New TV Series

OK, I admit it; TV is a big part of my life. I work, sleep, eat, and relax with the TV on. The new fall shows are always exciting to me. (I know, I need to get out more) So let's start with "The Event". I'm hooked already. It's like "Lost" meets "Stargate". Who's human-who's not?, flashbacks, and some character backstories. So far we know: a spaceship crashed in the 1940s-the injured and the leader were detained indefinitely by our government. They look human and their DNA differs from ours by only 1%, but they age much slower than we do. The aliens who were not injured left the crashsite and blended with our society. The free nonhumans are tired of waiting for their friends to be freed and begin to take action. They blackmail a pilot into hijacking a plane by killing his wife and kidnapping his daughters. The plan was to fly the plane into White House, killing the president. The leader of the aliens thwarted their efforts by warning the president, but the plane mysteriously disappeared. The president thinks she was part of the plan and puts her back in detention. All the passenger of the plane survived the crash in the desert, but are found dead-except the pilot's daughter's boyfriend. Confused? Watch with me (Mondays 9:00-NBC) and tell me what you think. Visit my website and contact me for a manicure, pedicure, acrylic or gel fill or full set and we can compare notes on all the new shows: www.tampanailchick.com

Indian Summer

Indian Summer is what we used to call a hot September in New York. Here, in Florida, it's just another day in Paradise. At this time of year, paradise for me is a cool movie theater. Today I've got 3 reviews to share. "Salt" starring Angelina Jolie,is a great action-packed suspense thriller. It's about international espionage, spies, double agents, triple agents and you really don't get it til the very end. A real "edge of your seat"," glued to the screen" movie.
"Easy A" is a very cute, cleverly done comedy, about a teenage girl who feels invisible, until a white lie turns her into the school's "Hester Prynne" from the "Scarlett Letter". She embraces the role for a while, "fake rocking" every nerd's world. There are lessons learned and growing up done in this very amusing flick.
"The Town" is Ben Afleck's latest movie. It depicts a suburb of Boston as a breeding ground for bank robbers. The plot concerns an assistant bank manager, taken hostage, then released. The leader of this robbery crew, Ben's character, is concerned that she may be able to identify them, so he tests her by dating her. He, of course, doesn't plan on falling for her, but alas, he does. "The Town" is a great story about the realization that what your whole life is about is wrong, and trying to break free of it.
In conclusion, my movie experiences of late have been total escapism and entertainment, just what they're supposed to be. So thanks for "tuning in" and please visit my website www.tampanailchick.com for info on nail care, gel nails, acrylic nails, manicures, pedicures or to contact me.

Movie Days

I have 3 types of Movie Days: Movie with a Friend, Movie with a Child, and Movie By Myself. When I'm lucky, the 1st two are combined to make a particularly special day. Such was the case for "Nanny McPhee Returns". My Aunt Sunni, my nephew Spencer, and my friend Chris joined me at my favorite theater to see the sequel to Nanny McPhee. Coincidentally, I ran into my old friend and client, Sedina with her children. Very often, in the NAIL business, your clients become your friends; as was the case with both Chris and Sedina...But I digress, back to the movie. Emma Thompson reprises her role as the witchy looking nanny, whose looks improve with each lesson her charges learn. It was a really enjoyable movie for the whole family(a la Mary Poppins). What made the experience truly memorable was company I shared it with.

OK- enough sappiness, the next movie I saw was "Going The Distance", starring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long. This was definitely not a family flick. It's R rating is well earned for language, sexual content and brief nudity. It is a funny story about a romance that starts out local but becomes long distance. The fact that the stars were a real-life couple made it believable and easy to watch. I really liked this one.

That's all for today. For info on nail care, gel nails, acrylic nails, manicures and pedicures or to contact me, visit www.tampanailchick.com.

What's Old Is New Again

Hi There! I am the Tampa Nail Chick, but I believe that nail care also includes skin care. Today I'd like to welcome you to the old world of Home Remedies. Most of the time, tried and true home remedies work as well, if not better than bottled and store bought. The particular ailment of the day is dry skin(hands. feet and body). Here are some of my favorite Home Remedies:



Drink lots of water.

Drink a warm glass of milk mixed with a teaspoon or two of almond oil at bedtime.

For dry or itchy hands, soak them in a bowl of warm milk and almond oil.

Baby lotion- lotions made for adults may contain chemicals that may dry skin more.

Before taking a bath, rub some honey all over your body and leave on for 5 to 10 minutes.

Oil fish like salmon are not only rich in essential fatty acids, consuming them regularly can also alleviate dry skin.

For dry and cracked heels, rub the inside of a banana peel on your heels, leave on for 10 minutes and rinse clean.

Bananas can also treat dry skin on the face and neck- mash a banana (ripe ones work best) and apply like a mask. rinse after 15 minutes.



My all time favorite comes from a TV commercial from the seventies. "Before you dry off dry, dry off soft!" This was an ad for Johnson's Baby Oil. They suggested that after showering, but before toweling off, you apply a small amount of Johnson's Baby Oil all over. I've used this method all my life, but now they have Lavender Scented Baby Oil, and it's even better.

Home Remedies are a great fix, but there's nothing better for body and soul than to be pampered with a manicure and pedicure.
For info on just such pampering, or other nail-related subjects or to contact me, visit www.tampanailchick.com.

Mom's Meatloaf

Everyone has a favorite meatloaf recipe, and I've never had one quite like my mom's. She served it with mashed potatoes mixed with sauteed onions. Like all comfort foods, it brings back sweet memories of childhood. Today I spent the day with family, celebrating my Great Uncle's 101st. birthday. It made me once again, realize how unbelievably lucky I am, to have the amazing family and friends who fill my life, and to have had the greatest parents and grandparents who fill my memories. So, sentiment aside, I share this meatloaf recipe with you because it really is great. Enjoy!!

Harriet's Famous Meatloaf

Ingredients
2 lbs. ground beef
1 egg(beaten)
1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1 can Campbell's vegetarian vegetable soup
1/2 tbs. Worcestershire sauce
1 tbs. ketchup
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. granulated garlic
5-6 slices bacon
1 15 oz. can Hunt's tomato sauce

1. Spread a little tomato sauce in bottom of pan to prevent sticking.
2. Combine 1st 8 ingredients in a bowl and mix with hands.
   
3. Form loaf in a pan measuring at least a 15" by 9".
   
4. Lay bacon slices crosswise on loaf(each bacon slice can be a guide for slicing meatloaf later).
5. Pour tomato sauce over meatloaf.
6. Cover loosely with foil
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 min, remove foil and bake 15 more min.

This recipe serves 6. As in all my recipes, this is a guide; feel free to add or remove ingredients to make it your own. Experiment, Indulge, Enjoy!

For info on Gel Nails, Acrylic Nails, Manicures, Pedicures, or to contact me, please visit www.tampanailchick.com .

Movie Critics' Reviews- HA !

It amazes me that movie critics actually get paid for their opinions. I read their reviews more for the synopsis than anything else. Usually, after seeing a movie, I completely disagree with what I read. This was definitely the case with "The Switch". Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman portrayed best friends who are complete opposites. She hits 40 and hears her biological clock ticking away. Artificial insemination is her response, but she wants to know the donor(she is not considering her best friend). Bateman's character is a true pessimist who lets her know he's against the idea. At her insemination party, he gets very drunk and accidentally spills the "contribution" and replaces it with is own. The next day, he remembers nothing! To say any more would give away too much. I thought it was a really cute, funny movie. So the lesson of the day is: Read for summary, but write your own review.

For info on nailcare, gels, acrylics, manicures or pedicures, or to contact me please visit www.tampanailchick.com .

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/.