Flirty.Thirty.

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I had plans for what Thirty would look like on this blog. There would be some sort of this much i know is true post - maybe there would be a photo montage - maybe a letter to myself...that I could read later in life...

None of that seemed like enough.

I.was.really.excited.about.turning.thirty.

I mean, really, really excited.

I think there are quite a few people who worried that I wasn't excited so much as flipped out but, I'm here to set the story straight.

I was ready to not be in my twenties.  Majorly.  Buh-bye.

I remember years ago my Cousin K up in Canada said, 'being in your thirties is awesome...it's like you can finally just be yourself...'.  Amen Sister.

What I knew about turning Thirty was that I was not going to let it slip by unnoticed.  I was going to do something, damnit!

At first I started planning a trip abroad.  It's been awhile since I went abroad as a tourist....who could leisurely sip her coffee at a sidewalk cafe.

Then I decided I was going to Napa.  I had never been.  I like wine.  Like, a lot.

Then I invited my Cousin (she doesn't have a code name but, I love her thiiiis much!!!!!), and the trip just came together.  Girl Cousin's birthday was on the 4th the day after my own so it was a birthday extravaganza.

(I should say, the trip just came together with a little help from my friends....Ari, you get an A+.)

The day before yesterday I wrote about how epic Napa was.  What I should have said was:

Turning Thirty Was Epic.

It was such a lovely day.  Such.

I woke up at The Waterfront Hotel at Jack London Square in Oakland.  It's all kinds of nautical goodness...if you're a Lady Sailor this is a fun place to pass some time.

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I woke up really early - I'm sure it had something to do with jet lag - and decided that an early morning photo safari was a must on the first day of my thirtieth year.

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Then it was off to breakfast at The Cock-A-Doodle Cafe.  There were crepes and graham cracker french toast.  Delish.

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A stroll through a farmers market?  Flowers?  Yes please.

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Of course no city tour is complete without admiring some local architecture.  Pictures looking up at buildings....check.

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You can't cruise the Bay Area and not check out the Golden Gate Bridge.  amiright or amiright?

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I got to visit with a long lost Auntie.  It was amazing.  Silly me hadn't been to her house since I was a kid.  Apparently, I was geographically challenged as a youth because I didn't know she lived in the Bay Area.  I totally thought she lived in SoCal.  I know, right?  Who doesn't know where their Aunties live?!

Said Auntie had a pack of Chihuahuas.  It was awesome.  Can you see George?

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After a full afternoon of visiting we got in the car and took off for Napa.  Aaaah.  Deep sigh.  This meant we needed a coffee to go.  Clearly.

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First stop Napa?  The Andaz Hotel.  Oooh La La!

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Birthday Dinner.  One Word.  Bottega.  It came highly recommended.  It didn't disappoint.  There was a personalized Birthday Greeting....and beet raviolis with fennel.  Just Sayin'.

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Want to know how I ended the evening?  Food Porn.  Panna Cotta with winter citrus, micro basil, mint syrup and a wheat cigar stuffed with sweet lemon ricotta.

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Happy Flirty Thirty To Me!

 

30x30 :: Host A Tea Party

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I really wanted to have a Tea Party - and there just didn't seem to be a good time to do it. I decided this one was do or die.  My friends were never all going to be able to come.  The weather was never going to be just perfect.  I was never going to have a Jane Austen worthy garden to sip tea in.

Then I decided if it's my party I can do whatever the eff I want and call it whatever the eff I want.

I hosted a tea party and there was not a single damn drop of tea served.

Now, Mimosa's?  Mimosa's were served.

It ended up being a very small gathering of some of my favorite people.  There was even a baby and a dog.

I had a yougurt bar.  (With homemade yougurt - heeey yo! Mamacholla!) Cheese and crackers of course.  (Served on a silver sailboat platter - woot! Em you da bomb! - tucked between world class art - House Ladies you got some skilllz!)  There was coffee cake and Baked Brie.  Get this, there was even Lobster Quiche!

There was a coffee station - serving orange goodness' of course.  The real attraction?  The Mimosa's.

Fall colored flowers in mason jars made the day feel extra special.

All in all?  I'm calling The Tea Party...a Success!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blessed.

in

Cowboy Boots and Fancy Dresses + Lobster Boat Parties + Mama with Baby Cakes at Richardsons + Project 30x30 + Hawaii + Cousins in the Sun + A Beautifully Set Table + Akaka Falls in the Rain + Work Boots and Hot Pink Rain Jackets + A New Ship + Makalawena + Sailing Chief Mate (eff ya!) + Pink Flowers in Front of the Shed + Lobsters For All + Va Jay Jays and Champagne in the Park + Back Roads Through Autumn Colored Woods + Blue Skies + Light Houses + Many Many Many More Things I'm Incredibly Thankful For [gallery columns="4"]

Bottom Line?  I'm incredibly blessed.

(This is a belated Thanksgiving Post....I hope you had a wonderful day!)

Nautie Tidbits :: Hot Cocoa and To Do Lists

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Happy Sunday Nautie Friends! Things here are groovy.  We're back at sea for a few days which always makes me happy.  Being at sea is when I can take a breath, take some naps and get back on top of things.

I haven't been blogging much and have to catch up so, here are a few tidbits:

  • I went ashore in Rota, Spain!  Woot!  Woot!  The bummer is that I took photos with my iPhone only (Damn, I've been lazy lately!  Big Bertha is feeling neglected!) and I'm having a hard time getting the photos onto my laptop.  Grrrr....hopefully, I'll be able to share them soon.
  • During our last port stay we got a HUGE stores order (food!).  Yay!  Hello oranges, hello hot cocoa!  Coffee on the bridge is back to being awesome!  (Plus, when I was in Russia Travel Buddy and I picked up some whole beans.....mmmm fresh ground!)
  • I did laundry yesterday.  I hate laundry.  I don't think I like doing it at home but I really hate doing it onboard.  Someday, I'm going to write an incredibly long post ranting about laundry.  Next step is cleaning my room.  Wish me luck.
  • I made a long ass to do list.  Yesterday I crossed off 4 items.  If I cross off 4 items a day I still don't complete all my desired tasks before arriving in the next port.  Shoots.
  • Did you know that I play cribbage every day at coffee time?  Well I do.  Yesterday I almost got double skunked!  But, I didn't because all of a sudden I had mad luck and was able to save face.  Losing is one thing....getting skunked is another....getting double skunked?!  Don't even go there....
  • (In reference to the above tidbit:  You may be wondering how I can lament about incomplete tasks and then make time for cards at coffee time.  Coffee time is a sacred thing.  Apparently, working through coffee time (or more importantly asking someone to work through coffee time) is the equivalent of asking them to cut off their right opposable thumb.....in other words....don't do it....ever.)
  • I have under a month left aboard!  Where does the time go?!  I've been a terrible correspondent of late.  If any of you are waiting for personal emails it might be awhile.  Don't say I didn't warn you.  (I think some of you just got a little excited inside because you realized you'd be able to call me instead of waiting for emails....and then you got disappointed all over again because you thought, 'wait a minute, that broad will never answer her phone anyways!'.  Too true.)
  • I listed my house for sale.  Are you wondering how I could have saved such big news for the last tidbit?!  Me too.  I honestly forgot!  I'm actually very excited about it.  I'll probably (repeat probably) write a long emotional piece about my house....but I'll most likely save it for when I'm off the ship. 
  • I think that's it for tidbits. 

Now, go enjoy your Sunday afternoon.  Please?  So that I can live vicariously through you?  Because, if I were you I'd:

*Buy a cute Patagonia beach dress at Hilo Bay Paddler * Have a delicious coffee at a cute coffee shop * Take a walk along the water * Go out for sushi * Arrange fresh cut flowers throughout the house * Eat half a papaya with some lime squeezed on it * Enjoy a glass of Pinot Grigio with one ice cube * Go for a scenic drive and turn around whenever * Write a note to a friend (on cute stationary) and get it in the mailbox * Drink some carrot juice *