Month: September 2016

Interesting Finds Online – Vol 11

I needed inspiration this week, or something to pick me up since the insane cold weather and ugly fog continue to rear its ugliness in the city going on four months now to, well over into the middle of September. The blahness making it very difficult to feel upbeat and charged up. I swear by the looks of it, I don’t see us having a descent  Indian Summer this year. Anyway, I found some things online that put a smile on my face, and naturally I needed to share them. Kieron Willamson

Travel: For the Grown Ups

Travel for the grown-ups are the off-season trips to destinations only couples without children or those with grown-up kids could possibly pull off beyond the summer months. You know, the time right as schools start for some in late August, or early September to the time just before the holidays. I consider this to be the best travel season, and here a a list of reasons why?  

Fashion: Fall Wardrobe Planning Stages

After the renovation project of my space in San Francisco, I turned to my closet to get ready for the fall-winter season. Naturally I made several piles to donate, or toss what I no longer plan to wear. I do have a difficult time of letting of a few pieces as they tend to rotate back in style. But at this point in my life, I realize life is too short to hold on to every single thing, and that change is sometimes necessary to feel polished if you know what I mean.  So here we go for the San Francisco fall workwear I clicked and purchase from here:  

Food: For The Love of Trader Joe’s Quick Meals

I used to dread grocery shopping before Trader Joe opened up in my neighborhood because I craved all things organic but couldn’t find it at my local grocery store.  Now I look forward to my grocery shopping day – Sunday early morning – when all the items are neatly stacked and the store is near empty of all the madness that usually happens mid afternoon to early evening. There isn’t much that’s changed in their products, and I couldn’t be happier buying everything organic and putting my meals together every day from scratch. But once in a while I don’t mind a quick pre-packaged option I keep handy for those days I factor in working out after work, or perhaps an errand I need to run. So I was glad to stumble upon these ideas just as well to add to my selection:  

Travel: San Francisco’s North Beach Restaurant Guide

I love living in San Francisco and exploring through the different neighborhoods to find the new it place to dine or a store to check out. But one thing I appreciate is the familiarity and consistency of North Beach, the traditional Italian neighborhood that always puts a smile on face, for staying the way it is for decades and hopefully not getting sucked into the modern take or transition to the city that is taking place in the last five plus years. Knowing October is the best time to visit my city, I found this helpful site that lists the best eateries in North Beach for the wonderful tourists that are planning a trip here. {featured photo credit}

Lifestyle: Type A Personality I Laugh About

I am a type A in denial. Well mostly to my hubs, when I live by perfection and push him to be the same, and he calls me out on it and I shake my head as if I was being accused of something worse. To my defense, being type A is a means to surviving  the hectic lifestyle that has become the norm now. It is the only way I manage my time effectively. But I did  laugh pretty loud when I saw this article in photos, show telling something that – yes – only we type A folk understand and the rest of the world couldn’t care less. And does my pencil have to be perfectly sharpened – indeed. 🙂  Enjoy your day everyone

Travel: Past The Season

I love traveling off-season, and have been planning my trips abroad around the crazy madness of summer travel.  Where instead of relaxing and enjoying yourself on vacation, you are more stressed out by the overwhelming crowds, packed restaurants, museums and whatnot. To me that’s not vacation. So if you happen to be those considering a trip right about now somewhere – say Europe – and thrive on too-much-good-information of sorts, then…. {Greece photo credit}

Food: Chicken and Cauliflower Rice

I bought a package of cauliflower Rice at Trader Joe’s over the weekend, determined  to make a spectacular dish out of it. Because the last time I bought the rice variation, it didn’t turn out so well when I sautéed it with a bit of olive oil. So naturally, I turned to my favorite foody site here, and found the best recipe imaginable for Apricot (my favorite) chicken and cauliflower rice dish…and folks, I am on it. In the meantime, I figured I better share it with all of you, just in case we are all on the same page about the apricots, chicken, and cauliflower rice, and wine of course 🙂 {photo and recipe credit click here}