Weekend Recap

How is it almost Thanksgiving?!? Seriously this year is going by so fast. This weekend was a busy but fun one- dinner and drinks on Friday night, intense workout Saturday morning (our trainer just kept saying 'this is for Thanksgiving' when we would moan or complain- it was actually very motivating since I plan on eating a ton), party at my friend's house Saturday night and a full day of Thanksgiving prep on Sunday. All the food has been purchased and all the decorations have been brought out- now I just have to make the food (I'm doing appetizers and this veggie dish) and get to decorating (my fav part). FYI if you're wondering the best way to make a turkey, Serious Eats asked chefs for their tips/tricks- they also have a page dedicated to all things Thanksgiving related.  Speaking of making food, I am obsessed with my Smitten Kitchen cookbook specifically the Whole Wheat Raspberry Ricotta scones...I've already make them twice with more frozen in the freezer. Seriously wishing they weren't frozen so I could eat one as I write this.

I'm more of a savory than sweet kind of person but lately I have been needing more sweets than usual. I would like to think that its biologically necessary for my body to stock up for the upcoming winter like a bear preparing to hibernate through the cold cold months ('Winter is coming'- got hooked on Game of Thrones thanks to my brother and cousin) but really I just recently found out how freaking awesome Ben and Jerry's AmeriCone Dream ice cream is and I can't get enough...its like my gateway drug but dessert version. Anyways I'm trying to curb my sweet tooth in an effort to 'be good' before Thanksgiving so that means I've been eating a ton of fruit instead...hence the massive pomegranate extraction that happened on Saturday. Despite me putting down and stepping away from the caramel filled dark chocolate bar from TJ's, I do think its pretty awesome that there is a Chocolate Cafe in Tokyo complete with a ceiling that looks like a chocolate bar.

At the party on Saturday night, there was lots of talk about buying homes and where the best place to purchase a home is in the Bay Area (since crazy SF prices make buying in the city totally out of the question for most people)- fyi I vote Berkeley. Now I thought SF was bad in terms of insane housing prices but a recent sale in Hong Kong has pretty much left me speechless: almost $60 million...FOR AN APARTMENT. Yea sure its cool but an apartment?!?  The big selling factor was that it was designed by Frank Gehry (a fellow Americanadian) which is cool but I think its nuts that so much of the value is placed on that fact. The New York Times has an interesting article about the lack of 'Starchitects' in San Francisco- "more than the pedigree of the architect, the city worries about things like shadows and wind and, of course, earthquakes". Yea buildings that fall down would kinda suck.

Despite being from Vancouver, I'm not a huge fan of the rainy winter months here in SF. I don't really mind the rain, its that I have to go to work when its raining instead of being cuddled up on the couch with tea and scones. Also I HATE wet jeans and wet socks...thinking of investing in Hunter boots this season...I need to get on that asap (love these ones but will probably go with the original tall boots). Since we actually got some sun today, I took advantage of the good weather and went for a walk...the leaves were so pretty and the sun was out (for the most part). While my walk was fine, this blogger's walk through Central Park puts mine to shame...such pretty pictures, I need to get myself to NY asap. 

Ok so this post is getting really long but I have so many links that I love so here you go- bullet point form:

-The Useless Web takes you to (you guessed it) useless websites some of which like this one are super awesome (roll your mouse over the circles until you see the image) and some of which like this one are just totally ridiculous. 

-So freaking excited that Tahoe is open and desperately want to stay at the Basecamp Hotel- it just looks so cool AND its not that expensive...who's with me?!?!

-Airbnb now has neighborhood guides- seriously awesome if your visiting somewhere new. 

-This article about how online passwords pose no threat to hackers is scary...I apologize for freaking others out by sharing but its pretty interesting.

-And now on a happier note, this restaurant review is hilarious

-Also this is making the rounds but if you haven't seen this video check it out: Gay men will marry your girlfriends (I love me some mother f*cking quiche)