Year: 2011

healthy cooking: greek pasta

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Although I have my own rolodex of recipes I follow and some I learn as I watch my mother cook, I often times borrow recipes from some of my favorite bloggers. Here’s one I absolutely love and of course found here. But just in case you don’t really want to click away from my blog, I have detailed the recipe below for you to consider trying. Greek Pasta: Recipe and photos by For the Love of Cooking.net 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts Angel hair pasta, cooked per instructions 1 tbsp olive oil 1/4 small red onion, diced Handful of grape tomatoes 1/4 tsp oregano 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste 3 cloves of garlic, minced Handful of kalamata olives, halved 1/2 cup of chicken broth 1 cup of baby spinach Feta cheese Toast the pine nuts in a DRY skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. Set aside. Cook the pasta per instructions. While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in …

modern vintage apartment decor

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The amount of time I spend flipping through magazines and online sites for home decorating ideas, you would think I was an interior designer. But no, I am simply an admirer and extreme follower of the trade. The most appealing aspect of interior decor that I discovered is,  most anything is doable, if the pieces create a livable space. Unusual is fine, colors are great and mix and match is always the in thing.  That is at least from where I am sitting :). So, you won’t be shocked if I admitted to the fact, I am a fan of modern vintage decor and here are some photos of my favorite living room, which I found here

shopping at bloomingales on a cold spring day

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I needed a little pick me up this past weekend and since the weather wasn’t giving me any inspiration to be outdoors, because it was unusually cold, I let my fingers do the walking through the Bloomingale’s online catalog. I found a few pieces which immediately put a smile on my face and although not all of them are designed for this woman over 40, I still appreciate their originally and sex appeal. DianeVonFurstenberg: 1)Damiana top 265. 2)Small cat eyes shades 145. 3)Joss Wrap 165. 4)Priam Hooded cover 265. 5)Flama Runway Wrap sandals 280. 6)Bonnie Retro Swimwear top 155, bottom 140.

boutique hotel pick – four seasons – florence, italy

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One city I plan to include in my fall trip to Italy this year, is of course Florence. Although I have been there many times, it seems I can never get enough of this fascinating destination. Outside of the fact the city’s architectural and artistic makeup, it is to me one of the most romantic places to consider spending with a loved one. Now, although there are many hotel options to choose from while vacationing in Florence, my favorite recommend is the Palazzo della Gherardesca. Currently known as The Four Seasons Hotel here. Apparently the hotel is the first of it’s kind for Florence. It is a resort with a pool, a spa and various other amenities too many to list here. However, please click here to read about how the hotel came to be. Enjoy the photos and have a great weekend.

outdoor sitting french style

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This is going to be my first summer without a backyard. After selling our house in the country, we traded in a grand backyard with a pool and garden for a view of the Pacific Ocean. Not a bad trade off. But I vowed I would not write about outdoor spaces, patio furniture or backyard get togethers until I worked the entire experience out of my system. But knowing me and the need to talk outdoors, I had to include some of my favorite photos of French country backyards and furniture.

mediterranean diet staple foods bring a smile to my face

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My background is from a semi-mediterranean culture.  I say this because we share the same recipes and cultural views. The reason I smiled when I saw the article here, is because when I first immigrated to the U.S., my Mother prepared my lunch for school. She often times included an eggplant sandwich, Hummus and pita bread, falafal and other things which the America kids at school made fun of at the time.  Now, Mediterranean food is much appreciated and considered fine cuisine around the metropolitan cities throughout the states and those kids who made fun of my lunch are now frequent diners at mediterranean eateries. Funny thing isn’t it? Anyway, according to the article the following are the staple of Mediterranean diet and one we may want to consider when eating or trying to eat healthy.

swimwear for the woman over 40

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Just like handbags and shoes are an investment for most women over 40, so are swimwear. Not only does it have to be good quality but durable enough to endure the interesting shapes the over 40 tends to take. One of my biggest frusturation is seeing women over 40 wearing 2 piece swimwear which do not compliment the body.  There is definitealy a way to look and feel sexy with one piece suits if teh following is taken into consieration. The criteria – swimsuit should preferably be a solid color and one that compliments the skin tone. The cut should also be taken into consieration so not to overexpose parts which do not compliment your figure. The fabric is also something to consider because the cheaper the suit, the quicker the give into the water and then out of the water. So for this topic, I have searched online for some of my favorites from the man who knows a thing or two about the women over 40. Click here for more details.

home decor: stylish yet eccentric

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Although I have my own personal taste in  interior design and home decor, I do, also appreciate and admire  the most stylish yet eccentric decor as well and sometimes wonder if money was no object, would I consider the options as well. So, here are some photos of my recent appreciation of stylish yet eccentric decor:

influenced by french linen

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I don’t know what it is, Springtime, longer days, occassional sunshine or the blooming flowers, but for some strange reason, this is the time of the year I dream of French white linen sheets. Call me crazy but I bet if you think about it, Springtime is a time when we begin to thing of  fresh and clean (linens) sheets. While I contemplate my redecorating, I, of course, need to consider new bedding as well. So here we go, I will share some of my favorites from Yves Delorme -Paris  and see what you think? For the online catalog, please click here