Washington Drank Here

16 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by Karen Neuburger in Girlfriends, Life in the 95448

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design, food, girlfriends, home, life, lifestyle, travel, wine, women

Over the last two years since we have been living at 95448, I’ve come to appreciate the national and even international draw the town has. On a Friday the checkout line at the grocery may be speaking French. The couple next to you at the incredible pizza spot are talking in German. I’m sure I’ve mentioned the likes of Lady Gaga, Pink, Michele Pfeiffer, Seth Rogen, or Patrick Dempsey walking around the Plaza. Tony Bennett staying at our chic hotel and I was in line getting coffee with Seth Green. (I didn’t know where I knew him from and asked if he had done a photo shoot with me). We were both mortified for different reasons.
Today was the best surprise. Walking toward the Plaza after an early dinner, I saw walking toward us a very Irish looking slender red head who looked very familiar. Elizabeth Washington ran right into us. Elizabeth was one of the friendly faces when I was in solitary confinement. Even when it was detrimental to her Job, she was respectful and a desk where I could stop and have girl talk.
So Elizabeth and friend spent an hour or so at our bar reminiscing and making me feel great. I know she was excited to bump into me and I hope she knows how meaningful it was for me. Please someone, send this to her.

The Saddest Thing

12 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by Karen Neuburger in Life in the 95448

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breakfast, comfort, daughters, Easter, family, food, games, holidays, life, lifestyle, pajamas, women

/>The scene in our kitchen is pretty shocking. Headless chickens and tailless bunnies. The yellow tulips are wilted, the floor littered with pink, green and purple grass. It’s the day after Easter.
Our Easter Egg Hunt went off with only one hitch. A computer glitch I told everyone but it was a Karen screw up. I was so excited giving out the rules and picking the teams that before I blew the starter horn, I forgot to check the clues. So the green team got the yellow clues and vis versa. When the blue team finished way ahead of others, I was even surprised. They won Big Chicken blowup Oscar award and I kept my mouth shut.
What a treat to have both my girls home for a family event. Has not happened in several years. Nothing gives me that warm feeling of a comfortable home like when everyone is here.
Too much food, (my savory breakfast bread pudding was moist, cheesy and yes, even savory) and the Honey Baked Ham bunny, dressed like the UPS man delivered right on time. Fruit tarts, coffee cake, strawberry butter with sticky buns all washed down with Mimosas. Maybe that explains the “computer glitch”. Can’t wait to open the pool on Memorial Day.

Hopping’ Down

06 Friday Apr 2012

Posted by Karen Neuburger in Life in the 95448

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color, design, Easter, family, fashion, food, friends, fun, games, life, lifestyle, pajamas, women

Happy Easter and the unofficial gateway to spring. Easter back in Northern Wisconsin/Minnesota (Twin Ports), started with deep prayer.”Please God, don’t let it snow cause I want to wear my new baby blue heels on Sunday”. Snow or not, we dressed up in our sherbet colors like it was 68 degrees and sunny.
I’m noticing this year that Easter seems to be squeezed into maybe a day and a half. Its Thursday and there are no signs of the holiday to be found. Even though I see lots of ads for spiral hams, no mention of Easter. So far, not one “Happy Easter”, as I shop around town. I guess with our melting pot of a nation, and political correctness, everyone is afraid to offend one group or another. It makes me sad. I feel like I’ve lost another piece of my childhood.
Planning my annual Egg Hunt for Sunday. Annual except we haven’t had one for the last 3 years. First due to moving and then the kids were not around. This year we have a full house.
Of course “the kids” are very grown up but are now unruly adults when it comes to all games. It’s surprising that with XBox and video games they still love the heritage egg hunt. It becomes very serious and competitive, with even some high jinks and cheating. My Jewish husband is the worst big kid. Tossing the other teams egg down the hill is not unheard of. The prize is a giant chocolate bunny and bragging rights for the year. Big egos.
This year @ 95448 it will be 68 degrees. My baby blue shoes will be just fine. Happy Easter to believers and kids of all ages. And April Love to everyone. (think Pat Boone)

More Pancakes

31 Saturday Mar 2012

Posted by Karen Neuburger in Life in the 95448

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breakfast, brunch, comfort, food, friends, fun, Jackie Kennedy, Jackie O, lifestyle, pajamas, travel

A cold, windy and very rainy morning. Just the perfect time for comfort food and cozy comfort duds. I’m in my old but favorite jeans and oversized Woolrich cotton navy sweater which is achient . It works on fat days and skinny days. My jeans are tight enough to hold in my tummy but loose enough to eat more. To keep the frizz to a controlled minimum, my grey hoodie vest pulled up around my neck. Just to make sure I add a cotton knit giant purple scarf. Now for the food.
Our favorite local “breakfast all day” spot is 6 minutes away. Everything here is 6 minutes away. Its right on our Plaza and we are regulars and friendly with the owners. Like me, they are from Minnesota and the soups taste just like my Grandma’s. This morning it’s pancakes.
Although I am constantly fighting the scale and the extra 10 pounds I tend to gain in the winter, I eat pancakes often. Remembering a quote from Jackie Kennedy as she made public her fight with cancer. Always very chic and slender we imagined correctly she was a disciplined healthy eater. I can still hear her breathy voice at the press conference; “damn, I should have eaten more pancakes”.
I give myself pancakes.

The Beat Goes On

28 Wednesday Mar 2012

Posted by Karen Neuburger in Life in the 95448

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beach, California, comfort, family, food, life, lifestyle, pacific ocean, pajamas, Russian River, travel, women

With the Pacific Ocean as our backdrop and background noise, I spent a great afternoon eating fresh crab a short drive from home. A beautiful ride thru the winding hills following the river. Then past the vineyards of Dry Creek to the awesome view where just around a bend the Russian River opens up into the Pacific Ocean. It never gets ho hum. Lunch with my daughter Dany doesn’t happen very often and getting her to take an entire afternoon was a real stretch. You know; the kids, the house, school, dinners, husband, shopping, blah, blah, blah. The beat goes on. Sometimes if I whine a lot it helps.
Northern California is so stunning. Even in the rain which came today by the buckets. Next week the cherry trees will bloom, the hummingbirds will return, the vines will bud, and the barbeque will get pulled out again. And the beat goes on. Spring 2012.

Best of Both Worlds

22 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by Karen Neuburger in Life in the 95448

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California, Coppola, design, food, fun, life, lifestyle, movies, pajamas, travel, wine, women

Our home is situated with a glorious view that I can take no credit for. We look out on Alexander Valley from our front door and Dry Creek Valley from our back door. And just 5 minutes north, by car or bike, is the old/new Francis Ford Coppola winery, restaurant and day-resort. To celebrate our daughter’s return to Nor-Cal we had a great family dinner there tonight. I’ll hate the scale in the morning.