explore: muir beach

{my sister ashley + my pup pablo}

yesterday my sister ashley + i packed a picnic + took our mom to muir beach for mother's day! we had such a lovely afternoon...the sun was out, the air was fresh, the drive was gorgeous {no traffic i might add}, a sweet lady moved her car over a bit so we could park {thank you sweet lady}, we indulged in some homemade fried chicken + a delicious fruit salad, nibbled on cookies + cupcakes, sipped on wine, chatted + people watched.  

{ashley's cupcakes}

i have to say what made the day extra special {besides being with my mom} was the fact that pablo could be included. he was such a good boy...loved every minute of playing in the ocean + soaking up the sun. his puppy curiosity + charm made us all giggle {got to love a dog friendly beach}! 

{santos juan pablo}

it was days like yesterday that remind me not only of how lucky we are to live in california, but how the simplest things can bring you the most joy. 

recycle: corks!

i drink quite a bit of wine {+ bubbles!} + as a result have tossed many a cork in the trash bin. throwing these little guys away has always bothered me, but the idea of crafting cork boards + trivets out of my used corks never really appealed to me {a little too crafty}...

so as you can imagine i was thrilled to learn about the recycling programs recork america + yemm + hart are offering to tasting rooms, restaurants + wine drinkers like me. they recycle + remake our used corks into flooring tiles, building insulation, sporting equipment, shoe soles + soil conditioner...

for more information about recycling your used corks please check out the following links:

recork america website

yemm + hart website

napa valley register article from may 2008

recork america's drop off locations {napa valley}:

whole foods market . bel aire plaza, napa

jv wine + spirits . silverado trail, napa

vallerga's market . redwood plaza, napa

v wine cellar . yountville

wilson daniel's . st. helena

please note that only natural cork is accepted. no plastic or metal closures please!

cheers! nm

napa valley calendar of events: march 2009

ok, so january + february certainly went by fast!  + here we are on this rainy monday, march 2nd planning out a busy month from my favorite list...napa valley events for the month of march. as usual i am sitting here trying to narrow down the list of what tickles my fancy + of course having a hard time doing so...there are just so many to choose from! cooking classes, wine releases, art shows, winemaker dinners, art + gardening workshops, wine pairing classes, concerts + more...many of which are free! 

7-8: mustard, mud + music - a calistoga jazz festival

7 + 14: edible landscaping workshop {free!}

21: taste of yountville

28: tea appreciation - traditional tea ceremonies {i am a tea junky}

28: mumm napa photo finish 

please comment or send me an email if i am missing an event.

cheers! nm

ps: picture is of the delish soup i just had up at the calistoga ranch.

napa love: sunday at the ranch

about a month ago on a beautiful sunday afternoon my dear friend anise invited me up to her ranch off wild horse valley road to play. it is days like this...without notice or planning, without a picnic or a bottle of wine, without reservations or crowds that remind me of why i love living in the valley. it was so nice to step away for a moment from my chaotic life + enjoy the pure, simple, rustic + raw beauty napa offers. 

baby diego

view from wild horse valley road.

enjoy!

event: a night of music for new orleans concert {jan 30}

i posted last week about upcoming napa valley events + the one i most definitely don't want to miss is a night of music for new orleans, a concert benefiting new orleans hurricane victims on friday, january 30th. this fundraiser will send more than 40 high school students to help complete the rebuilding of a community center owned by the african methodist episcopal church, which was devastated by hurricane katrina. each student going on the trip will pay their own way through fundraising, after school jobs + even christmas money. however, in addition to the cost for flights + transportation, this group needs to raise an additional $30,000 for building materials...

so please join me on friday, january 30th at 7 o'clock at the napa valley opera house to enjoy this special concert showcasing the valley's top classically trained teen musicians as well as hear stories from last year's trip. 

for more information, please visit these links below...

napa valley opera house
napa chamber of commerce
napa valley register 

a night of music for new orleans
friday, january 30 at 7 o'clock
the napa valley opera house
1030 main street * downtown napa
adults $25 + students $10
for tickets call 707.226.7372 or visit nvoh.org

donations are needed + appreciated...
please make your check payable to "first presbyterian church of napa" + write "new orleans" in subject line + mail to:

simon biasell
first presbyterian church of napa
1333 third street
napa, ca 94559

i don't always heart napa

when i originally started this blog i resolved myself to the fact that if i had nothing nice to say i wouldn't say it at all. if i didn't like a restaurant, instead of bashing it, i just wouldn't mention it. in my opinion there are plenty of other blogs that do a great job of entertaining the world with their complaining. however, today i am actually frustrated enough to break my silence. so what could it possibly be?  our movie theater. yes! thats right, i am sorry to say it...the people are nice, the popcorn is fresh, but bottom line its disgusting + falling apart + smells. + if that wasn't reason enough, they NEVER show decent movies. hell, i would forgive the grungy setting if they would show just one. you know, one of those 6 that received rave reviews + has been nominated for a golden globe {+ perhaps even an oscar}. 

so napa cinedome, if you are reading this post, please see my wish list below:

milk

the reader

slumdog millionaire

gran torino

frost/nixon

doubt

napa valley calendar of events: january 2009

hello all! i wanted to include the link to a valued resource of mine...the napa valley events calendar. there is just so much to enjoy, so please take a look! here is what i have marked on my calendar for january 2009.

10th: rose pruning workshop in napa at 10.30 until noon {free too}

11th: les violettes french baroque concert at grgich hills

11-14 + 18-21: truffle camp at la toque restaurant

30th: a night of music for new orleans at the napa valley opera house

31st: mustard magic. the grand event {mustard festival} at cia in st. helena

oh + zap {zinfandel advocates + producers} is from january 28th until the 31st. this event is held at the fort mason center in san francisco. definitely one of my favorites!  zap sells out fast, so get tickets now.

cheers! nm

happy 2009!

happy, happy new year to everyone! 

as 2008 has come to an end i have been thinking quite a bit about what i want to accomplish in 2009 {really? what a surprise!} + as usual i have been coming up with quite the list of resolutions. it was a nice list. however, last night while hanging out with my friend insomnia i finally resolved myself to the fact that the usual grand new years resolutions have done very little for me {yes, i finally figured it out}. to be quite honest i make plans + lists every day. they are easy, like imagining what i would do if i won the lotto.

now don't get me wrong, i should include "lose 10 pounds by march 1st" somewhere on a list {along with a whole slew of other things to resolve/accomplish}. but after reflecting on 2008 + what it meant to me, i think 2009 needs to be less about reading 2 books a week + eating better...+ more about the core of who i am. i believe these things below are more likely to get me through this year than being a size zero...

*be a little more confident, brave, patient + focused.

*be proud, but gracious + humble.

*have faith in the unknown. 

*be comfortable with the idea of failure.

*trust myself + others.

*give more. listen more. talk less.

*embrace change.

+ just for fun...read more, ride more, sleep better + buy the winning lotto ticket.

may your 2009 be filled with peace, happiness, good health, exciting travels, special moments, delicious meals, much love + success.

cheers! nm

side note: pic is of my newest addition santos juan pablo {pabs}, 7 months.

must read: local pairings

"there are many pleasures in life that must be savored + enjoyed, like a good glass of wine, delicious food prepared from fresh, local produce + sharing the flavors of life with family + friends." - local pairings

i am happy to be posting about a delicious new site called local pairings. perfect for the most discerning epicurean, local pairings is written by two local ladies, linzi gay + karen grimes along with their resident chef emily buller. they feature excellent tips on interesting wines, savory new recipes {love their wild mushroom risotto!}, their favorite restaurants + seasonal local foods.

when you visit, be sure to sign up for their weekly newsletter.

enjoy! nm

drink: 20% off ALL wines @ whole foods napa!

who doesn't love a discount? + especially a discount on spectacular wines?! well, whole foods in napa is offering 20% off all of it's wines from now until january 1st 2009! they have an incredible selection of wines + bubbles {perfect for new years eve}...i think i need to go back again.

whole foods is located in the bel aire plaza

cheers! nm