my new favorite

This year has a new equation for me:

Gratitude + Focus + Action + Action =  JOY.

I didn’t finish the Reverb prompts since my work life became too busy, so I’m extending my month of reflection through January.  This is part of my new gratitude.  No more whining, no more feeling bad about projects left undone — only gratitude, focus, and action.  Anything else that inhibits these movements can hang out back in 2010.

Tonight, I welcome a New Year’s Eve with dear friends, the man I love, and awesome food.  Even though it is a small intimate dinner party at home I still decided to have a little hostess style.

Hair via Cup Of Joe:

And a purple sequin top from the GAP outlet (I can’t find a pic online, but I’m sure you can picture it).  Enjoy 2011.

As a resident of Seattle - I take coffee very seriously.  So I feel a little like a trader to say, my favorite coffee right now is from Baltimore!

I arrived home from visiting my friends in Washington DC this past weekend.  I never leave the east coast without a pound of my favorite Zeke’s Coffee. 

Zeke’s is a small coffee roaster in Baltimore (and no I don’t just love them because they roast in Lauraville — although that doesn’t hurt).  They have some very unique brews and they are committed to sustainable and organic coffee.

I have to mention, that I’m also dear friends with their farmer’s market salespeople, but they did not pay me for this post — although I wish they would, with coffee. 

Now, you can purchase Zeke’s online.  Check it out.

Last week I went over to a friend’s place for dinner and wanted to bring a fun fall hostess gift.  I found this recipe in Woman’s Day Magazine.  It takes about 10 minutes to make, 2 hours to cool in the fridge, and is the easiest homemade gift I’ve been able to give in a long time. I wrapped the clusters in a simple paper bag wrapped with twine. 

It was a hit!

Almond Chocolate Clusters with Sea Salt

Chocolate Almond Clusters with Sea Salt.

8 ounces good-quality dark chocolate, chopped
2 cups raw, whole unsalted almonds
sea salt

• Melt the chopped chocolate. These are several methods of melting chocolate: in the microwave (make sure you microwave it in 15-second intervals, stirring in between, until just melted and smooth); 
• As soon as the chocolate is melted and smooth, add the almonds and stir well to completely coat all almonds with the chocolate
• Using a tablespoon, drop chocolate almond mixture onto a sheet of wax paper or into small cups to cool.
• While the chocolate is still warm and has not set yet, sprinkle each cluster with a pinch of sea salt.
• Let the clusters cool completely until chocolate is firm (I put them into the freezer to speed the cooling process). Store in sealed container away from heat or direct sunlight.

For more recipe info — learn more at here.