Keeping the Sanity

Yes, they're predicting a foot of snow for the Kansas City area tomorrow and blizzard-like conditions.  I'm so over winter.  I've decided whenever I'm fed up with the weather, I'm just going to throw up the Frank Martin picture, and he will tell you exactly how I feel:

Anyways, I've decided to share some things with you that are getting me through these long winter months, but I better hurry before the yetis come down from the hills to feast...

1. Shameless on Showtime. Scott and I got Showtime for the sole purpose of watching "Dexter" - which I will venture to say is the best show on television.  But of course we found out Showtime has a lot of good shows - Weeds, Californication, and this newest revival of a British show - Shameless.  It's hilarious, and makes me feel like a billionaire while reminding me things could always be worse.

2. Cafe Escapes Milk Chocolate K-Cups.  My Keurig I got from my dad for Christmas has been amazing, and I've used it almost every day.  I don't drink very much coffee, so I love these hot chocolate cups.  And, while searching for this image, I found out Cafe Escapes makes Chai Latte K-Cups.  I must find these immediately!  Plus, is there anything better on a snowy day than sitting inside with hot chocolate (probably watching Showtime)?!

3. GapBody Fleece-lined Yoga Pants. I got these pants from my mom for Christmas (in gray).  I've worn them every weekend day since.  They are so comfortable.  I get home Friday after work, the yoga pants come on and stay on until Monday Morning when it's time to go back to work. 

4. Art projects.  The applications for the Kansas City Plaza Art Fair open tomorrow, so I better get crackin!  This is the first year I've considered participating, but it's quite the big deal here in the fall.  Hopefully it will be a good chance for me to finally get some of my paintings out there, and being stuck inside motivates me to work on them.

What gets you through these cold days and long winter nights?

On The Menu: Sun-Dried Tomato Tilapia

This is one of those meals that takes absolutely no time.  Ok, more like around 5 Minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook...but still.  I never used to be a huge fish eater.  I love seafood like shrimp, scallops, crab, lobster, etc, but I couldn't really ever get into actual fish.  Until I found out why.  White fish like tilapia has almost no flavor, so you really have to season it up before cooking.  I still don't like Salmon though..too fishy.

What you will need:
• Tilapia filets (we buy the bags of tilapia in the freezer section that come with about 10 individually wrapped tilapia filets in them) - thawed if frozen.  I find it's best to let them thaw naturally instead of defrost in the microwave, because they're so thin, they can start cooking in the microwave. And no one wants that.
• Olive Oil
• Italian Seasoning (or basil and oregano)
• Garlic Salt
• Black Pepper
• Chopped Sun Tried Tomatoes (I buy the jarred ones in oil)
• Red Pepper Flakes (Optional)
• Extra Minced Garlic (we also buy this in a jar and use it on everything) (Optional)
• Pat of Butter for Each Filet

Suggested Sides:
• Steamfresh vegetables - For this one I used the SteamFresh New Potatoes in Garlic Butter Sauce
• Rice
• Green Beans
• Pasta

1. Preheat oven to 425 Degrees.

2. Start by pouring a few tablespoons of olive oil in a small baking dish. Place the thawed tilapia in the pan and coat in the olive oil on both sides.

3. Sprinkle both sides with salt, pepper, and italian seasonings.  There is no measurements for this, just make sure both sides have plenty of seasoning, but not enough so that you can't see the fish.

4. (Optional) We like a litle extra spice, so I add a few red pepper flakes and about 1/4 tsp minced garlic to each tilapia filet on one side only.

5. Chop the sun dried tomatoes into bits and distribute evenly over fish.  Most sun dried tomatoes in jars come in slices or halves.  Just make sure to make all the pieces the same size.  You can even use a little of the oil that comes in the jar of tomatoes over the fish as well.

6. Top each piece of fish with a little pat of butter and bake in the oven at 425 degrees for 8 - 10 minutes.

7. Serve with your side of choice.  With those steam vegetebles that cook in bags in the microwave, you can heat them while your fish cooks.  Enjoy!

IDEA: You can also buy sun dried tomato pesto, or make your own, to top these fish.  Sounds yummy as well!

Time is flying!

January is going by so quickly, and I am NOT complaining.  Our weather people are predicting a 50-degree Friday (which to some of you may sound freezing, but it sounds amazing to me at this point).  I think only basketball coach Frank Martin can sum up how I really feel about winter...

New Products

I realize I've been a bad blogger lately.  It's been hard to find time to update!  Hopefully next week I'll be back with new crafts and recipes.  Until then, I've decided to start selling some Moravian stars in the Etsy Shop.  If you want to take the time to make your own, you can find the original craft post HERE.  I'll be doing some fun special watercolor ones as well soon.  Have a lovely weekend!

And Again...

The snow has just started again here in KC.  They're predicting up to 10" for our area.  Yuck.  I hate winter.  I realize this is so pessimistic, but it's hard for me to be motivated to do anything other than staying at home with a movie and a hot chocolate on days like this.  We're in for a COLD night.  Stay safe out there, everyone!  If you need a good, hot recipe, I'd recommend my CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP. 

Productive Weekend

I finally finished a painting I've been working on forever this weekend.  It's not that it was particularly complicated, but I have just been particularly not motivated.  However, I knew these cold weekend in winter were worth something - forcing me to work on projects I have otherwise put off.

One of these days when I have a bigger place to work, I'll get a better easel.  This painting is 16" x 20" Oil on canvas. Part of my ongoing amusement park series of paintings.  I'm going to enter an application to the Kansas City Plaza Art fair when they open in February.  I've heard it's kind of expensive to get in to, but we'll see.  I hope you all had a lovely weekend!

We Did It!

© Arnaud Frich

We're definitely going to Paris!  We've decided to go in June, and I can not wait!  Instead of a hotel, we're doing an apartment rental in Montemarte through the lovely people over at Haven In Paris.  I love the fact that we're staying in a quiet area, and that it will feel like we're actually living there for a week.  Here are some wonderful photos of the small studio apartment we'll be staying in:

Of course we went with the most affordable rental they had, but it had nothing but amazing, glowing reviews.  If you want to go wild, they have beautiful 5 Bedroom rentals for up to 7000 Euro a Week.  I'd say that's slightly out of our price range :).  I don't even know what I'm most excited for:

Whether it's seeing the Sacre Coeur out of our window every morning...

Strolling the streets of Montemarte

Just walking around enjoying the Parisienne life...

Place de Vosges in the Marias...

Or shopping?!

By the way, aren't the photos of Paris amazing?  Head on over to Arnaud Frich's website to see all of his amazing photos of the City of Lights.