go phillies


I drove up to Philly last night for meetings today. I seem to be where the actions at these days- last night it was fun to watch the game until it got rain delayed. Go Phillies...

k.i.t.

It's going to be hard to post until I'm back in SB as I want to add photos from my east coast adventures. So far it's been a good time of seeing old friends, some family, and some work all in one trip. It's interesting being back, but really good as well. Adventures have included really good meals one in the first "all green" restaurant in DC, playing with fountains, walking around monuments, shopping the outlets, Georgetown, Ethiopian food, pumpkin carving Sarah Palin's face, and salsa dancing. Wow...Tomorrow I'm off to Philly for meetings all day Tuesday and then back to VA for some more DC adventures, with the hopes of taking Friday the 31st off. Vamos a ver. That means we shall see in Spanish.

tallula

Last night Ivie and I went to Eat Bar next to Tallula. Since I left they've upped the anty a bit. Pretty wonderful small plates and a huge wine list. Chorizo corn dog...mini...hush puppies...butterscotch ice cream sandwich and a wall filled with candles. Ah the mood lighting.

the friendliest skies

I've had the great opportunity of flying Virgin America and I think I might take a job marketing for them. Ok not really but they're the best, and so cheap too. $79 one way up to Seattle and less than $300 round trip from LA to IAD. You never get bored as you can watch tv, music videos, create a playlist from 10,000 songs and eat when you want. Just swipe your credit card and there it is. It's a winner. Oh and you can chat with randoms...but I didn't venture there. Call me crazy.

hui wine party

my foodie friends leslie and jeremy had their famous wine and cheese party last night. i missed out on some of the food from arriving in LAX when it started, but I'm glad I ran home and made the change into wine party attire. I did get in on some fresh figs and a good glass o cab. A fun low key night with friends, the way wine and cheese parties ought to be.

laura elizabeth?

good times with my friend in seattle- yes we both have the same first and middle name which was comical at Peso's when we got carded and the guy seemed to think it was some kind of joke. Or meeting people when you're like "I'm Laura too..." Here we are just singing in the car to the new Ray LaMontagne CD- Soo good.

public market

the market was so wonderful saturday morning. incredible dahlia's everywhere and everyone really excited about the fall weather, with lots of sun! we stopped into nordstrom's rack and then headed down to walk around. here are a few shots- as you can imagine i was so happy in there. i love the old signs and knowing where the famous donut man's stand was. also...how is it that men in orange overalls catching fish are just so darn cute?

eat like you give a damn

Saturday morning some friends took me to Portage Bay Cafe knowing I would love it. Winner. It's a great story of a restaurant that was started in typical form until the owner realized he had no idea where the food was coming from, etc. It's now all local and 80% organic with a whole wall dedicated to pictures of the farmers who grow the food on your table. Also the mugs you drink out of say, "eat like you give a damn" along with all the staff's t-shirts. Thanks Kendra and Diane!

theo chocolates

I went to Fremont on Friday after my meeting and parked right next to Theo Chocolates- I of course stopped in and was pleasantly surprised by their organic fair trade really good chocolates- they had samples! Crazy kinds like chili, coconut curry, fig and fennel and chai latte. A fun little stop and really pretty packaging makes them a great gift idea. it's a good thing... :) Afterwards I walked around and realized I'd been there before- went into a cute little boutique called Les Amis and stocked up on a card that just says, "I want to have text with you." Genius.

preview: falling

I just got back from Seattle- what a beautiful time of year to be there! Here's a few teasers. A full report will happen tomorrow- or later today seeing as it's late.

ahhh seattle

sitting here in my northface i must say, i could stick out much more than i do. good middle school purchase that continues to be well worth it. working away in a seattle coffee shop, caffe fiore, where a little kid with a john deere hat just tried to sit at my table. precious.

seattle bound

excited for yet another work meets fun trip today...seattle. excited to see the changing colors and even get all bundled in the 60 degree rainy and cold weather. sunshine saturday though...and time spent with some great friends.

crush cafe

I decided what I want to do with my life. Yup- decided after I walked back from getting a honey vanilla late at Crush Cakes new Crush Cafe on a mini break from work. Bakery meets light lunch, homemade soups, organic produce in a cozy atmosphere with some outdoor seating in a European-like city. On my walk back to the office I thought about what it might be like to go play the lotto so the day might come sooner over later. Sigh. I didn't lunch there yet- but I look forward to it. Yum.

sprinkled pink

Last night i went to a Bible Study through my church. New group, new people. I was more than happy to find out that the couple who own and bake for Sprinkled Pink Cupcakes in Montecito are in our group. I talked with Wendy after and told her how jealous I was of her cupcake life and how frosting cupcakes would be a great stress relief for me. I went home with some cakes to bring into the office.... God knows what He's doing.

Bedrock under My Feet

From 2 Samuel 22
God
is bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight. My God—the high crag where I run for dear life, hiding behind the boulders, safe in the granite hideout; My mountaintop refuge, he saves me from ruthless men. 4 I sing to God the Praise-Lofty, and find myself safe and saved. 7 A hostile world! I called to God, to my God I cried out. From his palace he heard me call; my cry brought me right into his presence— a private audience! 17-20 But me he caught—reached all the way from sky to sea; he pulled me out Of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos, the void in which I was drowning. They hit me when I was down, but God stuck by me. He stood me up on a wide-open field; I stood there saved—surprised to be loved! 21-25 God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I cleaned up my act, he gave me a fresh start. Indeed, I've kept alert to God's ways; I feel put back together, and I'm watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life
when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes. 26-28 You stick by people who stick with you,
you're straight with people who're straight with you, You're good to good people, you shrewdly work around the bad ones. You take the side of the down-and-out, but the stuck-up you take down a peg. 29-31 Suddenly, God, your light floods my path, God drives out the darkness. Every God-direction is road-tested. Everyone who runs toward him Makes it. 32-46 Is there any god like God? Are we not at bedrock? Is not this the God who armed me well, then aimed me in the right direction? Now I run like a deer; I'm king of the mountain. He shows me how to fight; I can bend a bronze bow! You protect me with salvation-armor; you touch me and I feel ten feet tall. You cleared the ground under me so my footing was firm.

a few of my favorite things

williams-sonoma is my happy place. i went in there yesterday and splurged on an Emile Henry mug i've been wanting for years. it's the small things that make me happy.

and this is why i live here- one of the reasons

Today Jen and I headed up to Santa Ynez after church for a wonderful fall day. Stopped into Los Olivos Grocery for some local bread, cheese, an apple. Went to Briddlewood for their Syrah- goes down so smooth. I couldn't resist and bought a bottle called "English Pleasure." Who doesn't want a little English Pleasure in their life?! We had our lunch there outside, looking at the vines, catching up. Next stop was the oh-so-popular Firestone for some good laughs with new super-LA chicas and then a stop at a market on the way home to encounter the world's largest onions and get some squash and a pumpkin to adorn the doorway. Happy October.

a little bit of martha

yesterday, well, you could have called me martha. I went to a local coffee shop with a friend, got a massage (Praise the Lord for schools in town where people need hours and it's only 35 bucks for an incredible massage), went to a local farm stand to get some produce (Fairview Farms) and then on to get some flowers to plant in a pot on our porch. Vintage Stock- I'm excited for them to bloom. Picture is care of my time in Denver- in love.

santa ana's

Baby it's windy outside... you learn something new everyday. The Santa Ana winds are strong, extremely dry offshore winds that characteristically sweep through in Southern California and northern Baja California in late autumn into winter. They can range from hot to cold, depending on the prevailing temperatures in the source regions, the Great Basin and upper Mojave Desert. However, the winds are remembered most for the hot dry weather (often the hottest of the year) that they bring in the fall.

All bets are off. Anything can happen.

keep the customers satisfied.

I've been thinking a lot about life these days, at this age, with this job and seeing many other friends across the country working hard hard for the money...so hard for the money. Billy Joel could not have said it better: Slow down you crazy Child...

home again

the word 'home' is an interesting one these days but regardless, i'm back in SB where the trees are green. change trees...change. i may have to give in and enjoy this place, let go, and beach it this weekend.

a little bit in love

I'm a little bit in love with Denver right now. It's a beautiful day, cool morning, cooler nights, warm sunny days. People are nice- it's wonderful. The leaves are changing and on the ground- I intend to throw some around this evening as we walk through Wash Park. Mile High City- I'm a fan.

rocky top rocky top

rocky top tennesseeeee. in nashville for about 24 hours but still worth it. good people and a lot of proper greetings. didn't come in for the debates, but has made a fun little banter between my co-worker and i with opposing views. sitting here in a coffee shop listening to good tunes, tempted by country items at the CMT Loot store but pulled myself away. Off to Denver tonight...

white bean and chicken chili

Last night I had the great chance to break in the new casa with a bunch of friends over for dinner and our favorite card game- up and down the river. I was the biggest loser, per usual, with a -130 points to end the night. I made a White Bean and Chicken Chili Recipe that I found in this months Bon Apetit which apparently comes from JW's Food and Spirits in Grand Haven, MI. The consistency turned out to be more like a soup, but overall I liked the kick and was thankful to be able to double the recipe as more friends turned up... Today I re-heated it, added some left over green beans, rice, and peas which added a bit more depth and heartiness on this beautiful 65 degree somewhat rainy, makes me feel like we have season, October day.

white bean and chicken chili

2 T olive oil
1 cup celery
1 cup onion
1 cup chopped bell pepper
2 T pickled jalapeno from jar
4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 T chili powder
2 t. cumin
2 cups low sodium chick broth
2 15. ounce cans Great Northern beans, drained
chicken- shredded
1/2 c. half and half

Heat oil- add celery, onion, pepper, jalapeno and saute about 4 min. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, saute 1 min. Add broth and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, about 3 min. Add beans, chicken, and half and half. Reduce heat and simmer until heated through. It's got a kick...so add chili powder accordingly. This ain't no gringo chili.

an ode to october

i don't like to think how hot it is outside so i'm trying to convince myself otherwise that it's fall.

sesame noodle must try..

allie and jess came over for dinner last night which for me is a good excuse for a healthy good recipe. i've always loved peanut noodles at restaurants but they're loaded with fat and oil so this recipe looked really tempting. it was so easy and delicious, and nutrisous as i made it with whole wheat angel hair instead. we had it warm but seems like you could have this at any temp you please. salty, sweet, with a kick. try it!

Ingredients

Serves 4

  • Coarse salt
  • 12 ounces whole-wheat spaghetti
  • 1 bunch broccoli, cut into florets, stalks peeled and thinly sliced
  • 2 red bell peppers (ribs and seeds removed), thinly sliced
  • 1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 3 tablespoons dark-brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes

Directions

  1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook spaghetti 3 minutes less than al dente. Add broccoli, bell peppers, and onion. Cook until pasta is al dente and vegetables are tender, 3 minutes more. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water; drain pasta and vegetables.
  2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together peanut butter, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, oil, garlic, and red-pepper flakes. Add hot pasta and vegetables; toss to coat, thinning sauce with a little pasta water, if necessary. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

you know you live in california when...

1. You're in LA and the starbucks has a poster to come light a candle to honor feral cats
2. You're in Malibu and there's a town hall meeting on Paparazzi Safety
3. You're in SB and are asked to support an act against Animal Cruelty
4. You're in SB and overhear a hippy telling some girl she'll never be able to serve the country because McCain is against women
5. It's 85 degrees on October 1
6. You look at the ocean- a lot.