Date Night

Caleb and I try to have a date night at least a couple nights a month. And we treat our date nights just as they were when we were dating --we get dressed up, we do something out of the ordinary, we eat amazing food, and we just enjoy each other (and of course I take photos and Caleb makes them look ridiculous).  

 

For our date night we were craving Indian food, and I didn't realize how much I wanted Indian food until we got there and started ordering. I spent 3 and a half months living in India a couple years back and there was so much delicious food I had forgotten about. 

We went to Sansar restaurant on 1st Street in downtown Livermore and even though this was our 2nd time at this restaurant it basically felt like our first because I was giving Caleb a taste of the goodness we had in India that I didn't think of before (including Samosas! Ahh soo good!).

 Seriously, if you remember anything from this post and you are considering going to an Indian restaurant, always always order Naan (cheese or garlic) and Samosas. Naan is an Indian flat bread that is kind of a cross between a tortilla and pita bread, but so much more flavorful and fluffy. And Samosas are fried dough pockets filled with potatoes, peas, carrots, and so many good spices. 

 We also ordered Dal soup to go over our rice, which is really flavorful lentil soup and for our main meal, a Sizzling hot plate of Tandoori mixed grill which had Chicken, pork, lamb, shrimp and vegetables over Basmati Rice. And when I was in India I assumed Tandoori was a type of spice, but come to find it's a type of clay oven that give the grilled meat a very distinct taste. 

 Super yum. Hands down. And FYI, American Indian food is definitely less spicy than food from India, so if you're scared of the spice don't be!

Usually going to fancier restaurants, Caleb and I aren't very full afterwards, but man oh man were we ever! And it felt so good and tasted even better. But because we were soon going into food coma mode we decided to hang out at the furniture store across the street and find the most comfy couches and chairs we could find. 

Caleb hates taking posed photos with me. If you couldn't tell by the fake, overdone smile on his face :P But at least I was able to get a photo of our outfits!

After dinner we headed over to the family's house for dessert. It was fondue night as requested by Caleb's sister for her last evening at home before leaving for the summer. 

And let me tell you, this family is very serious about their chocolate. My kind of family. 

But after all the chocolate and a hilarious game of super quick charades, we then all preceded to get very giggly, loud, and OBNOXIOUS. But in a good, hilarious way. :)

Especially this one...

The many faces of my sister-in-law. She will be missed this summer! 

It was a fun and successful date night and I am continually reminded...

Isn't life loverly?

Until next time,

-xo Alicia

If you can't take the heat

Last week I had the week off while the family I nanny for were on vacation. I still had to tutor a couple of days, but it was nice being able to spend a few full days at home in a clean home and just do whatever I want. And also thankfully for most of the week the weather wasn't too terribly hot. Well until the weekend that is...I seriously can't take the heat, which proves even more that I am truly from Alaska. It was 100+ degrees here where we live in the Bay area this weekend and I tell you, I died. But my husband was so gracious to me because on the day where I should have been doing housework and shopping and whatnot, he was okay with the fact that for a day all I did was hang out in our little apartment and sleep off the heat....and he ended up doing all the housework for me on his day off. I love him. And as far as the camera only challenge I ran into some obstacles this last week, so there are photos from my phone/instagram posted here since 1) I went to a concert and they told me I couldn't have a DSLR there (which was a LIE btw) and 2) My SD card ran out of memory and I had to scurry to find a way to save the photos (since my computer is also lacking in memory). Needless to say, my phone saved me in those moments to capture life. Anyhow, here's some stuff that actually did happen when I wasn't sleeping and was able to capture it...

1. Setting up for our first dinner guests (our family) in our new place and on our new table and busting out one of the only games that was gifted to us at our wedding. 

Caleb bought these plates at the Goodwill. They are actually better made than the plates we bought ourselves and were wayyyy cheaper!

2. Doing art projects on my day off and finally filling up that empty canvas that's been in the garage for months (a separate post on that later)

 3. Ice Cream and walks with my husband

4. Dinner success! Lentil and Pork Slow Cooker stew --so good! 

 5. Chick-Fil-A and Hillsong United Concert with some of our youth and leaders from church

6. Louisa's Axis Youth Group Celebration

 7. The only things I did on Saturday in 100+ weather...lay in bed under the ceiling fan and get reacquainted with the bass

  8. Louisa's 21st birthday celebration with the family and experiencing her first "real" drink with her

 (she was happier with the fruity, virgin drink though)

9. My husband was able to capture a shot of me hibernating during the heat. I truly can't take it.

10. Going to one of our favorite antique shops - Blue Door Antiques 

 11. Caleb drafting our "dream house"...which will be on a mountain range on top of an active volcano with a helicopter pad and force field to protect against the lava, an underground trampoline (that is lava resistant I guess?), a huge telescope protruding from the roof, and acrobatic wire to get to the tree house on the mountain next to us. Yep this is a house that truly would only be in Caleb's dreams...

  12. Finished my week off by celebrating an early Father's Day put on by my sister-in-law Allison, who will be missing real Father's Day this year. Scrumptious Banana Bread French Toast and my personal fave, BACON. 

Taking and sharing photos has sure made me appreciate life and moments even more and reminds me just how blessed I am with such great family and friends. And God continues to remind me that...

Isn't life loverly? 

Until we meet again soon, 

- xo Alicia