They Say It’s My Birthday!

So another wonderful birthday week has come to a close and it was FABULOUS as always. Here is a recap:

Digital Camera

It all kicked off about a week early with one of my personal favs an EARLY BIRTHDAY PRESENT. Nick had ordered me a new digital camera and he went ahead and gave it to me the day it arrived.

Here I am with the New and totally wonderful Canon A1100IS and it is PINK! It has 12.1 megapixels, facial detection, and image stabilization. My digital camera is officially updated to 2009 and I could not be happier!!! The picture above was the last taken with the old Kodak, all pics going forward are from the Pink Canon!

Bathroom- DONE

I am not sure if Nick attended for this next part to be a Birthday Gift but I am going to take it that way. I am proud to announce the official GRAND OPENING of the MASTER BATHROOM! YAY! 2 years of sweat, blood, and tears finally paid off., Praise God! We moved into the bathroom on Friday, September 25th and I could not be happier! Nick did a GREAT job on everything it is so AWESOME! Here are a few Before/After pics so you can see how we went from BAD to FAB!

BEFORE

 

AFTER

 

Barter

Several weeks ago I had decided to take a vacation date on September 25th so I could do something special for my Birthday but it came down to the week before and I just could not think of anything to do. Nick to the rescue . . .he suggested we go to the Barter Theater and see a show. Neither one of us had ever been to the Barter and we had been talking for several years about going So Nick went online and got us tickets to Frankenstein which was playing on the Main Stage.  The Barter was AWESOME!The show was very professionally done and totally enjoyable. The play itself, Frankenstein was very sad, it was not the “scary monster” you always see at Halloween. It made me think about the way I treat people.

We had a great time at the Barter I just wish I had gone years ago when I could have gone for free with school (I was to dorky to miss school and go). I was glad to be able to experience it with Nick and I am looking forward to going back ;)

Prior to the show we took in another Abingdon,VA, favorite Alison’s. Many of our friends had recommended this restaurant to us and I was looking forward to finally experiencing it. Our friends were right it was wonderful. The place does not look like much but the food was great The potato soup was to die for and the ribs were EXCELLENT. Nick got a half rack of ribs and when they brought them out they were literally falling off the bone. If you ever get a chance to go to Alison’s I definitely recommend it.

Here are a few pictures from our evening:

The Actual Birthday

Well, it POURED the rain on my actual Birthday- seriously monsoon season hit Tennessee. However, I did not let the wet weather dampen my Birthday spirits. We spent the morning actually cleaning out the Master Bedroom so we can begin our next home improvement project. That evening I went out for my traditional Birthday dinner with my family at Olive Garden. I ate to much but had a fabulous time.

All in all it was a wonderful Birthday! Thanks so much to all my friends, family, and co-workers for all the gifts, meals, and well wishes! You all always make my birthdays FABULOUS!

Julie/Julia . . .Finding Joy through food.

So this is kind of weird I am writing a blog about a book and a movie that were born from a blog project.  WHICH is totally awesome that one simple blog can inspire a best selling book and an awesome movie. Awww, lets all take a moment and step back and admire the all consuming power of the internet.

Okay moment over and now back to our regular scheduled programming. A few months back my Mom and I were watching TV at her house and we saw a trailer for the Julie & Julia movie. The trailer showed Meryl Streep as Julia Child and then Amy Adams as this other person who had a blog. My Mom said she wanted to see it and I was intrigued. I had of course heard of Julia Child . . .who hasn’t! (if you have not don’t fell bad just click on her name her to read more)!!! but who was this Julie that did the blogging stuff. So naturally I Googled it and found out there was a book that the movie was based off of . . .WHOO HOO! So a trip to Barnes and Nobles was made and I was soon the proud owner of Julie and Julia: A Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell. The book was actually a true story, the author Julie Powell embarked on a mission to cook here way through Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child (and some others) and write a blog about the experience. Julie begins her journey as an unhappy cubicle dweller in a government office in New York City. Through the blog Julie finds not only a connection with Julia Child but also a joy for cooking a renewed joy and purpose for her life  that she could not have found in her cubicle. I really enjoyed the book it had a lot of really hilarious moments particularly with the cooking of the lobster. I also admit that this part is a little gross but not nearly as gross as the calves feet.  I also got quite a few chuckles over the conversations that Julie had with her mother regarding her blog.  The book also featured several letters that Paul Child  and Julia Child had written which I believe were excerpts from My Life in France, a book that Julia child wrote about her time in France (but don’t quote me on that).  Despite the fact that there is a movie out there I encourage you to read the book the language and the descriptions are wonderful and you truly get immersed in Julie’s journey.

My Mom and I finally went to see the movie this past Saturday and I have to say the movie was not exactly like the book BUT I was okay with it.  The movie gave me one thing that I did not completely get from the book, a better understanding of Julia Child and her accomplishments. On a side note Meryl Streep played Julia Child brilliantly and I really admire her for enduring all those amazingly high heals to pull off Julia’s 6’2” stature. Julia Child worked for 8 years to get the Mastering the Art of French Cooking Published! What patience and persistence! By the way I do not feel I am ruining anything about the book or movie by telling you this it is common knowledge and can be found by a bit of Googling.

Both the book and the movie were an answer to the question “What am I good at?” Both Julie and Julia had at one time been in government work but were not satisfied and found purpose through cooking.  Both have now made a life’s work out of cooking and to me this is truly AWESOME! To find  the one single thing in life that you love to do and  make it your purpose  . . . to me that is just priceless! One of my favorite lines from the movie is between Paul and Julia Child. Paul ask Julia “What is it you like to do?” Julia laughs and says “Eat!” She took a love for eating to a whole new level, and for that I applaud her.

Another one of my favorite lines made famous by Julia Child on her cooking showing and one we can all relate to is – “DON'T BE AFRAID!” (really you have to hear Julia say this to get the full effect). I think this may be a bit of advice that is applicable  in every thing from boning a duck to realizing life goals.

So go forth and DON’T BE AFRAID! God is always in control and besides what is the work thing that can happen? You hack up a duck the wrong way. At least you tried and you will do better the next time. 

Just for the record this is something I need to remember on a daily basis I am constantly “afraid” and losing self confidence,

 

In conclusion, see the MOVIE and read the BOOK. They are FABULOUS!

 

BON APPETIT!