Category Archives: More

More: The Boyfriend’s Surprise Birthday Party

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Two weeks before the boyfriend’s birthday, I told him I was inviting a couple of MY friends over for a “summer party”, but what was really happening was a surprise birthday party for him. I managed to get the boyfriend’s contacts from his phone, but I was afraid I wouldn’t get a good turn out since a lot of people were out of town camping that weekend.

The day of, I gave the boyfriend an errands’ list for him to do before going to the “summer party” at 5. I had told everyone to show up at 4 pm, and, thank goodness half of them did, because the boyfriend decided to show up at 4:15! We heard him coming in and hid behind the counter. When he came into the house, everybody shouted “Surprise!” It took him a couple of minutes to figure out what was going on: what was everyone doing there early? why had I invited his friends to MY summer party? And then he saw all the birthday decorations and realized the party was for him.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

He actually still had to finish one more errand for the day, so since not everyone was there yet, he left and came back half an hour later once everybody had arrived. We all hid again and shouted “Happy Birthday!”

It was a fun filled birthday with carrot cake and s’mores, but I almost ran out of food since more people than we were expecting showed up. Thank you so much everyone for being a part of this!

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2014 Summer in Reno: running, eating, and more

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I finally spent most of the summer in Reno this year and while I had plans to run everyday, go to the beach in Tahoe, and take short road trips here and there, I spent most of my time relaxing, going to Artown events, and eating. Not that I didn’t want to run: I tried, and one week I even did over 15 miles, but July in Reno is just way too hot, over 90, to be exercising outside. Even at night it was crazy hot, so all I could do was walk around Virginia Lake at 10 pm with the boyfriend. Not that I didn’t want to go to Tahoe either: I took the boys there as soon as I came back from Brazil, and then I had to work at the college for a week. I tried going to the beach after work everyday, but, of course, it rained non-stop that week and after that I just gave up; however, we did spend the day building a raft in Tahoe for our first day back to work.

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Nevertheless, it was a great summer with art shows, plays, and concerts. Every July there is an art festival in Reno called Artown. There are so many events to choose from! The boyfriend and I went to an art show of a Brazilian artist (Marcio Decker), a local performance of the Broadway show “Avenue Q”, and another play called “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare”, which attempted to show the audience a fun and quick version of all of Shakespeare’s comedies and tragedies in less than 2 hours. Artown is not only for people: one day at the park they had the dogs do some paw painting. Slick and Parker are quite talented 😉 Finally, this summer, I went to a Lady Gaga concert at Harvey’s Outdoor Arena. Super fun, although I was expecting more craziness from her fans!

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I shouldn’t even start naming all of the restaurants the boyfriend and I have been to this summer. I think I only cooked twice in the past two months: my Brazilian pancakes for dinner, and American pancakes for breakfast. I think even the boyfriend was at the kitchen more than me, making lasagna and chicken croquettes. It was nice to seat on the porch watching all the Midtown action, or having friends over for some s’mores in my backyard. Speaking of friends, we went to a fun French party at the O.’s: nutella crepes, croissants, and lots of cheese, and another great get-together at T.’s where we watched “The Wizard with Oz” paired with a Pink Floyd soundtrack.

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As for the restaurants I wasn’t going to name, I have to give a shout out to at least a couple. A new favorite breakfast place is Little House on Center Street. For dinner, the Santa Fe Restaurant, a family-style Basque restaurant downtown, cannot be beat. Okay, now I’m hungry also thinking about the food trucks downtown, fish tacos from Bistro 7, sushi from Kei in Carson, and even the burger from Johnny Rockets. Although not a restaurant, the Greek Festival had an amazing baklava as always.

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Then on my last day of summer vacation, the boyfriend and I spent the day relaxing in Genoa. We went for a jog downtown, had a drink at Nevada’s oldest bar, soaked at the hot springs, and had a nice four-course dinner at David Walley’s restaurant. After all, you don’t need to travel the world to have a fun, relaxing, and nice summer vacation.

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Eating and More: Belo Horizonte, Brazil

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The Whole Family

The Whole Family

Pretty much all the events we attended in Belo Horizonte revolved around food, so here are some of the places we’ve been to and the things we ate. Everyday my mom, my aunt, and my parents’ maid would cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner for us. The highlight for me was pão de queijo (cheese bread), since it was homemade and warm. If there were any left from breakfast, we would also eat it as a snack with coffee in the afternoon. My mom’s maid also found out that palha italiana (a chocolate and cookies patty) was one of my favorite desserts and made that for my last day in Belo Horizonte. Since açai was one of the boyfriend’s favorite juices in the Amazon, my mom also defrosted the special pulp for him. Another thing that cannot be missed at my parents: bacalhau, the salted cod fish baked Portuguese style.

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Some days it seemed all we did was eat, watch a World Cup game on television, eat again, watch another game, play with the dog Sucki, and eat again before going to bed. There was always a snack too, like banana frita (fried bananas), goiabada (guava candy), and ovo de pascoa (the huge chocolate Easter eggs they had been saving for me).

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While we were there, we also had a couple of birthdays: my mom’s and my nephew’s. My mom’s was a low-key one at home, with chocolate cake. My nephew’s 6th birthday was a whole production with Batman decorations, huge cake, an entertainer and bouncy house for the kids, and, of course, salgadinhos (Brazilian appetizers, like croquettes and mini-quiches) and brigadeiros (chocolate-caramel little ball).

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Of course, World Cup games were also an excuse to eat. For Brasil vs. Chile we went to my sister’s and had more salgadinhos and brigadeiros, along with other dishes brought by her neighbors, like hot dogs and lasagna. For one of the USA games we met my friend S. at Bar Itatiaia for some beer, and then for the Germany vs. Brasil I met her again, but at Bar do Carmo. During Brazil games, downtown streets were closed for people to watch the game on big screens. Very crowded, but I went there anyway to see my friend M. and his family.

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Belo Horizonte, being a big city without a beach, has many malls as a pastime. I went many times to Pátio Savassi Mall since it is so close to my dad’s office. There I met my friend M., walked by our old high school that is nearby, and ate at Graciliano, one of my favorite places because they have an upscale all-you-can-eat buffet. Also, one of the only places I can find this almond cookie called “financier”.

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When you think of Brazilian food and drinks, you think of two things: caipirinha and churrasco. Caipirinha is a cachaça (Brazilian rum), sugar, and lime juice drink best found in “botecos” (bars), like the one we went to with my siblings: Armazém Medeiros. Now for the churrasco, we went to churrascaria Ambrosios, which is an all-you-can-eat Brazilian steakhouse/barbecue place. The servers bring each of the several cuts of meat on a big skewer to your table, one by one, for as long as you can eat them. All the side dishes are on a buffet, but the meat will be brought to you if you have a green coaster that says “go” near your plate. Are you hungry yet?

 

Eating and More: Reno in June

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I just got back from my month-long vacation and there’s so much to write about! Before I start bombarding everyone with hundreds of pictures, let me just start by updating you on some of the things that happened in June before my summer travels, like watching the band Neon Trees at the Knitting Factory. Super fun songs!

Neon Trees Concert

Neon Trees Concert

Most places we’ve been going to in Reno have been near downtown or in Midtown, since that’s what’s close to the boyfriend. It’s nice to just walk everywhere. It took forever, but we finally had a beer and a glass of wine at Craft. Too bad they only have one table outside.

Craft

Craft

For a nice dinner out we tried Scampi. We were surprised for two reasons: the ambiance and the food were awesome and so much better than expected, but we were the only customers in there on a Saturday night! They need to revamp their marketing, because that place should be packed every night.  After dinner, we had dessert at Great Full Gardens, which is always good and always full.

We were still in town for the opening match of the 2014 World Cup, so to get ready for our Brazil trip, we went to 40 Mile Saloon to watch Brazil v. Croatia. Since the game was on a weekday at noon, the bar wasn’t very full, but I’m glad I went and taught the owner what a caipirinha is.

Notice the lack of facial hair!

Notice the lack of facial hair!

Another place we tried in June was the Lobster Buffet at the Boomtown Casino. At first it seemed very appealing to spend less than $30 for all-you-can-eat lobster, but after trying to get my first one out of the shell, I gave up and splurged on the several desserts instead.

Lobster Buffet

Lobster Buffet

Although all these places in Reno were fun, my favorite June moments were these: cooking chicken satay with the boyfriend at home and taking the dogs to the river near Iddlewild Park. Always nice to relax before a big summer!

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Ps.: Almost forgot to mention this lunch: the five of us pictured below started working together at the same school 5 years ago, but for the new school year some of them are moving on. It’s the end of an era…

Ps. 2: Notice how I didn’t mention any running in June…

Olive Garden Farewell Lunch

Olive Garden Farewell Lunch

30th Birthday Celebration – Part 4

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Since everything always comes full circle, we finished my 30th birthday celebration watching the dogs run around and play in the water in Lake Tahoe.

Slick and Parker in Tahoe
Slick in Tahoe
Parker in Tahoe

Thank you everyone for making my 30 years in this world so memorable and worthwhile!

30th Birthday Celebration – Part 3

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So lucky my 30th birthday fell on a holiday weekend! I actually had my big party on the actual day, May 25th, which was a Sunday, and the boyfriend made me wait until then to open my presents! He did good: maps so I can pin where I/we’ve been and a trip to the coast filled with fun and food.

We also had a relaxing morning grabbing some coffee at The Hub and taking the dogs to the river downtown with my friend J. who came from the Bay Area for my b-day.

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In the afternoon we had a great party filled with wine, whiskey, raw vegan food, chocolate cake, friends, dogs, and gifts!

30th Birthday Party
30th Birthday Party

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Yes, you read correctly: raw vegan food. I ordered fake tacos, raw falafels, and mock tuna appetizers, plus chocolate truffles without sugar from The Seed. Everything was delicious, but I’m sure all the guys where confused about the lack of meat on a holiday.

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As party favors, I had M&M’s made with a picture of me on one side and “thank you” on the other. C’mon, you know you want your face on chocolate candy too!

M&M's Party Favors

M&M’s Party Favors

 

30th Birthday Celebration – Part 2

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The second day of celebrations actually had four parts. First I met four girlfriends at the Reno Blow Dry Bar. You start with a scalp massage and a glass of champagne or wine. After they wash your hair, they blow dry and style it for you. Although it’s a little expensive, it’s kind of addictive and I went there 3 times in May alone. For my birthday, I also had my eye make-up done. With all the pampering, it’s impossible not to get out of there feeling fabulous.

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With my hair and make-up done, it was time for drinks in a nice dress and high heels (suit and tie for the boyfriend). Since I can’t really afford to eat at Lulou’s, we at least had some drinks there. Almost 15 friends showed up for this part of the celebration and they made it really special. Of course the drink of the night had to be a pink one.

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Our party moved to Brasserie St. James, one of my favorite places in Reno. A high-end Midtown hangout, it’s a little pricey but still affordable. The boyfriend and I shared the Argentine barbecue, which was super tasty, but could’ve used more meat instead of so many roasted vegetables. We had a large table for 15 and at the end they brought out a brownie with candles.

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To finish the night, we had more drinks at Chapel, but we couldn’t keep going for too long since we still had Part 3 of celebrations the next day.

 

30th Birthday Celebration – Part 1

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For years I was dreading turning 30. I used to flat out lie about my age: I turned 21 at least 3 times and I was 25 for 4 years in a row. Finally, in the past year I’ve matured enough and realized it is okay to be 30: I am a happy, healthy, and accomplished woman (homeowner, world traveler, marathon finisher… all check!) with lots of close friends and family. That’s a reason to celebrate! And that’s what I did for 4 days during Memorial Day Weekend.

Part 1 of birthday celebration involved going to South Lake Tahoe with the boyfriend and the dogs. When I moved to the area over 10 years ago, it was the beauty of the lake that made me stay. I don’t want to live in Tahoe anymore: too small, too much cold… but I am grateful to live close enough so I can go there anytime I need a pick me up. Just seeing the lake when I’m driving makes me relax and vow to enjoy life as much as possible.

Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe

As you all know by now, I love to eat. Usually my go-to place for fine dining in Tahoe is “Edgewood”, but this year why not try something new? The boyfriend took me to “Jimmy’s at the Landing”, a new lakeside restaurant that opened six months ago. The menu is Modern Greek, which means no spanakopita or baklava, but lots of Greek flavors in their wood grilled dishes. We ended up ordering the 5 for $45 appetizer deal, 2 entrees, and a dessert, in addition to 2 drinks and a bottle of wine. Yup, that’s how we do a 30th birthday dinner!

30th Birthday Dinner

The appetizers were brought one at a time, which made me feel I was having a 7 course meal. By the time the entrees arrived, I was so full I didn’t care they were really small (the cauliflower dish was delicious, but tiny). A highlight of dinner was actually the mojito made with ouzo, but everything tasted so good, it brought back memories from my Greece trip 5 years ago with each bite.

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During dinner I also had a little surprise for the boyfriend. Since I just ran a marathon and was having a big birthday, I thought it would be fun to do a photo shoot to showcase my healthy looking body. During dinner, I showed the pictures to the boyfriend and he almost fell off the chair. Nice to see I can still cause this reaction at 30!

30th Birthday Photo Shoot
30th Birthday Photo Shoot
30th Birthday Photo Shoot

More: Kentucky Derby Party

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Kentucky Derby: the most exciting 2 minutes in sports! We had another dress-up party last week with the girls wearing cute dresses and big hats and the guys with their linen suits and bright colored ties.

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The boyfriend kept everybody happy with a hot brown casserole (white toast, turkey, bacon, and cheese sauce) and mint juleps.

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California Chrome, which is actually a horse from Topaz Lake, Nevada, finished the 1 ¼ miles in 02:03:66.

Kentucky Derby Party

Kentucky Derby Party

And what do you do after a Kentucky Derby party full of food and drinks? You go to a Cinco de Mayo party to have tacos, tequila and piñatas.

Eating (and more): Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing

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Finally spring break arrived and, besides going to Texas, I had time to relax and celebrate the end of marathon training and the end of the quarter at the college where I teach. Now without my two part-time “jobs”, I have a lot of time in my hands, so I did laundry, took the dogs for a walk in Tahoe, read a bit, and started cooking: kale salad with tahini dressing, panquecas (Brazilian crepes), carrot cake, chicken fajitas…

Slick and Parker

Slick and Parker

Lots of new recipes, which means lots of eating are being done. Unfortunately, lots of pounds are being gained too. First of all, I’m still consuming over 2,000 calories a day as if I were still training. Portion control is the hardest thing for me and after a whole 40 days without eating cookies for lent, I’ve been going over a whole packet of them a day. Secondly, the marathon caused some stress on my right foot and it hurts to run or walk too much, causing me to be a couch potato for the next two weeks. Not saying I’m not enjoying watching “Dancing with the Stars” though. Well, actually, I’ve been quite active socially instead…

Enough updates. Let’s get to the healthiest dish I made last week. Here’s the recipe for the kale salad, adapted from Rachael K., who is a personal chef in Reno. Tahini is a little too strong for some people, but it has quickly become my new favorite dressing!

Kale Salad with Tahini

Kale Salad with Tahini

 

Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing

1 tbsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. minced garlic

2 tbsp. tahini (sesame seed paste)

2 tbsp. plain yogurt

½ tsp. cumin

1 tbsp. olive oil

4 cups kale

1 apple julienned

4 tbsp. sliced almonds

 

In a mixing bowl, mix the garlic, lemon juice, tahini, yogurt, and cumin. Season with salt with needed.

In a separate bowl, shred or slice the kale leaves and add the olive oil. Rub the leaves with oil to soften them. Combine the kale with the dressing and stir. Add the apple and almonds.

 

Makes 2 servings of 280 calories each.