Eating Alfresco

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We've suddenly switched into warm weather mode. The last couple of weekends the temperature here in Northern California climbed into the high 80's. So it's time to break out the patio furniture, BBQ and twinkle lights.

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I am looking around for a fire pit this year. I found a few nice ones offered at a very low price (in the $70.00 range) at Lowes.

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Elephant Paints Self Portrait

This is incredible. I've researched a bit about elephant paintings and believe it or not it's completely legit.

Simple Supper

This looks so yummy. I'm always on the look out for recipes with ginger. Not only is it good for you but the flavor is wonderful. There is a video how-to link as well - just click on the picture below.
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Broiled Yogurt-Ginger Chicken Breasts
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Ingredients
Serves 4
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3 cups plain yogurt
1 piece (5 inches) peeled fresh ginger, grated (about 1/4 cup)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Coarse salt
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (about 8 ounces each), tenderloin removed
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
Juice of 1 lime
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Directions
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Stir together the yogurt, ginger, cumin, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
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Starting on one long side, cut each chicken breast almost in half horizontally, stopping about 1/2 inch before reaching the opposite side. Open each breast like a book.
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Add chicken to marinade and turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours.
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Preheat broiler. In a small bowl, toss together red onion, cucumber, cilantro, lime juice, remaining 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, and pinch of salt.
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Transfer chicken to a broiler pan. Discard marinade. Broil chicken, rotating pan once, until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Top with cucumber mixture.
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(Courtesy of Martha Stewart)

Bloggers Unite Heads Up

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I love this idea. Please spread the word.

Bloggers Unite is an initiative designed to harness the power of the blogosphere to make the world a better place. By challenging bloggers to blog about a particular social cause on a single day, a single voice can be joined with thousands of others to help make a real positive difference; from raising awareness for cancer, to an effort to better education systems or support 3rd world countries.

Upcoming - Human Rights 5-15-08

While the words might change from country to country and are sometimes taken for granted, human rights represent one of the universally agreed upon ideas — that all people are born with basic rights and freedoms that include life, liberty, and justice. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations.

Veggie Garden

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I dream of a garden like this!!

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Haute Veggie Garden

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Elements of this high-design garden can be tailored to the humblest backyard patch.
Fashion legend Oscar de la Renta dresses up his Connecticut kitchen garden by applying the principles of a formal flower garden: strong structure, strict geometry, and color-blocking of plants.

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(Courtesy Of Domino Magazine)

April 22, 2008

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Happy Earth Day!!!

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Plant A Billion Trees

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Earth Day is tomorrow!! To celebrate, learn how your dollar can help plant a billion trees in Brazil's endangered Atlantic Forest.

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$10.00 is the minimum donation but that buys ten trees!! What a simple way to give back to this beautiful planet we call home.

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Click on above picture or highlighted text.

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The Circus - Charlie Chaplin

I finally caught the cold everyone in my house has had - so it's chicken soup and Charlie Chaplin today.

Colors That Flatter Everyone

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I was reading an article from the on-line site and magazine "Real Simple" and came across this statement - "Some colors work for all skin tones and hair colors, because they fall into the middle of the color spectrum, meaning they're not too warm or too cool," says Leatrice Eiseman, author of The Color Answer Book and director of the Pantone Color Institute. Is this true? I know that your face and skin are suppose to glow in colors that flatter. I will check out this theory the next time I go clothes shopping - which will be very soon since we experienced high 80's last weekend and I was totally unprepared. Here is the rest of the article (The 4 Universally Flattering Clothing Colors By Yolanda Wikie) courtesy of Real Simple - one of my favorite online sources! :)

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Mellow Rose

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More sophisticated than bubble-gum pink, mellow rose is that wonderful shade between light pink and peach. Kashuk says it's more of a neutral color than it is a pastel and highlights skin tone's natural flush so it almost appears to make you glow when you wear it.

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Eggplant

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While there are dozens of shades of purple, this one is "the perfect purple," according to Eiseman. Like black, dark brown or navy, it's very versatile but more interesting than these colors and should be a wardrobe staple.

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True Red_

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New York City makeup artist Sonia Kashuk told Real Simple that it flatters everyone because it "resides in the center of the color spectrum, in between a cool, cherry red and a warm, orangey tomato red."

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Indian Teal

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This shade of teal is the exact opposite of pink. Remember, opposite colors look beautiful together. (Think red and green.) So when women wear teal, it enhances the healthy flush of the skin. Teal can be worn year round, making it more versatile than lighter, more summery shades of turquoise. It also pairs beautifully with black and brown.

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(Info courtesy of Real Simple)

Decor

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An interesting concept I saw in Domino this month.
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Outfit to Room

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Use the elements of your favorite outfit to transform a dull room.
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Statuesque, monochromatic gowns inspire a Grecian motif.
Identical marble-top metal tables rest in front of a deep, lounge-about sofa. Striped pillows echo the vertical lines of columns, while the pillar-edged bureau nestled between the windows recalls a neoclassical monument.
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Polished and fairly conservative, this style has an edge with its sassy scarf and bold-patterned tunic. Like the outfit, the room is organized around one really strong piece—the large rug—and embellished with classic, can't-miss accents.

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At gray winter's end, an exuberant trench coat bursts on the scene like a tossed bouquet. In the bedroom, crisp white sheets and a yellow duvet cover used as a lightweight blanket offer an easy, affordable way to welcome the season.

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Layered beneath a boyish, white cotton henley pullover and paired with a straight chino skirt, a blue-and-white floral blouse is fresh and casual, not girly. It inspires a crisp, tailored bedroom with a romantic streak.

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