Since Easter is around the corner I thought I would share with you a product I saw to help decorate your Easter eggs. They are called Color Snaps. They look like little Q-Tips but supposedly work like a pen. You snap off the top and paint flows through. I think it will be pretty easy for kids to use use. And er me.

My brother was wearing a cute t-shirt on Sunday. It was an angry cupcake threatning to bite someone back. I think I would like one for myself.


Niel Photo

He found it at the same place Niel got my Emo bear shirt. And also the same place my brother got Niel these two shirts. Threadless has a lot of other cute shirts that I would like to get.

Friday evening I fell asleep way too early again. Why does that keep happening? I am out by 9. I have to force myself to stay awake sometimes. Saturday we only did laundry and Niel went to get a tune up for the car. I made some chicken stock and pesto while he was out. I find home made pesto so much tastier. He came home with some beautiful tulips for me. He's a sweetie. We laid low the rest of the day because in the evening we drove to Philadelphia to help some Kelvin & Shawnda move. Their new town and place is great. We're very happy for them. One of their two cats plays catch. I have never seen a cat do that! Plus I got to go to a Wawa. Niel thinks we have been to one before but I don't remember going to one that large. Their version of McDonald's pancake breakfast sandwhich was quite good.

Sunday afternoon we went over to my parents because my brother Jakop and his girlfriend Christine had come over to cook Indian for everyone. Damn they can cook well! They invited Niel's mom too. Which I thought was very nice. They made Chicken Tikka Masala, goat curry, Naan, Roti, Chana Masala and Cauliflower Gobi. Niel and I brought over the same Napoleon pastry our friends Jennifer and Renzo had brought over to our place last Sunday. It was a big hit. We were glade. After we dropped off my mother in law, brother and Christine at their places, Niel and I we went home and napped for a bit then watched the Oscars while occasionally looking out the window at the snow. Not too bad. I didn't win my office's pool. I tied for third with four other people. LOL. Now the weekend is over crap.

Onto some random stuff. I forgot to mention last Monday the sink had to be replaced because the spray broke and flooded the cabinet below.

My DVR decided to erase all of our taped shows (although we only had four half an hour taped shows) and retaped shows we had deleted in December. Scary.

Every time I buy a new soap dispenser it doesn't work. This is the third time now. Niel finally figured why. You have to run water through the pump. I feel so stupid.

You all have probably heard by now but a four legged duck was born in Britian. Glad he is going to be alright.

Japan has created a robot that can detect fire. Hmmmmm.

New Mexico is going to install talking urinal cakes in bathrooms warning about drunk driving. Am I a bad person for thinking this is funny?

I decided that I really enjoy Soduku!

I found this neat site while searching for something I was outbid on ebay. Why does that always happen? Anyway the site has some beautiful recycled items. A little pricey for my cheap butt, but I will look out for sales.

You know how when making gelatin, after one flavor sets you can add another on top and you can have two different flavors or so of gelatin. Well the same theory works for liquid soap. I only had a bit of soap left in the dispenser so I added new soap to the top expecting the soaps to mix like they normally have for me. Well they didn't. They stayed in their respective corners. It sort of is pretty. You can't tell the dispenser is clear. It looks like the dispenser is white and green.

The night before work I normally iron our clothes while watching television. And I prefer starch over water. Although I don't like the aerosol cans very much, I find water leaves marks. Then the other day I was at the pharmacy picking up something else in the detergent aisle when I noticed starch now comes in non aerosol(spray) bottles. I brought it to test it out and it worked great. You bet I am going to use this kind of bottle from now on to starch clothes. I know there are some Eco-friendly starches out there which I'll switch over to someday but for now this is good. Here is a link to make your own Eco-friendly cleaning products.


Niel Photo.

I am by no means an expert on Japanese cuisine. I just know when my mouth and belly tell me something tastes good. And Japanese food is really good. It is one of my favorites. In fact I think I like all Asian foods. Most people think Japanese food is only sushi or sashimi. But there is so much more. There are dumplings(Gyoza or Shumai), rice bowls(Katsudon/Domburi), soups(Udon and Miso), rice balls(Onigiri) and fried foods(Tempura) just to name a few. I think the warm meals are an especially good option for people who are curious to try Japanese cuisine but are hesitant to eat sushi or sashimi. I'll admit I was at first also a little anxious to try sushi and shamimi, when Niel suggested we try some years ago. And I like to think of myself open to trying different foods. But after a few tries of sushi I was hooked. My favorite is a salmon roll. It is so creamy. My favorite warm dishes are shrimp Shumai, shrimp Tempura Onigiri, chicken cutlet Katsudon, Tempura, and shrimp Teriaki Udon


Niel Photo.

Niel and I were discussing my name the other day. How there are a few other people who also share it. Like Ani DiFranco(though she isn’t Armenian.) Ani is also a Hawaiian name. It also means I in Hebrew. All my life I thought Ani was exclusively an Armenian name. It hasn’t been an easy name to have. You would think a name with three letters would be easy to pronounce, but for some folks it isn’t. Some pronounce it Annie. Though I’ll begrudgingly answer to that. It's pronounced Ahh Knee. As if you are sighing "ahhhh" and then saying "knee". Ani

I was named after my paternal grandmother. Although my parents broke from tradition and removed the K from the end. Ani actually was one of medieval Armenia’s capitals. Before Turkey took the land. They haven’t done anything with it though. Not surprising. The ruins of a once thriving city are what remain. It was also dubbed "City of 1001 Churches". Between 100 to 200,00 people lived in Ani and it rivaled Cairo, Constantinople, and Baghdad. If you want to learn more, Wikepedia has an extensive explanation of the name. I will impressed if you decide to read the entire thing about my name and Armenia. No I won’t give you a quiz just my appreciation.

Also Happy Fat Tuesday!

Fitting for both holidays
FakeJambalaya
Pork dumplings & Scallion Pancakes
Niel Photos.

Hope everyone had a nice weekend or is still having one. Although it's Presidents day I am at work. It's a floating holiday for me so I can take the day at another time.

The weekend was very nice even with cold weather and howling winds. I could hear the wind over our white noise machine. It's not really a machine. Niel found some white noise online and put it on my ipod. It helps us sleep. We ran some errands, ate at a new place, Soup and Burgers. Good food and service. Entertained friends on Sunday. It was great to see them. They are nice people. Our friend's daughter is so cute. With kids you never need any other kind of entertainment because they are just fun to be around. She is so smart its scary, very cute and good manners. And she's not even three yet. Our friends did a good job. We served Shannon's sausage ring(mine was not as pretty as Shannon's), stuffed pepperoni pie, salad, and some vanilla cupcakes. They brought some yummy desserts, Babka and Napoleon. Niel was home on Monday and hung out with Kelvin who also had the day off. I am happy they are able to see each other more since Kelvin won't be living too far away now. I hope it stays that way.

A photo of how you can can find one or both of us most evenings, on one of the couches passed out.


Niel Photo.

It's been a week of ups and downs. Like any normal week. Luckily mostly up. Had a lovely lunch with my brother's girlfriend. Had to have a filling put in but it wasn't bad all. Now only need two more. Hope my friend's sister's surgery goes well. Got to go to an art exhibit for Niel's brother. The weather has been slushy and bitterly cold. Had a great Valentine's with Niel(duh). We enjoyed a sushi dinner and very thoughtful presents. Had to wake up too early one day this week. Blech. Been spoiled with weeks of new episodes of The Office and Ugly Betty. Beautiful flowers from Niel which couldn't have come at a more perfect time(crappy morning). Looking forward to lunch with Renzo, Jennifer and their adorable daughter on Sunday. And now I leave you with some commercials I think are funny. Have a good holiday weekend all and Happy Year of The Pig!

Both our offices closed a little bit early yesterday due to the snow NYC got. Niel picked me up at mine and we were walking towards the train when he spotted that ABC which is across the street from my office was letting people hold an Oscar trophy for free. ABC is airing the Oscars next Sunday. Agreeing that was a cool thing to do we went inside and held an Oscar. It was pretty neat and now I know why the Oscar winners hold their trophy with both hands. It is surprisingly heavy. Niel says I looked really happy to hold the trophy. As if I had really won.


Niel Photo.




Niel Photo.

Cheesecake is a relatively easy dessert to make and something nice to eat on a day like today. But sometimes a person has a hankering for one and just doesn't want to make it. That is when this said person can rely on Jello Cheesecake Snacks. I hadn't had them in years but I was very happy to find some at the supermarket the other day. I had a craving for this particular product and had to go to a few supermarkets, but I was finally succesful. Man Jello Cheesecake Snacks are tasty.

When I have a sore throat something that really helps sooth it is Chloroseptic mouth strips. I take one and it gives me relief for hours. Plus no mediciney "candy" in my mouth. No Chloroseptic didn't pay me for this or give me free strips. The stuff just works.

Hope everyone had a nice weekend. My doctor said my damn asthma is standing in the way of my cold going away. So I got some special meds for that. Poor Niel got my cold though, but with a little rest and medication he was feeling a little better to join the scouts on Saturday. Plus do the grocery shopping. Friday night we watched Running With Scissors. Niel and I both agreed we thought the film would be quirky like the Royal Tennenbaums or Little Miss Sunshine. But wow the people in the film are really disturbed. And its a true story! Poor Augusten Boroughs. By the way I think that is a cool name. Saturdy I cleaned and organized. I also watched Ugly Betty and Nanny McPhee. I DVR'd Ugly Betty because its on the same time as The Office. I was so pissed at the bully's mother on Ugly Betty. How dare she pass on her negativity to her son. And then had the nerve to defend his behavior. Nanny McPhee I enjoyed. It was magical. When Niel returned Sunday morning we caught up with Best Week Ever, Battle Star Galactica and Pysch. Looking forward to Heros tonight. I've also gotten back into the George Lopez show and According To Jim.

I was happy Gnarls Barkley, Wolf Mother, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the Dixie Chicks all won Grammys.

I also cooked most of our dinners for the week. Sunday for lunch I made veggie panini's and Wisconsin Cheddar Beer Soup(still on my beer in food kick), for dinner we ate Turkey Meatloaf with Red Pepper Sauce & Hidden Mozzarella Treasures, with mashed potatoes, salad and apple crips for dessert. I am always looking for a good meatloaf recipe. I have tried several different recipes and I like this one the best. It was moist and flavorful. Plus the suprise in the middle was neat. Heh heh. For the rest of the week we have the options of eating Moussaka(another dish I am always looking for a good recipe for), Penne Ala Vodka, zuchinni, dill and feta fritters(moms recipe), and Chicken Tagine with Lemon and Olives. I also had left over ground turkey which I cooked with garlic, onions and scallions and will eat with soft tacos as well as some chicken patties. My new favorite site for recipes.

Please read and sign your name to this petition disagreeing with Bush who is trying to cut funding to PBS and NPR. For shame! To be fair to politicians acting poorly on both sides, why does Nancy Pelosi need a jet?

The Japanese have done it again. Built another neat robot. This one helps to shovel snow.

OK its going to be another Martha Stewart love fest post. I got the winter edition of Good Things and it is a neat little resource guide about the proper way to prep some veggies, browning, steaming, as well as recipes.

The folks at Martha Stewart have me ogling over their crafts for Valentine's Day. Although the particular craft I am looking at, the badges, are aimed at kids I still think they are pretty cute. And since children should be able to make them, I could in theory too. I just wish I looked at the site before I sent out my cards.

The site also has a lot of other neat ideas for Valentines Day from romantic gestures to yummy looking cakes.

Niel like a majority of Americans do every first Sunday in February watched very large men tackle one another, of course I am referring to the Superbowl. This year's Superbowl was very cool. I'm not much of a sports person but I thought both coaches were deserving. Niel's brother Mike and their friend Kelvin also came by to watch with him. They had a good time. Kelvin brought wings and I had made pigs in a blanket. While I was assembling them I noticed that one of the Little Polska's(the kind I use) was much tinier then usual. Mini franks are small to begin with but this was the smallest I had ever come across. Then I found a round one! But I still wrapped them in crescent rolls and baked them. Still tasted good!

This month's Weekend Cookbook Challenge was cooking/baking something from a new cook book and was hosted by Sara from I Like To Cook. I had a dilemma since I received a few new cookbooks for Christmas. I ended up choosing one Niel gave me called Best Ever Three & Four Ingredient Cookbook. I was won over by the limited ingredients the recipes required. The challenge of making something yummy with only a few supplies. I decided to make Chorizo Hash. It was super easy to make and delicious! I served it for breakfast, but I don't see why it can't be eaten at any meal.

Chorizo Hash

1 pound of chorizo
1 pound of precooked potatoes(I microwaved mine)
A couple of scallions chopped
salt and pepper to taste
Olive oil to coat a large pan

Heat up chorizo for 8 to 10 minutes. After it's done put in a separate plate. Add olive oil and heat the potatoes. Cut up the chorizo and return back to the pan with the potatoes. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes or till potatoes are crispy. Salt and pepper and add scallions.

NYC never did get the storm. Thank goodness. But it will be freezing all week. Cold still kicking my butt though. Voice somewhat has returned. Still coughing and back to having a stuffy nose and head. Every time I cough I feel like everything in my abdomen is going to fall out. I now also laugh like Vince Vaughn. Niel says its because of my cold. Saturday we did our errands. I did a little bit of cleaning, Niel went grocery shopping. It gets things done faster to split up our chores sometimes. We also watched a lot of movies:Grid Iron Gang(very good), Employee of The Month(somewhat entertaining), and Remember The Titans(moving). I haven't gone to the movies in the longest time because of Netflix. They are much less costly and no annoying movie goers. Plus we have surround sound. There are new films coming out that I do want to add to the list: Because I Said So, Music and Lyrics, Reno 911!: Miami, Epic Movie, Hot Fuzz, Screamers, Smoking Aces, Blades of Glory, Bridge to Terabithia, and Pan's Labyrinth.

Sunday we celebrated the one year anniversary of my grandmother's passing. It is Armenian custom one year after a person dies the family/friends gather together to commemorate the life. It's a bit happier than the funeral. You grieve at the funeral and at the anniversary you celebrate their life. Some folks do this every year or every five years. My parents had a luncheon after we gathered at her grave site. The head priest for the Armenian community in NYC said a prayer there. And incense is lit during the prayers. Plus the person's name isn't etched in the gravestone till a year after their death. My uncle and aunt also had a luncheon in Los Angeles and had my dad's family over too. At my parents, family from both sides sat around ate a lot of delicious food(everyone made a little something), drank and remembered my grandmother. My grandmother was so funny, a great cook and liked to be surrounded by lots of people, she got bored easily and wanted everything just so. Her passing doesn't get any easier but I cope better. I wanted a constant reminder of my grandmother so my uncle last year gave me a painting that hung for many many years in her homes and now hangs in my home. I think the painting sort of looks like my grandma when she was younger, but that is a coincidence. My grandmother Rose may be gone but never forgotten.

My thoughts are all over the place today. New York is supposed to get a big storm today. Woopee. My hacking month long cough is now laryngitis. Yippee.

Three songs which have been stuck in my head. The Fray's "How To Save A Life" has been stuck in my head for weeks now and its driving me MAD! The song is so depressing. The other two are Year 3000 by Jonas Brothers and New York New York by Justin(Mark Indelicato)Suarez from Ugly Betty's Halloween 2006 episode.

Wow the poop really hit the fan on Ugly Betty last night didn't it? I think my favorite character is Mark. The faces he makes and things the writers have him say. Does anyone one else like to see Betty and her boss EVENTUALLY end up together?

The Food Network has been showing Nigella Bites, which was originally on the Style Network, during the same time slot as Nigella Feasts. I noticed because I was looking for a recipe on the Food Network's website and saw both shows listed. Plus I caught it Sunday afternoon and noticed how much younger her children looked. It was nice to revisit that show.

Can't believe a main character on DeGrassi got killed.

And Reba has been cancelled again. Arrgh.

Puxtawaney Phil is predicting an early Spring. Woo hoo. Not that NYC got much to begin with.

Now I leave you with a picture of some odd fruit my local supermarket has.

I get excited whenever I find a food product I haven't tried before. I was at my local Asian market recently when I found premade dough for Scallion Pizza pie. All you had to do was add toppings and bake it. Niel and I both enjoy Scallion pancakes so I brought a package. We decided to make it plain and it wasn't scalliony enough plus the dough reminds me of Phyllo. It really did need toppings.