Merry Christmas & Happy New Year – Love Talin Orfali

It is that time of year again. I cannot believe how quickly 2013 flew by. Just yesterday we were celebrating Christmas and New Years for 2012/2013, and now as 2013 is coming to a close, were doing it all over again with putting up the lights, the decorations, finding that perfect tree, or putting up a tree that has been in storage. I love Christmas time when everywhere is decorated with beautiful colours, beautiful Christmas lights on homes, wrapped presents, ornaments, tinsel, snow globes, candles, manger, stables, the nativity scene, Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, the Elves, Snowman, Mistletoe, Cookies and Milk, candy canes, the food, the celebrations, and of course and especially celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ with Mary and Joseph and the Three Wise Men and how Mary was chosen to give Birth to a King.

What are your Christmas traditions in your family? What exciting things do you do? Some families put on Christmas Sweaters, some families play games, and so on and so forth. What do you like to cook and serve to your loved ones? Christmas for me every year is always different, either we have a lot of people come over, some Christmases are spent going to other peoples homes, or going out to a party, so I cannot really say what is tradition with my loved ones, but every year is always different, but we do manage to always find a way to get together. When we do, we love cooking turkey, ham, rice, vegetables, gravy, and other things. I love baking my signature cinnamon cake which people I know love it, so they want more and more of it. It has been such a long time I have not decorated a Gingerbread house, but I think I will do that this year.

I love watching Christmas movies at this time of year like Miracle on 34th street, Home Alone 1 and 2, National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, Jack Frost, Four Christmases, Santa Clause, Santa Clause 2, I also love watching the Santa Claus Parade on television. I must have watched Home Alone 1 and 2 8 or 9 times this year alone on TV and I just love that movie especially. There is something about Home Alone 1 and 2, that make you get pulled into it and its so hard to flip the channel. After that Home alone 3-5 was all downhill and I did not enjoy them as much because when you change Characters, when you change the setting, it won’t be the same as the first 2. I know Home Alone 1 and 2 by heart, and if you put the movie on mute, I can say the whole script.

Anyway, lastly, I also want to acknowledge those people who are not so lucky during the Christmas and New Year Holidays, that are alone, but not really alone because there are people in this world that are thinking of them and one of them is me, people who do not have a warm home to go to, those who are less fortunate, those who cannot afford or who do not have enough to provide for their families and I’d like to reach out to all of those people around the world and tell them that I am thinking of them and they are in my heart, mind and soul and my thoughts and prayers are with them all and I wish them the best for 2014 and I hope that they too can have a nice and lovely Christmas. I want them to know that they are not alone and that I am with them all. The presents and Materialism shouldn’t matter, but all that matters is togetherness and creating memories.  I wish everyone peace, harmony, happiness, health, success, and all the great things of life. I wish everyone a prosperous, great, and lovely new year. Many blessings to all and wishing everyone all the best. With love always, Talin Orfali

Kitchen & Time Saving Tips for The Upcoming Holiday’s

It is that time again and it is quickly approaching where we are just a few weeks away from Christmas and New Year holidays, and a lot of people get so frustrated, and are confused with what to cook, what to do to save time in Kitchen and so much more. The Holidays are about spending time with your loved ones, making memories and cherishing precious and personal moments with them and to spend less time in the kitchen, which is why I have these tips and tricks to help you in that department. Well, without further a do, here they are:

— 1 or 2 weeks before your big dinner night with your loved ones, decide on the menu and what you will cook and serve as snacks, as dinner and dessert. We know how hectic it can be to make several types of dishes, but simplicity is key. Do not overload your table with so many options of foods. Limit the amount.

— a week before the big event, do all your grocery shopping. Do not wait until last-minute as that time is to start preparing the day or 2 before, but if they are foods that will need to be prepared on the day of, make sure you start early in preparations.

— If you have more than 10-20 people or more or less, it is a good idea to buy Christmas Holiday style disposable cutlery and plates to set the table or set them to the side like a buffet table along with of course napkins, disposable cups and glasses for juice, soft drinks, wine, beer, alcoholic beverages, so that no washing dishes are involved. Keep the garbage bags on standby where you can get a reach of it quickly. (The only washing of dishes would be servers, and plates, pans that have the food that is cooked from it.

— Before your loved ones arrive, set all the desserts to the side where it will be quick to bring out.

— Do not spend half your time in the kitchen. Besides your loved ones came to get together and spend time together, to see each others faces. Preparation in advance is so important to do. Do not be afraid to ask for help, and delegate tasks for the whole family to do before others start coming over.

— Of course the house should be clean and tidy, use a rug at the front of the door to put people s shoes and organize them so that shoes will not be everywhere. make room in your closet for people’s coats. So take all the coats out that you and your family who live there and take them and put them in another room. If you have enough space for all jackets in your closet, then its all good.

— Before the meal, when people start knocking on your door and come in, have vegetable trays and chips bowls on the table or whatever snacks you will serve, but not over indulge in the snacks so that you have room for the main dinner. Then after the dinner is done, put out the snacks and dessert table. again limit the desserts as well.

— In the kitchen when you are about to start cooking, take out all cooking equipment out and once you use something and will not need it anymore, simply wash them, dry them and put them away, so that you have less dishes to wash later.

— when your loved ones are over, make sure everything is ready, then all you do is just bring them over to the table which won’t take more than 5 minutes, keep the food warm on the oven, until it is time to serve. After serving your food, and after eating, clear the table and of course throw out the disposable plates, cutlery and cups and glasses, then just give the table a quick wipe. Then quickly convert it to the dessert table where everything is self-serve. Also use disposable dessert plates and cutlery as well.

— Leave the washing of the big dishes until later so that you can enjoy your loved ones to the fullest and if people want to volunteer to help you clean and wash, allow them and it will be fun as well-doing things together. just not all on you.

— make the coffee, espresso and put the water into the coffee maker, in advance. after dinner, just press the button and the coffee will start to brew. Also make those disposable cups. Remember less washing the better it is for you.

— decide on decorations on table, centerpieces and theme. I have read that people dress up in Christmas sweaters, and same colours, sometimes people just come in anything.

— This is super important if your loved ones have a little too much to drink, do not allow them to drive a vehicle and make sure they stay over, until they are sober to drive again. Do not drink and drive and enjoy the holidays responsibly. You can save your life, your loved ones lives and others lives who share the road with you. When you know there is alcohol involved and you know that your loved ones will drink, ask to collect everyone’s car keys and place them in a basket and put the basket in another room and keep the door locked and when people leave just bring the basket out and let people grab their keys only if they have not drunk. or if they had one drink or something that still gives them the capability to drive.

— When nature calls, some of your loved ones will want to use the washroom. It is a good idea to have paper towels on standby so that your towels won’t be soaking wet when another person decides to dry their hangs, and a couple of rolls of toilet paper on the side, and extra hand washing soap if need be.

That is all for now, but if there is any particular questions you need to ask, do not hesitate to comment or personally e-mail me. You can find my e-mail on my contact me site which is located on top of the page. Thank you and have a great, safe, happy Christmas and Holiday season!

 

Introducing You Armoir Fashion – Handmade & Embossed

I would like to introduce to you a whole new twist to fashion in modern day, and that is Armoir Fashion. Firstly, I’d like to introduce you the very talented and founder of Armoir and his name is Sevag Haroutunian. He is Armenian and is raised in Toronto, Canada who is a young and captivating stylist with incredible talent of the art of Fashion. His flavour of fashion is completely fabulous with so many colourful and fresh ideas and adds spice to the studio with his creative thoughts and wisdom which bring his creations to life and inspire many people with his incredible talent. in history his own people were leather masters thousands of years ago, forging the world’s first shoe 3000 years ago out of leather.

Each piece is carefully hand crafted out of cowhide leather and the masters of art are selected with fine designs of historical and ancient manuscripts bringing it to life in modern day fashion. It is made for your comfort each unique piece is hand sanded and softened to avoid irritation and rashes to your skin. It is handmade in the Armenian Highlands of ancient origin and civilization. Each hand crafted material is embossed in unique and different ways and different styles to fit your needs and to what you are interested in.

The return of leather is trending and its designs are compelling, beautiful, and bringing history back to life with these beautiful creations.

*(credit to Armoir)The history of leather work in Armenia is known exclusively through bindings of manuscripts. The practice of protecting a manuscript with boards covered with leather goes back to the very invention of the codex in the first Christian centuries. Before that books were in the form of scrolls or continuous rolls of papyrus. The earliest preserved Armenian leather bindings are from the eleventh century; the earliest binder’s colophons are from the tenth-eleventh centuries. In this period bookbinding had become a specialized and highly developed art in medieval Armenia. Elaborately decorated bindings followed the artistic fashion of the time, for instance borrowing designs used for the ornamentation of memorial cross stones or khach’k’ars. A large variety of geometric forms was used, and later, floral as well as the traditional braided bands were employed. Also typically, Armenian was the affixing of metal studs, often silver, to outline a design. As in all other areas of Armenian art, leather bindings differ from region to region and century to century, but they share the characteristics mentioned above and thereby belong to a single recognizable family.*

*its Peerless collections vary in sizes and shades, Highlighting the human touch in each art piece*

These unique collections can be found in stores in Ontario, Canada in Ma zone, Dana Jordan and Art Gallery of Ontario.

To see visuals, to obtain more information and its beauty please click on this link http://www.armoir.ca

So take and wear a part of history with you today to share with family and friends. Enjoy the masterpiece and when you wear it, I guarantee you will enjoy it and it will catch a lot of eyes and intrigue those who see this beautiful fine art of fashion of Armoir.

 

Spring Is Almost Here! Excited For That. Are You?

After the many months of winter, this is the moment I always wait for, I really like this time of year when it becomes Mid March, I really enjoy it when our weather gets warmer, and when the winter is behind us in a way and almost time when the trees start growing its leaves again, when the grass gets greener, the roads are washing away from the salt and snow, when everywhere gets thawed out, mild temperatures start and increase by day, when the flowers start to grow again, colour and life comes back after the cold, dark, wintry days, the tulip and other spring  flowers blooming, the spring air and smell of mud, dandelions start to grow, the smell of top soil, garden centers open, outdoor furniture, barbecues, outdoor equipment starts coming back into the stores, spring colours, clothing and bright vibrant colours come back on our store shelves,  the sunlight shines, birds start chirping, animals come out of hibernation, the geese fly back north. I just love this time of year when life comes back. I am so tired of winter, snow and having to bundle up every time I go out. I’d love to go somewhere for 5-6 months of the year and not see snow and be part of the cold freezing weather and not wear layers outside.

I also like spring because it gives me a time to wash the cars and I love washing my car, washing the car mats, detailing and getting rid of the winters salt and sand they put on the streets, and taking care of it. I also like to wash out my driveway and clean up my garage, having to put the shovels away, and just enjoying the whole process of getting rid of winter. It is my favourite.  I am a person who loves vibrant colours, who loves warmer weather, the beautiful sun shining, and among when the days get longer. I really didn’t enjoy when the days get shorter and it would be dark before 5pm. I really enjoy it when time and daylight time increases. In June and July it is still sunlight after  8:30 and you would still see a bit of light after 9pm too. those are the days I love, plus you don’t feel that the night is dragging on so long and plus it gets brighter earlier in the morning and its so refreshing and you start your day earlier and you appreciate the daylight and days. I also like getting rid of the boots and jackets I wear and pack them up for 5-6 months of the year.

I really enjoy sitting on the patio, I like driving with my windows down, listening to vibrant music, going camping, and I enjoy leisure time away too.

What season do you like? Do you also enjoy spring and summer months? What do you mostly enjoy when the weather starts getting warmer? What activities do you like doing outdoors? Would love to hear form you. Happy Spring!

Went Through My Childhood Diary – Did You Have One?

Since I was a child, I bought a diary to write my most private thoughts, used it to draw pictures of hearts, sun, stick figurines, and more. I just came across my diary this morning. I haven’t opened it up in more than 13 years. I cannot believe the things I had written and done in there. I forgot some of the things too, but It totally refreshed my memory. I remember I made a goal to write into it about my daily life, but I didn’t get to do it. I remember how I used it to draw mostly and I used to be intrigued by eyebrow shapes, so I used to create eyebrow shapes, I used to draw the beach, and the shore, because when I was little at 7-8 years of age, I had taken my first trip out to the beach and flying too, so I put all those in my Diary. I stopped writing and drawing in my diary when I was about 12 years old, and when I turned 13, I stopped playing with dolls and barbies too. Now as I look back into my Diary there were so many things I wrote about my school crushes, about the people I liked, people I didn’t like, and I wrote about how people used to really bully me because I was different then everyone else, and I never used to let anybody read and see my diary. I always kept it in a private place in my room that not even my mom could find it.

Now, I have my diary in one of my memories boxes and sometimes I take it out to just look and see what I have, and sometimes I forget what I have. So its really nice to spend some time to look at past memories and see how big of a difference in time there is. I love diaries, I love keeping these things because its a sentimental value to me and all the memories that are filled in those diaries and memorable things I kept from the past. I still have not shown it to anyone and I probably never will, but maybe I will in the long run. Lets see what happens. In the last one to two years of writing in my diary those coloured gel pens, hybrid, neon coloured pens came out and everyone started having them, so I decided I want some too, so I had a big collection of them and I started writing letters, diaries, and everything with that. I made friends from when I went to Daytona Beach, Florida and they came from England back in 1997-1998, and I started to write to them with these gel pens and we kept writing to each other back and forth for about 4 years and then that is when e-mail came to place and then we kept in touch from then on.

It is pretty neat on how time plays a big impact on how diaries, letters are written, and now our diary is our blog and virtually and technology has evolved a lot since then. How many of you have had diaries when you were little? Do you still have them now? Do you know anybody who still writes in a journal book? I don’t know how many do, but now blogging, and writing journals online has changed the way diaries are written, and to me, nothing beats writing and using imagination in hand written diaries, decorating it, arts and crafts. Although writing a blog online and on a computer also has its greatness, but really, nothing beats being crafty and doing hands on things. How about you?

 

Introducing My Great Friend & Talented Artist Jason Ebrahimi – JEArt

Hello and I am here to introduce to you a talented artist named Jason Ebrahimi. Jason Ebrahimi is a Young Artist who is so talented, who has an artistic mind, who is passionate about his work. Jason’s proficient in so many ways, and he is a great singer too. Here is more about Jason and a little bit about him, his biography and more.

Jason Ebrahimi was born in London, England, Armenian as origin and raised in Toronto. From an early age his talents were recognized. He was enrolled in an arts school called Claude Watson School for the Arts, where only ‘gifted’ people were accepted. He continued in the arts and graduated as a Graphic Designer. Jason began his career as a designer before his painting venture. It was merely after a few years into his profession where he felt that he should pursue a passion of his. He dove into a new world of fine art! Jason got involved in painting classes at Central Tech Arts Institute where he developed a further love for fine art. Getting involved in painting seminars in conjunction with his practices has given Jason the opportunity to meet and build amazing relationships with his clients and help them with all their needs. Jason Ebrahimi has what it takes to continue delivering exciting new paintings with bold and vivid colours and lovely texture. His palette knife technique gives him an edge over traditional painters and by doing so makes people fall in love with his creations over and over again!

Contact Information: http://jaso81.wix.com/jeart

http://www.facebook.com/JeArtGallery

You can decorate your home, office, in a hall, and do so much with his beautiful paintings and arts. For more information, click on the above links, his e-mail address and number are located on the website.

Thank you.

Nothing Like Organization, Neatness, & Cleanliness

Since I was a child, I have always learned the importance of organization, neatness and cleanliness. I do not like things out of place, and I even fold my clothes, and hang my clothes according to colour and type of clothing it is. I make filing systems for all my things, I organize my things with the new modern looking storage boxes, dividers, drawer organizers, pen, staple, scissor holders, plastic drawers, I clean all the dust at least twice a week, regular washroom maintenance every other day. I really enjoy cleaning the house, and cleaning my own space and being neat, vacuuming, washing dishes, doing laundry, washing sheets and towels weekly, folding laundry, cooking, mopping and washing the floors. I really enjoy doing it. I know some people don’t, but it is fun when you make it fun. I listen to music, think of happy thoughts, and just going through a fun time. I just love being organized too so that I know where everything is in the house, so that if I am looking for something, I know exactly where to find it and I don’t have to spend hours just looking for something. I remember when I was in my teens, and a few people came over to my house, and I remember them saying, your home is spotless, and I said thank you so much. It felt good when others notice that instantly when they come over. When you least expect it, people can come over to my place, so I like to upkeep it all the time and even if people don’t come over, it will be a clean house to live in and being proud of it being clean and tidy. I usually use vinegar and water most of the time to mop the floors, clean surfaces, and then the whole places smells like a salad for a couple of hours and then it goes back to normal.  I don’t use harsh chemicals that are bad, I use natural cleaners like vinegar and water. It is the best form of cleaning ever. It is exciting to me and I find to be so awesome to clean and to know that my house is in tip top shape. I love it
🙂