A Reason To Celebrate

In 1995, the year I was married to Doug, an author introduced me to the idea that living a beautiful life was a matter of paying attention to life's daily rituals, observing meaningful ceremonies and finding occasions for celebrations. Without mindfulness on these moments, life can be just an endless stream of activities, obligations and duties. In this phase of my life, beautiful living is manifesting itself with lots of happy celebrations.

In my previous home in Naples, FL, I had begun to express the results of my years-long studies in beautiful living in the area of celebrating. The crab boil feast I threw for Doug's birthday was replete with foods to remind him of beloved summers spent in Rehoboth as a little boy: crab with butter, corn on the cob and lemon cake with chocolate frosting. I also hosted a periodic Ladies In night, author publishing parties and a Send Off luncheon just before moving to Texas.

Since getting to Texas, I am hosting Girls Night In about every couple of months. We had a cookout for Easter. I organized an evening out for my Pilates class to mark the completion of our 6 month program. Upcoming are Doug's 60th birthday party in May and a July publishing party for Deborah Ford, in honor of her fourth book, Bless His Heart, The GRITS Guide To Loving (Or Just Living With) Southern Men .

Saturday night we had our friends, Paul and Suzan Newkirk, over for an Italian Bon Voyage dinner. They are heading to Italy in May, where their tour will include visits to Rome and Venice. Since Italy is a place Doug and I are passionate about, the dinner was a joy to put together. I selected Tuscan wines and the Newkirks contributed an Orvieto. I altered a lasagna filling to stuff bell peppers, making a more healthy dish. We had an Insalata Misto drizzled with 12 yr old Balsamic vinegar from Modena that we brought back from Italy 5 years ago. I added some steamed broccoli to Giada De Laurentiis' Lemon Spaghetti . For dessert, we served Pistachio and Chocolate-Hazelnut gelato and Amaretti cookies, with a little Sambuca! The table was dressed with white plates and napkins on a red/white checkered tablecloth, Italian bistro style. We played selections of Andrea Bocelli, Putumayo Presents Mediterranean Odyssey and Pavarotti. We gifted the Newkirks with our favorite MapEasy guide maps.

This is not something I would have put together even a few years ago. It simply would not have occurred to me. Now I see what the author saw, that we have a cause for celebration every day!
I used to think I had to be as talented as my friend, Kimberly Bean, at throwing a party. I am now inspired by her and tweak events to fit my own personality and abilities.

At the Southern Lady Conference two years ago, one of the speakers gave some helpful advice:

1. Find a reason to celebrate and get organized.
2. Develop your theme and determine your budget.
3. Decide what type of party and location.
4. Make your guest list.
5. Select your vendors.
6. Enjoy the party and celebrate.

For each event, I now create a project worksheet. I categorize Invitees, Theme, Decor, Print/Electronic Materials, Menu and Party Favors. For my next Girls Night In, my Theme is Andalusi Dance (I arranged for a 45 min lesson with a great teacher), my Decor will remind one of Flamenco red with rose blooms and music entitled Obsession and Tabu, my Printing is my invitation to set the tone of the evening, my Party Favor is a Spanish fan and my Menu will be Tapas and Tinto de Verano, a Sangria like preparation we had in Seville. I supplement my project worksheet with a shopping list and time line for the day of the party.

Your reason to celebrate can come from anywhere. Victoria Moran used to throw a Mozart's birthday party with her daughter, Adair. The speaker held a fabulous "It's A Dog's Day", where pets and their owners celebrated that special relationship. Our new friends, the Golightlys, threw a dinner in our honor to introduce us to more San Antonians, where we met the delightful Richard and Carla Veliz. Notice what's important to your friends and let that serve as the motivation for an occasion. Certainly don't let the days special to you and your family pass without some marking of the milestone. It doesn't have to be elaborate, just designed with fun and creativity in mind.

Milestones And Mentors

My daughter and I are completing important stages in our lives. We are both also blessed to have the guidance and supervision of a great woman.

Jessica is now working out her remaining few weeks at the Center For The Study Of The Presidency. During her employment there, Jessica has formed a special bond with Mary O' Connor. They work together on projects during the day but can also be found enjoying each other's company during dinner on a Saturday night. When they are together, you would never guess from their affinity for each another that decades separate them.

Mary is one of the amazing ones. She has boundless energy, a sharp mind and a quick laugh. You can't help but admire how much she can get done. Like Jessica, she is politically and charitably minded.

Mary has wholeheartedly supported Jessica's decision to vacate her position and enter a Master's program. In fact, Jessica is renting an Athens two bedroom bungalow from Mary's girlfriend! I know they have made a lifelong friend in one another. I hope they have an opportunity to work together once again in the future.
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I have successfully completed Ron Fletcher's Program Of Study, Level 1. Pat Guyton is my Teacher Extraordinaire. Like Mary O'Connor, she is tireless and highly intelligent. She is a little tougher on the exterior, but underneath the surface Pat has a deeply loving nature. Her life's mission is to teacher teachers and I must agree that this is her gift. On top of all this, she has the hottest body I have seen on a woman approaching 60, as you can see from her photo!

From my recent testing, Pat has ascertained which teaching skills could use more development. It will not be about movement drills or choreography so much anymore. I discovered from her that I have to answer the question about the kind of Pilates teacher I want to be. With that, comes finding the best venue for my talents and capabilities. At this time in my life, it is a wonderful feeling to trust that I am in the right place, doing the right thing, learning from the right person for becoming who I am meant to be.

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It is my believe that we should take a pause as we pass the markers of our life's accomplishments. Otherwise, it feels as if we are always climbing the mountain without ever reaching its peak. Jessica's time in DC and at the Center has been filled with opportunities, maturing and growth. She feels as if she has extracted all that she can from the experience and now excitedly embraces what is next. Not surprisingly, Mary is holding a party in Jessica's honor before her move. I feel jubilant about Pat's willingness to mentor me and I look forward to discovering what this is all leading to. I will mark the occasion by entering Level 2 of my program and devoting my energies to non-Pilates concerns like Andalusi dance, a Bless His Heart publishing party and a Maui vacation. The progress that Jessica and I have made has been full of rewards and we are indebted to the caring, giving masters that have lead us along our way.

A New Chapter

I recently had dinner with Alexandra Stoddard; author, lifestyle philosopher and friend. Doug and I took her to a little bistro a few blocks away from the Riverwalk. It is the first visit we've had with Alexandra since moving to San Antonio.

Alexandra wanted to hear all about our life here. We assured her that we were both finding our relocation to have been the right thing for us. We are honored to have made friends with some wonderful people. We are happy in our new residence. We are thrilled to have found one of our favorite ministers at a church outside San Antonio. I could not have found a more suitable environment and fellowship than in the studio where I study and teach Pilates. Doug spoke to her about Saturday morning motorcycle rides in the Hill Country and his investment studies.

Alexandra and Peter are in a similar state of transitioning. We rejoiced in our freedom to make our choices, to move on, to open a new chapter with time alive. These are all themes that Alexandra has written and spoke about for many years. I can attest that she walks her talk.

Alexandra is working feverishly on Happiness For Two: 75 Ways for Lovers to Find More Joy Together to meet her publisher's deadline for publication in time for Valentine's Day 2008. I did not let her get away without a little scheming about how to bring her back to Texas. Fellow friend and blogger, Tammy Kanicka, and I are researching inns in Texas where a Happiness Weekend could be held. With Helen Rodriguez and others we hope to recruit, there are likely to be luncheons, cocktail parties and book signings in the next year as well.

Alexandra once wrote, "One way to connect is to reach out to someone you admire." If I had not attended her book signings and written that note of gratitude for her work, I would not have her as my dear friend today. Surely part of a good life is taking steps to acknowledge those we admire, and if we're lucky, making special connections with them. Take time this month to write a note to a writer, speaker or an acquaintance that have qualities you look up to, letting them know the impact they have made on you. Who knows what it might lead to.

Mustard Seeds vs Mountains

"For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."
Matthew 17:20

"Everything is possible for him who believes."
Mark 9:23

Crucifix, Great Mosque of Cordova, Spain


Doug and I were pointed to a crucial element in the story of the Resurrection: faith. And that we are not always required to have an incredible amount of faith. Faith is so powerful that even the tiniest amount, say the size of a hardly-visible mustard seed, can yield the ability to do what appears to be unsurmountable to us, like that of moving a mountain. Today, The Secret teaches us to believe and we are directed to find an unwavering faith. These lessons warrant contemplation from me.

Easter is not only a time of spiritual observance but a time to celebrate Spring's arrival, a season of birth and renewal. We were inspired to reconnect with friends we haven't seen as much of as we would like so we hosted them for a cookout.

My friend, Alexandra, teaches us that our daily homemaking and entertaining activities can become mindful meditations and be elevated to spiritual practices. I also think Jack Cornfield was leading to a similar conclusion in, After The Ecstacy, The Laundry. A pleasant meal with friends can be an opportunity for small acts of worship among menial tasks involved in its preparation (writing that we should prepare every meal as thoughtfully as we would if Jesus were coming to dinner). Some mustard seeds in the steak marinade to remind one that things aren't as impossible as they might seem, a few sprigs of rosemary to symbolize our remembrance of the Father in the Son, the Son in the Father, and the Son living on in each of us.

EASTER COOKOUT RECIPES

PARMESAN TOASTS
1 baguette loaf
6 oz Parmigianno Reggiano cheese, shredded
olive oil
Slice rounds of baguette canape size. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle liberally with cheese. Broil until bread toasts and cheese is bubbly, 2-3 minutes.

ROASTED SHRIMP by Ina Garten
SHRIMP SAUCE by Ina Garten
GRILLED RIBEYES by Giada De Laurentiis
with Marinade and Gorgonzola Sauce
GRILLED MILD ITALIAN SAUSAGES
Pre-grilling poaching method by Michael Chiarello

SPRING VEGETABLE POUCH
2 zucchini in half moon slices
2 yellow squash in half moon slices
1 carton cherry tomatoes, whole
1 package baby portabello mushrooms, quartered
2 lemons, sliced
6 cloves garlic, whole
1 medium shallot, sliced
4 springs rosemary
olive oil
salt and pepper
1 large sheet aluminum foil

In large bowl, mix all vegetables together with the lemon and garlic. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. To make foil pouch, cut a double length of aluminum foil. Fold the foil in the center. Lay foil out flat and place vegetable mixture to the rightof the fold. Add rosemary sprigs. Seal the sides, then the end with double folds. Place on grill on high heat for 12-15 min or in oven at 450 for the same.

ARUGULA AND ROASTER RED PEPPER SALAD by Giada De Laurentiis
SEASONED RICE from Carla Veliz
FRESH FRUIT PLATTERS from Aida Zorrilla
PEACH PIE by Paul Newkirk











Ricardo and Rebecca Veliz
Post stair circuits and crafting
bunny faces and Easter boxes!

Cancun, April 2007

After my last Pilates session on Friday, Doug and I hopped a Continental flight bound to Cancun, Mexico. It has been many months since we have been able to enjoy time at the ocean. Once my employer announced I could get the weekend off a couple of weeks ago, Doug immediately set about booking our trip.




Ritz Carlton, Cancun
Some of my best hotel experiences have been at Ritz Carltons so I have dreamed of visiting this one for a while. We were met with a Pina Colada at check in. We rewarded ourselves with an oceanfront room with a small balcony. The main areas are in a French 18-19th Century, which is surprising since there is some really beautiful Spanish architecuture to inspire them. Our plan was to stay at the resort our entire trip. I will say the service was so impeccable as to be near perfect.


Culinary Center
Onsite at the hotel, is a Viking equipped kitchen where cooking lessons are taught. This is really my thing but Doug joined the class as well. Our host Chef was perfectly suited for his job - a great chef with a lot of personality. Our class was the Mexican BBQ and we learned how to make the best Margarita I have ever tasted. When we returned to our room from feasting on our dishes, we had received a thoughtful gift from Frank and Maggie (aka Snake and Petunia). We plan on hosting them and preparing the menu of that day. (Frank is a Texas Mexi-American and will finally delight in a meal placed before him with something he recognizes - he has barely recovered from couscous and panini!)


MARGARITAS
1 3/4 cups Tequila
1/4 cup orange liquer
1 cup water
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/3 cup sugar
1 tea lime zest
1/3 cup coarse sea salt
lime wedges

Mix all ingredients into a blender with ice. Spread salt on a shallow dish. Rub the rims of 4 glasses with a cut side of lime wedge and dip each glass rim in the salt, shaking off the excess.
Add Margarita mixture to glass, decorate with lime wedge in and serve.

Chef Rory Dunaway - Chef de Cuisine, Culinary Center at Ritz Carlton, Cancun

Club Grill
We splurged one evening on a sumptuous meal. The splurge was not in terms of dollars but rather in terms of calories! I started with a Frisee salad that had pears sliced paper thin and made into a chips, walnut praline sauce and blue cheese dressings. Doug had a Lobster cream soup with an avocado puree. We shared a lamb entree. We drank Beringer´s Founders Estate Merlot. The amazing part is the grill has a Souffle menu. We had the Chocolate, with a chocolate and vanilla sauce. We practically scraped the bowl. We even took a few spins on the dance floor, most memorably to the tune, The Way You Look Tonight.

We made the ubiquitous appointments at the resort's Kayanta Spa. I got in some Pilates Matwork , while Doug hit the Elliptical. We kept to our goal to remain at the resort with one exception - a long walk to Starbucks on our last morning. Walks at the shoreline and a little frolicking in the water rounded out our weekend.

This was my second trip to Cancun. The first was made in my mid-twenties with great pal, Kenny Martin. Doug and I had a few laughs as I reminisced about Kenny and that trip: working his nerves about what he was doing with his dirty underwear, his theft of my Pepto-Bismal, short skirt and braless and the word, whoredog.

Just the break a girl living in Texas, raised in North Florida, needed.