mishmish

Hot Hot Hot

2008-07-07T20:48:00.005+03:00

Hot hot hot, that's how I like it and I'm not talking about my "between the sheets" manners but about my food hotness scale which today has reached a level previously unknown to me.

I eat food so hot it can bring tears to most earthlings and I definitely had experiences that caused my insides to burn and my eyes water uncontrollably but today I've met the master pepper, the hottest of them all, the king of hot hot hot, Mr. habanero.

knowing that this little bastard is extremely hot, I only tried a few drops (of habanero tabasco) in my food and, boy, was I right not to put more. except for the fact that the sauce itself was really tasty in a twisted burning kind of way and that no harm was done to me or my insides I couldn't feel anything but the taste and hotness of the pepper taking over my tastebuds. that being said, if you're like me and you love scorching your tastebuds to the point that you need to rehabilitate them than this sauce is absolutely for you and I believe that if it gets any hotter than this you'd probably find yourself committed in the nearest sanitarium or mental hospital, so be careful trying this one and enjoy.

A colorful house

2008-06-18T19:20:00.007+03:00

One starry hot night I found myself unable to sleep and wondering through the endless spaces of the internet. I found a few Dario Argento movies, some Grimm brothers tales (the original gory ones) and this colorful house blog which is about photography, art, and lots of fun attitude.

Enjoy

P.S - photo is by Adrienne Looman from a colorful house blog

Photos of Greece the blue

2008-06-09T22:17:00.004+03:00

Greece offered me rest, relaxation, good food, nice local company, lots of beer, enchanting beaches and views, history and some clarity but the thing it offered me the most (and that, I've noticed only upon my return) was the color blue. somehow everything seemed to be colored in magnificent blue. so I offer you some "light blue" photos of Lindos, Greece.

Resolutions

2008-06-07T21:15:00.003+03:00

It's not a new year, my birthday or the beginning of spring but I still found myself with a notepad and pen making a resolution list.
I've been going through a lot of feelings and changes in the last 6 months - loneliness, wanting to center myself and have more faith in my life, fighting and accepting that I'm a strong woman and that a lot of men are threatened by it and generally just needing to accept myself as I am, knowing that my sometimes "not within the norm" decisions and actions have a price that I willingly and sometimes painfully pay. all that made me realize that I need to make peace with myself and my life and start focusing on many things neglected by these emotion storms + it's always fun to see your resolution lists and realize that you've unnoticeably accomplished so many of them (except for that "lose weight" one that always stays on the list :) )

make my own cloths
photograph more, much more
always believe in myself
remind myself that being powerful doesn't mean manly
be thankfull for everything I have
do yoga
read more (watch less T.V)
do new things
be calmer
be kinder to people
remember that I'm not my weight
give more of my time and money to charity
make smarter decisions with money and save more
create more
think more creatively
not fall into a rut
step out of my boundaries and break the rules
stay different and unique no matter what others say
center myself
take better care of myself
be more active on issues that are close to my heart (animals, woman empowerment...)
lose weight

Vacation time

2008-05-14T21:00:00.007+03:00

I've been waiting for this moment for the longest time ever and now it's here, all mine to savour and cherish - I'm going on vacation, a much needed vacation to the beautiful island of Rhodes, Greece.
I'll be sunning and tanning and reading, walking, learning, eating, recovering from hangovers and photographing with the company of my lovely best friend Sofi.

I'll see you all soon

Follow the yellow brick road - Things I like now

2008-05-08T11:18:00.005+03:00

I feel that lately I've been walking on a different road than the one I used to take. both roads seem to look alike but somehow feel different. now, don't get me wrong, I always walk my own way as a strong opinionated individual that believes in its own strange, sometimes, convoluted way but it seems to lead me in a different direction this time around and I know that this is a good road to a better future with no bad witches just plain old me with the tiny addition of having Dorothy's ruby slippers that can take me anywhere I want.

In that spirit, things I like now:

The wizard of oz - the 1939 movie
The wizard of oz (BFI film classics) by Salman Rushdie - a different way to look at Dorothy, kansas and entourage
VegNews magazine - for having a good mix of subjects on vegetarianism
Chocolate chips cookies from VWAV
The cheerfull thought of going on vacation to Rhodes, Greece in less than a week
Morrissey, Siouxsie sioux & And one for coming to Israel on tour (and because I love their music)
Sleazoid express by Bill Landis and Michelle Clifford - the most realistic and the closest I'll ever get to the grindhouses of NYC

Missing (memories of NYC)

2008-05-03T08:18:00.007+03:00

I left NYC a little more than 3 years ago, full heartedly, having greatly missed my homeland, Israel. I left it so bruised and pained (from different reasons) that I truly believed that I would never look back.

After sobering from my return Israeli honeymoon, these little missing moments started creeping slowly inside my heart - small moments of happiness, habits, places and faces that didn't leave me alone.

I want to eat sushi at "east", browse books at Barnes and nobles, drink a caramel macchiato, walk through the streets of the east village, watch the birds at central park, dance at the albion batcave on saturdays, take the 6 train, get a tattoo on st. marks place, smell the stench of canal street and buy tons of art supplies at pearl paint, see concerts at jones beach or just feel the unbelievable power this city has on a human being.

I just find myself pondering and daydreaming about this city, knowing that a visit will have to be after more healing will be done - my heart is still badly bleeding from the whole 6 years experience this city and other events that occured while being there have supplied me with.

The bottom line is that this city have captured my heart so strongly that I find myself crying just from remembering tiny moments, flashes of memories and she will always be remembered in a special place in my heart, I just wish the memories will fade and give me some much needed rest from all my demons. I will always miss New York

Honey, I'm home...

2008-04-23T19:38:00.003+03:00

Ladies and gentleman, after a long absence caused by a combination of many things that can happen in life, I'm officially back and in full force, might I say.

The weather here is extremly hot and dry this days, causing me to withdraw into some daydreams about beautiful islands adorned with coconut trees, turquoise beaches, cocktails with little colorful umbrellas (wishing Isaac from the love boat will be here :) and lots of moments of tranquility.

Untill that will happen, I'm still here, in reality land, working on a few new projects that you will start seeing soon, waiting for passover to actually pass so I can bake some chocolate cupcakes and reserving all my energy for the summertime.

See you soon

Sadness and revelations

2008-03-01T08:20:00.004+02:00

I was quiet for a while as I needed to gather myself to my normal, happy self after my beloved grandfather passed away, but now I feel a little better and, as you know, life goes on even when our loved ones aren't with us anymore.
I was very saddened when my mother told me he passed away but knew in my heart that it was for the best as my grandfather was ill for a long time, just fading slowly into a state that made all of us deeply melancholic, knowing that this, once energetic, active, scholars man doesn't even recognise his own, 60 plus years of marrige, wife.

The up side of this regretful event was that I've found out, once again, how lucky I am to have such a kind, loving and supportive family that I will not take for granted ever again.

As I see it, life goes on and you have the choice of sinking into the depths of sorrow or keeping all the good memories that you have and move on through life with a smile. I choose to smile.

Vegan transition completed

2008-02-16T09:49:00.006+02:00

If you read my post on transitioning into a complete vegan diet you probably know that I've struggled a bit with the how to manage on an everyday basis.

Well, I'm proud to say that, although it's not yet perfection at its best, I'm getting there fairly quickly. I guess it's true what people say, practice makes perfect. and I've been practicing alright - planning balanced menus, trying recipes from about a million vegan and raw cookbooks that I've insanely bought in bulk, reading vegan blogs and baking more than the needed amount of cupcakes, muffins and cookies (well, a girl needs her sugar).

So although the learning process is far from over, I'm at a good place and loving every moment of it, feeling much much better, physically and conscientiously and the best benefit of it all is that I spend much more time cooking, which is one of my long time loves that has been neglected for some time.

The next step for me is to try to have a raw day each week and actually try to act as the photographer that I am and take photos of all the good meals that I make but until this happens you can enjoy a photo (found here) of my lovely, king like, cat, Mishmish.

I'd love to hear how all you vegans out there went through the transition and get some ideas, so let me know.

A valentines song

2008-02-14T19:58:00.006+02:00

Happy valentines day to all the lovers and seekers.
For all of you out there I wanted to dedicate some of the words of an uplifting song by "Liverpool Express". this song always makes my heart happy and my mood cheery.

You are my love - Liverpool express

You are my love
you are the one that I adore
You are my love
You are what I have waited for
Oh, you are my love

You are my day
You changed my Winter into spring
You came my way and then my heart began to sing
Oh, you are my love

Wishing you all the love in the world and lots of magical moments

Things I like now

2008-02-11T17:37:00.000+02:00

My brain runs faster than the fastest athlete you know, always demanding stimulation to feed its hunger. as you know, feeding a hungry brain can be hard sometimes but I'm always up for the chalenge thus bringing new things of interest to my life. sometimes they're actually good for me but sometimes they're just plain fun.

So here are the good and just fun things I like now:

Anne Frank: the diary of a young girl - the heartfelt story of Anne frank's 2 years of living in hiding from the nazis. told in her own words
Pepi, Luci, Bom - the first released film of Almodovar, about three friends in Madrid's punk era. amusing and crude
Blood ties - a vampiric P.I canadian T.V show
Popculture heroines - a website dedicated to (in their own words) "strong female characters in popular culture"
green tea cupcakes (from "Vegan cupcakes take over the world")
honey scented candles

Till next time, au revoir

P.S - Photo is taken from the "vegan cupcakes" flicker group, posted by "vegan noodle"

Jerusalem

2008-02-09T20:55:00.000+02:00

I'm trying to write this post for the last half hour but the words don't seem to come easy, connect or really describe the experience of being in Jerusalem. I'm not a religious person and almost always find myself disconnected from everything religious but there is just something undescribable, powerful and eerie in this city of all faiths that leavs me in awe.

except for its overwhelming beauty this city bares an uncomparable history, just from being what it is, the center of the three main religions and the residency of the holiest place for the jews, the wailing wall which is the only remnant of the holy temple.

Looking at the wailing wall made me think of all the things that it has seen in its many years of standing. all the love, hate, saddness and happiness, blood and war, births and deaths, people that arrive with the hope of a better life, of reaching god, people who just want to show their devotion and respect. people from all religions, color, sex and orientation and this wall stand here and welcomes everyone with the silent knowledge that deep down we are all the same.

I'm sure that this visit will not make me a religious person, but it did make me think about the history and the future of this country that I so dearly love and it definitely left me feeling that there is something out there that I might not understand but I absolutely feel and respect.

The wonders of Holga photography

2008-02-04T21:34:00.000+02:00

When I first met my Holga she looked cheap and unable. it only took me one roll of film and I was in love.

At the price of about $30 (which beats my Nikon D100), an hour of taping all the potential light leaks and a nice stroll at the marvelous NYC central park I got myself a new love that will last a lifetime. believe me when I say that it's love, the holga might be a cheap crappy camera to the naked eye but she makes wonders on film if you're willing to invest in getting to know it. technology wise, she's not the sharpest tool in the shed but that's exactly what you want when buying it.

Holga photos turn out (if they do. yes she has the tendency to mess up sometimes) as the old times photos, with vignettes and an eerie feel to them, especially in black and white.

There are a lot of websites dedicated to her photography and how to work it and I absolutely recommend that you'll see what beautiful images have been created with it (the one here is mine and you can see more at my ETSY shop).

here are some places to get you started:

Toy camera - dedicated to different kinds of toy cameras, holga included

The verb - a great directory for everything holga

Lemonice photos - an holga trip in NYC

Transition time for the almost vegan girl

2008-02-01T08:38:00.000+02:00

Time has decided to give me the disappearing act and just go by so fast that I don't feel it existing anymore. I know, everybody is busy and I'm not the first person to ask for the 25th hour to be added to their day but trying to go vegan is time consuming and a bit confusing - trying to figure out what is, ingredient wise, O.K to eat and what is actually a nutritious food or a balanced meal and all that combined with shopping and cooking is making my head spin more than it already is.

After that being said, I'm not complaining or backing up on my decision, I just wish that I would have more time to do things in a relaxed manner or just had better guidance, maybe someone who has already been there, done that - that would surely make the transition from vegetarian to vegan much easier.

The other side of transition is full of surprises, good surprises. discovering new fruits and vegetables, trying new recipes, seeing the happy and amazed faces of people when they've just discovered that the yummy muffin they just ate was completely vegan, feeling lighter and knowing that I didn't hurt anyone in the process is what makes it all worth it.

Concluding this episode is the fact that although it is hard sometimes, as all changes are, I love animals and myself enough to actually go through this phase and be happy about being able to follow my heart's desires without compromising my believes and feeling good from doing just that - veganism, here I come (with full force, might I say).

Things I like now

2008-01-27T20:35:00.000+02:00

At this lovely and cold time of winter there's nothing left to do but surrender to heated rooms and some extra quality time with books, movies and good home cooking.
In that warmed up spirit, here are the things that I like now:

Water for elephants by Sara Gruen - a great book, especially, if like me, you find the great depression, freak shows and carnivals to be romantic and intriguing.
Sweeney Todd - directed by the one and only Tim Burton who, once again, cooperates with the dashing, Johnny Depp
Acorn squash and sweet potato roasted with maple syrup, olive oil, garlic, ginger and hot pepper flakes
Coupling reruns
Saturday evenings under the blankets
Big girl (you are beautiful) - Mika. It's not that I like Mika that much but this is a nice, catchy song and more than anything else I appreciate the fact that he celebrates "big girls" being beautiful. Amen to that

Till next time, have a nice and warm week

Of animals and romantic optimism

2008-01-23T17:34:00.000+02:00

A place to bark... and meow is a non profit rescue organization based in TN, USA. they foster abandoned animals until they find them a nice and cozy place to call home.
This wonderful operation is being run by Bernie Berlin and as an animal lover she does her best to help animals in need. being an animal lover myself, I was more than happy to assist in my own way and ask you, boys and girls, to check their website and open your hearts to the animals that need you. you will find all the details on the website, but basicly, if they will get to first place in a charity competition, the organization will receive up to $75,000 and build a new and much needed shelter. so, in these cold days I wish Bernie, the cats and the dogs lots of happy days to come.

And now, to a completely different subject. I've been reading Yuval Ben-Ami's blog, "Everywhere" for quite a while and love (and I mean truly love) his writing style - funny, witty, realistic and heartfelt, which is not something to be taken lightly in this bloged world.
In one of his latest blog enteries he wrote a sentence so beautiful and true that I wished I was the one who wrote it. knowing my strengths and weaknesses, I'm aware of the fact that I, probably, will never write as good as he does but I will be more than delighted to quote him with all the credit he highly deserves. so do yourseves a favour and check out his blog (right after reading his quote):

"A romantic is always an optimist, because he knows everything will be painted in pretty colors someday"

Joy division and the art of rockstar photography

2008-01-20T19:48:00.000+02:00

On friday night I went with one of my best friends, Adam, to the cinemateque - Tel Aviv's arthouse cinema. they had a week long british film festival and friday night was a Joy division double feature night.

Joy division are one of my most loved bands of all time. their sound is a dark, atmospheric one, which at the time was a breakthrough. they only made 2 albums until the suicide of the lead singer, Ian Curtis but their influence is still felt today (Interpol are a good example).

The evening begun with "Joy division: the last true story in pop" by director Grant Gee which was a wonderful and very informative documentary about the band, the time (late 70's), the place (Manchester, UK) and their music surroundings (factory records, Tony Wilson, the happy mondays...) and it was a perfect intro to the following movie "Control" by director Anton Corbijn.

I won't say much about this movie except that it's about Ian Curtis's life and that it's a must see.

What I really want to tell you is that it's director is a well known photographer and video director that his work is amazing and beautiful. he begun with Joy division and went on to photograph Depeche mode, U2 and many many more. I will leave you with some of his photographs and a link to his website which, again, is a must.

Enjoy

The future

2008-01-17T20:01:00.000+02:00

Sometimes I wish I could get a glimpse into my future, just a quick look to know what is about to become of my life. I know that it would probably be boring to know everything ahead of time, or it could paint a grey or just plain bad picture but it truly would make my nights and days easier.
The complexity of life is at times hard to digest, especially at this fast paced world so sometimes I just wish someone will tell me that everything will be good - rosy and peachy.

I am, most of the time, an optimistic, or as one of my best friends calls me, a cosmic optimist, I truly believe that things will be better and that people can achieve whatever they want, as long as they want it hard enough.

So, this one, my friends, is to all the people that lie awake at night, worried and think about the future, brought to you, courtesy of a wonderful woman that reminded me to be kind to all that surrounds you and believe that you can do whatever you set your mind and heart to. sow the seeds and watch them grow.

Craziness, weddings and ceremonies

2008-01-13T16:51:00.000+02:00

Things have been so crazy lately.

As my brother's wedding approached, everybody started losing their mind and with no time left, last minutes arrangements and family meetings, things got a little bit out of control. and then Thursday night has arrived and all of us forgot all the pressure we've been in and were completely unable to control our ear to ear smiles or crying for some (I was the smiling one) and just had a wonderful time, dancing like crazy and chatting with family and friends.

It was perfect and fun and really heart warming to see my little brother and his beautiful bride so happy and loving.

Since, obviously, I wasn't the one taking the photos at the wedding, I've put a photo from the party we had on Monday, called "hina". the hina is a traditional (but not mandatory) ceremony usually common for people that their family's origin is from African or some Asian countries. it symbolizes the transformation from being two separate entities into one united entity and is celebrated with traditional music, food, clothing and jewelry. since we are from mixed origins the clothing were different for each - the bride wore Yemenite clothing and jewelry and the groom had Moroccan clothing (the woman on the right is my beautiful mother)

At the end of it all, everybody was happy and we're all much more relaxed just going back to the "normal" everyday life.

Things I like now

2008-01-06T18:27:00.000+02:00

Ladies and gentlemen, once again, my famous "things I like now" list.

Vegan, the new ethics of eating - by Erik Marcus
Kiki's delivery service - the cutest movie ever and, as always, great animation by studio Ghibli
Camille Rose Garcia - her art is beautifully haunting and very opinionated (anti-war, capitalism...)
Meeting new and interesting people
Blythe dolls - their price can spin one's head but they are absolutely enchanting
Linkin park - Minutes to midnight

That's all folks

A very drunk bachlorete party

2008-01-04T18:44:00.000+02:00

The bride to be in a "sane" moment

My very talented graphic designer and a family

friend, Romy

Not the best photo but irresistibly funny - Me

My dear little brother is getting married next week and as tradition calls for we had a bachelor and bachlorete parties. obviously, being a woman, I was only allowed to the bachlorete party. let me just tell you that though I don't know what happened with the boys, the girls were pretty wild and by the end of the night, very very drunk.

Some things happened but I can't really disclose all the details of our adventures, what I can definitely tell you is that with so many drunk girls this was a very funny night and the moment I actually realized for the first time that my little brother is getting married and officially begins his own family. I also realized that I'm gonna cry like a little girl at the ceremony itself and I'm not one to be known for crying at weddings.

In that spirit I wish them the best of luck, lots of love and happiness and much more parties like this one

HAPPY NEW YEAR and just one resolution

2008-01-01T11:07:00.000+02:00

Everybody came in to work today with stories of the wild new year's parties they've been to and all I can tell you about the party I've been to is that it was dreamy. sleeping more is definitely one of my new year's resolutions.

And now for true new year's resolutions:
New year's resolutions are a tradition with me and I must say that in the last few years I've actually managed to achieve some of them.
In this spirit, this year, I really thought hard about what I want my future life to look like (happy, calm, creative and adventurous) and what I want to say to myself next year that I've truly done and am proud of.
So, except for all the traditional "I want to lose weight", "get organized" and "have more money" resolutions, what I really want to say to myself next year is that I've turned completely vegan and finally be able to feel good and whole from the inside and out about preventing unneeded suffering.
I don't know what you've decided to change and achieve next year but I wish you one thing - love, if you'll love, everything will feel, look and be better.

So, have a wonderful happy 2008.

Books, books and some more books

2007-12-29T11:40:00.000+02:00

Books are one of my long time passions.

Reading a book takes you to another place, a different life, you can be someone else for a while and if you're lucky enough, the book evokes such emotions that you cry with it, laugh, feel disgusted, hate and fall in love.

Yesterday, I stumbled upon a very cheep book fair. my original purpose of being around there was to photograph - I had my equipment ready, my comfortable shoes and the weather was wonderful and then before I even began I saw the books.

I swear, they were calling me, very loudly.

It was too late and the damage was done. I spent a few hours in there and bought 11 books, most of them by Israeli authors but some are well known international writers - Jose Saramago (The double, All the names), Elsa Morante (History) and so on.

So, you understand, I have no new photos to show you but a photo of part of my library (1 of 3 over loaded libraries) and about new photos, I promise to post new ones soon.

The genius of lists

2007-12-26T09:29:00.000+02:00

There's no simpler way to say it - I LOVE LISTS.

I'm not the well organized person and I usually don't use the traditional "to do" lists but i found out throughout the years that I love making lists.

I make different kind of lists: from brainstorming lists to things I want to achieve in life but the lists I love to make the most and have become a habit in my journals are the "things i like now" list.

Every once in a while I write down all the things I'm really into at the moment, like books, music, movies, people that interest me, fashion, etc... and that list becomes an eternal reminder of things that went through my life and influenced me, it's a mood indicator and a time and place stamp that is always a pleasure to look back into and remember.

So, this are the THINGS I LIKE NOW:

* Sparkly purple nail polish
* Tete-a-Tete: The Tumultuous Lives and Loves of Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre - by Hazel Rowley

* An all night long, all seasons marathon of Buffy the vampire slayer

* Bittersweet blog (the recipes in her book, my sweet vegan, are amazing)

* Cupcakes and cobblers

* The art of Mark Ryden (the painting here is called "64 goodbye bear")

And for all the list lovers, take a look at the "to do list" blog

Until next time