Honey Roast Link Up

I saw this today and loved the idea! I hope I can come up with a few!

-- I am a good-parking-finder-gem! If you are trying to find a parking spot in a crowded area, wish you were in the car with me, we'd find one in no time flat, right out front!

-- I am great at efficiently using my time. I will be watching TV while cooking while texting while updating my calendar while writing someone snail mail. I just.can't.focus.on.one.thing.at.a.time.

-- I am notorious for sending thank-you cards.

-- I am great at not spending money. Yes, you read that right!

-- I am really great at planning, managing and coordinating. It's one of my favorite things...

And I will leave you with this hilarious video!

6 of 100 on the SF 2014 Big Eats list

As I mentioned here I have accepted the 2014 Big Eat places to eat list challenge. I am slowly, but surely, making my way through the list. I have checked 12 items off of the list and this weekend I checked off 6! Basically, I am using this list as an excuse to spend time with friends and family and so far it has been a lot of fun!

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Restaurant: Fog City

Dish: Frozen Custard with Egg Yolk Caramel

Verdict: Amazing

I met up with Melissa from Serving Seconds for happy hour cocktails and this delightful little dish. While we were taking pictures of it eating it the head chef approached us and told us about a secret menu item of a French cruller topped with the same frozen custard and the egg yolk caramel sauce. We decided to give the menu item a try, as well, and we were not disappointed! The cruller was freshly made for our order and was still warm when he brought it out.

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Restaurant: Magnolia Pub

Dish: Devils on horseback

Verdict: Good

I met up with my friend/coworker and we were going to cross two items off of the list. The devils on horseback and a tropical sundae from Ice Cream Bar & Soda Fountain. Sadly, the sundae is a seasonal item (was not mentioned on the list) and it won't be on the list until summertime. Also, the service was not the best at the ice cream shoppe, but oh well, we can chock it up that it was busy....

Anyway...the devils on horseback was pretty tasty, a bit too sweet for my liking, but it was great. We also ordered the scotch eggs, fish & chips and some beers. 

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Restaurant: Tartine Bakery

Dish: Seasonal bread pudding

Verdict: Okay

I met up with some other bloggers, Kelly from A Side of Sweet and Diana from DW Draws for breakfast treats at Tartine Bakery. We shared a few sweet pastries and I ordered their vegetarian quiche. The bread pudding was loved by everyone and the quiche was amazing. Honestly, I am not a big bread pudding fan...the texture is a bit weird for me. But those who ate it said it was amazing, so we will go with that :-)

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Restaurant: Craftsman and Wolves

Dish: The rebel within

Verdict: Amazing!

Because there are so many items on this list, I decided to create some Alumnae Chapter (for my sorority) events to get in some fun/quality sister time as well as check off this list. So, I planned for us to visit a few more restaurants within walking distance of each other in the Mission (district in SF). We met at Craftsman and Wolves and ate this life changing treat. Like, OMG, so good! It is a savory muffin - I think there was even bacon in it! Seriously, so good! Then we walked back to Tartine Bakery so these ladies could try the bread pudding and then we headed for some fries at Namu Gaji!

Restaurant: Namu Gaji

Dish: Gamja Fries

Verdict: Delicious

These fries were spicy, flavorful and amazing! The steak on top was perfectly cooked and the sauce was like a homemade siracha sauce. You eat them with chopsticks and I recommend an ice cold beer!

Restaurant: Papalote

Dish: Chips & Salsa

Verdict: Good

We decided to skip Bi-Rite ice cream (which is right next door to Namu Gaji) and head to Papalote instead for some chips, salsa and margaritas. The salsa is tasty and then, at the very end, super spicy. We all agreed that the salsa would have been better as a sauce on tacos or something rather than chips. And instead of margaritas (no margs here) we got a cheesy bean dip and guacamole. Let's just say we ate it all even though none of us were hungry!

Since we had our hearts set on margaritas, we went on a mission to find them. We stopped into a Tacolicious and split a pitcher. It was the perfect end to our first-edition food tour.

I hope I haven't made you all too hungry. If you have a chance to stop into any of these spot, I totally recommend it!

Buon Appetito

I can't wait for summer because...

I enjoy summer, but I wouldn't say that it is my favorite season. I prefer the fall. I love the cool weather and all of the beautiful colors. But, I am especially excited for this summer to arrive because this year (academic year) has been a big challenge and I am ready for school to be out!

I cannot wait for summer because....

...school will be out

...Rich won't have to spend all of his waking hours studying

...Rich and I will be working in the same city [which means....]

...lots of happy hours and date nights will be had

...I get to spend lots of time with some of my favorite people

...I am planning to go to my sorority's international convention and finally meet the chapter I have been working with

...spending long weekends away is pure and total bliss

...beach time is the best, even if the norcal beaches are cold, who cares, it's the beach

...picnics in the park are my favorite

...longer daylight hours means great food, awesome people and fun adventures

...we have the travel bug something fierce

...we get to be a part of not one, not two, but three of our closest friends nuptials  - love is definitely in the air

...spending time with the people we love most cannot be beat!

Why are you looking forward to summer???

5 on Friday

1. Great article about making the most out of life! // I love my some Grease John Travolta, but seriously, what the heck happened at the Oscars?! This is too funny! According to him, I am Leah Whayte // This Secret Mother is an inspiration and a true hero for what she is doing. I mean, wow! // Watch out for a phishing scam targeting Netflix // Who knew bananas were soo good for you?!

2. It wouldn't be 5 on Friday without an article or a video about self image :-)

3. This is so beautiful

4. We celebrated Rich's birthday at my parents house last weekend. Before celebrating I participated in a self defense class, then wine tasting in what seemed to be someone's garage and then with lots of margaritas, wine and delicious food!! Happy birthday to my sweet husband!

 

5. I have decided that spin class (a) is the most difficult class at the gym (b) is located in the room at the top of the gym with an unbeatable view of the Bay Bridge and the water (c) is totally my thing because (d) they play only my jams! The class started with a Sister Hazel song, if that doesn't get you pumped, nothing will! The instructor also played this adorable song that I am now obsessed with!How have I not heard it before..oh yeah, because I listen to NPR in the car...

Happy Friday! Happy Weekend!

*5 on Friday Link Up 

Confessions on Wednesday

I saw this on a few blogs this morning and thought I'd join in!

I cannot say 'no' to Sea Salt & Vinegar chips

Seriously. It's a love/hate relationship. They taste oh-so-good but make my tummy oh-so-upset. They will be the death of me, as well as give me a stomach ache every time I eat them. You'd think I'd learn...nope, keep 'em coming.

I totally believe in mind over matter

 If you believe you are happy, you will be happy. Some may call this 'fake it 'til you make it,' I call it 'life, enjoy it'.

I really really really want to be a runner...

But I just don't like running. Like, the act of running. I would rather spend an hour on the stair master than run . I'd rather do the dishes, clean the house and vacuum than run. I don't know what it is about it. I love how I feel afterward, but actually doing it is like pulling teeth.

Sometimes blogging scares me

I enjoy writing this blog, but sometimes I wonder why I do it. Who is reading it. Should said people be reading it.

I have an overactive imagination

i.e. I have terrible dreams most nights out of the week and I sometimes imagine unspeakable things happening to me. Does that make you uncomfortable? Yeah, me too!

I want, more than anything, to live abroad

Rich and I have talked a lot about what we will do after Law School. It is such a loaded question because we have no idea what we will want or who we will be in 3 years time. So much unknown gives me anxiety.

I am totally type-A

Case and point: I wanted to eat at all of the restaurants on the 7x7 Big East 2014 list that San Francisco has put out for this year. So, of course, I downloaded the app, opened it up in map view and created a spreadsheet where I listed every restaurant that was in a walkable area of each other. This way I can knock out multiple spots at a time..is that soo bad? No! It's efficient!

I think that I have confessed enough for today. Whew, I feel soo much better!

5 on Friday!

1. This video is seriously amazing. Check out that talent! 

 

2. I can totally relate to these figure skating thoughts! I mean, seriously, how on earth do they do this?!

3. FRIENDS is my most favorite show. This is hilarious! #lobsterlove

4. Rich and I were talking over the weekend and we have decided that it would be best if we went on a fun trip over his winter break. We were originally talking about going before his summer internship, but we don't know when he is going to start and if we try to go once his internship ends we run into OCI (On Campus Interviews - for next summer). So by winter break he should already have a job lined up and he won't have to stress about finding one. Now...where should we go?! In December? Any ideas??

5. I have decided that I am going to accept this challenge. I am going off of what the app says, not this site...no, I don't understand why they aren't the same...

*5 on Friday Link Up 

I'm the kinda girl who...

 ...is her moms best friend, and vice versa

...is friendly, outgoing and would do anything for her friends and family

...goes out of her way to help strangers/tourists

...reads too deep into emails and text messages

...doesn't like the word 'hate'

...keeps in touch

...believes in something bigger and better than herself

...enjoys sitting on the couch and relaxing

...says 'guzuntight' instead of 'bless you'

...isn't your typical 'sorority girl'

...is very curious and isn't afraid to ask 'loaded questions'

...loves wine and cheese night and the special-occasion fondue

...is excited to try new things and go new places

...binge watches shows on netflix & amazon prime 

...is extra sensitive and gets her feelings hurt easily

...is passionate, driven and hardworking 

...loves her husband with her whole heart

...loves to smile

5 on Friday

1. I am looking to order one of my very best friend's bridal shower invitations. I want to go with a local spot or with a shop on Etsy. Does anyone out there recommend a card maker?? Please help a girl out! ;-)

2. I am loving the 90s pop Pandora station. Like, seriously. // Who doesn't love wine?! This is awesome! My company is its own country!

3. Superbowl Sunday was my littlest brother's 13th birthday. The little guy is finally a teenager and I am pretty sure my parents are elated sad to not have any kids in the house anymore. #heartbreakersince2001

 4. Honestly, I haven't been much in the mood for blogging this week. Sadly, my family experienced a great loss last week and we are still recovering and celebrating the long life that was lived. Likely, there will be more to come sometime in the future. Always with death comes celebrations of life. I have been able to spend a little bit of time with my family, which has been a blessing.

5.Rich's classmate and fellow Marine has worked so hard to help his interpreter from Afghanistan get an American Visa and it finally happened! Read the article here. Mohammad has an incredible story and he is a kind and gentle man. Just a few days after he arrived in the US, I had the privileged of meeting him, sharing a glass of wine and listening to him speak. His story is one of perseverance and I know that his loved ones will join him here some day very soon!

*5 on Friday Link Up 

Five on Friday

1. Loved this TED talk. I have never dated on-line, unless you count that Rich and I like to joke that we met on myspace... anywhoooo. We have a dating portion to our site and one of our engineers shared this with us. And this article, too!

2. I walked across the Bay Bridge again this past weekend with one of my best friends from childhood! It was awesome to catch up while getting our hearts pumping!

3. I got to play tour guide, in my own city, over the weekend to a friend Rich and I met on our Trek to Machupicchu! We got to spend some time with her when we were in Phoenix and tried to convince her to visit us in San Francisco. And she did!! (more on her trip next week)

4. Last Friday was the Bay Area Blogger Soiree hosted by the lovely Jamie & Latrina at Brit & Co. It was so much fun! I left my phone in my purse and spent my time mingling and chatting - I know how very 'unblogger' of me! ;-) There were some awesome women there and it was fun to finally put faces to the blogs! I even won a real-life rafflecopter: A cute purse!

5. I would like to give a shout out to my sweet husband. He is wonderful and I love him and I am more than proud of him. He is rocking Law School and I could not be more excited to spend this summer with him! He is going to internship in San Francisco, which means that we can act like a real married couple for 10 weeks - no studying at night and on the weekends - and I cannot be more excited!

*5 on Friday Link Up 

5 on Friday

1. Dare I say that I am glad that the holidays are over? I don't mean any disrespect to the holiday season, but, I am exhausted (!) and so ready to be back to my regular routine: sleeping in my own bed, cooking and eating healthfully, the daily grind of typical work, less stimulation and all around calm. *Phew* Don't get me wrong, I love spending time with family and friends from near and far, there is really nothing better, but I definitely need a vacation from our vacations!

2. Surprise! Rich and I went to Arizona for 5 days to celebrate my FIL's 60th birthday! It was a great trip! We got lots of family time in, experienced some Arizona sites, ate and drank to our hearts content, saw a few friends and met one of my best girlfriends new baby!

Tonto National Park, Arizona

3. I am not big into making New Years Resolutions. I hardly ever keep them and then I beat myself up for breaking them. So, for the past few years, as I reflect on the previous year I think about the aspects of my life where I want to improve. Every year, judge less and love more is on my list. This year, I wan to volunteer once per month. Alone. Only Me. Yup, I want to do this for myself, I don't want it to be a social get together, I want to use the time to focus on the organization I choose and live, love, reflect and make a difference.

4. 2014 is going to be a great year. There will be a lot of unknown, living, friends, healing, frustration, excitement, change, love, exercising, family and hopefully travel. I can't wait to see what the year has in store for me and for my family!

5. And last but certainly not least: mid January, a friend of mine is hosting a Bay Area Blogger Meetup! Check it out here and definitely come if you can! It will be tons of fun....! I am caking on the peer pressure, cantcha tell?!

*5 on Friday Link Up 

Holiday Cards & a Giveaway

After mulling over all of the amazing holiday cards out there on the interwebs and agonizing about which 2013 life events to share with all of our close family and friends, we decided on the card below. The card picking and making process looks a little something like this: I search and create mockups of all types of holiday cards and then send my narrowed down (usually 2 or 3) choices and he picks his favorite and voila, our card for the year is complete!

 (front)

(back)

Since the beginning of December  we have been receiving holiday cards from around the country and we I could not be more excited! I have them all hanging in our kitchen and they all remind me of how blessed we are to be surrounded by awesome people who love us and who we love!

However, yesterday, I came across a viral video gem that puts our card and most everyone elses (no offense!) holiday card to shame...

Let's take a look, shall we?

This is seriously too perfect!

I am pretty sure that everyone can expect this from Rich and I next year! Ok, ok, maybe not exactly, but some very similar! 

Happy holidays and happy 1 week until Christmas! (Say WHAT?!)

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I also wanted to mention that a dear college friend and Alpha Gam sister is hosting a giveaway on her blog! Jamie is partnering with Munchery for a $25 giveaway. The giveaway is only for Bay Area residents - even if you don't live in the area, feel free to sign up and give it as a gift for your bay area friends! She is also offering a 20% discount if you use jforjamie20percent coupon code upon check out! Check it out and enjoy!

Details here

*no this is not a sponsored post :-)

5 on Friday

1. This Video

think about it.

Definitely gets you thinking about food, what is acceptable for fast food chains to put in their "food" and what we willingly put in our bodies. I am not saying that I don't eat the occasional bad-for-me treats, but I do overwhelm our diets with healthy meals that include lots of veggies with carbs and cheese in moderation. This also gets you thinking about how one person can make a difference. No more excuses! Lets make a difference for ourselves, our society and our future! 

2. This Video

hilariously funny.

(yes...I went there) I love using hashtags, though sometimes I forget to, they are fun and I have definitely seem some that crack me up! However, when they are used in excess, I want to explode! C'mon people! One, maybe two, is enough.

3. Job Searching 

Alright, in all seriousness.... I need a job! I have been searching high and low on job posting sites, I am working with recruiters and networking, networking, networking! I know I haven't been on the search for too long, but I am starting to get restless. Do you all have any great tips to share? Please send them my way! Thanks soo much in advance!

4. AGD

I am proud to say that my collegiate chapter is going through recruitment this weekend and I am more than excited for them! I know that they are going to ROCK it and recruit amazing women to join our sisterhood!

I would also like to brag about the chapter that I have recently started to support in North Carolina - they pinned 15 new members this semester bringing their house up to chapter total! I am soo honored to be apart of this exciting time of year! What a great adventure! I can't wait to see what comes during their formal recruitment in the spring!

WooHoo!

5. This Blog (The Law Student's Wife)

Don't all of these recipes look freaking a-mazing!?

I want to make this, this, this, this, this, this and this. Oh and maybe this, too!

Was that too much? Sorry...I'm not sorry.

both videos were sent to me by one of my dear friends, you know me all too well! - you know who you are, thanks!

Day 19: A few of My Favorite Blogs

This is a tough one! I have some many that I enjoy reading. I guess the following are the ones I conciously check, and don't just wait to see them come up. In alpha order :-) Adrienne at AOD Daily I love to keep up with her life! We met in college and we both have come so far in our lives and its always fun to stay in touch! Ty at Arkansassy I love the tone of this blog! She is hilarious and sarcastic and I love it! Jessica at Heart on Homestead Jessica has a sweet little boy who is too cute not to look at! Nicole at La Mia Vita Nicole is a great photographer and loves to travel, eat, drink and have a grea time! She and I met in college and I love to keep in touch! Lacey at Lacey in the City Lacey has been on so many awesome adventures around the country, is beautiful inside and out and has a zest for life that everyone should aspire to have! Lacey and I are friends from college and I enjoy keeping in touch! Kingsley at Life as Griki Kingsley and I are friends from high school and she started her blog when she moved out of CA to live with her husband. I think we bonded because her husband was in the Army and mine the Marine Corps so it is neat to swap military stories! Rebekah at Life with the Edwards I am excited to see where her life takes her on this amazing adventure of motherhood and military life! Lindsay at Love in Her Eyes I love reading this lifestyle blog - it is funny because since I started following Lindsay she has had more than one blog name and each one has been better than the last! She is passionate about her husband and health and I enjoy reading about her LA adventures! Hilary at Pearls & Hoses Hilary is a newer addition to my favorites. She has a fun blog to read! Jenni at Story of My Life Jenni is hosting this awesome linkup! And I enjoy reading her blogging "how-to's" and getting inspired by her.

Tracy at Then I Got to Thinking

Tracy is a sweet, loving and adventurous woman who is also very inspiring and always has been! She and I were friends in college and I enjoy staying involved in her life through her blog!

Nicole at Treasure Tromp

Nicole and I just met through a sorority function and we found out we each had a blog and I have been checking in with her life ever since!

Jenn at West Sac Honey Jenn is so honest and candid in her posts and I love to read about what she is up to! Jenn was the chapter president of my sorority when I initiated, so I, obviously, look up to her and love to see what she is up to! Challenge: Day 19: Five A Few of My Favorite Blogs & Why

Day 16: Why 30 is Not the new 20

I am taking today to share this TED video with you. As a woman in my twenties this video/talk is very inspiring, uplifting and empowering. "30 is not the new 20. So claim your adulthood. Get some identity capital. Use your weak ties. Pick your family. Don't be defined by what you didn't know or didn't do. You're deciding right now." What this video and bask in all of its glory!  --- Today's challenge: My Lot in Life Why 30 is NOT the new 20.

Why I Started Blogging..

I saw this link up last week and thought it would be fun to read some of my first blog posts. You can find my very first one here.
Wow! ha!

Reading this made me smile and it brought me back to that time in my life. The summer of 2009. This was the summer I was supposed to graduate from college. But since I couldn't make up my mind on what I wanted to major it, I had another year left. I was working in housing and for a private equity company Downtown San Francisco. I had not a care in the world except to get some work experience and have fun. I had been with my boyfriend (now husband) for almost a year. We had endured a deployment and lived apart for most of our relationship. We met through the lovely woman who I dedicated my first blog post to - his sister, my Alpha Gamm sister, my friend.

I started out writing about: current events - hello, what happened to Michael Jackson, Relationships, Inspiration,  Restaurant Reviews, Youtube Videos and Recipes (which is still make, to.this.day.) - all while incorporating fun colors and fonts what was i thinking?!

This blog has definitely gone through a lot - life, jobs, friends, travel, family, moving, life, health, wedding, moving, fitness, marriage, well being, recipes/food, family, friends, travel, life. I have kept up with this blog daily, weekly, monthly. I have neglected it. I had it designed, I designed it myself.

This blog really does represent who I am, what I am going through and what is important to me. Of course life isn't perfect, I don't use this space of mine to complain and vent about the bad things, I use it to highlight the fun/exciting/beautiful things that I am up to and what is most important in my life. I mean seriously, who wants to read about what 'Debbie Downer' is doing? No one.

I use this blog to catalog my life and share it with my family and friends. To keep in touch. I use this blog as a portal to keep it touch with my friends in far away places and learn new and exciting things.

Thanks for reading!
And going on a trip down memory lane with me! ;-)

Never Ever Ever - Link Up

Never Ever Ever will you Ever hear me say... 1. Let's get fast food for dinner 2. Traveling is so boring 3. I can' relate any real life event to any FRIENDS episode 4. I'd rather have water than a margarita 5. That is too many chips for me 6. Garlic bread is too garlicy 7. I hate cuddling and hand holding 8. I don't facebook stalk 9. Adventures are no fun 10. I usually can't find anything to talk about Linking up with Neely

Loving: My Husband!

As always, I am loving my husband.

It is so hard to describe how happy I am when I am around this man.

A friend said to me, this past week, that love is a choice. We choose to love each other. This statement resonated with me. Rich and I choose to love each other, every day, to and to take care of each other and to work through the tough conversations and enjoy the amazing memories we make with each other every day.

He is truly my partner. We work together, strive to communicate well and, above all else, push each other to be the best we can be. He is my biggest cheer leader, and I his. We know when to take life seriously, when to take moments with a grain of salt and when to roll with the punches.

We know how to laugh together and love each other.

All I can say is thank you.

linked with wilw

Loving: Family Time!

Linking with WILW

My handsome teenage brother playing baseball for the high school team against their rival high school

Hanging with my mom

Santa Monica with my husband and his parents!

Life is great!

Bloglovin

I have made the switch to Bloglovin!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Loving: Weekend Lunch Dates

What I'm Loving Today:

Over the weekend I got to catch up with one of my greatest friends!

We walked around, window shopped and enjoyed brunch with bottomless mimosas.

We had brunch at Areal on their cute patio outside and shared a couple of menu options.

When we get together, we usually share a few items from the menu so we can taste more things!

Vanilla Dipped French Toast

(Dessert for breakfast = this dish!)

House Made Veggie Burger

There was hummus instead of mayo on this = to. die. for.

My lovely friend and I!

Linked up with This kind of Love