double digits in followers

This is exciting! Thank you and we look forward to bringing blissful content!

patience, my dear! on breathing, healing, and going back to school

Dear Kind Readers,

Mr. Wonderful is going back to school. The road has been a bit bumpy, but he is hanging in there. I thought for sure this would be a brilliant idea, because imhyao, he is brilliant, an absolute genius for sure. Studying his passions in a university environment would be something he would enjoy, I was certain. He wants to do weather and environmental research, and basically advise the weather announcers what is going to happen. He is all about weather and science, marine, tornadoes, you name it. The above images make sense to him, and fascinate him. Just having the conversations with professionals and experts is an experience I want him to have. The degree would just be the paper work to open doors in order to do what he loves...

He is a true renaissance person: sciences (atmospheric, earth, etc), history, politics, photography, writing, you name it. After we got together, I thought, I WANT him to have the opportunity I had in going to college. (He went to the Coast Guard right after high school, then worked, then went to theology school, then worked, then volunteered, and worked, gave his all to a church, all at the same time, you get the idea.)

He was able to visualize going back to school after some months, and was finally willing to apply and take time off work for going back to school at age 36. I also have a work benefit for spouses to go to school, with a substantial chunk of tuition covered.

Part of the reason I returned to Miami, with him in tow :), was for him to go back to school.

As I say, there has been a bump or two in the road. And I love him so much, and it is hard to see any bumps. We did not sign up for any more bumps. So basically, it has taken longer to get the process going than we expected. I am afraid he has gotten a bit taken aback with it all.

I do think things have unfolded a certain way for a purpose, and I have been hoping to get him to de-stress along the way and he has. That has been very important for his health! Just breathing and dreaming was his job, I told him. For the first time in his life, after giving more than was imaginable his whole life, I just wanted this childhood love/love of my life- of mine to breathe and heal from our unbelievable life stories.

This week we will learn more, and he will be on his way, I project. Any support you want to send him on his way back to school, now entering late thirties, and rethinking all our "masculine" and "marital" stereotypes, would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

We have basically said screw it to all the "shoulds" of everyone else's, and decided to live life on our own terms from here on out, and we just need the universe to catch up, on his school entry front.... but again, I know the timing has been right, and just love him so much and do not want the timing being different than expected to get him down.

I told him, yes, it's a pain, and anything worth doing is not so easy or everyone would do it. This process is not easy, but worth doing, we both agree. We are on the way, just doing things our own way, in our own timing. There is no rush, I keep saying to him, we have the rest of our lives, and it is not about pressure. The trip when I first saw him two years ago, and we knew we'd get married, we agreed, there had been "enough bullshit to date."

Now, on to the bliss................

deciding on joy: a love story just beginning

Philly Sunday School troublemakers circa 1984!

Miss Bliss writes:

We can't control a lot in our lives, but Mr. Wonderful and I keep refocusing on the joy. Mr. W and I went to elementary school (and spent all of our childhoods together) near Philadelphia, and parted ways soon after when my parents split up.

Although we only saw each other periodically in our teens, for *some reason* he stopped off in the midwest to see me on his way to California for the Coast Guard right out of high school. (now we joke about how I should have just jumped in the car and joined him for the trip across the country...that would have saved a lot of trouble for us both for the next 17 years!)

We would not see each other again until our early 30's. When our little school had a reunion, I flew from Miami to Philly to attend. Sadly, Mr. W. was not attending since he was busy moving to Colorado.

Still, he invited me to visit in Colorado, and I accepted, never dreaming I was about to have a most wonderful reunion and be visiting my soon-to-be husband.

I flew from Miami to Denver this time of the year two years ago, and he says he knew when I crossed the street where he was waiting for me. We were married two months later, and I moved to Colorado. (the orchids on the right are his photo from our honeymoon!)

Now we are in Miami, and open to adventures, of course.

I get caught up with worrying, sometimes, and he reminds me, we aren't going to worry about any of that stuff...

We consider ourselves "two years old" in love, that is. We are embracing life, and relearning to see the world fresh... so much joy to be felt. When we first hugged, he said, "Where have you been?" I knew what he meant. We had finally come home to each other.

top photo credit: zazzle

Birthdays and the Narcotic aka Ben and Jerry's

Miss Bliss writes:

Mr. Wonderful did have a great birthday... we especially enjoyed the Ocean Drive drinks: Modelo beer and rum punch. I am looking forward to our next year of his life together and hope it is his happiest yet.

The other night, he kindly walked to our little South Beach bodega and brought back Ben and Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk for me and Ben and Jerry's Banana Split for him. I read the ingredients, but they did not the list the narcotic they obviously put in their product... guess it's just the chocolate.

"Without ice cream, there would be darkness and chaos." -Don Kardong

pic source

Birthday

Yesterday was my birthday and it was wonderful to be on South Beach and eat on Ocean Dr. Not everything I wanted to accomplish this year happened but as a whole it was one of the best years of my life.

miss bliss is psyched for mr. wonderful!

Yay, so lovely readers will know it is a couple who are both blogging together here now???? I guess that the little missbliss and little chocolateshoesandcoffee "posted by" line may be fine print...

He is Mr. Wonderful, you know, and this blog was actually his idea, too! So enjoy both of our posts! :)

photo credit: corbis.com

Miss Bliss Husband

I'm pleased to accept my wife's invite to contribute to coffee and chocolate. Shoes? I'll get her a bigger shoe rack as she is quickly filling up this one.

Today was a WAWA coffee and dark chocolate M & Ms.

Smooth WAWA coffee is the bomb and it helps me work. We NEED WAWA down here in Florida and I would stay forever.

Husband Interactive: So, I guess some may have questions and I will answer them so fire away.

Dark Chocolate

I am having dark chocolate M@M's and am one happy person!!!! Where have these things been? Life is better with them!

A day to relax

I'm reporting on a day I woke up late, drank a great Seattle's Best coffee and wrote my article in peace. I got a little hungry while writing it as the menu is seafood based and the Grouper Sandwich was over the top. OK, getting hungry again. Time for a great nights sleep and maybe some cool rain for tomorrow. Haven't seen rain in forever. Kind of looking forward to spring in Florida.

Marshalls, I so love you.

Lilly Pulitzer shoes and dresses??? for a fraction of their original prices?

Tommy Bahama dresses? that my sister should so wear to the rehearsal dinner for our other sister's wedding? A dress What not to Wear would list as a homework assignment? For 39.99?

Limited swimsuit coverup dresses?

Lilly Pulitzer shoes for less than half????

Bliss spa Products???? "herban jungle bath bar" for 3.99? Nars makeup and skin stuff?

Yes. I did call for a bank transfer. (some material for "not me Monday". yes I did buy my sister some jeans and a DKNY t, and a gorgeous green top.... marshalls is the same dept. store stuff for super cheap, why not???)

Thank you, Lindt chocolate...

Lindt dark chocolate bar: Ecuador's 75% = highly recommended!


Deep cocoa-y flavor, slow lingering savory melt factor! Delicious and complicated range of chocolate notes...a small break off from the bar was very satisfying... no biting! Let it melt like a true chocolate connoisseur...








Totally worth it! Entering the chocolate driven-falling in love euphoric state!!






What is your absolute favorite chocolate??? Open to blissful research.

South Beach Spring Break and Coffee

Oh yeah, life is good, Miss Bliss is off on Spring Break and I'm doing some writing. Other then Aunt Flo visiting life is dang good. Dinner was a chicken and rice with creamy celery broth and carrots. Yummm. Ok, well I have writing to do so I'm off to the races to do the blogging and the Digging and the Stumbling and some Twittering. Whoot Whoot!

Best Shoe Picture Ever

Coastal Nest: out of the box...shoe box, that is.....

Coastal Nest, who lives somewhere that sounds like my dream, caught my attention with this amazing picture!

What do you think?

Bring on Spring Break!

Walking on South Beach yesterday, we found our first big wave of spring breakers.

Celebration and energy literally filled the air... the feeling of people and togetherness and fun... our usual SoBe beach crowd plus many, many visitors! The anticipation of joy was tangible in the air.

There is a certain something, a feeling of beauty among the beachgoers who have departed their usual lives for "breathing time" on the sand, blue skies, breezes and ocean water!! Everyone is united by the time off in a gorgeous location where the only objective is to Enjoy Life.

Today it felt strange to be on the nearby campus where usual activities were in place... didn't everyone know the beach is definitely where it's at... it is time for music and drinks and lovin'!

Maybe it's the fact that on a "spring break" two years ago (at age 33!) I unexpectedly fell in love and life changed that I know the feeling in the air... who knows whose paths may cross during these weeks off in the tropical air; I just felt completely attuned to all the love stories in progress around me on the beach, even if it is just the part where people begin to learn or remember all the wonderful possibilities life has to offer.

More pics from yesterday at South Beach:

http://www.examiner.com/x-4320-South-Beach-Community-Examiner~y2009m3d9-South-Beach-beach-pictures

http://www.examiner.com/x-4320-South-Beach-Community-Examiner~y2009m3d10-South-Beach-and-Spring-Break

What is your best vacation bliss story?? Where is your most beautiful beach?

Waking the Class before Spring Break

All right, I have an 8 am class of college students (and myself) to wake up on Tuesday. I plan to do so this time with...drum roll please, the aforementioned or is that, afore-posted, ; ) "coffee break muffins." I will be sending them off on Spring Break, and finishing a discussion of Barbara Kingsolver's book, Animal Vegetable Miracle. It only seems appropriate to have a caffeine infused talk.

Coffee Break Muffins
Adapted from Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan

variations: *http://hungrygirlporvida.blogspot.com/2008/06/muffin-break-in-afternoon.html adds a walnut topping, and *The food librarian adds chocolate chips....

2 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tbsp instant espresso powder
1 tbsp baking powder
½ tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup strong coffee, cooled
1 stick (8 tbsp) butter, melted and cooled
1 large egg
½ tsp vanilla
preheat oven to 400 F.

Mix together first five ingredients in a large bowl to combine—add brown sugar, making sure to break up any lumps.

Whisk together wet ingredients. Add to dry mixture just to combine—do not over mix. Lumps are perfectly acceptable in muffins.
divide evenly into lined or greased muffin cups. Bake for 20 minutes (start watching around 15) or until toothpick inserted into center of muffin comes out clean. Let the pan cool on a rack for 5 minutes before carefully removing the muffins. It is suggested that you allow the muffins to cool completely before eating.

Thank you to East Village Kitchen blog for the recipe shared here.

bliss seekers

I once read a book called Girl Seeks Bliss, and it made a lot of sense! So much non-bliss automatically falls in our laps, we have to arrange some bliss and be able to have free time for bliss to just cross our paths!

Last night my Mr. Bliss, aka the chocolateshoesandcoffee poster, (and founder!) made me some Ghiradelli Double Chocolate brownies, and kicked it up with dark chocolate M and M's on top. Yum!


For my birthday this year, he bought me a two month yoga card I requested... sadly I haven't been going as much as I should, but we are coming up on some time off, and I will be able to use it a lot more. Looking forward to the yoga happy body during our time off, and lots of beach walks, salty swims, and writing.


Hope you are having a blissful weekend!


What brings you bliss???

Two days of Free Caribou Coffee for Daylight Savings Adjustment Disorder

Caribou knows that we are going to be clinging to the duvets with the time change. According to the wonderful people there, "We know one hour of sleep does make a difference and we want to help you get through the toughest mornings of the year. Visit Caribou Coffee this Sunday, March 8 and Monday, March 9 and receive a FREE espresso shot either solo or added to your favorite drink. Click here to find the store nearest you."

If you can't get to a store, at least you can... "Get Free Shipping on the Obsidian™ Excursions 3-pack!This adventurous 3-pack allows you to taste all three coffees and compare their flavors. It includes:

1 lb. bag of Obsidian™

8 oz. bag of Kenya Obsidian™ Excursions

8 oz. bag of Papua New Guinea Obsidian™

©2009 Caribou Coffee Company, Inc. No coupon necessary. Free espresso shot offer valid Sunday, March 8 through Monday, March 9, 2009. One offer per person. Obsidian Excursions 3-pack offer valid Friday, March 5 through Sunday, March 22, 2009.

Rambling on at 5:56

I love my coffee and the caffeine that it brings, the sleep it denies and the thoughts that devise when my hearts all flutter from the jolt it delivers. I sit hear and think of all the memories made when me and my friends were on such a drug. What had to get done, Yes, it always got done, when thick in our veins pumped the black drug it contains. We did our reports and the plays and the concerts; for days and for weeks and all that we needed was coffee not sleep, for with coffee we worked, and the sleep we denied, till weeks end on end we collapsed and slept in. The coffee we chose was as varied as clothes, with all of the options, and whatever we chose to beat back the cold, and pressed on with our loads and with caffeine we were guided, and insanity sided till one Tuesday night with cappuccino in hand, our lives were all chided, and reality collided and now spun off in sections, all over this land, we learned from inspections what life was about, within our own souls and we made our decisions as to what we would think over Midnight Express and over French press our own direction we went making our minds as we went, who had brought this derision in our life in our lives. I think of this Java and the comfort it brought, and now later in life I'm glad to of had it, for now in my life, it is pleasure it brings for now I'm not spinning around, doing others great things.

The Most Dangerous Chocolate Cake Recipe courtesy of "Bacon Concentrate"

Bacon Concentrate: The Most Dangerous Chocolate Cake Recipe

handmade, adorable, and funny bras for a cause

"lily padded"

"THE girls measure up"

"look on the bright side"

love the tropical fish!

One of my favorites--butterflies and gorgeous green

"Where the wild things are"


"Tie one on"


"Pick your boob"



"paradise island"


one of my favorite- so pretty




Thelma and Louise

"sports bra"


"fifi and mimi"

"nursing bra"

Dear Friends, aren't these bras are so amazing; I chose my favorites to share with you. Which ones do you like???

My best friend from college survived breast cancer; so they took on special meaning as I saw them. The organization behind the project is here, with the link of the display schedule: http://www.quiltersofsc.org/artfullbras/SCHEDULE.htm

As I viewed, them, I was reminded of funny bra stories, especially by the one called "bra from hell." I remember teaching a high school class when an underwire popped out and stuck out, at least not through, against my shirt. One girl asked, in front of the class, what is that? Oh, just your teacher's underwire, I thought... So, share your favorite art bra from above or tell us a funny bra story; humor is the best medicine!

more below:

"The bra from hell" (sadly I've had a few)

aren't the ribbons so cute ?

Sock Monkeys! Did you ever make one? A sock monkey in a pearl necklace, no less!

this one is called "one pink feather"

"Wonder woman"

"Couture bra"

Coffee: The smell of,

MMMMmmm I am writing this to permanently capture the smell of bacon and Dunkin Donuts coffee brewing in my kitchen. The perfect beginning to any day of relaxation.!

beach bliss-- a March South Beach at sunset

Yesterday we took our short walk down to the beach... everytime we cross over the sand dunes and get the water view, I get chills. It is so beautiful, and I am so happy to be living a 2 block walk.

I spent some time picking up sea shells, lost in the simple bliss of color: pink, purple, coral.

The ocean was like a blanket of peace, the movement just a lullaby for us before we went home.

Have a blissful day! Here are some breezes for you in case you are too far away; and, by the way, I am getting envious of the snow days I'm hearing about... watching snow fall with a cup of hot chocolate sounds blissful.

Does anyone want to trade for a weekend? What blissful weather do you have to trade????

Coffee break muffins with chocolate chips...

Yummiest photo of the week, must ask my hubby to make these for us...the recipe calls for instant espresso powder and cooled strong coffee... my kind of baked good!!!! We will get back to you with our report.

Thank you, to the food librarian!!!!!!!!!!!!!
www.foodlibrarian.com
February 2009
Recipe from Dorie Greenspan's Baking book
added mini chocolate chips