It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Well its been a very eventful weekend to say the least.
Friday, our bar stools were delivered. I love them. They are fun and comfortable and finally, the cook can be entertained from the onlookers at the counter, just like at my Moms.

Yeehaw! New Counter Stools!

 So Yahtzee entertained me from Barstool #2 as I cooked Sunday Supper - Crab Stuffed Mushrooms.

Piggy Hat is Back

We started our party preparations and much of the weekend was dedicated to running errands and hanging "stuff".

Yo! St. Nikolaus

Disco Balls

I think Yahtzee strategically placed the mistletoe this year at the kitchen entrance so he can steal more kisses from me. For two people who don't cook much, we spent an awful lot of time in the kitchen this weekend ;-)

If you like our Christmas tree you can thank my husband who insisted we get one despite my protest (it was so sad last year to put the tree to the curb BEFORE christmas because of travel but we did, eventually, have a taker). We went to the Astor Square Christmas tree market at 2nd Ave and 10th to find the "boy" - as Yahtzee and Bob, the tree expert, so adorably put it.

The Keeper

Abbey Road XMAS Strut

Of course, you can win any argument with a Hot Toddy and a nice fireplace at Shoolbreds.

Made to Order Toddy's

Saturday night we joined my Superhero friend Silvestro for his birthday celebration. 

We went to Korea Town and ate some good Korean BBQ. 

Venerio's Tiramisu cake

We then hit a nearby karaoke joint and got a private room where we did several hours of singing.

I did not know that Yahtzee was such a karaoke fan but he actually DID sing several songs.
Were we any good...not necessarily.
Did we have fun...LOADS!

Highlight still was Silvestro rapping "its my birthday" - a classic.

This morning we headed to our friends in the hood on 13th Street for a festive St. Nikolaus Brunch. We were greeted by Mr. and Mrs. G and served the most wonderful food  - and met quite a few nice people too.  A very festive event for sure.

Thanks for the invite, be sure to tell Santa what a nice girl Dasha was this year.

Mrs G dancing it out

And we topped off the night with a win from the Pittsburgh Steelers. I bit off all my fingernails so my guitar playing should also improve now.

I hope you all have a great week ahead. 

Giving Thanks

The Pellarin Six

The Compound was very hopping this past weekend - my parents had lots of guests in addition to the Hays', including these cute kiddos and my sister from the Netherlands.  At Thanksgiving we really make the time to sit and talk together and remind one another what we are thankful for. And with so much love and laughter at the Compound this year, it made for a great atmosphere and a very memorable thanksgiving.

One thing I especially look forward to is Dad's dinner Blessing before we eat so much delicious food. I always had fond memories of Grandpa Ted saying blessings - and can feel his presence in hearing my dad say Grace.  

Britta & Dad

My sister-in-law and niece are forging a special relationship and I think it all started with last years advent calendar.  Someone knows all the tricks and needs to teach them to Tante!

New plate set for a princess, directly from Germany

My nephew was busy exploring the worlds beauty while the rest of us slaved away in the kitchen

I am thankful for such a warm and bright family...

The Cook

and these pies...

 The rest of the weekend was a whirlwind. 
I went to the Backyard Brawl but am ashamed to say what the score was. 
Lets just say it is too embarrassing to mention...but at least we left optimistic

Hail PITT

True Blue Fans

Da burg

Love those Tailgaiters

Nonetheless, it was a 'Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood"

Mr. Rogers was a Dasha childhood favorite and a son of Pittsburgh

When it came to children Fred was a safe pair of hands, and I find this a beautiful tribute

I went almost directly from the good hands of Fred to the good hands of my high school friends on Friday night.
I had fun at the Warehouse & I sure miss you guys

And then there was the high school reunion on Saturday. 

The most classic line of the evening: "I like your shirt"

Only thing is, I wore a dress...

good times, good times

Bestie since grade school

 Ah yes, the old Porch Wave
This is a picture that both breaks my heart and warms my heart. 
See you soon Mom and Dad.

Bye Dad, see you in a few weeks

Happy Birthday Yahtzee

Today is my husband's birthday.

He is 35.

He is smart and handsome and generous and funny.

He loves me.

I love him.

Happy Birthday Yahtzee.

Bear Family Visitor

Meet my sister - she came ALL THE WAY from the Netherlands to cook us this fabulous Wiener Schnitzel. It was very yummy. Shhh - nobody tell my mother-in-law that I have yet to cook this from my Deutsch Kochbuch myself. As far as she knows, I was the happy assistant in creating this wonderful meal. 

So what was Dasha doing then, you ask???  Getting out the Christmas party invites! Almost done now.

And furniture shopping with Husband - we finally, after 1 year, agree on some bar stools and chairs so Visitors, you will have a place to sit when you visit Urban Disco

Do you like?

(chairs to go with our opaque dark gray soap stone table)

And the barstools are the pump design (directly below) but with the red back shown in the second picture

And then of course eating, the one thing I always find time for  :-)

Trop A Rocka Love

Dear Husband,

I came home to the most wonderful surprise tonight - an (almost) full pack of Trop A Rocka. I dont know how you managed to find four bottles let alone one, especially since I have been looking high and low in hopes that at least one store that has a stash even though it is now off the market, but you somehow did...thank you all the little unexpected things that make me happy! now hurry home and join me for some trop a rocka vodka love.
                                                                                  x- Dasha

SHARKS

I thought I would try my hand at Poker this weekend. This would require some schoolin’ – so me and the ladies went to the illustrious “School of Cards” ALLLL the way over on the far West Side.


As an aside, I’d like to first say, this was Lola’s first “Stella ride” and she voiced her excitement the whole ride over which I totes understand, I share the joy every time I set eyes on her. We were a little nervous to leave Stella in front of Scores but she ended up being well looked after.

Blake was our dealer for the evening and kept us quite entertained teaching us the rules, some new words (I staked her, as opposed to I steaked her – which I have to admit I thought was a 2000’s take on the 1980’s term “I porked her”) and feeding us snacks and alcohol. What was so fascinating was the different approach each of us took toward the game. Let me introduce the playa’s by name, as I have learned from there are more than just SHARKS out there – of which, btw, none of us were (see http://www.handsofpoker.com/).

THE PLAYA's

------------------------------------------------------

The Rock: aka DASHA

Play very tight & premium hands (high pocket pairs and high hands). Best to avoid getting involved with them unless you have a really strong hand.

The Fish: aka LOLA

  Play a lot of hands and chase pots on draws. They will call down to the river with almost any pair so value bet your big hands against them.

The Calling Station: aka MINERVA WEBB – (our british friend)

Prefer to let other players force the action and call with almost any pair. Like to see lots of flops and are involved in many showdowns. The best way to make money from these players is to value bet big hands so that they continue to chase their pairs, or weaker hands. Bluffing these types of players is not a good idea though, as they are more likely to call with weaker hands.

The Bomb: aka – HOT PANTS

Players are extremely aggressive and scary to play against. They try to win a lot of pots by bluffing, semi-bluffing and raising big. These players can usually be knocked off a hand by check raising them when you connect on a flop as they will almost always continuation bet after a flop where they have raised pre-flop

Afterwards, we met the men at Beauty Bar

and Ottos for some Tiki Action.

Once again it is confirmed, Dark and Stormy’s make me dark and stormy.

Happy Birthday Brother

My Little Brother is a year older

Happy Birthday! 

I wish you all the best this year - including completing project "ohiopyle", learning some cool new songs on the electric gee-tar, churning out a few good poems, continued good health, a win at the backyard brawl, a trip (or two or three!) to visit Dasha and Yahtzee so we can hang out together and mostly, 

LOVE LOVE LOVE.

So much looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks.

xoxoxo

Sizzlin!

Me and JT cooked Fajitas tonight. It was actually pretty easy to make and they were delicious.

I am beginning to realize the benefits of cooking at home. Since I like surprises, waiting to see how they taste is near top of the list.  Sitting down to have dinner with Yahtzee at home and making time to share together is the  #1.  I think what they say about the way to a man's heart is true...

In fact, it was a sizzlin' weekend all around - we went to Bell House in Brooklyn on Friday night and saw Dandy Warhols.  Do you remember that song "Last High" and "Bohemian Like You" ?  - they are still rockin' tunes very similar to those.  

Then Yahtzee surprised me with tickets to see Rock of Ages on Broadway for Saturday night. It was a much racier show than we realized - and Dee Snider from Twisted Sister had a part in it too. There was lots of hair and bad outfits.  I miss the 80s. Totes singing along to Sister Christian, We Built this City and Final Countdown.  It was a blast from the past for sure and yo!  I WANNA TO ROCK.

I hope your weekend was just as fun.

The Urbane Dazzler turns One

Today is my nephew's very first birthday. 

Is he adorable or what?  In his little sports coat...

We miss so much that we could be there to see Weston's little face as he blows out the candles

Such a fun and lovable little guy

We wish you all sorts of fabulous things in the coming year Weston

...like candy and fresh snow

Happy Birthday Weston

We love you

Happy Halloween

"Dashapiress"

"DARTH"

NIGHT MOVES

I HOPE YOUR HALLOWEEN WAS FREAKY