Good Tidings: Some Favorite Christmas Gifts

Project Good Life is beginning to do some Christmas shopping.  Here are some places that we are shopping this season.

• Ben's Garden has become a favorite of mine.  I have given these great trays for small and large occasions.
• Story People: We love these artistic prints and the stories that they tell.  This has been a favorite since we discovered Brian Andreas at a shop in New Mexico years ago and is a mainstay yet again this year for Christmas gifts.
• Being from Texas, we love to give our Texas transplanted friends a taste of home.  We love Goode & Co. BBQ for all things Texas flavor. The packaging is lovely and the pecan pies divine.
• We like the offerings this season at Layla Grace.
• We love Smart Women. We have also blogged before about See Jane Work and we will say it again. A great place for gifts for your favorite career women.
• We have to put a plug in for Nordstrom.  We have come to buy many gifts here and most notably appreciate their sane approach to starting the holiday season.
• And, then, there is the Mothership. We love the Mothership at Christmas and most especially the great customer service. 

Project Good Life's Guide to Decking the Halls (and Staying Married)

 

Christmas Table at Project Good Life

 Those who know The Husband and me know that almost every aspect of our relationship is a negotiation. Decorating for Christmas is no exception. The Husband does not like wreaths.  He also does not like automated santas or Christmas creatures (which he calls Pirates-of-the-Caribbean style decorations). And, do not get him started on colored Christmas lights.  I agree with him about the Christmas lights and have never been a fan of automated Christmas creatures (although until marrying him I would have never described them as of the Pirates-of-the-Caribbean variety).  But, being true to my Southern roots, I do like a good wreath, I love garland, and I generally think that houses should be decorated for Christmas as if they were scenes out of the Mothership's Christmas Book.  Decorating with these tastes can be difficult in a small urban condo and they become even more difficult once I throw the Husband's preferences into the mix.  Needless to say, the process of decorating for the Christmas season is a bit, um, complex at Project Good Life.  But, over time, the husband and I have found a middle ground -- and, I've learned to prefer our compromised way of decorating to the deck-the-halls-to-the-hilt strategy that I previously employed. 

Here are our ground rules.  First, in general, most decorations should be able to be disposed of after the Christmas season so that they do not take up storage the other 11 months a year.  This means saying no to the valuable Christmas treasures at high end stores and opting for more simplistic decor.  Second, decorations should not get in the way of living -- meaning that table surfaces should still be able to be used and areas of our home should still be functional (this means no Christmas-village-laden counter tops or extra large manger scenes). Third, Christmas decorations should accent the rest of the house as opposed to being a featured presentation.  Basically, one's home should not look like a scene from the Macy's Day Parade or from the local church's Christmas Pageant. Finally, and most importantly, Christmas decorations should be warm and inviting -- they should encourage people to feel a little more special and to savor this magical time of year.

Christmas Table at Project Good Life

I have found a simple methd for implementing these ground rules and creating a beautiful Christmas home. First, capitalize on what you already have.  Have some red napkins? Tie them with green ribbons and viola! you have a Christmas decoration.  You'll see our take on this pictured above with table linens and napkins that we already had. "Shop" your home for things that can be made into seasonal decorations.  Books with festive holiday colors or Christmas titles make great coffee table decorations and you don't have to buy a thing.  Second, consider using natural decorations.  Red roses in a festive vase look very holiday (as do white tulips).  Use simple pine tree branches for accents (you can pine tree branches either at a farmer's market or on a weekend trip to the country).  If you opt for a Christmas tree, try to get a natural one.  Place these natural gems strategically around your home for a nice holiday look (and scent!).  Third, purchase a few inexpensive holiday accents.  One of my favorites? Red or gold ornaments (see pictured above in simple glass bowls, which we already had), holiday candles, and some cute stockings.  We have found Home Goods to be a treasure trove of holiday goodness (and very good prices) and enjoy making a seasonal trip there to pick up some fun decor.  Finally, don't forget a good holiday playlist for background music.  We like Sinatra's holiday songs mixed in with others (and, of course, a little country music -- sorry, we just cannot resist). 

The benefit of the Project Good Life Guide to Decorating for the holidays is that each year we can decorate with something a little different. The other benefit? The Husband and I can continue to live in negotiated marital tranquility.  Happy Holidays.  I hope each of you enjoys decking your halls as much as we do.

Goodness and Mercy: 11/27/11

Each Sunday, Project Good Life posts an image of goodness from the week prior.  This week's goodness is of a recipe box that my grandmother made me when I was only ten years old.  Opening this box each holiday season is like opening a book from my childhood and having a long visit with my grandmother. 

The Gift My Grandmother Gave Me When I was 10 Years Old

Daily Goods: Thanksgiving Aftermath

Today, we ate our final leftovers from Thanksgiving, watched Baylor beat Texas Tech in a nail-biting game, and began decking our halls for Christmas.  Here are a few other things we have found interesting recently:

• The Husband sent me this article from Slate regarding the unbearable whiteness of white meat and other more existential questions. Are you a ciabetta-bread person or a Wonderbread person? I think everyone knows what Project Good Life is. 
• Project Good Life rarely ever watches live television (thanks to our DVR).  The exception? Football and other sporting events.  It isn't often that we comment on commercials, but today, we saw this great commercial for Dodge, which encapsulated a Good Life spirit.
• We found this useful spoon/cooking utensil clip at Sur La Table this afternoon and thought Good Life followers would enjoy this.  Would make a great stocking stuffer for any cook.

Why We Do Not Drink Beaujolais Nouveau or Shop on Black Friday

"The only reason a great many American families don't own an elephant is that they have never been offered an elephant for a dollar down and easy weekly payments."  ~Mad Magazine

We have blogged extensively about Thanksgiving, football games, and other November fall traditions.  But, there are two days in November  in which Project Good Life does not participate: We do not celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau on November 17.  And, we do not shop on Black Friday.  Don't get me wrong, we love wine and we love to shop. We also like good deals.  But, we buck the trend on both of these days.  Why? Well, to put it bluntly: Beaujolais Nouveau rarely, if ever, tastes good and the material madness on Black Friday is energy-sucking.

The Husband and I love wine and most especially French wine.  We love French wine so much that we have made several trips to France for the purpose of wine. But, we do not like Beaujolais Nouveau .  For those Project Good Life readers who do not know much about Beaujolais Nouveau; it is a wine that is bottled for only six to eight weeks and then released on November 17.  The release of Beaujolais Nouveau is celebrated by many wine lovers and many cafes (including the French Embassy here in Washington, DC) have parties to celebrate its arrival.  Some wine critics go so far as to recommend Beaujolais for Thanksgiving dinner.  The Husband and I find it too young, not ripe enough and, in the words of Karen MacNeil, like drinking raw cookie dough. We thought we were alone, but as we have had the courage to voice our disillusionment with Beaujolais, we have learned that there are many others silently with us.  The Urban Family bought a bottle of Beaujolais to celebrate its arrival.  In discussing this topic with them, they admitted that they were displeased.  I placed a few bottles out (covered so that one could not see the label) at a recent gathering of friends and everyone passed over it for the other wines offered. 

We have the same disillusionment with Black Friday.  As a teenager, I loved going shopping with my mom the day after Thanksgiving.  But, over the last 10 years or so, Back Friday has become a crazed and manic experience.  Hords of people and blaring Christmas music is not my idea of a relaxing holiday day.  I do not want to get up at 1am to go stand in line at a WalMart or a Best Buy (most especially if it involves getting hit with pepper spray). And, the high end stores (sadly, even our Mothership) are no better on Black Friday.

How and why have things become so crazed? Why do people insist on celebrating bad wine and shopping on the one day a year when things are manic?  My theory is that this craze is reflective of people not taking time on ordinary days to celebrate -- They, instead, wait until one "special" day to celebrate life's goodness and the result defeats the purpose.  At Project Good Life, we never need an excuse to celebrate wine or to go shopping -- We drink wine, shop, and buy gifts for others on ordinary days.  We also put chandeliers in our bathroom, eat on our best dishes, and throw parties for no apparent reason.  And, we think the world would be a better place if others did the same thing too.  There will be no Black Friday craze for us.  Today, we will relax with our family and friends, drinking some well-balanced wine, eating left overs, and watching football.

Thanksgiving Checklist: Give Thanks

And, here we are. The big day.  Cornbread stuffing, turkey, fresh cranberry sauce, casseroles, vegetables, wine, pecan pie, Dallas Cowboys football, and much much more.  Our lists are all checked. The final and most important thing on our checklist, of course, is to give thanks.  At Project Good Life, we are beyond grateful. As the Psalmist would say, our cup overflows.  Although I could not begin to list all those things I am grateful for, here are just a few: Good Memories of Those Loved Ones No Longer With Me; The Warmth of My Friends and Family; The Husband; My Church and My Home; Our Country; Being Educated; Fresh Flowers; Farmers' Markets; Poetry; Freedom of Thought and Speech; and, yes, there is so much more. 

Project Good Life wishes all of its followers a Happy Thanksgiving.  We are grateful to our readers and to all those who make Life Good in their corner of the universe.  Here's to another year of gratitude.

In Defense of the Hassle



 As I was walking down an unsuspecting street in Dupont running errands, I saw this sign outside of a modern luxury condo building: "We Have Hassle-Free Living" Appealing, I thought to myself as I walked by.  But, as I considered the concept a bit more, I came to question the appeal.  At Project Good Life, we believe that some hassles are worth it.  We make cakes, even if the only time we have to do so is at 1 in the morning.  We start blogs during our busiest time of year because we relish new challenges.  We hop on planes to visit a friend having a hard time even when we have no time to do so becuase life is just more full when shared with friends. We make our own cranberry sauce and we relish learning new things.  We read poetry on our iPhones while running from one meeting to the next and we give all we have to everything we do.  We prefer our 100 year old condo building to a modern one that no doubt requires less repairs -- and we prefer our life richer, even if such richness requires a bit of hassle. What would life be without hassle? Probably quieter and calmer.  Perhaps more simple and less cluttered.   To some people, opting for the hassle may seem crazy or ill-advised, but Good Life followers know that life is ever-more sweet with its hassles.  At Project Good Life, we put our blood, sweat, and tears into our work, our family, our friends, and, yes, the Good Life because we would have it no other way.  Happy Monday.  Happy Hassle.

Goodness and Mercy: 11/20/2011



Each Sunday, Project Good Life features an image of goodness from the prior week.  This week's goodness was found on a seasonal trip to stock up on Thanksgiving essentials.



Pumpkins at the Market

Thanksgiving Checklist: Cornbread Dressing

 


Thanksgiving Table at Project Good Life

  In the South, we make dressing (not stuffing) and use cornbread as the base. If you have never made cornbread dressing, I suggest that you try it. You'll never go back.  Even the Urban Family, who makes their own white bread stuffing for our Thanksgiving buffet each year, also has taken to savoring some of our cornbread goodness.  As with most of my holiday recipes, the method that I use for making cornbread dressing originated from my Grandmother.  My Grandmother would make cornbread dressing not just on holidays -- she'd sometimes use it for other family meals.  Her secret ingredient? More sage than anyone would think is reasonable.  Over the years, I have added a few touches to our family's cornbread dressing, including adding sausage.   Southern Living, which is my Bible for good cooking, has many good recipes for cornbread dressing.  For those so inclined, here is the Project Good Life method for making cornbread dressing.  Method: You need buttermilk biscuits, cornbread, sausage, broth, onions, celery, dry, ground sage, and parsley.  Prepare biscuits and cornbread (enough to make approximately 4 cups of each crumbled).  Set aside for cooling. Once cooled, then crumble.  Finely dice onion and celery and mix with crumbles.  Add lots of ground sage, a dash of salt, and a dash of pepper.  If desired, add small bits of parsley.  Mix bread and spices together.  On the stove, cook one or two packages of Jimmy Dean sausage (I buy the package with sage).  Once cooked, make sure that sausage is broken into fine crumbles.  Add to bread mixture.  Heat one to two cups of broth over the stove and pour over bread mixture once broth is boiling.  Mix in with bread mixture so that mixture is moist (but not runny).  Bake in oven on 350 for around 20-30 minutes.  If serving with a turkey, on a platter, place some dressing around the outer edges of the bird.  Serve the remaining dressing in a casserole dish.

Thanksgiving Checklist: Magazine Cover-Worthy Turkey

Our Golden Turkey from Thanksgiving 2010

Perhaps it is the over-achiever in me, but I cannot help but wanting my Thanksgiving turkeys to look like those on the magazine cover.  Southern Living (of which the November edition every year is akin to the September Issue of Vogue) has a nice piece about how wanting such turkeys is overrated. But, I don't care. I like Norman-Rockwell, magazine-worthy turkeys.  Over the past several years that I have had occasion to make my own turkey, I've learned a few tricks that I wanted to share with all Good Life followers.  The Number One Rule: Butter. Go ahead, use it and use lots of it.  It is the one day a year that you can. For the most golden of turkeys, spread sticks and sticks of butter all over the outer skin of the bird before putting it in the oven.  I call this the annual "butter bath."  Then, be sure to baste the turkey frequently.  For a nice turkey essence, be sure to stuff the turkey with sage, green apples, and onions.  We stuffed ours last year with quite a few onions and then served the baked onions as a side dish.  While some people like to stuff their turkey with "stuffing" my Southern roots taught me to make the dressing  (we call it "dressing" not "stuffing") separately and serve alongside the turkey.  (Some people in the South do stuff their turkeys, but they do so while calling the stuffing "dressing."  Here is a nice piece on the difference). The Butter Ball site has helpful information about how to cook turkey and how much to buy.

Daily Goods: For Your Coffee Break

• Today in 1960, there were white raids in New Orleans because of two white schools that were integrated.  We have a long way to go -- but have come a long way in the last 50 years. 
• Corporette has a good post on chatty co-workers
• We are excited that college basketball has started.  (The NBA and its players need to get it together). Project Good Life is counting down until March Madness.
• The Husband and I have taken to watching clips of Republican debates as comic relief. If you need a pick me up during work, you might enjoy some quick comic relief. Who would have thought that the Republicans would long for the days of fuzzy math?

What I Learned from the Hertz Rent-A-Car Agent

Rarely does a week go by that I am not traveling for work.  I have become versed in the drink offerings at various airport lounges, frequent flier perks, and hotel points systems.  I have learned to master the art of packing skin care and makeup essentials in a ziplock bag, being selected for free upgrades, and making client dinner reservations from my iPhone.  Obtaining airline status on as many airlines as possible has become a bit of an obsession.  I generally try to have a positive attitude about traveling for work, but a few things grate on my nerves.  Having to sit in a middle coach seat is an obvious one. Gate-checking a carefully and strategically packed carry-on bag is another.  And, then, there is renting a car.

While some people enjoy rental cars, I do not.  I would rather walk, take a subway, take a metro, or maybe even take a donkey than have to stand in the rental car line to drive an unknown vehicle and wonder who has previously been in it and what they might have done in it.  So, several weeks ago, when my car service fell through, you can imagine the mood I was in as I approached the line at Hertz (which, by the way, has a fabulous discount for American Bar Association members).  It was 11pm. I had been traveling all day and was tired.  The Hertz Gold line was closed, which put me waiting in line in front of three families, a hipster couple, and a guy in a suit that looked like he took himself far too seriously.  (Those who have read my tribute to the Poet will know that neither she nor I like people who take themselves too seriously).

About 20 minutes later, the guy in the suit approached the counter.  They did not have the car that he pre-arranged for.  He was clearly tired and frustrated.  He made a sharp and unnecessary remark to the agent.  She smiled and continued to process his order.  Once I approached the counter, I too, was frustrated by the long wait, but was more annoyed by the rude guy in the suit who was in line in front of me.  Life is just too short to be a jerk.  I remarked to the agent that I was sorry that the suit guy was rude to her, she remarked, "Oh, It's Okay, 'Aint No One Gonna Take the Joy Away From My Day -- I Don't Care What French Desinger Made His Suit."  Inspiration at a rent-a-car counter.  This was a first. That her inspiration had a little sass in it, made me smile a bit more.

Yesterday, I had a bad day on many fronts (and, yes, at least part of this was due to a person who takes himself all too seriously).  By 10am, I was about ready tocall it a day.  To try to get the day back on the right track, I went across the street from my office to purchase a diet coke.  As I reached for my wallet, I saw my ABA Hertz Discount Card and thought of the woman who I had met the week prior.  For the rest of the day, I repeated her mantra to myself: "Aint No One Gonna Take the Joy Away from My Day." I still do not like renting cars, but I do like inspiration and sass, and, yesterday, I was grateful that I found both last week at Hertz.

Daily Goods: Goodness It's Monday

A review of the weekend's food, flicks, and philandering as a pick-me-up for Monday Morning:

• The Husband and I along with CityGirl went to Michael Richard's new dive, Meatballs, in Penn Quarter.  Between the three of us we tried the classic, chicken, lamb, and crab meatballs.  I think the consensus was that the chicken meatballs were the best, followed by the classic.  The crab balls were nearly 100% crab without much filler, which we appreciated, although their flavor was a bit lacking as compared to the other offerings. 
• We then saw J. Edgar, which was a bit underwhelming.  The Husband attributes this to the writers being overly ambitious in terms of the ground covered.  
• We enjoyed stopping by birthday party hosted by the Muse in the H Street corridor. The Muse had a nice spread of food and drink, including specially spiced tater tots (which we hear are making a comeback). 
• And, then, of course, there was football.  We were pleased to see our alma mater pull it out over Kansas.  We had a bit of shadenfreude when Fake Army lost to Kansas State.  And, we were elated at the Dallas Cowboys win.

Goodness and Mercy -- 11/13/11

Autumn Outside our Dupont Circle Condo

Each Sunday, Project Good Life features an image of goodness from the prior week.  This week's goodness was found right outside our front door.

Thanksgiving Checklist: Cranberry Sauce

Although my mother and the folks at Southern Bite would be content with canned cranberry sauce (and it is good), at Project Good Life we undertook the project of making our own fresh cranberry sauce and have fallen in love. We think you will too. Even the Husband (who does not like cranberries) enjoys this sauce. The method for making this sauce is easy. And, the sauce can be made ahead of time and refrigerated. All you need is sugar, water, a package of fresh cranberries, and, if you so desire, a splash of Grand Marnier or Brandy.

Method for Cranberry Sauce

Combine one cup of water and one cup of sugar in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Add a 16 oz. package of fresh cranberries and bring to a second boil. Be sure to admire the cranberries as they pop open. (Last year, we were so inspired by the opening of the berries that we snapped this photo). Reduce heat and let the sauce simmer. Add up to 1/4 cup of Grand Marnier or Brandy. If desired, you can add dashes of Thanksgiving spices (cinnamon and nutmeg). Cook for around 15 minutes. Serve at room temperature.

Note that Paula Deen's similar recipe, which she calls Wayne's Cranberry Sauce, contains apples, walnuts, and other goodness. I have made Paula's recipe and found it to be quite good and so if you want a little more kick to your sauce, you cannot go wrong with Paula's version.

Not making Thanksgiving this season? This sauce is lovely to serve over a block of cream cheese with crackers and also is a nice complement to brie. Have something on your Thanksgiving checklist that you would like to share? E-mail us at projectgoodlife@yahoo.com

Daily Goods: Retail Therapy

Some bits of retail goodness:

• We are a bit obsessed with this vintage-esq coat in gold from none other than Target (Tar-J as it is called in some circles). The collar is removable and the gold jewel tone is striking.
  
• We also like 100 Dresses featured in this month's Vogue.
  
• The cool weather has us loving this shawl collar poncho.
• Tory Burch has 11 items for 33% off today.
  

Have a bit of retail therapy to share? E-mail us at projectgoodlife@yahoo.com

Not Your Grandpa's Veterans' Day

Two of my three grandfathers were World War II veterans. Both of the Husband's grandfathers were veterans -- and his maternal grandfather is probably the Text Book Veteran. Granjim, as we all call him, signed up for the armed forces just days after Pearl Harbor. He fought nearly every major battle in the European Theatre --- the Battle of the Bulge, the Invasion of Normandy, the Battle of Hurtgen Forrest -- and he was one of the American soldiers who marched down the Champs E'lysse to liberate Paris. He came back to the States, received a college education, and became a pastor. He later would fight other battles -- battles to help white moderate Christian Southerners to understand that civil rights are a moral imperative and battles against closed-minded fundamentalism that threatened the goodness of his church and university. Granjim does not tell his war stories brashly or openly, but at the request of his grandchildren, he will humbly begin to talk -- and we all sit and listen and savor stories in his voice -- the voice of what Brokaw called the Greatest Generation.

So, my whole life, when I have thought of Veteran's Day, I have thought of my grandfathers and those like them who embodied the Greatest Generation spirit. But, last night over dinner at Oya, I realized that Veteran's Day is not just about the Greatest Generation or about those in my parents' generation who were drafted into an unfair war. It is also about a younger generation of Americans who have made the ageless choice to dedicate their lives to the service of our country. I had dinner last night at Oya with a friend from the midwest who owns her her law practice. She is attractive, funny, successful, and great to share a drink or dinner with (she also is great to share shopping tips with, but I digress). She is also an Army Wife and her husband will be leaving again soon for a year in the middle east. As we talked about who she will hire to help her with her twin eight year old girls, how she will keep up a busy travel schedule serving her clients with her husband being gone, and where she will travel for the only two weeks next year that they will be able to see him, I realized that Veteran's day is also about people like her and her husband -- modern families who have dedicated their lives to the service of our country. It is also about the generation of people who have been killed over the last decade in the wars since 9/11. Texas in Africa makes a trip every year to Arlington Cemetery to honor her friend and graduate school classmate from Yale, Ken Miller. It is about the Chef's sister, who fought in the middle east and is still coping with the psychological fall out. It is about the new employee at my mother's office who had trouble finding a job when he returned home from Iraq because businesses in our country refused to hire him because of the shrapnel in his leg. And, there are countless others.

If I could organize a parade, I would. But, instead, I just say to all the veterans and families of veterans, Happy Veterans' Day from a grateful citizen. Your sacrifices make it possible for us all to enjoy the Good Life.

Thanksgiving Checklist: Placecards

Here at Project Good Life, we love Thanksgiving. But, we do not like Thanksgiving airport traffic. So, for the past five years, our tradition has been to celebrate Thanksgiving with our Urban Family (and also with some real family who join us). The Husband and I host Thanksgiving at our condo every other year, and the Urban Family hosts at their abode on the other years. We have a standard menu, but try to spice it up a bit with new things each year. Last year, we made these lovely placecards to decorate our table. The method is easy. Find small pumpkins at your local farmers' market or grocery store, slice a small line behind the stem, and insert a place card. Not having assigned seats? Have everyone write what they are thankful for on a placecard and mix them throughout your table. Have something special on your Thanksgiving Checklist to share with Good Life followers? E-mail us at projectgoodlife@yahoo.com.

Daily Goods: Goodness on the Go

• I love good paper goods. Here is a letter-pressed card that I recently bought the Husband to celebrate our dating anniversary (yes, we celebrate two anniversaries, a topic I will blog about at some point). I purchased this one at Paper Source.
  


• I have exchanged e-mails with the Urban Family about Thanksgiving plans. This is our fifth annual Urban Thanksgiving and it will be complete with multiple types of potatoes, dressings, vegetables, cranberries, and, of course, an organic turkey. A much-over due Thanksgiving Post is in the works for all Project Good Life followers.



• The Husband had nice things to say about Haydee's, where he dined last night for the Photographer's birthday.

Have some goodness to share? E-mail us at projectgoodlife@yahoo.com

Drinking Life to the Lees -- Happy Birthday, My Friend

"Yes’m, old friends is always best, ‘less you can catch you a new one that’s fit to make an old one out of."- Sarah Orne Jewett

I met the Poet a little over seven years ago in the most unusual of places -- Law School. I still remember the day. A hot DC August afternoon. The Poet and I were both at Law School orientation and were about to embark, for better or worse, on a three year journey through cannons of construction, case law, and a host of Latin terms of which we may never know the true meaning. I didn't know a soul at orientation and five minutes into the thing I realized that I stuck out like a sore thumb. I had on jeans, high heels, and a cute blazer. That is what one should wear to orientation, right? Wrong, apparently. I had not gotten the memo. I was not in Texas anymore, Toto. Here, in Law School, people take themselves seriously. I should have worn my tunic from Ten Thousand Villages, a bracelet from the Peace Corps, and some cargos that made me look like I did not care that much. That I had decided to break out the YSL Muse bag for the occasion just added insult to injury. Two minutes in and I quickly concluded that it was going to be a long three years. Just as I was giving myself a pep talk about how I had worked since mock trial at age 12 to get to this place and I was not going to let a rough start get me down, I saw the Poet out of the corner of my eye. I didn't know she was a Poet at the time, but I knew instantly we'd be friends.

The Poet entered orientation fashionably late, carrying several shopping bags that she had apparently amassed on her way to Law School orientation and wearing a lovely embroidered skirt. What's more? She was smiling. (She too apparently had not received the memo that Law School is a place where smiles are out of fashion.). We made eye contact. She came and sat down by me. We introduced ourselves, learned that we both hailed from the Great State of Texas, that we both lamented the poor choice of hot tea available in the Law School cafeteria, were disturbed that the handwritten note was a dying art, and firmly believed that our Law School (and the World generally) would be a much more hospitable place if someone had asked our opinion of how to organize it. And, don't get us started on the Oxford comma; some things just should not optional. What a breath of fresh air. That was the first day we met and, now, seven years later, I'm proud to say that every day of friendship has been like the first.

That isn't to say that a lot has not happened in seven years. It has. The Poet, after graduating from law school and taking a position at a top law firm, decided that writing -- not the law -- was her calling. Upon this realization, she promptly and elegantly exited our profession to undertake graduate studies in Creative Writing and Literature. She also married a neurosurgeon (in none other but the Rosecliff mansion), moved to Baltimore, acquired a Great Dane, and learned to make macaroons. But, I digress.

Over the last seven years, I've come to appreciate that the Poet is one of the bravest people that I know. She embodies the spirit of the Good Life. The Poet was not afraid to face the truth that her calling did not lie in the profession that her family wanted her to follow -- a profession that she studied for three years, passed a bar in, and practiced in for a time. She knew that she had to pack up her potential and go elsewhere. And, she did. The Poet also savors life with all of its ups and downs: she makes macaroons at one in the morning, finds new uses for old things, dreams of regency romance, and is not afraid to laugh at herself. The Poet is one of the best friends that I will ever have -- I rest easier knowing that she is making her corner of the world a bit more grand and that Life is always Good wherever she is. Happy Birthday.

Work is the Only Meanin' I've Ever Known

"Joe Frazier would come out smoking. If you hit him, he liked it. If you knocked him down, you only made him mad." -- George Foreman

I learned what I know about boxing from my dad who ensured from an early age (and far before there was such a thing known as a Foreman Grill) that I knew who George Foreman was, that I understood that boxing contests could be won by scoring or by being knocked out, and that I appreciated the difference between Sugar Ray Robinson and Sugar Ray Leonard. He also taught that the best boxing rivalry of all time (with the possible exception of the rivalry between Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed) was between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. I never realized until much later in my life that I was probably the only 12 year old girl at my Texas public school who could comfortably converse about whatever controversy Don King was involved in and who knew which round Ali knocked out Foreman during the famed Rumble in the Jungle. I also never realized until just several years ago when I had occasion to watch a boxing match without my dad that I really do not care too much for boxing at all -- and that my love for watching boxing with my dad was more about my dad than it was about boxing. Just as, at the time, the Ali-Frazier rivalry was said to encapsulate the social and political struggles of the day -- the Vietnam War and race relations -- years later, these old fights provided a backdrop from which I learned about the social and political movements that came before me.

While I do not recall precisely how I first learned about the horrors of the Vietnam War and the strong protest against it, I would not be surprised if I first learned of it from my dad while watching footage from an old Frazier-Ali match. Ali's protest against the war, the country's mixed reaction to it, and the Courts' ultimate affirmation of his objection, were all part of the history that was represented and retold through old reels of the Ali-Frazier fights. Although I became cognizant of the struggle for civil rights before I could even comprehend a boxing match (a topic that I will write about in a future Good Life posts), hearing the story from my dad about the controversy over Ali's name change, Ali's membership in the Nation of Islam, and the visceral reaction from my dad's racist father when he learned that my dad rooted for Ali, was another way that at a young age I began to understand the cultural struggles from a decade or two prior. Of course, because Ali was the main protagonist and counterculture showman in these stories, I could not help but cheering for him when watching old fights.

I never really thought much about Joe Frazier. I realized just two days ago when Joe Frazier passed away that I knew little about him. Seeing the headlines of Joe Frazier's passing rekindled my interest and so I took a few moments to read about this boxing great. I quickly found the New York Times' extensive piece on Frazier's life and career. And, then the CBS piece aptly titled: People's Champ. I learned a lot about Frazier from reading these pieces. I learned Frazier won 32 fights in all -- 27 by knockouts -- and only lost 4 times (twice to Ali and twice to Foreman). He won an Olympic God Metal for boxing. He had a genius left hook. Frazier was also the first African American man to address the South Carolina Legislature since the Civil War.

As the Times piece aptly points out, Frazier and Ali were a study in contrasts. Their rivalry captured the interest and mind of many in America trying to make sense out of the political and social changes in the sixties and seventies. Frazier, unlike Ali, would never have proclaimed himself as "the Greatest." (Although, he did, in response to Ali's question "Don't you know that I am God?", say to back to Ali in front of an audience of Madison Square Garden enthusiasts, "Well, God, you gonna get whupped tonight!”). Dave Anderson believed Frazier to be the better fighter of the two. I am not well versed enough in boxing history to make a judgment on that, but I will say that reading about Frazier's working spirit has captured my heart. Frazier embodied working class sensibilities and everyone who knew him commented on his dignity and decency. In a 1973 interview Frazier stated, "Work is the only meanin’ I’ve ever known...Like the man in the song says, I just gotta keep on keepin’ on." Those words ring true to me. Here at Project Good Life we, like Smokin' Joe, know there is no substitute for hard work and perseverance and wanted to post this brief note to honor Frazier's legacy. Here's to Smokin' Joe in whatever ring he is fighting in now.

Daily Goods: Bits of Goodness from Today

A few bits of goodness in the middle of a hectic day.

• Enjoyed reading post-election stories about Mississippi and what yesterday's elections mean for 2012.


• Had lunch in DC at Central with a work colleague. I always love the Lobster Burger. On that note, I should also put in a plug for District of Pi, a pizzaria that the Husband and I had occasion to visit last weekend. We loved our visit.


• The beautiful fall weather in DC has led me to begin to plan Project Thanksgiving -- a key feature of the Good Life. Stay tuned -- I will be posting on this soon.


• Ordered some office supplies from one of my favorite sites: See Jane Work.

Good Food: Best Shrimp and Grits

Of all the South's grandest contributions to the Good Life (and there are many), I would put Shrimp and Grits at the top of any list. Over the years, I've tried many grits methods, but I find the one from the Flying Biscuit, a small diner in Atlanta, to be the best. (Thanks to Texas in Africa for cluing me in to this lovely recipe.). The secret ingredient: half and half. I recently made these grits for a friend's bridal shower (pictured left) and when she asked me for the recipe today, I decided that I would share this special gem with all Good Life followers. I serve my shrimp and grits in small antique demitasse cups (and, yes, of course, on a silver tray), but the recipe is good regardless of the serving pieces you use.

Flying Biscuit Grits
6 Cups of Water
2 Cups of Half-and-Half
3 Teaspoons Kosher Salt
1/4 Teaspoon White Pepper
2 cups quick cooking grits
1 cup white cheddar cheese
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter (cubed)

In a saucepan, combine water, half-and-half, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Slowly pour grits into boiling water while whisking constantly. Reduce to low heat and continue to whisk often until thick and smooth (about 10 minutes). Add cheese and stir gently until cheese melts. Whisk again to combine. Turn off heat and allow grits to rest (about 5 minutes). Add butter and stir until completely smooth. Keep warm while making shrimp.

Shrimp Method
Defrost a package of frozen shrimp (peeled with tails on) by placing shrimp in a closed Ziploc bag and running warm water over the bag.
In a skillet, heat two tablespoons of butter over medium heat.
When butter begins to melt, add shrimp and cook until they turn pink.
Remove from heat, cool, and place in demitasse cups with Grits.

Serve with a smile and enjoy!

Daily Goods: Bits of the Good Life

Posting a few bits of the Good Life from today on my lunch break from work.

This month's Southern Living, which I read on the metro this morning, has a great article on setting the Southern table.

Today is Election Day and the New York Times published a debate regarding voting practices that makes me grateful to live in a country where we can freely have these discussions.

Today in 1977, Harvy Milk became the first openly gay man elected to office in California. Thank you, Mr. Milk, for helping pave the way for all people to enjoy the Good Life.

Coco sent a pictures of her garden roses in her mothers' and grandmother's vases. Nothing better than fresh blooms.

Started the morning with a fresh bagel from my favorite neighborhood place: Bagels Etc. in Dupont. The folks at Bagels Etc have been delivering great bagels for 23 years. If you are in the area (22nd and P St. NW), you should treat yourself to a bit of goodness.

Have a bit of goodness to share? E-mail us at projectgoodlife@yahoo.com

For Every Good Thing, There Is A Season

In a world of Hallmark holidays and seasonal craze, I am pleased that Nordstrom continues to savor the goodness of Thanksgiving and (appropriately) refuses to deck its halls until the Friday after Thanksgiving. Don't get me wrong, I look forward to Christmas, but I find the gradual holiday creep (literally some establishments that will remain nameless had Christmas decorations out prior to Halloween) to undermine the joy and goodness of each season. Like Nordstrom, the Husband and I will be holding off on putting up our Christmas decor until after the last turkey leftovers have been devoured. For now, our house will be filled with the scents of pumpkin and nutmeg and with the joys of giving Thanks.

Old Friends and German Chocolate Cake

I recently made made my grandmother's German Chocolate Cake for the Husband to take to work. As a child, this was my favorite cake. My grandmother (who passed away more than a decade ago) made it for my birthday every year. It has now become a favorite of my Husband's. Although I have baked this cake several times over the past few years, it had been awhile since I last made it. I began making the cake late at night due to overwhelming work commitments that kept me occupied until the wee hours. Once I began, I realized that baking this cake was more complicated than I had remembered -- sifting, melting, creaming, buttermilk, and separating eggs. (Even basic baking tasks like measuring flour seem complicated when you are tired and sleep deprived, as I was.) About thirty minutes into the process, my arm started aching from creaming the sugar and butter. Naturally, I started asking myself why I had agreed to make this cake when I had no time. "Making a cake at 3am, you are just crazy," my inner voice said. I started beating the cake faster, trying to be done quickly. But, just as my inner voice was about to delve into a lecture on the perils of being overextended and under-rested, my grandmother's voice took over. Her lovingly judgmental admonishments filled the back of my mind as I was stirring rapidly-- "you can't rush it, baby" she'd say, "you can tell when a cake has just been 'thrown' together...and you know better than to do that. Just, slow down. Don't be in a hurry." Deliberately, I slowed down, following her recipe and her pace -- step by step. Making the icing was no easier. As I turned to this portion of the recipe, I was soon reminded that the icing requires slow work over low stove heat. By now, my feet were hurting from standing on the brick floor of my kitchen for an hour after walking in high heels for 12 hours prior. But, again, my grandmother's stern voice overpowered any other voice that I may have been tempted to listen to as I stirred. "This is very easy to burn," she'd say "be careful - do not ruin it now." Nervously, I deliberately stirred and stirred trying not to burn the topping, listing to my grandmother's stern command to "slow down." At almost the edge of exasperation, I saw the sugar finally melt into the walnut-laded coconut angel flake. A perfect melt. No burning. No grainy sugar. There it was -- Perfection at 4am. As I spread the creamy coconut icing over the rich chocolate cake from my youth, I became transported for a moment back to a time when everyone I had ever loved was still alive. I placed my cake on my favorite cake plate and, as I slowly iced the cake in the first hours of the morning, I was reminded that sometimes making an old recipe is like meeting an old friend. And, for this early morning meeting, I was grateful.

A Blog Dedicated to the Good Life.

I have wanted for some time to have the discipline to keep a blog, but never had the foggiest idea as to how to unite all the various things that I thought to blog about: family, friends, cooking, parties, poetry, travel, the South, politics, work, etiquette, Paris, inspiration, and the list goes on. It occurred to me recently that the common thread in all of my potential blogging topics is that they are all aspects of what I call the Good Life. The Good Life is the concept that life is truly sweet and that living life should be savored. This does not mean that life does not present sadness, challenges, heartache and grief, but it does mean that, at least in my experience, the longer I live, the more I come to realize that goodness and blessings abound. This blog dedicated to living the Good Life: to remembering that life is good when times are tough and to sharing my ways of realizing and living the Good Life with others. In that spirit, I hope to post small snippets from my Good Life -- recipes, pictures, inspriations, memories, and musings -- and hope that in so doing this blog will inspire others to live well. This is all a round-about way of saying Welcome to the Good Life. Come In and Stay Awhile.