Yearly Archives: 2014

Christmas in California starts out with the basics, the things everyone expects from the holidays. There are stockings filled with goodies… ….festive pajamas and presents under the tree… …husbands and dogs being very patient… …puzzles and tea to enjoy in between cooking. But when it comes to the weather…the holidays here are anything but ordinary.…

Are you packed for Christmas yet? Dressing for the holidays at home: you want to be comfortable, warm, cozy…but still fancy enough just in case you run into that old friend from high school while picking up a last minute gift on Main Street. Add a couple pairs of pajamas and a holiday dress, you’re…

‘Tis the season…for criminal court! I was called in to jury duty last week and spent multiple days in the Hall of Justice coming this close to having to serve as a juror on an serious multi-week trial. So happy to be dismissed, especially since I didn’t lie or pretend to act bizarre in an…

Rob and I have been sticking close to home for our holiday shopping this year. As much as I love the bustle of Union Square and the kittens in Macy’s windows – these holiday crowds are a bit too much for even an urbanophile like me. Instead, we’re rediscovering the adorable boutiques in Hayes Valley,…

At this year’s brunch, I had a lot of extra flowers left over from making arrangements and set up a “Deck Your Hairdo” contest for our guests. A small table held all the flowers, scissors, bobby pins and a small mirror.  Everyone got into the spirit! Jordan’s son helped to get guests to participate: Jean…

What could be more festive than a 17-pound roast ham? For the last nine years, Rob and I have hosted a Christmas brunch for our friends featuring a locally-cured delicious ham. The menu is so simple and so fun. It’s one of my favorite parties of the year. Menu Roasted ham with spices, brown sugar…

A big holiday party draws helpers and overnight visitors for the weekend. The result is that you’ll need to throw a dinner party the night before the big party. So fun! The house is already decorated, you just need something festive…something delicious…something with only a few dishes…something everyone can chip in to prepare: We were…

What a lovely, festive weekend! From a crab and fondue feast on Saturday to a big brunch with the best ham yet and lots of cute kids with flowers in their hair, I’ve got some really fun photos to share with you later this week!

There are few Christmas traditions in San Francisco I like more than the process of picking out our tree. We’ve been lucky to have Jean, Trent and the baby with us for the last couple years. First step is to walk down to the nearest lot to our neighborhood – usually just a few blocks…

After a long stretch of travel, an early Thanksgiving, entertaining an eight-year old for a week, more travel, a second Thanksgiving, more houseguests and decorating  for Christmas…Rob and I collapsed on the couch on Sunday night with apparently not a scrap to eat in the house for dinner. I read somewhere that lentils are the…