Quote of The Day

Everyone must act according to

the dictates of his own reason.

Thomas Jefferson

Fascinating People: Alternate View

Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People of 2010
will air Thursday 12/09.
Yes, she's an interviewing icon, 

I get it.  But isn't it time 

we start pushing the envelope again?

How about offering up some 

cutting edge, controversial people 

we haven't all OD on from the grocery store mags

to Hoda and Kathie Lee?

Flavorwire took the matter into their hands and offered up

a line up which could be much more 

thought provoking and educational.

For starters:

Marina Abramović

In what was easily the year’s most talked about art show, Abramović spent the better part of the spring sitting still and silent at the Museum of Modern Art’s atrium as museum visitors took turns staring across the table at her. Both that individual piece and the entire retrospective of her work — the biggest show of performance art in MoMA’s history — were titled The Artist Is Present. And over the course of her exhibition, everyone from Lou Reed to Lady Gaga stopped by.

We would ask her: What did your performance teach you? Who were your favorite and least favorite visitors? Did you ever think you’d be the one to make performance art cool again?

                                                         Tim Gunn

Project Runway is certainly past its prime, so why haven’t we grown tired of its beloved mentor figure? Because this year, he showed us a new side of him. Gunn is clearly unhappy with the way the show is being run, and he’s not going to plaster on a fake smile and pretend to agree with the judges’ awful decisions — or, for that matter, sit idly by while Anna Wintour has employees carrying her. At the same time, he’s never been more supportive of his Project Runway charges than he was last season. And he showed real humanity in his It Gets Better video, an honest and moving account of his teenage suicide attempt.

We would ask him: Are you ready to move on from Project Runway? If you could pick new judges for the show, who would they be? Which contestants did you actually love, and which did you flat-out hate?

Christine O’Donnell

We would ask her: Why did you feel it was so important to reassure voters that you’re not a witch? Do you feel like you were misunderstood during your campaign? Are you a feminist? Will you be running for public office again?

Kanye West

We would ask him: How do you think you’ve changed in the past few years? My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy earned a lot of perfect reviews. Do you agree that it’s a perfect album? Where are you going from here? How do you really feel about the Nicki Minaj record?

This is only a taste of the list,

for more options we could see, if the producers

were to go out on a limb and well,

really entertain us check out Flavorwire.

Quote of The Day

It is not failure,

 if you enjoyed the process.

Winfrey

Tis The Season...

Having cut down a 14 foot tree in the pouring rain

and now strung excessive lines of white lights,

pearls and beads,

we will take take a trip over to 'Christmastown'  

and revel in the land of misfit toys.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...

Cheers!

It's The Little Things

Sometimes coming up with the little things  for gifts

can be the most challenging.

Recently, Ross and I were in our favorite

local antique shop and we came 

across bowls of  vintage matchbooks.

Many were local to San Francisco establishments long gone.

I think we both thought, oh that's a cute idea...matchbooks...

I mean isn't that much chicer than a big box

 from the grocery store?

Similar but different, Katie Armour from the Neo Taditionalist

 found these matchbooks which have been turned into

 magnets and again I thought, clever!

The message here is, keeping an open eye and mind,

 sometimes the answers to those difficult little gifts

 can be right in front of us!

xo

Quote of The Day

Intelligent people err, too.

Barbara Kipfer

Getting On With The HoHoHo

It's Santa con 2010.

The annual Santa flash mob

Bar crawl through San Francisco.

Yes, there are some rules...

Lowdown for the HOdown!

Santa kicks off at 12:30pm Saturday 12/4 at SF Civic Center. See below for full schedule and options from the East, North, and South.  But FIRST check out this mini-survival guide…

While SOME naughty is nice, don’t be an asshole!

• No vandalism, violence, theft or other criminal behavior…Santa is about spreading joy, not needing bail.
• Santa’s Little Douchebag Contingent is not welcome at our reindeer games
• Santas look out for each other…naughty of the NOT nice variety is not tolerated!

Be NICE to kids!

Be AWESOME to bar staff!

• Pay with cash… it gets chaotic when Santa comes to town
• Tip well…Santa wants to be welcome in years to come
• Bring ID…Santa is of legal drinking age

Be SAFE and prepared!

• Don’t BE that Santa…don’t get SO jolly that you need babysitting
• Buddy up…we’re still in a city
• Dress for the occasion and weather…costume + comfy shoes + layers + umbrella = Happy Santa. No whining!
• Expect to walk…a lot (see above re: comfy shoes)
• Take public transportation…Muni and BART are your friend
• Sing…SF Santacon has its own Songbook that includes classic, kid-friendly carols AND your raunchy favorites (download and print the pdfor word doc. Prints on only 3 pieces of paper (double-sided)!
• YOU hold the reins to Santa’s sleighride! Create your own itinerary from the map and the Santa-primed bars listed below
• If it’s too crowded and SANTA NEEDS A DRINK, move along.Follow twitter.com/sfsanta and tweet back to report action at these and other Santa-friendly bars you may find (@sfsanta and #sfsanta)
• Leave no trace…put trash/recycle into cans—clean up after your reindeer!
• I think it's pretty self explanatory...
• Cheers!

Fruitcake Anyone?

I am the only one at House of Hunters, 
well actually, I am the only one I know...
who enjoys a (good) fruitcake
My favorite, is from Costco (I know- so wrong)
it has lots of nut and is heavy and moist,
heavy with what- who cares?
But, I think I've found a version
more people can get behind..
The Fruitcake 
by 
My Jello Americans

Layer One

1. Pour 1/8 cup water into a bowl.  Slowly add one packet of Knox gelatin while stirring. 

2. Add 1/2 cup dark spiced rum.

3. In a seperate bowl, add 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp molasses, 1/3 cup pomegranate and wild berry juice and stir well. Most kitchens can heat this mixture on a stove top.  We, however, have only a microwave.  If you're going to use a microwave, be sure to put on your prettiest ironing apron to protect yourself from the dangerous radiation (guys too)!

4. Once this mixture is heated– but not to a boil– add it to the gelatin and rum bowl and stir well.

5. Pour a small amount in each of your pre-greased molds (We used a mini-cupcake tin, a mini cake pan and a small square dish).  Leave at least 2/3 of the mold empty for the second layer.

Wait for this layer to become firm.  While you wait, you can chop and crush your fruit and nuts, read a book, check email or go out dancing.

For layer two and a few more photos

go to My Jello Americans at Urban Outfitters 
If you really do enjoy the real deal as I do,
check out the great recipes at 
Saveur.

Holiday Cheers!

Simple Wishes For Good Things

Sometimes, the simplest things are the most powerful.

I saw this on Ready Made and had to share...

"It isn't often I walk down the street consumed in happy tears, but that is precisely what happened this week upon the discovery of a little tree full of handwritten wishes one block over from my apartment. What initially looked to be a prank involving toilet paper in front of a condo building turned out to be a kind soul's offering to the Ukrainian Village neighborhood of Chicago: a tree full of wishes. "

"A Ziploc bag attached to the tree holds small white pieces of paper with yarn strung through pre-punched holes. A pen sits inside the bag along with a message simply instructing passersby to "Make a wish and hang it on the tree."

"I won't tell you what I wished for but I'll admit I felt free and unencumbered after scribbling on that small sheet of paper. The happy tears hit after I read through all of my neighbor's wishes: babies arriving full term, health, peace of mind, freedom of religion, job security. I thought about these strangers and wanted everything for them. "

I love this, the collective wishing, a flying free,

a letting go.   via Megan Jeyifo

xo

Quote of The Day

Strengthen me by sympathizing

with my strength, not my weakness.

Amos Bronson Alcott

Happy Hanukkah

Happy Hanunkkah  to all of my

friends celebrating 

the wonderful Festival of Lights.

I hope this holiday is filled with

eight days of beautiful candles, 

the sharing of stories and gifts and of course,

 the luxury of family, friends and food.

The best celebrations for me always involve food

and, although I  am not Jewish, I do,  make a mean brisket.

I  so love the traditions and symbols which accompany

this holiday in food,

from the jelly doughnuts, 

latkes,

 brisket 

and yes, vegetables,

Whether your table will be meat and potatoes

or colorfully vegetarian,

may this holiday find you joyous,

full of blessings and rich with memeories.

Cheers!

Quote of The Day

Compassion is not helpless pity, but an awareness

 and determination that demands action.

the Dali Lama

Rediscovering Creativity

1000 Journals Project

About a decade ago, Brian Singer,

of San Francisco started the  1000 Journals Project,

connecting readers and writers and to create a conversation

connecting thoughts, opinions and art.

photos  via Flavorwire

To me, the project is inspired creativity

in the purest form.

From the project, the book, to the DVD the open,  shared

 and the quiet retrospective, so much is there 

to be and feel apart of.

XO

Quote of The Day

scanned from my Chagall book by Gill Polonsky

Beauty is truth, truth beauty-

that is all ye know on earth,

and all ye need to know.

John Keats

Life Among Books

I love books.

I do enjoy reading, but I enjoy them

for more than this intrinsic value.

Perfect for substituting for a piece of furniture-

I love the look of a stack of books,

sheer functionality proves them to make great 

tables and stands.

                           I love the colors, textures, the graphics on the spine.

Books, whether classic novels, art or reference- no matter,

they all bring memories, ("what a good read")

a sense of history, essays and photos of 

people and days  gone by.

Ours is not a collection, but more of a composite,

assortments, mixed media.

They bring reverence and inspiration.

Whether a library room full, an artful bookcase,

or organized assortments, I could look at endless compilations.

via The City Sage

via a lovely being

via a lovely being

via Neo Traditionalist

Here at our house, we have quite a few...

favorite reads, finds from yard sales and antique shops, 

gifts- given and received-

and, they all have a home here. 

xo

Quote of The Day

Slight not what's near

through aiming at what's far.

Get The Party Started

Frankly, socially speaking,

I think Black Friday is shameful 

however, 

I suppose fiscally speaking,

it makes great sense, especially

if you're planning on giving someone a 

52 inch flat screen.

If your spare room is already filling up with purchases

in need of wrapping, here is 

a kick off to the season

of paper, tape and ribbons.

Cheers!

I Am The Luckiest Person

I know that I am a lucky person,

yes, I have a roof over my head, with a lovely view,

and delicious food on a well dressed table,

however,

 it is my devoted husband,

with whom I am still in love,

our two children, of whom I am in awe and proud

and my sister who I am at one with

although separated by miles, 

that remind me of my

true wealth and  blessings.

xo

Happy Thanksgiving

Bob Dylan... A Daily Dose

Dylan

Music

Photographs

Video 

Using all of the above, plus

passion, dedication and respect

A Daily Dose of Dylan 

is a virtual history lesson

and ode to the mastery of 

Bob Dylan.

I didn`t want to be part of that thing. I liked the town. I felt they exploited the shit out of that, going up there and getting 15 million people all in the same spot. That don`t excite me. The flower generation - is that what it was? I wasn`t into that at all. I just thought it was a lot of kids out and around wearing flowers in their hair taking a lot of acid. (on Woodstock)

Whether like, love or simply

respect this man and his music,

it is all there to enjoy.

xo

Quote of The Day

Etsy

Common sense is not so common.

Voltaire