Saint Diego for the Holidays

First of all, I can't believe that it has been an entire year since I've posted and that I haven't been on a vacation all year!  Please God, don't let me make the latter mistake again!  While vacationing in sunny San Diego, I realized that I DO need to get away and relax.  

We found an incredible last minute deal on Orbitz, took the plunge and had the most wonderful time exploring the city and beyond.  This city was full of friendly people who freely gave information on everything from the time of the day's incredible sunset to where to find the best fish tacos.  So many places to explore!  We also traveled out to the unpretentious vineyards in Temecula.  There we found super fun conversations with with tasting room workers and some new grapes we've never heard of in the red category.  And who doesn't love a good celebrity sighting?!?!  We saw Tommy Lee and Kid Rock's ex-wife at the Wave House canoodling with her beau, ex-surfer Jon Rose.  I actually stared at her more that Mr. Lucky 7 did!

Everyone needs a good respite and I'm happy to say that I'm making a commitment to making sure I get one or a couple throughout the year, are you?

Lazy or just a Two and a Half Men fan?

I've been uber lazy and overworked lately (who isn't right?!).   So while I was very excited to start a blog, I quickly realized that my excitement dwindled when I went back to work after the holiday.
All I want to do when I get home from work is lie on the couch and watch mindless TV, more specifically Two and a Half Men.  I literally can't wait to pause the DVR to read the witty vanity cards of Chuck Lorre, producer and head writer, which immediately follow the show.  If you don't pause on it, you'll miss it, so check it out sometime (you're welcome Chuck).  I also want my dinner to be filled with carbohydrates that will force me into a nice little pre-bedtime nappy-poo.

What is it about putting on your PJs at 8pm and settling into your favorite chair with your dinner plate full of chinese take-out placed precariously on your lap that makes you feel like your finally going to let go of the day's draining events?  What ever happened to the dinner table?  Does anyone know or remember where it's located in the house?  I just don't know how my mother did it.  She had a full time job as a nurse at the hospital and still she had us sit together at the dinner table for a prepared meal every night! Ugh...those were the days.

So, it wasn't until tonight that I felt like blogging.  Again, I'm on holiday and I feel like I can breathe a little bit.  So I'll take in another deep, relaxing breath and hit publish.

Nobody cares about what you had for dinner last night

naan flatbread mini pizzas

Inspiration #4: Homemade mini pizzas and Pinot Noir

Last night was fun and much like old times, when we first moved into this house.  Some of my favorite memories are making dinner together over a good bottle of something.  We purchased about five bottles of wine from Trader Joe's in Cambridge.  Some of course were two buck chucks and others, much more pricey, like $7.99 to be exact.  But, what the heck, we're worth it!  

The bottle we chose to compliment our dinner was a Hamilton-Steven's 2008 Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley (a place close to our heart).  It's bottled in Healdsburg, CA, which is in Sonoma County.  I hope to be stopping there on our way up to Mendocino in November.  Funny, every time I talk about wine, I think of my friend Alan, who makes fun of breeders and their love of wine.  And this kind of talk inevitably makes his eyes roll straight back into his head. HA!

Mr. Lucky 7 also picked up a bag of 6 small Tandori Naan flatbreads, to which we made mini pizzas with for dinner.  I primarily used a tomato sauce base, but also tried BBQ sauce (per Mr. Lucky's suggestion), which turned out to be oh so yummy.  I caramelized a Vidalia onion and put that under all of that gooey buffalo mozzarella you see.  We enjoyed our lovely dinner and wine in a VERY romantic way...watching the premiere of our favorite reality show, Jerseylicious on the Style Network.  Nothing says love like pizza, wine, blowouts and bronzer!

What's your idea of a great evening?

I love technology, but not as much as you

Inspiration #3: MIT

Mr. Lucky 7 and I picked up take-out from Rock Sugar Thai Cafe last night and went and sat by the banks of the Charles River in front of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  It was the perfect evening and the lemongrass chicken was delish.  Next time, I want to visit Frank Gehry's apparently leaky Stata Building on campus.  

Where is your inspirational dinner locale as of late?

After the boys of Summer have gone...

Inspiration #2: Wayfarer Sunglasses

I'm really craving a pair of tortoise shell wayfarers by Ray Ban, ever since I gave them a try tonight at the SGH.  I think they're a compliment to anything you're wearing, from jeans and a T to a nice pinstriped suit.

What  would you wear these with?

Sustainable & Organic

Inspiration #1: FLW

Frank Lloyd Wright continues to amaze me with his sustainable, organic architecture.  I captured this shot at Taliesin West, his home and design school in Arizona.

What's your architectural design of choice? 

Finally

After a year (or more in some cases) of reading blogs like Berlin Hair Baby, Dooce, Hair Thursday and Mighty Girl, I couldn't help but want to start a blog of my own.  But, ugh, where to begin, what to say, will I be witty...there's a lot of pressure here.
I think it might be best to just start posting things that inspire me each and every day.  When I am in the dumps from the constant pressures of my job and at that moment when I feel that I have absolutely no creative outlet, it is HERE that I shall find my much needed solace.
Well, what do you know, I've done it!  I've accomplished my first post.

Hello Blog World...I'm happy to be here!