In anticipation of a feast.

I simply cannot wait until 3pm today when get to leave work early, while it is still light out no less, and start enjoying my four-day weekend. So excited.

We are having a FEAST tomorrow. And, because I love this word and around the holiday season is really the only time to use it without being strange...there will be a smorgasbord of food.
***Le Menu***

Basil Pesto Deviled Eggs
Baked Brie
***
Gourmet Mac & Cheese
Creamed Spinach
Swiss Chard & Sweet Potato Gratin
Rotisserie Chicken
Stuffing (NOT from a box!)
***
Apple Pie
Bourbon Pumpkin Cheesecake

I also plan on...
planting flowers outside,
outlet shopping on Friday in Camarillo,
continuing a holiday apt window display with Naomi,
working on my hexagons,
going on a 6-mile (nervous though, it's been awhile since 5+) run...

...and simply enjoying not working. :)

Here is a snowflake preview...they're addicting to make. We've been having whoever comes over try and make one, it's fun to see what each person comes up with.
*before*
*after*

Sister sister.

So Jess has been visiting for the last week...and needless to say we have traversed Los Angeles, hung out in Berkeley and at Treasure Island, been on multiple adventures in Hollywood, gone thrift shopping, eating, eating and more eating...we fit in so much in a relatively short amount of time. One of my favorite things we did was on Sunday. This is one of my ideal days, consisting of...

1. Bay Cities Deli's "Godmother" sub. And oh my God, it is a mother.

2. The Getty - specifically, I really enjoyed the Irving Penn special exhibit they have on display right now. This is the first time all of his 252 photographs of his "Small Trades" Collection have been together in a single exhibit. It was just a cool reminder of just how many professions do exist, and kind of takes you back to a different era when different jobs existed. I felt like a kid sort of, when you have the most wild ideas (vs. when you get to college and decide to be "practical") about what you want to be when you grow up. For example, I wanted to be a firefighter for the longest time. At least five years. Here is of my faves...old school scuba:
Other faves I couldn't find pictures of online were the "cheese man," a smiling man from Paris with a "fromage" tub as well as the "female dancer" (NAOMI, she had tassels) and "female acrobat" (who was still smiling in a leotard at at least age 55).

But anyway, this combination of activities, combined with a Hotel Cafe Greg Laswell show FOLLOWED by finally seeing Where the Wild Things Are, made for a fabulous Sunday.
Doesn't her hair look amazing there? Pretty long locks.
Such beautiful gardens at the Getty, Jess took some amazing macro flower pictures that I can't wait to get my hands on. Much better than my pathetic iPhone pics. I'm so lazy, I should just carry my camera.

I'll have to get more pictures of my adventures with the clone and post a few later. Now back to real life/work.

SQUASH.

Wow I just came across this recipe! I love the blog Jen Loves Kev, and no food represents the fall better than squash. Yumm. Recipe HERE.
[via Jen Loves Kev]

Scraps of my weekend.

Such a great weekend! Went to the beach x 2, farmer's market flowers, dim sum, cat naps in the sunshine, a VIP experience at the Greek Theatre Gipsy Kings concert...good times.

A Seale and a Seib. I need to get a wetsuit...I'm missing out!

A real seal. And an example of what I did this weekend. I can only wish I was that cute though. :)

Mango dessert. Delicious because it's heart shaped.

[via A Cup of Jo]
I want to do this with our flowers. I need to find/save some taller jars however. New project.

HERBS.

[via Nothing Elegant]

How cute is this herb/flower pot?! I love.

Meet Eddie.

This is Eddie.

Such a great weekend! Rode my new bicycle to Santa Monica with Jackie and Naomi and felt a newfound freedom away from my gas-guzzling vehicle...

...we hit up our local Brentwood farmer's market for some fresh / local produce. Also, I bought an extremely tall $10 orchid. I win.
...Also went to Real Food Daily...
...bought a new coffee pot...
...went to the beach...
...power yoga...

...made some spicy shrimp cocktail (delicious!)...

Good times. Can't wait until Friday. :)

Wacky Wednesday.

What a great Wednesday!

A picture narration:

Bicycle hunting...[Trek 7000 pictured]

Rendezvous with Naomi at the Green Truck...new fav lunch spot! The "Mother Trucker" burger? To die for. Simply beyond flavorful.

Emiliana Torrini / Anya Marina tonight @ the Largo with my other two (mouse)keteers.

And last but not least...lolz. Caricature fail.

Food Diary

Such a busy day today at work! I was furiously database-entering all morning, and then suddenly it was 2pm and I was contemplating eating my office plant. But it was Trader Joe's to the rescue! I am now happy and fed while typing this, and my poor plant is still alive. AND I made a discovery! The "Egg White Salad with Chives" from TJ's is life-changing. Not just because I was calorie-deprived. This is good stuff people. I might have to make this myself one weekend.

[VIA WE MAKE WORDS]

Mmmmmm, now I simply cannot wait for my next life-changing meal - dinner at Father's Office. While it may not be the most protein / calorie-conscious choice while in the middle of P90X, sometimes you just have to enjoy a good meal out with a good friend.
It really is the simple things. Food being one of them.