First Dinner in my new home
My first dinner in St. Helena: Field Green salad with oil & vinegar dressing and grilled chicken. Accompanied by a slice of local artisan bread and a glass of Shiraz.
2003
The Party’s Ovah… or perhaps just beginning!
Hey everyone–long time no see! For the past week Dave and I have been driving cross-country, enjoying life, and having an absolutely fabulous time of it! Finally arrived in St. Helena today — this is where I’ll be living for at least the next 8 months! WHOOOO! Of course there are loads of pictures from this summer and Roadtrip USA coming–as soon as I get the computer situation here figured out.
Classes start next Monday (AIEEEEEEEEEE!!!!). Lots to do before then, lots happening in the next few weeks, months–more to come soon!
Mini Vaca
Took a trip to Bully Hill Winery for lunch yesterday with the rest of the Cottage Crew. It was quite delish! Went boating, swimming, wake boarding, and sailing, and then had a tasty din-din at the Rock, followed by sumptuous blackberry pie and vanilla bean ice cream and a movie / slumber party by the water! So busy with planning trip, closing things up here, loose ends. More soon!
Partay-rific
It seems like every time I have something to say here lately, it’s always about parties!! I’m not sure if this is a bad thing, but I guess it’s not because it sure feels good to me! So, anyways, per usual have been having lots of fun lately. Went to Watkins Glen last week–that was highly enjoyable! We counted 877 steps!! Thanks for all of your comments lately! I miss you all desperately too! Off for an excursion to S&A Boutique with Ani. Will fill you in on the details upon our return.
Parties
It’s been a GREAT and BUSY past few days! On Thursday The Cottage Crew (Dave, Kristina and Matt) hosted a HOT summer BBQ party. Someone might have hijacked a boat, jumped off boat house roofs into The Mighty K, gone tandem water skiing, or consumed massive amounts of alcohol… pictures and more info to come soon.
New Inspiration
I’ve begun a new morning regimen (read: walk/jog/skip/leap/hiking) that involves waking up with a conscious effort to be happy. On my walk this morning I encountered an extremely large quantity of fauna in a 15 minute period: 1 deer, 1 bunny rabbit, 1 groundhog, 3 chipmunks, 10 butterflies!! Anyone can adopt this new way of being, all you need to know is that during one’s walk, it is imperative that one shouts at the top of one’s lungs “HEY!!! I’m ALIIIIIVEEEE!! (insert BIG grin and hysterical laughter here) I’m Alive!!!”. It’s a good start to the day.
The sun was really bright this morning–this is most of what inspired me to get up early and begin the “Don’t worry be happy outlook” (Or rather, the “Only-worry-when-effective-and-absolutely-necessary Outlook”). In essence, it’s a lifestyle change. Here are the main components:
“A” Acts
Acts of appreciating the world, life and me.Acts of appreciating the world, life and me.
I am Gumbo
A conglomerate of my favorite exercises– based on T’ai Chi, Yoga, Pilates, Butts ‘n Guts, Kickboxing, Absolute Abs, and some of Cindy Crawford’s favorite moves (I feel a special bond with Cindy since we have the same beauty mark above our lip). Motivating/relaxing music is an essential component for this routine. This morning’s music of choice: Pink’s Remix of “Get the Party Started” featuring excerpts of “Sweet Dreams,” Tatu: “All the things she said,” and I don’t remember the artist but the song is called “Sex Machine”–it sounds like “Get up! Get on up, ah! Get up, get on up-ah!”
Roughage
I’m hoping to expand my appreciation of leafy greens. To this end, I would like to introduce to you Project Green!! Each week I will create (or perhaps compose is more the more accurate term) a new salad –and EAT it. My goal is that by bombarding myself with positive exposure to lettuces and vegetables, I will learn to love and even CRAVE them (crave–I know, can you imagine?!) We’ll see how it goes. Starting out easy:
Greek Goddess Ensalada
Red Lettuce
Vine-ripened tomatoes
Baby carrots
Baby bella mushrooms
Red pepper
Vidalia onion
Homemade oil & vinegar dressing (2/3 cup oil, 1/3 cup vinegar, S&P, Shake it baby, yeah!!)
Homemade crutons (Drizzle old bread you’ve cut into 1/2 inch cubes with olive oil and herbs of your choice. Bake at 350 degrees until golden)
Feta cheese
Alcohol
Although it’s not all that fun drinking alone, sometimes (especially when living the life of a hermit), it becomes necessary. I’m currently obsessed with homemade hard lemonade. You use this recipe and kick it up a notch with some Absolut vodka.
Dessert Dreams
In trying to lead a healthy lifestyle, I’ve begun having fresh fruit for dessert, rather than massive amounts of peanut butter and chocolate chips.
I’m hoping to expand my appreciation of leafy greens. To this end, I would like to introduce to you !! Each week I will create (or perhaps compose is more the more accurate term) a new salad –and EAT it. My goal is that by bombarding myself with positive exposure to lettuces and vegetables, I will learn to love and even CRAVE them (crave–I know, can you imagine?!) We’ll see how it goes. Starting out easy:There’s much more, but I’ll have to continue later as my lemonade has rendered me quite intoxicated. Night night!