Purple Reign

Today is a momentous day for two reasons:

It's QEII's 90th birthday - bonus tiara link here
RIP hometown icon Prince 

International Flavor

I recently returned from my first week long trip in over five years. It was heaven! My friend Mrs M and I stayed with my MIL who rents a condo in Puerto Vallarta every year for a couple of months. The weather was absolutely perfect, the scenery was breathtaking, the food was delicious (PV is a foodie's delight) and the shopping (from trinkets to extravagance) was super. The condo was spacious - Mrs M and I shared a large double bed corner room with floor to ceiling sliding doors on two side for wonderful night breezes and we each had our own bathroom for privacy (we used the third bedroom for storage/dressing - so decadent!). The condo grounds were beautifully manicured with infinity lounge areas, swimming pools, hot tub (though at 80+ degrees why?) and a restaurant for table or poolside service. It was like an all-inclusive for access without the wristbands.

Sunday

Arrival

Dinner at Grand Venetian (hotel district - a few miles north of downtown PV)

Monday

Marina
Breakfast with a view
Shopping at Andrea’s jewelry shop
Thrifty ice cream

Shopping

Dinner at Barcelona Tapas *everything was good, but the Paella was amazing and the view was as good as the food!

Tuesday

Beach walk

Downtown Boardwalk El Malecon – Los Arcos, Our Lady of Guadalupe funeral

Shopping (jewelry)

Dinner at Gabby’s *tamarindo con chile margarita; old time Mexican movies on the adjacent building wall after sunset!

Wednesday

Sayulita by cab - laid back surfing community north of PV by about an hour, beautiful driveLunch at Mary’s *Sayulita taco was worth the trip alone!

Shopping (glass)

Dinner at El Palomar de los Gonzalez - former home with amazing outdoor spaces including waterfall

Thursday

Lounging poolside

Shopping (purses/jewelry)

Lunch at Oscar’s by the river 

Dinner at PiPi’s

Friday

90 min. massage - the BEST I've ever had ... and for only $36! Wish we could have gone every day!

Pina Coladas and guacamole poolside

Dinner at No Way Jose Flan was best I've ever tasted

Saturday

Downtown market (like a State Fair, Craft Fair and Farmer's Market all in one!)

Shopping & Starbucks at Marina

Dinner at Grand Venetian

To continue my international mood I made Irish Soda Bread, Irish Potato Pie, Irish Stew, and my first corned beef and cabbage the week of St. Patrick's Day. I can hardly wait for Cinco de Mayo!

 

This much

Chunky is employing a new tactic in peruasion. How much do you love me? I heard it last night at the drive-thru when denied his request for ice cream in addition to the overly-processed-but-oh-so-quick-in-a-pinch meal he ordered. I had just spent 90 minutes at the Dr with hubby which was supposed to be an in and out appt so in no mood to do any cooking whatsoever. I heard it at the phone store when the salesperson asked if *he* wanted additional accessories for his new phone. She who pays decides. I hear it constantly when he wants me to make his beloved mac & cheese, because clearly I make it with love which makes it so much better. Barf!

I put forth the following considerations to substantiate my love:

• He was just under 10 lbs at birth - pushing a watermelon through a cheerio in 10 minutes is indisputable proof of love
• I read to him constantly, painstakinly selecting books that would stimulate and let him know he was loved and wanted
• He walked at 10 months - I quit trying to keep up with him and just did my best to keep him out of harms way which was no easy feat
• I endured daily reports of errant behavior for 6 months from the the montessori he attended before we came to mutual agreement that it wasn't the best environment for him, which then meant my figuring out what was the best environment (God bless home daycares)
• He was diagnosed with sensory integration dysfunction at two and prescribed weekly occupational therapy visits for an entire year - which I took him to faithfully every Friday morning, working extra the other four days to compensate; it also involved an abundance of paperwork that would deter anyone from parenting
• I poured over every available schooling option to determine what would be best for him in the long run even if it meant driving great distances and higher out-of-pocket cost; in the end our local parochial school was deemed the best option and was most convenient for everyone
• I spent every parent-teacher conference asking teachers to focus on the positive; there wasn't anything new to tell me in the behavior/focus department that I didn't already know and experience firsthand on a daily basis since he was one year old Ah, the joy of parenting a spirited child
• He was diagnosed with ADD at eleven - scores more paperwork and coordinating with teachers, as well as agreeing to be observed and evaluated for parenting issues; semiannual Dr visits for med evaluation and picking up meds monthly because it cannot be mailed or dispensed for more than a 30 day supply
• I routinely endure being picked up into the air from behind for bear hugs without notice or provocation This may or may not be a hazard to my bladder - see 10 lb reference above

Love cannot be measured objectively and parenting is not for sissies. I've decided though that next time he asks how much I love him I will simply reply "to the moon and back".

Golden State of Mind

I am checking things off my packing list for an upcoming vacation so thought I'd better post about my last one before I get too ahead of myself. I am very fortunate to travel as much as I have this past year - the logistics for filling in my care duties at home aren't too troublesome thanks to great kids and I know people in fabulous places who extend invites. I have three planned getaways this year - Coronado, California; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Kennebunkport, Maine.

Following is my itinerary for three sun and fun filled days in Southern California:

Day One
Point Loma - ocean side
Lunch at Mr A's - view of city and airplanes landing (http://www.asrestaurant.com/)
Beach walk
Dinner at home
Mexican Train game

Day Two
Meditation Gardens in Encinitas
       http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2011/may/08/check-it-out-meditation-gardens/
       http://hiddensandiego.net/self-realization-gardens.php

 

La Jolla seals

Delicious lunch at La Valencia on balcony with spectacular view (http://www.lavalencia.com/)

       This seems like a lovely hotel - I love the architecture and it's celebrating it's 90th year
Beach walk

Imperial Beach pier at sunset

Bonfire dinner (https://www.cohnrestaurants.com/sea180/gallery)

Day Three
Beach walk
Lunch at Miguel's - best Mexican shrimp cocktail ever!
Orange Ave window shopping
SS Monte Carlo shipwreck (only visible every few years at lowtide)

The Nerd at Lamb's Theatre (http://www.lambsplayers.org/)
Dinner & dancing at home

Sunday Surf

• I was asked to speak and meet with a group of prospective grad students at my alma mater yesterday. I was really honored that they asked and appreciated the opportunity to remember myself in their shoes 7 years ago.
• I made this baked oatmeal again ... it's so, so good!
• RIP Antonin Scalia. This article is a good read and reinforces my belief that meaning and richness come from having those with deeply different perspectives within our inner circle.
• If I were going to the Oscars, I would wear this (with two pair of Spanx). If I were getting remarried and money was no object (and I had a lithe figure), I would wear this. Everything by Paolo Sebastian is a.maze.ing.
• I bought this swimsuit for an upcoming vacation and actually felt really good in it. Now if I could only remove those darn spider veins on my legs!
• Dominque Sachse is a Houston TV newscaster and I'm addicted to her YouTube channel. Not sure I can justify $55 for foundation, but I am going to check it out the next time I'm at Sephora.
• Finally, I may have found the absolute perfect red lipstick for me - Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte 107 by Kate Moss. It's a deep berry blue-red that's great for fairer skin tones and teeth that aren't perfectly white. I can only find it on Amazon but at $10ish, it's worth stocking up on.

Breakfast for Dinner

I was looking for a recipe to use up a couple of apples that will only last another day or two. A video for fried apple rings on Facebook caught my eye, but I was looking for something more virtuous. Pinterest did not disappoint. Choices were narrowed to hasselback baked apples or apple cinnamon baked oatmeal. I decided to go for the latter using craisins instead of raisins.

It's a winner! Great texture and delicious. The recipe made enough for two healthy portions of workday breakfasts (jars) as well as a treat (bowl). It would go further with smaller portion sizes. Go make some now and serve it up warm with ice cream and maple syrup. You won't be disappointed!

Where is my super suit?!?!

Name that movie!

How is it the last day of January?! Slow down already. I'm going to chalk up the fact that I don't remember much of the last five months of my life to grad school, holidays and family (dys)fun(ction).

I dreamed of cleaning night before last. Me! You'd think it would have been a nightmare, but for some reason I woke up with an excitement to get sh!t done. I did at least three loads of heavy laundry, vacuumed including baseboards and ceiling beams as well as nooks and crannies, made granola, polished the floors, polished the baseboards under the cabinets as well as the cabinets themselves, broke down boxes and steam cleaned the beds. I feel so accomplished (and tired, therefore I took a three hour nap this morning after my regular duties). Today I've already started two more loads of laundry, made potato salad for dinner (sloppy joes) and blogged. I still have more vacuuming and polishing to do. Tonight is good TV - Madam Secretary, The Good Wife, Downton Abbey and Mercy Street - so I've got to get it all done by 7pm. I'm thinking about even walking on the treadmill during Madam Secretary. I'm on fire people!!!