Working Vacation

This was supposed to be a vacation week celebrating our presidents, but it turned out to be a working vacation for me.  We did manage to go skiing for a few days in upstate New York thanks to our friends who put us up in their condo (or put up with us not sure which it is).  The kids and my husband skied 'dust on crust' (I have a mildly torn meniscus), while I got a lot of work done on our upcoming Bar Mitzvah celebration (for my drummer son) which takes place in a few weeks.  I did go snowshoeing the last day which wasn't too smart either... feeling the pain as I descended the last third of the trail, wondering if I had done more damage to my knee.

 
The dirty laundry lay on the floor for most of the week while I tended to all the party plans, especially trying to get replies from kids who hadn't RSVP'd yet, way past the due date.  What if these kids just show up at the party?!  Part of the reason that this is an issue is that I decided, since this is to be mainly a kid party (just a few friends and family are invited), that I would go paperless with a website invitation... inviting ninety of his closest friends via a message on Facebook with a link taking them to the website.  Only one problem, who is RSVPing, the parents or the kids?  The responsible ones show their parents otherwise who knows...  It's new ground and I may regret it but the website is so COOL and it contains so much more information than a paper invitation... there's video of him, stills, a bio, directions, a link to Google maps, and troubling RSVP page which sends me an email at a different site so I can track the responses.
The site is beautiful and I thank my photographer for that, but I'm not sure how I will look back on this experience... too early to tell now that I'm in the throws of it... anyway back to work for me...

Happy Monday and sorry I was down for the week, but I'm back and running.

Brooklyn Creative

Brooklyn, New York... the center of everything creative right now. There's so much going on, it's amazing and thanks to blogger, Oh Joy!, I found myself at Part & Parcel, which took me to Kate Spade and her 2011 film project where she collaborates with different artist's in the making of short films...  February's theme is pink...  If you click on Kate Spade then you'll see on her website and "Watch the Film"...

Next week the kids are off from school so my posts will be spotty at best, but I hope you'll check in anyway for more of Mama Lisha's picks...

Happy Friday and I hope you enjoy this crazy warm (possibly record breaking) temperature in New York today!

What's For Dinner Mom?

Every morning before school or right after school one of my teenagers ask, "What's for dinner Mom?"
Uhhhh, "Donno", I say... because I usually don't... I like thinking on the fly, using what's around combined with some fresh produce and deciding what looks good that day at the market.
This frittata I made the other night is one of those dishes where you can use what's around and throw it in, just remember less is more... I had a lot of broccoli and cauliflower lying around, so I bought about a 1/3 of a pound of pancetta and the rest was in the fridge...

Ingredients:

5 eggs
2 cups grated cheese
1/2 cup 1% milk
2 Tbls sour cream
1/3 lb pancetta
2 cups broccoli
4 cups cauliflower
about 8 rings red onion (decoration on top)


I cooked it in my favorite Le Creuset pan I use for almost everything! I went from stovetop to oven with the pan for this recipe.

Saute the pancetta or bacon or ham in the pan until well done and drain excess fat.  There was just a little fat from the pancetta so I sauteed the veggies, browning them in the pan with the pancetta after I microwaved (steaming) them a little first.  Then pour the mixture of shredded cheese, beaten eggs, milk and sour cream (2 tablespoonful) into the pan and spread evenly.  Place onion rings on top and bake in a 375 degree oven uncovered for about 25 to 30 minutes.

Optional: I served it topped with a few of these rosemary almonds from Trader Joe's and a side of cole slaw I bought at the deli.

Thrifty Fashion

I know that each time I post about some fashion item and either I or one of YOU out there goes and buys this, or any new item for that matter, we are making a bigger footprint... using up more of our planets natural resources, limited resources and adding to landfill.  Ok, so I got that off my chest... anyway when I saw that I could donate to a wonderfully creative project called All Thrifty States, "A woman on a mission to document what America throws away", visiting 50 states and their thrift stores, as a way to create awareness of a way to repurpose and recycle... attempting to shrink the collective footprint one thrift store at a time...
Meet Jenna Pfueller and her website...

The site is entertaining with photos of some bizarre things she's found and photographed at thrift stores organized by states, like fornicating taxidermic frogs and an ACDC snowglobe!

photo by Jenna Pfueller

Her goal... to bring attention to our national spending habits... and maybe we would think twice before spending on things we don't really need.  Maybe we would find fashion in the used and vintage and reduce not only our debt but our footprint.... WOW!

Go Girl... check it out and you can donate to her cause on KICKSTARTER.

Dressing for Nuptials

One of the good things about having my wedding anniversary towards the end of January is that the stores have all the Valentine's Day merchandise on the shelves by then... lot's of lovey dovey stuff to choose from for my hubby... which reminds me... Today is the launch of a NEW line of wedding gowns and much more from Anthropologie.  It's actually a separate company called BHLDN (pronounced beholden), offering heirloom quality gowns, bridesmaid dresses, artisanal hair adornments, footwear, and lingerie...

Makes me want a wedding in the family... Hmmmm, since I don't have a daughter, and my son's are too young anyway, maybe a niece will be next...

Brit Style

Allsaints, a British retailer of women's, men's, and children's clothing, accessories, and housewares has a beautiful earthy and feminine line for women this spring...

Well thought of for their graphic T's...

Love this fabric!!!...

Yummy...

 I'd take this over chocolates and flowers any Valentine's Day!!!... Hint Hint honey!

What's in a Name?

It was suggested to me yesterday that my blog needs a better name... and that is so true.  It's something I've wanted to do for a long time now and just turned a blind eye to such an important part of how much exposure one gets in the blogosphere.
So today I'm asking your help... knowing my voice (if you're a regular)... what would you name it?
Names are important, especially to search engines... branding, readership... it's all part of it.
"How To Name Your Blog: What Makes a Great Name?", these are the articles I need to read and think about as I set out to step up the job of blogging and expand my readership.
First and foremost I need to be clear about what this blog is about... like my tag line says... after a year and a half of writing, it's still about... "surviving the suburbs with style... seeking a richer life... in a wasteland called the suburbs... for my family, myself, and anyone who will listen!".

Food...Heart Beets, February 4, 2010

Fashion... Who Me?... No You?... Jimmy Choo!, January 31, 2011

Culture... Cultcha for the Kids... and Parents Too!!!, December 1, 2009

Love to hear from you in comments below... you can write anonymously or not.

Genuinely Fresh

Michael's Genuine Food & Drink in Miami's burgeoning Design district is a neighborhood bistro offering contemporary American Cuisine from chef Michael Schwartz, in a friendly indoor/outdoor setting.  The dishes are grouped by size not kind, as in small, medium, large, extra large, so depending on your appetite and how many dishes you would like to taste you can order accordingly.
It was Super Bowl Sunday when we ate dinner at this popular bistro, which is why we were able to get a reservation with only a few days notice, but I would plan ahead otherwise...
We shared these three small and medium dishes and one large dish which is not shown here (blame the wine)...
This crispy pork belly with kimchi (spicy korean cabbage) is a great contrast of flavors.  The best prepared pork belly I ever had was in New Orleans, but this is wildly creative and delicious surprise...

 Crispy Sweet & Spicy Pork Belly

 Chargrilled Octopus

 Wood Oven Roasted Local Eggplant

The creamsicle pot de creme is delicious just by itself, but then add the doughnut and jam and it's close to heaven!...

 Tangerine Creamsicle Pot de Creme

 'The Hand' zoning in on my second doughnut

Blackberry Tarragon Jam

We left Michael's satisfied but not full, which is the best way to eat and I bought a signed copy of his new cookbook which is scheduled for general release on February 15th...

Thanks to my sister for the hot tip on Michael's Genuine.

Winter Escape

Flying Southwest Airlines from Long Island to Ft. Lauderdale is one of those things where you're looking over your shoulder, feeling like you got away with something wonderful and criminal!  It's too easy from the twenty minute drive to the airport, to the funny flight staff, to the half hour early arrival on our return and of course not to mention the beautiful 80 degree weather that met us on arrival and departure...
Some impressions from the weekend...

 Pina in South Beach

 Vacancy

 Children singing for money

 Artists studio

 Beautiful reproductions of vintage hats 

 Outside men's room at Ft. Lauderdale airport

   Retro snack packaging from Southwest Airlines

Tomorrow I tell you about a wonderful restaurant and the chefs cookbook I brought home.

Art Smart

Google's homepage today

Google's "Art Project", unveiled yesterday, is FREE, and allows people to discover thousands of pieces of art from around the world (and as an artist this is something near and dear to my heart)...  it's like Google Maps but for Art Museums with 360 degree views.  One can navigate as if you're standing in the museum viewing a room of paintings and sculpture.  You can view an individual piece of art and a super close-up of the art.
Along the lines of social networking, and if you have a google account (gmail), you can make a collection of your favorite art to be shared with others...

 Van Gogh

Looks luscious enough to eat

The homepage shows the different views

The Palace of Versaille

There are currently 17 major art museums represented on the website and I'm sure this is just the beginning...

At Artinfo.com you can read more about the project and another art project, "Art-sy". 

Lacy

I bought this tunic last week from one of my favorite designers and I know I'll want to wear it everyday come spring... dress it up, dress it down.  It's lacy without being fussy... lace and eyelet, gauze and fringe... that's what this versatile tunic is all about, classic with a twist.
Wear it as a dress or as a tunic top... belt it and wear it with jeans...

BCBGMAXAZRIA, $198

 Somehow it looks like the ice covering every tree branch in my backyard... lacy, but dangerous!

Pedi Sparkle!

Maybe it's this unrelenting winter we're having in the northeast with gray skies and at this point a lot of gritty grayish brown snow along the roads that makes me want to brighten my day with COLOR!  While replenishing my makeup supplies last week I was at the Lancome counter and spotted this nail polish with sparkle, hints of purple and pink sparkle... I couldn't resist.  It will be the perfect thing to get me in the mood for our weekend getaway to Miami, just hubby and I...

Lancome, LE 54, $19

The color is not opaque the way it looks in the bottle, but sheer and translucent with a more subtle sparkle.  I'm wearing it on my toes, but it would be pretty on the hands too.

Winter is ok, I'm trying not to take it for granted and appreciate it's monochromatic beauty.  It also has me appreciating spring even more when it finally arrives.  Although maybe this winter this snow on the ground today will still be here in April the way things are going... YUCK!!!