Jane is back

My friend Jane is back to writing - well, I don't think she's ever stopped. But now, she has allowed us back into her world of enthralling words and thoughts in her new blog, CARET. Visit her blog and you, too, will soon be mesmerized. And you will urge her to continue to write. We've missed you Jane!

sweet sunday songs

There's nothing like listening to and appreciating Kurt Elling's Live at the Green Mill version of Smoke Gets in your Eyes on a bleak and gloomy Sunday evening

Love will lead you crying in your sleep
Once you're into deep
Love will leave you lost and lonely
Love will break your heart
Love will make you fall apart
The moment that you stop belonging
Nothing ends the ache, tearing you awake
Wondering where you made your big mistake
Wishing on a star, promises go far
Now she's gone
Never in my wishing, did I think of love's pain
Now I'll have to think again
My happy ever ending is for someone else

But you can never end the night with that song because you may never want to wake up...so, you go onto Rani Arbo & Daisy Mahem's version of the classic song That's All

I can only give you love that lasts forever
And a promise to be near each time you call
And the only heart I own, is yours and yours alone
That's all, that's all
...
There are those I am sure who have told you
They would give you the world for a toy
All I have are these two arms to enfold you
And a love even time can't destroy
So if you're wondering what I'm asking in return dear
You'll be glad to know that my demands are small
Say it's me you'll adore for now and evermore
That's all, that's all
Say it's me you'll adore for now and evermore
That's all, that's all

And then the last song is Brazilian jazz pianist Eliane Elias' instrumental version of A House is not a Home - then your evening is complete.

the kid in me

paperchase's funny food tin

I bought this adorable cookie tin today - I grabbed the last one & I love it! I can't wait to bake some cookies...

Memoirs of a Fortune Cookie

Your critical insights can provide the stimulus for change.
You create your own stage and your audience is waiting!
Others ejnoy your radiance.
You cannot put the same shoe on every foot. Try amending your plan.
You will inherit a large sum of money.
You will continue to take chances, and be glad you did.
Now is the time to try something new.
Your home is a pleasant place from which your draw happiness.
Good things will come to you in due time.
Develop some flexibility in your point of view.
Someone is watching you from afar.
Being aware of your fears will improve your life.
Patience is the best remedy for every trouble.
Others see you as a wise person.
Others appreciate your creativity.
Use your talents. That's what they are intended for.
You enjoy using your imagination.
Anger begins with folly, and ends with regret.
You are capable of tremendous creativity.
You will soon receive an unusual gift.
Many of your wishes will soon come true.
He who is afraid of asking is ashamed of learning.
Just be yourself; you are wonderful.
An outstanding opportunity will soon present itself to you.
Your happy heart brings joy and peace where there is none.

Annie Kevans

Nan Britton (2009)

Marilyn Monroe (2009)

Someday, I hope to own a painting by Annie Kevans, a British artist known for her beautiful and intriguing portraits. What's the likelihood that I will own one? Slim. Charles Saatchi tends to snatch up her work quickly. He purchased all 30 paintings of her 2004 series Boys, which depicted dictators and tyrants of the 20th century as young little boys. As you look at these portraits, you become disturbed because you cannot correlate the name to the tender and innocent images before your eyes. Last week, she had her first solo show in NYC entitled All the Presidents' Girls - paintings of mistresses of past presidents. Eleven of her pieces sold before the show opened and within the first hour of the event, all of her paintings were sold. (what recession?) The two portraits above, from her NYC show, are my favorites: Nan Britton (Warren G. Harding) and Marilyn Monroe (JFK). I'm in love and in complete awe with her ability to draw me in and mesmerize me with her simple, long, and soft brushstrokes that capture the vulnerability, innocence and soulfulness of her subjects. You cannot look away without contemplating each subject's human psyche. You can view all her work on her website: Annie Kevans.

another place, another time

miramar bistro
highwood

le colonial
chicago

Miramar Bistro and Le Colonial are two restaurants in Chicago that always make me feel like I've traveled to a different place and time. They could serve me a leather shoe and I would still be in love with these two places. But, thankfully, the food is outstanding at these restaurants. You must visit Le Colonial for dinner, when the lights are dim and the flicker of votive candles set the romantic mood and make everyone look beautiful.

John James Preston

jeeeez, I wish I was SJP in this picture
Annie Leibovitz, Vogue May 2008

JJP/Big/Chris Noth you can look at me like that any day
Annie Leibovitz, Vogue May 2008

Annie Leibovitz, Vogue May 2008

oh, *sigh*
Annie Leibovitz, Vogue May 2008

Chris Noth

I know that Sex & the City is so passé to many now, but I just never get tired of watching old episodes, especially the ones featuring John James Preston - aka Big.

mmm...Kale Chips

I decided not to have a new year's resolution because I'm still working on last year's - eat more leafy greens. I did make some strides in 2008 - added some swiss chard to my sauteed lentils dish, ate a lot of mixed green salads, and spinach. But I never attempted kale. I just wanted to bask in the glory of swiss chard for awhile. I finally took on kale when my friend Audra suggested a simple and delicious recipe - kale chips. At first, I thought she was joking, but she insisted that I give it a try. I bought some pretty purplish greenish kale and it sat in the veggie crisper of my refrigerator for quite some time - days or weeks? As I was about to throw it out, thinking it must be rotten and wilted, I was quite surprised to find it still vibrant and pretty in color. So, I made the kale chips and to my happy surprise they were d-eeee-licious and ever so addictive. For all those who lack the nutrients from leafy greens, you've got to try this recipe:

• Preheat oven to 375
• Bunch of kale (I prefer the purple), rinsed and chopped into 2" pieces
• Drizzle with 2 -3 teaspoons of olive oil
• Sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Bake for 8 minutes, then toss with tongs
• Bake for additional 8 minutes, until edges are brown and kale is crispy when moved in pan.

Enjoy!

Favorites of the Day

I L-O-V-E Faith Hill's dress!
Performing at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball

My favorite moment of the day
Barack & Michelle's first dance at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball
Dancing to Beyonce's version of "At Last"

Sasha's J.Crew Coat
I love Sasha's papaya & pink J.Crew coat & scarf
I want one!
J.Crew needs to make some of their crewcut clothes in adult sizes

Inauguration Day

(Inauguration Print by Shepard Fairey)

today is a great proud day.
may god keep him safe and give him the strength to carry what falls so heavily upon his shoulders - the hopes and dreams of so many

Bad Mood/Good Mood

To put me in a bad mood instantly, stick me in an asian food market. Being a filipino-american, I'm forced to make trips to these markets more often than I would like. My mom is always on the look out for new asian markets to venture to and check out. She finds out about the latest market either from her neighbor, a chinese "Mrs. Kravitz," or from one of my many many relatives who reside in Chicago. If she knew how to use the Internet, we would be at a different market every other day. Today, she wanted to take a trip to "Asia Supermarket" - what an original name. I asked her, already in an annoyed tone, "where is it located?" "On Milwaukee Avenue" she responded. My bad mood began. For those who don't live in the Chicago area, Milwaukee Avenue stretches for many miles and through many cities in the Chicagoland area. I then asked her "where on Milwaukee Avenue - in Chicago, Glenview, Niles, Wheeling...? What's the cross street?" She responded, it's next to a Binny's. I'm officially in a bad mood now and it's all down hill from there. When we finally arrive at "Asia Supermarket" which was not next to a Binny's, she is disappointed. They are out of stock of the nishiki rice she wanted. We decided to go to Super H Mart - a mega asian supermarket. On the way to Super H, I asked her in my grumpy tone, "why do you always want to check out every asian market out there? They are ALL the same - they carry all the same products. Products that you cannot even read because they are written in chinese, korean or japanese." She just laughed. My bad mood is giving me a headache. We walked into the massive Super H, which is not only a large grocery, but it also has a food court, bakery and many tchotchkes stands that line the perimeter of the store. My jaw begins to tighten. I don't know why asian markets put me in a bad mood. Did I have horrible childhood memory in one that I'm subconsciously repressing? I don't think so. Is it the smells and sights of raw seafood, pig's feet, and hanging duck? Those smells/sights are not the best, but they're tolerable. I think it's the sticky floors, the rusted shopping carts, the smelly plastic bags, and the endless rows of bottled condiments, packaged snacks and prepared foods that I cannot even read that get to me. Super H happens to be on the cleanlier side, but still the overwhelming rows upon rows annoy me. I tilt my head to the left and then to the right to try to relax and loosen the tightness in my neck. I cannot do any deep breathing exercises because we are standing next to an open iced case of huge gigantic raw octopus. My patience is waning and then I become an annoying child and ask every few seconds, until I get the answer I want, "Are you done yet? Are you done yet? Are you done yet?" We finally head home and it takes me the rest of the afternoon and a nap to snap out of my bad grouchy mood.

Here's a list of places that can instantly change my mood:

Bad Mood: Asian food markets

Good Mood: Pinkberry

Bad Mood: Costco

Good Mood: Target

Bad Mood: Filene's Basement

Good Mood: Anthropologie

Bad Mood: Oberweis

Good Mood: Starbucks

Happy New Year!

(Paper Art Design by Carlos N. Molina)
Wishing you a happy, peaceful, healthy & prosperous new year!

Macaroons

Macaroons - heavenly jewels of goodness

I absolutely love french macaroons. I say "french" macaroons because most Americans think macaroons are those shredded coconut bundles - those are good as well, but not nearly as delicious as the french versions. I first discovered macaroons a few years ago, not in Paris (which I have yet to visit), but at Nomi Restaurant at the Chicago Park Hyatt. They were the creation of Sandro Gamba, former chef and Suzanne Imaz former pastry chef of Nomi. As the above images show, macaroons come in array of colors. Brown for chocolate, green for pistachio, pink for strawberry... Now I'm not sure what flavor blue is - I'm sure it's not blue raspberry. The french would never be so uncouth to do that. I know if I did try a blue macaroon, it wouldn't stain my tongue and mouth a neon blue. The chocolate version is the very best. As soon as you bite into a chocolate macaroon, the crisp meringue slowly melts in your mouth and then the soft gooey center with the intense chocolate flavor awakens all your senses and brings immediate joy. As most of my friends know, I'm a pretty decent baker, so I thought it would be more economical to try making these delights at home and have them more readily available instead of the pricier option of having to dine at Nomi to get my fix. My baking repertoire includes delicate chiffon cakes, three tier chocolate cakes with chocolate ganache filling, flan, pumpkin roll cakes, chocolate souffle cakes etc... so I thought I could add macaroons to the list. Just like my mom is known for her almond biscottis and raspberry log jam cookies and others are known for their salsas and jellies to give away as gifts, I was determined to be known for my homemade macaroons and delight friends and family with these scrumptious offerings. So, I started to research recipes and techniques. I have a fairly large cookbook library with a concentration of dessert books. I turned to the French masters: Francois Payard, Jacques Torres, and Pierre Herme, but in the end I chose the French Cookie Book's recipe for macaroons. The French Cookie Book is a bible of every type of french cookie you could think of and every version and variety thereafter. My friend Liz and I have always been successful with recipes from this cookbook, so I had high hopes. After my try of baking macaroons, I know why they are so pricey and why it's difficult to find a bakery that makes them - they are very labor intensive. First of all, it calls for a lot of equipment: newsprint paper, pastry bags and tubes, food processor, double boiler, sieve... The recipe has 10 steps - which sounds fairly easy, but when each step is a paragraph long, it gets pretty complicated fairly fast. For example, Step 7: Bake 1 sheet at a time. After 1 minute, at 450 F, reduce the temperature to 375, place an empty baking sheet underneath the sheet of cookies, and continue baking, using a wooden spatula to hold the oven door ajar, until the tops of the cookies are glossy and dry to the touch while the inside are still soft, about 8 to 10 minutes longer. Step 8: Lift the baking sheet of cookies off the empty baking sheet and take it to the sink. Pour cold water (about 1/2 cup per baking sheet) between the newsprint paper and the baking sheet (tilting the baking sheet so that the water runs over the entire surface and drains thoroughly into the sink) to steam the cookies off the paper. Then place the baking sheet on a wire rack and cool. Did you get all that?! And although I followed the 10 steps exactly as written, I was sad (and exhausted) that my macaroons were inedible. Instead of melt in your mouth meringue, I got a grainy texture, like sand had gotten into the batter. And instead of an intense chocolate gooey filling, I got a lumpy not so chocolaty center. So, I guess I won't be the master of macaroons and will have to dine at Nomi to get my delights or even better take a trip to Paris and find these heavenly treats at every patisserie around the corner.

Discovered my latest love...PAPAYA!

All these BEAUTIFUL things can be found at PAPAYA!

eeny, meeny, miny, moe

gemma comas photography for amy atlas events

Hot Cocoa in the Air

Starbucks Salted Caramel Signature Hot Chocolate

I ran downstairs to get my morning cup of Starbucks and they were giving away samples of their new hot chocolate concoction - Salted Caramel Signature Hot Chocolate. YUM-O! The flavor tasted like a chocolate covered pretzel, but the texture was a soothing warm cocoa, cool soft whip cream and to top it off, a gooey salted caramel ooozed all over the top! The sample was a perfect size. I don't think I would be able to drink a tall version - possibly a short, but definitely not a tall.

Alex Papachristidis, Interior Designer
Home of jewelry designer Fruzsina Keehn
Elle Decor November 2006

This stunning bedroom is my absolute dream bedroom. I have a copy of this issue of Elle Decor magazine and I don't keep it with my other zillions of magazines stacked on the floor of my bedroom. I'm afraid it might mistakenly be thrown out or somehow get lost. So, it is kept in my important document desk drawer where my passport, car title, and birth certificate are stored. Trust me if I had a fireproof safe, this issue of Elle Decor would be in it. This photo only shows half of the two page spread that appeared in the magazine. I adore everything in this bedroom from the beautiful 19th century German commode (which you cannot see very well in this picture), to the floor sweeping gray taffeta drapes, the pair of 19th century French gilt wood mirrors, and the antique Venetian chandelier. The room incorporates my favorite colors: gray, white and gold - so classic and elegant. Every so often, my eyes will come across another beautifully designed bedroom that is completely different than this one - vibrant green, pale blue or a soothing taupe with more contemporary furniture and finishing touches. And for a split second, I think maybe I want my dream bedroom to look like that instead of the Alex Papachristidis' creation. But once I open to page 180, complete happiness and desire overcomes me and I instantly know that this is the most perfect and beautiful bedroom.

I'm Lovin'....

Makanyane Safari Lodge
what a room with a view
a little startling to wake up to, but awesome

the classic beauty of Audrey Tautou

sevan bicacki ring

Ajia Hotel Istanbul

KARA by kara ross
flower cuff

darcy dining chair
can't go wrong with gorgeous & classic
anthropologie

beth lauren
poppy earring
moonstone & gold - just the right combo

sevi's pull along marajah
so beyond adorable - I need to get one for my nieces

November 5th

I haven't quite yet decided if I should take off Wednesday November 5th from work. As we all know, November 5th is the day after the Presidential election. If Obama & Biden were to lose, I will be extremely depressed and rather be immersed in work (drowning myself in beer) than be around my staunch Republican family and listen to their cheers of victory and hails of glory. Now, if Obama & Biden were to win, I want to be at home. No, not to rub into the face of my Republican family, but to watch all the news coverage of this historical event. What to do, what to do....

I do know that on election night, I will be filled with anxiety and stressed out, so I have a hotel room on E. Superior St. reserved. I need to be far far away from any family Republican commentary and snide remarks. So, if you're passionate about Obama & Biden winning and need to get away from some Republicans, you're welcome to come join me and watch all the news coverage and hopefully Obama's victory.

My $.02 on the $639 Billion Bankruptcy

With the news of Lehman Brothers filing bankruptcy, the biggest bankruptcy in history, I could barely concentrate at work today. They are calling the collapse of Lehman Brothers the "Armageddon" of the financial market. Every moment I had available at work today, I was on WSJ.com, NYTIMES.com or CNN.com. Interested in the news not because I had any financial stakes, but because the failure of another major financial institution is just one more key indicator of the fragile state our economy is in. Over the weekend, the Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Barnanke and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson called an urgent meeting at New York's Federal Reserve branch to meet with thirty Wall Street Executives to discuss the critical state of Lehman Brothers and the financial impact of its demise. I would have loved to be a fly on that conference room wall. Having majored in Economics in college, every time the Federal Reserve gets involved, or in this instance with Lehman, not involved, I'm right there following the news. Like Edith Wharton is to a Literary student or Picasso is to a Art History student, Alan Greenspan, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve, was my revered one. With the news of Lehman Brothers, Alan Greenspan was interviewed on This Week with George Stephanopolous. I found one of his statements very puzzling. He said that the probability of the U.S. escaping a recession is less than 50%. And other economists are backing his statement. The increase or decrease rate of the economy's GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is an indicator of whether we're in a recession or not. And since the GDP rose by 3.3% in the second quarter of this year, that is being used as evidence that we are not in a recession. But still, are we not in a recession right now? Yes, I know, who am I to question the Alan Greenspan and other notable economists, but hey, this girl still needs clarification. I do have some ammo on my side. In last week's issue of the The Economist, it stated that the way we define a recession creates a lot of confusion - "the standard definition of recession needs rethinking." So, let's look at the other factors: number of foreclosed homes continues to sky-rocket; cost of gas and food at an all time high, rate of unemployment increasing every month (and now Lehman Brothers' 25,000 employees are jobless); the government bail-out and demise of Bear Stearns, Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae; Merrill Lynch being saved by Bank of America; and AIG, Washington Mutual and U.S. automakers in serious financial trouble. The financials woes of all those major investment firms, banks and companies will only trickle down to the rest of us. Maybe the reason why the Federal Reserve, economists and the government are saying that we are not in a recession is because they want to restore our confidence in the financial system and not have us do anything rash like cash in our 401k or withdraw all our money from banks and stick it under our mattresses. So, once we are in a recession, what's the solution? In the interview, Alan Greenspan said the only way to end a recession in this situation, is to stabilize the real estate market. How do you stabilize the market with no end in sight of foreclosures and in this case in Chicago, an over supply of condominiums with one mega complex being built on every corner?

Well, I'm going to stop now. I can go on and on with comments and questions. Maybe it's a good thing I ended up in the ad industry promoting beer. There isn't too much to question about beer.

p.s.
I chose the picture above because all the news coverage today were showing last night's footage of former employees carrying boxes of their belongings and putting them into the trunks of all the waiting limos. One last question, if you just lost your job and your stock in the company is now worthless, do you think it's a good idea to be spending your money on hiring a limousine to pick up your belongings?

Maybe you should be spending it on beer. No point of having the "recession" hurt the beer industry.

Hee Haw, but no Coco Chanel

A rainy flooded Saturday is keeping me in tonight. All week, I've been cringing every time I see that commercial of Shirley MacLaine portraying Coco Chanel in another awful Lifetime movie. It's on right now and I could only stand a glance of it. Shirley MacLaine, Steel Magnolia Ouiser, as Coco Chanel, revolutionary goddess of french couture? Shirley MacLaine is more suited to portray Minnie Pearl on Hee Haw days than Coco Chanel. Couldn't Lifetime make somewhat of an effort casting Coco Chanel with more of a convincing and not so quintessential American accented actor? I understand Lifetime would never be able to entice the likes of Juliette Binoche or Audrey Tautou but how about Carole Bouquet? (okay, I know Carole Bouquet wouldn't even appear on Lifetime either, but how about anyone who would portray some authenticity.) For such a big production any thought or effort, Lifetime? I know they think having an Oscar-winning actress would draw in viewers. Hmm, well-known actor creating a bad movie or lesser-known actor creating a good movie. Yes, we know what you chose Lifetime. Blasphemy I say.

Patrick Demarchelier

I love Patrick Demarchelier's photographs.
I think we need to take a fieldtrip to Paris to check out his show.