Behind The Scenes: Sharp Park

Our 2010 Christmas card photo wasn't planned (clearly you can tell by my hooded sweatshirt and ponytail.)  Our family picture was taken the day after Thanksgiving during a walk on Mori Point trail in Sharp Park, Pacifica. 

Photo Credit

After climbing these stairs.....

We discovered this amazing view!  How could I deny this background for our family picture?  Even though hair wasn't combed and outfits weren't anything fancy, I had to go with the moment.

Thanks Steph for being patient as I try and position Stella.

After a couple of attempts we got this picture!

Although this picture isn't very traditional, it's one of my favorite shots of the day.  

Stay tune for this years Christmas card.  I was really happy with how it came out and hope you are too!

Bill's Hot Totty

Baby it's cold outside.  Better make myself a hot toddy drink!
Ingredients:
•1 oz brandy, whiskey or rum
•1 Tbsp honey
•1/4 lemon
•1 cup hot water
•1 tea bag (optional)

Preparation:
1.Coat the bottom of a mug or an Irish coffee glass with honey.
2.Add the liquor and the juice of the lemon quarter.
3.On the side, heat water in a tea kettle and add the tea bag to make hot tea.
4.Pour the steaming tea (or hot water) into the glass and stir.

Hot toddies are traditionally drunk before going to bed, or in wet / cold weather. They were believed to help cure the common cold and flu, but the American Lung Association now recommends avoiding treating the common cold with alcoholic beverages as they cause dehydration. - Thanks wikipedia for the health tip! souce

Bill's drink tip: whatever you use make sure it's not cheap!

I think this is going to put hair on my chest! oh vey

Pineapple After Dark

Somewhere over the Pacific Ocean, I got the brilliant idea I would climb Diamond Head.  Although this sounds like a fun adventure, when you're in Hawaii on business there is very little room for downtime.  Even though I packed my running shoes and swimsuit (optimistically), both items remained unused.  And even though my cab driver suggested I hike a mountain in Maui, "so the clouds can be underneath me" (the cab drivers words not mine),  I barely had time to grab lunch (although lunch was at Cheese Burger of Paradise!)

So the other night I decided not to feel sorry for myself, but act out my mantra of "life is what you make it," and I went for an amazing walk on Waikiki Beach and took a few pictures along the way.  Although this trip didn't involve any site seeing, I was able to eat at some of my favorite places. Most importantly I was able to go back to the spot where my husband proposed to me.

On the last day of the trip, I rescued my running shoes from the dungeon of my suitcase and strapped them on for a quick jog on the beach. 

I think I might just get use to these Hawaii trips after all.......

Driving back to the Maui Airport I stopped at this remote beach for a quick walk.

A single beach umbrella in front of the Moana-Surfrider Hotel.

Wakiki Beach with city skyline. 

My new red handbag at the beach.

Surfboards rest on the beach after dark.

Mele Kalikimaka

I forgot how cold the Bay Area gets in the winter.  Thank goodness I'm fleeing to Hawaii tomorrow.  No need to be jealous, it's work related.  Although there will be no leisure time during this trip, I'm certainly motivated to get up early so I can at least go for a nice jog!

Hopefully my early mornings will help me get some good pictures. 

More to come!

Carrillo Turkey Trot

Although it's my parent tradition to host Thanksgiving, Nick and I started a new tradition this year and organized the first annual Carrillo Turkey Trot Bar Crawl.  We may have been stuffed from the previous night but we're still thirsty!

So who's in for next year?

First stop: The Hydeout. Think Three's Company Regal Beagle. This place had red walls and black leather chairs. Drinks were dangerously good and very reasonable.

 

Me, Marge, Andi and Stephanie

Second stop: The Bigfoot Lounge. Decorated like a log cabin, this is a fun place to grab a drink with a group.

The swanky wine bar.  I'm in love with the red lights!

Third stop: Amelie. Swanky wine bar located on Polk, this was the perfect stop to get a refreshing glass of wine and lite bites.   

Mr. Nick

(Ian, Lena, Paul and Andi)

Final Stop: BeldenTaverna.  This Italian restaurant has a great selection of sea food.

Dim Sum + Art History

A perfect date for Nick and I usually consist of the following things: pretty views, a long walk and most importantly... FOOD.  Yesterday our Saturdate adventure took us to the Richmond district of San Francisco where we enjoyed food from the Shanghai Dumpling King and saw the Japanesque exhibit at the Legion of Honor.   

The Dumpling King located on Balboa between 34th & 35th 

The #8 special hot and spicy

A complimentary fried donut with sugar



The Legion of Honor with pretty orange flowers

A view at dusk

Both were unique experiences.  It was my first time going to the Legion of Honor and I was taken back by the beautiful views of the Golden Gate bridge and the city skyline. 

The dim sum however takes the cake on our favorite part of the day.  This tiny restaurant has a major following and has a mega menu to look at.  

I guess they call them the Dumpling King for a reason.........

The Lamp Shade That Started It All

When you've lived on your own for 11 years, moving back home with the parents is an adjustment.  Since my new job requires me to work from home, I thought this was a great opportunity to redecorate Stephanie's old bedroom and turn it into a cozy office (after all she doesn't live here anymore)!  The new room was inspired by a vintage lampshade I bought at a flea market a few years ago (picture above).

BEFORE:

AFTER:

 We repainted the room from buttercup yellow to a battleship blue.  I love how the color goes from blue to gray as the light changes in the room.  I unfortunately had to keep the daybed, (my mother politely reminded me this was still Stephanie's bedroom), but modernized the bed with some decorative pillows.

 

For extra storage, I'm using the dresser as a place to house my files. 

I spied these file holders on this favorite blog site.    

I also personalized the space with my favorite pictures 

(including this one of Stephanie).

 

I finally framed the prints bought at this flea market 

and mentioned on this blog entry.

 My desk bought at target features a chrome vintage chair bought from e-bay.  Life lesson #453: When bidding on a piece of furniture, it is only a bargain if your shipping is less than your purchase.  E-bay chair cost:$35.  Shipping cost $150.  Can you say ouch!  I also recycled an old picture frame, by spray painting it white and turning it into a chic bulletin board.

This decorating business is harder than I thought.  If you have any suggestions or tips, please let me know.

Butter Me Up

 

Photo Credit

 Although the FTA says we should be at the airport 2 hours before take off, I'm usually the gal who waits until the last minute and usually arrives 45 minutes before flight. As a multi-tasker, I despise hanging out at the airport; you can only make fun of amateur travelers for so long.  So imagine my surprise when I spied, a fantastic nail salon at Seattle's Sea Tac Airport.

Butter LONDON offers fast, affordable, high quality manicures and pedicures.  Located in Concourse C, this nail salon is open seven days a week and no appointment is necessary!  Considering this salon is located at the airport, the atmosphere is darling. Decorated with a bird motif and blue and yellow accents, it's feminine but funky. I love the black lacquer chandler and gold accents. 

Now if only  Sea Tac had this in Concourse C, I just might follow that 2 hour FTA suggestion.....

And the TROPHY goes to

After eating a hamburger the equivalent of my body weight, I could barely move and was suddenly feeling a food coma take over my body.  Secretly wanting to ask the waiter to wheel me out of the restaurant, I quickly came out of my coma when I discovered this AWESOME  cupcake bakery across the street (apparently, I can always make room for cupcakes)! 

This darling store front had my name all over it.  Tiffany blue decor, whimsical cards and fun gifts.

I secretly heart these french bar stools!

OMG! You can pick a fun toy for your cupcake (with a small fee)! 

The girl who packed my cupcakes... (yes, I asked if I could take her picture.)

A long journey...  here are the cupcakes during our cab ride to the airport.

Name: Trophy Cupcakes and Party
Location: Seattle and Bellevue, Washington
Price: $3 a cupcake
Claim to Fame: Martha Stewart has visited their shop
My Favorite Flavor: Peanut Butter and Jelly.  (For real this cupcake tasted like your mom's p&j sandwich!)

Bring Texture Into Your Life

I think TEXTURE is my new Favorite Word!
My parents don't realize it yet, but my secret goal is to slowly makeover their house one room at a time.  It's not that my parent's house is outdated. They certainly aren't stuck in 1992.  After living on my own for 11 years, I've become a  DIY type of a gal and just because I'm back home my decorating and gardening passion  shouldn't have to stop.  So with October here, I felt Bill and Marge needed some texture in front of the house.     

Step 1. Stella and I went to Osh (yes, I brought her in the store with me! She can pass as a service dog.) We bought these great full sun perennial plants.  I love the texture of the bright green ipomea  mixed with the purple angelonia.  

Step 2. Buy some exotic pumpkins (with great texture).  Cinderella pumpkins is an ornamental novelty pumpkin. Deeply ridged, exceptionally flattened fruits and weighs 25-30 lbs. You should have seen me digging through the box at Trader Joe's trying to find the perfect 20 lbs pumpkin. 

 Step 3. Stop Stella from eating the stem of the tiger pumpkin.

Step 4. The finished product. I should have taken a picture of the front of the house, but thought it would be more exciting to show a picture of the dogs.

A Day at the Park

A few weeks ago I had a chance to hangout at the park with Tyler and Drew.  I'm not sure who had a better time, me or Tyler (it had been forever, since I had gone down a slide!)   Although Drew is too little to play on the monkey bars, it was precious to see Beth holding him with his sun hat!

The kids were in a heavy discussion, deciding which parent should push them.  Tyler told them Auntie Jenn could push them, no problem!

Holding on for dear life!

Mr. Sandman - the results of a faceplant in the sand.

This cute girl saw me take Tylers SANDY picture and insisted I take her picture.  After I took her picture, she ran back to me and wanted me to re-play the picture, so she could see if it was a good picture or not! 

Mr. Drew, looking so cute in his overalls and sun hat.

Momma Beth with Drew