{whatever wednesday} — self.

23 Jan

it’s high time i shoot some more self-portraits.  the last time i did that was in 2010. and it’s very liberating and healthy for me to occasionally get in FRONT of the camera. it’s kind of an unspoken general rule – photographers don’t like being photographed. i don’t mind it sometimes, so long as i’m the one taking the pictures! 😉

i remembered this collection when i was organizing my files recently. sometimes i feel like about 86 personalities inside this tiny little physical form of a body.  i feel very introspective at the moment – so i thought i’d share these fotos which emulate just that.

New York City Continue reading

{try-me tuesday} – a pomelo fruit

22 Jan

ever seen one of these? you may have passed them in the produce section and wondered what that odd-looking grapefruit type thing was… well, it’s a pomelo – or, pummelo. they aren’t exactly inexpensive, i will say.  this is because they are usually sold by the pound and are rather heavy.  i paid about 4 bucks for this one… but i bought it with the specific intent of sharing it on the blog with all of you.  they are super yummy.  if you like grapefruit, there’s a good chance you’ll like a pummelo… the rind is very thick {about a half inch to inch} and the flesh is usually pinkish, but can vary depending on size, origin, etc.

try one!

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this guy weighed about 2.5 pounds – i’ve seen them as big and as heavy as 4 pounds – that’s like a 9 dollar piece of fruit! haha

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check out that rind!  {and that pretty colour!}

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so yummy. and so good for you : fiber, vitamin c, and potassium all come with pummelo’s yummy flavour.

try one, for real!  eat them by the slice, throw them in a smoothie {white part too, it’s full of fiber!}, add to a fruit salad, freeze and throw in some soda water… whatever you do, enjoy it!

{meatless monday} — spaghetti squash primavera; it’s kind of one of my favs.

21 Jan

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i make this meal a lot.

it’s basically just a bunch of vegetables.  have you ever had spaghetti squash?! it’s amazing.  i want to make some kind of soup with it soon… ideas are welcomed!

i moved recently, as i think i mentioned… and i’m still getting used to my new kitchen.  i will admit i very much miss the kitchen i used to live in – i just loved how big and open it was and with LOADS of counter space… but i’m grateful for my new home and once we get the garden going, i will be extra joyous!  and yes, i will be blogging all about that adventure!

here’s today’s simple meatless monday recipe.  takes a bit longer to make than most of the dishes i feature on this blog, but this is well-worth the wait! so good for you, packed with nutrients and vitamins and yanno, it obviously tastes amazing or why would i bother?! 🙂 Continue reading

{foto friday} — the ultimate drinking cup for fotographers

18 Jan

my aunt gave this to me for christmas.  how cute is this?!

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i totally thought it was a new lense at first!  …

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they did a good job on the detail… Continue reading

{thirsty thursday} — shitake mushroom and cippolini onion risotto w/ an authentic abbey

17 Jan

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i’m extra excited about risotto now. wanna know why?! besides the fact that it’s kinda fun to make – i just found out that risotto is naturally gluten-free… hooray for that!  it’s a rather starchy grain, and makes for an outstanding vegan dish such as this.  simple ingredients, simple cooking, COMPLEX flavour!  delicious.  i super heart risotto, and you should too… it’s easy to fall in love with it.  here’s what i made for this dish :

mushroomrisotto-web-1 Continue reading

{travel tuesday} — enchanting rooftop at dusk

15 Jan

well, you may have guessed this would be another blog about new york city…  i can’t believe it’s been a year and a half since i moved… i miss it lots in some ways, but i also know it was the right thing to do to move when i did.  i love to reminisce about my days in the big apple because sometimes i take for granted just how incredible that experience was. i feel i don’t always appreciate myself or the experience enough… not to mention, all the awesome images i captured while there!

this collection is a special one.  when i look through it, i can very easily be whisked away to this very enchanting night.  the ambiance, the dinner that was prepared for me, the dessert, too!, the sky, the brisk air, the moonrise, the way i felt… so vividly i remember it. the very last foto in this blog encompasses the whole evening.  but please be patient and scroll through all of them first 😉

thanks for sharing this with me…

New York City

i always loved the fire escapes in the city… Continue reading

{whatever wednesday} — whatever!

9 Jan

seriously though – whatever.

i mean, i have so much to catch you all up on.  not only delicious food and drinks but also photos and updates on practically everything.  my entire life has shifted and there is an abundant amount of change occurring in every corner… not only in my own life, but in everything i see around me.

i moved recently.  totally different environment. it just happened so fast, everything is happening so fast… it’s for the best, and i’m just going to trust my heart on this one… still in the transitional period, but am integrating well…

my diet is changing more and more every day.  i cleansed for a few weeks prior to 12/21 – and i’m sure that effected my body.  i’ve noticed now that i can’t tolerate certain foods anymore… i literally spit out a piece of ham over the holidays.  i’m not one for eating much meat anyway, but i like to savour it as a treat on special occasions.  i couldn’t eat it.  i don’t know if it was the salt or if my body is just that smart but i was like, “okay, i can’t eat pork anymore, ever.”  i also have been eating less wheat. even though it’s not prevalent in my diet, i can’t stomach it much anymore… it’s hard for me to digest.  i recognize this and so i just listen to what my body is telling me… dairy.  ohhh – damn you, dairy!  i haven’t really been one to drink a lot of milk or eat a lot of ice cream {i’m kind of lying on that one} but i do loves me some cheese. mm mm, but ohhhhh no i can’t do it anymore. some are better than others – parmesan and feta aren’t so bad.  i’m pretty much down to a vegan diet lately. and i don’t like soy products or highly processed foods, so that basically keeps me down to eating almost a raw organic diet.  and i guess i’m mentioning this because it could greatly shift what this blog is all about.  it’s a new year, and mine has been off to a start full of change and i’m free-flowing in the wind… a blank canvas.

what else?!  so i moved, i’m vegan… oh, my meditations are getting better.  i had a lull for a bit, but i feel like i’m back on track and in a good practice again.  and there is something happening in my life in the field of love – and it’s powerful.  my heart is transforming, that’s all i can say for now…

i began writing a book. mostly about my life… particularly, what i went through shortly before, during, and after the shift of the calendar day december 21, 2012… the end of the mayan calendar… my life hasn’t been the same since….  it’s gonna be a good one! 🙂

my grandmother passed away.  i’m flying back east to be with my family for a few days – that is the blessing in disguise about these things… it’s always nice to see family, but it’s a lousy reason to get together… it’s okay, i’m at peace about it, no doubt.

so… i’ll be back next week and i hope to use the new moon energy from friday to catapult me into the next phase.  i’m keeping my heart wide open, and making decisions only from that place… because it FEELS RIGHT.

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still seeing these everywhere i go…

{foto friday} — LOVE actually is… all around.

4 Jan

well – for me, it seems to be EVERYWHERE i look lately — even my toilet paper has a heart-pattern on it.

the truth is – i’m changing, and therefore – so is the world i {we} live in.

LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE

{kind of looks like “evolve” in there, eh?!}

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LOVE this scarf… i just might have to wear it every day 😉

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🙂

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everywhere… Continue reading

{meatless monday} — “amazeballs” – a new year’s resolution-kinda snack you can enjoy 7-days a week!

31 Dec

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a new year is ahead of us. {hooray!} this means a lot of different things to a lot of different people.  for me, it means manifesting only good things derived from light, happiness, peace, honesty, community, harmony, respect, and most of all – LOVE. because that’s just how it has to be… and it will be.

and for a lot of people, new year’s resolutions are a common theme – many of which include things like “living a healthier lifestyle” or “eating better” and the like.  so in the spirit of new beginnings and living a healthier, simpler, easier life – here is a recipe i came up with a couple weeks ago that will blow your taste-buds away.  they’ll want to be calling more buds and be like, “dude, you gotta try this!”

easy. healthy. simple. delicious.

that’s how i roll. just like these “amazeballs” – and they’re sweet and savory – like me 😉 Continue reading

{foto friday} — a choiceless choice.

21 Dec

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happy new year! — xxoo

 

oNeLoVe

{thirsty thursday} how to eat AND drink a pomegranate

20 Dec

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pomegranates are so pretty.  look at that colour!  i just love it.

i’m sure you’ve had pomegranate juice before, it was all the rage for a while. it’s still amazing, but i wondered if everyone knew how to actually cut and eat the whole pomegranate itself.  it can seem intimidating if you aren’t sure. so here are the steps i take when buying this seasonal deliciousness.

i figured i’d buy one since they are only 2 bucks on sale right now, and just use the seeds to throw in the vitamix with my smoothies.  pomegranate juice is usually kind of pricey, so i thought this was the most cost-effective way to get my antioxidants, fiber, and vitamin c out of this amazing fruit. Continue reading

{whatever wednesday} — these are a few of my favourite things…

19 Dec

i love doors.  i especially love to fotograph doors.  my love for them was discovered during my days living and working in manhattan, wandering aimlessly through the streets with my camera, snapping away… so many doors… so many stories behind them… so many opportunities around represented in each one… i love and miss that place, and always will.

The Village Continue reading

{try-me tuesday – the “christmas orange”}

18 Dec

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not to be confused with a clementine or “cutie” that you find in conventional grocery stores, you can typically purchase these tasty delights in most grocery stores, in the produce section… but only in the winter season.

meet the satsuma tangerine… also {rather appropriately} referred to as a “stem and leaf” tangerine… Continue reading

{meatless monday} something fun for the holidays! — mini chocolate-dipped lady apples

17 Dec

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every now and then, i’m creative with sweets.  i’m not much of a baker, so i don’t keep common baking components around the house – i seldom even have milk in the fridge.  half & half, maybe… anyway, i wanted to try to make some candy-dipped apples of some kind without having to make an extra trip to the store, so this is what i came up with. i bought the apples prior, with the idea of creating something fun with them for the blog, and i had all the other items lying around.

i just think these are so fun – take them to the office for the holiday party, or make them as a special after-school snack for the season… either way they’re super easy and cute and everyone will love them! Continue reading

{foto friday} — looks like somebody got into the tinsel…

14 Dec

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happy holidays from my cat, calle.

insanely cute, isn’t she?! 🙂 you should hear her meow… it’s ridiculous.

{thirsty thursday} — snowfall, a christmas movie, and eggnog : the perfect december combo

13 Dec

hooray for snowfall this week here in colorado! we SO needed it!!!  we need a lot more, but the mountains got much more than we did in the city, and i’m grateful anyway.  my roommate and i went out to snap a few fotos near the lake by the house, but it was seriously freezing {about 18 degrees}, so i didn’t stay out long.  just long enough capture the mood and run back in 🙂

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we didn’t get much – not even an inch. Continue reading

{whatever wordy wednesday} — a heart-shaped sweet potato and my alter-ego, “magenta ellis”

12 Dec

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“you always buy the unique-looking produce… the ones no one else wants, the oddballs, the misfits!” — a coworker said to me.

it’s true.

i like anything out of the ordinary. because me?! – i’m out of the ordinary…… i mean we are all unique, just like everyone else, right?!

but i’m a very old soul… and i’ve seen a LOT in my some 10 thousand years… and in my current waking life, i often feel like some of the fruits and vegetables i buy – discarded, overlooked, passed-by, out-casted, and just plain weird.  but dude, i’m totally still edible – and you know – some things get better with age… 😉

well… i found this potato particularly interesting because it kind of represented me.  not only was it heart-shaped, as i obviously am, and which i find a lot of random things that find their way into my visual path are, but it is also kind of two different colours.  it almost looks as if a garnet yam and a jewel yam are intertwined.  it got me thinking about how i believe we all have a duality to us. i was having a conversation with a friend about all the changes going on in the world right now – the talk of 2012 doomsday, or the hope of a 2012 arising – in love and light, and consciousness, perhaps? and we were discussing how we all have a “dark side” — and some of us publicly show it with acts of violence or utter projection as to inflict sheer pain on the person receiving it, and some of us albeit perhaps not as violent, still keep it very much hidden, which can take a TON of conscious effort. Continue reading

{travel tuesday} – letchworth state park, new york

11 Dec

a dear friend of mine took me to this marvelous place a few years back and i fell in love.  of course – autumn in new york is always amazing, even when it’s late autumn.  the leaves had mostly fallen off at this point, but it created a blanket that covered the forest floor and there were traces of colour left on some of the trees.  very enchanting, this place.  i wasn’t sure if the blair witch was going to pop out and scare me or if fairies were going to come in and sweep me away to narnia…

the crispness in the air was memorable and the overcast lighting created a moody effect, so i snapped some artsy fotos with my iphone :

letchworth-1 Continue reading

{meatless monday} — caramelized onion and heirloom tomato risotto

10 Dec

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i’m lovin’ me some risotto lately.  i just love the texture and the creaminess of it.  my favourite way to have it is with mushrooms.  but i had these items lying around and so i decided to try them together with the risotto.

caramelizedonionandtomatorisotto-web-1 Continue reading

{foto friday} — love.

7 Dec

 

let’s get out and share as much as we can, mmkay?! xxoo

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© audrey michelle / foodandfoto.com