Hi guys!
Thank you to everyone that participated in the second Sonoma County Restaurant Week giveaway! Keep on telling me your favorite meal….I’ll pick a winner randomly in the morning 
Today was fun. I met with my friend Marcy and we tore apart about 40 pages of my book while sitting drinking chai at a great little coffee shop in Sebastopol. Having someone read your work and give you constructive criticism helps SO MUCH. She found things that I never would have with my own eyes because when its your own writing you often miss out on words you overuse and grammatical errors. For instance, apparently I am obsessed with the word however. Marcy actually circled every time I used that word and one time I had used it five times on the same page!!! I was dying laughing.
Lunch was a pita with hummus, grape tomatoes and goat milk cheddar:
Plus (you guessed it) another kiwi:
When I got home later I snacked on millet toast with ab + jam before heading out on an hour bike ride. Interested in my training? Shawn, my coach, has put together some free 12 week cycling training plans similar to my own plan for those that would like to come along for the ride 
When I got home from my ride I fixed a quick dinner of some soup:
And a piece of TJ’s garlic naan bread. I feel like my meals have been lame lately but if you could only see the inside of my fridge you would understand. Seriously, all I have left in the fridge right now is about a tablespoon of chia seeds, four kiwis (obviously) and a little yogurt. I haven’t wanted to go to the grocery store though because I’m going out of town this weekend.
More bunnies for dessert:
tomorrow I shall see SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The last time I really hung out in the snow was, errrr, when I was 17 and on my junior class trip to the mountains in upstate New York. What can I say? I’m a Florida girl. I’ve never skied, never snowboarded and have been sledding like…once in my life. While on said class trip I did go snowshoeing and I remember LOVING it though. So this weekend, about ten of us rented this big house up in Tahoe City and I’m totally stoked to make a snow angel. Let the games begin!
{ 80 comments… read them below or add one }
I am so jealous of your weekend in Tahoe! That is going to be just brilliant. Isn’t it amazing how well other people can edit your work?! I remember having my dissertation edited and being like, “Wha?!” to all the ridiculous things I had missed!
headed to vermont this weekend — not as sweet as west coast skiing, but with all this fresh snow it should be pretty sweet. enjoy!
Have a great time in tahoe! The lake is amazing.
Tahoe is AMAZING!!! Hope you have a great time!!
Tahoe is AMAZING!!! Hope you have a great time!!
My fridge is completely empty right now too. No dairy, no produce, no chocolate! =] Thankfully tomorrow’s grocery shopping day. Have fun in the snow!
would love to hop on board with the training, that is if it ever gets above 50!!!!!
You are going to have a blast!
It’s the week leading up to Spring Break so I am trying to eat up everything in my fridge now. I wish I had a family to feed or sumthin’!
Toast and jam is one of my favourite snacks ever. Toast and anything, really
Have a great trip!
I am so obsessed with the word however and I think I overuse commas too. So great that you have someone to help you with that kind of stuff!
Have a great time in the snow…should be a good storm headed our way tomorrow!
Snow sounds about like the last thing I want now. But it could be because that is all I have had this winter. Yuck! Snow isn’t pretty when it’s dirty
have fun in tahoe!! i tend to abuse certain words too, however is one of them! always great to get feedback on writing, and over a cup of chai? even better!
Wow, you’re the only person I know right now that’s excited about snow! lol
No need to apologize for “lame” meals. They look good to me
Sledding only once?!?! Oh my goodness, I’m sooo sorry! Sledding is soo much fun!!!
That sounds freaking awesome! I bet you will love snowboarding, and i hear Tahoe has some great runs! Have fun
Never went sledding?!! A part of me just died inside… I feel like you missed out on one of the highlights of my childhood! We had sledding parties, races, iced-down sledding paths we made down the hill, jumps… you’ve probably never made a snowman either, huh? I miss the MinneSnowta =(. But I hope you have fun in Tahoe! The boarding was great the last time I was there. Ahh, I love the snow =)
Wow what an awesome weekend you have lined up, you’re so lucky!! I would love to go skiinng or something, but I know I’d be the doof who embaresses everyone by being so bad
Haha. We could switch places; I’m from Finland and we have 80cm snow at the moment and more is coming all the time. I would LOVE to be a Florida girl, I’ve always said I was born in the wrong country
Hi Jenna,
I have been reading your blog for almost a year now, however I believe this is my first comment! Anyway, I am commenting because I live in Tahoe City…well, technically about 2.5 miles outside of it…..I was actually born and raised here, left for college, and somehow made my way back, go figure! Anyway, I will be around all weekend, so if you have any questions/need recommendations on the area, please don’t hesitate to shoot me an email! The snow is great right now, and more is on the way. I know you will love Tahoe, you camera is going to get some serious exercise
Enjoy your trip, hope to hear from you!
haha i love snow because NO SCHOOL for the SECOND day in the row! five day weekend! gotta love the northeast haha
i’ve never gone skiing…have gone sleddingthough! i’m gonna try to get to the slopes and learn next winter!
Haha, I know the feeling about repetitive phrases popping up when you write. In both my creative fiction and my thesis, I find that I reiterate the same point over and over again. I’m sure the quality of your writing overall is fantastic though, particularly if the blog is anything to go by.
Good luck with your training!
~Jess~
Have fun in Tahoe! I just got back from a couple days at a spa in eastern Ontario and there was snow EVERYWHERE!: http://momentanew.wordpress.com/2010/02/26/ste-annes-spa-day-1/
Hope you have a great time!
Hope you have a fabulous time in Tahoe!
Have a great time – I wish I could never see snow again at this point.
Lake Tahoe is easily one of my favorite places on the planet, during any time of the year. You will have a wonderful time, if not for the scenery alone. Add in friends, snow, and a cabin…you’ll be rolling in good times! Have a blast!
Some of my best memories were made on the mountains! My friends and I loved renting ski houses and being outside all day and cozy by the fire at night. It will be a wonderful weekend! Have a blast!
I’ll trade a little Boston snow for some California ocean and sunshine!
Can’t wait to read your book – thanks for sharing the process!
I’ll trade a little Boston snow for some California ocean and sunshine!
Can’t wait to read your book – thanks for sharing the process!
Have a great time in Tahoe!
I’m in Upstate NY now and we got a TON of snow! Morning classes were cancelled, which exciting because this campus has only cancelled classes 3 times because of snow in it’s entire history!!
I have the matching small bowl for that plate! So cute and Eastery!
Have a GREAT time in Tahoe!!!
Come take some of this snow from Maine, I won’t mind, promise
That sounds like so much fun, have a blast!
stumbled upon your blog a few days ago and wanted to tell you that i love it!
i use the word “however” too much too…however, that doesn’t preclude good writing…right?
you’re inspiring me to start training for that single-speed century ride i promised myself i’ll do last year. now if only my knees can keep up…
i love how you eat on papertowels…because sometimes i do too and i don’t feel so bad about it now!
This weekend sounds like fun, enjoy yourself!
Woohoo…have fun playing in the snow! I adore snowshoeing and I used to love cross-country skiing.
I had to laugh with “However,” as that’s one of my default phrases as well (along with “Anyway” and “At any rate”). I don’t use this in my everyday speech, so I’m not sure why I do in print! A fresh set of eyes brings a fresh set of perspective. Have a great weekend!
I went to Tahoe in May 2006 for my aunt’s wedding and we LOVED it!! I cannot wait to go back, it’s so beautiful and so fun. There’s a seafood restaurant on the water and in May when it’s about 60, you can still see snow capped mountains. It’s GORGEOUS!! I can’t wait to see/hear all about your weekend!
Hahha I use the same word a lot when I write two. However is an easy one to over use- I’m notorious for also. (I usually go back through my papers and change all the also’s to different things!)
Have fun this weekend. Snow is so much fun!
Gotta love partner-editing:) Glad it was so useful to you!
You’re going to have so much fun at Lake Tahoe this weekend! I’ve so jealous – I’ve never been!
Yay have fun girl!!! I can’t imagine not seeing snow for that long!
Enjoy the snow…we have a lot of it here in the Northeast =)
TJ’s Split Pea soup is my favorite quick-i-don’t-have-time-to-cook meal
Their Naan is amazing too!
Crazy that you haven’t seen snow in such a long time! I wish that was the case for me, but you can’t avoid it in the midwest :/ Have fun!
i have a feeling your weekend is gonna contain tons of gorgeous pictures, tons of sore leg muscle comments, and tons of great eats. Enjoy yourself!
Have a blast this weekend in Tahoe! And be careful! You are going to love it! And going with a big group of friends will make it even better! Can’t wait to hear all about it! And oh…the pictures!
Have fun in Tahoe and enjoy the snow. I’ve heard it’s great but I can’t say I’m jealous. With this winter, I’m over snow. I’m jealous of your California weather!
SO exciting! Your trip to Tahoe sounds like such a fun getaway! Have a wonderful day!
I’ve never gone skiing either! Your trip should be lots of fun
Yay have a good weekend in the snow! Can’t wait to see some pictures.
Have an awesome time in Tahoe and with the snow
We have gotten so much snow over the past day here in NYC, i’m desperately hoping my flight tonight gets out for Florida! I’m in need of some warm weather.
hey! we were just in tahoe over new years and it was a blast! you have to hit up the sushi joint naked fishes.. (i think thats the name, close to anyway) it was so busy the whole week we were there, but SO worth the wait!! YUMMY! HAVE FUN!
Hope you have fun! Take lots of pictures!
HOWEVER, I was editing my blog post last night and I had to edit out like 3 howevers. hahahaha. its just such a nice transition word…..and, you are not the only one!!
HOWEVER, I was editing my blog post last night and I had to edit out like 3 howevers. hahahaha. its just such a nice transition word…..and, you are not the only one!!
Have fun on the trip. I’ve lived in GA my entire life and not really traveled to colder places, so I have never seen a ton of snow either. It has always sounded like a lot of fun though!
i’m so excited to see your trip to tahoe…that’s going to be so fun! hope you have a blast in the snow
Naan bread rocks!!!
That naan looks so yummy! I’m always kind of weirded out by prepackaged naan, but the TJ’s one looks fabulous!
Have a great time in Tahoe! And if you’re craving more snow after your trip, stop by NYC again – we’ve got mounds of it and it’s still falling!
oh, how I love Tahoe! You know, there is a 100-mile bike ride around the Lake in June – America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride. http://community.lls.org/blogs/tnt/2010/01/27/americas-most-beautiful-bike-ride;jsessionid=D38BD066B82A9260ADB25796BF471EDD
I thought about doing it this year, but am doing the Grand Canyon hike instead. yay for adventures!
Have an awesome time in Tahoe!! I’m from NYC like the commenter above and second her comment! For the first time ever, my office is actually CLOSED due to snow. Crazy.
I really really love TJ’s organic split pea soup. My coworkers commented on how delicious it smelled the first time I nuked it in the microwave at work, then proceeded to look at me like I had two heads when I told them what it was.
Speaking of which, where do you buy split peas? I’ve looked and haven’t found them yet. I’d really like to make a homemade version soon.
I can’t wait to see Tahoe pictures! I’m camping there this summer to do my thesis research and I’m super excited
I love hummus! Do you make your own or buy it? I’ve tried to make my own but have not had much luck…
Enjoy your weekend!
You’ll never be the same after some fun with the snow. Just be glad you don’t have to shovel it. That makes it the most fun.
Sounds like an awesome trip! I too haven’t been skiing since I went on a trip with my high school. But snow, oh I see that every couple days or so now (New England weather!) It’s actually snowing now outside of my window..LOL!
HAVE FUN!
Oh man girl, come up here to Philly and you’ll be so sick of snow.
I think your meals have looked great! That naan looks absolutely delicious and you’re really making me want to buy some goat cheese!
Enjoy the snow … I’m in Canada, so I’ve seen it for the last 3 months already.
K
Everytime you mention Sebastopol it takes me back. I used to bike race a bit when I lived in Truckee and one of the races I did was in Santa Rosa called the WIne Country Classic. Well i had a HORRIBLE crash and ended up in the ER in Sebastopol. It was the best little hometown hospital. Even though it was a terrible event I have fond memories of that hospital and the surgeon who fixed me up.
Have fun in Tahoe-my old stomping grouds!
Where are you skiing?
That split pea soup is good, but really low-calorie. Is there a reason your meals are so light lately? You’re exercising more, but eating so much less!
That’s so true re others with a good eye reading your work–so helpful. It takes a newbie Californian to remind us ‘lifers’ what’s so cool about the Golden State. One day the beach–the next up skiing. I love this place..she said–spiritually kissing the ground.
growing up in the foothills of nor cal, i can tell you, you’re gonna love tahoe, or as we refer to the lake, the big blue pill. it’s completely therapeutic and re-energizes the soul any time of year!
Hi Jenna, I love your blog. Is your friend an editor? How do you know who to trust your writing with? And how long will your book be?
When you type do you double-space or not?
I am a high-school student and curious. Thank you Jenna.
Dess
Love that split pea soup from TJs. It’s the closest thing I can find to my childhood obsession with Campbells Green Pea soup. I like to stir in a blog of Greek yo, and a squirt of lemon…
Mmm, I’ve been seeing soup on everyone’s blogs!! It makes me want some … NOW! haha
thanks for the training link
and have a great weekend in Tahoe, I miss that place!
I love annie’s bunnies, it’s like being a kid but without all the perservatives.
I know it’s ironic but … I live in Buffalo, NY and I don’t ski, snowboard, snowshoe or do any winter sport for that matter. My winter activities include putting on sweatshirts, running to the car, brushing the car off and repeating. Yup. Good thing I can drive well in the snow huh?
my favorite meal…. chicken cooked in butter and garlic with fresh roma tomatos added near the end, then covered in lots of whole milk mozarella cheese and served with rutabaga fries sprinled with chili/paprika/salt….or simple scrambled eggs in lotsa butter…haha