Operose
Definition- (adj.) 1. Involving great labor, labororious. 2. Industrious.
Message In A Bottle
11 Jan
Beach Wedding Invitation
Today I received a small white package sent first class mail. As I picked it up it made a beautiful light jingle. “What could this possibly be?”, I thought to myself. I opened the package and found a small clear bottle filled with sand, shells, light blue and royal blue scrunched streamers and most importantly a tightly wrapped scroll. I knew right away that this was the wedding invitation of my very good friend Dominique and her fiance Ashley. I knew it was going to be in Aruba and that it was going to be a beach wedding, so I put two and two together pretty quickly.
What a beautiful, crafty, and creative wedding invitation. I hope to soon get married and I often think of different options for wedding invitations. Personally I think that paper invitations are very expensive and after the wedding they simply get thrown out, well hopefully recycled. I just think it’s such a waste of money. As I try to plan how much I need to save up for my wedding I think I’d rather save the money on invitations and put more towards the actual ceremony or the gifts that I will give my wedding guests.
Dominique and Ashley admitted to me that they only saved a small amount of money sending out these kinds of wedding invitations, but they wanted to send out something unique and creative. They also got to work on them together, which I think is a wonderful way to start the creative collaboration of your wedding with your partner. This invitation was way more exciting to open than any old paper invitation I’ve ever received.
I pulled out the cork and wondered how I was going to get the scroll out, because it was a little bit shorter than the bottle opening. Then I noticed a little piece of twine that was sticking out of the bottle. I pulled at it and realized that it was attached to the scroll. These girls are so smart! The twine was one piece that was wrapped tightly around both ends of the scroll. I had to use scissors to cut it open. I unwrapped the scroll which was of thick quality and really had to be held open firmly or else it would shoot back light a rubber band into its rolled form. The edges of the invitation were burned to give it that treasure map look and the writing was in an elegant quill pen style.
Not only is this invitation beautiful and memorable, but it makes me really want to go to this wedding. The amount of creativity, care and love that they put into making this invitation makes me think that they are doing the same for their wedding. It makes me feel that it will be a very special event.
Knowing that Davis and I live in Los Angeles (most of their guests will be coming from NYC) and that there is a very good chance that we will not be able to make the wedding because of the distance and cost, I feel touched that they took the time to make me one of these “message in a bottle” invitations for us. I feel that they really want us to be a part of their special day. Seeing this bottle sitting on my desk will be a constant reminder and I think it’s going to make me try harder to make it to Aruba.
I think that was their plan all along! God women are smart! Yes, by the way Dominique and Ashley are both beautiful women, which is another reason I’d like to make it to this wedding. It might be my only chance to experience such a one of a kind event. I hope we’ll be able to swing it. If not I’ll always have the invitation. I will never throw it out.
Word Of The Day
9 JanAromatize (verb)
Definition-to make aromatic or fragrant; swirled the wine to aromatize it
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree!
9 Jan
- Frasier Fir Candle
Where fore art thou Christmas tree? Next to the garbage dumpster in our building that’s where. Yes, sadly, we got rid of our Christams tree yesterday. Growing up in my family we always kept our tree until at least January 6th, because we celebrated Three Kings Day. That’s the tradition Davis and I are continuing with.
One of the things I dread most when taking down the Christams tree is losing that amazing fragrance that it gives off, but I have discovered a way to keep that scent around a little longer. Thymes makes a candle called Frasier Fir that smells amazing! Even better than my tree sometimes. It smells like you’re walking through a Christams tree lot surrounded by the most fragrant, fresh cut douglas and noble firs. I’m very picky about my candles and have a real aversion to those that smell artificial. This candle has a scent that is concentrated, but natural. I light my candle during the holidays when my tree is up just to enhance it’s scent, and after the holidays when my tree is gone so I can keep that wonderful, clean, crisp, winter scent just a bit longer. I like to transition out of the holidays slowly.
Knowing how amazing this candle is now, this year I bought several of them to give out as gifts to my close girlfriends. They all loved theirs and are burning them now. There’s actually a whole collection of this scent available that includes diffusers and soaps as well. I’m not 100% sure, but I think this scent is only seasonal. I’ve only seen it around during the holidays, but maybe it’s available year round at the Thymes website http://www.thymes.com/Collection.aspx?nodeid=2037&ecid=google_brandcollectioncampaign_frasierfir&gclid=CM3ruYrZw60CFcoaQgod-E4E-w.
I bought mine both years at Beyond Scents http://beyondscents.com/contact.php in Marina Del Rey. This is actually the only store I’ve ever seen the Thymes Frasier Fir candles at and I go into a lot of specialty candle/gift stores. The ladies at Beyond Scents are as sweet as peach pie and they gift wrap for free in beautiful little bags with colorful sparkling adornments and satin ribbons. I bought two of the 18 oz. candles that burn for up to 50 hours for $26.50 each and several of the votive candles to give as gifts for $12 each. It’s about .50 cents-$1.00 cheaper on the Thymes website.
Word Of The Day
5 JanTannins
Definition: A wine’s pucker power, generally more dominate in younger red wines that haven had the time to soften up with age. Tannins are important in the making of good red wines, aiding them in long and graceful aging. Tannins are derived from the skins, stems and seeds of the grapes used to produce the wine. Technically, they are plant-derived polyphenols. Tannins are often described as the component that “dries the mouth” out in red wines. They are largely responsible for giving red wines a defined structure – somewhat like a skeleton provides for body support and movement.
If you wan to identify tannins that are not complicated by the other components in a wine, then brew a very strong cup of tea and take a sip before adding any cream or sugar to soften it up. This drying, astringent compound is a tannin.
New Wines I Like
5 Jan
This is the Numanthia Termes Toro Tempranillo 2008. Davis and I tasted it the Whole Foods wine bar in Venice http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/venice/. If you’re out and about it’s sold by the bottle at Cleo http://www.sbe.com/menu/cleo/Cleo_Menu.pdf in Hollywood. It’s smooth, smokey, has moderate tannins, dark berry flavors and light spice notes. This a great wine to have with dinner. Any sort of poultry, pasta, lamb or pork would be great. I think it’s a real crowd pleaser and for those of you that have gotten so used to drinking big fruity California wines, it’s a great introduction wine to the earthier Old Wolrd style. It comes from the Spanish Toro Region and the wine maker is Numanthia. I think I’m going to have it this week with pasta, tomato sauce, peppers and mild Italian sausages.
$30 at Whole Foods in Venice
$45 at Cleo
winemaker’s notes:Bright cherry-red in color with light purple tones. The aroma is very elegant and lively aromas, rich and complex. Fresh, fruity notes (black fruits, raspberry, dark sherry), nicely integrated with spices, tobacco & toasted aromas (vanilla, chocolate, cinnamon). The palate has a silky texture, concentrated, well structured and very elegant. The finish is long and complex, with spices, tobacco, raspberries and blackberries notes.100% Tinta de Toro
alcohol by volume: 14.5%
critical acclaim:
“This bold red matches ripe blackberry and currant flavors with toast, dark chocolate and oak notes. The tannins are firm and well-integrated, and the smoky mineral note is alluring. Drink now through 2016.”
91 Points
Wine Spectator
“Opaque ruby. Sexy, oak-spiced dark berries and fresh flowers on the nose, along with notes of cola and star anise. Lush, palate-coating blackberry and candied cherry flavors are lifted by tangy acidity and gain sweetness with air. Fine-grained tannins add shape to the lush fruit flavors and carry through a long, spicy finish. Give this a bit of air if you plan to open it any time soon.”
91 Points
International Wine Cellar
Numanthia
Numanthia is located in the Toro region of Spain. Its four vineyards are located along the south bank of the Duero River.The wine is named after a legendary Spanish city that was destroyed (after 20 yrs of resistance) by Roman legions. It is to Spain what the hilltop village of Masada is to Israel: a monument of history. Its 40 hectares of land are covered with an abundance of elements derived from the disintegration of Pliocene grit, clay and limestone.Numanthia’s first vintage was produced in 1998 and received a 95-point rating from Robert Parker. Since then, the Toro region has been producing wines that have begun to rival those of Spain’s richest wine-producing regions of Ribera del Duero, Rioja and Priorat.
Word Of The Day
4 JanChiliad- (noun)1. A group that contains 1,000 elements. 2. One thousand years, a millenium.
New Year’s Resolutions 2012
4 Jan
New Year's Resolutions
I have never been one that has believed in New Years resolutions, but I feel a need for a shift. Just like when I felt the need to leave New York and come out here to California and change my life up a bit. This also happened around the time of the New Year, but was delayed almost two years because of the fortunate meeting of my longtime boyfriend Davis. I feel I’ve been doing the same thing for a long time now and am only getting moderate happiness. I feel that I can get so much more!
Life is short and I want mine to be more fulfilling, so I’m going to make some changes and see how they play out. I plan on pursuing these resolutions hardcore for at least two months. I do better with short-term goals. I figure they may not all stick, but after 60 days of truly making a strong effort I will be able to judge which ones fit into my life and are giving me the most positive benefits.
1. Apply myself fully to this blog
When I think of what I would like to do most as a job this is what I keep coming back to. I would love to write about my experiences, my travels, restaurants that I eat at, food that I cook, wine/cocktails/ beer that I drink, books/articles that I read, products that I try, and health and fitness advice that I’ve found successful. Essentially I want to experience things and share them with others.
I’ve spent over 8 months looking for a job. I currently work in the hospitality industry and have done so for over 14 years. I’ve decided now , however, that I want to pursue a career that has more to do with the degrees I received in college (Advertising and Psychology). I have spent countless hours applying to positions in pr, marketing , or as an executive assistant, knowing full well that some of these positions would not fulfill all my interests, but might be sufficient for now. I know the job that I want, and if I can’t find it out there I’m just going to have to create it myself. So for the entire month of January I will not search or apply for a job. I will focus on the success of this blog, because this is what I really want to do as a career and I’m confident that I can make it happen!
2. Volunteer for an organization that helps preserve the ocean
I live by the beach in Marina Del Rey and this is because I LOVE THE OCEAN. I think it is one of the most beautiful sights in the world. Watching the sun reflect off the water outside my window each morning that I get up feels amazing. I wake up with such a sense of happiness, a calming warm glow, and a slight smile that I always notice. I see sea lions, pelicans, boats, paddleboarders, crew teams and kayakers all enjoying the crisp, dark blue water, but I know it’s not as picture perfect as it all seems.
When going down to the docks and looking more closely I see tons of garbage floating along the edges of the marina. While walking along the beach there is always some piece of garbage in my eye line. I don’t think there’s been one time that I’ve walked along the beach and not picked up someone else’s garbage, because I can’t just walk by it. It’s not the type of person I am. Something in me always wants to help, but I know that I don’t do enough.
So this year I am going to volunteer with two of the dominant organizations that deal with the preservation of the ocean: http://www.surfrider.org/ and http://www.healthebay.org. Both organizations have many different kinds of ways you can volunteer. From beach clean ups, to working in the office, to working special events, to becoming an ambassador where you educate others and give presentations. You can even volunteer to monitor the water at Malibu Creek Watershed using water chemistry sampling equipment that they will train you to use or create an Ocean Friendly Garden by redesigning people’s gardens and back yards using design and maintenance techniques that minimize harmful pollutants running-off into our coastal waters. I actually just signed up with Surfrider today and am dropping my volunteer application at Heal The Bay tomorrow.
3. Go to yoga class at least three times a week
I have chronic back pain and yoga is amazing for it. It helps more than anything: more than going to a chiropractor and more than getting a massage. Although I do feel that a combination of all three is ideal, if I had to choose one it would be yoga. It just does wonders. Not only does it help with my back pain, but it makes me feel healthy and great. It makes me strong, helps me with my flexibility, my digestion, gives me an appetite (for the right kind of food), clears my mind, makes my soul feel good and just makes me feel like I’m a good person every time I leave class. I just feel aligned: mind, body, and soul. It’s a great feeling that I try to carry with me throughout the day and I’ve got to be honest I’m getting kind of addicted. I crave that feeling and I’ve been actually starting to go three times a week, but I want to keep it up or maybe even take it up a notch (four to five times a week). I think it can only get better and I’m excited!
Right now I’m taking classes at Yogi’s Anonymous http://yogisanonymous.com/ ( love Angela and Ally’s class), Hot8Yoga http://www.hot8yoga.com/ (love Marlize’s Power class), YogaWorks http://www.yogaworks.com/(love Caroline Goldberg and Anne Van Valkenberg’s class) and Studio Surya Yoga http://studiosuryayoga.com/radiate.html (love Yonnus’ class, she’s awesome). These are all in Santa Monica and Venice. I love these studios and these teachers.
4. Cook more difficult and time-consuming recipes
I cook a lot and I have been challenging myself, but I want to continue to grow as a cook. I love when I cook a meal and it tastes just as good as you would get a great restaurant. I want to keep getting these stellar results. On Christmas Day I was going to make eggs benedict with grave lox, creme fraiche and caviar, but it was going to be a little time-consuming and intricate so Davis and I decided to make omelettes with lox, creme fraiche and red onions instead. They were perfect! And it felt like a light breakfast, which we both really enjoyed. But I’m going to revisit that eggs benedict recipe and do it when I’ve got a little more cooking time available.
Sometimes I get put off when I see in a recipe that the food requires overnight marinating, or slow cooking methods that last four or five hours and sometimes constant monitoring (like good Bolognese sauce). Julia Della Croce’s Italian Home Cooking book http://www.juliadellacroce.com/books.html is filled with recipes like these. The amazing Ina Garten’s cookbooks http://www.barefootcontessa.com/ also have these recipes scattered throughout and I often skip over these pages when searching for something to make for dinner. These foods usually are some of the most amazing tasting foods and I don’t want to miss out on them anymore because I didn’t plan properly, manage my time wisely, or was just too lazy to put in the time and effort needed for the recipe. I know that I’m capable and I know that I have the time if I just commit to it. So that’s what I’m going to do. At least one tasty time-consuming recipe a month. Sunday is usually a good day for me and Davis loves to cook so maybe I can get him to give me a hand and it can be our food project that we take on together each month.
5. Learn to surf, sail and paddleboard
I live by the ocean and watch people do these sports all day long and am utterly jealous. I say to myself “I’m athletic and love the water. I should be doing this”. So why am I not? Good question. Marina Del Rey Boat Rentals http://boats4rent.com/marina-del-rey/boats/waverunner-jetski/ has rentals of stand up paddleboards at $25/hr. For such a cheap rate I should be doing this at least once a month. It looks like so much fun! I’ve been told it’s a great workout and what a wonderful way to get close to the water and explore the marina.
For sailing lessons I’m going to take classes at the UCLA Recreation Marina Aquatic Center http://www.recreation.ucla.edu/insidepage.aspx?uid=0b6ddfff-7739-4048-a791-cbe6dde8befb located at the end of the marina. They have several different programs: a three-week class on Thursdays during the day, a two-week class on weekends and full day weekend intensive. I think I’ll be doing one of the wekend classes so that Davis can join me. It just seems so ridiculous that I’ve lived out here in California in Marina Del Rey for four years and have yet to be on a boat in the ocean, other than the Marina Del Rey Water Bus http://www.marinawaterbus.com/ , which I took once. I’m ready to get my sea legs.
Surfboard wise I was told by a friend of mine to start with a foam surfboard. I heard these are great for beginners and they don’t hurt as much when you get hit by them when you fall off. She said it made the process of learning much easier, because it decreased her fear of getting hurt badly. So this sounds like a a great way for me to start my surfing process. I have three great surf stores near me that I’m going to search for a foam board and wetsuit at : the newly opened 585 Boardriders at 585 North Venice Ave. right around the corner from Abbot Kinney Blvd. (haven’t been in yet, but this place is huge and looks like it has an amazing selection), Rider Shack http://www.ridershack.com/ and Mollusk http://mollusksurfshop.com/. Hopefully I can find what I’m looking for there, if not there’s always Amazon http://www.amazon.com/b/?ie=UTF8&node=507846&tag=amazusnavi-20.
So those are my 2012 New Years’s resoltuions. I’m so excited about following them and hope they bring me that extra bit of happiness and fulfillment I’m searching for. I’m an optimist and a dreamer, which I like to see as more of a good thing than a bad thing. Maybe pursuing thes resolutions will lead to other opportunies for fullfillent in other parts of my life. You never know unless you try and I’m always one that’s up for trying!
Cheers! Happy New Year!
Ella Gogel
Loving The Day LA 