
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
waiting for a boring day so i can buy an orchid...

Sunday, July 12, 2009
My new favorite show!!!
I can't wait to get into our new place and start entertaining!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Happy Tuesday!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Happy Friday!

Thursday, June 18, 2009
blue wall & linen hamper
i like both of these for the bathroom too- we need a good hamper and i like this color...
book shelves
love this shelve idea- is an L bracketscrewed to the wall in the shape of an L and then books are placed on it to make it look like floating books! i love it! and i also love the butterfly!
foyer05
so we're not going to have coat space in the closets as thats where we'll be hanging our bikes, so I think a set up like this int eh foyer would be ideal...
reading room shelves
Despite the fact that we'llhave an entire wall of books, I do think it'd be lovely to have shelves displaying books like this as well...especially since the couch will be facing the wall of books. The room would be more balanced...
new dry erase board idea
I LOVE this. I'm definatley replacing the dry erase board we have in the kitchen with this!
Friday, June 12, 2009
135 Hawthorne

Here you can see the wall of book shelves that we are sooo excited to fill up! I think we'll have enough for most of the shelves, but we sure are excited at the prospect of filling up the rest! However, we've decided not to get a TV an instead remove one of the shelves and put in a flat screen computer monitor so that we can watch Hulu and other Internet TV when we want to. We think this will be great as we've gone years with out a TV before and we were so much more productive. No more TV for back ground noise! Here's another view:
Currently the bedroom is being used as an artists studio. This room will have to have a complete make over. Any suggestions on paint color? I'm currently thinking a pale blue or very pale grey, but I've also been thinking of pale lilacs and pinks.

Here's the kitchen/ dining room. we love the Yellow and are keeping it, and we'll even have a black table to replace the one that's there. The current owners did an amazing job renovating this kitchen. It has loads of style and although the appliances are too small for my taste, its still a great kitchen!

This is the foyer. I hate the green its going to be the first thing I change, however, what color I change it to is another story....I'm thinking a light blue or a light grey, but maybe even and ivory. I don't know yet... but something light. I want the color to match the colors schemes of the entire house since each room is visible for the foyer.
Planning for our new house...

Wednesday, May 27, 2009
quick bathroom idea...
awesome screen printing ideas...


Tuesday, May 26, 2009
again- where does the time go?
so what I'm up to lately...
Aaron and I are trying to buy an awesome co-op a block and a half from prospect park in prospect lefferts. We still have to pass the board interview which will be sometime this next month. I'm sure all will be fine but I won't lie and say I'm not nervous. I really love this apt and I'll be just sick at the thought of having to start the process of co-op hunting again! if we get it I'll post more, but until then I'm trying not to wrap my entire heart up in the place... (easier said than done). but so far everything has fallen into place perfectly... keep your fingers crossed for us that it continues to do so!!!
you can find the link to the NYT listing here.
i also spent a little over a week with Carley. she had a beautiful baby girl! i was privileged enough to be there for her birth! i even got to cut the cord! she's the most beautiful perfect baby ever. (sure everyone says that about their baby and their friends babies but if you're lucky enough to meet her you'll think "wow- everyone says that their baby is perfect, but this time its really true!") Carley's not sharing her name so i won't either. you'll just have to trust me that shes the most awesome baby ever and she has a gorgeous name even though i won't tell it to you ;' ).
Aaron and I also went on a short road trip to Colorado. i celebrated my 29th birthday by crawling through some gorgeous caves, and we had a blast camping in the rain at mesa Verde ;' ) maybe it wasn't all fun- i did snuggle up to a hot baked potato to get warm, but i also got to see the amazing anasazi cliff dwellings which was really cool.
i'll update more later... i gotta get back to work...
love you all....
Monday, April 20, 2009
Where've I been?
I know I've been MIA- but for good reason. no, I have not had the adventure the gal to the right relates, instead I've been working part time in addition to my full time job doing taxes. Thursday, April 16, 2009
7 Steps to discovering your passion...

Thursday, March 19, 2009
How to create your a still and make your own Rose Water
Availability: Besides health food stores and herb stores, you can often find rose water in delicatessens; it is used as a flavoring in fancy Greek pastries, puddings, and cakes.
This recipe is the more traditional way to prepare rose water. Though it’s a little more involved, its fun to do and the results are outstanding. You can make a quart of excellent-quality rose water in about 40 minutes. However, if you simmer the water too long, you will continue to produce distilled water but the rose essence will become diluted. Your rose water will smell more like plain distilled water, rather than the heavenly scent of roses.
Be sure you have a brick and heat-safe stainless steel or glass quart bowl ready before you begin.
INGREDIENTS 2-3 quarts fresh roses or rose petalsWaterIce cubes or crushed ice
1. In the center of a large pot (the speckled blue canning pots are ideal) with an inverted lid (a rounded lid), place a fireplace brick. On top of the brick place the bowl. Put the roses in the pot; add enough flowers to reach the top of the brick. Pour in just enough water to cover the roses. The water should be just above the top of the brick.
2. Place the lid upside down on the pot. Turn on the stove and bring the water to a rolling boil, then lower heat to a slow steady simmer. As soon as the water begins to boil, toss two or three trays of ice cubes (or a bag of ice) on top of the lid.
3. You’ve now created a home still! As the water boils the steam rises, hits the top of the cold lid, and condenses. As it condenses it flows to the center of the lid and drops into the bowl. Every 20 minutes, quickly lift the lid and take out a tablespoon or two of the rose water. It’s time to stop when you have between a pint and a quart of water that smells and tastes strongly like roses.
hard core DIY...
I'm curious but cautious. We are a stink conscience society, so I can see why she suggests trying it first on the weekend... but still- I like the idea of this. When I feel in the mood for a good science experiement I will definately try this...
Monday, March 16, 2009
more at home spa recipes...

Spa recipes are a pet project of mine. I love creating new little ways to pamper myself with little to no cost.
Heres a few more that I've found...
Homemade Bath Soak
(For the Sniffles and Aches):
2 Cups of Epsom Salts 4-6 drops of either lavender or eucalyptus essential oils (or both) at least 15 minutes of soaking in hot, but not too hot water. Epsom salts help soothe sore muscles and calm the nervous system, plus they're really cheap at the drugstore.
So when you're sick, crawl into this soak. It helps to soothe the body and clear out the sinuses before you climb into bed with some hot tea...
Aloe Vera Facial Cleanser
Best for: dry skin types, Benefits: cleanses and moisturizes
1 fl. oz. aloe vera gel, 1/5 cup olive oil, 1 fl. oz. rosewater, 4 drops rose essential oil, 2 drops grapefruit seed extract
Blend all the ingredients together in a food processor and decant into a small bottle. Ideally, keep in the fridge. Shake before use, as the ingredients may separate. Massage into your face and remove with either a muslin cloth or water.
Rich Avocado Facial
Best for: dry skin types. Benefit: adds intense moisture
1 tbsp ripe avocado, mashed, 1 tsp honey, 3 drops cider vinegar, a little sesame oil
Mix the first three ingredients and add enough sesame oil to create a spreadable consistency. Smear on with clean hands, leave on for five to 10 minutes, then rinse off with warm water and pat skin dry. If desired, finish off with a light application of rosewater (spritz it on and gently pat it in or apply it with a cotton pad) to tone, then apply moisturizer.
Lavendar Bath
Best for: sensitive skin typesBenefits: calms and hydrates skin
1 cup dried lavender flowers, 2 cups oatmeal, 1/2 cup baking soda
Place the ingredients inside a food processor or blender. Grind to a smooth, fine powder. The powder should have the consistency of whole-grain flour. Pour into a clean, airtight container or resealable plastic bag. To use, pour 1/2 cup into your bath as you fill the tub for a soothing end-of–the-day treat. (Makes 31/2 cups, enough for seven baths.)
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Your Best Bath Recipe
Whip this up after dinner for the perfect topping to a hectic day. Required time: 20-30 minutes, uninterrupted.
Add Epsom salts to full bath--they'll draw out toxins, relax muscles and exfoliate. Adjust according to taste:
To increase relaxation, add lavender.
To be uplifted, add orange, lemon or cinnamon.
To soothe dry skin, add baking soda and/or milk.
To clear your head, add rosemary.
To induce sleep, add chamomile and/or lavender.
Step in, lay back and soak while sipping drink. After 20-30 minutes, step out and apply warm body lotion.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Best Chilli EVER.
Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions, bell peppers, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 6 to 8 minutes.Add the beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until no longer pink, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the tomato paste, chili powder, and cumin and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.Add the beer, beans, the tomatoes and their juices, 2 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve with the corn bread and toppings as desired.
NUTRITION PER SERVING
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Joyful girl.
Monday, December 01, 2008
An Atheist's reflection on gratitude...
The walls of my prison crumbled and fell, the dungeon was flooded with light and all the bolts and bars and manacles became dust. I was no longer a servant, a serf or a slave. There was for me no master in all the world—not even infinite space.
I was free. Free to think, to express my thoughts. Free to live my own ideal. Free to live for myself and those I loved. Free to use all my faculties, all my senses. Free to spread imagination’s wings. Free to investigate, to guess and dream and hope. Free to judge and determine for myself. Free to reject all ignorant and cruel creeds, all the “inspired” books that savages have produced, and all the barbarous legends of the past. Free from popes and priests. Free from all the “called” and “set apart.” Free from sanctified mistakes and “holy” lies. Free from the winged monsters of the night. Free from devils, ghosts and gods.
For the first time I was free. There were no prohibited places in all the realms of thought, no air, no space, where fancy could not spread her painted wings, no claims for my limbs, no lashes for my back, no fires for my flesh, no following another’s steps, no need to bow, or cringe, or crawl, or utter lying words. I was free.
And then my heart was filled with gratitude, with thankfulness, and went out in love to all the heroes, the thinkers, who gave their lives for the liberty of hand and brain, for the freedom of labor and thought, to those who fell on the fierce fields of war, to those who died in dungeons bound with chains, to those who proudly mounted scaffold’s stairs, to those by fire consumed, to all the wise, the good, the brave of every land, whose thoughts and deeds have given freedom to the sons and daughters of men and women. And then I vowed to grasp the torch that they have held, and hold it high, that light may conquer darkness still.”
—Robert Green Ingersoll (1833–1899)
This last week I was repeatedly reminded of where I come from and how far I am from it and how very grateful I am for that. I am grateful for my origins, and even more grateful for my struggle away from them. The release of conforming religious actions, thoughts and beliefs was remarkable transition in my life and I am daily grateful for it.
Thanksgiving week was one for reflection. With the horrifying attacks in Mumbai, a heated argument over gay rights and marriage, and conversations with too many friends over thier placating family members by lying about thier beliefes to avoid confrontation, I have not been able to stop thinking about a Ted Talk by Richard Dawkins called "An atheist's call to arms". Richard Dawkins urges all atheists to openly state their position -- and to fight the incursion of the church into politics and science. I love this humerous and yet very serious Ted Talk. Watch it if you're so inclined. I especially love the quote he repeats by Carl Sagan- its one of my favorite quotes.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Tagged..

Friday, November 21, 2008
groovy girl - Daft Punk - Harder Better Faster Stronger
Uploaded by boumboo
I've watched this video at least 20 times and it never fails to make me want to smile and dance... I expect to be bouncing around my apartment to it all weekend long...
Thursday, November 13, 2008
plotting for the weekend again...
I plan on brunching with some special people, writing more ( I have over 16,900 words so far!)
and spoiling myself a bit which usually includes a great bath with a raspberry vodka hot cocoa, or a glass of wine, a fun home spa treatment, some candles, and some great music.
so, I'll be downloading some relaxing beautiful acoustic Joshua Radin, Matt Nathanson, Doves, and maybe speed infused Mars Volta, and Ratatat to listen to while I write.
another home spa recipe for your utter relaxation and simple spoiling...John Masters' DIY Hair Mask
Monday, November 10, 2008
What I wish I'd known...
1. The 80/20 rule.
This is one of the best ways to make better use of your time. The 80/20 rule – also known as The Pareto Principle – basically says that 80 percent of the value you will receive will come from 20 percent of your activities.
So a lot of what you do is probably not as useful or even necessary to do as you may think.
You can just drop – or vastly decrease the time you spend on – a whole bunch of things.
And if you do that you will have more time and energy to spend on those things that really brings your value, happiness, fulfilment and so on.
2. Parkinson’s Law.
You can do things quicker than you think. This law says that a task will expand in time and seeming complexity depending on the time you set aside for it. For instance, if you say to yourself that you’ll come up with a solution within a week then the problem will seem to grow more difficult and you’ll spend more and more time trying to come up with a solution.
So focus your time on finding solutions. Then just give yourself an hour (instead of the whole day) or the day (instead of the whole week) to solve the problem. This will force your mind to focus on solutions and action.
The result may not be exactly as perfect as if you had spent a week on the task, but as mentioned in the previous point, 80 percent of the value will come from 20 percent of the activities anyway. Or you may wind up with a better result because you haven’t overcomplicated or overpolished things. This will help you to get things done faster, to improve your ability to focus and give you more free time where you can totally focus on what’s in front of you instead of having some looming task creating stress in the back of your mind.
3. Batching.
Boring or routine tasks can create a lot of procrastination and low-level anxiety. One good way to get these things done quickly is to batch them. This means that you do them all in row. You will be able to do them quicker because there is less “start-up time” compared to if you spread them out. And when you are batching you become fully engaged in the tasks and more focused.
A batch of things to do in an hour today may look like this: Clean your desk / answer today’s emails / do the dishes / make three calls / write a grocery shopping list for tomorrow.
4. First, give value. Then, get value. Not the other way around.
This is a bit of a counter-intuitive thing. There is often an idea that someone should give us something or do something for us before we give back. The problem is just that a lot of people think that way. And so far less than possible is given either way.
If you want to increase the value you receive (money, love, kindness, opportunities etc.) you have to increase the value you give. Because over time you pretty much get what you give.
5. Be proactive. Not reactive.
This one ties into the last point. If everyone is reactive then very little will get done. You could sit and wait and hope for someone else to do something. And that happens pretty often, but it can take a lot of time before it happens. A more useful and beneficial way is to be proactive, to simply be the one to take the first practical action and get the ball rolling. This not only saves you a lot of waiting, but is also more pleasurable since you feel like you have the power over your life. Instead of feeling like you are run by a bunch of random outside forces.
6. Mistakes and failures are good.
When you are young you just try things and fail until you learn. As you grow a bit older, you learn from - for example - school to not make mistakes. And you try less and less things.
This may cause you to stop being proactive and to fall into a habit of being reactive, of waiting for someone else to do something. I mean, what if you actually tried something and failed? its rarely the end of the world or even something ot worry about- And success in life often comes from not giving up despite mistakes and failure. It comes from being persistent.
If you can just reconnect to your 5 year old self and do things that way - experimenting- daring to try-instead of giving up after a try/failure or two as grown-ups often do – you would probably experience a lot more interesting things, learn valuable lessons and have quite a bit more success.
7. Don’t beat yourself up.
Why do people give up after just few mistakes or failures? Well, I think one big reason is because they beat themselves up way too much. But it’s a kinda pointless habit. It only creates additional and unnecessary pain inside you and wastes your precious time. It’s best to try to drop this habit as much as you can.
8. Assume rapport.
Meeting new people is fun. But it can also induce nervousness. We all want to make a good first impression and not get stuck in an awkward conversation. The best way to do this that I have found so far is to assume rapport. This means that you simply pretend that you are meeting one of your best friends. Then you start the interaction in that frame of mind instead of the nervous one. Speak to someone like they are your friend and you'll make one out of them more often than not...
9. Use your reticular activation system to your advantage.
I learned about the organs and the inner workings of the body in class but nobody told me about the reticular activation system. And that’s a shame, because this is one of the most powerful things you can learn about. What this focus system, this R.A.S, in your mind does is to allow you to see in your surroundings what you focus your thoughts on. It pretty much always helps you to find what you are looking for.
So you really need to focus on what you want, not on what you don’t want. And keep that focus steady.
Setting goals and reviewing them frequently is one way to keep your focus on what’s important and to help you take action that will move your closer to toward where you want to go. Another way is just to use external reminders such as pieces of paper where you can, for instance, write down a few things from this post like “Give value” or “Assume rapport”. And then you can put those pieces of paper on your fridge, bathroom mirror etc.
10. Your attitude changes your reality.
We have all heard that you should keep a positive attitude or perhaps that “you need to change your attitude!”. I used tho think this was merely to become pascified and thereby easier to be around, but the thing that I’ve discovered the last few years is that if you change your attitude, you actually change your reality. When you for instance use a positive attitude instead of a negative one you start to see things and viewpoints that were invisible to you before. You may think to yourself “why haven’t I thought about things this way before?”. When you change you attitude you change what you focus on. And all things in your world can now be seen in a different light.
This is of course very similar to the previous tip but I wanted to give this one some space. Because changing your attitude can create an insane change in your world. It might not look like it if you just think about it though. Pessimism might seem like realism. But that is mostly because your R.A.S is tuned into seeing all the negative things you want to see. And that makes you “right” a lot of the time. And perhaps that is what you want. On the other hand, there are more fun things than being right all the time.
11. Gratitude is a simple way to make yourself feel happy.Sure, I was probably told that I should be grateful. Perhaps because it was the right thing to do or just something I should do. But if someone had said that feeling grateful about things for minute or two is a great way to turn a negative mood into a happy one I would probably have practised gratitude more. It is also a good tool for keeping your attitude up and focusing on the right things. And to make other people happy. Which tends to make you even happier, since emotions are contagious.
12. Don’t compare yourself to others.
The ego wants to compare. It wants to find reasons for you to feel good about yourself (“I’ve got a new bike!”). But by doing that it also becomes very hard to not compare yourself to others who have more than you (“Oh no, Bill has bought an even nicer bike!”). And so you don’t feel so good about yourself once again. If you compare yourself to others you let the world around control how you feel about yourself. It always becomes a rollercoaster of emotions.
A more useful way is to compare yourself to yourself. To look at how far you have come, what you have accomplished and how you have grown. It may not sound like that much fun but in the long run it brings a lot more inner stillness, personal power and positive feelings.
13. 80-90% of what you fear will happen never really come into reality.
This is a big one. Most things you fear will happen never happen. They are just monsters in your own mind. And if they happen then they will most often not be as painful or bad as you expected. Worrying is most often just a waste of time.
This is of course easy to say. But if you remind yourself of how little of what you feared throughout your life that has actually happened you can start to release more and more of that worry from your thoughts.
14. Don’t take things too seriously.
Taking yourself, your thoughts and your emotions too seriously often just seems to lead to more unnecessary suffering. So relax a little more and lighten up a bit. It can do wonders for your mood and as an extension of that; your life.
15. Write everything down.
If your memory is anything like mine then it’s like a leaking bucket. Many of your good or great ideas may be lost forever if you don’t make a habit of writing things down. This is also a good way to keep your focus on what you want.
16. There are opportunities in just about every experience.
In pretty much any experience there are always things that you can learn from it and things within the experience that can help you to grow. Negative experiences, mistakes and failure can sometimes be even better than a success because it teaches you something totally new, something that another success could never teach you.
Whenever you have a “negative experience” ask yourself: where is the opportunity in this? What is good about this situation? One negative experience can – with time – help you create many very positive experiences.
Friday, October 31, 2008
two whole free non-sick days- how to spend them???

So I'm planning a few more tasks for the weekend.
originally it was... sleep and try to take a shower.
now I'm thinking;
- buy flowers from the lady selling them out of a stolen shopping cart on 125th and Lex (friday night)
- finish reading Sarte's Age of Reason on the subay ride home (friday night)
- clean the bathroom (friday night)
- organize my desk (friday night)
- watch a movie and knit (friday night)
- workout (saturday morning)
- take pics around brooklyn/manhattan for Shalae (saturday morning)
- go to the pharmacy (saturday morning)
- wander around park slope looking for things I don't need (saturday morning)
- write another scene for my book; Saturday Afternoon for sure.
- bake something for sunday brunch and make the house smell good (saturday afternoon)
- watch the NYC marathon outside my window with anushka and rasesh and make brunch (is it this sunday morning?)
- do my laundry (this ones been due for a while) (sunday afternoon?)
and what do you know- its monday again... aren't you soo glad you spent your lovely time to read this post?
Thursday, October 30, 2008
yeah- so long time no blog...
I know- I know...I have been terrible about blogging lately. I have my excuses. My arthritis has made it hurt to knit for months now and so the needles haven't budged. I've been busy at work. I've been reading and doing research for my new writing project. I've started tracking my excercise and eating and team challenges on sparkpeople.com (I love that website!) and spend most of my online time on there. I've been working out more (stair climbing- not running- I still am banned from running because of my arthritis). But most of my time has gone to my new writing project.
They are all good reasons, but I want to start blogging again.
i did pick up the needles again last night, but instead of talking about knitting, I'll tell you about my writing project today. I've decided to write a novel. I don't care if its published, I just want to finish writing a novel. It's something I've always said I'd do and I'm finally free of grad school work and I want to keep the habits of reading things just to learn and to keep writing large projects. I've started two novels in the past and I've never finished them. That's something I'm personally frustrated with, but I understand that there will always be unfinished projects when you're learning how to do something- knitting taught me that its okay to have unfinished projects because you start something to learn how to do it and once you've learned how to do it you may not have to go any further with the project. It's sole purpose can be just to teach you something and once you've learned it its fine ot move on. My sad excuse at a yellow striped sweater shows that well enough- sure, I learned how to knit in the round and switch yarns, but that thing should never be worn... by anyone. ;' )
I don't think I understood how to tackle a project that large until I wrote my masters thesis. So this time around the writing process has been very different from before and its been really engrossing. Most of my weekends and evenings go to it, writing, planning, research, plotting, character development, more research... its been sooo fun!
I've been really hesitant to talk about the specifics of what I'm writing because as I learn more, the storyline and characters shift, so don't ask about all that yet, but if you want to just encourage me, that's cool ;' ) I appreciate a "Hey, how's the novel coming?" every once in a while.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Wine pairing...
since I am just starting to get into cheese, I found this chart to be helpfull.
Wine type is on the left.
Asti Spumanti - baby swiss
Beaujolais - US brie, feta, muenster
Bordeaux - havarti
Cabernet Sauvignon - US brie, camembert, strong cheddar, Danish blue
Champagne - vintage brie, mild cheddar, chevre, colby, edam, gouda
Chardonnay - mild cheddar, gruyere, provolone
Chenin Blanc - camembert
Gewurztraminer - boursin, caraway, chevre, swiss
Madeira - bleuRiesling - cheshire, colby, edam, gouda, monterey jack
Rioja - strong cheddar, havarti
Sancerre - goat cheeseSauternes - gorgonzola
Sauvignon Blanc - strong cheddar, gruyereSherry - bleu
Sherry, sweet - vintage brie
Port, Tawny - bleu, roquefort, stilton
Vouvray - goat cheese
White Zinfandel - cream cheese
Zinfandel - muenster
Thursday, September 11, 2008
quick fixes...
Moisturizer: Apply olive oil liberally over parched skin (it mimics the oil that our skin naturally produces).
Toner: Rub half a lemon over skin to refresh and tone skin. Tomatoes work, too.
Exfoliator: combine 1 part sugar to 4 parts body lotion, apply to dry patches and rub.
Makeup remover: Olive oil (again!). It leaves skin clean and hydrated.
Zit cream: Chop up a banana peel and blend with milk. Apply paste to the infected area.
Shampoo: Sprinkle baking soda on your hairbrush and comb through to absorb excess oil.
Conditioner: Take 1 or 2 egg yolks and apply directly to hair. Leave for 20 minutes then shampoo thoroughly. For extra shine, mix with 2 tablespoons of olive oil or honey
Thursday, August 14, 2008
30 Ways to Make Your Life More Simple
I found this list here. I really like it and I want to impliment some of these...
Resign from a commitment you’re not passionate about.
Stop trying to be perfect.
Implement a basic cleaning schedule.
Sign up for automatic billpay.
Automate a portion of your investing.
Clean out your media collection and keep only the items you love.
Plant perennials that will automatically bloom next spring.
Clean out your purse or wallet.
Put a paper shredder next to your mail spot.
Winnow your wardrobe down to pieces that work together.
Delete any social networking accounts you don’t actually use.
Add your number to the do-not-call list.
Create a car maintenance schedule and post it somewhere you’ll see it.
Design a filing system that you can stick to.
Start your day with a healthy meal.
Turn your phone off when you need quiet time.
Invest in a programmable thermostat.
Set one good goal, and go achieve it.
Record your good “shower” ideas and then implement them. (Don’t we all get our best inspirations in the shower?)
Write to a friend with (gasp!) pen and paper.
Set limits on your bad habits, and reward yourself when you stick with them.
Stop trying to be a saint and indulge yourself every once in a while.
Pay off your credit card debt.
Avoid watching commercials and reading advertisements.
Rediscover the pleasure of reading purely for enjoyment.
Plan two weeks of delicious meals ahead of time and skip the nightly grocery run.
Go to your doctor for a preventative checkup.
Remember the joys of doing nothing.
Singletask as much as possible.
Learn to ask for help.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Research for relaxation...
Green Recipe: Oatmeal Apple Cider Mask for Acne
This easy-to-make and wonderfully inexpensive mask doubles as a quick scrub and a deep cleansing treatment. Apple cider vinegar, rich in tannins and fruit acids, helps fade post-acne brown spots and soothe active inflamed blemishes.
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons raw plain oats
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar (preferably organic)
1 drop tea tree oil
Method:
Grind the oats into a uniform paste and add the rest of ingredients. Blend until smooth.
Add tea tree oil and blend more.
You can scrub your face with this mask or apply it to a clean face to dry. Avoid the eye area.
Leave the mask on for about 15 minutes and wash off with lots of tepid water.
You have to use up the whole batch at once; this mask doesn’t store well.
Strawberry Cheese Cake Face Pack
This is a traditional European green beauty recipe that works wonders to breathe life into dull dry post-winter skin.
Strawberries are rich in vitamin C and gentle yet surprisingly effective AHAs, while the sour cream contains lactic acid and milk proteins which both help to whiten facial discolorations and hyperpigmentation.
Ingredients:
5-6 ripe organic strawberries
1 tablespoon full-fat sour cream
1 tablespoon cream cheese
1 drop lemon oil
1 drop vanilla oil
Method:
1. Combine all ingredients in a glass bowl and blend with a stick blender until smooth.
2. Apply to the face, neck and chest, and let set for about 10 minutes. Gently wash off with warm water. Follow with your organic toner.
Chocolate and Peanut Butter Truffles
1 package (6ounces) semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1/2 cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy) 1
/2 cup evaporated milk
Optional coatings: cocoa powder chopped nuts confectioner's sugar flaked coconut
Instructions:
Makes About 3 Dozen Truffles
1. Place chocolate morsels in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH for 45 seconds. (The bits won't look as if they are melting, but they are.) Stir the bits around with a spoon, leaving a space in the middle. Microwave on HIGH another 30 seconds and stir again until smooth and creamy. If lumps persist, microwave another 15-20 seconds on HIGH, then stir again.
2. Add peanut butter to melted morsels and stir to blend. Add evaporated milk and blend well. Chill mixture one hour in the refrigerator.
3. Using a tablespoon, scoop mixture and form into balls. Roll in desired coatings. Refrigerate until serving.
OR
Peanut Butter Chocolate Truffles
This truffle recipe was given to us by Brenda Hyde. You can find more old fashioned recipes, crafts and ideas by visiting Brenda's website at http://www.oldfashionedholidays.com/. Truffles are easy to make, and are a wonderful romantic gesture when given to someone you care about. Whether you wrap them in a pretty tin, or serve them after a special dinner, they add to the festive atmosphere.
Ingredients:
1 cup peanut butter chips 3/4 cup butter 1/2 cup cocoa 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condense milk 1 tablespoon vanilla Coatings: crushed graham cracker crumbs, confectioners sugar or crushed nuts
Instructions:
Makes about 3 dozen trufflesIn a heavy saucepan, over low heat, melt chips with butter. Stir in cocoa until smooth. Add condensed milk and vanilla. Cook and stir until thickened and well blended, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Chill until firm enough to handle. Shape into 1 inch balls. Roll in desired coating. Chill until firm. Store, covered in refrigerator.
Strawberry Truffles
This recipe by Roxanne E. Chan of Albany, California was a the Grand Prize winning recipe in the 1997 Oxnard, California Strawberry Festival's Berry Off cooking contest.
Ingredients:
8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
5 ounces white chocolate
4 cups confectioner's sugar
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root
18 medium fresh strawberries
1/4 cup finely minced crystallized ginger (get it in a gourmet food store or well stocked supermarket)
1/2 cup toasted coconut
1/2 cup finely chopped pistachio nuts
Instructions:
Makes about 18 Truffles
Melt white chocolate in the top of a double boiler, let cool.Beat together the cream cheese, sugar and ginger root until smooth. Add melted white chocolate and mix well. Chill for at least 1 hour or until easy to handle. Use a small melon baller (or small spoon) to scoop out the center of each strawberry, half way down each fruit. Pat strawberry dry. Put a little crystallized ginger into each strawberry. Shape the cheese mixture around the fruit. Coat one end in the toasted coconut, the other in the pistachio nuts. Place truffles in candy cups and chill until serving time.
Orange Chipotle Chocolate Truffles
Chocolate with Chile is a Central American aphrodisiac combination dating back further than recorded time. We've added orange to augment both the bite of bitter chocolate and the chile's sweet sting.
Ingredients:
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
1 teaspoon chipotle Chile powder
8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped evenly
1 tablespoon orange liqueur
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup cocoa
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 teaspoon chipotle Chile powder
Instructions:
Makes Approximately 24 truffles
Heat the cream sugar, butter, orange zest and 1 teaspoon of Chile powder to a boil over medium-high heat. Be careful not to boil over. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate, liqueur, salt, and vanilla until smooth.
Pour into an 8-inch baking pan, cover loosely, and refrigerate until firm.
Combine the cocoa, powdered sugar, and additional teaspoon of Chile powder in a shallow bowl. In batches, scoop out teaspoon or tablespoon-size portions of the truffle mixture; roll them into balls and coat them with the truffle mixture. Set the balls on a baking sheet and refrigerate until firm. Store in an airtight container with the cocoa mixture in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or freeze.
White Chocolate Truffles
This truffle recipe was given to us by our friend Brenda Hyde. You can find more old fashioned recipes, crafts and ideas by visiting Brenda's website www.oldfashionedholidays.com.
Truffles are easy to make, and are a wonderful romantic gesture when given to someone you care about. Whether you wrap them in a pretty tin, or serve them after dinner, they add to the festive atmosphere.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 egg yolk 8 ounces whit chocolate, broken into small pieces
1 cup chopped blanched almonds, lightly toasted
Instructions:
Makes about 2 dozen truffles
Melt chocolate and butter in the top of a double boiler over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add sugar, egg yolk and almond extract; beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Transfer to a shallow glass casserole dish. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.Shape mixture into 1 inch balls. Roll in almonds. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours. Place in miniature foil cups at room temperature to serve. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.





































