european union

i am not sure what's going on, but in the last couple of days i have shipped to new customers in london, somewhere in ireland, germany, and twice to australia: better check the exchange rates!

how to make stroganoff

i love beef stroganoff! but, its very fattening with the sour cream and all, and frankly, i prefer to eat vegetarian during the week. so, after much thought and even more craving, i thought "why not leave out the meat?" and substitute extra portobello mushrooms...well, it worked! so delicious, satisfying and like zero calories when you substitute greek yogurt for the sour cream.

here is how i made it:

olive oil to coat bottom of large pan
2 leeks or a large onion (or a combo of the two), chopped and/or sliced
3 large portobello mushrooms, sliced bite size
pepper to taste
3 tbs flour
1-1/2 cups stock or water
1-1/2 cups greek yogurt
8 ounces egg noodles
1/2-3/4 cup pasta water from the bottom of the pot (save at the end of draining)
fresh italian parsley, finely chopped


1. heat a large pan and add olive oil
2. add onions and cook over low-medium heat for 10 or more minutes
3. increase heat to medium-high and add mushrooms; cook for 5 minutes or so
4. season with pepper (i also add cumin, dry dill or whatever i feel like)
5. stir in flour: the mushrooms and onion will be dry
6. add stock/water; bring to a boil and reduce by 1/3 while constantly stirring
7. remove from heat
8. temper yogurt by adding small amounts of the warm veggies to the yogurt and stirring after each addition: add to pan and remove from heat
9. meanwhile, cook noodles al dente; drain and add to pan with the last 1/2-3/4 cup of pasta water.
10. heat on medium-high and stir stroganoff until creamy.
11. top with chopped parsley
12. serve and eat!

weekend bites

the weekend started off super windy and ended up just chill. i consumed some delicious food, and although i didn't feel like sharing at the time, i have now changed my mind!

friday night the mister and i headed to guardado's in bethesda.

i discovered this place through a living social coupon i bought, and have continued to patronize it because the tapas are yummy, the mojitos are divine and the staff is friendly and attentive.

saturday, ham sandwiches from the honey-baked ham shop,

followed by a divine vegetarian mushroom stroganoff and crunchy salad with an incredible dressing (recipes tomorrow).

yesterday, after a quick visit to return things to ikea, we headed downtown to comet ping pong for wings and a smoky pizza: de-lish! as an interiors architect, i find the design of ping pong curious, but it was entertaining watching patron after patron trying to locate the restrooms and then asking for assistance in opening the "artistic" (?) doors:

this had to be super annoying for the staff as it happened no less than 10 times in the one hour we were there. anywho, its over, so back to work!

tonight's sunset

we are having amazing thunderstorms right now, but earlier this evening, the sunset was glowing. what a beautiful day! totally better than yesterday...

happy president's day

happy president's day!

happy valentine's day

happy valentine's day!

forgot to get a card?

print out one of anna's: she know's the score.

today's problem: legal drugs

not too sure what mr. bennet is talking about, but every year thousands of americans die from legal drugs, typically overdosing on their prescriptions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: some are celebrities and some are not. the CDC reports prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions: in 1999, prescription drug abuse caused 4,000 deaths and by 2008, that number increased to 15,000 people. in 2009, drugs exceeded the amount of traffic-related deaths, killing at least 37,485 people nationwide. well over 90% of americans take prescription drugs of some sort. the CDC also reports that nonmedical use of prescription drugs costs the U.S. medical system $72.5 billion annually in health care costs. to quote my favorite medical professional, dr. funkenstein "the bigger the headache the bigger the pill"...

lavender daze

vinyl purse-like-tote -... TotallyDawn $20.00	Love You Long Time Hear... BootyHeartJewe... $42.00
amethyst nesting heart ... JDWolfePottery $30.00	Sari infinity scarf Rosesnpurls $20.00
Sea Glass Photography 5... OceanSkye $12.00	Vintage Toy Telephone S... TidBitz $32.00
Lavender and Geranium F... vintagehouse1 $2.95	Butterfly Island - lav... soapstarcanada $6.00
Toddler Girl Bonnet - L... HeirloomsbyEli... $18.00	Lavender Bath Set, Lave... SherrysSuds $25.00
Heart-Shaped Paperweigh... GlitterbirdGla... $22.00	Newborn Knitted Double ... UpperDukeDesig... $12.00
heart earrings designoptions $18.00	Berrywine Soap ThunderBaySoap... $5.00
Lavender Travel Case - ... sophiascircus $18.00	Handmade OOAK purple pe... FifiStitch $46.25

lovely lavender treasury for v-day from WishfulSpirit

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

from here to infinity...

road trip to the tate modern to hang out in the infinity room.

color blocking

with all the warm weather we have been having this winter, i have spring fever! but i'm not putting the woolens away just yet, as i have some work to do...like comparing my spring wardrobe to the chart above: it would be so embarrassing to be seen wearing an incorrect hue!