Thanksgiving Blessings

I missed my traditional Thanksgiving post yesterday, but that doesn't mean I'm not grateful -- in fact, I have to give God the glory for more abundance than ever!

You may have noticed that I haven't been posting lately.

The blog break started when Joe and I went to Paris and London to visit our wonderful friends Cathy and Tom who are living over there for a short time while Tom stars in Wicked in London. What a wonderful trip and the best part was being with our friends. Blessing!

The blog break continued when we returned and I came down with a terrible cold. I've still got the end of the cough.  I sat next to a darling girl on the way to Paris who was blowing her nose the entire trip, so I blame her.  While I wouldn't normally think a cold is something for which to be thankful, I know that God directs my steps and that He can make all things work for good.  I do know that we all need to slow down periodically, and sometimes a bad cold is a forced slow down.  Blessing!

Other reasons for dogging on the blog are numerous, but most of it is the hustle of the holiday -- December is our biggest month at Community Partners of Dallas as we are scramble to fill wishes for 5,500 kids -- along with the official beginning of the leadership phase of our capital campaign. Finding the donors for CPD is my favorite blessing of all!

Thanks for sticking with me and the blog. Not sure if I can keep up weekly posts, but I'll try.  You're a blessing too -- Paige

P.s.  One of my favorite things about being in London was that Tom got recognized ALL THE TIME because Frasier is played on TV there every morning and Tom was on that show. Vicarious fame is how I roll!

The Best and the Not-So-Great

I actually love almost all food, including food from other countries.  My favorite is Asian -- all types -- big fan of Japanese, Chinese, Thai.  Yum.

BTW, my favorite spots in town for this genre are Shinsei, The Mint, Sushi Kyoto, PakPao Thai, and Royal China.  Maria keeps saying I need to try Saucy Thai, but so far, no go.

Anyway, I recently spent a few days in Santa Fe and had many great meals while there --lots of green and red chili sauces, of course -- and all were great, except for one -- the Asian meal we had at 10,000 Waves' restaurant.

The massage was the best one I've ever had there -- the masseuse could tell my jaw was tight and she put on a rubber glove and actually massaged my jaw from inside and out.  Dentists need to start doing this -- I might go more than twice a year if they did!

But the lunch after was just ok -- except for the edamame, and it was the best I've ever had.  We questioned the server about it and they use a spice called Togarashi.  The server described it as kind of an Asian 5 spice.  They also used sesame oil, garlic, etc., so this was not your run-of-the-mill edamame steamed with salt, but I'm telling you it was amazing.  Jill and I bought a bag of Togarashi, split it and I made my own version the other night.  Delish.

So, my question is, how can a business give me the best ever something as well as the not too great or bad something?

I hope we do better at Community Partners of Dallas.  I'm sure that we aren't the absolute best at everything we do, but I sure hope we are the best at most things.

Our Volunteer Program is one of those things we do best.

When you take the time out of your busy schedule to volunteer your time here, we make sure that you are welcomed, appreciated, and that your time was spent wisely -- even if all you were doing was counting and sorting thousands of pencils.  We need you!

Now as a little extra thank you, here is my edamame recipe.  Enjoy!

Paige's Spiced Edamame

1 C frozen edamame beans (You could use pods too, but might need more dressing -- definitely add more sesame oil)

Dressing:
1 T vegetable oil
1 T sesame oil
1 clove finely chopped garlic
1 t finely chopped pickled ginger (this would be better with fresh, but I had left over from take out Sushi Kyoto)
1 t togarashi
1 t toasted sesame seeds
Salt & Pepper -- I also added soy sauce because I love it.  Delish!

Cook edamame to package directions.  Mix dressing ingredients together in a bowl.  Add edamame to dressing and mix.  Good to let it sit in fridge overnight, but fine immediately too.

This is a photo of the art in the bathroom at the restaurant.  I love it.

Aspen Food & Wine Festival -- WOW!

One more bucket list item completed -- a trip to the Aspen Food & Wine Festival!

I've always been fond of food and have always enjoyed cooking.  I will say that the cooking part has definitely been enhanced in the past few years by The Food Network (The Barefoot Contessa is my absolute fave) and all of the cooking reality shows -- especially my favorite show -- Top Chef.  While I don't like to cook things that are too difficult, I really do like to cook for myself and usually make my own dinner each night and cook for family or friends on most weekends.

NOTE:  I have never made anything from Ina Garten (aka The Barefoot Contessa) that wasn't at least good and mostly fantastic.  Her recipes are the best and are super easy.

NOTE TO NOTE:  Ina doesn't like cilantro.  She is correct.

Anyway, my bucket list trip to the Aspen Food & Wine Festival was fantastic!  We had a group of 5 girls attending, three of whom I never met before arriving in Colorado.  No matter, we are all besties now and just had a ball.  One of the ladies writes a food blog, so be sure to check it out:

http://www.keestothekitchen.com

The best part about the festival was not the food -- it was fine, but Aspen restaurants gave us our best bites by far -- the best part was getting to be up close and personal with the celebrity chefs at their cooking seminars.  Check out my brushes with fame!

Tyler Florence was darling -- he demonstrated fried chicken that I actually might attempt.  The one time Joe and I tried to make it, it was a disaster.

Masaharu Morimoto took a picture with every single person who wanted one.  The king of Iron Chef and one of my absolute favorites.  He did a fantastic sushi spread that was true art.  He taught us to NEVER mix your wasabi in the soy sauce -- just add wasabi to the fish if you want more and only to dip the fish into the soy -- don't dip the rice.

How cute is Carla Hall?  She is just as cute in person as on TV -- we were front and center for her demo.

Jacques Pepin and his daughter were our first session and what a start -- they made a cauliflower souffle that I am definitely going to make.  Their banter back and forth was darling too.  At one point Claudine said these words to her dad:  "I know that is what YOU would do."  Sounded so familiar!

This is Dana Cowin, the editor of Food & Wine Magazine.  Super cute, but her seminar was not my favorite -- she taught us to cook eggs.  I already know how to make a great omelet, Dana.

Oh wait -- that's not a celebrity chef -- it's me on the step and repeat.  We wore hats everywhere, as the sun is stronger up there.  The chefs all knew we were from Dallas with our hats on -- not sure how, but they did seem to know (and like) us!

Chefs Michael and Grae from restaurant Olamaie in Austin were named as some of the Best New Chefs by Food and Wine.  Michael is the son of my friend Ola Fojtasek.  So exciting for them -- and their bite was delish!

And since I am the queen of the selfie (at least among this group of gals), here's a few for you...

So, that was the trip and now I'm back to work at Community Partners of Dallas -- what a way to recharge.

Not a way to lose weight.

Wednesday Hodgepodge Virgin

Well, I told you guys I was going to try this and it seems like the perfect time because the creator of Hodgepodge is on break this week, so I'm actually answering last week's questions.  Knowing me, I thought I needed some extra time to work this tech stuff out...

So, here we go!

NOTE:  Special thanks to Katie at Preppy Empty Nester, as she is my blog idol and I want to be/do everything like her -- even though we have never met.  Katie participates in Hodgepodge, so since I love reading her answers, I'm hoping that some of you will think it's fun to read mine.

NOTE to NOTE:  I just know Katie and I would be besties if we lived in the same place.  Unfortunately I found her just before she moved to Boston, so besties from afar, it is.  If you are viewing this on a desktop computer, you can find her blog listed down below on the right side of this blog or if you are viewing this on your iphone, please select 'View Web Version" at the bottom of the blog so you can see the other blogs I follow.  The Hodgepodge button will be down there too, so check it out.  Katie is hilarious and always doing something fun, watching something I like, or shopping.  What's not to like?

Here is the Hodgepodge.  Be sure to click on the link to the right below (in the web version) to visit all of the bloggers who participate!

1. What's something you're looking forward to in the month of June?

I'm headed to Aspen for the Food and Wine Festival.  After watching so many episodes of Top Chef, I feel like I'm really getting to be part of the action.  So grateful to my friend Holly for inviting me!

2. In what way have you come full circle?

When I started working in Non-Profit, everything was new.  After 17+ years of fundraising, I'm just now beginning to work in earnest on something I've never done -- a capital campaign.  Get your checkbooks ready, friends!

3. Lonely Planet lists 10 spots in America you should see in 2015 and the reasons why. How many on the list have you seen? Which one on the list would you most like to see?

Queens NY, Western South Dakota, New Orleans, Colorado River Region, North Conway NH, Indianapolis IN, Greenville SC, Oakland CA, Duluth MN, and the Mount Shasta Region CA.

I feel like I've probably been to Queens (or at least driven through) since I'm an NYC whore.  I've been to Oakland and Colorado too.  New Orleans is the best and other than NYC or Miraval, it's my absolute fave place to visit.  Not sure which of the rest I'd most like to see, but would happily visit any of them.  I'm a great travel companion, so let's go!

4. A song that describes your mood right now?

I listened to Call Me Maybe this morning on the treadmill and I'm still singing it.  Keep picturing the Olympic athletes' video they made of it too -- the swimmers, I think -- they were all on a bus.  And of course, since we'll be starting the campaign for the CPD building soon, I'll be making lots of calls!

5. Strawberry ice cream, strawberry short cake, strawberry pie, or strawberries right off the vine...your favorite?

I like them all, but have never had them straight off the vine.

6. Aesop's birthday is celebrated on June 4th, although there is some disagreement as to whether or not that's accurate, or if he was even a real person.  Regardless, the name Aesop is associated to this day with many well known fables. Which of the following best applies to something in your life right now? The Tortoise and the Hare (Slow and Steady wins the race), The Ant and the Grasshopper (Be prepared), The Fox and the Goat (Look before you leap) or The Crow and the Pitcher (Necessity is the mother of invention)?

The Ant and the Grasshopper -- we have been preparing for this campaign for more than a year.  I feel like we are well prepared.  Famous last words...

7. The answer is yes...what's the question?

Do you wish you could go back as a camper to Camp Longhorn?

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I got to order a big-ass dry erase board for my office today and it's arriving Friday.  I cannot wait to see it staring at me from across the desk.  So much empty space to be filled with words and actions.  Excitement galore!

I Feel Like A Foreigner

Oh my gosh, y'all -- I just returned from a fabulous trip to London, the Cotswolds, and Paris!  C'est magnifique!

NOTE:  My high school French didn't really come in handy.  Since the only line I remember in French is "Come on, quit fighting all the time," I was kinda at a loss, unless my friends were quibbling about the cost of dinner, natch.

NOTE to NOTE:  Of course, I'm only slightly better off in German.  My lines there are "Do you have a light?" and "Why didn't you come before the stairs burned?"  Obviously, my career as an arsonist in Germany awaits.

Luckily, things in Paris have changed since my friend Priscilla and I basically hosteled through Europe in the mid 1980's.  While I remember the French people hating us and our big ugly American ways back then, now they seem to be super friendly and all speak English.

NOTE:  I do realize that our $600-a-night hotel and the $100 dinners might have something to do with this recent vacay change -- yes, I do know I paid the French people to be nice to me.  And I'd do it again.

Anyway, after a couple of weeks away, I'm really glad to be home and back at Community Partners of Dallas.

NOTE:  Even though our auditor is here.

One of the things we did in Paris was on Memorial Day we went to the Suresnes American Cemetery.  The cemetery has about 2,000 American dead from WWI and 24 unknown soldiers from WWII.  It was truly moving to be there and to see all of the American and French flags on each grave.

We are so lucky to live in America.

And I'm so lucky we speak English here.

Do You Believe This?

I was on vacation last week.

What a blessing it was to be able to get away for a few days and visit Napa Valley, California, with my friend Jill and -- thanks to Jill -- we were there to attend a fantastic charity weekend --The 16th Annual V Foundation Wine Celebration.

The V Foundation was started to raise funds for cancer research and it does so in the memory of Jimmy Valvano.  One of his most famous quotes was "Don't give up, don't ever give up."

If you are like me (and you probably are if you are reading my blog), you may not have heard of Jimmy V.  Jimmy was the head basketball coach at North Carolina State University and his team won the NCAA finals against very long odds in 1983.  He was an inspirational leader and died from cancer just 5 weeks after he gave this 11 minute speech when he won the Arthur Ashe award at the ESPYs.  Do yourself a favor and watch it now.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuoVM9nm42E

His advice to do three things every day is revelatory:

1. Laugh
2. Think
3. Cry

I really believe that this world would be a different place if each one of us did these things every day.  So much of our lives is spent in motion -- just working to get to the next day -- not stopping to think or feel life.  Just this morning, I woke up and thought about all the things I have to do today and said to myself, well this time tomorrow this day will be over -- whew.

Now, is that a good way to start the day?  I can do better.  So can you.

And if you need help with your three things today, watch the speech again.

 

Wanting for Nothing

I just returned from a 3 day, 2 night trip to Arkansas.

Yes, Arkansas.

Have to tell you that it was great fun (went with a group of about 25 women) and we visited a lot of incredible places -- the Clinton Library, University of Arkansas (even toured the Chancellor's home with his lovely wife), the Crystal Bridges Museum, and more.

I'm really glad that I went and if you haven't been to Crystal Bridges, GO.

That being said, I'm mad at myself.

Last night when I was going through my bags, I piled up the "stuff" that I'd accumulated on the trip -- some of it I was given (Anyone want a University of Arkansas paperweight featuring the Chancellor's residence in living color?), but most of it I spent my hard-earned money on.

Here's the list of my shame:

• 2 Blue Birds, glass, 2 inches tall
• 1 Soap Dish, ceramic
• 4 Presidential Quotation Books:  Jefferson (1), Roosevelt (2), Lincoln (1)
• 1 Lamb Christmas Ornament, fabric
• 1 Paperweight, glass, University of Arkansas Chancellor's residence pictured, in presentation box
• 1 Print of a Piece by Wayne Thiebaud, "Supine Woman", about 10 X 14 inches (shown above)

And I wanted to buy more stuff -- I held myself back!

NOTE:  As I type this post, I am looking at another recent acquisition from Dallas -- a Big Tex bobble head purchased one week ago today, obviously in the middle of a corny dog coma.

Why do I do this? 

For me, a lot of it is being caught up in the frenzy of other women who are purchasing.  Also, things look so much better when you see lots of them in a group (Alas, 2 blue birds do not a flock make...), so I make decisions that bite me later.

What makes me mad is that I had stopped buying stupid stuff -- I really had.  The last time that I went on one of these trips (JLD trip to NOLA), the only thing I bought were 12 sterling iced tea spoon sippers -- and I had always wanted some and love them every time I use them.

I want to stop this needless waste and use the money to do something for good.  The children at Community Partners of Dallas need more than a glass blue bird, and it is truly needed.

Now, I'm all for beauty and sentiment and I want you to buy souvenirs and love them.  I think that it is part of the joy of life.

I just want to remember the CPD kids at the next gift shop I enter.  My #FundraisingFriday gift is going to them.