Poco-Cocoa – Page 28 – Things & Stuff

Randoms

I am not the best at keeping plant-like things alive. Apparently you’re supposed to spray your wreath with water or something. So we have a dried winter wreath! It still looks decent.

I saw this today, and wanted to go to the Oregon coast ASAP.

I’m freaking out a little bit that it’s December 16th. I mean, Christmas is next week. New Year’s Eve is just around the corner. And Indie Chefs Week is only three weeks away. OMGGGGGG

Random food memories:

Burples. (I think I was allowed to get this once.)
Little Debbie Swiss Rolls.
Jeno’s Pizza Rolls.
Bagel Bites.
Bazooka gum.
Frosted Rice Krispies.
Cream of Wheat.

And now I have cravings. 🙂

December 16, 2013

Everyday Life
A beautiful mess.

One night, we went to Kate & David’s home to eat bangers and mash and make cranberry-popcorn garlands and paper snowflakes. We read tarot cards, listened to old tunes, and had a wonderful time. At the end of the evening, there were popcorn crumbs, paper clippings, and bits of string all over the living room floor. David said, “what a beautiful mess.”

We made a little video. Happy Christmas!

A Beautiful Mess from Crystal Esquivel on Vimeo.

December 15, 2013

Crafty, Fun stuff
Reading: Mindset

I saw Carol Dweck speak on The School of Life, and loved her presentation on perfectionism and the growth vs. fixed mindset. It totally inspired me, so I immediately read her book. The book is informative, though based on anecdotes that are a bit drawn out, and the ending, which is supposed to be the how-to part, is fairly vague. Still, just recognizing the fixed mindset in myself has helped me immensely in taking on new things and challenging my own thoughts. I’d say see the presentation, then read through the book, skimming when things get repetitive.

As for the ideas, I totally identified with the fixed mindset – wanting to be perfect without effort, just appearing to be wonderful and graceful without work. This has helped me recognize how important effort is – sometimes it is more important than the end result. So instead of wanting to become an amazing, strong, flexible yogi, I just want to learn, to apply myself to each class, to take as much out of it as I can, to stay on my own mat, and grow.

If you consider yourself a perfectionist, if you shy away from new challenges, if you answer to the “shoulds” in you mind too often, I think you’ll be interested in the studies referred to in this book and the presentation. It’s quite fascinating to me!

December 12, 2013

Books
On Opportunity and Sweetness
So. A few weeks back, I got an email from Felipe, who works with none other than THE Francois Payard. They are testing out a new concept called MakeCarons – pre-baked macaron shells shipped to your door, ready to be filled with the filling of your choice. I was lucky enough to be offered a sample, and I quickly accepted!

I invited my pal Kate over to help me fill them (and eat them). We had a huge stockpile of possible ingredients, and she whipped up so many options! We ended up making:
- raspberry macarons with lemon-thyme icing
- chocolate macarons with toasted marshmallow, Nutella & graham cracker crumbs
- vanilla macarons with grapefruit-rosemary-ginger icing
- chocolate macarons with peanut butter & honey
- vanilla macarons with vanilla icing, muscovado sugar & Bolivian rose salt
- raspberry macarons with Nutella & flake salt
- vanilla macarons with pumpkin butter & chocolate chips
- raspberry macarons with lemon-thyme icing and graham cracker crumbs
We went a little outside of the box, and the whole thing was so dang beautiful that I decided to film it (see below!). Justin edited the film, and it really shows what a wonderful rainy, sweet evening it was.

As a thank you for our video and feedback, I was sent a massive holiday gift from Francois Payard – I am completely freaking out about it! So. Much. Chocolate. 🙂 It’s opportunities like these that I want to take on – chances to be creative, make something, do something. I hope you enjoy the video!

Ful-filling Macarons from Crystal Esquivel on Vimeo.
December 11, 2013

Edibles, Food + Drink
Note to self

Today’s oatmeal was the best ever. Dried cranberries, coconut cashews, a spoonful of turbinado sugar, a touch of butter, and the tiniest splash of vanilla half-and-half.

December 10, 2013

Uncategorized

Randoms

A beautiful mess.

Reading: Mindset

On Opportunity and Sweetness

Note to self