Chia Seed Banana Bread

At first, I wanted to cook this recipe that my Mom came up with when I was in elementary school and the teacher made us create an original recipe. I even already thought of a whole anecdote to go with it. But I changed my mind because that recipe wasn't much of a recipe to begin with and it involves frying. Instead, I decided to bake a banana bread for this month's recipe. Technically, it's something my Stepmom came up with to use up all the spare chia seeds we have lying around. It's become quite a boom, hasn't it? My sister was so into it a couple months earlier and she still got some seeds unused. So we decided to utilise it. And, guess what? It turns out to be quite a taste for this recipe. Also, if you're looking for something to make with a child, this might just be the perfect recipe since it doesn't involve cutting and it's mostly all about mixing everything well.

Ingredients 

• 3 or 4 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/3 cup butter, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar (or 3/4 cup, if you're not into sweets)
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• a pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 2 tbsp. chia seeds
• butter, to line the baking pan

1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC
2. Put the bananas in a large bowl (mash them, if they're not already), add in the butter and mix
3. Add in the sugar, cinnamon and egg into the mixture and mix well
4. Add in the baking soda and the salt, mix well
5. Add in the flour last and mix them all together
6. Sprinkle the chia seeds in and stir to get them well mixed up
7. Make sure you line the baking pan before pouring the mixture in
8. Stick it in the oven for around 1 hour
9. Take it out and enjoy!

Tips: Make sure you take out the ingredients out of the fridge a few minutes before the process to let them sit in room temperature; this way, they will mix more easily. Add the sugar little by little and tasting them first, in case 1 cup is too sweet for you. You can replace the cinnamon with vanilla, if that's more to your liking. The chia seeds not only adds texture, it is also good for your body because it contains good fat and zero cholesterol! Lass euch schmecken!

Like Mother, Like Daughter

These days Friday becomes a Friyay when I get to hang out with my homegirl, Cynthia. As you might recall from this post, I mentioned that previously we only saw each other once a year since we both graduated from high school. It surely puts our friendship into question but it's not that we made a choice of only seeing each other annually. Things happen, you know. I was away in Germany most of the year and she's also quite busy as well. I mean, it's more than I can say for most of my friends too - she's actually the only one I see as regularly every year! Anyway, last Friday we had lunch together and coffee afterwards. I bought myself three sleepwear items and we hit the coffee shop. Time seems to fly so quickly when we hang out and I always feel like there's not enough chance to catch up. But, obviously, as usual we left with a ton of laughter and inside jokes. Can't wait for the next Friyay!

ASOS dress (Sis's) // Studio Nine moccassins // vintage purse (Mom's) // photos by Cynthia

As these were taken before Mother's Day, I was trying to commemorate it by recreating a look of my mother's from the '90s. Aside from her purse, none of the items I wore here belonged to her, though. The photo was taken around the time my sister was just born. It was actually during one of the mandatory doctor visit post-maternity. When I was growing up, my Mom was never a figure I remember as wearing a lot of dresses. But when I was little, she absolutely loved dressing me and my sister up in matching dresses and when she was younger she wore skirts quite a lot. When I stumbled upon this photo, I knew I just had to recreate it. What I wish I could change is my hair and the length of my (sister's) dress. But it does give the whole look a modern and edgy twist. This was a lot of fun, to be honest, and I am so psyched to find more of her looks I can recreate using the items I already own. 

Mom and Grandma holding my sister as a baby (1990)

Illustrators Arise: Kelsey Garrity-Riley

Hello there, art lovers! Are you excited for another round of Illustrators Arise? Well, are ya? Then let's get started! As May is the month where most countries celebrate Mother's Day and Japan celebrates Children's Day (こどもの日), I thought this month I'd introduce to you a children's book illustrator who I've been admiring for years, Kelsey Garrity-Riley. When I first stumbled upon one of her works was through They Draw and Travel, where she did an illustration of Savannah, Georgia. Ever since then, I've been following her work, which never fails to make me swoon upon sight. After graduating from Savannah College of Art and Design, Kelsey stayed in said town for four years and moved to Brooklyn, NY, where she now lives. Take it away, Kelsey!

Hi, Kelsey! Why don’t we start by what first got you into illustration and why did you stick with it?

I always loved creating! When I was very young I always enjoyed drawing, painting and making things with my hands. When I first got to College I wasn't sure for a while if I wanted to do Illustration, Fashion or Fine Art. Everything always seemed to lead back to illustration though! I started to realize I always wanted to create narratives with imagery.

I see you went to SCAD. It’s only my favourite art college in the USA! What did you learn there aside from art and would you recommend people going to an art college?



Oh cool! You should definitely apply! I really enjoyed my time at SCAD and loved the illustration professors. I definitely also learned a lot  through experiences outside of the illustration department. It was so great getting to know people who were in different majors and going into different creative fields (learning about creative jobs I didn't even know existed!) Some of my favorite classes were the basic non illustration classes where you get to explore different ways of working- they definitely helped me understand illustration was the right fit for me! I loved a required 3D class, and an intro to Photography, and Fashion courses I took. I think  its important to look all areas of creativity for inspiration, not just illustration.

What materials do you usually work with?
I usually work with a dip pen and Winsor and Newton "Peat Brown" ink, gouache, and sometimes collage on Watercolor or "Vellum" Bristol paper. Then I always clean up the image a bit in photoshop.

You’ve made at least two children’s book illustration before. Would you ever be interested in writing your own book one day?

I would LOVE to write one! I have a few ideas up my sleeve I'm trying to work on, but its hard to find the time to dedicate to it at the moment. Fingers crossed I'll have my own book out one day soon!

Do you think working in a field closely related to children influences you in any way?
It's inspiring, and sometimes hard. I'm trying to learn to look at things more simply and not spell everything out visually. Children understand and appreciate more than we think!

Until 2014 you worked as a display artist and buyer for The Paris Market in Savannah. Can you tell us what the jobs entail and how much do they differ from illustrations?
It ended up being hugely influential for me and my work! I really loved getting to curate inspiring objects- it helped me learn to think of creative problem solving in a different way. I sometimes got to incorporate my illustration work. Working as a part of a creative team that I loved also really helped me grow as a person. As a buyer I would look at retailers and order for the coming season, and as a display artist I set up the windows and arrangements of product all over the store.

You live in Brooklyn, NY now, right? But you seem to love Savannah so much. Why did you move?
My husband Erik (also an illustrator) and I just always wanted to experience New York! Savannah is wonderful, but is a very small town- we are loving being up here with such a richness of things to experience. Endless museums, parks, restaurants etc. We also never really got used to the horrible, humid Savannah heat- Being back where there are Seasons again is so wonderful!

What was the most memorable advice someone told you when you were a child? How did it help you later on in life?
Hm...I can't think of something directly. But I am super grateful for the support my parents gave me- they were always thrilled with the things I created, they never questioned, only encouraged it! Having that freedom when you are very young is a wonderful thing. (This seems like an especially appropriate thing to be saying on Mothers Day, haha- but its true!)

What does the future look like for Kelsey Garrity-Riley?

I'm grateful I get to do what I love, and I just want to keep getting to do it! I'd really love to write and illustrate my own book, and always love getting to work on new projects- I'd love to explore pattern design.

Do you have any word of wisdom to share with starting-out illustrators, like myself?

I know its obvious but just never stop creating! Being a freelance illustrator is exciting and exhausting and there are so many ups and downs! Putting your work out there can feel very vulnerable, but the Internet really is a great tool to sharing your creations (and one I need to get better at using...)

A little note from me

There is a certain endearing quality in Kelsey's artworks. Her warm tones and soft lines feel like the way a mother would stroke her daughter's hair and kiss her forehead. All her works tend to remind me of a fireplace lit at the end of a long day of a father, where his wife and children are waiting. They speak of a friendly neighbourhood in a sentimental autumn day. They seem like a mug of hot apple cider in a cold evening. Her choice of colour for every piece and impressive depiction of the people, without being too serious or defined, create a certain sentimental value, despite being quite new. It's like a story told from generation to generation. A tradition withheld and a love grasped. I think there's no better way to describe her works other than this: her illustrations feel like home.

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#KITTENHOODSTYLE

Hi, everyone! Today my outfit post is located elsewhere as I style Daria's #kittenhoodstyle challenge this month over on her blog. Daria is going away to Japan at the moment - so jealous! - so she's asked me to fill in for her - thanks again, Daria! We teamed up to bring a look that rings true to both of us. Come check out my guest post (and the rest of her blog) and say hi!

Ode to the Best Mother in the World

DISCLAIMER: Let me just start out by giving you a crucial information about the rest of this post. Firstly, this might be one of those posts which makes you feel like reaching for the tissues when you’re done. Secondly, that is because this is a heartfelt post about the most amazing woman I know, who coincidentally is no longer living. If that is not what you’re looking for, then feel free to close the tab or leave the post. But if you stay, know that you have been warned.

Photo from my only trip to Bali with Mom and Sis in 2001

Since this weekend is Mother’s Day in most countries, I thought I’d talk about my mother. If you must know, writing this post is actually quite uncomfortable for me. Because: a.) sometimes I feel like I talk about my mother too often and people might get sick because they’d think I was wallowing in self-pity (which I’m not, promise) and b.) because it makes me feel all these emotions that I’m not quite comfortable enough to share. But I’ve decided to do this because I want you all to know her a bit better. She IS only my most favourite person ever!

Mom's birthday party as a teenager (retro look alert!)

Everyone who knows my mother will tell you that she was a strong, independent, feisty lady who would never back down on what she believed in. She knew what she wanted and she fought hard to get it. She was also motherly, caring and attentive when it came to her loved ones. She was not a part-time mother although she was indeed a career woman. My mother was one of those rare women who can be both a full-time worker and a full-time mother. She taught me to be hard yet soft and strong yet caring.

Mom obviously couldn't stand how adorable her first daughter was

My favourite story in the world is my parents’ love story. Boy met girl, boy loved girl but that’s not where it ended. My father was 6 years older than my mom. He lived in her house when he went to uni in her town, because their families were close. He fell in love with her instantly but she was oblivious and, at first, not interested. She had her goals and she wanted to reach them so dating was the last thing on her mind. But he didn’t give up. After a long, relentless effort, she finally gave him a condition: “Wait for me for 2 years!” He agreed and, as soon as she was out of uni, they got married.

I think this was our first night in our current house

There are times when I miss her, when I wish she could’ve met Firu and told me what she thinks of him. When I imagine how she would be like in our wedding. Would she cry? Would she hug me so tight I’d run out of air? Would she help me plan the wedding? Would she carry our first baby? I’d like to think that one day I’ll see her again. And, maybe, by then we have so much to talk about. But, one thing’s for sure, there is nobody in the whole world I could love more.