month in a nutshell

The month of April, almost over, was the busiest month for me, even though I thought last year this month was, when one of my favorite people got married.

Although I spend the month, rekindling family get togethers, bridal showers, business lunches and company after work happy hours, not to mention moving friends across the state,  I had enough time to think about what I foresee in the near future – meaning the next 6 months remaining for 2013, for myself.

I had set goals, like everyone else at the beginning of the year and one by one, the daily challenges, altered my course or direction.  However, I haven’t forgotten what I needed to do still and so, I wrap up this month with a laundry list of things yet to achieve.

1. Launch book to kindle and other electronic reading tools
2. Work with a personal trainer to sculpt my body
3. Manage a garage sale in an effort to downsize
4. Donate entire wardrobe and revamp my style
5. Travel with those near and dear to me – even for a week
6. Re-establish Sunday afternoon tea time with my mother
7. Consider renovating the bathroom
8. Open an Etsy account to sell my paintings.
9. Recharge my blog(s)
10. Partake in events surrounding the America’s Cup in San Francisco

starting the new year in muir woods

By the 31st of December, I was completely restless, sentimental and somewhat anxious for the day to end. I honestly can’t pint point the why behind the way I felt, but I just did. So with champagne toast in hand at almost midnight, I did my normal countdown to (now)  with Ryan Seacrest in New York and then after watching the after party show, I went to sleep

After sleeping in on New Year’s day and then driving home in heavy traffic, back to San Francisco, I decided that if the weather permitted, I would  spend  day two of the new year somewhere outdoors.

So, of course on January 2nd, when  I saw the sun shining  and the weather  unusually warm  for the season, we got in the car and drove up to  Muir Woods, just 40 miles or so North of San Francisco and spend the day walking about the beautiful redwoods, while my friends and I contemplated how we foresee the new year to be.

Actually, while they talked, I took photographs. Check out some of my favorites.

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The photographs are the property of http://www.rawsilkandsaffron.wordpress.com. Please do not borrow them without my consent. Thank you

inspirational woman over 40 – Ines de la Fressange

A woman who I have admired for a long time now, is of course a French fashion icon, Ines de la Fressange. I am not going to detail her bio on this blog entry, but will happily give you a link here  so that you can use it to get some background about her.

The interesting thing is that, she became well known around the fashion world as a result of her connection to Chanel throughout most of her 20s. Anyway, she had written a book a while back titled, Parisian Chic, which I have picked up and read from cover to cover, just so I can truly understand Parisian women, their style, even more so than I already do, in order to satisfy my obsession with the French lifestyle, culture, and fashion.

Of course the book validates the fact my core makeup and way of thinking and living  is French and I am very happy about that. The transition to living in France someday soon will be very easy for me.

So, check out the video here for a brief narrative of her book. Meanwhile here is the link if you are interested in buying or uploading her book.

springtime in san francisco

On Sunday when I went for my usual walk, I realized that the reason I appreciate Springtime in San Francisco so much, is because we usually miss out on a traditional  Summer in the city due to the heavy fog and cold weather.

Springtime in the city, is the only time, we actually experience  warm weather while the days are getting longer. I know we also have, what is famously known as Indian Summer in the Fall, here , but since Fall is normally a prelude to Winter, the days are shorter, so the feeling is not the same psychologically, if you know what I mean?

Anyway,  yesterday with Camera in hand, I took some photos of  the first signs of Spring around the city by the bay. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Happy Monday everyone!

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inspiration: outdoor special occasion table setting

Call me crazy but I am ready for Spring, although it isn’t officially Spring until around March 22nd, I am ready for it right now.

So, as I feel my stress level escalating to code orange from being cooped up indoors most of the day, I have decided to turn to my collection of outdoor special occasion table setting photos  to put a smile back on my face and give me a moment to daydream about Springtime.

If you feel like I do today, find something that inspires you  and take a moment to escape mentally.

healthy eating: chili with lentil

I found this amazing chili recipe here and wanted to share it with my readers. Most busy women appreciate making food in bulk in order to feed their family and have a little bit left over for lunch the next day.  But even if that isn’t the case in your household, you will appreciate the chili with lentil recipe below.

Just in case you are curious about the health benefits of lentil: It is a member of the legume family, which is highly recommended in healthy eating. Not only do lentils lower cholesterol, they  also manage blood-sugar disorders due to its high fiber content. Lentils also contain six important minerals, two B-vitamins, protein with virtually no fat.

So, next time you are in the mood for chili, consider my favorite legume, lentil instead of the usual beans chili is made with.

Serves 8
This simple vegetarian chili recipe uses lentils instead of beans. Brown lentils work best as they will hold their shape even when tender after cooking. Serve with our Health Starts Here hearth bread from our bakery.

Ingredients
8 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, divided
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 large red bell pepper, chopped
5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 teaspoons salt-free chili powder
1 (16-ounce) package brown lentils (about 2 1/4 cups lentils)
2 (15-ounce) cans no-salt-added diced tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Method
Bring 3/4 cup broth to a simmer in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and garlic and cook about 8 minutes or until onion is translucent and pepper is tender. Stir in chili powder and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add lentils, tomatoes and remaining 7 1/4 cups broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, partially covered, 30 minutes or until lentils are almost tender. Uncover and cook 10 minutes longer. Stir in cilantro and serve.

Nutrition

Per serving : 120 calories (5 from fat), 0g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 180mg sodium, 21g total carbohydrate (7g dietary fiber, 6g sugar), 6g protein

{photo: wholefoodsmarket.com}

valentine’s day romance – suggestion 3 – spa day

Cliche you might say, but couples over 40 tend to mostly dream or talk about a spa day, more so than actually do something about it. Either because, they are too busy or just, don’t consider to include it in their budget.

So don’t laugh when I suggest a couples spa day as a  Valentine’s Day gift for one another. Either the weekend before or on the actual day – again depending on work and kids. For example, just outside of San Francisco, in Napa and Sonoma county we have dozens of spas ranging in price and techniques to consider.  And although we  have them all over the bay area,  for some reason I feel on this special occasion, it is more romantic to go to the wine country and have a spa day then just around the corner from where I live.

However, planning for this day takes alot of work. A partner has to be willing to take the time to research and organize it in order to surprise their loved ones properly. Believe me the benefits from the spa day is most rewarding, especially before an s amazing dinner at a restaurant in the area (Napa or Sonoma in this case).

I have included a link here for your consideration (if you happen to be from the bay area) otherwise, I would love to hear from anyone with a list of suggestions from their part of the world.

french women manifesto – who knew

I know, I know you are probably getting sick of my French this and that, but if you are then please turn the page, otherwise sit tight and share with me cause there is plenty to write about.

According to the book French Women Don’t Get Fat (website) there is a manifesto to follow. I actually laughed when I read the list because most of the items listed are a clear description of what I stand for and believe in. So I suppose I am truly French at heart. . So here are some of my favorites

French women eat for pleasure.
French women eat with all five senses, allowing less to seem like more.
French women enjoy going to market.
French women do enjoy wine regularly, but with meals and only a glass (or maybe two).
French women eschew extreme temperatures in what they consume, and enjoy fruits and vegetables bursting with flavor at room temperature, at which they prefer their water, too.
French women get a kick from Champagne, as an aperitif or with food, and don’t need a special occasion to open a bottle.
French women typically think about good things to eat.  American women typically worry about bad things to eat.
French women know one can go far with a great haircut, a bottle of Champagne and a divine perfume.
French women honor mealtime rituals and never eat standing up or on the run.  Or in front of the TV.
French women love to sit at a café and do nothing but enjoy the moment.

sweaters for fall 2010 women over 40 can wear

http://www.anntaylor.com

Once the official transition takes place from Summer to Fall, meaning past the month of September to mid-October, I begin to feel the need to rearrange my closet in order to get a visual of all my sweaters. Then I go through them and decide which to toss and what to recycle for the upcoming fall season. At the same time, I shop online for the sweaters I would like to have and make my list in order to check them out at the store.

One of my favorite stores, and this has been on and off, is Ann Taylor/Ann Taylor Loft. The reason for the on and off is that for a while there it seemed the store or the company had lost it’s touch and appeal so I stayed away from it. But now, this year that is, the items on their online catalog (at least in picture) look great. That’s another thing, what looks good on print doesn’t necessarily look good in the store, so with list in hand I plan to visit the stores (after California’s  heat wave) in order to see first hand how, what I have selected would look on moi.

So, taking into consideration what is trendy this fall, I have selected items along the colors suggested for the woman over 40, as well as some colors I feel would work best with my skin tone and physical attributes:

Click On Links Below For My Choices

1. Cardigan with beaded pocket

2.Crossover V-Neck Sweater

3. Long Sleeve Turtleneck

4. Merino V-Neck Cardigan

5. Scoop Neck Sweater

Well, wish me luck and in the meantime drop me a line with your favorites for the fall 2010.

fashion nightmare for the woman over 40

As I walk through the mall and eyeball the fall collection slowly making its  way into the department stores and boutiques, I must say I am freaking out because I realize more and more that, what the fashion industry is churning out these days cannot possibly work well on the average woman over 40.

I mean sure there are amazing blouses, sweaters, pants and skirts and handbags and shoes that I dream of owning and wearing now but know that they are better fit for the woman under 40. Then I flip through magazines and watch fashion shows and realize more and more, no one is targeting to the woman over 40.

I don’t understand why that is so. I mean don’t we deserve trendy clothes and fashionable shoes at our age? Have we been overlooked because most women in their 40′s are either married with kids, divorced with kids, overweight, bulging in all the wrong places, or perhaps has let herself go for more reasons than one and not at all interested in looking her best? Not sure what the reason is, but either way it is unacceptable in my opinion.

Please don’t tell me there are specialty stores for the women over 40 because I have seen those as well and they are not trendy nor complement the figure or self-esteem of a woman over 40. They are just clothes, conservative and simple.

So, what is a woman in her 40s suppose to do to look and feel good without standing out for trying too hard?

According to what I have discovered, here is the buzz about what a woman over 40 should consider to looking trendy this fall (2010).

1. Consider incorporating the color gray into your outfits while making sure the shade is right for your skin tone. Compliment the gray with plum or a deep shade of red. I personally prefer charcoal for my skin tone and it works really well with most any blouse or sweater I own.

2. For pants go with the wide leg over the skinny because the wider bottoms tend to balance out a full-figured woman and compliment the super skinny ones as well. Just remember not to wear an overbearing top with the wide leg pants. Then it’s overkill.

3. Avoid chunky and oversized sweaters as if it were the plague. They do not compliment a full-figured woman and in a way date your fashion sense.

4. One piece of clothing to consider is patterned opaque hose. This is one fall trend that is okay for the woman over 40 to consider. Patterns, prints, fish nets and deep dark colors. I prefer wool skirt, stocking and ankle length boots.

5. As for accessories, try bold and heavy necklaces, rings and bracelet to accent this falls colors and heavy fabrics.

Hopefully these small suggestions will help carry us into spring and then it’s back to the drawing board. And remember don’t get discouraged, just drop me a line and we can talk about what options you should consider when shopping for a wardrobe.