New Feature: Word of the Day

Nuture: to hold close with the intent to make happier, stronger and smiley-er.

Resolution Check In – Quarter 1 - 2011

I’ve been making it a habit to check in on myself when trying to accomplish my year’s resolutions. Today I’ll share my progress as a way to admit to the world where I’m going wrong and right

1. Go to Italy. Plane booked. Hotel booked. Entertainment tickets and restaurants scouted. Scheduled calls for further reservations. Scared to hell about how to get around on buses, but I’ll make it! :)
2. Maintain my weight healthily. Okay, okay, I’m overindulging. I didn’t gain much back – 3 lbs on average – but it’s time to stop indulging and make salads a bit more habit. I enjoy eating way too much, but getting out of hand makes it that much harder to maintain. That said, gym everyday and lots of activity on the weekends help!
3. Continue to be grateful for what I have.  I am happy to report that I’m debt free – so this being grateful resolution really got a boost this week – I am so grateful for being able to accomplish this! The shopping has waned a bit, I know that Etsy is a fabulous site and perhaps I should just stop looking – but in the end, I’m a girl – it’s what I do!
4. Value myself. Hm. I’m speaking up for what I want more….what can I do!?
5. Get my wisdom teeth pulled. Still no headway made here. It’s not a priority goal at the moment, perhaps later in the year?
6. Write a novel. Got farther on this then I even thought I could! Not only have I made huge headway into getting my cook book completed and the pictures created for the chapter pages, I’ve also managed to get a quarter of the way through a children’s book and then even more shockingly, I’ve gotten about 150 pages into a book that my best friend suggested – a manual on me. Not only is it feeding my learning about what I want endeavor, it’s been alot of fun to see how it’s coming together!
7. Wear more socks, tights, etc….this sorta went to the wayside this month. Alot of things did. Work has been so crazy that finding clothes and putting together good outfits got pushed aside. I need to remember that people do judge a book by its cover at times, looking put together is still important!
8. Purge more. As we were planting the garden yesterday, I took a break and started to make a bag of the things in the garage that needed donated. Closet will happen this week and I’m picking around the house little things. I hate feeling claustrophobic about “stuff” that I don’t use hanging around. This week will have a bit more oomph – these updates remind me to stay on it!
9. Go to town more - local foods, bike riding – We did go antiquing this weekend and last.
10. DO what you said you would do when you wished you would do it – that’s what this list is about. While it may seem pushy to people, or perhaps that is just my own perception of it – I’m starting to hold others and myself to the things that they promised they would do – and on time.
11. Use environmentally friendly bags, products, etc…I wish I could excel at this. I’m terrible.
12. Finish crafts – This one is going quite well. Not only am I paring down the list of those projects that I’ve started, but it’s almost nil at this point. I want to make a bird cage cover for the bird cage for the house.  I have to finish up my tablet pc case. I still have that pesky afghan to knit – it’s starting a project that is so hard – once I get going it speeds by!
13. Give more gifts - homemade, think of others – I’ve done a few acts of random kindness this month. It’s nice to spread the warm fuzzies!

THE.BASIC

The Thought

It’s a suit. You must…simply must…spend money on one. It’s like saying fettucine alfredo can be made simply with cheap cream cheese and old margarine. Don’t do it. It’s not right. A good suit, a good winter coat can become a basis for many, many, many accessories. But don’t skimp on your basics, make sure they fit perfectly, look fantastic, and make you feel like a million!

The Inspiration

The Gear

 

   

Brooks Brothers: Milano Bead Stripe 1818 Suit $998.00

Jos. A. Bank:  Executive 3-Button Wool Suit $550.00

Burlington Coat Factory: Single-breasted Woolen Coat (MICHAEL KORS): $119.99

Forever 21: Ribbon Trim Fedora $13.90

Urban Outfitters: Chunky Flecked Scarf $28.00

JCPenney: Florsheim® Lexington Men's Wing-tip Oxford $99.95

A Tradition

Tradition

Play Freebird! Play Freebird! It’s as traditional as that is to hear at a rock concert.

Freebirds is ‘like’ a Chipotle. Now, the only concept being it’s a make your own burrito place, but the concept here is my first foray into it. I first “met” Freebirds when I was a Freshman in college. This is probably where I should have learned to pull away from the table….and not gain the Freshman 15…twice over.

That said, as a treat, this is well worth the wait, calories and trip up to College Station, TX. I’m a “regular Freebird” sized girl, although they have Monster and Super Monster sizes. A spinach tortilla with their rice and traditional monterrey Jack cheese is good for starts. Add steak and black beans, all of the “Freebies” (pico de gallo, tomato, lettuce, red AND white onion, jalapeno (fresh = SEARING hot!), some of their death sauce or bbq for the more milder tastes and  then add the extra expense of guacamole and you have burrito perfect. A good cold beer added will make this one happy girl! It’s huge. Think about a coke can around give or take and about 1.5 coke cans tall. It’s a meal!

This is traditional comfort food after a bad football game at it’s best. You must try it – these are fresh ingredients, done up properly in a way that doesn’t taste like the mish mash that Mission Burrito sometimes tends to turn out. The selections are much more plentiful than the mainstream Chipotle.

They’re locations have expanded tons, so look for one in your Texas major city! Try it – it’s a change from the regular mexican food, it’s a good funky time to be had with friends!

Freebirds - http://www.freebirds.com/home.htm  - 979-485-8829

Rating: Spoon & fork – this is still fast food, the selection is limited, but it’s better than Chipotle could ever imagine! Gig Em!

Unbelievable

 

On an adventure to San Francisco, I was treated to lunch at the Chez Panisse Cafe. It seems to be advertised as the lesser of the two experiences – versus the dinner restaurant downstairs – but I cannot imagine how that can be. This meal sits towards the top of my lists of things I’ve consumed.

I continue to be amazed at that ability to turn out fantastic dishes without the overpowering use of gravies, butters, cheeses and creams that dotted my experiences in San Francisco. Being from the South, you’re just used to having something “play the heavy” on a dish – no matter where you are, even in salads.

I started the day off with a garden salad where lettuce, if you can even comment on lettuce, actually tasted like lettuce! Gasp! I know. Who writes about leaves? I do. The entire salad actually tasted as if it’d been picked by someone and run up those beautiful mission-style stairs and placed on the plate as quickly as it could be.

I had this beautiful dish of fresh beans and onion with grilled squid.  I’m still trying to figure out what that was. My friends know me as the one who always tries to recreate the dish later. That broth was amazing, there’s just no doing it over. It’s not me giving up, it’s allowing perfection to be held by the chef. The squid was grilled and charred marks were perfection. Chewy in a good way, not like a garden hose on a plate. It had a pairing with an aioli that allowed the buttery-ness to project the salt of the sea in the seafood, but not provide an ocean of grease to swim in.

Now, as if I couldn’t dedicate more emotion to a plate, I ordered apple tart. Which should really just simply say “elation” on the dessert menu and leave no room for description. Apple tart simply dresses down this dish. There is some beauty in “tart” when it’s made of puff pastry so light and airy, filled with simple slices of apple and dressed with a simple syrup of apple and blackberry. The hint given here is that a few blackberries dot the dish. But the need for sugar is nil, the fruit holds court against the light crust and when it comes to finishing a meal, this couldn’t have done better.

Chez Panisse – www.chezpanisse.com - (510) 548-5525 - Reservations are a must. Do not try otherwise.

Rating: spoon, fork & knife + champagne flute – a memory to behold.

Road Trippin’

Go ahead and laugh when I say “Car Seat for a Dog”. But that said, I’ve used this car seat for three of my animals and it’s never ripped, shredded or even been a pain to use! They all LOVE it. They can see out the window, and I don’t have to subject myself to whining much like small children!

It’s safety harness keeps them strapped in safe, which means that if I were in an accident, Ralph Thomas isn’t flying anywhere. It’s easy to put in any style of car and adjusts to just about any placement that you require. (I’ve even been able to put it on the back of a seat when there wasn’t much room! (Although not suggested by the manufacturer)

Ralph can move around enough to be comfortable, sit up and stand to see out the window even more. But he’s definitely in enough that he’s not going to cause damage to himself, or the car. Plus at the end of a long day, he’s able to lay down and nap! Sometimes the dog park is just too much!

Amazon.com can get you the Outward Hound Car Seat for $29.65 and that includes their free super saver shipping! It comes in small (which I use) and medium. I highly recommend this product.

The Resolution Check In Spot

I’ve been making it a habit to check in on myself when trying to accomplish my year’s resolutions. Today I’ll share my progress as a way to admit to the world where I’m going wrong and right

1. Go to Italy. I’ve sat down, perused my books. I’ve got tentative plans with my Italian chickyfriend for lunch and planning in midMarch. I’m going to be booking by March 31st. Deadline SET!
2. Maintain my weight healthily. Doing well and even lost 5 lbs. I’m so pleased with how things are going. With my birthday being this month I overindulged and still kept myself within reason. Hanging in there, the days that the scale tells me the “wrong” number are the worst still!
3. Continue to be grateful for what I have. I am trying to do this. Sometimes the economic law of “I want more!” gets involved.  I am doing MUCH better. I’ve made myself a list of the purchases I intend on making this year and the more I look at that list, the more I want to stick to it!
4. Value myself. This is the worst one. How do you show yourself you love you?
5. Get my wisdom teeth pulled. Okay, admittedly, no headway made here. but I’ve tentatively planned it for late in the year given my other goals. So I’m not behind, I’m not on it either!
6. Write a novel. Stalled here. I think I have a concept. I even have a place to publish and a cover design. Now I’m just tyring to find my angle. I’m starting to write an outline in the hopes this will help this work it out. In other book news, I am putting together my recipes in a book. That’s motivation enough to see the process and take hold of my inner author.
7. Wear more socks, tights and lingerie. I know. Crazy one here. But I adore buying all three of these but then never make the time to accessorize. So I’m doing this, not as much as I should, but the hot weather prevents some things!
8. Purge more. I’m definitely making sure that if I’m not using something that I’m finding it a new home if possible!
9. Go to town more - local foods, bike riding – okay, we’ve done 2 farmers markets this year. and no bike riding. Our schedule is so overwhelming that it’s questionable when we’ll make time for this. That said, it’s still on my list of things to make more time for!
10. DO what you said you would do when you wished you would do it – I don’t know how to accomplish this other than make a list and tackle. I’m definitely tackling more.
11. Use environmentally friendly bags, products, etc…total and utter fail. Smack me.
12. Finish crafts – i’m asking myself more and more, will I use it alot? can I actually accomplish this DIY project? how much will I value it? and this is shortening my list to doable tasks and fun things that make my life richer and happier!
13. Give more gifts - homemade, think of others – finishing crafts is helping this! I’ve put into place a few little acts of kindness through the year that will mean people are thought of and recognized for that! Lots more love out there!