Bizzaro Valentines

I totally heart these sarcastic Valentines Day cards. 

 Via Pinterest

Via Paper Crave

Via Prettybitter

Via Caffe Press

The Strike

It's the most horrendous, horrible and depressing time of the year.  Time for my 4th Annual Shopping Strike.  Every year from February until Easter, I give up shopping.  This includes all fashion items: clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories.  So basically anything pretty and wearable is off limits.  I can usually hold out without too much temptation until the end of March.  But this year will be especially excruciating...Easter isn't until April 24th.  How will I survive?  One way to cope is to create a spring wish list.  I've already created the first...of what I'm sure will be many. Waahhhh.

 1. Pretty Watercolor Floral Print Dress

2.  Super 70's Wide Leg Jeans

3. The Perfect Nude Heels

4.  A New Spring Scent

1. Elizabeth and James Dress  2. Hudson Jeans  3. Gucci Platform Pump  4. Kate Spade Twirl Perfume

My Three Favorites

Here are three new discoveries I thoroughly enjoyed this past week:

The sweet potato gnocchi with pancetta & leeks in a basil cream sauce at Caffe Valentino in South Philly.  The perfect creamy, heavenly & comforting Italian dish.

The steamy Woody Allen flick Vicky Cristina Barcelona.  The most gorgeous cast of actors and scenery.  I want to go to Spain so badly now.

The photo and blog sharing site Pinterest.  I have discovered so many beautiful pictures (like the above shot of Muenster, Germany).  Now I want to go there too, if only for the cheese :)

Whatta Man

Happy Friday!  Although I don't really care about the Super Bowl, I am excited to attend a family party & eat all the glutinously yummy food.

Perhaps I would be more interested in the Super Bowl if there were more flamboyant footballers like Joe Namath in the NFL today.  Any athlete who wears fur coats and pantyhose is instantly awesome!

Happy New Year...Chinese-style.

Happy Chinese New Year!  It's the Year of the Rabbit.  Those who are born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious. They are virtuous, reserved, and have excellent taste. Rabbit people are admired, trusted, and are often financially lucky. They are fond of gossip but are tactful and generally kind. Rabbit people seldom lose their temper. They are clever at business and being conscientious. They would make good gamblers for they have the uncanny gift of choosing the right thing. However, they seldom gamble, as they are conservative and wise. They are most compatible with those born in the years of the Sheep, Pig, and Dog.

Chinese zodiac info via here.  Photo via The Bowery Boys.

Fell In Love With A Girl...And A Boy

I'm so sad to hear that The White Stripes have broken up.   I have always been a huge fan of their amazing music and kooky sense of style.  Thank god the supremely talent Jack White's music will live on via The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather.  In memoriam....

Madame Marian's Stir Fry

This past Sunday my parents had the family over for my brother's birthday.  My mom made a vegetable stir fry for dinner that was to die for.  The recipe is below, it's a perfect dinner for ringing in the Year of the Rabbit on February 3rd.

*Veggie Stir Fry

 

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 medium sweet onion, chopped

1 tablespoon fresh ginger root, chopped

1 head broccoli 

1 bushel asparagus

1 red pepper 

2 carrots 

1 yellow squash 

1 zucchini

2 cups snow peas

2 cups green cabbage, shredded

1 package mushrooms

1/4 cup peanut oil

Heat oil in a wok and add the garlic, onion and ginger.  Cook for about 5-7 minutes. Add all the veggies and cook until tender yet still crisp. Add a little more oil if needed.  

Sauce (can be made in advance)

½ cup corn starch

¼ cup brown sugar

1 tbsp chopped ginger root

1 clove garlic chopped

dash of red pepper

¼ to ½ cup soy sauce

1 tbsp peanut butter

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

¼ cup Marsala wine

¼ cup or less of water for thinning if needed

Combine all ingredients.  Add to stir fry during last few minutes of cooking.  Serve with white or brown rice.

*Shrimp, beef, pork or chicken can be added if desired.  Cook the meat first with the garlic, onion and ginger.  Put in bowl and set aside.  Add more garlic, onion, ginger and oil before cooking the veggies, then add in meat after veggies have cooked.