New Year, new experiences

Happy 2015! 

Ever since my birthday in August, I have been starting new things- whether it's getting on a motorcycle or trying new recipes. 

I've never truly tried to make Aussie/British treats so I attempted to veganize a favorite in the meat pie.

Here's what I came up with that tastes amazing:

Pastry:

8 oz. flour plus extra for rolling and cutting

8 oz. water

4 oz. coconut oil or earth balance buttery spread

Pinch of salt

Put flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Next, put water and coconut oil in saucepan over medium heat to melt oil and raise to a boil. Once boiled, turn heat off and pour water into flour/salt. Stirring with wooden spoon until incorporated and peels away from bowl. Put dough on a wooden board and knead, appropriately cutting into 24 mini portions (top and bottom for 12 pies) for a muffin tin. Preheat oven to 350*F

Filling (feel free to variate this):

3 oz. dried porcini mushrooms or any other dried mushroom

1 c. Water (reconstitute mushrooms)

1/2 yellow onion

1-2 Tbsps. Canola oil

1/8 Tsp. Sunny Paris spice (Penzey's)

1/8 Tsp. Lemon Pepper spice (Mrs. Dash)

1 Tsp. Dijon mustard

Reconstitute the mushrooms and water in a saucepan. Wait until the water turns a nice dark tan color. Remove from heat and with a slotted spoon, remove the mushrooms into a paper towel and blot dry. Roughly chop the mushrooms. Reserve the liquid. 

On medium high heat, put onions into a canola oiled pan. Cook until onions are partially translucent. Add mushrooms and spices as well as salt to taste. Add some reserved liquid and reduce until thick. Stir in Dijon mustard. Cook until thick. Remove from heat. 

With your pre-made pie crust, spoon in equal amounts of filling. Top with the last twelve pie crusts, sealing together. Make sure to make a little hole(s) at the top to vent.* Place in pre-heated oven and wait for about 30-50 mins (depending on your oven), until they're golden brown. Enjoy!

*You can also add a wash on top with water and cornstarch and salt for a rich coating. 

Branded Bandits, King Washington, Crash Kings

April 3rd, 2014

Larimer Lounge, Denver, Colorado

Branded Bandits, King Washington, Crash Kings 

In 2009, Crash Kings opened for Robert Schwartzman's Rooney along with Tally Hall. It is the first time I had been exposed to this band and, as the saying goes, it was love at first sight! 

The beauty of an alternative rock band sans the guitar was just so intriguing and Antonio Beliveau's captivating vocals along with impeccable bass lines from his brother, Michael, left the audience satisfied and not "high and dry".

 

In 2010, my brother and I won tickets to see them at the Bluebird Theatre in Denver, Colorado (same venue as Rooney show). The captivation amplified exponentially especially hearing a guitar- less version of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs"! After the show had the pleasant opportunity to meet the amazingly down-to-earth and humble brothers along with their former drummer, Jason Morris. 

Fast forward 4 years, between graduating with 2 majors and working multiple jobs in 2 countries as well as traveling, finally had the privilege of attending the April 3rd show with my wonderful concert partner and brother! Both opening acts (Branded Bandits and King Washington) were musically appealing and engaging with the audience. Mr. Billy Lee from King Washington has the moves and the hair!

Finally, 11:15pm rolls around and the boys are back in town gracing the stage with new drummer, Tom Roslak! It is a refreshing dynamic in the band from prior years and all three focus their energies on letting the instruments and profound lyrics do the talking. 

Set list:

6 foot tall

1985

Non believer

It's only Wednesday 

Inside upside Down

Hesitate

Hot fire 

Dressed to the 9's

Shameless little monkeys

You got me

Lonely war

My love

14 arms

All along

New song

Mountain Man

Encore:

Come away

Saving grace

 

Side note: I will admit, I did not know any of the songs from the second album as I had bought it after the show. In amongst the chaos of life, was predominantly focusing on newfound addiction in Gogol Bordello and a few local bands.

This show was one of the best my brother and I had been to in a while! Afterwards, we waited for a bit to meet the three exceptionally talented musicians to express appreciation and support! Of course had to have a photo with Tony (favourite lyricist of this generation and overall fun guy!), Michael (mystifying the bass' true nature and, I have to admit, had a crush since 2009) and Tom (the coolest conversationalist and drummer ever!)

Thank you so much for a wonderful night!

To my readers, if you have the chance- go, go, go see them! You will have an awesome time! 

Time After Time

March 29th, 2013.

9 a.m.

- Cleaning dishes for the zoo animals. Prepping diets. Cleaning behind-the-scenes. HUGE smile on my face.

- Come home at 12 p.m. blasting Aaron Carter's "Oh Aaron" CD, windows rolled down, on the highway.


1:30 p.m.

Getting ready:
-> Eat lunch (at least as much as I could)
-> Brush teeth
-> put on crest whitestrips
-> put on chocolate face mask
-> straighten hair
-> foot bath
-> do my acrylics
-> etc...

Ok, yeah I know it's TMI but still I mean I'm meeting my celebrity crush since age 11. Practically the first guy I liked since coming to the states. Gotta make a good impression...lol.

Anyway so arrived at the venue about 5:45, front row practically guaranteed. Spoke to the two girls behind me and asked to join them since I had gone alone. We then made friends with the two girls in front of me. Feel like I made some lifelong friends through this particular show!

Got into the venue, had to wait a little bit because my good friend, Carson Allen, was doing his sound check! He finished and the 5 of us bolted to the front.


 * * * [Boring details deleted here] * * *

Ok, so Carson performed and he sounds better and better every time I see him. I thought it was beautiful he explained/dedicated one of his songs to his wonderful girlfriend, Melody! Zombie Nicholas and Gino Coletti are two of the most amazing musicians/producers. Love the entire band platonically and as a representation of the americana singer-songwriter.

Next up, The Petrel Sisters! They first followed me on twitter [Twitter.com/aussiebohemian] and I listened to them through youtube! You all should check them out. They've got a wonderful girl power/arse kicking vibe! Jess, Bekah, and Destiny did a great rendition of "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"! Yes we do!

Recommendation- "Bombshell"

Met these girls afterwards and they've definitely got the star power and this personable, down-to-earth quality! Plus, we're all half-italian :-)

* cue drum roll please *

Anticipation for Aaron was brewing as the DJ D*Nyce was blasting up some hip-hop/dance tunes. The ambience emulated a club scene, I guess tying into the tour title "The After Party Tour". Tried to dance, granted I probably looked like some drunk spastic sorority chick (Sigma Alpha Pi baby), but overall, having a ton of fun!

Lights out!

OMG, It's AC!!!
Yes, the 11 year old in me is about to faint... Thankfully the 23 year old in me is just in awe!

He's still got it. All my faves: "Another Earthquake", Medley of "Iko, Iko", "To All The Girls", "I Would"... "That's How I Beat Shaq", "Do U Remember", "I Want Candy", "Aaron's Party"

Wish I had heard "Hey You" but just being in this room and experiencing him essentially one-on-one was phenomenal.

After the show, got to meet him and was absolutely starstruck. [I've lived in the states for 13 years and still have my Australian accent-especially, full throttle, when i'm nervous] Well, he got to hear my Australian accent in all its glory and, as far as I was able to get words out. He's such a sweetheart and I was thankful he was able to articulate my questions for me as far as getting a picture and an autograph.








I recommend everyone go see his show. You will be thanked by your younger self. I can assure you! Not disappointed at all! Still experiencing withdrawals! Come Back to Denver :-)

almost 3 weeks into the new year

It has also been a year of renewal and trying new things.

*  I took a test on my Chakras and realized that my body is too closed. [I also now realize what my acting teachers were telling me when we did our exercises. I'm too analytical and focus too much rather than just living and doing. It's so weird, I can be myself around the familiar faces and even act out in the grocery store, mall, restaurant, etc. but when it comes time to actually perform a piece I don't go to the level i'm suppose to. Things feel coerced.]  I am trying Yoga to balance the chakras and doing tonics to help my body and mind relationship... we'll see how that goes :-)

*  Tried Modeling for the [actual] first time... Went with one of my best friends and it's a lot of fun. Again it's the analytical person inside of me that needs to be turned off. Was a bit frigid and, perhaps, it was the unfamiliarity of the terrain and meeting new people that made me freeze. The other thing I have observed about myself is that I need to be told what to do when it comes to the camera. Sometimes I have to have structure... That poses a problem because it's potential for blackmail and being used.

*  Going Vegan has been pretty hard. Especially going to restaurants- milk, honey, and eggs are in virtually everything... The main accomplishment has been reducing animal byproducts to at most a meal a day. Kryptonite being Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate... It's a dichotomy of the extremes- super sweet, super salty, creamy, and yet gritty. [Side note: I have been a vegetarian for almost 9 years.] oh and the other being Mead/Honey wine... Holy crap that stuff is bloody brills!

*  Livestrong app for iphone has been the cornerstone for losing weight. Unfortunately, I haven't been too kind to my body... only less than 1000 calories per day... in conjunction with exercising fairly regularly. It would be so nice to learn how to love myself instead of hearing the ex-boyfriends' voices in my head telling me that i'm "not skinny enough" for them... It's becoming trite and in order to love someone I have to love myself first...

Mental abuse is something that is so hard to overcome, I have flaws- More moles than Busy Phillips, a bad back, asymmetrical face, small boobs, big butt, hourglass figure, i'm loud/opinionated but by the same token also very shy, . When I was a child I had really ugly teeth and got that fixed when I was in my junior year of high school. It was great to improve just a bit of confidence. I also developed a nasty habit of cutting myself which only added fuel to the fire. I think as much as my mum doesn't believe it, I do think I have/had an eating disorder. [damn it feels great to get this all out of my body, step 1 out of 12 :-)]

*  Practicing with healing crystals and trying a variety of new age practices and responding with the environment. We are the makers of our lives and it would be great to be positive and live a fairy tale life. These things are possible... We are a product of the earth and we communicate with the earth. There are many different ways to do so whether praying, chanting, etc. This has been my form of taking parts of the earth and enveloping into my body.

In a few weeks time I will find out about grad school... I applied to the Miami University in conjunction with the local zoo here and I'm seriously hoping that I can do this! Zoology, animal behavior, and conservation biology are my main passions in life! I love animals more than anything in the world! I would bend over backwards for any animal in harm's way! It's something I've wanted to do since I was 5 years old (well that and a farmer... lol)

*  Found out where the love of my life is going to be in July-August and have decided to go out and see him swim again... He retired and has decided to come back which is absolutely the highlight of my 15 years of loving him since I saw him in the 1998 commonwealth games on TV... I can only hope that I get to meet him. Aside from trying this new age stuff for personal growth, I have donated my time and money to the zoo and animal shelter to accrue good karma. Doing good things for people so I can have a good thing happen to me. It may seem beyond bizarre but it's a theory I'm willing to try, Lord willing.

Anyway that's just been in 3 weeks... to be continued....

Cheers,
CK

2013

This year has been quite a whirlwind of emotions. Since September of 2012, Personal issues have been like ocean waves, hitting a beautiful high and then crashing into rocks, obliterating anything only to recede and start all over again:

End of July- August- Drove with Mum and Bro from Denver to Seattle, stopping through Yellowstone and then back to Denver. Drove home on my birthday. Wasn't really acknowledged nor celebrated. boo.

September- I ended up going on a beautiful trip to my ancestor's homeland, Ukraine (with stops to the Netherlands and Belgium). It was inspiring to see Kiev and then the memorial/grave of one of the greatest Ukraine writers and poets, Taras Shevchenko. Meeting and speaking with the locals was soul-enriching and being able to speak in the true native tongue did not keep a dry eye with anyone we came into contact. I enjoyed catching up with one of my mum's friend in Amsterdam, someone who held me when I was a youngster. We stopped into Bruges. That place was absolutely amazing. Seeing Mr. Fidel in the windowsill overlooking the canal was definitely a highlight (pic Above). The chocolates, food, wine, atmosphere in Europe is something I cannot define. It's pretentious, but by the same token, definitely not. Everything is within walking distance or a train trip. Feel like a "holiday", why not go to another country? Don't mind if I do?!

October- Had to euthanize our 8.5 year old Beagle, Max, poor bugger wasn't doing well. At the end of the month, found out my Nan has advanced Neuroendocrine cancer. It's just been shite.
November- Slipped Disc (6 weeks of therapy)
December- found out I have a ruptured Ovarian Cyst and a bicornuate uterus. It put things into perspective, I never really wanted to have children, there were moments I wanted a ton and then none. Having the chances of conceiving reduced to practically nil is pretty earth-shattering. The privilege being taken away just leaves nothing more than a cynic. How can people who eat Mickey D's every bloody day, every meal of the day, conceive multiple children but someone who does not abuse their temple can't? The dichotomy of this world... I swear. Oh and we won't go into the whole being-given-empty-promises-and-then-losing-your-job-because-place-is-doing-bad-financially.

We went to our fave French Restaurant in downtown Denver for New Year's Eve and had a wonderful meal: Eggplant wellington with sweet potato ragout and raspberry-espresso sauce, poached pear and goat cheese salad, followed by chocolate, almond, caramel, coffee dessert. The europeans make brill desserts, don't know how to explain it. Nevertheless, stuffed to the brim and only to receive a rude awakening. We paid our bloody $10 for parking and the person saw us put in our money but we got a ticket. Word to the wise- do NOT park in the lot next to Le Central. Bunch of cons if you ask me.

So far 2013 is shaping up to be quite a year. I can only hope that the storm can settle and that I can fight for what I want in this life. I wish nothing but the best for you all :)

New Year's resolution:

Going Vegan
Meeting the love of my life in Spain
Losing the 15 I put on during the holidays

Maturation and emotional saturation

Where to start?! 

Well for about 10 days I was home, by myself, trying to juggle my 3 jobs (technically, 1 paying job and 2 volunteering) as well as take care of all the pets and grandma, as well as maintain the house. It was the first time I have ever been by myself for an extended period of time in the house without my parents and brother. At first it took a while to adjust but by the third day things were in full swing. I created time sheets for the week allocating how much time I would have in the day to do x, y, and z. It was empowering to be able to do things even though I barely had a second to myself. Hence, Maturation. I feel like I can conquer just about anything after this challenge of balancing 60 hour work weeks and my furry and scaled children. It was almost like being a single mother. 

The one thing that sucked was communicating with people, I felt alone. There's only so much that you can do on twitter or texting etc. However, it does give leeway to explore thyself and understanding what pleases you and displeases you, how to run the house, how you like to do things, what makes you tick, etc. Anyway, I learned a lot about my own personal trends:

* Eat local, eat at hole-in-the-wall places, eat ethnic foods (maybe once every two weeks or once a month). 

My faves: Yak and Yeti Indian and Nepalese food, Le Central, Queen of Sheba Ethiopian Food, Thai House, and Empanada Grill. 

* Buy farmer's market produce. I prefer Boulder's because at least there's a lot of co-ops and not monocultures/ Earth Rapers.

* Cook your own food, put it in the freezer. Basically have your own personal lean cuisines and at least you know what's put into them versus things you can't pronounce, hormones, antibiotics, or, my favourite (sarcasm), HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup). 

* Don't give in. Not to men, not to politicians, not to women, not to corporations, don't give in to anyone. 

* Enjoy nature. I work at 3 places that save animals. 

* Have a passion ^^^^^ (I work at 3 places that save animals.)

* Enjoy loud music, bold colors, and clothing that represents you. Not what some CS at a magazine or mass media outlet will tell you. 

My faves: Gogol Bordello, 30 Seconds to Mars, Take to the Oars, Vices I Admire, Rolling Stones. Green, Orange, Purple. Snake print pants and gypsy-style shirt with converse sneakers and tiger face jewelry. 

* Don't give in. Not to men, not to politicians, not to women, not to corporations, don't give in to anyone. 

* Live simply. Live for the moments. Don't give in to materialism. Live minimally= Living happily. 

I've seen many cool things in this world. I've traveled to cool places in this world, hung with locals, speak different languages, opened my mind, touched cool animals, gone to concerts, met the artists. Stuff I'll take to the grave with me rather than the latest piece of technology or clothing accessory. 

* Lastly, say what's on your mind. Don't give into being prim and proper. That's passe. Have dignity and be yourself, a new kind of class will follow. 

Hence, 

Emotional Saturation :)

All my love and peace to you and yours.

P.s. You may view this post as liberal but actually i'm neither party affiliation so please do not go that route. Thank you :)

Trip of a lifetime

In July of 2011, we took a trip to Spain, Portugal, Morocco, France. Started driving in Madrid, then headed to Lisbon, all the way down to Tangiers (Spent a day there), back in Spain traveled to Barcelona, Spent the day in Perpignon, France, back to Madrid. Must say I give my dad major props for driving everywhere, passing through towns. Also, major kudos to my mum for planning a common sense route through the Iberian Peninsula.

Fave places:

Madrid
Segovia
Algave, Portugal
Cadiz
Gibraltar
Tangiers Marketplace
Valencia Biopark
Barcelona
Malaga
Perpignon, France

A few photos can be seen on twitter.com/aussiebohemian


Travel :) It does the soul wonders!