All posts filed under: inspirational women over 40

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

Dessert, Champagne and Classic Films

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I am all for throwing a party for singles on V(G)alentine’s Day. I mean who says February 14 is only for those in love, or otherwise in a relationship, to plan a special date night? I say, text or call, or text (who makes phone calls anymore) and invite a few friends over for B.Y.O.Aappetizers, putting much emphasis on the importance of desserts and champagne while watching a few classic films from this list – and in case you don’t know where to start… {source here, and here}

Food: Dinner Tonight – Chicken Soup and Here’s Why

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I normally do an inventory of what’s in my refrigerator the night before to see what dinner I can create from the ingredients  within.   Simply put, I don’t like when fresh food items go bad or expire. So, I make do with what I have – even if it means altering ingredients suggested in a recipe. Plus the fact, I do not have a slow cooker – so stove top it is  for this recipe INGREDIENTS 6 cups low sodium chicken stock 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 onions, chopped 4 carrots, chopped    {Since I only have zucchini at home, and not carrots, I will substitute)  2 parsnips, chopped 2 ribs celery, chopped  {Broccolini will have to do based on my inventory}  2 leeks, chopped 8 peppercorns 1 bay leaf 4 sprigs fresh thyme 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 2-3 pounds bone-in chicken breasts or thighs kosher salt and black pepper juice + zest of 1 lemon 3/4 cup dry farro 1/2 cup fresh cilantro and or mixed herbs  – in my case parsley it is    {follow along here}  {Photo and recipe source here} Soup to be eaten with fresh baked …

Fun Coats For Her – Valentine’s Day Gift or Otherwise

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January gave us all the much needed break from the stress of gifting, and now that we’ve all recovered well 😉 – let us proceed to the Valentine’s Day frenzy of finding the perfect gift for the woman in search of a winter coat or jacket to add to her collection:

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 …

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