Guac Around the Clock

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I never thought I would be someone to make my own guacamole until somebody made it for me. I had a certain Chipotle I always went to because each restaurant made it a little different, and that particular one made it exactly to my specifications. Nothing compares to the homemade version....nothing. You can add as much spice as you want and omit whatever you want and it's super fresh and tastes so much better. When I make it, I use primarily just avocados, sea salt, red onion, lime juice and fresh cilantro. You can also add tomatoes, jalapeno or whatever else your heart desires. I also have gotten into making my own chips as you can see below...

I heat cooking oil in a shallow pan (be careful) and quarter the tortilla. Either flower or corn works great, but I had better luck with the corn tortillas as you see above. I drop maybe five or six pieces in at a time and let them turn a golden brown. When you take them out, lay them on a paper towel, and then immediately sprinkle sea salt on them. Let them cool and dry completely before serving. I would prepare these in advance if you can.

"The idiot's guide to making guacamole"....

4 ripe avocados
1/2 minced red (sweet) onion
sea salt to taste
1 tbsp lime juice (or to taste, whatever you feel works best)
2 Roma tomatoes, diced (optional)
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

I core the avocados with a spoon and scoop it out into a bowl. Use a fork to mash it up and then add the rest of the ingredients. Stir well. Serve immediately. Ole!

PS. If you want to add a little kick, remove the seeds from a single jalapeno pepper and dice it to add to this mixture.

Street Savvy

 I consider myself pretty athletic. I snowboard, love to work out, kayak, rock climb, skydive, and have aspirations of learning to surf one day. After seeing "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty", I wanted to learn to skateboard. I bought a short board for my son for Christmas and then thought it would be great if we could learn side by side. There are two main types of boards. The short and the long. Pictured here is the short on the left and the blue is a smaller version of a long called a "cruiser". It's one of my favorite colors and reminded me of a surf board so of course it came home with me. I don't see myself making this a way of life but a way to have fun and connect with my son. Let's ride.

Tip Toe Through The Tulips

If you're not into nail polish the way that I am (I have an inordinate amount) let me bring you into the "know" as to one of the latest and greatest ideas in beauty that I have seen come across drug store counters in the last couple years....SCENTED nail polish. Not only is the smell long lasting even after a top coat, but it goes on well and doesn't chip as easily as some of the other more expensive brands out there. Now you can not only smell good, but look good......

all with the swipe of a tiny little brush. Here are three of my fall favorites.

The Sunset Strip

 Instagram is inundated with sunset photos. They are everywhere. I remember last spring during Coachella I felt that if I had to endure one more Ferris Wheel picture I might simply delete the app forever. I mean there had to be SOMETHING else going on there right?? However bring me a beautiful sunset and it will stop me dead in my tracks. I will try and break the sound barrier to get home in time to snap a quick picture. I cannot get enough whether it be stateside, seaside, mountainside, countryside, lakeside, hillside, or roadside. I am ever enchanted by their infinite beauty. Here are my favorites from this past year. Grin and bear it.

                                     (This one was gifted to me but too gorgeous not to share here.)

Hats off to the Weekend

                                     
Here is the sweater I got at Goodwill. It definitely helps if you can try things on (I was in a rush) because it's kind of itchy. Being outside having my picture taken was a new experience with the frigid temperatures and howling wind but absolutely nothing can keep me away from a beautiful sunset. 

Habitual Drinker

I am quite sure you yourself or someone you know has had a diet soda addiction. At one point I was even diagnosed with a slight heart murmur which, after further questioning, was attributed to the fact that every single day since college all I ever drank was diet soda. About this time last year someone finally gave me the push I needed to quit. I wanted to impress him maybe or show off a bit so I just switched to coffee overnight. It was agony those first few weeks. I drink my coffee black in order to avoid the extra calories so just getting used to the taste was excruciating. A year later and I now like the darkest, deepest coffee I can buy. My little trick for the morning rush is to drop a single ice cube in it and it cools to the perfect temperature. Enjoy!!

"GOODWILL" Hunting

 It has to be like five or six years since I last was in a "resale" store. To be honest none of the denim I own except a few pairs of ripped and skinny jeans are mine originally. I bought most from consignment and resale shops within the city and LOVE that each pair is already worn in and has shrunk to the perfect length. Now I am on the hunt for things for my place to make it more me. I want it to have more personality, be more cozy, feel more like home. Here are a few of the items I picked up over the last month from several Goodwill stores here. I even scored an Ann Taylor Loft sweater for next to nothing. Worth the trip.