Get Kouply on Valentine’s Day!

**As seen on kouply – the game couples play!**

Whatever your thoughts are on Valentine’s Day; being an iconic day of love or believing it to be a commercialized marketing ploy to make couples feel terrible and disappointed due to missed expectations, the fact remains this day is always going to exist. Yes, ladies and gentlemen – Valentine’s Day is not going anywhere anytime soon so you can choose to accept this mission of commercially-claimed love, or forgo acknowledging it and risk a weeping loved one whose friends all received romantic cards and candlelit dinners… IN BED. Sadly, there were no fortune cookies involved in that either.

So, please avoid being a shmo on Valentine’s Day.

We love-endorsers at kouply would like to help you stay out of the dreaded dog house this year and help you with a few easy tasks in making this love day a special one for your significant other. In thinking about Valentine’s Day, kouply came up with a list of ideas which you can do.

The Card… The Card… THE CARD!

This is singlehandedly the most important aspect of the holiday.  If you forget everything else, DO NOT FORGET THE CARD. A handmade card is adorable but if you’re like 99% of the population and don’t have time to do cut-outs, glitter and think up sweet little lyrical nothings, buy a bleeping card.  Make sure you say a few nice things in it too because “Love, John” just doesn’t cut it.  Even if it’s a “Love the socks you wore today, Love John” that’s STILL better.

Now that you have the card, here are some ideas to make Valentine’s Day a little bit more special for your loved one…

The Music Lovers: I know a couple who does this on the regular and will spend an afternoon wandering from record store to record store, diving into boxes of classic records and world tunes. For music lovers, this activity can make for a fun day with your loved one.  Throw in lunch at a nearby diner and a little bit of dessert at your favorite bakery and I think you might have ROCKED your loved ones world this Valentine’s day.  Um, no pun intended.

Gift ideas for this theme: iTunes gift card, vintage records, record art, DJ spinning lessons.

For the Techy Couple: 4 words of advice on this one… GET OFF YOUR LAPTOPS.  We realize techy people just do this kind of thing all the time.  I’d be lying if I didn’t say 4 nights a week my husband and I are doing this very thing together, side by side.  For this special day, however, close the laptop and get out there and do some OTHER fun techy things together. So how about a trip to the Sony, Apple or Microsoft store to look at some new gadgets on the way to your favorite restaurant?  If you’re gamers, what about a love match of Kinect or Wii together followed by a candle-lit bubble bath with accompanying chocolate covered strawberries?  Maybe surprise your loved one with a new fun case on their phone and change it out when they’re not looking!

Gift ideas for this theme: A new iPhone case by Argent Designs, Kinect, Apple Store gift card.

For the Sweethearts: And we are not kidding when we say “SWEEThearts.” How about a chocolate tour at your nearby chocolaterie? Seattle’s Theo is a great example of how you can spend a few hours indulging in tasty chocolates with your loved one. For those of you gifted at making your own decadent delicious-ables, heart shaped brownies are something fun you can do for this holiday of love or even a homemade heart shaped meal. Don’t feel cheesy, it’s cute! Some cities offer chocolate tours which makes for a nice gift for both of you in spending your Valentine’s Day full of sweetness. 

Gift ideas for this theme: Frans chocolates, Shari’s Berries, Edibles bouquet, box of chocolates – a nice box with an assortment of their favorite chocolates.

For the Brangelina Couple. If gifts, chocolates, flowers and nauseating mushiness are not your thing, why not plan a day together volunteering for an organization of shared interest?  Nothing is more meaningful than to give back in a way which is important to both of you.  In fact, it’s kind of hot!  Whether it’s cooking for the homeless, planting trees in your state, or enrolling in a big sister/big brother program, this can be one of the most satisfying Valentine’s Days you’ve ever spent together.  After all, nothing melts your heart more than working with your loved one on bettering the world.

Gift ideas for this theme: gift donation to your loved one’s favorite charity such as www.seeyourimpact.org and www.jolkona.org.

For the Creative Souls. Whether it’s making a homemade meal of fun new recipes for your loved one using Chalkboard China and writing sweet little nothings on your dinnerware, or attending a pottery class together making beautiful art you can showcase at home, there are quite a few options creative souls have to choose from.  A cooking or photography class together counts too! 

Gift ideas for this theme: chalkboard china entertaining pieces, art supplies, new cookbook, camera.

For the North Face Kissy-Face Couples. Winter may be here 6 weeks longer according to Punxsutawney Phil, which is why spending Valentine’s Day in a cabin somewhere far in the mountains can make this holiday that much more steamy… and dreamy.  Lock yourselves up in a chalet somewhere, away from all the city madness and enjoy a weekend cooking, reading, relaxing full of bubble baths and candlelit massages.  Oh, and if you get cabin fever, get some fresh air by taking a nice hike outside, underneath the snow clad trees, walking hand in hand.  Yes, we think it’s really romantic too.

Gift ideas for this theme: North Face snow boots, new ski goggles, kindle.

For the Spa-Dwellers: A day at the spa has become a trend which is not intended only for women these days but men love their spa days too!  For those men still a little bit uncomfortable with manning it alone and getting a needed mani, pedi and massage solo, no woman I know would be upset over spending a day at the spa with her loved one. Yes we know, life is tough but somebody’s gotta do it. If you’re looking for some relaxation time in the comfort of your own home why not recreate your ideal Zen experience right at home? Run a bath with your favorite bath beads, use up that nice exfoliating scrub your Aunt Mildred got you for Christmas this year, topped off with a nice head and foot massage. Try throwing in some champagne and strawberries and this will be an occasion to surely knock your Valentine’s socks off… and maybe a few other things, too!

Gift ideas for this theme: aromatherapy candles, your loved ones favorite skincare, matching spa robes.

For the Parents who want to make this day special together.  I have friends that have their date nights but prefer to spend big occasions such as anniversaries and Valentine’s Day with their kids included.  There’s something very sweet and thoughtful about these traditions.  How about a home-made pizza night on Valentine’s Day where it is a team effort to make heart shaped pizzas from scratch with your favorite toppings? A trip to the zoo or children’s theater is also a fun event for the family.  For big points, plan a few days at a nearby spot such as the beach or exploring the charm of a smaller town.

Gift ideas for this theme: A mother’s necklace, framed photo of you and your children they can bring with them to work, voucher for a date night out.

For the Health-Conscious couple. For the couple who likes to keep it healthy, the day of love does not necessarily have to involve chocolates, sweets, and other indulgences. Ever heard of an ionic foot spa? A nice detox together might make for a nice Valentine’s Day affair followed by a meal at the latest organic farm to table restaurant nearby.  What about a yoga retreat together or a planned day full of favorite outdoor activities with a picnic lunch?

Gift ideas for this theme: goodie box full of healthy indulgences (chia seeds, gluten free baked goods), Pilates voucher, and new Lululemon yoga pants — because every derriere looks amazing in them, man or woman.

And lastly…. For the Standard.  Although we are trying to encourage new and different activities for various types of couples and interests, the fact remains, many still like to keep this holiday of hugs and kisses fairly standard. Surprising your loved one with flowers at work always makes a big statement, along with a box of chocolates. For a special touch, bake your Valentine a heart shape cake, or cook your sweetheart heart shaped pasta! 

Gift ideas for this theme: the usual goods – chocolates, flowers, dinner.  Also check out Jack Black “Silver Mark” cologne for your men, ladies. Guys, Miss Dior Cherie is a timeless classic full of sophistication.  Both Amazon and Nordstrom carry these scent-ual fragrances.

Whatever it is you decide to do for your loved one this Valentine’s day, you can’t go wrong if you stick to one ingredient – thought. Put a little bit of thought into it and let your loved one remember it forever. Oh, and see how nice it feels to sleep in your bed this February 14^th after all!

For more thoughtful ideas, check out the Trending Actions on kouply at http://www.kouply.com/

Kouply | Give love. Get Points. Brag About it.

-Tanya

Modern Day Romance

I attended my first silent movie this past Monday called Street Angel, at the Paramount Theater in Seattle.  For those of you who do not know what a silent movie is, I definitely recommend you check one out. 

So, I have to say, with Valentine’s day upon us, this 1920’s movie had me pondering romance a little bit last night and further today. My friend whom I saw the movie with made such a great point as we strolled the quiet streets walking back to our car after the movie. She said, “do you really think guys like that exist?”

And that’s a great question, a question I am still thinking about today. Because the love that Gino had in the movie for Angela, the love we watched for over 2 hours was the most beautiful, strong, unfaltering love you just don’t seen shown in the same way as we saw in the movie. Gino loved Angela so much and it was a love in the purest form, but it’s a different time and have acts of loved simply morphed into different forms yet remained just as powerful?

So I started thinking about the things I would call “modern day romance” or the things men do for us ladies in today’s modern age to show the object of their affection, just how much they mean to them.

They wash our cars.
The hang your framed art work.
They put up your curtains. They take down your curtains. They put up different curtains.
They might surprise you at work with your favorite coffee.
Sometimes they plan a getaway for you.
They force you to take your vitamins every day and have even set a reminder on your phone for that.
They might say I love you just cause, meanwhile you wonder what trouble they are trying to hide.
They love your friends because you do… but well, you have good taste in friends so how could they not?
They have agreed to associated themselves as your significant other on Facebook, thereby making it more official than that marriage license you two signed.
They try to make you happy, even when you would rather be sad
The serve you coffee in bed.
They watch chick flicks with you.
They forgive the mean things you say to them and they don’t ever want to hurt you back in revenge.
They are proud of your successes.
They encourage you when you feel you’ve failed.
They have seen you at your worst, in bed sick for days.
They have seen you rock those skinny jeans and then upgrade to the “roomier jeans” and then back to the skinny jeans over and over and never loved you any less.
They have defended you.
You’ve seen them be selfless and do things for you that you know they did not want to do.
They fix your computer.

So unlike the movie, perhaps my Gino doesn’t save or rescue me from misery and work hard to help me believe in love (or maybe he does) but in today’s modern world, I think there are many acts men can do which go a really long way. 

Call me a romantic but I believe there is nothing more special and more beautiful than a man who loves a woman, a man who TRULY and wholeheartedly loves a woman.

I can’t help but get goose bumps every time I think about it…

SNOMG 2012!

Yes, it snowed in Seattle this week and as with any winter which takes place here, you can expect there to be the usual hoopla, panic and over dramatization of the fluffy stuff falling outside. After all, it wouldn’t be Seattle if the Seattleites didn’t:

-all run outside to build snowmen at the first sign of snow
-record people driving and skidding then post these videos on YouTube
-talk about how it never snowed an inch at their house and how cheated they were
-mention cabin fever at some point
-harass reporters when they try to inform us about safety

And it wouldn’t be Seattle if the weather reporters didn’t…

-discuss how only in the 1930’s did Seattle have a similar winter
-use the words “record breaking” in almost all reports
-change their forecast several times a day
-miss the mark on which day the snow would hit
-refer to 2 inches of snow as “blizzard-like conditions”

And lastly, it wouldn’t be Seattle if the other cities in our country didn’t sit back and laugh at us…

Regardless of the fuss Seattle makes over the winters here each year and the snow that comes with it, we are absolutely allowed to be drama queens since many of our inhabitants are really not natives of Seattle at all, but transients. Not everyone is used to experiencing the white fluffy stuff so yes; this is a big deal for most here. Have you looked around our lovely city lately? We come from all sorts of states and nations where snowy winters are not always common.  I think the reported 800 car accidents in a 24-hour period yesterday would help to support that fact, along with our unique infrastructure and make up such as lots of hills and the deceiving slickness of the roads during such storms.

Additionally, hello people – the panic is all part of the fun. Duh! We KNOW the world is not going to end because of this particular winter but we enjoy acting like it might and preparing for it and talking about it.  You’ll find it never fails each year; we’ll act surprised, scared, panicked, or like a kid on Christmas morning, along with a lot of other adjectives and emotions when really, we know the roll and we know what to expect.  After weather reports are issued you’ll find crowded grocery stores with people stocking up till next Christmas, busy gas stations and you can also expect a week off from work. This is just how it is and we get a kick out of this! After all, it’s extremely exciting for us to stir up some fun and thrilling chaos in this boring, dull and depressing city others outside of Washington think we live in.

BUT when the LA Times wants to talk smack about Seattleites being wimps in the snow… well I’d like to challenge them to a snowball fight and see who comes out winning… that is, if they know what a snowball is.  I’d just like to know when was the last time they had 9 inches of the white stuff to deal with. Myself and several others would have probably joined in on the insults of the article in poking fun at ourselves if say the Sun Times of Chicago or New York Times wrote such a piece, but LA? I’m sorry LA but when your high’s are 65 degrees in the dead of winter, well, this conversation is over.

I suggest since most of the Los Angelenos will be moving up this way to live at some point in their lives (and partake in the freak out sessions), it’s best to stick to what they know best with their beaches, their palm trees and their botox and and not be iceholes about how we handle our winters up here…our REAL winters, we’re not talking sissy like omg it sprinkled a little bit of rain today winters either.

At this rate, we’re just never going to be friends that way…

Happy Snowmageddon, my wonderfully panicked Seattleites! Stay warm and be safe out there. LA, put a cork in it!

-Tanya

Photo Courtesy William Blumenstein share on Facebook

Tightrope Walking In Stilts

So, today I did something I haven’t done in a while. Sitting in my closet I saw a pair of new satin pumps I ordered from Ruelala 6 months ago and yet I had not broken them in yet. Yes folks, there were these beauties in my closet and while thinking I would save them for a special occasion, that moment never seem to make it.  OK, OK, who am I kidding…I actually sorta-kinda forgot about them, lol!  Just don’t tell my husband that.  But lovely they are.

Staring at them this morning I decided today, a random Friday with no special meaning at all, I would celebrate these sassy little hotties by taking them out for their first spin, which could easily turn this day from good to great very quickly.  After all, these cuties were wonderfully high and very feminine to say the least. 

The outfit I decided to accessorize my shoes with was so-so but the shoes in all their glory definitely made the ensemble so much better. I put on my new satin babies and left the house strutting around like it was nobody’s business. I got to the parking garage at work, stepped out of my car, walked 5 feet and was utterly exhausted. Oh my, I was not expecting that, I thought to myself. Shoot! On top of being tired after just a few feet, why was it I had hardly even moved? So, I walked a few more feet then tripped over my own foot almost falling down but coolly stood up poised and continued to walk a little bit more.  A few wobbles here, a few wobbles there and hurray, I walked another 5 feet. At this pace, I calculated that I would be arriving at my office in precisely 2 hours. “Seriously?” I thought to myself! This was just so much work and so inefficient if you asked me!

I realized the best way to describe this super cute satin high heel wearing situation was this: imagine walking in place on a tightrope in stilts while giving someone a piggy-back ride. That my friends, is what it feels like to walk in heels again.

FUN!!!

That’s honestly the best description I can come up with and here’s why.  You’re not really moving (or at least quickly), it requires complete balancing without falling over, and you can’t help but feel tons of pressure on your back causing you to lean forward just to get control over your feet and the ground underneath them. And this is supposed to make you look and feel good, I thought?!! FORRRGET ABOUT IT! What I realized was that when it comes to wearing heels after a long time, you don’t care how good you look because you’re too focused on just getting to where you need to be in under an hour without falling, nor developing a clinically diagnosed hunched back during the process.

And I used to this every day? WOW!

The longer I thought about it the more I realized it takes a lot of talent and skill as well as uber elegance to pull off such a stunt like wearing heels, and still looking classy. Yeah, I am NOT any of those things in heels anymore, and now I question if I ever really was.

Suspicious of today’s challenge this morning, I packed away some socks and low-heeled comfortable boots in my bag. Ohhhh, I’m such a smarty pants, haha! So that means no matter what, today’s premonition of having a good day because of my fancy shoes will NOT be ruined despite that possibility, had I not done my contingency planning.

Well, if nothing else I guess my feet will look pretty here as I sit at my desk, under the assumption that if I were to walk around I might look good, but that’s about as far as it’s going to get. It’s just an illusion.  Because sitting and not walking today sounds delightfully perfect for a Friday and definitely beats trying to walk in place on a tightrope in stilts while giving someone a piggy-back ride.

Happy Friday, everyone!

-Tanya Walks (yeah right)…

Sorry, No Take-Out

Working downtown is wonderful because with it comes amazing restaurant options for lunch. Well, there is one special restaurant that I just love and actually think of it often and I crave some of their items badly and regularly. Today I had yet another intense craving for their food so I was chatting with a friend when I said hey, do you think I can get away with getting take out from this place since I so badly need their food? She replied, Oh totally – you should do it. So I called to place my order, mouth watering with each word that rolled off my tongue, when all of a sudden I was told the words of death: “Sorry, we do not do take-out orders.” My heart shattered into a million pieces.

NO TAKE OUT ORDERS, ARE YOU JOKING ME? WTF! Who doesn’t do TAKE-OUT ORDERS???

So here’s what I want to know. If I can take home a half-eaten meal to go from this place, why is it I can’t order the same meal and have the put it in a box. SO I started thinking about my options here:

a) Go there, get seated and fake an urgent meeting after 5 minutes and ask them to box it
b) Find a friend to come with me but on short notice this is not likely
c) Go there and request a take-out order and tell them I didn’t know the rules
d) Write a letter to their management telling them how important it is they offer take out service to people who have bad cravings for their food but no time to sit and lunch it up
e) Protest and refuse to return and give up the yummy food there… who am I kidding? Not gonna happen.

I am just so annoyed! It’s almost like those places who refuse to give you butter or oil with your bread. It’s that “I’m so great and people love our restaurant so much, you bitches follow OUR rules.” Which is fine except for people like me (Aquarian’s) who have a hard time feeling constrained and being told what to do in situations which can have pointless rules.

What a power trip, no take out! Seriously?

This place needs to get off its hoity toity, pompous, high horse and obliged to the fact that people want to do take out. It’s a compliment – I still want your food, I just can’t eat it there! Or at least tell me one good reason as to why they won’t do it. After all, it’s a café and not a 5 star high end, suit wearing restaurant.

No take out… like SERIOUSLY? W-T-F!  I hope their favorite restaurant doesn’t do take out, either!

It’s like, no soup for you!

-Ticked-off Tanya

2011: My Year In Review

My Year in Review.

Wow, what a year! 2011 definitely hit some significant moments in my life and it feels like so much has happened! I could spend a few days writing deep thoughts and reflecting on this past year but I’ll try to keep it short and sweet.  I am excited for the new year and can’t wait to see what it’ll bring!

So, let’s get started!  First off….

My Blog is BAAACK, baby! 

After a long hiatus I finally revived my blog this past year… and it got a facelift with Word Press as well! It’s felt so good. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting back into writing and forgot how wonderful it is for me to use this channel as an outlet. Yes, folks you will see grammatical errors, spelling fiascos and I can promise you it will not always be 100% coherent.  But it’s mine and it’s one of the greatest channels for me to personally ponder life. I find it so amazing how much clarity I tend to gain from doing something as simple as blogging.

So, I hope you enjoyed the travel stories, hearing about wrinkled pants, the Seattle series and of course food because I’ve had a blast writing about it.

Fun with Friends!

As with any year, this year was no different with friendships thriving and other friendships naturally receding. This isn’t good nor bad and I’ve realized over years this is simply part of the natural process with relationships we have during our lives.  I feel lucky to have gained some amazing friendships with people who we’ve had a chance to spend a lot more time with. Additionally, there are also the constants, or the friendships which never change no matter how the wind blows. This year I was reminded of who those friends were, too.

I’ve had a fun year with friends! I have actually relied on friends more than usual this past year and it’s always nice to know who is there for you when you need them most. That is something I try to never take for granted.

Here is a photo with our little food group who we’ve had a blast with this past year!

Family Time Is Forever Precious.

The family is about the same but my dad’s health continues to bother me. His health has changed quite a bit from where it used to be even a few years ago. He did get a heart defibrillator this year which is great insurance in case anything ever happens and his heart stops. I just find myself worrying more than ever for his weakening health and hate the aging process with a passion.

We had a wonderful 2011 holiday season with relatives in California as well as Christmas with our immediate family. I could not have asked for more and spent some really great family time together with our relatives.

I also got to see my in-laws again back in June in Bangkok which was nice and sweet as I continue to get to know them better.  Vinit and I are a proud new aunt and uncle to a baby girl, Riva, who was born December 20^th.

Health Experiments.

Last summer was quite a bit of fun by ways of experimentation. Neda and I tried hiking and bike riding as we wanted to see what it was we enjoyed doing with the least amount of effort involved. That’s right my friends, we are no cross fitters like half the people we know.  It was such a blast!

Looking ahead, Vinit and I have family planning on the plate for this next year. Crossing fingers and saying prayers things stick better than last year and I am sure that it will! We’re gearing up to get that started again sometime this year.

Traveling Keeps The Soul Brand New.

If you’ve kept up with my blog you will have read all about our traveling adventures this year. It was one of the best things about this past year. I did a girl’s trip to Vegas in April.  Then Thailand in May and June was gorgeous and  such a heartfelt experience being with family (and friends who joined us). In October we ventured off and explored France which just knocked my socks off. France was without a doubt one of the, if not THE BEST memory for me this past year. It was the most refreshing moment for me personally this year to go somewhere far away and live life differently for a few days.  We really needed that.

In November we spent Thanksgiving in LA which as I mentioned was tons of fun just being with family. We then closed 2011 for NYE with friends in Las Vegas.  What a blast that was!

2011 was a great travel year for us and we are currently in talks (negotiations rather) about where we want to go this next year.  We drew places written on paper from a cup last night, having listed 4 places each and so far it looks like Turkey.  We’ll see…

Career and Learning.

I have continued to explore new things, having been doing this the past few years now. This past year I was part of a startup effort on the side in addition to consulting during the day. My day job has been enlightening as well as very generous to me this past year. It has been nice because it’s given me a chance to continue to explore other interests not demanding more than a normal schedule. I feel very lucky to be in the position I am in and still don’t know how I got here when I stop and think about it. As for the startup, I learned so much and enjoyed working on something completely different with some really smart, fun people!

As great as this has been though, still, there is a burning desire in my heart of hearts to jump and do something on my own and get that going. That’s been no secret to anyone either. This burn has been there for a very long time now. I have had a lot of great conversations around this lately with people I really respect professionally and as I keep saying, I really feel I’m getting closer and closer to it. I have this feeling once I find what I’m looking for, watch out… I really hope this is the year!

In summary…

All in all, I’m ending this year on a solemn note with these thoughts and lessons at the forefront of my mind:

· Get out there and explore the unknown
· Stop and appreciate what’s right in front of you
· Learn to be resilient and not discouraged
· Each day remember to be grateful for something, even for the small things
· Give back and help others whenever you can
· Be genuinely happy for the people around you
· Eat good food.  No seriously, eat food that is good for your body.
· Truly and honestly love the people  dear to your heart and don’t forget to show it

…and last but not least never, ever give up hope. ever.

Happy New Year to you all! Wishing you a year full of love, peace, good health and happiness!

Love,
Tanya

Holiday Yumminess!

I’ve baked the cookies, I’ve hosted a girl’s brunch for some long-time friends (try almost 3 decades, NO JOKE!) and so now it’s time to share a couple of holiday recipes!

Let’s start with the cookies, shall we? Most of these recipes come from my beloved Grandma but a few were used from online recipes found as well.

Russian Tea Cakes

1 c. soft butter
1/2 c. sifted powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 c. chopped nuts

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Mix first 3 ingredients
3. Sift and stir in flour and salt
4. Mix in chopped nuts
5. Roll into balls and bake 10-12 minutes
6. After removing from oven and slightly cooled, roll in powder sugar

Peanut Butter Kisses – a favorite from my grandma!

1 8oz bag of Hershey kisses — unwrapped
1/2C butter
1/2C creamy peanut butter
1/2C granulated sugar
1/2C light brown sugar
1 egg
2tbs milk
1tsp vanilla
1 3/4C flour
1tsp baking soda
1/4tsp salt

1. Preheat oven to 375
2. Mix ingredients
3. Once you make the dough, cover and refrigerate for 30 mins – 1 hour
4. When baking, make sure you remove them from the oven when they are slightly brown, not brown or darker brown
5. Take them out and they will continue to bake
6. When cooled half way, lightly sprinkle a little bit of granulated sugar on top and then slightly push in an unwrapped kiss into the center of the cookie

TIP: roll them into balls (don’t flatten) on the ungreased cookie sheet.

Coconut Macaroons

2 egg whites
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cup flaked coconut
1/4 cup all purpose flour

1. Preheat oven at 300 degrees
2. In mixer, beat egg whites and salt at high speed until soft peaks form
3. Add sugar and vanilla (Whites should be in stiff peaks)
4. Using a rubber spatula, gently mix in coconut and flour to egg mixture
5. Drop dough by teaspoonful’s an inch apart onto parchment papered cookie sheets
6. Bake 20 minutes or until lightly browned
7. Cool for about 2-5 mins. Remove with spatula

Makes about 36 cookies

Lastly, I’ll share my holiday breakfast wreath recipe!

Holiday Breakfast Wreath
This recipe below is the traditional way to make the breakfast wreath but you can do the filing however you like. My most recent version included spinach, red, yellow and orange peppers, garlic, mozzarella, sautéed red onions, cream cheese, cherry tomatoes and no egg. The key is to have the filling mixture (whatever it is) be more solid than runny in consistency.

2 eggs
4 oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 cups frozen broccoli cuts, thawed and drained
½ lb. fresh mushrooms cut into quarters
½ cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
4 green onions sliced
2 cans (8 oz.) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls – I used 2 ½ cans by the way :)

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees
2. Mix first 3 ingredients in a large bowl until well blended, I used my kitchen aid for the mixing part and its super easy!
3. Stir in next 4 ingredients
4. Unroll crescent dough and separate into 16 triangles overlapping in center and points of triangles towards outside
5. There should be a 5 inch diameter opening in the center of the circle
6. Spoon the mixture onto the dough near the center of the circle.
7. Bring outside points of the triangles over the filling then tuck under dough in center of ring to cover filling.
8. Bake 35-40 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and filing looks heated through.

Voila – there you go! Happy Holiday eating :)

-tanya cooks

Tanya Talks 20 Best Gifts Ideas for 2011

So, what is at the top of YOUR wish list this year? A new scarf? A stylish laptop bag? Here is a list of some gift ideas I’ve come up with this year based on personal experiences, my own wants and desires and other ideas resulting from conversations I’ve had with friends during the last few weeks. If you are tossing and turning at night unsure what to get your parents, your best friend or even your spouse, maybe one of these ideas will help.

Oh, and don’t forget – when shopping online, always, always, ALWAYS look for those handy dandy little discount codes too. They can really save you money!

So let’s get started….

20. Memo Mouse Pad

For less than $10, a mouse pad memo allows you to stay on top of important reminders for the week! I love this sort of thing and not only is it cute, it’s highly useful. If there’s someone in your life that tends to keep their life organized by means of lists and jotting things down, this will make the perfect gift for that special someone. There are also blank memo mouse pads you can go for too, which are not calendar style.

19. Stylish Mugs

I’ve really been intrigued by mugs in recent years. I’ve started collecting Starbucks mugs from the different cities we travel to (yes, I’m definitely late to the party on that one), but also love the owl mugs I’ve been seeing and the pretty pattern mugs out there. I love mugs, what can I say and they make for a great stocking stuffer. Whenever a family member comes over, they each have their own mug at our house now with their first letter of their name imprinted on it. I know, it’s quirky but there’s nothing like sitting down, enjoying a nice cup of coffee with family or friends, and not drinking from the wrong cup constantly when all the mugs look alike.

Well, that’s my justification anyway…

Check out some of the beautiful mugs from west elm this year!

18. Gadget Accessories

It doesn’t matter if your loved one has an iPhone, iPad, Windows Phone whatever. Dress up their baby in style. Yes, I just referred to a phone as someone’s baby. What, it’s not? Of course it is!

I actually know someone who had a few different cases and regularly changed them on her iPhone depending on the occasion and sometimes outfit, etc. So if you’re hesitant to gift a gadget accessory in fear the person already has a great one, throw that idea out the window. I’m not trying to encourage overconsumption here, but this is more about style and proper accessory coordination.

Gadget cases are important and can be a direct reflection of our personalities. There is a world of accessories to choose from out there too! There are sites where you can custom design your phone case, and some of the latest designers are now creating covers consistent with their fashion lines.

Go explore and have fun! This always makes for a great gift!

17. USB Blanket

Ummm, what? A blanket with a USB? That’s right! Those ThinkGeek guys think of everything! If you’d rather save yourself the risk and danger of a mini-heater (known to start fires and burn buildings down), consider a heated blanket you can simply plug into your computer. This has got to be the coolest thing ever and for someone who is notoriously cold all of the time (raising hand), it doesn’t get any better than this.

If you were smitten by the Snuggie, you will be overjoyed by this bad boy.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/usb-gadgets/cf6d/?srp=2

16. Modern Dinnerware

If you knew how many months of browsing sites and roaming through stores I did to find the right casual dinnerware, you may not talk to me ever again.  After all, it’s JUST DINNERWARE.  But one thing I enjoy doing is obsessing over things (something’s, not everything) in seeing if I can find exactly what I’m looking for.

I can’t say for sure this was what I was originally out to get but let me just say – I’ve never been so happy with my decision.  CB2 just has neat things in general but this is where I found my simplistic yet durable and stackable modern dinnerware set.  I’m completely in love with it too!  This will make for the perfect gift for your household if you’re looking for a new set like I was this past year.  Believe it or not, I was still using the same dinnerware from my college days– I kid you not. 

I won’t get into how long ago that was either.. thanks!

One note with this is, the dinnerware is actually really heavy so if you’re looking for something lightweight, you will have a tough time with these pieces.   We also got the terraine soup bowls from cb2 since the modern set did not include a true cereal bowl.

15. Power Tools

Power tools are no longer great gifts for just guys; women like to hang things up at home, too. Duh! Have you ever used a power drill? It will change your life. Toss away your screw driver kits and convert over to the dark side. This makes a great gift for just about anyone and if you know someone who is into hanging framed photos or likes to work on their home, this is something they will absolutely love and appreciate, not to mention use all the time!

14. Pumped Up Kicks

Alright, so maaaybe you aren’t looking to have your TOMs light up a room exactly, but maaaybe a nice flashy pair of heels would tickle your lovely’s fancy this year.  Does your lovely-dearest have a shoe fetish?  Is her named Tanya?  LOL!

As for men, check out these handsome soles:

13. Touch Screen-Friendly Gloves

These are not your Grandmother’s gloves. These are not even your mother’s gloves. These are special gloves designed for people who have touch screen devices, so pretty much almost everyone these days. So wait, let me back up — these really could be your mother or grandmother’s gloves then.  Pretty cool, huh? You can find inexpensive ones at target for around $6 or high quality touch friendly gloves at Amazon.

12. Authentic Imports

I realize this gift suggestion is difficult to do at this point in time for the holidays, but it’s something to keep in mind for next year. If you’re a traveler, while gallivanting across the globe pick up a mustard, maybe a spice, some coffee beans, a jam, decadent chocolates, dried fruit or herbs as gifts to give during the holidays! These gifts are incredibly special because not only are they authentic gifts coming from places you’ve traveled to but it shows you were thinking of friends or loved ones in advance and that’s pretty neat, wouldn’t you agree?

This is also something to keep in mind for other occasions during the year. This past year after traveling to Thailand, I bought a few friends traditional Thai outfits to give at their baby showers for their babies. Not only was I able to barter a great deal on the outfits in Phuket but this was something they could not get here in the U.S. SCORE!

11. Label Maker

If you have an organization-obsessed freak living in your house, a label maker could not be more perfect. Yes my friends, I label everything. My label maker is one of the most used devices in our household and guess what? Thanks to my label maker, I always find what I’m looking for since it helps keep me organized. So get that little organizer of yours a label maker, or turn a new leaf and begin organizing better this year within your own household! These little machines will make your life so much easier!

10. Kindle Fire

I may love the phones Apple makes but I’m not convinced the iPad is worth the extra hundreds of dollars over the Kindle Fire just yet. So ladies and gentlemen, please meet the newly released Kindle Fire. What can I say, reviews are in the positive and this device is more than just a reader. You can watch movies, browse the web, play music, enjoy apps, yes read of course, plus so much more. For $199, it’s worth checking out over dishing out $499 with the iPad for similar uses. Give the new kid on the block a shot – I hear it’s worth it!

9. Photo Book

If you have a bunch of 1940s, 1950’s, and 1960’s pictures lying around the house like my parents do, especially a dad who can get extremely sentimental about these photos, putting together a photo book can go far in terms of best gifts this year. Let’s face it, at our parent’s age, there is very little they want, need or care to receive during the holidays. That is why sentimental gifts can be the best and the only thing they may not take the time or have the skills to create themselves.

In our kitchen at the home I grew up in, you’ll find a calendar I created 2 years ago as a gift using Shutterfly. Because the photos are there as part of the calendar and the dates have long past, that calendar remains as artwork on one of the walls in the kitchen.

If you’re not feeling all that creative, do not fear! Simply frame a photo of yourself and/or siblings or significant other which will also provide some great sentimental value equally making for a great holiday gift!

8. Mariage Freres Thes

I realize you already heard me talk about Mariage Freres Teas at nauseam during my France 2011 novel, but here’s some exciting news! Williams Sonoma now carries the Mariage Freres Marco Polo Tea! Yes, I’m doing imaginary back flips as I write this! Forget the high import fees and pathetic dollar to euro conversions (though that’s changing I hear)! Now this infamous Marco Polo tea is within reach … err, depending on how close you are to a Williams Sonoma store, anyway. Enjoy an amazing and quality French tea. This tea will make a wonderful gift for anyone who enjoys and appreciates the finer things in life.

7. Fun Yet Functional Accessories

For women, the Kate Spade Multi-Colored Coin Purse makes for a great gift for the ladies in your life this year. It’s chic, it’s cute, and it won’t break the bank! At $55, this glamorous little accessory will have some great mileage – guaranteed.

As for men, the Ögon Credit Card Wallet makes for a stylish yet functional card holder for men. I am a huge fan of gifts from Seattle’s Fireworks stores so check out their site or visit one of their stores in the greater Seattle area for some unique gift ideas.

6. Donations

If you’re looking for a gift to give the person who has everything under the sun, and “charity” is their middle name, consider a charity donation gift. Several charity sites are now offering this and a few of our friends have requested donation gifts in lieu of birthday gifts. The justgive.org site is one of many where you can give a donation gift. https://www.justgive.org/ and another great site is http://seeyourimpact.org/

5. Coton de Tulear Puppy

That’s right; I am suggesting a puppy as a gift this year. This is no ordinary puppy. This is a breed which resembles a teddy bear and is so very sweet, not to mention, hypoallergenic! Yes – all you allergy have’rs (myself included) have no excuse not to have pets anymore! 

If you’re looking to buy your significant other a gift they will never forget and which will give you enough brownie points to last the rest of the year (and the next year, and the next), look no further than gifting a Coton de Tulear puppy.

My aunt recently introduced me to Mochi, her Coton, and provided us with some useful information as we consider becoming pet owners in the near future. She told me that a trainer recommended Cotons for first-time owners because they are pretty easy starter dogs – cheerful, easy-going, and intelligent. Since they are still considered a rare breed (not a recognized breed of the American Kennel Club), they are not overbred so do not have some of the health issues that are present in so many other breeds and are pretty good in terms of longevity. Coton de Tulears can be a little bit pricey and you’ll usually find them in the $2400-2800 range but as my Aunt convinced us, once you write the check you’ll completely forget about it.

*This picture of Mochi is him full-grown*

4. Photo Door Mat

I promise this is the LAST personalized gift idea I have, but it’s a good one!  How about a photo doormat!  Although I do wonder if it feels weird wiping your feet on someone’s face, I just think the idea is great, and sort of comical!  For less possible-offensive doormats, you can also custom custom create a mat with words such as, Vinit’s Man Cave – DO NOT ENTER!

3. Food Network Magazine Subscription

I’m pretty excited about this one. For all you peeps who love to cook, now you can subscribe to the Food Network… in print! Or get this subscription for someone else as a gift this holiday season! I know 5 people off hand who’d appreciate something like this, being dedicated viewers of the Food Network and loving new recipes.

2. Keurig Coffee Maker

I realize this was SO 2009 but for those considering a Keurig conversion or those who are simply tired of throwing away and wasting pots of coffee, the Keurig is still a great way to go.

I was on the phone with my dad a few days ago having the routine gift conversation we have every year, “what do you want for Christmas… well, what do YOU want for Christmas, no, what do YOU want…” when he surprisingly cut the back and forth short by saying… “Actually, I DO want something this year. I want a Keurig.” That threw me off a little bit since this conversation is never a short one and I normally hang up not having any additional information after the call than I did before the call.

I guess when he has a daughter who talks about her Keurig as if it’s a member of the family, I can see why he’s sold. Watch him want an iPhone next year, too :)

By the way, Costco has a great deal on Keurigs right now! Oh, and have you seen the variety of flavors out these days? Delicious!

And this leads me to gift #1 this year…..

1. iPhone 4S

That’s right. I’m sure you all are shocked to death with this one. I know you saw this coming, though…

It’s true — Siri has a lot to offer and giving such a device will do the receiver a lot of good. I highly recommend the iPhone 4S if you are considering a smart phone device as a gift for someone this year. Whether the receiver is a first time smart phone user or simply needs an upgrade, the 4S is mind blowing. Alright, I’ll try to keep my thoughts short and emotions contained, but the iPhone 4S will not disappoint. Just go see for yourself!

And there you have it my friends, Tanya’s gift recommendations for 2011! Happy gift giving and I wish you all a wonderful holiday season!

-Tanya

Pets, Parents, and the Cycle of Life

I think one of the hardest things we will ever experience in life is losing loved ones. It’s precisely this reason why I’ve chosen to forgo pets for as long as I have. Let me tell you why…

When I was born we already had a yellow lab named Goldie. I grew up with Goldie and loved her like nothing else. She let me pull her ears, cut her eyelashes, ride her like a horse and Goldie just always seemed to be there for me from the time I crawled to the time I went off to summer camp as a 12 year old. This dog meant a lot to me.

At age 4, I also got a kitten and named her Teeger. I was obsessed with this kitten but she ran away and I cried and cried. Shortly after, I got another kitten. I named her Teeger II. I was even more obsessed with this kitten and I remember needing to be around this cat as much as I could. I would do things like bring Teeger to school with me for show-n-tell. I had professional pictures taken with Teeger as a child. I color coordinated my stuffed animals in my room based on Teeger (Teeger was all white).

At age 6, a wiener dog roamed into our yard and after weeks of posting FOUND signs in our neighborhood we adopted the wiener dog and named her Precious. Precious and Goldie were instantly best friends and you can also imagine knowing their size differences how adorable and yet odd that was, but they were. LOL! They loved each other soooo much!

At age 12, I was coming back from summer camp after a week being away and as we approached my friend’s house where my mom was to pick me up, I saw my mom’s car. I jumped out of my friend’s car and said, Mom, where’s Goldie? My mom just looked at me with a blank face and I bursted out crying. She didn’t even have to say it. Goldie was close to 15 years old and I knew the end was near. Still, Goldie watched me grow; Goldie was my protector, my dog, my family and I was devastated, expected or not.

It wasn’t but a few months later that Precious, whose age we never knew, passed away one day while waiting for me as she always did, near the mailbox as I walked home from school. We actually believed after Goldie passed on, Precious never got over losing her best friend. She was sad and her personality changed a lot and it was hard for us to watch.

At age 13, Teeger died when I was in CA visiting my grandparents with my mom one summer. Turns out, Teeger was chased by a kid up a tree, and he shot her with a bee bee gun and Teeger fell out of a tree and died instantly. My dad called that evening and the first thing I said was, “is everything OK with Teeger, Dad?” He said yes but I could tell in his voice it was no. He asked to speak to my mom and my mom tried to act controlled but I knew right then Teeger was not OK. She broke the news to me and my poor Filipino grandparents looked at me (who had never had pets) and said “I hope you cry like this when we die!”

I mourned for 3 years over Teeger’s death. Anytime I would see white cat hair I would cry my brains out.

I also want to point out just how great my mom was with our pets obsession.  She was not raised with pets at all and despised the idea of them.  Still she graciously and selflessly allowed us to have them and she simply tried to keep her distance and bite her tongue a lot.  I know she truly understood how happy they made all of us and at times I’d catch her petting the dog or holding the cat when no one was looking.  My dad on the other hand was the pets lover in our house.  He was (and is) so good with animals that he’s even helped train our friend’s dogs at times because he has an amazing amount of patience and skill with it all.

In college my dad decided it would be a great idea to get me a cat. I was so excited about it, too!  On the way to get the cat, we ended up looking at puppies instead and walked away with a puppy yellow lab somehow, haha! That dog, Alex ended up being my dad’s soul mate, I swear, and I surrendered ownership of Alex as soon as I saw how happy he made my dad, as now there was an empty nest and my dad just needed something to take care of in place of us kids. Alex was a godsend not only to us but to many.

Thankfully we live in a neighborhood which was fine with things such as allowing your dog to roam around unleashed, etc. Well, there was a little girl who called for Alex every day while walking home from the bus stop and Alex would do his neighborhood dog duties and meet her then walk her home. No joke. My dad used to take Alex to rest homes to visit the elderly because he was so good with people and he put huge smiles on their faces when they would see him and pet him.

To this day there are more framed photos of Alex decorated throughout our house than of US KIDS. LOL! Sadly Alex passed away shortly after my Grandma died, and my dad actually said he felt Alex’s death was a bit harder just because it was more unexpected. Alex had quite a number of tumors and it was beyond the point of saving him when we found out so it happened pretty quickly.

I’ll never forget what Alex did right before he passed away. At our house we have woods on our property and Alex began going out to the woods daily. My dad soon realized what he was doing – he was going out to the woods to die. Dogs often do this when they know it’s time. They will go hide somewhere where they can go on peacefully. Well, my dad kept finding him there just sitting or lying down and my dad would carry him back to our house and try to nurse him back to good health. Finally, my dad realized it was much too selfish to let him live on and a vet was called out to our house and Alex was laid to sleep.

Tonight my dad called me to see how it was going with considering a puppy, since it’s taken me awhile to muster up the courage to go through the whole life process with a pet again since I’m one who gets incredibly attached to my pets. I told him that I was pretty set on the idea finally and he gave me some tips like to wait till Spring as training (i.e. potty training) a puppy in a little bit warmer weather will be much easier. He kept encouraging me to get a small to medium sized dog but I told him the only kind of dog I could honestly imagine owning was the kind I’ve been around my whole life: Labradors. He told me he didn’t blame me one bit and then got a bit excited that I seemed firm on carrying on our family Labrador tradition. I told him when it was time to go pick out a puppy he had to come with me and I said he should also think about picking out a puppy too. Then he said the words that broke my heart just a little bit more… he said…

          Sadly, I think if I got a dog now, it would outlive me.

Knife to heart on repeat please. Argh that just kills me to think about that. I realize parents do age (he’s almost 70) and his heart is very weak but that has me torn up a bit tonight. I don’t even want to think about that possibility reality or not!

So my response to him immediately was…

          No dad you’re wrong. It’ll only add more years.

And of course I hung up shortly afterwards completely shaken up and texted my mom what dad just said and mom replied saying he meant it’s just a lot of work and it’s harder when you get older. Of course I responded with, No, no that’s not what he said, Mom. He said the dog would outlive him. She responded with no, he just phrased it in a silly way… don’t worry.

The whole thought disturbs me so much. First of all I don’t want to think about anyone dying – pets, parents, nobody. I know its part of life’s process, I know, but parents, the people, the pets I was blessed with having in my life, I just never want to let go of.  I hate the idea that I can’t have them forever here with me, right by my side always.  Oh how sad I get over this…

And now I’m back to square one. To get a pet or to not get a pet. That is the question – should I go through it all? Is it worth it? It might be and in fact I realize it’s most likely one of those “it’s better to have loved than to not have loved at all” situations. I know it’s part of life and the happiness a family pet will bring will be greater than not having it at all but gosh… As for my dad, no more silly talk from him please. Sheesh. Not a fan of that talk whatsoever.

Live each day to the fullest my friends… and hug your parents and pets as often as you can.
Tanya.

A Savory Sort of Sunday

 

Today we had all sorts of plans to do things outside the house: condo repairs, maybe hit the farmer’s market in Ballard, but upon waking up and getting an extra hour of sleep this morning, we decided to stay in. I know, that just made no sense.  So what did we do? Well, let me tell you…

• I made chai with tons of freshly grated ginger.
• Using multi colored potatoes (purple, red and white potatoes – thank you Shannon, the potatoes were STILL good!!), I made Herbs de Provence Potatoes. The herbs I used really kicked it up a notch, including basil, thyme and lavender leaves.
• That is when Vinit got interested in the kitchen too and started making lentil using organic French green lentils.  That is also when we began fighting over counter space, haha!
• I made a pumpkin-pecan loaf which included Indonesian nutmeg, Korintje cinnamon and a spicy Chinese ginger.
• Vinit made sautéed spinach with coriander powder, salt and hing spice.
• I made a tartine, or open face sandwich with a Spanish aoli, tad of grain dijon, sliced tomatoes topped with a layer of melted comte and slices of apple-veggie sausage then baked in the oven for a few minutes.

And that is as far as we got this morning. It was a random variety of things we cooked, resulting from a set of random cravings on both our sides.

Vinit actually said, “I love our cooking days.” Well, I love them too. It makes staying in on a day we should be out there getting stuff done, so much nicer.

These days are the best…

-Tanya Eats

The raw potatoes before being cooked.. aren’t they pretty?