Keeping The Shiny Side Up

Amazing (random) dinner

When I was a little girl, my dad came home one day with a plaque for my mom. She read it with a smile and it was followed by a huge laugh, hug and kiss for my dad. That plaque occupied a place of prominence in the kitchen. It read "Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon, or not at all."

As I think about the celebration of 'forever' that Jeremiah and I will make in June, surrounded by family and friends, I find myself thinking about that plaque. That may sound like a bit of a weak segue, but that just means you haven't yet experienced a meal created by Jeremiah.

I'm not kidding. I don't say this just because I'm crazy about him (although I am). The meals he makes are incredible. The thing that's really infectious about them is that when he is cooking, there is so much joy about it. I love watching him prepare a meal -- I'm generally on table setting, appetizer and wine-pouring duty. He creates, tastes, seasons. And together we enjoy! Bon apetit.

Jacquie and Jeremiah are getting married

It's true. This year, I got the best Christmas present ever, when my sweetheart Jeremiah asked me to build a life with him. Since the first time we met in May, I just knew he was my forever. I can't wait to celebrate our wedding with family and friends.

Fun in Healdsburg::Check out my Slide show

La Famiglia

I had the good blessing to celebrate the 40th Annual DiPaola Family Picnic recently. There were about 120 relatives gathered together---catching up on one another's lives, sharing stories, giving hugs and taking pictures.

I have such great memories of the Family Picnic growing up -- the hayride, the egg toss, the bubble blowing contest and the food. Ahhhh, the food. Row upon row of salads, sausages, breads and more.

My cousin Angela and I were recalling how we used to be able to drink 4 cans of soda and eat 3 burgers at the picnics when we were young(er) girls. Oh to have the metabolism (and energy!) of my 10-year old self.

I'm looking forward to the next 40 years of picnics!

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Swinging for the Fences

With considerable delight, I checked off the box beside 'attend the All-Star Game" on my list of things to do.

Sitting along the first base line for the Home Run Derby Monday and the All Star game Tuesday was a blast. The weather cooperated on both days, although it did threaten to rain during Tuesday's game.

But, the sunshine -- and the American League--- prevailed. I guess Mother Nature likes baseball!

From the lowlands to the highlands

In the immortal words of Ron Burgundy, "Scotch, scotch, scotch...I like scotch...here it goes down, down into my belly."

I also like sushi.

A lot.

Admittedly, that's a bit of an odd combination.
But, one that is aptly indulged at Nihon Whisky Lounge in San Francisco.

There are over 250 kinds of scotch -- and 150 single malts.

This put the 'happy' in my happy birthday this year.
Along with the company I was keeping :)

Scotchalicious.

Conversations with Winnie

Winnie is SIr Winston Churchill...I'm a big fan of his writing, his work and the adventure of his life.  So, I feel a certain familiarity with him, having spent so much time exploring what was in his head (at least the parts that made it on to paper). So, to me, he's "Winnie". No doubt he's turning in his grave right now!

I'm stepping out into a new chapter, and one of my favorite Churchill phrases has been playing over and over in my mind as I contemplate what lies behind me and what lies ahead: "This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."

Thanks, Winnie.

My favorite things

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens are sweet, and my favorite things are equally simple. It's the joy in the everyday that really moves me:

• warm, full hugs
• being met at the airport after a trip
• fresh flowers on my mantle
• the smell of sheets dried on a clothesline
• belly-laughs as a result of hanging with family and friends
• having rick reilly's column read to me

No white shoes after Labor Day, or What should I wear to the holiday party?

The classic rules of style have long been contested as people explore their own individuality and express it through clothes. Bowtie? Sure, bring it on. White shoes after labor day? Why not.

I'm not professing to be any kind of fashion maven, but I know what works for me. And, that's a good place to start, especially as the holiday season of parties is upon us:

Always be yourself. 

If you're comfortable in what you're wearing, it's age appropriate and it suits the occasion, you're going to feel confident. It's the Shakespearean "to thine own self be true, or it follows, as the night the day, thou canst be true to anyone" (or, more simply, 'always be yourself').

Don't follow trends.

Case in point: pirate shirt on Seinfeld. Nuff said.

Don't wear clothes that require a MySpace angle to look good on you.

Now, there are great blogs that dedicate themselves to following the antics of the Hollywood set. The rule of thumb here: If your outfit requires that you strike a Paris Hilton tilt down of the face or a Zoolander "Blue Steel" face contortion to pull off, it's not for you. And, even Corey Hart (gratuitous canadian reference there) shouldn't have been wearing sunglasses at night. Neither should you.

Ho-ho-hope everyone enjoys the holidays.