Apron Obession

{via Ice Milk Aprons}

Some of my favorite memories growing up are of cooking with my mom.  She's an excellent cook.  Hailing from a long line of good gourmets, my mom could make the only two ingredients left in a cupboard into a five course meal.  Often times, she did just that-- especially when we were growing up and didn't have much in the lines of a "cushion" in terms of the finances.  My mom is truly talented in the culinary arts world.  She's the type to grow her own herbs, to use real butter in all her recipes, and the type who never uses measuring cups yet everything seems to be miraculously perfect when all is baked and done.  You know the type I'm talking about, I'm sure.

Funny then, that I was recalling these memories over the Christmas vacation when we were all in charge of cooking a meal each night that we were together (think of it like "Top Chef: Family Style."  It was so much fun, and I highly recommend you do it with your family or friends!).  I stumbled upon these aprons in a magazine and instantly fell in love.  I remember being so excited as a little girl to put on my mom's apron and wrap the tie around my tiny waist ten million times.  These aprons by Ice Milk remind me of the grace my mom always had while she cooked and the elegance that I still admire about her today.

 {via Heirloom Style: Totally Bella}

Now, which one to order AND which one to stock in the future coffee shop are the essential questions!

    

{via Iced Milk Aprons}

And if you haven't swooned enough already, their Wordpress blog is absolutely beautiful as well!  Riddled with recipes, family vignettes and amazing business inspiration, I hope you enjoy perusing as much as I did!

Falling

 

{via Pinterest}

Falling down, falling behind, falling to pieces, falling head over heels-- guilty of them all in the past six months. 

There's nothing like having your loved ones there to remind you of who you are when even you yourself don't seem to remember any more. 

Now I know where I stand and I'm ready to get this year started with a clearer focus than I've had in a long, long time.  

The Healing Power of Spices

There is no doubt that ancient cultures and civilizations in the East have appreciated the healing power of spices for centuries, but now we Westerns are coming around to unlocking all the health benefits of spices, too.  You may remember reading about my Saigon Cinnamon post {here}, and all the health benefits that it holds for you in just 1/2 teaspoon a day.  And that's just one spice!  The benefits of adding full-flavored, organic spices to your dishes instead of butter not only cuts down on fat, but can actually help cure you certain diseases, help give you more energy, and help you look and feel healthier.

With that said, you can imagine how ecstatic I was to walk through Barnes & Noble the other day to see this lovely libro lighting up the book table:

{via}

Dr. Aggarwal does an excellent job documenting and explaining the benefits of fifty different culinary spices ("culinary" meaning "everyday" spices that are not so esoteric that you'll be making a pilgrimage to remote villages in India for a one-of-a-kind species of red curry).  It's amazing to know that such a simple addition of flavor can undoubtedly bring peace and health to your mind, body and spirit.  I hope you consider purchasing a copy-- the information is priceless!


Book Description:

Breakthrough scientific research is finding that spices-even more than herbs, fruits, and vegetables-are loaded with antioxidants and other unique health-enhancing compounds. Studies of dietary patterns around the world confirm that spice-consuming populations have the lowest incidence of such life-threatening illnesses as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's. Bharat B. Aggarwal, the world's foremost expert on the therapeutic use of culinary spices, takes an in-depth look at 50 different spices and their curative qualities, and offers spice “prescriptions”-categorized by health condition-to match the right spice to a specific ailment.  {via}

Buy it here!