ate like a vegan last night.

drawing by me. Q&A with the author, Kim Barnouin

SPICY VEGETABLE CURRY
- heat oil, ginger, garlic and saute for 30 sec.
- add coconut milk, water, red curry past, miso, and curry powder, and stir until well combined. reduce heat to low and simmer 20 min.
- in another saucepan, heat oil, mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant, and okra and saute 3 min.(ish)
- add salt and pepper to taste.
- add veggies to sauce and cook 10 min.(ish)
- garnish with lime and red pepper flakes. serve with jasmine rice.

this was so delicious it inspired me to sit up late and sketch it out. i made a few changes to the recipe. *I couldn't find white miso paste so I had to use tomato paste instead.. it was the only paste i had. i was just going to skip over it but it's a big portion of the ingredients, it gives the sauce substance. i was having a skype dinner date with my friend, Monica, and she encouraged me to just throw it in and it helped make the entire thing! i'm sure the miso stuff is great and will be great when i track it down (probably at a local asian foods store) but my version wasn't too shabby. i went super light on the ginger too. i don't know how someone could eat so much ginger as they sell at once. not really a fan. the only other changes were that i didn't have red pepper to garnish.. i thought i did, but i didn't. i sprinkled a TOUCH of cayenne pepper in the sauce before i dropped the veggies in though and who knows, maybe it made a difference. and i used just plain ol white rice. i had some in the cupboard and it went perfectly. if you make this, let me know how it turns out.. i thought it was absolutely yummy.

hope you enjoyed your day off

we don't get very many. mine was relaxing, spent with good friends, good beer and lots of other good stuff. i'm getting spoiled now that my best friend is living in the same neighborhood (almost). meeting for a drink (or 4) is great when everything is basically in walking distance. i managed to snap some photos around here and there.. it twas fun. :D

someone was thinkin. and that lemony looking drink down there is gin, blanc vermouth, celery bitters and yellow chartreuse. savory as fuck.

forever 21 clutch (gold shoulder chain tucked inside) and a whiskey and coke.

fireworks pt. 2 from the Double Tree Grand Hotel on Biscayne Bay.

pretty, eh?

Fourth of July hot spot.

back at it.

i'm terrible at communication. i got a new job. i've been working furiously with my head down for 3 months and i'm very grateful for the opportunities i've been given. they didn't come without obstacles but it's all been worth it and it's undoubtedly shaping me for my future career, whatever that may be - still figuring it out but i'm not in a huge rush. it'll come. que sera, sera. 

i'm learning so much at my new job, i'm a junior graphic designer for multiple fashion brands in an agency-type setting. it gets a little gray with what i do, but that's what i love about it - it's fast-paced so it keeps me on my feet. i'm usually doing a variety of different projects at once, because doing the same thing every day is not cool. i get to be fairly independent which i fully appreciate but i have the support of a creative team at all times. i work with well-known brands as well as younger brands which is where i get to use more of my own creativity - very rewarding. i know i've been given a lot of responsibility early in my time there and i have a group of high-level print and web designers around me who's knowledge i'm soaking up like a sponge. as much as i can at once anyway. i've pushed myself, gained a lot of confidence as a designer but i've seen how much there is to learn, how far there is to go and i'm happy to say that i love what i do. 

photos of some highlight moments while i've been gone.

my second desk, in my second month. my first one wasn't as private, as spacious or as full of potential, it's all about location. this one is actually in the creative dept., where they keep the lights off so the designers can see the colors easier. puts me right in the zone.

driving barefoot, trying to preserve my two-tone color/material pumps from Zara.

sometimes i work with ginormous files for print.

weekend job, every once in a while. cartoon voiceovers in boca.

a best friend went through a mission to get me the most perfect birthday card, sent twice in an envelope complete with hand-lettering because we're typography g's.

i love my desk! a work in progress. 

it's not always glamorous but it's fun when it is. model boards for a photoshoot

my current desktop wallpapers because i'm a nerd like that.

oh and i saw this wicked thing while having lunch at Shucker's. remember that deck that collapsed during the Heat game? it was there.

this was it.

EXCITING BEGINNINGS

A BEAUTY NAMED - ART & HUSTLE MAG FEATURE

see full article HERE.
photography Valerie Petralia.

this is the biggest honor and down-right coolest thing that has happened to me so far in my career as a designer, stylist or blogger. weeks ago i received a really exciting DM on twitter from Art & Hustle Magazine - wanting to know if they could ask me a few questions for their online article series called "A Beauty Named". um... of freaking course you can. i mean - obviously - i was shocked, ecstatic and borderline sick from excitement.. so i really poured my heart and soul into this interview. i wanted to be completely, 100%, cross-my-heart-hope-to-die-honest. and can you believe when i started to do that - i realized that everything i need to be happy, i already have. you can be the most original being on Earth, by just being honest with yourself.

i am so humbled and grateful for A&H's interest in me and my work and i couldn't be more thankful for God and absolutely everything He (or She) has blessed me with in my life. a much greater power is inspiring me and i'm incredibly thankful that i've been given so many blessings and opportunities.

to everyone who has influenced me and been in my life in a positive way - you are so very much loved and appreciated.

thank you, thank you, thank you.

HAPPY 4, 2012!

some pretty instagrams. follow me! @brampersandy 

i LOVED this 4th of July. a day spent with my love on a WEDNESDAY. how rare is that? and we went a saw a movie during the day.. i love the miami heat (literally) and sun in the morning at the beach. i just can not say i how much i love living in miami. good friends, good times. ah. hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. happy birthday 'merica!

REMEMBER

photo 1 - photo 2 - photo 3 - photo 4

JUST FOCUS

image over this image.

the past few weeks in a nutshell. the image underneath is very beautiful and you should go see the original. it's very true on how overthinking can get to you. 

it's important to have that meditation time (which i haven't given myself a lot of lately - that regathering, cleansing time to recharge the ole' battery.) 

i'm starting to get it together though, girls. i am. to be honest, i need some financial stability up in here. so, i really have to buckle down and focus on something great for my career and my living situation in the present - you knowutmsyn.

so, as stressful as it may be... things needs to be done.. some risks, some changes and some sacrifices need to be made.

if you guys have some tips on how you keep yourself focused and on track with staying balanced - that'd be great. :) always good to hear some friendly feedback and advice whenever you're having one of those weeks. or so.

- love, love, love,
B

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN

the entire album is amazing!

OH! DARLING

NEW PANDORA STATION

2cellos

A GORGEOUS DAY

BEEN BRIGHT LATELY

follow my instagram here!

AT WORK

mmm, colorcolorcolor. today at work i put together some looks and realized i like me some bright color these days! and it helps that American Apparel has amazing choices and variations. summer is just around the corner but here in Miami, it's basically a way of life. so dress like it people! :)

JUST A FEW PHOTOS

B&W

been feelin' like every one of these photos lately. it seems so much more impossible to pull yourself out of a slump when you really don't have the strength for slumps of any kind.

1/2/3/4/5/6

JUST A FEW PHOTOS

HOMEMADE

they were just perfect. i pulled this together with the handful of edible things at our house. total improvisation. total success. 

the perfect name for my blog.

i've been going through the dictionary page by page trying to find the perfect title for my blog. and so far, i've found some good words but not a lot has really jumped out and smacked me in the face yet. let's see - wanderlust which means to desire to roam or travel, to understand one's very existence (which actually, is utter perfection and is what inspired me to find something better than my stupid name. ya know, i just mean it's boring. and i'd like to find a good word or two that represents my work.) anyway, the best word i've came across so far is - persnickety - which is too particular or precise; fussy. i like it. i guess we'll see after a few more nights of exploring through the dictionary.

and, as far as persnickety goes, this is a floor plan i sat nights up working on last quarter. you can't begin to see the detail i put into this and once i get a higher quality camera (and the original piece back from my professor) - i will show you persnickety.

drawing by brandy swope.

for the only ones who read my blog.

"A", "Skratch", and sometimes "An-rea!" - peaches & cream oatmeal reminds me of you. 

i think you love it.