Eat Pray Love

Under seriously sleeping eyelids, I finished Eat Pray Love last night. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole book. A good read; I'd give it 4 stars (reserving the 5 star for EXCEPTIONAL books only). Elizabeth Gilbert speaks with such a candid voice in her writing, you really feel like she's telling you her story. It's clever, inspirational, entertaining and thought provoking. Although memoirs can be criticized for their self-absorption, I thought it was spoken with honest intention and conviction. I'm a wanderluster when it comes to travel... so anyone spinning their tale of lands far away... I'm all ears.

A little yellow dancing frog

In honor of a personal family victory...
Enjoy this video my daughter and her soon to be step mom, Vivi, made in Buenos Aires over Christmas. I just love hearing those giggles.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO OF dancing frog

Resurrecting The Cafe Project (TCP)

The Cafe Project started in 2002 when I moved from Vermont back to Austin. I was inspired to visit all the establishments in Austin that started with the work CAFE. The list of places that ended in CAFE was too long to even count; but this list was short and palatable. It was a fun way to re-familiarize myself with my hometown and see a sampling of what it currently had to offer. I never finished the list from 2002 and now there are a handful of new CAFES and a few that have since shutdown.

I started with CAFE PACHA. A South American coffee shop just north of 45th street; 4618 Burnet Road. I had a hot chai and sat out back on their little deck. The staff was really great and the food looked good too. Mind you, this was 2002, but I still would recommend checking it out when in the area.

Next was CAFE AZUL. Sadly, it appears to have closed a couple months ago. It was located 1808 East Cesar Chavez. A really cute small yellow house complete with agave landscaping and an outdoor seating area out back and your off the beaten path kind of sandwiches. I'm not going to say much else since its closed. The link above has some reviews for curiosity sake.

CAFE DANCE (3307 Hancock Drive) I visited one random morning just went in to see what it was all about. In case the name didn't spell it out enough for me... I found a dance studio. I grabbed a list of classes since I had just left my beloved African dance class in Vermont, but they didn't have one (BTW... ANYONE know of ANYWHERE within a 30 mile radius that has African Dance classes? I'm still looking!!) I then revisited CAFE DANCE in 2004(?) for a performance of Oh Mother by a longtime friend who runs FORKLIFT DANCEWORKS. A brilliant modern dance tribute to the whole process of becoming a mom.

CAFE MUNDI gets the most visited award. I usually visited each place just once and checked it off the list, but MUNDI held me captive. Gently tucked away on the east side, I couldn't get enough of MUNDI. Aside from fond memories of being bussed to Zavala Elementary, I hadn't spent much time on the east side. It was funky, great food, live music, movies outside, shady outdoor patio... I just loved it. I went at least once a week. If you haven't been.. its an Austin must (1704 E. 5th St.)

CAFE MONET (4477 South Lamar; in the Westgate shopping center) My family ended up here for our mom's 60th birthday. It's a paint your own pottery studio. We each painted a dinner plate then presented her with an entire new set of dishes. It was a really cool idea (my sister, the genius) and we get to enjoy them Sunday nights for family dinner.

My most memorable CAFE experience from the initial 2002 Cafe Project was CAFE JOSIE (1200 W. 6th, Suite B; behind an art gallery) It was April Fools 2005. This is where my sweet husband brought us for dinner the night he proposed. Although he didn't propose here, it holds a sweet place in my heart. He popped the question later while at the San Jose; the place of our first unofficial "date".

So, I've combined my 2002 list with any new ones from 2008. The list has swelled from its original 14 to 30! I've been to 6 so that's 24 more to go. I'll keep you posted.

NINJA WARRIOR!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW:
NINJA WARRIOR

(My favorites: STAGE ONE SLIP-UPS and any of the women challenges. Check out cable channel G4 to see the entire series.)

Simply delicious

I thought for sure since the directions were mostly in Italian that it would take me a few takes to figure out how to cook up a tasty cup. I must be having a Goldilocks moment because my first try came out not too tall, not too short, not too soft, not too hard, not too hot and not too cold... came out "just right". yums.

Fair Bean Coffee and Vegan delights

We just got a new espresso maker for the stove top. Isn't it cute? I've always wanted one and now we own an authentic Italian made model. I can't wait to have a cappuccino in the morning. On my way home, I've noticed this new little coffee shop that has beans in bulk, so I decided to give them a try. Fair Bean Coffee. It's on South 1st inbetween Live Oak and Oltorf. I was in hopes of finding Fair Trade Organic Decaf Espresso Beans. The ideal bean, right? I made a new friend, Julia, at the counter (Hi Julia!) and I was able to get a pound of decaf and a 1/2 pound of regular espresso that looked like it had been roasted just that day! This place is beautiful. You definitely want to check it out.

While there, my 12 year old in her post school hunger spies the delicious looking carrot pumpkin cake and decides to get a piece. It turns out its one of sweet Celeste's tasty Vegan cakes... check out her website here: Celeste's Best. If you haven't had one of her cakes... you are crazy and you HAVE TO TODAY! She makes THE most amazing tasting dairy free goodies in the entire WORLD! Not to mention she is the most kind and hardest working woman I've ever known. So you are supporting one of Austin's finest and getting delicious cakes in return.

Hanging balls

I made delicious turkey meatballs and decided to freeze half for a later meal. As I was closing the door, I saw two balls had made contact with the frozen underside of the ice maker. They made me giggle out loud. There is something innately funny about balls hanging.

The Alamo Drafthouse

I LOVE the Alamo Drafthouse. An Austin original innovative approach to the movie house experience. You just can NOT have a bad time at the Alamo. They are constantly upping the fun factor and I just can't get enough of it. Master Pancake Theatre, original menus to coordinate with movie themes, Rolling Roadshow showings of movies in outdoor locations (Goonies in a cave or Jaws out on the lake) I really wish I could be a full time Alamo junkie. I also love that they are continually opening new permanent theaters in new locations... more Alamo for everyone!

Today, I joined a couple my mamas-group-mamas and their babies for the BABY DAY showing of Jason Reitman's (Thank you for smoking) latest movie JUNO. Super super funny and cute. I really liked it. Even better is being able to enjoy a fresh homemade pizza and Italian soda brought right to you. And even better than that is to have my sweet bambino in my lap able to freely oooh, aaaahh, and babble as he pleases. What a brilliant concept; giving all those new parents a place to get out of the house, enjoy a current movie, but not have to stress about childcare or bothering the people next to you cuz they have a baby too!

KOOP and KVRX

For anyone who has yet to discover or has forgotten about KOOP/KVRX radio... it's time to tune in. One of my favorite radio shows, Elkmating Ritual Thursdays from 4:30-6 with John Erler, came from these parts. There's also The Lounge Show Saturday mornings from 10-12, Issues for your Tissues during afternoon school pickup, there's too many to name them all. KOOP was the unfortunate victim to 2 accidental fires in 2006 and just last week fell victim to ANOTHER fire and this one is reported unbelievably to be intentional. I have so much fun listening to our local folks bring us current events, thought provoking discussions, and some of the best alternative radio music around. I urge everyone to check them out and in doing so, check out their DONATION PAGE to help them get a handle on yet another rebuild after the fire.

potato of love

I've heard about these from the movie THE GLEANERS AND I. A documentary filmed by Agnès Varda and her hand-held camera on the culture of people who forage, hunt, and collect leftovers; edible food that would otherwise be thrown out. One of the more plentiful markets for gleaners is from potato farmers. There are truckloads of potatoes that are not able to be sold because of their small size or odd shape. There were countless heart shaped potatoes that completely put a smile on my face the first time I encountered them in this film. Such a cute thing and how sad that with all its obvious appeal; they are tossed aside. How pleased was I this evening as I was prepping potatoes for a massive mashed potato feast for my supper club tomorrow night to find this darling gem amongst them. A rogue had snuck in.

And in the eyes of my 12 year old, she says, "Looks like a cute little butt". ha.

that's better

After heavily medicating myself from my cramps lurking below, I curled up with a hot cup of my favorite caffeine free Chai Tea and dove into Elizabeth's experience in India (from Eat, Pray, Love). Now this I can enjoy.... at least until the baby wakes up.

I realize

I realized this morning that this road to discovery of fun isn't going to be easy. Somehow I need to find a voice for my not so fun life. A place to get my frustrations and disappointments out so I can then refocus on the fun at hand. So this new place is a new blog, titled exactly that, MY NOT SO FUN LIFE. It has different purpose. It's the dumping grounds so that I can keep this place here sacred and pure. It's the grime and dirt that can cloud my clean experience. It is my hope, that if I can write it out that it will miraculously exit my body and no longer distract me from this project I so desperately want to succeed with.

first post

I've been lucky to have known my authentic self for most of my life. At an early age, I had wonderful opportunities to explore, learn and excel with numerous activities. As a child, I remember having the most fun with gymnastics. My competitive spirit was made for this sport. I thrived on seeing just how far I could push myself; to feel the sheer delight of success. Discipline was just a means and it honestly just felt like fun. There was plenty of work, but it was so much fun in spite of the heavy work involved. Fun was feeling your body flip and turn in these miraculous ways that you and you only were responsible for. Fun was being able to do a standing back flip on demand. Fun was getting a handle of a new trick the very first time you tried it. Fun was traveling to meets with your teammates; a slumber party with purpose. I'm not trying to over glamorize this, but just to explain the origins of my fun life.

Even in high school, after I left gymnastics for other extra curricular activities, I made sure that fun remained by my side in spite of life's ever increasing work load. Fun was effortless through college, and even so through my early years as an adult, new wife and new mother.

But somewhere along the way, I lost track of fun. Somewhere amongst my divorce maybe? or could it be my 7 year career identity crisis? or possibly left at a nameless rest stop during one of my cross country moves... I'm not sure.

I do know I've found it unexpectedly at times. It hasn't left me completely, but the days of feeling effortless fun have since gone. I have known of its absence for some time now, but have yet to figure out a way to make us whole again.

So, it is my desire for this blog to be my source of rekindling and renewing my friendship with fun. It is my way of sharing with the universe and thanking it aloud for all my joy and laughter each day. It is also my way of sharing my fun with anyone else that might want more fun in their life; and for you to share your fun life with me!