Three Things

It's hot. I want to sit indoors and drink banana shakes all day - hot.
Three things that make it better.

1. Beach

An impromptu trip to the beach for boardwalk snacks, enjoying the sun because no ski jackets required, and running barefoot among the seagulls in wet sand. I wish I lived there and could start everyday with sand between my toes.

2. Banana pudding

I made some banana cream cupcakes. A cool dessert perfect for warm weather. Unfortunately, I in lieu of making the frosting I cut corners and bought a can of french vanilla whipped cream. Sounds good. Tastes good. But falls flat into a watery mess within 10 minutes. Next time I shall stick with the original recipe.

Whip cream slowly melting

3. Opera

Lately I've been listening to opera on pandora. I'm not sure why, but it is incredibly soothing. I don't know what they're saying and that doesn't matter. It's the perfect background music for working or stretching or a night of baking.

(FYI: I've also been listening to the soundtrack to The Book of Mormon but it's not good background music because I end up singing along. Hello!)

 

basically an episode of South Park on Broadway

The Weekend After...

The weekend after the deadline was..

bliss.

Wearing my sweater to the beach.
 Football.
 Seagulls.
Sand.

Seabright Beach
Twin Lakes State Beach
Santa Cruz, CA 95062










Chowing down on this chili cheese burger. Discovered the most delicious beans. EVER!



Bush's Bourbon and Brown Sugar Grillin' Beans.
here.
I could have emptied the tupperware. They were delicious!

Pedicures with Gracie.
Hello lollipop toes!

We were a bit hesitant to go to a well-rated salon called Hand Job (located in the Castro) and ended up at a well-reviewed less provocatively titled salon.


Simply Unique Nails
734 14th St. 
San Francisco, CA 94114


We spent much effort trying to explaining when to use gerunds (-ing verbs) to my pedicurist but Grace and the lady on the other side of me kept comparing it to French and I have not studied any English grammar in over a decade... I think we confused the poor girl even more. English has to be one of the most confusing languages on this planet because my explanation for conjugations and placement of words always seems to be "that's just what sounds right". I am glad it is my first language.

 
Lured Gracie out to SF with salted caramel ice cream.

Bi-Rite Creamery
3692 18th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110







 

Visited my favorite bakery thanks to my brother. My first time by public transportation into the neighborhood of churches. I love their flower arrangements!


Tartine Bakery & Cafe
600 Guerrero St.
San Francisco, CA 94110









Celebrated the graduation of our muffintop lawyer with strawberries and cake. I was expecting champagne and not so many lawyers.

I loved how the man handing out diplomas treated every person on stage so cordially, he shook the hands of graduates, parents, fiances and babies all the same.

At the end of the day

I came back

for this one.

 The End.