Romantic Thoughts...

The other day I was watching a movie called "The Wedding Date" and the hunky guy that was the main character's date said, "Every woman has exactly the type of relationship she wants."  I was thinking about that today...so many women have bad relationships, but they couldn't possibly want that.  However, the hunk is right.  Our relationships manifest based on what we're focused on.  So let's focus on beauty, laughter, spontaneity, loyalty, uplifting, love, kisses, intimacy, trust, honesty, warmth, comfort, sweetness, thoughtfulness, appreciation, and all of the other things we love about relationships...

Good Ole Country Air

I need to get away and clear my head.  Nothing good ole country air can't cure!  Who wants to plan a road trip???

I just feel like I need to get my mind back in the right place.  I need to relax, renew, refresh....

Have my own lil' personal escape, where no one can find me, and no one can hurt me...

Get back to simplicity and really enjoy the things that matter...

Its time to refocus on things that are important to me...like God, family, friendship, and passion...

School and work can be pretty stressful, but I can't cave in.  Things will get easier...

Definitely some changes are very necessary to progress, advance, evolve.  Out with the old, and in with the new...

I think in a couple of weeks I'll reserve a weekend to just go visit some family and friends down south and just get away from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan life.  Sometimes I get so stressed out I can't sleep, or I forget to eat.  I'm not depressed or anything, just feeling a little burnt out.  So the serenity of the country would be therapeutic right about now :)

Until next time...

♥ My Kuroi

Date Night: Dinner & Jazz Concert

Hey everyone! You're in for a special treat.  I rarely double blog in the same day, but since my earlier blog was such a downer, I decided I want to tell everyone about the amazing date my boyfriend took me on today.

I know my day got off to a rough start...but I don't ever kid with people on this -- yelling and shouting don't work with me.  I don't expect everyone in the world to agree with me all of the time (even though I'm always right), and anyone is free to disagree with me...but don't disagree with me 8 octaves above normal speaking voice.  I don't handle or cope with that type of interaction well at all...and I'm sure my face says it all because my face is transparent to emotion.  Sometimes I wish I could hide what I'm really feeling...but I'm beyond that now.

I got my hair done!  Chanel always does a lovely job.  I even got highlights even though you can barely see them in this pic.  I'm also wearing the new maxi dress I bought from Asos.  I'll have to take more pics so you all can see how cute it is!

I've barely seen Malik all week, so I really wanted us to get some quality time in.  I let him pick a new restaurant that we've both never been to, to have dinner at tonight.  He picked Ardeo & Bardeo, which is  rated as one Washington's Top 100 restaurants.

It was very beautiful inside with an art deco modern style, and an intimate environment.

I ordered Lamb Ravioli with split peas, mushrooms, served over fried yogurt.  Sounds a bit 'out there' but it was so deeeelicious!  Every last bite was rich in flavor!

Malik ordered Scottish Salmon with english pea salad, pickled ramps, over a carrot puree.  It's very seldom that I see him completely satisfied with his food, but he couldn't stop talking about how good it was!  I had to steal a bite to see and it was very good!

I thought dinner was a special treat, but the real treat was the Eldar Jazz Concert my cutie pie took me to afterwards!

Eldar performed with his band...they are all unmarried by the way ladies...I checked the ring fingers ;D

They specialized in adapted versions of Jazz music as well as some original American Jazz inspired pieces.

Eldar and his band's talent is amazing!  My baby got us front row tables, so it was truly an excellent musical experience.

Over all this was a great date night with my honey bun :)  I truly do cherish the time we spend together.

Until next time...

♥ My Kuroi

Trying To Keep It Together

I really hate feeling like this...

I am in a really emotionally vulnerable place...

I just feel like you should be able to trust that special person in your life...

Because we're a team, partners, on the same side...not enemies...

But maybe I'm just naive...

Or maybe it has a lot less to do with me than I really think...

Many times people focus on the flaws of others to mask their own issues...

But I shouldn't be so sensitive, I should be more confident in myself...

God made me beautiful inside and out.  He let me make mistakes...

So I could learn to be a better person, lover, and friend ♥

Until next time...

♥ My Kuroi

Sweet Tooth: Chocolatini Pudding Shots ♥

Chocolatini Pudding Shooters ~ I’m on a roll with martini infused desserts. My latest love .  .  . Chocolatini. What’s not to love Bailey’s (a personal favorite of mine), vodka and chocolate liqueur, mix that in with some chocolate pudding and serve it in chocolate cups and you have an unforgettable Chocolatini shooter.

Recipe Instructions

Chocolate Cupss

• 24 one inch chocolate cups 

Directions for making homemade chocolate dessert cups:

1. Stove top method: Place chocolate in a heat proof bowl above simmering water (not directly on top) and gently stir until the chocolate melts and becomes shiny.
2. Microwave method: Place chocolate in a heat proof bowl in the microwave and melt in 30 second intervals. Stirring each time you open the microwave. Continue heating until chocolate is shiny.
3. Place melted bowl of melted chocolate over warm water as you work.
4. Paint inside of mold with the chocolate, making sure it that it is not too thin or the chocolate will more readily break when you tap it out. Transfer chocolate painted molds to the to the freezer for 10minutes. Chocolate is ready to be tapped out once it starts to pull away from the walls of the form.
5. Fill forms as you prefer.

Chocolate Pudding

• 1 3.2 oz box of Jell-o Chocolate pudding

Chocolatini

• 6 oz Bailey Irish Cream
• 2 oz Vodka
• 2 oz Godiva Chocolate Liqueur

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake well. Add Chocolatini to cooled pudding and using a spatula, fold to combine.

Assembly

1. For added control transfer Chocolatini infused pudding to a Ziploc baggie or pastry bag and pipe mixture into chocolate shells.
2. Garnish as desired.  

A few notes:

• The chocolate cups can be made five days in advance and kept in a cool dark place in a tightly covered container.
• Make sure the pudding is cooled before adding the Chocolatini, so the heat doesn’t burn off any alcohol.
• Please be responsible. I know it seems obvious, but I had a concerned reader write me about how dangerous sugary alcohol shots can be since they mask the flavor and people can easily misjudge the strength of them.

Until next time...

♥ My Kuroi

Beauty Buzz: Milk & Honey Bath and Rinse ♥ ♥ ♥

Feeling stressed?  Well soaking in a warm enriched bath is a great way to relax and detox.  Here is my recipe for a Milk & Honey bath along with a rinse for wrinkled skin.

Cleopatra Honey & Milk Bath


Ingredients
• 1/2 Cup Powdered Milk
• 1/2 Cup Raw Honey
• 2 teaspoon Jojoba Oil (optional)


Mix ingredients in a large bowl and pour your warm bath. Soak for up to 20 minutes to infuse these beneficial ingredients in your skin. This recipe makes enough for one bath.

Milk & Honey Rinse for Wrinkled Skin


Ingredients
• 1 oz raw honey
• 1 Cup skim milk
• 2 teaspoons aloe vera gel


Combine Ingredients in a jar and shake well. Apply to your face morning and evening with a cotton ball. Store mixture in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

Don't forget to light some candles too for aromatherapy!


Until next time...
♥ My Kuroi