San Franidazzle - 2008

I realize that it is the middle of January and these pictures are about a month old. I would skip this all together, but I know you'd be so sad. And frankly, so would I. I don't think I talked about this party very much before having it, so let me give you a little background.

My dear friend Mauri who lives in DC has hosted a Christmas party for the past few years, which she calls "Holidazzle." Upon hearing about this party a few years back, I was completely enthralled with the idea of hosting a fancy Christmas dinner party. I've even tried to get my roommates on board in 2006 and 2007, but 2008 was our year. Basically, there are some requirements - that are all based on Holidazzle. There are printed invitations. There is a nice seated meal. An activity of some sort is involved - as well as sometimes a musical number. Between six of us girls, we tackled those projects and then some. Here is the proof:

This picture is from my phone, so excuse the bad quality, but this is what everyone received in the mail.

My date: the infamous Scott Porter. He was in town for work and stayed an extra day so that he could dazzle it up with us. As usual, he was the hit of the party. Really, ladies, if you need to take a great date somewhere, you need to contact this guy. And please notice his blue velvet tuxedo jacket.

Kristine was in charge of background music. On top of being a fabulous Christmas party, this was a mini reunion with Kristine as well - she had just arrived back from France for the holiday a few days before this - and we are so glad she came!

Next on the list - before dinner, make Christmas ornaments...

And then hang them on the tree.

After dinner Kristine and I provided the musical number:
The First Noel

Then play bingo with awesome movie ticket prizes.

And you'd better believe that I'm saving the best part of the evening for last:
THE FOOD!!!!!

Andrea did an amazing job making the food - I seriously think about the food on a daily basis and it has been over a month. It was that delicious. But because we were all about the details, here is what our kitchen looked like - Kirsten decorated it beautifully, didn't she?

And here is the food - I'm stealing this from Kristine's blog since she is better at describing food than I am: Course 1 - Salad greens with pomegranate seeds, grapefruit, avocado, and hicama cut out in little snowflakes.

Course 2 - Pear slices baked with brie and wrapped in proscuitto with a honey glaze
(I'm drooling just looking at these - seriously the best thing I have EVER eaten)

Course 3 - Homemade ravioli stuffed with butternut squash and pistachios and drizzled with a browned butter and sage sauce aside a dollop of alfredo cream.

Course 4 - Beef Wellington - filet mignon and pate baked in a pastry shell that had little star decorations on top.

Course 5 was dessert - A trio of desserts. Homemade baklava. Orange chocolate mousse. And a white chocolate tartelette topped with candied cranberries. {no picture though - sorry!} It was at about this time that our crazy neighbor started pounding on the wall, which could be an entire post on its own.

And to top off the evening, here we are prom style in the living room.
Left to right:
{Andrea, Ryan, me, Scott, Kirsten, Marcello, Krista, Clay, Rita, Jonas, Kristine, and Jay}

Hands (Pants) down, this was one of the best parties I've ever been to - and this definitely will just be the first in many San Franidazzles yet to come. The food was to die for, thanks to Andrea's mad skills in the kitchen, the decorations were beautiful, the dates were all great, and most of all, it was great to all be together at Christmas with such amazing friends.

My Mouth is Watering Just Talking About It

Ok so I don't know how I've managed to NOT blog about this yet, but have you all noticed the newest craze over frozen yogurt? And I'm not talking about TCBY of yesteryear. This is the stuff that I am talking about - and I am addicted. Just within the past week, I've been there 4 times. And the really really good news is that it only has about 150 calories for a 5 oz container. Really, I'm thinking about walking 14 blocks today during lunch to get some. Does that make me crazy? Because if loving this yogurt is wrong, I don't want to be right.

Some Pictures From My Weekend

Ok so here are the pictures that I took while I was in LA. Well, for the most part. The only time that I took pictures was when I was with Zach, Scott, and Catherine. The rest of the time I spent there was super chill and it didn't dawn on me to take any pictures. The best part about going down to LA was getting to spend time with these amazingly beautiful girls. Part of me still can't believe how grown up they are. I mean...they may not be related to me by blood, but I couldn't love them more if they were part of my own family. And they haven't changed a whole lot from when I met them 20 years ago.

I am so lucky that I was able to see Scott since he moved to DC a month or so ago. Serendipitous indeed. Since last week was Scott's birthday, I brought a surprise for him in the form of one of Rebecca's dolls. It was a hit for sure. I look completely disturbed in this picture. If you could see Scott's face, you'd see that he is too.

Catherine, Zach, and Me after eating at a place called Dahab on Santa Monica Blvd and Sawtelle. Check it out if you live in the area. Just be weary of the hookah. :)

How cute are they?? Their celebrity name is Zacharine or Catharack. Which one do you think is better? Sweetener or an eye disease. I may have to vote for the eye disease, well, since, you know...

Yes, we might have just become good friends starting last September, but this is our official family photo, because I'm the boss and I say so. I love that the scary doll is in it.

And just because I thought it was hilarious, here is a picture of my roommate taking a nap about 10 minutes ago. Do you see the heater on her bed?? I know you can't see it rotating, but it is. Can you say fire hazard? :) Love you Tiff!

By Request

And now here is a list of some of my favorite books of all time. Keep in mind that I was an English Literature major in school and so some of my selections may not be the most interesting.

The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver
London is the Best City in America - Laura Dave
Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier
1984 - George Orwell
Like Water for Chocolate - Laura Esquival
In the Time of the Butterflies - Julia Alvarez
All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten - Robert Fulghum
Interpreter of Maladies - Jhumpa Lahiri
Sister Carrie - Theodore Dreiser

After making this list, I realized that some of these are really intense books, so be warned. A few of them are light reading, but most of them draw some type of strong emotion out of you, so be ready for that. Maybe I can actually make it through Don Quixote this year or Anna Karenina. Seriously, that could take the entire year. Cheers to that. Enjoy the list, Shelley.

Who Does That?

Last night I fell asleep at 9:30pm. The last time I went to bed that early on Christmas Eve, I was probably 4. Seriously. I was completely exhausted from the past 3-4 days even though I had taken the entire week off previous to that. I must be getting old, eh?

Ok so even though I have been promising pictures for days, I am missing some from Silvia's bachelorette night on Thursday and from the night before her wedding when I karaoked with friends until 2am. I'll just have to save those for another day because I have some wedding pictures in my paws and boy am I excited to post them for you! {By the way, thanks for taking some of these Gladys.}

Doesn't Silvia look amazing?

One of the neatest things about being one of Silvia's bridesmaids was that all of us girls knew each other really well, so it was so much fun to spend time together. If the day comes that I ever have bridesmaids, I'm sorry to say that they probably won't know each other very well. If you think that that statement may apply to you, prepare to get over it now. ha!

Here is the San Francisco Fab Four. Oh my gosh I love this picture. It does strike a strong resemblance to a picture from last year.

Please take note of my crying face. I was saying goodbye to my Brazilian friends (Silvia's family) and though I hope to see them again one day and I'm fairly sure that this will happen, it was really sad! I cried through most of the reception just knowing that it would all be coming to a quick end. The only thing that kept me sane was knowing that as soon as I got home to Utah, one of my bff's would be picking me up from the airport.

Every Christmas Eve, I go skiing with my Dad, Matt, and Scott. Over the years some other people have gone with us, but the 4 of us are always there no matter what. Since Matt and I hadn't gone skiing since last Christmas Eve, we decided to do a little warm-up yoga before heading out to the slopes.

While we were in line to go up the lift, these two kids were attempting snow angels with their ski gear on. A little less effective, but I give it an A for effort.

Since Matt and I are more about the whole skiing experience, we like to stop to get hot cocoa after a few runs down the mountain. This is all while my Dad and Scott were stuck on the lift for over an hour.

Nearly every year that we've gone to Solitude, which is 5 years and counting, Santa has been up on the mountain with us. I didn't see him this year, but when we were about to leave the lodge, he walked in with a big bag of candy for all the kids. How awesome is that?!

And just because we always take a group picture, here's the group one from this year...and this random lady and her son decided to join us.

And because Scott and Matt are in the picture, they get sillier...

and sillier....

I hope that everyone had a very Merry Christmas. Just being with so many friends at this time of year has been an incredible gift. I couldn't have asked for anything better.

So Blessed

I don't have a whole lot of time to post right now but I really felt like I should before I head home, because things will be a little hectic for a few days and I wanted to write this while it was on my mind.
Yesterday was Silvia's wedding (pictures will come shortly). It was really one of the most beautiful weddings that I've been to and I was so honored to be such a special part of it. Last night I rode home alone from the reception and I just cried and cried and cried. Not because I was sad that Silvia got married, but I was just so sad that this week had to end. Though my Portuguese is pretty much non-existent, I grew to love Silvia's family so much. SO much. I'm even crying right now writing about it. I also cried on the way home because I realized how much I really miss having Kristy in my life. No one laughs at my jokes or understands me the way that she does and I didn't realize how much I missed that until we were together all day yesterday. It was like we'd never been apart. I have had some amazing friends during the time that I've been in San Francisco and I feel so blessed.

Heck; it wasn't even my wedding yesterday and I would give everything I have to relive it again and again and again.

Merry Christmas, everyone. Be safe!

Where My Time is Going

Last year it was the Gilmore Girls. Now its Felicity. Tiffany owns the first season and so far I'm loving it. I'm not sure how I missed this show when it was on TV, but I did sit by one of the actors on a flight to London once. Remember that, Bev?? Maybe if you're lucky I'll post that picture tomorrow as its quite funny.

After watching a few episodes of Felicity last night, I went on a run. I was in a relay race on Saturday and although I haven't really run since the half marathon in May, I really enjoyed it. Somehow running this 5k got me in the mood to run again. I ran down Lake Street and a by the time I got to 18th Ave, I realized that I could see in the windows of everyone's homes and I could see tons of Christmas trees! I put a good song on repeat and enjoyed the scenery. I even said "Merry Christmas!" to the people that I ran past. In a city that is so often afraid to offend others, I was touched to see so many people openly displaying their Christmas decor. Who knows why they decorate or if they realize the true meaning behind the season, but it made me grateful for everything I have. The city I live in, that I can go running outside at night in December and not freeze to death, that I have incredible friends and family. I shouldn't worry so much about stuff that doesn't really matter.

I leave tomorrow for Atlanta, so I'll probably be light on posting while I'm gone. On Friday I'm flying to Utah for my Dad's 60th birthday party which should be a blast. There are a few people whose presence will make my canceled trip to North Carolina OK. That doesn't mean that I don't plan on going to North Carolina sometime in the near future; just that it is going to be OK this weekend. Have a nice week everyone!

Addicted

Why am I loving this video so much this week? I turn on VH1 every morning while I'm getting ready in hopes that its on their early morning playlist.

For the record...

I want to confess that I wasn't exactly looking forward to my trip here to New Orleans. Not necessarily because of the huge meeting that I'm helping run this week or because of the lack of sleep that I get while I am here. Mostly because the last time I was in New Orleans, I didn't love it. I was on my feet the entire time and I got really sick. I did meet someone though and that was a lot of fun, but I'd have to say that that was the highlight of my whole experience. Oh..and the whole voodoo/ghost thing kinda wigged me out too.

But now I'm coming clean and I want to say that this time is different. I went to church on Sunday and everyone offered me rides so that I didn't have to take a cab, and I don't know what it is about the YSA ward here in New Orleans, but I even got asked out on a date. That's 2 for 2, my friends. Both times that I've been to church here I've been asked on a date. I have never been asked on a date at church the entire time that I've lived in San Francisco or even when I lived in Utah, to be honest. (I had to turn him down though because I really don't have time on this trip to go on a date). Although I've been a little jipped out of my usual VIP hotel experience, I came back to my room tonight to a lovely gift basket filled with snickers bars, chips, and wine and an enormous bouquet of flowers was on my desk. All from someone that I didn't expect them from. (Don't get excited though...they were from someone that I work with here in New Orleans). My crush stayed with me at work last night when I stayed a little late to get some work done and it made me smile when he put me in a cab back to my hotel and the cab driver asked me who that nice young man was who I'd been with. Yeah, he's cute. Today for lunch I had a deep friend ham and cheese sandwich "Madame" style, which means that there was a fried egg on top of the deep friend sandwich. HELLO! It was incredible. My coworker even made a picture of the sandwich the screensaver on her cell phone. Truly everyone that I've met has been so nice and enjoyable to work with. I just can't say enough good.

I'm falling in love with New Orleans, Louisiana. Ignore the crap that is on tv and in the newspapers about New Orleans. Come here. I haven't felt so loved in a long time.

Stephanie "The Laugher" Zundel

I love family history. Seriously, I could sit on the computer all day long and just look at my pedigree chart. I'm not sure why it fascinates me so much, but I think that I could really be a full time genealogist. This article today in People made me laugh. Really.

In just looking through my pedigree chart, here are some cool people that I am a descendant of:

Eochaidh "the Poisonous", King of Dalriada
Gabran "the Treacherous", King of Dalriada
Ugaine Mor the Great, King of Ireland
Ethelred II "The Unready" King Of ENGLAND
Edward I "The Elder" King Of ENGLAND
Robert "The King's Son" De CAEN
Sveidi (Sveithi) "the Sea King" SVIDRASSON
Eystein "Haardaade"(The Severe) THRONDSSON KING OF HEDMARK
Olaf "The Wood Cutter" INGJALDSSON
Ingjald "Braut" "The Wicked" ONUNDSSON KING IN SWEDEN
Onund "the Land Clearer" Yngvarsson, King of Upsal
Berenger II King Of ITALY - through this one I found out that I am related to David Bowie. NO LIE!

Ok...I could only get back to 1900 B.C. on the Zundel side. (sorry Claytons) Seriously...I love that I have so many "Great"Grandfathers that died because someone murdered them at the throne. No wonder the mortality rate was so stinkin' low. They were killing each other all the time!

So after seeing that so many of my ancestors have awesome names, I have a few questions for you.
1. Who else out there am I related to? Keep in mind that finding out that I'm distantly related to David Bowie is going to be hard to beat.
2. If you had to have a name like this, what would yours be?

What are you going to be?

I've been keeping my costume a surprise from most people. Not for any particular reason; mostly just because I think its fun to show up to a party when people don't know what you'll be dressed as. As you might recall, last year I was dressed like Nicole Richie. This year's costume is definitely unlike anything that I've been before.

Growing up, my mom always made me and my sister the best costumes. Here are some costumes from my past that I can remember. Mom, feel free to contribute to the list if you can remember them.

Age 3 - Witch
Age 4 - Strawberry Shortcake
Age 5 - Fairy Princess
Age 6 - Spanish Flamenco Dancer
Age 7 - Minnie Mouse
Age 8 - Cinderella
Age 12 - Pocahontas
Age 14 - Little Bo Peep
Age 15 - Gypsy
Age 17 - Dead Pilgrim
Age 23 - Rachael Ray
Age 24 - Disco Queen
Age 25 - Nicole Richie

Looking at the list, I'm noticing that I've always been something super girly. Some of my favorites were the Spanish Flamenco Dancer and the Cinderella Costume. It was always so much fun having my mom put her MaryKay makeup on us and of course our costumes were always unique since they were homemade. We loved it.

With the help of the ever lovely Roommate, my costume for this year is pretty near complete. A few safety pins, some tape, and some spray paint when I get home and I'll be ready to go!

Anyone going to any fun parties?

From Now On, I'm Lowering My Expectations...

Sounds like a strange title for a post, right? I only say that because I went into this weekend not really knowing what was in store for me. My expectations were low not because I didn't think I'd be with cool people, but I just didn't know how things would go. I can't remember when I've had a more fun and well-spent weekend.

Rita and I had plans for dinner on Friday night to celebrate her birthday, which was a few weeks ago. Lucky for her, the people next to us were at the restaurant celebrating their friend's birthday, so when I told them it was Rita's birthday, they passed down a piece of cake. Happy Birthday! We also had some interesting conversation with some other fellow customers, but that is a story for another time.

Friday night after dining with Rita at Memphis Minnie's, I headed down to Half Moon Bay to spend the night at the Conran's. Upon arriving, Steph and her mom were putting together a puzzle, which is actually something that I love to do. They were also eating a full pan of brownies; can't disagree with that either. This morning we slept in, had a good breakfast, and headed down to the Pumpkin Festival.

We watched Farmer Mike craft a face out of a very large pumpkin for quite a while.

And then I decided that I wanted to get a pumpkin or two to bring back to San Fran.

Steph really wanted to get this huge green pumpkin.

And then I had trouble deciding between these two pumpkins. The 1 pounder or the 500 pounder...

I definitely didn't want vegetables with warts. Ew. Gross. Steph didn't want any brussel sprouts because the plant looks like some type of strange weapon. Mean face!

All of that deciding was wearing me out. So I had a little rest on a pumpkin.

Seriously, the pumpkin patch was the best part of the day. So. Many. Pumpkins.

I love this time of year!!! It doesn't get much better than that, does it? Well, I had no idea what was in store for me that night. I got back into the city at about 7pm and met up with LaNae to go to the World Championship Roller Derby Competition. Yeah, you read that right. Roller Derby. Yeah, San Francisco might have weird zombies once and a while, but professional Roller Derby Skaters?

Ok this deserves a new paragraph because OH MY GOSH have you ever been to a Roller Derby? Run. Do. Not. Walk. to your nearest Roller Derby. It was by far one of the funnest/funniest things I have ever done in my entire life. For sure, it is a complete white trash sport. It was a mix of football, mud wrestling, and hockey. Oddly enough, roller derby as a sport is only even semi popular in California and New York. ? You mean...North Carolina doesn't have their own roller derby team? Well, I guess they do. But they just use a wussy flat track. Alabama has one too, and that's all the research I did, so maybe its gaining popularity in recent years. But you know what that means? That there is probably one near your house so that you can see this outrageous event for yourself. Its just that I never thought in my whole life that I'd see two women in their mid 50s and 60s in an all-out brawl. You can't see this woman's hair underneath her helmet, but it's gray. And she was one of the worst. Full on punching other middle-aged women in the face. Who does that?!

This lady was about to punch the referee.

And sometimes the referees would just watch while all the women were piled up, beating the crap out of each other.

Oh if you only you could have seen the amazing fights. The one where the Brooklyn skater pushed one of the Bay City Bombers into the penalty box wall, pulled it down on top of him and then proceeded to jump up and down on it. Ok...WAY BETTER THAN HOCKEY!

And then these guys sitting behind us bought us some hot dogs. They were pretty funny and they explained the basic rules of roller derby to us. We decided that we should become Roller Derby frequenters and sit with Brian and Gary every time.

We also like Brian and Gary because they made us go up and take pictures with some of the World Champions of the Roller Derby. These are hard-core athletes. I saw how many times they fell tonight. And based on personal experience, falling down while you're on roller skates doesn't feel so good.

I'm still in shock over what an amazing weekend it's been. Southern food for dinner, puzzles and brownies, great friends, and giant pumpkins. And it isn't even Sunday yet. Bring it.