Blog

I have to share a fun video my bro and I created for DP (watch all the way to the end…the end is the best):

If only I had this striking yet silly dude around all the time…all the other videos I’ve made are lame.

Yes, I’ve learned that it is good to be picky, as long as you’re not toooooo picky. And, I’ve also learned that if you are picky you’ll look cooler if you wear sweet shades.

In addition to eating out at least 23985923532987 times a year, I deem that it is required that everyone “slip ‘n slide” at least once every summer for as many years as your bones will take it.

And I’m not talking about just watching kids slip ‘n slide. I’m talking about actually going for it yourself, even if before your first run you think to yourself “I hope I don’t break my arm because I need to use it for an important job this weekend” or even if your top accidentally falls off mid run…it is all ok. It is good for your spirit. Just try it, you’ll see. And if you are really afraid, maybe get a taste for the water first.

Yes, my body hurt like heck the next day and I only did the slip ‘n slide like 5 times in a matter of 10 minutes but it was one of the best times I’ve had all summer. And I didn’t break my arm.

In celebration of the summer solstice we didn’t just go to Ikea for their somorgasbord, oh no…we went to Maggie’s for a surprise picnic! We had planned a pot luck and when we got to Maggie’s she declared, “We’re eating outside tonight!” (that didn’t sound very Maggie-ish…she would probably include some weasels and such). So, the six of us took our potluck’n foods and walked to Lake Merritt and man alive did Maggie whip out her hostessing prowess! There were candles and flowers and flavored waters of all sorts and palm leaf plates and wines and tablecloths and nice napkins that smelled good and cold corn vichyssoise with creme fraiche and watermelon salad and a plentiful veggie risotto and more wine and great conversation and a beautiful night and good friends. Unfortunately, the one thing that we were missing was a good camera. Dagnabbit!

But, two iphone photos to give you an idea:

When the cold set in we took our empty bowls and baskets and and went back to the warmth of Maggie’s apartment for berries and ice cream and Tartine treats! (thanks to the e. bean). It was an awesome night that lead me to think:

EVERYONE SHOULD EAT OUTSIDE AT LEAST 2938592837597 TIMES A YEAR!

It is good for your health.

This past weekend was the C-tron’s bday so we had a birthday breakfast bash with berries and buds. It is tradition to do three things on his bday: 1.) Eat strawberry shortcake (the longest standing tradition on this day)…so we had it for breakfast! 2.) Have the g-flan over. This will mark at least the third+ year where the g-flan has helped celebrate. 3.) C-tron gets a new cast iron kitchen tool. This is the second year of this semi-tradition. C-tron was the lucky recipient of a pile of tater tots with a candle on top (aka a tot cake) to help christen his new cast iron mini pans. Unfortunately, I failed to take photos during the birthday breakfast bash so I tried to recreate the scene just for memory sake:

And I got a stylin’ photo of the man on his day with his special hat thing on:

Why go to a restaurant when you can sit on the comfort of your own couch (or dining table if you are cool like that) and eat this:

Heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, garlic rubbed crostini, crispy prosciutto and nectarines. All topped off with our very favorite fleur de sel from the south of France, a little olive oil and  a bottle of homemade balsamic reduction at the ready. I just drooled on my keyboard.

A before and after story.

Once upon a time (i.e. about three weeks ago) a girl named Ali and a boy named C-tron were out on a sunny mountainside in Colorado. This sunny mountain spot was where they planned to have their wedding ceremony…

At this spot on that sunny day Ali and C-tron wrote their vows and pondered what their futures might hold together…

Then Ali and C-tron got married at that sunny spot but it wasn’t so sunny anymore. It was snowy…

Shortly after they got married, Ali and C-tron drove back to California and along the way they found a tree full of shoes…

And once they arrived home in California they went back to work right away because that is what two young people have to do if they live in California. But, luckily for Ali and C-tron their work took them to St. Lucia, Miami and West Virginia which means Ali and C-tron got to eat a lot of really good (and not so good for you) food…

Unfortunately for Ali all of the good and not so good for you food changed her a bit. She was very happy and she was married but now she was very happy and married and fat…

Moral of the story: Getting married makes you happy.

Last weekend, May 15th, 2011 at about 10:00m-ish amongst the mud, rain and snow C-tron and Ali done did get hitched.

(not photos from the actual day)

A semi brief rundown on how things went down:

A week and a half before the wedding: Dress #15 (from an Australian designer and purchased from a gal in Canada) arrives. Makes the final cut. Phew. Estimated weather for Sunday, May 15, 2011 = 77 degrees and sun. Ali worries that it might be too hot/bright out.

The Friday before Matrimonious Maximus: Beautiful sunny day. Ali gets a slight sun burn on her chest. Breakfast with family and all venture to the varying ceremony sites to check out where we want to have the whole thing go down (i.e. outside if sun. shelter if rain. boring conference room if snow). Great beer and pizza with friends/family at Avery brewery.

Saturday before Matrimonious Maximus: Rain. Forecast for Sunday changes by the minute. Mom picks up umbrellas, rubber boots, blankets and thermoses to have just in case. Bbq dinner up the wazoo. So much good food.

Sunday, day of Matrimonious Maximus: Rain. Ali’s alarm doesn’t go off. Thank goodness for wake up call from hotel. No time for Ali to shower (ha). Hair/makeup gal comes to the rescue. Wonderful wonderful and super positive photographers arrive. Ali’s sister is a saint and gets all things ready that Ali can’t do. Even with the rain Ali and C-tron decide to hold ceremony outside. Ali and C-tron take photos. Ali and C-tron get a bit wet/soggy. Ali and C-tron go to ceremony spot. It starts snowing! Ali loves snow, especially in mid-May (seriously!). Ali is elated and although freezing she doesn’t feel the cold. Ali’s mom is wearing 80’s moon boots with her nice clothes. Ali’s dad has his green Austrian hat on. Ali makes her way up the muddy trail with family while a banjo man under a tree plays “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain.” Ali see’s her brother in his white linen suit and white top hat with white snow on the mountains behind him. Ali reaches Cooper. Ali can’t stop smiling. All of a sudden 5 guys appear (one is wearing shorts!) and they start singing Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up.” Ali hadn’t really planned to do this but she “Rick Rolled” her guests. Ceremony begins. Ali’s  big brother is hilarious while also super “Reverend-y.” Ali’s little brother reads a children’s book about love and dinosaurs. Ali’s nieces, sister and C-trons’s sister sing a blessing and circle around Ali and C-tron. Ali and C-tron exchange vows and rings. Ali and C-tron kiss. Ali and C-tron are married. Ali and C-tron’s friends and family are frozen solid on the mountains in Colorado. (sorry guys). Ali and C-tron’s friends and family warm up in the Banjo Billy Bus. Ali and C-tron and friends and family go to The Kitchen for food, drink and the warmth of a fire. Ali and Cooper couldn’t be happier.

Monday, day after Matrimonious Maximus: C-tron’s step dad/brother break the news that they found mountain lion tracks in the mud on the trail where Ali and C-tron got married on the morning of the wedding. Thank goodness Ali and Ctron and their guests didn’t become kitty snacks!

Ali and C-tron are so grateful and feel very very very loved.