Blogging Break

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Sometimes life requires your full, undivided attention... so it's time for a blogging break. I'll be back soon.

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Sabina ~

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:)

Friday's Photos - An Organic House

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"Following our dreams keeps our souls alive."
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When I saw this house in Green Parent Magazine it reminded me so much of a hobbit's home - warm and friendly - tucked away in the Shire. This home may be going to the extreme, in terms of being "Eco friendly", but it's definitely worth checking out.
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A young Welsh couple intent on building a low-impact, self-sufficient home in natural surroundings for their growing family. Starting out with no capital to speak of, no experience as a builder and using a minimal set of basic tools, Simon, his wife and his father-in-law, along with a little help from visiting friends and passersby, were able to construct this charming, functional home using local materials over a period of four months. It was built with maximum regard for the environment at a cost of £3000(a little under $5000.00). There are a number of projects making this a reality in Britain and Ireland and plenty of resources to support green building ideas. This makes for lots of wonderful innovation.
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• Their refrigerator is cooled by air coming underground through foundations
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• They use solar panels for lighting, music and computing
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• The water comes in by gravity from nearby spring
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• Skylight in roof lets in natural feeling light
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• Compost toilet
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Photos Courtesy of - At Home in the Forest by Jasmine Savillean in an article written for
Green Parent Magazine ( Raising Kids With A Conscience).
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P.S. Happy Friday!!

SERVE.GOV - Be a Part of the Solution

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"We need your service, right now, at this moment in history. I'm not going to tell you what your role should be; that's for you to discover. But I am asking you to stand up play your part. I am asking you to help change history's course."

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President Barack Obama ~

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On April 21, 2009, President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. During a time of almost unprecedented challenges it is critical that we all work together, the government alone cannot fix everything. Working together in a sustained, collaborative effort, we can harness our greatest resource, our people, and change the course of history. This website is a new portal all Americans to find ways to serve in your communities. Just choose your keyword - "education," "environment," or whatever interests you - and type in your zip code to see what opportunities our partner organizations have in your area.

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This is so exciting -"community service" has always been of great importance to me. Log onto SERVE.GOV and find a large variety of ways that you can help serve your communities and our country!! My search results brought back many things I was unaware of locally, and I can't wait to check them out!! What a wonderful way to bring real change!!

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If you are interested in reading highlights of The Serve America Act visit -

Highlights of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.

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Farmers Market/Shopping Trolleys

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These wonderful trolleys are great for using at the farmers market or anywhere!

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Using Reisenthel's Bags help to eliminate the countless paper & plastic bags handed out when buying groceries. They are a smart, and reusable alternative. Their philosophy is based on creating products that enhance quality of living while being respectful to the environment. They are also made with Fair Wages and Fair Labor. All products are made from recyclable materials of the highest quality. A perfect blend of form and function.

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Collapsible Trolley Shopping Cart

Check out Eco- Friendly Reusablebags.com for this item and more.

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It can be folded three times and stowed away in its’ own outside pocket. This is possible by means of the special design of the wheels which can be flattened thanks to a spring mechanism. So your large shopping assistant turns into a small package neatly stowable anywhere.

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P.S. Happy Earth Day!!!

Farmers Market Etiquette and Tips

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Buying locally helps to support local farmers who are more likely to be stewards of their land. Local growers also have more flexibility than industrial farmers to experiment with different crop varieties, which encourages biodiversity and extends growing seasons.

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Farmers Market Etiquette and Tips

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1. Bring cash - only small bills.

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2. Bring your own bag (I have a wheeled shopping trolley I could not live without).

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3. Dirt and holes in the leafs - that's a good thing - especially if you're looking for organic.

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4. Ask the vendor when was this picked or look on the bottom of food for a fresh clean cut where it was harvested.

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5. Don't - I repeat don't - ask for discounts unless you're going to buy the whole crate.

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6. Ask for a sample to taste.

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7. Ask the farmers questions or opinions - who has the best ....?

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8. Get there early.

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9. Be ready to try or learn something new on each visit and have fun!!

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Above Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images

Local Harvest and Slow Food

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Local Harvest

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People worldwide are rediscovering the benefits of buying local food. It is fresher than anything in the supermarket and that means it is tastier and more nutritious. It is also good for your local economy--buying directly from family farmers helps them stay in business.

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Visit LocalHarvest.org for lots of great info.

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Slow Food

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Slow Food is good, clean and fair food. The food we eat should taste good; it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and food producers should receive fair compensation for their work.

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Visit SlowFood.com to learn more.

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Friday's Photos - Lovely Neutral

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These photos come courtesy of House Beautiful. Architect Bobby McAlpine designed this house - located in rural Missouri - as a series of buildings around walled outdoor rooms. He describes the style as Mississippi Valley French Colonial, and the exterior colors as "a misty lake palette with wet bark color."
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Enjoy your weekend!! Happy Friday!!
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Giada Crazy

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I DVR'ed a "Giada At Home" marathon last week on the Food Network, and went a little Giada crazy preparing lots of new dishes. Fusilli with Shrimp, Orange and Arugula - Crispy Parmesan Biscuits - Devilled Eggs with Crab - etc.. I told you Giada crazy!! The one my family liked best was Nonna Luna's Rice. This was sooooo very easy to prepare, and sooooo very yummy. I will definitely make this dish again and again.

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Nonna Luna's Rice

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1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, divided, at room temperature
2 cups parboiled long-grain rice, such as Uncle Ben's
3 1/2 cups chicken stock
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 clove garlic, minced
2 pounds small shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 cup lemon juice (about 2 lemons) (the Secret Ingredient)
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1 cup whipping cream
Freshly ground black pepper

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Directions

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In a medium nonstick saucepan, heat 1/2 of the butter over medium-low heat. Add the rice and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, about 6 to 7 minutes. Add the chicken stock and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer covered for 20 to 25 minutes until the rice is tender and all the liquid is absorbed. Remove the pan from the heat and rest covered for 5 minutes.

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In a large skillet, melt the remaining butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for 1 to 2 minutes until aromatic. Add the shrimp, lemon juice, and hot sauce. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the shrimp is pink and cooked through. Stir in the cream and heat through. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

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Using a fork, fluff the rice and arrange on a platter. Spoon the shrimp cream sauce over the rice and serve.

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Artist Auction for Cancer

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Carolyn Rubenstein launched Carolyn's Compassionate Children when she was only 14 years old. CCC is a nonprofit organization that raises money for young cancer survivors so that they are able to attend college. I found out about this via one of my favorite bloggers over at Annechovie. I wanted to lend my voice to help spread the word out about the "Artist Auction for Cancer", which marks the 10th anniversary of CCC.

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The auction will be held online via eBay and will run from Tuesday, April 14, 2009 through Friday, April 24, 2009. The following artists have generously donated pieces from their most inspired collections to benefit scholarship recipients of CCC: Belle and Boo (Tracy Oakley), Amy Butler, Susannah Conway, Gemma Correll, Melissa de la Fuente, Kiki Fuhr, Sarah Gardner, Aby Garvey, Jess Gonacha, Julie Green, Anne Harwell, Christine Mason Miller, Jill Rosenwald, Paige Russell, Kenny Scharf (Kevin Bruk Gallery), David Silvers.

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Stop by and check it out and help spread the word!!
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Broken Bone

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I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. I spent part of my time at the hospital with my 8 year old son having a (glow-in-the-dark) cast put on his left arm. In all the excitement and fun he fell in our front yard and broke a bone in his wrist. It isn't too bad, but required a cast. When the Dr. told him he needed to leave it on for 3 weeks he exclaimed, "That's 21 days!!" So I had to feature him in today's post and tell him what a brave and funny guy he is.

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I love you Andy!! Your the cutest ever!!

xoxo

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Happy Easter

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Have a wonderful Easter!! I will return on Tues. April 14th!!

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(Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images)

Life - Thanks Mom

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Hope is the Thing with Feathers
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by Emily Dickinson

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Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,
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And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
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I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

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This poem is part of a much larger poem called, Life.

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Thank you mom for my wonderful Emily Dickinson book - I've enjoyed it so very much!!

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(Me - On My 5th Birthday)

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P.S. Hugs (xxx) and kisses (ooo) you're the best mom ever!!

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Zena Holloway's Underwater Photography

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You may have already seen these magical photos out there in the blogosphere , but I just love them so much - how about an encore.

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Photographer: Zena Holloway

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Although she eats and sleeps on solid ground, you won’t find Zena Holloway working anywhere but underwater. “Working topside is very distracting,” explains UK based photographer, describing the drawbacks of shooting on land. “There’s always a buzz about working underwater, creative’s are intrigued to see how its done, the artists are excited to be doing something different and the water gives me a unique space to put it all together. My experiences of shooting on land are very dreary by comparison and not nearly as creative. Water always adds a magical quality.”Her love affair with water began well before her career in photography. For several years Holloway worked internationally as a diving instructor, a talent that serves her well.

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(The above text is from an online article in The F Stop)

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Soccer Moms - Make Room For Art Moms

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My three grade school aged kids attend a wonderful school that happens to be a Charter School for the Arts (K-8). This is a public school not a private one. I feel very fortunate that we were able to get them into this school. All the teachers have masters degrees in art, music, etc. When this school opened there were over 150 extremely qualified teachers who applied. Because of this, the school is able to use creative means to teach the standard curriculum, and my kids are flourishing beyond words because of it. My children are also able to go on many special field trips (San Francisco Ballet, museums, etc.) and even have a mirrored dance room - which would have been a dream come true for me when I was a child. I recently read an article about an updated version of a Soccer Mom -- called "Amy the Art Mom" and I thought I'd share it. She sounded a little too familiar.

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I am still longing to see -- or even hear about -- my political avatar, the Art Mom. Let's call her Amy the Art Mom. Amy the Art Mom is a fiercely dedicated mother of three who spends her weeknights and most of her weekends driving her kids from play rehearsals, to pottery classes, to the media-lab and then to piano recitals. In between work, making dinner, and her children's extracurricular activities, Amy attends school meetings to ensure that her children have art and music classes and that the schools have adequate teachers and facilities for these subjects. She scrimps a bit on her own clothes so that she can rent a musical instrument for her kid to play in the school band. Amy the Art Mom puts up with all this because she wants her children to succeed in life. She knows that 45% of the world's salaries are paid to people in the creative industries. She knows that more and more admissions officers at colleges and human resource professionals seek out applicants who have arts experience in their background. Amy the Art Mom knows that creativity and innovation give America the competitive edge in the global economy and that China and India are working assiduously to catch up. And Amy knows that the arts have a humanizing effect on her children -- when participating in the arts, she sees how her teenager is more engaged in school and how her younger kids are more curious about the world and all the people living in it. Amy the Art Mom votes too. She is appalled that of the last eight executive budgets handed to Congress, zero included funding for Arts Amy looks ahead and is furious that pending cuts in state and local funding may cause tuition increases at the local art center. She is frustrated at what could be a very limited menu of locally available cultural experiences for her family. She is looking for politicians who understand that there has never been a great civilization that didn't support and cultivate the arts whole-heartedly. She goes to Americans for the Arts website and reads the Congressional Arts Report Card. Alas, Amy the Art Mom has not materialized into real life yet but she is out there. We all need to hear from the Art Moms (and Dads), real world or otherwise. They are deeply connected with America's future and we should walk in solidarity with them.
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(This story was courtesy of The Huffington Post)

Tagged By Ambika - 20 Questions

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I've been tagged. Here are the questions and here are the answers.

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What is your current obsession? It's hard to pick just one thing - I'm obsessed with so much! I guess my answer is - organic, fresh, delicious (emphasis on delicious) food and remodeling my girls room.

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What are you wearing right now? Skirt, white T, mocs, and a long cozy grey sweater.

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Do you nap a lot? I have never been a napper - just ask my mom.

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Who was the last person you hugged? My three little ones when I dropped them at school.

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Which animal would you be? A beautiful whale.
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What’s for dinner? Roast Chicken, Asparagus, Basmati Rice, and a Spring Mix Salad.

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What was the last thing you bought? A new bedside lamp for my girls room.

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What are you listening to right now? A Classical Performance Podcast - courtesy of WGBH - Triple Helix playing Mozart (Trio in G Major, KV 564). I love these podcasts!! I really like all kinds of music - Pop - Rock - Jazz - and the list goes on, but I love to listen to classical tunes in the morning.

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What is your favorite weather? Warm, still, clear nights and mornings.

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What’s your favorite game? Board Game - Scrabble / Computer Game - The Sims.

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Say something to the person who tagged you. Ms. Talented Ambika from (Into The Fray) - whose fabulous red earrings I bought and wore this last holiday season!! They are featured at the top of her blogs header. Ambika, thank you, I receive many compliments on them!!

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If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be? Right here in Northern California.

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What is the last movie you watched? Monsters vs Aliens. Go see this movie with your kids in the theater - the 3D effects will blow you away!!

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A book you’re currently reading? A book my mom bought me for my birthday - Selected Poems of Emily Dickinson.

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How tall are you ? 5' 5"

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What would you like to have in your hands right now? Plane tickets to Spain.

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What would you like to get rid of? Mean people!!

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If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? This was one of the hardest questions for me, but I will say... lunch in Paris - at a café near the Eiffel Tower (psst... Sta, you and the girls can come too).

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What did you want to become as a child? As a kid I loved helping children, and animals - so I wanted to be a Veterinarian and a Mom.

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Are emoticons evil? I had to update this answer from my previous one, since I was thinking about the talking ones. My new answer is no. :) Use them all the time!!

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Thanks for including me in this tag Ambika. If anyone would like to join in - consider yourself tagged!!

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:)

Friday's Photos - Green Resort and Spa

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Solage Calistoga - where comfortable meets chic - located in Calistoga, CA. (just a few miles up the road from my house). This amazing resort and spa integrates green features throughout the 22-acre property-from alternative energy sources such as solar panels on rooftops to chemical free bath products. Too cool!!
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Top 5 Green Design Points
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1. Solar rooftop panels throughout the property help reduce overall
energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions (CO2).
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2. Housekeeping cleaning program is standardized on non-toxic
products used throughout the property.
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3. Solbar cuisine features locally grown produce sourced primarily
through small, organic farms.
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4. Eco-solution flooring and paints along with natural fiber and
recycled materials are used in guest room and public space
furnishings
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5. On-site geothermal water is used to produce radiant heating in the
Spa Solage treatment buildings, Bathhouse soaking pools and Adult
and Family swimming pools, reducing use of natural gas for
heating. Additionally, the passive cooling architectural design of the
Bathhouse eliminates the need for air conditioning, further reducing
our energy consumption.
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* Solage is a member of the Green Hotel Association
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Photos Courtesy Of Traditional Home Magazine

Three Interesting Books

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I found these via Oprah's website. They were listed as books you could give as gifts, but I might just gift them to myself. Here are three that looked interesting. I am always on the hunt for good books of all kinds!! Any other suggestions out there?

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For the Foodie

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My Last Supper - By Melanie Dunea

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The question that gets the attention of the most in-demand chefs: If you had only one night left to live, what would you have for dinner? The 50 seasoned cooks (including Ferran Adrià, Mario Batali, Anthony Bourdain, and Lidia Bastianich) whose full-page portraits appear in My Last Supper (Bloomsbury) describe the menus, the settings, the background music, the guests—and even provide the recipes—for the ultimate meal (Scott Conant's is seared foie gras and green apple risotto) that would top off their glorious lives in the kitchen.

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For a Child

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Why War Is Never a Good Idea - By Alice Walker

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The most necessary kids' book of the year, Why War Is Never a Good Idea (HarperCollins), reveals through Alice Walker's hard-hitting words ("War has bad manners / War eats everything / In its path") and Stefano Vitale's sunny-with-a-chance-of-destruction imagery what is so enchanting about a world at peace, and how much we are poised to lose now.

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For the Film Connoisseur

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Seen Behind the Scene - By Mary Ellen Mark

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Most famous for her documentary photography of homeless Seattle kids and Bombay prostitutes, Mary Ellen Mark has, over the course of her long and distinguished career, also been shooting on the sets of major Hollywood films. The revealing black-and-white images in Seen Behind the Scene capture famous actors and directors (Johnny Depp, Marlon Brando, Jessica Lange, Francis Ford Coppola, Tim Burton) at unguarded moments, telling us something fresh about the faces behind the carefully applied makeup—and about the magic that goes on even when the cinematographers take a break and the movie cameras stop rolling.

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What's In Season - April + Gravy Pudding

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Northern California

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How do you feel about April 1st? The first day of this month turns my normally well mannered family into a bunch of kooky pranksters. Each year we pull a different April Fools Day prank on my husband, and each year he falls for it hook, line, and sinker. Many of these pranks are legendary stories in our house - like the time we put a fake snake in the backyard - which he tried to kill with a shovel. This year I think we have found the perfect one. My husband Mark always tells the story of how one evening, when he was about 17 years old, he came home late and hungry. He went to the refrigerator and spied some chocolate pudding on a back shelf. He was so happy and grabbed a spoon to dig in. What he got instead was a mouthful of GRAVY!! So this is what we all decided would be our April Fools joke '09. It took me awhile to find just the right dark gravy, but I finally did. So there it sits - just waiting for my unsuspecting chocolate obsessed guy to find. Of course I have some real chocolate pudding on hand to give him immediately afterward. This should be interesting. April Fools!!

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P.S. Mark did fall for this joke - he took one bite... made a funny face, and then began to get this painful, yet amused smile. I quickly showed him the "real" pudding was to which he exclaimed, "Just for that, I'm taking two!!"

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Vegetables

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•artichokes

•arugula

•asian greens

•asparagus

•avocados

•beans

•beets

•bok choy

•broccoli

•cabbage

•cardoons

•carrots

•cauliflower

•celery

•chard

•collards
•dandelion/chicory
•endive

•fava beans

•fennel

•garlic

•herbs

•horseradish
•kale

•kohlrabi

•leeks

•lettuces

•mushrooms

•nettles

•onions

•parsnips

•peas
•potatoes

•radish

•rapini

•rhubarb
•rutabaga
•scallions
•spinach
•tomatoes
•turnips
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Fruits and Nuts
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•avocados
•cherimoyas

•cherries
•dried fruit
•grapefruit
•guavas

•kumquats

•lemons

•limes
•mandarins
•oranges

•persimmons
•pomelos

•rhubarb

•strawberries
•tangerines

•tomatoes
•walnuts

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