Month: February 2012

interior decor: uniquely beautiful

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Here are this weeks   “chic to unique” interior decor from which I draw my creative inspiration.

and the oscar goes to…everyone if it were left up to me for 2012

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You know what I hate about the competitive world? It’s that we have to always crown a single winner from a list of the best. Well, since that is the case, I am having a difficult time accepting that there could  only be one winner per category for this year’s Oscars. I mean if you happen to be a film buff, like myself, you tend to question,  how Clooney’s performance was better than Brad Pitts and that Jean Dujardin may beat both of them as a result of his performance in The Artist Can we actually say Viola Davis was better than Meryl Streep or Glen Close, even when young actresses like Michelle Williams and Rooney Mara did an outstanding job in their roles as well? And how about Christopher Plummer and Kenneth Branagh or Nick Nolte for that matter, and should  Jonah Hill really be included in the running for Best Actor in a Supporting role right alongside those seasoned actors? Seriously, is Martin Scorsese  more talented  than Woody Allen, or is Hugo a …

tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich

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Oh the irony of one day writing about healthy drinking habits and the next looking for grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup recipes (my favorite).  But, I have to justify that my diet includes tomato-ee dishes so although the soup is thumbs up, the sandwich – not so much. However, If this isn’t a problem for you, then please enjoy the recipe I found here and let me know what you think? Tomato Basil Soup 3 cloves of garlic, minced 2 tablespoons of olive oil 2 – 14 oz. cans of crushed tomatoes 1 – 14 oz. can of whole tomatoes 2 cups of stock (chicken or vegetable) 1 tsp of sea salt 1 tsp of sugar 1/2 tsp of fresh ground black pepper 1/4 cup of heavy cream 3 tablespoons of fresh basil, julienned parmesan cheese In a saucepan, saute garlic in olive oil on medium heat for 1 minute – being careful not to burn the garlic.  Add the crushed tomatoes.  Add the whole tomatoes one at a time, squeezing them into the …

drinking while dieting – does it work?

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At the beginning of this year, I decided to consider following a more regimented diet, to not only lose a few pounds, but also preserve my health. The sad thing is that I decided to give up social drinking as part of that plan. The upside is that  although I feel better, I  am often times tempted to order a drink when in a social setting. So, just to give me the motivation to fight the urges and stay focused, I decided to do some research about drinking while dieting. From what I read, there is a clear message that I need to stay away from most alcohol, even if they are labeled as “low-calorie” or “skinny” drinks.  The true culprit to most drinks are the “carbs” which are often times overlooked. So,  even if I  (we) think we are consuming “diet friendly booze” that is not necessarily the case. For a more elaborate explanation, please click here and here. In the meantime, drink a small glass of wine if you must or simply a tall …

fashion: my picks for the moment

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When you have an artistic outlook on life, you tend to dress in colors which best express your moods (at least I do) so since the sun is shining and I am looking forward to Spring, I couldn’t help but get inspired by shiny, colorful, bright mix match of fashion. Top: 1. Dress: Herve Ledger Sequined Bandage Dress 2500USD 2. Shoes: Emilio Pucci Raffia/patente leather t-bar pump 840USD 3. Bag: Bottega Veneta snakeskin trimmed beaded leather 2500USD 4. Ring: Ippolita rock candy 18k gold shell/diamond ring 4995USD 5. Earings: Isharya Libra 18K gold plated drop earings 330USD 6. Coat: Victoria Beckham zip-detailed stretch wool coat 3295USD Bottom: 1. Victoria Beckham cotton blend dress 1695USD 2. Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti two-toned glossed leather pumps 595USD 3. Bag: Mulberry bayswater textured leather bag 1250USD 4. Ring: Ippolita lollipo 18k Gold Chrysophrase/diamond ring 3295USD 5. Earings: Coralla leets double drop green chalcedony/gold 395USD 6. Scarf: Etro Printed silk chiffon scarf 450USD  

healthy eating: the benefits of beets

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I do everything in my power to eat healthy, even during the holidays, and although I am aware of the health benefits of most fruits and vegetables, it is always good to remind myself (ourselves) once in a while just to stay focused on eating healthy. One of my favorite vegetable is beets. However, the only way I prefer to eat them is if  they are freshly made. The canned version just doesn’t taste good.  The only trouble is they are a bit messy, so if you plan to boil, peel and cut them at home,  be careful as they tend to bleed into most anything. Beets are Low in calories, 1 cup of beets contains only about 60 calories and is cholesterol-free. It’s also a good source of dietary fiber and folic acid according to my favorite site here. Also here is a recipe I have tried at home and do recommend. Let me know what you think? prep time:10 min start to finish:1 hr 45 min makes:6 servings (2/3 cup each) Salad 4 …

movie night for valentine’s day

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Just like most women, I love getting dressed up and going out for dinner, but not really on Valentine’s Day. My favorite way to celebrate the occasion is to stay home  and cook, believe it or not and rent a  few mushy films  and watch them while munching on popcorn and drinking champagne. Here are some of my favorite films for this year. They are mostly available through online rental or for a few bucks at a local megastore (i.e. Target)