Dinner/ Lunch

Still Goin’ Strong

I honestly cannot even believe my camera hasn’t died yet. The light start flickering a WEEK ago telling me low battery but we are still goin’ strong!

Hi!

How was your Friday Monday?!

It was another absolutely GORGEOUS day in Sonoma county and I got to spend a chunk of it outside, plowing my way through the vineyard, leading my first tour! Yep, first one. I was so nervous! It all began when a blog reader’s parents requested to have a tour and tasting with me (which was awesome!). So, the tour originally was going to be, like, four people and I was fine with that, never having done it before. However, it quickly escalated into being a 12 person tour! It was fun though and went well…I feel a lot more confident now. We hiked up some hills, tasted some grapes and I tasted wine right along with them. Good times.

Lunch!

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leftover baked tofu, butternut squash, sprouted wheat bread, a pear and…a piece of chocolate 😉

I did have a morning snack on my way to work, which was TJ’s trail mix. I’m obsessed.

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After my “big tour” I had a pure bar to celebrate

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the cherry flavor is definitely my favorite!

And then for dinner I had my favorite combo: mac & cheese and red wine.

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I’m currently LOVING our Cabernet Franc. We bonded at the event I worked on Saturday, when I poured it for four hours in the sunshine. 😉 It’s just such an interesting and unique wine with a lot of bold character….smooth with a spicy finish. Some people think the 07 is a little young but I really like it! And it just makes Annies mac & cheese so much better….

What else makes mac & cheese better? Beans! This morning I cooked a pot of flageolet beans and then mixed some into the mac & cheese tonight for a little more substance. + a green salad with possibly the sweetest orange tomato yet, drizzled in balsamic.

Dessert:

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Oh yes. Actually this is just a half cup of yogurt with a crushed windmill cookie, some dark chocolate chips, agave nectar and….a littttttle almond butter. I just couldn’t resist. Those jars just go way too quickly.

***

So….I have the next few days off from the winery but have a lot of freelance projects to catch up on. I’m psyched though because I’m actually going on a little biking adventure either tomorrow or the next day! At the winery, we do a lot of events with Trek and after chatting with the guy in charge of their tours and mentioning that I really wanted to purchase my first road bike next month (EVERYONE around here rides bikes!), he offered to take me on a little adventure ride to see what it’s all about! Since I seem to always hurt myself when I run (or when I’m about to run), biking might be a little nicer on my body….and it’s so gorgeous here in dry creek valley.

Time to finish this article….I keep procrastinating!

New camera……arriving TOMORROW!

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  • Lizzy
    October 26, 2009 at 8:14 pm

    yay for your camera coming tomorrow! i can’t wait to see all the new photos!

  • Allison (Eat Clean Live Green)
    October 26, 2009 at 8:20 pm

    Cute slippers! 🙂

    Have fun on the biking adventure!

  • Jenna
    October 26, 2009 at 8:21 pm

    great job on the tour jenna! you deserved that bar afterwards and a nice dinner 😉
    jenna

  • Lu
    October 26, 2009 at 8:22 pm

    Seems like the ankle is doing better. Good to know. Sometimes, I like a younger wine, too.

  • Liz
    October 26, 2009 at 8:24 pm

    Ya, everyone and their mom bikes here in CA. I work at a running and biking store, and we are busy! I bet biking will be a great alternative to running for you. Have fun on your biking adventure!

  • Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food)
    October 26, 2009 at 8:29 pm

    Glad the tour went well!

    Have a great day tomorrow!

  • sue
    October 26, 2009 at 8:36 pm

    congrats on giving your first tour- how exciting! have a great day off tomorrow- can’t wait to the pics you take with your new camera! woohoo! 🙂

  • Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries
    October 26, 2009 at 8:37 pm

    Your cam is really pulling through for you.. and yay for pretty bike rides! I’m sure it’ll be amazing–a nice switch-up from running, or lack thereof

  • Karen
    October 26, 2009 at 8:42 pm

    You will love biking…I just bought my second road bike, Trek, and I’m in love. Have ridden 30 miles a day since. There’s no better way to enjoy the outdoors and getting exercise at the same time. My daughter was preparing to run in her first marathon, in DC, and broke her foot while running, multiple stress fractures, and now going for a bone scan, you don’t get this from biking, needless to say, the doctor told her to stay off of it for 6 weeks, I thought of you and all the problems you had too. She is now looking into getting her first “real” road bike.

  • Mastering Public Health
    October 26, 2009 at 8:45 pm

    Enjoy the camera; that’s the one I use on my blog, too.

  • Heather @ Life, Gluten Free
    October 26, 2009 at 8:46 pm

    We have the same camera that you ordered. We love it!

  • Heather @ Life, Gluten Free
    October 26, 2009 at 8:47 pm

    Where did you get that cute green hair band?

    • jenna
      October 26, 2009 at 9:20 pm

      Heather,

      CVS like 2 years ago!!! It was 99 cents! 🙂

  • Mama Pea
    October 26, 2009 at 8:56 pm

    Your camera has some serious battery power. Mine just starts to blink that it’s going and like 10 seconds later: DEAD. Way to milk it! I love your slippers, so cozy and cute. Hope you are getting your writing done…RIGHT NOW, young lady!!!

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca)
    October 26, 2009 at 9:00 pm

    Mmm, mac and cheese! Who doesn’t love mac and cheese – like seriously … it is perfection!

  • Deb (SmoothieGirlEatsToo)
    October 26, 2009 at 9:05 pm

    Oh a road bike…suhweet. When I got my first road bike I didn’t unclip fast enough and ended up with a nice scar from parking lot road rash! After that I made sure to have my pedals adjusted loosely (they were SPD, not Look or Speedplay like they usually use for roadies). Make sure you’re comfortable with the pedal style as it’s a bit scary at first being completely attached to the bike! Good luck!

  • Teresa
    October 26, 2009 at 9:28 pm

    Way to go leading that big tour! I bet they all love love loved it! The vineyards in Napa/Sonoma are so pretty that nothing could ruin it anyways.

    Ok so I got a Trek bike last year for Christmas and I am so happy about it. I did a lot of research and after almost a year am still stoked about my TREK. I love their commitment to the environment too! I do a lot of bike “commuting” and not really any racing or mountaining (although some of the hills around here feel like mountains), so I went with the ALLANT (http://www.trekbikes.com/women/wsd_products/bikes/bike_path/allantwsd/) which I can definitely recommend. If you are interested in road riding and comfort try this one out!

  • Tasha - The Clean Eating Mama
    October 26, 2009 at 9:58 pm

    Have a great day(s) off – and have a great time on your bike ride!
    Healthy Eating
    Tasha

  • Lindsay
    October 26, 2009 at 10:26 pm

    Maybe you’ll end up buying a charger for your point-and-shoot after all? Some people like to have a little camera to throw in a small pursue for an event that doesn’t require the bigger guy! In either event, how lovely it is of your deathbed cam-cam to cooperate until the new one arrives.

  • Juicy Jessy
    October 26, 2009 at 11:22 pm

    your job is just TOO cool! it must be so great to be outdoors most of the day, talking to people, drinking wine… does it ever really feel like “working” to you?

    enjoy the bike ride!

  • Nicole
    October 26, 2009 at 11:42 pm

    I am so excited for your new biking adventures! I’m a runner primarily, but I do triathlons so I spend a lot of hours on the bike as well. You will love it! Make sure that you get some nice pairs of biking shorts otherwise your behind will be paying for it!! Before I got into racing with my bike, I road it about 30 miles a few times a week back and forth to college. It was a great chance to warm-up for the day, and a great stress reliever on the way home after a rough day at school. 🙂

  • Diana
    October 27, 2009 at 12:35 am

    Congrats on your first tour at work 🙂 That dessert sounds good!
    Also, have fun on your bike ride!

  • ellen eats beets
    October 27, 2009 at 1:30 am

    mmmm love mac&cheese. I grew up on annies and it’s just divine!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
    October 27, 2009 at 3:48 am

    I’m sure you did great on your first tour. I also don’t think much beats mac n’ cheese and wine!

  • Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun)
    October 27, 2009 at 3:51 am

    TJ’s Trail Mix is lethal. Love that stuff. Particularly the “Temptation” blend.

    Congrats on leading a fun, successful tour! That sounds like a ton of fun. Also, beans and mac n’ cheese? Excellent call!

  • Cari
    October 27, 2009 at 4:00 am

    Enjoy the new camera! I need one too. I’m starting to take pictures for my blog and the camera I have is terrible!

    That salad with your dinner looks so good!

  • Jenna
    October 27, 2009 at 4:13 am

    That trail mix is irresistible! I love the savory one you’ve got pictured and also switch off with the “Nuts about Cranberries and whatever else they put in that one” bag. Do you recommend any other ones? I haven’t touched any of the wasabi mixes.

  • Pam (Pamcakes and Eggs)
    October 27, 2009 at 4:20 am

    Congrats on the tour! It’s pretty awesome that some contacted you specifically to give a tour! Have a good bike ride!

  • angela
    October 27, 2009 at 4:23 am

    Hi there!

    Love reading your blogs…I have put you on my blogroll!! You live in such a beautiful place that you will enjoy riding so much. It takes a bit to get use to the clips (I have had a tumble or two), but I love riding…it is one of the activities that I find can be very zen & very challenging!!

  • emily
    October 27, 2009 at 4:29 am

    Oooh, have a great bike ride, that sounds like a lot of fun! I hope your camera arrives before you set off to see the sights 🙂

  • simpledaisy
    October 27, 2009 at 4:30 am

    Oh…you’ll love biking!!! It’s my favorite sport!! In September I rode in a 75 mile bike ride around the vineyards in our area and it was AWESOME!!! The grapes smelled amazing:) Enjoy and can’t wait to hear about it!!!

  • Gloria
    October 27, 2009 at 4:34 am

    SO exciting about Trek! They make great road bikes. After injuring my knees running, I took up cycling and now I’m hooked. My first century ride is in 2 months! Way jealous of your California hills, though 😉 Have a great time!!

  • eatmovelove
    October 27, 2009 at 4:40 am

    I agree with biking – it’ll be great for you!! And great exercise for ankle recovery (take if from your ‘blog PT’ haha!!). No seriously good eats though, I must get some butternut squash. And Annie’s Shells.
    True about Trail Mix!! I just posted on my blog a bag of nuts that I seriously can’t keep my hands out of – it goes in like a few days…that and nut butters are (one) of my weakness – my tummy doesn’t like it untill it’s too late :(…but then it starts all over again !
    Anyhow, I’m slowly blogging about some of my ‘Yoga Training’ experiences, and running, etc.
    If your job ever requires another blogger or Yoga Teacher, advertiser, promoter in the future…let me know haha!! …no, seriously, I’d probably do the dishes there if I could 🙂

  • Stephanie
    October 27, 2009 at 5:01 am

    le sigh… i wish my day at work included giving a winery tour – lucky girl!! 🙂

  • Britt
    October 27, 2009 at 5:06 am

    Lucky girl, I dream of doing of doing one of those Trek tours! I would love to do one in Italy, but hey CA ain’t that shabby either.

    Yes nut butters have a way of disappearing quickly, but at least that means more jar oats!

  • Anais
    October 27, 2009 at 5:08 am

    Mac and Cheese and Wine is one of my favorite meals 🙂 When I recently became single it was definitely my go-to dinner when I did NOT feel like cooking. I love Annie’s products 🙂

  • Felicia
    October 27, 2009 at 5:30 am

    It’s so great that you got to give your first tour with people who requested you! It’s always nice to know that you have supporters in the crowd when you’re doing something for the first time. 🙂

    Enjoy your days off!

  • Madelin @ What is for breakfast?
    October 27, 2009 at 5:36 am

    Oooh cute headband! Green really suits you!

  • brandi
    October 27, 2009 at 5:51 am

    sounds like a great day! Have fun on the biking adventure!

  • Andee (Runtolive)
    October 27, 2009 at 6:07 am

    The biking tour sounds really fun! That would be amazing to tour all the vineyards on bike. Thanks for the idea about adding beans to the Mac & Cheese, I always like to add some kind of protein to bulk it up a bit.

  • Sarah @ See Sarah Eat
    October 27, 2009 at 6:20 am

    Glad the camera is holding on for you! I hate low batteries 😉 Glad you had an awesome tour too, enjoy your days off!

  • Cait (Cait's Plate)
    October 27, 2009 at 6:20 am

    I love the new header!! It’s awesome. And that last picture is so perfect. It really doesn’t get better than a nice bowl of dessert consumed in your slippers 😀

  • Lauren
    October 27, 2009 at 6:31 am

    Glad that your first tour went well!

    Your biking adventure sounds awesome–have fun! I have a Trek road bike that I absolutely love.

  • Cyclist Kate
    October 27, 2009 at 6:41 am

    Jenna, I am SO excited for you that you’re going to buy a roadbike! I have funky knees and running has been pretty much out of the question for me, and investing in a road bike totally saved me. It is fabulous to be out there on a bike and it’s so easy to get out to some beautiful spots on a bike and just be free and alone with yourself. It’s the best feeling. I also love commuting on bike–I ride ten minutes to get to the store, ten minutes back, ten minutes to school, etc., and then, at the end of the day, even if I haven’t “worked out,” I’ve still got my movement in for the day in about the same time it would have taken to drive to all these places.

    Anyway…just very excited for you! I hope you love the upcoming adventure!

  • Kati
    October 27, 2009 at 6:50 am

    A bike trek sounds fun! I would love to get a bike but there’s not many places to ride near where I live. It’d be so much better than pedaling to nowhere at the gymm :> I had annie’s mac ‘n’ cheese last night too!

  • Evan Thomas
    October 27, 2009 at 7:01 am

    That trail mix is the best; I keep some on my desk all the time
    Can’t wait to see photos from the new cam!

  • Morgan @ Life After Bagels
    October 27, 2009 at 7:19 am

    I love those ribbons in the background in your one pic, hahaha!

  • Carolyn
    October 27, 2009 at 7:25 am

    Congrats on your first tour!! P.S. I’m giving away a breast cancer awareness Ipod nano armband case on my blog: http://lovinlosing.com/

  • skinnyrunner
    October 27, 2009 at 7:27 am

    have fun biking! great job on giving your first tour! you’re turning into a wine pro now.

  • Sandy
    October 27, 2009 at 7:51 am

    You are going to love the bike ride. We are going out shopping for my road bike this weekend. I will be looking forward to hearing how you like the Trek.

  • MMiller
    October 27, 2009 at 8:23 am

    What a fabulous day, Jenna! So great that someone requested you! If I ever get out to visit, I will request you! Great job! I’m sure you were awesome! What is the average group size?

    And I think you will love biking! It sounds very “you”! Watch out Healdsburg! You will be biking everywhere!

    And so excited for you to be getting your new camera today!

  • Gabriela
    October 27, 2009 at 8:26 am

    Congrats on your tour! And that mac and cheese looks so yum- Annie knows what she’s doing 🙂 Have a great day!

  • Foodie Fresh
    October 27, 2009 at 9:16 am

    I want a road bike too! Although I’m a little afraid of riding in traffic. I think it’s going to go on my Christmas wish list.

  • Jil
    October 27, 2009 at 6:50 pm

    That dessert looks so yummy!!

  • Annie
    October 30, 2009 at 5:39 pm

    Have you tried the Trail Mix flavor of Pure Bar?! The cherry is fantastic but the Trail Mix is even better! I definitely recommend trying it out.