5.22.2013

Singing at the Giants Game

Once in a while, I can put a pause whatever I'm doing, imagine looking at myself from some point in the sky and think, "Wow, look that that.  That's a cool moment in her life."  I try to do that enough so all those little great moments in life stay stored up somewhere in my brain.  Whether it's crossing the stage for my college diploma, or first date butterflies with my now-boyfriend, I'd like to think I have a mental scrapbook of those moments that make life sweet.

This Monday, I had just one of those moments!  I was huddled with a group of coworkers, standing on a deck at AT&T Park with a camera in our face and we were about to lead the crowd in "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"!  

Right before we sang - scroll down for video!
Now you have to understand a few things about me to get why this was so cool (as opposed to say, singing the National Anthem solo-style from the field).  TMOTTBG is the first song I can remember memorizing.  For whatever reason, it was a song my grandma loved to sing with my brother and I and it would put the biggest smiles on our faces.  The song always reminds me of my lovely Grandma Annabelle who I miss dearly!

Another reason why this was a *moment* for me is I just love baseball games, especially night ones!  Okay I can't rattle off the names/numbers/positions of the Giants roster or tell you who won last Tuesday's game, but I do find nothing more quintessential summer-in-the-city than a baseball game at night.  I have my dad to thank for that.  And maybe a few years living around the corner from Fenway.  The chorus of food vendors, rowdy crowds, the bat cracking the ball and - of course- "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" is a familiar one that I absolutely love.  With MDW this weekend, I'm so ready for more Giants games this summer! Maybe I'll try to catch them when the Mets are in town, and then my allegiance may have to waver to my home team ;)

Seeing the Red Sox (boo) at Fenway (yay)
My fancy Yankees! Up in the nosebleeds with friends one summer night
Having a good time with my dad & bro at the team my dad raised us on, the Mets!
After we sang, I looked over and saw my cheering fan section - Webb! That boy has a habit of being around for all these cool moments in my life lately. 

At my first Giant's game with my NorCal boy


Someone on the other side of the field from the Jumbo Tron got a video, so check it out! Definitely one of the highlights of living in San Francisco so far.  Looking forward to many more to come!

5.15.2013

Picnic-Friendly Dessert-in-a-Jar

Upon moving to San Francisco, all anyone could tell me was how cold it gets in the summer.  Well I don't know what they're talking about, because this past month has had some gorgeous weather!  Maybe I'm speaking too soon? It is called June Gloom after all...

But, no matter how sunshiney it is in the city, it's always nicer down in Los Gatos, and lucky Webb and I were able to spend this past Sunday there with his parents for Mother's Day.  It might have been a little too warm for us San Franciscans (Why oh why did we wear pants on a 90 degree day?) but who can complain about a little sun?
Lugging a watermelon? Or shielding his face from the sun?
Taking full advantage of the weather, we planned to rummage through the farmer's market after church then do a picnic.  I knew this a few days in advance, so I started thinking of some picnic-friendly desserts to make.  Cupcakes? No, the frosting always gets messed up in transit.  Ice cream? No, likely to melt.  Then, I remembered something I'd seen over my hours of Pinterest snooping - cake in a jar!  


Easy transport? Check. Easy set up? Check. Easy clean up? Check.  

Okay, so mine might not be as pretty, but I can tell you that it tasted pretty good, and was insanely simple to make.  It was a yummy end to a fun picnic with Webb, his dad, and the lady of the hour: his mom!

Here's what I did, but obviously there are a ton of combinations and possibilities. Just remember to keep the jars cool if you are using cream.  My insulated Whole Foods bag and an ice pack worked just fine.