Motivational Tunes

Along with all of the perks of summertime - relaxation, lounging by the pool, sipping on beer-itas, and those glorious weekends at the lake - comes the bathing suit; that dreaded, yet often necessary, item. 

The two-piece inevitably mandates the occasional workout which is why I decided to share with you my favorite motivation for those hot, afternoon jogs: new music. In my mind, nothing is more terrible than the moment you find yourself able to correctly identify the next song on the playlist. BORING... 

The solution: sit down and change up your ipod to something that will make you 'get up and go'. Here are a few of my favorite newest additions to help prepare myself for that "yellow polka-dot bikini" (ya, right) :

“Electric Feel” – MGMT

“Express Yourself” – Madonna

“Groove is in the Heart” – Deee-Lite

“Doo Wop (That Thing)” – Lauryn Hill

“California” – AB O’neill

“Animal City” – Shakira

“F**k You” – Lily Allen

“Everybody Got Their Something” – Nikka Costa

“Don’t Bother” – Shakira

“Brick House” – The Commodores

“Early in the Morning” – The Gap Band

“(Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again” – L.T.D.

“Flash Light” – Parliament

“Can’t Behave” – Courtney Jaye

“Black Betty” – Ram Jam

Enjoy!!     -ah

Kendall vs. La Crema

Today I learned an interesting little tidbit of information. My two favorite wines (La Crema and Kendall Jackson, duh) are

 owned and produced by the same people! Well now doesn’t that explain a lot about my obsession…Kendall-Jackson purchased the rights to La Crema in 1993 and KJ now 

produces the wines at their facility near Geyersville, CA.

I think it’s safe to say that La Crema is simply the upper echelon version of Kendall. I hope to enjoy the “distinguished” La Crema throughout my summer days at home on Mom and Dad’s tab, and later switch back to my first love, Kendall, when I embark on my cramped law school budget in Tulsa.

Both are equally enjoyable wines and, when chilled, the perfect antidote for those long, hot summer days. KJ has one up on its “more sophisticated” sibling, however : you can’t name a kid La Crema, but you can name one Kendall.  

Toby

is this not the cutest puppy you've ever seen?? Burns, they don't have any of this caliber in Canton...

San Francisco

One of my friends will soon be headed to San Francisco. It will be his first time to the city and was inquiring about what all it has to offer/what he should do to impress his lady friend.

I have been once (and absolutely loved it) so I thought I’d share a few of my “San Franciscan favorite things.” I had the opportunity to spend a few days there while vacationing with my parents and a friend in California’s wine country for my 21^st.

San Francisco has so much to offer! We practically walked everywhere we went and definitely got a good workout. The city, very hilly, is a challenge for anyone – in shape or not. Comfortable walking shoes are a must.

Our first stop in San Fran was the Fisherman’s Wharf where we had ‘brown bag beers’ and fresh seafood on the pier. Then, happy hour at The San Franciscan. An old restaurant that is designed like a boat right on the water. We had a beautiful view of Alcatraz. We didn’t have time to make it out for a tour of the island, but from what I’ve heard, I would definitely recommend it. The Pier is huge and there is so much to explore. The Ferry Building on the Embarcadero at Market Street is the perfect place to go for your morning coffee, farmers’ markets, and cute little shops. Another “must-see” is the famous Lombard Street; a very steep, zig-zagged street lined with absolutely gorgeous homes.

Sausalito, a small town across the Golden Gate bridge, nestled away from the hustle and bustle of San Francisco, is a true gem. Sausalito, known for its’ laid back atmosphere and small town feel, is an old fishing village on the northern end of the Golden Gate bridge. Home to many artists and writers, the picturesque waterfront community is home to open air cafes and wonderful art galleries. Residents of the quaint town boast that Sausalito is “…the reason they built the bridge!” If I ever get another chance to go to San Francisco, I plan to spend the majority of my time across the bridge in Sausalito. (http://www.sausalito.org/)

After our 2-day layover in San Francisco, we left with a unique appreciation for the beautiful city. It is definitely a place I would love to go back and explore further. Have a great time Bloch!

Beer-itas!!

In honor of weekends at the lake and afternoons by the pool, I thought I would share my beer-ita recipe for your drinking enjoyment. Not only is this little concoction tasty, it is extremely easy to make. That way, should you be slightly over-served, your friends will never notice the difference.  Plus, you’ll spend less time mixing and more time enjoying.

The Famous Beer-ita

1 can sprite

1 (12 oz.) can frozen limeade

1 can/bottle Mexican beer (corona, tecate, whatever…)

Tequila to taste (I fill the empty limeade container with tequila - that seems to do the trick)

Put all of the ingredients in a large pitcher and mix with a spoon. (No blenders allowed…it will explode-trust me). Serve over ice while wearing your favorite Mexican mumu. Delicious.

Warning: too many of these and you might end up looking like my “tequila terrorist” friend.

 

Today is my parents’ 25^th wedding anniversary.

So for the purpose of this blog, I thought I might relay a little relationship advice from my dad. Now it's obvious that men and women don't typically see things the same way (relationships in particular). Therefore, I thought it would be best to pick the man’s brain and get his side of the story. So here goes: 4 things (from Bill's perspective) that lead to long-lasting, happy relationships.  

1.       Choosing wisely from the beginning

2.       Perseverance

3.       Maintaining a relationship with her parents that is just as strong as your relationship with her

4.       Good food and good wine

Congratulations and thanks, Mom and Dad, for being such a great example of love and commitment. Here's to another 25!

Curveballs

Isn't it funny how no matter what sort of plans we make and no matter how foolproof and concrete those plans might seem, life has a funny way of changing directions on you just when you become complacent. Talk about frustrating. But life's little curveballs are what keep it interesting, right? 

I've had a few curveballs hit me lately... graduating from college (maybe not a curveball b/c dad's checkbook had been expecting it for a while now, but a drastic change nonetheless). I've just recently left my best friends in Fort Worth to move back to Jones, OK and live with the family for the summer. It will be interesting to see who makes it out alive... survival of the fittest anyone?

Yes, I did have alternate plans for the summer. I had planned to go to Spain to nanny for a family, but that little extravaganza fell through at the last minute. (I would like to especially thank Student Universe for charging me $200 in cancellation fees because fickle Spaniards are not covered by Travel Guard Insurance.) So, yes, due to life's curveballs, my summer plans have changed significantly, although perhaps for the better. Potential plans include a kayaking trip to Lake Powell with Dad, putting together a cookbook of Gram's famous recipes, and spending some well-deserved relaxation time at Possum Kingdom. Despite life's little curveballs, things are going to work out - just have to regroup a little. 

As far as this blog goes, I started it to keep all of ya'll posted about my experiences in Espana. However, as that has turned into a "no-go," please expect a slight change in content. I will still keep you updated on my experiences with food, wine (duh), and life's random excursions and detours and I promise to keep it interesting! 

In the spirit of graduation, I wanted to end my first post by sharing this quote; a few words of wisdom from a man whose words were never wasted. 

"To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one's self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived... this is to have succeeded."    ~Ralph Waldo Emerson