BIKINI - P E D O M E T E R

Walking is a good start.  I already walk a lot during my night gig but it's not the same as actually being focused on walking distance, getting that heart rate up and seeing how many beer calories I am burning off.  The other day I was on a search for a pedometer.  I could have gone to the  local REI store but didn't feel like dealing with a parking lot full of faux hippies in their monstrous SUV's all vying for the same parking spot whilst on the phone drinking their latte.  I went to a couple of stores without any luck and resigned myself to the fact that I would have to make that trip to REI.  And then one early Friday morning at the grocery store there it was.  Dangling from a shelf, a pedometer and there was only one -   it must have been meant for me.   I've owned many a pedometer over the years and know that the novelity of it all will burn off just like the calories, but for now it's doing a great job of keeping me on track and excited to get my butt out onto the streets of Mill Valley.

LOVE - C H I N A R A I N

Again I digress to my first job as a receptionist at the local tanning salon.  This is where I fell in love with China Rain.  China Rain is a perfume oil that is fresh, clean, green, floral and has a hint of musk.  Over the years I have tried many different perfumes, Calyx, Diorissimo, Lauren by Ralph Lauren but none have enchanted me the way China Rain has.  So for the past 20 years I have been buying China Rain from the originator's of this scent -  Body Time.  Body Time is a family owned Bay Area shop that has been in business since 1970. I am lucky enough to have a store close by, if you are not you can always check them out at http://www.bodytime.com.   I am in good company with my obsession for China Rain, rumor has it that it is Pamela Anderson's signature scent as well.

EAT - L O N G I S L A N D

When you're 21 years old it's mandatory that you drink Long Island Ice Tea's.  They get you wasted  and at 21 you can bounce back from that nasty hang over relatively quick. The more you drink the better they taste, right?  Flash forward 20 years and I just revisited this classic cocktail. I got a buzz just from smelling it and seriously I had to pinch my nose closed as I took a sip....bad memories of 80's dance clubs, strobe lights and hugging the toilet. I am not necessarily saying that you have to be on the younger side to enjoy this drink, I am just saying don't chug it, sip it and stop at one.  It will definitely get your party on.

Long Island Ice Tea Recipe

BIKINI - G R O O M I N G

It's a given right?  Jungles, kelp forest and large bushes are just not acceptable at the beach - and I am not talking about landscape or ocean life.  Ladies, we all know how important it is to keep everything under control "down there" especially if we're  going to be pool or ocean side.  Summer is coming and now would be the  time to make an appointment at your local salon or to get into the habit of trimming your "bits" in the shower.  And now that I think about it, the same goes for guys. A little "manscaping" would make any day at the beach a little easier on the eyes.

LOVE - M E R M A I D S

Besides seashells, snow globes and Russian stacking dolls I seem to have a rather large collection of mermaids.  They decorate my Christmas tree, book shelves and bathroom walls.  My favorite mermaid is a bottle opener.  I had originally bought it for my nephew who loves mermaids as well, but I thought twice about giving a twelve year old a bottle opener with a half naked woman on it.  What kind of message would I be sending?  So, I kept it and now she lives in my kitchen drawer helping me daily with opening bottles.  Mermaids Rock.

EAT - B O A T D R I N K S

"Boat drinks Waitress, I need two more boat drinks.....I gotta go where it's warm."  Who doesn't love Jimmy Buffet?  But furthermore who doesn't love yummy tropical drinks?  Pina Colada's, Daiquiri's, Chi Chi's, Mai Tai's, Margarita's and the list goes on and on.  I think my favorite right now is a traditional  Pina Colada - not too sweet and super coco nutty.  Suck em up!

BIKINI - S I X P A C K

Yea, I've got a six pack - in the fridge that is.  But what I would do for a flat tummy with a little definition - nothin crazy. Kinda like I had before the babies. Curse those babies!  Ok ok ok ok,   I'll stop blaming the babies and blame it on the beer.  Oh, but the beer taste so good and quenches my thirst after a long night at work.  The  Devil on my shoulder is saying "drink the beer, you know you want it",  and the sweet Angel on the other shoulder is saying "put the beer down dear, and start doing some crunches."    The problem is I had to buy a six pack of Sierra Nevada for the photo for this blog - and unfortunately they will have to be drunk.  Good thing a holiday weekend is coming up. On Monday it's goodbye stubborn belly fat and hello six pack - abs that is.

LOVE - S E A P L A S M A

What the hell is Sea Plasma you ask?  I discovered Sea Plasma when I was seventeen years old and working my first job as a tanning salon receptionist.  The boys who owned the flower stand across the way called me over on a particularly hot day and asked me if I wanted a "spritz" of sea plasma..."um yea, sure guys, I think I'll pass".  They said  " No, no, no! just close your eyes and trust us," so as a naive girl of seventeen I closed my eyes and waited for it.  It was the most refreshing, wonderfully smelling mist upon my young face.  Reminded me of the beach and re - hydrated my hair and skin immediately.  I've been hooked every since.  I keep it in the fridge and use it daily after the shower as well as on really hot days when you just can't seem to cool down.  Try it you'll love it.

EAT - A V O C A D O S

What's the single most worse thing that can happen after you spend 10 minuets at the store picking out what you think is the most spectacular avocado?  You bring it home, cut it open and it is brown and splotchy inside.  My initial reaction,
Y U C K , S I G H, T O S S.  But if you are lucky enough to have had  X - Ray vision when picking out your lovely avocado and it's brilliantly green insides here is a trick to keeping it ever so green whilst it is residing in your sushi, salad or sandwich.  Rinsing and or submerging in cold water will prevent the avocado from browning for hours.  Maybe ya'll know this little trick already, but it was news to me and it is fantastic.

Cut avocado in half, keep pit in, submerge in cold water for 5 minuets.  Your avocado should stay nice and green.

LOVE - W A T E R B A L L O O N S

Who doesn't like a water balloon fight?  A sneak ambush is always awesome but so is having  a full out war in a big open grassy space.  And remember keep it fun and don't aim for the head.

BIKINI - C L A S S I C

Summer is so close I can just taste the sunshine and salt water.  Time to bring out your favorite beach gear and have a little fun in the sun.

EAT - C H I L I D O G S

Yes, I know what's in a hot dog and and if you don't like it that is your choice but please don't go into the specific "parts" as I am enjoying one.  And every now and then I like to have a hot dog with a little chili and  cheese.  Reminds me of middle school and going to Der Wiener Schnitzels for lunch.  They had the best chili cheese dogs, you could buy like 4 for 2 bucks.  Quality for sure. Anyways, I use all beef hot dogs, place a piece of American cheese on the inside of the bun, hot dog next, chili on top of dog,  -  microwave for 50 seconds or until cheese is melted and chili is hot.  Close your eyes, take a bite and enjoy the cheesy chilliness of it all.

LOVE - W I L D F L O W E R S

Coming upon an unexpected field of wild flowers reminds me of lazy days, warmth & shelter, first love.

BIKINI - S L A N G

  Have you ever wondered what the difference between a " Brah" and a "Bro" is?  Does this not keep you up at night contemplating which one to use as a greeting or in a sentence? I grew up at the beach and around many a "surfer dude's" and this has always perplexed me.  One day it's "What's up Brah" and the next day it's "Bro, you were totally shreddin the gnarl."   After many a sleepless nights I had to find out what the difference was.  So, I went to the source and interviewed a few local surfers -  here is what I found out:  Bro and Brah mean the same thing - Brother.  "Bro" is more of a California surfer slang and "Brah" is Hawaiian.  There is really no thought process behind how it is used - what ever comes out naturally.  And then they told me about "Bro hoe's" that's a whole 'nother subject.

EAT - P A N C A K E S

Oh whatever, so I am still on my Gwyneth Paltrow kick.  What can I say I am enchanted with her cooking style.  What better day to make pancakes from scratch than on a Sunday morning and that is just what I did this past weekend.  Again, it was so easy that I was left thinking the same thing as when I was making the Blueberry Muffins .  Gwyneth says, "Invest in what's real.  Drink while you cook.  Make it fun.  It will be what it will be."  I like her style and I like her pancakes.





Bruce Paltrow's
World - Famous Pancakes
1 1/2 cups unbleached flower
3 tbsp sugar
1 3/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3 eggs (preferably organic)
3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly, plus 1/2 tsp per batch to grease pan
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
About 1/2 cup whole milk
Maple syrup

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl.  Whisk eggs, 3 tbsp butter and buttermilk in another bowl.  Whisk wet ingredients into dry ingredients until just combined.  (small lumps are fine.)  Cover batter and let rest overnight in the refrigerator.  Heat a large greased griddle or large nonstick skillet over medium heat.  Add milk to batter until it reaches desired consistency;  the more milk, the thinner and more delicate the pancakes.  Working in batches of three pancakes, spoon batter onto griddle or skillet.  Cook until surface of pancake is covered with bubbles, 2 to 3 minuets.  Flip and cook the other side until golden, 2 to 3 minuets.  Drizzle warmed maple syrup over the pancakes.  Serve.

BIKINI - S H Y G I R L

I spent half my life being a "shy girl" - super shy.  So shy that when I was little my mom found the perfect book for me.  The Shy Little Girl.  I loved everything about this book - the  little girl and her friend, the illustrations and the fact that they made a jump rope out of marigolds - my favorite flower when I was young.  As I got older my confidence grew and the "shy girl" disappeared but she was not forgotten.  When I was trying to figure out a name for my bikini line I wanted something that really represented my personality and style.  I was struggling.  Then one day I was at my mom's house and my five year old Sam was sitting in the corner reading a book - it was my copy of The Shy Little Girl ( I had no idea that my mom still had the book).  And that is when it hit me.  Shy Girl Bikini & Beach.  It's official and I am open for business.

LOVE - S P A C E

Needed to figure out a better work space. It looked  like a fabric explosion in my dining room.  Called my bro and asked him about an old family desk that I didn't recall being in his guest room anymore....weird he said, "I was just thinking that desk was taking up too much room in my storage container."  A couple of days later it was at my house.  He threw in a great old chair and a couple of stacking drawers.  Voila!  My new design area very "shabby beach"and I love it.

EAT - M U F F I N S

Have you ever made blueberry muffins from scratch?  I hadn't until last night. So easy that I was thinking "why have I been buying mix muffins for all of these years?"   Anyway, I found Gwyneth Paltrow's Blueberry Muffin recipe in this month's Self Magazine.  I like her - not her movies,  I like her website Goop and I like the fact that her beer of choice is Guinness and not some light blond crappy beer.  Ok back to the muffins.   Totally easy,  not too sweet, and super yummy.  Crack one open, spread a little butter on it and you"ll be in heaven. 




Blythe's Blueberry Muffins
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
2 eggs (preferably organic)
1/2 cup whole milk
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 cup plus 1 tsp sugar, divided
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups fresh blueberries

Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.  Whisk butter, eggs and milk in a bowl.  Combine flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder and salt in another bowl.  Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients; fold in blueberries.  Divide batter evenly among muffin cups;  sprinkle with remaining 1 tsp sugar.  Bake until muffins are golden brown and knife comes out clean, 25 - 30 minuets.  Serve warm.

LOVE - TIMEOUT

Sometimes we all need to take a time out and BREATHE.  Go on try it.

LOVE - F O G

When I was little the beach was just over the ridge from my house.  To me this did not mean sunshine and blue skies, it meant damp, dark, bone chilling foggy fog fog. Fog horns blaring all night, zero visibility and howling winds - it was very "Sleepy Hollow".  We were pale, blue lipped shivering little kids.  So, my mom would pack us up in the ole Chevy blazer drive us 5 mins north to the next town and it would be warm and sunny.  After a morning of running errands and thawing out we would load back up in the truck and head home.  As we made our decent up the highway we would crane our necks to see over the dashboard in hopes of a glimpse of home.  Sure enough the ominous fog bank that we left was still there. I didn't move far from my childhood home but definitely have more sun in my neighborhood and there are certain things that I have come to love about  the fog.  The sweet smell of the ocean it brings with it and sometimes it is still, warm and comforting - just like home.

BIKINI - F R I E N D S H I P

A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world.  ~Lois Wyse   this is how I feel about my friend of 15+ years Shelley.  We have been through marriages, births, death, divorce, careers etc.  And even though I haven't seen her in months she went above and beyond to help me out in my time of need after I posted BIKINI - STRENGTH.  Shelley was very generous with her help and when I asked her why, she replied "because I am your friend and I believe in you".  It can't get better than that!  Thank you Shelley for all of your support over the years and because of you I can now drive down that road to the future and continue my dreams.

EAT - H E R B S

It is true....I have a "black thumb".  Unintentionally killing my beautiful green plants because I forget to water them.  But this time is going to be different.  I have accumulated a little tiny garden of fresh herbs - lemon thyme, Italian oregano, rosemary and spearmint.  I lovingly water them every morning and place them gently in the morning's sun.  If I can keep the deer at bay and continue to nurture my little plants soon enough I will have a lush fragrant herb garden like no other!

LOVE - M O M

My mom is the coolest!  Thanks for all of your love, creativity and inspiration throughout the years.

Love,

Windsor

BIKINI - S H A C K

If I was to open a little shop with all of my little bikini's this is where I would want it to be.  I would paint it bright colors like a gypsy wagon and I would call it "Winnie's Bikini Shack".  All of my potential chickie's can pull into the "shack" on their way to Stinson, pick up the cutest bikini and hop right back onto highway one for a beachalicious day!

BIKINI - C I N C O D E M A Y O

"It's just tequila and the beach, that's why its salty when we kiss" Dirty Heads (Lay Me Down) 

margarita recipe 

LOVE - S E N S E S

Butterfly kisses, the smell of suntan lotion, warm golden sun, jasmine at night, chirping crickets, coffee in the morning, holding hands, laughing and big fat roses are a few of my favorite things.

EAT - D R I N K S

The last time I had a daiquiri I was pregnant, it was strawberry and it was a virgin - the drink that is, obviously not me. It had so much sugar in it that the next day I had the worse "sugar hangover" and I  haven't had once since.  Until yesterday that is.  Super easy to make, didn't add any fruit and it had just enough sugar in it to balance the fresh lime juice.  Icy cold, refreshing and left me wanting more.  Bottoms up.

EAT - S U N S H I N E

One of my favorite soup recipes comes from Nigella Lawson's Forever Summer cook book.  Page 28 to be exact - Happiness Soup. The book automatically opens to this recipe due to the many soup splatters on the page.  All of the ingredients are yellow, super mellow and amazingly simple.   Over the years I have come to  tweaked this recipe and the name to best suit my taste.  I hope you like it as much as I do.

Sunshine Soup

18 ounces yellow squash (2 large)
zest and juice of 1 small lemon
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon curry (recipe calls for turmeric)
4 cups of organic chicken stock
1/2 cup of orzo (recipe calls for basmati rice)
roasted chicken breast - chopped (not in original recipe)
sea salt and pepper to taste

Cut the squash into fine rings and then finely dice them (I used a "slap chop").  Put them into a pan with lemon zest and oil, stir to coat, then cook on a gentle heat for about 5 minutes, stirring until they've slightly soften.

Stir in the curry and pour in the stock and lemon juice and then drop in the orzo.

Cook uncovered, for 10-12 minuets,  until the squash and rice are tender.  Taste for seasoning.  Leave to cool slightly before serving so that you can eat the soup warm rather than hot.  I also find that this soup taste 100% better the next day!  You may find that the orzo will absorb the liquid overnight, no worries just add a little chicken broth or water to thin it out.  Also, love to dip warm crusty bread with a little butter into this lovely soup.

Serves 4 - 6