Random

What do you think is the best way to spend your money?

For me, the best way to spend my money is traveling.  I pretty much work and save up only to get enough dolla bills in the pot to get on a plane and see the world.  I studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain and travelled Europe extensively while I was there.  Since then I can’t get enough of it!  I’ve been to Spain (Barca, Madrid, Sevilla, San Sebastian/Basque country, Grenada, etc.), France (Paris), England (London), Italy (Milan, Rome, Venice, Florence), Amsterdam, Belgium, Bruges, Cayman Islands, Mexico, etc.  I want to travel everywhere though…so I have lots of saving to do!

What is one thing you couldn’t live without?

The first thing that comes to mind is Kyle (family, friends, etc.), but rather than go with the cheesy (and obvious) answer, I’ll take the question literally and answer with a “thing” not a “who.”  Additionally, I’d like to say that I try to live my life so I don’t have an answer to this question.  Now that I’ve given that disclaimer, the one thing I couldn’t live without would be music.  As a band geek (I played the French Horn), I have always loved music.  There’s just something about a good rhythm that moves me.  Side note: I wanted to be a conductor when I grew up and even asked for a baton one year for Christmas.  I stood on my bed with my stuffed animal orchestra and blasted recordings by the San Francisco Philharmonic.  I guess I grew out of that career move…but to this day, music is more than something I just enjoy, it is a true passion.  Whether I’m busting a move, performing a number in the shower, or just dozing off to sleep, I can tell you the soundtrack to my life would be very diverse, including everything from the Wicked soundtrack to the Beatles, from jailbird T.I. to myfuture 2nd husband Justin Timberlake.

What’s your dream job?

International hotel rater!  How cool to travel to new and exciting places, get wined and dined, and then get paid for it!  Unfortunately, that’s not at all within my scope of expertise, so I don’t see it being realized any time soon.  However, running a vineyard while having time to do some food blogging on the side would be a pretty sweet gig, and is actually a more realistic goal.  As I’ve alluded to before, my family owns a vineyard in Dry Creek Valley (Healdsburg, CA) and I hope to run it one day…for now though, I’m content to live life in the fast lane in NYC.  The go go go hustle and bustle of the big apple is such a unique environment to experience that I feel like I should soak it all up now while I’m young.  Can’t beat the 24/7 availability of anything and everything.

What is your favorite movie?

Yeah right, like I could choose just one!?  Here are a few I can think of off the top of my head: Pride & Prejudice, Love Actually, Clueless, Breakfast At Tiffany’s,Sound of Music, Bridget Jones’ Diary, Kill Bill, Sideways, Donnie Darko, Mean Girls, Little Miss Sunshine, Anchorman, and almost everything else with Will Ferrell

What is one activity that you’re dying to try?

I would LOVE to get into rock climbing.  It’s one of those hobbies that I think I would fall for (pun intended) after my first try.  I’ve looked into it (briefly) but the $$$ is a bit of a deterrent.  Back in the day I tried rappelling and had a blast, so I definitely hope to give rock climbing a try.

Besides food what do you love to shop for?

BOOKS!  I could spend hours in Barnes & Noble.  My to-read list is probably the only thing longer than my to-make recipe list.  I also adore Nike running gear, but Dry-FIT spandex is a more expensive habit than paperbacks.

Do you have any favorite male/female celebrities?

Considering the obscene (and embarrassing) amount of time I spend on perezhilton.com I’m pretty jaded when it comes to celebrities.  I like people who stay out of the paparazzi spotlight and seem fairly normal (as if I could really know that with all the BS that’s reported).  For females, I like Natalie Portman and Tine Fey.  For males it’s a no brainer, as far as I’m concerned, Justin Timberlake can do no wrong.

Why do you live in New York when you are from the West Coast?

I often ask myself this exact question.  Ok, just kidding.  When I was in nursing school in Philly, Kyle was working in San Francisco.  When his group dissolved, he had the opportunity to join a new group in NYC, so we talked about it and decided it would be fun to live it up on the East Coast for a bit.  After I graduated, I moved in with Kyle in NYC and we’ve been living here ever since.  Now, over two years later, we are both getting pretty anxious to move back home.  More than anything, we miss our family, friends, and the nice weather!  Soon enough…soon enough.

The above question no longer applies, but it’s still fun to see my answer from back then…we have since made the move back to CA and it’s like we are home again.  Here’s where I share why we decided to move and here’s the moving day post.

What is (are) your favorite books?

This question may even be more difficult than the WFs question!  Hmmm.  It’s hard for me to remember all the books I’ve read, so I can hardly recall which of those were my favorites.  I’ll try (with the help of www.goodreads.com).  Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult, Sister of My Heart by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory, and Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden are a few…

How did you get such a darling sense of humor?  Were your parents funny?

I’m not sure if this was a real question, but it made my day month, so I’m including it!  Flattery will get you everywhere with me.  I think Kyle brings out the witty entertaining sarcasm in me.  He’s the funniest person I know (but don’t tell him I said that).

How would you bring about world peace?

I wish I knew the answer to this…something tells me it would involve lots of hummus.

How about inner peace?

Not that I am the authority on this subject (far from it), but I would say: find out what you love to do in life, and don’t let any obstacles prevent you from doing it.

What kind of camera do you use?

I use a Canon Rebel XS.  Prior to making my big DSLR purchase I used a Canon Powershot SD1100 IS (point and shoot).

What kind of camera case do you use?

I did a ton of research on camera cases that also function as purses because I wanted to protect my Canon Rebel, but I also wanted a cute bag to carry around in public.  I ended up getting this bag my emera and I love it.  I posted about several other cute purse/camera case options here for your reference.  For my point and shoot camera, I use an iPod sock that is well over 6 years old.  Hey, if the shoe sock fits…

Comments (2)

  1. Matt D

    Hi Elise,
    Great website! Somehow I accidentally came across your site after looking up running related stuff, but here I am. I don’t usually reply to comments, but when I noticed you were suffering from IBS like so many people around the world, I wanted to pass on some knowledge that might help you! Two words “lacto-fermented foods”!! I have seen myself, and many family members and friends Quickly do a 360 on their guts after just a few days of eating foods like live-cultured pickles, sauerkraut, yoghurt/kefir etc. I did notice at least one of your recipes contained yoghurt(live-cultured I’d presume). Any ways, I cannot stress enough, going out and acquiring a jar of real live-cultured sauerkraut from the fridge section of a whole foods store. And it has to be living, none of that pasteurized stuff that has boiled all the good bugs away!! You will notice results Instantly! I know i’m just an internet crazy person, but I thought I’d just pass over something to try!!

    Matt

    Something interesting to read!

    http://www.westonaprice.org/ask-the-doctor/ibs

  2. Elise (Post author)

    Thanks for the tips Matt. I make my own sauerkraut actually and I’m doing my best to include kefir in my diet. The trick is finding the balance though Bc dairy and cabbage are both foods my gut doesn’t handle as well…the Weston a price theology intrigues me for sure. It’s a bit easier to swallow for vegetarians than the primal approach.

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