Big Bear Mountain

Twenty-Six members of Familia Martinez Martinez prepare to ring in the New Year...Cuatro generaciones, presente!

Home

After a full day we said goodbye at Union Station...LA is always so good to me.

Plaza Olvera

Following our long and inspired lunch...a confettie filled egg war.

Nuestra Guadalupana

Nos divertimos jugando en la plaza. Y seguimos en busca de un poncho para mi primito que queria uno de sarape.

En eso vimos un nacimiento en grande y de venta. Decidimos que parte de nuestra nueva esfuerza Martinez Martinez incluiria la rosca y un nacimiento familiar.

Nos encanto la virgencita en la plaza...

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My first one on go blogger!

Estrellita

Timing is everything...Now a Blackberry member. I see what they mean, how did I ever pass the time at the airport before now?!

Fa la la la la...off to Palm Springs then Big Bear for the holidays. In search of a proper godparent for Estrellita!

Holiday Love!

A last hoorah before the holiday away from the city that we know and love. Took the N Judah with my lovely friend Monica to meet In Sook at Bossa Nova. The latest and greatest in boutique Brazilian.

Sipped our caipirinhas, shared small plates before toasting promotions, friendship, boyfriends and the single life. Made our way to Absinthe for dessert, and it was bustling and busy at 9pm. Glanced at the Maître d' that I happened to meet through a university friend years before. Smile and request, "possibly a table for 3 or 4 for dessert and drinks?"

Prime table with reserved label gifted to us- immediately. Life is good. The buzz of happiness surrounded us and everyone was in a festive mood.

Met more friends before approaching the velvety rope at Harlot...

Muy Nice

In the city.

The year is ending on a particularly high note! Love the job that allows me to review proposals and fund programs working towards social justice and service learning. It puts me in such a good mood. Clearly good enough to withstand the demands of the dissertation committee.

Reconnected with former friends in LA, and heard from friends in New York and Philadelphia. The holiday's seem to find everyone in a really good place.

Naughty & Nice was quite a holiday hit. Many lovely people, too much bubbly and over $600 raised for our philanthropy. My friend makes the best food and the pink tree was quite the hit too. How could I forget the geneticists art deco engagement ring and the other ABD's Ruby on platinum engagement ring. Seems I will be attending at least two weddings this summer!

In the mail received a post card inviting me back to the playa, Burning Man 2008 in BRC August 28th to September 1st. Just in time to make my Christmas list.

Made it downtown to the new Barney's New York to pick some holiday thank you gifts, the new Kate Spade also. Checked out a new restaurant in the historic Filmore Jazz District- 1300 Fillmore. Impeccable service, and from me that means a lot, couldn't ask for better company either.

The merrymaking continues down at the embarcadero for holiday cheer and ice skating...

Pink

I may have been inspired by an Ugly Betty episode I caught on our Tivo. Although I clearly remember walking past Cole Hardware and being delighted at the site of a pink tree.

That in mind our annual holiday party theme was set to Naughty & Nice with a pink and silver motif. I have never taken interest in the decorating, but this year as my friend kept track of the pink trees being in and out of stock finally decided to purchase one. The clerk told me it was the last one.

Fuzzy friend in tow, I told him he could be the godfather since he carried it a couple blocks home. Besides he is Jewish and straight, yet carefully cradled the tree up the hill. At the house we plugged in the four foot tree with preset pink lights and as my other friend and I decided what kind of skirt to get it named her the godmother as well. I named the tree Annabelle, I like to name and rename things.

Celebrated our pink tree, or Hanukkah, or maybe just the city over drinks down the street at the Candy Cane...

Super Feliz

It was a full week, Quintana Roo, Tijuana, Los Angeles, and back to San Francisco. Ended the week with more than 30 calls and texts wishing me very felices cumple. Love, love.

Enjoyed my walk to the office and my assistant took me to lunch. The staff bought me a cake with one red candle that I wished on. I picked up a bottle of Sophia rose on the walk home and Lays limon. Toasted with my friend and got ready to head to North Beach.

Had dinner with four of my loveliest girlfriends at Enricos. Had not been back to the venerable establishment since the remodel and they did a really nice job. The tree was stunning. We toasted with a bottle of red wine then bubbly, then they brought me out another mini cake, with another perfect singular red candle. From the staff I got the rockstar salutation. Guess the cobalt and blue dress still had some Vegas magic on it from partying with my queridos primos at the Palms.

We walked over to Tosca for the famed hot chocolate and brandy. I was feeling like I wanted to have a vintage celebration, muy nice as my tia Rocio would say. Life is good and really does get better with time. Love my life.

Three of us made our way to Tony Nicks, my first time but still in the neighborhood. Walked in to find one empty table for three. The night was good but then lovely In Sook decided we had one more stop, and I promise I have never laughed or enjoyed the company of good friends more. Who knew, life had soo many firsts :)

Project Martinez Martinez

Back in Tijuana via el D.F. my prima-hermana Roque Mercado and family invited me to breakfast. We sat by the window over looking the pool and courtyard at the hotel Lucerna. It was a nice way to start the day. We told her husband and two sons about our great-grandparents and growing up with their home as the center of our family.

I had chocolate caliente, which I think is best when you float a little butter in which they had and mini-pan dulces. We talked about project Martinez Martinez. Our great-grandmother was De Silva Martinez and great-grandfather Gallegos Martinez, not related we have checked one has French lineage the other Spanish either way we are 100% Mexicanos. Aguascalientes, Mexico is where we are from.

We decided for project Martinez Martinez we would return for a pool party at the Lucerna, plan a trip to Ensenada, go further into Mexico as well, definitely a cookbook. When we told my Grandma Amparo about the cookbook she listed off recipes she learned from her mom, the only one I remember is chile verde. Either way we plan to compile this cookbook and share it with our Martinez Martinez relatives.

There we were about to lay to rest our Tio-abuelo Andres Martinez Martinez and yet our family was renewing. Back at the Buena Vista there was food and drinks, and birthday cakes too! Being in my great-grandparents home again with my Martinez Martinez family, was a celebration of life, of family, of the strength that emerges when we come together. Cuatro generaciones de amor, presente!

Quintana Roo, Mexico

Some of my new favorites in Mexico...

MEXICANA DE AVIACIÓN...direct to Mexico from SFO, with complimentary top shelf drinks, meals and premium hospitality on board. Made a new friend on the flight that is an Economist based in the D.F. and invited me to visit the Colonia Roma near the famed Condesa and Polanco.

El hotel New Gran Caribe Real Cancun...five star hospitality with a soul.

Chilango...es una revista irreverente, divertida y curiosa que refleja nuestro particular estilo de habitar la ciudad y sus espacios. Incluye además nuestra nueva guía Chill & Go la mejor guía de entretenimiento de la ciudad y con la calidad editorial de Chilango, nuestros especialistas en entretenimiento reseñan, mes a mes, los mejores restaurantes, eventos, cine, arte, teatro, y actividades de nuestra ciudad.






Por que soy como soy, puritito corazon, 100% mexicano mariachi banda tequila y sol Pepe Aguilar