Anne Faith Nicholls Miniature Shadow Box

Today I received a beautiful hand painted "Miniature Shadow Box" created by artist Anne Faith Nicholls. I first learned about the artist from a feature in the March 2008 issue of Juxtapoz magazine. I immediately fell in love with her color palette, composition and subject manner. My favorite paintings seem to involve hearts, birds, women, whales, trees, rain and dogs. In her bio she mentions heavy influences from surrealism, early America, American folk art, animals, and the rare and unusual. I also find it interesting the influence a couple of places where she has lived have, on the narrative aspects of her work. She has lived in a couple of places distinctly known for their weather; Seattle and San Francisco and I think that is apparent in her color palette and importance of water as a theme.

Please visit her site and enjoy the photos I have taken of the box I purchased from her shop.

White Bean Chicken Chili

Today I decided to adapt from a recipe I found on foodgawker.com. The recipe was for a white bean chicken chili. I forgot my shopping list and didn't get the lemon. I think that would have been yummy. I did however decide to add some collard greens to the chili and less chicken. I am trying to eat less meat. Being that it is 'greener' and also I still struggle with eating animals and not being well suited to being a vegetarian. And I also want to eat better and save some money too. So many times when I cook at home I eat cheaper and I eat better unless I am stressed and grab some queso. Well, I have to say for such simple ingredients it turned out very yummy. I really like using Greek yogurt in place of sour cream, so much more protein and so little/no fat with the added benefits of good bacteria.



I decided to add the collards because they are a great pungent tasting dark leafy green that holds up well in soups. And they taste great with onions. I had some vegan prepared collard greens a few years ago at a new year's party. And they were delicious. Plus, I just like the flavor. As you can see the soup turned out great and it tasted wonderful and I have an easy lunch tomorrow when I come home to walk the mighty Maya.

I have been cooking since I was very small, evidently since I was a toddler after my mom enrolled my twin and me in a cooking class at the West U Montessori Preschool, Beehive. So, I am going to post what you need to make this recipe, but not so much the amounts. If you want more specifics go to foodgawker.com and search, I can't seem to find it again.

Here goes:
1 small yellow onion
1-2 15oz cans of cannellini beans (I used one)
fresh garlic
1-2 chicken breast (I used one)
Chicken Broth
2 Tablespoons of olive oil
Collard Greens 3-4 large leaves
paprika
kosher salt
pepper

Garnish:
green onion
greek 0% fat yogurt
Lemon (I forgot about this, but it sounds good)
Tabasco (I forgot about this, but it sounds good)

Heat pan and then olive oil and saute onion until soft, add garlic last. Chop the chicken into small bite sized pieces and add to the hot pan, sear and then drain the beans and add to the mix. After a couple of minutes, add the spices and the chopped collard greens. Last I added enough chicken broth to cover everything and a tiny bit more. I cooked on the stove top for another 30-45 minutes. If you want to thicken the chili, I believe you can add cornmeal, or at least I assume that is why it was mentioned on foodgawker.com I guess this is a little different.

Then when you decide to serve garnish with chopped green onion, a dab of the thick Greek yogurt, a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of paprika and Tabasco to taste. Again, collards are optional.

Okay, I decided to seek out the links. I have just recently stumbled upon foodgawker.com. It looks like the recipe came from a user, so I am going to post both links. The link on foodgawker.com when I search white chili and the actual recipe link.

Foodgawker.com - White Chili

User joejhorn's recipe:
White Bean and Chicken Chili

maya is snapping her tail at me

Miss Maya is being a crab apple and snapping her little tail at me. Tap, Tap, Tap. I guess it is a little like tapping her fingers. She is also whining too. I think she has a little language all her own. She is being naughty but she is very cute. My mom said today I should take photos of her to sketch or try and do it live. Si I think I shall start to do that, I have a feeling photos will work better as she is quite demanding. She is a goofball who swears she is the sun. At any rate drawing her will help get my sketching skill back up.

My Desk

Here is my desk at work. I was listening to the Coraline and Twilight movie soundtracks. You can see also a Fafi for Mac checking things out on my desk and of course my glasses. I guess I was waiting and decided to take a photo.

Also, notice the lucky money I received. Most important to hold onto this year.

Plastic Bag 'Fabric'

My office like many households has tons of plastic grocery sacks. I am a member of an art collective/ sketch club here in Houston named the "Sketchy Neighbors" and we have through in part by fate chosen out third assignment. And I think I might be applying this into my 3rd project. This looks like fun.

This is another interesting video about recycling plastic bags and includes some facts. Like only '1% of plastic bags worldwide are recycled'. Yikes. I don't believe Houston does.

On the way to Brasil & Domy

I should have taken a photo of the breakfast I made for my mom's bird Leonard. He had a great breakfast. My mom takes great care and creativity in making his breakfast, so I had a lot of little tidbits to choose from; apples, potatoes, berries, carrots, peanuts, almonds and balls of seed, not to mention a few indulgent choices. After feeding Ms. Leonard I went to seek out Buc-ee's, I love that little logo, not sure what Buc-ee is exactly,a beaver I think, but when I saw the billboard on my way up to Sugarland, I knew I had to visit. I have to say it did not disappoint, it was so much fun. Really it is a large scale gas station and convenience store with unique country style treats like jerky, pastries, kettle corn, pralines, fudge and their famous Buc-ee's Beaver Nuggets. I guess that answers my question... Beaver. They have a little coffee shop too. But, alas I had other plans for breakfast or I would not have stopped at the $10 T-shirt special and got a frappe and a pastry. I was off to Brasil in town, to have some coffee and quiche and visit Domy.

A long story short, here is a photo of the last few bites of my sausage and broccoli quiche. It was delicious and just the right amount of food. I enjoyed it and ended up getting a little fun toy from Domy designed by Nathan Jurevicius for Toy Tokyo. The blind box series is named Peleda,I got the silver one.

Sabishii (lonely) by Sharleen Morco

This is evidently a school project, Sharleen Morco created. I found this video when I searched Amigurumi, after I took a class at Sew Crafty here in Houston. I just love it, if you find it on You Tube, it is named Sabishii (lonely).

She has a website and shop named mmm-fruit.com. You have to check out her design and photography work. But you will probably be distracted by her wonderful shop first. So many cute bunnies, I think they would make a sweet Easter present. If you love Amigurumi, you can buy the pattern of the sweet lonely bunny friend on her site here.

My new TOMS

I just bought my second pair of TOMS today at Whole Earth Provision, near the Galleria, here in Houston. I was inspired to pick up at pair because of their April 16th event, "One Day without Shoes". For those of you who don't already know about TOMS, I suggest you check it out, they are an amazing company that puts giving at the base of their equation.

Jenni's Noodle House Post Oak opens today!

Jenni's second Noodle House opened today, on Post Oak at Westhiemer. I started with the Teaser Eggrolls and Vietnamese Ice Coffee. It was yummy delicious. I hear from another blogger- street artist, give up, that real blogers shoot their food. So, I brought my camera to record the tastiness. Followed by the eggrolls I had some yummy ramen. Yes, ramen, not the Oodles of Noodles Top Ramen, ramen, but real ramen. I loved it too.



The new restaurant retains the playful intimate spirit of Jenni's on Shepherd; but with higher design aesthetic. As you first walk in there is a narrow space similar to a hallway that leads you to the register to order, illuminated by a wonderful lamp made of hundreds of little lights. It reminds me of a luminescent sea creature. Along the wall there are three large scale black and white photographs of Vietnam printed on canvas. As you look to the left there is the drink and condiment area, to the right of the drinks there is a wall painted in the Jenni's bright yellow orange, adorned with, what I can only assume is a photo of Jenni's beautiful Mama, with fun cherry blossoms covering the exposed duct work on the celling leading to the restrooms. So much fun and so sweet. Then as you sit down you are welcomed by banquette seating, dark wood tables and chairs with accents of lighter wood. Jenni's Noodle House is a nice addition to the area, a respite from all the overpriced chain restaurants. I wish them the best of success, both Scott and Jenni and their staff work so hard to create a wonderful place to eat and it shows.

I love the new Jenni's!

I Love Marcel Dzama!

Marcel Dzama is one of my all time favorite artists. I think I have mentioned this before, but I always find it fascinating how an artist is reflective of their work. He just collaborated with the band Department of Eagles for their song "No One Does it Like You". I had never heard of the band, but I love this song. I am going to have to check out the rest of their work. I love being able to see Dzama's work come to life in such a wonderful way. His work is both innocent and grotesque. But at the same time if you think about the times when war and killing was a choreographed event, and much more intimate, then this little story makes some sense. I think it is easy to forget the history we ourselves didn't live. In so many ways we live a removed, aesthetic and anesthetized life.



Here is an interview with Marcel.


In some ways Marcel's work reminds me of a quote by Thich Nhat Hahn- "Hatred and fear blind us. We no longer see each other. We only see the faces of monsters, and that gives us the courage to destroy each other."