Sandra's Baby Shower

Boeuf Bourguignon

Listening to Alexandre Desplat's wonderful score to Julie and Julia Movie while in the kitchen brought out the cook in me. This movie recently sparked inside me why I enjoy to not only bake, but love savory food as well. I do have to say though, when I was sitting in the audience of 3 weeks ago at the screening of Julie and Julia movie, I had the widest grin on my face. The theater was a whoppen 4 or 5 couples since I had waited so long to see the movie. I knew it would be my most favorite ever and it held up to my expectations. The grin from ear to ear did not sit there. Noise also, was coming out from my mouth like when you sit with close friends. I hope I didn't annoy anyone, but for sure they were doing the same. That night decided I was to make the famous Julia Child's Boeuf Bourguignon. Googled the reciepe..(I always google anything you don't know google.) Made my grocery list. Even travled to Ross to by a large enough stock pot that had a lid. can you believe I didn't have one. Invited friends Gary, Jessica, and Sandra. As I started with Mrs. Child's recipe I proceed to the meat and the famous words "Dry the stewing beef in paper towels; it will not brown if it is damp." muttered through my head. Dumped the whole bottle of Red Wine in with some beef stock and brought to a boil then into the oven. So far so good, and yes the house is producing the amazing aroma they talk about in the movie. Noticing this simmering action in the oven I say to my self this is just like stew whats the big deal Julia. Carrots, onions, beef! Umm... Our friends come over we toast before dinner and Jessica and Gary announce she will not be partaking in the wine for she is pregant. Yea!!! Sandra announced about a few months ago she as well is pregant. So my girls are going to get to experience the joy of birth together. By all means I am not jealous and supper excited for them both. I can't wait to be there for them!
I lean in to take a bite of this dish I have just prepared for over 3 -4 hours and what do you know it taste just like stew. I hate stew! Damon and everyone else love it so that's all I cared about. Since I was a kid never to fond of the stew. HEHEH!! What a fun night and good memories!

Dinner on my roof.......

Ahh! Last night Damon and I ate on our roof top. I made Genova Pesto Chicken Sausage Raviolo with Caesar Salad. It was so nice. Lovely night and totally reminded me of our honeymoons last night in St. Lucia. So far we have been married one year and four months whooohoo, and loven every min of it. After dinner we had a bottle of Port from Daniel Gehrs Wines, in Los Olivos, California. Where Salem proposed to Joy.

Also, a BIG Congratulations to our my friend Todd of 6 years and Damon's friend since 9th grade. He proposed to his girlfriend. Yea! We are so happy for you Todd!

Fires near and Far!

My Oh My! ekkk

this is the view from my balcony!

Pray for those Fire Fighters!

Marble Falls, Tx. Trip to see the family!

Well, I traveled to my moms house a few weeks ago in Austin. Saw the sister, mom, and dad it was nice to see the family. Whow, i love my Mediterranean climate because Texas was soo hot. My moms car gauge reached 125! WTF thats hot!

Friends and Family day lunch @ Dreamworks....Our friends Claire and Ben gave us the tour at Dreamworks. It was so nice, hopefully damon can work there some day. It's such a nice family atmosphere. Pool tables and foozeball tables set up outside to relax while rendering your projects...

4th of July / Gosia's Birthday

Happy 4th ya'll! Hope everyone had a lovely one!

My 4th started off by going to the beach. We met Gary and Jessica. Whow, traffic getting to the beach was crazy, but being a native Los Angelino we parked in our sneaky lot where you don't have to pay out the hoop-la, it's free! We made our way down the Santa Monica Pier and just a word of advice take a left, South of the pier thats the cool side or where its a tad more peaceful or the "Pretty People are" An unknown source brought to my attention how we had lots of "Bridge and Tunnel" out at the beach. Look, just because it's a holiday doesn't mean you can leave your trash behind, or when you bring your dog it can just take a poop in the ocean. So after pushing our way through many many people, and passing by that cotton candy stand, we made our way to the beach. Damon and I kept the sandals on for the sand is really hot and walk about 100 feet toward the big beautiful ocean. It looked like a scene from jaws (tons of people and their umbrellas). We finally found Gary and Jessica and lay out this beautiful table cloth that acts perfectly as a beach blanket...

This week in Lovely Lady Cakes Land! I made my signature Lovely Lady Cake- Vanilla cake w/ Canolli Cream w/ Vanilla Buttercream...

I made some yummy Homemade Banana Vanilla Pudding for our BBQ @ Flo's & Sandra's

Damon my husband helped in the kitchen this week and made brownies and iced them. They were the hit of the party.

As usually another great 4th @ the Stadlers. This will have been my 6th year to attend their 4th of July parties. Sandra and Flo have these amazing Korean BBQ ribs ahhh to die for. By the end of the night we shimmy onto the roof and watch all the fireworks going off all over Los Angeles. Her house is in Echo Park right by the Dodger Stadium so you have a wonderful panoramic view of downtown and the faint lights of Santa Monica.

Hope everyone had a Lovely night and was safe!

I'm excited! Going home to texas this week I can't wait to see my family! Miss you guys...

XOXO

Fire Truck Cake!

Yummm! Birthday Fire Truck cake. Half sheet cake vanilla cake with vanilla frosting.

Sweenie chillen on the bed..

Have a Lovely 4th of July, and if I see you this weekend I will have the sweets....