a place to share...

Twelve recipes.

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 18:35:00 +0000

“Rare is the cookbook that acknowledges the simple truth that there aren’t really all that many recipes in the world. There is just technique, and practice, and joy and love, and at the end of it something simple and delicious on the plate, something that the reader may not have considered making before cracking the spine of the book."

image via; quote via

I got this for us (all four of us) for Christmas. We cracked it open to chapter 2 last night~ "EGGS", to see if he included a hard boiled egg refresher, as each chef usually has their own spin. It did, & he did. The peels came off so easily this morning... easier than I've ever experienced (& the eggs were very fresh- straight from the coop!).

This book is exactly what our family needs this year. For reasons far beyond easy-to-peel eggs. But that alone...

To you {and you and you and you}.

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Thu, 25 Dec 2014 09:20:00 +0000

A little love note {#throwbackthursday}...

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 16:38:00 +0000

...goes such a long way.

{...as does a little meyer lemon. ~ 12-7-2013}

Channeling my inner crone.

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 17:29:00 +0000

image via

If you need a little (or- a freaking TON of) extra motivation today, READ THIS.

Seriously, as our mother's/fathers like to "advise" us- just do it.

And then ask yourself: "WHAT WOULD MY INNER CRONE DO?" (or- "WWMICD?" if you're short on time... because, it is Monday, after all. And that's almost as treacherous as Chernobyl.)

Something old, something new {#throwbackthursday}.

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 06:44:00 +0000

'something old (a pair of coupes gifted to us by my mom at our wedding),

something new (a damn good bottle of champagne gifted to me by my cousin for my birthday)'

...a throwback to my birthday of march, 2013~ in which we sat back, toasted to year #38, & watched the beautiful, final film of James Gandolfini~ to highlight {more importantly~ recommend} two of the best movies i've had the pleasure of watching this past year...

~one to rent, & one to RUN to get your ticket now~

1) Enough Said
2) The Judge

i guarantee~ your weekend will be dramatically improved.

Cloudy with a chance of chili {or reese's pieces}.

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 22:07:00 +0000

Clouds ~ triple check.
Chili ~ check. {and then some}
Reese's Pieces ~ there's always next year.

A web of magic {#throwbackthursday}.

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 06:49:00 +0000

Since I went so long without posting, I think I'll do a little #tbt-ing on Thursdays... Just for my own "journal-ing" purposes.

{disclaimer: unedited... unfiltered pictures... the days of spending hours on posts are gone... at this point anyway. afterall, i've got chili to prepare, cornbread to bake, spooky movies to watch... sleep to attain, before the wonderful madness begins...}

{nosferatu x2}

Halloween is hard work.

But the planning, creating, curating, decorating, embellishing, adorning, carving, lighting, .... when it's all spun together- well, it's nothing short of magic.

What you need to know...

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 18:26:00 +0000

...about 6-foot trick-or-treaters.

I shared this article {on Facebook} last year (along with the caption, "Exactly, exactly, EXACTLY..."), and I still feel the {exact} same way.

Friday eve, October 31st ~ See ya on the streets (my 5-foot-something someone included :))...

In favor of early...

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 20:31:00 +0000

image via

{book via}

Touched.

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 14:34:00 +0000

I woke up, scrambled to the kitchen to brew coffee (my "brewer" is out of town), & before I even filled my cup, I filled my brain with the dread of all that needs to be done today... After a weekend of camping, & a Monday spent starting (and finishing) a book for tonight's book club, a LOT has to be done.

Then I watched this.

And suddenly, my to-do list felt much more doable.

{On} Civetta.

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 21:34:00 +0000

image via

As more time goes by, the more I realize that the days I dedicated to writing, reading, commenting, & best of all~ connecting with new friends- beyond my own four walls- will always remain some of the best days of my life.

That said, I plan on getting back to it... or better stated~ making time for it.

Thanks to my beautiful, hilarious, soulful {#505} friend (&, like most of my 'blogger friends'~ we have never met. in person that is. but we will! beer/wine/coffee/green chili aplenty), I have an ENTRYWAY:).

She asked if I would fill out one of those questionnaires that I (apparently, we!) love so much. They are without-a-doubt the first pages that catch my eye in a magazine... Wasn't Real Simple the first to feature the ones with 'real' [non-famous or high-profile] people? Well, those were definitely my favorites. The ones I could relate to. I was honored that she asked me, & was overly excited to participate.

Thought I'd share it with you... & more importantly, share her, & her creative space so that you could get to know this lovely soul for yourself. {Here you go!}

{how can you not love a person who takes a picture like this??}

Making {salad} out of nothing at all...

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 17:33:00 +0000

image via

Taking the 'minimalist approach' to stocking our pantry/fridge as of late, & deciding {in light of open-house} we needed to ~~not cook/clean~~ grab takeout for dinner~ the leftovers that were to be today's lunch were nonexistent ... & the 'minimalist shelves' weren't overflowing with options.

...a bunch of baby kale, a basket of lemons, an almost-to-down-to-the-rind piece of Parmigiano Reggiano, and of course~ garlic...

Dr. Weil came to the rescue. Tuscan Kale Salad. "...the sunny taste of Italy to your table." So simple. SO good.

Speaking of Italy-- now to figure out how to manifest part two^.

{p.s. Pine nuts are a nice addition :).}

Me before you.

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 15:31:00 +0000

This book is painfully good.

...and I mean that in the best possible way.

It is tugging at my heartstrings in all the right places.

That luminous part of you.

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 16:56:00 +0000

"Do those things that incline you toward the big questions, and avoid the things that would reduce you and make you trivial. That luminous part of you that exists beyond personality – your soul, if you will – is as bright and shining as any that has ever been. Bright as Shakespeare’s, bright as Gandhi’s, bright as Mother Teresa’s. Clear away everything that keeps you separate from this secret luminous place. Believe it exists, come to know it better, nurture it, share its fruits tirelessly."

{an excerpt from George Saunders’s Advice to Graduates}

The language of flowers.

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 03:55:00 +0000

I just finished The Language of Flowers yesterday. I loved the idea of being so utterly knowledgeable/mesmerized by flowers… by the meaning behind each one… and the emotions that they induce... the sentiments they express.

Acacia (Acacia) . . .Secret love

Baby’s breath (Gypsophila paniculata) . . . Everlasting love

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) . . .Hate

Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis) . . .Passion

Camellia (Camellia) . . .My destiny is in your hands

Carnation, pink (Dianthuscaryophyllus) . . .I will never forget you

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) . . .Energy in adversity

Cherry blossom (Prunus cerasus) . . .Impermanence

Chervil (Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) . . .I haveloved you and you have not known it

Daffodil (Narcissus) . . .New beginnings

Dahlia (Dahlia) . . .Dignity

Daisy (Bellis) . . .Innocence

Magnolia (Magnolia) . . .Dignity

Moss (Bryopsida) . . .Maternal love

Olive (Olea europaea) . . .Peace

Orchid (Orchidaceae) . . . Reﬁned beauty

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) . . . Joy

Peony (Paeonia) . . .Anger

Peppermint (Mentha) . . .Warmth of feeling

Ranunculus (Ranunculus asiaticus) . . .You are radiant with charms

Raspberry (Rubus) . . .Remorse

Rose, red (Rosa) . . .Love

Rose, yellow (Rosa) . . .Inﬁdelity

Rosemary (Rosmarinus ofﬁcinalis) . . .Remembrance

Saffron (Crocus sativus) . . .Beware of excess

Sage (Salvia ofﬁcinalis) . . .Good health and long life

Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) . . .Change

Strawberry (Fragaria) . . .Perfection

Sunﬂower (Helianthus annuus) . . .False riches

Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa) . . .Dangerous pleasures

Tulip (Tulipa) . . .Declaration of love

Water lily (Nymphaea) . . .Purity of heart

Wheat (Triticum) . . .Prosperity

Wisteria (Wisteria) . . .Welcome

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) . . .Cure for a broken heart

Zinnia (Zinnia) . . .I mourn your absence

{a portion of the flower dictionary}

I want to... and will learn this language.

Images via (top to bottom) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Hello.

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 17:08:00 +0000

Tear it up.

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 14:42:00 +0000

image via

we went to an 80's party a couple of months ago. i stole one of ryan's shirts & transformed it into this {flashdance style}.

i never want to take it off. in fact, this weekend, i don't believe i will.

A losing battle.

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 21:33:00 +0000

we've made the 'chia seed pudding' twice, and it's already a favorite, that will be on the weekly rotation

{& it needs to sit overnight... so when you wake up all tired & groggy on a monday morning, breakfast is served :)}

For Christmas, I was gifted with Giada's newest cookbook~ Giada's Feel Good Food. Although- at this point- I've only made a few recipes, I really like it. It includes lots of lifestyle tips, a huge focus on flavor/texture/balance, small portion, high-energy, low-sugar (all-in-moderation-philosophy) foods/recipes as opposed to low-fat/sugar-free/artificial/deprivation.

This line in the introduction sums it up...

This is not a diet book. I don't live my life on a diet; I just don't believe in them for me. They are tough to stick to and encourage a sense of deprivation or missing out, resulting in roller-coaster weight loss and gain--and the mood swings that come along with that. I'm not a yo-yo and I can't put my mind or body through that. Instead, I have adopted a balanced way of cooking, eating, and living that works for me and my family. This didn't happen overnight, or by sitting down and scribbling a bunch of rules to follow, but rather over time, by tuning in to my body and what makes me run the smoothest and tuning out what doesn't.

I'm (finally) realizing that this is the route for me.

While I want positive results (when it comes to weight-management, house-management, etc...), I am tired trying to WIN THE BATTLE (whatever it may be), while losing myself in the process. A battle in which I am my own component... in which success is ONLY achieved at the end of each day if the house is spotlessly clean... every last drop of laundry tucked neatly away... every calorie accounted for... A battle that I fail to win. Daily.

Sustainability. Energy. Health. Gratitude. Intention. Peace. Compassion. Love. Intuition. Abundance.

This is the place I want to begin & and end each day. Each battle.

My wish to you...

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 10:07:00 +0000

Relax.

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 17:12:00 +0000

image via

I had planned on posting a few pictures... Christmas-tree shopping, mulled cider mulling...

I planned to do this last Sunday for Monday's post.

Didn't happen.

But decorating did happen- prior to '10:00pm'! (we intend to start everything early, but we tend to run behind)... drama-free! {SUCCESS!!}

Planned again to do it last night. A few more pictures to add to the mix... light-hanging, letter-writing (yep... those santa letters still happen!)...

Didn't happen.

But shopping did happen... and not only did it happen- it doesn't have to happen any longer, cause it's DONE. Hours and hours and days and HOURS later, but it. is. done. And wrapping did happen... prior to the usual hell that is us buried in unwrapped presents at the very, very last minute (Christmas eve)... cursing our way through... all the while trying to make them look festive... unique... creative... cute...

And this movie happened too.

And arguments were forgotten... undone tasks forgiven...

Unshared pictures filed.

Wish.

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 15:33:00 +0000

{my birthday is march 30th. fyi.}

{...& card available here. fyi.}

Advent.

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 21:10:00 +0000

After seeing this simple brown-bagged advent calendar on one of my favorite blogs last year, I stored it away in the overflowing "next year" file. Thankfully, a year much less hectic than the past, in which one could find me scrambling to Party City to pick up a boxed chocolate-filled calendar (post December 1st), after finding that Trader Joes' were long gone (as they should be, because who would still be in need of one?).

We've gone through several 'calendars'... rustic & wooden... build-a-lego-a-day... but in the past few years, as life got a bit chaotic, we've resorted to paper-box-+-chocolate (usually generously gifted from grandma).

And who am I kidding? As long as the kids get candy (their main mission in life, as rightly stated by Jerry Seinfeld... so funny), they could care less where it came from, & how 'Santa' delivered it.

But this was really fun to shop for & simple to create (simple, as in- Ryan & I quickly painting, filling, & hanging on Sunday morning... thank God the kids sleep in!)... mostly filled with lots of little cheap goodies (not only candy).

Day #1 was Baci chocolate... others are Candy Cane ChapStick, gold coins, striped straws, hot chocolate packs, a red lifesaver... and a green in another bag... jingle bells to hang on their back packs...

But by far, the best part is seeing the huge amount of anticipation & JOY that such a tiny treat can create.
{even in a teenager :)}.

{day 1~ reading their Baci messages}

{day 2~ very early on a Monday morning, after having been off of school for a week... & very blurry~ but it made me laugh- in the midst of major grogginess... holding up their bells}

{day 3~ this time we waited till after school (Jacob leaves at 6:50am for zero period, when Hailey is still sound asleep!)}

{day 4~ a little bit of cheer, in the midst of a whole lotta' homework}

{day 5~ wanna kiss?}

If you've read my blog for a while, you may notice a theme complaint of wanting-to-do instead of doing. It's my biggest 'area of opportunity' (as they'd say in the corporate world)... an area in which I'm working hard to surpass. So it feels nice to have a 'next year' item moved to 'this year'.

Starting point.

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 17:31:00 +0000

Only from the heart can you touch the sky.

~Rumi

Time off.

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 20:20:00 +0000

started with a birthday cake & ended with a pie. {my kind of holiday}

{if you didn't get your homemade pumpkin pie fix- or even if you did- this is a good recipe.}

Impress.

noreply@blogger.com (torrie) — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 22:59:00 +0000

image via

{i was tagged by a gal who was one of the very first in this blogging/internet world to touch my soul, in a big way... thanks danielle :)}

and now, we're off... to a place where our hearts [glasses] are full & minds at ease... to celebrate ryan's #39!

i hope your weekend is filled with the best of... whatever your 'bests' may be...