Flashback: Celebrating Mother's Day Two Decades Ago

{At the petting zoo, 1990}

This weekend we celebrated Mother's Day. While I was unsure if I could visit the family down in San Diego for this holiday, I was pleasantly surprised to be able to go down for brunch with my mom and my grandma. We enjoyed quiche and Bloody Marys mixed with great conversation and the occasional quip or dirty joke made by my grandma.

Here are some old photos of my mom and I (and of my younger sister). It's always fun to reminisce on the past and look at how much we've all changed throughout the years.

{The day my younger sister was born, 10-Sept 1991}

{Belle and the tooth fairy (?) for Halloween, 1992}

{Easter egg hunting, bonnet and matching outfits included, 1993}

Slutty Brownies

{Slutty brownies and Essie "As gold as it gets"}

I know. I know... The title of this post sounds like a horrible frat party... but bare with me.

Two things: (1) I am starting to be able to drink martinis like water - delicious olive water. This may or may not be good. (2) I forgot how much I love Oreos (sometimes with peanut butter, like LiLo in The Parent Trap)... but I digress.

This weekend in lieu of a cake for my Dad's 55th birthday, my sister (our little baker) decided to make "Slutty Brownies." This is how it works in our family in terms of preparing holiday meals: I am a competent baker and she is a more-than-competent cook, but she is definitely the baker extraordinaire in terms of creativity while I like to "wing it" with savory dishes. Together, we'd make a perfect team on Top Chef... or Chopped... or The Next Food Network Star... but I digress, again.

Funny side note: my dad used to get my sister and I to drink our milk by feeding us cookies. So cool but it's amazing neither of us is obese.

Here's why these brownies are slutty (according to my soon-to-be-21-year-old sister): they're super easy to make, and you can shove a lot of stuff in them. Appropriate for our father's birthday? Absolutely. Here's how you make them:

Weekend Wrap-Up: Happy Birthday Dad!

{Roasted bone marrow with croutons and a parsley salad}

Today is my lovely father's 55th birthday. Not only does the man not look a day over 40, but also he is one of the most caring, loving fathers out of anyone I know. Okay, I'm a little biased - but he really is one of the most awesome dads in the world. Ask my friends. He also is one of the most humble people I know - he insists that instead of taking him out to a fancy restaurant, that my sister and I cook a "low maintenance, home made meal." Of course since he is so special to us, we find ways to spruce up the annual birthday dinner. This year with roasted bone marrow, pork with a white wine cream sauce, white wine risotto, and garlic haricots verts.

 It may be one of the best meals that we ever threw together (and I may or may not have thrown in some cute pictures of my dad from childhood until now)...

Weekend Wrap-Up: Sweet Sundays with Suzanne

{Sundays with Suzanne (my mom) on the Venice Boardwalk}

This Friday commemorated my dog's birthday who passed away in February after 15 loving long years with our family. This Sunday my mom decided to come up to visit my sister and I to visit, catch up, and have a lunch full of laughs, interesting encounters, and sharing of memories from our relationships with our sweet puppy.

Mom also mentioned that she had gifts for my sister and I: a very sweet, caring woman, my mom tends to give very interesting (and sometimes weird) gifts even though she doesn't always fully get how creepy she can get. My sister and I jokingly speculated that she got us mini urns with the dog's ashes (or more morbidly pieces of her fur, or her paw on a key chain like a rabbit's foot). The gift was a very thoughtful dainty silver ring with our dog's name engraved on the inside of it. It is something that I will wear every day, and a great reminder of the great relationships that we have formed with both the present and the past.

{Sangria at the Venice Ale House - a necessity in our family}

{A dainty silver bangle as a gift from my mom}

{The Venice Boardwalk - quite the culture shock for my mom}

Tiger Hugs (and other animal love)

{All I want is a tiger hug}

Who needs a bear hug when you can get a tiger hug? I am honestly obsessed with tigers (my dream is to meet a tiger - could be cub, could be a grown adult, but I really need to meet a tiger before I die).

You can say that animals are my obsession in general. I love meeting exotic animals, and can't remember a time when I didn't have a pet. At one point I had a dog, a bunny, a guinea pig, a rat, two finches, and a fish tank. Only about 10 animals at once (I don't know how my mom did it). Growing up with animals gives you an appreciation and understanding of them (kind of like speaking another language gives you an appreciation of another culture).

What interesting animals have you met? I've met giraffes, dolphins, elephants, camels, porcupines, snakes... and the list goes on. I've even pet Shamu at Sea World, and at my (male) cousin's birthday party I was the only girl who wanted to hold the boa constrictor. I love animals! Here's a collection of some of my wonderful animal friends that I've met throughout my life.

{Stanley the Giraffe - age 23}

{Nicki the dolphin - age 14}

{El Gato the horse (in Mexico) - age 4}

{At the petting zoo - age 3}

{Riding a camel - age 2}

{Riding an elephant with Dad - age 2}

Friday Favorites

{Life summarized in four bottles - source}

It's Friday and while I may or may not win upwards of $600 million tonight I still wanted to share my favorite internet finds from this week to help you transition into your weekend. This weekend I'm cooking some sort of quinoa concoction with the boyfriend tonight, and then going out to celebrate one of my best friends getting into vet school at UC Davis on Saturday. Sunday brings the dreaded April Fools' Day (look up gullible in the dictionary: you'll see a picture of me - I prefer to call myself a concerned, empathetic person... not gullible), but for I'm spending the day in Los Angeles with my dad and my sister who is finishing up her spring break. I hope your weekend is relaxing and fulfilling! I'll be enjoying the overcast, slightly cool weather here in Los Angeles (I embrace any change in weather I can get!).

{I may have to attempt to make these decadent Raspberry Coconut Macaroons}

{Is this Burger King ad female-friendly?}

{Definitely making these spicy micheladas this weekend}

{Create your own "space" artwork - source}

{Baby Otters}

{Donnez-moi these dainty rings}

{A wild book for civilized people - source}

{Indulge in this Chicken Liver Mousse}

Weekend Wrap-Up: California Burritos, Cinnamon Whiskey, and Cats

{A true California Burrito: carne asada, cheese, guacamole, french fries}

You thought this post was going to be about Mad Men, huh? Although my weekend's events did revolve around the Mad Men premiere (which was fantastic aside from that "Zoobie Zoobie Zoo" detour), I also was able to get in some good food, good drinks, and some quality time with  my cat (yes, cat).

Every time I go down to San Diego, I have to get a California burrito from Jalapenos. This time I had it for Sunday dinner (I was down an extra day to get some dental work done) pre-Mad Men. Saturday evening we went out to "The Office" in North Park (which was wonderfully Mad Men themed!). My favorite right now is Fireball Whiskey (and a Fireball Sour is the most delectable drink I've ever had). It's one part Fireball cinnamon whiskey, one part fresh sour mix, and egg whites if you're feeling brave.

{Fireball sour, Fireball cinnamon whiskey}

Now I have to admit that one of my favorite parts of being at home is hanging out with my sister's cat - who has a new found interest in emery boards. I gave myself a nude manicure this weekend, which required slightly longer nails, which required quite a bit of filing. This little cat would not leave me alone - she wanted that emery board. I actually have a punctured hole in it from her teeth. Does your cat love emery boards too, or is mine just insane? I mean she really is the cutest little monster I've ever seen.

{Check out this little fatty}