Hunger Pangs, Cravings, and Missing My Kitchen

Hurt me now! I'm going mad. I'm having hunger pangs for something out of reach. The nearest PF Chang is in the suburbs of Chicago and it's the only restaurant that has the Green Tea Noodles in their menu. Nonetheless I found the recipe online and am excited to cook it sometime this weekend.

I've been deprived of good food lately. I'm sick of frozen food set up for a few minutes in the microwave. I'm even sick of going out to eat. Restaurant food is never as good or as satisfying as if I cooked it myself. I yearn to cook in my kitchen... not just "child's play" cooking, but spend the whole day in the kitchen cooking something I've never cooked before, baking something from scratch, and then phoning my family to invite them over for dinner. I can't really remember the last time I did that. My apron misses me. I need excitement.

We went to the health food market today but my mind was in La La land... couldn't concentrate on anything but all the crap I have to get done in three weeks (until vacation). Wish I had an action plan in mind so I could have gotten the ingredients for the green tea noodles. Nonetheless, I'm really glad to stay home for vacation for once. I have it all planned out... spring cleaning, cooking new recipes, and taking lots of pictures. I can not wait!!!!!

Wednesday's List Fads Embraced While Growing Up

Claiming Back The Space

A few months ago, in an attempt to multitask and get more out of my time, I mindlessly ate lunch in front of the television tuned in to my guilty pleasure channel, HGTV. At that specific time, there was a show that featured a family who had problems selling their house. Then entered the staging expert and a few realtors who made assessments to the interior of the house. It was kind of sad because the married couple allowed their children to take over their house. The hallways were filled with kid stuff, the walls were covered with pictures of their children, their master bedroom got turned into a play area, and the couple slept in a tiny room with their children. What a mess!

The show actually got me to think... I judged the married couple for letting their children claim the whole house when I was doing the exact same thing with my adorable darlings. It had to stop. We claimed back our house and our lives from letting the pets rule it. It was VERY liberating. We've already claimed back: the hallway, the guest room, the dining room (no more contract workers and meetings allowed in that room), and the workout room (Jean-the-Cat's room *Zhan*). In another blog post in the future, I'll write about how we built a separate litter room for the cat... fully equipped with ventilation and what not.

But now we claimed back the workout room. I spent the whole morning cleaning it and I dare not post a pic of the before. ha ha! For a few months it had become the storage room and the cat's litter room - we hardly went in there. Nonetheless, since that problem has been solved, we have the workout room back - also a conference room. It's kind of funny that my college furniture ended up in that room. I had the treadmill and the mini fridge in my college dorm room. What a riot. The microwave was from Dre's bachelor days, and the kitchen table and the chairs were from my first apartment in college. I love it. It makes me smile, especially since I love that room now. A few tweaks to do as far as decorating, but it will do.

Style-For-Style SaturdaySpring Must-Haves

SPRING MUST HAVES: trench coat, leopard print flats, white handbag, silk square scarf, big sunglasses.

There are a few things I don't mind spending a little extra money on, one of which is a nice coat or a jacket. Right now my fashion obsessions are trench coats 01, 02 and leopard flats 01, 02.  I think I'll actually make a purchase tonight. Lately my style seems to have evolved to European and American Classic because the pieces are timeless and have a minimalistic feel.

Cup of Joe & Nostalgia

Today yesterday morning I actually got up early to drop off Colette at the groomers. I can not, for the life of me, remember the last time my alarm made a racket at 6 A.M. It reminded me of my grad school mantra, "Early bird gets the worm" -- back then I got up at 4:30 A.M., worked out at the gym, hit the coffee shop, went to work, and then spent the day lived in the university library with my grad school buddies burning that midnight oil. Looking back, I don't know how the heck I pulled it off.

Nonetheless, this morning I found my sleep deprived self at Starbucks. As soon as I entered, a number of college students, chiropractor students, and freelancers were already busy studying/working. Hit Me Baby One More Time... nostalgia. All of a sudden I felt like my 25-26 year old self again (with an expensive latte at hand) studying my butt off to get good grades and feeling incompetent because my economics professor made me want to sink in my chair or to sit in a corner to wallow in my pathetic sorrows. When he called on you, you better be on top of your game with the correct answer. I actually wanted to be invisible in that class but he definitely could sense my fear, and he fed off of it. Oh the horror! Besides the constant humiliation, I miss it all.

A lot has happened since I got down on my knees and rejoiced that the miserable class was over and done with - in other words, 2006 graduation... but life continues to be a humbling experience. With all that had been said and done, it boils down to this... I feel old.

A few hours ago Dre said goodnight, gave me a kiss, and within a minute started snoring next to me -- he's completely out. A few minutes ago I started talking to him and surprise, surprise, he actually held a conversation with me at his half asleep state, "Um... I think I fed the cat... I think I locked the door... I did not take all the blanket... I love you too... go to sleep. Sleep, sleep, sleepy sleep" -- none of which he'll remember tomorrow I bet. So, it's almost 1 A.M. and I can't fall asleep... I look at him and all I want to say is, UGH!!!! How can anyone sleep that fast?

Eleanor's Face TransformationsWhat I'll Look Like In Different Nationalities

I ran across the FACE OF THE FUTURE website in 2005 when Dre and I first started dating. I've been searching for this website forever and only a few days ago did I stumble upon it once more. This time I'm going to share it with everyone because it's extremely fun! I love looking at what I'd look like if I were a different nationality and different forms of art. Spectacular! Try it!

Wednesday's List: A Few Of My Favorite Things

I couldn't get that Sound of Music Song, A Few Of My Favorite Things, out of my head today so I decided to make a list of my current top favorite things.

Artistic photography and design have been my obsession lately. I've been voracious for anything I could get my hands on. On Valentine's Day, the hubby took me to the Camera shop and being there made me feel so dang good. Who knew? He got me a Wireless Remote Control for my Nikon - which means we can take more pictures of us this spring with just a click of a button. Excitement running through my veins.

Nonetheless, life is still good... can't complain except for a few things looming over my head that I can't wait to get done... hopefully soon because it's starting to get to me.

Happy Valentine's Day 2011Love, Andrey & Eleanor

I'm extremely blessed to have such a loving and understanding husband who makes my life complete.
You are my one and only.

I Love You Andrushka!!

Style-For-Style Saturday: Michelle Obama

Tahari ASL Women's Side Tab Sheath $35.99 -- Black Cardigan $9.97 -- Black Sequin Belt $5.80

Franco Sarto View Open Toe Pumps $39.99 -- Two Way Satchel $24.50 -- Pearl Necklace $44.49

Pearl Earrings $22.00 -- Black Face Silver Watch $45.00

A few things to note, the dress in the pictures is different from the dress that is linked. Due to HOT PINK being the upcoming IT color (not to mention hot pink sheath dresses) for the spring season, the demands have gone up and what was originally chosen is now out of stock. Heidi Klum gracing the cover of this month's Lucky Magazine with a like dress in a like color does not exactly help availability either. Nonetheless I found another similar dress for a not too shabby price. 

In light of Black History month, First Lady Michelle Obama is featured in this week's Style-For-Style Saturday. Her fashion sense is quite interesting and I love the 1960's flare to most of her ensembles. Although, I'm not too keen with her signature belt-over-cardigan look, I love her other clean, solid looks. Classic.

Wednesday's List: Happy Birthday Mom!Wonderful Things About You

I LOVE YOU MOM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Style-For-Style Saturday: Alyson Hannigan

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Baking At Midnight

Per my promise to my oven (once she got fixed), I am to bake a million cupcakes! Tonight was my first ever experience to make cupcakes and I had a blast! Way too much fun though it didn't turn out as beautiful as I expected (those icing things are difficult to control) yet I'm so proud of my hot mess of a dozen. They're cute - though amateur work, they will be publicized and served to the family tomorrow for they will be my test control group. So exciting!

Like stated in the picture of my cup cakes above, improvements to follow - and you bet your bottom dollar my future cupcakes will look as good as those fancy cupcakes in Chicago bakeries.

Wednesday's List - Letter To My 20 Year Old Self

 Dear 20 Year Old Eleanor,

I'm writing to you as your 30 year old self who has a heightened sense of common sense, experience, maturity, wisdom, vision and 20/20 insight to life and all the exciting things up ahead. First of all, I wish I could go back in time to hug you and to let you know that despite all the crap that 20 something's go through, everything is going to be okay. Below is a list of 20 things I really want to tell you. Please take this letter to heart because it is extremely important.

So go out there and conquer the world. You are a strong, intelligent, beautiful, woman who has a voice to be heard. No one is stopping you. And one last thing, from one Eleanor to the next:

No one can make you feel 

inferior without your consent.
- Eleanor Roosevelt -

Always, 

Eleanor A.

I wish that my mom kept a diary of her life. It would have been a wonderful read to learn about her generation and the challenges she faced growing up... and then on to marriage and what she would advice. I could have learned so much from it and perhaps understand her more. So blogging about this letter to my 20 year old self is another way for my future kids to get to know me. I can not wait to meet them... someday...

#5 - Blizzard 2011

Challenge 5: Complete a 365 day photo challenge

Picture 54 - Blizzard 2011

(Pic 54/365)

Dre on our street in front of the neighbor's house. Mind you, he's 6'7 and the snow is almost up to his knees.

Our buried vehicles. It doesn't look too bad from here, but it is pretty bad.

Dre's buried car. Next year we'll definitely use the garage.

Attempting to dig out Dre's car.

Our patio.

Home made frappuccino with marshmallows.

Last night's blizzard was pretty crazy. I didn't fear the snow as much as I feared losing the internet because there was a deadline to submit projects - thank God my life line remained. Anyway, we woke up to at least 20 inches of snow blocking our front door. It was kind of nice for a change.

I would have taken more pictures if it wasn't so darn cold outside. The extreme chill literally sent shivers up and down my spine. Hopefully I'll have the courage to go out and take more photos later today. I wish I had snow pants. Nonetheless, our poor neighbor's snow blower just died out. So sad for him.

Decided to take the rest of the day off (let's see how long that lasts). Activities today will involve: reading a good book in front of the fireplace, watching a few movies, cooking an awesome meal (finally), working out on the EFX, and a relaxing Yoga session before bed. Sounds like a perfect snow day in.