Month: September 2018

Sunday Read: Research Has It

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I normally sleep with my window open. I’ve done it for years. The crisp air, sometimes chilly and other times just warm enough helps me get a good night sleep.  The only nights I struggle to get to sleep is if I’m in a place, a hotel or someone’s house, where I cannot open the window. Those are the nights, I toss and turn and count the hours until the morning. Do you sleep with the window opened?   While searching for a recipe, I came across this article – about the most popular recipe in every state (U.S) according to google. And when I clicked on it, I found some of the options very surprising – especially California – where I live. I would have guessed delicious guacamole dip or sushi – but never quinoa. Check out the rest of the list. Is it true for your state?     Being a San Franciscan – I have seen the city develop into an expensive metropolitan one and although I have been here all of my …

Boutique Hotel Pick – Belmond La Residencia – Mallorca, Spain

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I can’t say it enough – October is a wonderful time to travel and with the need of taking a week or so to simply unplug, you may want to consider Mallorca, Spain and this spectacular boutique hotel, which is  wonderful anniversary present, or a honeymoon destination or just because. I mean really, what more do I need to say?

Food: Dinner Tonight: Coconut Curry Noodles or Chicken

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I do love coconut curry or around this time of year, butternut squash curry I normally order from my favorite eatery in the city here, and here.  So, here’s whats happened. I assumed we were finally getting our warmer temperatures in the city, but it turns out, we’ve had nothing but cold windy days, overcast, and definitely the feel of Autumn in the air.  Which of course has me craving soups of sorts – and so this recipe for tonight’s dinner: INGREDIENTS 8 ounces rice noodles  {or I’ll add boiled chicken pieces instead of the rice noodles for my diet} 2 tablespoons coconut oil 1 sweet onion, diced 2 zucchini, or summer squash, diced 2 ears sweet corn kernels, removed from the cob 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated 2-3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste 1 14 ounce can full fat coconut milk 1 tablespoon fish sauce (soy sauce for vegan option)   {not a fan of fish sauce so that will be omitted} 2 teaspoons honey   {not necessary, but it’s all up to you} juice and zest from 1/2 a lime 1/4 cup fresh cilantro OR basil, roughly chopped (use you personal favorite) sliced …

Just an Observation…

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The end to summer is only a week or so away and although most of us welcome the season change with open arms, with  ideas of putting on sweaters and boots, and ordering warmed hot chocolates or that seasonal pumpkin spiced latte are what we look forward to, I know soon enough we will be longing for a lot of this and that {photo source}

Travel: October Destinations

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If I could drop everything for a year simply to travel the world, I would. In a heart beat. In a blink of an eye. In a split of a second and all other  clichés you wish to insert here, to convey my dedication to traveling. I consider it a wonderful addiction that only some of you can relate to. Travel awakens my senses, and offers a wider perspective – whether political, social, cultural – to build upon my wisdom so that I can approach my everyday life in the most positive manner. So here’s to the best  travels for October –   {featured image – Upstate New York}

Decor: San Francisco Gem In The Marina

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I adore fine architecture and design and often times walk through different neighborhoods in the city to see what all the renovations are about. You know incorporating the new among the Edwardian and Victorian homes perched along the hillside – in this case near and around the Marina district. Here’s one of my favorite home with streamlined design and decor    Home Tour Video https://players.brightcove.net/5699924528001/default_default/index.html?videoId=ref:60ad810f-ed97-4c59-837f-c24484f13848

A Day Of Remembrance

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I never forget the horrible Tuesday, as I stood in front of my bathroom over-the-sink mirror, attempting to put on mascara, in the reflection, I could see the bedroom television, set on channel 7-news, at that moment streaming the horrific image of one of the twin towers on flames. I turned around, and inched closer to the television set, increasing the volume; I stared in disbelief, hoping that what I was seeing on the screen was a preview to a movie stunt – because I wasn’t going to allow myself to believe what I was hearing was real. Never realizing that the rest of the day and weeks to follow would be one of the worst I have experienced in my lifetime – as the news of multiple (air) attacks on our nation spread. After watching the news on repeat for an hour, I assumed I needed to report to work, not really  knowing what was expected of me during a national crisis of this caliber. So I left the house in a state of shock, and drove to Stanford University, where I was manager of the on-campus student travel agency. During my 40-mile commute along an unusually traffic-free highway, I wondered if I was doing the right thing going into to work, more so when I sensed the uncommonly quiet across the skies, more obvious  as I passed SFO International. Upon unlocking the door to the shop, which was located in the student-union building, I noticed a crowd of students and faculty gathered around a television set, starting some in silence, some crying, while others vocalizing-trying to make sense of …

Food: Dinner Tonight – Chipotle, Lime Chicken and Fries

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The weather has finally turned for the better in the city – with warm days and SUNSHINE throughout the city and not just downtown. I love this time of the year, when the mornings are crispy cold-ish and the days although shorter are sunny and hot. The only challenge is while other parts of the world are turning to comfort food, or soups to wards off the colder temperatures, we in the city are aiming to cool down by eating all things summer. So I am naturally pretty conscious on how best to proceed with my weekly meal plan, and I think this one will do just fine to half-Keto for me and the original recipe for the family. INGREDIENTS 1 pound boneless chicken breasts, cut into strips 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 chipotle peppers in adobo, chopped 1 tablespoon honey (cut out for hardcore Keto) 1 teaspoon cumin 2 limes 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated kosher salt and pepper 2 sweet potatoes, cut into matchsticks  (I can cut this portion out for Keto, but I may just cheat today)  2 avocados, lightly mashed 3 heads romaine lettuce …