2006 :: magnificentbliss

season of shushies

November 16, 2006

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this site doesn’t inspire me to write much anymore, or take pictures for that matter (might have something to do with the fact that my camera is dying an awful death – see evidence of the malignant splotches above).

i have few thoughts to share lately. i’d rather talk in person than spend the time writing it on here – it feels forced if i do. maybe that will change and i’ll have more to say, or maybe i’ll be inspired to do something else with magnificentbliss.

for now, i have more traveling to do and holidays to enjoy. updates may or may not be made soon – we shall see!

UPDATE: my camera died today, november 17, 2006 @ 3:10pm. rest in peace my little powershot a70. your 3.2 megapixels documented my life well.

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connect the dots

September 26, 2006

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this is a four-year-old’s interpretation of pointillism. i love how she connected some of the dots; by the way, she mentioned the lines are supposed to be water. i had the pleasure of showing three wonderful children some of georges seurat’s work last week, and then worked with them on creating their own pointillism painting. the youngest gave me her painting, and it’s now hanging on the wall, next to my desk – a beautiful, colorful source of inspiration.

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missing spinach

September 21, 2006

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boy, do we love our fresh spinach. sauteed with garlic and lemon or just plain raw, we’ll take it any way we can get it. the recent loss of fresh spinach in this part of the world is really bringing our household down…even furbomb is agitated and anxious for the leafy-green goodness to return to store shelves. until then, broccolini will be our stand-in.

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recipe: peanut butter cookies for the boy

September 14, 2006

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tommy’s inconsiderate cholesterol prevents him from eating a lot of fun stuff… unless of course i’m making it! these cookies have no cholesterol and much less fat in comparison to the traditional recipe. i’m not a nutritionist BUT i have done my research and these cookies are ok to eat in moderation…so no need to ramble off hoo-haaas and hiss-hooos about me not knowing diddlysquat. i know full well that I KNOW DIDDLYSQUAT and as far as i’m concerned, these cookies are fluffy-peanut-buttery-delicious and a lot friendlier to your body.

if you make the recipe and have input on modifying any of the ingredients, let me know!

source: williams-sonoma cookies. please note, this is not the exact recipe from the book. reference the book for the original recipe.

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key ingredients:

1.) organic earth balance whipped buttery spread. don’t mess with the selection, this is the best cholesterol-free spread on the market.

2.) egg whites: take an egg, gently crack it in half, slowly open the two halves while cradling the yoke back and forth between each shell half, allowing the egg whites to drain out below into a bowl. if you’re a visual person and this isn’t making much sense, let me know and i’ll make a quick video demo.

– 1/2 cup unsalted butter (earth balance whipped buttery spread), melted
– 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
– 1/2 cup granulated sugar
– 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
– egg whites from two large eggs
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 1 1/3 cups all-purpose plain flour
– 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
– 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
– 1/2 teaspoon salt

in a large bowl, mix the melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, peanut butter, egg whites and vanilla with an electric mixer on low/medium speed until well blended.

sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together into a medium bowl. add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low speed just until it is combined. cover and refrigerate for about an hour or until firm.

preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. line a baking sheet with parchment paper. using either your hands (dampened with water) or a cookie scoop, shape the dough into 1-inch balls. place the dough about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet – give it some breathing room! using a fork, gently press down on the dough to slightly flatten and to make the classic peanut butter cookie indentations. if the edges of the cookie split, just smooth it back together.

bake for about 13 minutes, longer if you want a harder cookie. the bottom should be a light golden brown color. transfer the cookies to a cooling rack.

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haiku for you: dump

September 13, 2006

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here is a haiku in honor of steve’s return from serving in middle-earth, as well as for his wife stephanie for being such a great gal.

by the way, the theme of this haiku is in no relation to steve’s service (just want to make that clear for anyone who would assume otherwise!). this is a new photo series i’m starting to celebrate all the neat things that accumulate every week right next to our parking spot.

so… a haiku, in honor of steve’s return…but about trash…no relation…

no dumping it says
bicycle broom and the lamps
next week it is gone

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what i did on my summer vacation

September 6, 2006

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1.) unexpected short hair cut + hot summer nights = very tall bedhead in the morning! so sexy hot.

2.) the heat agitated my sweat-susceptible wrists, making computer work painfully uncomfortable (and sticky) against my desk – partial reason why i closed up shop for most of the summer, couldn’t work under those conditions!

3.) summer footwear has taken an awkward and embarrassing toll on my left foot proving once again to be THE SUMMER OF THE BUNION. fortunately, we are only weeks away from IT being tucked safely into a cottony sock until next year.

4.) i discovered pre de provence soap, h&m, the magic of peet’s coffee, alta plaza park, nathan oliveira, and raisin bread – but not all at once – it takes an entire summer to appreciate such a list.

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do you see faces in the walls?

July 14, 2006

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there are quite a few in these shots. use your imagination.

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i’m back

May 17, 2006

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it’s been awhile.

above is the red – the most wonderful red – hallway at our new place. just beyond the hallway is the living room at the right and the kitchen at the left. we’re still working on the kitchen and the other rooms so it will be a few weeks until i show before and after pictures. lots of painting…lots of organizing (it’s a small space so we have to be creative!)…our to-do list is outrageous.

taking a month off from work really did wreak havoc to my sanity. i’m still playing catch-up while adjusting to my new computer – i finally have an imac! unfortunately, i’m without all my typefaces from the pc so it’s been a pain sifting through which typefaces i need and can afford at this point in time. with tommy’s help i did manage to get two new sites up: bridalhairdesign.com and troydavisart.com.

that’s about it for now. i should have more to share in a few days. also, a great big HELLO to steve way out there in the middle of nowhere! we hope you are safe and are doing well!

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things i’ll miss about this place…

March 23, 2006

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the view of the mountains, birds playing in the pepper tree early in the morning, the baby hummingbirds, the gas stove and the large office, the window in the bathroom and the two windows in the kitchen.

things i’ll love about the new place…the washer, dryer, and dishwasher, the large patio, the vaulted ceiling, the living room with the fire place, it’s our first home

tomorrow we sign the paperwork for our first home. after resigning to the fact that we would never have a place of our own in this valley, the good Lord has blessed us with the opportunity to buy tommy’s brother’s condo. in fifteen days, my husband will be on the road with his brother to iowa, helping him move. it’s a bit strange to think that i’ll be here, keys in hand, walking in alone to our new home, soaking in this unbelievable reality. a part of me thinks i’ll probably cry when i first walk in – i’m really not an emotional person but this entire venture is so overwhelming – nine years of renting would probably make any new homeowner cry.

while tommy is on the road, i’ll be working with his parents on redoing the kitchen. my first project as a homeowner! there’s a lot of work to do, but i’m determined to get it done by the time he returns.

these next few weeks will probably go by in a blur. i still have several deadlines to meet and an entire apartment to pack! but before i put everything away, i’ll be taking pictures of our current apartment for memory’s sake. i don’t want to forget where we came from, as crummy as this place was at times, i’m still in love with this apartment.

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