happy happy thanksgiving!

Well the table is set, the food is made, and the house is clean! Now I just need to get dressed and wait for our family and friends to come! Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays {if not my favorite}. It's a day that's all about family and love, and giving thanks. This year I am thankful for so many things. I'm grateful for my wonderful and supportive family, my amazing friends, and my incredible and loving fiance! {Eek still so excited about that}. It's been a year full of so much joy and I'm counting all of my blessings! I'm also thinking about all of you, my sweet blogging friends! Thank you all for coming here and being a part of my life and sharing in my adventures. I cherish each and every one of you {even though most of us haven't met}. I'm wishing you all a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

xox

photo taken by my brother Anthony!

walnut grove, pt. 2 and san francisco

Here are the final pictures from my Thanksgiving weekend. Isn't my Aunt and Uncle's house beautiful? It is even more gorgeous on the inside. I can't wait to decorate my own house one day! And if I have a Victorian home? Even better!

{Thanksgiving picture with my brother Anthony}

{Emma's brother Max playing with my iPhone}

Friday we went to SF and met up with my godmother Susie. We went to the Richard Avedon exhibit at the MOMA, ate lunch in South Park, shopped at Jeremy's {my fav}, and ate the most delicious cupcakes I've ever had in my life..and trust me I've had a lot!! Plus we went to some amazing restaurants, like Boulevard!

 

phew long post! Just looking at these pictures make me miss the beautiful Bay Area..and crave another chocolate ganache cupcake with caramel and sea salt {uh..YUM!}

I'm so excited about this weekend. I'm going Christmas shopping..trying not to procrastinate like I do every year! And tomorrow night I'm going to Matthew's work's holiday party! It's at the Petersen Automotive Museum and includes hors d'oeuvres, rolling dim sum cart, 3 food stations themed to the car galleries and desserts, photo booths, DJ, and an open bar. Woo hoo! Plus I'm wearing this gorgeous Elizabeth + James dress that I got last weekend on sale at Jeremy's! So ridiculously excited!!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

xox

walnut grove, ca

Here are the pictures Anthony and I took over Thanksgiving in Walnut Grove.

{Anthony and I wearing our Aunt and Uncle's "walking" shoes}

 

 

{apple trees}

It is always so nice to spend time in this beautiful place where my Dad grew up. Imagine running around in these fields as a child! How fun!

Giving Thanks

This year I am so thankful for my family's health...especially my Dad's. I didn't write about it but over the summer my Dad had aortic valve replacement {which is open heart surgery}. It was really scary because he had to be readmitted to the hospital 3 times! I'm so happy that he's home and finally doing better.

I am so thankful to have such an awesome brother. It's so great to see him and catch up. Last night he played Sally's Day Spa {an iPhone app} with me! He's the best! And today we went on a long walk and he taught me how to use Matthew's SLR. {so many great pics!}

I am so thankful to have the kindest and most understanding boyfriend. He deals with my post grad struggles on a daily basis and gives me so much love and encouragement. I missed him so much today!

 

I am so incredibly thankful for my kind and sweet followers. I can't believe there are more than 50 of you now (!!). You all mean so much to me and I appreciate your advice and comments more than you know. Seriously I could be in the worst mood and an email or comment from you can change it completely! Once I'm back on my computer I can't wait to see what you all have been up to over the holiday weekend! 

I am so stuffed from all the food today..I was about to fall asleep at 5! So now after THREE hours of watching footage from my aunt and uncle's Portugal and Spain trip I am off to bed!

I hope you all had a yummy day eating turkey or tofurkey {or non-Thanksgiving food if you're not in the U.S}. I hope it was wonderful!!

xox

and we're off to catch a turkey

Around this time of year I always miss my Grandma. I love this picture of me and Anthony with her on Thanksgiving in 1992. You can see the huuge table that she'd set up for our family. I loved her big holiday dinners. She always brought everyone together. Now that's she's gone we don't go up there too often.

Today my family and I are heading up to Walnut Grove, California {where she lived near Sacramento}. We are staying with my aunt and uncle and I.can't.wait! It's going to be a fun Thanksgiving running around the orchards in the backyard, eating yummy treats and playing with my cousins. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! To be spirited I'll do a little "thankful post" tomorrow!

xox