A Rather Large House Project

B and I have been in decision limbo for the past year over our home.  Do we stay? Do we move? Where could we move to? What could we do to the house to make it a home we could continue to grow into?

It all started around the time Luke started crawling and all of a sudden it felt like the walls had moved in on us.  Babies have tons of stuff to begin with, and then they start walking and doing laps around you in the very small living space you have, and then the weather gets colder and you're stuck inside a confined space on the weekends and, well, we need more space.  Add to the mix discussions of adding a new baby in the near future and our timeline went from someday to let's get the ball rolling!  Construction or moving are not options I am open to with a newborn.

So, we tossed around a lot of ideas, did some research and ended up deciding to stay in our home and make it our dream home with room to grow.  We love Danville, we love our neighbors, our close proximity to downtown, the surrounding parks, schools and family and friends nearby.

We started the process 3 months ago working with an architect and contractor coming up with a design and floorplan that worked and fit our needs.

Need 1 - Office - I am working from home almost full time now with the occasional trip into the city, and the dining room table is not the best work space.  It's also very challenging when both B and I are working form home as we're both on the phone constantly.

Need 2 - Spare Bedroom/Office #2 - We love having family and friends visit, and it's so nice to be able to have a spot for them to stay.  The room can also double as an office for when both B and I are working from home.

Need 3 - Bathroom - Our existing guest bathroom is right across from Luke's room.  Whenever we are entertaining during Luke's nap time or after he goes to sleep for the night, I hate having to constantly tell people to be quiet or have the bean woken up due to people congregating outside the bathroom.

Our new floorplan doesn't give us a ton of additional square footage,(around 600 sq feet) but it's the type of space that we need and I know it will make a huge difference.  We'll be moving the entryway to face the street, and then tying a wrap around hallway around the kitchen to the new rooms making it the true heart of the home.

B and I are really happy with the final plan and now we just have to go through city planning, structural engineering, and have our contractor put together a formal bid for the work.

I am not looking forward to 4-6 months of construction, but in the end, I know we'll love the final result.  More updates to come!

Caprese Salad

We have had quite the tomato crop this year due to the extended warmer weather and a certain someone (moi) getting her garden watering groove down.  We have 8 tomato plants of all different kinds, from small chocolate tomatoes, pear tomatoes to yellow, red and green heirloom varieties.  I have been mixing in fresh tomatoes into everything from scrambled eggs, soups,  homemade eggplant parmesan, pastas and my all time favorite caprese salad.  

The caprese salad is so yummy and simple and is really good for you too!  Here's how I make mine:

Caprese Salad

1. Slice up a bowlful of tomatoes (any kind) into bit size pieces 

2. Stack a small handful of basil leaves (12-15 leaves per bowl of tomatoes), rinse and pat dry. 

3. Slice basil leaves into thin strips and put aside

4. Cut thin slices of mozzarella about 4-5 slices per bowl

5. Drizzle a light layer of extra virgin olive oil over the tomatoes

6. Layer mozzarella onto the cut tomatoes and sprinkle sea salt and pepper to your liking

7. Sprinkle on cut basil and garnish with a small sprig on top

8. Enjoy!

Crystal Cove

This used to be our friends art studio - it now is the visitors center. 

Crystal Cove will always hold a really special place in my heart.  It was our summers spent there in the small, sandy cottages that prompted my mom and step-dad to look at homes in Laguna and ultimately move there.  We would stay for 1-2 weeks every summer and the beaches were nearly deserted.   We'd play in the huge tide pools catching crabs and small fish, and stay in the ocean until our hands and feet were pruney and we'd swallowed enough salt water. 

Back when we stayed, the cottages were private and leased to their owners by the Irvine Company who allowed their residents to stay there as long as they did not alter or make any dimensional changes to the cottages, keeping the area looking much like it did in the 1920's when many of the cottages were initially built. The state purchased Crystal Cove from the Irvine company to build a state park and make the cottages into rentals, keeping their original look and feel.  

It had been a long time since I had been back and there is now an amazing restaurant, The Beachcomber located right on the sand with great food and the best view.  The cottages book out a year in advance and it's the cheapest beachfront accommodations you'll probably find in Southern California.  B and I took a walk up and down the beach, admiring what a great job the state had done at restoring many of the homes to their original condition and enjoying an afternoon without the baby in tow. 

Beachcomber Restaurant, right on the beach

Bloody's, Crab Cakes and Tuna Tartare Tacos -  Delicious!

The cove. At the very end is the brown beach house from the movie 'Beaches' starring Bette Midler.  You are the wind beneath my wings... anyone? Anyone?

CA State Parks has done a really good job at restoring many of the beach side cottages, but there are still many needing attention. 

Date day with the hubs + great food+ one of my all time favorite places = A perfect day

True Love

We had a busy and delightful trip in Laguna and LA and before we knew it Kate and Justin's wedding day had snuck up on us.  There was a really fun Hawaiian themed rehearsal dinner the night before at Justin's aunt and uncle's home in Bel Air.   We feasted on Ricky's Fish Tacos, hands down the best fish tacos I have ever had IN MY LIFE, and listened to lots of K&J's family and friends get up and talk about the two love birds.  It was great night and I was brought to tears by a few of the speeches and all of the thoughtful and amazing things people had to say about my sister.  

After the rehearsal, we had our parents drop us off at the hotel and had a sisters slumber party and stayed up talking, laughing and of course taking ridiculous pictures.  

We woke up the next morning and the day was a blur, 12 bridesmaids filtered in and out of the hotel suite getting their hair and makeup done, we drank mimosas and ate bagels and fresh fruit parfaits, and danced along to Becky's wedding soundtrack. 

On the way to the wedding venue, we rolled down the windows and screamed as loud as we could. 

We pilled into the small maiden's cottage at the wedding venue to finish getting ready, and drank more champagne, and made up a super fun flash mob dance.  Kate kicked everyone out but Mom, Becky and I as she slipped into her wedding dress.  I felt the tears well up in my eyes and explode; I had never seen Kate look so beautiful, excited and happy. 

Kate went outside to the rest of her bridesmaid troop and was greeted with hoots and hollers from all the girls while I composed myself and joined them for photos.  

Luke was ever the perfect child for his big debut as ring bearer and was dancing and singing to all the girls while we were getting ready.  When his time came to walk the aisle, Blake carried him down the stairs and then let him go at the top of the aisle to walk down to the alter.  He started walking, then running picking up speed and then ran right up to Justin and gave him a high five before Blake swooped him back up and brought him back to the babysitter.  It was adorable and so sweet.

My sister and Justin have a way with words, and their vows reflected every bit of their love for each other in such a personal, romantic and powerful exclamation of their commitment to one another.  There was not a dry eye in the house.  I jokingly, but not jokingly told Justin they need to put their vows to each other into a song - it would be a chart topper for sure.  

At dinner, Becky and I frantically reviewed our speech one final time and then got up and delivered.  It was a hit.  We spoke of Kate's personal evolution as seen from both our eyes, from the geeky, awkward, annoying sister to the incredible, generous and thoughtful sister she's become with several embarrassing stories exemplifying her growth. 

We danced, drank and enjoyed the beautiful views of the ocean at dusk.  It was a perfect night for a perfect couple and I couldn't be happier to have Justin as my new Brother-in-law.  Welcome to the family Justin and I wish you a lifetime of happiness together.  

Mazel Tov!  

Beach Bonfire

I just got back from my girlfriends bachelorette party in Palm Springs over the past holiday weekend and was so excited to post some fun pics until I realized I still had more to post on our week in LA and my sister's wedding!  I also have some great updates to report on work and our home remodel, so stay tuned this week as I try to get this blog of mine in order. 

Nothing beats a day in LA like a nighttime beach bonfire.  Kate and Justin did a really good job coordinating events for all the family flying in for their wedding and the night before the rehearsal dinner, they arranged for a beach bonfire pizza party.  

Kate had some girlfriends head to the beach early in the day to stake a spot, and it was a good thing as the beach was packed when we arrived later in the afternoon. It was a really perfect evening, a beautiful sunset, good pizza, and Luke was loving playing in the sand and being passed around by his doting grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins.