encouragement for today

going home to texas

my whole life, i’ve connected moving from city to city and moving forward in life.  that’s how i was raised.  because we moved around so much, my mom helped us think of it as an adventure.  new house, new friends, new schools – everything new!  moving was never a sad thing.  sure, maybe there were some […]

paris: the new workout

we’re planning on going to paris in december.  i’ve been wanting to go to paris for over 25 years.  i just really wanted to go with someone i loved.  like romantically (sorry mom.) so now, ROF is using his one week of vacation to take me there!  december may seem like an odd time to […]

appreciating: a break

appreciating: the free ride

i travel a lot for business.  like, a lot.  and i have to share with you one of my favorite things.   it’s the people that drive the rental car buses and the hotel shuttles. it’s a wide range of people that do this but i typically run into older, retired folks and for the […]

ne’er had i found on earth

Ne’er had I found on earth a spot that had such power to please, Such shadows from the summer sun, such odors on the breeze; I threw my mantle on the ground, that I might rest at ease, And stretched upon the greensward lay in the shadow of the trees. There soft reclining in the […]

Cook it: gazpacho 

get it: 4 vine ripe tomatoes, skin removed and chopped 1/2 cucumber, diced 1/2 green pepper, diced 1/4c red wine vinegar 1/4c olive oil 1 tbsp black pepper 1 tbsp garlic powder (we love bolners fiesta brand) 2 c zing zang bloody mary mix 6-46 dashes of tabasco make it: prep all your ingredients. Put […]

shirley’s pot roast recipe

nothing beats a juicy pot roast on the weekend. whether you’re one person or 10 – this is a winter necessity.  so buy some meat today for the weekend and make your house smell fantastic! i received some requests for shirley’s pot roast recipe after my post last week, so here you go.  these are […]

3 fantastic & fabulous recipe resources

i don’t know too many people who have the meal thing all together.  i always want to make time to do dinner right, but end up working all day and going out.  i think there does come a time of diminishing returns for always going to restaurants to eat.  it isn’t a treat anymore, not […]

it’s fall … make a great chicken recipe!

this week i’m heading to beautiful new york state and i get the opportunity to pop in to spend some QT (quality time) with some of my very favorite people in the world.  that would be the prendevilles!   in honor of that, i’m going to repost susan’s awesome chicken recipe from last year.  you […]

travel: the city of lights…finally

it took me more than 19 years to get to paris. the dream started here, if you remember. if you also remember, it was my goal to drop some poundage before i went.  and that didn’t go quite as planned, but i’m not beating myself up.  after all, i went to paris and nothing was […]

work & life balance. constant journey. found yours?

suddenly i’ve hit an age where i feel somewhat wise. not in a smart, know-it-all kind of way. it’s just a result of age. i feel wise because, for me, i’ve may have figured it out. priorities. you know when you are in your 20s and 30s (at least 4 me) i kind of – […]

paris: the new workout

we’re planning on going to paris in december.  i’ve been wanting to go to paris for over 25 years.  i just really wanted to go with someone i loved.  like romantically (sorry mom.) so now, ROF is using his one week of vacation to take me there!  december may seem like an odd time to […]

this week: vegas, paris, chicago & cinci!

this has been a crazy week. glad to be unwinding with a little cab franc and this 60 degree weather in dallas. so this week was interesting in the way of travel and photos. kinda cool to get the photos i got messaged to me. oh, i love technology! i was in vegas for a […]

7am saturday sweet brew

the best day and time of the week is 7am on saturday morning.  now that i’m old, i am actually awake to hear the first bird churp the morning song.  it means it’s time soon to stream – via apple tv – chicago’s 93xrt radio station and listen to saturday morning flashback (ROF is uncanningly […]