25 Has Been the Best Birthday, Yet!

Birthday Weekend!

On Saturday I woke up to flowers on my bedside table and waffle topped with nutella! 

Yum!!

Rich studied for about an hour for the LSAT and then we rode our bikes over to our coffee shop for our weekend coffee date.

From our coffee date, we rode down to Santa Monica and had lunch at True Food Kitchen! This place is delicious! And I enjoyed a mojito and got carded! Amazing! ;-)

After lunch we decided to head down to the Santa Monica Pier and we rode on the Ferris Wheel!

We had never done that before! 

Yes it was $5/person to ride it, but it was soo cool and beautiful!!

Hey there handsome! 

We then rode our bikes down to Venice Beach and then back home.

We got home to these beauties from the Lovely Melissa M!

She is such a great friend!

While we were home, we found out that my sister had her baby!

The best birthday present ever? YES I THINK SO!

When I have a better picture, I will share it ;-)

I am the most proud Auntie EVER and we cannot wait to meet him!

We had dinner at Wokcano. 

I wasn't impressed - but it was a lot of fun!

My handsome Honey!

Two of my favorite people!! 

After dinner we went over to Sonoma Wine Garden for drinks!

I had champagne to celebrate my brand new baby Nephew!

Cheers to being an Auntie & Uncle!

After drinks we went for dessert at Cafe Crepe. 

Oh. My. Gosh.

Amazing!

We got a nutella and coconut crepe!

It was freaking AMAZING!

Over all I had a super birthday!! 

I have amazing friends and an amazing family and the best husband! 

I was treated like a princess all day and I wouldn't have asked for it to be any other day!

And congrats to my beautiful sister and brother-in-law on the new addition to their family!!

Baby Vinny is adorable, and I am so in love!

Veggie Menu (Week 8)

Tuesday: Lasagna Rolls with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

This was delicious! 

1st thing...Don't use your microwave...

(Tune in tomorrow for the reasons!)

#2...IF you do, don't ever, ever, ever, ever! cover your food in plastic wrap!

Anyway, the sauce was delicious! And the 'stuffing' was delicious as well! 

I boiled 8 lasagna noodles and I had 1 extra because I ran out of the stuffing. Maybe I over stuffed them or I didn't make enough?

We each ate two and it was delicious! Rich definitely enjoyed dinner!

Wednesday: Four Cheese White Pizza

This was delicious! I added some tomatoes and onions (because we had it left over in the fridge) to half of the pizza. Rich liked that half better than the plain half. What I put on it is from this recipe and I added some balsamic to the mix as well.

Thursday: We had raviolis....We ended up going to a YWCA event and needed something quick.

Friday: We went to the Fresh Corn Grill and then out for drinks.
Fresh Corn Grill was delicious! So fresh and tasty!

Rich got a beer and I got a Lemon Drop...yes this is the least fancy Lemon Drop ever made...ha!

Saturday: Wokcano - Santa Monica
I was less than impressed..I wouldn't recommend this place...

Sunday: Brown Butter Gnocchi with Spinach and Pine Nuts
This was very tasty!
How I made it...
I used basil gnocchi from Cost Plus and instead of using pine nuts (because those are pricey!) we used walnuts. And we also added some Black Truffle Oil.
We ate this without the Truffle Oil and then decided to add it about half way in and it was tasty without the oil, and even better with it! YUM!

Happy Birthday

To ME.

Wow, I am 25.

A quarter of a century.

Can you believe how time flies?

I have been in a very reflective mood over the last month.

Coming up on this big milestone.

Think and reminiscing on my life.

The not so great.

The good.

The amazing.

The best!

25 years of a great life that I wouldn't trade for the world.

So much has happened in the 25 short years that I have been alive.

I was born in to a big loving family. 

Many aunts and uncles, a great set of grandparents and family friends who have always taken care of me as if I was their own.

I really am blessed with the people in my life.

I have been thinking a lot about one of the biggest parts of my life: 

The people who shaped me.

My Mom.

Where do I even begin?

She is beautiful inside and out.

She is strong and independent. 

She took care of me, even when it was hard and (I am sure) she didn't want to. 

She made sure that I had a good head on my shoulders and surrounded myself with good people and great family.

She has a heart of gold and will go to the ends of the earth for anyone and everyone.

I am grateful that she passed along her passion and drive.

I wouldn't be the same woman I am today without her.

I am so grateful for the man that I can safely call my dad.

After many nights of screaming, crying and tantrums (him of course ;-)! ha! 

(ok, seriously...it was me)

We spent long hours talking about life, love, boys, family.

Yeah, we had our ups and downs - so do many others with their parents.

While he may not be my, as we call it, "BioDad," he is my dad.

We had/have a unique relationship and I am so glad that I can look back and be grateful.

My brothers.

Fun Fact: I watched both be born - yes, you read that right!

I helped name both of them and I was able to give Daniel his first bath.

This two boys are so special to me.

They are growing into young men and I can't wait to see what life offers then and what they have to offer life.

I am a proud sister!

I also gained a sister, like a blood sister ;-)

She and I met when I was in High School, and I have never been the same

She is beautiful, spunky, fun-loving and warm-hearted.

I am so blessed that she and her big family are in my life

And I sure hope that she blesses my special birthday with the birth of her son!

Fingers crossed!

My Friends.

I pride myself in that fact that I surround myself with amazing people.

Only friends who lift me up and make me feel good inside.

Thank you so much!

And last but not least - maybe most important for my adult life....

The man who has stolen my heart.

Rich!

There are millions of reason why he is the man that I married.

He always makes me smile.

He gets me.

I know that I can always count on him.

He is stable, strong, passionate, smart, handsome, wonderful.

I could go on for days about this guy!

Thank you.
Really all I can say is Thank You.
Thank you to everyone who believes in me, who supports me, who loves me.

Thank you.

Anyway...I will get off of my soapbox and let you all go off and enjoy your Saturday!

I know that I sure will!

Happy Happy Birthday....toooooo mmmmmmmmeeeeeeee!!!!

Let's Bring Brett Home!

I am from a small town with a huge heart!

A young man is missing and seeing the amazing community that has come together to #BringBrettHome really brings intense emotions and feelings to my core.

Yes, that is the church that Rich and I got married in and yes, that is my mother who is staying strong and holding prayer groups for this scary time in a seemingly helpless family's life.

This is really hitting my family close to home because this strapping young man toutored my brother while he was in high school. He spent many of nights at my parents house helping my brother, being fed by my mom and being loved, tremendously, by my family. 

I am so proud of my family.

Of the heart of my family.

That my two brothers are so passionate about finding this friend, brother, son and young man and are doing everything in their power to ensure his safe return.

I am proud to call Lafayette my home.

Proud because when someone is in need, everyone comes together to help.

Please join the facebook page and keep this family is your thoughts and prayers!

Do whatever you do for good wishes and positive things happening!

Please!

Let's Bring Brett Home!

A Day in the Life: Customer Service Volume 47

Real People, Real Emails

"By not offering phone subscription services throughout the night...you are showing why trickle-down economics can never work. You can staff your subscription services throughout the day, night and weekend with a very small staff to resolve after-hours problems quickly."

It is easier said than done, buddy!

Are you serious?

Yes, lets stay open all night for 1 customer to call us...

You're ridiculous

Labor Day Weekend 2012

Disclaimer: 

(1) Sorry for all of you that live in the Bay that we didn't see while we were there - it was family time ;-)
(2) Photo Bomb post! 

We drove up late on Friday night, arrived at Rich's parents house in the wee hours of the morning on Saturday.

Saturday morning, we woke up and had french toast and then headed downtown to walk around. We ended up stopping at the Local Ale house. We all paid $1 extra to get 22 oz beers! Oh man... All before noon!

After the Ale House, we walked around and stopped in this cute little square and did some wine tasting - yes, around noon! haha!

The rest of Saturday was spent relaxing in the sun drinking wine in the backyard! Enjoying our family time!

On Sunday, we headed to my parents house 

My high school brother is taller than I am!

All of the "kids"

Gosh there are some handsome men in my life! 

Sunday night we had dinner at my parents house with Rich's family visiting. It was nice to have everyone together!

Brotherly love!

On Monday, we woke up early and headed downtown SF!

The day could not have been more beautiful!

We took BART into SF, got off at Embarcadero and walked from Market to Fisherman's Warf!

As we were walking we decided to stop in Tcho (pronounced "cho") and it happened that they were giving a free tour of how they make their chocolate!

After the tour we had a TchoShot - which is basically a shot of liquid chocolate! It was so rich and delicious!

We stopped at Boudine for a Clam Chowder Bread bowl.

It was amazing! 

The most gorgeous day!

We stopped in Buena Vista for an Irish Coffee and happened to sit down where the bar tender was making them! It was soo neat!

The best Irish Coffee outside of Ireland - I am sure...! ha

From The Buena Vista, we walked up Hyde Street to the Civic Center Bart Station- yes, walked!

On the walk, we walked by the Winding Lombard Street, through Nob Hill and Russian Hill.

We then headed back to my hometown for dinner and then drove back to LA. 

It was such a great weekend! 

We both needed to get away!

Veggie Menu (Week 7)

Love this quote!

Monday: Three-Cheese Pasta Bake

This was good, kinda boring.

I accidentally deleted the pictures off of my phone ;-(

I would probably add garlic and maybe veggies to this dish to liven it up!

Tuesday: Vegetable Enchiladas

These were very tasty!

I used the Trader Joe's Enchilada sauce - delicious!

I don't like Olives and Rich isn't a big fan of corn...so we substituted for Tofu instead ;-)

The spinach mixture was delicious! I think I didn't use enough. If we make this again, I would ad a ton of spinach!

Wednesday: Creamy Avocado Pasta Sauce Recipe

Honestly, I didn't really like this.

It was essentially guacamole on noodles. While the noodles were cooking we actually after the "sauce" with tortilla chips...ha!

And I didn't really like the tomatoes. (I told you I don't like tomatoes, right? Well I am still learning...)

Rich didn't mind it! And it sure looked pretty!

Thursday: Roasted Asparagus and Tomato Penne Salad with Goat Cheese

We made this delicious dish again! Yum!! Sooo tasty!

Friday:  Leftovers!
Whatever we didn't eat, got tossed since we were gone for the long weekend.

Saturday: Salmon (made by my lovely Mother in Law!)

Sunday: Salmon...again...(Made by my beautiful Mother!)

Monday: Fish Tacos (Made by my beautiful Mother!)

Happy September

Happy September!

May September bring you lots of smiles and colorful trees!