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What a fine weekend! Rob and I rode home on our tandem bike along with a few thousand others dressed up for Critical Mass. It was wild to see the city taken over by so many bikes. At the apartment, we quickly packed up the car and drove up to Healdsburg in thick traffic. We…

I adored this book. Julia Child with her French adventures, passion for cooking, craftiness and general relaxed-outlook was just exactly what I wanted to read when turning 30 last week. I think I might just read it all over again directly.

Shoot! I forgot my camera and you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see all the details from our weekend in Healdsburg. Of course, we had a great time, tasted some excellent wine and ogled the fall vineyard scenery. It looked just like this painting.

Rob and I are off to Healdsburg this weekend! We’re celebrating Halloween and 30th birthdays with Amber, Matt and their twin boys. She’ll be running the half marathon…and we’ll be cheering her on. Have a great weekend!

My friend Jackie travels often for her research on mosquito-born diseases and always brings back the coolest gifts. Just returned from Turkey for my birthday, she gave me a bar of handmade soap and a turkish bath towel, or hammamas, in sage and white. In light woven cotton, I can see how they’d be great…

Our chili last night was served along with a little cornbread muffin sitting on a cornhusk leaf made from tamale wrappers. Christine got the cute idea from Martha Stewart.

Christine hosted the Ladies Activity Club for a fun pumpkin carving party last night. She’s always one of my favorite hostesses – an easy entertainer and an excellent cook! Christine served us prosecco, pita chips with hummus, chili with chicken sausage, cornbread and Paula Dean’s pumpkin bars. And she decorated her apartment festively with candles,…

I’ve hardly bought anything new for fall this year, but I did pick up at least three pairs of tights for my growing collection. I added a red pair (inspired by adorable new-mom Jill) , a yellow pair and a plaid pair. Each was from Hue. A great, inexpensive way to make a simple dress…

This continues to be the only recipe I’ve mastered from the Tartine Bakery Cookbook. Their soft glazed gingerbread (with cocoa powder and pepper) is a sophisticated take on the classic and very easy to bake – ideal for Halloween parties this weekend. (You don’t even need the cookie stamp pictured, they work fine with regular…

It’s my 30th birthday today. My feelings are mixed about the whole thing. However, the thoughtful gifts from friends, well wishes and cake are all helping to ease the transition quite nicely. Back tomorrow to kick off a brand-new decade. Photo of dreamy red velvet cake from Sugadeaux