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A word about coffee

I can't wait for my New Orleans Cold Brew Coffee shipment to arrive. Hands down the best coffee and I do my best to try and stay stocked up all the time but you know how it is, life is such that before you know it you're out again. Which isn't such a bad thing as it forces me to include a Starbucks run in the morning routine, and the Starbucks vibe is a pretty decent stimulant in the morning so no complaints.

Once in a while, when 2 or so of the ensuing conditions are met, I get all Martha Stewart-ish again and make my favorite home-made morning coffee. These conditions could be:

1. I don't have time for a coffee run

2. I am longing for Asia and crave Asian spices

3. I am out of the New Orleans brew

This is a spicy concoction that reminds me of India even though I never actually had spicy coffee in India.

I USE:

 

 

I sometimes add a hint of chili powder too, depending on the respective degree of Asia-withdrawal symptoms involved. If you think ginger/chili infused coffee is gross, it really isn't, but if you're not big on spicy stuff I guess I wouldn't recommend this.

HERE WE GO:

First, make the instant coffee by adding boiling water, adding the ginger tea bag too. Let it sit for a few minutes (while you feed the cat).

  

Next, pour it in the blender and add ice (lots).

 

Then add the almond milk or any milk you like. I do not like milk, that's why the almond milk.

 

Blend, blend, blend -- we want it to be nice and foamy.

 

A couple of cinnamon sticks and it's all done.

 

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Like I said, nothing holds a light to the good ol' New Orleans Cold Brew but this is pretty damn good too.

By for now.

Agnes

p/s: By the way, I have never been to the Leopold Cafe in Bombay. For someone who's spent as much time in India as I have, how come I have never been to Bombay? Anyway, I once blogged about the book Shantaram (still haven't read it), and got a nice comment saying that reading Shantaram at the Leopold Cafe is reminiscent of a divine/spiritual experience. That was the first time I ever heard of the Leopold cafe and that comment is pretty much why I am saving Shantaram for "later"... And the reason I am saying all this is every time I make this coffee I think of the Leopold Cafe and Shantaram or rather my imaginative versions of them. 

Canopy bed

photo via Living It Up Safari Style

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I don't think I've ever seen a bedroom I loved more than I love this one. To me it's perfection. I can't decide which I love more, the glass walls that make you feel like you live above the trees or the complete lack of fanciness. And don't even get me started on that ceiling...

This whole photo reminds me of Sri Lanka (more specifically Kandy) in many ways, especially the canopy. 

Ever since stumbling onto that photo last night, I couldn't get the idea of a canopy bed out of my head so two bamboo rods and 12 yards of fabric later... here's my "new" bedroom:

 

I know it doesn't hold a candle to that top photo but I love it anyway! A few more photos:

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And that's all for today.

Until next time;

Agnes 

Dirty deeds done dirt cheap

I am going to have a quiet evening tonight and believe it or not, the sheer prospect of catching up on some long neglected basic beauty treatments makes me feel almost embarrassingly excited. I am especially looking forward to having hang-nail-less fingers and somewhat symmetrical (or at least matching) eyebrows.  

What are some of your 'true and tried' home remedies that really work? 

Here are a few of mine:

(I should probably warn you about this being more of a female themed post so male readers if you're bored kindly click here.)

1. Vinegar for soft and shiny hair

 

I haven't done this in almost a year (for no good reason, really) 

but diluting shampoo with vinegar, 2 or 3 parts shampoo to 1 part vinegar 

does wonders for the hair. Just pour some vinegar into your shampoo bottle and 

shake it up before each use. After a few washes your hair will be incredibly soft and shiny. 

I know it goes without saying but you don't want to get this concoction in your eyes.

* plain cheap vinegar is fine, I just didn't happen to have any around for this photo

2. Cuticle remover for flawless skin (face)

 

This one truly does miracles for me. 

Cuticle remover gets rid of all dead skin cells (dead skin cells are what make 

skin look dull) in a matter of minutes. It beats any scrub I know. 

Just don't leave it on longer than it says to on the box. The one I use 

(Sally Hansen Gel Cuticle Remover, $4-ish in your local drugstore) 

says 1-2 minutes so I do exactly that. Leave it on the face for the indicated length of time, 

then rub it off, wash face with facial soap and towel dry. Then soak a cotton pad 

in little extra virgin olive oil and gently go over your face. Wipe off any excess with a towel. 

I know of nothing, and by 'nothing' I mean even the most ridiculously priced products 

I tried that makes my skin softer and dewier than this. 

3. Shampoo to get rid of grease stains

 

For (colorless) grease stained shirts, rub a dab of (colorless) shampoo on the stain 

then throw the garment in the washing machine as per usual.  

The stain will be gone for good and you can thank my grandmother for it. 

I can't share more than these three without feeling old and Martha Stewart-ish, I'll post more another time -- if anyone's interested that is. I am not much of a domestic goddess to tell you the truth but these things really work. 

So it's your turn, do you have any true-and-tried tricks up your sleeve that really do work wonders? 

Any magic for crow's feet and under eye circles and veiny hands --  I am all ears. 

Have a great week ahead everyone.

Love;

Agnes

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