recipes from san francisco

Need I say more?

a view from a san francisco native

As promised , well mostly to myself, I would share my Memorial Day weekend spent in San Francisco (for the first time in a long while since we always leave town) details with you. I must admit it wasn’t bad at all to stay local:

Day 1: Breakfast in Sausalito, Drive to Napa, Snapping photos while my other half drove  ;), Stopped at my favorite winery here. Spent the entire day picnic-ing, discussing life over a few glasses of wine, napping under a lemon tree, then as promised having my first barbecue dinner of the “Summer” season.

Day 2: Spent the entire day celebrating the Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary. Ate non stop from every food vendor/booth there was at the event, napped after a long walk along the coast. Listened to various bands perform live along the Marina and although it was freezing cold, we watched the fireworks no less. It was most memorable to say the least, and the most fun to say the most, well that is for us San Francisco natives.

Day 3:  I was determined to sleep in, then hang out  in an actual bookstore (the last of the few Barnes and Nobles in Corta Madera). I was there for hours on end thumbing through books and magazines.  This I terribly miss in the city and will make every effort to chase the retail bookstores wherever I go until they close them all down in lieu of e-books and  such

Happy Monday!

motivational writers corner

Since I spend all my spare time writing, whether it be my blog or the finishing touches of my book, I am always looking for ways to get inspired. Normally or until now, my desk is in front of a window overlooking the ocean, but lately I have considered creating an inspirational wall and having my desk face that wall.

Here is one I think would be interesting to duplicate with minor changes. The art pieces or photographs would be of Paris from the 19th century, I would incorporate my favorite quotes in frames along the edge of the desk and the chair would be reclining comfy.

reading recommends – book, nook and kindle

I can’t believe this. I have stayed away from reading recommends because I was trying to delay the inevitable. But more and more, people are switching over to the nook, kindle and every other gadget out there as their choice for reading  materials.

I get the craze, but I am sad to see the paperbacks and hardbacks slowly disappear along with mom and pop bookstores.  It was nice to stop staring at a computer screen for a few hours and be able to curl up on a bed or a couch and read an actual “book” but these are the times and those are our choices and although I am having a difficult time accepting it, I know eventually I will become a minority with the way I feel about it.

Anyway, here are some interesting books I discovered while shuffling through the gadget category. Let me know if you have read any of them and what you think or if you would consider reading any of them sometime in the near future.

miette – a san francisco treat

It is becoming almost impossible to stay cheery and upbeat with the weather we are having in San Francisco (as usual) this Summer. Getting bundled up is really not my favorite part of our Summers here and because of it I am always looking for ways to escape the gray and the cold.

Miette came to mind on friday as a pick me up, when I stepped out to lunch from my job. So  I walked over to the Ferry Building at the Market Street and treated myself to my favorite chocolate wafers (pictured above) with a cup of hot coco. Yes, hot coco in the middle of Summer. I must say, even if it was only for thirty minutes in the middle of the day, I felt really warm and fuzzy inside.

What I love is the fact I discovered they actually have a recipe book here and guess what, I am now a proud owner of a copy from Barnes and Nobles.

So, while you are visiting our wonderful city by the bay, step into the Ferry Building and look for this wonderful gem of a place and by all means do indulge.

 

best books written about paris or are they?

In reviewing the Guardian UK the other day, I came across an article with their list of top 10 books written about Paris. Of course, you know that immediately grabbed my interest, so I decided to share their suggestions in my blog and ask my readers for their opinion.

Are the suggested books the best books written about Paris? Has anyone read any of the books and what you thought about it? if the listed books are truly not the best, please feel free to make a recommendation.

embracing all things inspirational

Once in a while I have trouble, like everyone else, in getting going for a work week. I pout the entire weekend and by Sunday night, I am hyperventilating because I am once again obliged to carry out a regimented lifestyle for five days out of yet another week.

This is not to say I hate my job or anything, it’s just that I appreciate my freedom a great deal and wish I had the luxury to escape the norm more often than I can.

Anyway, knowing the much-needed break is nowhere in sight, I turn to some random photos of beautiful things for inspiration,  just to get me by for the week.  Hope you enjoy the slideshow and here’s  hoping for a smooth week.

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for the writer at heart – a desk and a chair

My Temporary Choice

I once read that small studio apartments are the most inspirational places for the writer at heart, and after thinking about it long and hard, I realized how true that was, even throughout history. Most well known writers, lived in studios, sometimes in Paris, while they wrote their books.

So, as I transition from my past life to the new one, I too have chosen to stay in a studio apartment for a bit in order to, let’s just say, realign my life and get focused on what I want to accomplish from it.  Besides, big houses and too many rooms are not a place for the artistic minded individuals (in my opinion)

In line with  the topic I have decided to write about in this entry, I decided to search for  photos of a desk and chair ensemble, to see what actually came to mind when I looked at them. What do you think? Enjoy the photos and have a wonderful weekend.

My Goal Choice

A Nice Choice

A Simple Choice

Not My Choice

A Business Choice

A screenplay writers choice

An Event Planners Choice

A Busy Moms choice

A Crafty Womans Choice

monday pick me up – parisian flare

I needed a little pick me up this morning and coffee just didn’t  do the trick for me. So here’s to visual pick me ups and knowing Paris is just a flight away. Enjoy the photographs and happy Monday to you all.

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recommended reads and e-books for springtime

I haven’t bought books for a while because I am toying with the idea of  ”e-booking” – but only for the novels and nothing else (Just in case you are wondering – cookbooks, photography and travel books, collectables I still want in hardcover form).

I don’t know, I am not sold on it yet, the e-booking thing, but either way I have made my list of books to read and recommend (above) for Springtime.

I would love to hear from those who have read the above books or if they recommend others.