Weekend Plans Include, But Are Not Limited To...

Right?!

Project "pimp my balcony" is in full effect - I've finally scored some rad cushions for the futon frame on my patio (I think the poor thing was starting to get a 'plant-stand complex'). My balcony is shaded by a really lovely tree (known during the rainy season as 'the whomping willow') - necessary for mediterranean summers.

Picture it: warm off-shore breezes, comfy seating arrangements, a charming xylophone, chirping birds, iced tea.... Heaven.

Getting With The Program(me)

Have you ever heard the best way to cook a frog? Personally, while I know one should 'never say never', I am never going to eat a frog... but the analogy is good.

Basically you place a frog in a pot with frog temperature water. Place the pot on the stove, fire it up & wait it out. The frog (or lobster, I suppose) just sort of hangs out in the pot [yes... I'm taking a little in the way of artistic license, having never actually cooked a frog] until (!!) presto-chango: dinner is served!

The frog doesn't realize that it's being boiled because the change is so gradual. BUT! Were a person (or an Indiana Jones-type frog) to 'flick the pot', the frog would recognize the hot water he was in for what it was and attempt to escape.

Jamie Oliver has come to (ahem) 'flick America's pot'....

Eating better is not all about getting off the obesity train, either. I've been thinking recently about consumer habits - mostly mine. I'd like to get away from eating food with wrappers and lean more towards a 'green kitchen'. My friend Nava is taking strides to go green, and I'd like to try, too. I think that those things that are good for the earth might just be good for the body, too.

I'm not saying you should watch the Jamie Oliver show - even though I'm totally going to try - but I think that he may have some good ideas on how to be healthy and how to eat the foods that nature provides!

Jamie Oliver head's up courtesy Gwennyth Paltrow at GOOP and Joanna Goddard at A Cup of Jo.

Once Upon a Time...

When I was a kid we moved around a lot (no... seriously. A lot). So it was always exciting to me when I got to see my cousins. I remember the first Easter Sunday that my cousin Jessica and I were at together - I was 5 and she was 4.

Image credit.

It was a glorious time! I actually still remember it - we were at our grandparent's house in San Clemente (CA)... all dressed up, masquerading for the day like proper little girls out of a fairy tale and not the fun tomboy-facade we usually presented to the world. That magical Sunday (playing in the backyard that still felt huge - aviary & coi fish pond, orange trees & tomato plants props for a world only accessed through the wild imagination of little girls) probably marks the first time I took a real interest in fashion - or at least the outfit I was wearing.

I felt so pretty in my little dress, shoes, gloves, hat and Easter basket... except that I preferred Jessica's hat. Luckily she felt the same.

So we swapped.

Oh friends! Our Grandma Connie had such a fit when she learned that we'd switched hats (conveniently just before it was time to take pictures)! Naturally, messing up the family pictures for Grandma Connie became a bit of a tradition with we grandkids after that!

Thanks for indulging my childhood memories - I hope all of your family holidays and together times can be as magical..... Happy Easter!

Happy... Happy!

Image credit.

Today was actually really amazing. ...I know, this probably all feels very "dear Diary", but I can't help it - I actually had a really glorious day. Mind you, it could have gone to pieces - I'm still not 100%, but today showed definite improvement in my health (nasty business, colds...). I finally feel like I got the sleep I needed, I made a surprisingly delicious couscous salad with grilled vegetables & a small side of caramelized beet root. All so that some friends and I could head out to the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh for a potluck dinner.

Dusk has always been my favorite time of day - and today was just perfect! The sunset was perfect and lovely, the weather was gorgeous! [trust me when I say that it's about time!] Everything was peaceful and serene - just what a person needs for contemplation and prayer....

Icing on the so-called cake? Got to catch up with my dear friend Sanaz tonight.

So yeah... rad weekend.

I Think I'm In Love...?

So last summer my beach book of choice was Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Basically, some guy - Seth Grahame-Smith, specifically - thought to himself... what could make this book better? A zombie sub-plot! Voila! a book was born.

It goes without saying that zombies do wonders for a persons street cred (there was a poll, I was there).

So you can well imagine my delight (!!!) when I found this little bog (literally 2.5 seconds ago) called If Zombies Were Supermodels, We'd Be Them. Amazing. Glorious. ...about time!

...I Like To Call It Fate

The hotness (as only a dragon can be)

Courtesy Nazy

Home Entertainment System...

So I found a xylophone today! It's hanging out on my balcony. Oh! And I also found a really cool beach/picnic blanket! This is code for "Dear summer - we're going to have so much fun, you and I!"

Right... so if you ever find yourself in Haifa - you can expect picnics and slightly tuneless (I mean charming) musical offerings from yours truly!

[This is code for "come visit - we'll have so much fun, you and I!"]