Chocolate cherry Dr. Pepper cupcakes for the party tonight. Off to Monica and Jephry's. Woo!

Chocolate cherry Dr. Pepper cupcakes for the party tonight. Off to Monica and Jephry's. Woo!

Getting my hair done for NYE. Woo!

At the Back Door Lounge getting ready to listen to Lee Diamond.

Hey bay area friends: Chris and I will be in SF all day tomorrow. Call/text me if you want to meet up

One year and you are still missed. RIP David Kula

"Champagne for our real friends and real pain for our sham friends." Here's to a fun weekend bonding with awesome folk.

Off to see Christmas lights and go to the Back Door Lounge with James and Raina

Hey everyone who wanted to look at Christmas lights tonight, call or text me if you want to meet up

Anyone down to go see Xmas lights this weekend?

Nothing like logging onto Fidelity.com and seeing a balance of $0 for all accounts, then getting a VM from a rep asking you to call ASAP

So it turns out that pho did not agree with me...back to bed. Have fun ice skating today everyone. (Cue the next round of pho jokes)

Anyone know why there are a ton of cops in the shopping center behind BJs? Now I have to go to EG-Florin and Calvine to get some pho.

Molecular gastronomy is hot

Apparently The Album Leaf is playing at Harlows 2/3/10. This pleases me.

Relaxing day watching movies today. Pictures from the weekend to be posted tonight. Thanks everyone for such a fun few days!

Dinner at Chevys with the Borjases, then Sag Party!

Shady Lady for Cole's birthday

At Harlows getting ready to see Eddie Money

Cinnamon-spiced hot cocoa cookies.

Meringue cookies. I swear they taste better than they look.

Watching Julie & Julia. Hopefully the movie is better than the book.

On the way home from the ugly sweater party...thanks James and Raina!

Dinner at Sapporo, then listening to music by the ice rink.

3-cheese artichoke dip for Helen's baby shower on Sunday.

Peach prosecco shooters and chocolate peppermint bark for Saturday's ugly sweater party

So there's a guy trying to beat up an elderly man at Calvine and EG Florin...thankfully other people are stepping up to help

Thinking about making raspberry Prosecco shooters and chocolate peppermint bark for the ugly sweater party on Saturday. Hmm...

Lunch at Zocalo in lieu of shopping today. Possibly drinks at the Sheraton later.

Happy Thanksgiving all. Off to Monica and Jephry's later...

New Moon with Leon, then Mix later tonight. Happy Thanksgiving Eve to all!

Just finished making chipotle-lime compound butter for Thanksgiving at Monica's. Yum...

Watching Bride Wars with Chris and getting ideas.

Reno was insane. Incriminating photographs to be posted tomorrow...

Happy birthday to Cory and Monica! In other news, the Woo! Girls descend on Reno today.

So I passed everything today. Time to finish packing for Reno this weekend. Woo!

Reno in 3 days! I need to figure out everything I need to pack...

"Every girl likes to play dress up. When you're a little kid, you dress up in dresses. When you get older, you dress up like a whore."

Off to party with the Borjases!

I wasn't aware it was possible for the back of my right hand to be so sore...

Top Chef with guest judge Nigella Lawson at 10. Ahh...

Note to self: I need to go to Amnesia in Ibiza before I die.

For anyone who wants to go to the zoo Saturday, we're meeting there at 1 pm

My weekend: brought to you (actually, me) by EpixHD.

Getting ready to go to Monica's to watch the Real Housewives of the OC season premiere. Hold on to your daddies, girls!

Bebe has an iPhone app...I think I just died and went to petite-sized heaven.

Happy Halloween! Coffee with Cortenie, then off to Halloween at Moddison tonight

Off to Tahoe for a day trip!

Just finished making caramel apple cupcakes. Not my best effort, but still tasty.

Has anyone stayed at the Madonna Inn before? I'm thinking of taking Chris there for his birthday.

At Timeless watching Chris finish his sleeve. Feel free to text and distract me...

Jazz recital was awesome. On to Shady Lady!

Watching the new Girls Next Door. I miss Holly, Bridget and Kendra...

En route to Bishop's pumpkin patch in Wheatland with la familia Borjas

Getting excited for the Victorian haunted house tonight.

At The Park enjoying bubble gum-flavored vodka. And X-rated

Here's hoping I can rock this dress Friday night.

There is a guy with a ZZTop beard at 24-Hour Fitness. I kind of can't stop staring.

Still waiting for Waveboard for the iPhone. *Sigh*...

Off to the Fear Overload haunted house.

Breast cancer walk downtown

Mikuni for dinner, then off to the LeGaretta Lounge for an Oktoberfest party.

Anyone know what kind of insect this is? It's on my window and it's totally creeping me out.

My car is dunzo.

I really want to go to a haunted house in the next few weeks. Anyone in the Sac area know of any good ones?

Anybody on Google Wave? It feels lonely...

Gym, then The Park tonight to see The Shapeshifters.

At Aura surrounded by screaming women. Ugh.

At Crawdad's

Cosmo for dinner, then Momo.

Nothing like receiving a voicemail of someone singing a drunken rendition of "Midnight Train to Georgia". Especially at 3 in the afternoon.

Partying on the river!

Watching El Orfanato again. This movie scares the bejeezus out of me.

Japan + alcohol = karaoke

New hair!

New haircut today!

PERISTALSIS!!!

Disco party in the car on the way home from Tahoe!

I got the ring...

To the pool!

In the gondola above Tahoe

It feels like an Elvis Costello kind of day.

It's karaoke time!

I want Padma Lakshmi's wardrobe.

I heart Eureka.

Kanye West needs to just stop talking altogether.

The UCD-Montana game is so...low...scoring.

Anyone want to bet that one of the Volts will win Top Chef?

My eye hurts.

No more Midnight Train to Georgia!

At Aura for karaoke.

Trying to decide what to wear tonight. Anyone want an Almond Joy cupcake?

Almond Joy cupcake:

Waiting for ganache to solidify in the fridge. Sigh...

Cooking is sexy.

I finally convinced @fester916 to join Twitter. Hilarity ensues...

Going to Macy's to look at registry-type stuff

At ghetto Lyon's. I am craving grilled cheese and a pickle.

Getting ready to listen to jazz tonight at the Torch Club. Deciding what to wear seems to take so long. Suggestions?

Trying to think of a good way to make Almond Joy cupcakes. Maybe chocolate cupcakes with almond extract and toasted coconut on top?

I'm ba-aaaack... Did you guys miss me?

Back in Sac tonight!

Making sushi for karaoke and sake bomb night!

Korean TV is bizarre. On the bright side, apparently if I brush my teeth regularly I will never get dementia. Apparently.

Picked up a few cheongsams in Chinatown today, including a beautiful white one...dinner party tonight!

Me: "Hey Uncle Bob, want a quesadilla?" Uncle Bob: "A case of beer?!?!?!?"

At Asian Denny's (Zippy's) waiting for my saimin. I love shopping in a city where the stores actually carry my size.

Reading Carlos Ruiz Zafon's new book. Great follow-up to The Shadow of the Wind.

Greetings from Hawaii

Hello from beautiful Honolulu! I know it's been a while since I've updated. I've been shopping, eating, and spending time with family like crazy. I should be back in Sac sometime next weekend. Check out this view:





More updates to come...

Chris went to bed. It's 9:30 in Honolulu and I can't sleep yet. What to do...

Watching Top Chef while chocolate raspberry pavlova bakes.

Off to the cemetery to bring McDonald's to my grandparents. Don't ask.

Potluck dinner and clubbing with the cousins.

Off to the Kalihi house for the return of karaoke/sake night!

I'm in Hawaii...got bumped to first class on the flight over!

Less than 24 hours until I fly out. So much to do...

I need to buy a really thick book that will last me through two five-hour flights. Any suggestions?

About to see Morris Day and the Time and Midnight Star!

Season finale of Top Chef Masters and season premiere of Top Chef Las Vegas tonight!

The Nissan Cube is sinfully ugly. I'm sorry, it's just so asymmetrical...

Pink lemonade cupcakes with pink lemonade buttercream: off to the baby shower!

Baking pink lemonade cupcakes for the baby shower at 4, then finally seeing Shaun again!

I just fell off the toilet at Yoshi's. I'm special.

About to go to Yoshi's in SF for dinner, drinks and jazz by Charlie Haden's Quartet.

In Winters at The Irish Pub, maximum occupancy 47...seriously. Happy Birthday Jim!

RT @theknot: Jill and Kevin's divorce hearing processional dance http://bit.ly/3TbwLO

Stressed...what are some good ways to unwind?

My dad on TV: http://ping.fm/uql1R He's 1:20 into the clip.

Looking up?

So I have an interview tomorrow...wish me luck. No details until after. I don't want to jinx it.

Here's this weekend in a nutshell: Jim's play and birthday Friday night, ring shopping, dress shopping, and jazz show at Yoshi's Saturday night, and the O-Bon festival on Sunday. Details and pictures to follow.

My precious: http://ping.fm/Mi9LS

Getting excited about jewelry...want to see pictures?

Who wants chocolate Graham cracker cupcakes with toasted marshmallow frosting?

Rock On

The Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire concert was the best. Thing. Ever!!!! The two bands jammed together at the beginning and end of the show, which was amazing. Check Chris' Facebook for awesome pictures.

I had the insane idea of making chocolate Graham cracker cupcakes with toasted marshmallow frosting at 9 pm last night. I finished at midnight. This was the result:





Chocolate Frangelico souffles with caramel sauce to follow next week.

Still looking for a job...hoping I find something. If not, I guess I could look at it like a vacation.

Jim's birthday, San Francisco to look at wedding dresses, O-bon festival and Xenia's birthday next weekend. I'll keep you updated...

Concert was amazing last night. Thinking of making chocolate Grand Marnier souffles. Anyone want one?

Waiting for Chicago and EWF at the Greek Amphitheater.

Weekend

I had an interview on Friday. I think it went ok...we'll see. I applied for a ton of sales jobs last night, so hopefully I hear something.

Saturday Chris and I went looking for more rings. Looked at Fred Meyer, Zales and Guzzeta. It killed me to not be able to go into bebe. Also, passed by Jude in the mall...awkward. Afterward we had dinner with my parents at Oz, which went so well we stopped by Dennys for dessert.

Sunday we got up at 3 to get to Napa by 5:30. Ended up having to go to Winters for the balloon ride, but it was still amazing. 16-person balloons and a gorgeous view. The only rough patch was the 45 minutes it took for the pilot to find a place to land. Afterwards we had a fantastic brunch back at the Napa General Store and met this awesome couple from Charlotte. Chris even bought pictures from the flight...aww...

In a hot air balloon over Winters...they listed being arrested for trespassing as a risk on the sheet we signed before lifting off.

Ring shopping, dinner at Oz and maybe Brick House. Meet time is 5:30 for the hot air balloon ride tomorrow...debating not sleeping tonight.

Starting to Look Up

So I have an interview with UCD Ophthalmology on Friday. Go me! Got to sneak away and train in GI between patients, which was also good.

As I anticipated, Dr. N was pretty pissed that I got laid off. She wrote me a rockin' letter of rec, so I owe her one.

Still excited about ring shopping and hot air ballooning this weekend. How should I celebrate when I get a new job?

Hot air ballon ride with champagne brunch on Sunday, ring shopping on Saturday. Any tips from those who've done it before?

Awkward...

The highlight of today was probably getting to train in GI for a few hours. I learned a lot, and hopefully I can use this to my advantage if I get an interview. Speaking of which, James said they should be calling next week. Fingers crossed...

World's most awkward lunch today...I can't really complain since we were all treated, but no one really talked to each other. I hate being such a downer and I didn't want to pollute the atmosphere, but Deborah talked me into going. Nice to say goodbye to my old doctor, though.

In happier news, Chris and I got heavily discounted tickets to go on a hot air balloon with a champagne brunch on Sunday! Pictures to come. Ring shopping on Sat, too. Hopefully things are turning around.

Stressed

Today was not a happy day. I'm kind of glad my stay at the clinic is coming to an end. Sutter has a ton of openings...I think I shall apply. Sitting here watching Gene Simmons' Family Jewels and trying to relax.

Thank God for Chris. Speaking of which, we're going to the Rogers sale on Saturday. Hopefully the Ritani I fell in love with is on sale...fingers crossed. He's actually meeting my folks this weekend, too...good things to come.

Where should we go Sat night? Any suggestions?

So I now have a blog...check out naeichenberg.blogspot.com if you're bored.

Changes

So as of Friday, I've been laid off from my job at UCDMG. After about 15 minutes of absolutely freaking out, the endoscopy tech offered to help me get a job at the main hospital. I guess I can't complain too much.

Also, I'm dating a wonderful man named Chris. We're currently looking for engagement rings and trying to plan a wedding (it's still a few years away).

I guess the whole point of this blog is to document this year of change for me. Hope you enjoy...if anyone's actually reading this.

Peanut butter cup brownies. Yummm...