Wednesday, February 6, 2013

"Cake Boss" our trip to Hoboken

This past Saturday we took a drive to Hoboken to visit the famous Carlo's bakery from the TLC show "Cake Boss". It was a surprise birthday gift for my goddaughter who turned 12 on Saturday. It is her favorite show and she has been yearning to get there.

It was a cold clear day on Saturday and we were prepared and dressed to sit outside for hours . According to all the reviews on the web they all told stories of hours long lines. Well here is a little secret ..if you get there first thing on a cold February morning(7am and 15 degrees Fahrenheit ) you can walk right in!! We even got a free parking space right in front of the store! BONUS!! ( needless to say i was having horrid hot flashes from all the layers I had!) Damn you pre menopause!!!

So let me give you a quick outline of the visit..

1. no we didnt get to see any of the cast nor were they filming.

2. His Italian pastries are good, (yet not the best I've ever had though)

3. Unfortunately his cakes are very heavy and too sweet.( my ex husband's family are professional bakers, so I am somewhat of a snob)

4.I would not recommend basing a trip around this ...if your a fan coincide it with a trip to the Big Apple.

However, any experience with and for my goddaughter is completely worth it! I love you Peanut !

My Peanut Gabe!

My little guy checking out the goods

Buddy from Cake Boss

After while we took a walk to the river to stretch our legs and here are some of the sights...

Love this sight!

Lower Manhattan.. the new tower is almost done

Lackawanna railway..such a beautiful building.

On a creative note, here is a peak of the second of my tea towels...

Have a beautiful day!
Ming

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Valentine Tea Towel finished and SNOW!

And it is up in my Etsy shop ! I decided to leave it alone, without adding anything more stitching. I have another one similar in mind, so maybe I'll try it there.

Along with this....


My "Little Flower" Stroller set

It was a great morning ...I got to sit and have my latte with some of this stuff...

My new machine !

Sometimes a bit of credit card debit can get you these things called "reward points" and you can get one of these! Heehee

Have a great weekend !

Ming

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Wip let love in & vintage day

The towel is almost done..I am obsessing if it needs more. I added a crochet trim, as adding a fabric border just looked to busy. I am now wondering if it needs some stitching around the hearts. Here's a look..

here it is pre-sewn

I have been dying to use this yarn "seduce " by Berroco

So what do you think? I'll give it one more day of thought.

On another note, my mother gave me more of my baby things. This one is my favorite, isn't it sweet!

I guess I am considered vintage now (41)!! Well I am feeling it this week and because of this my 19 yr. old daughter gave me these today...

Isn't she SWEET!

Hope you are experiencing some sweetness today.

love and peace

Ming

Sunday, January 27, 2013

WIP Valentine embroidered tea towel

WIP Valentine embroidered tea towel, a photo by All things Ming on Flickr.

Let love In

“Hate is too big of burden to bear. I have decided to love."

Martin Luther King jr.

Most of us as humans have become hardened throughout our lifetime.

Like that ice cream condiment, you know the hard shell one, that you dip the ice cream ... that starts off soft and becomes hard as the outside elements hit it hiding the soft delicious ice cream underneath. Yes, it does add some taste but it's not the good stuff!

We have to bite into it break it apart to get to that yummy soft ice cream.

Yup ..that's the good stuff right there!! My youngest in Italy, 3 yrs ago eating Gelato !

This hardening often happens without even knowing it, It is just what life does. As we make our journey we pick up attachments, fears, identities, anxieties, and conditions that mold us into who we become. Some of these are good and some, well I don't want to say bad, but they harden us. Creating a shell of protection. Sometimes this is necessary for our emotional survival in life. Cause let's face it life can be tough. We pick up a lot along the way. As this happens our true "self" gets burdened.

I often notice how hard or closed off I am when I am driving. There I am, just driving along, thinking all is well and then I notice the white knuckles of my hands gripping the heck out of that steering wheel. It is a key sign that I need to do an internal check in of my mind. I look for all the places or thoughts that are hardening me, closing me up and making me heavy and becoming burdened,

The quote above reminds me off this ...of all the heavy or burdening thoughts I can tend to hold onto and carry..Oh how heavy I feel some days! I wouldn't say they are all negative ..but think of it ( another example ) as a heavy hand bag carrying a bunch of "stuff" that we may have once needed and are finished with but still carrying. When we finally notice and say " Wow how did this get so heavy" and clean it out we are surprised at how light and soft it feels...

In yoga one of the first cues in class is to become soft, put down the mind stuff and open up and become soft . This does not happen instantly ..TRUST ME!! It takes constant reminders and internal "check ins" Yet if we remember a few ques it may help...Open...Soften...and Let Love ...In and watch that hard shell melt away or that heavy handbag become light and reveal our true nature. A nature that I believe is open and full of LOVE

So here is my creative inspiration this week...

work in progress embroidered tea towel

I just love this print...sweet isn't it?

I need to finish the applique and add some fabric or crochet trim. Perfect for Valentines Day!

and I finally got some of that winter weather i have been longing for!

It's not much but I will take it !

Peace and Love

Ming

Friday, January 18, 2013

Where is winter ???? and a frosty giveaway!

Hello Hello,, where are you winter ? I was so looking forward to the supposedly hard Winter we are forecast-ed to have ? It's been rather gloomy in Nj with lots of rain and rather warm temps.

My gloomy backyard

What is going on !? The wood pile is stacked ready, sweaters are out of storage and waiting and so am I!

I know some people think I am crazy but I love the winter, I love the stillness, I love the frosty air, I love the winter sky during the full moon. The luster it gives the landscape below. There is such a mediative quality to Winter. I love the fact that it is time to withdraw a bit into a semi hibernation . It's a time to regroup, rest and prepare for the Spring renewal.

Speaking of which, it totally bothers me ( yes I said totally ..something my 5 yr old is into saying these days) that the minute New Years passes all you see and here about is Spring . Winter just started about 3 weeks ago seriously..totally ?

Well as they say if you want something done, you just have to do it yourself . So the other day I made some snowflakes of my own. Take a look...

I went with the very popular pink and teal color scheme.

I love to hang these in my windows

All three as part of my monthly giveaway

To go with the snowflakes I made my Rustic Minestrone soup, Winter may not be here but the flu season is ..This soup is packed with nutrients!

Rustic Minestrone soup

Ingredients:
Olive oil
1 large onion
1 cup carrots sliced
4 stalks celery sliced
1 head cauliflower cut into florets ( keep them on the big side they will fall apart)
2 bunches Kale
1 cup cooked Farro ( this is like an Italian barely , so you can substitute with barely if you can't find it)
4 cups broth ( I used Imagine "no chicken" broth ) veggie or chicken
1can whole tomatoes

Cover bottom of soup pot with olive oil , add onion sauté a few minutes then add carrots and celery .
Sauté another five minutes. Add the cauliflower cook another few minutes . You want to give all the vegetables time to "sweat " in the pan . Add the broth , tomatoes and salt and pepper .Cook for about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile cook the Farro or barely as directed on package. Drain when finished.

Back to the soup ... Add the Kale and cook about another 10 to 15 minutes ...add the Farro/barley to the soup add sparingly at first because the grains will soak up a lot of the broth as it sits. Sprinkle with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese if you like . Serve and enjoy!

And if your Winter is lacking snowflakes as well, just leave me a comment and these three snowflakes will be yours to add a bit of sparkle to your window. Part of my giveaway this month.! (i will pick randomly) Also I will have some kits this weekend in my Etsy store as well!

Have a great weekend and be well!
Ming

P.S. just saw the forecast ....some winter temps heading our way ..No snow though :-(

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Holiday 2012 & Happy 2013

Happy New Year! I hope this post find you all well and happy. It was a busy one around here and I am sad to see it go. We had a lot of family time and family visits. I am so sorry to see that when New Years day hits that the celebrations seem to end . We are right in the middle of the 12 days of Christmas!! What about the Epiphany!! Well our decorations stay up till " Little Christmas" and I am looking to plan a holiday get together next year during this week. Wouldn't it be nice, why don't you join me.

I'm not big on resolutions (me no bueno). Yet I am hoping that the insanely busy fall that sidetracked me has passed and winter will allow me some space to work on this blog and get more into the etsy store !!!

Here is a peak what went on around here...