3/8/2013 0 Comments Monet-esque Kind of DayThere is something about a sunny day that makes you want to get out and do everything on your mental list you always wanted to do on such a once-in-a-blue-moon occasion.
Well...That's probably the mindset of a Seattleite like myself who is used to (and admittedly usually enjoys) the rain. Today, the Sun has come out, and it has done so in highlighting not only the general scenery but also the little, emerging signs of spring. Flowers are blooming, birds echo in a sing-song melody beginning as early as 6am and stretching on to 7pm or so, and clothing stores have brought out the brightest palette of clothes one can imagine...So bright that, as someone whose fashion sense includes a love for muted, neutral colors like navy and beige, I find it alarming when I see store mannequins wearing pink skinny jeans and a yellow-white striped top. But, I digress. Probably regardless of where you live, it's always nice to take advantage of the state of weather that is most open to activity and interaction (both with people and nature). What are your plans for this lovely Friday? How does it look outside your window? If your outdoor scenery is encompassed in a Monet-esque view of vivid blue and soft, glowing yellow, get off your chair already and make the most of the Sun's rays! :) ~~MC
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1/21/2012 0 Comments Sweeps Away Cobwebs...There is something authentically reinvigorating about watching the clouds part to reveal a burst of energy in the form of sunlight. :)
I have been studying at Starbucks for the last few hours, and it wasn't until I looked out the window to see this transformation that I had gained enough energy and motivation to get through my readings! It's funny, you don't realize how big of an impact weather can have on you until it changes drastically. As a Seattleite, I've never minded the cloudy/rainy days that we get 90 percent of the time, personally because those days make me feel cozy and motivated to snuggle up with a hot cup of tea and watch a movie (...or study, if I have to :) ). But when Seattle gets those sunny days--which we only get during the Summer and on those unpredictable occasions in Autumn and Winter--, the bright, golden rays of sunlight seem to sweep away any cobwebs of weariness or frustration I may have had...And that is a great feeling indeed! Thus, I really appreciate those particular days that don't come around so often. It's great in general to appreciate the Sun and all that comes with it--with the all-of-a-sudden open range of things you can do outside (I am referring to what you can do in the Summertime when it's hot, of course), such as snuggling up with a cold glass of homemade lemonade...and watching a movie (again, referring to the Summer because no student would be studying in that time of year!). Or, even not during the Summer, those sunny days can always be effortlessly fulfilled by the brisk walks to take while wearing your warmest (and most stylish, no doubt) peacoat, hat and gloves; by taking the grand opportunity to turn yourself into a professional photographer and capture any aesthetically pleasing instance that sunlight bounces off of something (or someone, if you plan on taking portrait pictures...); or even just stepping out of the house early in the morning while everything (including your mind) is still fresh, to take in all the natural energy (and vitamin D) you may need to take on the rest of the day. So especially while we are still venturing through the cold, brisk days and nights of January, these are the chances to take advantage of everything the sunlight brings. :) Enjoy! ~~MC Hello! So this is a sort of continuation of my last post--about the wonderfulness and splendid aura of sunshine, and about the breeziness of Summer season. :) Especially if you're a Seattleite, one's eyes will be opened to a new world when it comes to sunny places! Before I flew to California last week, I was covering every inch of myself with warm shoes and clothes as I spent 90 percent of my days at coffeeshops, cozying up to hot mugs of heaven that helped me escape from the rushing (yet calm-inducing) waterfalls happening outside the windows... ..And now all of a sudden, I'm wearing flip flops, jumping in swimming pools, and eating frozen bananas (covered in chocolate and on a stick, otherwise just a plain frozen banana wouldn't be delicious of course ;) ), in a place where clouds and rain are replaced by an overwhelming wash of baby blue and golden yellow! Plus, not only have I actually seen my toes free from the constraints of shoes and colder weather, but my eyes have also beheld seemingly endless beaches infused with the sounds of laughter and splashes, as well as with the rich smell of flowers and Summer that linger all the way into cool nights. I do love Seattle and its cozy lifestyle, as there's no other place where I'd rather live, but it is always nice to have a change of scene from time to time. :D It's exciting that way, because without that kind of change it's hard to see life as a never-ending series of adventures--which is how people mostly want to live their lives. So whether it means taking a vacation like what I'm doing, or just switching up a few decorating pieces in your home for a fresh look to wake up to the next morning, your days will become more of an eye-opening experience than a set of routines. So put on your brightest swimsuit, take in a breath of the fresh scent of something new, and jump in! ~~MC You don't realize how big of a diffference a change of weather makes, until the weather changes...That's why I'm telling you to enjoy every sunny day that comes to you! :) (both in the literal and figurative sense...)
My family and I flew for our lovely family vacation to California, to a city about an hour-long drive from Los Angeles; and since our plane landed, I have been almost overwhelmed by the joy that comes with sunny weather--Flip flops, short pants, swimsuits and swimming pools, cold and blazingly refreshing drinks; I actually needed to take a step back to believe that I had just swtiched to these wonderful things, from Seattle's almost-completely-opposite weather (not that I don't love Seattle; but it never hurts to step out of routine and into something extraordinarily different..). So throw on your flip flops, put on your most flattering pair of sunglasses, and get yourself outside to enjoy the golden rays! It will make the rest of your day positively, infinitely, undeniably more relaxing and filled with that highly-anticipated Summer vibe. ;) ~~MC Hello all!
I hope you are enjoying the first day of Summer so far--It's finally here!! :D ...And I think I was this excited as to use exclamation points already by the second sentence, as well as a giant happy face, because Seattle doesn't get purely sunny days very often during the year (as you probably have already heard), so today is definitely a day to enjoy. :) It is cloudless in the sky and the birds are gleefully chirping nonstop, and I plan to savor every minute of it until the Sun goes back to its resting place. Anyway, I want to share with you the first recipe I decided to bake from, that I read in the lovable memoir A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg (I mentioned her in a previous post on this page, called Coconut Sauce and Powdered Sugar). I baked the amazing chocolate cake last Wednesday late at night, as I stirred up the hot fusion of rich butter and delectable chocolate while watching Love Bites from the corner of my eye as it played in the living room. And once the cake was ready, I had to lie to my mom that "I used oil not butter", and "No, I didn't add any sugar," to get her to enjoy the dessert...My family is very healthy, so that was the only way I could get them not to miss out on the times one may find some of life's little pleasures in desserts. Thus, I ended up eating most of the cake until I finally scraped up the last of it this morning as part of my breakfast...yet I didn't mind that one bit. ;) I have to warn you by saying this is honestly the best chocolate cake I've ever made or tasted...I needed to warn you before you also find yourself trying not to devour all of the cake! I hope you enjoy the chocolate mountain of heaven; I sure did! (see the recipe below I copied from Molly Wizenberg's well-known and well-beloved blog Orangette.) ~~MC P.S. I personally thought the cake tasted better after it was refrigerated for awhile...That way, it tastes denser as you get a stronger taste of the rich chocolate. 7 ounces (200 grams) best-quality dark chocolate 7 ounces (200 grams) unsalted European-style butter (the high-butterfat kind, such as Lurpak or Beurre d’Isigny), cut into ½-inch cubes 1 1/3 cup (250 grams) granulated sugar 5 large eggs 1 Tbs unbleached all-purpose flour Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, and butter an 8-inch round cake pan. Line the base of the pan with parchment, and butter the parchment too. Finely chop the chocolate (a serrated bread knife does an outstanding job of this) and melt it gently with the butter in a double boiler or in the microwave, stirring regularly to combine. Add the sugar to the chocolate-butter mixture, stirring well, and set aside to cool for a few moments. Then add the eggs one by one, stirring well after each addition, and then add the flour. The batter should be smooth, dark, and utterly gorgeous. Pour batter into the buttered cake pan and bake for approximately 25 minutes, or until the center of the cake looks set and the top is shiny and a bit crackly-looking. (I usually set the timer for 20 minutes initially, and then I check the cake every two minutes thereafter until it’s done. At 20 minutes, it’s usually quite jiggly in the center. You’ll know it’s done when it jiggles only slightly, if at all.) Let the cake cool in its pan on a rack for 10 minutes; then carefully turn the cake out of the pan and revert it, so that the crackly side is facing upward. Allow to cool completely. The cake will deflate slightly as it cools. Serve in wedges at room temperature with a loose dollop of ever-so-slightly sweetened whipped cream. Note: This cake is even better on the second day, so consider making it the day before serving. 5/12/2011 0 Comments Every Seattleite's WishHello! I have today's idea of a small and easy way to make your day loads better than it already has been so far!
And here it is...Sun! :) All week I was dreading the weather reports saying that Seattle was to yet again be covered by buckets of rain, and that the Sun would be too lazy to come out...But this morning I looked out the window and found myself so overjoyed I thought it was Christmas morning! ...When these things happen here in Seattle, it reminds the fellow Seattleite that little things like the weather can have a dramatic effect on your mood. So, when you see the gold rush of sunlight emerging from the silent clouds and vibrantly brightening the sky as it warms and relaxes you, even if you live in LA where it is sunny pretty much 24/7, enjoy that feeling every second! Have a lovely (sunny) day! ~~MC P.S. Since sunlight is such a special thing to me as a Washingtonian, I decided to label "Sunlight" as its own category for this blog (and for future ones...)- Enjoy! :) |
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