Laduree Paris

Laduree Tea Salon in Paris was one of the highlights of our trip. I LOVED THIS PLACE, and have made an oath to learn how to make and recreate these French Macaroons. These are much, MUCH different that the American Macaroon equivalent.


My favorite by far, were the mocha, caramel, pistachio and lemon curd ones. They were highly addictive. The flag ship location was just a few streets away from our Paris "Flat" that we rented.

Back From France

The past two weeks in France have been amazing. More details and photos will be forthcoming, but I did want to provide a quick highlight of things I plan to discuss once I get through my myriad of emails, piles, and voice messages at work. Nothing like being back to the grind I suppose.

1) Being electrocuted multiple times by an ungrounded washing machine in our rented flat. All of us ended up getting shocked by the "machine," until we learned where the circuit breaker was to cut power to the whole flat.

2) Renting golf carts at Chateau Versailles and tolling around in the gardens. Beep and Steve took turns driving, while Kelly and I photo documented the entire experience.

3) Amazing meals and not so amazing meals chocking down local fois gras. Some hunk of red, raw duck meat had me a little perplexed but I ate it. The waitress asked me, "did you not like this?" To which I responded, "I ate half of it!" She just laughed.

4) Parisian Macaroons from the famous Laduree Tea Salon.

5) Eiffel Tower late night light shows.

6) A seriously "rank" meal in Antibes on the French Riviera. This rank meal caused the bowels of mercy to be unleashed upon Kelly. She had some SERIOUS food poisoning. As the pregnant one, that is the LAST thing she needed to go through.

7) Seeing more at the beaches [topless], than I wanted to see. It takes a certain body type to go without clothes. Some people should JUST not take their shirts and bras off...! Yucky banana boobs.

My New Favorite "Old" CD

I finally got my British version release of "More ABBA Gold" today at work. This UK version has a few more tracks on it than the US released version. I've been an ABBA fan my entire life. I was hoping that this CD would come prior to the transatlantic flight over to Paris. It looks like I'll be updating my iTunes library at home this evening.

My favorite tracks in rank order:

1) Summer Night City
2) Angeleyes
3) Ring Ring
4) The Visitors
5) I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do

Escape

I tend to use our blog as an outlet. I am very much looking forward to being out of the office for a few weeks. I find my work dynamic interesting at times. I manage a lot of people, external clients, vendors and internal business partners across the broader UW system. A lot of times I find myself being in charge of people who are a lot older than me. The past few days I've been the mediator between a 44 year old and a 48 year old who are acting like selfish teenagers and refusing to work with each other. They both were taken off guard today when I relieved them of being involved in the project, and moved the project to another external partner. I made them get on a conference call with other stake holders and let them both know that I was extremely disappointed. Keep in mind I'm must moving the work from one vendor to another vendor. Good Grief! Let's be adults here you "adults!" Now there is bitching and whining that they don't get to work on the project and get paid for it. Who has time for incessant whine and churn, I sure don't. Just get the work done.

Happy Friday!

Today is a beautiful day in Seattle. One of those days you always look forward to and the kind of day that helps you get through the days that are not so nice. I love seeing the blue sky and feeling the sun on my skin, you just can't be in a bad mood in this kind of weather. I also have other things in my life contributing to my good mood today. As Bop has mentioned we are headed to France soon which makes me really happy. I'm also really excited because we are having our home study visit with our social worker on Tuesday. I'm thrilled that we are able to move forward with our adoption and are getting closer to the day we get "stamped" into the Chinese government waiting pool. To top it off today is Friday and I'm 1 hour closer to going home for the day. Not that I don't love my job, I just love home more! Have a great day everyone!

Remembering 9/11

I'm working late this evening, prepping for being out of the office on vacation and finalizing four advertisements that I'll soon be circulating in various newspapers around the region. I almost forgot it was "9/11" today. I thought I'd take a moment and send out my very best thoughts to all those families who are still struggling and coping with the significant loss in their lives from this tragic event seven years ago. Terrorism is unnecessary and absolutely counter productive to anything of substance in today's society.

The Best White Bread...EVER

With the autumn-like weather, I've been craving home made soups and bread. Beep's Mom makes the best white bread and I thought I'd share the recipe. I think I might make some this upcoming weekend. I'd probably be fine eating this, with butter and home made jam for dinner Saturday and Sunday.

REVISED Recipe for White Bread – 4 loaves

4-1/2 cups warm water
1 cup powdered milk
1 cup oil
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup honey
2 T liquid lecithin (optional)
2 tablespoons gluten
2 tablespoons dough enhancer
2 tablespoons yeast
4 teaspoons salt
8-10 cups flour, or more

This works best in a Bosch mixer, but not everyone has one of those. In large bowl place water, powdered milk, oil, sugar, honey & lecithin (don’t mix). Add 5 cups of flour. On top of flour add gluten, dough enhancer & yeast – Mix on medium speed until blended and then let sit for 10 minutes to rise double in size.

Add 5 cups more flour plus Salt. Mix on medium until blended and then mix for 10 minutes or more until dough pulls away from side of bowl. Add more flour if necessary.

Spread some oil on drainboard. Put shortening on hands and help dough fall onto drainboard. Divide into 4 loaves, mold a little and then let the dough sit for 5-10 minutes. Then shape each loaf and put it into well greased baking pans. Cover with a towel and let rise to at least 1 to 1-1/2 inches above pan. At least 1 hour to 1.5 hours.

Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.

Brush oil on top of cooked loaves & let stand until cooled.

Diet Doughnuts

Everyone in our office is addicted to "Mighty-O" vegan doughnuts from Wallingford. We have all justified that because these are "vegan," and these are made with only wholesome non-animal derived products, as well as no dairy, we are basically all eating "diet doughnuts" so it's completely justified. 815 Cafe is a new eatery that opened up in our building and they sell these addictive Mighty-O, with all the accouterments from Tully's as well. My favorite "diet doughnut" is the glazed old fashioned with exclusive Husky [purple and gold] sprinkles on top. Every time I eat one, I immediately lose 10 pounds! :)

Spirit Shoes, not Spirit Fingers!

Yay for our new "spiritual" shoes...! As we collect our accessories for our new temple calling, we are constantly needing to ask ourselves...fashion or comfort, fashion or comfort? Since we'll be standing for a good six hours each Wednesday evening, the verdict is definitely comfort over fashion. These hippie shoes will be much more comfortable than the other options they try and steer your towards at "the store" over in Bellevue.

Huit Jours et Compte [TRANSLATION: Eight Days & Counting]

LE GRAND MAGAZIN:

A l'avant-garde des tendances mode, la Couture révèle aussi la singularité d'un maquillage ou d'une coiffure. L'œil smokey s'électrise, la bouche s'illumine d'éclat, l'artifice dissimule les cheveux ou voile les yeux. Focus sur des visages d'exception prêts à détoner sur l'hiver 2008-09. J.V.


BOÎTES À SURPRISE:

Le conteneur industriel, nouvelle forme d’habitat, futuriste et écologique, chic et bohème ? Oui, mais aussi lieu de vie d’urgence pour populations réfugiées, conçu par l’architecte Adam Kalkin. Par Sophie Treclat. Photographe : Robert Polidori.


PRINCESSE ANNE:

Révélation du Diable s’habille en Prada, charme offensif et sourire ravageur, Anne Hathaway est une authentique machine à séduire. Egérie d’un parfum français, elle sera à l’affiche de Max la Menace dès le 10 septembre. Par Yann Gonzales. Photographe : Ben Hassett. Réalisation : Julia von Boehm. Le grand amour de Lifar, Cocoteau ou Saint Exupéry, Nathalie Paley, princesse russe en exil, fut l’une des figures les plus marquantes des années 20. Une éternelle inspiration. Par Nelly Kaprièlian.

My New Marshmallow Suit

Beep and I received a letter this past week from the Seattle LDS temple presidency asking us to come in and meet with them. We met with one of the counselors last night, and we now have a new stake level calling. We are going to be ordinance workers on Wednesday evenings going forward on the 3rd shift, 4:00pm-10:00pm schedule. What this means for us, is instead of going as patron participants only, we are now going to be officiators of various temple ordinances. We will be learning all the associated procedures for initiatories, baptisms, endowment sessions and so forth. We both are very excited to be of service in this capacity. We are both feeling a tad overwhelmed, but excited for this spiritual opportunity.

We both find the temple worship aspect of our faith extremely important. I find it much more important in fact, than weekly regular church worship services, truth be told. I definitely feel the spirit more in the temples then I do in the various meeting houses. But there is value to both aspects of our faith. The temple has become such an important part of my life since my Mom died. I feel very much at peace there knowing I will see her again. I've always felt it was a privilege to be able to help do so much work for those of that have passed on that may have not had the opportunity to learn of the restored gospel. We both have been very blessed to have amazing spiritual experiences while attending the temple and feel close to our loved ones and ancestors.

I now need to get my signature white marshmallow suit and accessories purchased, tailored and ready to go. Beep needs to get some new accessories as well. Do I see a purchase in the near future of White Dansko clogs for both of us? I think so! :) We've got to be comfortable if we are standing for six hours each week.

Butter Mint Disaster

I would call myself a rather accomplished cook. I am starting to get into more complex confectionery making at home. With that said, I have recently decided that I am a butter mint failure. My oldest sister can crank these out in no time flat, but mine ALWAYS turn to sugar even with an addition of 1 TBS corn syrup, which is suppose to aid in them not turning to sugar. These also burn my hands to no end trying to pull them prior to cutting. They almost get to the point where they "turn," and then within a matter of seconds literally, they turn to sugar clumps. What Gives? My sister obviously has hands that are more apt to self imposed culinary pain that mine are.

I've been told that butter mints are hard to make in humid climates. I thought this was an old wives tail. Perhaps there is some truth to this, and this really IS Seattle's fault, and not mine as the cook. Or at least that is what I keep telling myself. At our annual family holiday candy making weekend in November, I'm hoping to re-learn how to do these. I hope this does not get chalked up to a confectionery that can only be made in the desert arid climate.

Our Subliminal Gym

I have decided that LA Fitness in North Seattle [130th & Aurora] is politically biased. When the DNC was on last week, it was only broadcasting that on two of the 10 flat screens. This week, I have noticed that the RNC was being broadcast on six of the 10 flat screens the past few nights. Multiply our gym location, but the company's 680 gym outlet nation wide, and what is the message they are conveying? I do feel it a tad bothersome when corporations try to influence personal choice. But then talking out the other side of my mouth, I do this for a living. I'm always crafting messages that influence people to change, based on bottom line ROI of my company. Funny! I guess I can't be too bothered about this.

The Politics of Politics

I am deciding that the more I get involved in governmental politics, the more I think I am becoming and Independent, versus aligning myself solely as a Democrat or Republican. I'm glad the Washington state primary finally changed this year and did not make you pick a party with the restriction that you could only vote or select candidates within your party. As I have watched bits and pieces of the conventions over the past few weeks, and reading about other issues online over the past several months, I'm trying to actually "care" about my right to vote and not chalk it up to cynicism that no matter who you vote on, regardless of party, they always over-promise and under-deliver.

There is a lot of good speak circulating about change. When it comes down to it post Bush, whomever is in office, do you think the economy, health care, inflation, gas and the myriad of other issues will ACTUALLY get resolved? Or will this be the same as it always is, and has been for decades? Everything gets hashed over, and over AND OVER again, or blocked by the Senate, House of Reps and so forth. We'll See! I'm not going to hold my breath and turn blue waiting for anything to change with our national government regardless of who makes it into office. There are pros and cons to Obama and McCain.

Being Nice-Er...!

In a world where I feel that I am being exposed to more and more cynicism, criticism and general negativism, I've been thinking a lot lately about how I fall into the trap of being a cynic, a complainer and a major participator in negative conversations. Though I am a fan of sarcasm, as I age, I am learning when I cross the line of being sarcastic to down right rudeness with people. It's a character flaw that I am working on.

There are so many things to be grateful for in this life, despite hardships that get tossed people's directions. Just busing into work this morning, I was thinking..."It is so beautiful outside, with the crisp autumn-like weather." I feel very fortunate to live in a beautiful city, surrounded by water, greenery and many urban options at our fingertips. Beep and I have a very full life, surrounded by wonderful family, amazing friendships, talents we love cultivating and jobs that provide challenges and rewards to creativity simultaneously. I feel my faith helps me put things into a larger picture perspective as well.

So, in my pursuit of trying to change my attitude and be one who looks at things from an optimistic standpoint, versus a pessimistic standpoint, I hope we can all be aware of the cynical and critical conversations we engage in and do our part to be more positive and promote productive conversations with people in whatever capacity we find ourselves in.