Year: 2019

Decor: Walk-In Renovation

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I’ve been in a weird mood this week and in an effort to snap out of it I decided to switch from pondering over deep topics to something light and airy. Decor and Travel always make me feel good when I am otherwise fixated on the worst of things. Lately, I’ve been contemplating tackling my walk in built back in the late 60’s in my 1930’s home in San Francisco. I mean I do love the efforts made by the previous owner, using the finest of wood for the shelves and other materials no longer available for renovation projects. So, I grab my cup of coffee on the days I work from home, and sit staring into the closet to figure out how best to bring up to the 21st century, or one that I’ll get the most use out of it.  Disclaimer, I hate folded clothes, I prefer all things on hangers, naturally in color order and season 🙂  Don’t judge. So, here we are, glancing at the photos below and staring into that …

This Week Is All About Interesting Topics – Money, Marriage and a Move

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This week has been a strange one – with many weirdness I’ve come to learn about, and a few I’ve known about and now in the midst of them taking shape. First up, our company leadership decided to move the San Francisco office from the most desirable real estate to the least one a few blocks down. This decision has created much discontent among the staff. And although they have expressed disapproval over the course of the last six months, they know they must either pack their ‘stuff’ and move along with the program or simply leave. What is it about change that we all hate? Is it the idea of the unknown, or the fact someone else is making the change for us?  Second, a close friend of mine found out from a friend of a friend of a friend that his wife has filed for divorce, and the idea of it has shocked him immensely.  At first, I sympathized, and after hearing his story, I realized his  euphoric views of what marriage is, …

Off The Radar For A Few Days

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My body and mind usually tell me when it’s time to escape the norm, even if only for a few days, and spend time with family or friends, who through their lifestyles, can yield a new perspective on my own – whether positive or negative. Some time away from your daily is important for clarity to make the right choices, better decisions to achieve the best lifestyle possible. Over the long holiday weekend, I had the chance to ponder over some things that you might relate to…or not. What if you cannot forgive someone?  What if you’ve become someone’s toxic person?  What if you have fallen out of love?  What if you’ve forgotten how to love?   Is it more important to show love or say “I Love you”  How do you measure love?   What if you live in fear more often than not? Are you too late to have a happy ending?  Why do some people smile all the time?  Why do some  live in denial?  Why do you feel alone even when there are …

Food: Dinner Tonight – Vietnamese Beef and Rice

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Although this recipe calls for crispy rice – I am going to go with the steamy brown rice. I am not a fan of crispy rice – it reminds of a time one summer, when I was staying with my aunt and she was busy on a telephone call and forgot about the rice cooking on the burner. Hence the crispy rice scraped from the bottom of the pot, she insisted was delicious. At seven I thought otherwise, and refused to consume another spoonful of ‘that stuff’ So, we are going with  steamed brown rice for this dish tonight: INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 pounds beef tenderloin or flank steak, cut into 1 inch cubes black pepper 2 tablespoons oyster sauce 2 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce 1 tablespoon fish sauce 3 cloves garlic, minced or grated crushed red pepper flakes, to taste 1/4 cup sesame or extra virgin olive oil 3 cups cooked white rice 1 cup shredded radicchio or purple cabbage  {cabbage it is} 4 carrots, shredded or cut into ribbons 1 …

Food: Dinner Tonight – Garlic Butter, Coconut Milk, Shrimp and Noodles

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I’ve stayed away from shrimp for the longest time now, and probably would have still, if I didn’t see this dish. I could immediately taste the wonderfulness  just by reading the ingredients – minus the fish sauce of course – not a fan. So I ran to the grocers and bought a pound of Jumbo Shrimp and the spinach and…well, you know what happens next: INGREDIENTS 8 ounces rice noodles 3 strips thick cut slices bacon, chopped 1 1/2 pounds raw jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined 1/4 cup extra olive oil 2 tablespoons honey 4-6 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated 1 inch fresh ginger, grated 2 jalapeños, seeded and chopped 1/4 cup fresh cilantro OR basil, roughly chopped (use you personal favorite) 3 tablespoons salted butter 1 can (14 ounce) coconut milk 1 tablespoon fish sauce 2 cups baby spinach or kale, roughly chopped juice and zest from 1/2 a lime sliced jalapeño pepper and green onions, for serving {more} Are you making dinner at home for Valentine’s Day – but don’t know what to make for dessert? Here’s a list of 46 easy desserts   

Travel: Romantic Destinations in The U.S.

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In line with this week’s theme – oh you know – Valentine’s Day, I wanted to share the most romantic places to visit in the U.S.  – although these places are something to experience whenever you embark on a romantic long-weekend getaway (for the locals) or for those coming from abroad, and want a bit of adventure.  Here’s my picks and for the rest you can go here: {Inspiration or source for this topic}    

Lifestyle: Art Matters Doesn’t It

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Several framing shops and art galleries are closing around the greater San Francisco bay area, and that idea makes me sad. Because I keep assuming the worst – that art is becoming a thing of the past. Or maybe folks are simply creating their own works of art, and ordering-on-demand from a number of online shops. Well, here’s hoping art stays around for a very long time and remains an appreciation for generations to come. {Source here, and here} Here’s my contribution to arts – check it out