Mad Love

Yes, I realize videoing while driving is not the smartest idea. But I just had to capture Kalista grooving to Mad Love by Neon Trees. She always dances with her arms in the car, but always stops when the car is parked and I try to video. I can just hear my mom lecturing now : 0 I blame the iPhone for making it so convenient to flip the screen. : )

A Very Special Commitment

I just made a very special commitment to this very special little girl:

Meet Gwendolyn

This is a cut and paste from my fundraising page. 


Dear Family & Friends,

First and foremost, thank you for visiting my fundraising page!

I don't consider myself a runner. More like a trotter. I have been trotting for about 8 years now and have never entered any type of running event. But now that has changed. Yes, that's right. On November 10, 2012, I am going to run in the Santa Barbara International Marathon with my friends as a relay team member.

A couple of years ago, I had the honor of meeting Bill & Victoria Strong and their daughter. Gwendolyn was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), the #1 Genetic Killer of Infants.  This disease is brutal and just plain cruel. There is no treatment, there is no cure. It is a degenerative disease that hinders the ability to speak, walk, eat, breathe, and swallow. Basically, it takes away everything that makes a child's life magical and wonderous. Most children with this disease do not live past their second birthday. Sweet Gwendolyn wlll be turning 5 in October!

I am going to run for Gwendolyn. And I hope to raise funds along the way to help find a cure, so one day Gwendolyn and so many others with SMA can run too. Every dollar raised will go towards The Gwendolyn Strong Foundation; a non-profit organization dedicated to ending SMA and supporting those families impacted by this disease.

For more information about SMA and to keep up with the Strongs, please visit thegsf.org.

Much love,

Jennifer Hall

Please take the time to stop by my fundraising page and give to a very worthy cause!

The Strong Family

(Bill, Victoria, & Gwendolyn)

Stay-cation

My long time girlfriends, Kathie & Anne, came for a visit last week. They booked their little SB trip at the Bacara and I tagged along for a little stay-cation of my own.

For a couple of days, my home looked like this:

And we enjoyed these views:

and did this:

and lots of this around town:

and whole lot of laughing and reminiscing.

Thank you Kathie & Anne for coming to visit.
I can't believe it's been over 15 years since we first met.
I love you gals!

Everybody Talks

P.S. I'm not sure what the whole coffee table move was about! ; )

Happy 4th of July

Karpouzi (Watermelon) Salad

We had a double date night last Friday at Petros. I fell in love with the karpouzi salad! This salad is so light and refreshing. The perfect pairing with summer and a cocktail or two. ; )

I loved it so much, I just had to recreate it on Sunday. I think I did a pretty good job, considering I didn't have Greek honey only regular. I hymned and hawed over using honey or agave nectar. Either one would have worked. But there is something about the floral taste of honey that goes well with this salad.

Karpouzi Salad:
seedless watermelon, cubed
tomatoes, diced heirlooms or small grape halved
feta
extra virgin olive oil
mint
honey
wedge of honey gouda goat cheese (this was my substitute for manouri - type of greek cheese)

Lightly toss everything in a bowl, except for the honey and cheese wedge. Drizzle honey on plate and plate salad. Drizzle more honey on top and garnish with cheese wedge.