Sunday, August 26, 2012

Orange salad

My Orange Salad

orange-onion-salad
i tried this super easy orange salad. inspired by ( Rachel Ray's) 

Salad Bowl On Ice with Dome (Google Affiliate Ad) 

 

Hot and Sweet Orange Salad

my take using what was on hand in my kitchen...

DSCN2882ingredients:

1-2 medium size oranges
1 medium red onion
fresh mint
lime zest (optional)

i sliced the onion. i realized afterwards i should have sliced them julianne so i did dice them smaller after the picture was taken.
then peeled oranges and sliced like pinwheels not long segments
combined them in a large salad bowl
drizzled with a little olive oil and sprinkled with parmesan cheese
topped with mint and olives
(this recipe courtesy of Rachel Ray)

my variation  (added):
fresh mint (from my garden)
black olives
lime zest
and served with a few pepperoncini over mixed iceberg and butter lettuce
it was very good. different. be aware the onions can a bit overpowering especially after the salad sits (marinates awhile) you may want to use more sparingly they are very strong, a little goes a long way.
i want to make this again and use feta cheese

so for a quick easy dish on the fly this is a definite winner.  next time i'll get all the ingredients for Rachel's recipe and make with fewer deviations. however, i like that i can put my own spin on most of her dishes.  in fact she encourages and often gives suggestions to do just that.

what a fantastic way to enjoy oranges anytime really.



orange1


"Orange Peeler with Clamp" (Google Affiliate Ad)



Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Dressing is a way of life.

2-tower-paris
Le Fashion Rage ~dBatiste

"Fashions fade, style is eternal."
— Yves Saint-Laurent



ever wonder what the style makers – fashion designers and others industry influentials think and say about their creations. about the source of their philosophy + inspiration. i do. i found the designers i’ve been influenced by most have a philosophy + way of seeing the world that resonates with me.



Yves Saint Laurent
"Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.
We must never confuse elegance with snobbery.
Dressing is a way of life.
I wish I had invented blue jeans. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity -- all I hope for in my clothes."



beauty-per-audrey-hepburn
"Eye of Beauty" Rain Rock Studio SoapBox Cards


Zest is the secret of all beauty. There is no beauty that is attractive without zest. 
-Christian Dior



dress-paris-ltr
Ready, Aim "Glam" ~dBatiste


Coco Chanel
  • I like fashion to go down to the street, but I can't accept that it should originate there.
  • Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky; in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.
  • Fashion is architecture. It is a matter of proportions.
  • Don't spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door.

creativity = philosophy + inspiration. where does it come from. began. start? inside. deep inside i think. i do. i found that creative people have a very unique way of seeing the world (as do most people in general). which is why i believe we are all creative. however artist are just regular people who have found their voice + vision + unafraid to express + show + share it. They live out loud. on purpose. they have a zest for life and see creative inspiration and possibilities everywhere around them.  


Giorgio Armani
  • The difference between style and fashion is quality.
  •  I've always thought of the T-shirt as the Alpha and Omega of the fashion alphabet.
  • The goal I seek is to have people refine their style through my clothing without having them become victims of fashion. 


more from other style makers + icons  
"The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It’s the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years." — Audrey Hepburn 
in-her-shoes
Shoes for the Journey ~dBatiste (SoapBox Cards)


Elsa Schiaparelli
In difficult times fashion is always outrageous.
Women dress alike all over the world: they dress to be annoying to other women
Oleg Cassini
Fashion anticipates, and elegance is a state of mind... a mirror of the time in which we live, a translation of the future, and should never be static.
Quentin Crisp
Fashion is what you adopt when you don't know who you are.

Lord Chesterfield
If you are not in fashion, you are nobody.

Geoffrey Chaucer
There's never a new fashion but it's old.

George Bernard Shaw
A fashion is nothing but an induced epidemic.

William Shakespeare
What a deformed thief this fashion is.

Ralph Lauren
I don't design clothes. I design dreams.

Edith Head
A designer is only as good as the star who wears her clothes.

Bill Blass
When in doubt, wear red.

Stendal

Only great minds can afford a simple style.

Jean-Paul Gaultier
Elegance is a question of personality, more than one's clothing.


"Strike a Pose"




"High Heel Nights" ~dBatiste



Rain Rock Studio


source for famousfashionquotes: tumblr and: about.com



Monday, August 20, 2012

pears nutrient rich


DSCN3569
from mom’s pear tree


Pears are nutrient-dense and an excellent source of fiber! One medium pear provides 6 grams of fiber, or about 24% of your daily needs, which can help you feel satisfied longer between meals and snacks! According to the DGA, the average American adult should consume approximately 2 cups of fruit daily (based on a reference 2000 calorie diet).

 One medium-sized pear supplies ½ of your daily fruit needs!
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A medium sized pear (about 166 grams) is a nutrient-dense food that contains only 100 calories, and is fat free. A nutrient-dense food is any food that provides vital nutrients (such as vitamins and minerals), but relatively few calories. Nutrient-dense foods are also usually higher in fiber and water, components that tend to make us feel full faster and for longer.
read more: pear facts + nutrition

i’ve got big plans for pears this year. pear jam. preserve. liqueur infused. simple syrup maybe even a pie or torte.

O' Pear

from my DeviantArt Gallery


Sunday, August 19, 2012

rice. pasta. grains


i’ve been crushing on some new grains.

black rice

i like to mix this rice with other grains. it has to cook for 45 minutes like most brown rice and can be a bit tough in texture is not cooked properly. 

basmati rice

DSCN3574

love this stuff. i can  and do eat it plain. it has such a pleasing subtle distinctive taste that some describe as nutty.
While basmati rice originated in India and Pakistan, it is grown in the United States as well and is becoming widely available. Basmati rice can come in both brown (unprocessed) and white (processed) forms. Unprocessed brown basmati rice retains more nutrients than the processed white form.
Each serving of basmati rice contains 35 g of carbohydrates. For white basmati rice, fiber content is typically less than 1 g. Fiber content of brown basmati rice is higher. Both types of rice contain little to no sugar.
Protein/Fat
Basmati rice is naturally low-fat, containing less than 1 g per serving. Each 3/4 of a cup serving contains 3 g of protein.
Vitamins
Basmati rice is a moderately good source of thiamine (13 percent of daily value) and niacin (8 percent of daily value). These B vitamins play a crucial role in energy metabolism.
Minerals
In addition to containing important B vitamins, each serving of basmati rice contains a small amount of iron (6 percent of daily value). Iron helps transport oxygen through the blood.
Read more: nutritional facts at  livestrong.com

quinoa

love the crunch of quinoa. i like it hot cold plain or loaded with herbs, meats and other seasonings.  it’s an added bonus that it a “super” food.  there are loads of recipes  on the web and since it’s so easy to cook and mixes well with anything you will come up with your very own in no time.





Thursday, August 16, 2012

light bending goddess


...photography gives me super powers. behind a camera lens, my power comes to life. i can freeze time. go back in time. capture memories. evoke memories. expose + manipulate small portions of a subject’s universe. spotlight the rarely seen + reveal the unseen. yes, behind the lens i am all powerful. i am all seeing. with my camera i’m transformed. i become. i’m. i am a light bending goddess…

 i use my powers for good. creative joy. i am the creator + director + producer
drama (800x600)of my very own “light drama”.
in the shadows of my shutter creative worlds collide.
the world of nature.


the fashion world.


i span generations.
unit friends + family
a photojournalist.
i am a historian.
a curator. i am
a digital collage artist.paris-ltr-shoes
a photography maven.
i find this inexplicable joy
when i…
capture a butterfly’s landing
review shots from my daily activities + surroundings


i discover so many surprising awe inspiring details
that escaped my natural eye at first gaze
drunk on the nectar of  it's  “creative haze”
that my camera makes  possible.

my camera gives me light-bending power...
READY
smile
…say“Goddess”
CLICK!

my online portfolio at DeviantArt

Monday, August 13, 2012

shout out to all my bag ladies

i like bags. you name it. purse. clutch. handbag. shoulder bag. pocketbook. cosmetic bag. coin purse. luggage. suitcase.  backpack. satchel. briefcase. doctor bag. hobo bag.  trunk. 
 a bag by many other names...

ever since i can remember i’ve loved bags. of almost any kind. there is always an occasion for a bag. bag for every occasion. i do a lot of thrift store + flea market + yard sale shopping.  when i found a great bag i just can’t resist bringing it home.

i’ve acquired quite a selection even after years of constant purging.  bags like cars like houses have their own unique character + purpose. there are songs about bags – Erika Badu.  a criminal offense – purse snatching.

my fascination + love of  bags. part of  the  “Y” chromosome factor --the female DNA. hereditary perhaps there are lots of bag lovers in my family - i've passed it on to my daughter. she loves bags too. 

a recent thrift store find. still in great (almost mint) condition.  brand new this bag sales for $40-60. i got "the sak"  for as they say, "a song + a dance" -about  1/10th of the retail price.

DSCN2015DSCN2017       

while spring cleaning this season i came across an old purse that inspired a recycling project


after a  couple coats of  spray paint + a clear coat of  polyurethane for a bit of weather proofing. i placed a plastic planter liner inside + chose the plants to fill my newly recycled

"purse planter"




it's one of the highlights of my container garden this season




Sunday, August 12, 2012

embracing change







 
my first blog post almost a year ago

i've always been fascinated by butterflies. when i was 5 yrs old i heard about the concept of reincarnation when loving family tried to explain the concept of death to me because my grandfather had to "put-down" our dog.  i latched onto that idea and secretly hoped i'd come back as a butterfly.  probably because to me they were the most interesting beautiful creatures on earth, at least that i was aware of and now well into adulthood my opinion hasn't really changed.

there's something mystical about their journey that encapsulates the mystery and awe of our human existence and universe in general and the ability +  the necessity for us both to adapt and change in order to survive. yes, we all go through a type of metamorphose.  a metamorphose that allows more and more of our beauty and uniqueness to be revealed + shine. why then are we afraid of change. i've learned to embrace it more and more.  to revile in the process and the interesting journey it paves.

one of my favorite icons, Oprah,  has this very topic on the cover of her magazine's September Issue.
"Transformation"  i believe Oprah to very insightful and enjoy reading her letter to her readers. what she knows for sure about transformation "is that it happens when you dare to be awakened to greater heights. when you stay open no matter what. each experience strengthens you and adds depth and wisdom."

to me that's a beautiful thing and i believe Oprah is absolutely spot on.  whatever you call it metamorphose + transformation + change is what leads to the good stuff + your true awesomeness.
don't be afraid.



Friday, August 10, 2012

foodies

just what the heck is a foodie?
 
foodies are amateur hobbyists (wanna be chefs + critics) that love food + want to learn everything they can about the science + consumption + preparation, of both the best + the ordinary in the industry + superstar food personalities  

guess that makes me a foodie + it's partly their fault:

The ChewABC TV show with five fabulous host + cooks + guest + great format + variety + the chemistry +  each hosts’ personality is simply outstanding.  I want to hang out with them. This is my “new fav” show. 

The Splendid TableNPR, Sunday radio program hosted by Lynne Rossetto Kasper, acclaimed food writer + cooking teacher. She gives great tips + reviews + recipes. 

Rachel RayCBS TV show host + cook + lifestyle guru + adorably beautiful 



Cooking brings me joy + comfort + creativity
yep, am a foodie + proud of it + I got pictures to prove it

Thursday, August 9, 2012

my beauty confession... Lashes

DSCN0375
my sexy lashes...
 
I finally got the courage to try false lashes. Yes, I have some vanity issues and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I just recently had another birthday and while it was joyous to see another.

Now that I’m in the over fifty club , I want to try some new things. When I was a young girl, I thought fake lashes were ridiculous. I’ve always believed that real beauty begins on the inside and that we should work with what God has given us. But, I still like to do whatever I can to look my best to enhance that natural beauty radiating on the inside. As the birthdays, come and go, the more enhancements I seek. I’m not going to go into plastic surgery and all the other endless possibilities that exist for women to enhance their beauty (at least not in this post).
No this post is about a $5 drugstore item that can really restore and enhance the beauty of your eyes. As we age, it’s natural to do whatever we can to hold on to our youthful looks. Because I know doesn’t mean we can’t put some pretty window dressing on the outside too.

Inspired to try “fake” lashes by my son’s girlfriend and Gayle King (Oprah’s friend, +News Channel 5 Morning Show host). Both of these ladies are in the entertainment industry so the lashes are a must for them. And yes, back in the day I had my little time and stent in the industry and wore them then too. But I’ve long since been out of that field with no desires to return, but I still want to look good.

I wanted to bring back a little sparkle to my eyes.
I miss the compliments I once received on them (and must admit kind of took them for granted at the time. And while I do still have the same eyes pretty much; they have indeed lost a little sparkle over the years and gained a few wrinkles and crows-feet in the process. The lashes just don’t pop like they once did, even when I pile on the mascara. I battle redness, dark circles, and puffiness more than most because of severe allergies. So if a pair of lashes could give my eyes a little added humph, I'm game (a pretty cheap vanity fix).

The results….

First time I tried them was on vacation in Miami. I would be around new people and had less fear of judgment. I really liked the look. It was not easy putting them on and I must admit I still was totally comfortable enough with them to do it too often.
Second time, Valentine’s Date. I was starting to like them more and more. They made my eyes look very sultry and sexy. I can live with that. But it was still challenging to apply them.
Third time, my most recent birthday. Third time is a charm. I’ve got the knack of applying them down to a fine little science now. I remember the tips Gayle gave and found a few more tricks myself.

Gayle King’s tip: suggested cutting them in half before applying them. That really helped, not having to work with the entire lash positioning and gluing all at once.
DSCN0719
The tip I discovered for myself: a Q-tip. Very useful aide in positioning the lashes, smoothing and help to remove excess glue easily.



girls put your lashes on +get your sexy back;-)









Tuesday, August 7, 2012

applying lashes

DSCN0375
lashes...
  • come in a myriad of styles and colors (usually designated by a number (#).
  • can be used + worn multiple times.
  • available in self-adhesive.
Choose one that is right for you +your style +mood +occasion.

DSCN0722
General Directions to Apply Lashes:
  1. Check Fit. Place Lash along natural lash line to check fit and length.  Trim Excess if needed. (Now, If you want, cut the lash in two pieces for additional ease in application)
  2. Apply Adhesive (if lashes aren’t self-adhesive)  Another good tip offered by Gayle, apply adhesive to the back of your hand first, then lightly drag the edge of the lash through the glue.  This way you don’t get a lot of excess glue.
  3. Apply Lashes to eyelid (as close to natural lash line/roots as possible); press in place (this is where I found a Q-Tip to be most handy)
Care & Cleaning:  Keep lashes stored in their case when not in use. Clean lashes occasionally with a brush (make up brushes work great); use tweezers to remove adhesive
Restore or refresh the curl by rolling it in wax paper around a pencil and secure with a rubber band.


...see  pics of my  jazzed-up lashes  + read how i finally worked up  my nerve 




Sunday, August 5, 2012

why blog "lifestyle"


Why blog?  why a Lifestyle blog?  because it works for me.  it's a good fit. i'm creative with many varied interest and activities.  i've always felt "trapped", boxed-in, with previous blogs I started, and there have been many.  sadly, they all eventually died a slow painful neglectful death.


i found that whatever project, hobby or activity was occupying my mind and time was what i like to blog about so when i moved onto to something else, as I "always" do; the blog died.  i didn't want to write about it anymore and my current work or interest didn't seem to fit blog's theme or focus very well.  i even tried keeping multiple blogs so that i could have one for each area of interest but that was too overwhelming and impossible to keep current.


so i dropped out of the blogs-a-spere altogether for a while.  actually i kinda left cyberspace altogether, except for work related activity.  i was busying trying to keep my real-life going.  although i wasn't actively on the web i was always thinking about it, it's the "geek" in me, can't help it.


during my cyberspace hiatus i discovered some things that eventually brought me back, with more clarity of purpose.  i came to understand the importance of branding.  and once i figured out who i was and want to be, in order to articulate that uniqueness to ; distinction separates and differentiates me from others. 


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