Category Archives: Family

Wine Tasting in Napa

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On Saturday, the Roomie, my brother, Alex and I drove up to Napa and enjoyed some wine tasting at two lovely vineyards. I had never been to Napa, so I was pretty excited to explore the area and see some new sites.

It was a cold and misty day, but that did not diminish our excitement or trip in anyway. It was a lovely drive, winding up through the City and I snapped a few photos to document the lovely day, as wine tasting was on my 101 in 1001 list. It has been so much fun to cross things off my bucket list!

We stopped for breakfast at this charming little red cafe, called Boon Fly Cafe, after which we enjoyed the first vineyard, William Hill. We tasted a few wines, and then wandered over to ZD Wines. It was a dark and gloomy day, so it was fun to sip some wines, sit indoors and chat away.

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Today I ran a bunch of errands, and got in a bit of shopping with the Roomie & Grant. Last night, I  watched West Wing while cuddling with the pups. It was a busy weekend, but filled with fun things.

How was your weekend? What was your favorite thing you did all weekend? Have you even been wine tasting?

Love,

-S

Ringing in the New Year in Tahoe

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Last Friday the family, Roomie, my brother’s best friend Alex, and I drove up to Tahoe. On Saturday, our good friend Shannon joined us, and Gabe and Amy joined us on Sunday. We have been enjoying a lazy few days here in Tahoe. We have been taking long walks with the pups, playing lots of wii, and watching too much television. We eat yummy meals and sleep lots. In short, Tahoe is all about taking a break from life and work.

We are going to start cooking a delicious steak for dinner, along with a few other things. We plan on playing Settlers of Catan or Citadels in front of a roaring fire after dinner until the New Year rings in.

Earlier today, Amy and I took a short walk and I snapped a few photos. I hope everyone has someone to ring in the New Year with!

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The weather has been warm and sunny, although I wish there was fresh snow to sled and play in. While there isn’t much snow, the pup has enjoyed finding the small patches and rolling around in them.

Happy New Year’s Eve!

Love,

-S

101 in 1001

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Image From Daily Fancies & Pinterest

Image From Daily Fancies & Pinterest

I’m inspired by Mackenzie of Design Darling (which, if you don’t read, you totally should!) and Carly of College Prepster in creating a list of 101 things to do in 1001 days. 1001 days, which is 2.75 years, is the enough time to do things without it being a total bucket list.

I stole some ideas from their lists, and then added a few of my own!

I’m officially starting mine on January first so my end date is September 28th, 2016.

Completed Items: crossed out.

In progress items: Italics.

101 in 1001

  1. Inspire someone to write a list of their own (Maryah  in Jan 2014)
  2. Go wine tasting with friends or family (Jan 11th, 2014)
  3. Learn to play an instrument
  4. Go hot air ballooning
  5. Make cake balls
  6. Invest in a food processor
  7. Climb a tall mountain
  8. Go sky diving
  9. Visit a new continent
  10. Go zip-lining  (I’ve got my eye on your Mt. Hermon)
  11. Build my dream closet
  12. Upgrade to a DSLR camera
  13. Go to a taylor swift concert
  14. Buy a house/car/condo/boat, something!
  15. Visit the Anne Frank house
  16. Get my own puppy
  17. Run a marathon (the San Francisco one in July maybe?)
  18. Spend a day at a spa
  19. Visit a castle (ideally this one: Neuschwanstein in Bavaria, Germany)
  20. Take a tour the white house (planned for July this summer)
  21. Fast for three days (March 2014)
  22. Visit the Harry Potter World in Florida
  23. Tour Hearst Castle (on our road trip hit list this summer)
  24. Visit Canada (on our road trip hit list this summer)
  25. Donate money on Kiva
  26. Go paint balling
  27. Send a message in a bottle
  28. Buy a large jewelry box for all my bangles and earrings
  29. Invest in Tory Birch boots
  30. Take photos under the hollywood sign (planned for this June)
  31. Take photos with lit sparklers
  32. Learn to shoot a bow and arrow
  33. Order business cards
  34. Invest in a classic handbag (Frank Clegg/Tory Birch/Coach/Kate Spade)
  35. Organize my Itunes (January 1st, 2014)
  36. Send out christmas cards on time
  37. Throw a surprise party for a friend
  38. Buy my first piece of furniture
  39. Find my signature cocktail (January 13th, 2014) Lemon Drop
  40. Attend a horse race or polo match
  41. Track my spending for a month January and February 2014) 
  42. Drink 8 glasses of water (50 oz) every day for at least one week. 
  43. Buy personalised luggage
  44. Throw my first sunday brunch party
  45. Blog for 30 days straight 
  46. Top up my emergency funds for a total of one year’s rent money (almost at 6months)
  47. Get a mani and pedi that match (scheduled for June 2014)
  48. Set up a photo shoot for the whole family
  49. Meet a fellow blogger in real life
  50. Find a set of china that i love
  51. Don’t eat out for one month (February 2014)
  52. Write a guest post for another blog
  53. Buy all the Gilmore Girls DVD’s (Yay!)
  54. Invest in my first piece of tiffany’s jewelry
  55. Learn the sock bun successfully(I plan on asking Brandy/Amy)
  56. Cook dinner every night for a week (0/7)
  57. Buy myself flowers every week for a month (0/4)
  58. Go one month without buying Starbucks (February here I come)
  59. Invest in nice undergarments
  60. See a second Frank Lloyd Wright home
  61. Purchase or make a bar cart
  62. Complete a jigsaw puzzle by myself
  63. Buy a plane ticket with my frequent flier miles only (Santa Fe Tickets there & back)
  64. Come up with a way to organize ALL jewelry
  65. Take an Instagram photo errr’day for a month (in progress!)
  66. Do a “no spend month” (February 2014)
  67. Create a gallery wall (in my classroom January 2014)
  68. Create a custom blog logo
  69. See the Great Gatsby movie (this one)
  70. Do a three day juice cleanse (March 2014)
  71. Throw a masquerade party
  72. Be in a fashion photo shoot
  73. Participate in a color run (This Saturday!)
  74. Keep a food journal for one month
  75. Try hot yoga
  76. Find an infinity scarf i don’t feel silly in
  77. Go without “bedtime tv” for a week
  78. Unplug for a whole weekend
  79. Reach my ideal weight
  80. Read & watch every Jane Austen Novel/Movie (watched 3/5) (read 1/5)
  81. Update my good reads profile for three months.
  82. Go on a road trip (planned for July this summer)
  83. Make fig jam/red wine jelly with my mom
  84. Drink a glass of wine every night for a week (February 2014)
  85. Eat “clean” for one whole week 
  86. Get a blow out at a “dry bar” just because
  87. Ride in a limo
  88. Try a spinning class
  89. Invest in a monogrammed necklace or bracelet
  90. Finish my T-shirt quilt
  91. Learn needlepoint
  92. Walk through a corn maze
  93. Buy more J.Crew blazers
  94. Buy a new watch (March 2014)
  95. Take myself to the movies and watch a double feature 
  96. Buy a whole cd (March 2014)
  97. Have a stay-cation at home one day every weekend for a month
  98. Get a hammock (January 2014)
  99. Learn calligraphy
  100. Get a new hairdryer (preferably this one)
  101. Put 10$ into savings for every goal accomplished

Ps. If I inspire you to write your own list and you DO, email me either your link or your list.. and I’ll  link it to my list and get to cross one off.. Thanks!

16 Down, 85 more to go!

Love

-S

Chili Cook-off, Gingerbread Houses and Christmas Trees

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On Saturday, we invited a few friends over to bake cookies and have a chili cook-off. We made two chili’s, a coworker of mine brought a white bean chili, and two family friends brought two other chili’s. We had two different types of cornbread, and enjoyed one tasty meal! We tasted all of them, and then voted. My dad’s house chili won hands down! I was so proud.

Our Chili Cook-off Group

Our Chili Cook-off Group

On Sunday we baked our family breakfast pastry, called Nuthorns. They are amazing. My brother and Roomie tackled making a gingerbread house to beat all houses. Being an engineer and math teacher, they created a structurally sound but still beautiful house.

 

We had a tasty dinner last night of raclette, and enjoyed dinner just as a family last night. Today we had aunts, friends and neighbors stop by to exchange presents. I lucked out this year! More on that later.

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Now we are preparing dinner for the group of us; honey mustard salad, grilled kebobs, potatoes au gratin, an onion grape  tarte, lemon sorbet and apple pie! I am looking forward to a yummy family dinner.

I hope everyone is enjoying time with their family, I know I am. We played lots of wii today, and hung out with four pups!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Love,

-S

 

Stockings Holders, Ornaments, and Trees

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When I was younger, we often decorated our house for Christmas on the same day that we got our Christmas Tree. Getting our Christmas tree though, was always an adventure!

We would pile into our big, comfy, green Ford Explorer, and head into the mountains. After getting lost for a few minutes we would discount the first few tree farms, because predictably they would be picked over. We would settle on a farm, grab our jackets, put a leash on our pup, and head into the wet wintery forest. Finding the perfect tree has become somewhat of a routine. We can’t go with the first tree we find, because there might be a better one out there. We usually haggle over the final tree, because I want a Charlie Brown tree, while the family wants a wide, large tree with evenly spaced out boughs. I wanted the homeliest tree out there, to take home because no one else would. Often, I lose the vote and we get a tree that is tall, wide, and barely fits on our car, let alone in the family room.

When my brother and I went away to college, sometimes we got our tree closer to Christmas, sometimes we would even pick one Thanksgiving weekend. Last year, we joined with another family for the Christmas tree selection, and it was a blast. This year, we plan on going with the Issa Family again, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. When we picked a tree during Thanksgiving break, we also decorated the house.

Now that I have my own place, I have been itching to get cute Christmas decorations. I have been resisting these cute things for a few days now, but I might give in!

My mom and I were the two that usually were anxious to pull out the Christmas Boxes and decorate the whole house. I usually was in charge of the Christmas Tree decorations, while either my dad or my brother did the lights on the tree. To this day, decorating the tree is one my of favorite holiday rituals. I love that the holidays are finally here.

Happy Wednesday!

Love,

-S

Emma Ward, Hidden Waterfalls and Apple Picking

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On Saturday Uncle Chip, Dad, Mum, Richard and I explored downtown troy. We started off with some hot coffee from Spill In The Beans, a local joint. We walked through a lovely farmers market and picked up a tasty goat chevre. From there we checked out a local all-girls high school called Emma Willard. The campus was unbelievable!

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Next we took a short walk down to the local stream, which used to be used to gather energy for the town. We enjoyed hopping from one rock to the next as I tried to not fall into any of the puddles.

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The streambed

The stream bed

 

The trees around this town looked like they were on fire. The spectacular colors that make the East Coast look dazzling were on full display for our visit.

 

We hugged my uncle goodbye and sent him on his long drive back to NC. Richard and I dropped my parents off at their hotel and set off to go apple-picking, one of my favorite childhood activities. We munched on fresh apple cider and apple donuts as we picked 9 varieties of apples. The sweet smell of ripe apples and the lazy sunshine on my sweater made the day feel perfect.

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On Sunday I waved goodbye to Richard, and to my parents, who were flying to Pittsburgh. They will enjoy a few days with my Grandfather before coming home later this week.

Today I jumped headfirst into work, coming home around 6. A long day, but it’s good to be home!

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. Happy Monday! (The Bones episode tonight was really good!!)

Love,

-S

Sharon Springs, Niagara Falls and Statue Climbers

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Before the wedding my father, Uncle Chip, Richard and I decided to go explore a local town called Sharon Springs, in search of coffee and breakfast snacks. The cafe wasn’t open when we arrived, so we wandered down the street to peek at the little downtown section.

The town used to be a big vacation spot for a famous bath house.

The town used to be a big vacation spot for a famous bath house.

This old funky hotel was beautiful, but showing its age.

This old funky hotel was beautiful, but showing its age.

 

It was also for sale, at a great price! (if you need 10acres)

It was also for sale, at a great price! (if you need 10acres)

We grabbed donuts and cappuccinos at the Black Cat Coffee shop.

Yum.

Yum.

 

On Friday, Richard and I picked up my cousin Andrew and his wife Katie from Jeannette’s house. We drove  4.5 hours from Troy to Niagara Falls. I was the only one that brought my passport, so we stayed on the American side. We stopped for pizza and wings for lunch, and munched on Dunkin’ Donuts as well.

Our lunch on Friday

Our lunch on Friday

We walked around the Falls for a bit, snapped tons of photos, and  got tickets for the Maid in the Mist tour boat.

 

 

It was amazing! I loved how the water was rushing so loud, and disappeared off the edge. I know sometimes doing the touristy-thing can be lame, but this time it was fantastic!

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls

 

 

Despite the blue ponchos they gave us, I was totally drenched.

Katie and I.

Katie and I.

 

We walked back to the car and saw some cool statues.My cousin and I had matching converse shoes! Can you tell which are his and which are mine?

Matching outfits, totally unplanned.

Matching outfits, totally unplanned.

Naturally, my cousin crawled onto a public monument while I took his photo.  #ilovemyfamily

My cousin Andrew is awesome.

My cousin Andrew is awesome.

 

We drove back and crashed. It was one very long, but still lovely day! Did you do anything fun on Friday? Have you ever been to Niagara Falls? Have you been to any touristy places that you really enjoyed? (Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, White House, etc)?

Love,

-S

Family Dinners, Table Toppers and a Fall Wedding

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I brought my work laptop on this trip, thinking it would be light and easier to carry. Which it was, but it also has some settings on it that blocked the hotel’s internet the whole time. So, I will play catch up for the last few days.

Dad and I flew out to New York very early (6.30am flight out of San Francisco!!) and got in around early evening. We met up with my friend Richard and drove from Albany to our hotel in Carlisle. We met the rest of the family and bridal party for Italian food.

Dinner the night before the wedding

Dinner the night before the wedding

Everything about their wedding was very cute. She had gotten a lot of ideas from Pinterest. The ceremony was outside at this beautiful venue, and we munched on apple donuts and hot cider before. This was the reception venue a few feet away.

The fireplace decorations

The fireplace decorations

The bridesmaids and family had made the table toppers.

The bridesmaids and family had made the table toppers.

Our party favors were maple syrup that Michael and Jeannette had tapped from the trees on their farm.

The wedding cake

The wedding cake

The wedding booklet.

The wedding booklet.

Michael is a big fan of candy, and so they had a “grooms cake” for him which was this candy take-out bar with to go cartons. It was pretty cute and tasty! They had a good variety of candy.

The "grooms cake"!

The “grooms cake”!

I thought her dress was absolutely perfect for her. Simple and elegant and totally beautiful!

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We have one more day here in Troy and then I have a 6.30 flight out tomorrow. If I have time later today I will do a post on our trip to Niagara Falls yesterday!

Hope you had a lovely week! Happy Saturday!

Love,

-S

Shopping, My 25th Birthday, Dinosaur Muffins and Cooking on Sundays

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This week was insanely busy, which is why I have not had a spare minute to post about everything.  I hope that with time I will get better at balancing work and blogging. If you have any tips, let me know!

The Roomie and I had a five day weekend from school, which was perfect timing as my birthday was smack dab in the middle of it!  On Thursday we slept in, to the gloriously late hour of 9am. We did a few things around the house and then went off to the mall. The Roomie and I found many cute things. We scored at pretty much every store.

Our shopping haul.

Our shopping haul.

On Friday I hit the gym, and it provided a much needed round of happy endorphins. Since I started working full time, getting to the gym every day has fallen to the way side. Starting in a week I hope to build it back into my routine. From the gym I went to my parents house to get Lightroom 5 set up on my mom’s and my laptop. For dinner we grabbed tasty greek food at Opa’s in downtown Los Altos. We had tickets to see Les Mis at the Saratoga Theatre, where two friends of mine were in lead role. I look forward the most to shows with actors I know personally.

After another glorious sleep-in, I set off for the grocery store. I picked up some snack but most everything was for my birthday party later that day. Around 4, people started trickling in, and we munched on tasty Mexican tacos and guacamole. We drank margaritas and horchata and enjoyed the warm evening air. We took a group photo, and I had everyone sign the frame that I would eventually put it in. People drifted in and out, and it was a glorious melding of friends, food and fun.

I made pumpkin spiced dinosaur muffins!

I made pumpkin spiced dinosaur muffins!

Our group photo.

Our group photo.

This morning after the Roomie and I tied up the house I wrote my thank you notes for my birthday gifts. We went over to the Castle and I tucked into cooking with my dad. We made ham and shrimp croquetten, mac’n’cheese and quiche lorraine. After a long round of dishes ( i swear we used every cooking utensil possible!) we tasted the mac’n’cheese. It was delicious and I look forward to munching on it after a long day at work next week.

Tomorrow I will be babysitting the whole day and Tuesday we start back  at work. I have one day of teaching, and then I fly out at the crack of dawn (have I mentioned I hate mornings?!) for my cousins wedding in upstate New York. More details on that later.

How was your weekend? What did you do? How do you balance getting you time and getting your errands done?

I hope you had a lovely weekend.

Love,

-S

Mum’s Birthday Dinner, Baking, and A New Car

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Last night we celebrated Mum’s birthday. We had a delicious dinner. We started off with some avocado crostini’s.

Avocado Crustini's

Avocado Crostini’s

We had Stolen Chicken for the main course. I love the potatoes and veggies that come along with it.

Our tasty stolen chicken.

Our tasty stolen chicken.

My Dad has been bringing in ripe tomatoes everyday from his garden. He tried a new kind this summer and they look amazing. The smell of them feels like summer is still here.

Fresh tomatoes from the garden

Fresh tomatoes from the garden

 

Today was a great day. I woke up and read in bed for a while with one snuggly pup (the other was at puppy class). I went grocery shopping.  The grey skies and cool weather put in the mood to bake. I started with making some chai, and then tumbled into baking some banana bread.

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Robert came over and showed off his swanky new car! Its a 2013 Honda Civic. It’s beautiful! It was pouring for a while so we settled on making some carrot-cake in celebration of his new wheels.

His celebratory carrot-cake!

His celebratory carrot-cake!

After a while it stopped raining and I was able to snap a picture of the his new wheels! He refuses to let me take a normal picture of him, so pardon his silly faces on all of the photos.

The new vehicle.

The new vehicle + his carrot cake doggy bag!

I'm not sure what he is doing here...

I’m not sure what he is doing here…

After the flour had settled we watched something on Netflix and the other pup and I snuggled on the couch. I stepped away to gather my things and she curled up in the warmth of my spot. Isn’t she cute?

My other snuggly puppy

My other snuggly puppy

How was your Saturday? Did you get a chance to kick back and relax? Have any fun things planned for tomorrow?

Love,

-S