Adventures with Lisa & Kevin

For my "official" birthday gift (even with all the great things she treated me to on the day of my birthday!), Jessie took me to the Bridge School benefit concert in Mountain View (home of Google). I wasn't familiar with this annual concert but everyone I've told up here knows about it so it's kind of a big deal! The concert is put on by Neil Young and his wife every year (it's been going on for 24 years now) and the ticket sales raise funds for the school which serves youth who have severe speech and physical impairments. This year's line-up:





We met up with her friend Ryan and a few of his friends. It was pouring rain in San Francisco when I left and so I was decked out with my umbrella, rain coat and rain boots. It rained off and on at the Shoreline Amphitheater but I think it just made the experience richer and more exciting in the end!














Ryan had a friend who works at the amphitheater and mid-show was able to hook us up with box seats!! So we finished the show off in style and so close to the stage you'd swear we could reach out and touch them.





We got the new seats just in time for...Pearl Jam!!



I had an AMAZING time at the concert. I can't thank you enough Jessie!!!! You're the best sister I could ever ask for.

Our dear friends Carleigh and Scott (who have been pleasantly surprised with their recent fame on the blog ;) ) took us out to Savanna Jazz Club in the Mission on Saturday 10/23 for dinner, drinks and live jazz. We saw Suzanna Smith and her quartet play and they were fantastic. Some of you probably know that one of my dreams is to become a jazz pianist and I would lovelovelove to be a part of a jazz group one day playing at a local jazz club so it was so great seeing live jazz. I just need to get to practicing the piano more!

Dinner was...so-so. Maybe that's why we didn't see anyone else ordering food! Oh well, lesson learned.

But the drinks were delicious!






While we were inside the singer announced the SF Giants' win and the whole place erupted in applause. When we left the club later that evening the street was filled with excited (and probably drunk) Giants' fans--honking their horns, hanging out their car windows, and standing in the middle of the street waving huge Giants' flags. Remind me not to be in the Mission during their final game of the World Series! ;)

Can't thank Carleigh and Scott enough for such a wonderful evening...you two are the best!!

Me and Lola drove back up to SF on the 19th, just a day before my 27th birthday.

Kevin rolled out the red carpet for me to celebrate my 27th year...balloons, flowers, a birthday banner and a box of Junior Mints (my absolute FAVORITE candy). He is such a sweetie, thank you so much Kevin!
That weekend we went together to pick out my birthday gift: a food processor! I've been wanting one for a while now and I am so so so excited to now have one. I broke it in with a roasted red pepper vinaigrette recipe (found at this link) and I am in LOVE!





Coming up this weekend is homemade pizza dough and pesto sauce to make pesto, crab and tomatoes pizza...can't wait!

Now onto the birthday festivities...

The day of my birthday Kevin had the day off of work so we hung out at home just lounging around and it felt so good to spend some family time with him and Lola! Jessie also had the day off of work so she joined us for a picnic in the backyard: she provided the homemade portabello and kale pasta (tasted like beef stroganoff, amazing!) and we provided the sauteed brussel sprouts, mushrooms, garlic and red pepper flakes creation. Kevin had to leave for school that afternoon :( so me and Jess spent the rest of the afternoon/evening together. After catching up on "Modern Family" (LOVE that show!) we got all prettied up and went out to meet some of her friends at Bistro St. Germain in the Haight. It's a cute little French bistro with some great food and wine (I opted for some beer). One of our friends (her name is Lisa too) and I decided to be brave and split an escargot plate. They were drenched in butter and herbs (thank goodness!) so they weren't half bad. Would I get them again? Probably not. But I can say I've had snails now! After a delicious dessert shared with my sis (and the restaurant singing "Happy Birthday" to me :) ) me and Jess headed out to Bottom of the Hill for some live music. One of Jessie's favorite artists, Scout Niblett, was playing and it was a great show. One of the most amazing things that happened that night: me and Jess found two $100 bills just hanging out on the ground at the bar! So after some stealthy moves, we pocketed the dough and split the profits. Who woulda thought that we'd end up $200 richer that night?? Jessie treated me all night and I can't thank that girl enough for helping to make my birthday splendid!





My birthday was fantastic and I have two of my favorite people to thank for it. Love you two!!

My mom and Steve treated me to a spa day after my half-marathon--it was JUST what the doctor ordered! We went to Glen Ivy Hot Springs in Corona and I could not have asked for a better time to feel refreshed after my race.

The day was gloomy and we weren't even sure if the spa was going to be open but it seems there were about 50 other crazy people with the same idea as us. ;) We got there around noon and had four hours to spend in the hot sulfur baths, the sauna, the jacuzzis and, of course, the mud bath!












Afterwards we spent some required time at Tom's Farms purchasing some delicious candies, bread, wine and cheese.





Such a lovely way to end a great trip down to Long Beach. Thank you both so much!!