Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Vive la France!

It has been FAR too long since I've blogged and I have so many stories to tell -- including a weekend in the laid-back Poconos, a weekend at the beach in The Hamptons, running a 5k down the shore, a culinary press trip to Nova Scotia....but first, the highlight of my summer: 12 days in the south of France.

We flew into Nice, stayed at an estate in quiet Mougins, and spent our days either laying by the crystal-blue pool at the house or exploring nearby cities such as Cannes, St. Tropez and Monaco. Two chefs prepared and presented gourmet French cuisine (picture fresh truffles shaved on your filet mignon) and we had access to a tennis court and free-flowing Laurent-Perrier's Cuvée Rosé Brut at happy hour (try it, you'll thank me).

Some photo highlights:







Wednesday, June 30, 2010

S'more Please!

Nothing screams summer quite like the smell of burning marshmallows over an open flame. When the roommates and I decided to host an impromptu barbecue the other night, we chose the dessert before the main course: S'MORES.

These were no standard recipe summer camp s'mores. Mara found jumbo-sized, "Giant Roasters" marshmallows at Shoprite that completely overshadowed the measly little graham crackers, creating an extra-gooey after-dinner treat. Go big or go home, right?


**What things bring back your favorite summer memories?

Monday, June 28, 2010

The (ultimate) destination wedding: Germany

I went to world's greatest destination wedding ever in September - the marriage of the sister of a life-long friend to her soul mate whom she met in college. For four fun-filled days and nights, we ate German pretzels, clinked beer mugs, and danced both the Hora and the polka, at this celebration of the union between a blonde-haired, blue-eyed German beauty and a tall dark and handsome eastern European Jew.

As we wound our way through the narrow, tree-lined streets of Bavaria, I couldn't help but think, "There's no way any other wedding I go to will compare to this one."





Right before the big day, we drank cocktails at Katrina's bachelorette party in charming Riedenburg, a quiet town set on the Danube and about an hour outside of Munich. The men toasted at David's bachelor party at a beer hall just across town before the groups of men and women met up to share a pint at the end of the night at a smoky pub in the center of the village.

Pre-wedding festivities also included a trip to a Bavarian monastery claiming to serve the oldest beer recipe in the world - which, by the way, is also organic (cheers for a healthy brew!)

The rehearsal dinner itself was better than some actual weddings I've been to, with a live band, dancing, and flowing local beer on tap. Guests couldn't help but wonder how the actual wedding day would beat that evening.



But beat it, they did. The wedding ceremony and reception was held at a beautiful castle set up on a hill. Perfect Operatic notes filled the air as the bride walked down the aisle in a small garden ceremony. Traditions from both cultures were included as they said their vows in front of friends and family.




Around 2pm, the champagne was popped and the festivities began (and didn't end until 3am). The food and beer flowed throughout the night, including a "snack" (huge spread of food) again at midnight for the guests still tearing it up on the dance floor.




Germans certainly know how to throw an incredible wedding.

Photo of the Day - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada


Photo was taken from Granville Island, looking out on False Creek during a 2010 Winter Games press trip to British Columbia.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

She's back!

After a one year hiatus and trips around the world, I'M BACK! Stay tuned for stories from my adventures including a wedding in Bavaria, a two-week stint working at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games and a week at the Miss Universe Pageant in The Bahamas. Upcoming trips include 10 days in Cannes, France and a week in London to visit a dear friend...