Playing catch-up

Ugh...it's kind of ironic that when you have the most to report, you have the least amount of time to write about it.  Our last couple of weeks have been incredibly busy.  Here are some highlights:


Mass turned 31.  We celebrated his birthday a few times (as it should be), with some good friends here in the city...

Wishing that he won't lose all of his hair due to the stress of his new job

Drinking a boot full of beer at Leopold's...and it kicked his butt. (or I guess his face)

I did not drink the boot full of beer, but I had a few sips, and for some reason we thought this little photo shoot was  really funny.

Celebrating with friends at Le Colonial

Peter and Rose came to visit!  It was Rose's first time ever in San Francisco, and Peter's first visit in several years.  They got to experience some great food, a little shopping, and even the gritty #49 bus route (sorry about that one guys).  Rose was not impressed by the Golden Gate & Bay bridges, but I think they really enjoyed the city overall.  ;)

Other quick highlights- Mass has been put on a work project in San Jose, with a steep learning curve and gnarly commute, but he's doing great.  I got another job teaching Pilates at a wonderful studio called Mighty Pilates.  As you can see, I've had little time for blogging, and even less time to clean our apartment (oops).  I'm hoping to get things organized better for the New Year. :)
Happy Holidays everyone!

New Blog

It's been a pretty eventful week for us, which ironically means I've had less time to write this blog, but it's coming very soon. In the meantime, I started another blog! (because apparently one isn't enough?)  Please check it out...and if it doesn't interest you, maybe it will interest someone you know?

Thanks friends!

http://fitnessgroupie.wordpress.com/

Friendsgiving in Carmel

This year we gave our thanks at Carmel Valley Ranch with Nate & Serena, and a few more of their good friends.  Serena brings in the big bucks for the ranch (group sales), so we get to tag along and reap the benefits.  :)  It was quite a relaxing way to spend the holiday...walking through nature, enjoying a catered dinner, and not washing a single dish.  


Although we didn't get to be with family this year, we were definitely thinking of them, we're always thankful for them, and thankful that we have such wonderful welcoming friends.   

R&R in Monterey

First thing's first: Mass got a job!  He accepted a Management Consultant position at Accenture, one of the largest consulting firms in the country.  (Maybe even the world)
That being said, we decided to spend a night away near Monterey, to celebrate the opposite of Mass's retirement, and get as much quality time together and R&R as possible before he started work.  We spent the night in a super relaxing, beautiful resort on the water, indulged in some spa services, and had a wonderful dinner at Restaurant 1833 in Monterey.
The next morning we had breakfast in our room, then the 3 of us went down to the beach and walked along the water.  Mahoney had a blast running in the sand with Mass!

The biggest pile of kelp I've ever seen!

It was a wonderful way to spend Mass's last weekend before starting work...and the end of a period of time in our lives in which we've been so fortunate to be able to spend so much time together.  It'll be a big change, but a really excellent one.


Today was the BIG DAY...and like a proud parent, I had to take a photo of Mass and drive him to work.  Super dorky maybe, but such an exciting time!  His hard work in grad school has paid off, and he'll only continue to grow with an amazing company like Accenture.  So proud of you love!

Cheesy eager face. :)

Showering Baby Rowley

Last weekend I had the pleasure of traveling to Seattle to help host a baby shower for our dear friend Adrianne.  Baby Rowley is expected to arrive sometime around January 8th, and I know I speak for many people when I say we're SO excited for his or her arrival!  We can't even call the little bundle of joy a "him" or "her" right now, because Adrianne & Jason have decided to patiently wait until little Rowley enters the world, to find out if it's a boy or a girl.  I think we're all dying to know!  

Hillary made delicious cake pops and whoopie pies for the shower

Tissue poms

Our "hostess" photo with the guest of honor

There were many lovely details put into this day (great food, fun games, etc.), but the best part was having Adrianne's closest friends & family there, seeing her expectant glow, and getting to shower her (and baby) with love. 

Cougs in SF

It was SO much fun having so many Cougars in our city over the weekend!  The game itself was a disaster (no surprise), but such a rare opportunity to show our my Cougar pride here in San Francisco with friends.  I even got Mass to take a photo with Butch.  He looks so happy & excited.... 

I stole this photo from the Rinabargers.  Their camera is so much better than my phone!

I hate to admit that we actually spent very little (or zero) time at the game, but that was never really the best part of Cougar football Saturday anyway, right? :) 

Besties

There's nothing like quality time with your besties, and this past weekend some of our besties (Yuri & Salina) came down to stay with us.  We're always so excited for house guests and visitors, and this was a truly wonderful 3 days & nights.  The weather was set to "perfect", and we had no shortage of excellent food & lots of giggles.  

Our first group dinner was at Foreign Cinema, on their lovely outdoor patio (lit and heated) where they project a film onto a huge wall.  Memorable items- outstanding cocktails, duck rillettes with lentils, and their super flavorful (not fried) calamari.


Saturday- in a constant effort to try new things in this amazing city of ours, we took Yuri & Salina to the House of Air to jump on some trampolines.  It wasn't exactly what we were expecting (aka, we felt like a bunch of creepy weirdos in a warehouse full of kids), but we had a blast with it anyway.

At one point I was sternly told to stop stealing bounces from Mass, and the boys participated in a 3-person game of dodge ball (with an 8-year old kid), so I'd say all in all we had a great time.

Saturday night we assembled a crew for dinner at Park Tavern, home of the most delicious deviled eggs on earth, then went to a fabulous show at a venue called Bimbo's, where we danced our butts off to Michael Jackson's greatest hits.  It was a blast!

Check out this band, Foreverland.  They were awesome!

80's Rocker Nate & Serena the cadet

Kris & Kevin, Zombie Bride & Groom

Um, not really sure...

The whole gang...quite a mash-up

Getting a little mixed up...

Sunday we gathered our tired bodies and got ourselves to Farmerbrown for their Gospel Sunday Brunch.  This was the perfect way to spend our Sunday.  Bloody mary's, bellinis, amazingly perfect fried chicken and the most buttery biscuits & gravy, all accompanied by live music- a jazz/funk/R&B delight.

Random photo of the week- there are several awesome things going on here.  Can you spot them all? :)

And of course, all good things must come to an end, but we'll always cherish this weekend with great friends.  We'll spend this last day of October hiding in our apartment recovering, laughing at cute pictures on Facebook of everyone's kids dressed up for Halloween, and ready (sort of) to welcome in November.

Parents' Weekend!

Remember in college when we had 'Mom's Weekend' & 'Dad's Weekend'?  Or depending on which university you attended, maybe it was just combined into 'Parents' Weekend'.  Well, we just had our version of Parents Weekend in SF...from Saturday to Wednesday.  Gary, Michelle, John & Valerie all came down to visit us in our new city!  We packed our days & nights full of activities, and did lots of eating (as usual).  
*Feel free to click on the hyperlinks throughout this post, and be prepared to take notes if you're planning a culinary trip to the Bay area any time soon. *

The O'Leyar's arrived on Saturday, and we promptly got our kraut on at Leopold's.  You can't go wrong with their amazing house-made sausage & kraut!  Their selection of German beers is quite impressive as well.


Sunday morning we headed up north to introduce my parents to lovely wine country...

A foggy stop near the Golden Gate bridge on our way up 

Wine tasting at Jacuzzi vineyards in Sonoma.  Love this place!

After a stop for some bubbles at Gloria Ferrer, followed by a delicious lunch at The Girl and the Fig, we pressed on.

We enjoyed more great wine & beautiful scenery at Gundlach Bundschu

Mahone got in on the wine tasting too

Sunday night the Backus pair arrived, and we all had dinner at Pesce, a great local spot in our neighborhood, that serves mostly small plates of primarily seafood.  In a city full of restaurants, it's been around for 11 years, and I can see why.


On Monday, our surprise adventure for our folks was a tour of Alcatraz!  None of us had ever been, so it was a new experience for everyone.

It was a gorgeous day!  Gotta love the audio tour headsets. :)

Monday night we were joined by our dear friends and SF consultants, Nate & Serena.  The eight of us had meatballs, burrata, and pasta cooked to perfection at A16.  Our parents just adored these two, as we knew they would.


On the agenda for Tuesday was a trip to the de Young museum in Golden Gate Park.

It's an amazing museum with some incredible artwork.  The architecture is a feast for the eyes too.  We could've stayed there for hours on end!

The trip wouldn't be complete without a stop for lunch at our favorite sandwich spot, Blue Front Cafe on Haight street.  Don't let the website scare you, it's delicious- I promise!

...just trying to see how many touristy things we could fit into one  visit...

Tuesday evening my parents headed back to Seattle, adequately worn out from their time here.  The remaining 4 of us had our final dinner at Kokkari, yet another recommendation from Nate & Serena that didn't disappoint.  We topped it off with dessert at The Loving Cup.  Mass likes the rice pudding, but I'm a fan of the frozen yogurt...they mix in the toppings with a machine!


Finally, I had to face reality and go back to work, and Mass took his folks to the amazing Tartine Bakery.  I haven't had the pleasure of trying it yet, but from what I hear they make outrageously good pastries.
Whew!  After our 5-day stint of touring & feasting we now officially don't need to eat again for weeks...but something tells me we'll find a reason to do this all over again soon. :)

Mahoney loved playing with her doting 'grandparents'!  This is basically how we were all feeling by the end of the 5 day tour.  Exhausted but happy.  Thanks for the visit Moms & Dads!

Remembrance & Celebration

This was a week of remembrance and celebration in a number of ways.  Wednesday afternoon we made the drive to Toluca Lake to attend Papa's funeral.  It was a beautiful, elegant Catholic ceremony, he was laid to rest in a gorgeous spot at Forrest Lawn, and the celebration of his life continued both at Lakeside Country Club, then their home of many years.  There were so many friends & family in attendance to pay their respects, and as always, the food & drinks were never ending.  It was a truly lovely event.

Some of my most favorite people.  Our last moments together before heading back up north.  Love them!

The Bay Bridge welcoming us back.  Home sweet home!

Sunday was the final day of "Fleet Week" in San Francisco, and after I spent a few hours at work, we walked into North Beach to enjoy the festivities.  There was a huge Italian heritage parade, a car show full of shiny Ferrari's, and tons of people out & about on a gorgeous Sunday, having a great time.

Flag carriers in the parade

A Peroni float playing loud dance music...definitely one of the highlights. :)

This photo is completely random and has no explanation.  I just took this pic a few days ago and it cracks me up so I thought I'd include it.  Might be a Halloween costume idea...  Who knows.  ;)

Weekend Warriors

This past weekend we were blessed with a visit from some weekend warriors...and boy did we make the most of it...

Walking through the Palace of Fine Arts

Sightseeing...the view from the top of Lombard Street

Alcatraz

Mass took the girls up to the rooftop of our building and practiced the  "sorority squat"

We enjoyed some tasty German beers at the annual Oktoberfest by the Bay

For details: Oktoberfest

We continued our Friday night with one of the most ridiculous, yet strangely awesome experiences at a spot called The Tonga Room, located in the Fairmont hotel.  If a Disneyland ride, a cheesy Vegas club/casino, and a tacky wedding all had a baby, it would be the Tonga Room.  See Exhibit A:

Yes, that is indoor rain and a floating band...Megan is definitely giving it the thumbs up....and Hillary and I are dancing while holding onto some rope netting.  And we are not actually on a boat. 

On Saturday we attended the nuptials of our dear friends Ann & Steve.  Their ceremony was at The Chapel of our Lady in the picturesque Presidio of San Francisco, and their reception was held at The Terra Gallery in the SOMA neighborhood.  Their wedding was so touching, quite beautiful, and every detail was thoughtfully planned and very tasteful.  Oh, and the food was delish!

Must....keep....going....

Our final group photo of the weekend, after finishing the night at a super sexy lounge called 25 Lusk.  (Thanks to Megan for asking our neighbors to take this pic.)

Between the copious amounts of walking, the variety of drinks, and tons of food,  we were all tuckered by the end of the weekend.  What troopers these ladies were!  It was such a treat to have them here!