I’m gonna live forever!

You can too. Just have another drink!

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Carbohydrate Friday!

Today’s recipe is dedicated to my dear late friend, Kelly who passed away last month. Her memorial (or “celebration of life” as we’re calling it) is being held on Monday. She loved blueberry crisp and could make a great one herself. And while I never got her exact recipe, this one I’m posting in honor of her.

BLUEBERRY CRISP
image and recipe via Umami Girl

3 pints blueberries
1/4 cup sugar
Scant 1/4 cup cornstarch
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
8 Tablespoons cold butter, diced
Pinch of salt
1. Preheat the oven to 375° F. In a large bowl, combine the blueberries, sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice. Toss to combine, and pour into a deep-dish pie plate or casserole dish.

2. Combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, butter and salt. Mix them together thoroughly with your fingertips to form a crumbly topping. Distribute the topping over the fruit and bake until the topping is browned and the filling is bubbly, 40 to 45 minutes.

Yoga for Black People

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I cannot make this shit up, people.

UPDATE…apparently the video has been blocked, but don’t fret – you can still watch it here!

via Swag Like Me

Kermit on Capitol Hill

Kermit the Frog is going on a field trip! Jim Henson’s widow has donated the original Kermit (along with 10 other muppet collection characters) to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. I grew up with Kermit and his friends so this is definitely an exhibit I would really enjoying seeing. I’ll be in the area (sort of) in October… D.C. – here I come!

Make a new ending.

Saw this sweet little quote this morning over on Amy’s blog, Old Sweet Song. I have thought about starting over many a time but this is a great alternative way of thinking. Because even old dogs can learn new tricks!

Leaf House

Yet another installment in the “I want to go to there” series. Or bitter house envy. Take your pick, they both qualify. The Leaf House, by architects Mareines + Patalano was inspired by Brazil’s Indian architecture and is located just one hour south of Rio de Janeiro.

The generous heights of the open inner spaces allow the SE trade winds to pass perfectly trough the building, providing natural ventilation, passively cooling both the enclosed and open spaces. The purpose of the house was to enhance the interaction between man and nature, trying whenever possible, not to separate them completely. The house also has a curved swimming pool, which snakes into the house, passing below the formal dining room, turning into a pond with aquatic plants and fish. The rear veranda serves as a resting space with five hammocks, called the “Brazilian Lounge”.

I don’t really care what you call it. I’d like to call it home…

Oh! Canada!

Check out Canada’s new mailboxes – how cool are these? Waaaaaaaay more interesting than our boring blue boxes here in the U.S. This might actually make it fun to go to the post office. They have recently been popping up around various cities across Canada and the idea behind the new design is to prevent graffiti vandalism. The design is actually a pattern of Canadian postal codes and considering it almost looks like it’s already been graffiti’d, I’d say they are on the right track! Way to go, Canadian Post!

via SEGD blog

Plarn it!

image and info via no rococo

Short for plastic yarn (actually yarn made from recycled plastic bags), Plarn it! is helping to stylishly save the planet one plastic bag at a time. The plastic bags are hand cut and strung together to form a durable and machine washable “yarn.” The yarn is then crocheted into a variety of durable, strong bags, available in a variety of colors and styles. I’ve been looking for an alternative to the plastic bags they have in the produce department and I think this might be the perfect solution!

Carbohydrate Friday!

I should probably just smear this pie all over my ass, because Lord knows its going to end up there anyway. But it will be well worth it!

BLACK BOTTOM BANANA CREAM PIE
via Everyday Inspirations

6 tbsp butter

25-30 Nilla wafers, crushed

2 tbsp sugar

4 squares BAKER’S semi-sweet chocolate

2 large bananas

1 package JELL-O Vanilla flavored instant pudding

1 3/4 cups cold milk

1 cup Cool Whip

1/4 – 1/2 cup chopped nuts – any variety (optional)

1. Melt 4 tbsp butter and pour into medium bowl. Stir in wafer crumbs and sugar.
2. Press crumb mixture into a 9-inch pie plate.
3. Microwave chocolate and remaining butter for 1 minute or until butter is melted; stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is well blended.
4. Drizzle over bottom of crust and top with bananas.
5. Beat pudding mix and milk with whisk 2 minutes; pour over bananas.
6. Refrigerate 4 hours then top with COOL WHIP and nuts!

Body art

That’s how I like to think of tattoos. Some of them at least. And mine, anyway. Except for my tramp stamp, which I got when I was 20 and specifically placed it in the lovely “tramp” area so that if and when I got sick of it, I didn’t have to look at it every day. Welcome to if and when…

This is my idea for my new tattoo. I want to place it on my inner forearm. Ouch, yes. But meaningful too. As I mentioned, I had a friend recently suffering from cancer. I say had because she passed away a couple of weeks ago and this is what I’ve been thinking ever since. “in a minute” is how quickly things – life – can change and its a good reminder to be thankful for what you have at that very moment. Not to want more, be more, do more, but to be cognizant of what you have and be honestly and thoroughly grateful for it. Because life is short and always seeing the grass as greener on the other side is just a waste of time.

What do you think?