Over the years I have amassed a collection of fortunes. Some were affixed to our fridge. Others were in a ring box. And still others were tossed in with scrapbooking supplies. In total, I had 43 fortunes. "No one knows what he can do until he tries." " If you follow someone else, you are ignoring your own path. " "Fame and fortune are in your stars." "Turn your thoughts within - find yourself." "You are contemplative and analytical by nature." "Your careful nature will bring you financial success." "Follow your honest beliefs to stay strong." "Take the right action and your future will bring your heart's desire." " You will be fortunate in the opportunities presented to you. " "Put yourself proudly in front of the world and declare your place." "Assert yourself, your ideas are worthwhile." "Your road to glory will be rocky, but fulfilling." "Stay close to you...

Mornings have been chilly recently, leading me to consider a pair of comfy slippers as I wander around the apartment. There are lots of cozy options from practical to whimsical. The Finds (top clockwise) : Cat Slipper, Grey, $71.00 ; Warm Whiskers Heated Cat Slippers, $26.99 ; Isabel Slides, Daniel Green, Black Suede, $37.99 ; Shagilicious Slippers, Patricia Green, Blue and White, $43 ; Teresa Booties, Daniel Green, White, $36 ; Pink Bear Claw Animal Slippers, $21.99 ; Pink Pig Animal Slippers, $24.99 . What would you choose: fun animals or cozy slides? Ciao Bella! Eden   Credits: All images taken by their respective sellers: Amazon.com , Mookie Gifts , and Zappos.com . Collage created by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.

For New Year's eve cubes and I had dinner at Mission Beach Cafe . They offered a special five-course dinner. I chose Mission Beach Cafe for dinner, because 1) the great food, 2) the friendly staff, and 3) it's where cubes and I celebrated our first new year's as a couple. We dine at Mission Beach Cafe a lot as they regularly serve up food (and desserts) that satisfy my pregnancy cravings. In late summer, early autumn, I devoured their gazpacho - made with pickles in place of cucumbers. Then I fell in love with their bean soup. Now, I'm loving their winter squash soup, which I had just this past Thursday. Of course, there's the given that I'll end my meal with Sour Cherry Pie. The only decision is whether I'll be taking two slices to go or eating one in the restaurant. (Sometimes I've so overindulged on the food that I've left no room for dessert.) A not so subtle hint to any friends reading - Mission Beach Cafe would be an awesome place for my baby s...

I look forward to each month's post filled with catalogs from some of my favorite stores: Sur La Table, Williams Sonoma, and more. I clip recipes, ideas for dinner parties, and of course, gadgets. Here's a roundup of some of my favorite gadgets from 2011. The Finds: Cooper Cooler Rapid Beverage & Wine Chiller, $79.95 ; Chicago Metallic Pie Mold, $24.95 ; Cuisinart Pulp Control Citrus Juicer, $29.95 ; Waring DF175 Deep Fryer, 3L Digital, $99.99 ; Kuhn Rikon Spill STOP Lids, Small $24.95 and Large $29.95 ; All-Clad Belgian Waffle Makers , 2-square, $179.95, and 4-square, $199.95; Calphalon Classic Round Waffle Maker, $69.95 ; Personal Embosser with Stand, $39.95 . Not all of the gadgets I clip/pick are practical; for example, waffle makers - haven't yet found a non-dairy recipe that satisfies my tastebuds or a deep fryer - I'm deathly afraid of cooking with hot oil. Did you get any cool gadgets in 2011? Bon Apetit! Eden   Credits: All images taken by their respect...

2011 can be summarized as a year in which cubes and I spent a lot of time together, ate lots of good food, and traveled near and far. Of all the places we ate, two stand out the most: The French Laundry and Rebel. In 2010, we missed out on dining at The French Laundry for our mini-moon. A local gave us a tip for grabbing a table and in February, just in time for my birthday, we received a call that a table was available. The French Laundry lived up to the hype and exceeded our very high expectations. Rebel stood out because until it opened down the street from us, barbecue that gave my Texas barbecue memories a run for the money was in short supply in California. Rebel offers many sauces; two are my faves: Original and Carolina Mustard. I love Original on all the meats and Carolina Mustard on the fries. In addition to great food, there were two transitions. The first, cubes and I got pregnant and are expecting a baby girl in March 2012. The second, after years of being a member of Jew...

Besides my craving for Sour Cherry pie, how does a restaurant keep us coming back again and again? Two words: creativity and consistency. Mission Beach Cafe's menu presents new interpretations of old favorites and consistently delivers well-prepared dishes. First let me say that Mission Beach Cafe has spoiled me when it comes to soup. On Christmas, I immediately compared the first taste I took of a Kombucha Squash Soup at TusCa to the squash soups I get here. And of course, it didn't live up. I don't how they can make vegan soup so flavorful, but they do. When the weather is cool (and even when it's not), I frequently find myself craving soup. Not any soup, but soup prepared like Mission Beach Cafe's soup. (In a pinch, I used to be able to satisfy my soup cravings with Pacific Natural Foods' Organic Creamy Butternut Squash Soup , but now I can't. I'm really going to have to perfect my soup making abilities as we can't always get a table spur of the m...

It seems as though every time I have a blood test, a new vitamin is prescribed: D3 the first time and now Iron. So today's Friday Funny comes from Stan and Jan Berenstain's Marital Blitz (Third Printing, 1969). Ciao Bella! Eden   Credits: All images taken by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.