Photos Of The Day ~ Coco and I ( Saying HI )

I know, it has been almost a good one week that I have not written or posted anything . This has been a very hectic week for me, but I am doing ok and everything is back to normal now. I wanted to share couple of photos we took today and the other day and also would love to invite you to visit our new photo blog infn8photography.blogspot.com for more beautiful photos. I am just an amateur ( with my husband’s help) learning on how to take great professional looking photos while trying to understand this new world of DSLR .. I absolutely love taking photos, to me photographing is therapeutic and I think every photo tells a story ~ life stories. I will be posting more interesting stuff soon. Its good to be back blogging again. Stay well everyone!

Photos taken by Alex(hubby)

Photos taken by Me~~ after the jump Continue reading

Today’s Meal ~ Chilled Shrimp Salad



This protein-rich dish virtually swims in antioxidants and niacin, which keeps skin healthy.


Serves 4
INGREDIENTS
Dressing
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
6 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt


Salad
Juice and rind from 1 lemon
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 pounds large shrimp (tail intact)
4 chunks watermelon (1 lb each), cut from the rind, cut into cubes
1 pound heirloom tomatoes, cut into wedges
1/3 cup crumbled feta
1/4 cup fresh basil, torn


PREPARATION
For dressing
Combine all dressing ingredients in a blender.


For salad
Fill a 4-quart saucepan with water and bring to a boil; add lemon juice, lemon rind, garlic, bay leaf, peppercorns and salt. Add shrimp, cover, remove from heat and let stand until shrimp is cooked, about 15 minutes. Drain and cool 10 minutes, then refrigerate 30 minutes. Line a large platter with watermelon and tomatoes. Top with shrimp, feta and basil. Drizzle with dressing.
Source~selfdotcom

inFn8 Gallery ~ Is It Spring Yet?

Today was one of the coldest day since we started the new year. Surprisingly, we also had some few snow flakes, here and there.Despite these temperatures and the unpredictable snow, the beauty of Pacific Northwest was still there and it was hard to miss.These are some  of the few photos I took while walking my dog out earlier today. Most of them were found just right outside our place and some were from around the neighborhood. I love the outcome and I cant wait to take more photos when the weather get nicer outside. Enjoy!

Settings for these photos were between f/5.3-6.7 and  ISO 2500, with a 18-55mm VR Nikkor Lens  Continue reading

Happy International Women’s Day To all Women Out There!

Today March 8th, is International Women’s Day (IWD).  It is a major day of global celebration of women.This day is meant to appreciate those who have the biggest influence in our lives. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women’s economic, political and social achievements. Below are some of the women who have influenced us in one way or another. Happy International Women’s Day!!

  

Cherry Blossoms at The Quad~ University Of Washington



Today we decided to drive and visit the most beautiful spot of the University of Washington(UW..pronounced “udab” ) ~ The quad. We took some beautiful Cherry blossoms photos and we are planning on going back for more picture opportunity.
Every April, pink and white blossoms brighten the Quad(Liberal Arts Quadrangle), signaling the end of another gray Seattle winter and the arrival of spring at the UW. The flowers envelop the branches of the Yoshino cherry trees and   Continue reading

Congratulations To The 82nd Annual Academy Awards Winners (Oscars2010)

So yesterday we predicted who we thought might win the Oscars tonight. Lets see if our predictions were right or wrong.. or see how close we came …

 ~This was yesterday’s post~
The Oscars are here! Tonight is the night that we all have been waiting for! Upon much deliberation and analysis, Mxdthingz is pleased to present its final winner predictions in all categories for the 2010 Academy Awards.

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker ~~~ we were right
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker ~~~ we were right
Best Actor: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart ~~~ we were right
Best Actress: Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side ~~~ we were right
Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique, Precious ~~~ we were right
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Basterds ~~~ we were right
Best Original Screenplay: Hurt Locker ~~~ we were right
Best Adapted Screenplay: Up in the Air ~~~ we missed, Precious won
Foreign Language Film: El Secreto de Sus Ojos ~~~ we were right
Documentary Feature: The Cove ~~~ we were right
Animated Feature: Up ~~~ we were right
Art Direction: Avatar ~~~ we were right
Cinematography: Avatar ~~~ we were right
Costume Design: The Young Victoria ~~~ we were right
Documentary Short Subject: The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant ~~~ we missed,  Music By Prudence won
Film Editing: The Hurt Locker ~~~ we were right
Makeup: Star Trek ~~~ we were right
Music (Score): Up ~~~ we were right
Music (Song): “The Weary Kind,” Crazy Heart ~~~ we were right
Animated Short Film: A Matter of Loaf and Death~~~ we missed,Logorama won
Live Action Short Film: Kavi ~~~ we missed, The New Tenant won
Sound Editing: Avatar ~~~ we missed, The Hurt Locker won
Sound Mixing: The Hurt Locker ~~~ we were right
Visual Effects: Avatar ~~~ we were right

Oscars 2010 Winner Predictions


The Oscars are here! Tonight is the night that we all have been waiting for! Upon much deliberation and analysis, Mxdthingz is pleased to present its final winner predictions in all categories for the 2010 Academy Awards.

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Best Actor: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
Best Actress: Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique, Precious
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Basterds
Best Original Screenplay: Hurt Locker
Best Adapted Screenplay: Up in the Air
Foreign Language Film: El Secreto de Sus Ojos
Documentary Feature: The Cove
Animated Feature: Up
Art Direction: Avatar
Cinematography: Avatar
Costume Design: The Young Victoria
Documentary Short Subject: The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant
Film Editing: The Hurt Locker
Makeup: Star Trek
Music (Score): Up
Music (Song): “The Weary Kind,” Crazy Heart
Animated Short Film: A Matter of Loaf and Death
Live Action Short Film: Kavi
Sound Editing: Avatar
Sound Mixing: The Hurt Locker
Visual Effects: Avatar

~ Posted by BlogPress for iPhone

Striped Dresses,Tunics and Tops

How do you wear your Stripes? Love this combination of Zara striped dress, thrifted grey jacket and Zara ankle booties..


This is how I put mine together…Coco is part of the accessories..lol

Fashion Trend~Studs & Sequins

Glamour isn’t just for candlelit dinners anymore! Touches of shimmer, studs & sequins are showing up on everything from sandals to totes. Check out these beautiful items from Newport  News..and very affordable too.


Peep-toe ankle boots                                 Studded fabric belt                                Messenger Bag         


Trend Alert~ Spring Stripe

Roland Mouret silk-blend tulle and tweed dress (with an asymmetrical cutout back and drape detailing) paired with these Emilio Pucci multi-strap pumps.

Today’s Meal ~Caraway Chicken Breasts with Sweet-and-Sour Red Cabbage




Aromatic caraway seeds lend a delicate nutty flavor to the chicken and balance nicely with a side of tart, sweet shredded cabbage.



2 SERVINGS~~ PREP: 35 MINUTES~~TOTAL: 35 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon (scant) ground allspice, divided
  • 2 skinless boneless chicken breast halves
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 slice applewood-smoked bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch strips
  • 3 cups thinly sliced red cabbage
  • 1/3 cup sliced shallots (about 2 medium)
  • 1/2 cup low-salt chicken broth
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon (packed) brown sugar
  • Chopped fresh chives (optional)


PREPARATION

  • Sprinkle caraway and 1/4 teaspoon allspice on both sides of chicken breasts. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add bacon; cook until crisp. Transfer to plate. Add chicken to drippings in skillet; sauté until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to plate; tent with foil. Add cabbage, shallots, broth, vinegar, sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon allspice to same skillet; cook over medium-high heat until liquid is reduced to glaze and cabbage is crisp-tender, 6 minutes. Mix in bacon. Season with salt and pepper. Slice chicken; divide chicken and cabbage between 2 plates. Top with chives, if desired.






Your Days are Now Shortened,Blame It on Recent Chile’s Earthquake

Saturday’s Chile earthquake was so powerful(devastating 8.8 magnitude) that it likely shifted an Earth axis and shortened the length of a day and that it might actually shorten our days on Earth NASA announced Monday.
Don’t worry, we are not going to lose a day or two of each year, but the change is permanent: Each day should be 1.26 microseconds shorter, according to preliminary calculations. A microsecond is one-millionth of a second.When an earthquake hits, it moves a lot of rock under the ground, and this caused the Earth’s axis to slightly shift, which is the cause of the shortening. And the spinning of the earth is how we calculate how long a day is. Scientists use the analogy of a figure skater…as they pull in their arms they spin faster. So, because of Saturday’s rocking of the globe, your day will be 1.26 microseconds shorter.


Dancing With The Stars Season 10 Cast Announcement

The wait is over, the lineup of the Dancing with the Stars 2010 and the pairings of Dancing with the Stars this 2010 was officially announced and revealed.The pairings for this year’s Dancing with the Stars is also a sizzling hot topic in the US. We can’t deny the fact that this year’s pairing for Dancing with the Stars 2010 is indeed magnificent. So if you’re looking for the official list of Dancing with the Stars 2010 pairings, check it out below:


» Nicole Scherzinger and Derek Hough
» Aiden Turner and Edyta Sliwinska
» Niecy Nash and Louis Van Amstel
» Shannen Doherty and Mark Ballas
» Kate Gosselin and Tony Dovolani
» Erin Andrews and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
» Buzz Aldrin and Ashly Costa
» Evan Lysacek and Anna Trebunskaya
» Jake Pavelka and Chelsie Hightower
» Chad Ochocinco and Cheryl Burke
» Pamela Anderson and Damian Whitewood.



So who’s your bet to win this year’s Dancing with the Stars? I know you have your bet, but let’s wait to see how they all perform on stage!

MUFA Foods~ Flat Belly Foods

While the acronym MUFA does not sound too appealing, the MUFA diet and MUFA foods are popular diet trends for the New Year and beyond. MUFAs (pronounced moo-fah) are “Monounsaturated Fatty Acids”, plant-based fats found in some of the world’s most delicious foods. Studies show that these good-for-you fats enhance heart health and protect against chronic disease. And now the latest research shows that these dietary superstars may even target fat where it’s hardest to lose–in your belly! 


What  are  MUFA foods?
MUFAs are — a class of healthy fats found in foods like tea seed oil, Avocado, Canola oil, Olive Oil, Nuts like almonds, cashews, pecans, and peanuts, Olives, Peanut butter and peanut oil,Sesame seeds,macadamia nut oil, grapeseed oil, groundnut oil (peanut oil), sesame oil, corn oil, popcorn, whole grain wheat, cereal, oatmeal, safflower oil, sunflower oil and tea-oil Camellia.



How do I add MUFA (mono unsaturated fat) at every meal?

Basically, try to add: Avocado, Canola oil, Olive Oil, Nuts like almonds, cashews, pecans, and peanuts, Olives, Peanut butter and peanut oil, or Sesame seeds to your diet.Trying to add MUFA to your diet, helps with loosing weight. Here are some of the ideas.


MUFA Breakfast Ideas for weight loss

  • Add Avocado in omelet
  • Spread Peanut butter on toast, bagels, english muffins, or apples
  • Sprinkle Almonds (nuts) on top of pancakes, waffles, and even french toast
  • Mix nut-based granola in your yogurt
  • Blend Flax Seed Oil with your favorite fruit smoothie
  • Add Sunflower seeds, Walnuts, or Pecans to your cereal or oatmeal

MUFA Lunch & MUFA Dinner Ideas for weight loss

  • Toss sliced avocado, chopped olives, or sliced nuts in your green leaf salad
  • Pour Oil Based Dressings on top of your salad specifically Olive Oil, Sun Flower, or Peanut Oil
  • Add avocado to a Mexican chicken or black bean soup
  • Instead of croûtons, add nuts and seeds to your or soup or salad
  • Add nuts to stir fry dishes
  • Ask for Olives in your Enchiladas or other Mexican Food.
  • Dribble Pesto sauce over a small bed of noodles
  • Add a dollop of pesto to dishes such as tomato soup or baked potato
  • Stir olives into your red pasta sauce
  • Sprinkle nuts on cream-based soups like tomato-basil, butternut squash soup, etc.
  • Add Avocado to your deli sandwich (Jimmy John’s is great for this)
  • Top your Chicken Sandwich, Turkey Burger, or Small Hamburger with Guacamole

MUFA Snack Ideas for weight loss

  • Eat Raw Nut based Trail Mix.
  • Spread Olive tapenade on a cracker or crostini
  • Spread Avocado and cheese on a cracker
  • Dip apples or celery in Peanut or almond butter
  • Have an Olive Loaf Bread slice with olive oil
Source~ SimpleWeight

Skin Beaching=Skin Cancer

All skin tones represent various shades of beauty. There are beautiful people in all racial and ethnic groups. We should not devalue people because of their skin complexion being different from ours. Many people feel that they are lower because they skin complexions are darker. 
Nothing annoys me more than seeing these beautiful young Black and surprisingly Asian women changing their skin colors so they can appear whiter, or lighter than they were before. Obviously they dont understand the side effects of bleaching their skin and the significantly increasing risks of skin cancer.Did you know that Black skin and Asian skin have thicker and more compact dermis than white skin. This is also explains why blacks and Asians have fewer facial wrinkles than whites. I bet you didnt know that!
Most of these whitening products contain a lot of harmful ingredients for your skin.
Mercury – poisons the bloodstream, therefore toxic when used in cosmetics. You’ll have an idea more or less what happens if your blood is infected with a deadly toxin, which can cause kidney or brain damage.
Hydroquinone – has been banned in Europe and Asia because it has been found to be carcinogenic, makes the skin hypersensitive to the sun, and thus can cause skin cancer.
Steroids – can lead to thinning of the skin and produces stretch marks. It isn’t good because a thinned skin is also prone to skin infections.
Our solution to the problem lies in our need to increase and inspire confidence about the beauty of the black skin. Do something positive to counter your low self-esteem. Take advantage of the good parts of your body or talents. Girls/Women .. you are beautiful the way you are! Be proud of your heritage.

Read More here about the dangers of skin whitening/lightening

Photo below~ In extreme cases of skin bleaching, the skin can become multi-colored and marred with inflammation or scarring. Photograph courtesy of Halimah Abdallah Kisule.