Raw Food and Friends

A while back, I had a brief encounter with the healthier eating lifestyle and attempted to eat myself closer to nature.  Needless to say, most of the techniques and ideas didn't continue in my every day life (I need to work on my self-control and discipline.  Plus I love cheese.).

However, in my search for balance, one of my friends completely encouraged me by buying me the Café Gratitude cookbook.  What is Café Gratitude you ask?

The Philohophie

It is only probably the most famous raw restaurant in the world.  Now, I had never heard of it either until my friend got me their cookbook; but again, I was a new convert into the super-healthy eating revolution as well as the completely separate amazing universe that is San Francisco.

Anyway, my friends and I decided to get together this weekend and try out some recipes from the Café Gratitude cookbook.  We're so excited and it seems like it's going to be quite the adventure.  Irish moss?  Lecithin?  Hijiki seaweed?  Yep.  Here we come.

I'll post pics of our dinner later and let you know how it goes.  Tell me internet cosmos, have any of you gotten into the raw revolution?  Anyone had the pleasure of eating at the famous Café Gratitude?

Wishing you all a happy and healthy day!
--MEL  

Edible Tulip

Volkswagen Rules

Happy Monday everyone!  Hope your weekend was fantastic!

Now, I know everyone and their mom has got a Super Bowl hangover this morning, and most of us are trying to get out of it.  However, I woke up this morning in full fledged Super Bowl excitement simply because of this commercial and I definitely don't want it to go anywhere.

This is my (and 15 million others) vote for best Super Bowl commercial.  By a long shot.  The Mr. said, "Just because the company has great commercials doesn't make it have a great car."  To which my reply was:  "I will always love my Jetta and will always be loyal to VW.  Mainly because of the commercials."

There's no logic or reason to this.  It's just pure goodness.  And it will definitely make you smile on a Monday morning.

XOXO

--MEL   

I Love Fridays

Happy Friday!  Hope you all had a fabulous week and are looking forward to a great weekend.  While the rest of the country looks like this...

Minneapolis Star Tribune blog

where I am, it looks like this...

Weather

That's right.  I officially live on a different planet than the rest of America.

On another note, the Mr. and I have never been the super saps that seem to come out of hiding on Valentine's Day.  We've always used it as a day to do something fun and creative.  The Mr. always draws or paints me an incredible card that ends up being a complete work of art.  I usually write him a ridiculous vulgar poem.  We will definitely participate in the flowers and chocolate rage (because when do chocolate and flowers NOT make a house better?  Never.).  And we'll usually end up cooking a huge meal for just the two of us, stuff our faces and then pass out in a food coma.  Romantic, right?

Anyway, here are some gift ideas that I think would be super fun for this Valentine's Day.  Or for any time, for that matter.

Enjoy!
--MEL

Do you guys see the amazing print hanging on the wall in this kitchen?  I have looked all over the place to find where I can buy it and I just can't find anything (recommendations appreciated).  But if I could find it, I would snatch it up because it's so cute and hilarious.

Apartment Therapy

What chocolate lover doesn't dream of creating a bar, completely for yourself, with whatever you want and only what you want?  I know I do.  This company lets you do just that.  (via A Cup of Jo)

select favorites from Chocomize

This is not your run of the mill cheesy love print.  This is rad.

PRRINT!

Last but certainly not least, this is the best teddy bear I've ever seen.  They say, "don't buy this for your girlfriend".  But I say, "I'm buying this for my husband and I hope he buys the white one for me so we can have a matching pair on our bed and I love it so much I'm recommending it to the blogosphere". (via Refinery 29)

Love is Lame

Find Inspiration

Gabriela Herman

I recently came across this post on 16 House and was really intrigued.  NY photographer Gabriela Herman has an incredible photo series on bloggers, behind the computer screen.  Here's an excerpt from her artist statement:

While it is heavily debated how modern technology can isolate us, there are undeniably many upsides to this online evolution. I believe bloggers are connecting us, bringing us closer. In some ways, bloggers are helping create a reverse wave in our technological age by forming an authentic exchange between blogger and reader. Bloggers allow for an interactive platform, a dialogue that allows for both online and offline relationships to form.

I have been reading blogs for a while now.  It's addictive.  And there are a lot of things in our lives that are addictive for the wrong reasons but I feel okay about this one.  I started reading one blog and then the wonders of free thought on the internet just continued to unfold everyday for me.  I am still constantly adding new blogs to my list and finding amazing joys and inspirations in a million different places all the time.  Blogs can offer a wonderful array of opinions, colors, tastes, sensations, and thought provoking images and writings that really get your brain working and involved and wanting to connect with others on a meaningful level.  

Gabriela Herman

This is why I started my blog.  I wanted to offer a wide expanse of thoughts about many different things.  I don't want to be labeled.  I don't want to be a specific genre of writing.  I just want to think and share thoughts and inspire others to do the same.

Anyway, check out Herman's photo series here.  She has captured the little worlds behind the scenes of bloggers you love.  It's beautiful to see the thoughtful quiet dark moments in which a blogger creates, led only by the light of inspiration coming from a blank and completely uncensored canvas that is the internet. 

Gabriela Herman

It doesn't have to be the computer screen that gives you this sort of creative light.  It can be a piece of paper, a journal, a garden, an instrument, a skillet.  Whatever it is, just keep creating and being inspired and sharing inspiration.  It's important. 

Gabriela Herman

Happy Humpday

Hope you all are having a wonderful week!  Here are a few wonderful things I've found around the web recently.  Hope you enjoy!

With so many new Mom's in my life (and that annoying little constant itching to become one) I can't stop cooing over the wonderful baby things out there.  Like this one line a day journal for new Mom.  It's genius.  Of course you want to remember all those first moments but who has time to journal when you're a new mom?  One line a day, that's all it takes.  Adorable.  (via oh happy day)

Babble

My Mr. is out of town a lot with work so I find myself cooking only for myself which is difficult!  Until I found this wonderful website via Food News Journal and my heart skipped a beat.  Gourmet Recipes for One is exactly what it sounds like and it does not fail to deliver.  Especially the mac and cheese.  Wow.

Gourmet Recipes for One

These stamps from Karen Horton's extensive collection are beautiful.  I would love to have them all blown up and hung on my walls. (via Miss Moss, images from Karen's flickr)

Animal Print

I'm not usually the animal print type but this pointy leopard pump trend is killing me.

stylelist

Jonotjoe's Weblog

Fabsugar

Please shoe gods, maybe you could bring me these to satisfy my craving:

beso

Please and thank you--
MEL

Short Hair

Happy Monday everyone!  I came across this post the other day in the blogosphere and just had to carry on the momentum.

On Short Hair was written by Joan Juliet Buck for Vogue in 1988 and the sentiment still rings true.  I couldn't pick out just a few favorite quotes so here it is in it's entirety (from The Poetical Quotidian):

Hair is time.

Women with short hair always look as if they have somewhere else to go. Women with long hair tend to look as if they belong where they are, especially in California. Short hair takes a short time. Long hair takes a long time. Long hair moves faster than short hair. Long hair tells men that you are all woman, or a real woman, or at the very least a girl. Short hair always makes them wonder. Short hair makes children ask each other --usually at the school-yard gate, when parents are late-- "Are you a boy or girl?" Men married to women with short hair should not have affairs with women who have long hair kept up with many little pins and combs. Once you have cut your hair you have to remember to wear lipstick, but you can put away the brush, elastics, and the black barrettes in the form of shiny leaves with rhinestone hearts. When you cut your hair you lose a nose and gain a neck. A neck is generally better than a nose. It does not need to be powdered, except on extreme occasions. It does, however, need to be washed more often.

With short hair you suddenly dislike the month of March, when the wind blows down the back of your neck. With short hair you begin to crave pearl necklaces, long earrings, and a variety of sunglasses. And you brush your teeth more often. Short hair removes obvious femininity and replaces it with style. When it starts growing out a little and losing its style, you have to wear sunglasses until you can get it to the hairdresser. That's why you need a variety. Short hair makes you aware of subtraction as style. You can no longer wear puffed sleeves or ruffles; the neat is suddenly preferable to the fussy. You eye the tweezers instead of the blusher. What else can you take away? You can't hide behind short hair. Your nape is exposed. Men put their hands around your neck instead of stroking your long locks. You can only pray they have friendly intentions. The backs of your ears show, your jaw line is clear to anyone watching, and you realize --perhaps for the first time-- how wide the expanse of skin is between cheekbone and ear.

You may look a little androgynous, a little unfinished, a little bare. You will look elegant, as short hair requires you to keep your weight slightly below acceptable levels. However, the first time you wear a bathing suit with short hair, you will feel exceptionally naked. People who used to look straight at you will love you in profile. Short hair makes others think you have good bones, determination, and an agenda. The shape of your skull is commented on, so are its contents. They can pick you out in a crowd, and you can be recognized from behind, which can be good or bad. But your face is no longer a flat screen surrounded by a curtain: the world sees you in three dimensions.

Chase to the cut.

Me (with the short hair) and Cassie

XOXO

--MEL