Cheers, Keith and Kelly!

Break open the bubbly! Keith and Kelly are engaged!

Thank you, Ted

Watch - Short video about Ted Kennedy's life and legacy: http://video.nytimes.com/video/2009/08/26/us/politics/1194817110691/edward-m-kennedy-1932-2009.html?hp

Happy Birthday, Pop!

Happy Birthday, Pop!
Had a great time celebrating with you and Mom
this weekend at Se Cocina!

Food Adventures

While my sister Emily is living in Africa and literally slaughtering and feathering chickens for dinner (graphic but true), I am having my own food "adventure" here in Austin. No doubt less laborous, and presumebly less humbling an experience, Zac and I are finding some pretty tasty local bites. Simple comfort food was our choice last night (and, no suprise, I added a dessert stop on the way home):

Latest great find - Max's Wine Dive (www.maxswinedive.com/austin), said to be a "Hot 10" Wine Bar in the U.S. by Bon Appetit Magazine. Our choice last night: a burger piled high with brie, pickeled peppers and the biggest slice of tomato you can imagine, paired with a glass of Poema Cava bubbly (for me) and a Stella (for Zac). Local to Texas.

Another favorite find - The Yogurt Spot (http://www.theyogurtspotusa.com/), a do-it-yourself, pay-by-the-ounce place. I love their unique flavors (like green tea) and toppings (like grapefruit pieces). My fave: 1% fat burrr-berry (blueberry) yogurt with fresh strawberry topping. Best of all, you can taste every flavor for free! Local to Texas.

Africa to America - Em's Coming Home!

Emily with kids from the village.

Apparently there are two things they love dearly when it comes to Americans:
1) trying on your sunglasses and
2) getting their photo taken and immediately inspecting it
on the camera's little playback viewer.

Em wants to bring a couple friends home. :)

Can't wait to see you bud!
Excited about all the stories you'll bring back!

Attention Cat Lovers - This One Is for You

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofrSio_jZO0&feature=player_embedded

Watch and Listen: One in 8 Million

This is one of the best profile projects I've seen. Simply beautiful. Some of the profiles are extraordinarily ordinary while others are quite colorful! You'll get hooked, guaranteed: http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/nyregion/1-in-8-million/index.html

B is for Beth is for Bachelorette is for Bride

Last night the gals celebrated Beth's final days before marriage. Thanks to Anne for coordinating the fabulous festivities and congrats to the soon to be married B and Frank! Cheers, friends!

A Beautiful Thing

While in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area this week for work, my trusty GPS navigator got me from point A to B (... and then to C, to D, to E by way of C and back to A, etc.) with no problems! Although originally sceptical about this piece of machinery, I can say after numerous uses that it's a fabulous investment for anyone on the go in uncertain, or previously unnavigable, territory. Tip: Be sure to get the one that sits on the dash, otherwise you'll spend most of your time mid-drive catching the device as it loses suction from the windshield and comes crashing down (both terribly unsafe and anxiety inducing).

Watch: Sound of Music - Central Station Antwerp, Belgium

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k

Good Eats

Portabla's Garbanzo Bean Summer Salad: Delicious, unexpected and colorful!*

Kudos to Portabla (www.portabla.com/) once again. I'll always have a soft spot for this small local eatery on the corner of bustling West 6th. Zac wooed me once in the early days with their chicken tetrazzini take-out. :)

Here's the gist:
garbanzo beans
finely chopped red bell pepper
finely chopped celery
just a bit of finely chopped red onion
minced cilantro

corn
Mix ingredients. Chill and serve cold.

*This picture isn't the real deal, but it gives you an idea I guess. I was too much in love with the dish to stop eating long enough to take a picture to share. I vow to become a better food blogger very soon.

Finally, Rain

It finally rained today! If you know me, you know there aren't too many things I love more than a good rain storm. My umbrella took a trip to New Orleans with a friend so I had to make the trek from the office to my car without it. Not to worry, it was a lovely change of scenery! Best part of my work day? Being in a meeting room with a window (a rare occurrence, unfortunately) during part of the rain storm. I plan on sending my umbrella away on trips more often! :)

Purple Circles

I heard a story recently that referenced an author of a book about writing and grammar. (Wait! It gets better, I promise.) The storyteller explained that this author recommends editors and writers circle the good things in purple rather than strike through the bad things with red ink. This simple, yet somehow earth-shatteringly different idea instantly resonated with me and led me to this... the daring decision to start a blog. Who would have thought? Kate? A blog? (I must confess I saw Julia & Julie this weekend and it may have hastened my curiosity about keeping a blog.) But, it's simple really... I heard this story about a month ago - and yet, this idea of circling the good things in purple keeps coming back to me so I've decided to take it on as my mantra. That's right - my Mantra. I will give a nod to all things good and intriguing and leave the less favorable things behind, red ink included. So here I am, putting down my red pen and taking a conscious step to celebrate more fully the good, the grand and the mundane (yet simply wonderful) things in life.