December 2012

12.30.2012

thank you! and does anyone need a coat?

hello everyone.

i'm halfway through my thank you's to the wonderful and kind birthday wishes you've all sent me. it truly is overwhelming just how thoughtful you all are.

yesterday i put that post up and went to hollywood for the day and by the time i got back home, i had 68 comments wishing me a happy birthday. i read through each one with grateful tears in my eyes - you know the kind.

what a beautiful end to a beautiful day.
so i thank you from the bottom of my heart.

now on to this coat...

i'm not going to lie, if you live in southern california it is just too warm.
it is lined with thinsulate and i didn't think it would make that big of a difference but wow, i was wrong.
it's made for a colder climate.
it's a new, beautiful j. crew peacoat in a pretty radio red color.

so i'm selling it on ebay and if you know someone who would be interested in it, i think it is a fabulous coat to own - in a colder climate.

thanks again for all your wonderful birthday wishes.

xo
janet

12.29.2012

to new traditions...

well christmas is over and the year is almost over too.

our weather is just beautiful right now.

a perfect combination of chill and sunshine.

i've been thinking a lot about our christmas traditions...mostly how they need to change.

i think i've been hanging on to the Way Things Used to Be.

you know my kids aren't little anymore.

if any of you out there reading have children that are adults and live on their own and have been for awhile maybe you'll understand what i'm talking about.

my sons all have very full and interesting lives - separate from me.

and that's the way it should be (in my eyes.)

whatever your situation is with your adult children, i totally respect that.
but me always trying to create the perfect day and reinvent new ways of presenting things, isn't working for me any longer.
all the shopping, cooking, cleaning, planning, more shopping, eh, i'm over it.

i'm thinking that it's time for a change holiday-wise for us.

i'm thinking a nice get-together at thanksgiving with everyone and then i'm thinking christmas may involve just the 2 of us and a mexican beach.
just thinking out loud here, no one panic!

so here i am ending a years worth of posts in this old outfit that i love.
i turn 55 tomorrow, what are you doing?

thank you a million x 10 for all your support throughout the year. this blog is nothing w/o you.
really, it's true.

peace, love and happiness to you all.

xo
janet

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12.23.2012

homemade kahlua

i just realized i misspelled the word kahlua

i wish i had posted this a little earlier but i just learned to make it yesterday.

additionally, a pretty decanter would make a beautiful presentation and gift.

as it is this is what i have so this is what you see.

homemade kahlua is so ridiculously good and easy to make i just had to share it.

if you are a coffee drinking, sugar loving drinker you may even have the ingredients on hand.

maybe a last minute gift?

kahlua

4 1/2 cup sugar

5 cup water

1 cup instant coffee granules (i used decaf)

5 oz vanilla extract

5 cups vodka

in a large saucepan bring the water and sugar to a boil

add 1 cup instant coffee, stir and let cool to room temperature

add the vanilla extract and vodka, stir and enjoy.

how are you guys doing out there?

janet

12.21.2012

christmas twenty twelve

ok so here we are 4 days til christmas. my shopping is done and i just decorated the house.

i went to trader joes yesterday hoping to get some wreaths and poinsettias but they were all out.

imagine that.

thank you annie of the beautiful blog, most lovely things. for that darling little white dish up there. so kind and thoughtful of you. xo

i decided to clip boxwood and stick it everywhere.

i hope you can bear to look at more pictures of these rooms.

i can't help it, they are all i've got to share with you.

while i was out shopping yesterday i happened to pop into my local salvation army and found these adorable saddle shoes. it wasn't until i got home and put my glasses on that i saw they are ralph lauren polo.

merry christmas to me.

hope all is well with you lovely people and you are all in good health and spirits.

merry christmas everyone!

janet

12.19.2012

comfort food - mushroom risotto

nothing says comfort more than risotto. even the stirring that is required of the recipe is meditative. this picture does not do this dish justice. it is so creamy and yummy i could eat a batch of this all by myself.

mushroom risotto

1/2 c small dice onion

4 T earth balance margarine

1 pkg mushrooms (i use portobello or cremini) rough chop
1/2 cup white wine

1 cup arborio rice
1/2 teaspoon saffron threads (if you have it)

approximately 4 cups of vegetable stock

in a heavy stockpot...

saute onions and mushrooms for about 10 minutes

add arborio rice and make sure the rice is coated with the melted margarine

add white wine and saffron, continue to cook for another 5 minutes

add a cup of heated vegetable stock and stir

allow the stock to be absorbed by the rice mixture - don't allow mixture to dry completely out.

slowly continue to stir and add vegetable stock a ladle full at a time until the rice is fully cooked - approx 30 minutes

when rice is soft and most of the liquid has been absorbed, it is done.

garnish with nutritional yeast and cracked black pepper
best eaten curled up on the sofa with someone you love.

xo

12.17.2012

speechless

like most of the world i am just speechless these days. i just can't get into the christmas spirit now matter how hard i try. so i'm not going to force it. instead i'm just going to be quiet. i've gathered a few posts that you may want to read if you are new here or maybe want to read again. take care and hug someone you love. xo janet

christmas last year

my own story on clutter and finances

a small wardrobe

thrifting tips

my $5 closet makeover

why i am vegan

6 steps to beautiful skin

12.12.2012

the $1 hostess gift

you must know by now that i'm quite frugal. that is a lot different from being cheap though.

in my eyes frugal is careful and cheap is stingy.

i'd like to think that the gift i'm giving this year to my neighbors is a nice gift.

it takes a little time but the end result is quite lovely.

who wouldn't love a freshly baked loaf of bread?

wrapped in a 50 cent ikea tea towel makes it the perfect holiday hostess gift.

coming in at a whopping $1 you could even add a jar of jam or a bottle of wine.

and if you don't bake you could purchase an artisan loaf of bread from your favorite bakery and wrap it in a tea towel and it is still a brilliant but affordable gift.

anyway that's what i'm doing this year.
what about you?

ps - oh my gosh, thank you all for your wonderful tips and advice and general commiserating about having the blues this time of year. just writing about it made me feel better.
as i always say, this blog is nothing without you.
much love,

janet

12.10.2012

she's got the blues

i do and i don't think it is unusual for this time of year though so i'm not gonna be all hard on myself.

i got these pants at target back in august with the intention of taking them to new york but never did.

i kept them b/c they fit and they remind me of the 60's.

i'm wearing them with a backwards cardi.

i'm including this close-up picture b/c apparently some of you want to see my wrinkles.
i've earned and love every one of them.

so are you all happy and everything or do you get blue around this time of year too.

12.07.2012

autumn days

i know it is december and i should be thinking about christmas but it's hard to when i'm surrounded by all these leaves and autumn colors.

maybe next week i'll start thinking about christmas.

have a beautiful weekend.

janet

12.05.2012

peas and carrots

yikes this soup is beautiful and what an antioxidant powerhouse.

who doesn't need that right now?

i personally love peas and carrots - but it wasn't always that way. when i was little, i'd be the one sitting at the table long after everyone else had been excused, pushing those peas and carrots around my plate trying to make them disappear. but i guess the fact that i love them now means i've finally grown up?

i made my favorite carrot cappuccino soup and took the cappuccino part out.

that is, i did not put it through a sieve after it was done. i left it thick so it could stand up to the peas.

after the soup was finished i just ladled about a 1/2 cup of freshly cooked peas into each bowl.

those peas deliver 8 grams of protein per cup.
it's almost too pretty to eat.

carrot cappuccino soup

recipe by rick tramanto of tru restaurant

1 lb sliced carrots

1 celery rib fine dice

1/2 med onion fine dice

1 1/2 Tablespoon grated fresh ginger

2 oranges juiced

3-4 c vegetable stock

salt and pepper to taste

sweat carrots, celery and onion. add vegetable stock and ginger. bring to simmer, add oj and cook until carrots are tender. puree in batches until smooth, pass through fine strainer, season to taste.

note: as you pass the puree through the strainer, use the back of a ladle or spoon to really press the liquid through.
i left that last part out and left the soup thick but by all means try it pressed through - it. is. amazing.

eating your peas and carrots never tasted so good.

***to anyone who reads in the UK, if you can get your hands on the december issue of Esquire magazine,
i'd pay for it and the shipping if you could send me one. Jack White is on the cover.***

thanks so much!!!

xo
janet

12.03.2012

homemade bread, a simple pleasure

yesterday was one of those gray damp days that called for all day pajamas and homemade bread.

i make this bread a minimum of once a week and i'd like you to try it too.

not only will you save a ton of money at the grocery store (it costs about 50 cents to make) but there is just something decadent about eating homemade bread every day.

i've shared the recipe with you before and you can see it right here

but i've cut a bunch of the steps out and it comes out perfect every single time.

so here is what i do...

late in the afternoon, usually between 2pm and 4pm in a medium sized mixing bowl i add...

3 cups of flour. i usually mix white, wheat and spelt in equal parts.

1/4 teaspoon yeast

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

i pour in...

1 5/8th cup water (which is roughly 1 3/4 cup water)

and with a big spoon mix it up and then use my hands to mix it a little bit more

i cover it with another bowl inverted style and let it be for a minimum of 12 hrs but up to 18 is ok too.

when i get up the next morning i punch the dough down about 3 or 4 times and let it sit for another hour or so.

1/2 hr before it's ready to be baked i heat my dutch oven to 450 degrees.

when the dutch oven comes out i sprinkle a small amount of flour on the bottom and then put the bread dough in, cover it and bake it for about 45 minutes.

then i just pop it out and it's ready.

it's so easy.

this has to be one of life's simplest but most luxurious pleasures.

xo
janet