Jonsing for this Jacket

I had to go to Anthropologie the other day and of course I feel in love with a jacket.

It's so perfectly cute, navy, and the ruffles.

Swoon.

I heart it, but it is so not in the budget.

Sigh.

Must. stay. away.

Do you ban yourself from going into certain stores?

Wine Country Living Up in Mendocino

Every year Mr. Spice and I have taken a trip up to wine country around the holidays, usually to pick up wine for Thanksgiving. But this year we missed our annual trip, so I decided that we should go up around Christmas time instead.

While venue hunting for the wedding, we had checked out the adorable Booneville Hotel, which is in the Anderson Valley- the none coastal part of Mendocino. Unfortunately, it was a bit too small (ten rooms) and too remote (2 hours from SF) to have the wedding up there. But it was perfect for an overnight romantic get away.

I have to be honest, I've put off this post because I really wanted a vacation and I didn't take that many pictures of our brief (and romantic) adventure. But I did take a lot of scenery pics, so that's what you're going to get, and yes, I totally over processed them when I got home. I was having fun figuring it all out. C'est la vie.

On our way up to Anderson Valley, we made a quick stop at one of our all time favorite pizza places: Diavolo. Yum. Here's Mr. Spice waiting for our first glass of wine (it was noon, somewhere) and some pizza.

A new tasting room just opened up next door, Mercury. Mr. Spice loved their wines (I didn't have any since they only had red- damn migraines), and the Owner/Winemaker was having so much fun with his new adventure they gave us a free jar of home made 'merlot' jam.

When we first arrived, it was rainy and gray. Perfect for romance, bad for picture taking. But I did get Mr. Spice to stand in the rain outside one of our favorites, Navarro. The reason we love Anderson Valley so much is they do great red and white wines. Mr. Spice loves the Pinots, and I adore the Dry Rieslings, Gewurztraminers and a few Sauvignon Blancs.

We also stopped at an old favorite. Lazy Creek Vineyards. While this was just recently sold, their wine was better than ever.

Our last stop of the day was Roehderer Estate. The sun started to peak out and the sparking wine was fantastic. Even Mr. Spice thought so, and as a former Sparkling Winemaker, he has VERY high standards. This is their beyond gorgeous view from their tasting room:


This is where I am a big blog fail. No pictures of our room or dinner. But here's the 'Hotel' itself:

Since we had a little Huckleberry with us, we couldn't stay in the main house. Instead we were in the cute studio out back. And if you are thinking rain, out back, December- it must have been cold- you're wrong. With the radiant heat floors and the little fireplace, it was perfectly cozy (cozy in the good sense not in the 'too small' real estate sense).

And the dinner, gawd, the dinner. We found out that the owner's parents originally started the French Laundry, yes, THE French Laundry. And while, they didn't make it as successful as Mr. Thomas Keller, they taught their son well. The Hotel has a huge vegetable garden out back and the restaurant only serves two-items every night. Both based on what was grown in their garden. I had me some sweet pea and scallop yumminess, while Mr. Spice has some polenta and flank steak.

The dessert was coffee, tea, and a divine affagado to share.

The next morning we had fresh scones with jam from the nearby Apple Farm (which is coincidentally owned by the hotel owner's sister).

Quite possibly, the best jam ever.
Of course we had to go check it out. Isn't it beyond cute?




Finally, the sun started to come out, and Huck was eager to be a vineyard dog:

Our first stop of the day was Husch. They are always so nice, and I loved walking around their property:

Beautiful.

We also stopped at Toulouse Vineyards (two thumbs up), which was super dog friendly and beautiful:

And since Mr. Spice's old boss just bought Breggo - we stopped their too (half a thumb)- again Huck got in on the wine tasting action:

I think Huck is wondering why his Mom is such a drunk in this picture??

But really, I wasn't drunk, I was just really ready for lunch.

When you go visit a town that has only one place open for lunch, there is bound to be a line. But this place is totally worth it:

Everything was organic. Seriously, what in this town wasn't?? Mr. Spice's ham with roasted sweet potato fries.


My salad. YUM.


And after a quick stop at Anderson Brewing Company, our car was officially full. And Huck was ready to end our wine country adventure.


In the end, it was the perfect quick romantic getaway, and the wines were amazing!! In fact, I think I may have to go home and open a bottle right now??

Where have you gone for a perfect romantic getaway?

Eco-Product of the Week: Coffee Cup

Ever since our fabulous Coffee Country Adventure, Mr. Spice and I have been drinking coffee every morning. The only problem- Mr. Spice takes his on the go, and he's in desperate need of a new to-go mug.

So I did what any wife would do, I bought him a new coffee mug (more so because I was sick of his complaining). And of course, I set my sights on getting him an eco-friendly mug.

I found something perfectly me at my local Starbucks:

While I loved that it was made with 100% recycled plastic, it looked just a tad girly to me.

So a few google searches later, I found the Aladdin Travel Mug on Amazon.

It's made of recycled material and it's recyclable.

The good news, Mr. Spice loved it. The bad news, it doesn't fit the cup holder in Mr. Spice's car. Bummer for him, but now I have my own perfectly eco coffee mug!! he he. And after using the mug for a month- I give it two thumbs up!!

How do you drink your coffee or tea in the morning?

Four years ago, I hadn't met you yet...

Four years ago, I went to watch a football game and gave my number to a practical stranger....I now call that stranger my Husband or Mr. Spice if you will.

Ever since I was a little kid, I always wondered who I'd end up with. And for some reason, I'd be ridiculously jealous of what he was doing or who he was with. I always imagined him doing amazingly awesome things, and dating amazingly awesome women.

The reality- he was on his own amazingly awesome adventure, but really he was waiting for me too. Every time I hear this song, I have pangs in my heart and I am taken back to how I felt over four years ago.



Does anyone else adore this song and Michael Buble?

Days like these...

This new year, new you thing is rough. I feel like I am having more days like those than good, fun great days.

But a couple of Friday's ago I got to spend the day with Mama Peep. While my family can stress me out like the best of them, we spent the morning at the incredible California Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Checking out frogs, and fish
and all sorts of crazy creatures.

Even an albino alligator.

Then we went downstairs to the unbelievably fantastic Moss Room. I think very few restaurants are delicious, beautiful and all organic.

Perfect for this modern organic girl. In fact, I felt a little pang in my heart that we didn't explore this as an option for our wedding or rehearsal dinner (a complete stranger recommended it and I barely glanced at the card).

While eating our perfect meal, in the perfect restaurant, Mama Peep gently probed me about following a long time dream- living abroad. While right now Mr. Peep and I are just dreaming out loud about all the possibilities, it felt really good to know that Mama Peep is still cheering me (now, us) on.

So here's to dreaming out loud and days like these inspired by Mama Peep.

If you could live abroad where would you live?

Yellow and white Living Room Inspiration

My reader provided two amazingly awesome sources of inspiration today. I promise sometime this century I'll post images of our apt. But until then- what do you think of these two pieces of inspiration...

Originally seen here.

And this pic:

See the rest of the house tour at MadeByGirl right here.
Any guesses on what caught my eye?

Jonsing for some Wellies

I am currently looking at a very very small patch of blue sky. It's the first time I've seen blue sky in days, and I love it!! Yet, I am fully aware that in 3.2 seconds it will start raining, again.

Last nights rain, thunder and lightening storm made me really happy that I was in a warm bed sandwiched between Mr. Spice and Huck the wonder dog. But it made it even harder to wake up, jump out of bed and go to work. Especially since I am in dire need of rain boots. See last time I wore my DSW mini-rain boots to work I slipped while getting off the bus and landed on my a$$. I was soaking wet, muddy, and bleeding. To say that it was embarrassing would be an impressive understatement.

So. I need some rain boots to get me through the next few days. And since I just happen to go by the Marc Jacobs store every day, twice a day (thank you bus route), I think I might need to stop by this afternoon.

Now the question is- what color?

PS my blue sky is officially gone. bummer.

Happy Friday

Hi Folks, I took the week to finish up our honeymoon recaps to Panama on my Modern Organic Wedding blog.

Click on over to check out our two week adventure.

Hope everyone has an star-studded three-day weekend.

Jonsing for the secret of light...

I saw this beauty on Apartment Therapy this morning:


You shake it to turn it on:


And then just like a dandelion, you blow on it to turn it off:

It makes me want to run in a green field and pick dandelions. I heart it.

Don't you love design that brings out your inner kid?

Eco-fluff of the Week.

What does our bathroom really need?

No. Not some random kid, but some fluffy white towels. Seriously, if I had some, I'd run home right now and take a long hot shower just so can wrap myself in some fluffy goodness.

But of course, if you know me, you know that I don't want just any fluffy towels. Of course, they have to be eco-fluffy towels.

I embarked on my hunt for some eco-friendly towels a few weeks ago. With left over wedding gift cards in hand, I had my sights set on these organic towels from West Elm.

Verdict: no fluff in site. These towels were so thin, they left nothing to be desired.

So I headed over to West Elm's big Sister, Pottery Barn. I've loved Pottery Barn towels since I lived with my sister and coveted her fluffness.

Verdict: They don't carry their Organic Towels in the store.

BUT I learned something even more important. When you buy towels it's very important to look at the gram count. Just like the thread count in sheets, the gram count helps with the softness and the towels ability to actually soak up water.

The regular Pottery Barn towels are a luscious 820-grams, while the Organic towels are only 600-grams. Which, according to the lovely lady at PB- is as low as you want to go, and after seeing the 600-gram West Elm towels, I was less than impressed.

Humm, I had a lot to thing about. So of course, I ran home and did a quick internet search.

Seriously, I've taken this eco-towel obsession to new heights.

A few clicks later, I found them: Crate and Barrel Organic Towels with a 700-gram count.

Maybe not as high as the standard Pottery Barn towels, but pretty darn good if I do say so myself.

The problem, they are currently SOLD OUT of the white towels. But seeing as they have been sold out before, I'll patiently wait for them to be back in stock- and this time I won't wait to snatch up these eco-fluffyiness!

How do you dry yourself off??

Goodbye 2009... Hello 2010

How's the first few days of the new decade treating you??

So far, I am loving this new decade. But then again, I got to spend a whole four days with Mr. Spice just hanging out with our two favorite animals and seeing family and friends, so what's not to love???

But before I move forward and begin to think about some new years resolutions (or am I too late for that?), I am jumping on the look back bandwagon.

Here's my decade in review:

*Traveled in three continents -totaling 14 countries.
*Traveled to 20 states (love that all the back east ones are clumped together).
*Spent three months backpacking through Europe.
*Spent three months interning in DC and lobbying on the Hill.
*Went on girls trips to Miami, Boston, Seattle, Santa Barbara, New York, Philly and Cabo!!
*Got my B.S. and my Masters.
*Purchased my first cell phone- and six more after that.
*Purchased three ipods.
*Sold my first car, le sigh.
*Bought my second car.
*Went to the Rose Bowl and saw the Huskies win!! Go Dawgs.
*Lived in a 5-bedroom in Seattle, a 4-bedroom in Santa Barbara, a 3-bedroom in San Francisco, a 2-bedroom in Marin, and a 1-bedroom back in San Francisco. Oh, and I can't forget my Jr. 1-bedroom when I first moved to Santa Barbara.
*Kissed my College Crush and realized it was over rated.
*Kissed the love of my life and realized it was under rated.
*Adopted a dog.
*Moved in with the boy and gained a cat.
*Saw my Brother and Sister get married.
*Became a "in-law."
*Became an Aunt FOUR times over.
*Witnessed a large boat load of friends get married.
*And a small boat load of friends have babies.
*Got offered four jobs (took three of them).
*Went skiing in three states and two countries.
*Met the love of my life the year that the Steelers won the Superbowl.
*Married that man the next year the Steelers won the Superbowl.
*Finally voted for the winning Presidential Candidate.
*And took my dog on a walk at least 1,550 times.

I think it's fitting that in 2000 I went to Europe to better understand who I was, and almost a decade later I walked 50 feet down an aisle to a man who understands me completely.

It's been a good decade, but I am ready for 2010. Fresh, clean, new. How can you not like that?

Happy New Year to You

Hope 2010 is the best year yet.

Love, peace and joy from the Sugar & Spice Family.