geneva Archives - Page 9 of 18 - My Healthy, Happier Life

ashleyd / December 1, 2013

Dirty Thirty Part One: The Party

If the rest of this year is anything like this weekend, then 30 is going to be one hell of a year! The birthday weekend included a perfect mix of relaxation, fresh air, bubbly, running, dancing, and friends! I am going to divide the weekend recap into two parts, beginning with my birthday party which took place on Friday night.

I was worried that having my birthday party on Friday night, after we hosted everyone for Thanksgiving on Thursday night would be a lot, but in fact it just enhanced the weekend. Bo and I both took Thursday and Friday off of work which was a lovely treat and allowed both us to enjoy some quality time together in the kitchen and then with our friend Michael on Friday who was in town from New York City. People had the opportunity to catch up and enjoy long conversations on Thursday night during Thanksgiving festivities whereas Friday night was all about partying as you’ll be able to see in some of these pictures.

Ten of us met at 8:30 for dinner and drinks at Le Crise, a small French restaurant in Eaux Vives just down the hill from our flat. I haven’t been to Le Crise since last February when I stayed with Renaud and Sarah but the food left such an impression on me that it was my first choice for a birthday dinner location. The environment is conducive for parties as the music is loud, the prices are reasonable and the owners help create an unpretentious, fun atmosphere through the décor and their personalities. The menu is shared orally with each table, including 5 daily appetizers and 5 daily entrees all of which are very French and take advantage of seasonal produce. As it turned out, most of our table chose the same two appetizers and entrees: escargot or salad with warm Chevre cheese then either lamb or duck.

Over the course of our delicious dinner we went through 8 bottles of wine, including two bottles of bubbly. To say our group was having fun would be an understatement!

After the dinner dishes were cleared lights, music, a horrible faux wig, and giant sunglasses were graced upon me in true birthday style. Bo ordered a gorgeous and delicious vanilla sponge cake with alternating layers of vanilla and Nutella frosting from Cammie Loves Cakes in Geneva.

After dinner our group headed to Le Baroque for hours of dancing and merry making. It may sound crazy, but as I’ve grown older I love nights out dancing with friends and therefore this was one of my primary birthday requests for the weekend. I’m not the type of person who goes clubbing on a weekly basis but every now and then, on a special occasion, I love it!

It was such a wonderful night with great friends! By 4am we were all home and in bed, ready for some much needed recovery.

I hope you all have had an equally wonderful weekend! Happy December!

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ashleyd / November 29, 2013

Thanksgiving in Geneva

From our home to yours, I hope you had a wonderful day of rest with friends and family. Our house officially felt like a home last night! We hosted 12 friends last night including one special guest from New York City! Our friend Michael added Geneva to his European trip so he could celebrate Thanksgiving and my birthday with us this weekend. It was so fun to introduce him to our Geneva friends who he has heard so much about the past few months!

Our flat’s open floor plan proved to be perfect for hosting and entertaining as the guests could easily flow from the kitchen, living room and dining area.

After spending eight hours in the kitchen together and a few very stressful moments, the evening came together perfectly! Both our European and American friends enjoyed themselves and their first taste of Thanksgiving. I can’t believe last night was the first time many of our friends, including those from Belgium, enjoyed raw brussels sprouts!

Our dinner was a bit of a potluck as everyone contributed something whether dessert, wine, appetizer, or side dish. As the hosts, Bo and I made the salad course, turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie! The last guests didn’t leave until well past midnight and there were over 16 bottles of wine recycled this morning!

Today was spent relaxing with Bo and Michael as I took the day off from work to both kick off my birthday celebrations and relax after Thanksgiving. After sleeping until 10 we spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon enjoying cappuccino and quiche at a local bakery followed by a long walk through Geneva.

The rest of the afternoon and evening involve birthday festivities with our friends! It’s time to toast to turning 30! I couldn’t be more excited to dance the night away! While I wish I could transport my US based friends to the event, I’m thankful for tonight’s celebration with our Geneva friends!

Are you team pumpkin, pecan or neither? I’m team Pumpkin Pie for LIFE!

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ashleyd / November 16, 2013

An Autumn Adventure Up The Saleve

Happy Saturday!

As promised by many of the locals in Geneva, the rainy, gray days of November have arrived. While the cool, gray weather can get depressing, I find that the best way to stay happy is through exercise and fresh air! Renaud suggested we head up to the Saleve this morning to see the path in Autumn beauty!

After 9 months of raving about the great trail running and hiking adventure I experienced on the Saleve in February, I was excited to share to finally share the beauty with Bo and two other friends. Our group of 5 met this morning at the bus stop outside our flat at 8, ready to head over towards the base of the Saleve. The weather was around 33 degrees though Renaud expected temperatures in the 20s once we reached the top of the Saleve.

By 8:30 we arrived at the small town a mile from the trail entrance, ready for a great morning. I wasn’t sure how today’s experience would compare to the winter hike and run as I knew there would be wet leaves in place of snow. After our mile warm-up run towards the trail Renaud shared his tips with the group, advising that we find a slow, steady pace up the mountain or our “hearts would explode.” He warned us of slippery rocks and loose leaves.

Over the next hour our path took us up along the mountain with sporadic views out of the fog, overlooking Geneva. Though our lungs and legs were burning, everyone was enjoying the experience. Anytime the trail was flat we would run as quickly as possible but the rest of the time, especially in the steep areas, we hiked at as fast a pace as possible.

The next hour of the adventure we encountered snow, beginning first in small clumps on the trees and then it eventually surrounded us. While I love Fall, I definitely find a peaceful beauty in the Saleve when the trail is dusted with snow. The temperatures also dropped quite quickly, causing each of us to add our extra layers including globes, ear warmers and wind breakers. As we summited the Saleve we felt as if we were in a snow globe. The fog limited our view to only a few feet in front of us but the snow and brisk air was exhilarating! Check out the amazing snow and icicles covering the tree limbs! By this point our ponytails were covered in snow and ice. Even my eyelashes were covered in small icicles! Our journey down required a great deal of caution, more so than last year in the snow. The steep decline down was covered in exposed roots and stones, many of which had frost or icy patches. In addition, without the snow to cover the path our fears were a bit more present. On our way down we even saw a natural bridge and explored a cave path complete with icicles and a chain link railing to support us. More than 3 hours later our group of five found ourselves high fiving and celebrating a successful 8 miles adventure up and down the Saleve! While it was far harder this year due to the wet and slippery leaves, I still enjoyed every moment. The mix of hiking and running left me exhilarated and humbled. I know I will be sore tomorrow! I can’t wait to return in a few weeks, after the first big snow, to enjoy the snow covered trails again.