Browse Category: holidays

Zen in 2010

Last month at work, we were all feeling burnt out and needed a big attitude change for the sake of our patients. So, we decided to kick off the new year last Saturday with a slumber party at Steph’s house in Livermore. We cheesed it up even more by calling it our “Zen in 2010 Party”.

The grown-ups joined us in the evening for a buffet of appetizers and drinks and a very entertaining board game. Sue, my manager, even brought a handy-dandy s’mores maker and whipped up some cocktails for us.

After the grown-ups went home, we finished up the wine, played MASH, made some friendly crank calls to our friends, and fell asleep to “The Little Mermaid”. There were definitely a lot of laughs and hijinks that night.  We all slept in the livingroom in sleeping bags and woke up to a scrumptious breakfast that Stephanie prepared for all of us.

I hadn’t been to a sleep-over in a VERY long time and I think it was more fun than any teeny-bopper party that I had ever been to.  Here are the photos.

Christmas Vacation: Part 5

The day after Christmas was super busy for me.  I got up bright and early to have breakfast with my old roomies from UCLA.  We went to Mimi’s Cafe in Cerritos and Linda brought her newest son, Christian, along.  It was so much fun to catch up with Linda, Mich, and Mary over coffee and pancakes.

For lunch, I went to Patty’s parents’ house in Cerritos to meet up with Hols, Patty, and Patti.  Johnny, Howard, and the little girls Katelyn, Lauren, Zoe, and little Kylie were also there.  Johnny picked up food from BJ’s Pizzeria and we had a fun time playing with the girls and hanging out.

In the afternoon, we dropped Jason off at the airport and then headed over to Gardena for Brother and Joy’s housewarming party. We brought them a Bouchon cookbook, Reidel glasses, and the limoncello that we bought for them in Italy to warm up their house.

They have a cute 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom condo that is VERY similar to their old apartment in Santa Monica.  The two of them worked really hard in preparing a variety of appetizers and desserts while everyone came with a dish to fill up the table. The party was definitely a success and the food was so yummy!

The whole family and their friends attended and it was so nice to see everyone together to celebrate such an important milestone. It was also a great way to end our Christmas vacation.

Happy 010110!!

Another year has passed and we finished up 2009 with a 6-course dinner at Jardiniere.  I was supposed to work today but at the last minute I was granted the day off.  Phew!  So we checked around for available reservations and we got a 9pm at Jardiniere, a restaurant that I’ve been wanting to try ever since we moved to SF.  The meal was delicious but I was SO stuffed by the end.  They also handed out party favors since dinner didn’t end until midnight so we rang in the new year at the restaurant with the live band playing.  We missed the fireworks at the Ferry Plaza but judging upon our ride home on Muni, it looked really crowded and crazy.

In review of 2009, the year was filled with many memorable moments and events.  We both still had our jobs despite the “Great Recession”, I got to travel to Europe for the first time, and Brother got married!  I also started working in Rehab (a move from outpatient) and have the best team a girl could ask for.

Here are the Best, Worst, Faves, and Not-So-Favorites of 2009:

Best Event: I got a new sister AND got to hang out in Hawaii with the family.

Worst Event(s): Saying “see ya later” to a good friend and co-worker.

Best Trip: Eurotrip to ITALY!!!

Worst Trip: Almost getting to Tahoe but getting stuck in Auburn.  It wasn’t that bad but it was the worst of the year.

Best Meal: Birthday dinner at Fleur de Lys and meeting Chef Keller

Worst Meal: one of our meals in Florence…Rick Steves is good with sightseeing but not food recommendations

Favorite Moment: Giving a speech at Brother’s wedding reception for the family

Worst Moment(s): Losing my keys for 2 days

Coolest Moment: Sharing McDonald’s fries with Jack while watching Elmopalooza

Favorite New Toy: my iPhone

Funniest New Toy/Gift: an eraser that says “holy crap” from my Secret Santa (apparently I say it a lot)

Christmas Vacation: Part 4

On Christmas morning, we woke up to find that Jes’ mom had brought home breakfast. It was an assortment of dim sum items that really hit the spot. After a few hours of being lazy and plotting out my course, I went for a run to Knott’s Berry Farm in hopes of buying some boysenberry jam and cookies for my co-workers. Unfortunately, Knott’s was CLOSED! Disneyland doesn’t close on Christmas…  Well luckily they have a “resort hotel” next door that had a gift shop selling the stuff I was looking for…sorta.  I didn’t find boysenberry jam but got the cute mini jars I was looking for.

After getting picked up and stopping for coffee at Starbucks, Jes started on dinner and I went to Cerritos to hangout with the dog and walk him while the parents went to Pala for their super buffet lunch.  This is Koa with his new friend, Mr. Lobster.  My mommy gave it to him.

Dinner was with Jes’ family and the roast was tasty as usual.  Jes and Jason received another set of matching outfits…cute sweaters, guys!  I got a nice coat and the cousins liked their gifts.  It was another merry Christmas.

Christmas Vacation: Part 3

Photo courtesy of Brother

Thursday, December 24, 2009

On Christmas Eve morning, Brother came over and we headed down to Fountain Valley for my photo assignment.  Debbie’s good friend from high school found me as a link from her blog and asked me to take family portraits for them.  Brother came along to be my second shooter and it turned out to be a fun hour.

We originally were supposed to go to Mile Square Park but ended up staying at their house and taking all the photos in the backyard.  They have a really nice backyard with a great shady spot.  Coupled with the morning light (around 9:45 am), the photos turned out pretty well.  They have a beautiful family and it was great working with all of them.  Thanks for the referral, Debbie!

Later in the day, Jes and I went packed up our belongings and headed to the Buena Park house.  Jes and his brother hung out while I wrapped Christmas presents.  In the evening, I drove down to the Suminos’ house to deliver gifts and hang out before dinner.  The boys have grown so much and Cole is a walking, talking human now.  Crazy.  Brandon is such a fun little guy too.  He’s small but really scrappy.  Love it!

The boys tore open their gift and were so happy to see four Bakugan toys inside.  They showed me how they work and I was genuinely impressed.  I miss having them around.

Christmas Vacation: Part 2

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

On Wednesday, Mommy made Kanom Krok for breakfast and it was sooooo yummy.  Again, I LOVE the Magical House.  Later in the afternoon, it was time to take care of some business.  First stop was Wahoo’s the Irvine Spectrum.  I had been craving a fish taco and their famous rice for some time now and it was still as tasty as I had remembered.

Next stop was the vet.  Koa hadn’t seen a vet since we moved to SF and he was overdue for his vaccinations.  He was pretty good at first but as soon as we got into the examination room, his hind legs started to shake and he couldn’t stop panting.  Check out the huge tongue!  Once the vet came in and tried to examine him, I smelled something super foul.  He had expressed his anal glands all over the floor and it’s one of the grossest smells ever.  The vet had to take him in the back to get him cleaned up and apparently did it again!  Well, the vaccinations were done and he also weighed in at 29 pounds…what a fatty.

Afterward, we headed out to Pish’s office for a dental cleaning.  I was in fear of having 3 cavities but I had X-rays done and was cavity-free!!!  Whut!?  Unbelievable.

Joy and Mommy also arrived a little later and it was Family Fun Day the Dentist once again.

For dinner, we went out for Korean BBQ at ShikDoRak with Hols, Dayantha, and Huy.  We ordered a Combo Meal for 4 (there were 5 of us) and it still felt like a night of never-ending beef.  I was super full afterward but it was sooooo good.