Something Tasty: Q Tonic

Although, summer is about to bid us farewell, I am not going to stop drinking gin and tonics, the quintessential sumemrtime drink, anytime soon. Not since I (and by I, I usually mean my ever-more-informed mother) discovered Q Tonic.



Q Tonic is, in their own words:

"dedicated to making the world’s best tonic water - a clean, crisp, completely ungeneric beverage that enhances the finest spirits or stands proudly on its own. We’ve used the best ingredients we could find. We went to the slopes of the Peruvian Andes for hand-picked quinine and to the Mexican countryside for organic agave, a sweetener better than honey with a gently rounded sweetness. We meticulously refined our recipe with both food scientists and mixologists. Then we worked with one of New York City’s best design shops to develop a bottle as beautiful as the liquid it holds. We think we’ve come up with a superior tonic water. One that’s good enough for the gin, vodka, or rum you’d choose to mix it with. And good enough to change the way you think about tonic water."

Q Tonic is, in my words:

"YUMMY!" "And I love the bottle." (I am a marketing execs dream.)



It has a sophisticated flavor, less sugar and calories, and is great to bring to a cocktail party. It is seriously good. The ginger is delicious too!

Available in Olympia at Drees, in Missoula at The Good Food Store, in Bozeman at The Co-op, in Billings at City Vineyard, online at Amazon.com, and at a variety of other places. Check their website. If you are a daily drinker (not that I would know anything about that), it isn't very budget friendly, but it is a great way to celebrate. (Skinny Girl aint got nothin' on this stuff.)

Something Tasty: S'Mores Thingey

I spent yesterday driving from Missoula to Great Falls. Via Hamilton. Oh my, did that make for a long day in the car. But it was well worth it, because I got to see my Big Brothers Big Sisters Little Sis who I haven't seen in months, and I got to meet up with my luva. Success!



One of my favorite places to stop on I-90 is the Rattlesnake Trading Company in Missoula. My love affair started with the Breakfast Thingey, their eggy, cheesy, morning delight I would grab on my way to law school. My love quickly spread to the S'Mores Thingey. (I am not even sure if that is what it is called, but that's what I call it.) It is a staple snack on my road trips.

Golden Grahams + Marshmallows + Mini-Chocolate Chips = Delicious Goodness. The perfect highwaywoman snack.

The Bon Lemon Revue (Almost): The Middle East

My video camera is set to arrive today. Yay! Soon, The Bon Lemon Revue will start giving you well edited news to keep you savvy. Thank you to www.vanns.com (a Missoula company) for having such a great deal on an affordable video camera made just for bloggers. And it is pink :)



Even though we don't have our video camera yet, with all of the turmoil in the Middle East, we wanted to keep you savvy. So here is a little, written preview of The Bon Lemon Revue. Enjoy.

Protests in Egypt

The US and Iran are not friends. The US's BFF in The Middle East is Egypt. Most Middle Eastern (and Northern African) countries are run by variations of authoritarian governments. (One dude tells everyone what to do and they do it. If they do not, things get nasty.) The US has to maintain friendships with the right people to protect their interests in The Middle East. Egypt has been our most important friend. (The US has limited options, because many countries are friends with Iran. Remember: Iran and the US don't play nice.)

Right now, Egyptian people are protesting their government. There have been protests before, but none this large and none simultaneous with protests in other parts of The Middle East. The protesters want President Mubarak to leave. He has been in office for three decades and people are sick of of the widespread poverty and corrupt government associated with his tenure.

The Egyptian government has said (for now) it won't machine gun or bulldoze the protesters, but any offers for regime change have been weak and unsatisfactory. The US hasn't said much, because they are caught between a rock and a hard place. Mubarak is the US's friend and they want to remain friends with Egypt, because it is the largest, and arguably most stable, country in The Middle East. But Mubarak is a dictator and as champions of democracy, the US can't publicly support rigged elections and self-serving administrations.

The biggest problem in Egypt is the lack of viable alternatives. The most organized opposition to Mubarak is the Muslim Brotherhood, which is not known for being a democracy oriented organization. (It's links to violence and terrorism are debatable.) So if the protesters succeed and Mubarak and his entourage leave, then what?

That remains to be seen. We'll keep you savvy.

Cocktail Convo: "Aren't those protests in Egypt crazy?" - "Mubarak looks like he is on his way out." - "But the Muslim Brotherhood isn't a great alternative." - "I wonder what this is doing to my oil, commodities, ______ stock."

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The Bon Lemon Revue is not CNN, Fox News, BBC, or Al Jazeera. We do not have a team of reporters and fact checkers dedicated to ensuring the accuracy of this information. Because of our abbreviated format, we can not give you every explanation and detail. We aim to bring you well edited news and information in a format that is easy and quick to read and understand. Let us know if we misspeak. We welcome your comments. 2011. All rights reserved.

Not Having a Voice

On Thursday night I stopped in Missoula to catch up with some dear friends on my way to a trunk show in Bozeman. That evening, I started to get a sore throat and sounded a bit hoarse. By Friday, I had very little voice at all.

And by Friday night, the most I could muster was a screaming whisper. I have never lost my voice before. It is a new experience. It is quite entertaining to try and host a trunk show (that was combined with a going away party, so it was quite loud) when you have no voice. You find yourself screaming about earrings and coordinating bracelets and you can tell people have no idea what you are saying, but they nod, because they don't have the heart to ask you to repeat yourself. Hilarious.

This whole scenario was repeated last night when I attended a fantabulous Christmas party at 6 Par Farmer's Sister and Brother-In-Laws. The screaming whisper was even less effective. Lucky for me, 6 Par Farmer is a giver, so he took me home at a reasonable hour, not without stopping for some NyQuil.

No picture today, because that's kind of what it is like not having a voice...

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Part of our mission here at Bon Lemon is doing good. We think doing good can be accomplished in many ways. Buying jewelry might not seem like the most obvious philanthropic activity, but we hope to change your view on that. By donating a percentage of our profits, participating in fundraisers for local charities, and stimulating discussion, we hope to do good. And we hope to give you opportunities to have fun while doing good.

One way I have tried to do good is through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. I have been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters since my early twenties. I have had the same little sister in Missoula for over 4 years. Intuitive Iris and I have been through a lot. (Most of which, I don't feel comfortable blogging about, so this blog might lack the details that would make it compelling.) I am committed to being there for Intuitive Iris and in return she has given me her trust and respect and has taught me about myself and others.

Those of us who have been blessed with affluence, loving families, and supportive friends, are sometimes troubled by those who seem to lack all of these things. When you have so much, it is hard to process how some can have so little. Big Brothers Big Sisters creates a program that connects people of different socio-economic and ethnic groups. It connects different ages, interests, and strengths and finds the common denominator. People are people.

Although, Intuitive Iris and I have many differences, I have been more struck by our similarities. Intuitive Iris is wise beyond her years. She just celebrated her 14th birthday and she picks up on nuances in conversation many of my peers do not notice. She is smart and wise. The hand she has been dealt has not been an easy one, but she maintains a commitment to personal growth. She inspires me to be a better person. (Again, I know details would make this more interesting to read, but I don't think putting her life under the microscope to better explain mine is fair.)

Without Big Brothers Big Sisters, I would never have met Intuitive Iris. We would not have been working out in the same gym. I would not have met her at a dinner party. We don't travel in the same circles. It is because of Big Brothers Big Sisters, we have had the privilege of knowing each other and developing a lifelong relationship. I would never have had the opportunity to teach her about writing thank you notes, chewing with your mouth closed, or my views on personal responsibility. And she would not have been able to teach me about strength, resiliance, and coping with struggles I didn't even know existed.

The Bowl for Kids Sake fundraiser is coming up in Missoula, Montana. This is one of Big Brothers Big Sisters biggest fundraisers. Lots of people have their own children or busy schedules that don't allow them to volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters, but you can always donate. My close friend Carroll Anne Sowerby is raising money for her bowling team. The funds will be used to connect more peope and enhance more lives. You can donate online at:

http://www.firstgiving.com/carrollannesowerby