dbxcakes

When we were at Vegas, we were able to celebrate my friend Jackie's 30th birthday. We met up at Serendipity for lunch and enjoyed a Frrrozen hot chocolate. We also partied at XS at the Encore. We entered the club like VIPs, sipped on our vanilla stolis, and danced in the pool. It was a fun time! Cheers to being "flirty and 30." - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A few weeks ago Niner, Nancy and I took advantage of dineLA. We started with lunch at Tra di Noi in Malibu, a long with Nancy's friend Lalo. The pizza appetizer with truffle sauce that Nancy ordered for appetizer was the best part of that meal. Niner had the filet of sol which was tasty as well. I got the pasta dish and then a marzipan dessert topped with almond sauce which sounded interesting at first, but probably confirmed that I am not a fan of marzipan at all. The following day we had dinner with Nancy's friend, Gina, at Fogo de Chao in Beverly Hills. Fogo de Chao is great but it is so pricey considering the handful of pretty amazing churrascarias in LA. Their lamb, top sirloin and filet mignon were delicious though, and this place has become a dineLA favorite for me because of the papaya cream dessert. It wasn't part of the dineLA menu, but they were kind enough to make the substitution. Gina, Nancy, Niner, and I For Week 2, Day 1 of dineLA, we went to...

At Vegas celebrating my cousin Lizzi's 30th birthday. We had dinner this evening at the hip Cosmopolitan's Wicked Spoon Buffet. I don't remember the last time the extended family traveled together. If only my brothers and parents were here, we'd be complete. It's still wonderful to be out on a mini get-a-way with my cousins though. Tomorrow the celebration and service for my late uncle will be at their new Vegas home. Darah, Karen, Sonia, Lizzi, Emma and I Lady luck tonight. So far I'm up $80. That's a lot for me, believe me. :) Cheers to another great and successful year for my cousin. She sure deserves it! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Last Saturday we went to our third annual Oktoberfest at the Alpine Village in Torrance. There were beers, cheers, and Bratwursts... and, of course, the chicken dance. We'll let the pictures tell the story.. The Ladies entering the Oktoberfest tent. (pic from Mr. B) Cheryl and I. Can't do Oktoberfest without our hats!   Niner was asked to go on stage for the stein holding competition. She didn't win, but she lasted pretty long before  the water started spilling out. (I'm pretty sure she would've  held on longer if beer was at stake.) Nance and I went on stage and got a picture with the host who came all the way from Germany. Busting Ryan's signature pose after the chicken dance, and Nancy being silly in the back. The parade that started a large train through out the tent. Beer Beer Ryan ran into a friend. With Nancy's friend and our new buddy Lalo. Press here.. More beer Hoy Hoy Hoy! :)

Saw Journey and opener Foreigner last night at the Hollywood Bowl with Ryan, Cheryl and Cheryl's friends. We had pretty great seats and the night did not get chilly at all considering it is now Autumn. I was surprised by the handful of Foreigner songs I recognized and never realized they were the artists. And Journey rocked the stage. It was kinda strange to see this small Filipino guy running around, head banging, broadcasted on the jumbotron, and pickin up girls a foot taller than him to dance on stage. I normally don't get sentimental about such things, but it was refreshing to see and I felt a bit of Filipono pride. :) Arnel Pineda looking like Ryan. The Berries and I. And just when we thought "Don't Stop Believin" couldn't get any better, we were surprised by a never-ending display of fireworks. Always a fine time at the Bowl. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

For years now, I've been wanting to run a marathon. It was one of those ideas of mine, one of many, that never really came to fruition. Maybe it was my insecurity, maybe it was laziness. But in July, about six years later, I finally decided that I was going to just do it. My cousin recommended I join her and USA Marathon Training. The group is wonderful and the coaches are inspiring, but this has turned out to be one of those things I had to motivate myself to do. It's taken me all summer to plan out my schedules and finally stick to routinely training. Now, less than 3 weeks til the LA Rock & Roll Half Marathon, I'm on the treadmill or running around the neighborhood after work. I'm definitely feeling the pressure and I'm scared as hell. However I've come a long way from just dreaming ideas and, ready or not, I'm running on October 30th! 

I've known my friend Malia since the UCLA days of neuro and trauma action. We also worked at Olive-View together as travel nurses. Although we've pretty much been occupied with our own busy lives, we always make time for each other for special occasions. So when she invited me to join her and some friends at the Gladiator Rock'n Run Mud Run at the Rose Bowl on October 1, as intimidating as the idea was, I couldn't say no. We started the run with the odds already against us: we were hungry, thirsty, and the sun was glaring. We slowly made our way through the players' tunnel and were discouraged to find six rows of bleachers that we had to sprint up and down on. With our thighs burning we somehow managed to crawl through the mud tunnel, hopped over giant spools, climbed over a mountain of tires, and slithered under a muddy web. Caked with mud, we persevered over an 8 foot wall, dashed through giant swinging balls, and conquered several other obstacles before finally...

October 8 is a special day. A kind, patient and loving woman was born, the mother of my favorite person. Moo came back in time from Mexico yesterday to celebrate her birthday. And in a few hours we're gonna have a cute family dinner at the Stinking Rose. It's been awhile since I was there last, I think I'm willing to give that garlic ice cream a second chance. :) - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

At the end of September, our favorite Mr. B celebrated his 29th birthday with his favorite people at Yankee Doodles in Santa Monica. There were SpongeBob party hats, colorful twisty straws, and his tasty tres leches cake. Friends, most inebriated, showed their skill at a game of pool, tore up the foosball table, and the boys tested their muscle at the boxing punching bag. Sorry to say, Mr. B failed to display any sort of strength in his intoxicated state, but it was all fun and and games. Some of the BR Troopers unite. Happy 29th Birthday! Annual birthday kiss (photos from Cheryl) Cheers to another of Ryan's successful birthday celebrations. I'm sure next year will be even more memorable.