The Friday Mix

I simply love Fridays… as it’s my weekend!! And weekends are a great time to meet old friends or make new ones… *smiles* Hence The Friday Mix is a simple blog swap… I’m blogging at Kamini’s Saffron & Silk today and she will be blogging at Colours Dekor. Would you like to blog swap with me?? Please email me on torresp27@hotmail.com

Hi to all you blog readers! Patty here has asked me to swap blogs with her today....have never blog-swapped before, so this is a first for me, and hopefully not the last!!!!!

I don't know about you, but when I read someone's blog, I always try to picture the blogger in my head...and wish I could know more about them as a person....who they are, what they do, their family info etc etc......I feel it just makes the blog more enjoyable. So assuming you feel the same way - let's start with introductions......my name is Kamini of Saffron and Silk, I am a mother of a 30 year old and am fast approaching that ripe old age of 50 which I used to think was the "prime of life", but when I see all you young bloggers out there, I feel ancient!!!! But like they say age is only a number (I always wonder who this "they" is?), but I am digressing. Back to me. I am an Interior Designer by profession, worked in the US in the retail sector for 10 years - a little bit of boat/marine design, a lot of commercial design and the last 4 years at Starbucks Coffee Company in Seattle, designing their Southwest California stores while imbibing huge quantities of their coffee during work hours!

Here is a pic of the store I designed in Marina Del Rey in California.....

After 23 years in Seattle, I moved to India in 2006 to take care of my in-laws but do not practice design professionally any more. So after mulling it over for a few months and to fill that design void, I started this design blog about 10 months ago. It started more as a place to record things that I find beauty in, as a hobby to while away time...but it has now become an all consuming, all pervading force...I live and breathe S&S.....my schedule revolves around my blog posts and my 6' x 6' study space is my home - what I call my blog spot!!! And yes, I'll admit it, I am a obsessive nagging neat freak.........much better than I was 10 years ago, but I still have an OCD about neatness!

So when S&S isn't taking up my time, I paint! I am an artist in a continuous state of learning, and sometimes feel I will never get to that "hallowed" place where I feel I know everything there is to know about the art of painting!!!! I am fond of oil paints probably because they are so forgiving, watercolors are my biggest nemesis and dry pastels and charcoals are what I use for a quick, easy, instant gratification, afternoon painting session!

Some of my favorite artists are - Deepa Vedpathak, Vishal Misra, Vrindavan Solanki, Jiaur Rahman - whose paintings I love and try to recreate. When I am not blogging or painting I am most probably gardening. I am also a bit of a health freak........so I am trying to grow as many organic veggies as possible in the backyard! It was downright impossible at first, but slowly things are beginning to grow. I love yoga/pilates and chances are that everyday between the hours of 5pm and 6pm I am sun salutating or pranayaming or am in some twisted asana pose in yoga class!!!

Ummmm....let's see what else? I love dogs, all breeds, all colors, all sizes, but my absolute favorite breeds are dachshunds and beagles. I have 2 daschunds, Lucy and Junglee....funny, clownish, affectionate creatures who sleep on my bed and keep my toes warm and snore all night! And as much of a neat freak that I am, I don't mind that they leave dog hair on the bed and wet paw prints on the floor!!! I have yet to figure that out...

Here is a recent pic of them in some ridiculous Santa hats!

I still dabble in design a bit, doing small fun projects for friends and a lot of unnecessary large projects at home. I love orange - orange orange, deep orange, light orange, burnt orange...anything! But lately I am feeling the pull of turquoise blue and deep pink, colors I laughed at a few years ago....?

So when I am not doing any of the above, I am probably reading or cooking, both hobbies I enjoy!

So there you have it....a little bit about me that I hope will make it more fun and enjoyable when you read my blog. Thanks Patty...this was way too much fun!

Hope you’ll hop on to Saffron & Silk… and be as inspired by Kamini as I am!! And if you want to join the Friday Mix and blog swap with me… email me on torresp27@hotmail.com

Book Review - Entertaining from an ethnic Indian Kitchen by Komali Nunna

I was gifted a copy of ‘Entertaining from an ethnic Indian kitchen’ this Christmas, with a precious note on the inner jacket – a gift filled with love and serious thought.

I wondered for a bit though, as I’m not much of a cook, to be completely honest. But as I slowly turned the pages of the beautiful hard cover, 320 page book in my hands – I lost myself in, of all things…Indian food and entertaining.

‘Entertaining from an ethnic Indian kitchen,’ took me quite by surprise. It’s not your regular cookbook, with recipes, a few pretty pictures, a glossary of measurements and what not , perhaps a pretty picture of the author at the end. Oh my, no.

Each page turned out to be a delightful symphony of sharing, talent and grace. Being a self confessed cooking novice, I’ve mastered the art of rushing through the difficult recipes. You know how some just have these unheard of spices and foreign sounding vegetables? Komali Nunna’s book entertains none of that. The recipes are beautifully uncomplicated in explanation, yet phenomenally unique, once prepared. You’re sold on the beautiful photography of food, tables, spices and arrangements almost immediately and once you realise how simply explained the actual recipe is…I found myself looking forward to the next evening I’d get to try them out. One of the things I loved most, was the manner in which the book effortlessly flowed onward. It began with an introduction to the author- a proper glimpse into the person she was and has now become; then slowing moving on to her love for entertaining and elegant, tasteful, fun decoration and then finally, the mouth watering entrees, mains and deserts.

Komali takes you through everything – from how to buy your vegetables, to table décor and party themes, to tarts and tea parties, naans and kabobs – she even tells you how to crack a coconut. I kid you not. Page 302.

As opposed to other cookbooks, segregated based on meat, fish, chicken etc, Komali sectioned her book according to theme, which I thought was a brilliant idea.

You’ll find the most gorgeous table décor ideas and menus for Snack and Chaat parties, Tea Parties, Moghul Banquets and Kerala Feasts; to name a few. And once you’ve spent many a pleasant hour going through those, Komali surprises you with a section of Indian regional cuisines and festivals. You will not only find the much loved delicacies of India and her famed celebrations, but also a warm introduction to the featured region or festivity.

Here’s a lovely little spoiler for you though – wait till you get to the end and see the Thanksgiving and Christmas menus. WOW.

So much talent, so much simplicity, so much warmth.

And yes, I do believe that any bride who receives this as a wedding present will be quite over the moon. It isn’t just a cookbook, but an inspiration to live ones dream.

Komali Nunna, you are a revelation.

To read more about Komali and her various passions; do check her site http://www.komalinunna.com/ and her lovely blog http://komalinunna.blogspot.com/.

In the Spotlight ~ Walls with Character

In the Colours Dekor Spotlight for the months of January & February, are ‘Walls with Character’.

So if you have a wall that you’ve made your own – in terms of paint, frames, paintings – this is where you give it it’s due. *smiles*

I’ll start this series with a few pictures from my old home. The Peacock wall still remains so very close to my heart… I wish to replicate it in my new home… like I said, 2011 is going to be fun!

In terms of painting, I’d love to see it all - be it a wall mural, wall stickers, stencils, a complete painted wall or a small section – send it in!

When it comes to everything else and all the other ideas that all you creative minds out there have … I’m basically looking for walls that ooze personality… so this can be a wall with lots of eye candy - frames & paintings in a group, strategically arranged shelves, newspapered walls – I leave it to you and your imagination that I have come to so admire. Linking this into Chic on a Shoestring Decorating and Show & Tell Friday

I love vibrant walls… and would love to see how the walls in your home look!! Email .. me on torresp27@hotmail.com

Weekend Wrap Up - Wk 12

Hello my lovelies… Happy New Year to you all!! Hope you’ve kick started your new year with a bang… I sure have!! I’m hoping 2011 will be better in a lot of ways compared to 2010!!

Watch out for more features on Colours Dekor in 2011 – it’s lovely to dabble in something new every once in a while, isn’t it? Some of them are ~

In the Spotlight ~ January & February are dedicated to ‘Walls with Character’… more on that one tomorrow.. I’m rather excited about it!

The Friday Mix will be a weekly blog swap… And am hoping you will all join in – details to follow soon.

I will also be taking ‘The Weekend Wrap Up’ and ‘Monthly Home Tours’ into 2011… so if you want your home to be featured on Colours Dekor or wish to blog swap, please write to me on torresp27@hotmail.com

I am also looking forward to more from the team ~ ‘Yum in a Jiffy’ by Anpu or Shilpa, ‘Book Reviews’ & ‘Colour in Focus’ by Rose and more ‘Everyday Crafts,’ from Urmi & Harshi.

Now back to the New Year weekend!! We brought in the new year with friends at home… and this is how the backyard looked.

The birdbath was transformed into a candle holder…

Oh.. and I’ve been saving these lovely lanterns for a special occasion.. I have ten of these gorgeous ones in lovely colours.. I used them all for our bash!! Will surely post more pictures later!!

We set up the bar outdoors… I’m not sure if it was a good idea or not… but looked nice!! *smiles*

This is how the garage looked… with table arrangements!!

So my lovelies... will you be joining the 1st Weekend Wrap Up of the year?? ... -

1. Do a Weekend Wrap Up post on your blog. It has to be 'your' photograph !! (post atleast one picture... its nice to see!!) and it can really be anything you did over the weekend – example – a fun recipe you tried out, a craft project, a DIY, a table top, a few candles, coffee with friends or a good book or a movie review… The list is endless… just about ANYTHING… and anything about YOU !! *smiles*
2. No images from other websites or magazines please!! This is about YOU.
3. Link back to my blog.... only as a courtesy, so we have more people joining the party.
4. Copy the 'permalink' from your 'Weekend Wrap Up' post (not the link to the front page of your blog).
5. Add your 'permalink' to the 'inlinkz' at the bottom of this post.
6. Click the link before you. Don’t forget to comment and if you like the blog, please follow.

Any questions, email me on torresp27@hotmail.com.

Please note, you DO NOT have to be a follower of my blog to join the party.. I'd love to see you here!!

For all my non blogger friends, please email me on torresp27@hotmail.com with pictures and a write up of your Weekend happenings… and I’d love to see you here!!

Please grab the Colours Dekor Weekend Wrap Up button!!

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