I knew I was attached to the house, in all of its colorful glory. I knew that I had fallen in love with “the country.” I especially knew how important my “country” friends had become. They are my family, even more so than some blood. We chose to be together.

A series of unfortunate events left me without a lot of choices. And at 30, one has to decide to put some things first. As an unattached babyless renter, your career tends to be the right choice. So I decided to pack up my things and move back to Long Island. For a reorg. A proper job search back in the city. And maybe even a recharge, refocus, regroup.

Dear friends in San Francisco insisted on a visit once the move was over. Smart move. I’ve been in the other coast for a few days now and I for the first time last night I didn’t shed a tear when my head hit the pillow. I was okay. Maybe the bedtime tears have run out. I know the talking about the roommate and the house tears have not. They are still strong and uninterrupted.

So, as the many many many decisions still need to be made as to what is next, there are a few things that are certain:

• My heart is fuller than it has ever been before.
• I am absolutely in love with the Hudson Valley.
• I will carefully look into all career moves with diligence and the emphasis on the right fit.

And I will absolutely continue to believe in my Nana’s words of wisdom, “Thea, you imagine it and then you make it happen.”

I turned 30.

Winter was lame in the Hudson Valley, no snow, no sleet, no ice. Weirdness.

I influenced the lives of Hofstra undergrads for eight week in a Public Relations Copywriting course. Like whoa.

I taught social media workshops for the continuing ed program at Ulster Community College.

Spoke to inspiring NYU alumni / women / friends who are changing the world. One day at a time. Keep going ladies.

Saw amazing world change start.

Welcomed spring. Thank the good lord.

And continued my journey on being good to the people around me. Through their stomachs.

As a young girl my mother made this dish. Then it was a special treat. Now it is one of my most favorite comfort foods. Peas, onions, chicken, sour cream, salt, pepper and egg noodles.

That is a stark difference from the “health” eating that has been happening.

The weather, another screwy thing around the Northeast lately, has provided some lovely sunsets.

The season of birthdays is upon us. Most recently we have toasted my incredibly talented work husband, my best friend’s fiance, my most favorite wingwoman in the entire word, my baby cousin who can’t possibly be 18 and his smarty pants sister who just hit the mid twenty mark, hopefully  to be her best years ever.

“Food is the most primitive form of comfort.” ~ Sheila Graham

Broccoli Apple Soup
Tortellini Soup with Beans and Chard
Crunchy Kale and Coconut Bowl
Vegan Lentil Chilli

And  then make sweets. Still in sweatpants.

Buckwheat Baby with Salted Carmel Syrup
Fruit Leather
White Buttercream and Chocolate Ganache
Triple Layer Carrot Cake

And then watch Glee, the Kardashians and New Girl on the DVR. Shockingly, in sweatpants.

The end.

Increase DIYing,  from sauces and breads to time capsules, pasta and rooster sauce and maybe even some coffee liqueur.

Travel.

Conquer everything on Bon Appetite’s 25 things… thinking the biggest challenge is going to be Tasmania.

Be comfortable in a bathing suit on my 30th birthday.

Step out of my comfort zone just because.

Learn how to type on t he new iPhone with only minimal auto-corrects.

Conquer my first class… as a… professor.

Take more pictures.

Enjoy and get to know Pinterest, Hipstomatic and my google reader better.

Get published in a food publication, online version would suffice.

Limit the people in my life who don’t value our friendship as much as I do and practice what I preach, all relationships have to be mutually beneficial at some point or another.

Accomplish at least five of these financial tips.

Dance around in my underwear [more].

Make parmesan crusted goat cheese with basil oil, spiced chai concentrate, vanilla bean syrup, and pork crown roast.

“The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

Recently stumbled upon a very interesting read. I am pretty sure this article is titled “Thea, 30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself“

Random baffle. When I lived in a one room apartment, I always put my clothes away in the drawers and closet. In a three bedroom house, my clothes are in the laundry room, on my bed and on the couch in my room.

I turn 30 in 64 days. Not excited. I will be here. With my favs. Uber excited.

I still love everything about baking. Phew.

I love love love our tree. And that the people I love helped decorate it.

I am incredibly thankful for all of the wonderful people in my life, especially during the holidays. You make my stomach hurt from of the laughter, back hurt from all of the chocolate cake I clean out of the kitchen tile grout, my head hurt from the nights of mixing, my heart hurt from the thought of not having these moments forever and my cheeks hurt from all of the smiling when I know we have it so good. So so so good.

And despite all of this holiday cheer in the country, no body does Christmas like NYC. And I am really looking forward to breathing is all in next week. I miss my city.

“I can hear people singing, it must be Christmas time.” ~ The Pretenders

2. In the effort to keep the Thanksgiving season a lottle longer, I have been encouraged to do 30 days of thankfulness. Today, more than anything, I am thankful for all the people who are on my sidelines. The ones with the pom poms, the ones with the meagphones, the ones with the signs. It seems that I have my very own cheersquad whenever I need one. And even when I don’t.

3. In hair news, I have bangs. And I want to braid my hair just like this.

4. It’s officially the holiday season! So very excited about collecting toys for Family of Woodstock, cutting down our own Christmas tree at Bell’s Christmas Trees, singing carols and sipping eggnog, holiday cocktail parties, spending time with my wonderful family and extended family AND welcoming in 2012.

5. We recently visited Lucas Vineyards in Interlaken, NY on a wine our. They have an awesome Tugboat Red. And a cute wine aficionado to tell you all about it. Worth the trip.

“Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.” ~ Henry Van Dyke

Crows perched at the Oregon Coast.

Sweet and cool sand on the west coast.

Best BELT (bacon, egg, lettuce and tomato) ever at the Love Joy Bakery.

I could get used to this Oregon place.

“We want you to visit our State of Excitement often. Come again and again. But for heaven’s sake, don’t move here to live. Or if you do have to move in to live, don’t tell any of your neighbors where you are going.” ~ Governor Tom McCall, 1971