"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man (or woman -ls)." – Benjamin Franklin

Every New Year provides us the opportunity for fresh start—a blank slate so to speak or perhaps just a sense of hope for what’s to come.

2011 promises to be a big year. I mean we’re going to have a royal wedding not to mention my big brother’s getting hitched! And its proof we survived the first decade of a new century. (Y2What??)

Approaching a new year and a new decade gave me the opportunity to think about all that’s happened in my life. Take some time before 2011 and make a list of some noteworthy things that happened in the past ten years!

My Last 10 Years
Got my best time in 100 breststroke at state - Go Mustangs!
Graduated High School
Started College
Was in a John Deere educational video (haha)
Studied abroad in London - (woo London!)
Met my husband in Columbia, Missouri
Graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in Broadcast Journalism
Started my first “real” job at WIBW in Topeka Kansas
Covered my first huge story, following the Kansas National Guard organizing “ground zero” after Hurricane Katrina
Erik started Med School at Creighton
Moved to Omaha, Nebraska to be a reporter at KETV
Got married!
Went back to London for my honeymoon
Had my "lucky" birthday (7-7-07)
Met Desmond Tutu during a story
Started a new career in public relations at Creighton University Medical Center
Went to a Garth Brooks concert
Watched my best friend walk down the aisle
Erik graduated with an M.D.
Moved to Virginia
Started working at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello
Met Annie Leibovitz

Cheers to the next 10!

Perspective

Peering through the visor of a a motorcycle helmet
gives you a different view of the world around you.

Trees stretch taller to the sky,
red and yellow leaves glow
like lava in a cool wind whip of air.

Did you know in Crozet there’s a church,
that sits on a hill with green shutters,
and a school bell on a pole at the door,
waiting to welcome ghosts of the past?

‘For Sale’ signs tell stories of foreclosure,
or the promise of a new adventure,
while wood fences careen with hills
and Budweiser boxes scatter themselves
along the road, ditching their partying ways.

And on the back of the bike
you can see the world,
wiz by you in a flash.
Have you shut your eyes
and imagined the rocket blasting?
Or do you hug tight the driver for dear life?

Peering through the visor, a panoramic camera,
only you are the camera and your memory the film.

A little note about enthusiasm and where I get it from…

I once had a boss ask me how I was able to come back to work after a bad day with a smile on my face and an enthusiastic demeanor. He said to me, “There are times I was worried you’d put in your resignation letter, but then you’d come back in and be ready to tackle another day.”

I blame my mom for my hard work ethic, but also for my ability to turn around a tough situation. Sure, I may come home and act emotional and pout around, but then, a spark ignites! A little ember builds up inside: A Challenge.

When I’m down about something I often think back to a “difficult” assignment in 5th grade. I went to an elementary school where 98% of my classmate’s parents were extremely conservative. Our history teacher assigned us with a project to create poster presentation about a president, but we had to draw out of a hat the president we were going to report on.

The tension built as each person stepped up and pulled a name out. (Really tension? Okay fifth grade tension...remember how that felt?) I remember holding my breath and then feeling the tears burn my eyes when everyone laughed. I had pulled out the current president, Bill Clinton (I know funny now, considering I think he was a pretty great president).  At the time, I was humiliated, crushed, tortured, and over dramatic (no surprise there). I hated to be laughed at, not to mention, ‘how was a perfectionist supposed to do her job when there probably wasn’t very much information published yet?’

I came home, frustrated and embarrassed. My mom, (who I didn’t know at that time, was one of the 2% who voted for President Clinton in our community) quickly told me to put my chin up and get into the mini-van. We were headed to the library…and then another library, and then another one, until we had collected enough photo copies and notes to write a lifetime biography on the president.

Then it was off to the store to get the materials for the best, (excuse me French) “damn poster my fifth grade class had ever seen.” “If those kids are going to laugh, we’ll give them something to laugh about.” See where I get the fire? As for my project…it turned out to be the most beautiful and informative poster any fifth grade class had ever seen. I got an A+! We showed those skeptics! (Although now that I think about it, my teacher was a single, 40-something body builder… she probably was part of the 2% as well…).

The moral of the story “get back up again and knock their socks off!” I’m thankful for the awesome example my mom gave me that day and every day. It’s made me a better employee, friend and hopefully a mom someday!

Sidenote: Even we positive enthusiasts need a little encouragement every now and then. I stumbled across this interesting website today called monalle.com. It has a really cool article on how to keep being enthusiastic…. Just thought I’d share: http://www.monalle.com/enthusiasm-the-real-deal/

Spinach & Tomato Tortellini Soup

Soup for a Fall Day

Adapted from the Food Network Recipe

What you need:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1/2 cup minced onion (about 1/2 small onion)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 4 to 6 cups broth, chicken or vegetable
• 1 (14-ounce) can whole tomatoes, crushed through your fingers or coarsely chopped
• 1 (9-ounce) package fresh tortellini or 4 servings dried tortellini
• Coarse grained salt and cracked black pepper
• ½ Rotisserie chicken breast meat diced
• 10 ounces fresh or frozen spinach, defrosted and chopped
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, very loosely packed

Cook onion and garlic in olive oil for 5-7 minutes. Add chicken broth and tomatoes. Once boiling add tortellini, salt, pepper and chicken meat. Boil for 5 minutes then add spinach.

Add parmesan to individual bowls before serving.

Halloween Countdown

One of my favorite holidays!  It's not very often you get to dress up as someone else and eat junk food all night!

As we count down to Halloween... I wanted to announce my costume...  but you'll have to play my game :)

10. I'm mostly seen as a cartoon character. Born in 1968 in San Francisco. Who am I?

9.  My character is featured in books, television shows, cartoons and films ...she was once a good guy...but went bad...

8. My character has her own theme song...

7. My character has been to Baghdad and Buenos Aires...

Guessed by my friend Christina Naso! Carmen Sandiego!

The Stink on Stink Bugs

Since 2004, Google searches in Virginia have increased significantly for “stink bugs.” The top search after “stink bugs” is “kill stink bugs” and it doesn’t seem to be working. As I write this, there is a buzzing overhead that makes me cringe each time the little guy hits the light.

Stink bugs took over Virginia in September and they don’t seem to be headed anywhere soon. One recent incident (although highly amusing) caused a stink in our office, after my boss accidently faxed a stink bug.

Apparently, these little buggers were stowaways from China and they’re spreading like wild fire. They’re everywhere. Sometimes they sit and watch you patiently. When they feel like driving you buggy, they fly around you. When flying, their wings create an unmistakable buzzing sound, causing you to look up. They don’t bite or spread disease, but they stink!

A number of recent articles talk about the increase in stink bugs:

• http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/261337
• http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/43122/ 
• http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/09/22/beyond-bed-bugs-stink-bugs-seize-hold-of-mid-atlantic-states/ 
• Not as recent but interesting because this 2009 article talks about a Stink Bug Haters Group: http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2009/04/19/the-brown-marmorated-stink-bug-what-you-need-to-know/

Halloween Cosume Ideas 2010 - Brainstorming

Almost a month away and it's time to start thinking about Halloween costumes.  I'm brainstorming couples costumes:

Bristol and Levi:


Mario & Princess



Energizer Bunny & Battery (My friend Margo's idea)


Dwight & Angela


Barbie & GI Joe

Looking for a Halloween Costume for 2010?

Halloween in our house is a big deal – and we don’t even have kids yet! People tell us that we go all out on Halloween, but we think others need to dress up more! Superheros and childhood stars are big winners for us, so how do we top the costumes of the past? We’re open to suggestions!

Take a look at our costumes over the past 4 years:

Hermione (Harry Potter) and Clark Kent

Rainbow Bright and Johnny from Karate Kid



I even made a "sprite" purse

Batman and Robin

She-ra and He-man

Repurposed Ball Jars

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/guest-column-collecting-antique-ball-jars/



Ball jars have been around for more than 125 years. You’ve probably seen them used for canning or perhaps as a place to hold nails or tacks. Collectors try to snag up unique and colorful ball jars. They trade pictures and stories and try to guess the age of their collection on online forums and websites.



But now crafty home decorators are getting into the Ball jar fun. These antique mason jars are emerging as an innovative and “green” way to decorate. I first got interested in Ball jars after reading my friend’s blog: Dishing up Design. (Check out Jenny’s blog—for great recipes and design tips).

Look at this cool way of using the jars:

http://rodelleemarie.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html

Blue Ball jars make stylish vases, candle holders and accessories. Here is how I used them in my kitchen:

Apple Picking & Recipes

Apple picking at Carter Mountain Orchard, Charlottesville, VA

I love to pick apples and we’re lucky here in Charlottesville to have Carter Mountain Orchard so close! Just one mountain over from Monticello is the beautiful Carter’s Mountain Orchard where you can enjoy amazing views, delicious apple cider slushies and apple cider donuts—oh and you can pick apples too!

Carter Mountain Orchard

 

We picked Golden Delicous and Jonagold apples.

 

And now what to do with your apples!

 

Apple Pie with Butterscotch Crumble

Butterscotch Crumble Apple Pie

 

• 4 cups of sliced and peeled apples 
• 1 tsp of cinnamon 
• ½ tsp nutmeg 
• ½ tsp all spice 
• ¼ cup flour 
• ½ cup of sugar 
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Mix it all up and put into uncooked pie crust.

Bake covered with aluminum foil at 375 for 20 minutes

 

Melt over hot water 1 cup of butterscotch morsels with a ¼ cup of butter, continue stirring until melted and then mix in ¾ a cup flour and a dash of salt until crumbled.

Butterscotch crumble

 

Crumble over pie and bake at 375 for 25 minutes.

 

 

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

Baked Apple

 

Core an apple
Place in pan with 1/8 an inch of water.
Pour 1 tsp of cinnamon into middle of apple and then stuff with apples
Cover and bake at 375 for 40 minutes.

 

Guest Bathroom Redo!

before

After

Our guest bathroom as white and plain—and needed a little jazzing up!

Before

After

I painted the walls a dark chocolate color, added a new shower curtain (with the curved rod), new towels, and some decorations.

Before

After

Decoration idea for bathroom: Vase with wine corks (I stole this idea from my friend Amanda… and no we didn’t drink all of these—I asked one of the local wineries for their leftover corks.)

Before

After

Vase with corks

Painting: Find a flower or painting you like and do a similar painting (acrylic on a cheap canvas frame).


Painting



Polo at King Family Vineyards

Enjoy an incredible view during polo at King Family Vineyards.

The clear September sky melted with the green grass. The mountains stood present and picturesque. Horses neighed and people laughed. We turned an ordinary Sunday into a feature event with the help of King Family Vineyards and Roseland Polo.

Stomping the divots during polo match.

My parents came into town and my husband and I wanted to show them a good time. What better way than to sample some fabulous wines, in an incredibly scenic location while watching polo!



Polo at King Family Vineyards



The horses were tall, muscular and majestic. The crowd cheered, many of us not knowing all the rules, but we improvised.

Sampling wine before the polo match.

If you have a Sunday afternoon during the summer or early Fall, take a drive to King Family Vineyards. Park your car tailgate style, unpack some fold-up chairs, bring a sandwich (I recommend stopping at Bel Air Market on the way), do a wine tasting, buy a bottle and sink in to an enjoyable afternoon.

Wine tasting before polo at King Family Vineyards.

We preferred the 2007 Meritage (a Bordeaux style wine rich with tannins and full body taste) as we took action photos and shared cookies.

Cheer for your favorite team during polo.

Before you know it, the game will be over – but the memories last!

Have fun!