Slow Like Honey

Life’s pleasures should be savoured slowly

February 8, 2010 • 8:27 am 8

Lucky Winner + A Wish

Thanks to everyone for participating in the Valentine’s Day giveaway!

Sarah is the big winner, so if you are reading this, please email me your mailing information at Amanda@slowlikehoney.net.

If I could, I’d send you all care packages but sadly my meager budget is restricting me. I love hearing all your thoughts on Valentines Day. Who knew it was such a hot topic?! From the majority of your comments, it seems that the overall day seems a bit kitschy and overhyped, but you all still want to show your loved ones how special they are. I couldn’t agree more! This year, I find myself single and without any prospects on the horizon. Traditionally, I’d mourn my single status with endless glasses of champagne and more chocolate truffles than I could imagine. Feeling sorry for yourself when everyone else seems to be coupled up is so easy, right?

But this year, I’m taking a stand. I’m saying no to the pity party. Instead, I’m celebrating my single status. (For those of you who don’t know me, this is a big big deal. I can be pretty miserable when I’m single.) I’m not going to focus on what I don’t have; I’m going to focus on the many blessings I have. This Sunday, I’m having a huge party for all my fellow single gals and we are going to have a blast. More importantly, we are to celebrate the choices we’ve made and the lives we live. Instead of pining over a lost love, I’m going to show myself some love. I know that sounds weird and most of you are thinking I’ve taking too many crazy pills. But think about it. When was the last time you congratulated yourself for something you’ve done?

If you ask me, we don’t give ourselves enough credit for all we do. Shuttling the kids to school//ballet/soccer practice, making countless lunches, doing the laundry, doing asinine projects at work, holding back the tears when you see your ex with someone new, finishing college, walking the dog. We do all these things without any praise and while we aren’t saving the world, I think we deserve some credit. So, this Valentine’s Day, why not take a moment to show some compassion to yourself for all the things you do. As my guru would say, “It’s a hard knock life.” (Yes, I just quoted Jay Z.)

Alright, I’m off my soapbox. No matter what you all do, I hope you know that you are loved by me.

Filed under: Me, photography , blog, love, Me, photography, singledom, valentines day

February 3, 2010 • 7:56 am 81

A Valentine’s Day Giveaway

Because you all are so lovely.
Because you all make my life so much better.
Because I love the colors red and pink.
Because it gives me an excuse to buy Valentine’s Day stuff for a “sweetie”.
Because it’s fun.

This Valentine’s Day, I’m hosting a special giveaway to one lucky reader. He/She will receive a special baking kit, with all the goods needed to make a delicious Valentine’s Day treat for your loved ones. To enter the giveaway:

1. State whether or not you like V-Day (if not, explain why) and leave a functioning email address.
2. This giveaway is only for US residents! Sorry my international folks.
3. The deadline to enter the giveaway is Saturday, February 6, 2010.

I will randomly pick a winner using a random number generator. I hope you all participate! I’ve got some cute little baking tools for the lucky winner.

Filed under: Me, sweets , blog, giveaway, holiday, present, valentines

February 1, 2010 • 12:19 pm 4

My Kind of Salad

Sometimes, you have a salad that changes your entire perspective on salads. Goodbye, dull piles of lettuce. See you around, bland dressing. I had no idea that this Sweet Potato salad would shatter my world but it did.

In fact, it’s going to my “new” holiday dish. The must-have at a crowded table.

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: food, photography , dressing, fall, food, healthy, orange, photography, recipes, salad, sweet potato, vegetables

January 28, 2010 • 8:25 am 19

SOS

I have fallen victim to January. Noted as one of the most depressing months of the year, I can’t seem to get back to my pre-holiday self. Gray skies become the norm, and the sun disappears for days. My uniform consists of black jeans, black riding boots, and a black peacoat. A hopeful relationship with an adorable boy has been squashed. My kitchen has been dormant for the past four weeks, save for the coffee machine and microwave. Not even an impressive new hair cut can lighten my spirits up. If that is not an SOS, then I don’t know what is.

Despite my January blues, I’ve got a couple of fun projects in the works, and I want to fill you in. First off, Linda from Butter Sugar Flour and I have been working on a joint-blog that is gearing up to be unveiled. I can’t tell you how glad I’ve been to have this girl in my world. She literally rocks my socks off. Stay tuned for the welcome announcement; it’s coming soon! Secondly, I’m working with a Sacramento-area nonprofit which is hosting a special Earth Day fair on April 20, 2010. The details are still being worked out but when everything gets finalized, I will do a short mention here. I’ve had a lot of fun working with these folks and it’s a great cause.

Also, did I mention that I recently finished up my 365 Photography project? Well, I did and I can’t believe I actually stayed committed. Impressive, huh? Looking back at those photos, I remember the highs and lows of 2009. Each photo corresponds with a feeling, emotion, and I appreciate having those benchmarks to remind me of the past. I need a little break before I launch myself back in to another 365 project but when I do, I will let you know. To view the photos, click on over to my Flickr photostream.

Well, that’s it for right now. I’m planning on a fun Valentines Day giveaway that I will announce next week and I’ve got a Lemon Custard Pie in the works from a month ago (yikes!). You all are dying to hear about that, right?. I promise this funk will end soon. In the meantime, you can follow me on Twitter, where I swear I won’t be such a Debbie-Downer :)

Filed under: Me, photography , 365, blues, buttersugarflour, friends, january, linda, photography, projects, twitter

January 22, 2010 • 9:14 am 7

Happy Friday!

Wishing you all a lovely, fun, and warm weekend…

1. pink sunset in winter, 2. 2, 3. Bleu + Update + Baltimore, 4. Untitled, 5. bow-belt, 6. il-neige, 7. Untitled, 8. paris, 9. Untitled, 10. Untitled, 11. Untitled, 12. got lost in our dreams and never found our way back., 13. Untitled, 14. Untitled, 15. Untitled, 16. Untitled, 17. i tend to, 18. color, 19. Sunset (24mm crop), 20. Louis Vuitton Bokeh, 21. Happy New Year!, 22. goodbye 2009…, 23. another year, another jar, 24. Reminder, 25. Daydream, 26. Untitled, 27. 174/365, 28. Untitled, 29. Untitled, 30. Untitled, 31. There is a light that never goes out, 32. Multi-coloured signs, 33. The Escape Artist, 34. offering, 35. thing 1 and thing 2, 36. Untitled

Filed under: Me, photography , flickr, friday, photography, weekend

January 20, 2010 • 8:30 am 19

Art & waffles

It’s been almost a year since I’ve moved out on my own. I look at my little place and smile. This small home has become something of mine. Does that make sense? I look around and it is a true reflection of me. From the black and white photos of Paris to the band posters hung in the hallway, my home represents every facet of me.

I remember those first couple of months living in my new home. I hated the lack of natural light and the non-existent dining room. I preferred to hide in my room because my living room felt so cold and sparse. With a little love and care, I’ve created a space that I treasure. And I did it all on my own.

To honor my anniversary, I did two things.
1. Bought a customized piece of art that is utterly gorgeous. Thanks to Megan Weeden for her wonderful work! I can’t wait to snap a photo of it.
2. Made myself some homemade waffles with my new waffle iron.

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: food, photography, sweets , 2010, breakfast, brunch, fruit, home, photography, sweet, waffles

January 18, 2010 • 9:11 am 0

Getting down to business…

First of all, to the many people who emailed me about Haiti relief funds and charities, thank you. Your eagerness and generosity is heartwarming. But I am not a charity expert nor can I give advice on which charity is better than the rest. Personally, I chose the Red Cross since they seem to be the only organization allowed in Haiti at the current moment. I know Doctors Without Borders is a great organization and so is Unicef. That being said, any charity you choose will work work. There is so much work and recovery that needs to be done, and not enough time.

Secondly, it’s time to announce the winner for the book giveaway. I used the random number generator at Random.org and number 29 is the lucky winner! I will be contacting you, Stephanie Wetzel, shortly!Thank you all for commenting. It’s nice to hear what you are doing to keep yourself lovely and healthy. Keep up the good work!

Lastly, the girls who won the December giveaway: I am so sorry. Your packages will be on their way soon. My plate has been overwhelmed with a sick mother, the holidays, two jobs, and some annoying life obligations. I appreciate your patience!

I hope you all are enjoying a day of in honor of the wise Martin Luther King Jr. Take a moment to reflect on what society has overcome, and how much change is still needed…

Filed under: books, politics , book, charity, giveaway, haiti

January 15, 2010 • 8:36 am 3

Those in need…

Like the China Earthquake last year, I feel deep sorrow and sympathy for those victims of the Haitian earthquake. Trying to focus on the good and forget the destruction and despair plaguing that nation is a struggle. What has moved me is the outpouring of support and love for those victims. I’m stunned by the Red Cross’s texting campaign which has raised millions of dollars. What a genius idea!

Matthew Marek/Red Cross

ECHO/Red Cross

I hope you find room in your heart (and wallet) to donate to any valid charity. I sent my donations to the American Red Cross’s International Response Fund which provides long-term support to those in need around the world.There is also a specific Haiti Relief and Development fund available. Doctors Without Borders is another organization that provides crucial services and support in emergencies.

I urge you to take a minute out of your busy Friday, find your generosity, and donate. Imagine your children, your parents, or your loved ones buried under tons of rubble, and in desparate need of medical care. Imagine spending days wandering the streets, looking for food and clean water.

Just imagine what your dollars can do for others…

Filed under: Me, general, photography, politics , 2010, charity, donations, earthquake, haiti, red cross, support

January 13, 2010 • 7:58 am 48

Healthy Bread? Seriously?!

I’ve got exciting news for you. Healthy bread does exist. And, to top it off, you can make it in less than 5 five minutes. Exciting, right?

Dr. Jeff Hertzberg and the lovely Zoe Francois have written a smart book full of helpful tips and pictures, showing you how to make healthy bread in five minutes. I’d consider them the Five Minute Gurus since they perfected the art of five-minute-bread-baking with their first book.

For a bread-baking novice, I welcomed their first book, Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day, with open arms. Offering many delicious recipes using a simple starter dough, I’ve heard nothing but great things about this book. Their second book, Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day, promises to be an amazing followup. I have my eye on the Pumpkin Pie Brioche, Chocolate Tangerine Bars, Cherry Black Pepper Focaccia.

I know many of you are partaking in your own healthy journey and I applaud you. Working out, eating right, and enjoying yourself are all tenets of living a happy lifestyle. But I know it’s common for people to forsake carbohydrates, particularly anything sugary and sweet, maybe in the form of a donut or cinnamon roll. Or maybe you are allergic to gluten and have had to part ways with all things gluten.

Listen to me, reader. Baked goods shouldn’t be shunned because not all baked goods are alike. The recipes from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes boast many nutrients and ingredients that will make you and your trainer happy. There are even gluten free recipes in here for all you Celiacs! Brilliant, I tell you!

To kick start the new year off right, I am giving away one copy of the book to a lucky reader. To enter the giveaway, please follow these instructions:

In the comments section, write your experience or advice about maintaining a healthy, happy lifestyle.
Leave a valid email address, and first name.
Giveaway is for residents in United States or Canada only. Sorry, my international followers :(
Post all comments by 5 p.m. PST on Friday, January 15, 2010.
No late entries will be considered.

I will use a random number generator to pick the lucky contestant. Good luck!

Thanks to Anna and the folks behind Healthy Bread in Five Minuyes a Day for making this giveaway possible! And don’t forget, Zoe Francois writes about her baking adventures and posts recipes at her blog, Zoe Bakes. Be sure to check her out!

Filed under: baking, books , baking, bread baking, cookbook, diet, free, giveaway, gluten, healthy, zoe francois

January 11, 2010 • 9:57 am 13

Winter Blues

Right around this time, I get a bad case of the winter blues. Once the holiday decorations have been packed away and the holiday feasts are over, a quiet lull falls upon everybody. I heard January is one of the most depressing months of the year and I truly believe it. I haven’t seen the blue sky for a week, and don’t even get me started on the sun. Who knows where that thing went?!

Not only is the weather abysmal, but everyone seems to be on a crazy mission to complete those resolutions. Gyms are packed, produce aisles in the grocery stores are brimming with people. The mere mention of baked goods brings upon a ridiculous fury. It’s all a little too much for me. I am all about healthy living, but moderation is where it’s at. Actually, I believe a little dessert might perk up your day during these bleary winter months.