World Series? Check.

I did it.
I bought a ticket to the World Series for last night's game.
And, I am SO glad I did!

This was on my Bucket List:
Go to a World Series game that the Giants are playing in.

I regretted that I didn't go when they were in the 2002 World Series.
I didn't want to regret this either.
I mean, what if they don't go to the World Series again?
You only live once, right?
On Wednesday night, our Small Group watched the first World Series game together.
I kept saying how I wish I was going to a game.
Then, my friends Dan & Jackie (who are in our small group) told me that they bought tickets & were going to Thursday's game.
They told me to come with them.
So, we went online to check out ticket prices on Stub Hub. They weren't AS expensive as they were on Saturday, and I was able to get a seat (instead of standing room)
Kevin gave me the go ahead and said I could buy the ticket. So, I did.
I wanted to buy one for him to go also, but he said no, he would rather spend the money on skiing this winter!
I had a mini-panic attack after I bought my ticket, but I was still SO excited.
So, yesterday afternoon, Dan, Jackie & I went to game 2 of the World Series.

To put it simply: IT WAS INCREDIBLE.

I didn't bring my good camera, so the pictures aren't perfect. But, last night, it wasn't about the pictures....it was about the World Series, Baby!!!

We got there 2 hours before the game started, so we walked around the Ball Park so we could soak in all the sights & sounds of the day!
AT&T Park is right on the water.
This is McCovey Cove, behind the right field fence.
All the people in the boats wait for homeruns to fly out of the park into the water.
During the Barry Bonds era, McCovey Cove was even more packed than this:
View of the Bay Bridge:
The Ball Park was electric, inside and out!
Black & Orange EVERYWHERE.
As soon as we walked into the Ball Park, I literally had tears in my eyes because I couldn't believe that I was at a World Series game.
(Yes, I am overly emotional...blaming it on PMS. ha!)
They gave us these orange fan towels to wave during the game.
It is the most expensive towel I own. hahaha!
Everyone in the crowd waving their towels:
Lady Antebellum sang the Star Spangled Banner (and I got teary eyed...again)
The flag shaped as the USA:
Then fireworks went off & 4 fighter jets did a flyover. Can you say chills (and tears)?!?!
Then the game began!
Cheers to the World Series & crossing off an item on my Bucket List:
We hung out by Dan's dad's seats (which were on the third base line) until the 2nd inning. We had to leave when the seat owners arrived.
Then we went up to the 3rd deck, where our seats were.
Also known as the nose bleed section!
Jackie & I had fun posing for pictures. Dan was a good sport taking our picture :)
The Giants hit a homer in the 5th to make it 1-0. I was excited!
I love Dan & Jackie and we all had SO much fun together, like we always do!
(Dan & I have been friends since middle school, we used to toliet paper each other's houses with our friends)
Every ball park has a signature food item. At AT&T Park, it is the Garlic Fries. This was our snack during the 7th inning stretch. YUM!
It was a beautiful night at the Ball Park:
There was a 40% chance of rain....but it was cloudy. Not a drop of rain!
There were some celebrity sightings at the game that they would announce on the Big Screen:
Joe Montana (former San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame Quarterback)
Actor Rob Schneider:
Musician Steven Perry, singer in the band Journey:
It was a close game until the 8th inning, and then the Texas pitchers had a melt down & threw 13 balls in a row. No strikes. Walked in a couple runs.
(sorry to all my readers who are Texas fans...that was rough)
We scored 7 runs in the 8th inning and went on to win 9-0.
This guy was going crazy. He was awesome.
Now batting....Nate Scheirholtz (we went to the same high school & I met him last year at our high school Hall of Fame dinner)

Yay! Giants Win!
We had so much fun!

The crowd going wild after the game, 2 down, 2 to go!

Fireworks going off celebrating the Giants win!

Outside the park, the palm trees were lit up orange for the Giants!
People everywhere, cheering & dancing!
I cheered so much last night at the game that when I woke up this morning, I had lost my voice!

It was such a fun night & a once in a life time experience!
It wasn't the smartest financial decision I have ever made, but it was worth every penny.
I would do it again in a heartbeat!
I have NO REGRETS!
(except that I wish Kevin would have come also!)
But, I am so extremely thankful & grateful that I was able to go!

Let's go GIANTS!!!

99

Yesterday, my Grandma (known to everyone as Grammy) turned 99 years old.
Ninety-Nine.
Wow.

I have written about my Grammy before HERE and HERE.
She is the matriarch of our family.
She is one of the strongest women I know, despite her frail build
(that is getting smaller and more fragile every time we see her)

We celebrated Grammy over the weekend.
There is nothing Grammy loves more than her family.
She has 2 daughters (including my mom), 6 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren, with another one on the way this February (my cousin Ryan's wife is expecting a boy!)

In my Grammy's front yard, she has 7 little turtles representing her great grandchildren.
6 girls & 1 boy.

One of my favorite things about going to her house is checking out all her vintage items in her house.

She has these Swedish Dala Horses that are over 100 years old.
My mom has some also & used to put them out during Christmas.

I love these tin drinking cups from the 50's.

And, the matching tin bowls to go with them. So retro. Love them.
I have so many memories eating cereal & ice cream out of these as a little girl.

And, these drinking glasses are also from the 60's....there are only 2 left!

This hen cookie jar is over 100 years old & stays perched on Grammy's kitchen table.

Grammy has a blue plate collection that line her dining room and kitchen.

Here is a picture of Grammy in the year 1913, when she was 2 years old.
1913....that is crazy!

Grammy loves fine china. She has tons of it displayed around her house.

Remember The Yellow Chair Grammy gave me over the summer?
Well, she had another one from the same school house in Colorado.
This one is slightly bigger & oak.
She told me to take it home so I could use it in more photo shoots.
I plan on painting it turquoise!

Back to the 99th birthday celebration.....
We had a lovely dinner at my Aunt's with all my cousins (except my cousin Allison & her 3 kids who live in Washington DC)
And, we had cake!

Kate loved Grammy's purple candles!

Happy 99th Birthday, Grammy!

You are an inspiration.
To live by yourself in your own house at the age of 99 is simply amazing.
And still sharp as a tack.
(Although, her body is getting very fraile...but I guess that happens after 99 years)

Want to know Grammy's advice for living so long?
1. Surround yourself with your family and people you love.
2. Drink Coffee every morning.
3. Have Happy Hour every evening (Grammy's preference is a Cranberry Vodka)
4. Stay away from hospitals & doctors. (classic!)
Thanks for the tips, Grammy!

We are all rooting for you turn 100 next year!

Go Giants!

In less than 24 hours, our San Fransisco Giants will be playing in the 2010 World Series!

Both Kevin & I grew up cheering on the Giants.
We love them & are now brainwashing our girls to be Giants fans!
Giants Fever has taken over the Bay Area.
Everyone is talking about it & wearing their Giants gear!
Finally, a sports team in the Bay Area that is actually doing well!
It has been a rough past 10 years for Bay Area sports!
(besides the Sharks, as Kevin would like to point out)

And, coincidentally, tomorrow is Sports Day at school...you know I will be wearing my Giants shirt! Can't wait to see all the orange & black all over campus!

One of the items on my "Bucket List" is to go to a World Series Game
(preferably one that the Giants are in!)
Let's just say, this is not the year that I will be going.
I tried to get tickets over the weekend and the cheapest ticket I could find was for $500...and that was for standing room only. OUCH!
So, we will be cheering on the Giants tomorrow night from the comfort of our own home!
Who are you rooting for?
Go Giants....Beat the Rangers!

I Heart Faces: Think Pink

This week’s theme is in celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

I knew I had to enter, pink is my favorite color!
I had so many pictures to choose from...
(since I have 2 girls who wear a lot of pink)
This is one of my favorite candid pictures of Kate:
Go check out I Heart Faces for more pink pictures!

Taco Soup

This weekend marked the first "real" rainstorm of the season.
It has been raining on and off for the past 3 days.
I love it! Fall is officially here, which means SOUP!

Taco Soup is a family favorite. I got this recipe from a dear family friend at one of my bridal showers over 8 years ago. At the bridal shower, all the guests brought their favorite family recipe on a recipe card & all the recipe cards were put in a binder for me. It was one of the greatest gifts!
I make Taco Soup all the time in the Fall/Winter.
It is what I serve on Halloween, on rainy days & for Monday Night Football.
Taco Soup is comfort food at it's finest!
And, couldn't be easier to make!

Here is what you need:

- 1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey)
- 1 large can diced tomatoes
- 1 can stewed tomatoes
- 1 small can tomato sauce
- 1 can kidney beans, drained
- 1 can corn
- 1 package of taco seasoning
(the recipe also calls for a diced onion, but we don't like onions, so I don't add it)

Step 1: Brown your meat

I always brown the meat in the same pot that I make the soup in (less to clean up!)

After you cook the meat, bust out your can opener.
Dump in the can of tomato sauce, diced tomatoes & stewed tomatoes (both un-drained)

Next, dump in the packet of taco seasoning. Stir.

Add in the (drained) kidney beans & (undrained) can of corn.

Stir.

Cover your pot & keep soup simmering on the stove for about an hour.
**OR, you could have put this all in your crock pot & have it simmer on low for 1-2 hours**

While your soup is simmering, clean up your mess...which is really just putting the cans in your recycle bin.

While your soup is simmering, you can also make your cornbread.
I ALWAYS serve Taco Soup with Cornbread.
My favorite cornbread is Marie Callendars. All you do is add water. Love it!

While my soup is simmering & my cornbread is baking, I make my semi-homemade whipped honey butter to put on my cornbread.

Want to know how to make semi-homemade whipped honey butter? It's EASY!
You need:
- Whipped Butter
-Honey

Your butter should be room temperature.
(I take my butter out of the fridge & but it on the counter when I first start making Taco Soup)

Spoon some butter into a bowl. Squeeze some honey into a bowl.

Stir it together.

And, that my friends is how you make semi-homemade honey butter.
I don't eat my cornbread without it!

We serve our Taco Soup with shredded cheese on top.
You can add sour cream if you want.
I always put some chips on the plates so you can crunch some chips on the top.

Or, I just use the chips as a spoon sometimes! Yum!

Taco Soup is a family favorite....Both girls love it, as evidenced by Claire literally licking her bowl.

This soup usually tastes even better the next day because all the flavors have mixed together. Sometimes, I will make this the night before I serve it for dinner!
Hope you love Taco Soup as much as we do!