new obsessions

It's official you Goldfried lovers. I have a new obsession. You all know about my love affair with online shopping but now it's gone to a whole new level. Online HOUSE shopping. Yes. Houses.

While we're quite a ways away from actually being able to purchase a home, it's good to see what's in the market and how much they cost/what they actually sell for. For added self torture I mix in home design shows and another new obsession of mine, Mike Holmes.

Have you seen this guy? He's like the rain man of home inspections. Thank GOD my dad is like a mini Mike Holmes and has offered to come out and rip any property we're considering to shreds. In a good way.

Right now we're looking at condos, townhouses and a few older homes mixed in. We'll see what we actually end up with but we know we want it to have room for a giant dog and possibly have a fireplace. Ok, we're picky and like those stupid people on Property Virgins, but at least we're pretty. They should really put us on a show and give us things.

the trotting of the turkeys

As I lay here in bed almost exactly 24 hours after my first turkey trot, I've started reflecting on what I'm thankful for. I know, I know, I'm like a day late, but I've always been a late bloomer.

I don't know why, but running a turkey trot has always been something really important to me. I come from a family with little to no healthy traditions and seeing healthy and happy families lining up for a race was something I've always craved.

Now that Mr Goldfried and I are in Vermont with my family, I was determined to do it. Now, it didn't take much persuading to get everyone to sign up, but it was a cold, early morning and my sisters whole family came to cheer her (and by default me) on.

The race was so heartwarming. Whole families running together, old retired couples, people with baby strollers, dogs, and young kids all running together on a holiday that revolves around overeating. I won't lie, I teared up a few times.

So today, and everyday, I'm thankful for:

My husband
My sister and her family who let us live in their home until we find one I our own
The prospect of actually being a homeowner someday
My health
The opportunity to run and be active in and around our new home
Family
Great friends
Technology for keeping me in touch with everyone I moved away from

snow what fun

It's official - my first snow as a Vermonter!! I'll sit here enjoying it today until I have to run in it tomorrow...

breaking dawn

Ok so I went to see Breaking Dawn and I know people like to shit on franchises like these, but I have to say I was impressed. While I liked the majority of the film, I think I was most taken with the transformation of Kristen Stewart from healthy, happy honeymoon Bella to dead and dying Bella.

I've been trying to find out if it was makeup and camera tricks or if she really lost a shit ton of weight to look completely emaciated. I feel like peon would've seen her that skinny and mentioned it, but it looked too real and convincing to make me 100% certain it wasn't an actual 'diet'.

I have to say that I enjoy theater and movies much more now that my eyes have been opened to the amazing world of costume by a great friend. It really does make or break a story.

Another unsung star of Breaking Dawn is Bella's wedding shoes from Alice. Did anyone else want to make love to those things?!?! I'd marry the undead and forsake my family for those shoes. Not sure if I'd birth a potential world-ending demon for them, but give me a few days to marinate on it and I'll let you know...

today in simple pleasures

I went for my first cold morning run with my sister today. 24 degrees and 2 miles later I was chilly.

Today's simple pleasures are warm running gear, cuddle duds and large mugs of coffee.

domesticity is my city

I had my crazy obscure eating and drinking plans on hold for the weekend in preparation for a visit from mom, but she got sick so I had an open weekend.

So my sister and I decided to take advantage of the spare time and spend a day together shopping and wandering about. We had ton of fun and my shopping was quite successful! I've been looking for a new handbag for months and have gotten crazy frustrated with the offerings available at this time in the season.

Then I found Lovey (pictured below). I found her after having picked up 3 different variations of the same bag in different colors and fabrics. Then she just showed herself to me in all her preppy glory. I haven't been this excited about a handbag since since my snow white cross body bag with gold studs 2 years ago.

After a full day of shopping, Mr Goldfried and I decided to rent a movie and enjoy a nice night in. Much to my chagrin, watched XMen First Class. Honestly, I ended up loving it! Aside from wanting to binge and purge every time January Jones was on the screen I thought it was a great story and it kept my attention the whole time. It's on the Mrs Goldy list of recommended flicks.

Sunday was rainy so I decided to do some cooking. First I baked oatmeal raisin cookies to bring to Mr Goldfried while he works the dreaded Sunday shift. Then I was still all in the swing of things so I decided to make baked ziti two ways. I know, it's so top chef of me. Two ways. I'm kind of impressed with myself too...

I did one on the more traditional side for the Brott's then I decided to jazz up the Goldfried batch and added ground beef, roasted garlic, spinach and a later of ricotta. They're in the oven now so i'll let you know how they turn out and post yummy pix laterzzzzzz

you lost that battle vermont

Tried to order Chinese food for lunch today because I had no car and couldn't pick it up. The only place in the area doesn't deliver. What a reality check for me. Two months ago I was getting Pinkberry delivered to my office on whim and now I have to plan out my meals like a normal person. Oy.

New York: 1
Vermont: 0

long distance book club

Pat and I have decided to start a long distance book club. The first book that unofficially started it all was the 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman. We both got a lot out of it and thought it was worthwhile to keep going and finding books we both enjoy and appreciate even though we're several states apart.

This month's book is A Course in Weight Loss by Marianne Williamson.  The book consists of 21 spiritual lessons that form a holistic paradigm for weight loss, addressing the spiritual, emotional, and psychological elements involved in what Williamson refers to as “conscious weight loss.” Apparently, the book is for food addicts and compulsive eaters. I'm self diagnosed as both so I'm totally game to see what this book is all about.

Then we got a little out of hand and I also decided I really want to read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. I'm not sure if you've heard of this one but it's an absolutely fascinating subject. Doctors took cells from Lacks, a poor tobacco farmer, without her knowledge and she was the mother (for lack of a better word) the first “immortal” human cells grown in culture. Her cells are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years.

So now my Kindle bookshelf looks a little like this. For some reason I find it humorous that what you don't see is Tim Gunn's short story about OCD and The Lies that Chelsea Handler Told me.

a whole month

Well my dears, today marks a full month of Vermont living for your loving Goldfrieds. Can you believe it? Me either.

Today marked another nice first for Mrs. Goldie. My first brunch with a girlfriend since we moved. It was refreshing and I know it's a small thing, but having a day like today really made me feel like a local. Walking around downtown just window shopping day drinking while speaking openly and candidly with a friend is one of life's simple pleasures that I missed dearly. And it was glorious. I saw some new shops to keep my eye on for the holidays, tried a new brunch spot and had more poached eggs than should be legal in any state, but VT is cool with it. They're trend setters like that.

Here's to another month of acclimation and happy firsts (and even happier seconds!)

a saturday to remember

An unforeseen trip to the NY border prompted another VT adventure this Saturday. As typically happens when I'm held responsible for directions, we got lost. Luckily, the getting lost wasn't without a stop to this crazy local gas station with amazing freshly baked goods. Check out these oatmeal raisin cookies!

As a little reward after getting lost in the nowhere's of Vermont, we decided to make the best of the day and visit the Food & Wine Festival at  Shelburne Vineyard. There were tons of yummy vendors and we got to try some really great local food and wine including local made bread, cheese, stuffing, bacon, pepperoni, wine and mead.

They even had an American Flatbread truck outside. Nothing makes Mrs. Goldie happier than eating pizza in a wine field. Even if it's cold and windy...

Because it was on the way home, we stopped at the Magic Hat Brewery to try their new winter beers. Our favorites were Howl, a black lager and Ravel, a vanilla stout.

Howl will be available in stores nationwide, but Ravel was produced in smaller batches and will only be available in the winter sampler. It's totally worth it. It was a really exceptional beer, even if Magic Hat sold out to North American Brewery.

Today I'm thankful that I live in an area with good wine, cheese, bread and beer. Later the hub and I will walk to the local Italian place for the first time to try their VT Carbonara with housemade pasta, local bacon, peas, cheese and cream. We may need to do the walk twice to burn all of that off. Woof!

a nerd is born

He's here! Geekbaby was born today to two of the most amazing new parents a tiny chubster could ever ask for. Welcome to the world Max. I can't wait to teach you naughty words and get your mom drunk again. Love you!

today in simple pleasures

Today's simple pleasure is brought to you by motivation.

I woke up on this mild morning and decided to run the route I crapped out in my first week here. And I rocked it.

Not only did I rock the run, but the beauty of my trail was not lost on me. I also wicked appreciated the unseasonable 45 degree temps this morning. Thanks global warming. Love you!

outdoorsy

On Sunday we decided to go for a hike with my sister and her family. We were warned that because of the snow in the higher elevations that said hike would be super easy. This is where I tell you how much my ass hurt the next day because of the elevation.

Because it was a paved hike, I can see where one may assume its easy. But the steady elevation an slippery leaves. created their own special level of difficulty. The payoff was pretty great though. Views of the Green and Adirondack mountains surrounded us. It was pretty spectacular.

I can't wait to get back on a mountain. Preferably geared up and with some sort of ski or snowboard apparatus beneath me.

beer and clothes

So this weekend we decided to drive to New Hampshire to visit the closest LLBean store. The plan was to stock up on lifetime guaranteed warm stuff, but we also found a nearby brewery. As usual, we had a more successful visit to the brewery than the store. I did however manage to convince my loving husband to get matching furry hats (see below).

Side note: after finding the hats less than 50% cheaper online my husband has now vowed never to shop at LLBean again.

With hats in tow we visited the 7 Barrel brewery. I'm sure there's some sort of story behind why we went and what makes them special, but I just do what I'm told and don't ask questions. If there's beer at the end of my rainbow I'll do pretty much anything.

The beer was really good, so was the food and the people who worked there all seemed really nice, witty and smart. All in all, a win in my book. Here's a look at some of the beers we had. The RIP stout from their Conan the Destroyer series was by far the best, but the Autumn seasonal on cask won points in my book as well. Unfortunately they don't bottle and their beer is only available on site or in growlers, but it's worth the trip if you're going. Definitely more worth it than the Bean...

my week in food and drink

Your loving Goldfried's have not been starving this week, that's for sure. It's only Thursday but we've already had quite the culinary and booze-filled week. Enjoy our adventures below. I'm heading to a Body Transformer class (I doubt it has anything to do with robot cars but we'll see) tonight to try and undo all of this mouth-based exploring we've been doing. 

The first beer of the week was Acer Quercus (pictured below). A collaboration between the Bruery and local favorite Lawson's Finest Liquids, we thought this libation was the perfect accompaniment to throwing candy at trick or treaters while eating pizza and watching the Lost Boys. We were quite successful at all three if you must know...

Next we visited the Tavern at the Inn at Essex. Just a short walk from the house, it makes us feel like city folk again being able to walk to a bar and not worry about who's driving. The beer was good. I had Long Trail Hiberator and Evan had a Switchback Brown. Switchback is a local brewery that only offers kegs so it's purely a going out beer. I picked mine mostly because it reminded me of bears. It was good but was quickly outdone as a favorite of the week.

The star of the night though was our braised rabbit potato skins (pictured below). They were a great mix of local produce and game and made for a decadent side for our grilled ceasar salad. I won't lie, I had never had one before but that charred flavor on the crisp romaine was kind of rockin. Score one for the Tavern.

Then last night it was back to what's quickly becoming our favorite spot in downtown. The Farmhouse. We're just dying for someone to visit so we can take them there and just order like maniacs! So please, come visit. We want to get you drunk and fat then fight over who has to drive home.

Last night was an event called Chad's Stash. This amazing man named Chad stocks up on kegs of rare beer and basically has a no holds barred beer nerd extravaganza. It was two pages of beer that made Evan squeal with joy. My personal favorite was the Trapp Family Lager. The Von Trapp family (yes the one from Sound of Music. They moved here to escape the Nazis. Fitting.) has a brewery and their beer is UH-MAZING. Because we were technically at a work event for Evan, I had to drive (lame) so I paced myself but really truly savored what might be my perfect beer.

And without further adieu here are some photos of the hub and I seriously geeking out over our beer.

national binary code month

I can't believe I let all of 11.1.11 go by without making nerdy binary code references. I sincerely apologize to both of my readers.

My amazingly nerdy cousin who will be having a bundle of tiny nerd any day now has now been tasked with crossing her legs until 11.11.11 so she can have the ultimate geekbaby. As of next week I will be sending her a pogo stick to jump on while eating super spicy taquitos to try and help the process along.

In other news, she also sent me this amazing piece of genius for us to play during Thanksgiving if little baby Richmond decides to show up on time.

You can thank me later. I mean, it IS a holiday for giving thanks so obviously we'll be swearing like sailors and getting a new mother snockered.

http://www.regretsy.com/2011/10/31/sailor-trouble/