We Bought a Zoo

Last night I had a special date. With my parents.

We started out at Rudy's Tacos for, well, tacos and root beer, cream soda for me, and then dashed into the windy night to catch a 7:20 PM showing of the Cameron Crowe movie, "We Bought a Zoo."

Grams and gramps, you were right -- the movie was great! Matt Damon is spot-on as a widowed father who moves with his two kids to a country house to bring to life a dilapidated zoo. If you want a flick with some magic, inspiration, big laughs and tears, this is for you.

I'm still pondering this cool quip from Damon's character, Benjamin Mee:

"You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it."

This way of thinking is on my radar for 2012...

* The movie is based on this memoir by the real-life Benjamin Mee

Ho, Ho, Ho: Scrabble, Scrabble, Scrabble

Christmas is one of the best days to play a game of Scrabble. You're super relaxed and in high spirits, with a fabulous homemade meal just around the corner. Life is sublime and your game face is O-N!

Here's our Scrabble game from this afternoon -- I'm in first place, but we still have a few more rounds to play following dinner and pre-apple pie.

Here's hoping the rib roast and red wine hasn't softened my wordsmith edge...

Merry Christmas!

Hot Toddy

I made like a ski bunny on Sunday: I had my very first hot toddy.

Loved everything about it -- the hot tea consistency, splash of lemon, cloves.

Will repeat again. Soon.

Style Icon: Anna Karina

I love this photo of French New Wave actress Anna Karina. And her glasses are divine.

I wish more women stayed on the natural route -- something that is real is always more beautiful, less ordinary, one of a kind to me.

She gets it!

'Tis The Season...

Each Thursday, just before lunch, a Departures Dispatch e-newsletter zips into my e-mail inbox. I click on this digital arbiter of good taste, anxious to see what five "musts" the editors at Departures magazine recommend I know about for that very week.

Departures and its five things are kind of special. One of a kind. Neat!

The below Christmas tree at Claridge's hotel in London appeared in last week's e-newsletter -- and it made me smile. So jolly and fun and bright.

How can you Bah, Humbug! the holidays when this is what you see?

Seconds, Anyone?

I survived the sprawling, delicious feast my mom made for Thanksgiving Day. The home-cooked meal was pretty rad, and yes, I had seconds. And then a teensy bit.

All the usual suspects were devoured, including turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with homemade gravy, green bean casserole and rolls (two kinds). A fruit salad with blackberries, blueberries, pineapple et. al kept it a little "healthy," and the cabernet sauvignon was aplenty.

Pumpkin pie is an all-time favorite, and ours was fantastic. No store-bought crust here, but a flaky, golden crust made from scratch.

It was a wonderful meal! Thank you, mom.