A Little Style

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make the eighth annual Tribeca Film Festival dinner as I went to bed early!

http://www.style.com/vogue/voguedaily/category/hed-lifewithandre/?mbid=vn042809

Vindaloo Hoo?

Exactly! This is another great food find from Target.

I am not all that familiar with Indian cuisine except for curry but based on the Moroccan dish I enjoyed from this same brand, Archer Farms, I decided to try Vindaloo.

The meal has four separate components and includes a spicy onion-ginger sauce, basmati rice with spicy potato, pea saute and mango chutney. Be careful this dish is packing heat but I enjoyed every mouthful. The mango chutney is not of a consistency that I am used to however you can use it as a topping or dipping sauce. The chutney I'm used to back home is a little more substantial and chunky. Still it did add some sweet hot flavor to the dish.

There are more Indian dishes in this line and I'll get through them as fast as I can because this dish was tasty! As for serving suggestions, you can garnish with tomatoes and chopped cilantro, add a dollop of plain yogurt and serve with naan bread. I did add a little shredded chicken and sliced up some bananas that added some additional flavor and cooled down the heat.

The box says it is a product of India so I'm guessing it's fairly authentic. I think this begs some investigative work at a real Indian restaurant to get a taste of traditional and authentic Indian flavors!

My Little Obsession

Picture this: I head to the grocery store, grocery list firmly in hand, determined not to stray from its contents. Both hands firmly grip the grocery cart when my head does a double take as I round the corner. There in all its glory was a very good reason for me to stray - my obsession with Jon & Kate Plus 8! They are the cover story on the May issue of Ladies' Home Journal, a magazine I very seldom read. (sorry LHJ!)

Yes, I know I could have scooped it up and parked myself between the canned vegetable and fruit aisle but then I would have had to hurry. I wanted to take my time and digest every word and make sure I read the article thoroughly, after all there were rampant rumors of discord in J&K's marriage and I couldn't bear it. By the way, they're doing ok. Shweeeeew!

If you are not familiar with the reality series on the TLC Network, the show Jon & Kate Plus 8 revolves around the family life of a married couple with one set of eight year old twins and one set of sextuplets now five. I am compelled to follow their adventures in every day life and their fun trips across country and the renewal of J&K's wedding vows in Hawaii. This show doesn't hold back and reveals the good, the bad, and the ugly of family life. I come from a family of seven kids so believe me I know. However, my mother did not have to deal with 6 five-year olds!

I would be remiss if I did not also mention my obsession with Little People Big World! It's on the same network and features life with Matt and Amy Roloff (little people) and their kids the eldest being fraternal twins one of whom is a little person, their daughter and younger son. It's life on Roloff Farm and like J&K it's everything in between.

I have often thought about what draws me to these two shows and I don't think I have to delve too deeply - I don't have family nearby so this is the closest I can get to it. It brings back a lot of memories of my mom and dad and life with seven kids and assorted animals in a three bedroom house. In the summertime the house would swell to overflowing with visiting relatives. Basically it was like this, what's one more kid or two or three...? My mom and dad were everyone's favorite aunt and uncle which sometimes got under my skin. Hey, they're my mom and dad after all! Our family would have made a great reality show! We had DRAMA and AWWWW melting moments that's for sure!

If you like you can visit the Gosselin and Roloff families on their TLC websites...

http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/jon-and-kate/jon-and-kate.html

http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/lpbw/about.html

Jon & Kate have a special airing this Sunday the 19th about going green. Steve Thomas formerly of This Old House will be showing the family ways they can "green up."

You Like Me!

Hi everyone, hope you all had a wonderful Easter with family and friends! I myself enjoyed my Easter Peeps! You know they don't just make Peeps for Easter anymore but that's the only time I eat them because...well...you know! I had a friend who thought no one actually ate Peeps - but I do and so do a million other peeps, I mean people!

I'm not sure you can tell but i am a little excited today (who's kidding who, I am ecstatic!), you see I won a writing contest! Yes, I know whaaaaat? Allow me to explain...

The lovely Anita at http://wwwcastlescrownscottages.blogspot.com/ opened up her heart and left Act IV of her beautiful play La Diva to her blogging audience. Four of us picked up the gauntlet and wrote our hearts out. We waited one whole week for the results and on Saturday all was revealed. As you can see I was elated to discover the results...





I am humbled and estatic at the same time! I really feel like this girl....





Exactly...you like me, you really like me!

I would like to honor the other contestants for their blood, sweat and tears, you see this was no easy feat....

The sweet and talented Sherry from ediemariesattic.blogspot.com

The inspiring and noble Cathy from bit-of-blarney.blogspot.com

The whimsical and creative Dutchess from thegardenofthedutchess.blogspot.com

Lastly and most importantly, thank you Anita http://wwwcastlescrownscottages.blogspot.com/ for opening your heart and sharing your creativity with us. I can't imagine another author who would leave the climax of her enchanting story to the blogging public to complete. Bravo! Awesome! Thank you! You have inspired me to put pen to paper once again.

The Fabulous Supremes

Today's Fashionable Post features the most Fabulous girl group of the 60s, The Supremes. Enjoy....


The Supremes sang in a polished style that bridged the worlds of pop and soul.

The Supremes were America’s ingenues, exuding a stylish charm and soulfulness that appealed across the board to black and white listeners at a time when racial divides were coming down.

Phil Collins covered this song but you can't beat the original!

You couldn't help but be uplifted by the music, the style and sophistication of the Supremes. The music and choreography inspired more than one teenager to sing in front of a bathroom mirror with a hairbrush as a microphone!

Thanks Diana, Mary and Florence (the original Supremes)! And thanks Fifi for yet another Fashionable Friday.

PS - In the early Eighties, the Supremes’ rags-to-riches life story was turned into a successful Broadway musical, Dreamgirls and won 6 Tonys. In 2007 the film version garnered three Golden Globes and two Oscars!

Variations on a Theme

Let me just say that I LOVE all things Jane Austen. I don't claim to be an authority on Miss Austen, I have not read all her books, but I can say that what I have read I have loved and often re-read. Recently I have noticed that there are a plethora of books out there paying homage to our Jane and the characters from her novels AND I have somehow managed to acquire a few of them!

Let me start with my favorite....

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict (well if that doesn't sum me up!) by Laurie Viera Rigler. What would happen if you woke up one day not in present day LA or even in your own body but inside the bedchamber of a woman in Regency England? Hello, when is that ever going to happen but it happened to Courtney Stone in this book and I read it with rabid ferver. The sequel Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict is set for release on June 25, 2009. I am beginning the countdown to find out what happens when the woman, Jane, from Regency England finds herself inhabiting Courtney's body in modern day Los Angeles - OY!

Next is Austenland by Shannon Hale primarly known for her young adult novels. Our heroine, Jane (another Jane, this happens a lot in these books), has a secret obsession for Mr. Darcy as played by Colin Firth (there is NO other!), and embarks on a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-obsessed women (that would be ME). Glamour's review says it all "Gloriously satisfying." Can you imagine total immersion in a fake Austenland right down to your underwear? I suppose it could happen - SIGN ME UP!

Me and Mr. Darcy written by Alexandra Potter. Emily decides she's had it with love - sound familiar? It's gotten so she'd rather spend her time curled up with Pride and Prejudice and the dashing Mr. Darcy (who wouldn't). So instead of joining her friends for a Margarita-fueled trip to Mexico, our heroine instead opts for England and a guided tour of Jane Austen country (oh, someday Bonnie). The last thing Emily expects to find is a broodingly handsome man striding across a field, his damp shirt clinging to his chest. Eeeek! She has just met Mr. Darcy come to life! Suddenly her (MY) fantasy has become a reality! You'll just have to read the book to find out what happens!

The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler. I have to admit I haven't finished the book but I did love the movie tremendously. What I found interesting is how the lives of her characters intersected ever so slyly with Miss Austen's books. Sometimes the books we choose, choose us too. Don't you find that to be true?

I haven't started the other two books Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife a continuation of Jane's book Pride and Prejudice by Linda Berdoll. The author's website says...Hold on to your bonnets you're in for a bumpy ride! There is even a sequel to this book Darcy & Elizabeth: Nights and Days at Pemberley.

Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron is a mystery that the crime-solving side of our Jane must unearth. There are nine mysteries to be solved in this series and I intend to get to the bottom of each one! Stay tuned!

I must end by telling you that all of these books except one was gotten at The Friends of the Library. If I could spend every day at the library I think I would! Books range from .50 - $3, very affordable considering what's happening with our economy but that's another blog! Proceeds go right back to the library and you are recycling on many different levels as I often donate the books back to the library for future sales! That should make anyone feel good!

What a glorious day!

You know it's a glorious day if....

1. Are those birds I hear chirping at 6:30 in the morning?
   
2. Sadie wants to go walking earlier than usual....Ok
   
3. There goes my neighbor waving from his convertible - TOP DOWN
   
4. The skies are blue and not a cloud in sight
   
5. It's WARM!

Pic of a sunny day today in San Diego from the backyard

I told you there wasn't a cloud in the sky!

Wherever you find yourself today, have a sunny one!

My Little Chandy

I recently purchased this floral chandelier from a French themed shop in San Diego's Ocean Beach community on Newport Avenue.

You'll fall in love with Vignette Antiques. Take a peak at http://www.vignettesantiques.com/

This little chandy reminded me of one we had in our home on Maile Beach on the Waianae coast of Hawaii. Instead of crystals it was dripping in flowers over our dining room table. I loved it and always wanted one of my own and now I do!

KITTY! He's a shameless photo hog!

They're ready for their close up Mr. DeMille!

A little cleaning, a little tweaking and it will be ready to hang....somewhere. I originally thought it was going in the master bedroom and now I think I might put it my cozy little kitchen nook. Whichever, it will have it's grand debut soon so stay tuned.

Thanks Ms. Fifi for a wonderful Fashionable Friday I've enjoyed reading all the fun fashionable posts!

The Trip

I recently found myself in need of a pet sitter. I had previously tried boarding at a nearby facility but found that my very sensitive dog did not respond well under those circumstances.

Through the great staff at Kensington Veterinary Hospital, I found Diana Langley and PawPrints, an in-home pet sitting service. I do not have enough superlatives for Diana but let me try....awesome...understands nervous pets and "parents"...super nice...ethical...
reliable...caring...I really could go on!

Here are some pics she took of my Sadie while I was away. She knew I was really nervous about leaving Sadie behind but she really eased my fears and even sent me these pics of my girl....

OK, this is not Sadie but Kitty, my other "kid" who cottoned up nicely to Diana!

Here is Sadie on her walk with Diana and then posing for the camera.

I can't tell you how reassuring these pictures were along with the emails I received from Diana letting me know how things were going. This was definitely the stressless way to go for both Sadie and me.

Seriously, if you are looking for a trustworthy pet sitter, and live in the San Diego area, please contact Diana at PawPrints. Visit her website http://www.pawprints-petsitting.com/. PawPrints is a member of the Better Business Bureau, Pet Sitters Associates, Great San Diego Business Association, Pet Sitters International and is the founder and moderator of "The Pet Net." Over 75% of her new clients are referrals from her current list of satisfied pet parents.

Exactly why am I singing Diana's praises? All I can tell you is that on my return home I found a happy and healthy cat and dog. I couldn't have asked for anything more.