Cel-A-Brate Good Times, C'mon!

That's what we did this weekend.

Saturday was Michael and Kathy's wedding reception at the Los Gatos Opera House. Going back there reminded me of my Jr. Prom since it was held there. I remember hanging out with my friend Jillian and the first slow song comes on: Woman in Red. We shriek because it's one of our favorite songs at the time. We look around for our dates and Jillian sees Rob (not my husband, but her then boyfriend) and goes to dance with him. I look for Ruben, my date, and see him dancing with another girl. Grrrr...I'm TOTALLY over it, I don't even think about it, ever... Anywho...I also was reminded of the Paulson's whose wedding reception was there a few years ago. Michelle actually recently sent me some pictures I requested awhile ago. Let's take a trip down memory lane, shall we?

Bromance - Rob and Brian



Bromance - Rob and Keith



So yeah, we were at the Los Gatos Opera House on Saturday celebrating Michael and Kathy's marital status.

Father of the Bride making a toast.



Michael making a toast.



Ashley and Kathy comparing baby bumps. Ashley is due 2 weeks before Kathy.




El Wagners.



Gracie, just because.



Sunday morning I had my parents and the Strombergs over for Sunday brunch to celebrate my mom's birthday.

I served a weight watcher friendly sausage, egg and cheese casserole. It was pretty tasty.

Sausage-and-Egg Casserole

1 pound bulk turkey breakfast sausage
3 cups (1/2-inch) cubed white bread (about 6 [1-ounce] slices)
2 cups skim milk
1 1/2 cups egg substitute
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon dry mustard
Vegetable cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350°.
Cook sausage in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until browned, stirring to crumble. Drain well.

Combine sausage and next 5 ingredients (sausage through dry mustard) in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray; stir well. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Note: Look for this sausage product in the fresh-meat or freezer section of the grocery store.

Yield: 8 servings
4 Points
CALORIES 176 FAT 5g FIBER 0.4g



Served with berries.



Gracie loving the blueberries.



Grammy and Gracie



Sunday afternoon/early evening we headed up to San Jose for Kathy's baby shower at Pedro's. It was hosted by her best friend Candace and her mom Freddie.







Everyone had a great time!







We can't wait to meet Carla!

"Just Because...."

...is the reason my husband bought me flowers yesterday.

I came home from work yesterday to find this bouquet of tulips on our kitchen counter. Just Because Flowers are so much better than Happy Birthday Flowers, Happy Anniversary Flowers or I'm Sorry Flowers, combined.

Ladies, now is when you send the URL of this post to your significant others and say "why don't you ever do that?", or if you are lucky, you don't have too.

The Faux Tree Escapade

Before



After (thanks, Buddy)



We took a trip to Home Depot looking for a tree to put in our entry way. My mom went with us because she has an eye for these kinds of things. While at Home Depot she suggested we check out Costco because they sometimes have fake trees that look really nice. So off to Costco we went and found this beauty.

As we were walking to the car, we suddenly realized we may not be able to get the tree home unless one of us volunteered to stay behind and hang out at costco for awhile until we dropped the tree off and came back to pick up the stray family member.

After some shoving and maneuvering, we were able to get the tree in the car and it was quite cozy.

I was in the front seat with Rob, I told him I thought something had come between us - my view of Rob:



My mom was enjoying her view in the backseat. Very lush if I do say so myself. Thanks for the photo, mom.



My view of my mom:



I think I had the best seat in the house, er car.

How Cute are my Friends? Part Deux.

Last night I went to dinner last night with my friends to Pizza Antica. We don't go there every weekend, I swear, it's just that another special lady had a birthday, the place is yummy, yada yada yada, so we went back. We finished the evening properly (again) with mini cupcakes from Kara's cupcakes. We are all a little stoked that Pinkberry will be opening soon and something tells me we'll be hitting up that spot at our next outing.

The picture above was taken before the guy next to us decided to add his own music to the already existing restaurant music, via a fart which was followed by a "Um, did that just really happen?" by a horrified Maryanne.

Happy birthday D!

P.s. Does anyone ever look at the people in the backgrounds of their photos? I love doing this and imagine how many photos of strangers I am in making a weird face in the background. Anyway, I loved the face and hand gesture the man is making in the background of this photo. Click on the photo in this posting to see it larger, and look at the guy talking to the guy in blue sweater. I love it.

Back on the Wagon

After 28.5 years of life, I think I need to face the facts and just admit that I’ll always have issues with weight. I started life out on the hefty size – well, 9.5 lbs isn’t very heavy, but I guess for a newborn baby it is. What I’d give to weigh 9.5 lbs now – just kidding, that’s just gross. I thinned out a little as a young child then around 8 I think I crossed the “above average” weight. I know it’s not healthy, but my weight always fluctuates. Once I get involved in something like a new fitness program or diet, I am all over it and tend to do well. Then, something happens. I don’t know if its boredom, or if I think I don’t have to work as hard because I’ve lost weight, but I always manage to creep back up again and get lax with my workouts and good eating habits. Every time I see someone I haven’t seen in awhile I try to remember the last time I saw them and what I weighed. I wonder if when they see me they will wonder if I look smaller or larger. Maybe people aren’t as obsessed about my weight as I am (ya think?) but I still think about it.

I want to look like this (me at my wedding hair/makeup trial):



So what am I going to do about it? Well, I just started seeing a trainer in December. I saw him for a couple weeks then I got sick for a good week and couldn’t work out. I just started back up with him again yesterday. I’m also joining Weight Watchers again with my mom tonight. I did WW a few years back, I think about 6 years ago and lost a good amount of weight. I have gained probably half back. I don’t know what I weigh now but I think I want to lose around 10-15 lbs by Spring. A bit aggressive but that’s how I roll.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot...

I hope everyone had a safe New Years Eve and have a great 2009. We rung in the new year with my sister Ashley and brother in law Jim. They brought my 18-month old niece, Gracie, to my parent's house so they could have a night off.

We went out to dinner at a new Vietnamese place in Morgan Hill called VietAsia - it was fantastic. I didn't even know if I liked Vietnamese, I couldn't remember the last time I had some, but it was really good. Rob and I will definately be back soon.

I had baked a cake earlier that day to have after dinner but I wanted to get some ice cream to go with it, and Rob needed some "snacks" for later so we headed over to Safeway. After we grabbed our New Years Eve necessities, the four of us stood in line together at the checkout. There was 1 person ahead of us. Some weird old guy (not that I have anything against old people) got behind us and said "Are you all getting something?" Thinking he was asking so he'd know if we'd be awhile we assured him, no, we were all together and only had 3 items. He then said "those of you who aren't buying anything, should go over there (pointing to the front of the store) so you aren't blocking the aisle." To our defense, we were not blocking the aisle. Rob said something to the effect of it won't help him get out of the store faster so no, we aren't moving. I felt very awkward and just blurted "they are in town, and we are visiting." He said "You are pretty, you can stay." Then I thought, this guy isn't that crazy after all. ;) Then, he switched lines.

We got home, watched 7 Pounds which was great by the way. Don't ask me how we were able to see a movie that is still in theaters at our house. We then played a couple games for an hour until midnight. Ashley and I soon went to bed while Jim and Rob did who knows what. Last time we left them alone together after hours and drinking rum and cokes, Rob woke up with a clump of dirt and grass stains on his shirt from "wrestling with Jim in the back yard." I was nervous because this time we were at our house and we have a pool.

Today, New Years Day, I took down the Christmas decorations and Rob slept off his headache/hangover. Tonight was Ashley, Jim and Gracie's last night in town so we (me, Rob and Buddy) went up to my parents house and had dinner with them and my parents. Afterwards we watched some of Planet Earth on my parents new Blue Ray. When Rob and I were driving back home, we had our own little version of Planet Earth and saw a huge wild boar in our neighborhood. I slowed down to make sure Rob could see it but he insisted I hurry up because it could possibly attack my car. We and my car made it home safe and sound.

I'm looking forward to 2009 but we had some good things happen in 2008. Let's reminisce, shall we? Here is a quick recap before I head to bed:

1.) Finally sold our townhouse after 9 months on the market and bought a house that we are settling in for a while.
2.) Had some great trips such as: trip to Hammond Lake House, visits to Long Beach, Hawaii, Vegas, Chicago/Michigan and Aptos when we can.
3.) Went to 5 weddings including Rob's sister Kathy
4.) Three pregnancy announcements
5.) Logan Clark D'Amico was born (along with three other babies - I'm afraid of forgetting someone so I'm just going to leave it at that):)
6.) We're still employed in a not so hot economy
7.) Blessed with great family and friends

I hope 2009 is just as good, if not better, than 2008. Happy New Year!