back a bit

A couple weekends ago I had a visitor from the mid-west, Aunt Sisa. I was very excited to show off work, especially the views as of late. The rain and then 70 degree temps have made everything more clear. From the top of the hill you could see the snow on the San Gabriel mountains, the jagged teeth of Catalina island and amazing clouds as you can see here:



They got to see art as I worked and we had a nice lunch at the restaurant, a french menu to celebrate an exhibit.

5 years

5 years ago today, I took everything I could carry on a plane and moved to Los Angeles.

To celebrate this moment in my life, I spent the weekend celebrating in different ways. I explored two areas of the city that I was unfamiliar with, took the train closer to the snow capped mountains to have dim sum w/ an old co-worker from my La Escuelita days. I was sad to learn that it has since closed and is no more. I guess it is true that "you can never go home again"

For funsies I tried on dresses at Kate Spade. No buying too expensive.

(what I would have worn to the golden globes, if anyone asked me)

I had a heated discussion about clones at book club and spent an evening doing my favorite thing and that is seeing music.

I can't believe how much it has flown and at the same time, I feel like I have always been here.

NYE 2011

It was great to see family at the end of the year and a couple friends in Minneapolis. I was excited however to get back for one thing and that was New Year's eve and the 8 course meal I was asked to participate in. I left thinking, and this is a morbid thought, that if I were to ever have the experience of being served a last meal, this would be it.

Prix Fixe

1
Margerita jello shots w/ glistening sea salt

2
Cod and fontina croquettes with red pepper aioli
paired with Paco & Lola Albarino

3
Endive salad with blue cheese, pears and candied walnuts
paired w/ Sauvingnon blanc

4
Galatine w/ Apricot ginger sauce
paired w/ (I think at this point I stopped remembering so well, but I am thinking Pinot)

5
Brisket stuffed ravioli with Chicken Liver Sauce
paired w/ Chianti I think because I vaguely remember thinking something about hannibal lecter

Cocktail hour: French 75s

6
sweet potato latkes, braised pork belly, napa cabbage slaw, apples, cider pork jelly
paired w/ beer

7
Queso Manchego w/ Quince Jelly
paired w/ grenache

(aka my sorry sorry attempt at cooking)

8
The best bread pudding I have ever had in my life
paired w/ ?

In the end all I resolved to do in 2011 is make 2011 better than 2010. So far so good.

Before I forget-sighting

I saw Terrence Howard
at the grocery store and youuu didn't.

Photo study: the demolishment of chocolate cake

nothing better than this

There were two highlights of my trip. One was Thursday night when coey and I were able to meet up with Mandy and Evan for dinner and before we met I was on the phone w/ Mandy arranging things when Ev interrupted and screamed:

"Is that Kristen!! Are we going to see Kristen Mom!!!"

I think I have adequate exclamation points.

And when we headed back to coey's and he asked whether or not we were going to have a dance party.

I said "yes"
and he said "I have been seriously excited about this all week"

Glad I could make your week buddy.



So for Evan I dedicate this song, which has become a dance party staple both in person and in Cyberspace:




Thank you Florence and your machine

brought to you by our sponsors

I was very honored to be asked to be Nora's sponsor for her baptism, no she isn't an alcoholic, although after her birthday I may need to have a chocolate intervention with her. A sponsor is a non-religious mentor. I think my message that day was, wear vintage if you can and cover your fault areas with a really cute baby if there is one available.








I can't wait to teach her all kinds of cool stuff like how to eat korean bbq, how to appreciate the arts and how to give good hugs.

Christmas miracle

I think as a reward for my trip home last year, the 22+ hour drive from Denver, I found a once in a lifetime, christmas miracle if you will, roundtrip ticket for $180 on travelocity. Amazing, the thought of paying $500 to come home for christmas was hard to swallow, but I would have done it to see everybody. And now the moment you have all been waiting for.

X-MAS PICTURE POST!!

I hope you didn't die from cuteness, because there is another day of it coming next.

white elephant

I was honored to co-host the 4th annual white elephant party this year with a friend at my apartment. I had about 35 people, swapping gifts, laughing, drinking, eating "crack balls" Which all of my friends call the meatball recipe my mom gave me and I have been making for a lot of my big gatherings at the place.

Recipe for crack balls

1 bag of meatballs
2 jars of chili sauce
1 can of cranberry sauce
1 and 1/2 tablespoons of sambal olek (optional)

In the end I was gifted Casino Royale staring Daniel Craig. Not bad, it could have been worse. How worse I don't want to say because this is a family blog. If you notice in the top right corner. I made white elephant garland, by cutting out white elephant heads out of paper. Very Martha Stewart I know.

What does it mean?

I left Los Angeles as it was flooding. I crossed over the 10 and it was a lake, full of cars apprehensive to go further. It was pouring and then suddenly over the distance blue sky right above the airport and I looked back toward the city and saw a double rainbow. A big fat brilliant rainbow and its shadow.

I have seen a double rainbow before so I didn't get as excited about it as that guy on youtube, but it is still a pretty awesome experience.

I wish I could have taken pictures but I would have just gotten my reflection in the super shuttle window.