of the best salons in Tampa. I consider it one of the best for several reasons; the primary one being that we all get along well and respect each other. We enjoy a drama-free workplace, and therefore we work well together. Our staff consists of 6 highly skilled Nail techs, 3 of whom are also Estheticians and a Hairstylist extraordinaire. The name of this amazing place is the Nail Shop of Carrollwood. I titled this blog " Special Events" because I believe in the women I work with, and I enjoy co-ordinating the services that we women need when preparing for events such as Weddings, Proms or Homecommings. These services include Manicures, Pedicures, Acrylics, Gels, Facials, Waxing, Haircuts, Hair colors, Perms and Up-do's. All these "pamperings" are even better with friends or family members, so whatever your event is, we try to accommodate your party's needs and schedules.

Movie Review-

"Robin Hood"
This is a very different version of Robin Hood. It's really the story of how he became the Robin Hood that we know. Russell Crowe is of course wonderful in the role and Cate Blanchett brings us a whole new Maid Marian. This is the type of movie I could usually take or leave, however I'm glad my friends wanted to see it. I actually saw it twice, with 2 separate sets of friends. I enjoyed it both times, and of course when you see a flick again, you pick-up 0n more details. There's enough action for guys to like it, and enough story-line and romance for us girls.

T.V. Review-

The final episode of "Lost"
Wow! I'm so sad that it's over, but I am satisfied with the ending. All the time we thought the flashes were of an alternate reality, where our friends landed safely in L.A., it was really the afterlife. One that they had created together, years earlier, to find each other in the here-after; just proving that their time together was the most important time of their lives. What an amazing series.

For more Nail info or to contact me please visit me at http://www.tampanailchick.com/