Stay Tuned ... In

(Heart-breaking cake of staggering cholesterol.)

In an ideal world, it wouldn't still be raining, and I'd have the energy to be working out some creative project. Instead, I'm waiting for the rain to stop and I'm drained after a long day of sitting in Atlanta traffic and staring at a computer screen. In fact, it's actually been fairly productive start to my week.

The other day I was asked to help develop some kid-friendly heart healthy meals/snacks for a segment of TBS' Dinner and a Makeover. They're featuring Chris' mother's nonprofit organization the Queen of Hearts Foundation and will be preparing the recipes for a show that will tape in December.

"Can you have it done by Monday?" his mother asked.
"This Monday?"
"Yes," she said.
"Sure."

And so, come Sunday, I hadn't come up with anything. After sending an email to several friends who have tots ranging from age one to five, however, I had a little more perspective on what kids are eating today. What surprised me the most was that several of my friends' kids love things many adults have never tried, i.e. curry, quinoa, tofu, and soy milk. Knowing this reconfirmed the fact that I have a wonderful bunch of forward-thinking friends. You are what you eat after all.

So what recipes did I come up with? Stay tuned... We're testing them this weekend.

Tea Time

I've been in a whimsical mood, so now that the house is in order (the public part of it anyway) , I've begun to collect fun things for Christmas. My new favorite place to shop is Devonshire, a store in Brookhaven (just off Dresden near Peachtree Rd) that specializes in home furnishings and gifts. Although I've decided against putting up a tree this year -- we're still in the middle of home projects -- I'm picking up a few things to fill the house with holiday cheer. Continuing in the twig theme, we'll have a small twig Christmas tree.

Tea Time

(Briochin - Sexing Up House Cleaning)

It feels like 6 o'clock in the evening thanks to the time change. Alas, I'm late posting the weekly Tea Time link so here goes...

This week's comes from my boss at Houser Walker who shared with me the eye candy found on a package design blog. Why a package design site? These designers make even the most mundane of household chores seem glamorous. Oui! Oui!

Booth Be Gone

(The booth where it all began.)

I'm feeling a pang of regret. I just posted for sale on Craigslist the booth that used to be our dining room seating. Chris had it custom made a few years ago, and while I thought it was a nice piece, we both agreed it no longer fits the space. So why do I feel bad about it selling it? This was the booth where Chris and I had our first date.

Falling for Words

It's time I confess. I already did so sitting with A. in a boutique candy shop in New Orleans, but I need to air it publicly. In the midst of moving, I've put my writing projects on hold. So affected by my surroundings, I found it imperative to shape parts of my new home to also somehow reflect me. The last few months have been productive. The bathroom is nearly complete, and we're making headway with some other maintenance work to the house long overdue. My things sit in familiar arrangements, and every once in a while I discover an old object from a box I decided to finally unpack.

Every Thursday night my cycling instructor shouts out at me (and to the class), "Where do you see yourself tomorrow?" I take her question seriously while I pedal furiously on my stationary bike. Maybe a few years ago I would have thought what I'm doing right now is like what I do in class spinning my wheels. But with experience backing me (and moving me forward), I've realized that even the little things we change or the small challenges we resolve enable us to grow.

There are two big writing projects I've been romancing the last two years, and now that I feel comfortable (comfort is the key) in my new home, it's time to fully realize them. Some of you know that one of the projects is about Thacker Mountain Radio, the show I produced for some time and wrote about for my Master's thesis. An editor is patiently waiting for the manuscript. The other is the makings of a book I think a lot of people will get. I don't want to disclose too much, so I'll tell you that it's about feeding people. It's a story I've had in me for a long time and certain things had to happen before I could even begin to shape it in words.

They say that sometimes falling in love is all about timing. Writing is the same way and I'm glad I am no longer fighting this notion.

Today's To-Do List

Dog Food
Milk
Oatmeal
Granola Bars
Sink?
Meat (Chicken /Fish)
Swifter
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Dry cleaning
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Home - call KitchenAid
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Lowe's
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Gym

Tea Time

(Tree Gold)

We ran around all weekend, mostly in north Georgia where we went to our friend's wedding in Big Canoe. Sadly, we were there for less than 24 hours, but it was long enough to take in breathtaking mountain vistas and Fall's gift of the colors ochre and red ochre. Apparently ochre is the earliest color known to man, which might explain the whimsy I feel when taking in its beauty. Red ochre has often been used in rituals to symbolize blood and rebirth. But I like the color best on my lips for a night out of dinner and dancing.

This week's Tea Time post was something I stumbled upon and immediately let out a giggle. My favorite line:

'In 1650 Blaise Pascal turned away from his studies in mathematics to contemplate the “greatness and the misery of man.” He decided, ”Most of the evils of life arise from man’s being unable to sit still in a room.” It only follows then that lying in bed must be a virtue.'