I Love You, California!

I have to say that getting up early on a Sunday morning to watch a football game starting at 10am has taken a little bit of getting used to. However, it always proves to be a fun time! We spent the better part of a very chilly Sunday cuddled up by the fireplace at McNally's, our local Irish pub around the corner from our apartment. Go Packers and Bears!

Christmas Eve   This was our first year ever doing Christmas on our own at our home (with the exception of the year we went to Mexico for our honeymoon and spent Christmas there). Though we missed our family terribly, we made the most of it and hopefully started some new traditions! On Christmas Eve I baked a cherry pie that we would enjoy with our Christmas dinner the next evening. Later that night we had some pizza for dinner and watched The Polar Express. It was a very relaxing day and evening; just what we needed! Christmas Day We s lep t in nice and late and had a very rela xed morning. We started with some coffee, mimosas, and presents! W hat could it be? Thanks for the boxes and tissue paper! It is too funny how many times Will and I always seem to have a similar thought pattern. It has happened multiple time where our gifts are related somehow, and it has happened again! One of the gifts I gave to will is a set of fifty cards that display a h...

We were so excited to have our dear friends Matt and Angie come visit us this weekend. They have been our friends since our college days in Minnesota, and they now live in San Diego. For the holidays they planned a trip driving along the coast with a final destination of Tahoe in mind. However, those plans were interrupted by six feet of snow in the Sierra's the night they were planning to drive there from the Bay, so they stayed an extra night here in the Bay before heading back toward San Diego. The same storm that was headed to the Sierra's passed through the Bay area first, providing us with torrential downpours almost all weekend which meant lots of indoor activities! They arrived on Saturday. Will and I cooked dinner and we spent the evening sitting around the table playing games and catching up. Sunday we went out for brunch in Jack London Square at the Fat Lady . Will and I stopped in here for a drink when we were visiting back in February and it had been on our lis...

When Will and I visited Napa back in October we joined Chandon Winery to have some bubbly for the holiday season. We figured instead of paying for shipping we would opt to pick it up considering we live only an hour from Napa! So we drove up for the day to visit a couple wineries and pick up our December shipment from Chandon. It was a really rainy day, but despite that, we had a wonderful time. It made it nice and cozy! One benefit of going on a gloomy raining day in December is that it is the off season, so everything was very quiet and we got great treatment during our visits. Our first stop was Trefethen Family Vineyards . This might be one of my favorite vineyards so far. The wines were delicious, but our favorites were very expensive! The grounds are beautiful. To get to the main building the road travels through the immense vineyards. Once in the building the ambiance is very cozy, charming, and homey. We will definitely be back! In the barrel room at Trefethen. This ...

We spent the evening decorating the tree and cooking dinner. The tree certainly makes it feel more like Christmas here in California! Will picking out the next ornament. Christmas Kitties! All decorated! Can you find the hidden object in the picture?