admin - Food-Wine-Travel

Live your best three Days in Athens, Greece

What if you had three days to tour a top destination that has been continually inhabited for 5,000 years? A city filled with ancient ruins, modern shops, an endless selection of amazing food, with an equally impressive nightlife culture. Where do you start?

Well, I can help! When I was planning my trip to Athens, Greece I asked myself that same question. Then I got to work researching the area and the history, and put together a three day itinerary for myself. I’m here to share that itinerary with you as well as a few tidbits I learned along the way during my visit to Athens.

First, let’s cover a couple basic housekeeping items for your trip.

Walk or Drive?

Athens is an impressively large city with a population of over 3 million people, 178 museums, 20 Michelin Guide restaurants, and 31 miles of coastline. You may be tempted to get a car and set yourself free to see it all. Should you do it? Well maybe…but hear me out first.

Through time there have always been those brave warriors that would fearlessly adorn their armor and join their comrades to embark on the campaign of a worthy cause. I admire this passion, and in fact, have from time to time been of the same cloth. I spent years navigating traffic in Seattle, Washington, USA. During rush hour, and holidays, and *gasp* a few snowflakes. I’m not afraid of the traffic jams, the horns, or even missing an exit and the subsequent re-route through google maps. But Athens traffic made even me raise an eyebrow.

Besides, when I’m on vacation, the last thing I want to do is spend time driving and stressing. I want to be out exploring and relaxing – and eating! Everything on this three-day itinerary is within walking distance from Syntagma Square so do yourself a solid – get a hotel near the Square, catch a taxi from the airport, and then relax and travel on foot to see all these sites on my three-day itinerary.

There is a bit of walking on this agenda, but it’s mostly easy strolling and I have provided approximate distance to help you in planning.

Taxi Options

As you exit the Athens airport, you can find the line for taxis on your left. Athens has set a standard rate for airport to downtown so all taxis will charge about the same price. However, with just a little pre-planning you can make your arrival SO MUCH BETTER! Pre-schedule your transportation to and from the airport with George’s Taxi. I am so glad I did this. My driver, Alex, was there to greet me at the airport. He helped me with my bags, had fresh cool water ready for me, and even gave me a short history and layout of the Athens area as we drove from the airport to my hotel. It was a fantastic way to be greeted as I arrived in Athens!

Where to Stay

There are several good hotels to choose from that are within walking distance of Syntagma Square. I chose Arethusa Hotel for three reasons (1) great location, (2) great price, and (3) great reviews. If you’re looking for a basic clean room with friendly staff, then this is a solid choice. There are no fancy amenities such as a roof-top bar, on-site restaurant, or pool and spa. However, there is a good breakfast buffet included and a plethora of wonderful restaurants close by. I spent $67.50 Euros a night and was very pleased with my accommodation.

Day One – Food, Shopping, and Little Kook

I arrived in Athens on Friday afternoon and was excited to immediately try some authentic Greek food. Right across the street from my hotel was The Greco’s Project Restaurant and it did not disappoint! I ordered a Mediterranean salad and a glass of white wine which I enjoyed outside while watching the evening traffic as people were heading home from their work week.

Friday’s agenda item was to check out Ermou Street, a pedestrian only area just a 10-minute walk from my hotel. This street is filled with boutique shops, cafes, and street vendors. There is so much to see here that I’m glad I left my Friday evening open for investigating it.

Just a few streets over you will find Little Kook, A fairytale themed café that is a must-see!

After a few hours of sight-seeing I headed back to my hotel to check in early for a decent night’s sleep. This helped me reset my time-zone for the 8-hour difference from home so that I could enjoy the next two full days in Athens.

Day Two – The Athens Food Scene

Mention Greece and there are two things that immediately come to mind for most people: Ancient Ruins and Greek Food. Day two is a mix of both, with the first half focused on food. There are plenty of options for food tours here. I booked The Greek Food Walking Tour in Athens through Trip Advisor and would do this one again. It was a small group which made it easy to hear the tour guide and to get to know everyone. I met my guide, Dorela, and the rest of the group at Monastiraki Square, which was a 10 minute walk from my hotel.

From there we set out for a four hour tour of Greek cuisine. We started the morning with traditional breakfast pastries. This is where I tasted, and fell in love with, spanakopita. It is a pie made by layering spinach, ricotta cheese, and feta cheese with thin sheets of phyllo dough brushed generously with olive oil. I loved this one so much that it became my staple breakfast “go to” during my entire three-week tour of Greece. However, these fresh made donuts drizzled with Greek honey were a close second!

Greek Pastries – donuts drizzled with honey

From here we made our way to a coffee shop to try Greek coffee made the traditional way of using a briki and hot sand to boil the grounds. The coffee is unfiltered, the grounds settle to the bottom of the cup as you slowly sip. So here’s the thing…I am NOT a coffee connoisseur. My default morning drink is a vanilla latte, which I have been told doesn’t even count as real coffee. Because of this, I was not expecting to like this strong unfiltered coffee of Greece, but….was I pleasantly surprised! I ordered mine with a little milk and sugar and it was AMAZING! I LOVED IT! If you ever have a chance to try traditional Greek coffee (sometimes called Turkish coffee) do it!

Next stop was a tour of the Athens market. Restaurant owners, chefs, and home cooks all shop in market where you can find everything from herbs and teas to fresh produce, nuts, fish, snails, and various meat products. And of course….olives! I passed on the snails but did enjoy tasting the many different flavors of olives along with some dates and other fresh produce.

Snails at the food market – Athens Greece

Near the market you will find several restaurants, one of which we settled down at to enjoy a full spread of traditional Greek foods. Seafood, fresh cheese, pasta, and produce filled the table along with wine and ouzo. Ouzo is a Greek liquor made from the unfermented juice remnants after grapes have been pressed for wine. It has a strong anise flavor and is meant to be poured over ice and slipped slowly with your meal. If you like black Liquorice you will probably like ouzo! I thought it tasted somewhat sweet and so I enjoyed it often during my visit there as an after dinner drink, sort of a simple desert.

With our bellies full, we then headed over to a wine bar where Dorela introduced us to the various types of Greek wine, olive oil, and honey. My favorite was this Petalo White from Gofas Winery – I think it would pair beautifully with seafood or grilled chicken.

After tasting our way through the wines, oils, and Greek honey we made our way to the final stop to get a gyro. You can’t have a complete Greek food tour without a gyro! Here I learned a couple tidbits from our tour guide (1) it is pronounced “Yee-ro”, and (2) when ordered at a sandwich shop such as this one you will get a version us Americans are familiar with – all the ingredients wrapped in a pita bread and served sandwich style. However, if you order a “yee-ro” at a sit down restaurant you are more likely to get the ingredients served on a platter with the pita bread served on the side.

So much food on this food tour….SO MUCH FOOD!! I have no idea how I ate it all – but I did – and it was AMAZING!

Our tour ended back at Monastiraki Square and with my body completely fueled I was ready for an afternoon of sightseeing. Honestly – I NEEDED to walk – I had just consumed no less than 5,000 calories of amazing Greek food! I wandered around the Square checking out the many vendors and the centuries old Byzantine church, then wandered down to the Agora.

The Agora, meaning “market”, became the public town square in the early 6^th century and it sits just a few minutes’ walk to the West of Monastiraki. It seemed appropriate after touring the modern day market to spend some time touring this ancient town square along with the Temple of Hephaestus and the Altar of Aphrodite Urania.

Making my way back towards my hotel, I stopped at Hadrian’s Library, constructed in 132 CE by the emperor Hadrian.

These sites do require a ticket for entry. I purchased combination tickets to the Athens attractions through TripAdvisor in advance. You can also purchase tickets with audio tours through Viator.

Closing out this second day I put a lot of miles on my shoes so I was ready for a light dinner and some Greek wine. I found The Drunky Goat, a wine bar close to my hotel that also had some great food options to pair with my wine flight. If you’re in the area I recommend stopping by and checking them out! Super friendly staff and great wine flight options.

Day Three – The Acropolis

The birthplace of democracy. The Acropolis stands tall over the city of Athens. Built in the 5^th century BC it is one of the most complete Greek complexes still in existence today and is also one of the most visited sites in Athens. That means, be prepared for lines and crowds!

You can bypass a majority of both by doing what I did, purchase guided tour with Athenian Tours through “Get Your Guide”

This day was the most intensive for walking. The meeting place for my tour was only about a 15-minute walk from my hotel, but getting to the top of the Acropolis will require walking up the incline (156 meters/512 feet). It’s an easy path, but it is a hill!

Acropolis – taken at night from Monastiraki Square

We started early in the morning and since the tickets were pre-purchased our group was able to bypass the line and start hiking the hill to the Acropolis. Our group was small (12-15 people) and we were given headsets so that we could still clearly hear the tour guide even if we were standing a bit away from her.

And Bonus – she brought us around to a spot on the side of the main temple away from most of the crowds so we could get a good photo.

As you exit the Acropolis, walk slowly past the columns and pay close attention – you may catch a glimpse of ancient graffiti from travelers of past!

I selected the Acropolis tour option that included a guided museum tour and it was well worth it! Most of the statues and décor from the temples have been moved into the museum to protect them. Our guide did a great job at walking us through the displays and referencing them back to the temples that we had just seen.

My favorites here were the statue columns from the Temple of Athena and this frieze representing the citizens of Athens. The detail is stunning – no two objects in the frieze are identical. Follow the path and you will find yourself before the gods. The scene is a great representation of the beliefs of the Greeks that the gods were among them, and divinity was present in all humans.

When the guided tour was finished, we were free to stay and continue exploring the museum on our own. Hold onto your museum ticket, because it also includes entrance into the excavated neighborhood beneath the museum – the Makrygiannis plot. This area was inhabited from the 4^th millennium BC to the 12^th century AD. While there are some plaques explaining sections of the excavation it would be worthwhile to do a bit of research in advance so that you can get the most out of your time here. Start your research here: https://www.theacropolismuseum.gr/en/exhibit-halls/archaeological-excavation

After browsing the museum and the excavation site, I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering the Plaka neighborhood which sits just below the Acropolis.

This is one of the oldest sections of Athens and is mostly pedestrian traffic only. The neighborhood is absolutely beautiful with narrow cobblestone like streets filled with shops. Outdoor restaurants offer plenty of opportunities to sit down, rest your feet, and enjoy a coffee or a glass of Greek wine. This website has a lot of great information on the Plaka neighborhood and I recommend reading it before your trip so you know which places you absolutely don’t want to miss!

Hadrian’s Library is also close by, so if you didn’t find time to visit on day two, you get a second chance on day three!

My three days in Athens was the start of a multi-week solo tour of Greece. From here I traveled down to the Peloponnese and the over to the Island of Crete, which I will write about in future blog posts.

I enjoyed Athens so much that I plan to return there. Have you traveled to Athens? What sights would you recommend I should visit on my next trip there?

Note: This post contains some affiliate links to the hotels/restaurants/tours that I went on and enjoyed, so I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through links on this site at no additional cost to you.

The Power of a Memory

Memories. What exactly are they? They are intangible – they have no matter, yet they hold the power to instantly transform your state of mind and affect the chemicals in your body. This power is only over you – your memories have no impact on anyone else. Some can be your best support system – others a horrible curse. It’s fascinating to me how powerful these can be when they are basically … nothing!

These non-existent “things” are triggered by something as simple as an aroma. For me – it’s the smell of cinnamon and cloves. Specifically, oatmeal cookies baking. One of my best memories is “Grandma Mary” baking oatmeal cookies. When my parents were young they rented a house from Mary Bradford. My mom had lost her own mother when she was a child, and Mary Bradford took her under her wing – became a MOM to my mom – and Grandma Mary to all of us kids.

Home was … chaotic. That’s a good word for it.

My father suffered PTSD from the Korean War, but in the 60’s this wasn’t well understood. In fact, PTSD wasn’t officially recognized and treated until the 70’s.

Without the help he needed, like so many others, he self-medicated with alcohol.

He tried his best – I know he did. And he really loved us all – I know that too. But life in our house was … chaotic.

Except when Grandma Mary visited.

Grandma had a calming effect. I don’t know if it was because of her life experience, her wisdom, or her deep love for Jesus. But she had gained respect from everyone in our family. There was something special about Grandma Mary. When she was there, everyone was safe. The world was good. There was no chaos. She would invite me into the kitchen and let me “help” her make oatmeal cookies. I loved those moments.

I love those memories!

This seed she planted in me grew into my love of cooking. To this day, I feel safe in the kitchen. Whether I’m putting together a meal to share with friends and family or whipping up a batch of cookies – the world is good. Life is good.

These memories – so incredibly versatile and so incredibly strong. The Korean war is over, yet the memories still invoked anxiety and panic in my father until his death.

My Grandma Mary is gone too – yet her memories invoke joy and a sense of well being in me.

This is the power of memories, and this is why I am intentional about creating good memories with my grandkids. Simple but powerful – like “helping” me cook or making a special trip to the ice cream shop for root beer floats in the middle of winter.

They will remember these moments. These grandkids are not at war – I am thankful for that. But they ARE growing up in a pandemic. And that can also be very….chaotic. So we make good memories.

The kind with cinnamon and cloves.

It is my hope that when they are all grown up – when they need to feel safe in a chaotic world – these #memories will rush in and instantly know that the world is good. #LifeIsGood

Shout-out to Debby Hudson for the title photo https://unsplash.com/@hudsoncrafted

My experiment with gratitude

Do a quick google search on gratitude and you will find an abundance of articles all promoting its power. Entire libraries of books have been written on the effects that gratitude can have on one’s life, and the research studies to back it up seem endless.

With all this supporting evidence why is it that I had not been making this a priority for my daily routines? I suspect it is a combination of several things, but three stand out to me as the basis for my procrastination. First, Like most everyone else, I’m busy! You know the drill – career, family, chores. Second, we humans have a tendency to focus on the negative. It is called Negative Bias – we’re hard-wired that way. And Last, honestly, I am generally skeptical of any “magic fix” that doesn’t require a ton of hard work.

Then I heard something from Tony Robbins during an interview that changed my mind. He was sharing his morning routine, how he spends 10 minutes to be grateful and prepared for the day, and he said…

“If you don’t have 10 f—ing minutes for your life, you don’t have a life,”

WOW!!! Ok – that actually made a TON of sense to me. I decided to commit a few minutes each morning and try this out as an experiment.

All I needed was a timer – a quiet spot – and a commitment to do it. My practice was this:

The first 3 minutes: I think of all the things I have to be grateful for. Once this ball starts rolling it is amazing how much we really have that we take for granted. A hot shower, food in the fridge, freedom.
The next 3 minutes: A prayer to God/the Universe/Your higher-self asking for help with one thing that day. This can be a prayer for yourself or a prayer for someone else.
The final 3 minutes: Set your intention for the day. What one thing do you want to accomplish.

I started this practice 2 years ago and found it to be life-changing. Starting the day off with a focus on gratitude sets my mind in a positive state. And spending a few minutes to set my intention for the day helps me to clear out the “noise” and focus on what matters most at the moment.

You can try my routine, try the Tony Robbins 10 minute morning routine, or make up your own. What is important is to follow through with the commitment – set aside the time – and focus on the things you are grateful for. Try it for 30 days and I am certain you will also see the difference in your life.

_{Featured photo by unsplash.com/@aloragriffiths}

Instapot v Slow Cooker

Last year I bought an Instapot. I was successfully convinced that these kitchen appliances were worth every penny and would save me a ton of time. However, after trying it out, I wasn’t really sold on the “save me a ton of time” angle. As it turns out, the prep time for meals is the same whether you are using an Instapot or a Slow Cooker. So I decided to try an experiment using both appliances side-by-side with the same recipe. The intent of this experiment was to determine if one appliance really was better than the other – and ultimately – should I get rid of one? After all, I’m always looking for ways to simplify.

I found a recipe for pork carnitas at allrecipes.com that looked like a great basis for my experiment – mainly because I love tacos and that seemed like a great excuse to enjoy them! In fact, I invited my adult children over and we had a side-by-side taste-off to decide which version of the tacos were best.

The end result – the carnitas from the Instapot was slightly better than the crockpot. When comparing them directly side-by-side, the meat from the Instapot version held onto the juices a bit more, providing more flavor in each bite. I also noted that the Instapot created a bit of the crispy texture on the ends of the meat which added to a better overall result. However, these differences were not significant by any means and for this reason, I would recommend this recipe using either technique.

Another important ingredient to pay attention to is the toppings. These make a huge difference in the end result of your tacos. I tend to love adding just a few simple but flavorful additions such as pico de gallo and cilantro. My kids, however, don’t feel a taco is complete unless it has been smothered with salsa and cilantro lime crema. Both options are good – go with your passion!

So back to my initial question…is one appliance really was better than the other – and ultimately – should I get rid of one?

I decided to keep both, simply because I like the flexibility they deliver. If I want to come home to a completed meal I can use the slow cooker – on the other hand – if I want to sleep in and fix a quick meal after I get home from work then I use the Instapot. Seems like a win-win to me!

Italian Turkey Soup

The week after Thanksgiving seems to be the time that every google search is basically “What do I do with all this turkey?!” I find myself in the same position, not wanting to waste any but also tired of the same old turkey leftover recipes.

This year I decided to invent something new by starting with a few tried and true recipes and then adjusting them with new ingredients and spices. This Italian Turkey Soup is the result of that experiment and I am happy to say it’s a keeper!

The base of this recipe is 6 cups of turkey broth. I used this recipe from Food Network to make the broth. I then put it in the fridge for 1 day to cool and skimmed the fat off the top. That made a great foundation for this soup.

Ingredients

3 cloves of garlic chopped into small bits
2 bay leaves
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped onion
1 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs Italian Seasoning
1/2 Tbs Dill
1 Tbs Thyme
1 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Pepper
6 cups of Turkey broth
2 cups chopped turkey
15 oz can white Navy Beans (rinsed)
2 cups Orecchiette pasta

Place an empty dutch oven on medium heat and allow it to heat up. You will want it hot so when you place the olive oil into the bottom you can then immediately add the garlic and begin cooking – this will keep the oil from smoking.

Stir your garlic regularly so that it does not burn or stick – only about 1 minute – just enough to release the oils and aroma.

Add in the carrots, celery, and onion and stir so that they are all coated with the olive oil.

Next add in the Italian Seasoning, Dill, Thyme, Salt, and Pepper. Stir so that the spices are coating all of the vegetables – continuously stirring for 3-4 minutes so that the vegetables are softened and no spices burn or stick to the bottom of your pan.

Add 6 cups of broth, the chopped turkey, and the bay leaves. Bring to a low slow boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, cover the pan and allow to simmer for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally to keep anything from sticking to the bottom.

Add 1 cup of water and return the soup to a low slow boil. Then add the orecchiette and beans. Boil for 12-15 minutes, stirring frequently, until past is cooked.

This soup keeps nicely in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Orecchiette Pasta and Sausage

Designing and modifying recipes is a creative outlet for me. During these long pandemic months, I have turned to my kitchen more and more as a place to balance myself and find my flow. I love to take an existing recipe and then build on it to blend in layers of flavor, experimenting with fresh herbs, wine, and different cooking techniques.

I found a recipe for an orecchiette pasta dish in a magazine, and after I made it I realized that while it was a good starting place it could use some improvements.

The original recipe was a one-pan pasta dish. I do love the simplicity of one-pan dishes, but it is not the best approach for all pastas, particularly ones like Orecchiette that can take longer to cook. Sausage can be salty, and the orecchiette soaks up all that salt in a way that can overwhelm the other flavors. When I revamped this recipe I chose to cook the orecchiette separately until it was al dente and then add it to the dish.

The second change I made was to cook the meat first and then deglaze the pan with wine. Deglazing is a spectacular way to add flavor into the sauce that you would otherwise miss.

And last, I added some additional ingredients for layers of flavor; like fresh basil for peppery sweetness and mushrooms for umami. I also modified others like replacing onions with shallots – which I find to be more delicate and sweet – a nice balance to the mushrooms.

I am very pleased with this revamped version and decided to share it with you. Open up a bottle of good wine and enjoy creating this dish in your kitchen – I hope the experience brings you some joy like it did me.

Ingredients

2 Tbsp. olive oil
2/3 cup shallots – thinly sliced
3 cloves of garlic – thinly sliced
1 cup diced portabello mushrooms
14 oz can of diced tomatoes
1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 1/4 cups orecchiette pasta
1 cup roughly chopped fresh basil leaves
1 cup roughly chopped argula
14/ cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1 bottle of your favorite red wine (a splash for deglaze and the rest for dinner!)

Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium heat. I use a stainless steel pan, heat it first, then add the oil and then immediately after add the meat so that the oil does not have time to smoke.
Add the sausage and break into small bits while it is cooking – stirring regularly so that it cooks evenly.
While the sausage is cooking – bring another medium-sized saucepan filled with water to boil and add the orecchiette pasta – allow to cook for 8 minutes, then remove and drain in a colander.
When the sausage is cooked through and no pink is remaining, remove the sausage from the pan. Then use a splash of the red wine (2-3 Tbsp) to deglaze the pan. I generally remove the skillet from the burner during the deglazing process and then add it back to the burner when I’m ready for the next step.
Add the second Tbsp oil to the pan, then immediately follow with the shallots and garlic. Stir these continuously for 2-3 minutes – just enough to release the oils and flavor of the garlic – then add the mushrooms. Continue to stir for another 3 minutes.
Add in the fresh basil and stir continuously for 30 seconds.
Add the can of tomatoes – do not drain first – add all the liquid into the skillet, followed by 1.5 cups of the low sodium chicken broth and the sausage. Stir for 2 minutes.
Next, add in the orecchiette from step 3 along with the other 1.5 cups of the chicken broth. Allow to cook for 5 minutes – stirring frequently so that the sauce and pasta do not stick to the pan.
Stir in the arugula and then remove from heat.
Ladle the pasta into your serving dishes and then sprinkle with 2 Tbsp of the grated cheese.

Color Me Healthy – Mango Salsa

Did you know that with a few colorful additions to your menu you can add an abundance of healthful benefits? Phytonutrients, the compounds that give fruits and vegetables their colors, are also key to keeping our bodies healthy. And eating a rainbow of colors provides the best protection against numerous diseases from cancer to heart disease.

Beyond the health benefits, there is an aspect of joy that comes from sitting down in front of a beautiful array of colors. Additionally, research done at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that we tend to eat MORE if the serving includes a variety of colors – this is a good thing when it comes to fruits and vegetables!

To that end – I’m sharing with you my simple but tasty recipe for mango salsa. This salsa has the perfect balance of sweet and spicy and pairs best with a dish that also has a bit of heat to it.

Mango Salsa Recipe

1 Red Pepper (seeds removed)
1/4 Mango
1/2 Avocado (very soft and ripe)
1 Jalapeno (seeds removed)
1/4 Lemon (cut into two lengthwise pieces)

Slice the red pepper, avocado, and mango and then cut each slice into small pieces. Do the same for the avocado, handling with care as it will be more fragile.

Add everything into a bowl and sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt. Then squeeze both pieces of lemon over the top. Mix together carefully – the avocado is fragile and will become mush if you mix too strenuously.

My “go to” dish is to pair this with a blackened mild white fish, like the Walleye in the photo above. Place the fish on a bed of couscous, arrange the salsa on top, and add a side of baby spinach tossed in a fruit-infused olive oil (my favorite is the Kiwi infused oil from The Oil and Vinegar Cellar in Leavenworth, WA.)

Add a chilled bottle of Sashay Rosé from Frichette Winery and you are set with a perfect meal to wow your friends and family.

I would love to hear from those readers who tried this recipe – what did you pair it with?

Decisions can be exhausting

Did you know that there may be a reason you exhausted at the end of the day which has nothing to do with your sleep patterns, exercise, or nutrition. It may simply be a matter of how many decisions you are making!

It’s called Decision Fatigue…and yes…it’s a real thing. Why did Steve Jobs wear the iconic black turtleneck? Turns out he wasn’t necessarily trying to make a fashion statement. He recognized that he had a determinate capacity for making decisions each day. And he’s not the only one to take this approach. Mark Zuckerberg and Barack Obama have been known to do the exact same thing.

We want options. But the paradox is that, when presented with too many, we are stressed and driven to make less optimal decisions.

Photo by Victoriano Izquierdo on Unsplash

Here are a few ways you can combat decision fatigue:

(1) Plan out your work wardrobe for the week on Sunday night – or follow in the footsteps of Jobs and Zuckerberg by simplifying your wardrobe to just a few key pieces.

(2) Pre-make or purchase pre-made breakfasts and lunches to reduce decisions around meals.

(3) Make daily routine to follow such as exercising at the same time each day.

(4) Make the big important decisions in the morning.

These are just a few ideas to start with. Then, look for more ways to reduce the number of decisions you need to make each day – there are probably hundreds of decisions you could eliminate. For example, I am a project manager – the definition of a decision maker! I literally spend my entire day making decisions, which explains why I was feeling exhausted at the end of each day. So I delegated some of these to a junior project manager that I trusted. This gave her more responsibility which will help her grow her career AND helped me combat decision fatigue, leaving more energy and focus to tackle the tougher more critical decisions.

Did this article resonate with you? Leave a comment – I want to hear your thoughts on tackling decision fatigue!

Walking the Vineyard

Bring up the topic of “organic” and you’re going to find a plethora of opinions. Whether it is good for your health, the planet, or simply the moral thing to do is a question often bantered around at the local farmer’s market.

For several years I have chosen organic because I believe it is good for my health and for the environment. And right about now you’re thinking “so what does this have to do with walking a vineyard?” As it turns out, there is a Biodynamic vineyard right here in the Red Mountain AVA – Hedges Winery. Last weekend I attended an event there to learn more about the value of Biodynamic and to taste test my way through the vineyard with grapes and wines.

So what is Biodynamic? Basically it is similar to organic but extending to treat the entire unit (soil, plants, animals) as an enclosed ecosystem where everything is interconnected. And why does that matter? Because using this approach creates some fantastic wines that are not only free from unnatural additives (goodbye headaches!) but allow the full beauty of the grapes to be showcased as they were meant to be.

Crafting these wines begins in the vineyard. Since the winemaker will not be relying on additives to enhance the flavors of the wine, the care and feeding of the vines makes a huge impact.

While there are plenty of wineries in Washington, there are not a lot where the wine is grown and bottled right on the estate. Being able to walk the vineyard, taste the grapes that will become this year’s vintage, and compare to previous year’s for contrast on the impact of weather and age – that is a fantastic way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

The event closed out with a lunch prepared with ingredients from the estate’s on-premise garden and complimented by an array of wines to compare.

Hedges Winery often hosts events such as this one. If you live in Tri-Cities or are planning to visit soon, check out their events page and reserve out some time to visit them. While you are there, take some time to wander the premise as they have a beautiful property as well as an amazing garden.

SUP and Sunsets

The desert of Tri-Cities, WA offers up some of the most spectacular sunsets, and that twilight time of day is absolutely perfect in summer time. The temperature drops from the daytime blistering heat to a comfortable cool breeze, the crickets step up to their stage and begin their chorus, and everything seems to just take a long slow exhale into a restful state.

Often I will take in this perfect moment of the day on my porch with a glass of wine from one of our local Red Mountain AVA wineries. But recently I tried a new way to enjoy these sunsets – a new experience, and one that I enjoyed so much I plan to add to my inventory of “go to” summer activities. A moonlight SUP tour with Northwest Paddleboarding.

The tour begins right before sunset at the east end of Columbia Park .

Everything is provided, including these absolutely awesome LED lit paddles! And at this time of day most everyone has left the water for the evening leaving it smooth as glass and a perfect medium to reflect the sunset and the rising moon.

You will follow the shoreline down to Clover Island where the Cable Bridge lights offer another dramatic view which can only be experienced and appreciated from the water.

As you round the island into the marina, be prepared for the night life of the boat house parties – I had no idea how alive and festive the marina was at night!

When you finish the tour, walk over to Ice Harbor Brewer to enjoy some local brewed beer and great food. Or if you would like something simpler and lighter – try the blue food truck – Rollin, which serves fresh ice cream.