Who's having kids?

This is what you're going to get from Bill and me.
Zombie Bear w/ removable intestines.

Anatomic

Handmade in the UK, these accouterments by Paraphernalia are wonderfully strange and creepy.

The Lady Jane

When Bill's not home I tend to wake up early on Saturdays. There's no one to tell to to go back to sleep and so I don't indulge.

I usually fill the morning with errands and today I had 2 especially nice errands. A birthday present was waiting for me at the post office sent from Bill's dad and step-mom. After I picked up my little box I headed over to Sweet Lady Jane to order a cake for next weekend.

While chatting about the cake selection, Sweet Lady Jane herself came and made some suggestions. Jane invited me to sit and have some coffee with her as she wrote up the order. It was a simple layer of lemon curd to the coconut cake and Lady Jane was very accomodating. It's what makes a Saturday morning so pleasant and a small business so charming.

For Your Consideration

Favorite snack for the moment is Annie's Homegrown Sour Cream and Onions Chedder Bunnies. They are a California based company who uses organic ingredients - no additives or preservatives.

Bill and I heard about Java Logs a few years ago but just never got around to buying any. Made from used coffee grinds, these logs burn cleaner and the flame is so much nicer too.

Sparkly skimmers from Target's collaboration w/ Converse. Available now for $29.99

President of What?

Last December, Bill and I traveled to Taiwan with our families for a second reception. Bill's family stayed at the Shangri-La Hotel in Taipei. After running some errands one morning I went to meet Bill and his family back at the hotel. While my dad and I drove our VW Westfalia van towards the hotel, we noticed that there was a squad car on every corner 3 blocks out.

I jump out of the van and go to the lobby to wait for Bill to come back from a quick coffee run. There's a lot of people in the lobby and everyone is waiting. I was pacing back and forth when a man asked me very nicely to sit down. I took a seat near the elevators and surveyed the scene. I realized that each person was standing/ sitting in a very specific way and that everyone had an earpiece. No one moved. I was the only one walking around, eating the candy in the lobby, tapping on the coffee table and etc.

Tina: What's going on?
Agent: We are waiting.
Tina: For what?
Agent: The President
Tina: (Long Pause) The President of what?
Agent: Of Taiwan (Dumbass)

All of a sudden a flurry of black tinted Mercedes arrive at the hotel entrance. Everyone stands up straight and the hotel staff fall into an organized line to greet the President. A car door opens and the President strolls through the front entrance. He bows slightly to the greeters then walks swiftly by, towards the elevators. My hand comes up and starts waving. I think I'm the only one waving... waving and grinning. The President looks at me, nods, then continues to walk into an awaiting elevator. In a matter of seconds the secret service seem to disappear.

Bill, Ryan, and Mr. Hebner push their way through the revolving doors with some fresh coffee in hand. In a loud whisper I say:

Tina: "I just saw the President!"
Bill: "The President of what?"

Cheer Up Charlie

Happy Valentines Day! 

Here are some delightful desktop wallpapers via Pixelgirl

Patterns

Get Your Craft On

Doris, Bill, and I had the best time at Craft last night. Thanks for coming out Doris! We split the meal family style so the three of us got to taste a little bit of everything. We tried to be adventurous and ordered dishes that sounded interesting. Here is what we ordered.

First Courses
Australian Beef Wagyu Carpaccio with Falafel
Quail & Huckleberry
Pork Belly & Madras Curry

Main Courses
Petrale Sole & Pomegranate
New Zealand Blue Bass & Black Trompette Consommé
Australian Wagyu Beef Cheek & Onion Confit

Desserts
Peanut Butter Cup with Peanut Brittle & Caramel Sorbet
Roasted Bosc Pears, Maple & Rosemary
Sampler: Red Apple Sorbet, Almond Teeccino Gelato, Sarsparilla Gelato, & Maple Bacon Ice Cream

The food was fabulous. The pork belly was my favorite appetizer. The meat was slightly crispy with a sweet crackle finish. It reminded us of the pig candy we had at Lou's. We also loved the Maple Bacon Ice Cream. It was vanilla bean ice cream with a swirl of maple syrup and real bacon bits.
Like Gramercy Tavern, the check arrives accompanied with a muffin. It was a carrot cake muffin and it was delicious.