Homebody

As much as I love to travel and explore other countries, cities and cultures, when I'm at home in San Francisco, I am a homebody.  Literally.  I love to be at home.  I am a nester.  I love putzing around our apartment, organizing, cleaning, trying out new recipes, doing things around our house.

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It doesn't take much for me to get outside especially when I know it is sunny and warm.  I'm eager to go hiking, go for a walk along Crissy Field or in the Marin headlands, see an exhibit at the museum but I really love being at home.  Living in California, there are a LOT of sunny days and so I'm always secretly excited for a rainy, yucky day so we can stay in.

It could be an effect of having traveled so much for work in the past.  There was a time when I literally lived out of my suitcase.  I'd travel for a few days, come home for a day or two and then hit the road again.  I didn't unpack my suitcase.  I'd take out the dirty clothes, do laundry and then put them back in again.  I never unpacked my toiletry/make-up bag because there was no point.  I wasn't able to cook because any food leftover would go bad in my fridge.  I'm so grateful not to live that kind of lifestyle.  I vow not to do it again.

Anyone else a homebody?

Fear of Aging

When I was younger, I couldn't wait to get older.  I thought that by 24 I would be married and have children.  Boy, was I wrong!  It wasn't until 10 years later that I was walking down the aisle.  During that decade, I worried that I was missing out on marriage, a family, a life.  But, I realized that I was gaining experience in the other paths that I chose for myself.  I wouldn't change a thing.  Those fears turned themselves into growing experiences.

Now, I fear getting older not because of myself and the dreams that I still have awaiting to be fulfilled but because of our parents.  Mark and I are both facing the hard facts that our parents are aging and dealing with health issues.  I feel like at our age, we should not be dealing with this but I know friends who have dealt with it much earlier than we.

There comes a point in our lives when we start to parent our parents.  It hasn't started yet when it comes to my parents - unless it has something to do with technology, I'll almost always get a call.  It was slowly happening with one of Mark's parents until this weekend when we got a HUGE wake up call where we faced a lot of fears and the unknown.  Fortunately, our crisis over the weekend was averted - after more anxiety than I've almost ever experienced and wish to ever experience, everyone is safe, healthy and unharmed.  But, we now know that it is time to start parenting one of our parents.

In our minds, we recognize this need but emotionally we want to go back to what it was before.

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It is a delicate dance of supporting a parent in their need to maintain independence but yet ensuring their health and safety.  It is clear that there will always be a denial that the need for help by the parent is there.  And, I understand why that denial is there.  After decades of independence and responsibility of caring for one's children, the situation is reversing - perhaps more slowly in some situations and more quickly in others.

It is a devastating time for all parties involved.  I wish there was a road map to tell us how to navigate this journey but there isn't map.  Instead we'll rely on instinct and need.  And, we'll call in experts as needed.

I know that it will be a bumpy journey but I have faith that we'll get through the maze to the other side.  Hopefully with a little laughter along the way.  Just like the rest of life, I know that these fears will turn into growing experiences - ones that I know will bring me closer to Mark's family and to mine.

A Delightful Dessert: Meringues

Earlier this year, one of our Supper Club themes was Alice in Wonderland.  I chose to bring dessert and wracked my brain and the Internet for ideas.  I ended up choosing a variety of desserts and one that I chose were meringues.  If you haven't eaten a meringue, they are very delicate "cookies" made simply.  I call them delicate because they are extremely light and airy.

I found this recipe online and much to my surprise they were simple to make.  Mine weren't as dry as I hoped but I blame it on the weather.  It was very damp and dry the day that I made them.  They were a hit still!  I served them with strawberries and fresh whipped cream.

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I love them because of their light and airy texture and deliciously sweet taste.  It helps to know that they are low in calories!

Ingredients

• 4 egg whites
• 2 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C). Butter and flour a baking sheet.
2. In a glass or metal bowl, whip egg whites until foamy using an electric mixer. Sprinkle in sugar a little at a time, while continuing to whip at medium speed. When the mixture becomes stiff and shiny like satin, stop mixing, and transfer the mixture to a large pastry bag. Pipe the meringue out onto the prepared baking sheet using a large round tip or star tip.
3. Place the meringues in the oven and place a wooden spoon handle in the door to keep it from closing all the way. Bake for 3 hours, or until the meringues are dry, and can easily be removed from the pan. Allow cookies to cool completely before storing in an airtight container at room temperature.

Heat Wave

There's a major heat wave covering most of this country (except for San Francisco, of course).  A large part of me is jealous because I would LOVE to take my laptop and work outside in the park but it's too chilly for me to sit and work - I'll definitely take a walk though.  Today's high temps in my neighborhood are 69 degrees and partly sunny.  Clearly, no heat wave here!

I've said this before and I'll say it again: Fall is my favorite time of the year.  I can't wait for fall!  Ummm...I could totally live in this house:

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The sense of excitement of the new school year, fall clothes, the crumble of leaves as they change color and drop off the trees, the smell in the air.  Apple cider, apple picking, apple crisp, apple butter.  And, of course, my birthday is in the fall!

I look forward to fall's arrival even though it means the end of the summer.  But, I think that many people will be happy for the fall season to begin to get some relief from this heat wave!

What's your favorite season?

Favorite Things: Summer Food

There's nothing better than fresh fruit in the summer.  I love everything from peaches, nectarines, pineapple, watermelon, all of the berries, plums, cherries.  You name it.  I love it.

The sweet juice that squirts out with the first bite makes my teeth tingle with excitement.  The bright colors draw me in.

Eaten alone, in a smoothie or a shake, with Greek yogurt as a snack or as a meal, I could eat fresh fruit all summer long for every single meal.  I wish we had a grill so that I could grill my fruit.  If we did, I would try grilling peaches using this recipe that I came across recently:

Grilled peaches with brown sugar balsamic glaze
Serves 4

Ingredients

• 4 not-too-ripe peaches, washed, halved and pitted (too ripe and they fall apart on the grill)
• Balsamic vinegar, to taste, about a tablespoon
• Brown sugar or honey, to taste
• Light olive oil
• 4 leaves fresh basil, chopped, optional
• Ice cream (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat grill
2. Drizzle peaches with balsamic vinegar and then sprinkle liberally with brown sugar. (I like to do this about an hour before grilling so the flavors soak in, but they’ll be delicious either way.)
3. Brush grill with a dab of oil. Place peach halves face-down on grill. Turn after 3 to 4 minutes, after they've given up the brightness in their color. Sprinkle flat side (now facing up) with more brown sugar. Remove after another couple of minutes, when they're soft all the way through when you poke them with a fork.
4. Garnish with basil on and around peaches. Serve with ice cream or by themselves. 

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What is your favorite summer food?

Memories: Favorite Childhood Summer Vacation

I was and still am lucky to have a dad who was born in Austria.  Growing up, my father's company would give him and our family "home leave" every other year.  Home leave was time off about four weeks to go back to Austria.  So, we would spend about a month in Europe - mostly in Austria to visit with my grandparents.

I love Austria and always have.  Most likely because of spending so much time there when I was little.  I loved spending time with my grandparents - who I couldn't communicate with too well because I didn't speak German and they didn't speak English too well.  Regardless, I loved being with them and my family there.

Often, we would hop into the car or onto the train and head out of Vienna, where they lived (and where my parents currently live).  We would head up into the mountains for hiking or to one of the many lakes for boating and fishing.  Wherever we went the air was guaranteed to be fresh, the water either in the lake or flowing down the mountain from the snow melting was guaranteed to be cold and the food was guaranteed to be amazing.

These three main reasons were some of the deciding factor for me to push for Mark and I to get married in Austria and they came through!

When I was little, I really loved my stuffed dog, Doggie (who I still have).  I would take him everywhere with me.  I would put him in my backpack with his head sticking out so he could see where he was going.  There are pictures of me hiking in the Alps at age 4/5 without my shirt on with my backpack on my back and Doggie's head sticking out.  I still remember it!  I have a photo that I'll share one day if I can figure out how to scan it.

The food was amazing.  I fell in love with Orange Fanta (summer was the only time we were allowed to drink sodas), Austrian soup (goulash and rindsuppe - a beef broth with various fillings like noodles, etc.), wiener schnitzel, etc.  I adored the ice cream and the little wafer cookies served with them.  I honestly could eat Austrian food all the time.  I love it so much.

I also love being outdoors in the Austrian Alps.  The air, the sun, the hiking and other adventures.  My dad grew up doing all of those same outdoor activities and I am so glad that he introduced those to us.  My love for hiking in the Alps came from him and will always be because of him.

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I'm incredibly fortunate to have the childhood vacations that I did.  When we got a little older, we rented sailboats and sailed on the Adriatic Sea and in the Mediterranean.  As much as I love those sailing memories, the memories of hiking with my parents, siblings and grandparents in the Austrian Alps hold a VERY special place in my heart.  I can't wait to take my own children to Austria during the summer and show them what I did growing up.

What is your favorite childhood summer vacation memory?

Favorite Things: Fashion

One of my best friends, Kady, was in town at the end of May and we did a lot of shopping one day.  She is the champion shopper and has great taste in fashion.  On her list of places to go was the Adriano Goldschmied store, which is a block or two from Union Square, here in San Francisco.

The store is located in what appears to me to be an old bank location with vaulted ceilings, marble floors and walls and a very sophisticated appearance.  Be sure to stop by if you're in SF (O'Farrell and Grant Streets).

I had heard of AG jeans before but I'd never tried any on until that afternoon.  I am so glad that I did because I'm now addicted for life.  The fit is perfect - even on my petite frame (they carry petite sizes) and the fabric they use for their denim is so soft.

I live in jeans these days and own multiple pairs of them including a pair of 7 for Mankind jeans that I got just three months ago, so I went out of the box from blue denim and purchased a pair of black Angelina jeans.

I wish my belly is this flat (Source)

Per usual post-jean purchase, I washed them when I got them home and took them to be altered in the length - all jeans are too long on me.  I adore them.  Since I got them back from the tailor, I would wear them every day if I knew that Mark wouldn't make fun of me.

They look great with flats and with heels.  I'm sure they look great with boots too but since summer is here, I haven't yet tried them though you can be sure I will come fall.

Is there a new purchase/brand that you've tried recently and love?