LOVELY JUNK

Almond Milk Bread

2011-06-27T14:11:00.000-07:00

I've been looking for healthier options for bread, because I LOVE it. I've started substituting Almond milk for milk, because I'm trying to cut cow milk out of my diet (my cholesterol is too high). Here's a loaf I baked last week, I tossed some sesame seeds on top to give it a little extra flavor, and it was DELICIOUS. I'm still trying to find the perfect recipe, once I have, I'll post it. But in the mean time, google a recipe, once you find one you like, try substituting almond milk for milk, soy butter for butter, and so on, and see how you get on. It's really fun to experiment, and you feel great about eating something healthier. Plus who doesn't love a home made loaf. Wether or not you add the jam is up to you. :-)

P.s I don't have a fancy bread machine, I bake the old fashion way, so don't let that stop you from trying. They are handy but not totally necessary.

London Town

2011-04-29T08:12:00.000-07:00

A day in London. It's amazing how much you see when you're really looking.

The Cloth House

2011-04-29T07:14:00.000-07:00

My favorite Haberdashery in the whole world is: "The Cloth House", 47 Berwick Street, London. If you find yourself in central London, and you're a lover of fabric, this is a MUST. The store itself is delicious. A great place to get inspired.

Wishing you a...

2011-04-24T16:59:00.000-07:00

Give a lil love

2011-04-23T16:54:00.000-07:00

GIVE A LIL LOVE

This is a fab idea for giving really special, unique and colorful gifts. I'm a HUGE geek when it comes to gift wrapping. I'm a "Paper Source" addict, and my ribbon collection is getting a little out of control.

I've had many friend's ask me how this is done, so here is a step by step. It's so easy, quick and fun, and an incredibly creative way to give a little love.

You will need your gift (preferably in a box), a sheet of floral paper, some complimentary false flowers, and some colored tissue. Tool wise, you will need scissors, tape and a glue gun.

When looking for false flowers, choose a flower with a smaller petal, and a petal that has a two tone shade, it will look far more realistic.

STEP ONE: Wrap your gift in tissue, and then wrap your gift in floral paper. The tissue is not only a feisty burst of color, but it also softens the edges of the gift, so that the floral paper will look padded, and have a cleaner shape.

STEP TWO: Strip the petals from the flowers. Give yourself a good pile to work with, you never know how many you will need. Store the left overs in a zip loc, for next time.

For this gift I'm using Hydrangea petals. Each piece of the hydrangea has four petals, gather them together between your finger and thumb, as shown, and put a tiny dab of hot glue at the base of the petals. Begin at the corner of your gift, as shown, and work your way inward. The design is totally up to you.

You really can't go wrong, but I find that less is always more. You can mix it up, or keep it simple. Either way, it's so easy to make, and really fun treat to receive. Enjoy!

Note: The paper shown on all gifts was purchased at "Paper Source".

Paris

2011-04-23T00:09:00.000-07:00

I adore Paris. My last trip was incredible, and it seems only right to share some spectacular finds.

First off: Hotel. I highly recommend the "Hidden Hotel", just a short walk from the Arc de Triomphe, and a main line tube. Perfect. Hidden Hotel is Incredible, they use organic, reclaimed, earth friendly materials for almost everything, which is not only environmentally conscious, but also, a junkers heaven. The service was faultless, friendly and extremely helpful. There is a great communal area for reading and listening to music, and a funky bar for breakfast and beverages. The rooms are on the small side, as is the norm in Paris, but when they are this well designed, you really don't care.

Secondly : Food. Hotel Du Nord is unbelievable. This is a MUST. The restaurant itself is Paris at it's peak, eclectic, historic, and just the right amount of quirk. The food is incredible, the ambience is perfection, and the crowd is simply fascinating.

Useful Note: Most restaurants in Paris do not open before 7:30pm. I am, on occasion, an afternoon eater, and I learnt that the hard way.

Another MUST is the "Basilique du Sacre-Coeur". Quite possibly, the most breath taking, peaceful, spiritual place I've ever been. It has KILLER views, and the surrounding artistic community makes the trip up the hill, totally worth your while.

For those with a sweet tooth, "La Cure Gourmande" is a scrumptious little confectioners. AMAZING biscuits, sweets and chocolates, in piles of multicolored wrappers. And they give samples. YUM!

Last but by no means least, my favorite tip of all, is to look out for a traditional, Parisian bakery. You'll find them all over, and believe me, you've never truly had a baguette, until you buy one from them . Strolling the streets of Paris, with a freshly baked Baguette, is tres magnifique.

Voila!

Cozy Corner

2011-04-22T18:19:00.000-07:00

I find corners so difficult to fill. And it was near impossible to find a corner cabinet, that I could afford, and also suited my style, so I built one.

It took me about a week to design it, drag the wood home and get busy with my screw driver.

Everything you see in the cabinet came from a flea market. The washboard was 7 pounds, the bottles average out at a few quid a piece, and the bucket on the table was about a fiver. I made the curtain that covers the bottom of the cabinet from an old Ikea curtain, and the flowers are entirely home grown. A lick of paint on the wall, some patterned curtains (also Ikea) and there you have it. One corner made cozy, and it didn't break the bank.

Sugar Paste Peony

2011-04-22T16:36:00.000-07:00

I've been making sugar paste flowers for about 6 or 7 years. I started with the basics (making roses quickly became my specialty) and now I'm venturing into more elaborate flowers. This is my first ever sugar paste peony. I still need to work out a couple things, but in the meantime, I'm really enjoying learning something new. I think this will make a nice little cake topper.

Vintage Scarfs

2011-04-22T13:33:00.000-07:00

VINTAGE SCARFS are my new best friend. I found this cute scarf for a dollar at a flea market in LA. The trick is to buy in bulk, and haggle your way to a bargain. I got 5 scarfs for $5. Not bad at all. Great for days when you just don't feel like bearing the blow dry, and a cute 50's throw back.

Blogging with Abandon

2011-04-22T02:41:00.000-07:00

I'm an actor by profession. My Mum tried to warn me. I clearly didn't listen. I've been very lucky for the most part, but I've also had my fair share of rejection. Ouch.

I'm always a little frightened by the lack of security. Which makes me cautious. Cautious of how I present my business, cautious of my role choices, cautious of people, cautious of anything that might damage my credibility. It's not easy to be taken seriously when you tell people "you're off to Hollywood". Can ya blame em?

Because I'm so "cautious", I have a difficult time with social media. When I think of actors that I respect and admire, I can't imagine them "Tweeting" or "Poking". Part of me thinks that retaining a sense of mystery is my bread and butter. In my mind, if an audience knows you as you, it's becomes that much harder to convince them that you are somebody else.

The thing is, technology is so inviting, as is the idea of connecting. But more than anything, having a voice, is extremely attractive.

There is so much more to a person than their job description. Last week, I found myself working with three stunt men. We sat down to lunch, and it occurred to me that the best way to get to know these guys, was to find something that they couldn't help opening up about. Something that they could talk about for hours. Get This. One of them was seriously into Pro Cycling, one of them was into fine carpentry, and the third was crazy for SWING DANCING!

A burly stunt guy! SWING DANCING! I LOVED IT! Soon after the conversation began, out came the iphones, videos and pictures of these guys, doing what they love. They were so excited to share their passions with someone else, and I was amazed at how quickly we bonded over knowing special things about each other.

I of course, pulled out my Iphone, and shared in return. I enjoyed it so much, that I decided I wanted to continue sharing the things I love, and that brought me here. It also taught me that people want to relate. We all want to share, and be listened to, and have a voice. And my voice is equally as important as my job description, if not more.

So, throwing caution to the wind, I am discovering the world of social media. That's right, I "Tweet" and "Poke" and now I "Blog".

My blog is going to be a personal place. A non work related, creative space with a voice. The truth is, I'm a junking, baking, crafting, wood shop loving, vintage addict. I'm forever making something, and once it's used, or given away, or eaten, it's usually lost. So now I'm saving everything, right here.

Thank you for letting me share.

LET THE BLOGGING BEGIN!

India