Take a Leap.....

It's February 29th~must be a Leap Year!!  What does this extra day really mean to you? 

A day to treat yourself to something special? A day to play hooky?  Doesn't this mean extra value on bills like cable, insurance, mortgage?  Maybe try something new knowing you won't regret it looking back this time next year?  This bonus day comes once around every four years, so it sounds like we need to make it count.  Take a leap....of faith?

How will you celebrate this extra day??

                                                              

                                                 Photo Credit~ my Pinterest boards for references

Chef's Dinner and Wine-tasting Fundraiser Event

On a sun drenched afternoon last June, my husband and I were honored to host a Chef's Dinner and Wine-tasting event at our home. It was a silent auction benefit to raise transportation funds to the Special Olympics for our students in Special Education in Butte County. These lovely women each bought a seat and we were treated to a lovely afternoon poolside and gourmet dinner provided by the chef and sommelier from 'The Pour House' in Chico. The theme was a bit like the French Riviera (stranded on dry land) and the ladies brought it. As the evening progressed we had a lovely moon, a little dancing and even some dipping in the pool for some of us who will remain nameless. It was an evening to remember and grateful  thanks to all who participated.

Frankly, it is so lovely to have staff....a dream come true

Let's be ladies who lounge.....

Our boss~setting a good example

Our Chef

Party on the patio

My man, said he wouldn't even sit down, ..."just stay behind the scenes...."  yeah right ;) , he's doing just fine!

                                                                           Lovely ladies!

                                                                          Pour us!

                               
                                                                  D.J. and Lifeguard

Co-photogs

                                   

                                                               Thanks to the Pour House
                                             
        A couple of easy entertaining ideas:  Greek salad bites (feta, cucumber, tomato, olive)

Meyer Lemon Puff Pastry

*Entertaining tip-Never, ever plan to have someone else bring tablecloths for you. Just saying..... it's hard to get your lovely table set up when linens don't arrive until 10 minutes before the guests......Two days later it was pouring rain all day. We got lucky!! Cheers to that!

       {Photo credits~Heather Lindstrom, Judy Tatom, Martha Stewart}

                                              DJ~Heather Lindstrom, Life guard~Scott Lindstrom

Steals and deals....

Found these stylish wedges last week. They'll be perfect for my summer vacation in the sun. As always, it's a steal at Target! What's your favorite steal or deal this week???

www.target.com

Fashionable Inspirations~lemon and navy

#64 Going to Venice with boyfriend by somatramoroi featuring peep toe heels

 I always love a little stylish inspiration from the boards created on Polyvore. This board, created by Somatra Moroi, in Paris,  is a fun, and unexpected, color combination. Looks like a must try.  Venice, my first moments in Italy, filled with romance and always inspiring!

Welcome to the weekend.....{Let's Play!}

Though it was a short week for some of us, I'm glad the weekend has arrived. Time to get caught up, chill out, get outdoors and have some fun. I'm looking forward to the Oscars on Sunday evening. It's always a fashion feast for the eyes. Who are your favorite contenders? Just a reminder-make some time to play among all those to-do lists. Enjoy!

Cheers to the weekend!

Heather 

Photo Credit~gene schiavone, Anne Taintor, Pinterest boards

You Inspire {part 3} Glenda

My lovely friend, Glenda, is an inspiration. She is creative, wise, generous and loves to laugh. She works tirelessly, supporting students and adults with disabilities, through enhancing their lives with innovative technologies. Did I mention that she is wicked smart, as well as very stylish? I asked Glenda to share some of her favorite inspirations.  It's a treat to share her with you.

Glenda~What inspires me? All the beautiful women in my life. Women who are risk takers, peace makers and give of themselves from the heart. I am lucky to have some spectacular and unbelievable women who give of themselves freely and make a difference in this world by their unique gifts. They inspire me.

I am still looking for my “big idea”. I have this way of feeling as though I have not reached my potential and that big idea has yet to come. I think this keeps me motivated. I have this posting, in various rooms of my life, that pertains a line stating, “May you be content with yourself just the way you are.” I love every line in this text except for this one line. If I am content, I feel I will stop growing. If I feel I have experienced my big idea, I might not ever truly reach it. I know I haven’t reached it yet.

Taking the plunge- I love change. If I am offered the choice to do something different, I love taking on the challenge. When I find I can actually grow within the plunge taken, there is nothing better. When I fall on my face, I have to laugh and realize, that might not have been my best… brush myself off and move on. My mother had a saying when I was growing up. Whenever I would say, “I can’t”, she would respond with, “can’t never could”. Simple yet powerful.

I keep my inspiration going by trying to stay active in my life…I love to read, I love technology and all that comes with it, reading inspirational quotes touches my spirit, as there are so many wise and amazing people who have shared with us through their experiences. I have come back to my meditative practices and I continue to say my daily prayers full of gratitude and asking for help through life’s challenges. Trying to keep myself centered is a daily quest as I can easily lose my path if I don’t try to stay focused. So, what inspires me is the quiet.  

I am loving the aging process. The comfort within my skin is so much richer and knowing I still have so much still to learn excites me.


My Style- with change is changing my hair. I never tell my hairdresser what to do instead I try to go with her flow. Lip Fusion provided me with my first real love of lip glow. I love the plumping feeling with shine. Indulgences include lots of wine, facials (should have started years ago!), week-ends away to regenerate the spirit and restaurant eating- why aren’t I thinner?

For the home, I wrap myself in natural and casual tones. Fresh flowers are always a must. My outside space is water, fire and earth. Striving to welcome the surrounding wildlife, along with mildly wild friends, is always a quest. 

                              {Glenda has this quote on her email signature.  It's so Glenda!} 

*Glenda provides Assistive Technology support for schools in Butte County.  She teaches courses through Chico State Universtiy and has a private consulting business: Enabling Solutions ~ Opening Doors.

Her professional blog is: atclassroom.blogspot.com which contains a wealth of resources.

*After taking care of her wonderful father, who had Alzheimer’s, Glenda is fighting hard to help end this terrible disease. 

To see one of her active fundraisers, visit:  www.makingandkeepingmemories.myevent.com




Glenda inspires me~what inspires you today?

Take me away! {Part 2}

Take me away........few words are needed. It's the far off destination, the casual stroll, the beachy hair, the gorgeous green, glimmering ring, the glowing tan skin...........and the, oh, so effortless chic.  It's a moment in time.......I want to be there.  How about you?

Photo Credit~my Pinterest Board~thedemureclass.tumblr.com

Foodie Files {part 1}

I'm not a fantastic cook, I'll admit that. Better said, I'm not a confident cook......(pssst-don't tell, I entertain frequently and enjoy it).  When I married my husband and started cooking for him, and my three teenage step-daughters, I found it kind of daunting. Cooking for one, or the occasional happy hour fare had been right up my alley for awhile (and that's really no pressure, right?). In the beginning there were some mishaps, lots of brownies for slumber parties, and a few keepers. In the end, we even have a few family favorites which are fun to make when Briana, Lauren and Annika are here. That reminds me, at Christmas they requested copies of some of our family favorites (smile). Must get on that!

 Now that the girls are grown, I am mostly cooking for  my husband and myself or the occasional party here.  If  I'm in the mood to cook, and I have a sweet onion on hand, I often start by the therapeutic chopping, carmelizing and then build a sauce around it.  If  I'm feeling creative, I look around the kitchen and wonder "what can I make out of what we have?".  It's a little game I play with myself (it saves a trip to the market and is a cost-saving device). Surprisingly, every now and then, I stumble upon something pretty decent, just on the fly, and then I wish I had written it down. I wish I was Italian. Italians don't seem to have to measure....I, too, like a little pinch of this and a little pinch of that.......even though I'm Swedish. I also espouse the theory that you only need a few outstanding recipes, which you perfect over time, to be a decent cook.  Give me your top 5 and I'll give you mine.

Ta Da! My friends, this is my first. This recipe was originally shared by  A Sweet Pea Chef, and it's really all that. My husband requested this for Valentine's Day-instead of steak-wow!  Salmon is super healthy (Omega 3 Fatty acids and all) and a great source of protein.  I've also heard it's the fish for people who don't like fish. It's a go-to super easy dinner. I frequently have frozen salmon on hand, from Trader Joe's or even Target, and can defrost in minutes to have this deliciousness on the table. Try it and let me know what you think.

What is your favorite go-to recipe?? Let's dish!  This is my favorite salmon~ Love this Salmon (click on link for recipe). My thanks to the Sweet Pea Chef for sharing.

                   
                                                Cheers to the occasional home cooked meal!
                                                                              Heather


   Photo Credits~A Sweet Pea Chef, My Pinterest Boards~Marni B, and Ashley Orr.

Weekend Getaway {Sonoma} Favorite Five

As promised, the long weekend in Sonoma Valley was just as we had hoped.  There is nothing like a quick getaway to refresh and rejuvenate and we did just that. Sonoma is one of our favorite spots and here are a few tips for your next getaway to the wine country.

Favorite 5 ~Sonoma Valley:

*Savor: El Dorado Kitchen~(on the square in Sonoma) we adore the patio on a warm day. The interiors are sleek with a rustic twist~perfect for the wine region. The chop salad is perfection!
 ~The Fig Cafe (Glen Ellen)~we hit this hidden gem on Friday evening just before the rush of locals in the know.  We had Kristie, the same server we had 8 years ago.
~ Saddles at MacArthur Place was a more upscale spot to to catch up with dear friends over dinner. They let us linger for hours.

*Stay:  The Gaige House in Glen Ellen.  Book the Zen suites if possible This joie de vivre boutique hotel  is one of our long time favorites. ("Chips picks" has some great deals~Scott booked this stay months ago for us on the website).  Tablethotel  is another favorite booking site with soundtracks to enhance your travel experience.  The addition of the Zen suites makes it a spectacular stay with a lovely breakfast included. Our concierge, Anne, was very knowledgeable and shares my love of being inspired by beautiful blogs. Bamboo lined walkway,  luxurious linens, granite soaking tub, walk-in double shower, fireplace, sitting area, patio with loungers, and a zen atrium with a fountain that soothes the soul......bliss. This is the kind of place where you want to have your dinner delivered and stay in all weekend in your luxurious robe. The photos say it all.......PURE Zen.

*Sip:    Audelssa Tasting Room~Stylish tasting room right in Glen Ellen. Jeff was extremely knowledgeable and poured some fine wines.
            ~Deerfield Vineyards-Intricate cave structure in which you enjoy a unique, sit down tasting
               experience. Dick was professional and fun. The caves would be perfect on a hot day.
       
*See: ~Vineyards in bloom.
           ~Sonoma Square~ filled with boutiques, fine bites and happy weekenders.
       
*Share: ~Stock up on your favorite varietals, and some specialty olives for your trip home.
              ~Dinner with long-time friends~wonderful to catch up........

                                                                       The Zen Suite

 Fireplace and granite soaking tub for 2

                                     

The Fig Cafe in Glen Ellen~a neighborhood gem!

We also enjoy The Girl and The Fig location in Sonoma on the Square.

                                                           Breakfast at Gaige House

                                                             

Plush robes............scented with lavender

 Audelssa Tasting Room in Glen Ellen....

                                       Deerfield Winery has an intriguing cave system and a seated tasting

                                                       
                                                              Cool ride in Glen Ellen........

                                                 Some gorgeous views.............

                                       
                                       The patio at El Dorado Kitchen~lovely even in February

a little shopping.......

and dinner with long time friends, Dean and Kathryn..........

The perfect Sonoma Valley weekend!

Cheers and thanks for getting away with me,
Heather