Spotlight : Napa, California

If you know me, you know I love my chardonnay and it is suspiciously ironic that I was born in the heart of wine country. Anyways, twenty seven years ago today I greeted my first day of life in the beautiful Napa, California! The hospital where I was born sent the babies home that were born on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or the day after in a stocking. I made the cut!

Some volunteers for the hospital sewed this stocking for the babies.
These days it holds my birthday presents under the tree
and still has the note from the lady who made it attached.

We moved to Lawrence, Kansas, when I was two years old so my sister and I could grow up closer to my mom's family. I didn't have any memories of Napa nor had I been back since. Enter Christmas 2007. My parents surprised me on Christmas Eve with a trip to Napa and San Francisco and we we're flying out on my birthday! After picking up the rental car, my mom says she "left something at the airport" so we had to turn around. That "something" was Rhett! Woop woop!

After the shock wore off, mom gave us the grand tour of San Francisco/Napa and with our forces combined we turned Rhett into a wine drinker... which only took us a winery and a half.

On my 22nd birthday at the hospital where I was born.


I was surprised, and felt a little misled, to learn that fortune cookies are absent in China
and are said to have been popularized by various immigrant groups in California in the early 20th century.


Of course such a beautiful place would have such a beautiful saying on their welcome sign.

At a family favorite, Robert Mondavi.


A local artist, Veronica di Rosa, and my mom were colleagues when she worked for the Napa Valley Opera House, one of Napa Valley's most historic cultural icons since 1880.
Veronica called me the "Opera House baby," and thus began my career in the non-profit sector.

Because Napa is world-renowned as "Wine Country," it would be silly of me not give some fun wine-o facts in this post. I recently read in Real Simple (academic source, I know, but this sounds about right) that people will, on average, spend $2 more for a bottle of wine with a fancy name. And it would be easy to spend a lifetime learning about wine, but based on the many blank stares I usually see in the wine aisles, I think most of us just hope the taste is okay and the price is right. Many wine aficionados will tell you not to worry if you don't know much about wine and just get your basics down.

And now for a few fun factoids:

-The fermentation of the fruit happens naturally due to the chemical balance of the grapes and when yeast is added, it consumes the sugars and converts them into alcohol and fun.

-In Napa Valley, the wine makers grow mustard along with the grapes to add a pretty yellow touch of color to the vineyards.

-Many of the vineyards in Napa Valley are family-owned and do not export their products outside of the valley.

-Although many sparkling wines are referred to as champagnes, true champagne only comes from grapes from the Champagne region of France.

-Great artists have been drawn to designing wine labels, an art in itself... and that little extra something that helps us choose a bottle off of the shelves :)

Each row of vines is labeled with the type of grape it produces.

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and don't forget to go enjoy a glass of bottled poetry before the holidays are over!

[photo sources: Napa Valley Opera House, Mrs. WRCIV]

Merry wishes to you!



Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!

Yesssssssss.... Christmas movies, family traditions, cozy fireplaces, random acts of kindness, and kids still believing in magic and miracles... and more trips to Target. When I was a kid, I could not understand why adults didn't wake up before dawn, open presents, then go back to sleep (sorry about those years, mom and dad). But I was never told that Christmas is even better as an adult: we appreciate gifts more, get to drink mimosas (or "poinsettias": champagne and diet cranberry juice - the diet takes away the I-can-only-have-one-of-these-they-are-too-sugary taste...and they're festive red) while opening them, giving is better than receiving and cooking is, to many, just as much fun as eating. And to top it off, a fresh new year is on deck the following week. So sit back, relax, eat a lot and pour another glass of chardonnay... Christmastime is now!

Have a holly jolly Christmas and a wonderful 2013!
And thanks for the memories, 2012...

[photo source: Mrs. WRCIV]

A Seattle Wedding

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. David Jaeger!

December 15, 2012

My Best Friend's Wedding, Part I

When Jessica and I were roommates in college, one day she came home and said to me, "Em, I think I'm going to move to Seattle," so I said, "Cool! When?" That's how Jess and I's relationship has always been. We have some sort of unspoken understanding that we're operating on the same wavelength and laugh or roll our eyes at the same time.

She did move to Seattle for graduate school and also snatched herself up a dashing husband with a one-in-a-million smile. Since Seattle is now home to the couple - although she is from Knoxville and he is from Kansas City (irony only) - all of their friends and family had a perfectly good reason to travel to the beautiful Pacific Northwest. The entire weekend was a tour of Seattle with underlying tones of all traditional wedding festivities throughout...

Thursday night Bachelorette karaoke at Seattle's dumpiest dive bar, Baranof.


The best - BEST - goat cheese and beet salad of my life and drinks
at Oddfellows Cafe + Bar after the rehearsal.

The day Jess and Dave went to get their marriage license
happened to be the first day same sex couples could legally get married.
They had to return another day, but said there were lines upon lines of happy couples.
We joked that conservatively this may just be South Carolina... in 200 years.
Seattle is laughing at us.


One must always sit on the pig when visiting Pike Place Market.


The colors and smells of The Market


Only the swankiest Seattle brides go to Pike Place to get their wedding flowers.
Bonus: sweet, sweet ladies and an amazing view of Puget Sound.


A local coffee joint. Starbucks' original store, opened in 1971.

"...but Jess always said she'd marry a man with a beard."
-Excerpt from Laura and I's "coffee house style" poem at the rehearsal dinner at Local 360
(snapping encouraged)

The happy couple enjoying a little wedding eve snack:
McDonald's post-after dinner drinks at 2:30 am.


Bridesmaid dresses steaming in the shower at the Westin Seattle
and we didn't even get charged for all of the extra hot water wasted used.

I'm easily starstruck. Ad for the lofts where the Top Chef Cheftestants stayed this season.

Moments before the ceremony

Bridesmaids me, Kelli (college friend), Leize Marie (college friend), 

Laura (college friend), Mica (Seattle friend)

Beautiful wedding party photos during a break in the rain

Mr. & Mrs. Jaeger leaving for Hawaii!

 

We thought we were hallucinating at the oasis of SEA-TAC,
but everyone was just spreading holiday cheer:
A one man band, Starbucks delivery on a unicycle, Frostella and Frosty,
an aviator on a magic carpet, and carolers.

A million thank yous to the Portwood and Jaeger families and to Seattle for a beautiful weekend! I traditionally record our office's holiday voice message, but had to postpone this year as I am still hoarse from all the fun. More photos to come on Facebook over the holidays and here's to happily ever after. I love you two!

A Charleston Wedding

My Best Friend's Wedding, Part II

Coming in May 2013!

[photo source: Mrs. WRCIV]

Genius, by Publix

Personally, I find Publix to be the "Target" of the South's grocery stores: it might not have everything you want, but it's worth going anyway because it's tidy and fresh, and they really make "shopping a pleasure."

They regularly have sample days when an employee cooks one of their Publix Aprons Meals. These recipes are incredibly crafty and incorporate what's on sale with easy, crowd-pleasing recipes. Of the dozens of samples I've tried and tested, so far I have found these two to be especially delicious... and mindbogglingly simple. Actually, the only thing I don't like about these two recipes is that it's almost like you're not cooking at all.

These two recipes make you say, "duh!," require no measuring and minimal dishes. A man, child, or caveman's child could make these. And if you happen to not think they're slammin', you've really lost no time or money trying!

Spinach Mashed Potatoes
Serves: 4-5

1 bag fresh spinach leaves, chopped
1 T. butter
1 package refrigerated garlic mashed potatoes
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Chop spinach and place in microwave-safe bowl with butter, salt and pepper; cover and microwave 2 minutes
2. Stir in mashed potatoes and microwave for about 4 more minutes or until hot, stirring occasionally if needed
That's it!

Caesar Salad with Tortellini
Serves: 2, with some leftover tortellini

1 bag salad mix with Caesar dressing
1 package tortellini (such as Buitoni)

1. Cook tortellini as directed, then drain, rinsing under cold water
2. Top salad with torellini and dressing
That's it!

Wash either down with a scoop of Publix's own Chocolate Cookie Quarry frozen yogurt. I really do like more complicated recipes and come from a bloodline of women who love to cook. I'll have a post of our family favorite staples after the holidays, but cannot disclose that post just yet. Now, if Publix would take the suggestion I submitted to mirror their sandwich ordering process like Which Wich's so customers could shop while their sandwich is made, we'd be set!

Come on, Publix! We don't like those long deli lines...

but forgive your smiling faces.





 

[photo sources: Yelp, Mrs. WRCIV]

Dalai Lama

I'll let the words speak for themselves...

[photo source: Sun-Gazing]

Spotlight : Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Every 26th day of the month, I'm going to "spotlight" one of my favorite places. It may be far away or up the road, but somewhere I've thought worthy enough to go back through photos and type up a few words. A friend recently asked me for Costa Rica recommendations, so perhaps it could serve another purpose aside from a trip down memory lane for me. I could talk for days about any of these places, so if you're interested in more recommendations, please don't hesitate to ask!

It only makes sense to come out of the gates for my first spotlight post with a real winner and arguably my most favorite place on our planet earth. Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, is la creme de la creme. The standard for which all other tropical destinations strive to be. This tiny little place, located on the Central Pacific coast, has more natural variety in its pinky than other countries have in their entire body (figuratively speaking). More than 5% of the world's biodiversity can be found in Costa Rica- although it's only the size of Rhode Island- because of its latitude and variations in elevation.

I went to Costa Rica in 2009 for an internship at an impoverished school and to travel around the country. I loved each of the 10+ cities/towns I visited in their own ways, but (although my blog is sprinkled with a little bias) Manuel Antonio has that little extra something that pushes it to the top. Resorts and hostels, candlelit tables and street food, it's not one or the other. Every corner has its own personality, from surfer/hipster beach towns to mountainous rain forests.

Manuel Antonio is so nice, I went there twice. The first visit I stayed with some friends at Wide Mouth Frog, a fun and funky hostel in neighboring Quepos (recommended to us for budget travel to this area) and the second visit I stayed with my mom at Arenas del Mar, an incredible beach resort on the quiet end of the main beach in town, Playa Espadilla.

Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio National Park is the country's most iconic landmark. It's a bit touristy, like any amazing attraction would be, but for good reason. I've always described Manuel Antonio National Park as a zoo without enclosures. Spending just a few hours walking through the park you can see all of Costa Rica's famous critters (see photos below). I highly recommend hiring a local guide to explore the park. I've experienced the park with and without a guide, and having one made all the difference to learn more and point out things you might have missed otherwise. If you go in the morning, you'll have plenty of time to walk around, then spend the afternoon on one of the beaches inside the park (take a picnic, no food is sold inside).

Map at the park entrance

Bamboo grows abundantly all over the country

When I took this picture I couldn't tell why this white-headed capuchin monkey had
a lump on it's back, then I zoomed in on the photo and about fell to the floor.

Surprisingly small toucans

Smiley sloth

There are a handful of beaches inside the park.
This is the most popular, Playa Manuel Antonio.

  

Around Manuel Antonio

Of course the park is the main attraction, but you could also have a nice visit to Manuel Antonio and never even go to the park (but that's just crazy talk). The town is stretched along Playa Espadilla and hotels and restaurants back up into the hills, which make for the best sunset views. Many people who travel to Costa Rica plan to horseback ride, go on a canopy tour or "ziplining," hike to waterfalls, surf, relax on the beach, eat great seafood, etc. and all that can be done in or around Manuel Antonio. 

Shops along the main stretch of town


That's no butter knife

Horseback riding to Tocori Falls

With some friends at the base of Tocori Falls

"Sodas" are little informal food stands or restaurants that sell snacks and whatnot


One of the rooms at the Wide Mouth Frog

My mom walking along Playa Espadilla back to Arenas del Mar during my return visit
(she's not lost, everything is tucked in the trees)


View of the pool and beach at Arenas del Mar (there are only 38 rooms)

At my favorite restaurant, El Avion (no website = no link),
they turned a Fairchild C-123 cargo plane that was shot down
over Nicaragua in the 1980s into a bar.
The restaurant is built around it with some of the best views in town.

So that's that. My first spotlight post! The famous saying in Costa Rica is pura vida which literally means "pure life," and is evident in the happy people and easy living. Although tourism has significantly increased over the past 15 years, the country takes their land seriously and are cautious when it comes to over development. My house there had a poster that said, "Costa Rica: No artificial ingredients." So true. 

[photo source: Mrs. WRCIV]

   

My cup runneth over

Thank goodness for Thanksgiving. I love that there is a holiday dedicated to being together with the ones you love and being appreciative for all you have. Every year, I am more and more appreciative of the simple things. Thanksgiving is also the gateway to my favorite month: December, the month of Hannukah, Christmas (the two we celebrate), my birthday, New Year's Eve, sweaters, scarves, and boots. There's a little something for everyone! 

Have a very happy holiday giving thanks! I am thankful for...

This kid

These kids

Great role models

Families

Travel

Friends

Patience (and safe friends!)

Technology


Airplanes

Freedom

...to name a few. Safe travels and Happy Thanksgiving! Gobble til you wobble.

[photo source: Mrs. WRCIV]