Good Eats Wednesday

Its As Simple As Popcorn

Image via Food Network.

A short and sweet Valentine dedicated to my Grandfather.


Last night, I had a big bowl of popcorn for dinner, and cozied up on the couch to watch a gazillion episodes of The Office. I sat on the couch and thought longily of my grandfather who taught me how to eat popcorn his way... and I've been in love with it ever since.

A simple recipe with a kick...

At the young age of three, I would spend the night with my grandparents who lived next door. I loved to spend the nights over there, because I would wear grandma's long frilly gowns after my evening bath. Then I would help my grandpa make popcorn in the kitchen for our late-night snack. I suppose at that age, I wasn't really helping, rather I was absorbing his every move with fascination and awe.

First he would pop the popcorn in the microwave. Then melt a tablespoon of butter and pour it over the popcorn. Then he would add garlic salt and a couple sprinkles of Tabasco sauce. The garlicky-buttery, salty, tang with a punch of heat was pure heaven and quickly adjusted my tastebuds at such an early age to appreciate foods with flavor.

Now my grandpa and I are both many years older, and I don't get to see him very often. We live in different states and he is in an assisted living facility with mild dimensia... although he still has a quick wit about him and I'm sure he would remember those days when we mention it to him.

Here is a photo my Dad sent to me on Monday via the camera phone ... he is still eating his popcorn after all these years.

I love you Papaw.

Joakim @ Chestionabil Joint #6

Expressions of Love

Psychologically Speaking

Last year I received these stuffed monkeys

for Valentine's Day.

Each morning when my sweetheart

makes the bed

he postions the monkeys in a loving way.

Some days the red one (him)

is facing the doorway,

and hugging the pink one,

and I know on those days

he is comforting me.

When he is in need of a little TLC,

the pink one is hugging the red.

On this particular day,

I set up the monkeys.

I honestly wasn't trying to imply anything...

I swear.

xoxo

METALLIC DREAMER: STATEMENT IN THE MAKING

Another Australian fashion talent!xo. Introducing a little label answering to the name of Metallic Dreamer..............its mother?, Tanya Arlidge.

Ever since the immense explosion of the 'statement' pieces and bibs... the fashion accessory world has been inundated with a very edgy option in 'vamping' up your fashion goods.xoxo.

These days.. every fashionista can look left, right and centre.. and you'll find the most outlandish out stylish and outing everywhere neck, shoulder, wrist, ankle, waist and head glamorizing adornments!!!!! "freaking out".... statement piece invasion!xo.

No, but honestly, from the critic tongue of Madam Me... I am a great fan of the statement piece phenomenon. What a clever and great montage to the 'tribal' worlds who have adorned their decolletage with statement pieces since the time of 'way back when'!.

Today we see the new breed and new offering of a statement piece... studded, embellished and feathered down and allover.

My attention was drawn to the Metallic Dreamer collection... through a polite whisper thrown my way at a recent event. Very diligent am I... I immediately went into critic investigation mode.......................

I love the portrayal of the Metallic Dreamer pieces... the story is definately not one to be toyed with. Her interpretation is to be bold, serious and stylish all in a very 'strong feminine tone'.

My vision : Metallic Dreamer can either style a simple outfit 'up'.... or add to the 'up' of an already styled up outfit! ( get it????.. I think you do!).xo.

Ms Tanya's style reminds me very much of a certain Gail Reid type style... very raw and bold, except of course Gail Reid is the creative behind Gail Sorronda.. and of course specialises in garments plus the odd accessory.... but without side tracking myself, back to Metallic Dreamer.

Yes, yes, yes...my critic tongue has a prediction ( peering directly into my beautiful vintage parfum crystal bottle of course!!!xo) that Metallic Dreamer will be bursting onto the fashion scene in full force this year!!!, already it has a fan following and stocked nationally... however... it's not yet 'big' if you know what I mean..........Metallic Dreamer will only be recognised as being fashionable and not exactly your classy offering,.. classy is the stuff Chelsea De Luca produces.

There is nothing wrong with being categorised as being 'fashionable'... it simply means.. it will be in the moment, for the moment. Hopefully once the statement piece phenomenon fades..... Metallic Dreamer will continue to produce other accessory offerings and evolve quite eloquently in it's own style.......xoxoxo.

Do your homework, you can purchase metallic dreamer @: http://www.metallicdreamer.blogspot.com/ via her email addy lovelies.xo.

P.S. It would have been lovely to witness a webby for Metallic Dreamer....whispers tell me it's coming.... very soon!

Style rating: Metallic Dreamer Aw campaign collection - polite clap ( very fashionably unique).


Love me or hate me


Madam Alexandra E. (k)

My fave piece........

Team this with your denim and whites....xo

all images from : http://www.metallicdreamer.blogspot.com/

Hugh Lippe

Valentine's Cards

Handmade by Moi

I spent a rainy Sunday making Valentine's cards

for those I love.

While I was in my own little crafting world,

my sweetheart choose 5 stamps

from my supplies

which he thought represented me.

Hers

It was such a touching gesture...

so I chose his winning attributes.

His

And so the 14 Days of Love begins...

Happy Monday!

xoxo

Moving on...

Yesterday, I shifted into my own house. It’s a rented 1BHK apartment. It’s small and airy and bright. It’s mine.

I grew up in an extremely protective family, with parents who took care of everything we needed. And then I went to live in a hostel where everything was easily available. When I did shift into an apartment, it was with a couple of other friends. We were students living on a minimal budget, but we did not want more than we needed, and life was simple. We lived out of a couple of suitcases, and the first one to buy a cupboard to keep her stuff was considered vain. Then I got married and shifted into my husband’s home. For four years, that was my home too. We bought a lot of stuff we did not need. I have already told you that story.

There is something not many relationship experts tell you. When there is clutter in a house, it invariable finds its way into your relationships. And closed spaces with too many things in them start dying. They cannot survive too much too soon. Too many things, too many thoughts, too many broken promises - We can’t survive gluttony. It’s self-serving, and very destructive. And most of all, it affects your relationship with yourself.

But for the first time in my life, I am living alone. And living alone is not the same as living on your own. There is a subtle but important difference. When you live alone, you live with yourself. When there is no other relationship to lean on, you have yourself. You fly solo. And that’s the most important commitment you make: Longer than a marriage, deeper than friendship, sweeter than motherhood. If you can smile when you look at your face in the mirror, and feel happy, your relationship with yourself is going well.

The apartment I rented was bare walls when I moved in. On the third floor. The door bell doesn’t work. The kitchen tap is leaking. The windows don’t shut properly. I don’t have a working kitchen yet, or an internet connection. The bathroom was left dirty by the previous tenants. And still, when I spent a big part of yesterday with the most important people in my life helping me set up my house, it was one of the happiest days of my life. I woke up this morning and said hello to the best Monday ever. A yellow and red living room, a blue themed bedroom, and a country style kitchen ... And this time friends, no clutter.