Juicing

Thom and I have a confession to make.  It's just started, we're hooked and we don't want to stop.  Because if you try and stop us, we might just become irrationally belligerent and rage upon you.  What I'm trying to say is that we've just recently started to juice.  Yes, we're juicers. 

But not the 'roid type.  We mean juicing fruits and vegetables in a positive and nutritious way.  Not only are we receiving our daily serving of f&v but also important vitamins and minerals that help you function in the most beneficial way possible.  Juicing allows you to absorb raw vitamins and minerals faster and easier since cooking usually destroys these essential nutrients.  You also receive many preventative health benefits that people start to swear that they have more energy, wake up earlier, notice clearer skin and shinier hair.  It's no wonder why research is showing new studies of the benefits of juicing against heart disease, high blood pressure, cancers, digestive issues, stress, weight loss, etc.

Though it is an acquired taste when it comes to the vegetable part, Thom and I are happily surprised to find that we like a little bit of broccoli with our apples and some carrots with our grapefruit.  We're still not too sure on celery...

Today we created a citrus, apple and carrot energizing drink that was o-so-tasty and inspired by this recipe here.  We switched up a few things and tweaked it to our own [which is the best way to juice,
experimenting].  Our recipe included, in order of juicing:

-6 small and peeled carrots
-4 quartered green apples
-2 peeled oranges
-1 large and peeled pink grapefruit

Juice, stir and enjoy.

Our juicer, a Breville, is a centrifuge juicer.  It spins so fast that it separates the fibrous parts from the juice into two containers on opposite sides of the juicer.  It does a nice job and though there are many parts to clean out, it helps to line the waste basket with a compostable bag.  Eventually we'll be adding some wheatgrass and lettuce that I'm growing organically.  Beyond the super health food aspects, the juicer does make one hell of a freshly juiced and frothy orange juice.  Cheers to that!

Meet Chip

Our new LXV150 Vespa.  And Thom.  Out in Sunset at Ocean Beach.  An image provoked by an assignment for class with my advertising mentality still ingrained.  It'll be hard to break out that mold.  But for now I'm enjoying it as the eye candy that it is. 

Photo Info:

Shot with a 5DMII, 16-35mm f/2.8 L lense, hand-held 580EXII Flash[by me] and camera set to a timer to pop off the pocket wizard/flash.  Exposure set to around 1/10 @f/2.8. (Bumped the ISO up to 400 to get that "fast" shutter speed)

Some photographers regard sunsets to typical photos of children, pets and railroad tracks but I enjoy the challenge against time as you try to set up and take a shot within 15 minutes of natural light left.

Colorful Creations

Two projects just completed for the apartment.  A knitted throw and some accent pillow covers for the couch.  Both so simple and ordinary at first thought but then one comes to find that they were all handmade.  By me.  In total, costing me less than $50.00 or so.  Did I mention the handmade part?

I might just take this moment to feel some DIY/crafty-ness pride...

Aside from my over zealous attitude over a throw and some pillow covers, here's a little background info.

The knitted throw was of my own design after learning how to do the cable knit stitch.  Two cords running on each side in both the green and purple colored yarn and one cord in the center of the yellow.  The yarn is Lion Brand, Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn.  I used size 39mm needles.  And what started as a boring day with something to do, turned into a full on knitted throw project.  Unfortunately for me, knitting isn't what it's like in New York (with such lovely stores like Purl) and I had to order most of it online.  If you're still interested in the pattern, feel free to email me and I'll send you my formula. 

The pillow covers though are of great pride for me.  The main reason is because of those gosh-darn-dang zippers!  I hate zippers.  Let me rephrase that, I hate sewing on zippers.  I always screw them up and have this awkward stitch that doesn't match right.  This past week, I found out that I was doing it all wrong and using the zipper foot incorrectly.  I now like zippers.  (Or at least sewing them on!)  The pillow inserts were just some cheap buys at Ikea.

I followed a very simple and straightforward tutorial online from house on hill road.  (Specific pillow zipper tutorial link here)  It was so easy that I ended up buying another crap pillow at a department store and sewing together another cover in half an hour.  I love how clean and professional they look with the little zipper cover on the top side.  The fabric was purchased online as well, a gift from my sister really.  So thanks Kate.

San Francisco does do fabric unlike yarns.  The other day, I just about died and went to sewing heaven when I stumbled upon Britex Fabrics on Geary St by Union Square.  Oh.  Mi.  Gawd.  There were FOUR floors filled with unbelievable designer and high end fabrics.  One floor was for notions alone!  I couldn't believe it.  With my new pillow cover tutorial under my belt, I might just go broke buying all the luxurious and coveted Japanese and Swedish prints they've got there.  Love.  Love.  Love.

Conclusion?  I'm happy to know that I thought of some ideas, taught myself how to execute them and revealed some finished products.  They show my taste and style.  I'm creating my personality in a tactile form.  It's kinda cool.

Life in a day: Sunday Market

Yesterday was one of those beautiful, warm and lazy Sundays with the potential to do anything.  Thom and I made our way downtown and strolled around the Heart of the City Farmers Market at the UN Plaza.  We bought some amazing cinnamon swirl bread and gigantic-softball sized grapefruits.  It was interesting to see exotic foods for sale like sugar cane and pomelos.  There was a Chinese man playing the erhu near one end and a hippie strumming on her guitar by the other.  Everything felt very calm and so...San Franciscan.

Afterward, we tried to go to Mama's out by Washington Square Park but the line OUTSIDE the door deterred us.  Instead, we ventured out towards Fisherman's Wharf and had brunch at Buena Vista Cafe.  I tried my first Irish coffee [where they also happened to have been first invented] and ate some delicious omelets.

Later that evening, we took a nice stroll out by the beach and dunes.  I must say, living in San Francisco isn't too bad.  Not bad at all.

Two new additions

Yesterday two new decorating additions came in the mail for Thom and I to put up on the walls around here.  Most of my framed stuff is back home, waiting to be driven out to me by my parents in April.  So for now, we're happy to see some stuff hanging on these bare, bare walls.

The first is a map of the different neighborhood regions in San Francisco from Park Life and the second is a decal of the San Fran city skyline from the Etsy store of VinylSilhouettes.com

Marimekko inspired placemats

A quick DIY post on placemats.

I picked up a yard of some wonderful graphic blue/gray fabric from Ikea when Thom and I were in the process of buying a whole new set of furniture last week.  When I saw the fabric displayed at the store, I knew that I wanted to create something similar myself at home and making placemats is super easy for any sewer.  In this case, I also added some grip to the bottom of the mats from left over mat grip that we had purchased for under our living room area rug.

I figured that I wanted the mats to be 18"x14" with a 5/8" folding seam allowance on each side.  (Add 1.25" to total cutting amount) and cut them out from there.  I cut the rug grip at the proper size of 18"x14".

I then folded under the 5/8" allowance and pinned it to the rug grip.  Then I sewed all around the edges using a tuck/triangle fold at the corners.

Simple, quick and fun.  And it cost me less than $10.

A look inside

So as promised, I've put together some images from my first week in San Francisco.  Most are just images around the apartment.  [Since this is where I have been, setting up furniture, organizing, cleaning like a crazy lady, etc]  But today I managed to get out [in the rain] and go downtown to see Thom and have lunch by the food trucks that meet at the UN Plaza.  Delicious.

The weather here can not make up its mind lately.  Sometimes it's sunny and nice and other times it's cloudy and rainy.  I guess that that is what the winters here are like.  I shouldn't complain since I hear it's about 19 degrees back home with tons of snow!

Honestly, it's been making me want to get out and run too.  I always feel inspired to run during the springtime in New York because of the balmy and temperate weather.  Weather here is like that.  It reminds me of high school spring track season; smelling like earth and wet track.  Now that we're settled in fairly well, I might just get out and do so.  :-)

Our Ikea couch TBA.  [To be assembled]

Our West facing window

My camera collection waiting for a shelf

Fabric bought for placemats

Our bedroom with new bedroom set.  [Connor is staring at himself in a full sized wall/closet mirror]

Shared dresser that apparently is made for ladies.

Bathroom

Second bedroom/office.  Thom working, Connor guarding.

Kitchen

New toaster oven

New coffee maker and grinder.  Baratza is where it's at!

Living room assembled

Side table

Sweet chair

Tv area

Trash, recycle and compost.  Yes New Yorkers, composting here is mandatory!

New spiffy bar stools

View out the window

View out the window at night

Looking at downtown San Francisco, heading back from Oakland

Food trucks at the UN Plaza

Thom and Connor I

Thom and Connor II

Thom and Connor III