Zen Jenn

deck the halls... or not

this year christmas seems to be approaching so quickly.  we have not bought a tree or done any type of christmas decorating...  no lights, no candles, nothing.   and with less than a week to go, and considering i still have shopping to do and parties to attend, i don't see anytime in the next few days that it will happen. 

but if i were to decorate this year... i love the look of the mantle above, covered with a garland of greenery.  so simple yet still festive.  how do you decorate your home at this time of year?

the photo above is from elle decor.

i like my chocolate dark

...and stone ground.  i love chocolate, all kinds of chocolate really, but i especially love dark chocolate.  so recently, when i was at surrender salon getting my hair colored and my stylist, amber,  offered me a piece of taza chocolate, of course i accepted.  and i'm glad i did because i was blown away, and bought a whole bar to savor later.  taza chocolate is stone ground, which means it is minimally processed, and made the "old-fashioned" way.  it has a very rich taste, that is not too sweet, but very flavorful.  it tastes very fruity... reminds me of raisins and cherries with a hint of cinnamon.  it is not smooth, but rather has a little bit of crunch to it.  it is rich enough that one square is satisfying enough, and a square after dinner with a glass of red wine is divine... mmmmmmm...

all i want for christmas

dear santa,
all i want for christmas this year is to know what jennifer aniston does to look this good?  seriously.  she is almost 40.  i just want to know what i have to do...  botox?  yoga?  eating by the zone diet?  just tell me, please.  that's all i want.

thanks.

love,
jenn

to see more pictures of ms. aniston from the marley and me premiere go here.

love remains the same

gotta love those venetians

even though their city is under water, these men in the above picture, take the time to enjoy some wine and each other's company in a flooded plaza.  the acqua alta, as these floods are called, occur quite often in the city of venice, so the natives have gotten used to their city flooding and tend to work around the water.  i just love the spirit of the italians as shown in these pictures!   it is quite amazing how they go about their business, wearing rubber boots to keep dry, and doing what they can to keep things as normal as possible while surrounded by water. 

i found these pictures on a news website called the big picture- it tells news stories in breathtaking pictures.  to see more pictures from the flood in venice go here.

friends forever

kim and i have been friends for what feels like forever... we met our freshman year in the dorms at san diego state.  we quickly became friends and stayed close throughout our college years; living together many times-one summer in a fraternity house and then in three different places in pacific beach.  we have been in each other's weddings and there for each other through many hard times.  we haven't been without our fair share of ups and downs, but somehow we always find a way to forgive and come back together.

last weekend, i went to visit kim, who now lives in san jose with her husband, john, and their two labrador retrievers, mac and bailey.  on friday night, we ate fish and drank champagne at forbes mill steakhouse in los gatos.  saturday, we went on a hike in the foothills of san jose and then got ready and headed to san francisco.  kim, john and i met up with their friend corey and shared a delicious lunch at betelnut in the marina/cow hollow district.   kim and i then shopped our way down union street.  we had a lot of luck at ambiance and found a some cute things... like these boots and this scarf... to name just a few ;)  after emptying our wallets we met back up with the boys and headed to dinner at andalu in the mission, where we joined cammy and alex to enjoy a night of sangria and tapas.  sunday i said goodbye to my friend and can't wait 'till we get together again!

    

    

    

    

marley is comin' to town

on christmas day the movie marley and me starring owen wilson and jennifer aniston comes out and i can't wait to see it.  marley "the world's worst dog" reminds me a lot of another dog i know... harley.  harley was once our dog, but now lives happily with corey's brother up in sacramento.  he was too much dog for our apartment lifestyle.  we miss him so much, but we know he is better off where he can run and roam.   i'm sure this movie will remind me of him and make me miss him even more.

{vampire} house beautiful

last week i saw the movie twilight.  it was a great movie.  i highly recommend it and really enjoyed it... i especially loved the house of the cullen family.  the cullens are a family of vampires that live in seattle.  in the picture above you see edward cullen, a vampire who has fallen in love with a girl named bella, in his bedroom.  i love how everything is white.  their house is very modern, lots of windows, and so, SO beautiful!

giving thanks

thanksgiving day started with our traditional family touch football game at the merritt football field on the claremont colleges campus.  we played a good game and got totally soaked because it started to rain halfway through.  i am still sore today from running so much!  after the game, we all scattered to different places for thanksgiving dinner.  i went over to my cousin tracie's house and had turkey with my cousins and their extended family.  later, i went to my aunt laurie's for dessert.  it was a great day to see so many family members and i am grateful for all of them.

to see more pictures from the game go here.

    

    

being grateful

this time of year is a good time to truly appreciate and be grateful for all of the wonderful things and people in our life.  it is so common to think about the things that we don't have, instead of the blessings that we do have.  i recently came upon a poem that reminded me of this...

ON BEING A WOMAN

Why is it, when I am in Rome
I'd give an eye to be at home,
But when on native earth I be,
My soul is sick for Italy?

And why with you, my love, my lord,
Am I spectacularly bored,
Yet do you up and leave me---then
I scream to have you back again?

                              Dorthy Parker
                              (1893-1967)

this year, i am counting my blessings and really trying my hardest to live in the moment and be happy exactly where i am.  i have such an amazing family, generous friends, the best cat, my health, happiness, good times and a safe and comfortable place to live.  every single thing may not be going exactly as i wished right now, but i am choosing to focus on what is.  i hope you do too!  happy thanksgiving!