June Cook Club: Gringo Style

Tuesday we had a green gringo cook club. HN taught us how to make Pork Enchiladas, smothered in yummy green sauce. Think Cafe Rio but better (yes that is a bold statement but a true statement)! After a very long day and leaving half way through cook club because I misread my calendar thinking I had a conference call at 8pm when really it was 9:30pm (grrrr), man was I glad that I made the trek to HN's for the second time in 15 mins to experience the goodness!!!

Lots of onions!

The green chili sauce simmering away

Delicious pulled pork

My dinner...cook club is the best!

Strawberry Quesadilla...amazing!

I Heart SLO

It is wedding season...which means it is also bridal shower season. Saturday I attended the third shower on the calendar within an eight day span. This shower was for a hero, SLO. I truly do find her inspiring me with any and every interaction, whether it be her smile, her wit, her pros, her epic love story with Manfriend or her all-inclusive heart I feel changed for the better when my life crosses paths with SLO...and there is always laughter involved! (proof below)

(photo courtesy of BC)

The shower was wonderful. Those Melville women (MHC, RMR, KTC) know how to throw a fancy, classy affair. I'd like to hire them to throw every bridal shower, engagement party, ward social, wedding, etc. that I am invited to attend. Manfriend (as SLO named him as she shared her love story weekly with the masses) made an appearance to sing to SLO, so romantic and adorable (and not in a "gag me" kind of way but in a "wow, I'm gushing" kind of way). And in true lawyer fashion, she gave a closing statement. Her closing statement was profound. She talked of her overwhelming gratitude of the women she has had the opportunity to interact with and love in PA (and other places), that it was her time in PA that she learned how to become a woman, a good woman, and that she's carried that impact with her wherever she has gone since and will continue to bring it wherever she goes. It is probably seems a bit funny that her closing statement was something that touched my black heart in a way that seemed like an answer from Heavenly Father to help me see the impact of others and my own impact I've had over the last four years in PA, as I've learned how to become a woman here as well. Thank SLO! While we came to shower you, it was you that showered me with needed wisdom.

Finding The Perfect Shoe

Are your feet the same size? Congratulations if they are! You are more lucky than you can possibly imagine. Saturday morning I went in search of shoes that would match a new dress. Three pieces of criteria needed to be met. 1. Must match the dress. 2. Must fit both the tiny right foot and the normal sized left foot. 3. Must be able to walk in them. Pretty normal and easy criteria to be met right? Well wrong. Turns out that I tried on 30+ shoes that would match my dress and after two hours was ready to throw in the towel and just wear flip flops to SJ's wedding. (I kid, I'd never wear flip flops to SJ's wedding...maybe Vans though). As per usual, just as I walking away from the shoes I decided to try on this last gold(ish) pair of shoes and yes they fit great!

Turns out I'll be matching for the first time in awhile these babies!

SJ Bridal Celebration

Tuesday SJ flew to PA to her soon-to-be wedded bliss celebrate with us. We realize she wanted to meet with her Stanford donors too...but we (MB, HC, MPR, and I) are elitists so for purposes of protecting our egos we will say she flew in just for us.

The night began at Straits Cafe. We all cannot believe that we lived in South PA for years and never have tried it until now. Very delicious. At dinner, we learned a little more about Mr. NJ (the soon-to-be newest member of the club). We have decided that we really like him. We also talked wedding details and other such details.

After dinner we retired to my place for HC's homemade hot fudge sundaes, presents, and to learn even more about NJ. You see, the wedding is on the 2nd, and we'll be meeting NJ for the first time then...so we had to do our best to learn as much as possible before then. I'm not sure what was better. The hot fudge sundaes or SJ's face as she opened her presents? It may very well be a tie.

SJ brought her tiki cup all the way from DC for the occasion! (Only SJ would do this!!)

MB "helping" HC make hot fudge. Delicious!

We are very excited for SJ and NJ! Next post about SJ will include her in white!

Support Team Hydro

Team Hydro is at it again to honor the sweet memory of Kate! Maybe you're wondering what good you can do in a world that at times seems rather bleak. You can donate to this great cause to help find a cure for Hydrocephalus. I miss my friend, she definitely fought the good fight and I know she still appreciates each person that continues to fight for advancements in medical research for Hydrocephalus.

SharkFest 2011 is this Saturday, June 25th. Help Team Hydro reach $90K for the 2011 Kate Finlayson Research Grant. Donate today!

This year they have 125 swimmers! Amazing. Among the brave are Kate's sweet and faithful Mom, Pam, her brothers Peter and Sam, and her sister, Nina. Go Team Hydro! Go Team Kate!

***Bay Area Sports Guy blogged on Team Hydro here.

The blogger writes:

"I am inspired and I will no longer be a wimp. And as I swim I will think of braver people than me and that no one, not even Buster Posey, could ever be braver than someone like Kate Finlayson." Amen sister, amen!

What I've Been Up To In The Nighttime

Sleepless nights are commonplace so I'm working on being a bit more productive than just staring at the alarm clock...it is all about efficiency, right.

What I've been doing:

1. Blogging (yes now it makes sense why I act a little crazy every other post)

2. Finding sweet deals on baseball games for the coming months!

3. Shopping at The Golf Warehouse (a girl's best friend, well this girl's best friend)

What I plan to do:

4. Write in my journal

5. Work on this little document I call "The Life History of Jess" (it is a working title, I need something more catchy...I welcome suggestions), it is a real page turner.

6. Read Pres. Monson's biography

7. Reply to the ever increasing unopened emails (for those of you included in this, forgive me...I'm a slacker)

Cupcake Fest 2011 (HN's Bridal Shower)

HN was awkwardly endearing as she was front and center for the party. It was hilarious. It does speak well to her selfless character that she doesn't love the limelight.

I'm not sure what part of present opening I enjoyed more: HN being awkward, making her model some of her gifts over her clothes, or the peanut gallery that was sitting on my couch during the party.

Lemon cupcakes in a jar, thank you Bena!

Great advice!

I like this girl...and not just because she bakes, but that helps a lot. ;)

Red Velvet cupcakes...these will be in Heaven in case anyone is wondering.

HN's fan club. A good group.

Happy Father's Day Dadio!

He may not be rocking these sweet glasses anymore but he's still a pretty rockin' Dadio! And his little girl still pulls this crazy face on special occasions. Hope the day is great, that you enjoy all the pie your surrogate children feed you on this special day, and why don't you limit bishopric meeting to an hour for a gift to yourself. Love ya Dadio!

A Must See!

Moments That Matter Most

How Often Do We Walk In Each Other's Shoes?

I would propose not often enough.

Maybe you're like me and find yourself having "shoe envy" when your own "shoes" are worn out, not as bright and shiny as you once thought, or creating blisters on your toes if you forget stockings. You say to yourself, if only I could sport those green heels or the latest Vans then I'd be set. Maybe you ask to try the green heels for a day. After a hour you still don't have the balance for the heels and you trip right into the dirt. Halfway through the day your calves ache. That night you realize you have more than one blister on your toes. As you soak your sore feet your green envy turns to gratitude towards those old black flats. Tomorrow you'll polish them right up and trust that one day your feet will be ready for the occasional sassy heels.

Enjoy what you are wearing in life, your personal capacity has been molded to wear your "shoes" and to wear them well.

Jess Berry Quote Of The Day!

Coming back is the thing that enables you to see how all the dots in your life are connected, how one decision leads you to another, how one twist of fate, good or bad, brings you to a door that later takes you to another door, which aided by several detours - - long hallways and unforeseen stairwells - - eventually puts you in the place you are now. Ann Patchett, from What Now?

Stayin' Alive

(I had botox injections on Thursday afternoon so you know I've been laying low)

Thanks to the following I'm stayin' alive (cue that awesome song):

1. Hanging with JP, L.Smithie, Mi, Rebs (saw these four girls 5 days out of 7 this week), KHC, MP

2. Sombra (in high frequency) administered by lots of loving ladies

3. CW and KW saving the day with grilled cheese and tomato soup

4. JC replenishing the TP supply

5. Cool Blue Gatorade

6. HN and JBH taking me to graduation

7. The invention of warm rice bags

My Freshmen Graduate!

Four years ago JP and L.Smithie came to Stanford.

JP, a shy engineering nerd that probably thought she did something horribly wrong in the pre-existence to have me stick to her immediately like super glue, never to go away. L. Smithie, a shy curly haired freshmen that smiled at lot but stayed pretty quiet most of her freshmen year. Somehow I blinked and they went from shy freshmen to amazing women that graduated today who are anything but shy! From the football playing, to the cooking making, to the many dinners (i.e. weekly) at Wilbur, Roth, & Xanadu, to the Party in the USA dancing, to the introducing of Rebs and Mi (such wonderful friendships made), to the delicious crepes, to the marshmallow popcorn, to the nerf gun war, to the hair curling and makeup applying, to the many ROM-COMs,...to finally watching them graduate this morning. I was beaming with pride! I'm so happy for all these grads!

***I will admit that when I received JP's graduation announcement in the mail I cried. So while today was a sweet day, it was sad day knowing that I'll miss these ladies more than words express...and not just because they fed me weekly. ;)

(Hopefully LS, AS, and The Water Filter will step in to take care of me, hint hint)

Beautiful Ladies!

JP sporting a Jess Berry Spring 2010 original. (I'm completely honored that she'd wear a JB original to The Stanford Graduation)

The Wacky Walk...no formal BYU-I entrance here. HN didn't love the wacky walk...but I did LOVE that they had Pac-Man!

JP waving to the family from the field.

HN, JP, JB, and L.Smithie

Aviators are definitely the hot new look for L.Smithie!

Proud to be friends with these lovely ladies!

The new Grad!

"Hell No We Won't Go" Maybe I should of stolen their sign and added "we won't let you go"...

In true character these two...

Sadly we missed seeing our other amazing Grads! You're all special (and I'm not just saying that, this is my blog after all and if I don't seriously mean something I'll be the first to let you know!)! Congratulations ladies and gents on such an amazing accomplishment!

How Much Do You Love Cake?

Happy Birthday LS!

Coolest present from MP

LS has quite the windpipes!

Elder Berry Enters The MTC

Apparently the sun was in their eyes...the proud and excited parents with Elder Berry just before dropping him at the curb. See you in two years kid.

Do you think these three are related? "Hi, I'm a Berry boy, I don't smile for photos, it is part of my DNA makeup" (I kid...sort of)

Crepes: One of My Many Specialties

Monday night we had a little sleepover for some of the graduating Stanford Senior girls. Marshmallow popcorn, peach rings, Mint Moosetracks ice cream (heaven in your mouth), while sighing as we watched The Young Victoria (that movie gets better every time). Followed by these delicious babies in the morning. We missed you MP and you missed out on crepes the next morning!

Happy Tuesday to us!

Soul Food, Rain, Goldfish, Pastries, and Splurging

Friday night, MB, HC, MPR, and I left our suburbia of PA and embarked on a weekend getaway to SF. It began with some Sparky's root beer for the drive in honor of MB. Once in the city there was a moment of panic (that I hide well) as I navigated HC to Auntie April's for dinner, fearing this was round two of the famous search of phantom Wendy's of 2008. Luckily for us, we found it! It was well worth the slight panic. Following dinner we made our way to our fancy hotel, that yes gives you a companion goldfish for your stay. That little guy protected us all night. Not to mention that SWEET robes MPR and I sported during our stay (see below).

Saturday morning = RAIN and us walking from 4th and Market to the Ferry Bldg for the farmer's market. What did I learn from this rain experience?

1. I should have worn my rain boots, instead of leaving them at the hotel.

2. I'm still a pretty slow walker (thank goodness MPR is almost as slow).

3. Public Transit was invented for rainy days.

After the farmer's market (where none of ate our weight in pastries, unfortunately we had too much self control) we did what women do best...we shopped obviously. I purchased Born coral flats and a sexy purple dress for SJ and HN's weddings. (Don't worry, MPR won't allow me to wear the shoes with the dress). Thanks to my Macy's card and MPR, HC broke her piggy bank and almost purchased the entire Ladies' department. Was it worth it? I'll speak for HC, totally. Just wait until you see her in that red skirt, and that blue dress, and that black dress, oh and in her power suit! Along with splurging on ourselves, we did a little "special" shopping for SJ (hehe). Yes, I used my special talent to find some rather amazing finds...as did MPR and HC...MB will be surprising us with whatever she finds for the bride.

All in all, it was a blast. Even with a soaking wet body these girls still make the city fun.

Catfish... delicious. MB got the chicken and waffles...I tried the waffles (amazing!)

Oh just a little neighborhood artwork in the ghetto...

Possibly my favorite picture of MPR and I to date.

Preparing to enter the rain yet again...

My blueberry scone...I'm told HC's was better.

MPR didn't quite get all of the afternoon pastry in her mouth, hehe

and my poor, sore, soaked Vans...I hope my shoes and feet forgive me eventually for putting them through the rain.

The Birthday Boy

Matty has to help blow out the candles...Joshy got his last Berry birthday song for two years. I was just on the phone singing but I am betting there were tears in the room as the song ended.

MoCo will probably miss Joshy the most.

Did someone say birthday cake? Brown Eyes is always in the action!

Yankees In The Bay! Happy Day!

When the Yankees come to town my excitement level is like my childhood excitement for Christmas. This also means that I sit much closer than other random baseball games. We made it for the first pitch, thank goodness since Jeter hit a line-drive right at Mark Ellis and true to his nature he choked (bobbled the ball and then let it pass by him). Double bonus! Followed by C. Granderson hitting a two-run homer! What a way to start the game. We went on to win 10-3. Well done Yanks, well done indeed. Oh and we swept the A's in this series!

Log, still smiling even though his team is losing 10-3, he celebrates the small victories of the game, not the loss.

Actually sporting his rally cap in the 9th...better luck against a team that is not the NEW YORK YANKEES!