FRIEND's Birthday Dinner

Disclaimer:

When I cook, I eyeball it...that is how my mom does it, so I learn it all from her...sometimes it works...sometimes it doesn't--Monday night worked :-)

Pesto Pasta:

Bunch of Basil

2ish Cloves of Garlic

Mint

Salt

Pepper

Olive Oil

Put all of the ingredients into a food processor and process it until everything in it is really fine. Boil the Pasta and mix the pesto sauce with the noodles.

Add any cooked vegetables--I like baby potatoes and green beans. But you can add anything you want.

Garlic Bread:

(I like French Baguettes and Sour Dough Baguettes. I think that Sour Dough adds a little tang so I prefer Sour Dough. We used Sour Dough on Monday Night.)

(eyeball estimate)

Baguette

2-3 Cloves of Garlic

1/2 stick of butter

Salt

Pepper

Cut the bread in half (long ways). In a small bowl use 1/2 of a cube of room temperature butter and mince 2-3 cloves of garlic and mix together. Add some salt and pepper and spread over the two halves of bread.

Put in the oven and broil it until the bread starts to brown. Keep an eye on it, it should only be a few minutes.

Dessert: (again, I eyeball)

Heavy Whipping Cream

2/3 Tbls sugar

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 tsp Almond Extract

Berries of Choice

Pound Cake

After dinner liqueur

In a mixing bowl, mix heavy whipping cream, sugar and vanilla extract and almond extract until the mixture is the consistency of whipped cream. You can adjust the sugar levels if you want it to be sweater or less sweet. If you use sweet fruits, it is not necessary to make the whipped cream very sweet.

Dice up the fruit and mix with a shot of the after dinner liqueur (use your best judgment). This is also good WITHOUT the liqueur. Dice up the pound cake in to small bite size pieces.

Layer the fruit, pound cake and the whipped cream and serve it in a pretty glass dish so you can show off the different layers.

My Mom always tells me::

Remember that presentation is EVERYTHING!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FRIEND

Yes, yes I know this is a few days late but--life has been a little crazy and I finally have a chance to write this!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FRIEND!

I am so happy that I was able to spend this ENTIRE weekend with you as well as spoil you on your ACTUAL birthday! What a fabulous weekend and I hope you know how much you are loved!

The celebrations started on Friday night! We drove back to my house and had a fun and girly sleepover with yummy sleepy time tea and a cozy bed! On Saturday, we woke up and had a lazy morning. We had a quick breakfast at home and then I took her to Walnut Creek for a pedicure! We got our toes nice and polished and then went to the Art and Wine Festival. It was a warm day and the festival was full of lively people, music and fun! After we walked around the festival, we went to Pleasanton for dinner with her family. We ate at a yummy restaurant, Baci. The bread was delicious! I had Chicken Picatta. It was so yummy! For her birthday, they brought her cheesecake with strawberry sauce drizzled over the top. It was so yummy! We drove back to San Francisco after dinner and just went back to our houses.

On Sunday, we made an excursion out to IKEA. It was a successful trip, which was nice! After IKEA we went back to my house because I forgot something at my house. Friend dropped me off and I ran a few errands. At 4:30, Erin came over and we got ready to go to the Surprise Party that a friend of ours planned for Friend. We brought cookies and Sparkling cider and haeded over to the house. We really surprised Friend! It was awesome! I was really proud of myself not to have spoiled the surprise! We ate dinner and chatted and then Erin and I left to head to the store to buy her flowers and a card and surprise her at her house.

The rest of Sunday night was stressful and overwhelming, something that I do not want to get in to. but Friend was there for me, like she always is. She is awesome!

On Monday, Friend's actual birthday, she came over to my house after classes and we made dinner. We made a pesto pasta with green beans and baby red potatos garlic bread and a dessert that I know she loves.

We drank sparkling cider (she's not 21 YET) and enjoyed our yummy meal!

She left feeling loved and with a big smile on her face!

I hope that she felt SUPER special on her SPECIAL day!

ΡΓ

This past week has been CRAZZY!!

I had deadlines at work, started a new job, had class and my first set of assignments...and on top of it all, RECRUITMENT! I was asked to be a ΡΓ and help out all of our National Sororities during recruitment. Starting at 6:30 every night, walking all around campus with 60 girls following me and ending after 10pm.

This week was very exciting, to be on the other, other side of recruitment and to see how much work College Panhellenic Council puts in to making recruitment a success. So much fun and such a great experience!

Friday was Bid Day (when the potential new members become new members of one of the three national organizations) and it went fabulously! Our balloon arch was the biggest and bestest! This year my girls did NOT disappoint! They made three! The one big one with all of our colors and 3 smaller ones that were solid colors to make an archway for the new members to be greeted by their Collegiate Gals with totes, T-shirts, and other fun goodies!

I was fortunate enough to be able to go out and watch all of the excitement! Everyone is filled with so much energy with such positive attitudes! I LOVE BID DAY!

Congrats to the Delta Pi Chapter! I can't wait to see what this year has in store for you!

Job Well Done:-)

I started a new job on Tuesday and could NOT love it more!

After the initial meet and greet with my new boss, then an interview that I totally ROCKED, I finally was hired and now I am working 20 hours a week on Campus! Super easy to get to and it gives me a reason to get up and start my days!

On Wednesday night, I was feeling a little down in the dumps and not confident that I would do a tip top job. I came in to work yesterday, determined that I was going to write a press release for an open position and I was not going to quit until I got it right.

I began writing the press release and was feeling really great about it. My boss walked in and I asked her if I could read it to her to make sure that the content was correct and that it flowed. She told me that it sounded great! Then she told me that it had to be formatted a certain way. So she came over to format it and she said that it was perfect!!!

When I was leaving for class, she said, "I just wanted to let you know that you are doing a great job."

YAYAYAYAYAYAY!!

I would like to thank my Public Relations professor, Shari Weiss, for being a fabulous teacher and teaching me how to write a press!

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Birthday Weekend

I would like to start off my saying that I had the best birthday EVER!

On Friday, I spent the day with my favorite FRIEND and we had a little in door picnic with the most delicious Safeway Sandwiches. We gossiped and caught up and I got to meet her new and fabulous roommates. The fog cleared and we decided to go for a walk through Golden Gate Park. We made our way to the Conservatory of Flowers and sat on the grass and listened to some fun music. While we were relaxing, I taught FRIEND how to make "music" with grass by putting a piece of grass between your thumbs and blowing on it. We had a blast!

We then decided to make a bouquet of flowers and pick some pretty ones from the Conservatory...apparently that is NOT allowed and we got yelled at by some passerbys...oops! We then RAN back to her house because we became paranoid that the police were after us :-) hahaha!

I then went to the Stonestown Mall to get some groceries and stop by some stores to look for a dress for my special weekend. Unfortunately I was unsuccessful at Trader Joes, but found a fun, summery dress at Macy's.

I had to go to yet another grocery store to find large pasta shells--I found them at the Safeway in the Westlake Shopping Center.

I got back home and made stuffed pasta shells and garlic bread with my friend Melissa while we caught up on our week and laughed. While the pasta was baking, I drove to SFO to pick up My Sweeter. We drove home, picked up the shells and bread and ate at my house and then fell right to sleep!

Busy, Busy, Busy Friday!

On Saturday, we woke up at 7 to eat breakfast and get ready for the day. We picked up Melissa and FRIEND and drove to Sacramento for the CA State Fair (My Favorite summer activity!) At the fair, we met up with two of my friends from High School and my mom. We walked around the exhibits and then made our way over to the Horse Race Track. We stayed for lunch and watch 3-4 races. My mom bet, twice, but unfortunately, did not win either time :-( We had more exhibits that we wanted to look at so we left and continued walking around the Fairground.

We left around 7pm to head over to the Arden Fair Mall and eat dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. There, we met up with one of my Little Sisters from the Sorority and her Boyfriend. It was a nice and yummy dinner and a fun time to catch up with her!

After dinner, we were on the road back to San Francisco.

Another Busy, Busy, Day!

On Sunday, we woke up later because I woke up feeling a little sick! I know, I know--SICK ON MY BIRTHDAY WEEKEND!? My sentiments EXACTLY!

We picked up Melissa and drove to the Daly City BART and met FRIEND there. We took BART to Powell Station and waited for one of my best friends from home to arrive. We then walked up to Colibri, a Mexican Bistro, where we were met by all of the friends who were able to celebrate my special day with me. We ate yummy food and drank yummy margaritas, or mimosas! It was so nice!

After lunch we walked over to Union Square and learned how to Tango! They were having a free lesson on Tango Dancing on Sunday and I wanted to take advantage of it! My Sweeter and I TOTALLY got it down ;-) We danced and learned a few steps in about an hour and a half time. It was so fun and I was smiling or laughing the entire time!

After our dancing lessons, we took BART to my house for a BBQ. At my house was my family and a few of my friend's families. It was such a great night! I could not have asked for a better celebration! We had homemade bruschetta, clams and cheese for an appetizer, then my mom made pork tenderloin, twice baked potatos (my FAVORITE) and Cesar salad. For dessert, my mom made a pineapple upside-down cake(my FAVORITE) (AND I got My Sweeter to try it!!!) and had cookies and lemon cakes from Costco. My Sweeter and FRIEND'S mom made chocolate cupcakes with a cream cheese frosting. Everything was so delicious!

We took BART back to Daly City and headed home after a quick stop at the store for some honey (for my tea, because at this point, I am feeling soooo sick!). We had some tea and fell right to sleep!

On Monday, My Sweeter had a surprise for me for my birthday--I LOVE SURPRISES! He drove us to Stinson Beach! One of my FAVORITE places! We had lunch at the The Sand Dollar Restaurant. I ordered a club Sandwich and My Sweeter ordered a Pulled Pork Sandwich. They were both YUMMY!

After lunch we walked along the beach. Since it was a GORGEOUS day outside, we walked far down the beach to not be by so many people! We sat and enjoyed the sun and beautiful scenery. I wanted to dance our new dance moves, so we danced Tango and Salsa (We learned Salsa in the beginning of the summer) and then we did some moves, that we could remember, of Tai Chi. It was soo fun! I love being silly with My Sweeter! He always puts a smile on my face!

We walked back to the Market and bought It's Its (What brought us together as a couple..besides FRIEND--hahaha) and ate them on the beach. We people watched for a little longer and then decided to go to the Bed & Breakfast that we were staying on along the road. We stayed at The Pelican Inn. One of our FAVORITE places. It is such a quaint little place with so much character!

We checked in to the B&B and then washed up and got ready for dinner. The restaurant had no lights, everything was lit by candles. The ambiance was perfect! We ordered wine, dinner and dessert. Everything was TO-DIE-FOR! I ordered lamb and the meat, literally, fell off of the bone, it was so tender! After dinner we ordered tea, because I wasn't feeling all that great, and we sat in "The Snug" and played dominoes and read poems from a book of poetry that we found in the snug. It was so relaxed and peaceful! Such an amazing night!

On Tuesday, my ACTUAL birthday, we drove out to Sonoma and went to a few place for wine tasting. It was such a beautiful day with the best company :-) After wine tasting we went back to San Francisco and went over to Crissy Field, where we had our first kiss, and walked around the Marina. It was a gorgeous day in SF, thankfully! We had an early dinner at the Beach Chalet! Then I had to, sadly, take him to the airport :-( The entire weekend was so special and perfect! I wouldn't have wanted it to go any other way!

FRIEND came home with me on Tuesday night and spent the night with me and on Wednesday, I spent the morning with my mom and she brought me back to school and we had lunch at my FAVORITE, El Toreador!

What a FABULOUS birthday celebration!!

Del Mar Horse Race

It has truly been an awesome past few days-very busy-but awesome! I went down to San Diego to visit my favorite guy and spent 2 hot and muggy days in the sunshine smiling!

On Friday night, we stayed at the W hotel. The hotel was nice, I think that we have definitely stayed in nicer places, but it was fun and free! We have racked up so many points in the past that we had a free night! Yay for being an SPG member!

On Saturday we walked around Little Italy and ate at this quaint restaurant Mimmo's. It was like a little, miniature town inside of the restaurant. The walls were painted from scenic views around Italy. It was so fun! We both got yummy sandwiches and ate outside on the patio under the shade of all of the trees. We were lucky because there was a street festival in Little Italy, so we walked up and down the street looking at all of the products that the vendors had to offer. We could not pass up the macaroons at one of the tables-they were all homemade! So good! We even went back for seconds!!

We then drove out to San Clemente to have dinner with my Uncle and Grandparents. This was his first time meeting my Grandparents so it was made into an even more special night! We met my family at the Fisherman, the restaurant on the San Clemente Pier and had the opportunity to sit outside while the sun was beginning to set. It was marvelous! Such a beautiful day, view, time! I have been craving clam chowder in a bread bowl for FOREVER now, so I ordered clam chowder, sans the bread bowl, and a yummy dinner salad because it was so hot outside (I know, I had soup, but it was worth it!) We spent a few more hours with my Grandparents and Uncle. It was such a great experience! My family loves loves loves loves him!

After our meet and bond session, My Sweeter and I drove back to San Diego and went downtown for some dessert. We went to the Ghirardelli store/restaurant and got a brownie sundae, so good, and it totally hit the spot!

On Sunday, we drove out to Panera, our favorite breakfast-ok any time of day-place and got a bagel and lunch! Cinnamon Crunch bagels with hazelnut cream cheese, you haven't lived until you tried it! We were trying to figure out something fun to do for the day, so we decided to go to the Del Mar Fairgrounds for the Horse Race.

We drove out to Del Mar, paid $8 to park, I signed up to be a lifetime member of the Horse Track, so I got in for free with a program, and he gets in for free with an active duty card. We sit in the free seating section and wait for the races to start. While we were waiting for the races to start, we were trying to "decode" the program to figure out what everything meant...after about 2 races we thought that we had figured it out and wanted to try our luck with betting....we bet $2 on the 3rd race. There is something about betting that made the races THAT much more exciting to watch and THAT much more intense! We ended up betting on which horses were going to win and take 2nd place. We got the winner of the race correct but the horse that we said would come in 2nd came in LAST! So, My Sweeter thought that our bet was a losing ticket. But I told him that we had to check to make sure that we didn't win any money. Right after the race, we went up to check out ticket but the race had not been processed. We decided to go back to our seats and watch the 4th race. It is AMAZING how much money was being bet on each race. The 4th race had almost $200,000 being bet on the entire thing! After the 4th race we decided to leave and get dinner before I had to go to the airport. Before we left we checked out ticket to see if we won any money--we had a winning ticket!! We wont $57.80! Just for picking the winner of the race! We cashed in and left the track with HUGE smiles on our faces! I think that we are now addicted to going because we are going to go this weekend when we go to the CA State Fair!

How lucky is that?!

Overall it was a SUPER fun weekend! Oh boy, how I love my favorite guy!

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SURPRISE!

Yesterday, I called My Sweeter to check in really fast before a meeting...I asked him what he was up to and he told me that he was really busy but was off work early. I suggested that he come up for the weekend and visit, knowing full-well that he was going to be a busy bee this weekend. We hung up the phone, I went to my meeting and he continued on with his busy schedule.

A few hours later, I called again for another quick "hello." I asked him what he was up to, and when he said "Nothing..." in that mischievous tone, I knew he was up to something. During our phone conversation I heard his car make some noises and I asked if he was on his way up to see me, not expecting the response, "No..." (Again, in his mischievous tone.) He then got a little flustered because he was already past the Grape Vine and on his way up for a surprise visit! He was upset that I ruined his surprise! :-)

It was such a wonderful surprise to have him come up to see me! I wasn't expecting to see him until next weekend! WOOHOO!

I had yet another meeting and immediately following I was looking up recipes on the Food Network website for some inspiration. I was not sure what I was in the mood for, so I was just browsing when I came across a Giada de Laurentis recipe. I walked over to Trader Joes and bought all of the ingredients that I did not already have, and a few minutes after my return home, My Sweeter arrived!

We made Ravioli with Balsamic Brown Butter. To be honest, My Sweeter and I, both, were a little worried about how it would turn out, but it turned out so YUMMY! I bought spinish raviolis from Trader Joes that were delicious and fresh. I wish that they had some meat raviolis because it would have complimented the sauce really well.

After eating the entire dish, we discussed how we could make it better the next time. Next time, instead of using butter we would use olive oil and definitely not as much as the recipe asked for. We also, may add a little flower to give the sauce some more texture and not have it be only a dressing on the raviolis. And we would let the noodles soak in the Balsamic sauce a little more before we ate it because when we went back for seconds, the noodles had been soaked in the sauce and it was even better than the first time around. Also, do not forget to put the Parmesan cheese and the walnuts, the flavors and the textures really bring the entire dish together!

This was a yummy, yummy meal and I will most definitely be making it again!

raviolis

What a Beautiful Sunny Day to Catch up with my Favorite FRIEND!

I had a super busy day yesterday! I woke up in the morning to have some much needed time (As always) with FRIEND! We initially wanted to go to Mama's Cafe in North Beach, but the line was out the door and around the corner! We decided to try our luck down by Ghirardelli Square. We walked around looking for a tasty breakfast spot. We found one, I cannot remember the name, and we were given AMAZING service! We were asked about 6 times if we were ready to order in the first 4 minutes of sitting at the table, by different waiters! Then once we finally got our food, we had been forgotten :-) Oh well, it was a fun experience and provided for a funny story/memory!


After breakfast we walked over to Ghirardelli Square to buy some tasty Kara's Cupcakes! I bought the "Seasonal Flavor" Organic Strawberry Cream and the Fleur De Sel(My Favorite) and FRIEND ordered the Meyer Lemony Lemon and Kara's Karrot. We both decided to eat one in Ghirardelli Square while enjoying the beautiful Sunshine in San Francisco and take one home to save for a later fix.

We chatted and caught up and gossiped (of course) about life while soaking in the sun rays! After we finished our cupcakes, we decided to drive over to Chrissy Field and walked along the beach and to the Palace of Fine Arts. We sat on a bench and took in the beautiful scenery and the lovely weather! I can't say enough how wonderful it was outside yesterday!

After our catch up session we drove back and FRIEND dropped me off!

I would not have wanted to spend my Friday morning ANY other way! I love you, FRIEND!

cupcakes