FitFlop - Gym Built In

I gave Doug a good laugh this week. I had just opened my newly arrived FitFlops from Bliss and was modeling them for him. I explained the shoes would give me a workout. It was a really hearty laugh.

FitFlops reportedly exert 10-12% more muscle activiation over other footwear. Advertising promises to "tone your butt, thighs and calves." The shoes are an Oprah Favorite for Summer 2008. Heidi Klum is pitching them. I can't wait to get Doug the male version.

He can laugh. I can feel my legs and butt working. Maybe it's a placebo effect. He did say they were a lovely shoe. At $49, it was an offer too good to resist. Frankly, the flipflops are some of the most comfortable shoes I've worn in a while. That is reason enough.

There is another option on the market that boasts "Masai Barefoot Technology". There are kinda ugly. MBT shoes are also found at Bliss.

Tourists In Our Own Town

About 1:00 this past Friday, Doug and I looked at each other and said..."let's leave our office work behind and go have some fun!" Once we decided not to spend 3-4 hrs in the car driving a round trip to Hunt, TX, we decided to look at what San Antonio had to offer.

La Canarias
It was obvious that we should start our afternoon with lunch on the Riverwalk. The restaurant is one of our local favorites in the La Mansion del Rio hotel. Situated under a shade tree overlooking the tourists enjoying their passeggiato, Doug had the hamburger and I had a shrimp and brie quesadilla.








Mission San Jose
Founding ceremonies for this Franciscan mission were held in 1720 and construction began in 1768. The mission's mission statement was "to convert indigenous hunters and gathers (i.e. Indians) into Catholic, tax paying citizens of New Spain." I found it impressive how practical the priests had to be...this mission was basically a fort, where religious instruction, farming and sentinel guardianship were necessary for the community to continue to exist. Indian families resided in two room apartments. The mission operated for 104 years. Our surprising discovery was to find the reds and yellows of Andalusia's Cordoban Cathedral used within the modest church.
















4 Defenders of the Alamo
Next door to the Alamo Mission is a Haagen Dazs shoppe. We made a bee line for this delicious oasis. After all, we did decide on the spur of the moment to visit a mission in 100+ weather in the middle of the afternoon. After purchasing a pistachio two scoop and chocolate milk shake, we headed over to one of the benches around the courtyard fountain. The fountain sits under a century old tree. Completely shaded and enjoying a slight breeze, we payed our respects once again to the legends who met their death so honorably in the battle of the Alamo: Crockett, Bowie, Bonham and Travis. Their names are memorialized on plaques placed on each of the four sides of the fountain. Doug sits beside the Crockett plaque.




















Movie at the Rivercenter AMC
Next up was an air conditioned couple of hours watching the latest Indy Jones flick. No surprises but still good fun.











Final Riverwalk stroll
At 7 pm on a Friday, the sun is going down and the tourists are pouring into the creekside path lined with restaurants, shops and entertainment venues. There is a line to board one of the river taxis, which run back and forth along the river. Doug and I headed down to another local favorite but this location paled in comparison to our northside haunt. We quickly packed it up and headed home. Besides the people watching, it was exciting to come across one of downtown's mosaics.













Bell "Grotto"
By now, the sky is darkening and the clouds are tinged with a salmon color left behind from the sunset. We cooled off in our plunge pool and enjoyed a limoncello on the patio as we contemplated our future. Doug thinks it resembles a grotto with all its rock, waterfall and dark, deep water.

We've been living in San Antonio over two years. This was the most we have played tourists in the whole time we have been here. We feel lucky to have so much Texan, Spanish and Indian culture right outside our back door. Next time you and your honey have a few hours on your hands, you too might enjoy your city's sites...without the hassles of encountering TSA security.

Create My Event

Upon introducing myself to my new neighbor, Dahna Hull, she said, "You are the one that throws the great parties!"

The compliment makes me smile because I do enjoy hosting gatherings that are just outside the ordinary. I try to find a source of inspiration and carry it through my selections for the food, drink, decor and atmosphere. Since moving to San Antonio, I have had a book publishing party honoring Deborah Ford, celebrated Doug's 60th, held a Lululemon Athletica Kitchen Trunk Show and hosted an Italian Bon Voyage for our friends, the Newkirks. I have also had fun planning my Girls Night In, where we have had an Andalusian Dance Lesson, a Chianti Wine Tasting, The Secret Movie Screening and a plain old meet and greet. Next up is a Girls Nite In featuring Savvy Surrounding's Professional Organizer Heather Shimek and a Hawaiian Bon Voyage for the Aguirres.

Recently, I happened upon a site that I thought was a great resource for those of us who like to throw parties. The site is Create My Event and I have gotten myself invited to be a guest blogger. My first post will be entitled Tapas - Andalusian Style.

On Wednesday, I had no idea what I would submit. Yesterday, I was shopping at my favorite gourmet market and spotted a Carro Tinto 2006 wine. I recognized this wine as the one I had in a drink in Seville, Spain, called Tinto de Verano, or "red wine of summer." Since we have Doug's friend, Andy, coming on Sunday, I grabbed a Chorizo sausage, some Manchego cheese and a sparkling lemonade to make the tinto with. Not only did I determine the direction a welcome to San Antonio happy hour and dinner would go but I found the inspiration for my first post. Wah - lah!





TINTO de VERANO

Bottle of Tinto or Tempranillo wine
San Pellegrino Limonata, Sparkling Lemonade or Lemon flavored Soda
Lemon slices

1. Fill a tall, skinny glass with ice.
2. Add the red wine up to 2/3 full.
3. Top the wine with the Limonata
4. Garnish with a lemon slice.

Of course, you could also save time by pouring the whole bottle of Tinto into a pitcher. Add a cup or so of sparkling lemonade or 1 can of Limonata and a lemon sliced. Serve over ice.

Sunday's Tapas Menu

Tinto de Verano
Manchego cheese
Piquillo peppers with drizzled olive oil, olives and capers

Dinner

Sizzling Shrimp in cazuelas
Salad of mixed greens, boiled eggs, cucumber slices, shredded carrot and corn kernels
Homemade Cinnamon-Honey Ice Cream

Charleston SC 2008

Girl Getaways and Mancations

Charleston, NC was selected as the destination for my annual Girls Getaway. This year the group expanded to include two of my daughter's girlfriends as well as newbies; Jean, Dana and Crystal. Previous destinations have been Amelia Island, Mackinaw Island and the Hamptons. This is a tradition that began with Shelly, my close friend from Houston.

These mini vacations are fun occasions where one can maintain and deepen bonds with the friends or family members one is traveling with. We return with shared memories and a promise to do it all again next year.

My friends and family let me handle all the details this year. Actually, they are all afraid to get in between me and the internet and a travel agent. This year, I found this helpful destination management company that assisted me in choosing a good sampling of everything Charleston has to offer. There are planned meals and activities as well as down time.

Men getaway too...guy trips are known as "MANCATIONS"!

Mancation is a word used to refer to a male-only vacation, or “when normal males engage in ‘guy’ activities that involve sports, camping, gambling, chasing women and most of all drinking amongst their all and only male friends. No wives, mistresses or girlfriends allowed. Done in order to get in touch with their male-primal roots.

I love that the women's sites show couples of girls with shopping bags in they're hands while the men's sites have babes in bikinis. When gay guys getaway, its a gaycation or boyage. Those outside the metrosexual crowd likely cringe at the mancation moniker. I don't see Doug jumping on his motorcycle for the weekend with buddies and calling it anything other that a "ride". (Outside rides, Doug likes the female gender too much too leave them behind). For those "normal males engaging in 'guy' activities", golfing is the most popular theme. Top hotel chain for mancations is the Fairmont. For example, The Fairmont's Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa offered "Speed Meets Spa", featuring a race car driving course and spa treatments.

Perhaps you will be lucky as I am to either plan or receive an invitation to getaway with those you love the most.

Resources for planning your own Girls Getaways:

I'm In! Friends Are A Trip!

Leading site for organizing travel with friends and family

Girlfriend Getaways Magazine

Travel Girl Magazine

Girls Weekend

Girlfriends Getaway

Resources for planning guy trips:

Guys Getaway

Forbes' Great Guy Getaways

I'm In! Friends Are A Trip!

Items to get the conversations going, available at amazon.com:

Highlights for the Charleston Girls Getaway

Absolutely Charleston

Jenny helped us with all the details: transportation, meals and sightseeing.

Charleston Place
Pure Orient Express luxury "haven". We launched our weekend here at the Thoroughbred Club with cocktails and appetizers.

Poogan's Porch

A fabulous brunch served in a restored Victorian.

Mimi's Creekside

Located in the James Island marsh where you can sit on the deck and enjoy the sunset. Off the beaten path for Charleston tourists.

Nathanial Russell House

The item of note is the elliptical spiral staircase. It rises up three floors and it is completely self-supporting, not touching the house's walls nor attached with nails or screws.

Audreyesque Style

What would Audrey DO? Timeless Lessons For Living With Grace And Style

• Have a formidable work ethic.
• Be memorable.
• Be modest, but not lacking in confidence.
• Imbue yourself with grace and guts and move forward.
• Surround yourself with great people.
• Be a perfect lady.
• Buy quality not quantity.
• Take a genuine interest in whoever you are speaking to.
• Don't act like you are the wife until you actually are the wife.
• Keep the real estate. Don't give up your home to live with a guy, and if possible, keep your former residence in your own name.
• Dating is not like a Law & Order episode, where possession is nine-tenths of the law.
• Behave well. Be gracious.
• Enthusiasm - not coolness - is cool.
• No matter what happens - never lose sight of what you want and also of the belief that it will (somehow) all work out in the end.
• Have "audience authority", the thing that makes everybody look up at you when you are on stage.
• Don't do anything embarrassing, ever.
• Accept life unconditionally.
• Manners, don't forget, are kindnesses.
• Love your home.
• Style has nothing to do with money.
• It is always nice for guest to come to a table with a surprise.
• A personal note has impact and will separate you from the crowd.
• Begin with lush flowers

"I was never engaged, just married."

"The more there is, the less I want."

-Audrey Hepburn