The halls are officially decked! Wheeew. I still have a few things to pick up - pine boughs for the sideboard, mistletoe for the kitchen doorway - but all in all, we're in pretty festive shape. I usually do the tree lights by myself a day ahead of trimming with the fam. And hate it. So this year I did a novel thing...I let John and Nathan help me. So simple, duh, and of course so much more fun! Hey, innovations come late to us perfectionists, what can I say? John built a big fire, we put on our favorite Christmas tunes, Nathan unwrapped all the ornaments and set out his nutcracker collection, and I still got my perfectionist on by putting all the ribbon, beads, garland, and ornaments on by myself (luckily no one else has one ounce of interest, so I'm not bogarting the fun). Perfect!

And even more perfect? I didn't make dinner! John and Nathan did a Bacio take-out run for their signature chopped salads (for John and me) and wood-fired pizza (for Nathan). Quite lovely, totally hit the spot. Turns out we'd worked up quite the appetites trimming the tree (and groaning through the less glamorous parts like hauling boxes up- and downstairs, carrying out loads of trash, hauling in loads of firewood, and vacuuming up pine needles and bits of paper)!

My ornaments inevitably get me reminiscing about Christmases past - my first homely (bare!) trees, Baby Nathan's first ornaments, our first Christmas in this house, the many lovely ornaments I've received as gifts, my own collection of Santas. After all those trips down ornament-memory lane, I was ready to sip a cup of hot tea, put my feet up, and enjoy the absolute spectacle. It's a ton of work - and so worth it!

Hello? Moderation? Anywhere? Anywhere?

After a lovely date-night feast (such as at Mission on Tuesday night), I would normally shoot for a much lighter day the next day(s). With lots of exercise. You know, to balance it all out. Moderate a bit? Ha. So I took off yesterday morning for a brisk (and insanely, miserably hot) walk/run. Off to a good start, even though I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. For lunch, one of my beloved black bean burgers, in one of my beloved French Meadow sprouted grain tortillas, with peppers, avocado, arugula, and salsa. Sublime. Healthy. All good.

And then...a very snacky afternoon (which happens once in awhile and I usually just go with it; I figure if I'm really listening, and eating from true hunger, my body knows better than I do when it needs some extra fuel). Followed by a thunderstorm and power outage, which fizzled our healthy dinner plans and sent us scurrying out the door for lights-out treats at Bacio. Despite all their lovely salad options (that place knows how to make a salad), I was truly starving for major, beefy protein, so I had...a brrrgrrr. Not just any burger, but the (whisper) Bacio Burger (I didn't read the menu carefully and thought I was getting a plain burger with the usual sides - lettuce, tomato, raw onion, pickles, etc...uh, nooo). Topped with some amazing creamy sauce, and cheese, and sauteed onions, and tomato, on a toasted bun no less - could you find more ways to add fat to a burger? - it was one of the most decadent, delicious burgers I've ever had. Dang, it was that good. Naughty, killer good. Ouch! The whole experience totally wiped me out and I was asleep by 9:30 last night, sensory overload, bam.

So today, let's start again. A day full of lovely vegetables and fruits is in order, with a long bike ride, and lots of water. Basically an Un-Bacio-Burger Day. Enjoy yours!

I had such a nice Father's Day it could have been Mother's Day! Romantically floating in the pool, pretty much all damn day. So yes, John's dream day, especially when Nathan joined us too. Lots of chatting, good tunes, insane amounts of sun, and eventually a dry off and dinner on the patio at Bacio. Their version of crispy fried shrimps is quite delicious - with just the thinnest dusting of Parmesan and flour, they come to the table searingly hot and crisp, served alongside a cool, creamy homemade tartar sauce as well as a zingy-with-horseradish cocktail sauce. Mmmm...

Today? I am TOAST, no more sun for me for at least a few days, ack. Instead, I'm in full-on driving mode as of this morning - let the camps begin! Golf league and basketball so far today, with a baseball game later this evening. Dinner plans are obvious - leftover steak (yum) and a big salad with the first load of my LaFinca CSA veggies. Mixed greens including lots o'arugula, radishes, scallions, and fresh dill from a pot on my deck. Crumble of feta, few sizzling slices of steak, and it's all good.