Saturday, April 28, 2012

Cookies with tea

I can't really do much physical work but I had a craving for cookies so I made these Gluten Free cookies today...
Finger Print Cookies

Do streches shake your body while you  mix:

1/4 cup -  sugar (I took less and adjusted in the end)

3/4 cup -oil  (I use melted purified butter for my allergies)

Now add:

1 or 2 - eggs and  mix well.

In a separate bowl mix below ingredients:

2 - cup plain flour ( I used Gluten Free bake mix flour a blend of rice and potato starch),

1 - tea spoon cumin seeds (you can use crushed almonds, peanuts, coconut, or anything you like  instead),

1.5 - tsp salt,

1 tsp - baking powder and mix well ( I did not use baking powder since my Gluten Free bake mix has starch and I am out of it too)

add these dry ingredients to the egg mixture and dance while you mix it.

Taste the mixture, to adjust salt or sugar, cumin seeds or whatever you used

Roll the dough 1-2 mm think on a greased surface, shape them using cookie cutter
(I used my hands, made small balls and pressed them flat using my fingers on the baking tray).

You can use all this dough or leave some like I zip locked remaining dough in the fridge for next day....

Put on the parchment paper on your baking tray and bake at 180 C (350F) for about 10-15 minutes or until light brown (after 10 minutes I turn them around sides, total 14 minutes after I turn off the oven and leave them inside until golden)

While you wait, do read my other posts and prepare your tea. Run the laundry and dishwasher....
Call your your friends and tell them what you did today... If not then tell you mom about your domestic accomplishments like baking cookies.....
Or just lay on the couch and snore....

Transfer to a wire rack, take a bite..burn your tongue and now let them cool for a while....

Enjoy it with your tea.... I had herbal tea mmmmm......



Wednesday, April 25, 2012

How to feel better with Couleurz

Each moment has so many expressions that we may associate with colors, we don't realize what this one color can do to us (no I don't mean retail therapy) like there are days when I feel blue (mostly this month), or there are days that just pass in black n white....or I am green with envy when I see her wearing pink Jimmy Choo shoes ....


Painting by Couleurz
Fight with the dark
A dose of couleurz for today, a lot of things help me in my recovery and may be they might help you too (at least I hope)


So if your having a bad day, or are sick, or blue or green or pink or red, or was yelled at or feel nobody loves you, or you think you want to feel better then find something positive to do that brings you back to life....

^ I think painting is my therapy, for some its music, reading, sewing, sports, cooking, writing, biking, sleeping, and etc etc..... or working with colors, fabric, pencils, crayons, fruits, vegetables, words, sand, water....

Each of us is special in our own way, we try what satisfies our souls, as if we have achieved something, for me working with colors help me feel alive...

Moods that I put on canvas, sometimes dark sometimes light and colourful they say its spiritual development....doesn't has to be fancy it can be a sketch on paper, crayon marks anything;
like I just throw colors on canvas without thinking anyone will ever see them again....

I don't know what it does deeply but this is what artistic therapy is all about,
in plain words its holistic approach towards healing or say it makes us feel better.

I will quote art therapy according to an artist “Traditionally the rainbow and the rainbow-colours have always played an important part in anthroposophic painting therapy. But one must remember that the rainbow always comes into manifestation between the light and the darkness: There is a dome of lightness on the inside of every rainbow and darkness on its outside, the darkness of the clouds against which it appears. The rainbow is a beautiful image of the human being: Its seven colours can be looked upon as the purified human soul, the light and darkness on either side of it stand for the spiritual creative polarity that calls it into being. In the human being the polarity can be found in the light of consciousness and the darkness of the living organism in which creative and destructive processes are continuously at work”. (Liane Collot d’Herbois)


From what I read above about light and dark is not in context with good or bad, its more like our consciousness and warmth; both should be balanced. Art therapy helps people with so many illnesses, or emotional issues,
I will not go into the details of this but ask yourself what your inner color is like ....
Painting by Couleurz
Hope

“Therapies that restrict themselves to the confines of the individual soul can help resolve a neurosis, but if they do not call on the patient’s ego and thereby initiate a period of personal development, they can have no lasting effect. Nor can they truly heal”. Treichler, 1989, P334

Painting by Couleurz
Blue


Don't stop yourself from doing positive things that make you happy...below are few things that might keep me on the go:


^ Like when I wake up each day and think what I chose, happiness or grumpiness…

^ I don’t really care if I am not where I want to be in life yet...(at least not now when they are giving me heavy dose of painkillers so no pain in life at all, always drowsy)

^ Like how important I am to someone family and friends...(I personally think its until I get better on my feet again, then who knows what they make me do)
^ Like I don't have to do anything to make myself happy...(Oprah says it comes from within but I think its my drugs doing it for me)

^ Candles only this flavour Tuscan Olive mmm I really wish you could smell through this blog

^ Off course mom made soups for the time being...

^ Like watching fairy tales and laughing like crazy (why did we ever like them)

^ Hugs and care from loved ones...

I wish you find this and more, may you find that something to keep you alive and happy....


Until then you be safe and creative....










Monday, April 23, 2012

How I found my Anthropologie Dress Coat

This is my favorite dress coat that I was dreaming of all my life.

The cut, fit, hooks, design, couleur, fabric all was made for me. It keeps me so warm, mmm. Once upon a time, two months before last Xmas I saw it at Anthropologie, and fell in love; however the regular price that day was $300 something so I left it in the hope of a better day.

  On right, taken from Anthropologie 2011 catalog




So as per my Anthro shopping analysis, I kept going to the store every week. I would go around the store, my heart aching each time they moved the rack spot.

One fine day when I went in the store, couldn't find the coat anywhere on racks; so many things haunted my mind.

 a. What if the stock was all sold
 b. I am an idiot, should have bought that first day
 c. Should have bought, so what if I have to live on bread and water for a month...
 d. Will they still have my small size...












But then I said a silent prayer * always works, and I saw Sale Room door from the corner of my eye. I should have ran but I kind of just walked fast towards that room.

Side Note: First time when I revealed Anthro to my friend, I made her promise to keep her eyes closed when she enters Anthro, no peeping and open them only in this sale room. I did this to save her from going bankrupt.

My eyes started searching for my wonderful woolen coat on the racks everywhere.

Skirts, nope
Weird tops aa nooo
Jackets jackets where are you, pants…no
Coat- stay focused

Up Close with my coat

 And O my gosh I found it, hurry look now for the size; I kept looking for any possible fabric or hook damage in it. The price tag said 40% less. I knew that the price would go further down for Xmas sale; but I couldn’t bear to keep it away from me even for a second.

So I bought it, and took home my precious coat

 Oh and it doesn't end here, a week before Xmas there was a huge additional sale on these items, I had a bad migraine but that didn’t stop me from my hunt for the best bargain. So just to make myself feel better I begged my girlfriend to go store if my coat was further discounted. When she didn’t call me back in an hour I got concerned so I called Anthro store and was put on hold million times.

But I am so pleased to announce that all the outerwear were sold that day or else I would have been shedding blood tears right now. Anyways this was my story of finding an affordable Anthro garment, tell me how you found your dream dress or garment.

Until then be safe and creative…..




Sunday, April 22, 2012

Home and Garden Show review

Two months ago, we got tickets to the Home and Garden trade show. It was last day of the show and we were late but it took us 3 hours to go through most of the booths (selective walking).

A friend told us to buy things that we like at the show and not wait, but I have to read reviews, before spending my hard earned mula....

I was wearing my best winter 2012 dress coat (will give you details of my Anthropologie jacket later) but let me start with the best part of these shows,





we had this yummy twisted fries on stick fyi we tried alot of flavours. There were other food booths too but I love my fries.

I was so into my fries that I forgot to take photo but below one is what I found online


I know I know...should have taken more pictures but then I wasn't a blogger, so below is like pretty neat booth for signage like ranging from $20 above and no I did not buy any sign.


copyrite Couleurz
Cool Signage


Its hard to find comfy shoes ever, or may be my feet are sensitive; so I use insoles and we found this amazing insole that I actually bought, it has this bubble in it that massages your feet while you walk. I tested it for few minutes and bought this amazing insole with guarantee image below...

copyrite Couleurz
Massaging Insoles

Then I came across this neat hook booth, you can hang like anything on these hooks even heavy garage stuff on different surfaces, so I bought 1 of this to try for $20.00. Will show you next time what I am using it for right after my recovery.



copyrite Couleurz
Reusable Hooks


There were many blinds, landscape stuff, appliances, massage chair booths that I passed by. Alot of home builders, jewellery, few interior design companies had great packages too. Almost everyone was carrying this cool broom or mop that I did not buy.

Stopped by HomeSense booth, had few themes set up here. Btw I am a regular customer. You can design your entire home from there products which are also affordable. Its like Century 21 of Canada.


copyrite Couleurz
HomeSense Theme

Keep in mind the vase with white flowers in above photo, have a treat for you in coming blogs.....

copyrite Couleurz
HomeSense Theme

There was this cookware booth, products used by Chef Gordon Ramsay, I loved the demo...
Basically it was a non stick pot that the sales lady kept burning with milk and after it turned black she used a kitchen towel to wipe off in a second. It was too expensive and I wanted to check reviews first so I left it there.
Forgot to mention this cool new vibrator speakers they were using pizza box for demo (pretty neat idea but I did not buy them)
There was so much more to see, but overall I enjoyed the show. Got free stuff like parchment paper, reusable green bags, bbq burger recipes, etc etc...
ahh I am drowsy on painkillers, but hey can't complain so will get back to my rest... Until then you be safe and creative ....

Tell me about your trade show experience or goodies.....

Wellwishing Flowers arrangement

Two weeks ago I had a surgery, am on bed rest under recovery. (Details will make you sad so I will skip all that part for some other day, me on morphine and asking nurses how I look right before anasthesia...lols)
In short we moved into our new home 4 months ago. Lots too do in so lil time and I am so ill. So guess what I did yesterday( hardly can stand up) but decor must go on....
My wellwishing flowers were dying, I cut them short and added a dollar store bowl, they look so preeeeetty ...

Placed this setting on my favourite entrance glass table, and snowhite oval shaped (mirror mirror on the wall)

I am so happy with all the wellwishing flowers that I get everyday. Added lily with roses on my bed side table...


I have so many bouquets, running out of space at home...