Kitchen Mania

About a month ago, Brandon and I moved into our new place. It's a two-bedroom duplex attached to a five bedroom family house next door. They are connected by the two garages, so it's nice not to share a wall. I feel so lucky to have found this place as it has almost everything we were looking for (within our measly budget). Two bedrooms (so we can still have an office/guest room) one car garage with washer and dryer and an outdoor sink so Brandon can still do all of his projects. We have a small backyard for Lucy -- although it's pretty ugly (that will be project #2) and we have 4 parking spots!

The only negatives are:
1. It's old - the kitchen was pretty darn ugly
2. No fireplace :-(

Well, since taking the Bar Exam, Brandon has become a full-time house-wife husband extraordinaire. Since I've been working full-time and taking grad classes I feel like I have little time for much else. He's been great with cooking dinner, running our errands aannnd working to make our kitchen pretty. We had a little mishap with our camera and ALL of the before pictures got wiped out so all I have to share are the ones I had taken with my phone (but you'll get the idea).

BEFORE:

See? Pretty bad.

Eww

Hard at work

Getting closer

AFTER:

Such an old stove right?

After Brandon polished the handles we decided that we really liked them with the black!

I wasn't sure what to think when Brandon told me that he wanted to paint the cabinets black but I absolutely love them :-) It goes very well with our dining room furniture!

Summer Recap

I know, I know. I've been slacking big time in the blogging department. We've had such a busy summer and I can't believe how fast it's flown by! Is it cheating if I post a quick recap?

Summer of 2011 Recap:
-Brandon took the Bar Exam (we find out the results November 19th)
-I finished two summer classes (4 more to go before graduation)
-We moved from our beloved house on Vulcan to a cute duplex a few miles down the street
-I attended SIX baby showers (was invited to eight!) and have since had the pleasure of meeting little Rio Jolie Mason and little Colin Anders Strothman
-We welcomed our third niece - Lia Capri - into the world (10 pounds 2 oz!)
-My youngest brother graduated from high school and started college
-My cousin Gaidaa visited from Jordan and stayed with my parents for a month
-I celebrated my 28th birthday
-Brandon joined a softball team
-My in-laws visited from Tahoe for a couple of weeks

Lia Capri Barbato (6 weeks)

Palms Riviera for my 28th birthday

My sweet cousin G

Rio Jolie - the little peanut

We finally got to open (and use) all of our wedding presents!

Colin Anders Strothman

Where Brandon spent most of the summer.
(We're gonna burn all of the flashcards as soon as we get the results that he's passed)

Visits with Brandon's Dad (Grandpa Stan)

Swami's Beach

There are only three short weeks of summer left and they're going to be just as busy as the rest was. I'll be better about blogging - I promise.

Juris Doctor Graduate - Brandon Gray

The day that we have waited three long YEARS for finally came and went. My husband graduated from Law School and is now one step closer to becoming an attorney :-) The ceremony took place at Copley Symphony Hall in downtown San Diego - and it was a gorgeous venue. Watching Brandon graduate was more emotional than I thought it would be. I am continually amazed by Brandon's dedication to school - and the amount of hours he can spend locked up in his room with all of his text books. I also continually fall in love with him for that brain of his. *WARNING: Bragging ahead* In addition to receiving his Juris Doctorate, he was 1 of 5 students who received an award for graduating Summa Cum Laude - which is the highest honors you can receive (generally awarded to the top 2%). He was also the Executive Editor of the Law Review and a member of the Moot Court. Take a peek at the Law School program - if I didn't love him so much - I would be annoyed by him ;-)



(Love the last part) After the ceremony we couldn't wait to hug the new grad and take a ton a few pictures with him.



My Dad has always wanted me to go to Law School and although I didn't - I did the next best thing...I married someone that did. My Dad couldn't be more proud of Brandon.


After pictures, we went to lunch at C-Level at the harbor. It's a gorgeous restaurant right on the water. And who came by on their sail boat? Larry Richards - a really close family friend of Brandon's parents.


After lunch, Brandon took us for a tour of his campus. Here is a picture of my mom and myself in the Moot Court Room :-)


After that, it was back to the house for coffee and cupcakes and family :-) And yes, I had to throw up a few cheesy decorations.

A celebration without cupcakes, isn't a celebration at all. (As usual, I ordered these cupcakes from Alicia at Crimsoncake.com)



Andddd, of course we each wanted our photo with the graduate :-)









Kandi said hugging Brandon is the closest she'll ever be to a Law Degree.



Brandon's parents raised an amazing man!!



Way to go Shushi! You did it! I love you more than anything on earth.


NEXT: That little three day quiz called the California Bar exam. Bar prep classes started two days after graduation and will continue for the next two months. I have a feeling that this summer won't be our favorite.

Law School Law School Law School

I feel like lately we've had one Law School function after another to go to...(well at least 3 weekends in a row). And although I complain, it's actually always a great time - and Brandon and I get to go to places that we wouldn't have normally. A few weeks ago we had dinner at Hotel Del in Coronado for an NCLR (National Conference of Law Review) dinner. The food was amazing, the hotel was beautiful, and the speaker was Jack Ford (who I'm sure you've seen on MSNBC, FOX etc. a few times in your lifetime).



These 3 below make up the Managing Board of the Law Review (On the left is Dea - the Editor-in-Chief, Brandon - the Executive Editor, and Stephanie - the Managing Editor) They probably spend more time with my husband than I do!



The next weekend was Casino Night which is another event sponsored by Brandon's school. It was held at the San Diego Rowing Club - which is a beautiful venue right on Mission Bay. My friend Stephanie came with us because Brandon and I are determined to set her up with a great guy. Unfortunately, there weren't any great candidates at this particular event ;-) BUT we still had an amazing time!



Brandon had two dates :-) Myself & Steph.



Then finally, we had the Law Review Banquet brunch this past weekend at The Star of the Sea which is downtown in the harbor. The views from the restaurant were amazing - floor to ceiling windows overlooking the water. Everyone enjoyed mimosas, great good and an AWESOME speaker. Brandon, Dea & Stephanie have worked really, really hard this year to ensure that the journal ran smoothly (writing, editing, organizing, delegating) - so I'm sure they're about ready to pass on the torch to the incoming managing board :-)





Next stop: GRADUATION - May 21, 2011!

Valentines Day?

Well, well it's that time of year again and I'm as girly as the best of 'em so I truly enjoy Cupid's holiday :-) I love celebrating love {even if Valentine's day is nothing more than a commercialized holiday.}

The Plan:

A few weeks ago, Brandon and I made reservations at The Cowboy Star - a steakhouse downtown with modern-glam cowboy decor.

Isn't it pretty? I was going to pick up Brandon from school downtown at 6:15 and then we were going to head over for our 6:30 reservation.

I knew a bouquet of flowers wasn't going to be part of the deal since Brandon thinks buying flowers on Valentine's day is stupid because, "They jack up the prices," Yes, ladies -- I married a romantic. I have never minded that much since he brings me flowers so many other times during the year for no reason -- which almost means more. But yes, there is that tiny part of me that sees other girls getting roses or flowers and wishes for it.

Reality:

At 10:00 am I get an email from the receptionist asking me to come and pick up my flowers. A part of me thought they might be from my dad -- but sure enough -- they were from my new husband :-)

Cute right? He absolutely made my day! *Tip for men: sending flowers to your girl's work place can really brighten her day!

So I speed home from work, pick up the house, do the dishes and then get all dolled up. I got a new leopard print dress, new black heels, flat ironed hair, his favorite perfume etc etc.

I'm just putting on my jewelry when I hear my phone go off. There are two texts and two missed calls from Brandon.Ugh.oh. He calls while I'm reading the texts to tell me that he feels really sick and he's not sure that he can make it to dinner...

...but he still needs me to head downtown to pick him up (since he takes the train from Encinitas to SD every day).

So, of course I get in my car and speed as fast as I can -- the whole time feeling terrible for him because he's usually pretty tough and if he feels sick enough to cancel dinner on Valentine's day he must really be feeling awful. (Wow, that was the longest run-on sentence.)

45 minutes later, I pull up to his school and see him standing outside of the building, in his suit -- looking pretty pale. He gets in and looks miserable. Within the first 5 minutes of our drive, he pulls a plastic baggy out of his pocket and begins to throw up. For those of you that know me well, I despise throw up. It borders on a phobia. I don't like to throw up. I don't want to hear it, smell it, or think about the misery it brings.

So I have a slight moment of panic and roll both of the windows down. I'm frantically trying to get OUT of downtown and hating all of the "one way only" signs. I'm rubbing his back with one hand, while holding my head halfway out the window -- Ace Ventura style. I spot a Jack in the Box, peel into the parking lot and run {as best I could in my new heels} inside to get a new baggy and lots of napkins.

I come back out and he's leaning outside of the car throwing up even more. He leaves his baggy of vomit there in the parking lot {which will be a real gem for whoever stumbles upon it} and we get back in the car. He is so sad that he got some on his suit and on my car seat. In between throwing up he tells me that it's imperative that I use the carpet cleaner vacuum thingy immediately when we get home or my car will smell... forever. Another slight moment of panic.

We pull into the driveway, he realizes that his car is still at the train station down the street but it's a stick shift and I can't drive it! I tell him I'll take care of it, and he makes a beeline inside.

So, I get out of my new dress and heels, put on my sweats and drag out the vacuum cleaner. I clean the seat of my car, call Holland {his best friend who happens to live right down the road} and see if he'll go and pick up Brandon's car at the train station and bring it back. He comes right over {which is so appreciated considering it's Valentine's day and he's a newlywed.} Once Brandon's car is back safe and sound, it's time to make a trip to 7-11. I walk in, in my big baggy sweats (I'm sure I looked like a depressed girl sans a valentine) -- get a couple of bottles of Gatorade, some saltine crackers and an US Magazine.

I spent the rest of the evening reading my magazine, watching the Bachelor, and stressing out about the amount of vomiting taking place in our bathroom. Definitely a memorable Valentine's Day.

Neither of us went into work today, we spent the day drinking Gatorade, eating crackers in our pajamas and taking naps. The only time I left the house was to take his puke stained pants to the dry cleaner. So after all is said and done, Valentine's day is about expressing your love to the people you care about the most, right?  And that's what I did -- took care of a sicky all night.

He's so lucky he sent flowers.