LYRA MAG.

Part 1 Leaving  aside  Karl Lagerfeld's opine '...trendy if the last stage before trashy...' In the ready to eat world here-food trends are supposed to be the opposite- turning convenient eats into better for you- products. Consumer demands for plant based eats ( like these )-and the popular dietary restrictions of Keto, Whole30, Atkins, Mediterranean and Paleo-have launched loads of products for tastebud believers. In regards to those aforementioned -all eschew processed foods and limit added sugars/limited carbs. For a more detailed analysis- this USA Today article nicely sums up the differences. What's New For Keto adherers...(high fat really really low carbs)...Slim Fast has an entire new division Slim Fast Keto -with rte snacks . Cat approved-the Fat Bomb is a tasty peanut butter chocolate KETO snack-that in a way resembles Reeses peanut butter cup There is a mixed blend oil feel  on the chocolate-but it's not annoying. Nor surpris...

A  BETTER SWEET THING So...what's old is NEW AGAIN. Again. A childhood in a rural area-had farms 'nearby' aka w/i 30 miles-selling  fresh produce and raw honey- straight outta the beekeepers' hives. Hyper Local ! And in a NYC domicile-the original Dean+Deluca and Zabars-had high quality condiments (mostly international origins) - as the first 'specialty food stores'-so it seems-in this country. Added pluses-Arthur Avenue, Hunts Point (Bronx), Chinatown-Little Italy-LES and the Meatpacking district all sold fresh everything else. Pretty much. It wasn't until college-that America's love for processed foods became apparent-as some classmates meal preferences went way beyond the occasional Cheese Whiz-Marshmallow Fluff diet, and Captain Crunch cereal as dinner. Now-the pendulum has swung back, food wise and is better yet . Urban farmers' markets sell straight off the land goods... everywhere there are humans (IRL and online options )......

Hydration needs met with flavor boosts,  alkaline balanced -trace minerals-electrolytes...is a 'thing.' Practically a completely new drinks-foods category a dozen years ago-these better for you inheritors of the Crystal Light-Powered Lipton Tea-4C phenom..are great H2O enhancers without being chemically ingredients' loaded. Our Fav Even before we 'met' the True Citrus reps -we were fans (and buyers) of their tasty low cal single serve berry lemonade-limeade water enhancing powders...non-GMO, gluten-free-and really made with fruit. Makes a statement right there.   We had even looked them up to see if True Citrus was a publicly traded company-stock portfolio worthy   or like in our next life as a Shark Tank investor .  (It is not- privately owned by the founders ).

Plant based protein bars and powders have been popular for years now...as snacks+ A  happy outcome of a growing flavor favors abundance is that tastes/textures have greatly improved- with new brands on the market yet to be gobbled up by huge CPG companies . (observation not judgement). good! protein bars get major tastebud points for yummy-ness and chewy moist "soft and tasty" mouth feel- no need to down a glass of water afterwards. DELIVERS: 15 grams of protein (fava bean+brown rice sources) -220 calories per-non-GMO + soy/dairy free, vegan certified  and delicious . Favs= Choc. Mint and Lemon...sweetened just enough plus with 11 grams of fiber  these bars are real hunger solutions. Ideal for on the go eats-or post long distant endurance race (maybe with a beer or two :-)-with that good balance of protein/carbs needed to replenish. Bonus points-nice packaging. Available online and stores-in PA for now. New to us-but a best seller at MANY IRL+online outl...

The wearing kind... PART 2-Design Trends The Blondes weren't the only high drama rock and roll fantasy attire on the runways this NY February F/W '19... From Turkey-a bunch of designers highlighted the country's textile industry and modern fashion style...in particular the metal loaded catwalk pieces in the HAKAN AKKAYA F/W 19 collection inspired by androgynous attire of Glam Rockers circa  1970's/1980's.

O ff The Runway Influences: Those catwalk and presentation shows that cobble up 6-8 weeks of media coverage-two times a year-serve as indicators for what's trending-in many different industries. True...many companies subscribe to the same color forecasters...but also- it's creative visual types-who are smart thoughtful, insightful and arty ...soak up inspirations from many areas. Travel, art exhibits, a book, a political awakening (movement)...sparks can ignite from within and in reaction to outside stimulation. PART ONE: Clean+Polished+Beautiful Plenty of not a hair out of place polished tresses-notable long hair extensions and down the back braids-parted in the middle low ponytails--- and clean makeup seen from big designer runway shows to smaller presentations. Paola Hernandez -beautiful knitwear/women's wear presentation-featuring Elisa Monte dancers-hair by Cutler, MAC makeup-was flawless. LOVE-modern clean hair-off the face-focus on a classic weara...

S amples From the Bernard Magrez Portfolio of Wines  Grand Crus Classés Bordeaux reds are Valentine's Day perfect -and relatively speaking-are good values vs the trophy red Burgundies. THE Highlight: Grand Crus Classés Bordeaux Reds  from the esteemed Bernard Magrez collection included our favorite-and imo-well priced 2009 blend from  Chateau Pape Clément . This "urban" winery-  dates back to the 13th century(!!!!!)..and is in the Pessac Leognan appellation not far from the center of the Bordeaux region. What we tried-the 2009 vintage-is terrific...a hand picked, earthy intoxicating aromatic blend - with a wonderful  elegant finish-  a complex fusion of deep fruits, leather, smoky-lovely pepper hints (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc). Many foods including  Asian...would pair well. Priced in the USA around $170+ FYI: this jewel in Magrez portfolio-has white gloved employees de-stemming berry ...

C lever or just soon to be an uncool marketing ploy=the monikers tossed out for plain 'ole hemp seed oil to captivate the eyeballs of kids (OR grandkids) of those original Woodstock One goers. (?!) Don't let the maybe annoying distraction take away from the benefits of hemp seed oil as an effective  beauty ingredient -legally derived from the multi-asking industrial hemp plant. (FYI-the industrial hemp plant spawns rope + fabric both super popular for decades too). Derived from the non-or practically non -THC (buzz part) strain of the cannabis sativa plant (for the 411 on hemp seed oil and CBD oil read our clip on what it REALLY is- P art One )...the benefits of hemp seed oil-marketed as the maybe sexier sounding cannabis sativa oil   are front /center now-the way other plant oils are-think coconut and argan-for beauty/skin/haircare products. No longer hippy centric-and now mainstream...expect to see loads of new products-with hemp seed oil's moisturizing-nourishing...

P art Two Believers here! A "magic' balm made from won't get you high CBD oil (hemp plant), and other anti-inflammatory herbs like comfrey...soothed away tenderness in a rotator cuff, so PDQ   post application-curiosity about other CBD oil (or oil like) products gave way to eager tryouts.  CV Sciences-a company making a slew of consumer products in their  PlusCBD Oil ™ division-from  Kentucky hemp plants grown from EU certified seeds...had reps at an Editor Showcase event for media -and gave out samples to try.

T alk about 'fake news.' We cannot remember any beauty/skincare health product ingredient with more misinformation than CBD hemp oil. PART ONE: FYI: Hemp Seed Oil aka Cannabis Sativa Oil is made by pressing the oil out of the seeds from the basically   buzz less industrial hemp plants (little or no THC =   tetrahydrocannabinol ) ---from a certain   kind of  cannabis sativa plants. Hemp seed oil has been a ok here-in edible food products like Manitoba Harves t's and moisturizing skincare products with hemp oil ( The Body Shop for example)-and has been around for years.... but the hemp seed oil mothership-the industrial hemp plant-used to be illegal to grow here for the most part (like pilot programs under Prez Clinton), Hemp seed oil had to be imported-from Canada for example. But NOW growing industrial hemp plants by licensed growers with less than .03% THC- is legal in the USA (see Congress did do something else besides giveaway tax cuts ha ha ha-c...

F or a crowd of humans forth coming...game day cooking-and Year of the Pig feasts can be fuss free-using ready made soups-and adding a few ingredients. Start with a high quality ones (OF COURSE). From Original Soupman (yup-that Seinfeld classic)...fav Lobster Bisque is a flavorful, filling perfection of a creamy soup base, spices and chunky tender hunts of lobster. To eat on its own-the Lobster Bisque is addictive awesome. Plus this best seller can be a hearty base for a whole pot of... added shelled shellfish-lobster hunks, crab meat and/or shrimp bits, sautéed onions/celery-till translucent -for added crunch, served with hunks of breads, crackers (try these creative crunches) ...or mixed in with some cooked rice. FYI: A timely 20% discount NOW AVAILABLE on online orders...delivered in handy 6 pack-12 oz sizes, And other tasty recipes =practically insta-gourmand. via GIPHY For Chinese Lunar New Year-and tail gating liquid warmth-a solid veggie or chicken broth ( Pa...