Decorative Boxes

It's My Pleasure...

I love going to the Home Goods store. They have so many amazing unique things for the home at really great prices!  One of my favorite things to look at (and sometimes buy) is their decorative boxes.  When you add together my background training in Interior Design, my love (okay, more like obsession) with organization and my slightly OCD personality, decorative boxes are my BFF!  Hmmm...I probably need more human friends and less boxes in my life but I find boxes make really good listeners.  Anyway...I found the most amazing decorative box this week...It's a JEWELRY BOX!!!  So beautiful and exactly what I needed.  It took some convincing my husband that I really needed another box but now it sits on my dresser looking even more lovely than the jewelry that sits inside of it.  Ahh...sweet contentment!

Vino Milkshakes

It's My Pleasure...

So, I've recently gotten into a bit of experimentaion with my wine and ice cream.  I think these are the kind of milkshakes they will be serving in heaven.  My most recent concoction is mixing chocolate port with vanilla ice cream (or frozen yogurt), milk and a pack of hot chocolate.  There are several other varieties that are just as yummy.  I personally think red wines work best because they give a little more depth (and kick) to the shake.  I like to save my white wines and sparkling wines to make ice cream floats.  That's a whole other story...

Exercise

It's My Pleasure...
I've always been a fan of exercise and I've done it consistently since my college days.  These days I've really gotten into the Ellen Barrett Studio program.  It combines several of my favorite forms of exercise...pilates, yoga, ballet, cardio and some weights into one workout that leaves me feeling absolutely amazing afterwards.  It seems so effortless while I'm doing it and yet the results have been better for me than a lot of routines I've done in the past. I just love that feeling that I've accomplished so much in just 45 minutes!

Jazz

It's My Pleasure...

I've become a big fan of jazz ever since my honeymoon in Napa three years ago. We stayed at the lovely Milliken Creek Inn and every night with turn down service they would turn on a jazz c.d.  My husband and I fell in love with it and had to have it! It turned out to be Jacqui Naylor's first c.d.  We purchased it immediately and have been big fans ever since. My hubby surprised me this year and we saw Jacqui perform in person in San Francisco.  It was amazing!

Rose Water

It's My Pleasure...

I love rose water. I spray it on my face when I wake up in the morning.  I add it to my Arizona Green Tea, Champagne or even milk.  It makes me feel tres femme.  I'm always looking for new recipes using it for cocktails, food, health and beauty.  Please share if you have any ideas!

Wine and Chocolat


It's My Pleasure...


Watching the movie "Chocolat" with a glass of wine and some chocolate. What a delicious combination! I've just found the most amazing wine that I will be having the next time I watch this movie.  It's called "Trentadue Chocolate Amore" and it's a chocolate port wine. So amazing!  I'm going to pair it with some Godiva chocolate and some Johnny Depp and we're good to go!

"Joie de Vivre"

I'm on a mission to enjoy my life.  It's not always an easy thing to do.  But I am determined to live in the moment and recognize the little things in life that give me pleasure.  It's sad that in America we call these things "guilty pleasures".  Why do we have to feel guilty about the things that bring us sheer bliss?  I much prefer the European way of thinking..the "joie de vivre".