Hi friends :)

After much deliberation, I've decided to start a new blog. I have loved writing here, but I feel like with all my life changes, it's time to make a change here. I've been cancer free for five years, and will probably still write about my cancer experience, but for now I've chosen to focus more on food, wine, life, love, and all the things that make me happy.

I had a crazy time of it over the past year and a half. My beloved Cleo died, I lost a job, found a job, got separated, got divorced, found Olive, got to my five year cancer free anniversary, found Scott :), found Lenny, found a new lease on life, got my moxie back, and now I am where I am. I've never been one to shy away from tribulation, but now that I'm in a peaceful, wonderful spot, I'm gonna milk it for all it's worth.

Feel free to follow me on over to Allyson Wonderland :)

Croque Monsieur!! So rich, so good. I went to La Creperie yesterday and I've been craving french food, so decided to make some croque monsieur with my newly aquired asiago cheese bread.

Lenny Lenny Lennypants :) He is the ornery-est, funniest boy. I just adore him.

Scott is in Dallas on business, and all I have to say about that is... meh. Boo, business trips. I miss him something fierce.

My folks and I went out to dinner tonight and then they came back to my place to meet their new grandpuppy Lenny. He was funny and performed for company, as usual. :) They love my new house and are glad to see I have a nice roof over my little head. :))

Life has been so good lately. SO good. I'm the happiest I've ever been. Sometimes I catch myself in the middle of the day... daydreaming about the future that I know I'm going to have, and it's so much more than I ever imagined. I am so blessed. So lucky, and so thankful. I feel that I am exactly where I should be. I just couldn't ask for more.

So today I'm putting it out into the universe... all my gratitude, all my good thoughts, every ounce of thankfulness. Maybe someone else needs a little good vibe in their life right now. I've got plenty to share. :)

Long time no post.

January twenty fifth came and went! I am FIVE YEARS cancer free! This, coupled with some other really incredible things that are happening in my life right now, make me feel like the luckiest girl on the planet.

Last year was hard, and suffice it to say January hasn't gone *exactly* as planned...but I see the big picture laying out before me.

I am So. Freakin. Excited. about what's unfolding. More to come- love you all and hope 2010 is off to a smashing start! :)

October! Holy shamoly. I can't believe how fast fall came. It's freezing cold and snowy. Olive and Izzy are both snuggled up.

Things are calming down and looking up.

Last night I had company and made red pepper risotto with sausage. It was soooo good. We tried a couple great wines and had a great evening.

Today it's grey and cool...very fall-like weather. This year has gone by quickly. I'm ready for fall. I'm ready for some changes. I'm certainly ready for this year to be over. Next year will be better. I turn 30 in six months. It will be good.

Sunday night dinner: Risotto with Mozzarella, Peas, Parmesan, and Bacon.

:)

Ah, mojo, mojo. How I've missed you, my dear mojo.

I bought green chiles and asiago cheese bread at the farmers market today.

Saw Time Traveler's Wife and Julie& Julia, both of which I loved. I had a lovely weekend so far. Olive and I went to visit a friend this afternoon after Olive had a much needed bath, and we had a great day.

Things are good. I am healthy. I have good food in my kitchen, a clean puppy, a lovely home, and things are looking quite positive. I will survive this time in my life. And I will do it with gusto!

:)

Finally. Back into the kitchen. There is something about the kitchen that helps me get my mojo back. White bean and chicken chili & cheddar scallion garlic bread.

It's good to be back. :)

Well, I did it. I got a rescue doggie. She is just wonderful. I love her so, and she and Izzy love eachother. :)

Meet Olive.

I had the worst day. The worst. I came home, slumped down at my kitchen sink onto the tile floor and just sobbed. Ever had a day like that? I felt like there weren't enough tears in my face to release what was going on in my head and heart.

I felt broken. Broken and broken hearted. But then... just when I needed it... a phone call from someone that loves me. And the advice I received was perfect.

I've for sure been going through a hard time lately. But it would be silly of me to forget how far I've come. I have changed undesireable situations, I have excelled in certain areas, and I have grown exceptionally strong. I thought cancer was the hardest thing I'd ever do.

I was wrong.

My prayer for these days is that I remain hopeful. That I keep my optimism. And that I never forget the people that love me. Thanks for the boost. You'll never know how you helped me today. :)

Oh, tonsillitis. How I hate thee.

Looking forward to:
good dinner tonight
good wine
good conversation
my all girls camping trip next weekend

Would someone please talk me out of getting another dog? Please. It's not like I need one. But I am dreaming of a rescue dog from the shelter. Decisions, decisions. :)

Life. She is one fickle beeotch.

I don't put everything that is going on in my life out there for everyone to read, but I will say that these past few months have been pretty ridiculous in terms of the garbage I have had to cope with.

I am starting to be happy again, however. I am feeling very together, and "dealing" fairly well. I have put myself back out into the world, made some new friends, and developed some new hobbies. I just got back from a business trip to Connecticut, where I learned so much new material that my brain hurt. :) It was good for me.


Today is father's day, and I'm full of appreciation for my awesome dad and all he has done for me. For all the hard work he did so that I never wanted for anything, for the miles he drove to rescue me from a bad breakup when I was in college, for the squeezy hugs he always has an abundance of, for the fishing trips he took me on, for the hero that he has been in my life...for all of that, I am eternally thankful. I love you, dad...and I am the LUCKIEST girl in the world.

I haven't dropped of the face of the earth. :)

I'm just... decompressing. Simplifying. Learning how to be.

Life sure does throw curveballs.

The death of Cleo left me terribly sad, and I've got some things going on in my life that have just been really craptastic lately. Nothing cancer related, just life.

This past week, to put a cherry on my craptastic sundae, I received a dog bite TO THE FACE (not my dog) and had to go to the ER. Good times. It's healing pretty quickly, and doesn't appear that it will scar at all, which is good news. I did have to get a tetanus and I'm still on antibiotics.

I have dealt with my fair share of hard times, and I know that this, too, shall pass. Onward and upward. :)