Year: 2011

healthy eating: chocolate zucchini cake

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Baking is a chore for me believe it or not, but once in a while I get the urge to bake my own cake and last night I decided I needed a chocolate cake which contained some healthy ingredients and so I found one here and figured I better share: 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup cocoa 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 2 eggs 1/3 cup canola oil 1/2 cup plain yogurt 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 teaspoons grated orange peel 1 1/2 cups grated zucchini Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease an 8×8” cake pan or 8” round spring form pan. In medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, soda, salt and cinnamon. In large mixing bowl, beat eggs and stir in canola oil. Beat dry ingredients into egg mixture alternately with yogurt. Stir in vanilla, orange peel and zucchini. Pour batter in baking pan and bake 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes …

kate spade: red orange handbags

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Since I am a fan of Kate Spade fashionables, I couldn’t help but admire  her collection of red orange handbags.  My favorite is the Mott Street Fisher (9th photo) and although I mostly carry black handbags these days to most anywhere (the universal handbag color  of San Francisco locals) I wish I had room in my life to incorporate some red orange options. Perhaps if  I make a move to New York, I can make it happen, but for now I will just drool over them. Click here for bag details and pricing

studio apartments and small living spaces

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Ever since I downsized my lifestyle (last year), I must say  I am the most content person as far as my living space. Just to help you understand, I went from a 3300 square foot home in the country to a 597 square foot studio apartment in the city. So you can imagine that while settling into this new lifestyle, at first I couldn’t help but feel crowded and claustrophobic and in order to survive I kept telling myself it was all temporary until I search for a bigger place. But over the course of the year I grew to love my space and realized it has become the most inspirational place for my creative writing. So I decided to stay another year. However, since I  decided to  make the studio my home for now, I wanted to personalize the decor. As usual I went to the internet for inspiration and found some photos of suggestions to consider. Let me know what you think?

happy mother’s day from rawsilkandsaffron.wordpress.com

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Happy Mother’s Day to all of you wonderful and amazing women, without you the world would simply cease to exist. You are the most inspirational, fascinating, amazing and admirable individuals on the face of this planet. Thank you for everything, I am truly humbled by your dedication and sacrifice.

spring to summertime gifts for her

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This entire week I decided to talk about fashion and gift suggestions for mothers. However, this particular collection of fashionable dresses and such are for the mother who wants to give herself a gift for mother’s day. C’mon ladies I know that some of you actually do this subconsciously and because of that I have decided to share with you some of my favorite gifts I want to give myself on mother’s day.

leather jackets for spring to summer to fall

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Leather jackets and I just don’t seem to mix very well. However, in the past year I have been contemplating on buying one just because the variations or choices, I should say, are pretty enticing.  Besides, leather jackets work well in San Francisco throughout the entire year and  especially (at the rate we are going with the weather) this year. By the way, leather jackets are great mother’s day gifts as well for the trendy woman who enjoys dressing up a pair of designer jeans or complementing a pair of khakis.  

single mother’s day celebration – a tea room brunch and a show

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Single mother’s have it tougher than those fortunate enough to have caring husbands. So, in reality these amazing wonder women don’t really care for gifts. They prefer to be taken out, if anything, to spend a day with her children. Now, I am going on the notion that most everyone is familiar with or has access to a tea room in their part of the world, but if not, I apologize in advance. However, if you happen to be in a city full of tea rooms, than by all means please consider the option. The experience of having brunch in a tea room is amazing and for sure out of the norm, more so in the U.S. than anywhere else. Since I live in San Francisco, I have included some of my favorites below to consider.  In addition to the nice tea room brunch, take her to a show, that could mean a movie thearte or an actual theatre to see whatever is playing in your town.

fashion: neutrals for spring to summer 2011

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I do love neutrals and as we all know it can  surely be a staple to most any outfit you put together or not, depending on your taste and what the fashion industry dictates. But, I am one, who, although appreciates fashion and trends, I do always go with the sure and safe thing for me.  However once in a while I also appreciate some things that may not look good on me. So, I have included a collection of pieces which I love and some will certainly wear this Spring to Summer. 

embracing all things inspirational

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Once in a while I have trouble, like everyone else, in getting going for a work week. I pout the entire weekend and by Sunday night, I am hyperventilating because I am once again obliged to carry out a regimented lifestyle for five days out of yet another week. This is not to say I hate my job or anything, it’s just that I appreciate my freedom a great deal and wish I had the luxury to escape the norm more often than I can. Anyway, knowing the much-needed break is nowhere in sight, I turn to some random photos of beautiful things for inspiration,  just to get me by for the week.  Hope you enjoy the slideshow and here’s  hoping for a smooth week.

royal wedding day – across the world

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Happy Royal Wedding Day to all my British friends and loyal U.K. blog followers!!!  Enjoy the day off. We can only hope to have such a day here in the states. In light of the event and knowing not so many people will turn to their favorite blogs today, I have decided to pay homage to my favorite exhibition of royalty at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. Pulp Fashion by Isabelle de Borchgrave, running through 5th of June 2011. “Pulp Fashion draws on several themes and presents quintessential examples in the history of costume—from Renaissance finery of the Medici family and gowns worn by Elizabeth I and Marie-Antoinette to the creations of the grand couturiers Frederick Worth, Paul Poiret, Christian Dior, and Coco Chanel. Special attention is given to the creations and studio of Mariano Fortuny, the eccentric early-20th-century artist who is both a major source of inspiration to de Borchgrave and a kindred spirit.” (Legion of Honor site) It is a must see in my opinion and a good idea for those taking …