HAPPY HALLOWEEN
click on title
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
My Fashion Confession
I am a fan of Talbots clothing.
(note the very Superman like logo!)
I must admit I have never purchased anything from their stores or catalogue but every time I shop in a thrift or consignment store I always pull out garments with their labels attached. I have a number of Talbot's well made classic items in my closet.
This season I am really wanting to buy so many things from their on-line catalog that I can only suggest you click on the title to surf the site on your own.
Tuesday's Mental Musings
Despite my confidence and independence I can be vulnerable and in need. It is not easy. I was taught not to be. I was taught to be invincible. I was taught not to show fear. And I was never taught how to be vulnerable and to voice my needs in a way which is a request rather than a plea....that is something I had to learn by trial and error. And believe me I made a lot of errors but I learned and am still learning to be heard...
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Poor Man's Rich Dish
Sunday dinners were sacred in my family. The generations would gather around the table and eat until we popped. There always seemed to be a Mets baseball game on in the living room, some Auntie telling us kids to stop running around and my Nana's famous chocolate cake. Because of the size of my family we had to take turns having these dinners at my great grandparents and even my grandparents home but each unit of my family kept the tradition.
The truth of it was that we never had much but like the story of stone soup(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_soup ) the table was always laden with more than expected but never less than what could feed us. Sunday meals were about sharing and preparation. My Aunts and older cousins would shop on Saturday afternoon for whatever ingredients were needed. Saturday evenings were spent prepping, seasoning, soaking, mixing and baking and Sunday mornings, after church for some, were spent cooking, frying and finishing the meal as a group effort.
The following recipe is one I now make when family is coming and I need a large platter dish that is easy and economical but impressive when served. The basic ingredients are chicken parts, a few sausages, onions, potatoes and rosemary. I have been known to switch out the sausage for bacon, add mushrooms or shallots, use basil instead of rosemary and red peppers instead of onions. Because of this versatility the dish can be as large or small as you need..
All the work is in the preparation but it is so worth it. And if there are any left overs it gets better the next day!
You Will Need
A Large Flat Bottom Skillet
A Large Baking Pan
Olive Oil
At least 2 heads of Garlic, 1/2 head chopped, the rest smashed for baking
LOTS of Rosemary
Salt & Pepper
1 Chicken, cleand and cut into pieces, lightly salted and peppered
4 Sausages, cut into pieces (I tend to use chicken or turkey)
1 1/2 lb Small Potatoes, cut into quarters
6 Small Onions, peeled and quartered
Heat Oven to 350F
Heat Skillet
Cover the bottom of skillet with thin layer of olive oil for browing chicken
Have baking dish ready
Add chopped garlic to heated oil
add a few sprigs of Rosemary
add a bit of salt & pepper
Add chicken pieces, skin down
Allow the skin to crisp before turning
DO NOT COMPLETELY COOK CHICKEN
Pour everying, oil and all, into the waiting baking dish
If all pieces can't fit into the skillet, repeat the steps in batches
Reheat skillet and cover bottom with another thin layer of oil
Add garlic, a few Rosemary sprigs and sausage.
Again, brown all sides, don't cook through
Pour into the baking dish
Pour a bit more oil into the hot "sausage-bits-on-the-bottom" skillet
Add garlic and Rosemary and drop in Potatoes
Allow them to brown and pour into waiting baking dish
You may need to work in batches
Now forget the skillet an pay attention to the baking dish
Mix in cut raw onions and smashed garlic cloves
Salt & Pepper
Add lots of Sprigs of Rosemary
Cover with Foil and bake for about 35-45 minutes
Juices should form, if not I add a little water mid-way though.
Serve with a great French bread and a good white wine!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Tour de Bronx
The 15th Annual Bike Tour happens
Sunday, October 24
This year's starting point -
click on title to go to site for more details!
Neighborhood Bakery
Prior to the changes that have occurred in the East Village over the last few decades the mostly Latino neighborhood boasted of many family owned and run bakeries and restaurants that catered to the peoples in the area. I thought those days and food opportunities were long gone until I turned the corner of 3rd Street, between Avenues B & C, and happened upon Rossy's Bakery (242 East 3rd).
The modern layout and interior design of this bakery belies the old fashioned foods and baked Spanish-Caribbean goods made and sold here. For those of you not in the know try the toasted soft Caribbean style bread and butter with a cafe con leche, the guava based pastries, the flan or the rice pudding (my favorite!) that is sold in a $2 serving too large to eat at one sitting. They also sell cakes, cookies and cupcakes that rival any other known bakery and fast sandwiches and meat or cheese filled pastries that are perfect for a quick lunch.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Thursday's Art Openings
Geography of Affection: 6 Portuguese Artists in New York
Rooster Gallery
190 Orchard Street
Thursday, Oct 21 6-8 PM
Alain Douillard - Le Forgeron Du Fur
Magen Gallery
54 East 11th Stret
Thursday, Oct 21 6-8 PM
Moom Beon - a place/a shade/a fade
Kim Foster Gallery
529 West 20th Street
Thursday, Oct 21 6-8pm
A Traditional Halloween in New York
The 2010 Village Halloween Parade
route Spring Street to 21st Street along 6th Avenue
Starts 7PM on Sunday, October 31st.
click on title for details
click on title for details
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
They Say 3 Make's It So...
So I am posting photos of the 3 colors of the Brahmin's Campania Crossbody I am drawn to.
Maybe posting the 3 photos will materialize at least one of these bags.
Universe, there's space in my closest!
For a closer look at and other color options for this $245 bag click on title
PASTAAAAAAAAAAA!
With winter coming the craving for comfort foods comes with it.
Can you hear the chants for Pasta, Pasta, Pasta!?
Click on title to go to NY Times slide show for 38 recipes
One is bound to comfort you!
(psssst pass me a bowl of Spaetzle with butter and I'm good!!)
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
At the Desk
BMYG!ILym!~~_3.jpg)
This Desk was on Ebay.
I fell in love with it.
Of course I want to change the colors a bit.
Unfortunately it was a pick up only bid and I am no where near where it's located.
Into my Maybe-One-Day folder this image went.
There are no less than 5 desk images in that folder.
On day one of those desks will materialize.
Everyone should have a Maybe-One-Day folder. It allows us to dream and more importantly direct our intent so that we come to know ourselves.
Every 3 months or so I sit with my folder and review the things that have manifested and those things I no longer desire. I love to edit. I find a sense of satisfation in letting go of things that no longer seem to be must-haves in my life. It allows me to direct my attention and gratitude towards the things I do have. It makes me feel that I have progressed in some way. And more importantly it helps me see the themes in my life so that I can avoid acquiring things that don't support those themes. This doesn't mean I don't experiment or go in directions that seem to be a journey, but by holding onto ideas and images of what I desire those journeys just seem to bring me home.
In the end we are who we are and though who we are is always evolving it is at our core we are always the same. Knowing your self takes effort and honesty and dreaming and sometimes it takes a Maybe-One-Day folder.
A Place Called Home..
click on title for some Brooklyn history
(My great grandparents in their Bergen Street yard)
(http://www.weeksvillesociety.org/)
(http://www.weeksvillesociety.org/)
Friday, October 15, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
The Dream Bag
I, like most women I know, love Chanel's quilted bag. And I, like most women I know, can never afford to purchase a Chanel's quilted bag because other things seem to become priority whenever we find the intent and purpose to even consider buying one. So when I saw Melanie Auld's Lambskin purse it's no wonder I went all atingle. At $360.00 it's a bargain when compared to the aforementioned brand but is still something I, and most of the women I know would need to budget for.
click on title to get a closer look
P.S. I love the large quilting, I believe it makes the bag feel modern.
P.S. I love the large quilting, I believe it makes the bag feel modern.
Payless Prices with a Name
$34.99
in black or silver
Storm Rain Boot by Christian Siriano for Payless
$49.00
Go into a PAYLESS SHOE STORE near you for hands on quality/size check
Thursday's Art Opening
Kim Joon: FRAGILE
Sundaram Tagore Gallery
547 West 27th Street
Thursday, Oct 14 6-8 PM
Marco Breuer: Nature of the Pencil
Von Lintel Gallery
520 West 23rd
Thursday, Oct 14 6-8 PM
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Three Little Things....
I know about coffee
Always grind your own beans!
I use a Kitchenaid Grinder
Always add a pinch of salt to the grinds before brewing
Always use cold water to brew
ENJOY!
5 Women & A Bottle of Tequila
and talk of men is bound to happen.
This weekend we talked about men that reflected the diversity of our group and the following selection was considered -
This weekend we talked about men that reflected the diversity of our group and the following selection was considered -
Boris "speak German to me" Kodjoe
Russell Wong
Lenny Kravitz
Adam Beach
Wentworth Miller
and Viggo Mortensen thrown in for good luck
(when considering men you have to cover all bases)
Tuesday's Mental Musings
Yesterday was Columbus Day. I was at my desk working. I could have taken off. I didn't and unless the company is officially closed you will always find me at my desk.
I don't and will never celebrate Columbus. America was never undiscovered and if I wanted to celebrate the European domination of America I could reach further past good old Christopher and find many others who hit these shores prior to Columbus being supported by Spain to go out and find things worth bringing home, including those indigenous to the lands he came upon. Or I can just look to family and friends whose ancestors came to America, by choice or force, and invested in a land that became home.
I just wish that the holiday would be turned into the "Italian Heritage Parade". See many of us have forgotten that many "white" Americans were concerned about the wave of mostly Southern Catholic darker complexioned Italians that hit America's shores in the late 1800s-early 1900s. The turning of the "Founder's Day Parade" and/or smaller "Columbus Day"parades into a national holiday was part of a campaign to ease the tension of that immigration.
It served its purpose. Most Americans don't question the presence of Italians as part of the American Diaspora but it's now 2010 and aren't we passed hiding the truth? Though we should never forget our history can't we stop washing over the truths and instead of investing in actions that caused pain that is still having national and individual repercussions here in America just celebrate the gifts that those hard working immigrants brought with them and shared with us?
© Simone Rene 2010
I just wish that the holiday would be turned into the "Italian Heritage Parade". See many of us have forgotten that many "white" Americans were concerned about the wave of mostly Southern Catholic darker complexioned Italians that hit America's shores in the late 1800s-early 1900s. The turning of the "Founder's Day Parade" and/or smaller "Columbus Day"parades into a national holiday was part of a campaign to ease the tension of that immigration.
It served its purpose. Most Americans don't question the presence of Italians as part of the American Diaspora but it's now 2010 and aren't we passed hiding the truth? Though we should never forget our history can't we stop washing over the truths and instead of investing in actions that caused pain that is still having national and individual repercussions here in America just celebrate the gifts that those hard working immigrants brought with them and shared with us?
© Simone Rene 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Slow & Steady...
Organizing and sewing a wardrobe rather than making individual garments is like creating a line. All the clothing and accessories should to be a cohesive presentation of your taste and style. Doing that involves culling, revising, more culling and really addressing the whole of the wardrobe while giving each garment the individual attention it needs to become something really wonderful to wear.
Some of you may recognize more than a few of these images and patterns from an earlier post that shared my inspiration boards. These photos show the next steps which involve editing the photos and coordinating them with patterns and fabrics so that the picture of and process become clearer. You may also see that you have repeated the same shapes and styles, which is good because those repetitions are an echo of your desired style.
I rarely drape or make a pattern from scratch. Everything has been done before and it is much easier to adjust an existing pattern to meet my needs. Of course knowing how to size is important but the good thing about using existing patterns, photos and a simple sketch showing the changes you want is that you can seek outside help from seamstresses and tailors that know their art.
Once you have the outline of the all the garments you want made you can address each by truly considering fabrics, lining and notions needed for construction. The back of the pattern is useful in determining this.
The key to maintaining the concept of a wardrobe rather than the making of an individual garment is to regroup all the sketches, pictues, fabric swatches. I ususally place each "garment" into a large plastic freezer bag. Doing so allows me to see images and fabrics and often the fabrics will cross polinate to other items, for example the quilted bags below introduce themselves to a hat. I then re -pin each bag to the inspiration board in an order that feels right to me - accessories (hats, bags), blouses, suits, pants, skirts, dresses, coats - so that I can see the individual projects as a whole.
Making a wardrobe is an investment of time and resource. Forgive yourself for not getting it all done at once because unless you're designing a line for the season you have as much time as you need to determine your own style.
All Images © Simone Rene 2010
I Know You Are...
The Return of Pee Wee Herman
This time he's arrived on Broadway
From October 29 - January 2
at
The Stephen Sondheim Theatre
124 West 43 Street (between Broadway and 6th Ave.)
124 West 43 Street (between Broadway and 6th Ave.)
click on title for more details
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