Stuffed Dates

As much as I love my job as a food photographer, it's always a great time when we can do something a little more creative and fun with food.  This was one of those days.

The recipe for these Stuffed Dates with Ricotta, Pistachios & Honey can be found in the Jan/Feb 2012 issue of Clean Eating Magazine!

Stacking these yummy Ricotta, Pistachio and Honey stuffed Dates were not easy!  First of all, these dates are basically the size of small eggs and a little slippery, but with the magic (and a few pins and sticky tack) of Sugar Tart's food styling, a few more adjustments along the way (and a few hours), we had a dish of beautifully stacked stuffed dates! 

Photography by Joanne Tsakos
Food Styling by Sugar Tart 

I hadn't noticed this until now, but it looks like the magazine ran out of room on the page for the final date topper!  We were having so much fun and probably could of gone on all day but at some point, you have to go home :) 

Wall Paper

Digging through some old photo's in an attempt to clean out my computer, I found some images from an old renovation project. 

During this project, we discovered some pretty neat things that the previous (previous, previous, previous, and maybe even previous) owners or renovators had left behind. 

Although drywall has replaced the once common plaster and lath, what we found might not have been such a common practice. These plaster walls were covered with paper, perhaps to keep the paster from crumbling or cracking. 

Sure, old newspapers with the date on it would of impressed me, but this was something else! Carefully selected photo's cut out of magazines.  Colourful, interesting, even strangely bizarre images were covering the plaster walls!  I though about keeping a souvenir, a chunk of the wall covered with the eccentric paper, but I decided that a photo would be more hygienic.  

Maybe this will inspire you with a really great way to cover your existing walls!  Find some images you love, get some glue, and go to town!  Yeah, maybe way too much work ;) 

The P.G.13 rated version ;) 

I wonder who the crafty person was behind this clever wall paper job? 

The Panorama

Love this one!  Maybe this is one that will make it to my wall. 

Life for me has taken a different turn these days, but I'm really looking forward to my next renovation project and I'm building up my idea bank in the meantime.  Inspiration can come from anywhere.  Sure, home decor magazines make it easy, but can be expensive!  Look around you, what inspires you most?  Where does it come from? From the fashionista's walking around, the view from where you sit, something from childhood?  What's most important to you?  For me these days, it's about having a little more fun.  Life can be way too serious some times, why bring that home with you?  A jolt of colour with paint, or pillows, a quirky vintage find, hidden amongst the serious. Maybe even a little fun on your walls with your favourite quirky art?  Have some fun!  

2012, Looking Forward

Resolution : A firm decision to do, or not to do something

Intention : An aim that guides action

A new year brings new hope to all.  Hope that this year will be better than the last.  New Years Resolutions are what people often think about, "what do I want for 2012".  

I prefer to steer clear of making resolutions.  Resolutions are always BIG, they seem like a lot of pressure and they're usually created out of a negative aspect of yourself that you want to change.  Common resolutions for people might be, I want to quit drinking, quit smoking, I want to go to lose 10 pounds, etc...  And once that negative habit starts creeping back into your life, you can give up as quickly as you gave in.  

No, I don't like resolutions. They've never worked for me, besides, I'm more of a practical and realistic girl.  I tend to set goals for myself that I know I can achieve.  For me, intentions are what works best.  I make plans, set realistic goals and always keep my eye on the prize throughout  the year.  A brief conversation with my life long friend just before the New Year had reminded me of this. She thought 2012 would be a great year for me and I would achieve everything I had set my mind to as I had always done so in the past and had always somehow found a way to my goals.  I sometimes forget that I have the power (as we all do) to do so and it was really special to hear this from one of my closest friends who sometime's know's me better than I know myself.  Thanks CK! xo 

So, my intentions for 2012? Well, I will keep most of them to myself since I'm a shy and modest blogger but I will happily share them with the world when I have achieved them! 

What I can share with you is this:  

• I intend to do everything I can, to live and be healthy in my body, mind, and spirit.
• I intend to be fearless and unstoppable.                   

Yoda : Do... or do not. There is no try