Getting Started

Hello all for the first time.
Ok, I have been talking about starting a blog for months (and quite a bit today) and tonight was inspired by my favourite food blog, smittenkitchen.com, to finally put my thoughts into the universe on my favourite things: food, wine, travel and the other pleasures that make my life worth living. Why not create a space to share all things enjoyable and decadent?
There are so many possible names for a blog, but I have settled on 'good life' as this blog will hopefully be an ode to just plain enjoying ourselves and doing the things we love.
Al is watching New Zealand vs France play in the Rugby World Cup and I am drinking a nice glass of Ozzie Shiraz while typing this in. Everyone is happy!

So here's the recipe that got my started - red wine chocolate cake - simple yet delicious.  It appealed to me because it seemed like an interesting twist to a basic recipe that would transform it into something just a little different (and it also contains red wine!).  Check out the recipe at the following link: http://smittenkitchen.com/2011/09/red-wine-chocolate-cake/#more-7855. 

THE INSPIRATION:

A few months ago my good friend 'Mehran from Chicago' said "you should start a blog" because I recommended bucketloads of New Zealand wines for him, and he said he'd use me as his personal wine consultant any day - I think he liked my recommendations. He also liked my cooking so how could I not love this guy! He was only in New Zealand for about 8 months, but was a great friend to meet and he certainly left his mark on dineout.co.nz with his many colourful restaurant reviews. Thanks Mehran, you planted the seed.
So here are a few of my blog inspirations:
FOOD AND WINE NIGHTS:
I spend an inordinately large amount of time around various kitchen tables with great friends eating the multitude of interesting courses we've cooked up and drinking way too much wine to go with it.  There's nothing I like more than sharing a great meal with family and friends and having a good time.  Also, Lab Night at Pinot Plus in Takapuna is a gathering to behold, organised by my good friends Jo and Elle.  The next one will be the 1 year anniversary of our monthly get togethers. And of course First Glass deserves an honorable mention because that fueled the wine habit in the first place.
 BAD HABITS:
I have in excess of 200 cookbooks, a gazillion cooking magazines, and most cooking utensils available to cook kind (except sharp knives - a story for another day), and enjoy unwinding from my busy corporate life by being creative in the kitchen.
TRAVEL:
Lots of our travel of late includes Wine and Food and I generally can't wait for the next wine adventure with Mark and Cath - the last one was to South Australia which of course is the heart of many of the world's great wines. I've also been a keen traveller since the age of 7 when I went overseas for the first time.  We live in New Zealand, with family in Canada, USA, and Germany, and I have left my heart in most continents around the world.
DISTANCE: Most of my family lives overseas. My sister joined me in New Zealand and its so great to have her here, but I thought this would be a good way to keep in touch with everyone else.  Most times when I catch up with my mom on Skype, we are sharing recipes and ideas so this will hopefully enrich those conversations. 

So, here we go, I hope this is an enjoyable experience for us all!
Evelyn