This is not the all-inclusive list of my favorite things (which would include reading in bed with a cup of coffee, reading in a hammock with a glass of wine, reading, coffee and wine). Rather, it’s a list of my favorite kitchen things. Sharp knives are a must, obviously. But I don’t have any pots with fitted lids (I use a sautée ... Read More »
Last night, I watched Almost Famous for possibly the 20th time. There are too many great moments, lines and songs to mention in this post, but I will remind you of the scene where William’s (Patrick Fuget) sister Anita (Zooey Deschanel) leaves him a collection of records under his bed with a note attached to one of them that reads “Listen to ... Read More »
The epithet that no parent wants thrown his or her way: “Helicopter parent!” I have to confess I am an unwilling helicopter parent. I never asked for this, and I rail at being forced into the role. I come from a generation where parents NEVER hoped to be their children’s best friends. Parents were generally supportive of their high school ... Read More »
They call it the shoulder season, those weeks that stretch into a month (and then some) that bookend the two big seasons in North Creek: ski and rafting. In April and May, waiting for summer to arrive, I find an excitement in knowing that the sun is going to set a little later each day and that soon the garden will bloom, bringing ... Read More »
If you had ever told me that I would wake up at 8:30 in the morning with thoughts of trying a new recipe pushing me out of bed and into the kitchen, I would’ve laughed in your face. And probably gone back to bed. I don’t know if was some kind of subconscious backlash against the idea of a woman ... Read More »
Carpe Diem. (Not to be confused with the YOLO, as documented here in Urban Dictionary.) Seize the day. Live in – and thoroughly enjoy – the present moment. We hear these prophetic sayings regularly, and most of us understand them logically. Are you on Pinterest? There are more inspirational sayings there than you could ever imagine, each one making you shake ... Read More »
The price you pay for being organized and caught up at work. The email popped up and jingled at me, Tuesday or Wednesday morning: “Look at your Inbox!” Oooh! Employee Wellness Day! Free flu shots! Hmmm. I actually had the time to run over and get my flu shot, even if there was a long line. Two days of lesson ... Read More »
When my Grandma Ruth passed away last May, one of the more interesting things I inherited was her collection of parchment paper, aluminum foil and plastic wrap. She bought in bulk, a coupon clipper and a savvy shopper, so they were either generic brands or marked with “sale” stickers. My grandmother was a good cook and a good baker – although ... Read More »
My mantra of the summer: let’s look at that through a “growth mindset”. I have to thank my sister for recommending Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol S. Dweck. As a parent and a teacher, I wish I had come across this book 25 years ago! Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. This is definitely my WOW book ... Read More »
Last week I was spending some much needed quality time with a friend and as is de rigeur for quality time amongst friends, a beverage or two was included. As we lifted our cups of Upstate Brewing I.P.W. (India Pale Wheat, natch), I said “Sláinte,” to which my friend replied (with obvious confusion), “Did you just say ‘cilantro?’” Que laughter ... Read More »
Sauced In New York Sometimes the food is in the sauce, sometimes we are