Suzanne, Author at Adventures of Empty Nesters

Saturday News- Great Stuff We Find on the Web

December 17, 2016

Saturday News ~ Links to articles I found interesting, entertaining and delicious. I do receive links from family and friends to add to my list. Feel free to email me a link for next weeks round of up news.

For the Foodie Fans Who Love San Francisco

This first link was the spark for this week! Nick’s thoughtful girlfriend Kiley, sent me this article because she thought I would enjoy it! I just loved it and thought you would too. A gorgeous replica of the Ferry Building in San Francisco…made of gingerbread! It comes complete with a farmer’s market.

Read here ~ How to plan a weekend getaway ~

From the Los Angeles Times ~ For the beer lovers in your life – I know a couple… Six Gift Ideas for the Beer Lovers on your List!

I love to receive gifts that friends have made just for me in their own kitchen. If you need a couple of ideas… Here you go! 10 Best Homemade Gifts from the folks at FoodandWine.

Petit Trois ~ A Teeny Tiny Paris Bistro in Los Angeles

December 14, 2016

Tiny but mighty Petit Trois

The dining room consists of two bars, one made of wood and one of marble

With only 21 stools (no chairs), this is a small, but mighty, little bit of heaven on Highland, just off of Melrose Avenue in LA. Petit Trois is the second collaboration of Ludo Lefebvre and the super star Los Angeles chefs Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook of Animal.

When Life Brings You Lemons… It’s Knee Surgery For Me

December 12, 2016

Yep, knee surgery. All of that exercise I have been doing is catching up with me.

You have been there through all of our adventures, from the big move from Orange County, to the buying of the fixer upper and subsequent renovation, my dad’s illness and death, our temporary move to Seattle, all of the fun travel and food adventures and now I am sharing my injured knee adventure.

I have to admit, I have been wallowing in a little self-pity. I don’t like to sit still for long, hobble from place to place, I can’t exercise, walk the dog or more importantly TRAVEL, it is sure frustrating. HOW IS A TRAVEL BLOGGER SUPPOSED TO DO HER JOB WHEN SHE CAN’T TRAVEL?

BIG DILEMMA!

I cancelled my Christmas trip to New York (Craig still went) and I am pretty disappointed. UGH! I never took my health for granted and I was always grateful to be able to participate in all of the activities I desired, but everything has come to an abrupt screeching halt.

photowithroccoonoregontrip — Rocco and me on the Oregon Coast

In late November, while walking Rocco, my knee started to hurt and then got progressively worse. I found a great orthopedic physician, got the necessary MRI and found that I have torn my meniscus in my right knee. Who knows how it ultimately tore, but it did and now it needs fixing. I do understand that this is not the biggest injury in the world, and MANY of you have dealt with this type of injury. That my friend is exactly why I decided to write about it.

What’s in the News? My Saturday Round-up List

December 10, 2016

What’s in the news? Focusing on the happy part of the news here!

We are inching our way closer to Christmas. How does it feel? It feels good. I love the lights on the houses of our tree lined street, I love planning our gift list, I love “Best of” lists, I guess I love me a good list!

I collected a “list” of a few articles from the news this week that I found quite interesting. You won’t find politics on Adventures of Empty Nesters, I will leave that task for other people.

Where to Eat in Pasadena ~ The Best Restaurants and Bars

December 7, 2016

Are you coming to Pasadena anytime soon? Is your favorite college team in the Rose Bowl? Are you up to your knees in snow, icy wind and rain? Do you long for winter temps in the 70’s? What? Yes, the 70’s.

Yes, my friend it is so. The winters are mostly sunny and mild, with no humidity, the mountains are lovely and it is only a short drive to the gorgeous beaches of So Cal. However, we do have plenty of people living here, so just a visit, ok?

Seattle Cooking Class: How to make pizza at home (It’s pretty easy)

December 5, 2016

How to make pizza at home ~

Good news! I learned how to make pizza at home and it’s EASY! Well, not super easy, but certainly doable. I always thought that it would be a big mess and/or too hard to actually make delicious pizza in my own kitchen. I never understood how I could get my regular oven hot enough to cook a pizza effectively.

Here’s the answer to that question: Line a sheet pan with several unglazed tiles (about 1/2″ thick) place it on the bottom of your oven, then cook the pizza directly on top of them.

Weekend Reading :: What’s new in the news

December 3, 2016

You had me at “Flourless Chocolate Cake”… from the NY Times Flourless Chocolate Cake Finds an Ancestor in Italy

A little weekend reading ~

Seriously – haven’t we had enough negative vibes launched in every direction? I certainly have. We have so much more to focus on and to be happy about.

I love a good list with already curated interesting info – Don’t you? Someone else can do the legwork for me. Many bloggers do a weekly/weekend round up of interesting news from around the world. My friend Kim from Tour of No Regrets does a great job with that.

You can check out Kim’s latest “gathering good” ==> Here

A Perfect Afternoon in New York City: A Visit to Midtown

December 2, 2016

The always busy, Grand Central Station at Christmas — The always busy, Grand Central Terminal at Christmas

This is a follow up post from my yummy Wednesday post about Momofuku Sssam. I though it would be helpful to type up this itinerary for my friends and family who are traveling to New York in December!

If I could plan the perfect afternoon in New York City, what would it look like? The city is so massive that I could create a new itinerary for each day of the week, without repeating one activity, restaurant or destination.

So I thought I would just start numbering these lists of itineraries 1- 5 to see what I can come up with. I like to walk, but I also like to walk with a purpose and not just aimlessly while continually asking; “What do you want to do now?” I would rather have a game plan, but it doesn’t have to be too rigid, just smart. There needs to be room for change, adjustments and most likely, tired feet.

A Crazy Great Meal in NYC : Momofuku Ssam

February 28, 2020November 29, 2016

Today, I am in a New York state of mind – Our son is leaving for NY on Thursday, my friend Leisa is joining her mom, sister and niece for a girls trip on the 4th, my friend Meg is leaving Friday and Craig and I are leaving on Dec 11th. New York is so fabulous this time of year that many special trips are planned for the Big Apple in December! While in New York City a trip to Momofuku Ssam will impress and delight you.

Oh Momofuku!

Even if you don’t know what it means, Momofuku is delicious in any language. The Momofuku restaurant group was created by David Chang in 2004 with its first restaurant, Momofuku Noodle Bar. As a multiple James Beard award winner, Chef Chang and his team have gained world-wide recognition for their innovative take on cuisine, while supporting local, sustainable and responsible farmers and food purveyors.

Most foodies will tell you they have heard of Momofuku, although they may not “have had a chance to go”. But it will be on their list and Momofuku Ssam should be on yours too! Actually ALL of his restaurants should be on your list!

Squeeze it in each day – Take Time to Be Kind

November 28, 2016

There is never a day when to be kind should be a chore. We need to take a breath, slow it down and be kind to everyone.

Gratitude comes in all shapes and sizes, through wishes grand and miniscule. To share a story, to listen to a friend, to writing a thank you note for a kind act or gift, being grateful does not have to be complicated.

This holiday season I feel lots of different emotions. I am sad and happy and grateful. I miss my Dad who passed away in January. I worry for the stormy, negative conversation that is happening here in our beloved country.

I am happy to see longtime friends, my extended family and cherish my time with my grown kids who will both travel here this month.

Maybe ultimately, it will take one person, one grateful day at a time to help mend this fence between people.