In Matters of Sleep

Last night went something like this:

Get home around 10pm-Matt’s grumpy. He’s been sleeping for the last two hours because he only got three hours of sleep the night before. He wants to just go to bed, but first I have to cradle him like a 3 year old.

Me: “You want to just go to bed?”
Matt: “humph.”
Me: “What?”
Matt: “YES. I have to take a shower...”
Me: “Ok, well I will lock everything up and you just worry about going to bed.” I even massaged his back.

5 Am. I realized I have been rustled awake by 185 pounds of meat that sleeps next to me. GEEZ. He’s restless so I ask him what’s wrong. He says he can’t sleep. Oh, great. That’s awesome because now I can’t sleep. I toss and turn for an hour. The next thing I realize is my alarm going off around 7am. I’m grumpy. I've had weird dreams.

Me: “So you couldn’t sleep last night, huh? I’m so tired...”
Matt: “No, I guess not. Did I bother you?”
Me: “Uh, you don’t remember the conversation?”
Matt: “No. Huh. Sorry. I feel great. I’m running on all systems now.”

Must be nice to be so unaware.

My Favorite Holiday Is Coming

I adore Valentines Day.






from POSH

Claus Porto Rosa Soap

I like shopping-but I really like shopping for stuff you don't see often. There's something about this soap being from Portugal that makes it better to buy and wash with than the Dial I have in my shower right now. I really like dainty ladies.

Ballets Russes

I just HAVE TO POST ABOUT THIS. Naturally I would, but that's not the point. Any person would enjoy this. It's a bittersweet documentary about how ballet shaped the WORLD. That's something to write about. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about a history I had no idea about. Why didn't I know? I do ballet almost 5 days a WEEK. I'm ashamed too. These dancers are just so absolutely charming. Did you know they had some of their scenery and costumes designed by Salvador Dali?! They represent an era that is no more.

For Those Of Us Who Just Can't Convert

I laughed so hard when I saw this. Matt needs one. No. His dad needs one.

SiCKO

Alright, so I really wanted to see this when it came out because I am into being healthy. I usually don't like Micheal Moore's forceful way of saying things, but I heard this was different. I watched it last night, and it was so good. The message was good. I just wish we could get our heads clear of the money signs and give people what is humanely right. Everyone deserves the right to live and be healthy. If you can't tell, it made me mad.

Tea and Cookies' Perfect Sunday

I came across this post on this blog. It's EXACTLY what I think is the perfect way to enjoy life, family, and food. I LOVE having big fat meals, and then not getting up from the table for hours. Ok, so I can't say I have sat at my table for 5 or 6 hours like the post says. But I definitely have gotten the stiff body feeling of sitting in one position on hard wooden dining room chairs. I agree with this take on life.

No-Knead Nutella and Roasted Hazelnut Challah

I have been looking (and finding) a lot of great food blogs lately. Most of them are recipes with great photography. Both of which suit me well. I found this recipe and thought that it sounded absolutely scrumptious and divine. I love Nutella- adding it to bread is so great. I used make Nutella sandwiches with my girl Nelsy. It's the best with really processed white bread (you know, the kind you can roll up in a small ball) and spread that stuff all over it. Slap on another piece and you've got dessert and lunch in one.

Amy Butler Fabrics. Or, the Hobby I Really Need To Get Into More

Amy Butler creates the cutest fabrics. This is part of her new line called 'Midwest Modern'. The colors and the patterns are so great. The ideas start swimming in my head. If I weren't a working and dancing fool (it takes up ALL MY TIME) then I would sit down at my mom's new sewing machine (because I sadly don't have one) and sew away.

Pancakes Make People Happy

Oh my gosh these plates are for ME. If anyone knows me, they know that I LOVE PANCAKES. I'm not sure why. But they make me happpeeeeee.

And why to I love plates and dishes so much? Serving ware that holds cute baked goods and treats.





oh yeah, found here.

Tile Tattoos

Matt and I have been doing a little renovation in our house. We have a very boxy place, with straight lines and very basic features. We aren't the type to not pay attention to these things. We decided that putting an archway leading into our kitchen, complete with shelves and a small bookcase, would be just right in sprucing up the room, and also providing some more space to put cookbooks and some of my decorative dishes and cake plates. (I can post pictures of that when it's finished) For the top of the bookcase shelves we are putting 4" white tile. I thought it would be different to consider doing this on some of the tiles. I really like the design, and we have so many colors going on in our house, I thought it could be cool. Found here.

Walken

If you're a fan of Christopher Walken (like I am) you'll love this creepy cutout of his head. What do you do with this? I don't know either. I heard he looks for an excuse to dance in every single one of his movies. He's got a fever, and the prescription is more cowbell.

black tea set and cake plate

I don't know what it is about the black cake plate. But I've been wanting one forever.

And, I could complete it with this.

Haute Cupcakes

So I guess this means I need to up my game.




I found these on Cupcakes Take The Cake

Update: Even cooks get geeky

So I found out that the KitchenAid flames are not an original idea-Mario Battali does it too, and there's a website that produces these. www.flameka.com

And, I had to share this beautiful kitchen that belongs to my brother. He lives in New Orleans and I haven't been out there in a long while, so I haven't seen this before. I need to get down there and cook with him.

Even cooks get geeky

This is my brother's new Kitchen Aid Pro600 mixer he just got for Christmas. He is so proud. Yes those are flames. My real question is, did he design those himself or do those actually come with the mixer?





But I can't say that I'm not madly jealous.


(if you're reading this brother, you know that I wish I were you with your fancy gadgets)

Pirelli

How beautiful are these pictures?! I found this on the Love Made Visible blog. Apparently it's a new calendar for the Pirelli Tire Company. I love the vibrancy of the colors and the uniqueness of the art direction.

Power Breakfasts

Matt is wanting to lose weight. He's not overweight by any means. Just a little 'soft' I guess. Regardless of his real intentions, he came to me and wanted to know what he could eat for breakfast. You see, he hates breakfast. I LOVE it. We get along well... Breakfast is one of those things I guess. He wanted something that was really warm for the cold weather. A sort of beverage. He needs to stay away from empty calories and sugar though, so you see my dilemma. I have been searching around for something, and have only come across cold things like shakes and smoothies. I came across some recipes on Martha Stewart's website for power breakfasts. I thought I would share them. They are packed with goodness and high in nutrients. I figure since January is a time for resolutions, everyone could benefit from this one. I am still going to continue this hunt. I have a bazillion books I still need to look through.

Click Here for the article

(so apparently the website is having issues switching to the next page in the article. I'm sure it will be up and running soon.)

Yael Naim - New Soul

I saw this on another blog. I really liked it.

New Years Bash

HAPPY 2008!

My mom wanted to throw a New Years Eve party at her house this year. Mostly so we could invite our friends and still be with family. The lady knows how to throw a party. Fondue was the theme, so we had a chocolate fountain with every imaginable fruit, cookie, and sweet to dip in dark chocolate. We had cheese too of course, a gourmet emmenthaler and gruyere mix with red wine cooked in. There was every kind of bread, cracker, and meat all over. Egg nog and raspberry sherbet and sprite with maraschino cherry punch were the main drinks. My mom has a dance room in her house so we put up a mirror ball and 2008 decorations. My brother in law provided the music prep and we had ourselves a great time. This was the first year we did this sort of thing so I had no idea it would be so fun. I stayed up until 4am. Happy New Year.

Cookbooks, clothes, and down pillows

Our families were so good to us this year. The older I get, the less I expect. They all outdid themselves. We got such wonderful things from everybody. The biggest one was the cookbooks. They are waiting for me to read them. My mom is so good at giving those. Movies were another thing Matt and I received in abundance. Lots and lots of good ones. But mostly I just enjoyed the hours and hours and hours of time with family and the billions of pounds of gourmet food and treats that you only get once a year. sigh. I need a cookie.

New Year, New Look

This blog needed a change. Since it's the new year I took the opportunity to change the header and some colors. I think I will be changing it up a bit over the next little while. I don't know, maybe I will settle on this.