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!