Month: February 2012

favorite hobby: art and architecture

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While in a bookstore, I bypass the gossip magazines and go straight to the art and architecture section to glance at feature articles about the artists behind their work. Of course, I do the same online. So, just the other day I came across some of the most beautiful and extra ordinary artwork from here and Facebook, which I wanted to share with my readers and tell you how I envy those who followed their passions in life. These are some of my favorites  

gowns for a make shift oscar party

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I am fortunate enough to be on an event planning committee at my current place of employment,. So, when asked for venue suggestions, I immediately blurted out an Oscar themed event to honor our employees. The suggestion  was approved and so here we are now in the planning stages for our red carpet event scheduled for the end of February. While we contemplated  considering formal attire, the joke was, wouldn’t it be wonderful if the women could all wear gowns. Of course, being a fan of anything that has to do with the entertainment industry, I immediately went to my favorite site here and picked out what I would wear if I were to walk down the red carpet at the make shift Oscar party. Impressive huh?  

photography: land and ocean along the san francisco coast

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I had an amazing time this weekend being outdoors. The weather was unusually warm for “Winter” in San Francisco and although I have been nursing a knee injury since the beginning of January, I just couldn’t resist being outside. One of my favorite hobbies while outdoors is taking photos of most anything I come across, even though sometimes it’s a repeat of the same scenery. But no matter how many times I have taken the same photos, I feel , every time I snap the camera, it feels like I have captured something new. Here are some of my favorites from the eighty or so photos I took this weekend of my favorite walk along the San Francisco (land’s end) coast {photos are the property of http://www.rawsilkandsaffron.wordpress.com}

boutique hotel pick – royal hotel sanremo – italy

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After a crazy cold rainy day on Wednesday, we experienced a strangely hot day on Thursday which prompted me to get into the vacation planning mode. Since I experienced the sudden urge to plan my vacation for 2012, I realized it was time to do my Friday boutique hotel pick. Royal Hotel Sanremo came to mind because I am actually looking into a vacation or a holiday where I could lounge around the pool and nap my days away while sipping on some exotic drink., in Italy of course. 🙂

interior decor: dining rooms to consider

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One of my favorite rooms in a house is the dining room. I enjoy, while entertaining, to sit around the table and exchange conversation, share a few laughters and ponder over childhood memories.  This to me is the perfect time with family and friends. So, while I help a friend find the perfect theme for her dining room renovation, I came across some interesting decor which I would love to incorporate into my own home.

healthy recipe: garlic shrimp and grits

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Lately I have honed in on recipes which read gluten free and it’s not because I was medically diagnosed with any stomach related issues, it’s just I find the meals lighter  on the stomach and easily digestable. And, since I am always looking for ways to eat healthy, here is a recipe that I am actually happy to try out this week. Ingredients 3/4 cup instant grits Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 1/4 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails intact 2 large cloves garlic, minced Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional) Juice of 1/2 lemon, plus wedges for serving 2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh parsley Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat, covered. Uncover and slowly whisk in the grits, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the parmesan and 1 tablespoon butter. Remove from the heat and season with …