A Few of My Favorite Things: 2011

This year has been so good to me.  I am ready to embrace 2012, but will always look back on this year as one of the most significant in my life.

I started the year off a college graduate!  Even though I was nervous about finding a job, I was excited to be done with my undergraduate career.  My amazing friends were so supportive!  It's funny, but I weirdly miss studying for finals with Nicole (right).

January, February and March were completely consumed by the job hunt.  But lo and behold, I got a job! We had a blast moving into my very first apartment in Mountain View the first weekend of April.

I started my job on April 11th, 2011.  The job just keeps getting better and better.  It's fun to look back and remember those first few (almost overwhelming) weeks.  I have learned so much, and have made some amazing friends up here in the Bay.

In late April, I got to celebrate my 21+1 birthday with my family in Sonoma.  I also got to go to my first sunrise Easter mass in a vineyard. 

May brought Mother's Day, and I hosted my very first family party in my little apartment.  Thanks everyone for making the trip to Mountain View! 

My cousin Michael got married later that month,  and I still giggle remembering all of my dad's family dancing late into the night.

In June, I officially graduated!  I was so excited to return to UCLA and Westwood to take part in the graduation ceremony and see all of my best friends again.

One of my favorite holidays is in July, and we got to celebrate my cousin Gordon's wedding over the July 4th weekend too.  This time, we got to laugh, cry and dance with my mom's side of the family.

In late July, I got to spend one last magical weekend with my bestie Nicoley, who is teaching English in Spain for nearly a year. 

I finally got to visit my friend Jo in August.  So excited she will be back in the Bay this summer too!

In September, I went to a Giants game with my family.  I'm pretty sure this is my dads version of Disneyland, so it was a pretty spectacular day.  And I finally got to meet Maggie's boyfriend Jack.

I also got to go back to Oroville in September for my Grandpa's induction into the Oroville Union High School District Hall of Fame.  The powerful feelings of nostalgia were (mostly) kept at bay as we made new Oroville memories and celebrated my amazing Grandpa!

I got to go to two Bruin games in October!  We played Stanford up here in Palo Alto, and then I got to return to LA and go to a game at the Rose Bowl and celebrate Halloween in West Hollywood.  It was so fab to catch up with most of my college friends in person!

In November, I got to cheer on two of my favorite runners, my friend Kimi and my dad.

We celebrated Thanksgiving in Fallbrook, the land of avocados and sunshine.

December arrived with exciting news for my mom.  We rounded out the year with an amazing Christmas in Fresno and Sonoma.

I think 2011 could be summed up as a year of celebration, exciting change, learning and lots and lots of love.  Bring it on 2012!

It's Raining, It's (Kind of) Pouring

 I woke up this morning to a light sprinkling of rain outside, and was so excited to finally give my new Hunter rain boots a real test run.  I may have worn them on Christmas day when there was no chance of rain whatsoever.  What can I say, I was excited!  Ever since I moved to the Bay, I knew I needed a sensible pair of wellies for rainy days.  I definitely miss laying out on the beach in January in Santa Monica, but it is fun to take advantage of the Bay weather to look for pieces best suited for colder climates.  Thank you Santa for these amazing boots!

A saleslady complimented my necklace.  I told her it was from J. Crew, and she said: "Oh, I didn't realize J. Crew sold anything stylish." Haha, yes, in fact they do.

Write your name inside the boot!  What a neat idea.

New Kicks

I've wanted a pair of booties ever since I saw a gal at work styled them so fabulously! I finally found the perfect pair today, and they seem solid enough for the streets of SF on New Year's Eve. To break them in, what better way than to do all my housework in them? It reminded me of my short-lived career in retail, where tasks included vacuuming and cleaning windows while trying to look perfectly put together.

So excited to wear them this weekend!

Christmas Traditions Pt. 2

On Christmas day, after unwrapping our presents from Santa, we jump in the car and head to Sonoma! This year, we got to celebrate Christmas day with my Nan and one of my uncles. The food was delicious, the games were a blast, and I was so thankful for all the time I got to spend with my family.

Our cousins were everywhere from San Diego to Sacramento this year, so my Nan put this on the buffet.

So much food was eaten! A delicious dinner of prime rib, potatoes au Gratin with blue cheese, salad and fresh Sonoma French bread was had after we ate a number of yummy hors d'oeuvres.

I helped decorate the mantle a couple weeks ago. The vintage snowy town scene is so precious.

I'm hoping babygirl got a better picture. This is our persimmon pudding... on fire! My great-grandma started this tradition, and the results are delicious. We had a great time singing and cheering as my uncle performed the flambé.

Couldn't leave Sonoma today without a trip to The Cheese Factory.

What are your Christmas traditions?

Christmas Traditions Pt. 1

Traditions are not for keeping. They're for keeping us together.

If you've watched any TV this holiday season, you might recognize this quote from a Hallmark commercial. I think it perfectly summarizes how much I cherish all of the Christmas traditions that my family has created over the years. New, fun surprises definitely jump into the mix every year, but it was these traditions that I was so looking forward to in the days leading up to Christmas.

Dressing up for the children's Christmas Eve mass at St. Anthony's.

Hanging out with our favorite boys after church.

Clam chowder for Christmas Eve dinner. After eating extra goodies during the holiday season, a light dinner of hors d'oeuvres and homemade soup is absolutely perfect.

On Christmas Eve, we exchange presents between the five of us. Our pets always "buy" us Christmas presents, and this is one of the things they ordered for us online. Thanks Freckles, Hans, Pookie and Gracie!

Our neighborhood has lit luminaries for the last 20 years, and all the lit candles look so stunning. Brig, Maggie and her boyfriend Jack made our luminaries, and it's really fun to see our whole neighborhood come together.

Our Christmas Eve is always capped off by a walk around the neighborhood to look at the luminaries and Christmas lights.

Look for Part 2 tomorrow!

PS: Linking up with E Tells Tales!

Merry Christmas!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas! I am enjoying every single moment with my family during this long weekend, and I wish you all a fabulous holiday weekend filled with joy and laughter.

PS:

Finally Home!

It really, truly feels like Christmas now! I'm back in Fresno, and arrived home in the midst of a party at my house with two families we grew up with in Clovis. As my dad so eloquently put it, these are some of our oldest friends; not in years, mind you, but in longevity. How did we luck out to grow up across the street from a family with three girls too?

Even though I've been counting down the days until Christmas with my Advent calendar, the magic of Christmas is so much more present here at home with my family and some of our best friends.

My mom's amazing Christmas tree.

Pretty girls.

Goofy girls.

Sarah is a freshman at UCLA and she joined ADPi too. Loved hearing all her fun stories!

Round two tonight with our cousins and other best friends. I wish the Christmas season never had to end!