Music Monday

Seriously, Adele's voice just kills me.  No matter what she sings, I am reduced to blubbering tears.  That's the effect she has on me. Love her version of this song...

"To Make You Feel My Love"

When the rain

Is blowing in your face

And the whole world

Is on your case

I could offer you

A warm embrace

To make you feel my love

When the evening shadows

And the stars appear

And there is no one there

To dry your tears

I could hold you

For a million years

To make you feel my love

I know you

Haven't made

Your mind up yet

But I would never

Do you wrong

I've known it

From the moment

That we met

No doubt in my mind

Where you belong

I'd go hungry

I'd go black and blue

I'd go crawling

Down the avenue

No, there's nothing

That I wouldn't do

To make you feel my love

The storms are raging

On the rolling sea

And on the highway of regret

Though winds of change

Are throwing wild and free

You ain't seen nothing

Like me yet

I could make you happy

Make your dreams come true

Nothing that I wouldn't do

Go to the ends

Of the Earth for you

To make you feel my love

Dancing...

Friday night's farewell happy hour for a coworker turned into an impromptu pub crawl which led to a spontaneous visit to Fiddler's in North Beach for a dance party.  I was tired, still in work clothes, feeling gross, drunk, and sleepy.  But, I rallied and am so glad I did...

Its been awhile since I'd gone out dancing and it was such a blast.  My coworkers are all a hoot and were letting loose to Britney, GaGa, MJ, and of course Jay-Z.  PS: I'd forgotten how attractive it is when a guy can really dance...

Speaking of, have you all witnessed the uber-amazingness of LXD?  Jaw-dropping.  Take a look at their performance last season on "So You Think You Can Dance".  Trust me, its well worth it.  And pay special attention to my boyfriend (in my dreams) at the :51 and 1:16 marks (grey sweater, yellow belt...)

Enjoy!

Brussels sprouts...go figure...

Until this past Christmas, I had never, in my life, tasted brussel sprouts.  No conscious effort on my part - just never really came across them too often.  But, there at our family Christmas dinner, was a lovely side dish of roasted brussel sprouts...and I LOVED THEM!  So good.

I'm now obsessed.  I've had them at least once a week every week in January (sometimes twice) and have searched all over online for some great recipes.

Here is my effort to make Tyler Florence's brussel sprout hash: 

I chopped up 1/2 an onion, quartered 6-10 brussel sprouts, cubed 6-10 fingerling potatoes, and though his recipe called for bacon, I used chicken jalapeno sausage from Trader Joe's.

In one skillet, fry up the brussel sprouts, onions, and potatoes in olive oil w/ salt and pepper to taste.  In a separate pan, cook your sausage.

Once the onions are translucent and the brussel sprouts bright green, add about a cup of chicken broth and bring to a simmer.

When all the broth is reduced and the potatoes soft, add the sausage to the mix, toss, and ready to serve!

I shaved some parm cheese on top of my hash and had it with a fried egg sprinkled with tobasco and a piece of toast.  

Super easy!  Bon appetit!

I've been a good girl...

I am amazed at how much money one can spend, especially in San Francisco, on food and alcohol.  I am too frightened to even try and tally my monthly totals.  And since December was particularly devoted to all things hedonistic and gluttonous, I spent at least 5 times more than my norm.  I needed a spending detox.
  

I stocked up the fridge with the best of Trader Joe's and the farmers' market and decided NOT to spend any money on coffee, breakfast, or lunch.  And have only allowed myself to spend money on the "meeting a friend for dinner" (which I've only done twice!), after work happy hour (once), and the "special occasions" (ie: football playoffs = brunch & beers).  I had no idea I had it in me to practice such restraint.  And honestly, it wasn't as hard as I had expected!

Now, with that being said, I pretty much spent all that money saved on other things!  I had 7 friends (and my dad) with birthdays in January.  And, Tahoe is having quite the season so far so I also treated myself to a new snowboard.  *sheepish grin*  And, the Marc by Marc Jacobs' sale on Gilt last week was just a little too desirable to pass up.  

But, it has been a fun little experiment...and I'm also super happy with my new goodies!

My Burton Avenue snowboard 143 

Marc by Marc Jacobs Nettie Dot Dress...

...with the super cute back...

Not sure what the plan is for February...we'll play it by ear...

My man, Matt Morris...

Last year I tagged along with a friend to see a concert with a little known singer, Matt Morris.  I was immediately hooked and have been a fan since.  His full album just dropped this month.  

Friday night I'm watching the special for Haitian relief, and on comes Justin Timberlake singing Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah"...and I hear an amazing guitar accompaniment and vocal harmony.  Who do I see next to him...my man Matt!  WHAT?  I jump on youtube to see if I can post the video on Twitter and I see Matt all over the place!  He's been on Ellen and Letterman...and he's singing "Bloodline" with Justin Timberlake.  Holy cow!  Where have I been and when did he blow up so quickly?  

I'm super excited about his growing fame...if you get a chance, take a look at the videos below...and jump on board the fan-train. 

Let's just be clear: he's mine.

And so it goes...

Man, its already the 11th of January?  Are you serious?

New years came and went.  I didn't make any resolutions.  I didn't make any goals.  I thought about working out.  I thought about cleaning up my yard.  I thought about detoxing this month.

And now its already the 11th.

This past weekend was the first time I'd been alone with time to myself since December 13th of last year.  Go figure.  No wonder I was already so exhausted this year.  So, I spent this entire past weekend enjoying my own company...no apologies for being on my own...just cleaning my house, doing my laundry, cooking, grocery shopping, watching football, reading.  It was bliss.

Ok, NOW I'm ready for 2010.

I'm ready to cook more.  Read more.  Sleep more.

I'm ready to jog more (maybe). Stretch more. Moisturize more.

I'm ready to interact more. Connect more. Care more.

I'm ready to invest more. Save more. Restrain more.

I'm ready to love more. Like more. Lust more.

I'm ready to get a dog.

I'm ready to get a new bike.

I'm ready to get a car (maybe).

I'm ready to take the next step at work.

I'm ready to make my blog more interesting (sorry!).

I'm ready to get to know my parents better.

I'm ready to leave some old friendships and relationships behind.

I'm ready to build some new bonds.

I'm ready to tackle some new projects and endeavors.

I'm ready to grow up a little bit.

I'm ready to stop kidding myself so much.

I'm ready to have some fun.

I'm (almost) ready to be adored.

I'm ready to start things.

I'm ready to finish things.

Ok...NOW I'm ready...set...GO...

G.Y.S.T...

Welcome 2010.  Your close neighbor 2009 was kind of a pain in the ass.  But,  I have hopes for you!  

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!  

Looking back, I accomplished all my goals for 2009 (except for running the 10k...but really, who honestly believed that one was gonna happen?).  Yet, I didn't end the year feeling a sense of victory!  I didn't leave 2009 feeling on top of my game.  I felt a bit beat down, tired, and worn.

So, I've decided that for 2010, there will be no resolutions or goal settings.  I have but one purpose for 2010:

GYST - Get Your Shit Together

What I need to do, I'll do.

What I want to do, I'll do.

And I'll do it all to the best of my ability.  And I'll choose to be happy and to feel fulfilled and to to grow.  

Done and done.  :)

Bring it on twenty-ten...I'm ready...