I forgot my voice in 2012. Even though I didn't write in 2012, it was a year filled with discovering the joy around me. It's my New Year Resolution to renew my voice through writing. 

Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry Be Happy

Sheryl Sandberg: Why we have too few women leaders | Video on TED.com

Sheryl Sandberg: Why we have too few women leaders | Video on TED.com

Love the Fall

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” Voltaire

Rumi's Quote on Loss

"Don't grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form."

Rumi

Ads from the 50s

We No Speak Americano ft. Cleary & Harding

Pablo Picasso

"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life"

                                    Pablo Picasso Petit Fleurs Art Print 11"x14"

Ma Maison

Ma Maison has dangerously cute home decor stuff. 

It's Fennel Time

This summer is all about the fennel. I've forgotten about the bananas, and Quinoa instead it's fennel time just about every time I am planning a dinner. My obsession started on a normal night when my friend Momo came home from work with a couple of fennels, fresh Parmesan, and made the most amazing salad I had ever had. Since then I have bribed, cajoled and pleaded with her to make it for just about every time we have dinner together. The last time I asked her to make it she decided it was time to teach me to fish. I slightly freaked out about this because she has some extraordinary cooking gene in her that I was not born with. I mean who can take some fennel, Parmesan, and add dressing to turn it a mouth watering salad? Momo is one of those people who can make just about anything taste good. So, I didn't think mine could possible be as addictive as her fennel salad. Even so, I was not going to miss out on my much anticipated for fennel meal. I reluctantly took the lead on the fennel salad making and I have to say it wasn't as good as hers. This is because I didn't shave the rough pieces on the fennel and I didn't cut it thin enough. I tried the recipe again recently. This time properly equipped with a good knife and a vegetable peeler to shave the outside a bit. 

I have to admit that this time it turned out mouth watering good. I just shaved the outside of  2 fennels a bit to smooth them out. Then, I cut the fennels really finely and added salt and pepper. Also, added 2-4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, with fresh lemon juice from 1/2 a lemon, a dash of Sherry Balsamic Vinegar (my favorite ;) ) and a ton of fresh shaved Parmesan cheese. It was delicious! Thank you Momo!

Tuesday Tunes: Sara Bareilles - King Of Anything

Who is settling in this relationship? | Vote on the couple in this picture!

This blog is totally mean..but kinda funny and definitely addictive. Who is settling in this relationship? | Vote on the couple in this picture!

Waiting For "Superman" | Trailer & Official Movie Site | Pledge Now

31.6% of high schools students in California will dropout this year

Waiting For "Superman" | Trailer & Official Movie Site | Pledge Now

Albert Einstein

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving."

— Albert Einstein

We All Scream for Ice Cream

"Ice cream is exquisite. What a pity it isn't illegal." ~Voltaire

Ever since I got my ice cream maker as a gift from my sweet friends M&M, I am starting to think that ice cream should be illegal. That’s because it is too addictive. If you don’t believe me, then drive by Bi-Rite Creamery at any time to witness the long line of people eagerly waiting for a scoop. Rain, wind and not even the crazy Mission commotions can stop people from getting their ice cream sugar fix at Bi-Rite.

I realized one day that if I had my own ice cream maker, then I could make my own unique flavors just like Bi-Rite does. The cherry on top of this homemade ice cream would be that I could avoid the long ice cream line. This is before I had even looked at an ice cream recipe.

Once I made my first unique ice cream, I realized there was more to this than just throwing some flavors in an ice cream maker. For example, the Persian Tea Ice Cream that I made a couple of weeks ago was definitely the most tasty ice cream I have had. However, it took me over two hours to make it. During the long process, I thought to myself that it might be easier to convince Bi-Rite Creamer owners that there was a market for Persian Tea Ice cream and have them make it so I could just wait in line for an hour whenever I wanted it. This weekend I made David Lebovitz’s Chocolate Ice Cream with brown sugar instead of agave-sweetener and I was very impressed by the taste. I decided that the long process is worth the sweet reward.

Cofffe Makes the World Go Around

The Fairytale Husband

Audrey Hepburn

"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.” Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn Art Poster Print by Bob Celic, 20x20

New Years Resolution - Resolved

After months of training for the Kaiser Half Marathon and going bananas this last Sunday we ran the half marathon and finished!