Written by Baz Luhrmann.

 I don't like the song, but I like the advice :)

Sigh.

Dear Life,
Whats a girl got to do to get some real romance around here?
Regards,
Natalie

So It Begins!

  I'm not of Arab descent, but its safe to say that middle eastern food is now a staple in my house. Its my favorite cuisine; there are always new things to try and for the most part is healthy. Now I'm the first to notice if we're out of cucumbers or bulgar, to the delight of my parents (not).

 After my first trip to Egypt I was curious enough to step out of my cooking boundaries and attempted to recreate the things I'd eaten there. Since then my kitchen has seen it all... the good, the bad and the ugly. I'm hooked- not a week goes by where I don't make a favorite dish or try something new.

  I've been eyeing these two amaaazing coffee table cookbooks (with beautiful photos!) for a couple of months but never thought I'd actually get them because they were so pricey. Two weeks ago, Borders Bookstore sent me coupons to buy anything in the store and get it 50% off. I went in and came right back out with these two beauties.... Merry Christmas to me! So I'm DETERMINED to somehow make each dish (!!!) and post my attempts along with the recipe. With the exception of any organ dishes ( I saw a recipe for lamb brains. No thank you.). I'm down but not that down. I will definitely need adventurous taste testers ... I think I've exhausted the good graces of my parents. It was probably the lentils and onion topped with yogurt that did them in. Anyway... Lets Begin!

 

 This is the first recipe I've made from Arabesque. It is simple, refreshing, and perfect to serve after a rich meal. I was serving a small amount of people so I halved the recipe. This serves 6.

Slada Bil Bortokal (Morrocan Orange Salad)

This is the most common Moroccan dessert.

 

•   6 large oranges
• 1 tablespoon orange blossom water (sold at any middle eastern grocery)
• 2 tablespoons confectioner's sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

 Peel the oranges, taking care to remove all the white skin. Cut into slices and arrange in circles on a serving plate. Sprinkle with orange blossom water. Just before serving, sprinkle with the sugar and cinnamon.

UH. MAZE. ING.

 Went to see this tonight at the Angelus Temple/ Dreamcenter. Everytime I go, I feel like the message was written just for me, like I'm the only one in chapel listening. Blew me away, I came straight home and watched it again.



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The longer I live, the more I realize...

Why is it so much easier to think negatively than positively? Break it... time is too short  to be wasting thoughts and feelings in a fashion that wont further or enrich this life!

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7)

"... And be renewed in the spirit of your mind..." (Ephesians 4:23)

      “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.”
                                                          - Charles R. Swindoll


Seems like you got a pink kink in your think :)



Charlie

All I want for Christmas is you. 

R.I.P my sweet baby.

If I made a movie, this would be in it.

firework

“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!”

-Jack Kerouac, "On The Road"