Fill in the blank Friday…

No posts in a while after a quite crazy summer…  Thought I will jump into this fun and thought provoking game as well as start blogging more.

So here it is…Fill in the Blank Friday!

1.   You should always take time to just be. Be still, close your eyes, take a couple deep breaths and not think about anything but just “be-ing” present in that moment.

2.   The thought and idea of love   make(s) the world a happier place to be.

3.  I can hardly wait for  the need to book plane tickets for ski trip to Vail with LcR .

4. Wednesday or Sunday is my favorite day of the week.

5.  Something totally dumb and ridiculous that I love is    the Venga Boys song “Boom Boom“…boom, boom, boom, boom I want you in my room

6.  If I could, I would   go on a world tour and see and experience everything while I am young.

7.  I rather like    LcR a lot.

Pow Days, Photo Shoots and Trips!

Happy Wednesday! I am still stoked on all the powder from last week and more to come tomorrow through Saturday! Yipee!
Last Thursday, I went out most of the day after an early morning meeting – what a wonderful way to spend the day.  Face shots and fresh lines all day!

The rest of the week  and weekend was snow-filled and “stuck” at Northstar.  I was lucky to have a house to stay in for the weekend- so I could stay at Northstar and have a little “stay-cation.”  Saturday morning I had to dig my car out from the week’s storm, which took forever but at least it was a small workout.

Sunday – my friend Jen, who is a wonderful photographer, invited me to join her in a powder photo shoot at Diamond Peak. We had a blast all day, hiking, jumping off things, getting fresh lines all day. I am looking forward to seeing some of the shots soon. I did realize I need to do a video analysis clinic to help me ski “prettier.”   Thanks Jen for such a fun Sunday!

Monday night I went to my friend Reem’s for dinner and a sleep over. I love her! She is a great friend who has the great ability to pick out the most comfortable beds and bedding on the planet! There is not an uncomfy “bed” in her house.  She picked us up dinner from Village Pizza in Truckee and WOW! I was impressed – such delicious pasta.  Yesterday I worked and went back to Reem’s for dinner with her, Jess another wonderful friend, ski, paddle boarding, and bike companion). It was so nice to just hang out, drink wine, eat good food and just relax.

I have started my packing list for my trip to San Francisco Monday evening – Wednesday – which I am so, so, so looking forward to. I am heading there with another awesome woman in my life, my friend Wendy – who owns EXL Media. (if you ever need a stellar media buyer – I highly suggest them.) I am attending the OMMA conference and she is attending the WebTrends/Engage conference.  Should be a great couple of days filled with good food, great wine, all in one of my favorite cities.

Then, Friday I leave with Tahoe SUP to Catalina Island. More details to follow on that one…

xoxo,
wW.

What I am going to do in the next five years…

In the next five years, starting February 5 (my 26th birthday)…

- Figure out who I am, what I want, and what the hell is going on?
- Form some really awesome lifelong habits
*Drinking coffee every morning – Sugar Free Vanilla and non-fat milk (I owe this habit to Casey Hakansson, Butte MT. January 2, 2009)
*Read style posts every day

- Open an art gallery
- DO a really cool art project
- Finish I am Charlotte Simmons (It’s really long and heavy to carry around)
- Fall in Love, Fall Out of Love, Just Love
- Travel to Europe
- Ski the hell out of the world
- Become a kick-ass skier
- Climb Mt. Whitney
- Climb Half-Dome
- Go Fast, Take Chances – PJW
- Become fully relaxed again, see here.
- Mountain bike the Flume Trail at least once a year
- Hike the Narrows
- Get in the best shape of my life
- Buy stock
- Subscribe to the New York Times and actually read it.
- Learn how to ride a motorcycle and get my motorcycle license.
- Become a certified yoga instructor
-Run in the Nike Women’s 1/2 Marathon
-Make it to Bay to Breakers

I am going to continue to add to this list, but here is what I am starting with.
xoxo,
Whit

20111

Saw this on a blog I read and thought I would share:

“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.”
- Neil Gaiman

xoxo,
Whit

and the rest of the weekend…

After all the prep and waiting for the next steps for my Cranberry Crockpot Chicken I was invited to dinner at a good friends. So the crockpot went into the fridge until yesterday [Sunday] afternoon. I couldn’t pass up homemade sushi and great conversation with the Albrecht/LaPlantes!

Sunday morning I woke up and treated myself to a two-hour massage and a facial (my ski pass to Alpine Meadows was blacked out).  The massage and facial were so nice - but two hours is a realllllly lloooonngg time to just lay there.  After my spa day – got some much needed errands run- Trader Joe’s, J. Crew, and found the boots of my dreams - Frye Olive Green Harness boots!  They will be a new addition to my wardrobe and my annual nice boots purchase for the 10.11 winter!

When I got back to the house the Cranberry Crockpot Chicken was back into production and after adding the cranberries, kale, and making some brown rice I was finally able to eat my masterpiece. It was delicious and have leftovers for today. I highly recommend this recipe.

Almost finished “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” Hopefully tonight after spinning!

xoxo,
wW

Happy New Years!

Happy New Years!
I was lucky enough  to ring in the New Year twice last night! First at work with fireworks, Polynesian dancers,  a Journey cover band, and [my went off without a hitch] confetti cannons at 9:00 p.m.

10..9…8..7..6..5..4..3..2..1..HAPPY NEW YEAR (in Boston!)

After work, I headed to my friend Wendy’s & rang in the New Year’s with a pop of a Schug Champagne bottle and confetti!

This morning we [Wendy, her son George and his  three friends] slept in until 9 or so. The boys ran around, while Wendy and I opened up the WW (Dubba-Dub) Cafe!

We served up mimosas, coffee, Eggs Benedict (with homemade Hollandaise), more eggs, bacon, homemade hot chocolate, french toast, and more! We were a cookin!

I am now getting my cooking on at home with a recipe from one of my favorite food bloggers Kath from Kath Eats Real Food – Cranberry Crockpot Chicken. Yummm!

Two hours of cooking down – four”ish” to go! I know it doesn’t look too exciting but man does it smell good!

I am now going to spend my afternoon watching “Eat, Pray, Love” and reading on my new favorite thing – my Kindle! I am hoping to finish “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” this weekend!

xoxo,
wW

My Bohemian Self

I found this and what I realized was that while she was writing about her own self she had, just had to be writing about me as well… This is my bohemian self:

“You know the type. Dresses in layers, usually with a little something sparkly or jingling in there somewhere? A creative creature, she loves her bright (but never primary) colors and swoons for pattern and texture. She adores all things meaningful and symbolic and smelly candles and exotic flavors send her reeling. She loves the smell of old books, the sound of a popping cork and has a contagious laugh. Has a tendency to travel, is comfortable in a yoga class or a hike in the hills and collects her memories in scraps of paper and matchbooks. Oh, and tunics. She cannot resist them under any circumstance and always manages to make them look just right.”

xoxo,
whit

Reverb 10 – Catch-Up Time! #reverb10

#14: Prompt: Appreciate. What’s the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it?

In 2010, I have come to appreciate two things: friendship and health.  To express my gratitude for friendship and to show how much I appreciate the people in my life, I show them respect, love them unconditionally and try to understand we can all be just plain shitty to one another sometimes, sometimes without reason at all.

“I am in love with being loved.” It’s true.

Health is an issue that has appeared in my direct life and further distanced life has shown up in 2010. It is unbelievable how much people suffer, how much they deal with, how much pain some humans go through, how much my close friends and family go through as the support team. I express gratitude by being a support, a shoulder to cry on, and being happy for the healthy (for the most part) person and life I have been blessed with.

#13: Prompt: Action. When it comes to aspirations, its not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen. What’s your next step?

Keeping my mind, eyes, and life open to opportunities that could come up all while allowing myself to keep calm and rock on!

#12: Prompt: Body integration. This year, when did you feel the most integrated with your body? Did you have a moment where there wasn’t mind and body, but simply a cohesive YOU, alive and present?

This past year I really feel I got into a solid yoga workout/routine, or at least when I could make it. My body loves hot yoga and I love watching my body in the positions looking more and more correct each time I go.  Seeing my standing bow come into almost full form is just plain awesome! Two months ago I went to a meditation/yoga class and went into a Shavasana – it was 15 minutes and it was a cohesive ME – alive, present, one mind and body.  I later word vomited – I felt so alive and present that it was a state of  “pure mind drunkenness” and just had to get what I was holding back out.

This event occurred about two weeks after a three-day trip to Seattle to see a friend. It was the most mellow I had been in a while – I spent a lot of time just being present, resting and resetting my mind and body, not feeling “on”.  I just got to sit, read, observe, watch boats go by, co-pilot -  not be the planner, “entertainment,” or any of those other roles I can play in a daily life.  It was the weirdest feeling – being in this state – I really can’t describe it.   I am not the one to not have something to say, something to laugh about, something to do.  I was quiet, mellow, but very present, and simply being. My friend was right as we headed to the airport he said something along the lines of “you left feeling well fed, rested, and loved.”  That was so true and more so what I really, truly needed at that time in 2010. I was exhausted emotionally and physically. That was the first real vacation I have had in a while, a loooooog while, and I think I had forgotten what it was to simply be.

#11: Prompt: 11 Things. What are 11 things your life doesn’t need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life?
Hmm…. WOW! I think I will be taking 2011 to truly figure these out, how to best eliminate them and the changes they will bring about.  But here is a quick list of things that are on the tip of my tongue.
1- Negative People
2-Lack of Self-Confidence
3-People who don’t respect me
4-People/Things that waste my time and try to make me unhappy (I am happy 99.9% of the time, because I want to be and just am. I do recognize reality and no I am not on happy pills.
5 – People that don’t love me for who I am – the good parts, the bad parts, and all those in between
6- People who bring me or put me down
7- People who don’t know how to have fun (I can have/find fun in any situations)
8- People who don’t laugh or smile enough – being alive is such a special gift we have been given and it is so beautiful – why not enjoy it
9-Close-minded people – I know I can be close-minded sometimes and that is something I am also working on – OPEN YOUR EYES AND MIND!
10 – People that are fake – be who you are, be passionate, be alive, just be – but be you!
11- I am keeping this one open for now for a doozie

Whew! Did it!
What is Reverb10?

xoxo!
-wW

Reverb10 – Wisdom

Prompt: Wisdom. What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out?

The wisest decision I made this year was definitely a change in career. It was difficult but definitely the correct decision. I am now in a job that I love, allows me to live and participate in my passions and be active almost daily.  I love that I get to ski, bike, hike, snowshoe, plan events, meet interesting people, write, do the social media thing, and so much more!

What is Reverb10?

xoxo,

wW

Reverb 10 – #4 – 6

What is Reverb 10?

#4 Prompt: Wonder. How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year?
By constantly keeping an open mind I cultivated a sense of wonder. Open mind about who and why I met a person, where and why I was given certain opportunities, but at the same time trying not to look too deep into a situation or a thought – in a way trying to keep a naive thought process.

#5 Prompt: Let Go. What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why?
I was finally able to let go of someone who has been on my mind for over two years. I let go of the what – ifs and feel a huge weight off of my shoulders.

#6 Prompt: Make. What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it? The last thing I made was an awesome salad. I used – romaine lettuce, spinach, carrots, walnuts, avocado, mozzarella cheese, and croutons (Trader Joe’s has the best!).  It was so delicious and satisfying after a long day.  The next thing I am going to make is a cork board or two (I have a lot) from corks I have saved for over  two years.

xoxo,
wW