boston getaway

i usually can't stand red-eye flights. i can never sleep on the plane, and just feel grumpy about standing in security lines at the crack of dawn- "waddaya MEAN i have to stand here barefoot as you scan my bags??!!". but i braved TWO red-eyes in the past 4 days (not to mention time away from the hubs), just so i could spend some time in bean town with good friends. this post is going to read like a food journal, but what can i say- my friends share my love for good eats :)
i rolled into boston around noonish on thursday, and was met by jen- one of my best friends from high school. she met me at the airport and eased me into the use of public transportation- which FASCINATES me, btw. i commented on this repeatedly throughout my trip, because i feel so sheltered in sacramento. being thrust into the milieu of humanity on the T was so... invigorating. and occasionally smelly, loud and uncomfortable. all so exciting for a country mouse like me.

my first day involved a verrry relaxing mani-pedi, lunch (omg, best chicken salad sandwich of my life) at sel de la terre, wandering through copley place, rediscovering richart chocolates, and a quick snack (almond pear tart) at l'aroma cafe on newbury st. trekked over to youn's neck of the woods for dinner at redbones bbq in davis square/somerville, yummy ice cream from jp licks, then candle pin bowling.

second day, lunch at chacarero (yummmmmy chilean sandwiches), eaten on the common with jen and youn. went to ICA, then an exceptional "1/2 birthday" dinner at no 9 park, and eventually ended up at clery's.

third and final day- lunch with sonya at cambridge one for "yuppy pizza", finished off with fauxberry yogurt at berry line. afternoon was spent wandering through jfk library- which i highly recommend. and yet another solidly tasty dinner: 4-course tasting menu for $45 at ten tables in cambridge. then, food inc at kendall square theater with the girls & ravi. i'm sure a lot of people will say this after watching this movie, but seriously- it has changed the way i look at all food, and hopefully will seriously change the way i eat.

many, many thanks to my fabulous hostesses- youn and jen, for a very much appreciated whirlwind stay in boston. can't wait to visit again!

j&j wedding

our very good friend jonk decided to get married, and (foolishly) asked me to be their wedding coordinator. thus, the emergency bridal kit above (which btw, included the not pictured suitcase containing a hair dryer and portable steam iron). OCPD much? just a tad.
and despite all of my failings, they did indeed get married sometime last month, and it was beautiful. i just didn't get much of a chance to take pictures, so you'll just have to take my word for it. or check out their photographer's blog- jean kim photography. not too bad for her first wedding, if i do say so myself. below, clearly not HER work, but the 3 pictures of the wedding that the hubby and i managed to take.

i am inordinately proud of one tiny contribution to their wedding, though. i decided to get them a little topper cake from michelle's bakery in redlands for their actual cake-cutting ceremony, while the ladies from sweet tooth cupcake supplied all of these other gorgeous treats. i didn't realize at the time i ordered the cake that this would mean i had to decorate the cake myself. figured it out real quick when i picked up the cake, day before the wedding, and the top of the cake was covered with sharp, cruel-looking shards of white chocolate. didn't quite seem apropos for a celebration of love.
a few costco bouquets and a few frantic google searches to avoid poisonous wedding cake flowers later, i had... something. the cake on the left was converted to the one on the right, wisely, after input from the truly professional renaissance woman, sharon lee- who was the reception coordinator.

clearly, cake decoration is not a career option for my future but i had the most fun doing this.

congrats to the happy couple!!

time to breathe

i always have the same internal debate, at some point during our vacations. i start to think... i like vacation. i would even go so far as to say i LOVE vacation. so... do i really have to go back?? why can't i do this all the time?? oh wait, i guess i need MONEY to support this leisurely lifestyle. bummer. and, i guess i'd feel pretty unfulfilled, given that i have this life calling to be a doctor and help people. hmm...
i guess i don't have to tell you how the debate ends. but with each vacation, the arguments AGAINST coming back seem to become more and more vociferous in my head. particularly when one is in maui. or the central coast of california. or at cham-sut-gol, eating tons of beef. ahhh vacay, i love it.

a brief pictorial spread, in no particular order, of our spring vacation '09.

our 2nd anniversary fell smack dab in the middle of our vacation. we were fortunate enough to celebrate with my family- once again, a birthday and a wedding celebration :)
maison akira didn't let us down.


and just like 2 years ago, we had 2 cakes. only fitting.

the season begins...

the wedding celebration of rich & jenny

i'll let the pics speak for themselves
of note, andy was one of the best men- to return the favor :)

twas beautiful, the way weddings should be....
congratulations!