kitsch and fancy

kitsch and fancy

grill time

grill master

this unseasonably warm weather his winter has been strange but the only good thing about is, is that we finally were able to break in Bryan's christmas present and grill out some yummy grass fed burgers! we are so excited because i know we will get a lot of use out of this classic kettle grill.  it will be great for friends and family gatherings and allow us to enjoy our gorgeous backyard and fire pit more.

today

relax.

things didn't go as planned this new year's weekend, but i truly needed lazy time to rejuvenate.  the house is nice and clean and it has been nice enjoying my studio room again.  i wrote out some ideas and plans for the refresh studio project!  i'm beginning to think i may just repaint the furniture all white instead of getting new furniture...unless i see the perfect piece that i just love.  bryan got his Christmas present set up yesterday so hopefully we can grill some yummy burgers today and i can bake some fries.  just enjoying my food before getting back into my salad and salmon routine--which i'm actually pretty excited about btw.  this year one of my goals was to allow myself to relax more and not feel guilt about it.  this weekend was a great start!  

well hello there 2016

traditional New Years feast

bryan and i had the best New Years eve i've had in recent memory.  after the traumatic day full of tears with sushi it was nice to relax with him and just unwind and enjoy each others' company and not worry about the fake excitement of a new years party or being fake at some club somewhere.  my day with sushi was emotionally draining but i felt a great sense of release as soon as the decision was made and the doctor was able to let her go in peace.  i did feel it strange that it happened on New Year's Eve and like she had held on as long as she could so i could be there with her that last day.   obviously our plans changed and we ended up staying home with him comforting me and took a walk to the park in the dark in hopes of seeing fireworks.  we were outside experiencing the fresh air which was a perfect new year's eve night for me.

this morning was a fresh start and we started by making a traditional New Years feast.  this is my favorite type of meal--a healthy meat and veg plate.  so i believe collard greens and black eyed peas are served on new years day for good luck.  not sure how that came about but i'm sure there is a story there somewhere.  i did a healthy, modern day version by using a lean pork belly which we seasoned with a really delicious local seasoning rub we got at a local market.  i also added it to the organic collards and black eyed peas i stewed.  i did a southern style sweet potato by boiling the potatoes and then cooking in a brown sugar and pecan roux.  everything was delicious!  my mantra on food this year: focus on whole, fresh foods, do lots of cooking and worry less about the calories and all the other junk.  we both tend to stray away from carbs and dairy so i think if we stick to this healthy diet we will have a happy and healthy new year.  

rest in peace sweet girl

i am such a structured person and try to plan for everything when i can.  sometimes life throws you a difficult curve ball when you least expect it.  this new years eve, bryan and i had plans to go to the beach with friends to celebrate a chill new years and get out of town.  don't really want to go into graphic detail about anything but my sweet love Sushi became ill the night before and increased in severity New Years Eve day.  by 1 p.m. i was on the way to the emergency medical vet where we had the kindest doctor that walked me through what was happening to her and in a few hours she was gone.  all i can think was how grateful i was to have had her in my life and also so grateful for the blessing that i was off on New Years Eve and was able to spend her last day with her so her last moments that she can remember were full of love and comfort.  enjoy the moments with the ones you love as much as you can every day.