Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Vegetable Curry


This is a recipe I adapted from Londyn at Blogfood.

We have this about once or twice a month.

It's hearty and delicious.

Ingredients:

  1.  2 T  curry powder ( I use about 2.5 TB)
  2.       1.5 t garam masala ( I make my own )
  3. 4 T vegetable oil
  4. 3 garlic cloves minced
  5. 1 T grated ginger
  6. 1 dried chile pepper, diced
  7. 1 T tomato paste
  8. 1 large onion, minced
  9. 2-4  small gold potatoes, cubed
  10. 1/2 cauliflower cut in florets or a small head of cauliflower
  11. 1 can diced tomato (we only use RO-TEL)
  12. 1.25 cups water
  13. 1 can chickpeas, drained
  14. 1/4 cup frozen peas or more
  15. 1/4 cup of heavy cream
  16. salt
Directions:
 
Toast curry and garam masala in stock pot until fragrant (1-2 min).  Add 1 T oil and ingredients 4-7.
If you have a drink mixer or a grinder, just put the garlic, ginger, Serrano and tomato paste in there and blend them together. I add a little water to the mix.
 
Heat remaining 3 T oil in stock pot (medium high heat). 
Add onions and potatoes until tender and caramelized. Making sure the potatoes are mushy is the longest part. Stir, stir, stir.
 
Add cauliflower and mix... and mix.
 
 
Add ingredients 11-13, plus 1 teaspoon salt, scraping brown bits from bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. 
 
Bring to boil over medium high heat stirring occasionally until vegetables are tender. 
 
Stir in peas and heavy cream and continue to cook about 10 more minutes. Taste.
 
Season with salt to taste and enjoy!!!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Saturday, May 24, 2014

Dressing Room Reveal

About a year ago, I turned the guest bedroom into my very own dressing room.

Oh.my.word... it's been the best thing! I love it so much.

I wanted a space that was just mine.

It is one of the most enriching experiences to get ready for my day...

So.. without further ado... here is ... the dressing room reveal:



 
This is a towel rack.
Hung double ring shower hooks to hold my jewelry.
 

 
 
Shoe rack/ bookcase... grabbed from the neighbor's trash pile.


 
 
My dressing/accessories area.


 
 

 
 
The sofa has a pull out bed so we can still host guests.


 
 
These are not all of my clothes.. they are some of my favorite pieces and clothes I'll wear in the upcoming week. It's fun rotating my clothes every week. I wear almost all of my career clothes and utilize the dressier pieces for casual/career wear.


 
 
Having all my jewelry out and displayed is awesome!!


 
 
I cannot wear these shoes.. the heels are too high and they are unforgiving... but they're soo pretty!!!

 

 
 
My tribute to Phantom of the Opera. I love this music box sooo much. My man got this for me for Christmas...
 
  
 
Every girl should have their own dressing room. It makes life grand!!!

 


Friday, May 9, 2014

MUSIC REVIEW: Shine On


Sarah McLachlan: (n.) a beautiful, timeless being with a haunting voice that sears into your heart.
















Listening to her new album, Shine On.




















It does not disappoint. It's everything you'd expect with a few tidbits of new jazz sounds as she continues to evolve in her music.

This is an album that would serve as a canvas for the swanky dinner parties at dusk. I picture little candlelit tables all around, fireflies dancing about outside, the smell of jasmine, roses and hyacinths spilling all around.

This is one I would listen to during a relaxing bubble bath as I travel all around these melodies.. these stories.. these feet that take me to new and familiar places.




My favorite songs:

In Your Shoes:
"Time for you to walk out walk in your own shoes
Lay down your footprints wherever you choose"


I have yet to do this after all these years. To walk out in my shoes, be who I am without all these masks, accessories, costumes, scripts. I die slowly a little everyday pretending.

"You’ve got a light that always guides you
You speak of hope and change as something good
Live your truth and know you’re not alone"

 









Beautiful Girl:
"I know the world can be cruel, pretty girl
You’re gonna make it ’cause you’ve got love on your side"


I so needed to hear this the last couple days...

"One thing that I know
Is it will get better…
"


The Sound That Love Makes:
Immediately I was tapping my feet and swaying in my chair when this song came on.
Very Jason Mraz or Jack Johnson feel to it.

I'm still swaying..

What's It Gonna Take:

Another song that was speaking to me!

"What’s it gonna take to make me worthy
What’s it gonna take to make me strong.."


"What’s it gonna take to lift the darkness
What’s it gonna take to light my way
I have so much to give I’ve only just begun to live.."


"How will I believe and see this through
When I feel so unready and I feel so alone.."



Little B:

Precious lullaby!
So sweet.
I plan on learning every word and singing it to my little boy blue.

I love this verse so much:
"I will treasure these years
Of our borrowed time
As much as I want it
I know you’re not mine.."


No.. he's not mine.. he belongs to the Almighty God. I have the honour of loving him and guiding him through this life. In return, I might have a chance to understand .."as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is..." - Ephesians 3:18




Honorable Mention: Monsters

Another fun swaying rhythm. Really enjoy the lyrics and melody on this one.

"And don’t you know that there’s a wolf stalking in sheep’s
clothing tells me he’s the real thing
Think what your life would be missing
if you didn’t have him to sing
To sing about... "

Hmmm....


Honorable Mention: Broken Heart
Oh! This is a GOOD one...

"How long? How long?

I should be thinking with my head
and not with my broken heart
Look to the future for all it’s got and not to us being apart..."


I so wish I could give her a big hug.







Monday, May 5, 2014

dreams deferred

Building a marriage and family
I somehow thought..
it would end my loneliness

I'm still here
There
In the empty school parking lot

My parents dumped me off
They were too busy with other things

I was the burden
Undesirable

I couldn't speak
say what I wanted
needed

No.

I give.. EVERYTHING
every
ounce
I
Have

And I'm still alone

Empty
in
the
parking lot




Saturday, May 3, 2014

Hiatus

Ok, so I know I've been absent for awhile.

I'm working on it.

It's hard.

Everyday I want to write. I want to be free.

I get scared... of.. EVERYTHING.

Of.. people knowing the real me.

I just... I just... don't know if I can.

I am working on it.

trying to write everyday.

I know it will propel me forward in ways I never imagined.

I know it will be worth the sacrifice.

I'm looking down and almost ready to jump in.

ALMOST.