Chocolate Shoes and Coffee

Hot off the Presses: Your next book…

chocolateshoesandcoffee — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:08:00 +0000

Jane Lund, via here.

Today in Miami my local independent bookstore, Books and Books, is having a reading from this new book! Later this week they will have Elizabeth Gilbert, the writer of Eat Pray Love. She has a new title, Committed, out…

Looks like wonderful reading to start of 2010. What is on your reading list? Don’t forget to stop it all and enjoy a good book… -Miss Bliss

Finding Your Way

chocolateshoesandcoffee — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:51:00 +0000

Here in the mountains you think differently… snow and big trees, old trees, hover over you here…. The possibilities in life expand to match the expansive space in Colorado… rock, canyon, mountain, tree, clouds, air, pure air as if it is the best air you have ever breathed in your entire life… peace is possible and colorado demands that you become at peace with the environment around you because you have no choice… it’s bigger than you and the other humans… you realize you are just visiting…the colorado earth has been here before and will be here long after you… a rhythm of water flowing below you in a canyon bed reminds you of how quickly things pass, and sings for you to slow down… you can feel your blood pumping, warming muscles and skin. You dream of days of simplicity: what do you really need, after all?

Each morning the sun rises again over green boulders and shiny snow, the world is fresh for you to explore, to leave the past behind, to find a new pace… where wood is weathered, seasons capture your attention… a collection of ice forms as thick as phone poles, saplings, on your back porch: now you should stop and hear what is inside you, seeing these icicles like daggers, another force, solid, containing air and water, coatings over coatings, layers, the earth is wrapped in snow and ice with green and sun and blue sky still over head.

Footsteps crunch the snow. People fight the slippery powder to join the Boulder rhythm, civilization right down the curvy icy road: faces, hearts beating, lungs breathing oxygen in and out, color, people layered in clothing, holding warm cups, and then, return to the quieter mountains for the journey into their sanctuaries.

Colorado stars shine over the snow and cliffs and rushing water, the canyon holds its life tight for the dark cold night.

Don’t miss the beautiful pictures!

Your Best Holiday Yet: Colorado Getaway Update

chocolateshoesandcoffee — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 09:54:00 +0000

Nederland, Colorado

“Ned” with snow-capped mountains peeking over…

Wintery “Ned”

After some snowy days, crisp blue skies…

we took this at the road by our “getaway”…

Pearl Street in downtown Boulder, CO on Christmas Eve

The “Flatirons”–Boulder’s gorgeous daily backdrop…

snow-dusted…

We love it… it does remind this Miami girl of “Northern Exposure” this time of year!

Barefoot in the snow! Tulips proliferate here on Pearl Street in springtime…

Another Boulder tradition, and the cigar bar serves hot chocolate to the kids
after they skate…

A view from our canyon hideaway…

Mr. Wonderful picked this place out for us for our holiday… our 3rd Christmas.

The steps to our home away from home…

Perfect!

We are in Boulder, Colorado, and we are blissfully, joyfully, happy. The minute we began our descent into Colorado, we saw white-capped mountains, larger than your memory can hold, and pink glowing skies. Mr. Wonderful was even happier than I could remember, so happy to breathe in Colorado air. This 37 year old man was giddy with joy: our journey was just beginning. We boarded the bus, with no wait, from the airport, and road out among the mountains near the Denver airport, and the christmas lights, twinkling blue lights lining the road we both had traveled back and forth so many times, only 18 months earlier. Suddenly we were in the college town of Boulder, on Broadway, as if we had never been away. The Mac Shack…the fraternity houses, the Wild Oats-turned-Whole Foods.

Snow started the minute we arrived in the center of Boulder, and began our journey to the mountain lodge. The flakes thickened, and we walked from the canyon road down toward our home for the next week. The snow fell, over already snow-whitened road and ground, the skies pouring onto our world, something very dreamlike to our tropical sensibilities. As if in our own little snowglobe, we walked, forward into the dark road; the snow fell, illuminating our lodge and the path–the bridge lead us to our holiday hideaway. It seemed we were the only ones for miles; all we could hear was a creek, babbling away against its icy “roof”. The snow kept falling all night and the next day,

a gentle coating of cold white beauty.

We had Christmas Eve in Boulder, and Christmas here in the Four Mile Canyon…Mr. W. made me lovely meals for which he had shopped and carried home to us only by bus and backpack…no rental car on this trip! Colorado’s public transportation is too good.

The 26th, we rode up to beautiful Nederland, surrounded by snow covered rocks and canyon walls that seemed to touch the Colorado blue sky. Layers of sunny blue sky froze at ice-coated rock, and the shadows protected snow down to the road.

In Nederland, we saw the frozen lake, and I remembered the first time I saw the expanse of Nederland at sunset–it was something beyond imagination. The glassy dark blue lake, the sky: its purples and pinks blending over the spring green, white-topped mountains. That day changed me…I learned life had beauty that could shock you, and heal you at the same time.

Here is a little background on our love story… enjoy!

More to come…trip in progress!

pic 1: from this awesome album

pic 2 and 3, google images

all the rest are ours from the last few days

My Favorite Christmas Tree: Just Beachy’s

chocolateshoesandcoffee — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 09:09:00 +0000

Just Beachy’s tree is like snowflakes! The decorations just pop against the white, and I love the unexpected white in place of the usual green….and such sweet decorations.

Lovely… so visually pleasing!

If you did not see the video on this earlier post, don’t miss it.

One of the most meaningful blog posts I have ever seen… the humanity of these teen boys and the kindness of strangers is a beautiful thing.

The Kindness of Strangers

chocolateshoesandcoffee — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:09:00 +0000

Dear Friends,

This video and these young boys’ voices truly tugged at my heart this morning.

You will see true beauty in their spirits. I hope you watch it… I think it is hope and love made visible.

The results will make you feel joyful too! It is making me think of times when the kindness of strangers has affected my own life….

xoxo
Miss Bliss

Vacating the "Vacation" Home…Off to Colorado!

chocolateshoesandcoffee — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:41:00 +0000

Breakfast at the airport…on our way to Colorado!!!

my holiday shirt!

Our breakfast view

Hello, Lovely Friends!

Mr. Wonderful and I are blogging from the Miami International Airport this morning… what a beautiful place for breakfast: Illy coffee with whipped cream and Valhrona cocoa in Terminal H/J and we are enjoying a wall of palm-treed windows onto the world… TAM Brasil plane with signatures all over the plane body, Air France, Air Canada… I love airports!

Miami traffic speeds along the highway in the backdrop; in front of us the airport employees are driving the luggage trucks and vans and walking around the runway…we are all waking up.

Classical holiday music plays in the background and planes lift off…

We are in high spirits after LAST NIGHT: our bartender/angel on earth at the Blue Moon made us buttery nipples, (good holiday drink… just like the butterscotch candies!) margaritas, and finally, chocolate covered grasshoppers to send us on to our holidays and travel this morning…our friend who was with us also drove us to the airport, and texted for coffee please on his way to get us… ; )

Mr. Wonderful is tres excited for the winter storm on a “collision course” with Colorado… we are going to get there just in time!

How are your holiday adventures so far???

xoxo,
Miss Bliss

Mexican Hot Chocolate: Inspired by the Luxurious Four Seasons

chocolateshoesandcoffee — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 06:37:00 +0000

I once swam in this pool in Mexico.

It was a work trip…an *agonizing* work trip….

Here is the adult pool…find some shade or SUNSCREEN!

The lobby is open air… and art abounds….

you can enjoy some fresh fruit juice with the view and breezes…

Your room elevates you to a truly blissful state of mind… and this is where you can discover Mexican Hot Chocolate, brought to you by room service…
much needed tlc with the work trip…

There you are, drinking your Mexican Hot Chocolate at the
Four Seasons in Punta Mita, Mexico. Sweet Dreams!

Whether you are relaxing somewhere warm and toasty or if you are just trying to stay warm and toasty… this does the trick.

Build and customize the following All Recipes suggestion or try this one from Taste of Home as you like, the key is to add cinnamon and the chili powder… just a touch!

Ingredients
3 tablespoons instant hot chocolate mix
1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pinch chili powder
1/4 cup milk
3/4 cup boiling water

Directions
1.In a large mug, mix the hot chocolate mix, chocolate syrup, cinnamon, and chili powder. Pour in the milk. Add the boiling water and stir. Enjoy!!!

pics from here

One more from Tyler Florence at Food Network… thanks M.J. for suggesting real chocolate!

mushy warning!!! …and now, back to watching Bridget Jones’s Diary with Mr. Wonderful. When Mark Darcy tells Bridget that he likes her,
just as she is, it makes us both smile.

in the ending film with the credits… he says the little girl at the birthday party is me… she is having a big piece of chocolate birthday cake, swigging something bubbly, and swimming in the pool… then she kisses him… and this makes us smile, too…

maybe tomorrow he will make me some Mexican Hot Chocolate…

A gift idea: Ghirardelli hot chocolate 4 pack

chocolateshoesandcoffee — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:28:00 +0000

A yummy cup of hot cocoa is perfect anytime! This is on my list…

and look here, it’s even a good deal right now!

I am going to need a lot of hot chocolate to survive Colorado

next week with this Miami Beach blood! The snow will be pretty, though…outside the window while I have some hot chocolate, that is….;)

Surprise: Sock Monkey Ornament!

chocolateshoesandcoffee — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:59:00 +0000

Today Mr. Wonderful and I checked our mail, and found a delightful surprise–my mom sent us a sock monkey ornament! It is our third holiday season together as a married couple…wow time flies. I am so excited about our latest ornament… we were both so surprised and it is so cute! Sock monkeys were big at one point in our family with my younger sisters, so it’s more than cute— it even has sentimental value…

Sock monkeys would make a great holiday gift for kids, and they are so fun to make. On the sock monkey subject, did you see this…? It was in a Food Network Cake Challenge— the sock monkey cake with sparklers… so funny!

Do you have a special ornament?

Orchids for your Viewing Pleasure :)

chocolateshoesandcoffee — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:39:00 +0000

Ready for a little orchid therapy?

Join us on our visit to a proliferation of orchids…

my kind of place…

the selection left a little to be desired… JUST KIDDING…

These blooms remind me of little paint brush marks…

….maybe we need a greenhouse…..

very cheap therapy….

pick me, pick me!

pretty yellow and pink….

almost leopard print

does it get any prettier?

like the caterpillar about to spring into butterfly glory…

will they all fit in the car?

so many to see….

love this deep purple hue

and delicate deep red bloom

orchid fever….

more beauty!

just a couple blooms here…

pastel-licious

so many lovely choices…

possibly my favorite shot!

do you see the SPIKY orchid? (up top)

Pick me!

Hope you enjoyed the orchid tour…. are orchids on your gift list

for you or someone you love?

For the orchid lover, one of my favorite books is “The Orchid Thief” by Susan Orlean, and it’s also a film… or maybe plan a trip to Miami for

this show, or this show.

What’s on your dream gift list this year? I think orchids are a great gift because they can last forever!