My First Soulmate

"It was quite a wedding and as I stood there watching I realized something I'd forgotten a long time ago. Sometimes in life there really are bonds formed that can never be broken. Sometimes you really can find that one person who will stand by you no matter what. Maybe you will find it in a spouse and celebrate it with your dream wedding. But there's also the chance that the one person you can count on for a lifetime, the one person who knows you sometimes better than you know yourself is the same person who's been standing beside you all along." - Bride Wars


Now, if you have seen the movie then trust me the movie is definitely NOT what this is about but that quote really does say it all. Neither of us are getting married, definitely not on the same day in the same place and fighting a full blown war with each other like Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway do in this movie, but we do have a friendship like none other. (If you haven't seen the movie, its a crack up!)


Meet my oldest and most dear friend, Brittany. Yes, we have the same name and our entire lives people seem to find it funny to say "Hey Brittany!" and watch us both turn around. Can anyone explain to me why that is so entertaining?? 

I have been blessed with some really amazing friends and a few of them I know I can count on for anything and I love them SO much. However, Brittany is definitely my friend soulmate. We met in the 2nd grade and have pretty much been inseparable since then. Of course we have grown up, matured and we can't spend every single day and night together like we did our entire childhood, but she is the one friend who really understands me better than I think I understand myself. She has been around for everything: school, crushes, cheering together, family vacations, births of my siblings, heart break, love, drama, loss, college, post-college, and everything in between. I mean, we had matching tomagachi's for crying out loud. If you have a friendship like this, then you know how special it is.


 Note the cockroach that we are holding in this photo...WTF were we thinking?!!! Not to mention that matching shirts and the stoned expression on my face.

Squeezing "google-y eyes" in our own eyes...ya, completely normal kids.

The two of us have definitely come a long way since the days of chinese jump rope and forcing my little sister to practice cheer and gymnastics against her will but the fun, ridiculous, silly and fierce friendship we have has never faltered and there is something so incredible about that. I can't tell you how important this girl is to me and I am so blessed to have two soulmates in my life. Sorry Mike, Brittany was the first one ;)


I love my best friend Brito! The rest of our lives are going to continue to be just an entertaining and exciting, I'm sure. 

Chocolate Torte with Raspberries and Chocolate Ganache

"Torte" is just a fancy way of saying this cake has no flour in it. I'm sure you have all experienced the creamy, rich, decadent flavor of a flourless chocolate cake but if you haven't you should really get on it. It is perfect for the chocolate lovers in your life. 

Give the recipe a try. It is perfect for Christmas!

Find the recipe here.

Take a page out of their book

The Parisians, that is. My dad sent me this inspiring article about someone who lived in Paris and all the things he learned from the people and their lifestyle. Here is a list of things she thought us Americans (she is one too!) could learn from the French.

1. Live a passionate life


Dinnertime was a great example because every night of the week, whether it was a Wednesday or a Friday, it would be an experience that included a three-course meal and lively conversation, Scott said. Afterward, the family would listen to classical music."They never sat in front of the television with a box of pizza and zoned out, never," Scott said.


2. Cultivate an air of mystery

Scott thinks the French get a bad rap for coming across as cold and aloof when they're simply very picky about who they open up to and how much they reveal about themselves. She also discovered that staying mum can be "delicious." "Being OK with silence is important. I think a lot of people are afraid of silence in conversations, I know I am,"

3. Always look presentable


Looking presentable was a way of honoring the people she came in contact with everyday. "This isn't to be confused with being high maintenance," Scott also noticed the family would routinely wear their best clothes for everyday occasions, a lesson she took to heart.

4. Don't forget about the simple pleasures (and don't deprive yourself)


Scott thought the movie "Amélie" showed off this lesson perfectly as it introduced its whimsical characters and their little pleasures. "For some of them it's cleaning out their handbag, and for some of them it's breaking the crust on a crème brulee with a spoon," Scott said. "These are things that a lot of us just mow over in life and don't even notice."


5. Make life a formal affair


They were always elegantly dressed, their apartment was beautifully furnished and they maintained graceful rituals. As a visitor to their home, for example, Scott was considered the female guest of honor and was always served first at dinner, ahead of her host and hostess and their son. "They used their best china and their best crystal on a regular basis. ... They used the nicest things that they had on a daily basis and it elevated every experience that we had."



Food for thought.
Read the full article here.

Weekend Photos

1. amazing cappuccino at Zanizibar 

2. Mike and Tay enjoying their cappuccino

3. make a wish <3

4. painted my nails - "meet me at star ferry" OPI

5. pretty pink carnations

6. tay chillin' on her bed

7. the book I obsessed over at the book store while I bought something to teach me French

8. the three of us at the bay for Tay's crazy run around time

9. sunset on Mission Bay

10. me and my baby

11. Mike trying my attempt at English crumpets

12. crumpets anyone?

Hope your weekend was full of fun!!

I hope your weekend

made you feel like this...

cruisin' with you head out the window kind of good.

*ps- yes, i was being a bad driver for the sake of capturing taylor's favorite activity.* oopies

Fill in the Blank Friday

Happy Friday, friends! I am feeling pretty exhausted this week. Zombie-like to be exact. I am SO happy it is Friday though. Quality fun time with Miguel and Tay. What do you all have planned for the weekend?? Getting in the holiday spirit? I sure am! Christmas shopping, christmas movies, chocolate, tea, cuddle time...LOVE IT!

1.   The holiday season is     season of love and thanks. it reminds everyone that life is good and you should really cherish the people in your life. i love the holidays because it brings everyone together and cheesey-ness is more socially acceptable which is perfect for me :)   .

2.   Snow makes me   unsure. i love the idea of snow and i think it is gorgeous. but then when i am in it, im not so stoked. its cold and wet and inconvenient.      .

3.  The best comfort food to eat when it's cold out is    hot soup in a bread bowl with some hot chocolate with whipped cream. YUM!!    .

4. Winter is the best time for    comfy clothes, big blankets, movies and cuddling!  

5.  I can hardly wait for    Mike and my Xmas in our little apartment and then the celebration with our families  .

6.  When it comes to holiday gifts I prefer to    give them. i love giving gifts - it is just hard to find them sometimes.

7.  If I were to rate my excitement about the holiday season on a scale from 1-10, I would say I am at about a   15. im pretty stoked. 

Thanksgiving = Feast

I love any holiday. Anything that brings family and friends together and lightens the spirit, I am a huge fan. Thanksgiving has such a great meaning behind it and really is an incredible reminder to stop and be thankful for everyone and everything you have been blessed with.

Things on the top of my thankful for list:

My family - all of you guys. You are wonderful. Boomer, you too.
Mike and Taylor - You guys make me smile.
Sunny San Diego - best city in the world (as of now...)
My friends - i love them all!
Chocolate - mmmm
Butter, flour, sugar....
My health
Paris
Life

Thanksgiving is also known as the day you are allowed to stuff your face until it doesn't seem possible anymore...and also make three desserts for 10 people.

Thats what I'm talking about :)

Chocolate covered strawberries
Chocolate on chocolate cake
Pumpkin pie with whipped cream and walnut brittle

Tay is all ready for Christmas in her pretty little sweater! She even has a new Santa toy. Lucky little lady.

Post Thanksgiving dinner = FOOD COMA

I hope your thanksgiving was wonderful and full of food and love!