Napa - Day 1

We flew into San Francisco an hour later than we expected due to heavy fog in the bay area. Geoffrey went to work and I walked to downtown Napa from his job site. Along the way I admired the quaint little neighborhood and the things so characteristic about this region: everyone's yards had lemon and lime trees, olive trees, and roses galore! The roses get to be as big as a dinner plate sometimes! Absolutely beautiful!


I spent the afternoon meandering the streets and shops. I visited a toy shop and the Oxbow Marketplace. The Hog Island Oyster company was in one corner of the market so I sat outside and ordered some oysters and a glass of Fume Blanc. I swear to you, I feel like Napa California is heaven on earth. From the food to the lifestyle to the people to the views. This IS MY KIND OF PLACE!!! Then I found my way to the riverfront and the Napa General Store where Geoffrey met me after he finished with his job. We were starving so we went for some tapas and wine at ZuZu right down the street and to kill time until dinner service started. One glass of wine... two glasses of wine... bread and salted cod and spicy garlic shrimp and olives... we stayed for a long time and soaked up all the goodness, overlooking the Napa river.


It was quite a nice day. A PERFECT day in my world :)

Cleanse - Day 1

Today I started a liver cleanse and here are some of the things I purchased at Sunflower Market yesterday...

Organic Produce Galore!

Kale

Cauliflower
Broccoli

Carrots

Celery

Spinach

Radish

Onion - Red, White, Green

Acorn Squash

Red Leaf Lettuce

Cucumber

Zucchini

Squash - yellow and Mexican

Brussel Sprouts

Asparagus

Cabbage

Avocado

Garlic

Ginger

Artichokes

Portabella Mushrooms

Parsley

Lemons

Kiwi

Pears

Apples

Pineapple

Clemintines

Lean Ground Buffalo

Wild Salmon

Organic Chicken Breasts

Free Range Eggs

Organic Egg Whites

Sliced Turkey Breast

Mini fingerling potatoes

Brown Rice

Soba Noodles

Rice Cakes

Almond Butter

Almonds & Walnuts

Almond Milk

Green Goddess Smothie

Naked Smoothies

Chamomile Vanilla Tea

And I'm taking these supplements:

Probiotics

Milk Thistle

EFA's

Multiple Vitamin & Mineral

B-complex

Fiber

Vitamin C with Bioflavanoids

DIM

I'm drinking water with lemon juice, 2 T. Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar, and a splash of Cranberry each morning. Green tea or chamomile tea with agave. No coffee, no diary, no booze, no gluten, no processed foods (besides ready made smoothies), no soy, no mayo/mustard/ketchup/relish/etc, & LOTS of water water water with lemon juice.

So basically I'm doing this for two weeks (although I may have a glass of red wine next weekend).

Wish me luck!

I may look like this after two weeks!

What dontcha know?

A few things about me you may not know...

I love oysters. Oyster roasts, bucket of oysters, smoked oysters from a can (like sardines)... I do not however like oyster stuffing at Thanksgiving or raw oysters.

If you want to make me dinner, cook seafood and I will heart you furebber.

I do not run unless chased.

Butterscotch martinis and spearmint tic-tacs make me sneeze every time.

I've never broken a bone. Not even a little toe.

I've never been immunized. Chew on that one!

Generally speaking, I've always made A's and honor roll. Until I got to fine art school where A's don't exist unless you are some amazing artist phenom - and even then, they only allot one A per class. Even so, I managed to graduate with honors.

My gag reflex is often triggered by nothing. Underlying stress most likely, but often just out of nowhere.

I used to wear a thong bikini to the beach... those were the days!

I've never gotten a speeding ticket - or any ticket - besides when my meter ran out. (I have however been pulled over twice in my life)

I moved out at 17, my senior year in high school.

I have been to Europe 3 times, Mexico twice, and to Hawaii twice.

I prefer male doctors.

Things like pimples, wounds, smelly things generally don't gross me out. I could probably be a nurse.

I'm honest. I can't lie.

I have battled with self image issues and eating disorders. I won, though I am aware of ever present self criticism. Now I try to smother that out with self love, chubby butt and all!

The thing I want for Christmas is a beach cruiser with a basket on the front. There are no beaches here. There are mountains of snow at Christmas. But I don't care. {I GOT THE BIKE!!! Thanks to the best hubby ever! }

I can be hard on people but only to coax out the best in them. If I've been hard on you I will likely love you to death shortly thereafter.

I'm a Libra, I like balance.

The first two years I lived here I managed to never drive when its snowing. Last winter I did... but I will do everything in my power to avoid it.

Geoffrey and I have some serious history, beyond our current lives.

I'm sleepy... yawn...

Sunday

The past two days have been very much fall. We rose this morning to do yoga at Sloans Lake. The sun was peaking out but gave way to the low lying clouds that drizzled us with rain. The breeze was cold but gentle and we attempted to create heat through our practice. I can only speak for myself - my toes were cold but my heart big and warm. I think we all felt warm inside. Our yoga teacher actually thanked US for coming to class... on her wedding day!

Today Todd Raabe and Angela McLinden are getting married! 10/10/10. It's overcast and damp out but I'm sure they will have a magical day - sharing their wedding vows at Chautauqua park in Boulder with their 4 teenage boys :)

As for Geoffrey and I, we stopped by Toast (a small liquor & wine store on 23rd St. near Sloan's Lake) for some red wine for the afternoon. Then to get ingredients for a chicken and rice baked casserole. Home with some blankets, a little football, a hot casserole in the oven - the fireplace is on for the first time this season and I welcome it with open arms. The season to be thankful! :) I am thankful for my sleepy cuddly puppy, a warm home when its cold outside, food for our souls, our yoga practice that keeps us in touch, and beautiful sweet friends to share this life with.

~N~

Connecting

Last night I hosted our book club meeting and had a great time! I love my ladies :) One thing I know is that we don't get together often enough! I relish my girl time. When women get together it can be a bit of a balancing act because we all have so many things to talk about and so many perspectives to share. Many thanks to my sweet friend Naomi for staying and chatting with me late into the night. (Thanks to Jason for being out of town, haha!)

Our book was "Female Nomad and Friends" by Rita Gelman Goldman. The food was inspired by our own travels. We dined on Mediterranean pastas, Spanish meats and cheeses, grilled flatbread with peaches, cheeses, prosciutto, & arugula, caprese salad, chocolate, raspberry, & almond torte... and sangria! Funny because we all picked a contribution to the dinner separately but they complimented each other so well! Book club is a really great way to end the week. Food. Friends. Travel stroies and recipes. The season is here to be thankful and reflective and I sure am thankful for the women in my life :) Jill is hosting next and I'm really excited to see her new place and start a new book! Life is good.

Slowing down the expectations of life?

Whoa heavy! This is what my husband responded with when I asked him what I should blog about tonight. Geoffrey drops stuff on me like that from time to time. I say full speed ahead!

Take time to enjoy each day, but do not expect to slow this life down. It plows on, and on, and on - as steady and constant as time always will be. Maybe there is something to this...

Slowing down the expectations of life...

Positive thoughts without attachments? This is a mantra our yoga teacher Angela McLinden has told us, and I actually use it often. Sounds like Geoffrey does too. We do need to be here now - not looking forward and not looking back. Just living, not expecting it all to go as you planned because it won't!

What imagery do you see now? I'm a visual person. This is what happens when I google "Slowing down the expectations of life":

My man sure knows what he's talking about, doesn't he? And that is why I love him.

~ Namaste ~

Blog-block

Ya, I'm not so sure what I should write about right now. I've overdue again so it's time to get going... but what about?

Life has been full of good things as September came to an end. I'm now 28 years young. We've been to Winter Park for Naomi's wedding and then Aspen for my birthday. We're still doing our outdoor yoga classes in October. I am very thankful for that!

One Thursday morning we met for sunrise yoga. We started (and ended) in Savasana, down dog, and then moved through our flow. Then I felt something in my hair, like a stick or leaf. I reached up and pulled it out, looked down and saw this:

How this bee did not sting me as I held it pinched in my fingers I do not know. But again, I am thankful for that! I pulled a bee from my hair - yikes!

OK, this is all for now! Off to tend to my boiling artichoke.