Year: 2022

Beautiful Things In Travel

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Friday could not have come fast enough this week. I don’t know if I was done with January or… just about anything else that makes us all ache for the weekend. When we can simply unwind (hopefully) and not always be accountable for the demands of a work week. Although, for some sort of balance, I did watch many episodes of Rick Steve’s Europe travels from years past. And naturally I felt the most beautiful things I wanted to share this week, was all about places I have been in Europe. Take care.

Tuesday Topics of Interest

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We’ve had Spring-like weather in San Francisco for a couple of weeks now, and although I wish it would rain more, I am happy with the chance that I can enjoy the bright sunny days. So although the plan this morning is to attend one meeting after another, I wanted to share some interesting topics I came across. Just in case you are bundled up at home aching for a distraction or two or three. 😉 Have you see 11.22.63 on Hulu? A suspense thriller based on Stephen King’s novel about the assassination of JFK. Although since it is based on events which actually happened in American and even world history, I found it most interesting to get a glimpse of what would have happened if time travel allowed us to go back in time and ‘fix’ a problem or two. If you have seen it, I have to ask. What did you think of the actor portraying Lee Harvey Oswald’s character. I was feeling a little off this past week, and probably my worst …

Smile Worthy Oceanic Masterpiece

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I have to admit, I’ll always choose animals/mammals over humans any day. Sounds a bit harsh? Perhaps. But I feel as if I have a deep, and soothing connection with all things nature, and for that very reason, I want to share this spectacular creation. Which I replay on my laptop, the moment I feel overwhelmed or stressed with work. Enjoy Featured image source and full credit here

In Paris…Or France?

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I’ve been doing much virtual traveling lately. Whether by binge watching a television series, or a movie filmed on location or travel shows. I have to say I truly miss travelling. So while watching Emily in Paris – season 2, I couldn’t help but wonder, if I were to take a trip right now, would I spend the entire time in Paris or forgo one of the most romantic cities in the world and instead travel throughout France. To revisit the wonderful places (listed below) I have been. In the following order, via French Rail. Strasbourg, Colmar, Dijon, Lyon, French Rivera, Marsielle-Aix-en-Provence, Toulon, Nimes, Montpellier, Biarritz, Bordeaux region, Nantes, Rennes, Rouen-Normandy, Orleans, Paris-one night Colmar French Rivera Bordeaux Marsielle French Rivera Nantes- Mont St Michel Monaco Paris – always the last stop on my journey How about you?

Life Rhythm And White Space

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As I listen to close friends and family members vent to me about various aspects of their lives: stress, anxiety and struggles with depression, I wonder how I can relay to them lessons I have learned over the years from my own life experiences, without offending or hurting their feelings. So for the time being I simply listen, and in between I insert some tidbits… Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself. After all you are the doing best that you can under all circumstances. Strengthen Your Core (Body and mind) : Avoid fad diets and opt for healthy eating instead. Exercise in the simplest fashion possible-walk any way possible, or dance in the middle of your living room to your favorite tunes. Take care of your mental health-whether simply hiding in a corner of the house, with the lights off, meditating to calming music. Or watching a stand-up comedy on television, or simply dabbling in a craft or hobby. Strengthening your core should be the least stressful thing you do. Find Your Life Rhythm: May …

Some Interesting Facts

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Our (U.S.) first three day weekend of the year, and we woke up to Tsunami warnings along the Pacific Coast. Apparently, a ripple affect from the Volcanic eruption in the South Pacific here. Although we did not get the full impact on this side of the coast-California, much different was reported from the other side, as well as Chili in South America. I stared at my views of the Pacific ocean much of Saturday thinking about how one body of water, connecting two continents, can impact the other side in so many different ways-be it a scientific, or natural force. Apparently this eruption was a ‘once-in-a-millennium‘ event, just in case you are as intrigued as I am. And yet, I wonder how one would have any time to prepare for such a thing? I couldn’t shake off the feeling on Sunday while moping around the house. So by nightfall, I decided a Monday day-trip was necessary to help unwind and/or stop the obsession over natural disasters. So we settled on Sonoma, mostly for the picturesque …

Food: Potato Leek Soup

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I had the best soup on Sunday. Ordered to-go from a restaurant that specializes in steak and seafood, which I wasn’t craving. So I ordered soup. It wasn’t potato leek as the title suggests. But more potato and cheese, topped with scallion shavings. I savored every spoonful and actually kicked myself for not ordering a second to-go serving. Anyway, in my household, homemade soup has been a hit or a miss. Because I have the worst food critic – my mother – to please while experimenting with a variety of ingredients. 🙂 She cracks me up, because when I serve her dinner at the kitchen table, she takes a minute to prepare her taste buds for what she is about to eat. Then she takes a bite, and from the expression spreading across her face, I can tell if the dish is a success or a complete flop. Long story, short. I have been craving Potato Leek Soup ever since Sunday. So I went out and bought fresh baked artisan bread and ingredients from the …

New Year, New Plans

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Normally, the first order of business for a new year, is plotting the travel I intend to do over the year and the projects around the house I want to complete in between. But this year, I have decided not to make plans, but rather to simply go with the flow. I am testing a new approach to healing, emotionally and physically, after the many conversations I’ve had over the year with friends and acquaintances. About the added stress we tend to put on ourselves with plans and the inability to achieve them. So the new plan for the new year is – to simply not have a plan…and as every day unfolds, jot down – the good (first), the ugly (second), and the bad, last. And let’s see where we end up in six months and then the year, in terms of our mental health… If you are interested in sharing contents from your daily journal, for lessons learned or otherwise, please complete the below survey. Excerpts will be shared daily

Recipes With Global Ingredients in Mind

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As stated here, I did do so much cooking and baking over the holiday break. And I have to say, I enjoyed every bit of it. Perhaps I found my new joy… I also had time to scope out recipes online, and found it interesting about the creator of the recipe, adding a twist to worldly ingredients, such as this recipe, experimenting with Tahini. A cultural staple in Mediterranean or Middle Eastern cooking. But the recipe called for Tahini mixed with oatmeal, almond flour and chocolate chips. Never in a million years would the combination have crossed my mind. But I suppose we would need to try it and see how well it all pans out. Here’s a recipe I actually tried and loved, combining Korean and Mexican cooking. Also since Taco’s are my favorite. Indonesian style pasta is this recipe…why not? Let me know if you have a recipe to share, where an international ingredient was used in the most creative or unusual of recipes