Quote This!

The challenge in life is not about being perfect, but about being whole.
- Jane Fonda


This really just hit a note with me, how much of our energy do we waste chasing being some version of perfection. If more people spend half of that energy making themselves whole this world would be a much happier and peaceful place.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

I am

I am – immersed in sewing. I had sort of put it on the back burner and for some reason its been calling my name recently. I made a cute little itty-bitty dress for a 3 year old and next I am making Palazzo pants for myself. Cant wait to finish and wear them.

I am thinking – about the budget cuts that our school district is facing and how there are no GOOD solutions to heavy problems like this. Its unfortunate that the economic effects are tricking down and threatening to cut services in our kids schools, teachers, sports clubs all the things that make up an enriching environment have to be trimmed to bare minimum given the lack of funding.

I am feeling - weird because today I had to help my teen pick out courses for HIGH School . I feel like I just blinked and my baby is in high school. Where have the years gone.

I am looking outside my window – and I see grey skies and rain drops. Looking forward to the sun shining later in the week.

I am reading – The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel by Garth Stein. Its written from the perspective of a dog and is about his race car driver and is sort of about how to deal with life when it rains.

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Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

I've been sort of trying to make the shift towards healthier food choices that I would like to eat without feeling like I am on a diet. When I think of diet food I think of food that leaves your taste buds and stomach unsatisfied. With a attempt to reverse that I am focused on experimenting a few dishes that are made with all natural healthy ingredients that taste amazing and just happen to good for you.
My first attempt is at Tomato basil soup, our local grocery store sells this fresh in their soup selection and its heavenly but with every bite you can taste the calories so I was looking to make a home made version of the same.
A quick google search later I settled on a version by Barefoot Contessa Roasted Tomato Basil soup ,click on link for the original recipe that was the inspiration for this dish.
If you happen to have a crock pot then use it like I did to keep the soup brewing without having to watch it all the time. If you don't have slow cooker just simmer the soup for 30 minutes on the stove top.

What you need to pick up from the grocery -
8-10 Plum Tomatoes, 1 bunch of basil, 28oz can of plum tomatoes, 1quart chicken stock (home made is great)

What you need from your pantry -
6 cloves of garlic, red pepper flakes , olive oil, butter, salt & pepper, (optional -Agave syrup,milk)

1) Cut plum tomatoes in half, garlic cloves in half place in roasting pan and drizzle with 2 tsp olive oil. Convection roast at 375 for 40 minutes.

2) Saute onions and chopped garlic in olive oil and butter . Add red pepper flakes.

3) Add 28oz can of whole peeled plum tomatoes and chopped basil into onion mixture. Season with salt and pepper

4) Transfer the onion/tomato mixture , roasted tomatoes and chicken stock into the crock pot. Let the whole thing simmer on low setting, I set it for 4 hours.

5) Use immersion blender and puree the soup until its finer. As a final extra step I passed the whole chunky soup thru a course food mill to give a soup an much smoother consistency.

When the soup was done it was a little too acidic for my taste so I added 1/4 cup of milk and a tsp of Agave syrup ( substitute sugar if you don't have that) and heat on low until ready to eat. Serve with a garnish of basil, 3-4 croutons and optional dash of grated cheese.

Enjoy on a cold rainy day with the ones you love. If you have any other slow cooker or healthy tasty recipes feel free to share .

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Five Word Fridays

Thank God Its Finally FRIDAY !

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

I am

I am – trying to figure out what is wrong with my back. I seemed to have injured it working out and now everything I do hurts. Sitting here trying to type on the computer hurts the worst. I really must go and lay down to rest it. This back injury is really literally becoming a pain in my a**.

I am thinking – about how to achieve a date night with my hubby . We have both been so busy in our everyday chores ( job/kids) that we have not taken the time out to just connect with each other. This week that’s my goal. Date night with Hubby.

I am looking outside my window – and I see sunny skies and a thinking about the huge snow forecast we have for the northeast tomorrow. All of these clear evergreens will be dressed in 10-18 inches of snow if they are right.

I am reading – two books by comedian Chelsea Handler . One I just started is called Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea . I just finished her other funny book called My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands which is basically a collection of information about ALL her one night stands. Funny easy read. I would rate it 2/5 its an OK read if you are looking for something easy to make you chuckle . Certainly not deep reading but I am just in the mood for silly reading. The next one I have lined up to read is Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings- by Tyler Perry's Madea. Can you see a pattern here, I am taking a break from serious reading here LOL.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

My 7 Cub scouts just crossed over to Boy Scouts

This past weekend 7 of my (technically only one is really mine) boys graduated from being cub scouts to boy scouts. We had a Blue and Gold celebration dinner and a crossing over ceremony al of which was a wonderful experience. They actually have a bridge that the scouts physically cross over symbolizing the end of one path and the beginning of another (Can you hear me dabbing at my tears). This year is an extra special year as it’s the 100th anniversary of Scouting.
I have been involved in scouting for about 9 years now since my oldest became a tiger cub. I led his dean and transitioned them to boys scouts a few years ago. He continues to remain pretty active in his troop and loving every minute of it. Just last weekend he was out at a wilderness survival camp sleeping OUTSIDE in 20 degrees with nothing but a tent and a campfire Brrrr.

Being a Den leader means putting in a lot of effort in making sure that the boys are getting the most of what they can from this wonderful program. Trying to lead a Den of 7 boys with bundles of energy has its rewards and its challenges. Today I turned over yet another batch of scouts to the BSA and its sort of bitter sweet. It’s been 6 years of spending an hour or two with them twice a month coming up with activities to do, things to explore and fun to have. I have watched most of them transform from the little cubs that they were when they started in 1st grade into these wonderful young men that they have morphed into. I sort of feel like the mama bear that has to let her grown cubs move on into the woods and hope that I have given them enough to survive on their own two feet.

Now here they are poised to move into Middle school and I am so proud of their accomplishments and cherish all the wonderful memories of the journey to getting here. In a few years they will perhaps have moved on and barely remember any of their early scouting days. I however will always look back fondly on all our adventures and always remember them just as they are today. I hope they all continue to stay with the Boy Scouts of America organization and make it to the rank of Eagle. I wish them all the best and hope that in some small way have made a difference in their lives for the better.

2 down 1 to go.

So two of my cubs are grown and made the transition so far. I still have one little cub left who has 2 more years to go before he makes the transition to Boy scouts and I am planning on enjoying every moment of him while he is still a cub. Its neat to see him following the footsteps of his older brother. Startling to see realize how fast he is progressing and leaping towards the finish line.

I already have one teen hanging around with attitude, another poised to be “tween” this year so I know I need to enjoy the “baby cub” while there is still time. I am afraid to blink cause before I know it I’ll have a house with 3 teenage boys walking around. Yikes !

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Five Word Fridays

Dreaming of vacation with hubby.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Quote This!

Your opinion of me is none of my business.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Just a quick thought...

If the restaurant chain "Hooters" were to offer a delivery service would they change their name to "Knockers" ?

:)

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Five Word Fridays

Boy in Striped Pajamas - Movie

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I am

I am wearing - pink and green flare gypsy skirt and and a pink top, staying away from back as usual. In fact I just purchased a WHITE coat. Not sure how long it will remain white but for now its cheering me up.

I am looking outside my window – and its cold but I see sunny skies.

I am reading - The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Its a very interesting read from the perspective of the Black help in White homes in Mississippi.

I am listening to – Say Hey by Michael Franti.

I am – headed out for a fun afternoon with by 2 BFF's celebrating one of their birthdays. Going over to a William Sonoma store for a cooking technique class in searing and simmering soups. Hopefully there is good food and we might learn a recipe or two. Looking forward to lauging and spending quality time with my GFs.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

New year New resolution.

I may not be posting as much as I want to but I just realised that I have made some progress on my 52 goals for the year. So I am taking a moment to celebrate the ones that I have completed. Lots left to do you yet and I need to refocus on these items and get moving. So I guess my New years resolution is to refocus on the things that are important to me.

1) Take a go-see-it vacation : This summer we ended up taking a trip to Costa Rica and we went Zip lining over trees. That's a whole blog post in of itself.
2) Build a new garage - well its a long long process with lots of roadblocks...
3) Loose 5 pounds - really need to kick start this process and give it more serious attention and focus.

4) Take voice lessons : Few months ago I started vocal lessons in Indian classical music. Makes me realise how much I lack in musical ability LOL. Its been great, I am glad I am doing it cause its something I always wanted to do since I was a little kid and I love singing .

5) Go apple picking with the family
6) Go berry picking with the family
7) Teach the kids to ride a bike
8) Learn to swim without fear
9) Surprise my H for lunch
10) Host an afternoon tea with my Girlfriends

11) Paint my sons room : OK so I hired painters to do this but hey its done so it counts.
12) Paint the front door : OK so I hired painters to do this but hey its done so it counts.
13) Paint the bathroom door : OK so I hired painters to do this but hey its done so it counts.
14) Get some yard work done

15) Plant Basil for the summer : It was great to have fresh basil on hand when needed. Definitely on the list for next year.
16) Plant an Hibiscus tree : Done but as we speak it is dying out side in the cold as I forgot to bring it in once the cold set in .
17) Plant a Jasmine tree
18) Set up a plan for DH”s 50th Birthday
19) Spend a day with each child exclusively
20) Get drapes for the bedroom : Done and they are pretty multi color striped.
21) Take sewing lessons
22) Take the kids to a museum
23) Repaint the guest room : done
24) Clean the office
25) List 50 items on EBay
26) Buy a new set of dishes
27) Donate my time/expertise to a Nonprofit
28) Start a new friendship
29) Have lunch with a friend I don’t see often
30) Go see a play with my husband
31) Go see a Broadway show in NYC
32) Teach the kids rollerblading
33) Climb to top of a mountain with spectacular views
34) Hike with the family on local trails
35) Go racing with my DH
36) Learn and master a new recipe
37) Eat breakfast regularly
38) Take vitamins regularly
39) Get a physical
40) Get a mammogram : Done- All clear.
41) Go to an annual OBGYN visit : Done - All Clear
42) Go to the gym 3-4 days a week regularly- been doing good all of 2009 hope to step it up in 2010.
43) Stick with the blog for 365 days

44) Ride my bike

45) File paperwork for my mom

46) Paint the kitchen baseboards

47) Spend an entire day in silence

48) Fast an entire day

49) Have a family movie night in the basement

50) Frame and display family photos

51) Spend a whole day without using any power

52) Read 25 books

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Useless facts

Here are some interesting and useless facts to make you chuckle.

Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise. (Since Venus is normally associated with women,
what does this tell you!)

You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.

The King of Hearts is the only king WITHOUT a moustache.

Turtles can breathe through their butts. ( if you dont belive me google it, I dare you)

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

I am

I am – trying to put back my house together after having painters and contractors in here for the past 2 weeks. The end result on the walls and floors is pretty but there is just so much stuff that was moved around and it all needs to be put back to where it belongs. So much dust covered every square inch of the house.

I am looking outside my window – and I see leaves all over the driveway. Its clear and warm but the leaves are just everywhere.

I am listening to – Calle Ocho it is a fun upbeat dancing song I love to hear in my Zumba class.

I am thinking - about the NY Yankees and I hoping that they play well and win the WORLD SERIES tonight . Go Yankees !

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Quote This!

An Eye for an Eye ends up making the whole world blind - Mahatma Gandhi

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I am

I am – still here , haven't blogged much recently but I am still here .

I am looking outside my window – and I see the leaves beginning to turn into these delicious shades of gold and orange.

I am cooking – Eggplant Parmesan for dinner tonight.

I am trying – to get back into a regular routine of going to the gym at least 4 times a week. Over summer with the kids being home he routine was kinda of sporadic. Now I am trying to get back on track. Today I did a Zumba class ( my fave) and 25 minutes of the treadmill.

I am reading – A Million Little Pieces by James Fry.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Kabhi Kabhi Mere dil mein khayal aata hai

If you are familiar with Indian music then you know this song. This blog entry is my homage to this incomparable love song. Such beautiful poetry and the melody made unforgettable by Mukesh, Lata and of course the one and only Amitabh Bachan.

This link will take you to the song as sung in the movie “Kabhi Kabhi” : Kabhi Kabhi original Male version .

Here is the Kabhi Kabhi original Female version of the song again from the movie .

A link for a portion of the Kabhi Kabhi poem recited by Amitabh .

For those of you who want to explore the origins of this beautiful song here is the poem in Urdu as written by Sahir Ludhiyanvi .

If you are brave enough to stray from the original masterpiece and want to see a Remix here is one to enjoy. Thankfully it still has Amitabh Bachan's charm to pull it off.

If you have any link to better or different versions please share so we can all enjoy it.

For those of you who don't speak Hindi and hence don't really get the song, I am sorry there is no decent available translation for it on the web, trust me I have looked. Just suffice to say IMHO its one of the best love songs out there telling of a love story that could not be.

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Quote This!

We can only appreciate the miracle of a sunrise if we have waited in the darkness.

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