FOR THE BOOKS...

Christmas 2011 | Los Angeles, California

I was able to get a week off from work to go home for Christmas. I spent the majority of my time in LA at home in sweatpants…and it was the best. I’m so happy I got to spend time with my family. On Christmas Eve we devoured a sushi platter and played Trivial Pursuit. Christmas Day we had our traditional roast with cheesy bacon mashed potatoes and roasted veggies and played several rounds of poker before turning in for the night. My dad, my brother and I, along with our dog Jake, drove up to the San Gabriel Mountains for a 10-mile hike along the river. The hike my dad and I usually go on the morning after Thanksgiving/Christmas is by far my favorite holiday tradition. 

Thanksgiving 2011 | Los Angeles, California

I brought home my camera but only ended up using my phone the whole week I was home. I missed Thanksgiving last year because I was working in France, so I was so so so excited to be home this week. My dad’s turkey is epic, and my mom’s pumpkin pecan pie was unbelievable. Because I am anti-Black Friday (nothing would get me up that early to wait in line in the cold for hours), my dad and I (and our pup, Jake) wake up early and go on a morning hike the day after Thanksgiving. We usually go out to San Gabriel Valley, but because I had an afternoon flight back up to SF, we went out to Rancho Palos Verdes and hiked along the Burma Road Trail. 

So many people and things to be thankful for, so many. 

November 19th, 2011 | San Francisco, California

My parents came up to SF for a visit (their first since I moved to SF) this past weekend. I didn’t realize just how much I missed them until I found myself running out of my apartment to let them into the gate. It felt like all we did the whole weekend was eat (so much good food); something my parents and I equally enjoy doing. Now I am home, home awaiting my favorite meal of the year, Thanksgiving.