Month: January 2019

Here’s What I am Thinking About Today

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Last night, my mother informed me that a family member had passed away six months ago, and she was sad, that we just found out about it.  As I listened to her speak about the man who passed away, I couldn’t help but allow my mind to drift to a time in my childhood, when I first met this very man, who married a second cousin of ours decades ago, in a continent  far away from the one we currently call home. And then I got to thinking about first crushes. You know the one that stays with you for a lifetime, and occasionally crosses your mind, and you begin to wonder about the person? That’s my story with the man who swept my second cousin off her feet.  I was 9 or 10 at the time and he was 25. Go figure. I kept my feelings  to myself for years, mostly because I felt embarrassed about crushing on an older man. I mean, that’s not normal right? Or is it – according to this,  this,  this …

Travel: Adults Only Resort

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In my mind, the definition of a resort stay, is something strictly for adults, and all-inclusive is where children are allowed. But I guess I was wrong, because this list points out the difference?  And in case you happen to be as baffled as I am because you’ve just learned something new, here’s a list of the ‘kid-friendly resorts‘ By the way, I have a bucket list of hotels I wish to experience, where I have added the ones pictured below. For the rest of the 20 resorts suggested, go here: {featured image source}

Food: Dinner Tonight – Quesadilla

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You know, sometimes you have to follow your cravings. Like last night, where I knew exactly what I wanted to make for dinner while commuting home from work, and by the time I got home, I craved roast chicken from the grocers with a side of home-made mashed potatoes and  sauté-d string beans with garlic and olive oil – again my  recipe. Today, I am actually serving breakfast for dinner – or ingredients decided to be used mostly for breakfast and in the form of this Quesadilla recipe: INGREDIENTS 6 large eggs kosher salt 1 tablespoon butter at room temperature 1 can (4 ounce) diced green chiles 1-2 chipotle peppers in adobo, finely chopped   4 whole wheat or regular flour tortillas 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese 4 slices cooked crispy bacon, lightly crumbled    {I’ll be using Turkey bacon for our family} 1-2 cups baby spinach or arugula 2 tablespoons fresh chopped chives extra virgin olive oil, for cooking AVOCADO SALSA 1/2 cup fresh cilantro 1 tablespoon fresh chopped chives or green onions 1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped juice from 1 lime 1 avocado, diced kosher salt   {more} Followed by this …

Monday Thoughts on A Writer of Novels and Fashion Gowns

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Minus the phone calls, I stuck true to how my Sunday was projected  to pan out. This morning I woke up as normal at four to feed my dog, and began my ritual of getting ready for work, except my mind was elsewhere. I was busy thinking about this writer, who, on only novel two, has apparently become a huge success  in France and thanks to his wonderful translator, has managed to offer up his wonderful writings to the rest of the world. Dummy-me for not learning about him until, I happen to walk into a bookstore in England last month and stumble upon his novel, which was not really on display, but rather tucked on a shelf in the back of the store. Lucky for me, because I seldom gravitate towards the promoted books on display at the front door. The gems are filed on the shelves. By the time I got on the train and took my usual seat, my focus shifted to fashion – the ones from last night’s SAG awards and …

Sunday Edition: Movies, Novels and Chocolate

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If someone were to ask me what my plans were today, I’d  say, stay in bed all day, napping in between reading, and watching classic films. It’s just that kind of day. I did much walking yesterday, along the beach and Land’s End in San Francisco – yes the weather cooperated enough, and while walking did too much thinking. So today, here’s the plan: After waking up at four in the morning to feed my dog, crawl back into bed and pull the covers over my head (I lied- shoulders) and go back to sleep. Wake up, make coffee, and crawl back into bed, and read a few chapters of this novel – which is too well written to put down, but too depressing to read all of it at one sitting/laying/lounging. Play on cellphone – color-by-number for about thirty minutes, or until I fall back asleep Then a classic film, another snooze, after which I sit up, to watch in full  a second film before slowly crawling out of bed, just in time to eat …

Fashion: What’s In My Online Cart This Month

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Online shopping is too much fun if you ask me and for sure a little dangerous, in that, the moment you find something you want, the retailer claims the item you are about to abandon in the shopping cart,  is the last one (in the whole of the universe it seems like)– so you  whip out your credit card, key it in,  and hit buy quickly – sometimes too many times within a week or a month – hopeful that the items that sparked an interest from online is even better tangible. Case in point – here’s what I’ve clicked yes to recently From here From here 

Food: Chocolate Cake Is In Order Tonight

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On Fridays I work from home, and it almost feels like it is the busiest day of the week, even while the weekend is on everyone’s mind. I realized while clicking away at my keyboard, that I needed a treat of some sort tonight and lucky for me, this tantalizing chocolate cake popped up in the corner of a site I was visiting, attempting to  calm my stress level.  I think what sparked my interest is the word VEGAN in the title – which I find hardly an option when baking any dessert. In my head, dessert needs to be rich in all flavors, and if paired well with an after-dinner drink, champagne in the case of chocolate cake, your mouth will thank you, and your brain will love you. 🙂 So, I’ve ordered a bottle of bubbly to pick up from the ‘grogers’ in a few hours, and as soon as I am done for the day putting out million little fires at work, I will be baking this lovely chocolate cake, with a …