Memorial Day

Your silent tents of green
We deck with fragrant flowers;
Yours has the suffering been,
The memory shall be ours.

-- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

To those brave patriots who, as Lincoln said, 'gave their lives that that nation might live' (I'm looking at you, Uncle Scott): Thank you! We love you, miss you, and honor you today. Well, today, and every day.  

{Images via Arlington National Cemetary}

Let's all say a prayer for the cheese

New Health Mantra: "Eat Food. Mostly Plants. Not Too Much."

It was bound to happen. I mean, honestly, who were we kidding? The math was against us from the start:

Alcohol-Free + Sunny Weather = Pipe Dream

Yep. Derek and I totally fell off the health craze wagon this weekend. There was yummy BBQ and gooey enchiladas, there was sweet dessert, there was ice-cold beer. Lots and lots of ice-cold beer.

Ok, so we fell off and then were run over by the health craze wagon this weekend. Well, I was. Adonis probably lost weight.

Anyhoo, I have managed to hoist myself back on the wagon. In fact, I’ve decided to undertake a major detox/renovation project. It was inspired by Michael Pollan’s two sensational books: Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food, which are all about getting back to a food-based, heavy-on-the-plants diet. As opposed to the packaged, processed, can’t-pronounce-the-ingredients-test-tube concoctions overrunning our grocery stores these days.

Plus, I love that his philosophy can be boiled down to 7 words:

"Eat Food. Mostly Plants. Not Too Much."

So, Week 1 (which starts next week) consists of a clear-the-slate detox. In other words, no meat, no wheat, no added sugar, no dairy, no caffeine, no alcohol and absolutely nothing you can’t pronounce. The goal is to eliminate potential allergens from my diet for a week (I have a sneaky suspicion I might be lactose intolerant. Tear.) and gradually add back those groups of food that don’t put me into a bloated, fog-like state.

Fingers crossed that cheese can stay!

Have you read Michael Pollan’s books? What do you think of his take on food?

{Images via Elizabeth Farrar for Bella Vita}

Because I'm a freaking princess. That's why.

My new writing home. Not exactly Hogwarts, but I think I'll manage.

It's official! I just accepted Bath Spa University's offer to be a princess write children's books this Autumn. 

Obviously, my next move will be finding a suitable tiara.

Here are a few more photos from my trip to Bath/Corsham last month. 

And, yes, you're all welcome to visit. Happy Monday!

No owls, but plenty of peacocks on the Bath Spa grounds.

The quaint, narrow streets of Corsham.

Pulteney Bridge and the lovely River Avon in Bath.

I'm kinda in love with Bath's itty bitty streets.

Gorgeous architecture of the Royal Crescent.

The Circus = Spectacular restaurant just down the street from the Royal Crescent. I can't wait to go back (and tell you all about it, of course)

Gratuitous Hogs Head. Awesomeness.

 Confused? Read this.

{Images via Elizabeth Farrar for Bella Vita}

Chicken Poop

'Gardening is an instrument of grace' - May Sarton

I don't know about you, but this whole Mother's Day thing is exhausting. To show my love and appreciation to my mom this year, I decided to give her something quite rare (from me, at least): manual labor.

For an entire 6 hours, yesterday, we 'gardened' under the scorching Oregon sun. We raked. We planted. We pulled weeds. We shoveled until our backs ached and our faces glistened. I even shoveled and hauled a rather large bucket of chicken poop for her compost pile.

Because nothing says love like a pile of steaming manure.

We've still got some work to do on her vegetable garden, but check out our progress over the weekend:

Before: Mom says this is embarrassing. I say 'And this is after I removed the rusty lawnmower.'

After: Look, Mom, no more white trash!!!

Before: Please don't judge us.

After: Yep. Greatest Daughter Ever!

To all those women doing the hardest job on the planet, a belated Happy Mother's Day!

{Images via Elizabeth Farrar for Bella Vita}

Screwdrivers and Black Lace

Lately, I've noticed quite a few friends (on Facebook mostly) lamenting/cursing/weeping over the prospect of turning the big 3-0. I've been there. I had so many ideas about what I would do and be in my 20s -- many of which went unrealized -- that I was thrown into a bit of a panic as the decade came to a close and I envisioned my youth/dreams slipping away with it.  

I know. Kinda dramatic.

Anyhoo, I took the leap nearly 9 months ago, and, frankly, I can't believe I waited so long. Because, contrary to popular belief, life doesn't actually end at 30.

No, really.

And I'll tell you something else: It gets good. Really, really good.

30-year-old spinsters rejoice!

So what does this have to do with screwdrivers and black lace, you ask? Well, I have a theory that life gets good at 30 because that's when your own skin starts to feel comfortable. That's why I love this list from Glamour on 30 Things Every Woman Should Have and Should Know By The Time She's 30.

Some of my favorites from the list:

By 30 you should know...

#3 How to quit a job, break up with a man and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.

#9 That you can't change the length of your calves, the width of your hips or the nature of your parents.

#14 Not to apologize for something that isn't your fault.


By 30 you should have...

#1 One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you've come.

#6 A past juicy enough that you're looking forward to retelling it in your old age.

#11 A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill and a black lace bra.

What do you think? Ladies who have taken the plunge, anything they missed?



{Images via Pin-up Passion}