Monday, June 25, 2012

Update!

Here are some (of the many) things that have happened lately-ish:

We went to Florida for Jenny and Philips wedding and met up with Mac D at Stir it Up!
We got our nails did. Tak's first mani-pedi!
We went to the beach!
And took this artsy pic!
We lounged by the pool at Jenny and Philip's sweet beach house!

Mac D made the wedding cake! (Baked in Brooklyn, assembled and frosted in FL. Superfance.)

It was quite adorable.
Alena sang a song as Jenny walked down the aisle!

Jenny and Philip got MARRIED! Yay, congratulations! (And Tak and I took their wedding photos.)

We took this Mac alumni pic with Robert and Mara! Jenny said I couldn't send it in to the Mac Today, but she didn't say I couldn't post it on my blog!

Jenny, Mac D, Alena and I took a series of group portraits during the dance party.
They were all super awesome.
Oakland celebrated some sort of birthday and we got free party hats!
Then we went on the first-Fridays gallery crawl with all the hipsters.
Tak made derbies (mint juleps) for the Kentucky Derby!

The Mac horse didn't win, but I cheered for it the most!


I went to commencement at work! Oddly, it was the only graduation I attended this year.

We had a Memorial Day BBQ and played croquet!


Tak fired it up.

Betsy brought halloumi, the grillable cheese! (It was delicious, obviously.)

Karen brought her bubble gun, which Alena and Manish enjoyed.

We went to Art Murmur in Oakland again and got to go up on the rooftop to watch the Youth Radio video on the Great Wall! (Thanks, Robyn!)





We made tacos and they seemed especially photogenic.

We spent a weekend in Calistoga, where we visited Chateau Montelena (which you may know from the movie Bottle Shock).

Tak practiced crushing grapes.

And I posed with the barrels.

Chateau Montelena has beautiful grounds!

Our next stop was Vincent Arroyo, where we got to do barrel tastings! It was fabulous.

Tak was feeling parched at Bennett Lane.

Then we met up with Cat & John for a visit to our new favorite place Reverie,

It had the most beautiful grounds.

And also handicapped parking (oops).

And ... WE GOT TO GO ON A CAVE TOUR! FINALLY!

It was every bit as awesome as I always knew it would be.

Now I want to have a party there.


Off to the redwood grove for part 3 of our tasting.

It was also awesome.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Mom time!

My mom came to visit for Cesar Chavez Day!

I tried on wedding dresses (sorry, can't publish those pics!) and we visited the Brazilian Room. Unfortunately, the cherry blossoms won't be blooming in February, but they sure are pretty.

Me, Mom & Frances at the Brazilian Room

One of the bridal shops we visited.
Breakfast at La Note with mom & Kathy.

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Then we stopped off at the Farmer's Market for some Blue Bottle coffee.


Kathy brought me this bride Barbie (thanks, Gretchen!!), who seemed like a perfect partner for James Brown.

Sukiyaki night with Mom, Kathy, Jeff, Manisha, Andrew & David!


Tak's sukiyaki. Super delicious, as always!
And we had a quintet of desserts! (Plus this sparkler candle, which I LOVED.)
Then we bid mom & Kathy farewell until next time.


A couple of other things that have happened:
We dyed Easter eggs!
Highlights:






Tak made homemade ravioli and pesto. Sooo goooood.