Month: May 2010

no recipe here just good food

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I love “good” food like most individual with an artistic palette. I refer to palettes as artistic because if you think about it, those who lack creativity, lack a taste for good food (in my opinion). Good food to me is something that has to compliment my taste buds, it has to enhance my sense of smell from the array of spices used to create the dish, and finally it has to fulfill my innermost sensuality. Believe me if you think about it, you will understand what I mean. I am always in search of good food and when I find myself settling due to my financial state at the time I frequent the restaurant, or the party I am with doesn’t have an artistic palette, I leave the restaurant feeling unhappy and a bit grumpy. Keep in mind I am not implying that only expensive restaurants or those who claim to work with the best chefs in the world have the best meals. I am stating that even the simplest and most inexpensive places …

handbag and shoes for the woman over 40

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If there is anything I can say I am addicted to, even in midlife, is shoes and handbags. I can walk through department stores and browse through the selection of designer shoes and handbags, oh probably an entire day without feeling tired. I know I am not alone in this, but choosing the right shoes and handbags for a woman over 40 could sometimes be very challenging. There is a certain protocol when you reach a certain time in your life and the shoes and handbags you select should compliment your maturity rather than hinder it. A handbag should never be too big or too small and the handle should be designed so that when you carry it, it doesn’t seem like you are struggling. Sticking to pale colors in the summer is ideal and keeping with the blacks is appreciated in the winter months. Women over 40 should stay away from bright yellow or fuchsias and greens. If color is your thing, then stick to lavenders and power blues instead for spring and summer. …

modern design and middle age

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I love architecture and design. I cannot settle for the outdated in this area of my life. I don’t know if this is a good or bad thing but to me, because I don’t live by what others think about me, is a great thing. From the 70s to the 90s I had trouble accepting the furniture and home designs and flipped through magazines, being simply bored with what I saw. Nonetheless I conformed hoping someday, somehow, somewhere, someone would create design I can live by and with. Then came Dwell Magazine and the erection of modern homes with energy efficient as well as recycled materials used to build the dwelling and I must say, I have never been happier about architecture and design. I am a firm believer of streamline, clean design and the notion that less is more and so goes the appreciation of modern design. In the past, we cluttered our homes with pieces we really did not need and colors that only worked with one season and not the other. For …

pebbles and such

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I love pebbles. I can honestly say that I prefer a collection of pebbles in my household more so than diamond  in my jewelry box. I often walk the ocean beach in San Francisco in search of unique pebbles and also shop home furnishing stores for bagged or boxed pebbles as well. This is probably an obsession of mine, but who cares, I am entitled to one or two. I have canisters and glass vases full of them around the house and one day with the proper loft design I plan to incorporate pebbles into my living room space or along a long hallway either outdoor or indoor of an eco-friendly home. The most interesting thing I found about pebbles  is that a collection of them in a glass container goes with almost any neutral decor in any coastal city as well as, if arranged correctly most decors elsewhere. Pebbles are also very easy to work with, whether you create your own design or purchase a ready-made design from a store. The possibilities are endless if you put your mind to it. Pebbles also come in different …

poached halibut with saffron fennel cream

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I love it when grocery stores give a complimentary booklet or a magazine advertising their products with a few good recipes. I collect them all and use them frequently. I found this amazing recipe on Nugget Market’s website and magazine and it is amazing to say the least. Here it is – enjoy 4 Halibut fillets Court Boullion: 4 cups water 2 cups white wine 1 yellow onion, quartered 2 ribs celery, rough chopped 1 bay leaf 1 fennel frond, rough chopped, reserve one more for garnish 12 to 15 whole peppercorns 1 lemon, juiced Fennel Cream: 1 pint cream 1 head fennel, small dice 1 clove garlic, minced 1 teaspoon saffron salt and pepper to taste Preparation Court Boullion: Combine all the ingredients in a sauce pan.  Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer for 15 minutes.  Strain.  Fennel Cream: Combine the ingredients and bring up to a simmer over medium-low heat.  Reduce the cream by half.  This should take 10 to 15 minutes. Puree and season to taste with salt and pepper. …

no mini skirt needed to feel sexy

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I don’t consider my self too conservative when it comes to wearing skirts or dresses, but I do consider my limit when choosing the length of the skirt. Sure, mini skirts are sexy and is intended, in my opinion, to stear attention from other parts of a woman’s body. But, a woman over 40, no matter how sexy and shaply should stay away from mini skirts. I don’t care how good they feel and look. If I want to go for sexy, I choose a black knee (or just below) lenght pencil skirt and compliment it with a nice pair of high heels instead. I wear super sheer taupe stockings for evening time and go with au natural (bear legs) during the day unless my workplace requires me to wear stockings. Mini Skirt: D&G Bouche Miniskirt $285.00 At Nordstrom Pencil Skirt: Ingenuity Pencil Skirt $86.00 At Nordstrom

chanel gown gone wrong

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Diane Kruger wore the pictured Chanel gown for one of the events she attended during the Cannes Film Festival 2010. I am a huge fan of Chanel but in this case not so much. I think the person who designed this particular gown didn’t know where he/she was going with it. It is visible that there are multiple styles incorporated in the gown. No part of the gown makes sense and I know sometimes photos don’t do the gowns justice but really in this case it is very obvious this one is down right awful.

t-shirt frenzy

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Is it my imagination or t-shirts now a days are made of parchment paper? I understand the whole, let’s cater to the young and skinny as they are the ones who shop and spend money. Let us also make the clothes so that after one wear, you toss and buy another one. I get it, but… For the woman over 40, that concept is not good enough. Women over 40 and mind you those with young children, need t-shirts that will withstand the test of ketchup stains, detergent and various other marks put on as a result of ongoing and everlasting chores. So, while I have searched high and low for some good quality t-shirts I stumbled upon Eddie Bauer and their selection of “pretty good quality” adult t-shirts. Of course the sale they are having now also helps, but at least I know I can do my thing without being worried about the parchment look.

you say chocolate and i say chocolat

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Chocolate, of course is one of those things that “most” everyone and anyone loves and is probably addicted to. Well on that note, I want to introduce my readers to Coco Bella Chocolate from San Francisco. It is probably the best northern California purveyor of the best chocolatiers from around the world. The store design is a great representation of what you will experience while shopping and purchasing their quality chocolate. With white marble granite counters and dark mahogany cabinetry displaying the chocolate selection from around the world, it makes for a happy purchase. You walk around the glass display case selecting the pieces displayed by continent order, and the knowledgeable sales person walks along with you while holding a silver tray in order to collect your selections as you point to them. By this point you already feel super special. Then of course you finalize your selection and walk to the register, where they ask if you want a brown or white satin ribbon on your exquisite blue box of chocolate and after you …