Countdown to 36!

36 is looming.

I was too busy being a freakfest to enjoy 35.

I am ready to embrace 36.

(aka....almost 40, someday)

This is me on my 6th birthday....

30 years ago!!!!

I look more stunned then ~ than I feel now.

I suppose that is a good sign.

Why is this the longest week ever?

Could it be because we just had 2 "short" weeks in a row? Why do holidays have to screw up our biorhythms?

Could it be because I am not sleeping well? There is no reason for this....I am not particularly stressed and I have been eating well and excercising?

Could it be because I am bored senseless? I need a challenge, I need some excitement, perhaps a project. Hold on, I don't want to wish for too much here.

Weekend, please hurry up and get here.

Happiness Is........

My new red dress for my birthday weekend in New York!
I wanted this dress the moment I saw it in the window.
I wanted this dress the moment I saw it again on the Today show.
I wanted this dress even more when it was available today on sale and in my size!



Happiness is...........



The new skinny latte at Starbucks!
I usually go for the sugar free non fat latte in vanilla or hazelnut....
They now make mochas sugar free!
Did I not say 2008 was great?!

Giving Thanks....

I received a late Christmas gift and an early Birthday gift yesterday.

(2 different gifts)

Both gifts remind me of something.

Gift giving should come from the heart.

It is not about how much you spend, how much you save. It is not about giving because you feel you have to. It is not about giving a gift just to say you did so. The gift should be heartfelt and have meaning.

The Christmas gift was a framed photo of a building in Rome.

When I opened the framed photo - my first thought was that this was going to look so beautiful hanging in my dining room. Further investigation of the photo made me notice the words etched on the facade......a close up on the photo reveals "Diva Faustina"

Faustina is the name of my beloved grandmother. My Nonnie. When my cousins noticed her name on the old Roman facade - they snapped a photo.

It is so beautiful to see her name etched forever in the Eternal City.

And even more fitting that the connection between food and Faustina was made even before I saw her name.

The Birthday gift was a book.

The book is titled "The Lost Ravioli ~ Recipes of Hoboken.....a search for food and family"

Inside, the personal inscription reads:

Because family & food are so precious to the both of us. I'm glad you are carrying on family traditions.

~Aunt Marisa

I feel loved and well thought of.....perhaps the best gift of all.

Felice Anno Nuovo

Happy New Year!

Rising on January 1, 2008 ~ I put on my running shoes and hit the treadmill! I was going to start this new year out right.

I had been invited to a New Years Day Brunch at 11am ~ I finished in time to jump in the shower and dress.........being a new year ~ I decided to bunk tradition and not wear black. Black is usually my signature color.....Instead, I donned all white. White pants, a white top - I did wear a turquoise and silver beaded necklace and my silver ballet flats......I topped the white outfit with my white trench. (have I mentioned how fabulous that coat is?)

Brunch was amazing. It was held at my Aunt's house and she invited all the usual suspects.

(that included the Osgoods!)

We had mimosas, pomegranite martinis, coffee......stolen, assorted christmas cookies, brie, french bread, fruit salad, a wonderful parfait made from roasted pineapple and served with yogurt and granola ~ there was a ham, poached eggs served over roasted asparagus and an apple and celery root slaw.

We lingered talking and eating for about 5 hours......I have such a passion about good food, family and friends.....how can anything be better?

On top of that ~ I saw many people that I had not seen in a long time. I am not going to let myself have body image issues anymore.
Everyone made me feel beautiful and for once, I allowed myself to see that they were right. I have worked hard to get to where I am today.....this transformation did not happen overnight. How great to be starting this new year with a new body and a new positive outlook.

2008 is Great

I am loving 2008 already.

On New Year's Eve I attended 7:30pm mass. (it was for the Blessed Virgin - how appropriate...and the homily was centered upon establishing a relationship with her...that the way to Mary was the way to God. Works for me! It is all part of my master plan this year)

By 8:45pm I was on my way to a 9:00pm dinner reservation.

Dinner was really fantastic. I was lucky to secure reservations at the last possible minute. Something kicked me in the butt and said ~ you are not spending another New Years Eve at home and asleep at 9pm)

The restaurant was really beautiful, and they had a live band playing - Mainly standards during the dinner hour.

I ordered a whiskey sour! How very old school - very Frolic Room inspired!

The menu was of course a prix fixe for the night - there were 4 courses and the choices for each course were varied. That was nice to see. I hate when you only have 2 or 3 choices.

For my first course I enjoyed a lovely "Spicy, Creamy Tomato Soup - it had pumpernickel croutons and pumpkinseed oil" - this should have said super spicy - but it was tasty nonetheless.

2nd course was a cripsy prawn served with a chopped tomato salad and basil pesto....I wanted the sea scallops but someone else at the table ordered them - and I hate to order the same thing as someone else at the table.

For the 3rd course I chose a duck breast served with apricot couscous and a cherry reduction sauce......lovely.

And for dessert, I enjoyed a peanut butter/chocolate mousse yummy. It was really good.

The music was fun, I was dancing and singing along.....and my outfit was great! The gods had even blessed me with a good hair day!

The highlight of the evening had to be falling on the way to the bathroom and ending up in this man's lap. He did attempt to stand up and catch me as I was going down.....and instead I ended up falling onto him. Nice.

At that point I had not even had any alcohol.

I was so embarrassed....all I wanted to do was go back and tell him I had not even been drinking - but then decided to spare myself the further humiliation of returning to the scene of the crime.

Yikes!

We stayed long enough to scream happy new year and toast with some rather awful champagne - (who am I kidding it was not from France and not champagne - it barely qualified as mediocre sparkling wine)

However, my wish for staying awake past 9pm came true! And I had a great night. Even better ~ I woke up nice and fresh the next morning ~ no hangover!

Could it be I am growing up?

Irony in the New Year

Last night before venturing out to my festivity....I attended mass.

It was a holy day of obligation for the Blessed Mother.

Ironic isn't it?