Heritage and Style

While my mother's side of the family is Colombian and my uncle owns an alligator farm there, I'm not sure if we are official members of the Bogota Gun Club. I'll have to look into that. I do however have to agree with P. about the emblem!

From the Seaside

From the Miniature Backyard Collection

Pass the Mango with Chili!

It finally happened. I got sick! I can't breathe, my eyes are red and glassy and I have a cough like a barking seal. However, I found relief by indulging in some spicy treats. P. from PFTP refers to the practice of spicy food relief as Shock & Awe Therapy. (Warning: have plenty of tissues handy.)

Although M.I.A. prefers her mango with salt and pepper, we're sure she would love any fresh cut fruit with chili powder and lime juice!



Or if you have access to Vietnamese food, try Pho! (No, not Foe, Fuh!) My favorite is the traditional seafood concoction with bean sprouts, fish sauce, and lime wedges. Yum!



Bon Appétit!

Two P's in a Pod

My friend P of PFTP, the home of the loveliest handmade lavender pillows and necklaces you ever imagined, directed me to the a blog called Poppytalk - "a canadian design blog collecting inspiration and promoting emerging design talent." I mean, when did Canadians ever steer you wrong?

Then, after spending considerable time browsing through the collection of fabulous things I stumbled upon Poppytalk Handmade, a monthly online street market curated by Poppytalk to showcase, buy and sell handmade goods of emerging design talent from around the world.

You should really look around PFTP and Poppytalk, but beware, the cute level is very high.

It's not so bad here...

Upon coming home from drab work yesterday, I noticed some curious spring-like behavior going on around the yard and it made me feel a whole lot better.

Time for Tea

It's been quite chilly here in the Southern San Joaquin Valley - freakishly windy in fact! I just thought it was a good time for tea.

Two of My Fave Things:

Sitting outside of a cafe, post-pedicure, in the warm 78 degree central coast California sunshine right smack dab in the middle of January.



And Owl Finches!

For Those of Us Who Were Lucky Enough to Know Shinto

The general plan for 2008

To find my calling. (I'd be content with a job that I actually enjoy.)

To appreciate exactly where I am (physically, mentally, spiritually, the works.)

To practice being more gracious.

To also practice telling people who insist on repeatedly asking me when I plan on having children to mind their own beeswax *edited version. (In a gracious manner of course!)

To get in the habit of writing thank-you's.

To travel as much as possible!

To try out at least one new recipe a month from my new "Let's Cook Japanese Food!" cookbook.

To use yummy smelling lotion (like my new fave Japanese Cherry Blossom from Bath and Body Works) everyday instead of saving it for so-called special occasions.

To compile a Best of 2007 photo album (the physical kind one can hold in one's hand - inspired by my dear friend P. who has made yearly photo albums since our high-school years.)

To treat others the way I would like to be treated even if I would really like to kick them in the eye, face, groin, etc.

To organize, paint, and fix-up our extra room which has only ever functioned as a catch all for junk, and use it!

To not let the never-ending piles of dirty dishes stress me out.

To learn how to accept a compliment.

To dust/sweep/clean more frequently but never at the expense of my overall happiness.

To write down each book I read. *Currently reading Murder on the Orient Express.

To add new instruments to my repertoire like my my new Melodica!

To keep making music!

To continue to love the people (and animals) in my life that I already love, but better.

Who's up for a shoe BBQ?

I love my Puma sneaks.

Two of my favorite pairs (one shown above in Pere Lachaise) have proved faithful and fashionable walking companions in cities such as NYC, Amsterdam and Paris.

While I was searching the www.puma.com website for new and tantalizing styles that I would undoubtedly be adding to my x-mas wish list, I came across an option to “cook” up your very own puma design, Mongolian BBQ style!

The idea is to start with a blank shoe template where you will be choosing from a vast buffet of material, colors, and styles. There are two ways to do this: The first is to go through the very cool looking but somewhat laborious custom ‘dine-in’ method which I found hard to navigate. For those of you with more skill and patience; go for it! I however chose the more user-friendly ‘express’ option which proved a bit more clear.

If you don’t like the end result you can go back and edit, but if you’re pleased with your masterpiece simply click the Buy Now button and those cool kicks will be yours! (in 5 to 7 weeks that is.) Cost ranges from $100 to $130 excluding shipping. (You can even make your shoes in select Puma stores.)

Try it for yourself at http://www.mongolianshoebbq.puma.com/ and see what your inner shoe designer reveals!

Check out my design:

This was my first go and I have to say, I would definitely wear these.

~C.

A Revalation in Housewares

Today, as I walked trance-like up and down the housewares sale aisle for the fourth time trying to justify just a bit more stuff that I didn’t in any way need (I’m sure I could use that squirrel votive holder somewhere....), I came to a horrible yet not too surprising conclusion: I am addicted to Target.

Sometimes I catch myself at any one of the three Target stores in my city twice or even three times a week. What could I possibly be buying you ask? Well, in one word, EVERYTHING! Not unlike some other major stores where you can find anything from undies to entertainment centers (not to mention all the uber affordable clothing from up and coming desingners ), Target has it all.

Other places (a certain store with the word Mart in it’s name for instance) feel like a horrible overcrowded warehouse with all the squalor and charm of a dollar store (not that I haven't found some unexpected goodies at said stores but you know what I mean.) The people behind Target however know style. Good and affordable style. You can tell what the store is all about by simply watching the hip commercials featuring color coordinated mod looking people with cute dogs. Target has a corner on the hip and affordable market and it has lured me into a comfortable rhythm of want and need. And of course, returns.