Calling All Sponsors! Calling All Sponsors!

Well Folks...

The time is here! 

Turquoise Violets is looking for sponsors!

That means YOU!

Do you have a blog that you would like to promote?

Do you have a website that you think my readers would enjoy?

Do you have an Etsy store with totally awesome stuff?

A Band, Event, or Local Happenings that MUST be shared with the world?

Well this is the perfect opportunity for you!

For my very first Sponsor Call, I am offering a deal that is too good to pass up.

Buy your first months ad space and get your second month free!!!

I mean really, who doesn't love a good BOGO???

So that means that for $10 you get a full 60 days!!!

Wondering what it takes to be a Turquoise Violets Sponsor?

Well, in order for me to help promote you,

I am asking that all sponsors do a "Featured Sponsor" post.

A simple introduction and Q&A as well as a small giveaway for a contest.

So, now that you are ready to get started...

head up to the "Sponsors" link on the top menu bar 

and follow the direction to buy! 

I really look forward to working with all of you and 

Happy Sponsoring!!!

Dirty Girl

Yesterday, after sandy salty day at the beach,

the hubs and I did a little backyard rearranging.

I found a great deal on some new plywood at a yard sale over the weekend.

We had talked about switching sides for a while.

His side of the back fence got such better day light,

and my tomatoes were suffering from lack of sun.

So he bolted up his new wood while I dug holes and re-potted some plants.

By the end of it he was covered in paint, and I was covered in dirt.

My garden is happy in it's new home 

and I love having his old mural space hanging above my potting station.

Project 52

I love that you still love me more than our new Jeep....although I know it's close.

5 Pointz - NYC

When I was planning my NYC trip,

there was the looming visit to 5 Pointz that hung

 in a muck between the hubs and I.

I didn't want to go visit one of the birth places of street art without

my street art connoisseur of a husband.

Frankly, I thought he would never speak to me again if I went to mecca without him.

Jess mentioned it being one of the first places what she was going to take me

upon my arrival.  She know how much I love that shit too.

I had to graciously decline and explain the above mentioned death sentence.

So we went about our way planning our trip keeping me as far away from 

5 Pointz as humanly possible....Stay way from Long Island City!

Well much to my surprise,

as we pulled up blurry eyed and half delirious at the airport terminal 

to drop me off at the a crack of dawn,

the hubs leaned over kissed me and said:

"If you don't come to 5 Pointz 

and take a picture of every single thing, don't come home."

As you can very well guess, I was elated! 

After about 2 hours, 3 city blocks, and 195 snapshots later,

here are a few of my favorites...

Coffee Talks

"Daydreaming of continent jumping with my fox." - Jess

"Making dreams come true! Happy Birthday Babe!" - Erin

Thankful Thursday....late again

So, I decided that Thankful Thursday was going to be a bit of a change this week.  Instead of my super insightful words of wisdom random ramblings about why we should show gratitude towards others, I am just going to give a great big opened armed thank you of my own....laced with a bit of levity.

For the past few months I have been dying to go to Thursday night yoga 

at my gym.  The instructor has substituted my normal friday morning class a few times and is always amazing.  Due to scheduling conflicts with bed time and the hubs work schedule,

I had never found the time to make it to that 8pm session.

Well this week was different.

When I asked the hubs if I could go, his answer was "of corse".

While the class I normally take is definitely difficult,

the Thursday night class was a whole new world.

The age demographic and amount of strength possessed by the other participants was 

a bit intimidating.  But I found myself challenged in a new way that I wasn't sure existed inside me.

I stretched further, breathed deeper, and was more focused than normal.

All of that yoga talk about radiating light and transferring energy all really made sense.

It was no longer just talk, I really felt all of those things.

I was able to hold poses that I didn't know were in my practice,

and also came across a few that I didn't know existed and have new goals to conquer.

In our final shavasana I really was at peace.

I am normally having an internal argument with the voices in my head telling them to shut up so I can have a still and peaceful mind. Ha.

When it was all said and done it was the best yoga class I have ever taken,

and I have the hubs to thank for that.

So darling, Thank you for always making my dreams come true.

To everyone else, sorry this was a day late...

I was too busy nursing my sore body back to life last night,

and 'thanking' my husband for being so awesome.

And a brief note on the above video.

Fog and Smog produced these hilarious music videos on YouTube.

You really should check them all out! 

Yoga Girl has been stuck in my head since the first time I saw it, 

and I can't help but hum that little tune when in my down dog.

Roasted Beet Salad Recipe

While I was visiting Jess and Jonny in NYC

I gave them list of a few adventures to fulfill.

One of the most important in my New York experience 

was to eat the most delicious meal.

Well of corse they out did themselves and showed me a 

hand full of the "most delicious" meals.

We had real NY bagels, feasted at a vegan diner, 

had my very first thai food experience, and then there was 

Sunday brunch at Emporio!

The entire meal was to die for! 

We started with really big, really tasty cocktails.

I ordered a Smoked Salmon, Avocado, and Goat Cheese Panini.

Jess and Jonny got the Cauliflower Pizza, and we all decided that we must 

try the Roasted Beet Salad.

If you are ever in the city and are looking for 

something amazing to eat that's off the beaten path you must go to Emporio!

I mean MUST!

While every bite was mouth watering, that salad left quite the impression on me.

As far as food went,

It was the one thing from my trip that really stood out to me.

It was so simple and clean and tasty.

I knew that I had to have it again and again and again.

So I broke it down. 

It truly was a simple recipe, 

and I think I almost nailed it.

This salad makes the perfect lunch.

Here's What You'll Need:

2-3 small beets, quartered, drizzled with EVOO and roasted  

2 blood oranges, peeled and cut into bite sized chunks

1/2 cup of plain greek yogurt

1/4 tsp horseradish

shelled pistachios for garnish

balsamic vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

Step 1:

Mix the horseradish and yogurt together and place in a large dollop on your plate.

Step 2:

After your beets are roasted, peeled, and slightly cooled 

place them on your plate with the blood oranges.

Salt and pepper to taste.

Step 3:

Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and pistachios.

The Emporio's recipe called for a balsamic reduction...

I was too lazy to make one.