January Gratitude Post

Monday, February 12, 2018




January, the first month of  2018. It is still winter yet all the holiday festivities are over. January for me is often a blank, in-between month. I love that it brings fresh start, new chances and blank pages. However, it is also a "waiting" month to see if all the promises to be better will stick. January is also a promise month of all things wonderful to come. 

My January this year has been a kind and sweet one. There were many happy special celebrations all throughout this month which filled in for the lack of festivities after the holidays. First of all, my parents' visit makes almost every weekend one huge family party!


THE HIGHLIGHTS OF JANUARY 2018

MY PARENTS' 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

The reason for my parents' visit is to celebrate their Golden Anniversary with us their children and grandchildren. We gave them a lovely party. Here is the post on the delicious feast that we had and here is the post on the party itself.

TWO BIRTHDAYS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR 

Mr Sweetie and my dad were born on the same day decades apart. We celebrated their birthdays together on New Years Day at our second house in the suburbs. It was a very happy event as the entire family was complete and a special one because my dad just got out of the hospital and was given a clean bill of health for his age.

 A WEEKEND FAMILY TRIP TO RENO, NEVADA 

A fun weekend family trip with the family. No snow in Reno, Nevada but we found snow in Lake Tahoe, California but it was still super-fun. Read about it here.


SUNDAY WITH MOM AND DAD

Honestly, I am tired. There is none left in the "me time" department because I spend my Sundays with my parents while they are still in the US. No regrets because every moment is precious even if it is just driving them around, going grocery shopping then having lunch together. I have taken them to  TJ Maxx where my mom and I shopped while my ever patient dad just fell asleep in one corner, shopping at El Pueblo where my dad and I gawked at the Mexican food dishes (foodie daddy and daughter), late lunch at Happi House then more shopping at Seafood City and  Rite Aid before I dropped them off at my parents' house.


ME TIME (FINALLY!) ON MLK, JR HOLIDAY 

Mr Sweetie went to work while it was a holiday for me. I took advantage of this day to pamper myself and do a Costco run which I love doing. I drove to San Francisco and got the waxing done then I took my time shopping at  Costco. I was even able to enjoy a nice breakfast at home with hot coffee while getting some reading done. Oh, bliss!

SAN FRANCISCO RESTAURANT WEEK

This week is most awaited by me and BFF. Restaurant Week is an excuse to have lunch at restaurants where otherwise would not be on our radar from January 22-31. BFF and I  had a chi chi lunch at Bluestem Brasserie in SF. We really enjoyed our meal which was lamb sandwich for me and a mushroom pasta for her. A huge lovely salad was included on the SFRW menu. Delicious but not really worth $35 after tax and tip but that the ambiance was nice and company was beautiful. 



A better RW value was the the lunch that Amiga Mejor had at Mina's Brazilian Restaurant. For $18, we had a nicely portioned 3-course lunch which included a choice of appetizer (pao de quiejo or Brazilian bread for me while she chose a shrimp pie). She had a chicken salad for lunch while I had a chicken thigh with rice. For dessert we had a guava sorbet because they ran out of flan. Delicious and better SFRW option. This lunch also doubled-up as her birthday celebration. 


FAMILY SUNDAY SUSHI DINNER

My entire family including my mom and dad came to my neighborhood so we could have dinner together and to satisfy my dad's cravings for sashimi. I treated my family which was worth every dollar to see them happy and enjoying their meal. I took them to Ding Japanese Restaurant in Oakland. I surprised my sister in law when I asked our server to put a candle on her fried banana and ice cream dessert to celebrate her birthday which was the day before.

DATE NIGHTS 

Date nights are a challenge for me and Mr Sweetie as most weekends are spent with family. This month date nights were at:




  • Brunch stop at Denny’s on our way to Reno
  • Korean food which was our only real Saturday date night this month
  • Filipino lunch at Chow King while waiting for the food for my parents' golden anniversary. 
 


I am so grateful for all these blessings of togetherness, health, happiness and life with my mom and dad, siblings, family and friends.  I am thankful for abundance and feasts that we get to share with those that we love. 

Hello, February! Hello, Galentine Month, Love Month and Birthday Month!

How has the first month of 2018 been for  you?