SATURDAY SHOES...SPICE TRAVELS !

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i only wish that i traveled so "chic-ly" !

i was close...

very spice travel chic!

before when Mr D and i traveled to Whistler i found the greatest travel - size item to date!

available at World Market
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a savory little spice rack to go!  

i just StUmBleD upon it on a trip to World Market with Chrislyn.  

i came home and showed it to Mr D.

 "look what i found for Whistler!"

he too, thought it was a good find idea!

( i tucked some recipes and a French postcard in the lid. ) 

the very cool thing is that i can refill the tiny jars from their mother spice

cupboard at home.   and while we are not travelling?

the tiny's are amazing to keep in my 

mini - pantry (desk drawer),  for healthier choices...at work!

and did i mention the soothing benefit of their aromatherapy?  ahhhhh.....

...today's Saturday shoes?

my first time in "slip on sneakers"... (outdoors), since Fall!

off to casual errands i go, Fitbit in place! 

have a wonderful and safe weekend.!

( i am still worried about the weather patterns visiting some of your hometowns! )

withLove!

FRENCH BREAD ON FRIDAY ! PAMELA vit à Paris, MERCI !

i just heard that it is snowing in Paris.

no, i didn't check the weather on the internet.

 so many beautiful views...ici!

Pam told me.

Pam is an American girl, living in Paris. 

she shares the joys of raising her amazing family, and her daily jaunts 

around the city.  her images are fabulous!  i  am privileged to have her as a facebook friend.

with the time change, there is almost always something special from Pam

that greets me when i rise each day.   

they recently moved to a new apartment.   

( i know...A M A Z I N G ! )

she hosts a little tour of their new digs, here!

her joy and energy takes me back to the days when i was raising our children.

her images allow me to recollect three days spent with Chrislyn and my parents

 in Paris eighteen years ago, and a summer in as a teenager, over 40 years ago.

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although i am eager for Spring. there is something quite settling

and mesmerizing about the thought of a snow day in Paris. 

Pam, thank you for bringing French snow to 34th street, and for inspiring today's post!

withLove!

I HAVE OFFICIALLY JOINED THE 10,000 STEPS BANDWAGON !

"The Japanese first started using the 10,000 steps a day number, as part of a marketing
 campaign! (to help sell pedometers).  Since that initial campaign however,
 medical authorities around the world have agreed that 10,000 is a healthy
 number to aim for. The American Heart Association uses the 10,000 steps metric 
as a guideline to follow for improving health and decreasing risk of heart disease,
 the number one killer of men and women in America."
~ http://blog.fitbit.com/the-magic-of-10000-steps/

***

over the past month i have been focused on making some needed lifestyle changes.

 i have been on this track many times before, with success, and somehow wandered off.

then some grim reality hit home at the end of  last year.

i made up my mind that i didn't want to be 

a sixty- two year old, with a list of  "meds" too long to remember.  i know that there

are health issues that are out of our control, but my issues are well within my control.

my mind is not 62. 

...and guess what?

current health standards label young adults 18 to 45 years old, and middle age 45 to 65! 

 i love being lumped in with the 45'ers!

( i want to be the generation to pump up that middle age statistic to 70! )

***

enter January...a new primary care doctor. 

...February...a nutritionist. 

i am now one of those label readers. 

sometimes it's easier and quicker just to grab the whole foods!

(enough reading already...just grab an apple, boil an egg, drink a glass of milk!)

as for my French bread?  i am substituting a cup of the bread flour with oat flour,

and adding flax meal.  it's very artisan and earthy chic now, nutty and pretty.

yesterday, i received an email from my favorite market informing me that

The Metropolitan Market

Sumo Citrus arrives today!  Saturday, i will be grabbing a supply for

my afternoon snack at work next week.   i just might dip a few wedges in 

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dark chocolate for a weekend treat!  

my plan is to  re-visit my new doc and the nutritionist in April for another blood draw.

i have already dropped my blood sugar level. as long as i stick to the plan,

i am no longer a risk for diabetes!

now dropping that bad cholesterol level is the next goal!  

that's it!

my blood will be 45 again!  the top of "young adult"...nay say,

the bottom of middle age!

***

yesterday, February 19, was day one of my official change.

i began the MultiCare step challenge with my "buds" at work.

the nurses and support staff to the doc's definitely get their steps on.

but those of us at "the desk" are well below the "sedentary rate".   

what a RUDE awakening, indeed!

when we walked out of the office last night we stopped on the sidewalk 

and recreated that stomping dance move from "Flashdance" just to gain a few more

steps before bidding a well deserved end of the work day farewell. we

giggled our way to our cars, because we realized that we were likely on surveillance video.

   i must say that the step challenge has added some new "mojo" to our work day!

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most start the year on New Year's Day.

i always start the new year on my birthday.

every birthday brings reflection, and a new slate!

chalk it up!

withLove!

"IT'S GOT A GOOD "BEET", YOU CAN DANCE TO IT !"

this post has nothing to do with American Bandstand but it does

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have a good beat beet!  (i know, i am being silly.)

***

since my last post was about drinking in Whistler Village, i 

thought that i would share my favorite Whistler dish!

as i said in my previous post, we generally cook dinner in the condo.

(Mr D and i typically budget for one dinner out.)

this trip we invited two of  our dearest friends with us. they are the parents of Jay's best friend, Ty. 

we have remained close family friends since T-ball.  since we weren't cooking for 6 or more,

we could swing a few lunches in the village this trip.

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the food in Whistler village is wonderful. we found the lunch menus to be quite affordable.

...for instance, i had a wonderful  roasted beet and goat cheese salad, with

watercress and arugula  for 4.50 Canadian, (which is almost even

with the American dollar now.)  you can't eat at McDonalds for 4.50...

...well i suppose from their dollar menu. ick!

every menu that we touched in Whistler had a version of 

roasted beet and goat cheese salad.  although i only ate it once, i became hooked!

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i cannot wait until the farmers market season, when the most beautiful varieties of

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 beets will be ready for choosing, roasting and preserving! the health 

benefits from beets are amazing, particularly with reference to 

keeping the liver healthy.  ( i may have reversed the benefits of that beet

salad after my visit to the Belvedere Ice Room.)

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i am beginning a "step" challenge at work today,  my newest

fashion accessory is a "fit bit zip"!

i was one of the first 50 visitors to our company's health fair, so i was able to 

able to purchase it for 15.00 !  such a deal!

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i picked that kick bottom Seahawk bright green! 

from baby steps in February to giant steps in April,

 when...it...will...be S P R I N G T I M E ! 

  i know that you and i will be doing happy dance!

Amen!

withLove!

HITTING THE ICE!

while watching the Winter Olympics via NBC, there has been

much tongue in cheek, chic reference to Vodka. i guess it goes along with the cliche'...

when in Rome...

***

when in Whistler, a few weeks ago, we decided to go for one of those once in a lifetime experiences.

E N T E R...

the Belvedere Ice Room at the Bearfoot Bistro.

the Bearfoot Bistro is home to the coldest vodka tasting room in the world. at -32C (-25F) 

the Belvedere Ice Room provides the optimal environment for drinking this complex spirit.

mind you, i had never had a straight shot of vodka in my life, only mixed with OJ, 

Mr and Mrs T's, Grapefruit juice or in a decadent Black Russian. the bistro features this cool

 little experience for 48.00. our request was to sample what could be conceived as the best

 of the best. of course it would not be a surprise to you that i was inquisitive

about the French vodkas, Chambord and Grey Goose. although they were on

display in their individual carved out cubbies,  i was immediately put in place

 with a polite no.      (okay...so it's all about Russian Vodka?)

no.

it's about Polish Vodka.

after one shot of Belvedere citron, the obvious choice... (after all we were 

in the BELVEDERE  Ice Bar.)  we then started tasting some

very unique and smooth Polish vodkas.  four shots in all.  the shot glasses were

a smaller modified size, which is why i decided to give it a go.

Mr D stayed out of the ice room. he took photographs, and sipped the "best Black Russian

 that he has ever had in his entire life".  the bartenders were very experienced.

his tender shook the whipped cream for top of his drink inside a cocktail shaker, and

added a pick with three tiny sweet preserved cherries that were not of the traditional

maraschino variety.      a special dessert on the rocks!

the Barefoot Bistro is most famous for it's unique Champagne Bar. the arrow points to

illuminated champagne glasses on ice. the glasses have stems without bases. 

they fit neatly in their place, nested in the ice.

the Canada Goose down Arctic - ready parkas sell for 1000.00.

our host stated that they do sell on occasion.  just like Vegas, there are some high

rollers that vacation at Whistler.

we traditionally make dinner in our time-share condominium, then set out to seek a special form

of dessert.  this night's choice was  pretty cool!

only 29 days, 9 hours and 7 minutes until Spring 2014...i'm so there!

withLove!

BONJOUR MONDAY!

helloooo lovelies!

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yes!

over the weekend, it happened again!

and...

...i am so very grateful...and truly blessed in life!

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thank you American presidents!

because of your service to our country, my birthday almost always

 falls on a three day weekend!  

~ and ~

thank you  Winter Olympians!

because of you, i have spent many birthdays soaring down mountains and "twirling", "curling",

"flying" and "checking" on the ice!

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a fun little big rival game happened over the weekend...way to go Team U. S. A. !

T.J. Oshie is a Pacific Northwest native and  now a world 

 renowned "12" (he's a huge Seahawk fan ) ! he is also plays center for the St Louis Blues.

( 2014 has been a kick ass bottom year for PNW sports  figures, thus far! )

***

on Friday morning, Mr D surprised me with red and white roses, chocolate dipped

strawberries and Cougar Crest Dedication Seven wine before work!

GO COUGS!

the talent behind Cougar Crest wines comes from Deborah and David Hansen,  a Pharmacist and 

Veterinarian who met as students at Washington State University.

WSU school of Viticulture and Enology
the growth of the Washington wine industry has been on a fast track over the last 35 years. the number of wineries
has increased steadily over the years going from 15 wineries to nearly 700 wineries today.

Cougar Crest is an estate-only winery, with a string of 93+ ratings for their Syrah and Cabernet 

Sauvignon from their Stellar, Cougar Hills, and Golden's Legacy.  there is a subtle French connection 


with their address...Cougar Crest, 50 Frenchtown Road,  Walla Walla, WA 99362.

The seventh release of Dedication is a blend of four varietals; 50% Merlot, 29% Syrah, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot. Lush, ripe plums, red currants, black cherries, and a hint of dried roses and herbs on the nose are balanced by acidity and tannins that are smooth and graceful, not overbearing. Rich on the palate and long on the finish, the overall effect shows balance and finesse, a hallmark of Cougar Crest wines. A deeply satisfying wine that is versatile and can be paired with bold, smoky meats, grilled chicken or salmon, or pizza. Enjoy!

WINE AWARDS:

• Double Gold Indy International Wine Competition

Suggested Food Pairing: Lamb Stew

 the Dedication series is dedicated to financially support the Doernbecher Pediatric Hospital at Oregon 

Health & Science University, where David and Deborah's daughter was saved years ago. 

 it's a great wine at a great price point, and you can feel good in knowing that a portion of your $20 is 

supporting charity.  Mr D knows how much i love to support companies that pay it forward, 

especially when children are involved. i donate a small amount from each paycheck

to our community's Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in the name of our grands and the sweet daughter

 of a dear blog friend, who's life was saved at Mary Bridge a little over a year ago.

***

after work we whisked the grands to our place for dinner and movie, so Mommy and Daddy

could have dinner at home and some well deserved "quietude"!

(yes, that's Chrislyn's Strawberry Shortcake fork from the '80's)

Holland told grandpa that                she wanted Chinese for

dinner and ice cream for dessert.   she loves Chinese food.  her eyes light up and 

she dances at first sight of those cute take out cartons!  Ben is the best eater.

he actually consumed more than Holland.   each place setting held a carton 

of  Emily's chocolate dipped fortune cookies to take home!  this movie night's 

feature was chocolate covered cherry popcorn and Cinderella.

 the kids were perfect little angels. we dined! we played!

 we  danced, we read and we 

sang!

they left happy and went home to sleep through the night!  yeah team!

***

my birthday gift from Mr D was a SodaStream.

blackberry spa water with mint

we have wonderful water here in the Pacific Northwest. the SodaStream is not as pretty

as S. Pellegrino on the counter top, but it is quite practical, and offers healthier drinking options.

Mr D still loves to drink soda pop.  this option eliminates the consumption of

high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners. i'll use it to make spa waters for me.


***

it's early, and i must get some housekeeping and baking accomplished before heading to

the kid's house at 9:00 this morning.  my Mom and Dad are going to help me with

 "the littles" while Chrislyn makes a quick get away to the The Hair Lounge. after hair and

 playtime, we are going to make lunch.

have a great week!

withLove!