Café Taber

in my cookie jar.

2011-04-08T17:36:00.007-04:00

these were d-e-l-c-i-o-u-s! although, i think next time i will add more chili powder to give a real kick!

:: mexican hot-chocolate cookies ::
adapted from martha stewart

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1 :: preheat oven to 400 degrees. in a medium bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

2 :: in a large bowl, using a mixer, beat butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar on medium speed for about 2 minutes. add eggs and beat to combine.

3 :: stir in the flour mixture gradually by hand.

4 :: combine the cinnamon, chili powder and 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar in a small bowl. line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

5 :: scoop up tablespoons of the dough and roll them into 1 inch balls. then roll the ball in the cinnamon/sugar/chili powder mixture. space cookies about 3 inches apart on cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until they start to crack. transfer cookies to wire racks to cool.

enjoy!

happy weekend friends!

plow (with kitty) pose.

2011-03-24T10:32:00.004-04:00

{ photo: gosia janik }

halasana (plow pose) with your kitty (or dog)!

i stumbled across this photo on austin eavesdropper that was taken by gosia janik (thank you Grace!) and fell in love with it....when i attempt a home practice, i'm always joined by my furry friend, miss izzy, who interestingly enough looks just like this cat...

icicle.

2011-01-25T08:28:00.000-05:00

on my walk into work yesterday morning, i noticed this...

so strange, yet so beautiful.

i usually embrace the wintry weather, but these past few weeks here in new england have been brutal.

i've been keeping myself busy inside, however. i'll have some fun updates to share with you later this week.

stay warm friends!

no, no!

2011-01-06T08:18:00.002-05:00

this video of a little girl named charlotte is just too cute for words. i keep watching it over and over again.

a handmade christmas.

2011-01-04T19:29:00.014-05:00

remember the ugly scarf i was working on...um...nearly three years ago? well, i'm happy to report that i finally finished it. and i finished just time in for the first ever handmade christmas gift exchange with my sister.

rather than spend money on something that neither of us really need, we opted to go the handmade route, with one caveat - we were not aloud to spend a single dime on the gift. it had to be constructed using materials we already own.

as i got thinking about what to make, i remembered that i had started a scarf for her. i opened my suitcase of knitting goods (and unfinished projects...we all have them), and pulled out the "ugly scarf." the yarn was still as fabulously thick as i had remembered it. and the green hemp that i weaved in was a nice contrast. i'm glad it took me this long to finish it because i ended up making it into an infinity scarf/chunky cowl of sorts! and the best part, she totally LOVES it! and so do i. so much so that i want to make another one, but i don't have enough yarn. does anyone want the leftover skein? if so, leave a comment below.

----

when it came time for me to open my gift from her, i felt like a little girl on christmas morning, filled with so much excitement. i was so anxious to finally see what she had been created. as i was opening the box, i commented on how much i liked the string she used to tie around it. she chuckled.

yet little did i know that the string was what she used to hand braid a plant hanger for me!! isn't it soo lovely?? and if you look closely at the photo above, you will see that she sewed in different sized buttons on it, too. how clever is that! how creative! I LOVE IT!!! i really do. and she so adorably wrapped up the plant that's hanging in it for my birthday present. so the homemade plant hanger immediately had a friend. :-)

needless to say, a handmade gift exchange was a such a great idea! my sister and i are sold on doing it again next year and for many, many christmas' to come! because really when it comes to gift giving, the handmade presents are the most treasured of all.

p.s. the photos in this post were taken with my new ipod touch (thank you andy!) using the hipstamatic app.

my top ten in 2010.

2010-12-31T09:26:00.001-05:00

i can't believe it's already new year's eve. it's been quite a year filled with so many sweet memories and milestones. here are my top ten from 2010 (in no particular order):

1 :: finishing my master's degree (while working full-time!)
2 :: deepening my yoga practice...in a hammock of all places!
3 :: launching My Yoga Story Project (share your yoga story!)
4 :: skiing at Stowe with my sister and experiencing a "freshie."
5 :: going to the Brimfield Antique Show for the first time.
6 :: loving a handmade Christmas (more to come on this.)
7 :: vacationing with my girlfriends in hyannis.
8 :: investing in an electra townie.
9 :: spending the holidays with my family (thanksgiving with my feet in the sand in florida and christmas with my snow boots on shoveling mounds of snow in connecticut)
10 :: and most of all, giving back to the organizations that i am most passionate about throughout the year (Off the Mat into the World, Yoga Reaches Out, Everybody Wins, Share Our Strength, Heifer International, and Semester at Sea).

a special holiday greeting.

2010-12-25T08:58:00.002-05:00

a yoga girl holiday greeting card (made my yours truly) just for you!

may you all have a joyous day where ever your travels may take you and a very happy new year!

link love.

2010-12-10T09:47:00.001-05:00

i'm headed to sunny san diego tomorrow to visit with family and welcome home my cousin from a trip around the world through the semester at sea program! i can't wait to hear all about her travels, especially her visits to south africa and india.

happy weekend to you all! here's some link love...

:: a holiday wreath

{image: pickles}

a friend of mine shared some link love with me this week. it's a blog called pickles and the latest post features a DIY felted wool wreath that is f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s!

:: frock

{image: frock}

this one-of-kind boutique located in chester, ct is on my list of places to visit this month. every garment that is sold at frock is made on site by independent designers, trish ginter and laura williams-larson. check out their blog and website and you will discover that they've redefined the meaning of "frock" into something totally hip and handmade for women of every shape and size.

:: soule mama's studio

{image: soule mama}

one of my favorite blogs to read is soule mama. she and her family recently purchased a big 'ol farmhouse and her new studio space is just lovely. it's exactly the type of space that i long to have for myself one day. view more of her studio pics here.

:: 1,000 awesome things

{image: 1,000 awesome things}

yes, i'm going to say it...this blog and book are AWESOME! each and every post reminds me of how much i need to stay present in my life and enjoy each and every moment.

#380 really spoke to me...

hearing someone's heartbeat
while lying on the grass, lazing on the couch, or relaxing in some crumpled sheets, you sometimes just fall into the moment with someone you love. after the conversation dies down and the background noise fades away you smile silently and melt into an arms-and-legs embrace. gaze into their eyes, push your ears to their chest, and then shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

just listen.

latte art.

2010-12-09T22:14:00.001-05:00

the barista at my favorite local coffee shop brought a huge smile to my face this afternoon when he surprised me with some latte art.

happy sunday.

2010-11-28T08:02:00.003-05:00

off to cut down my christmas tree this morning! yippee! here's a look at the one from last year. izzy can't wait for another spot to curl up and sleep. happy sunday friends!

link love :: st. augustine

2010-11-26T06:57:00.002-05:00

a little link love on this friday from three of my favorite places/stores in st. augustine, florida.

:: outre oeuvre

{image: outre oeuvre}

outre oeuvre is all about upcycling. have a stack of old t-shirts? send them down to st. augustine and the women at outre oeuvre will turn them into a fabulous skirt, tank, or hoodie. it's your choice and made with your materials! and the best part, it's one of a kind!

when asked what the name of their store means the owner told me it's latin - outre, meaning out of the ordinary and oeuvre, meaning a work of art.

you can follow them here on facebook. pics of my one of kind skirt will be posted soon. i've been wearing it to the beach every day so it needs a washing.

:: blue planet co-op

{image: blue planet co-op}

i stumbled upon this place at the st. augustine farmer's market. they sell the most delicious organic foods. i was sold on the "garlic sunnies," which are dehydrated and seasoned sunflower seeds with a big kick of garlic. just my kind of snack. i also bought a pack of their kale chips, which i attempted to make on my own a few months back. theirs were way better. and to add a little something to thanksgiving dinner, i bought some of their organic cranberry orange relish. d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s!!!!

if you're skeptical about buying organic or just want to learn more about why you should be buying organic, check out their website: blueplanetco-op.com

:: 8 limbs yoga

{image: 8 limbs yoga}

located on anastastia island in st. augustine, florida, 8 limbs yoga is a gem of a yoga studio. i try to make a stop there each time i'm down visiting my parents. they offer an ashtanga style of yoga, which is a different than what i normally practice, but i love it! it's challenging, sweaty, and the people at 8 limbs are all so welcoming and nice. check out their website: 8limbsyogastaug.com

happy thanksgiving.

2010-11-25T16:19:00.000-05:00

happy thanksgiving from the beaches of st. augustine, florida!

we all have so much to be thankful for...namaste my friends!

link love.

2010-11-19T08:05:00.004-05:00

i'm headed to the westport craft show this weekend. my cousin of thistledowns wool design will be showcasing some of her fabulous felted goodies there.

i'm also planning to do lots and lots of yoga here. and then visit with a friend and her new baby boy, aidan! don't you just LOVE that name??? :-) happy weekend everyone!

:: wilfred free

{image: wilfred free via artizia}

loving this wrap jacket by wilfred free. wishing i could throw that on this morning for my walk to work. interestingly enough a conversation with some sweet teenage girls from canada in a public restroom (ha!) led me to this website. they were raving about it. unfortunately this jacket, though, is all sold out. :-(

:: diy: advent calendar

{image: just something i made}

there are two things i want to make for this holiday season, 1) an advent calendar. don't you just LOVE this one with a message for each day? and 2) a gingerbread house (more on that soon!) if you don't have a spool rack, you can move your advent calendar to the tree! the templates for this project are conveniently available for download on just something i made.

:: rustic white

{image: rosenatti flickr album}

my dream kitchen! rustic and, of course, white! i love rosenatti's flickr album, blinded by the white.

:: stuffed squash

{image: a tale of two farm shares}

yum-o!! although i'm a vegetarian this stuffed squash with kale, sausage, and orzo looks soooo good. i suppose i could substitute the sausage with beans...or maybe chick peas! thanks to a tale of two farm shares for sharing this recipe.

happy sunday.

2010-11-14T08:00:00.003-05:00

link love.

2010-11-12T08:00:00.002-05:00

a little link love on this lovely friday morning. i'm headed up north to visit two of my dear girlfriends tomorrow. i hope you all have a great weekend!

:: pumpkin rice pudding + recycled crayons

i recently came across a new food blog that i love, not without salt. the photos she takes and posts to her blog are what some people might refer to as food porn. i've got my eye (and stomach!) set on making her pumpkin rice pudding.

{image: not without salt}

she also loves crayons (she is a mother of three!) and had this nifty idea of melting old broken crayon pieces in a muffin tin to create a whole new type of crayon! such a great way to reuse and recycle.

{image: not without salt}

:: oh, sacred yoga mat

i'm admitting right here on cafe taber that after trying out two new yoga mats recently, i'm still in LOVE with my cheapy teal yoga mat from t.j.maxx. i really tried to love the other two. i did. but practicing yoga on them felt nothing like being on my very first mat, which is now so weathered and dirty that i feel embarrassed to bring it into a yoga studio.

i never thought i would become so attached to a piece of rubber (or whatever it's made of). but after reading y is for yogini's post about her yoga mat principles and practices i feel much more at ease and less inclined to ditch my filthy mat. i mean, seriously, she treats her mat like it's a person! chauffeuring it around town in her back seat and giving it regular baths. i love it!

:: yokoo gibran

i had one of these around my neck yesterday.

{image: yokoo gibran}

a co-worker bought two of yokoo gibran's cowls from her etsy store. you may have read about yokoo in the new york times last year here. her cowls are so soft to the touch and feel amazing around the neck. i would seriously consider wearing one to bed. i'm also convinced that they would make nice neck pillows while flying.

:: free holiday wi-fi from 30,000 feet

and speaking of flying...for those of you traveling this holiday season (soon i'll be making my way down south to st. augustine, florida and then out west to san diego before christmas), you should take advantage of the free holiday wi-fi offer from google. access your email, social media sites, and cafe taber (wink, wink!) way up there in skies...for free! of course this offer is limited to certain airlines so check out the google blog for more info.

yarn bombing.

2010-11-08T07:30:00.009-05:00

last week while i was on my lunch break, i stopped dead in my tracks on the sidewalk to take a closer look at this:

and this:

it's called yarn bombing (or urban knitting)! i've read about this before, but i've never come across an instance of it myself. to see the ugly parking meter adorned with such color made my day, despite the fact that this is in some sense a form of graffiti. but really, who cares? it's not permanent like bathroom graffiti:

{image: flickr}

happy sunday.

2010-11-07T13:13:00.002-05:00

link love.

2010-11-06T10:52:00.007-04:00

i stumble across so many interesting blogs, articles, and websites everyday that i think are worth of sharing with you. so here is the first of what will be a weekly post of links i love.

:: y is for yogini ::

{image: y is for yogini}

y for yogini is one of my favorite yoga blogs. check out her post about SYB's, secret yoga behaviors. i chuckled over her "meows" and "moos" when in cat and cow pose the other night when i was doing yoga. i'm not sure what my syb is... do you have one?

:: wee people ::

{image: wee people}

check out wee people, a new line of clothes for girls made by the folks of free people. aren't these wooly mammoth booties so adorable?

:: diy photo calendar ::

{image: cafe taber + shutter sisters calendar template}

i love, love, love the shutter sisters. hop on over to their blog for this diy cd photo calendar for 2011. i made one for myself using some of my favorite photos. the month of may is a favorite so far.

:: 30 days of creations ::

{image: variations on normal by dominic wilcox}

dominic wilcox, artist, designer, inventor and ‘thinkeruper’ (i think that's my new favorite word!) who works with everyday objects, did this super interesting creative challenge. for 30 days in a row he made something creative. check out his 30 days of speed creating posts. the pencil shelf is quite clever and colorful!

:: cookies ::

{image: orangette}

i'm feeling under the weather today. and while i don't have the appetite to eat anything these whole wheat chocolate chip cookies from a favorite food blog of mine, orangette, look soooooooooo yummy! i'm all for using whole wheat flour whenever possible.

so what links do you love? share them in the comments below!

happy hallOMween.

2010-10-31T22:14:00.007-04:00

pOMpkin carving...

my great pOMpkin lit up!

and we had to roast the pOMpkin seeds...

roasted pOMpkin seeds

- preheat oven to 375 degrees

- toss pOMpkin seeds in olive oil

- add a dash of salt & pepper

place seeds on greased cookie sheet in the oven for 30 minutes.

enjoy!!

happy hallOMween my friends!

super 8.

2010-10-15T12:37:00.004-04:00

two of my super cool friends (and i'm serious. they are super cool!) got married out in california this past summer and had their wedding filmed in super 8.

i love super 8 films! especially since everyone these days wants to watch everything in HD. there's something so raw, so organic, and so very beautiful about watching a super 8 film.

i love the beginning of their video when van is walking down the stairs to albert and they are seeing eachother for the first time! congrats you two!

my happy place.

2010-09-29T22:33:00.002-04:00

my yoga instructor often tells us in class when we're in a difficult pose to go to "our happy place." and every time she says that, i always seem to have a difficult time imagining where that "happy place" is exactly. maybe it's because at that very moment the intensity of the pose, the stretching of my muscles, etc. is completely taking over every thought in my head.

so i decided to do a little post-yoga-class-homework to figure out where "my happy place" is (aside from my my yoga mat) and what it looks like. and interestingly enough, i discovered that i have many "happy places." in fact, so many that i am only sharing a few with you here...

my pad (especially at christmas time when i have a tree to admire!)

on my bike (street name "electra")

in the arms of loved ones

in the kitchen (baking up some kind of sweet treat!)

watching a new england sunset by the water (with my sister!)

and discovering *new* places!

where is your happy place (or places)? share in the comments below!

my yoga story project.

2010-09-01T22:30:00.003-04:00

holy cow! it's september already! where did the summer go?

well, actually i know where it went...at least for me, my time this summer was spent here: http://myyogastory.com

i'm so very proud to share with you the fruits of my labor from the last several months of my master's program...My Yoga Story Project.

i could go on and on about the details of the project here, and i might just do that one day soon because the process that i went through, from conception to implementation, is worth a post in and of itself. but i won't do that now. for now, i want you to hop on over to the site http://myyogastory.com and spend some time reading the yoga stories. and, yes, these are REAL stories of people whose lives have changed from practicing yoga.

my hope is that through this project people who may be reluctant, afraid, or even skeptical about trying yoga, will see the amazing benefits yoga can have on the mind, body, and spirit.

and for those of you who already practice yoga, share your story and inspire others to try yoga!

farm share.

2010-08-16T20:23:00.001-04:00

hi friends & followers! check out my guest blog post over at a tale of two farm shares.

one week!

2010-08-06T22:06:00.001-04:00

a short post here...

writing my LAST paper for grad school tonight! yippee!! i definitely won't miss you footnotes...or citations. i've enjoyed you for the past two years, but it's time for you to go!

as i mentioned in a previous post, i'll be back here full-time in a few weeks sharing all sorts of goodies. but until then i'll be catching up on some much needed sleep and spending some much needed quality time with my family and friends.

oh, but wait, i should mention a fun little project that i will be taking part in over at a tale of two farm shares... i'll be guest blogging for a week (8/15-8/22) while denise, one of the authors, is away getting her own R&R. so if you're interested in seeing what i do with a weeks worth of vegetables from the farm, hop on over there for a visit and check out my posts.

sister.

2010-08-01T00:01:00.003-04:00

a happy birthday to my best friend and big sister!

yoga girl update.

2010-07-30T18:18:00.005-04:00

almost there! in just two weeks i will be finished with my master's program, which means i'll be back here full-time blogging and sharing my thoughts and creations with you. i have to admit, i've missed this part of my life for the past two months. but something had to give in order to manage the other demands.

in the midst of all those demands, i was able to bust out another yoga girl design. check her out below and over at the store. she looks quite beautiful in her warrior II (virabhadrasana) pose. she would have been posted to the store sooner except that my artist boyfriend strongly recommended that i adjust the proportions of her head and body (thank you AJD!).

since i posted this new design, several of you out there are already wearing it! in fact, many of you from across the globe are sporting yoga girl apparel - from greece to spain to brazil and, of course, right here in the U.S. i'm tickled to know that so many of you are fond of the yoga girl designs.

and as you know, 100% of the proceeds of all yoga girl apparel is donated to an organization that i firmly believe in and support, off the mat into the world. i encourage you all to check out their website as well as make your own donation, if possible.

it's important to keep the idea of doing for others in mind as we go through life. giving back to your community or an organization in any way that you can, whether that be through donations of your time or your monies, is something everyone should incorporate into their lives.

i recently stumbled upon this quote by albert pike that speaks very much to this way of living:

"what we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal."

peace my friends!

smitten.

2010-06-15T19:40:00.007-04:00

i'm smitten over smitten kitchen—my new favorite food blog that a friend recommended to me. her recipes are so creative. and don't get me started on her photography. all of the pictures she takes and posts make me want to eat my computer screen!

this photo below is my attempt at her shaved asparagus pizza...

i don't have much time for cookin' these days since i'm focused on finishing grad school this summer. but this recipe was so tempting that one sunny sunday afternoon i made the pizza...and from scratch to boot! and boy oh boy was it was delicious! who would have thought to shave asparagus?

i ended up using a different recipe for the pizza crust then the one she suggests. i wanted a whole wheat dough. so i went with this one from eating well and added some fresh herbs from the garden. it made enough for a few more pizzas, so i froze the rest to use for a later date.

her blog is definitely worth checking out. right now i'm drooling over her chocolate doughnut holes...

a tale of 2 farm shares.

2010-06-03T23:38:00.002-04:00

i'm so excited to share with you all a little project that i've been working on for a friend and her girlfriend. they asked me to help them design a template for their blog, a tale of 2 farm shares. you can view the design and their blog here: http://twofarmshares.blogspot.com

denise and ruth, the authors of a tale of 2 farm shares are two amazingly skilled women who are fabulous cooks! i encourage you all to follow them over the next 20 weeks to see how they figure out how to put to use the farm shares that they've purchased to feed their families.

i am certain that you will not only find some very delicious and very creative recipes on their blog, but you will also enjoy their commentary and humor as they figure out what to do with some of the wildest of vegetables!

saluting the sun.

2010-05-13T13:31:00.015-04:00

:: ashley h., ryt at south end studio, vt ::

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

with hands in prayer i face the sun, feeling love and joy in my heart.

i reach out and let the sun fill me with warmth.

i bow before the sun's radiance and place my face to the ground in humble respect.

i lift my face to the sun and then remember, to achieve such heights,
i must be as the dust of the earth.

i stretch up toward its light trying to reach the greatest heights, and again surrender.

i stand tall as i remember the true sun is within me.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

i see this poem hanging on the wall every day i walk into yogabody studio, where i practice yoga several times a week. most days i don't stop to read it line by line, but the other day i gave a copy of this poem to my sister, which is from the himalayan institute, for her to hang on her wall, and i found myself reading it, and appreciating it all over again.

the photo above is of my sister's good friend, ashley, who teaches ashtanga yoga up in vermont. when i came across this picture of her, it seemed so fitting to post along with the poem, and she so graciously accepted my request to post it here to share with you. enjoy and namaste my friends!

my purple shamrock.

2010-04-29T22:57:00.012-04:00

i had only heard of green shamrocks until a recent road trip with a friend led me to this beauty in a greenhouse. she (yes, it's a she!) seems to be doing very well by the window in my kitchen.

i'm amazed that she's still alive and that my cat, izzy, hasn't chewed off any leaves yet. i don't think izzy is a fan of the shamrock as much as i am.

i'm hoping to have more of a green thumb this summer so i can plant some herbs, both inside and outside. until then, i'm content on just admiring my purple shamrock...

p.s. i would LOVE and appreciate any recommendations for websites and/or books about growing your own herbs. i'm currently reading, edible herbs, a book that i got with a friend. but i'm on the hunt for more resources. so send me your suggestions!

10 thoughts.

2010-04-15T01:01:00.012-04:00

1 :: find a few minutes each day to completely unplug.

2 :: giving to others is the most powerful thing we can do for ourselves.

3 :: see physical fitness as a practice, not a goal.

4 :: make it a point to heed your need for solitude.

5 :: the secret to beautiful skin starts with what you put inside your body.

6 :: try doing even the menial tasks mindfully and with grace.

7 :: the quality of your connections with other people will carry you further than you think.

8 :: just because a no-frills home remedy is simple doesn't mean it won't work.

9 :: if you want to eat healthier, try giving yourself the benefit of better choices.

10 :: home isn't a place. it's a state of mind.

from the nov. 2009 issue of body + soul.

inspiration.

2010-04-13T21:04:00.001-04:00

wow! i'm literally at a loss for words here. this woman is amazing...inspiring! 91-years old and not only practicing yoga, but teaching it. now this is something to aspire to...

cherry blossoms.

2010-04-06T19:16:00.004-04:00

one of my favorite things...

...about...

...spring!

handmade for baby.

2010-03-25T23:14:00.004-04:00

a friend of mine and her husband recently had a little girl. so to welcome their new bundle of joy, i was determined to give them something handmade. now if i wasn't swamped with grad school work and a million other life things, i would have made her one of my baby knits.

instead i decided to reach out to one of my absolute favorite online spots...a place where i can get lost for hours looking at the most beautifully handcrafted homemade items....etsy! as much as i love to craft my own handmade items, i equally love supporting those who share this similar passion of mine.

it definitely was a tough choice choosing from the hundreds of thousands of items on etsy. i saw so many adorable things! but i stumbled upon stitches-n-smiles, who makes the most adorable custom monogrammed baby bloomers, and i was immediately sold!

:: photo from stitches-n-smiles ::

this is a sample image of the bloomers that i ordered for my friend's baby (tutu not included!). i chose the same font that is pictured, but went with black embroidering as it matched the dress i was also giving her.

when the bloomers arrived the other day, i felt like a little kid at christmas time opening the package. they turned out exactly how i had imagined them. i was so pleased!!

as i was wrapping them up along with the dress, i stood there and thought there's no way i can give this to her without a card. so, alas, i did end up making something handmade...with a little help from my photoshop friend.

a little note card for baby nora. :-) i love fonts. and probably spent too much time trying to find the right one. but i settled on the one below. can you guess the font that i used? think cartoons...

video: izzy.steals.the.puck.

2010-03-21T22:10:00.000-04:00

wooly pulley - part II.

2010-03-15T21:03:00.007-04:00

knitting in the round! i'm knitting in the round folks!

or shall i say, i was knitting in the round. i finished the wooly pulley!

many thanks to the very talented women that i work with who guided me throughout this knitting project. tomorrow i will add it to the collection of helmet liners that will be shipped off to the troops!

beyond acquiring new knitting skills through this project, i've also been able to donate my time and energy to a good cause, which at the end of the day truly feels so wonderful.

knitting this hat (if you want to call it that) has made me think even more about the "travels" of all of our knitting projects. dedicated knitters (and i know of a few of you out there that knit while they are in line at the bank :-) - eh em D.I.!!) know what it's like to take your knitting with you everywhere! this wooly pulley has been on trains, in cars, with me on my couch, at work, and next to my kitty izzy to name just a few places...

so i'm very delighted that it will one day soon be worn with lots of pride and joy...and appreciation for our country!

my schedule is jam packed over these next several weeks with work, school, yoga, family, friends, and, of course, the million other little projects i have committed to. but i'm excited for all that this next season (and semester!) holds.

so with that said, i will need to put down my knitting needles for a little while...so i can focus on finishing my master's program (five months and counting!). i will, however, have more yoga girl updates and designs that i will be posting soon. so check back often!

video: izzy.on.my.desk.

2010-02-26T22:49:00.009-05:00

a short video of izzy pushing the pen and pad off my desk. naughty kitty!

in other news...the lululemon social media peeps added izzy to their daily challenge album on flickr! check her out! http://bit.ly/asmuXm

my papa.

2010-02-26T08:19:00.002-05:00

i started this blog, cafe taber, two years ago today with a post about my father's birthday. (it's hard to believe i've been at this blog thing for this long already!) i know he's one of my biggest fans :-) and followers here. so it is with much joy and happiness that i celebrate him and pay tribute to him here again on his birthday.

happy birthday, papa! i love you!

my granny.

2010-02-21T16:44:00.001-05:00

this is my granny. she will be 98 years old soon...april 1st!

i visited her today. we ate chocolates. drank coffee. did our nails. shared stories. laughed. and hugged and kissed. she is a woman of so much strength and will, both of which i admire so much.

i was wearing my sunglasses when i first walked in to her room today and she asked to put them on. and boy can she rock these sunglasses. i think i'll have to get her a pair for her birthday in april.

feet.

2010-02-16T19:02:00.007-05:00

"breathe through your feet!"

this is what my yoga instructor (and dear friend!) said during the vinyasa class she was leading at her studio the other day. and it got me thinking differently about my own breath.

if you actually take the time to visualize inhaling new oxygen or renewed energy through the crown of your head all the way to the soles of your feet as you practice yoga or if you don't practice yoga you can visualize this while you are standing in the shower or even walking around, you just might discover (the way i did the other day) an opening of sorts in your body...and a whole new way to manage the flow of your own breath.

on this same note, i realized after taking this picture on my way to work this morning...

...that, for some odd reason, i take a lot of pictures of feet!

so i thought i would share a few favorites from my photo archives.

(it's important to note that not everyone or every culture has the same playful approach to feet as i do. in fact, in thailand, feet are considered not only the lowest part of the body physically, but also symbolically. they are dirty with the earth and dust. on the other hand, they perceive the head to be the most sacred and highest part of the body. and therefore do not touch the head of another. so with that said, i respect all of the different meanings and interpretations of feet.)

:: on a bench ::

:: by candlelight ::

:: in the caribbean ::

:: on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower ::

:: in my apartment ::

:: at a football game ::

:: at the beach ::

snow day.

2010-02-16T12:41:00.000-05:00

what a beautiful snowfall we had last night! on my walk to work this morning, i was very distracted by the beauty of it all on the branches, on the ground, everywhere!

love.

2010-02-14T12:49:00.001-05:00

...it's a crazy thing!

ode to the olympics.

2010-02-12T19:02:00.006-05:00

tonight i'll be watching the opening ceremonies of the 2010 winter olympics that are taking place in vancouver, and i can't help but be reminded of my time there with my father...just about ten years ago. he flew out to seattle, washington to greet me (and the ship!) that i studied on during my junior year of college, which was through the semester at sea program.

it was his idea to spend a few days driving up the coast to vancouver, bc before heading back home. and what an amazing drive and experience it was! my time in vancouver was brief, but it was long enough to realize that it's a pretty fabulous city in canada to visit.

so let the games begin!

photo credit :: emshim's flickr photostream

homemade valentine.

2010-02-12T07:52:00.003-05:00

homemade valentines are by far the best type of valentine to receive. some of my best memories from when i was a child was crafting with my mom. she would always have us making things at the kitchen table, especially homemade greeting cards.

i came across this homemade valentine that i made for my great aunt when i was a little girl. it's nothing but a simple piece of construction paper, and pieces of fabric cut into heart shapes. i must have picked out the fabric but let my mom do the cutting. :-)

even though valentine's day is just a two days away, you still have time to make your loved one a homemade card. here are a few last-minute ideas for you:

block print valentines
hand-stitched valentines
necktie valentines
yes, it's true, a homemade valentine made from onions!
and my favorite...a pop-up valentine's day card

also, if you would prefer to not make a card, check out this adorable tutorial on a jar of hearts. such an easy and unique way to express your love!

photo credit :: craftzine blog

the-e-list.

2010-02-11T08:04:00.000-05:00

the the-e-list is a fabulous blog to follow if you live in/near/around the shoreline of connecticut. i had the pleasure of meeting erica, the blogger behind the-e-list, at a holiday boutique show in madison, ct. a couple of months ago.

her blog posts include interesting finds about fashion, food, cultural events, trends, fitness, and travel spots (to name a few) in the CT area. there's even an e-card that you can purchase to get discounts at some of the best merchants on the shoreline. so hop on over to her blog and check it out!

i heart.

2010-02-10T19:35:00.000-05:00

in "early" celebration of valentine's day, i thought i would share a few things i heart lately...

sofia champagne.
tom & sally's chocolate covered almonds.
muk luks.
cherry blossoms.
operation beautiful. (more to come on this)

soupee.

2010-02-10T17:50:00.001-05:00

i'm a soupee! i love soup. and so does soup girl, a new cart that i've discovered near where i work. she loves soup just as much (if not more than) i do!

my favorite soup is roasted butternut squash (pictured above). but i also enjoy lentil, black bean, and tomato.

for my web programming class, we had to create a recipe page demonstrating all that we've learned so far. so, naturally, i created a soup page! it's very simple in terms of look and feel. but i kid you not this page took me several hours to hand code. i definitely appreciate the lovely wysiwyg editor i use for this blog so much more now.

p.s. the form at the bottom of the recipe page doesn't work. that's something that i'll be learning more about in a future module of the course.

snow day!

2010-02-10T12:07:00.003-05:00

the forecast says 12-14 inches. although the view from my office doesn't reflect that amount quite yet...

i won't be here all day. i'll be heading home before the bulk of the snow arrives so i don't get stuck. but i have to say i just love how the hustle and bustle in a city calms down during a snow storm, even if for a little while.

if you're looking for something to read on this snowy day, head on over to soule mama's blog to read her winter manifesto. it's very inspiring...

snow :: skiing :: sisters

2010-02-05T13:03:00.003-05:00

three of my very favorite things! fresh snow, skiing up in vermont and being with my big sister. a weekend with her was exactly what i needed...

2009.

2010-01-16T20:16:00.004-05:00

some of my favorite photos from this past year...looking forward to all that lies ahead in 2010.

:: my sister looking out over lake champlain ::

:: picking the most delicious organic berries in vt ::

:: going to the beach with my besties ::

:: catching a game with my love at wrigley field ::

:: eating deep dish pizza at lou malnati's in chi-town ::

:: appreciating subway directions in other cities ::

:: making loads of decoupage bracelets ::

:: celebrating thanksgiving down south ::

:: celebrating in nyc during a snow storm ::

books.

2010-01-15T23:12:00.008-05:00

books i'm reading...and loving!

sewing green: 25 projects made with repurposed and organic materials
by betz white

ashtanga yoga: practice & philosophy

by gregor maehle

blogging for bliss

by tara frey

moosewood restaurant new classics

by the moosewood collective

and the winners are...

2010-01-12T12:34:00.000-05:00

thank you all again for sending in your very creative and thoughtful sayings and quotes for the yoga girl giveway. it really was a tough choice. and i wish i could have chosen them all! and interestingly enough, i had a male reader request that i create a yoga dude! stay tuned for more on that...

so...here are the winning yoga girl sayings for the cobra and headstand poses.....

:: bliss begins with breath ::

:: your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. who looks outside dreams, who looks inside awakens. ~ carl jung ::

i will be in touch with the winners via email. thank you all for participating! and keep checking back for more giveaways in the near future...

namaste!

wooly pulleys.

2010-01-10T11:10:00.001-05:00

before i explain what a wooly pulley is (for those of you who don't already know), i want to say how tickled i am by the number of responses that i have received for the yoga girl giveaway! you all sent in so many great sayings. i want to use them all!

for those of you who haven't submitted a response yet, you still have time. the giveaway will end midnight tonight. i'll post the winning quotes/sayings on monday night.

so you ask, "what is a wooly pulley??" well, it's obviously a knitted item as you can tell from the one i'm making below.

it's also something that is worn underneath a helmet, a helmet liner if you will. i've joined up with a few women to take part in operation helmet liner. we are knitting a bunch of these liners for the troops overseas who are subjected to sub-zero temperatures. it's actually been a pretty easy knit so far. and it's gotten me back into the knitting thing again. with school and all, i haven't had time to pick up needles in so long. it's also great to be knitting for a good cause!

i'm nearly done with the neck portion of the liner. then i'll be starting the head portion. if you are a knitter and want to make one, too, feel free to visit the operation helmet liner site to download the pattern and learn more about the project.

a new year's giveaway.

2010-01-03T16:51:00.005-05:00

happy new year! to start off 2010 right, i thought i would offer a yoga girl giveaway!

over the past few weeks, i've been busy drawing new yoga girls poses (to be posted in the store soon!). and my intention is to include on the back of each yoga girl t-shirt, a quote that represents that particular yoga pose in some way. for example, the quotes on the back of the dancer yoga girl or the namaste yoga girl t-shirts.

so i am asking you to put your creative caps on and submit what YOU think would be the best sayings or quotes for these two poses:

headstand (adho mukha vrksasana)

cobra (bhujangasana)

submit your ideas by posting in the comment box below or via email at yogagirl@cafetaber.com

two winners will be chosen (one for each pose above) and will receive a free yoga girl t-shirt from the store!

:: the deadline is sunday, january 10 at midnight ::

namaste!

2010.

2010-01-01T17:36:00.000-05:00

happy holidays.

2009-12-25T13:28:00.000-05:00

yoga girl.

2009-12-08T23:41:00.004-05:00

it all started back in early september... i was working on a project for my information animation class for my master's program trying to learn all of the ins and outs of adobe flash and quickly discovered how powerful a tool it really is.

the assignment :: illustrate my name using animations of...really anything. so, naturally, i turned to yoga. as many of you know, i am very devoted to my yoga practice. in fact, more recently, i have found it to be somewhat of a religion for me. it's not just the physical practice that i have come to love so much. it's also the spiritual practice, which i am able to take with me off my mat.

so when i sat down to start drawing for this assignment, these very simple stick figures were born.

after sharing my drawings with friends and family, and receiving a lot of positive feedback on them, i was encouraged to branch out a bit and sell the design on apparel and other items.

so, with that said, i introduce you to my "Yoga Girl" shop on Zazzle. http://www.zazzle.com/taberlightfoot 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Off the Mat, Into the World, an initiative started by seane corne (one of my favorite yoginis) that i wholeheartedly support.

so if you're looking for something special to give to that yogini (or yogi) in your life, take a look at the Yoga Girl line. the quality of the apparel and products is excellent! and more Yoga Girls will be added to the shop over the next few weeks.

if there is a specific pose you're looking for that's not listed in the store, leave a comment, or email me. i'm happy to customize a design for you!

sew-a-long, week one.

2009-11-29T23:05:00.003-05:00

after a week away in the sunshine state visiting the 'rents for the holiday, i'm back home settling in and trying to focus on all of the things that need my attention over these next few weeks before classes end and christmas arrives, one of which is the sew-a-long that i'm taking part in via one pearl button.

our first assignment was to download the pattern of the item we're making, which is a fabulous reusable grocery bag from burdastyle, and then tape the pattern pieces together.

we also had to find a 3/4 yard of fabric for our bag (this was the fun part!) that would be durable enough yet flexible enough so this bag can easily be stashed in one's purse. so in line with this whole reuse/recycle kick i've been on lately, i decided to use fabric from some large old pillowcases that i had saved from my grandmother's house. i don't remember exactly where the fabric was originally purchased. i think it was a williamsburg print. but when we were moving her out of her house a few years ago, i couldn't bear to see these go. so i saved them.

luckily, i have three large pillowcases...enough fabric for this project in case i should need more. :-) i'm excited to see how this bag turns out. but what i'm even more excited about is to get reacquainted with my sewing machine. more soon...

what i'm wearing.

2009-11-18T22:22:00.001-05:00

i love how one pearl button shares the details of her outfits every week. not only is she an amazing crafter, but she's got a fabulous sense of style. i especially love how she layers tights! i'll definitely try that soon...

anyhow, i thought i would join in on the fun and post the details of what i was wearing the other day. doing this sort of audit of your outfits is kind of cool.

:: scarf :: a gift from my cousin over at thistle downs wool design
:: shirt :: from the organic cotton line at wal-mart
:: skirt :: converse, courteously of target
:: leggings :: urban outfitters
:: boots :: frye purchased from rue la la
:: bracelet :: handmade decoupage bracelet, inspiration from one pearl button

a sew-a-long!

2009-11-17T23:35:00.008-05:00

for the past few years now, i have been itching to learn how to sew. well, the time has finally come! i'll soon be pulling out my sewing machine from the closet to put it to use!

one of my very favorite bloggers, alli, over at one pearl button, has so graciously offered to her readers a sew-a-long! that's right! she's going to teach us how to sew via her blog! i'm so thrilled, yet a little nervous as to how i'm going to fit this into my already hectic schedule that is filled with work, grad school, yoga, and of course spending time with my loved ones.

but as one of my favorite manifestos states, "that which matters the most should never give way to that which matters the least." so i'll have to prioritize here to carve out the time to learn this new skill.

stay tuned for updates on my progress!

also, there are some changes a-comin' to cafe taber in the very near future. so check back soon...

a milestone...a reason to celebrate!

2009-11-13T20:02:00.007-05:00

a dear friend celebrated a very special milestone today! so a little bubbly was in store! cheers to her!

"if you desire a glorious future, transform the present. there is actually no other choice."

~ patanjali's yoga sutras (300-200BCE), india

endurance.

2009-11-05T17:38:00.003-05:00

i recently purchased the book, 1,001 pearls of yoga wisdom, from one of my favorite stores in new haven. i carry it with me everywhere, reading a page or two when i can for inspiration. #691 resonated with me today, so i had to share here.

"yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured." ~ B.K.S. Iyengar

my diversion.

2009-11-01T23:27:00.009-05:00

i should be doing work for grad school. but, i diverted to creating, yet another, decoupage bracelet, for a dear friend of mine who is moving to arizona this week.

i caught myself staring at the HUGE stack of magazines that i save for these bracelets that i love making so much in my kitchen. so i was forced :-) to take a break from my studies to be crafty for a bit.

(notice the beginning of a new collection of mine in the background...oil lanterns. i love them!)

now, that i've mastered the art of making these fabulous, eco-friendly items, it was a quick, and easy thing to create.

the bracelet in the picture above is one i made recently for myself. if i had it my way, i'd have a million of these to wear! i just think they are so stylish and such a great way to reuse/recycle old magazines that you have laying around.

i hope my girlfriend likes the one i made for her...i'll post pictures when it's done...and dry!

alice.

2009-10-17T00:38:00.003-04:00

i'm knee deep in work for my animation class. so forgive me if all i write about here is related to that class. i watched alice in wonderland tonight in the hopes i would be inspired for my next project for this course. i forgot how much i love this movie!

i was browsing the internet for images from the movie. loved the ones below so much that i had to share.

spiders, bats, and scary trees.

2009-10-05T11:46:00.006-04:00

i have to create a cartoon in adobe flash for one of my grad school classes. given that halloween is upon us, i thought i would create a short cartoon promoting the 2nd annual haunted hallway at a local elementary school where my boyfriend teaches art. i'm still trying to get the hang of drawing in flash, but i was pretty pleased with the characters that i drew the other night. this class is definitely bringing out the kid in me!

the scary tree needs a little more work... i also have to finish creating the other characters.

if you're in the area (hamden, ct) this coming saturday, october 10, you should definitely check out the haunted hallway. i promise that you will be scared...

yoga girl.

2009-09-26T21:05:00.000-04:00

a little creation of mine...

i'm learning adobe flash this semester in my master's program. it's a lot harder than i had imagined. here's a sneak preview of one of my yoga girl stick figures. i'm thinking this might become a series for something...notecards? t-shirts? we shall see...

yoga with izzy.

2009-09-25T21:21:00.007-04:00

i've been on a yoga hiatus simply due to my knee diagnosis, which i will not bore you with here. but that didn't stop me from working on my home practice a little. i'm trying to keep as active as possible. however, i had a slight interruption...or two from my "roommate," izzy, who was very interested in taking part in the festivities...

...i got a little yoga in that evening and needless to say so did izzy!

finding balance.

2009-09-22T17:58:00.007-04:00

every now and then go away,
have a little relaxation,
for when you come back to your work,
your judgment will be surer;
since to remain constantly at work
will cause you to lose power of judgment...
go some distance away
because the work appears smaller
and more of it can be taken in at a glance,
and a lack of harmony or proportion is more readily seen.

-- leonardo da vinci (1452-1519)

chicago :: four

2009-09-06T23:30:00.004-04:00

the last night we were in chicago, we met some friends of mine from college for dinner at shaw's crab house - yum!! who would think you could find good seafood in chicago??

to digest our meals and end our evening right with a night cap, we headed just a few doors down from shaw's to andy's jazz club where we sat right up front at a quaint little table and listened to a great jazz band!!

p.j.

2009-09-05T18:51:00.007-04:00

a Q&A with p.j., my cousin's three-year old son, while he was eating his lunch.

:: august 24, 2009 ::

Q :: who is your best friend, p.j.?

emily

Q :: what is your favorite color?

yellow...pink!!

Q :: what is your favorite cartoon?

the einsteins!!

Q :: airplane or train?

airplane to go home. train to stephy's. and car to my house in california!

Q :: what is your favorite food, p.j.?

p.j. gets out of chair and runs away...

may god bless three-year olds!!

chicago :: three

2009-09-05T17:52:00.003-04:00

chicago is just oozing with some of the most amazing art and architecture that i have ever seen.

just walk around the city and one can see some of the most beautiful and world reknown sculptures without having to enter a museum.

i saw the flamingo sculpture by alexander calder, located in federal plaza on s. dearborn street, which you may remember seeing in ferris bueller's day off.

and then the pablo picasso sculpture (untitled), located in daley plaza in the chicago loop. visitors to the sculpture can often be found sliding down the sculpture (eh em...as my boyfriend did so gracefully with a few children - see video below).

in addition to the art that exists throughout the streets of chicago, there is also the art institute of chicago that is must-see for anyone visiting the windy city.

unfortunately, we didn't have a whole lot of time to spend at the institute, just a few hours. i could have spent the week there admiring all of the different periods of artwork throughout the building, which i might add is one of the most beautiful art museums that i have ever been to.

another ferris bueller's day off reference. remember the scene when they are admiring the seurat? well, i did the same! that's me below marveling at all of those tiny little dots that make up this gorgeous masterpiece!

chicago :: two

2009-08-10T22:14:00.018-04:00

wrigley field!!!!

we got off the subway at addison with no tickets in hand. my boyfriend schmoozed with a few scalpers (shhh!) to get us some pretty fabulous tickets.

we made friends with the people around us (all of whom were chicagoans and major cub fans) and indulged in some ballpark beers and snacks!

i was so intrigued by the bleacher seats on top of the private businesses outside of the stadium that literally had amazing views of the game!

we were lucky enough to have front row seats to the cubs band! for a bit of history about wrigley field, check out this description on flickr.

this is the original scoreboard, which is largely still in tact - built in 1937.

you can't experience a true american baseball game without hearing, "take me out to the ball game!" during the stretch of the 7th inning.

a little lovin' in front of wrigley field...and in front of the statue of ernie banks, the first cub to retire his number. all in all it was a great day at wrigley.

counting the days until i can get back there...

chicago :: one

2009-08-09T21:49:00.012-04:00

this was the first picture i took once we got off the subway and into the heart of the city. a few days later we would be on that same boat (pictured below) taking in all of the amazing architecture of the windy city.

but our first stop, after dropping off our luggage at the condo we rented on n. dearborn street, was to lou malnati's to indulge in some chicago-style deep dish pizza. according to the urban spoon and a few chicagoans, lou's is one of the top pizza places in the city.

i'll admit, however, that i wasn't too impressed with the thick crust. in my mind, nothing can top a pizza from modern or pepe's in new haven, connecticut.

chicago at our feet!

next we headed over to the willis tower, formerly the sears tower, to check out the view from 103 stories up in the sky! those are our feet on "The Ledge" a 4.3 foot glass box that extends beyond the skydeck.

look at that beautiful skyline!! we were blessed with gorgeous weather throughout our entire stay.

next stop...wrigley field!

i love chicago!

2009-08-09T12:01:00.010-04:00

a recent trip to chicago with my boyfriend is what made me fall in love with this city. we went for a few days in july. neither one of us had ever been there before so it was so fun to explore the city together. we took more than 500 pictures and several hours of video footage, some of which i will share here over the next few days.

so check back for a series of posts about the art, the music, the food, and all of the sites that we saw in my new favorite city, chicago!

:: this collage was my boyfriend's creation ::

my home away from home.

2009-08-05T23:14:00.006-04:00

i've been spending quite a lot of time over the past several months doing yoga. it has brought some much needed peace into my life as well as some much needed flexibility!

i have never been more in touch with my own body than ever before thanks to the excellent instructors there!

i'm looking forward to participating in the global mala project that yoga on whitney is participating in come this september. you can learn more about the effort at globalmala.org.

namaste!

bangles. berries. beer.

2009-07-22T22:19:00.018-04:00

:: more decoupage bracelet making with my lady friends. ::

:: the one with the peace sign was made for a very dear friend of mine. ::

:: then off to burlington, vermont to visit the sister for some beer tastin' and berry pickin'. ::

:: burlington brew fest 2009 ::

:: organic raspberries and blueberries are what i was pickin' at adam's berry farm. ::

summer sun...

2009-07-14T23:46:00.002-04:00

...and sun dresses!

love.

2009-07-11T00:10:00.006-04:00

“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same.” ― Flavia Weedn

food, inc.

2009-07-05T20:10:00.010-04:00

i don't normally link to this kind of stuff here. but after watching the trailer to this film, you will understand why.

http://www.foodincmovie.com/

my guardian angel.

2009-07-04T08:28:00.005-04:00

guardian angels...

we all have them. i believe that. mine is my great uncle bobby, pictured below. he was an amazing artist and teacher. he was obsessed with white (i think he passed that trait down to me) and painted everything in his life that color (is it really a color?). he also took such good care of all of the women in his family and brought so much laughter and love into our lives.

when i seek guidance in life and look to a higher place, i often think of him and feel him watching over me.

his birthday is today...on independence day. so today my yoga practice will be in honor of him.

happy 4th of july!

bracelets.

2009-07-03T22:51:00.003-04:00

i got creative recently. i had a bunch of chunky...and not so chunky bracelets that i never wore, mainly because they were hidden in my dresser. so i put to use a black wrought iron paper towel holder. it lives on top of my dresser and now displays all of my bracelets.

just today, i added another one to the stack... a beautiful handmade mala bracelet from a dear friend and yogini of mine. well, actually, it was made by her sons. so thoughtful!

a special place.

2009-07-01T23:23:00.008-04:00

a very special place to soak in some summer sun...

it took getting my car over some BIG puddles. But so worth it in the end.

king of pop.

2009-06-25T21:27:00.005-04:00

these are the dearest, sweetest letters my sister wrote to michael jackson when she was wee little. he never did call her...or give her two free tickets to his show...

may you rest in peace, michael...

my papa.

2009-06-21T08:39:00.004-04:00

"It’s only when you grow up and step back from him―or leave him for your own home―it’s only then that you can measure his greatness and fully appreciate it."

-- Margaret Truman, on fathers...

Happy Father's Day, Papa! I love you!!

cherries.

2009-06-07T09:30:00.005-04:00

i do not like cherries. or at least until last weekend. i was having dinner at a friend's house and the theme of the dinner was mexican. so we made guacamole and, get this, cherry salsa for appetizers. the cherry salsa were truly unbelievable!!!

:: cherry salsa :: courtesy of the foodnetwork

:: 4 cups cherries, stemmed, pitted, and chopped
:: 8 green onions, chopped
:: 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
:: 1/4 cup lemon juice
:: 1 jalapeno pepper, chopped
:: 1 clove garlic, chopped

Mix all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl until well combined. Serve with your favorite chips.

dj andy d.

2009-06-07T09:19:00.003-04:00

my favorite dj, andy d.

marantz.

2009-06-06T12:48:00.006-04:00

my other new best friend, the marantz. i have to create a 30 second audio commerical using this lovely device for my media, sound, and imaging class.

if i like how the commerical turns out, i'll post it here. i had a little assistance from my very creative, art teacher boyfriend who helped me add a little humor to it.

best friend.

2009-06-03T19:58:00.003-04:00

my furry friend izzy and me. she is what is helping me get through these tough times with juggling my full-time job and graduate school. she's always there right by side (as she right now as i write this post).

florida farmer's market.

2009-05-25T06:43:00.001-04:00

i'm down visiting the 'rents in st. augustine this memorial day weekend. despite the rainy weather, we made it to the farmer's market on saturday. there were a variety of local farmers and artists selling their goods. i stopped at this vendor's tent, pockets of sage, and purchased a few of her items. but i can't show them just yet as one is for a friend who may see it here first before i return.

izzy.

2009-05-24T06:20:00.000-04:00

my new roommate, isabella (aka izzy).

my sister has izzy's sister, gertrude. one day they will meet again and play. but for now they will each live their lives just a few states apart.

izzy surprised me last week when i walked in from work. she was sitting so perfectly perched on my retro leather chair.

rest in peace, colby kitty.

2009-05-23T12:58:00.003-04:00

? - may 12, 2009

we never knew what her date of her birth was. i found her on my college campus my senior year. she lived with my roommates and me for a few weeks and then off to connecticut she went to live with my mom. she lived a beautiful life as an outdoor kitty. loved the birds and the mice.

she will be missed very much. but we will all see her again when we reach rainbow bridge.

rest in peace dear, colby kitty.

greetings from granny.

2009-05-07T18:55:00.003-04:00

in this post, i wrote about my grandmother (a.k.a. granny) turning 97 on april fool's day. :-) here is a video i took of her on that day. i brought her balloons and my cousin brought her a cake! i also took some time to give her a manicure, one her favorite things!

it's a very special day!

2009-05-06T09:05:00.003-04:00

my good friend turned 30 today. i made this card for her using the photoshop skills i aquired this past semester. i hope she likes it!

i'm thinking i might start my own greeting card collection. stay tuned!

dinner for one.

2009-04-28T20:22:00.004-04:00

generally it's dinner for two...sometimes more. but last night it was dinner for one...me.

grilled chicken, asparagus, and cherry tomatos sauteed with romeo's olive oil and fresh garlic....

...served with a delicious avocado salad. i swear i average 2-3 avocados a week. maybe more?

sunny sunday.

2009-04-28T08:02:00.011-04:00

sunday was by far the best weather we've had this spring. i stepped away from my world of grad school work (which is ending this week - yippee!) to enjoy the gorgeous day that mother nature brought to new england on sunday with my neighbors/friends.

a hike up sleeping giant and yoga on the top. what a great way to start off the day!

the afternoon was spent on porch sipping on fresh margaritas (see recipe below) and indulging in some tableside guacamole. yum!

a game of scrabble.

and a fish dinner on the porch with a friend.

i contributed more avocados. there's nothing like a fresh tomato and avocado salad, especially with a delicious piece of fish!

fresh margaritas :: (serves 1)
:: 2 limes, freshly squeezed
:: equals parts tequila (we used hornitos by sauza) and triple sec
:: a splash of fresh OJ
:: ice

enjoy!!

sicky sick.

2009-04-10T13:28:00.005-04:00

that was me. sicky sick this past week. i'm not sure if it was food poisoning or i caught a bug. whatever it was, i'm glad it's gone!

a dear friend stopped by to donate some paper products that i was in dire need of :-) and to also drop off some delicious homemade chicken noodle soup! yum!

she also had in her goodie bag for me a beautiful handmade apron! she knows i've started an apron collection and this one will be hung right next to the rest of them.

it certainly stinks to be sick, but it sure was nice to have that dear friend's support this past week.

friends are the family we choose for ourselves. -- edna buchanan

happy 97th birthday granny!

2009-04-01T08:22:00.003-04:00

special birthday wishes for my granny today! she's 97!!

margaret alida allen

on her wedding day...

granny, my aunt, my sister, and me

my granny and me

words as art.

2009-03-25T22:55:00.004-04:00

i'm plugging away with my classes this semester - spending less time writing and more time creating, which is right up my alley!

i've posted a few examples of my work from my visual aesthetics class - the kandinsky replica and the yoga collage. and i wanted to share some more of my work. so it's time for another show-and-tell.

this time the assignment was to use nothing but letters and words to create an original image, or piece of art for that matter. we were allowed to incorporate color and stretch and warp the words. below is my masterpiece! can you guess what words i used repeatedly throughout the image? the answer is below...

turks & caicos

i created this from a picture i took when i was in the turks & caicos with a dear friend several years ago. i'm in love with the photo so much that i kindly requested my art teacher boyfriend to make me a painting of it, which is now hanging in my bedroom.

here's the original photo. in comparing the two again, i didn't do such a bad job afterall.

buttons.

2009-03-25T21:06:00.007-04:00

there's been a button frenzy lately on several of the blogs and websites i visit daily that i can't quite understand. this button tutorial on craftstylish and this new button book that soulemama mentioned on her blog gave me inspiration to check out my own collection of buttons.

so i pulled down from the closet my sewing kit that, i must note, was given to me by my father. yup! instead of tool kit, my papa gave to my sister and me each our own sewing kits filled with items that my grandmother used years ago.

beautiful spools of thread, old vintage metal scissors, and the best part, her very own labels (pictured above) is what he filled our kits with.

among all of these treasures, i found my collection of buttons scattered everywhere inside. several of them were in those small little white bags that are attached to new clothing (yikes! is that a sign?). the others were miscellaneous ones that i found and collected over the years.

after i gathered all of my buttons, i plopped them into a jar and decided to display them, along with all of the vintage spools of bright color thread from my grandmother. they all seemed too pretty to put right back into the closet.

so their new home resides on a shelf in my bedroom where i can admire them every morning and every evening.

now for those of you who are feeling left out because you don't have any buttons (and, truthfully, i think you have a collection stashed somewhere in your drawers), have no fear, you can get a scoopful of buttons here for just a few dollars.

and in celebration of buttons, i've added a new blog to my blogroll over there to the right, 3 buttons! check her blog out!

my buckle.

2009-03-19T21:02:00.007-04:00

no. it's not a belt i'm talking about; it's my homemade blueberry buckle. i made it three times over the course of two days a few weekends ago, and i'm ready to make it again! it's the type of baked good that can be enjoyed in the morning with a cup of coffee or in the evening hot out of the oven with a scoop of chilled vanilla ice cream. yum!

more often than not, i use frozen blueberries, which are just as good as fresh or even canned blueberries. as long as you incorporate two cups of them, it doesn't matter what kind you use.

this is the buckle minus the crumble topping

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blueberry buckle

bread ingredients
¾ cup white sugar
¼ cup butter
1 egg
½ cup milk
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)*

1. preheat oven to 375°. grease 8x8 pan.
2. cream together sugar, butter, and egg.
3. in separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. alternate flour mixture with milk as combining with sugar/butter/egg mixture.
5. stir in blueberries.
6. pour into pan.

topping ingredients**
½ cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
½ tsp. cinnamon
¼ cup butter (softened not melted)

1. combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, and butter.
2. sprinkle over cake batter.
3. bake for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick pull is clean.

* if you are using frozen blueberries, i recommend thawing them a little first. it will help when you mix them in with the batter.
** i always double the topping (a.k.a. crumble). you can never have too much butter, cinnamon, and sugar with your buckle.

enjoy!!!!!

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