Don't you think it's funny when you do pretty much nothing all weekend but it looks like something because you've posted it on Facebook or your blog? Imagine how busy the celebs who're followed by the paps feel: oh look, she's going grocery shopping again, look she's picking up her kids, look she's picking up the paper from the driveway -
she does so much in a day!
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| Tennis bun fight at our house |
There was the Father Daughter dance, Tallulah always resists the fancy and wears a cardigan, rope belt and moccasins with any given dress. I told her to smile and she showed the self defence moves they taught at school. Arghaagghh!!
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| Kevin and Tallulah, 12, in a touching moment before the Father-Daughter Dance |
Harley was invited to the Senior Prom, which was different from Junior Prom in that all the girls wore long dresses, beautifully
nice ethereal. (Trying harder with the
nascent words.)
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| Harley and Lily at the Oakland Rose Gardens |
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| Not sure what this pointy finger sign means... |
Saturday morning was breakfast at our house for the High School tennis team. It was easy because people bring loads of great food. Other kids got prizes like Most Likely To Go To Wimbledon, Harley got Most Likely to Go to Hall of Fame for Nation's Burgers. Very apt. The only thing that animates Harley is Nation's Burgers. I quizzed the tennis coach who also owns two ice cream stores and a restaurant (and is the nicest guy ever) Compartmentalise he says, only think about the thing at hand. Also expect that 10pm at night is end of your usual work day. He loves it.
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| When in doubt with a party, put a net in your backyard. Cindy, 52!, and her son Travis, 16. |
My lovely friend Kat (she makes fantastic
tabletop stuff if you need some) bought me the flowers above. I know all the etiquette books tell you not to bring flowers to a party because the hostess has to look for a vase, but scrap that rule if you're coming to mi casa.
Cousin Leah arrived from Auckland New Zealand, she'd flown the whole 12 hours by herself. Tallulah couldn't wait to show her off at school: "It's like having a new puppy!" she said.
Mexican food is not my first go-to. I prefer anything Asian, but
nido on Oakland's waterfront is one to put on your list. It's already on
Micheal Bauer's Top 100 list - he's FoodGod here, has the power of Britain's
A.A. Gill but without the attitude and cheekbones (actually no one knows what MB looks like.) Bizarrely nido is next to a busy motorway looking out onto a petrol station. You drink out of under jam jars, eating off tin plates, it's all repurposed wood and walls of shipping containers. But because of it's orientation you bask for hours in the sun and the food is fresh and tasty and it has pepper- tequilla margs that make you see gas stations as conceptual modern art.
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| Mike of Kenny'n'Mike with cucumber puree marg. at nido. |
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| quesadillas |
So am thinking nido might be my backup if I can't go to my Asian go-tos. What's your nascent back-up go-to restaurant?
My back up (of the day) is Spice Monkey! I'm going to try Nido. I've driven by wondering.
ReplyDeleteAmy L.
Hi Amy! Oh I have to go there, just googled it and that paella with the prawns has to go in my mouth (yes and that's why I could never be a good restaurant critic, could never describe the food in ten different interesting ways!)
Deletehttp://www.spicemonkeyrestaurant.com/
Now that sounds like a great weekend. Great pics with everyone looking so happy and healthy! Unsurprisingly you have great looking kids with H & L looking all glam and ready for the red carpets paps and my fav stylist Talluleh hamming it up with the Maitre D' and her 'puppy'.
ReplyDeleteHilarious wrap up. What's your fave every week place where you are (right?)
Deleteoops deleted the name of your homecity...(right)
Delete...oh and tell Bertie I said hello
DeleteWe have a song at hip hop in the mornings that is just Hello! Hello! now I won't be able to get it out of my mind
DeleteWhy thank you GSL. Hello to you too.
DeleteYour must made me hungry. Tallulah's styling can do no wrong. I love. My go-to is the local Thai restaurant called Thai Chada...in Brisbane (AUS)
ReplyDeleteMike of MikeandKenny is looking the business. Nice shirt. Xx
Tom Yum Goong, I ate that soup for lunch for five years running and then had to take a break. Might go back on the wagon again. NZ and Aus do the best Thai (and sushi)
DeleteNow Jody, I don't dare tip my hand lest match.com start a stampede with every 34-45yo single/divorced, "about average" (please!), drinks socially, gal in the Midwest who hasn't had a nibble in 3 years.
ReplyDeleteI know it might be somewhere near Chicago as you mentioned that Eloise hotel there.
DeleteJ, it is in Chicago! GSL doesn't do 'burbs!
Deletei am doing them in a post ironic way (knashes teeth)
DeleteJoys of living in 'burbs, no arse kicking here over sad sayings
DeleteYou were busy. We don't eat out much because there just aren't a lot of good choices. My go to would be Hard Knox Pizza and Stock & Barrel...pizza and burgers.
ReplyDeleteShoot, you almost have to take your slow roasted broccolli with pinenuts along in a tupperware? My friend has the same problem, he eats every lunchtime with colleagues and its pizza every day.
DeleteI am normally not big on Mexican food but DAMN those quesadillas look freaking fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI don't like melted cheese on any kind of food so as long as the cheese isn't melted I can brush it off (but I'm not fussy...)
DeleteThere aren't many restaurants in my part of the world, but if I venture towards the coast there are some first class fish places. Locally there is pub grub.
ReplyDeleteI keep my freezer well stocked :-)
Sx
Have never had great fish and chips (pronun. fush and chups) here in the US, never the quality you get in UK or NZ. money making idea for someone there, along with pies.
Deletesounds like a grand time indeed at your feed, much did take seed. lol I hope the pup wasn't jealous of the larger new puppy.
ReplyDeleteNow I think of it he did seem to be sulking in the corner
DeleteWhat an excellent weekend. I love it when kids do things like play tennis as so many seem content to sit inside. So much fun. You have a lovely (and photogenic!) family. Enjoy your week.
ReplyDeletescrubbed up versions
DeleteMexican food is not my favorite, I HATE cilantro, do love good Spanish food though, as I'm married to a Spaniard that's not surprising.
ReplyDeleteMy mother can't stand cilantro either - she says it tastes like soap
DeleteThe THAI place here in Orinda!It's so good I cannot think of its name at the moment!MORE COFFEE!
ReplyDeleteLet me know the name, I can visit when I do groc shopping at Trader Joes!
DeleteSuch a busy mama!!!! Your children are all getting so big and are all beautiful! I can't imagine having teenagers! I will be back to you for advice when I get there!!! Mexican food YES! jalepeno margaritas DOUBLE YES!!!
ReplyDeleteI know, I can't imagine having teens either, they treat me like an alien! Have not had jalapenos margs, but I love limey and hot so it sounds like a good idea!
DeleteNot busy at all really (unless you call aimless driving around your house busy) just take loads of photos
DeleteThat finger thing must be an inside joke? BUt prom time is always sooo sweet.
ReplyDeleteI must say I am feeling quite uninspired by the food here at the mo...I wish there was more Mexican around. Royal China, Alounak, and Al Waha are my backups here but have been for about a decade so am getting a bit bored of it - that Mexican near you looks amazing!!!
I love how the girls feel free to ask boys now. Many of them do. Much more sensible, get the asking over and done with and concentrate on the more important stuff - hair and frock!
DeleteNow that brings back memories. Also what is that one with dim sum place on the right hand side heading to the park on Queensway shops (maybe Royal China?) I once ate sixty pounds (money) of dim sum there once.
DeleteYep that veryo one is Royal China indeed and it is the best in London IMHO>
DeleteYes i used to go there by myself so i could eat bucketloads of it.
DeleteI only brought flowers..because I knew you would have a gorgeous vase to go with it. Thank you for hosting. We just gave you a shout out on our site.
ReplyDeletewww.modern-twist.com and for your followers here is a friends and family discount of 30%. Code 1125
Glad you like your runner.
xo
K@
Much loved and appreciate K!
DeleteLooks like a fun weekend. Like having a puppy:)) very funny. I am always happy to receive flowers at my house too. About the only time I won't bring them, is if it's an enormous party they're giving, then I'll send an arrangement, in a vase, the day prior.
ReplyDeleteOh that's a lovely way to do it
DeleteOur go-to for cheap Tex-Mex is any of a Long Island chain called Green Cactus that we pass on the way to or from the beach. In the city, it's The Mighty Quinn for barbecue. Not sure who they had in mind when they named the place, before 5 counties were consolidated into New York City (yeah, you read that right) there was a politician named Quinn in Queens County who was, um, worth naming a barbecue joint for. We think about him while we wait in line for brisket and burnt ends and house-brewed ginger beer.
ReplyDeleteYou wouldn't want to pronounce Quinn incorrectly would you? I speak of the olde englishe...
Deletenot in the 1850's you wouldn't, that's for shure!
DeleteYour fam are very photogenic! I'm about to have a teen in the house... scary but inevitable.
ReplyDeleteOur go-to restaurants are Happy Chef (Chinese) and Jimmy's Malaysian for Nasi Lemak and Nasi Goreng (or nasty lemak and nasty boring as they're called in our house)
We mainly eat Malaysian or Vietnamese these days...lots of Banh Mi in our hood. Thai is a bit too sweet for me - I think they chuck extra palm sugar in to get everyone hooked on it!
Big fan of the nasty boring myself
DeleteWhat a fun weekend. Everyone looked marvellous. Mexican food is my back up to Chinese food!! I love them both...could eat them all day long, haha!! Looked wonderful xx
ReplyDeleteYour kids look adorable and I wouldn't dream of coming to your house without flowers. All I need is the invitation. :)
ReplyDeleteMy favourite go-to food is always sushi, preferably from Asa on 41st (for now). There is always a better one coming up in Vancouver.
Love sushi esp salmon roe, Ikura, the red stuff
DeleteCan we talk about how grown up Tallulah is getting? Seriously, when I first started reading your blog (which was literally years ago!), she was such a kid, but now she is a beautiful young woman!
ReplyDeleteCan you please promise me that will never happen to my daughter?! Please?!
I know!
DeleteIt will never happen. The hours are long when they are young but seriously the years flash by - take loads of photo - and videos, we have no videos and its sad.