LOVE - T R A N S I T I O N

Transition is good.  Leaves changing, frost in the morning, blossoms blooming all means life is moving forward.  I am coming up on some mile stones late fall and early winter. So far I have accomplished what I set out to do.  I am excited for the next stage.  Life is like a roller coaster and I am on it for the ride of a lifetime.  Each exhilarating curve, bump (tiny I hope), fast, slow, up, down I am hanging on and leaning into it.  Got to keep it smooth and carefree all for the good of the future.
xxoo, 
Windsor

EAT - G U A C A M O L E

Who doesn't love guacamole?  Well, my Sister - in law for one.  If it's green and squishy she will not eat it.  My boy's hate avocado's even though I know for a fact that they have never ever ever tried one before.  Then there are the people who love love love guacamole, my Nephew Cameron can't get enough, my friend Maria only will eat the best guacamole made with hand picked organic avocado's, lovingly prepared table side and the spicier the better - and when I say "spicier" I mean mouth burning bring the fire hose spice - you know she almost killed me once with tasting her special hot sauce (but that's another story).  So if you are not a fan of guacamole, I am sorry today's post is not for you and I'll write about something you like next time.  But if you are a major lover of ripe bright green avocado's, red ripe tomato's, Serrano chilies, fresh lime juice and a little cracked black pepper this is for you!

Recipe:
Guacamole

xxoo,
Windsor

BIKINI - M I S H A P S

We've all been "that girl" or seen "that girl"  have a bikini mishap.  Tops being dragged down by rouge waves, bottoms half way to our knees after jumping off the diving board and into the pool.  What can you do about it?  Think ahead, pre- plan?  I guess not, life is just to unpredictable.  Just remember when you get knocked down by that wave, take a minuet to do a "suit" check.  Top where it belongs and in place?  Check.  Bottoms up and no tidbits hanging out?  Check.  Tie your strings tight when playing any kind of beach sport.  And always make sure you have a towel, shirt cover up something within in arms reach, just in case your little brother and his friends throw water balloons at you while sunbathing with your bikini strings untied.  Your brother's goal is to get you drenched and watch you totally freak out,  his friends goal is to see your ta ta's!  Enjoy the rest of your summer!

xxoo,

Windsor

LOVE - B U T T E R C R E A M

Bakery's a thing of the past?  Well my small beautiful town eliminated both well established and well loved bakery's to make room for a cat boarding school and a bourgeois strip mall.  Safeway is what I have.  Yuck.  When I went to Napa this past July we kept driving by this amazing pink and white stripped building with an old time sign out front "ButterCream" it said.  I was hooked with the pink and white stripes but when I found out it was a bakery I had to stop.  Inside was like stepping into a time warp. Glass cases filled with danishes, doughnuts, pink frilly cakes.  It smelled sweet, amazingly sweet.  So sweet  that my little boy plugged his noise and was like "what's that smell" as loud as he could say.  "Sugar, it's sweet sweet sugar", I said.  Part of me wishes that ButterCream  was in my town but the other part me is happy that I am not faced with temptation on a regular basis.

xxoo,


Windsor

EAT - D I P

Okay people this is the most awesome dip in the whole wide world and it's not a savory dip, it's strawberry cheesecake dip. Forget the fresh strawberries and graham crackers, go to the kitchen, grab a spoon and pull up a chair.  Yes, eat it by the spoonful - R E A L L Y it's that good.  Bring this to a bridal shower, pot luck and even a Super Bowl party (even the guys love it) and you will a super star.  The party may be forgotten but the strawberry cheesecake dip will remain in everyone's memories for years to come.

xxoo,
Windsor

BIKINI - W O E S

My preview party is in a couple of weeks and I have 2 out of 25 samples ready to show!  Designing swimwear is easy for me, the idea's are endless. The tricky part is the construction of the suit.  My seamstress' speak very little English and don't seem to notice key details.  Teeny tiny little details that I would never think to mention because it's so fricking obvious but they just seem to miss.  Like using white thread when the fabric is red - WTF?  So this week it's all about the details and making sure nothing gets "lost in translation".  I am confident that I'll have my samples ready by the time of my party - probably hand delivered at 5:55 p.m. on the day of - that's okay just as long as I have them and they are perfect.Practice makes perfect and perfect is what I want. Check out my fellow blogger Katie Elizabeth's post on making a bikini - super funny and spot on.

xxoo,

Windsor

LOVE - G O L F

Miniature that is (or what my family calls "pee wee").  Who doesn't love the little golf clubs, castles, dragons and strange little contraptions that you putt your brightly colored ball into? Or on the other side of things, frustrating because it took you 20 putts to get the ball in the hole, there are 20,000 little kids behind you waiting for you to get the ball in the hole and the sun is beating down on you and all you can think about are the empty ICEE cups in the garbage cans at every hole and how it would be nice to be sucking one down right now.  Even though I had the worse score, I had a blast, my arms got tanner and the ICEE was well worth the wait.


xxoo,
Windsor

EAT - F R U I T

If I was stranded on a deserted island I would be pretty content as long as there were banana tree's, coconuts, mango's, kiwi's etc. And I've watched enough Survivor to know how to forage in the jungle, crack open the coconuts and maybe catch a fish or two. Right, you say. Back to fruit. Fresh tropical fruit cut into delicious pieces,

wedges, chunks all mixed up together is the perfect combination of awesome sweetness. I personally just can't get enough of it.

Recipe:
Tropical Fruit Salad

xxoo,

Windsor

BIKINI - O M B R E

Have you heard of the color ombre`?  I have but never really thought about it until Oliver from Project Runway made a top and skirt out of hamster shavings and a dog bed giving it an ombre` effect. Tim just loved it.   I tucked that bit of color info into the bikini area of my brain for future design reference.  Then this morning I was flipping through the June issue of Fitness magazine and saw a picture of a beautiful beach bunny with mermaid wave hair in the most beautiful shade of ombre`.  Ombre` is a french word meaning "shadow".  It's a gradation of color from darker to lighter.  Hmmmm......I am getting my highlight on Friday and I think that this ombre` effect is exactly what I am looking for to transition from summer to fall (yes I said it fall - yikes).  I already have the darker roots going on so it should be easy to accomplish.  And as far as Fall is concerned, I know it's right around the corner for most of you but for me in Northern California I still have Indian Summer to look forward to.  Should carry my summer spirit all the way through October - November if I am lucky.

xxoo,

Windsor

LOVE - T A H O E

There is a teeny tiny cabin on Old County Road in Lake Tahoe that is not suitable to accommodate eleven people at one time.  It has one bathroom, a ghost in the back bedroom, an attic that looks like it froze in time or somebody is living there when we are not and a mama bear and her cubs living in their den under the floor boards.  It also has a huge back deck over looking the lake and all of South Tahoe, a fantastic fireplace and a kitchen that kicks out some amazing home cooking.  Brothers, in - laws, parents, nieces, nephews, sons, daughters and grand kids all descend upon the cabin for a little R & R and fun in the summer sun.  We spend our days in the emerald green water boating, rafting, tubing - dry off on the warm sandy shores where the sun is so close you could almost touch it.  Grill is hot, beers are cold, music is on and it's time for a sunset dinner on the back deck - followed by the most amazing sherbet colored sunset you have ever seen.  Even though the cabin is small and quirky it's charming and filled with good times.  I wouldn't change a thing about it - well, with the exception of the ghost - it needs to leave so I can get some sleep!

xxoo,

Windsor

EAT - O U T S I D E

Take it outside people.  A warm summer evening, good friends, good food and a nice bottle of wine out on the deck, by the pool or in the backyard.  Al fresco, an Italian word that means "fresh, cool", hence ="in a cool place". On a side note in Italian Al fresco also is a slang term for being in jail - hmmm not so sure about this but that's what Wikipedia says.  Okay, back to eating outside with friends, the grill is going, the wine is flowing, conversation is causal and the atmosphere is party like. Who cares if it's Monday night, it's summer and it's all right!  


xxoo,


Windsor

BIKINI - S A B O T A G E

 I come home last night from work a tad hungary looking forward to a bowl of Special K Red Berry cereal and what do I find on the kitchen counter?  A beautiful piece of cheese cake topped with cherries - my favorite.  Thank you sweet Hubby for thinking of me and I won't even think twice about eating it because I will and I did and it was ever so delicious.  Now for the talk.  I say, "thank you so much for the cheese cake it was perfect."  He says, "I saw it at the store and know it's your favorite."  I say, "are you trying to sabotage my diet and make me fat?"  I am laughing of course and not 100% serious because I don't care what kind of healthy eating diet, work out plan I am on I will always take the cheese cake if it is offered to me.  He looks at me, blinking his innocent warm sea blue eyes and says "honey, you are not fat, never have been fat, never will be fat - you look great just the way you are."  I know, so sweet - right?  So, I am glad I enjoyed every sweet little morsel (even if it was 12:00 am) and today I am off to the track and will jog extra to burn off last nights sweet treat.

xxoo,
Windsor

LOVE - L O V E

Heart melting smile, goose bump touch, skipped beat, flutter in your stomach, a look - the look. 
You know it - it's a little thing called LOVE.


xxoo,
Windsor

EAT - A N G E L F O O D

The name says it all 'angel food' - food of angels, heavenly, ray of light.  I seriously could go on and on about how pure and amazing this moist spongey almond/vanilla cake is.  I consider it one of my all time favorites.  A dollop of fresh whip cream or a splash of berries takes this cake to a higher level of good - saint like.  But the one thing that this cake is not is sinful.  Less than 100 calories per piece and barely any fat you can eat it with a devil may care attitude.  And if you're feeling super lazy and don't want to make it from 'scratch' just go buy a cake mix it still taste super amazing.

Angel Food Cake Recipe
Very Berry Topping Recipe

xxoo,
Windsor

BIKINI - P A C K I N G

I love getting ready for a trip and I love packing my bags.  My method is thoughtful, stylish and well orchestrated - every wardrobe situation is accounted for.  I plan on changing my clothes 3 - 4 times a day and that does not include my 'swim wardrobe'.  The more swim suits the better.  Morning swim, after lunch tanning, sunset volleyball tournament all command a different suit and style.  I also love to mix and match my suits. Printed ruffled bottom with solid triangle top, metallic gold t - back triangle top with a hunter green boy short bottom.  Oh, the possibilities are endless, stylish and unique - like me (ha ha ha)!

xxoo,
Windsor

LOVE - K A W A I I

Kawaii means 'cute' in Japanese and I have always loved everything Japanese.  When I was a teenager we had Japanese exchange students.  They were magical and super kawaii and I still hold my experiences with them close to my heart.   I am enamoured with Hello Kitty, Pucca and Harajuku Girls.  I ♡ Japanese food and the kawaii little bento boxes they come in. Oh, and did I mention that I bartend at one of the top five restaurants in the Bay Area that happens to be a traditional sushi bar - Sushi Ran?  I do and I love it.   Japanese fabric, ribbons, beads and traditional prints are also super kawaii and have inspired me to design a 'Kawaii' collection.  It's in the works and the idea's are literally popping out of my brain like cherry blossoms on a warm spring day.  My goal is to have them ready by Christmas and part of the proceeds will go to Hope to Japan.  Stay tuned and stay kawaii.
愛、
ウィンザー