In the past month, I’ve eaten more pasta, pizza, bread, desserts and consumed more red wine than I store in my cellar at home!!! Now I’m back on track and determined be as healthy as possible for the rest of the summer. Notice I said healthy, not skinny!!! Sometimes I like to shock my body, and that’s exactly what I did while traveling this summer. I ate it all and enjoyed every moment. Problem is I didn’t really like how I was feeling. But, I’m the type that is really weak when it comes to resisting what is in reach. If I love it and, it’s on the table, I’m eating it.
Now that I’m getting ready for another bikini island get away with David, It’s time to kick it up a notch and go back to giving my body what it likes best. I’m also back in the gym, doing Pilates Plus regularly and whipping up my favorite healthy recipes.
One of my passions is being in my garden at home. I love pruning my roses and cutting different colors to fill my favorite vases in every room. Something about that visual and their sweet smell sets the mood throughout my house. My kitchen is another story!
I got really inspired by a friend’s garden and decided to attempt to recreate it in my own yard. Since fresh herbs and vegetables are the common denominator in most of my favorite dishes, I am planting everything I need. My romance with the produce section in my local grocery store will be ending soon. Why bother with the farmer’s market when I can do it at home? My even greater expectation is to grow my own heirloom tomatoes, zucchini, and peppers. The herbs will be easy, but I failed last summer at the heartier stuff. Here’s a pic of what made it!
One of my biggest disappointments was the reality of what was living in the variety of lettuce heads! I spent more time washing and soaking the critters out than I would have making a run to the market. So I’m skipping lettuce and focusing on the sexier veggies. I have much to learn, but I am very excited. There is something so delicious about home cooked meals, and they are even better when they’re made with love. I was very impressed one trip we took to wine county, home of the famous French Laundry. Just across the road is their organic garden where most of their ingredients are grown. That stuck in my mind for many months, and I am determined to make it happen in Malibu!
As soon as I have my first pick I will attempt to duplicate the most amazing spice I discovered on Tuscany. It was ground red, super hot peppers, soaked in olive oil. We drizzled that concoction on just about every dish! My family loves spicy food and it took a lot for all of us not to sneak that jar back to the states with us.
This weekend was spent prepping, digging and planting. What a fun experience for the kids and I. You’ll find some great gardening tips here. Here are the kids in action!
