Easter in Southern Spain

Where the eff is the sun?

The winter has been mild in Sweden this season but even so it’s been ridiculously boring weather. Being from the Pacific Northwest I have to confess – I am used it. Even so, each year about February or March I just can’t take it anymore. I’m dying to see the sun, be wrapped up in it’s warmth and feel my cheeks turn rosy pink from those heat rays. We used to have a sales meeting every February and it was superb to sneak away – even if it was for work – to a tropical location. Just the trip that was needed to break up the winter blues.

In just a handful of days I’ll be in Costa del Sol – cocktail in hand lounging by the pool and basking in that elusive sunshine.

I’m jacked.

Last summer Fattie and I drove down to Spain – from Sweden. Yup. Now that’s a road trip. I had just moved to Scandinavia and it was our celebratory trip. We had a phenomenal time.

On this excursion I’ll be heading to Spain with my sister-in-law. She’ll be an amazing travel partner and I’m totally thrilled for some girl time but I’ll desperately miss Fattie.

It will be the first time we have been apart for any significant length of time since summer ’07. How time changes life. 2 years ago we spent more time on separate continents than in the same room and now I can’t even imagine being away from him overnight – little alone 10 days.

 

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Pictures from Italy

Wow….What an amazing trip!

Italy for Valentines Day? Yup. A ski holiday I would have only dreamt about last year. Truly a one of a kind gift. Thanks Fattie!

Obviously, one of the great benefits of living in Europe is how easily you can hop from country to country. So a quick flight to Milan along with a 2 hour drive and we were sipping Italian wine in the snowy Alps. We stayed in the small quaint village of Champoluc, close to the Swiss and French borders. Spending most of our time up in those gorgeous mountains with the sun shining down on us was….D-I-V-I-N-E.

Everyone knows I’m a beginning skier and don’t particularly like to be out in the cold so initially I was just jacked to be ‘going away’ for holiday – spending my birthday and Valentines in Italy sounded perfect. But after a week of hitting the slopes every stinking day, bruises and all, I was equally excited about the skiing. The snow was perfect for a newbie like me, the pistes were all trimmed and fresh, and gazing at the Matterhorn everyday was incredible.

The main chair lift is conveniently located smack dab in the middle of town. Every morning after downing an espresso we sauntered 10 minutes over to the gondolas and were off. We skied the majority of the day and by 5 in the afternoon, beer in hand, we were firmly planted on our bums warming up in one of the after ski joints watching the mountains turn pink from the setting sun.

Words fail me. I’m at a loss on how to convey the pure beauty of the scene.

I would highly recommend Italy’s largest skiing region Monterosa Ski to those looking for an Italian winter ski/snow board holiday. Beautiful, low key, family friendly, and affordable. You can hit the lifts (38 of them!) and manage to ski several valleys throughout the day before making your way back into town. Fantastic and surprisingly undiscovered. At times, it felt as if we were the only ones there.

We even mustered up the guts to tackle an adventure course high up in the trees. Cable walks, zip lines, and suspension bridges – 22 courses in all. It was a little nerve racking but a grip of fun. Parco Avventura is definitely a must do if you make it to Champoluc, Italy.

I can’t wait for Valentines 2009.

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More Brett Dennen – Ain’t No Reason Video

Official Brett Dennen Ain’t No Reason video.

And again on Jimmy Kimmel Live a few weeks back.

I can’t get enough.

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Ah…..Italy for Valentine’s Day

How lucky am I? A trip to Italy!

It was supposed to be a surprise combo Valentines/birthday gift from Fattie but he just couldn’t keep his lips sealed. He spilled it. And I’m thrilled. What a good boy.

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Pictures that will make you giggle.

I don’t usually make fun of people, especially on Fridays. But some of these time warped hair dos and dated outfits, even though they aren’t trying to be, are just stinking silly.

You must immediately take 30 seconds to view these photos.

Click here for the fun to begin.

Props go to the List of the Day blog.

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Every girls needs at least one pair. Probably two.

It’s official. I now live in the country.

It’s truly gorgeous here. We’re sitting in-between the 4th & 5th holes on a luscious green and manicured golf course overlooking a tranquil lake. It’s like living in the middle of a resort.

However, as beautiful and peaceful as it is, coming from a busy metropolitan city I wasn’t exactly prepared for the specific shoe demands and foot requirements of these brilliant boondocks. My 300+ pair of high heels have barely been unpacked and strapped on my feet more than once or twice. Hard to believe that’s all that used to adorn my little piggies.

Uh, uh………What was I saying? Oh yeah, my ill-prepared yet over stuffed shoe closet. I’m talking about rubber boots. Galoshes. Wellies. Gumboots. Rain boots. Oxfords. Overshoes. Waders. Whatever you fancy calling them. I need ’em.

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LocalHarvest ~ Cool Website

I adore the LocalHarvest website and the concept behind it….

LocalHarvest was founded in 1988 and they say they are America’s #1 organic and local food website. By maintaining a definitive and reliable “living” public nationwide directory of small farms, farmers markets, and other local food sources they have become the main informational resource for the buy local movement and the top place on the internet where people find information on direct marketing family farms.

LocalHarvest is located in Santa Cruz, California, and was founded by Guillermo Payet, a software engineer and activist dedicated to generating positive social change through the internet.

Check out their revealing US map where you can quickly locate farmers’ markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies.

How cool would it be to subscribe for a weekly delivery of locally grown fresh organic produce! I mean who wouldn’t love that? Well, that’s precisely what you can do.

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The Master Cleanse Book (Free via PDF)

If you’re considering starting The Master Cleanse fast, also known as the Lemonade Diet, I would highly encourage you to read the book that started this sensation, Master Cleanse, by Stanley Burroughs.

Download the free PDF http://healthandlight.com/TheMasterCleanse.pdf or purchase Burroughs book on The Master Cleanse website.

As mentioned in an earlier posting, there is also a substantial amount of tremendously useful material in the Master Cleanse Discussion Forums.

Below is an excerpt, written for newcomers on the Master Cleanse fast, taken directly from the MC discussion forums.

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Day 10 ~ Master Cleanse

That’s it? That’s all you got? Day 10 has been a breeze.

We were able to lounge around the house this morning but my type A personality kicked in….

So, after scouring the ENTIRE abode in some kind of delirious deep cleaning frenzy, I grabbed the in-laws pooch and marched towards the golf club to see how my trusty Fattie was progressing on the remodel. Wow. That guy is bordering on being the handiest person I’ve gazed my eyes upon. F can accomplish anything that crosses his path and truly embraces a challenge. I heart him.

……………………………

10 days on master cleanse. I made it. No cheating.

Also no creamy risotto. No cream brulee. No lemon & herb roasted chicken. No cheese fondue. No rum laced bread pudding. No pinot nior. No cheesy margarita pizza. No fois gras. No ice cold beer. No banana bread. No garlic mashed potatoes. No freshed squeezed orange juice. No juicy filet mignon. No ceasar salad with homemade dressing & crunchy Parmesan croutons. No warm chocolate chip cookies. No diet coke. No Häagen-Dazs. Not even an avocado.

Not one lick.

But this amazing journey has been about a lot more than just a lack of tasty food, which I’m sure will be scrawled down in the upcoming days….

For now, I’m gratefully savoring my last few lemonades.

This song, Blessed by Brett Dennen, sums up exactly how I’m feeling.

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Day 9 ~ Master Cleanse

I just couldn’t do it. Not another 24 hours! Honestly, I really really tried. I almost made it; but I couldn’t manage one more stinking day.

Master cleanse? Nah. Come on. Are you kidding me right now? That’s a no brainer.

I’m talking about the Christmas tree, silly! See, here in Sweden things are a little bit different around the holidays. Let me explain……First off, Christmas eve is the ‘big day’ equivalent to Christmas day in the States. This is the day when everyone exchanges presents and the height of the holidays are officially kicked off with an elaborately grand smörgåsbord (the Christmas buffet is called a julbord or yule smörgåsbord – translated means Christmas table).

Secondly, most Swedes put up the Christmas tree just 1 or 2 days before December 24th, ‘the big day’. Which by my calculations leaves a measly 24 to 48 hours to decorate the darn thing before the show starts! And if you’re like me, with hundreds of twinkling lights and gorgeous ornaments perfectly placed, this just won’t do. Thirdly, and maybe even more interesting (am I boring you yet?), January 13th in Sweden is also known as St. Knut’s Day or Hilarymas, which is the traditional day to discard the Christmas tree and end the season’s festivities.

Yes, my friends, you heard it here…..The 13th of January! Inconceivable in my circle back home as we’re usually hanging on by needles (no pun intended) just to keep the thing standing & alive until New Years.

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