Valentine's Day with a Chef

Readers it is once again Valentine's Day a holiday full of mixed skepticism, romanticism, and marketing...

Cheffie of course hates Valentine's Day, as he does most holidays where gift giving is required. He's not cheap he just doesn't like being forced to give a gift, and it shows. His most wonderful, and thoughtful gifts are the ones he gives spontaneously, like the watch he gave me for the ballet, or the charm bracelet he's putting together for me with charms from each place he travels, or the ipod he bought in July when we finished our series of 5 K runs when we first started dating.

I however, adore every holiday that gives me an excuse to give presents! This year I think we have a fantastic plan that will suit each of our gift giving styles.

After working in the restaurant business for years Cheffie and I both know that the holidays when EVERYONE goes out to eat are the days you should avoid going out. Examples of such days are New Years Eve, Valentine's Day, and Mother's Day commonly known as the three busiest days in the restaurant year.

So this year we have put together a fun plan.

Our gift to each other is a wine club membership.

We are not sure which one to join, but here is one we are considering. I've often given a wine club as a gift, and have always thought I'd like to receive one myself. Each month we'll have something fun and new to look forward to and it will serve as a reminder to stop, have a romantic dinner and enjoy each other. Inevitably some months he'll be traveling when the wine arrives, which means that it will give us something to share together when he returns.

The second part of our Valentine's Day plans is food, rather than going somewhere and being served we are going to serve food at a local soup kitchen. This is something that Cheffie and I have always wanted to do together but we haven't ever made the time. So this is what I asked Cheffie to do with me this year for Valentine's Day. I am so excited to work alongside Cheffie to meet the needs of someone else.... and lets be honest I'm always excited for good wine!

What is everyone else doing for the pseudo-holiday?

Australian Fire Victims

I'm sure each of us is aware of the wildfires sweeping through Australia. I grew up in Wyoming and I know how devastating wildfires can be, as the west burns every summer.

Please don't feel obligated or pressured, but I saw this picture (taken from aol.com) and it just broke my heart...
Therefor I am posting about how to help the wildfire victims. The best resource to help I've found so far is the Red Cross. They currently have a call out for donations. They are not taking any percentage of your donation for administration costs all of it will go to helping Australians re-build their lives, homes, and towns.

Today as you drive around your community imagine the total sense of loss, hopelessness and devastation you would feel if everything was burned to the ground. Entire towns in Australia have been lost due to these fires, and well over 200 lives have been claimed. If you feel led to give you can do so here at the Australian Red Cross website. Even if it's only a few dollars every bit helps!

A Blog Respite for Domino Withdrawal...

As I've already posted here Domino magazine has met it's untimely end, so imagine my delight and surprise when i stumbled across Nick Olsen's blog! Nick used to blog for Domino under the name "Deal Hunter."



I am delighted that in this post Domino world Nick is still going to enlighten us with his wonderful design style! Trot on over and become a follower of this great blog immediately!

"You know those days when you get the mean reds?"

"Holly Golightly: You know those days when you get the mean reds?

Paul Varjak: The mean reds, you mean like the blues?

Holly Golightly: No. The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long, you're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling?

Paul Varjak: Sure.

Holly Golightly: Well, when I get it the only thing that does any good is to jump in a cab and go to Tiffany's. Calms me down right away. The quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there. If I could find a real-life place that'd make me feel like Tiffany's, then - then I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name! "

Oh dear readers, today I am in the foulest of foul moods, and to make it worse I am ornery for no reason at all! It's raining in Austin, and I love the rain. My spring bulbs are breaking through the surface of my flower beds, and the view from my 27th floor office window is cloudy, and rainy and sufficiently stunning and of course Monday is flower delivery day, which means my darling florist will bring in a chic and stunning bouquet to grace my desk for the rest of the week. But nothing can be said or done to elevate my mood, I am in need of the perfect momentary escape... something like Tiffany's in which to sit, and breath, and watch the world at work around me knowing that everything is just as it should be!

We Weep for Domino Tears Acknowledged by the New York Times

By now the end of Domino is old news... However, I found this article in the New York Times insightful as to the end of Domino and encouraging in that print media is recognizing the hole left by Domino. Hopefully, in the near future something wonderful will pop up to inspire us the same way Domino did.

6:50 AM...

Dear Blog Friends,

The most miraculous thing occurred today at 6:50 AM. I lay in bed wide awake longing, yearning to go for a run. Yearning for a run at 6:50AM, this non morning person certainly needs some sort of mental check up. But alas, the urge was so strong and persistent that I crawled out of the warm sanctuary of my covers, laced on some running shoes and hit the trail. This is the trail I ran crossing Congress bridge, it wasn't quite this green, but it was still stunning. A true reminder of why I love Austin so much, why I love running so much, and why in my college days I preferred early morning classes to evening classes. The day smells so fresh and new in the morning. Although I only ran a few miles I certainly feel like I've climbed Mt. Everest already today.

Just in time for valentine's day....

Blue Eyed Bride is hosting the perfect giveaway just in time for Valentine's Day.... Hanky Panky's! Every one I know who has a pair of these adores them, so enter the giveaway and win yourself some panty love!

This photo was borrowed from Blue Eyed Bride's blog