Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween everyone...hope you all have a safe and fun one. Tonight Keith and I are going to be lowkey and just have a nice dinner and pass out candy to any little one's that come by. Last night we carved the pumpkin and roasted the seeds. Great fun... we couldn't find a tealight but finally did! It wouldn't be the same without it.

Here are some pictures....

Cut the pumpkin open and scoop out the middle... (the worst part)
Putting the seeds to to wash and get ready for roasting
After tracing the design with a knife we took turns cutting..
Here he is all lite up:

Roasted pumpkin seeds...

Spring Ahead, Fall Behind

Time change happened this weekend. Keith and I were saying although it is nice to be able to relax an extra hour in the morning, it is not so great that by the time we get off of work it is dark. This weekend it was nice that Sunday felt extra long, especially since Saturday I had a bit too much to drink and didn't feel so great Sunday.

So the weekend came and went as usual, but we were able to pack a lot in. Friday evening nothing much going on other than wandering around the aisles of costume stores like a lost child, I was looking for the perfect creative costume. But did not find it. SO I decided if Justin Timberlake can bring sexy back than I can bring the butterfly back right? I had some wings from Halloween a few years ago, so I decided to bust those out again. Saturday I had three appointments one right after the other, two were in San Francisco. It was such a lovely day in the city, it was actually hot out!! After my appointments Keith met me in the city and we went to the Cheesecake factory. OH how I heart the cheesecake factory.

One of the bestest places...

Union Square view from Cheesecake Factory:
They have these hearts all over the city, with different paintings on them. Plays into the whole "I left my heart in San Francisco" , this is the one in Union Square.




After we got back home I relaxed up a bit and then got ready for the party. Ashlei came with me as a 50's girl. Sofia and her sister Deanna picked us up and we went to Nicole's house for the party. There were lots of cute costume's there, Nicole (ms. creativity) was strawberry shortcake, and Sofia sported a costume she just got on her recent trip to Vietnam. It was a lot of fun, except for the fact that I drank a little too much. ugh. So Sunday Keith and I laid in bed and watch the niners feel almost as bad as I did.

Nicole and Sofia:
There is a story behind this I swear...(Ashlei, Michelle, Deanna)
Sisters: Sofia and Deanna
Thizz face...
Me the butterfly..
The wings from the back, I didn't wear jeans but you get the idea

Scary decorations:
The butterfly.

Partee Timmmee....

So it has been a little busy to try and update this week...but here it goes. Things are good on the home front, we had a good weekend. Keith's Mom and Sister found a place to move into and they will be moving on Nov. 1st which is exciting. Keith and I were just stressing over how everyone was going to sleep for thanksgiving vacation and it is not something we have to worry about now, so we are happy about that.

Niki and I decided to throw a girls party over the weekend, we rented my clubhouse to hold it in and planned for weeks on what to serve and how to set up. Friday Niki and I went to get things for the party and ran around like crazy. I made rice crispy treats for the chocolate fountain and then went to bed, Keith helped. Saturday I went to see my Dad in the morning, then to Costco, then back home where Keith unloaded everything for me. Then I was off to Lynda's house to visit with her sister who was in town (for the first time ever) to visit for a week. It was fun to see Chris, Julie and the girls. They are getting so big and they have an imagination that is thriving. So cute how they can just play together and make up adventures using sand and seashells. I stayed a bit longer than I needed to so I was rushing once I got home. We ran to the clubhouse to decorate and then I ran back drop all the food off and get things set out. Thank god that Devyn came early because she helped a lot set out the trays, and get things out of the car! I was a bit frazzled so now I know next time to get things set up WAY in advance so I can just relax before guest come. We had about 35-40 girls come and it was a lot of fun hanging out and laughing. I took only a few pictures because I was so busy I didn't get a chance to take pictures really, next time.

Sunday I had an appointment in San Jose so we went down for that, Ashlei came with me. We stopped by Santana Row after and had lunch and walked around the farmers market that is there. We also stopped by Hotel Valencia where I picked Keith up some cake that he had there for my Mom's bday that he loved. Then we headed home where Keith and I just laid in bed watched movies and relaxed. I finally dragged myself up around 5 pm to go on a hike for an hour, I am sad that the time is changing and I am not going to be able to do it on the weekdays anymore...back to the gym for me.

A poem I heard today that I really liked and some pictures from my hike yesterday...

Happy weekend Everyone!

After awhile you learn

the subtle difference between

holding a hand and chaining a soul

and you learn that love doesn't mean possession

and company doesn't mean security.

And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts

and presents aren't promises and you begin to accept

your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead

with the grace of an adult not the grief of a child.

And you learn to build your roads today

because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans

and futures have ways of falling down in mid-flight.

After awhile you learn that even sunshine

burns if you get too much so you plant your

own garden and decorate your own soul

instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure

that you really are strong

and you really do have worth

and you learn

and you learn...

...I left my heart in San Francisco...

I had an appointment in San Francisco last night and it was a wonderful night in the city. They say that Sept. and Oct. are the best months to be in city and I would have to agree because there is no fog that rolls in, it is not windy, it is lovely. I took pictures to prove it.

"...Autumn is the first bite of a harvest apple... "

Well it has been a few days since I have had time to update so let me update. The weekend was nice Friday we went to the club in Concord and drank and danced. Devyn and her co-workers joined me. It was good fun, a post will follow this one. I also had a wedding but really the couple was nice and that is about it, so I am not going to post about that. Finally the spotlight of the entire weekend was Sunday when I went to Apple Hill. Hence the reason why this will be the first post.

I have been wanting to go to Apple hill for a couple years, but every time I want to go I have weddings or no one seemed interested. Keith wasn't sold on the idea so he wouldn't go. So instead I got my Mom to go. :). She was saying how we don't do things on the weekend and I thought this would be a great time to get her talked into going to Apple Hill. We also invited Ashlei and Donna to go along (my sil, and mil).

Apple hill is about 2 hours away from the Bay Area, tucked in the hills of Placerville in a small town of Camino. It is in the foothills on your way to Lake Tahoe. This is where California sees the seasons, where apples grow and pumpkin patches are hatched. Several orchids line small country roads, and when I say several I mean about 50. It is impossible to see them all, but you can try. Each orchid has craft booths, bbq, and everything apple you could ever imagine!
We left our house at 9 am to make our way up to the foothills. It took about two hours and we got to the first stop just after 11 am. We first stopped at the High Hill Orchids, they had a pond, lots of craft tables, and everything Apple. I was clearly excited to be there and trying to get those who came as excited as I was. We picked up a few pies and some Kettle Corn and then made our way to the Fudge house that was nearby, where I got Keith some Fudge and a Carmel apple.

We got back into the car and went to the next stop Boa Vista Orchids. There we did some wine tasting and bought some apple butter, apple turnovers, apple donuts (told you they had everything apple) and Donna and my Mom bought some Apple wine. We were going to eat lunch there but decided to head onto the next orchid and check out what they had.

We went to Abel's Apple Acres and had lunch on their outdoor patio. There were so many people in the area and I think half of them were in line to order lunch. After a long wait we sat and enjoyed lunch. Below the patio they had a hay maze, face painting, horse rides, and a pumpkin patch for the kids (and those who wanted to be kids). On our way out we bought some apple juice.

We decided to head back after this because we had a two hour travel and it was already almost 3pm. We stopped at Cardanini Pumpkin Patch and I picked the best pumpkin for only $3.00. It is at home waiting for me to carve it. :)

Apple hill was wonderful, it felt like fall, it had wonderful treats, and only in the Bay Area can you drive 2 hours and feel like you have driven to Vermont.

Here are some more pictures of our trip!

Pumpkin Patch where I got my pumpkin:

The sun was shining:

Mom buying some cool crafts...

The Pond at one of the orchids..

Fall IS here!

We were noticing the other day that although October snuck up on us, the leaves and weather are changing. I love this time of year, Keith loves rain. I love that the weather is a nice 78 degrees and the fall colors, with just a hint of chill in the air. Here are some pictures of the fall that is around us!

Break out the apple pies, soup, and cider!! Happy Fall!

The rest of the weekend...

Friday night after we got done with Dad's birthday party we headed home. Niki came by and we went out to get some things for the party we are throwing on the 21st. After that we went to get something to eat. We wanted Back Forty but it was closed so we stumbled down to a new place called Nibblers Wine and Eatery. It is a neat place that has a European feel to it. Everything on the menu is small plates, which is great for portion control. I thought that they were going to bring them all out like when you go to Chinese food but instead they bring each small plate as it's own course. This makes you really enjoy the experience and also the food individually. It was wonderful, we are going back on Thursday for belly dancers and more great eats.

Saturday I didn't have to be in Livermore for the wedding until 4pm, so that meant I got to hang around till about 3pm. Keith and slept in late, went to go see my Dad, and then came back home to relax. I did palates and then got ready for the wedding. The wedding was wonderful lots of fun and the couple had a great time and were really fun to work with. All the vendors and I had worked together before so that made it nice. I also worked with my favorite florist Nicole who does amazing work. Here are some pictures of the wedding (which was at a winery) and some of Nicole's work.

Sunday I just had a couple of appointments and then Keith and I made sandwiches and watched football! Just how I love to spend a Sunday. The best news was that the niners beat the Raiders, which gives me bragging rights for the rest of the year. :) The weekends go by so fast...