First Annual SC Motor Home Tailgate

We (the Balls) and friends really know how to party!

Let's take a trip down memory lane. 

Friday afternoon we decided, let's do it, let's just go down to USC and try to camp out. And that we did. 

We parked in a line of trucks/RVs in a zone that said No Stopping (guess there is an exception for the night before football games, as cops were patrolling and no one said a thing). We stayed there overnight till they let us in around 4:45 a.m. Yep, that's when I woke up to break lights and saw the line was moving.  I hopped out of bed, leaped over Shane, nearly stepping on Larry and got into that drivers seat.  I put the motor home in drive and took off.  I wasn't about to let anyone cut in front of us.  I was on a mission!  We got the second to best spot in the house (a sea of RVs, in Lot 2 near the Coliseum). 

The adrenalin was high and there was no turning back now, it was time to set up camp and await our friends to come and join our tailgate.  By 8 a.m. we had the satellite working, games on the TV, corn hole and beer pong ready to play.  Larry was set up to DJ and throw down the jams all day and night!  

By game time, we probably had 40-50 friends come through, some to say hi and some to stay.  It was an absolute blast.  We BBQed two meals and my entire USC 7 layer dip was takin down.  The rain didn't stop the party either.  Everyone huddled to watch the end of the game under the awning.

Unfortunately the Trojans lost, but we won at officially having the best tailgate I've ever been to!

Looking forward to making this our little Trojan tradition!

XO, 

S

Ho, Ho, Ho!

 Finally finished Our Family Cookbook

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/invited/1273207/29a753453f0e0e06915a0995a6c7351a

Can't wait to receive all the copies, wrap them up and give them as holiday gifts. 
If you've ever wanted to publish a book, check out blurb

It's an amazing publishing site and tool. 

XO, 

S

Gobble, gobble, gobble...

 Classic Shane story...

If you know my husband, you know he has an opinion, which I love/hate!

I am the worst story and joke teller because I don't remember important details, but here's what I have for you. 

Shane sometimes tells/reminds me that I have a double chin (aka. gobble).

He's not being mean (just honest), sometimes when I'm laying down my gobble gets gobblie. 

Ya know?
One night we were out to dinner with my dad's side of the family and he noticed and whispered to me OMG, your whole family has gobbles.

It was HILARIOUS!
So in honor of Thanksgiving I'm sharing my proud to have a gobble story.
So long as I don't ever get as gobblie as the pic above and my husband still loves me I won't get plastic surgery!

Happy Thanksgiving!

XO,
S

Fa la la la Lifetime

It's my favorite time of year!!
All I want to do is curl up in one of our many cozy blankets, light a fire, eat soup/hot cocoa or drink wine and watch the one and only

Fa la la la Lifetime.

Can I please retire till January and do this? 

I just googled it to get a pic for my bliggity blog and there's even a community and facebook page for this great TV tradition!

If you don't see me much in December, now you know why!

XO, 

S

Santa Monica's BEST!

Pico Barber Shop and Rae's Diner

Located just west of Bundy on Pico Blvd.  you can find this quaint barber shop. 

$15 will buy you a hair cut.

Rae's, right next door, has changed little if at all over the years. 

Inside this diner you'll find original worn orange pleather booths, wait staff and cooks that have been there most of their lives if not careers, families, hung over patrons lining the bar and all walks of life. 

The food is simple, tasty and the orange juice is fresh squeezed!  

For $20 you can buy two people breakfast, coffee, OJ and tip. 
(an unheard of occurrence in LA)

These are two of our favorite places in SM. 

XO, 

The Balls

Happy 23rd Birthday Wes!

Happy Birthday to the most loyal, loving, sweet, ghetto (just teasing), funny... brother a girl could have!
I am so thankful we've grown so close over the years.

Bowling every week with you is truly the best!

I hope you have the happiest birthday EVER Wesser Boxer Walker Talker!

XO,
Sama

Me = Rolly

 

 This is how I feel right now!
"I'm hungry mother..."

Love this movie, need to watch again soon!

Love,
Rolly Sammy

Hosting my first Shabbat!

Shabbat is observed a few minutes before sunset each Friday evening!

This Friday, we're having friends over and attempting to host our very first Shabbat!

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They are bringing the Challah and Kosher wine, while I'm going to attempt a few recipes I've been dying to try out myself.

• Butternut Squash Soup (my Susie's recipe)

INGREDIENTS

1 Tb. Olive oil

1 large butternut squash (about 3 pounds),

halved and seeded

¾ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper

6 cloves garlic

4 thyme sprigs

3 Tb. Unsalted butter

1 large yellow onion, chopped

3 shallots, chopped

4 C. chicken or vegetable broth

¼ C. heavy cream

PROCEDURE

Preheat an oven to 375º. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Rub the olive oil over the cuts side of the squash and season with a ¼ tsp. of the salt and 1/8 tsp. of the pepper. Place the squash cut side down, on the prepared pan. Tuck the garlic cloves and thyme sprigs under the cavity of the squash. Roast the squash 50-60 minutes, until soft and caramelized. Remove from the oven and let cool. Reserve the garlic cloves and discard the thyme. Scoop the butternut squash flesh from the skin, coarsely chop, and set aside.

Melt the butter in a dutch oven or soup pot over medium high heat. Saute the onions and shallots for 7-10 minutes, until they begin to brown. Add the roasted butternut squash, the reserved garlic cloves, and the remaining tsp. salt and 1/8 tsp. pepper and sauté for 5-7 minutes, until the squash begins to caramelize and stick to the bottom of the pan. Pour in the chicken stock, bring to a boil, then decrease the heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes. Puree the soup until smooth with a hand held blender or a food processor. Return it to the pan if necessary and stir in cream. Taste to adjust the seasoning.

To serve, ladle hot soup into warmed shallow bowl, dollop with ½ tsp. crème fraiche.

• Warm Quinoa & Apricot Salad (Estancia Spa in LaJolla recipe) 

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups quinoa, uncooked
1 cup cashews, toasted, coarsely chopped
6 tbsp crystallized ginger, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup apricots, dried, chopped
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup orange juice, fresh squeezed
1 cup baby spinach, packed, stemmed
2 tsp salt, kosher
1 tbsp black pepper, fresh cracked
2 tsp cardamom, toasted, ground fine
3 tbsp olive oil, extra virgin
PROCEDURE:
1.  Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2.  Add the quinoa and cook until the grains are translucent and tender (there should no longer
be a white dot of uncooked starch in the center), approx. 11 to 14 minutes.
3.  Drain thoroughly in a fine-meshed strainer.
4.  Spread the quinoa out on a large platter to cool.
5.  Once cool place quinoa in bowl and add cashews, ginger, apricots, raisins and baby spinach.  Toss until well mixed. 
6.  Stir in orange juice and season to taste with salt, pepper and cumin. 
7.  Drizzle with olive oil and stir well.  Serve warm

•  Some sort of special white fish- Sea Bass, Halibut or Sole

Looking forward to embracing my Jewish heritage and enjoying good food with good friends.

One word: AMERICAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!

Chasing Ellie

Full of energy and life.

Here are a few more fun shots from the weekend!

Rhodes and his puppy Ellie.

XO, 

S

My lil Ro Ro

I just got home from visiting my family in Palm Desert!  

Lacey and Rhodes were escaping the Seattle gloom and rain for some Cali sun!
I decided to have a little fun with the camera!
As you can see Rhodes is an adorable subject!

(wearing Aunt Bon Bon's knits)

Rhodes will be 3 in January.

Can't wait to meet his new little brother or sister this May!

XO,
S

Happy Birthday to Me!

I guess I've always loved my birthday!

Prezzies, loved ones, birthday dinners, parties, non cake cake (ice cream, cookie, carrot, cheese...  I've never been one for the typical white or chocolate cake)
Looking forward to seeing what 31 has in store. 

XO, 

S

Sniff, Sniff, Blow...

Without fail I get sick around this time EVERY year!

I'm a snot nose kid with a head that feels like it's going to explode at any minute. 

Silver lining Sam does not exist when I'm sick.  

I'm a total brat and feel terrible for my amazing husband that has to put up with me.  
I hope to be better quick or at least by the weekend so I can enjoy my birfday with my hubby and friends.

That's it for today!

XO,
S

Happy Halloween!

Gotta love it!