Costa Rican Dreamin'

I've been blessed to travel to many beautiful and interesting countries, and I'm sure I'll occasionally reminisce about them on this blog, but one trip stands above the others: a 10-day vacation in Costa Rica in 2005.  Costa Rica is a beautiful, friendly country, and in addition to its affordability and accessibility, what I loved about this trip was the mix of activity and leisure-time, mountains and beaches, rusticness and luxury.  We can't wait to go back with our kids.

In honor of Censational Girl's "Favorite Destinations" link party today, I thought I would share a (rather lengthy) travel piece I wrote six years ago about our Costa Rican adventure. Some of the pictures are my own; the others are credited. Happy Dreams!

Costa Rican Dreamin' on a Winter's Day

The clock strikes two on a February afternoon, and as my mascara melts off my already-sunburned face, I begin to doubt.  Why did I choose a Costa Rican holiday, when I can perspire to my skin’s content back home in Texas?

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Seeking an accessible, affordable, and active vacation, my husband and I landed in San Jose an hour ago. We breezed through immigration and customs, rented a compact sedan, and drove twenty minutes west through coffee plantations and river valleys to our first night’s destination — the Vista del Valle Plantation Inn. Located in the Alajuela Province and surrounded by lush coffee trees and Rio Grande canyons, the bed and breakfast promotes itself as “a little corner of paradise.” Tropical landscaping, an azure-tiled swimming pool, and mountain views do not disappoint. Neither does our room — a wonderland of arts and crafts architecture. Dark hardwoods, earth-tone fabrics, minimalist furnishings, open-air living spaces, and mosquito nets collectively evoke a luxurious campsite. I survey the space, appreciating the unlockable door, the Tiffany lamps, and the thoughtful library that matches my reading interests so precisely that it is if the books have been chosen just for me.

Blaming the altitude and humidity for my fatigue and glistening forehead, I retreat to the hammock on my balcony and collapse. Shaded by banana trees, orchids, hydrangea, bougainvillea, and azaleas, I sip an expertly concocted sangria and let the floral perfumes envelope me, before drifting to sleep, dreaming of the ten days ahead….

Wimbledon: Strawberries and Cream

Some foods taste better because of the accompanying experiences, or like Proust's madeleine, the memories they evoke.  For me, the combination of strawberries and cream recalls a drizzly afternoon at Wimbledon, fifteen years ago today, when I had the privilege of watching Steffi Graf play in a mixed-doubles match.  I was living and working in London at the time, and my friends and I queued for hours in the dampness to procure second-hand tickets for Court Number One.  Once inside the gates, tickets secured, we scurried to take advantage of every Wimbledon tradition, including and especially, strawberries and cream.

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Food in hand, we watched the match.

(That's Steffi with the blond ponytail --- forgive the old 1996 pictures.)

The crowds were quiet and polite; the players, efficient in their business.  At moments, I probably could have heard a pin drop, had I not been so focused on my strawberries.

I still watch "Breakfast at Wimbledon" with nostalgia today.  And I still love strawberries and cream.

For those so inclined, here's Martha Stewart's spin on the classic recipe.

Butterfly parties

I love butterflies and the beauty, joy, and transformation they represent.  And with three girls, there are a lot of butterfly-themed parties in my life.

I've hosted a few butterfly-themed birthday parties (including one with silhouettes I featured previously):

And butterfly-themed baby showers:

And I've accompanied my daughters to a beautiful butterfly release party:

And I've loved every one.

Do your parties have a recurring motif?

Vendors whose work is pictured above include:

Butterfly birthday cakes and cupcakes: Polkadots Cupcake Factory
Butterfly applique tee-shirts: Maddie Bug Baby
Butterfly favor bags: Perideau Designs
Butterfly personalized stationery: Tiny Prints
Butterfly cake balls: Austin Cake Ball

(shared with Serenity Now)

Goodreads

Just as I was late to the Facebook and blogging parties, I am only now perusing Goodreads.  I'm an avid reader and am excited to discover and share good books, especially ones I can read on my iPad late at night, while nursing the baby. On my list to read in the next month:

I absolutely loved Nicole Krauss' "The History of Love," and Ann Patchett's "Bel Canto" and "Run," but authors Jennifer McMahon and Paula McClain are new to me.  I also think I'm going to read

because even though sci-fi/fantasy is usually not my preferred genre, I've had two very good friends recommend the series.

What's on your reading list this summer?

(Sharing with www.5minutesforbooks.com)

Easy Summer Dinner: Roasted Halibut

I love easy summer dinners that are full of flavor but light on prep work.  Roasted Halibut is my go-to dish for entertaining friends or for quiet dinners with my husband after the kids are in bed.  This recipe is best with fresh, never-frozen halibut, for which I am lucky to have a convenient local source, but almost any halibut is better than none!  You can also substitute Chilean sea bass.  I love that roasting either of these fish doesn't make my kitchen smell bad!

Here's the recipe for two servings:

2 6-ounce skinless halibut fillets
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary*
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme*
1 teaspoon grated lime zest
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons of softened butter
2 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese
Sea salt
Rosemary sprigs (for optional garnish)

(*In a pinch, when out of fresh herbs, I've substituted herbes de provence with good effect)

Coat a glass baking dish with cooking spray.  Place halibut fillets in dish and season liberally with sea salt and lime juice.

Combine the butter, lime zest, thyme, and chopped rosemary in a small dish, and then spread the mixture onto each fillet.

Roast at 450 for 15 minutes, or until fish flakes easily.  Sprinkle parmesan cheese on each fillet and garnish with rosemary sprigs.

If you aren't afraid of fat and want to add a ton of flavor, consider wrapping the fillets in either a strip of bacon or a thin slice of prosciutto.  Roast as otherwise directed above.

I serve the fish with a simple side of crisp, steamed green beans and accompany the meal with a buttery chardonnay. Yum!

Iceland, Anyone?

Speaking of cool, The Wall Street Journal's Weekend Edition features a three-day trip to Iceland, which is only 6 hours from the East Coast.  I was captivated by the accessibly eclectic itinerary of geothermal springs, whale watching, waterfalls, Northern Lights viewing, wool shopping, art museums, and superb seafood.  I'm putting Iceland on my must-do travel list.

all three photos via

What outside-the-box destinations are on your list?

Cool Summer Treats

It's hot here.  Have I mentioned that?  But in keeping with this blog's focus -- finding moments to slow down, appreciate life's work and pleasures, and connect with family and friends -- I'm thinking of ways to savor summer.

Like...Enjoying cold watermelon after a dip in the pool.  Sipping cool mojitos with friends on a humid summer night. Or better yet, doing both at the same time, with Watermelon Mojito Pops, like these concocted by Sugar and Charm, which I discovered via Pizzazzerie:

Aren't they genius?  And gorgeous?  I can't wait to try them soon.  Check out Sugar and Charm for the recipe and much more inspiration; it's a beautiful blog.

Thinking about watermelon also brings to mind my other favorite summer treat: watermelon gazpacho.

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A healthy and delicious menu item at the fabulous Lake Austin Spa Resort, which happens to be one of my very favorite places in the world, watermelon gazpacho is quick and easy to make.  The resort's master chef, Terry Conlan, has generously shared his recipe here.  Note that it makes a big batch, so you may want to invite friends to join you!

Happy Summer!