This is 39

While you wait for me to get my act together and finish our European tale. Allow me to share, this is 39. No filter, no make up, just all those perfect imperfections. Those freckles are reminiscent of every sunburn. The wrinkles are reminders of times of worry and also the best spurts of laughter. While I'm eager to leave the braces behind I'm so grateful for the pain relief this TMD treatment provides. Most of all, I'm thankful for everyone and everything that's gotten me here. As I begin my final year of my 30's. I think of Rob Thomas' new song "One Less Day (from Dying Young)" If you haven't heard it give it a listen.

We will celebrate with dinner on the strip later in the week. Last night, we watched the Knights at Gold Mine Tavern and grabbed dinner at Juan's Flaming Fajitas. I so badly wanted the Knights to earn their place in the playoffs with a win. It was all I wanted for my birthday. They had one job. It's OK - they get it done later this week. It will be another reason to celebrate.

Lucky in Love & More

Today marks our 14th wedding anniversary and on April 1st Frank and I celebrated twenty-one years together. I feel like the slot machine has lined up a big win.

Lately, life has felt like we've been living it on fast forward. There are simply not enough hours in the day. We just returned from Costa Rica and we have trips planned to San Diego and Cabo. So, life isn't slowing down any time soon.

And how about those Knights?! The playoffs have already had us on the edge of the seat. We should've expected that, though; the regular season was one nail biter after another. We didn't attend any playoff games, yet, because we were traveling, but hopefully soon! Seeing them clinch their division and secure their playoff spot in the inaugural season was pretty amazing -- anything more, will purely be astonishing.

Birthday Celebrations!

The Turkey with a Boob Job

Turkey Day came early for us this year. We celebrated with the family on Sunday because Frank and I will be traveling to Kentucky over the holiday. We will spend Thanksgiving with Frank's family. Bob and Hugh are hosting us. I sent my Sunbasket order to Bob's to assist with the meal. We arrive mid afternoon on Thursday so shopping was out of the question. I'm hopeful the meal kit will work out as beautifully as intended. The family is all in Kentucky this year, because Frank's cousin is getting married at Buffalo Trace Distillery. Initially, I wasn't going to attend because airfare was more than $700 on Southwest. I was able to reserve Frank a more affordable fare because we was able to stay until Tuesday. I, on the other hand, must be back to work Monday morning. Last minute, though, I was able to find fairly cheap fares on Allegiant. They recently started flying to Louisville, and their schedule doesn't allow flights every day, but for this trip, it was just what we needed. I cancelled Frank's flight on Southwest and rebooked him sharing my dates. It ought to be a nice time.

A little over a week ago, I took requests for our Thanksgiving feast. Nick wanted glazed carrots, Jeff wanted asparagus and Frank requested a turkey with implants. What can I say, I like to make things happen. Jeff's request was the only one not honored, not for lack of trying, the asparagus at Albertson's was so thin it would instantly turn to mush. Our turkey was more obscene than I had intended, but it was all in good fun. When life gives you lemons, give your turkey... tatas.



This year, I also coated it in a herb butter mask. I also tented only the breast after the first half hour at high heat for about 2.5 hours. Then, removed the foil for the final half hour to achieve even browning. The extras didn't make for a more flavorful bird. Nor did the lemon boobs. It was very moist, but some pieces from the breast were tough. I don't know if that was a result of my doing or not. I stand by loading the area between the skin and the meat with butter, it really does make a difference. I've had great success with juicy turkeys by doing it that way.

These Bourbon Maple Glazed Carrots were pretty tasty. I omitted the dill. I probably could have dressed it with parsley, thyme or rosemary since I had all on hand, but it never occurred to me. I have a run of bad luck when it comes to mashed potatoes. One, I'm not particularly fond of them unless they are those by Joel Robuchon, but let's be real those are more butter with an essence of potato. And who does not like butter?! Mashed taters are such a staple I keep trying to find a recipe that works for me. I've tried ricers, whipping them and even the crock pot. Meh. I was going to scrap them this year, but I decided to make one last ditch effort by trying Pioneer Woman's Creamy Mashed Potatoes. They could be made in advance and with all that butter, cream cheese and cream how could they be anything but creamy? They were my greatest success to date, but they're miles from anything Robuchon like.

I only cooked dinner for nine, which is far less than I prepared for last year. So, the day was much easier. Plus, Amy brought green bean casserole - um. yum, and Lauren prepared salad with mixed greens, cranberries, apples, walnuts, bacon, and feta. It was the perfect blend of sweet and salty. I rounded our feast out with sausage stuffing (technically, dressing), steamed broccoli and cheese (another of Amy's specialties), cranberries and yeasty dinner rolls. We finished with pumpkin pie for dessert.

The biggest tip for your holiday spread is to invest in a electric knife. I received one as a gift last year for Christmas. It was thought to be blasphemous my kitchen was lacking one at Thanksgiving a year ago. And truly it was. Because this baby sliced like a dream, even right through the bones. Frank had the turkey carved in record time.



Wherever you are or wherever you go, may you have the best Thanksgiving yet. Hug your family, just a little longer - for me.

Twenty years! Yes, 20. As in two decades!!

A Return to CUT

Ages ago, Frank and I celebrated our anniversary at CUT inside Palazzo. We thought it was great, but failed to repeat it because there are just too many places to try and it's anything, but cheap. It is a tough one to make a habit.

Over the weekend, I celebrated my 37th birthday. When it came to choosing the celebratory meal I was torn between the new Libertine Social or a return visit to CUT. I opted for the latter, no parking fees! And what really sealed the deal was I caught wind that they have a cheese cart. I love cheese, far too few places showcase it like the star it is.

We dined Saturday evening. It was mighty busy, I don't think a table was free. We had a short wait before we were seated in the room to the left of the main dining room. It was a little more quiet, and definitely less chaotic. I didn't mind being tucked away one bit. This isn't the place for romantic evenings, the surroundings are rather cold. Ahem, sleek and modern. Photos of Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and other celebs line one wall, mirrors on the other.

Service is attentive, but also pretentious. Furthermore, I appreciate when staff anticipates your every need; however, I like it when it is less intrusive and staff simply fade into the background. This visit, you could feel them lurking and it often seemed they were tripping over themselves. Fortunately, my complaints end there. The rest of the experience was pretty flawless.

The imported butter and pretzel bread were enough to woo me and right any wrongs. Straight from the heavens, if you ask me. I showed some restraint and only had two helpings. The onion foccacia would be fantastic anywhere else, but here? Definitely the runner up.



None of the appetizers really struck my fancy, but I was certain I wanted to see the cheese cart. So, that's where we began. You can choose three selections for $17 or five for $22. I couldn't narrow it down to only a few so five it was. I'm not big on soft cheeses, and I have an aversion to goat cheese. Needless to say, we mostly stuck to cow offerings. Though, a sampling the Goat Gouda was a must. I adore Gouda, if anything could win me over on a goat cheese that would be it. But, nope! While mildly palatable, it was clear I really dislike goat cheese no matter how you slice it, har.



On to the main course, I had the Steamed Red Snapper ($38) and Frank was torn between the pork chop and the New York Strip ($51). The steak won. How could we dine in one of the top steakhouses in town and not order steak!? He didn't regret his choice. The steak was a perfect medium rare, great sear and lightly seasoned so the natural flavors weren't lost. A variety of mustards are presented on the side, but I felt none really enhanced the steak. The snapper was delicate and served in a garlic and cilantro broth, with a hint of Asian flavor. For our sides, we chose the Creamy Polenta ($13) and Asparagus ($13). The polenta was very comforting like a heaping helping of mashed potatoes, but more refined. The asparagus was simply prepared with a sprinkling of panko and parmesan. I certainly didn't miss the fuss.





Lastly, the peanut butter dessert with peanut butter ice cream was positively sinful. One cannot go wrong with silky peanut butter, cookie crunchies and layer of rich chocolate.



We fared on the cheaper side of things (yes, really), but the sky is the limit. In any case, CUT is no doubt a splurge. But it's easy to see why it has been pleasing diners for nearly a decade. In Vegas years' that's practically a century. That sort of longevity speaks volumes.

Monday Musings

BRRR! It's cold. I don't expect any pity, it's likely far colder wherever you are than here in Sin City, but still my hands and feet are icy. I'm bundled in two coats as I sit here in front of the PC. This winter stuff is for the birds. Wait! Even they don't do winter. I should make like a bird and migrate south because the desert isn't cutting it.

Anyhow, can you believe this time next week Christmas will be over? And we'll be waiting to welcome 2017. Pure craziness.

I thought I'd keep a more regular schedule after my last update, but it wasn't in the cards. The past month has been a complete whirlwind. It began with a team meeting called at work. The owners gathered us around and shared that they had been in negotiations to sell the business. It wasn't a huge surprise, but I didn't know how close we came to laying off 95% of the office staff, myself included. They couldn't seem to agree on a number so they've decided to go the distance, not sell and instead invest in us and the company's future. Changes are underway, but it appears we won't be losing our jobs. As a result, I find myself with little down time. At home, our pc is toast - Frank started shopping for the pieces to build a new one, but his time has been monopolized by other things so that's the cause for the crickets around here.

I hope everyone had a lovely thanksgiving. My dad and aunt arrived Nov 15, it was nice to catch up a bit before the holiday and the rest of the visitors arrived. My mother in law arrived next, and then Bob & Hugh flew in just in time for the gluttony to begin. Sixteen of us gathered around the table noshing on a spread that consisted of mixed greens & apple salad, yeast rolls, cranberries, sausage stuffing, corn casserole, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and very moist turkey. And later, apple and pumpkin pies. Let's not forget the several bottles of wine that kept things merry. With full bellies, we battled each other with hilarious rounds of Fibbage, Cards Against Humanity and other games. You simply cannot beat a house that's full of loved ones and laughter.

There was no Black Friday shopping for me. Instead, Frank and I took Bob & Hugh to see Lucky Dragon and we also checked out Desert Wind Coffee Roasters beforehand. What a great coffee shop, and they share my love of Breaking Bad. Very cool. Then, on their last night, we all had dinner at Joe's. It never disappoints! The stone crab and steaks are always stellar. Afterwards, the six of us went over the Rio for a tour and tasting at the Wine Cellar. It's such a gem, if you've never been, it's definitely worth a visit. Next, we saw Rock of Ages. Too bad the show ends it's run in January. It was a hoot.

December 1st we celebrated Frank's birthday. His gift was rather bittersweet for me - Amy, Jeff and the kids moved out. I'm thrilled they found a townhouse to rent. It's in a great area, it's very nice and it provides them with some much needed space, three bedrooms and a two car garage. It's only a few minutes from us so Nick is able to stay in the same school and we'll be nearby so I won't have to miss them too much. Sharing a home for almost a 1.5 years has its challenges, but also its rewards. Watching the kids learn and grow day to day was something I'll always cherish - even if it meant I was sick - A LOT. Our house was busting at the seams with the seven of us, eight if you count my dad or nine when Mike would stay (Pahrump is far, after all) and now it's rather bare. We have big plans for some home improvements, but first we must narrow down some options. We also took advantage of low interest rates by refinancing the house - so long PMI and we're reducing our loan to 15 years - If all goes well, we'll be debt free by 51!

Even with the kids out of the house, we still managed to have one last bug make the rounds. I think Nick picked up this one from school. It ran through everyone. Frank and I weren't even safe - babysitting for a few hours was all it took to become infected. The downtime gave us an opportunity to binge watch some Netflix shows. Goliath and The Crown were both very good. It had been far too long since I was excited about a show. Well, besides my guilty pleasure This is Us.

And now, we're just days from Christmas. My shopping was pretty quick and painless - Thank you, Amazon Prime and Etsy. I'll be hosting Christmas day. This year will be a little different than last year, since we all won't be under one roof. We'll lose the magic of Santa paying us a visit, but Addison is filled with wonder and it should make for a pretty special holiday. Lex will likely enjoy the wrapping paper more than the gifts themselves, and Nick will tear through them in record time I'm sure - but that's all part of the fun. Wherever you are, wherever you go I hope your Christmas is merry and bright.

April? Is It You?

I'm not sure how it's possible, but here we are four months into 2016. The last few days we've had more than our share of April showers. I'm typically one that requires a daily dose of sunshine, but I didn't mind the storms this weekend. They brought heavy rains, lightning and thunder. With any luck, they washed away much of the pollen that's been driving my allergies bonkers. I had gotten sick before our trip to Nicaragua, and I haven't been able to fully kick the cough since; I have this tickle that remains. Hopefully, the cool crisp air will cure it.

Over the past couple weeks, I celebrated a birthday. Somehow, 36 feels more relaxed, but more achy. I swear I can barely put one foot in front of the other without something hurting. I'm thinking about trying yoga or something to loosen up. I need to do something. I've been at odds with the thought of exercising. I know I need to do it, but it feels so impossible. I keep telling myself as soon as our elliptical (purchased in Sept) is operational it's game on. We keep experiencing issue after issue, though, it's getting pretty ridiculous. Hopefully, the end is in sight. Anyway, I had a great birthday! Friends and family went out of their way to make me feel special. Rather than a fancy expensive strip dinner, this year, I opted for a fantastic meal at Mariscos Playa Escondido. It did not disappoint. We followed that up with drinks at Atomic Liquors. It was just my speed.

A week later, Frank and I celebrated 19 years together. Craziness, I tell you! We had plans that kept us from honoring the occasion, but we'll also have our wedding anniversary coming up on the 17th. That will mark 12 years of marriage. Plus, we have a few trips planned this month so it will be nice to getaway and spend quality time with one another. Frank surprised me with tickets to Steve Miller Band in Laughlin so we'll head there next weekend. After that we'll go to San Francisco and Austin at the end of the month. I had to take advantage of the great fares that Frontier has been offering. It's a bummer that they don't participate in TSA Precheck and all the extras can be annoying (if not avoidable), but when you're talking $38 round trip to SFO or $98 to AUS. I was sold!

A Celebration at Sage

For Frank's birthday this year, he chose Sage. It is our favorite restaurant so I had no doubt we'd be in for a treat. The eats did not disappoint, however, the service was sluggish at best. We've dined nearly a dozen times before and it's never been like this... how do you begin a tasting menu without silverware? Yes, that happened. And no, I didn't expect "Oh, shit!" as response. But that's how it went and it didn't much improve throughout the meal. Thankfully, our signature tasting menu was as delicious as it was beautiful. The menu runs $89 and offers a few options, in addition to our choices we also ordered a side of sweet breads. Simply because we could, and why wouldn't you? They are superb. Each dish was expertly prepared, but the Octopus blew us away. All others will be compared to this going forward; I doubt any will be as tender. Truly fantastic. And the black truffle crumbs and ice cream completely outshined the walnut tart, but I didn't mind in the slightest. I adore savory & sweet. Needless to say, the delightful bites won us over, and despite the hiccups it was a fine way to celebrate.

VANCOUVER ISLAND KUSHI OYSTERS AGED TEQUILA MIGNONETTE/PIQUILLO PEPPER &TABASCO SORBET

SALT ROASTED BEETS HEIRLOOM CARROTS/MANCHENGO CHEESE CRUMBS CORIANDER YOGURT

GRILLED SPANISH OCTOPUS BLOOMSDALE SPINACH/CHORIZO AIOLI MARCONA ALMONDS

MAINE DAY BOAT SCALLOPS BRAI SED OXTAIL/WILD MUSHROOMS SALTED CARAMEL REDUCTION

BEECHER’S FARM WHEY FED PORK LOIN ROASTED BABY CARROTS/BUTTERMILK CONFIT SHALLOTS

48 HOUR BEEF BELLY DUCK FAT ROASTED TURNIPS/PICKLED PEARL ONION BUCKWHEAT POLENTA

WALNUT TART PEAR/BLACK TRUFFLE/TARRAGON

PUMPKIN CLAFOUTIS RICE PAPER/ORANGE/CREAM

Not Feelin' It

I haven't felt like writing. Honestly, I haven't felt like doing much of anything. I'm just anxious to get this year over with. Our Thanksgiving was nice. We had a no turkey, turkey day. None of us are particularly fond of turkey so it seemed silly to go through the hassle. I made gouda pork chops, stuffing, brussels sprouts, parmesan salad and grandma's potatoes. There were no mashed potatoes to stress over. It was a delight. It wasn't a perfect meal, I turned up the oven temp but failed to remove the items from the oven before doing so. I bought a different brand of gouda and much of it oozed out from the chops. Oh well, shit happens. It was all edible and we were together.

Since I lasted posted, Frank celebrated his 35th birthday. I'll join him in middle age in a few months. I say it all the time, but it's true -- It's wild how quickly the years go! I don't know when we became grown ups. Sometimes, I'd swear we were still seventeen in a fresh relationship. His responsibilities recently changed at work so he's been working a bunch, but he did get to sneak away to celebrate his birthday. I'm so proud of all he's accomplished. He's done great in his career, and he's a wonderful husband. I love him so. Somehow, I know the best adventures are yet to come.

My mom still isn't feeling well. This cough has really done a number on her. She's so sore and tired. She had a CT Scan done that revealed that she has inflammation in the lung that was previously healthy. Her radiation oncologist insisted that it was too early for pneumonitis. However, her oncologist felt it is indeed pneumonitis. We met with a new radiation oncologist last week for another opinion. He agreed it seems to be pneumonitis. The great news is everyone agrees that the scan shows that the previous lymph nodes are no longer identified and the tumor has reduced in size. In laymans terms, it seems the radiation did its job on the cancer, but also damaged healthy lung tissue; causing the decreased lung function/cough. Her doctors believe she will get better, but there is a chance the damage could be permanent. A follow up CT is ordered in two months. A short bit later she is due for her PET scan to check on the cancer. Her oncologist says PET will take care of both.

The first round of low dose steroids offered no benefit. She started Prednisone on Friday along with a new antibiotic. Hopefully, this combo will show improvement. Otherwise, she will be hospitalized. So far, she seems to be coughing a bit less, but still no relief.

My health insurance changed December 1st, it is funny how my policies get less affordable every year since the Affordable Care Act. Changing insurance every year is tiresome. This year is especially frustrating since I'm still in treatment from the car accident. It's really weighing on me. I just want to be better. I want to get through a work day without pain. I'd like to be active again. I miss offroading so much! I can't even use the treadmill without discomfort. My weight is spiraling out of control despite my efforts of watching carbs, etc. I need to move more, but it hurts. I'm so over it. Since I can't just run from it all, I'd like to hibernate until this awful year is behind me. I don't mean to sulk, I keep reminding myself how fortunate I am. I try to count my blessings rather than complain, but I'm doing a poor job. Anyway...

I have reviews to post. Hopefully, I'll be over my funk in a hurry and resume a regular posting schedule. In the meantime, I hope your holiday season is merry and bright.

Celebrating Ten Years!

A decade ago, I was exhausted. I had only a couple hours of sleep because my sister and I were up all night finishing up the final details. I didn't want to leave the comfort of the bed in our suite at Mandalay Bay, but it was time to be made beautiful. My bridal party all met in my suite and a few hours later, the room smelled of cigarettes (why, oh why, did I ever smoke?) and hairspray. Our hair was just right and our faces had fresh make up. My sleepiness faded and I was filled with joy. It was time to lace up my dress.

It was like eating a bowl full of butterflies. I was so excited to marry Frank, but nervous to be the center of attention. Eighty of our friends and family came to Las Vegas to see us wed. We were the main event. Eeee!

Other than giggling like a school girl. through the entire ceremony it went flawlessly. I walked into the Chapel by the Bay as a Miss, and came out a Mrs. After seven years together, I was so happy to finally become Frank's wife. The day was perfect. The weather was not. It started with beautiful sunny skies only to turn dark and cloudy, and brought cold and rain. Rain in the desert?! Only on my wedding day. To make matters worse, I thought the wind would carry me away. We made the most of it, we still had a nice lunch buffet at Luxor, before running off for our photo tour. Later, we met up with friends and family for fun on Fremont Street.

I was never meant to have a traditional wedding. We did it our way. It was very much Kellee & Frank. It was perfect.

























Happy 10th Wedding Anniversary, Frank! I love you.

Seventeen

This April Fool's day is a special one. Seventeen years ago, we were only seventeen. Frank had confessed he liked me. I admitted I liked him too. Relief washed over us. With great excitement, we pondered whether a hug or kiss was appropriate. We did both. Over the years, we've shared countless hugs and kisses, but the first? That awkward cocktail of butterflies and pure joy is splendid.

Young love is so fresh.



Yet, love that has aged is comforting and simply sublime.

Every day after today, we will have spent more of our lives with each other than without. We have gathered a tremendous collection of memories since 1997. We're busy making more. We're currently traveling Ecuador. I'm sure I'll have much to share upon our return.

The Mister's Birthday Celebration

Each year for three months, Frank gets to be an old man. Then, my birthday comes and we're just old together. Ha!

His birthday fell on Sunday and I suspect his birthday wish was to win his fantasy leagues. Once he got off work, I surprised him with cupcakes from Mad Hatter. It's become tradition. We don't exchange gifts but I've ordered him a new humidor, we just received the barrel box set of Breaking Bad and I picked up a nice display case for a Louisville Slugger Bat his brother had engraved for him; I got it mounted on the wall as one last surprise.

He chose Joe's Stone Crab for dinner. Who could argue? We received a warm welcome back and ordering was quick and painless. We started with oysters Rockefeller, I haven't had them elsewhere for comparison, but these are delicious. Even if you're not that fond of oysters I'm certain you'll enjoy these. What doesn't cheese and butter make better? Needless to say, they're so rich and delicious.



It's been a terrible season for Stone Crab, they weren't offering any the night of our visit. However, they have the Pacific crab which is nearly identical. Frank had it before and swears it was just as good. It's slightly less expensive, and I found it not to be as sweet as Stone Crab. It was still mighty tasty, though.



We also shared an order of Brussels sprouts with pork belly and apple cider. They were good, but not our favorite. I've enjoyed other sides quite a bit more.



Before they brought the check, they brought out a brownie sundae with a candle. Frank got one last birthday wish.

Sage

A couple weeks back, we celebrated my birthday at Sage inside Aria. We've been once before during Restaurant Week and it was fantastic. It was time to return. We made reservations on opentable ahead of time. We were seated promptly upon arrival. We had a quaint table that was a bit sectioned off; I loved it, it felt like we had the place to ourselves. We perused the menu and scanned the tablet with all the beer and wine selections. Sage is one of the few restaurants that offers beer pairings with the tasting menu, it was tempting, but we preferred to order from the menu. We selected beers; North Coast Scrimshaw ($8) for Frank and Lefe Blonde ($10) for me. While our waiter fetched those, we were given a choice of breads: bacon or sourdough with sea salt. We snacked on these scrumptious treats and ordered the green garlic soup ($16) and roasted sweet breads ($17) to get us started.





Sweetbreads have intrigued me, I've only seen them on menus previously in my less adventurous days. I figured there was no better time to try them than at 33. Well? They were... delicious. For those unfamiliar, they are most often the thymus gland of calves, lambs or piglets. When properly prepared, like these were, they are a bit crisp on the outside but perfectly tender inside. Think about the most flavorful chicken nugget you can imagine, times that by 1000 and you have sweetbreads. These were served with glazed bacon, trumpet mushrooms, and creamy polenta. The garlic soup is a vegan dish. The garlic is very mild, and the soup is like silk. At the bottom of the bowl was a sweet surprise of potato stuffed tortellinis. Truly it was thing of simplistic beauty.

For the main course we had difficulty making our selections because everything sounded wonderful. Eventually, we narrowed our choices down to the red snapper ($42) with crispy bread crust, english peas and braised leeks, and the lamb saddle ($42) with braised lamb shank and fava beans.





I don't know that I've laid my eyes on two more beautiful dishes that packed such a punch of flavor. Well executed doesn't begin to described how expertly these dishes are prepared. My snapper was superb, but I must admit it was outshined by the lamb. The fava beans weren't our favorite, but the lamb prepared two ways was stellar. My favorite was the braised shank it was so carmelized it was like candy. I mean that in the best way possible. I'd ask for it for my final meal. It was that good.



We didn't think the meal could get any better, but we gave the dessert menu a gander. I have this knack for selecting items I can hardly pronounce because I'm so curious about items that are new to me. In this case it was the Gianduja Pave ($12). I didn't have the slightest clue what it would be, but I was anxious to try it. I later learned that Gianduja is a type of sweet chocolate with hazelnut paste. It's used in the pave which reminded me of a light mousse, it was served with a scoop of olive oil ice cream, and dressed with hazelnut crunch, basil jam and pomegranates. I love desserts that are a bit more savory than sweet and this was simply perfect. A perfect end to exceptional meal. I cannot think of a better way to celebrate my thirty-third year.

The Gift of Light

[Photo Credit:Flickr/David Yu]

Last night, thousands gathered to witness the debut of "The Bay Lights" it's a massive LED light display installed on the Bay Bridge which connects San Francisco to Oakland. It's known as the world's largest light sculpture. Get the full scoop in this LA Times article.

So, why am I sharing this? Well, my thoughtful husband bought me a piece of it as an early birthday gift. Light #80 will be burning bright on Tower 3, Cable 25 in my honor until March 2015. The website has an interactive portion that allows you to view all the lights purchased. Finding mine will reveal a photo of me in San Francisco enjoying Cioppino at Sotto Mare. With a message that reads "To the greatest woman to walk the earth, Happy Birthday!" It's no wonder I love him so. We'll be visiting next month, I can't wait to see it!