January Photos

Some post-Christmas and pre-Sundance photos

Mom, Dad, me, and Jarrod at my place in California


Amy, Julie, and me at Lucky 13 in Minnesota celebrating Julie's 35th birthday

Amy and me sharing a Little Lucky cocktail

Kelsey and me at Chino Latino in Minnesota

Flanery cousins outside of Chino Latino waiting for the valet...

Back- Jodi, Erinn, Heidi, Carrie

Front- Kelsey, Maggie, Darien

Random Thoughts

Home after a 3-day meeting in San Jose... laughing out loud at random thoughts with my little brother....

While watching The Biggest Loser....
Me: Wow- his boobs are bigger than mine!?
He: Well, I hope so, he weighs 500 pounds!
Just made me laugh

Do you know about Google Text???
My work buddy Jennifer Boyes taught me...
Text the name of any location to 46645 and sent back you will receive the address and phone number
I LOVE this!
Hmmm... maybe google text can locate me a HUSBAND!!!???

Have you seen the new edible slippers?
Seriously. Not kidding. That's just plain gross.
Well, those you who think edible undies are ok, just might....

Did you hear about Tiger Woods?

Celebrity News I just don't get...
Jessica Simpson and Billy Corrigan??
If I hear "the most dramatic rose ceremony ever..." one more time...
Can you remind me WHY the Kardashians are famous?
Why does Charlie Sheen have to be such a creep when he is SO GOOD on Two and a Half Men??? I can't get enough of his one-liners
Does anyone know what Matt LeBlanc is doing these days???

Hmmm... these are the things that keep me up at night. Rough life. I know.
Ta-ta for now my friends.

What is YOUR Favorite restaurant?

Well, I have food on the brain this morning (Ok, when DON'T I have food on the brain???) I believe today it's because I am reminiscing about an exceptional dinner I had a few night ago at my overall favorite... Purple Sage in Park City, Utah.

These thoughts of tantalizing morsels and yummy libations caused my taste buds to stir and my mouth to water (the coffee and Special K are just not doing it for me this fine morning...) and I thought it best to blog about my favorite establishments that I frequent as I travel for work (and fun too).

Best place to start is Purple Sage of course. Here they are and a little bit about each:

1. Purple Sage, Park City, UT www.purplesageparkcity.com
2. Ciao Bella, Minneapolis, MN www.ciaobellamn.com
3. 50 Plates, Portland, OR www.50plates.com
4. Va Da Vi, Walnut Creek, CA www.vadevi.com
5. Purple, Seattle, WA www.thepurplecafe.com
6. Lucy, Denver, CO www.lucyrestaurant.com
7. Yabba Island Grill, Naples, FL www.yabbaislandgrill.com

I will give you fine readers a few of my favorites should you venture to each place and no, I am NOT being paid under the table (nice pun) by these establishments.

Purple Sage- Cheese and bison fondue, blue cheese potato chips, pork tenderloin, steak frites, Purple Sage Martini, and last but not least, butterscotch pudding for dessert. This place is simply scrumptious. Main Street- hidden and hard to find aside from the big piece of gray sage hanging over the door as you enter.

Ciao Bella- Parmesan crusted shrimp (order the large because the small just won't do), any flat bread the offer, and the basic filet mignon and fries are a hit (although I often substitute the fries for butternut squash- yum!), and nice wine list. This may be the Best Buy second home, but I still love it- and the patio is great in the summer.

50 Plates- Dirty Rice beignets (aka rice balls), although they are not that great, just for fun you MUST try the Cheese Poofs, a wide variety of entrees are excellent (hence the term 50 plates), but my favorite is the dessert menu which includes coconut cream cake, banana cream pie, and many other sinful offerings.

Va De Vi- Small plate offerings that fill you up quickly. A few of my best selections are cheese plates, butternut squash ravioli, pommes frites, hanger steak, anything they make with lump shrimp, wine flights, and to end, the dessert sampler- focus on the profiteroles. If you can sit outside by the big tree covered in lights, you have hit the jackpot.

Purple- Another small plate joint like Va De Vi... exceptional wine list with wine and cheese flights, any salad they offer, and small sandwiches- BLTA is great. I also love the decor- heavy tables and chairs with unique table settings.

Lucy- This place may be hard to find, but once you see the pretty red shiny decor, you can't miss it. Love the cocktails, soups, burger, and mac & cheese. This one may surprise you, but I have become a huge fan with 3 visits over the past year.

Yabba- This one is simple. Any grilled fish (they have many to choose from) and the extensive cocktail menu. That about says it all- and of course what is there NOT to like about Naples, Florida???

For you foodies out there, hope you find this intriguing. Upon your travels, check 'em out. And don't forget to head to the gym after you indulge. Enjoy my friends. Happy eating.

A Few Christmas in MN Photos

Christmas at Skylane's Bowling.... The weekend before Christmas in Minnesota... Brrrr..

#1- Some of the gang bowling
#2- Andi and me
#3- Dad, me, and Mom
#4- Eve, me, and Erica
#5- The Flanery cousins (minus Jarrod who was at home in Cali)

Fun times had by all- but some better bowlers than others!!! :)

I'm Backkkkk...

I must confess, I allowed the hectic holiday season to take over my "normal life" (normal, what normal???) and I did not update my blog for over 45 days. I am sure my 3 followers (ha!) are distraught. So, here I am again just 2 days into 2010. Completed my weekend to-do list, watching "Julie & Julia" on DVD, and eating "Favorite Red Starbursts". Did you know they sell a bag of Favorite Reds ONLY? Great idea candy people! How fascinating!

Anyway, I digress from the point of my entry. This one, thanks to Mom, she said I MUST write about this. Theme: 2 movie theatre events. Seriously, these 2 things did happen 2 days in a row. Ask Mom.

Event Number 1: Pleasant Hill, December 27, Up in the Air
Scene- busy theatre, arrived early to get seats, but it was getting full. No 2 seats together. In the back row, 2 seats open on either side of a couple. Here is how it went:
Mom: "By any chance would you mind moving over 1 so we could sit together as well?" (In a very nice tone)
Ugly, mean, fat, old lady: "Actually, I would mind and I won't move"
Mom: (stunned), "Oh. Ok."
Nice man down the row leaning forward: "Seriously? Did she really just say she would not move? How rude! The nerve of some people!"
Another solo woman: "I will move. That is what nice people do."

Wow. It was not like there was a ton of open seats and no one was going to take these seats. I agree with the random nice man... How rude can some people be??? I mean, it is the holiday season and all...

Event Number 2: Pleasant Hill, December 28, It's Complicated (WARNING: Explicit language ahead...)
Scene- arrived early again and not as busy this day. Mom and I seated in the back waiting for the fun previews to begin. "Santa Claus on crack" came in with a 5th of whiskey in one hand and a big wiener (ok, hotdog) in the other. While getting situated, a couple tried to sneak past to go to open seats, he became angry, and as soon as they sat.... he yelled at them...
COCK SUCKER!!!!

Ok, not really sure WHY the couple appeared as cock suckers, but it was funny. It gets worse...
In the middle of the movie, Oprah appears on scene. Crack Santa then yells.... N#g*r Bitch! (You get the gist, I refuse to type the N word). Wow again. Mom and I stifled our laughter for the rest of the film as we were afraid as to what Mr. Crack might say to us.

Hmmm... I would like to see a few other movies--- maybe "Did You Hear About the Morgans?" but I am afraid of what I may encounter... Oh well, I may just have to give it a shot. Wish me luck!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!! More entries to come soon...

Final Australia- Part 6

How sad that this is the last Australia photo posting... Saving the best for last (well, not really... just the last taken)

#1- Me pretending to be the wine expert at Yellow Bistro in Sydney
#2- Shannon being the pastry chef
#3- Me under the Harbour Bridge and flowering trees
#4- Hamilton Island at One Tree Hill (no, not the same as the CW teen angst drama...)
#5- Hamilton Island wharf shot

It's over... back to reality... But 60 days til SUNDANCE 2010!!! :)

Australia Part 5- Sydney!

Our sight-seeing and shopping day in Sydney!

#1- Harbour Bridge and Opera House as seen from the botanical gardens
#2- Me at The Rocks Cafe in.. of course.. The Rocks portion of Sydney--- lunch followed by shopping at the market
#3- Shannon and the bridge
#4- "Local" musicians at Circular Key where the ferries depart
#5- And a trip is not a vacation without me locating a cupcake bakery... this is was called The Cupcake Bakery (I know...) on George Street

Just keeps getting better and better...

Australia Part 4- More Hamilton Island and Start of Sydney!

Last pics from Hamilton Island and the start of Sydney... About 3 days left on the trip...

#1- Cockle Bay Wharf in Darling Harbour (we are staying right outside of this pic)
#2- View from above- our beach on Hamilton Island
#3- Our "Dirty Dancing" bungalows that acted as our accommodations for 3 nights... Loved having our own private digs
#4- Shannon and me on our "buggy"- remember, no cars on the island; just golf carts
#5- Out for a yummy seafood dinner on our last night on the island

Australia Part 3- Hamilton Island

Here are pics from Hamilton Island- Great Barrier Reef area of Australia- the Island is small, but wonderful- no cars- only golf carts- and 5-6 restaurants/bars total. Lots of fun, sun, boating, cocktails, etc. Oh- and much relaxing...

#1- View from the marina "downtown" Hamilton Island
#2- Me enjoying one of many refreshing island cocktails- I think this one is Dr Funk
#3- Our pool bar- The Island Bar, at the Reef Hotel- we are staying in a personal "bungalow" that really reminds me of the staff quarters in Dirty Dancing... I keep hearing "She's like the wind..." in my dreams
#4- Shannon and me entering Hook Island on a boat- do we look happy, or what!?
#5- Me on the bridge to Hook Island

Australian Wedding (Part 2)

Ok, I did not take many photos at the wedding, but here are 2...

#1- Me stoking the biggest fire ever.... In the barn at Emu Bottom homestead (as I stated on Facebook, I really just like saying "Emu Bottom")

#2- Shannon and Jude (the bride after COUNTLESS flutes of champagne)

Fun! Congrats Jude and Adam--- my first Australian wedding!