napa

Finally got to editing some photos from my napa trip. I didn't take anywhere near what I would have liked to, but sometimes you just need to stay focused on things without a lens in between, you know. We spent our first day in Napa - started at Opus One for a tour of their facility - upon arrival it seemed a little stuffy, but our guide was really great and down to earth. We learned a lot and are completely inspired to come back during harvest. Would be completely amazing to see all those grapes in motion! Totally amazed by how much of the work is still done by hand! And enjoyed two glasses of their wine 2009 vintage of Opus One and their lower level Overture, both very good. From there we headed over to Oakville Grocery - perfect place to pick up gourmet snackin's and they have a great wine selection too! Stop there for lunch - They have picnic tables outside so you can sit among the vines and enjoy.

Then it was over to Domaine Chandon for bubbles! It was crazy busy in the tasting room, so we bought a bottle and sat on the patio enjoying the day... and some chocolate covered strawberries! I loved the reserve so much, I bought a bottle to bring home with me! Ohhh I do love bubbles!

We ended the day with dinner at Tra Vigne - their mozzarella is made in house and is ridiculous good! Let me just say ... one day in Napa is not even close to enough time. I wish I lived closer so I could just pop in for the day and do a couple of new places each time. And be able to take photos of the beautiful vineyards. ... Will have to go back!

building my beehive

Renovation of the "loo" part one has begun. I cannot wait to have my beautiful new bathroom all put together! Still a lot of work ahead...

macaron class deux

Took in another French macaron making class, this time at Sur la Table. They just opened a store at a mall near me - so happy that I can now just run in and pick up my cooking/baking needs!! We had about 15 people in the class, a mix of singles, friends and mother/daughter groups. We made three macaron flavors - chocolate salted caramel, lavender with white chocolate ganache and hazelnut with praline buttercream. We certainly had fun, and learned a couple of new tips, but sadly each batch had some kind of problem. I have made many a macaron and know just how fussy they are - look at them wrong and they blow out - but some of the ladies were kind of grumpy about the whole thing. The chef was very apologetic and very sweet, but I do think they need to test the recipes a few times before getting all of in a class. AND they need to make larger batches - before our filling had set, the other groups had theirs filled and completely eaten. That was so odd to me ... eat a couple, but leave enough so that everyone has a few of each to take home. Ahh well... Here's the thing I really took away from the class. Practice makes perfect. It's not the equipment, it's all what feels good and works for you. And if you fail, try again.

P.S. How about those tatts? Crazy huh?

napa : phoned in : people

Just a quickie to share the iPhone photos from my lovely weekend in Napa with the girls... Such a beautiful area! We loved every second of our trip and I cannot wait to go back! Maybe we should make this an annual trip... just sayin'

Up vs fitbit

On a whim while in the Apple store a few weeks ago, I decided to pick up the fitbit one to see how it compares to my Jawbone Up. I have been and Up band wearer since the day it came on the market - I have been very happy with it's sleep and fitness tracking, but to be honest ... I'm getting a little sick of wearing it all the time. It's awkward with a watch. It doesn't look good when you want to get all dressed up. And sometimes I just don't want to have anything on my wrist.

Enter the fitbit one. It is so small and so easy to wear. I love the little silicone clip too! You simply don't feel this thing. Ever. This is a huge plus for the fitbit!

I have worn the two together to see how they track the same activities and have found them to be quite different. Here's a little side-by-side comparison.

movement tracking:

Up : I feel Up is pretty accurate to the amount of steps I take in a day. I don't know why, maybe because I've been using it for so long, but I do feel like it tracks me well.
Fitbit : The ftibit is VERY generous. It measures more movement than the Up, by quite a lot. Not quite double, but close. That said, somehow the miles and calories seem to be similar to the Up count.

sleep tracking:

Up : I like the readout of how Up visualizes sleep - deep sleep, light sleep and awake. I get that. Still not sure how it determines deep vs. light, but I can tell the more deep sleep I get, the better I feel.
Fitbit : Fitbit has only sleep and awake. When I view the dashboard it tells me I slept for 8 hours, how long it took me to fall asleep and how many times I was "awakened" during the night. This can be 10 times or 18 times or something similar. And it's usually only for a minute or two. It gives me a sleep efficiency number, but no idea how to evaluate this really.

wearability:

Up : Since Up is always on my wrist, it tracks everything without any thought. Put the bracelet on and go. If you want to go into fitness mode - hit the button twice and go. Ready to go to sleep - push the button and hold till the icon changes. It's dead simple.
Fitbit : I begin the day by taking the fitbit out of the sleep wristband and putting it in the silicone sleeve, then have to find a place to keep it while I am getting ready for the day - I tend to clip it to my robe. Then once I get dressed for the day, I have to move it to another location - I like the bra or waistband best. Then at bed time, I have to move it again back into the sleep wristband.

food tracking :

Up : Their newest software make the food tracking actually usable. You can scan the barcode with the phone camera and enter that way, manually enter product and such. To be honest, I have not really used this function of the Up because I still feel it's cumbersome. Everything has to be done on the phone and I would prefer a web portal for this activity.
Fitbit : This is the real winner of the fitbit. I loooooove the fact that it connects to myfitnesspal.com! I have used this food tracker in the past and to be able to link it with the fitbit is outstanding.

Bottom line ... it's too hard to choose a favorite. They both work, and work well. I will continue to use these type of trackers because I do feel it helps me evaluate my diet and exercise. They show me the importance of movement. Having a desk job, it's very important for me to find ways to get those steps in!!!

road and rain

I have been working with a client in Indianapolis for a while ( several years) and it's kind of become a joke that every time I'm in town, it rains... well, this week was no exception. In fact, I drove through the most horrible rain storm I have ever driven through - creeping 20mph down the road with hazard lights flashing, wipers on high, white knuckled on the wheel and barely able to see the lines on the road. It was so bad that I didn't even feel like I could pull off to the side of the road... what if the car behind me didn't see me, you know? But, you know I made it and got a couple of cool photos from the whole experience!

forty

Today I am forty. Seems forty is an age where everyone asks you the big questions - Are you happy? Are you freaking out about turning forty? What will you do with the next forty? I say fu*k forty! It's just a number. I have never been one to get all upset about turning another year older. I mean, why do it? You cannot stop it. You cannot go back. So, I say own it.

I have been incredibly fortunate in my forty years. I have a small, but lovely family - I knew all four of my grandparents and one great grandmother. They provided me with a childhood that was simple and happy. They helped me become who I am today by giving me the power to make choices and supporting me weather they were right or wrong.

I have been able to fly. Near and far ... The big apple. Stonehenge. Paris. The canals of Venice. The Charles Bridge in Prague. Bourbon Street. Vegas. Hawaii ... and so much more.

I have had fun. A lot of fun! I have amazing friends that have provided me with some of the best moments in my life. Final Fours. Spring Breaks. Weddings. Children. Festivals. Concerts.

I fell into a job that challenges me each and ever day and I don't know what could beat that! Do I have bad days? Sure. But in the end, I make a difference. I am helping people.

So how do I feel about the first forty? Fabulous. Fun. Fortunate.

Here's to the next forty!

Liebster

The super sweet Angela over at Please mommy no more daddies nominated me for a Liebster. Like her, I had no idea what it was! So glad she found an explanation!! "What is a liebster award you say? It's basically a generic award passed all around the blogosphere from blogger to blogger. It’s a sign of appreciation that one blogger bestows upon another blogger with less than 200 followers...."

THE RULES:

- Each person tagged must post 11 things about themselves.- They must also answer the 11 questions the tagger has set for them.- They must then choose 11 bloggers to tag & award with the Liebster award (nominees must have less than 200 followers). These lucky bloggers must be told in a comment on their blog.- They must create 11 more questions to ask bloggers they have decided to tag.

So .. here are eleven things about me. You've been dying to know ... I know you have!

[1] I hate endings

[2] I am addicted to tea. Black tea. Give it to me!

[3] College was the BEST time of my life.

[4] I love cinnamon.

[5] I am allergic to cats and dust … I have both.

[6] I horde chocolate - I want to try every kind of amazing chocolate there is, but never finish it.

[7] I am a planner. But, also able to go with the flow … seems odd, but I really am.

[8] I need to travel. It's my fuel.

[9] I read tons of blogs, but rarely comment.

[10] I believe in something greater than me.

[11] I have been blogging since 2004. That's a lot of nonsense I have added to the inter webs!

And .. now Angela's eleven questions …

[1] favorite color

Navy blue - it's a classic! Not only does it look great on me, but looks great in my house too! I tend to always come back to navy …

[2] where were you born

Leavenworth, Kansas. Yes, there is a prison there. No, I don't click my red heels to get home. But, seriously, I loved growing up in LV. It is a beautiful blend of city and country - Kansas City on one side and farms on the other. And… I met my very best friends there and love them to this very day.

[3] number of places you have lived

Two states - Kansas and Illinois Four towns - Leavenworth and Lawrence, KS - Chicago and Evanston, IL

Lame, I know … but I like living in the midwest. It's got a great pace, friendly vibe and easy access to travel anywhere in the world.

[4] oldest friend

That would be Mrs. Hollister Shehorn Pittman. We met in kindergarten! We are both only children and have adopted each other as sisters. She and her family are truly my second family. We have traveled near and far and I love that she lives only an hour away now!!

[5] tv show you can't miss

This has changed so many times over the years. Right now … I would say Project Runway. I love the creative process and love seeing how they respond to the challenges. I am consistently amazed at the outfits they pull out. LOVE that show!

[6] e-reader or real book

I am all e-reader for books that I want to read. But I still love a design coffee table book!

[7] pc or mac

100% Mac since 2007! Once you go Mac you'll never go back!

[8] favorite store

The Apple Store! *giggle*

[9] favorite girl scout cookie

All time fav has to be the thin mint. And I like them frozen best! Have you ever tried to suck milk through one? Take a small bite from two sides of the cookie, dip into milk and suck like a straw, then eat the cooke with milk inside .. sooooo good!

[10] best memory

I have been really blessed with some incredible moments in my life. I don't know how I could pick a best. But, since it's college basketball season and March Madness is upon us, I will say in 2008 when I managed to convince my friend Carla to join me at the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio, TX to watch Kansas play for the national championship. And they WON! It is a moment I will never forget. Never.

[11] are you happy

Wow… she throws a doozie here at the end. Am I happy? I have been thinking about this a lot lately. I am only days away from forty and, like many people,I have kind of taken a little inward check as I approach life's midpoint. I have so many things to be happy about. I have a successful career, which was a huge goal of mine growing up. I never wanted to be dependent on anyone else for financial stability and I accomplished that. I have great friends. Weather we are near or far, we make time for each other. We love each other. But when speaking of love, I am pretty unlucky. I feel it's the one thing that is missing in my life. It's my own fault, having focused my efforts on things other than dating and finding my soul mate. I think that may be the one thing keeping me from being able to say, definitively, yes I am happy. But, I don't let it get me down. I am happy. But, I think I have it in me to be happier. Does that make sense? *wink*

Now for tagging … I will tag these folks, but no idea how many followers they have … And honestly have no idea who reads my blog.

My eleven questions for you ...

[1] why did you start blogging and when? [2] what are you most passionate about? [3] plays or musicals? [4] what is your single biggest accomplishment? [5] do you print the photos or keep them digital? [6] do you smartphone? [7] right brain or left? [8] what is your favorite movie and why? [9] sweet or savory? [10] fashion risk taker or go with the flow? [11] share a little about your best friend

I heart theater

I booked tickets almost a year ago for this show! It's been sold out for months and has extended it's run twice now - that's how popular it's been in Chicago. I find it so odd that the TV ads are just the music and a graphic - not even a glimpse of the show at all - so I had no idea what to expect. It's full of emotion, somewhat obscene and just damn funny. With each new number I found myself going 'oh my gosh' did they just say that? The actors are fabulous and oh those voices so powerful. I just love, love going to the theater.

10 on 10 { feb 2013 }

I remembered! I remembered! Today I snapped a LOT of photos, but made sure to grab one per hour so I could be true to the 10 on 10 challenge! Spent the day at the Museum of Science and Industry, my favorite Chicago museum, with the Pittman's! I wanted to go to catch the Peanuts exhibit - and crazy -Holly, Jeff and Bella had never been before... what!?! They totally loved it. YaYa always knows the best places to go!