What I'm reading...

I received some great books over the holidays, so I’m making my way through them, bit by bit. I first delved into A Pearl in the Storm: How I Found My Heart in the Middle of the Ocean, which is the autobiography of Tori Murden McClure, the first woman to row across the Atlantic solo. She’s also the first woman to ski to the South Pole. Murden McClure lives in my hometown and is very much the local celebrity, but I’ve never known much about her. So, to learn about her life, the struggles she faced in childhood and adolescence, her strong dedication to her mentally-disabled brother and how she went on to achieve amazing things -- often in the face of adversity -- well, I have a new-found respect for her.

Now I’m onto fiction, reading Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger. I loved Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife, so I was quite anxious to read this novel. I’ve been glued to the pages each night. Niffenegger has a gift for writing about other-worldly things – she is so creative. I won’t go into great detail about the storyline, so not to give anything away. I’ll just say if you haven’t read it, get a copy soon.

Hope everyone is staying warm. It’s supposed to thaw out a bit later this week. This weekend flew by – not sure where it went. I had a Junior League workshop on Saturday morning, so Hubby took the kids sledding. I then hit Whole Foods on the way home to pick up soup, artisan bread and cookies for our new neighbors. Sunday morning, Hubby and I volunteered in the nursery during Mass. We were surrounded by nine toddlers for an hour. It was fun, though – a great group of kids, including our Little Man. Luckily, another parent helped out, so we could divide and conquer if needed.

Happy Monday, y’all!
Images courtesy of apearlinthestorm.com and Barnes & Noble

I'm Digging this Music...

One of my favorite bands, Vampire Weekend, has just released their second CD, “Contra.” I’m so jazzed because I love this band. If you’re not familiar with Vampire Weekend, they’re an Ivy League-educated, madras-wearing group of young guys who sound as if they’ve been inspired by Paul Simon’s “Graceland,” but with more of an indie/punk flavor.

I purchased their self-titled debut album after hearing an interview with them on NPR a few years ago. Their sound reminds me of summer vacation. You can totally imagine yourself listening to these guys on the outdoor deck of your favorite beach town’s watering hole, Red Stripe in hand, as you sport a polo shirt (collar popped, of course) and Eliza B. flip flops (with a little sand between the toes).

So, if you want to be transported to a warm, happy place through some great music, check out Vampire Weekend. Because, baby, it’s cold outside.
Image courtesy of vampireweekend.com

Strap on the Snow Claws

Since "Snow-mageddon" it's taking place this morning (seriously, people, learn how to deal with this weather - it's crazy on the roads!), thought I'd feature a cold climate accessory for the munchkins in your life.

How cute are these kids’ snow shoes from Redfeather? They’re called “Snow Claws” and are perfect for the little ones who want to make a special mark in the snow. These would probably be more popular in areas where snow is a more frequent occurrence; not sure my kids would get enough use out of them. But given that the white stuff is coming down pretty hard today, I would bet my kids would love strapping on a pair of Snow Claws and running through the wintery drifts.

Mommy, on the other hand, would rather watch the kids run around from afar, preferably from the comfort of a warm spot by the fire, hot toddy in hand. Have I mentioned that I don’t like the cold? Yeah, thought so. :)
Photo courtesy of Redfeather.com

Easy Veggie Dish

I like to cook, that is when I have the time and the available ingredients. Often, I'm coming home from having picked up the kids after work; I'm tired, Hubby is tired and everyone is hungry. So, all-too-often, we resort to take-out.

But, last night I was determined to break that cycle. We had left-over pork loin in the fridge (thanks, Mom) and I thought some veggies would be a good side dish. So, I asked Hubby to pick up some red pototoes, butternut squash and a red onion. I chopped up these items into bite size pieces, placed them on tin foil, drizzled with olive oil, parsley, thyme, sea salt and pepper. I then baked them at 375 degrees for about 40 minues. Yum! The veggies would also be good served over rice. You can always change up the ingredients, from squash and zucchini with mushrooms and onions to cauliflower and broccoli with onions. Just be sure to add some zesty herbs and spices for that special kick.

So, an easy veggie dish that's a little different from your standard green beans. I can't say that the kids liked it, but they hardly like anything these days, so what ya gonna do?

Hope everyone on the east coast and regions north are keeping warm. I've heard the U.K. is having quite the cold snap as well, so bundle up my friends! We have a winter-weather watch here, possibly three to five inches of snow tonight and very cold temps. Everyone in this region tends to lose their minds when the weather turns bad. They might as well post a sign at the stateline that says, "Sorry, we're closed," because we just can't seem to handle it here. Wish I could hibernate until spring. :)

Post-holiday spending

So, who has taken advantage of the post-holiday sales and what did you buy? While I vowed to put the skids on the spending after the holidays, I couldn’t resist the 40 percent off e-mail I received from Vineyard Vines on Dec. 26. So, I ordered the High Tide sweater in Pink Lemonade. It’s warm and comfy and brightens up the winter blahs with its cheerful color. It was an okay deal, although as much as I love VV, they are a bit overpriced. Come on, Ian and Shep, the sweater was originally priced at $125 - for a cotton sweater. I mean, the little whale logo on the front is cute and all, but seriously. Even the model in the photo above seems to be saying, “OMG, you paid how much? Sucker.”

But, I did buy the sweater. Guilty as charged. I guess in the end it is all about the little whale logo. Yeah, I’m a total consumer.
Image courtesy of Vineyard Vines

Editorial note: Just a few minutes after this post went live, I received another e-mail from VV about their 40 percent off sale. I think they're watching me. :)

I'm Dreaming of a Warm Climate...

The Lilly Resort Collection, the beach, a margarita and me. That would do it.

So, I keep getting these e-mails from Lilly Pulitzer, telling me about their latest releases and updates on their resort collection. It just feels like a constant reminder that I'm in a very cold place and I should be elsewhere. So, to deal with the cold, dark days of January, I'm starting to research locations for our summer beach vacation.

We've traveled to the Outer Banks for the last several years and love it. But, we're thinking of a change. We've heard good things about Wilmington, N.C. and the surrounding beaches: Kure, Cape Fear, Carolina, etc. Has anyone been there and would you recommend it? If so, any particular rental agency? Or, should we look at South Carolina, perhaps Folly or Sullivan's Island? We like laid-back, lazy areas, but also within driving distance of other activities.

Any input on the beaches in those areas (or others you may be fond of) would be much appreciated. These cold days just aren't cutting it. I think I was destined to live much closer to the equator! Meanwhile, Hubby is a snow guy. Go figure. Oh, well. Maybe some day I'll move further south. We'll see. :)
Image courtesy of Lilly Pulitzer

Best Wishes in 2010

From my family (Hubby, I need a photo with you!) to yours, Happy New Year! May 2010 be a safe, happy and healthy year for all of us.

Cheers,

Jen