Love Lesson!

After work I came home and snuggled up with some research by Csikszentmihalyi and started working on a new super secret study.  Of course I procrastinated by reading my favorite play, for the 50th time, Lysistrata by Aristophanes.  I am always struck by this quote:

Love and force go never hand in hand; and no man can be really happy, unless the woman be happy too. 

Thanx Lysistrata, us ladies at times need to be reminded that love never hurts and a real man wants nothing more that utter bliss from his lady love.

Cupcakes

Mind Blowing!

I’m now complete I  found my new favorite photographer, MARK LAITA.  He is a world traveler, photography genius, and all around adventurer.  His website features beautiful flowers, venomous snakes, beautifully macabre dead birds, and an array of exquisite sea creatures.  He also has some portraits,  yawn I like the wild stuff.  Here are some of the pix I liked, please check him out.

This is just the tip of the ice berg, I’m sure I’ll post more when the mood strikes me!

Aged Chic

For most ladies gray hairs are the things nightmares are made of. However, there are some fearless women who embrace the gray and make it a true self affirmed trend. Obviously some go gray before others, I have my share of grays. But let’s love our natural selves. Love yourself at all phases of your life with all the beauty age brings.
*the girl in the pic obviously isn’t naturally gray, she purple. But embrace the trend.

Hurry Winter!

I can’t wait for SoCal to experience some real winter so I can put on my cold weather threads.

Bright can be Right

I am so into bright yellows. I hope to see more of it this season.

End of the Lockout

I’m sure you already heard.

Outfit Obsession

This is an outfit to covet. That is all!

Today’s Lesson!

Stay at Home Friday!

With incidents like the MACE ATTACK on  a throng of Black Friday Walmart shoppers in the San Fernando Valley it may be safer to stay home today.  In all honestly, I don’t think buying discounted kitchen utensils you probably won’t use until next Thanksgiving is even worth it.  Thought I’ve had my share of BF hauls I’ve complied a list of things I love to do even on the blackest of Fridays.

1. Work off all that Thanksgiving dinner.  That 2 mile run was just the warm up!

2.  Watch all the holiday shows I missed prepairing for Thanksgiving.  Hulu is my best friend today.

3.  Put up Christmas decorations.  Since I’m already at my parents’ home I always get tricked into hanging lights and garlin.

4.  Reconnect with loved ones.  Since most people have Black Friday off work I have the opportunity to spend a lot of time on the phone with old friends who are other wise too distracted by their busy lives to talk.

Isn’t this all much better than fighting with a mother of 3 for a pair of cheetah print stockings?

Cupcakes

Thanks for the Recipe!!!

I love Thanksgiving you’re not required to buy anyone anything all you do is make your signature meal and show up.  Best holiday ever!

Cookie Ingredients

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup shortening

1 1/2 cups dark molasses

2/3 cup cold water

7 cups Gold Medal all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground allspice

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon salt

Frosting Ingredients

2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup milk

mix until sticky, you may need to add more powdered sugar.

• In large bowl, beat brown sugar, shortening, molasses and water with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon, until well blended. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease cookie sheet lightly with shortening or spray with cooking spray. On floured surface, roll dough 1/4 inch thick. Cut with floured gingerbread cutter or other shaped cutter. On cookie sheet, place cutouts about 2 inches apart.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until no indentation remains when touched. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• In medium bowl, mix powdered sugar, vanilla and half-and-half until frosting is smooth and spreadable. Add food colors as desired. Frost cookies; decorate with raisins, chocolate chips and candies.

Thanx Betty Crocker!