Inauguration Day is finally here

I hope you are doing the same thing that I am doing this morning and watching the historic Inauguration of Barack Obama. I woke up giddy to watch the events unfold and am doubly pleased to have the morning off work to watch it live. Flipping back and forth between MSNBC, ABC and CNN, Charlie Gibson is throwing out some interesting Presidential trivia, Aretha Franklin has arrived to sing with a gigantic bow on her head, she's wrapped up like a gift and Anderson Cooper is just rambling on about the VIPs.
Well I'm getting back to watching, enjoy the day and relish the moment in history you've watched.

New things for my blog

So I'm going to insert a Meebo IM widget into my blog as well as a share icon which will allow anyone to share the content of my blog with their blogs, Facebook etc.
I'm planning on adding these features tonight so check back and let's chat.

Must Have Gadgets for the Office

Obviously I can live without everything on this list, but some of these gadgets are so fun I just have to have them (especially the USB Coffee/Tea Warmer and the USB Humidifier with Aromatherapy).
http://thehottestgadgets.com/2008/09/19-really-cool-gadgets-for-your-office-or-cubicle-001534

78 Year Old Man Kayaks 1000 Miles For His Library

I love this story. People love their libraries.
http://www.enterprisenews.com/news/x1113937438/78-year-old-completes-1-000-mile-paddlethon-for-Wareham-library

Great Magazine and Website-Lucky

So I'm a wee bit fashion obsessed. Not go-into-debt-have-to-buy-that-new-Fendi-bag obsessed but a healthy I-like-a-challenge-to-find-it-on-sale obsessed.
I'll admit I have too many bags and coats (my addictions) but I pride myself on being a smart shopper. I teach an online shopping class at the library and with the magic of the Internet rarely pay full price (except that Louis Vuitton purse I bought in Europe, but it's an investment bag!) and enjoy showing the patrons how to save a buck.
One of my favorite magazines and one of only 2 I still subscribe too (besides Vanity Fair) is Lucky. This fun magazine includes a pull out sheet with little flag stickers that say maybe or yes that you can use to tag the items you want to buy. Stocked full of style tips, great bargains and profiles it's a great mag for the fashion lover. The Lucky website is equally fun to browse through with even more features than the magazine.
Check out the website here: http://www.luckymag.com/

Must see show-Jose Made in Spain

Over the New Years weekend it was cold and nasty here in Chicago so I bundled up in front of our fireplace and happily watched my latest food show addiction. The first season of Jose-Made in Spain is out on DVD and in my opinion is one of the freshest and best food shows on television. During each episode chef Jose Andres takes the viewer to a different region throughout Spain and then back to his home kitchen in Washington D.C. to create Spanish dishes. If Jose is cooking squid, he hops on the boat with the fisherman catches a large squid and then takes it to a friends beach side restaurant on the coast of Spain and cooks it! Ever heard of gooseneck barnacles? I hadn't either until Jose throws on a wetsuit and goes diving for them before preparing them. After watching the first episode I made his very easy dish of tomatoes, soft Spanish cheese, greens and a delicious dressing of extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar and honey. It was devoured quickly when I had friends over this weekend.
Jose has an easy demeanor with the camera and is charming and fun to watch, and his accent is lovely to listen to. If you are not a television watcher than definitely check out Jose's new book:
Made in Spain: Spanish Dishes for the American Kitchen
If your New Year's resolution includes healthy eating than Jose's delicious Spanish dishes are excellent. I'm a fan of the Mediterranean diet and Jose combines the freshest ingredients in simple and tasty ways.

Gotta any New Years resolutions?

Of course I do too, just wondering how long I'm going to stick by them.
In no particular order are a few of my more important ones:
1. Learn to cook
2. Stop swearing (broken on January 1, ah well... it was too f*cking hard)
3. Try to use the phone more, or at least Skype those I love to talk more than email
4. Cut back on the booze (do I really need that glass of wine?)
5. Love more easily
6. Give more
7. Stop procrastinating
8. Walk and water myself more
9. Travel (studying at Oxford in England in May,Spain in October, LA and San Francisco for fun, Florida and Colorado for family, Ireland for my soul)
10. Take more risks (new job, new opportunities...who knows?)