San Clemente Girls Day

Having a girls day is the best form of therapy, in my opinion!!

With my friend Nic & my sister's bdays just a few weeks apart, we decided to do a joint brunch/pedi day up in San Clemente - which is really a quick drive up the 5, in the cutest little surfer town (besides my beloved Encinitas of course!)

We had planned to eat at the Beach Garden Cafe, but after quite a long wait outside, with no end in sight - we were getting antsy. I hadn't realized how tiny this place was! So a few girls walked over to check out a restaurant across the street on the pier overlooking the ocean... they came back & said NO wait, and super cheap mimosas...deal!

So onto the Fisherman's Restaurant & Bar we went - we had a great view of the water, and a seemingly endless supply of champagne bottles - we were happy ladies!

After a delish brunch, we hoped over to our pedi appointment at Ocean View Nails - though there really was no 'view', the place was very cute and they were able to accommodate all 5 of us for spa pedicures at the same time (I had emailed them in advance).

I jazzed up some plastic wine 'glasses' with doily's and each girls name for fun and we all had a blast chit-chatting like girls do best!

After we went back to the beach area and hung out a bit more...before heading back to San Diego - where my sister & sis-in-law kept going strong the rest of the night...LOVE our time together, always a blast!!

Sugar Rush ~ Bday Fun!

Whewwww...whirlwind of a day. It began early for a 9:30am bday breakfast for Miss Maddie.

She is the bittiest little one year old I've ever seen, it's too cute! Her mamma, Nic & I made the adorrrrable "ONE" letters, complete with round wooden 'ears' & a bow to resemble Minnie Mouse (the party theme).

And per mommy's request I made her a big fluffy, 2-toned pink tutu...and was going to make the headband - but then I found one with matching 'shoe' socks at Ross for basically cheaper than I could make it - so that was perfect!

Happy Birthday Madeline Grace!!

Unfortunately, Kapri had started sneezing yesterday....which got me worried...and for good reason. By 11ish, she had used up what little energy she had and her body gave in to this oncoming cold...I'm sure all the sugar from the doughnut holes, fruit, juice & a cupcake surely did not help. It was time for a nap.

After her nap...she felt 'okay' - so we decided with our original plan & headed to another friends house for to celebrate Arden's 6th birthday. Kapri has known Arden her entire life, starting with weekly beach walks when she was a baby, to being cared for once a week for a few hours at their home at 4 months old... and play-dates in-between, and seeing each other dressed up on at our annual Halloween party at work.

how cute are they?!

Upon arrival K definitely did not seem 100%...so we gave it an hour, snapped this really cute pic somehow, then had to go...her little lungs get so irratated with an oncoming cold...and lucky us, we didn't have her inhaler. When she started complaining that her chest hurt, I panicked and I drove as fast as I could home. Thank goodness for the nebulizer & albuterol meds....though I hate how much we depend on it during sickness...it really is a life-savor.

Happy Birthday Arden Rose!!

Later, we were all supposed to go to a THIRD party - for James' dad's retirement party...

CONGRATS ANDY!!!

But with K's condition not improving, I knew she wouldn't be able to make it through. We thought about having my sis watch her while James & I went...but she got worse, so I stayed home while he went. We were definitely sad to have missed it, especially since her cousins who she loves tremendously, had made the trip out from AZ to be there as well....and since I had made him the above photo collage.  But the most important thing was to get K rested & feeling better ASAP.

Oh the ups & downs of parenting...

DIY Race Bib/Medal Display

I am in love with my recent DIY craft....which I happily stumbled upon the idea randomly on Pinterest. I wasn't even looking for this craft, but when I saw it...I knew immediately I just had to recreate one for both myself, and my friend Nic for her birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY friend!!!).

Here are 3 ideas I used to help get my wheels turning: 

• Pavement Runner
• Simply Healthy Mama
• My Three Peas

So my search began for a large frame, wide enough to fit the bibs and to hang the medals. I kept striking out store after store....when finally, buried in a back clearance aisle at Michael's, I found these 2 grey frames that were PERFECT!

For the letters, I used my Cricut Mini to cut "R U N" from grey scrapbook paper, to coordinate with the frame color:

I was going to spray paint the back, but decided on scrapbook paper inside the frame instead....though you can kind of see the line where I had to join the 2 pieces together, but I still think it came out great!

To hang the race bibs, I used 2 metal/magnetic-back hanging clips...and for the medals, I used 1 silver hook - all are directly on the glass with little adhesive squares, that hold up to 5lbs each....so I think they are pretty secure.

Can't wait to add more to this growing collection!!

Mine

Nic's

How is it 2014?!! Happy New Year!

TWO-thousand-FOURTEEN! Amazing.

Random thought: Why are we not in flying cars by now?? hmmm

Kapri spent the night at Grammy's with her 2 cousins...and my sister Chelsea & her BF Andrew came over to 'cheers' to the New Year, before they went to dinner & to hang with friends in another part of town.

After our sweet photo sesh, we headed out to have fun ringing in the New Year with the hubs & some friends at a club in downtown San Diego:

While being out, I decided it was time to turn over a new leaf...make a new tradition. I realized that I would much rather have gone to a really nice dinner, reflected on the past year's ups & downs together... and rang in the New Year with a glass or two of champagne at home with my loves...and/or maybe with a few friends over ---- in our PJ's, banging on pots & pans like when I was little! 

It's NOT at all that 31 is OLD, but I definitely felt a teensy tiny bit out of place on the dance floor last night...once I looked around & realized that probably most the other people around me were a solid DECADE younger than me...it was in that moment that I did truly feel: Old - weird.

And I'm okay with that...just next year we're sticking with our original plan (as mentioned above).

CHEERS to the NEW YEAR! I can feel there will be lots of transition in store for our little family of 3...

OH - and 'goals of the year' - as I like to call them:

...Our joint New Year's Resolution....is one date night per month (we had hardly any last year). Since we married on "8/22", we decided that every other month James would plan it (on the 8th) and every other month in between, I would plan it (on the 22nd). So, something fun to look forward to...planning on checking for unique 'activity' type deals Groupon & Living Social!

...My individual goal for the year is to run around 2-3 5Ks and maybe 2-3 10Ks (toward the end of the year) - would love to have more bibs & medals to proudly call my own.

...Another personal goal is to read 2 or 3 books, front to back! Last year I got through 2 which was HUGE for me...a person who 'can never find the time to read' and if I do...'I'm constantly thinking about other things I could be getting done', haha.

...Lastly, a new career. Whoa...that sounds crazy to actually write down. But the fact is, my company/position will be relocating soon (to a whole other state!)...so I know that my 7-year gig or 'book' so to speak, will soon come to an end & be closed for good - I'm assuming mid-year. I'd love to find something I have more of a passion for... it'll just take some major digging & soul searching. Fingers crossed!

Annual Holiday Light Walk

Time for the annual walk to see holiday lights!! This time however, a bunch more friends & I decided to try a new place to view the lights, called "Fairway Village"...UNfortunately, the advertisement we all saw online, posted the wrong date for this big neighborhood block party....soooo, we missed that by a day and there really wasn't much to see at all sadly.

But the kids didn't seem to mind...with all the hot chocolate they had in their bellies:

After the quick walk around the first place...a few of us decided to extended the evening and go check out our normal place, Christmas Card Lane - we've gone here since Kapri was a little baby, 4 years ago. It really is awesome...the kids just LOVE all the character boards set up along people yards. And K is starting to remember certain ones too...god her memory is beyond me sometimes.

We got home about 2 hours PAST her bedtime....but in the end, it was all worth it to make her smile and carry on our special tradition!

Playdate: Nutcracker Ballet

Another first for us.... the Nutcracker Ballet - it's honestly amazing the amount of things I have never done or been to before....until having Kapri!  We went with K's best friend from school, Chloe & her mamma Rain....love these two! When we met up with them the girls exchanged gifts - and great minds obviously think alike because they each got each other different style bracelets!

We stopped for a quick bite to eat before going to the Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center - which we've actually been to once before to see Seussical the Musical (so fun!). We made it there just in time and the girls were in awe the entire performance. I can only imagine what they must've been thinking - it all must seem so magical in the eyes of a 4 year old girl...especially ones that have done ballet themselves and in a way, hold a ballerina high on a pedestal with their beauty & grace.

Towards the end of the show, the girls just could not sit still...so we got out of our seats and took them over to the stairs along the side of the auditorium. There they could watch & mimic the moves they saw on stage, without us worrying if they were blocking someone's view from behind us!

It was so adorable - just to see their eyes - focused intently on all those little dancers. Maybe next year we'll take them to see the Nutcracker again, but on a bigger, more elaborate stage... at the San Diego Civic Theater!

Preschool Holiday Party 2013

Ah sickness. 

It got the best of K again tonight....but luckily it didn't hit her too bad until shortly after her adorable school holiday performance - another 'last' at this school.

I remember her first there, when she was only 2.5 years old...little bitty compared to now!!

2011, 2012 & 2013

Since it was her last Holiday party at this school, we invited my mom, sisters and James' mom & her husband - sadly, because she felt really poorly right after performing, we didn't get any other group/fam pics with her other than these :-(

But we did get some good video of her singing & dancing SO well....beyond proud of her for coming out of her shell and overcoming her shyness little by little!

Run or DYE!

Another 'fun' run under our belts...as Nic & I (along with her friend Stacy & her sis Julie) participated in the "Run or Dye" 5K today:

Since Christmas is just around the corner, we decided to wear little Santa hats, cute red/white striped socks and red tanks to get in the spirit... soooo many others had the same ideas! We had tried to find white leggings (to wear under black shorts)...so that the color would show better - but had terrible luck finding any!

The guys at the start line, did a GREAT job hyping up the crowd...there was awesome music and such amazing energy from everyone around us. Every once & awhile people would throw up the dye packs and we'd get splash here & there.

The run itself wasn't anything spectacular, as it was just around the parking lot of Qualcomm Stadium... so ti was rather drab - I think the best parts were seeing everyone in fun costumes and the anticipation of being BLASTED by color at each 'station'.

I have to be honest...I thought for sure we'd be more 'colorful' at the end....but each time you go through a color station, you get bombarded with color...but then as you continue running, the powder just gradually falls off. I have heard that you should run baby oil or something on your exposed skin, so that the color sticks better.... so if I ever do another 'color' type run again, I'll have to put that to the test!

Happy Running!!!

Happy Birthday to ME {hello 31!}

The day of my actual bday...and lucky me, I woke up with a scratchy throat & very little energy - oh boy, sickness is coming. I knew I had to power through for dinner tonight, the last of 3 wonderful bday activities over the last week.

Of course I picked one of our traditional bday dinner spots - Fidel's in Solana Beach - and had some great people there with me to celebrate:

Thanks to everyone for E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. and making my 31st birthday as awesome as it was!! Love you all dearly :-)

Beyond Thankful {Happy Thanksgiving!}

I. Love. Thanksgiving.

Sureeee the FOOD is spectacular...all my fav things on one table (or more in our case, with different families to visit, sometimes on different days too!). But I just love how one whole day is dedicated to remember how THANKFUL we should be for soooo many things. Just take a look at our annual "Thankful Board":

This year Kapri could contribute to the board, by writing what she's thankful for all by herself! Note the few scribbles along the bottom: "Thanksgiving, Friends, Cookies, Trees, Mom & Dad" - adorable.

We started the day off super early....and not to get up & put a turkey in the oven....but instead, Nic, Amanda, Trav & I (oh and Nic's two kids, one of whom was pushed in the jogger by Trav, bless his heart and strong legs!!) all decided to do the Oceanside Turkey Trot 5K - that was a first for us! We were all so excited to run and burn some calories before we went to our separate places to fill our bellies.

It was SUCH a beautiful morning...and to top it off, we ended the last leg of our run on the boardwalk, right along the beach - seriously perfect.

I was SO proud of Nic & Amanda - for both running (or at least slow jogging at times) the ENTIRE 3 miles. I had taken up running again here & there, finally being able to run 2-3 miles without rest/walking (thanks to all my strength training and HIIT classes!!!)...but neither of them had really prepped in terms of running prior. But they powered through and we all finished together. SUCCESS!!

Way to go ladies!!!

After the race, I headed home to get ready for dinner at my aunts....which I sadly only took TWO flipping pictures...um whattttt?! Who am I??

Oh and this ahhhdorable one of K waiting ever so patiently on my bed, waiting for me to get ready....while reading a book to her babies! Melt. 

Then the next day we had another Thanksgiving Dinner with James' mom, her hubby, Steve & Amanda - I made sure to get a least more than two pics this time!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!! Gobble Gobble!

Early Bday Fun: Dry Bar & Paint Nite

Wow - what a FUN early birthday...I'm a lucky girl, thanks to some other wonderful ladies in my life!

It started with Nic treating me to a fab hairstyling at a place called "Dry Bar" - which was SO adorable and the girls there were so nice! It was a really fun place to hang out & get treated to a wash and style - all while you sip away on some bubbly!!

I think our before & afters are pretty FAB! LOVE YOU NIC, thanks!!!

Then we headed downtown to a place called "Vin de Syrah" which was hosting a "Paint Nite" event, which my friends and I all bought a Groupon for...

I had wanted to find a night to paint that was on my actual bday (Sat. the 30th)...but with Thanksgiving being so late this year, they didn't have any scheduled (normally it's a week before my bday, but this time was only 2 days before!)

But the night I selected online (they have an AWESOME calendar, where you can view what you'll be painting and the location)...had a really pretty painting that I knew we could all tackle pretty easily, named "Red Fall Hill" - I thought it was so beautiful. Most of us are NOT painters...however the instructor was so great, and made it SO easy to follow!! Check out more pics on their FB page HERE.

Thank you to ALL my wonderful friends who could make it out on a Sunday night...to paint & sip wine in celebration of my 31st birthday - I seriously cannot wait to do this again VERY soon!!! xoxo

BOO! Happy Halloween

K's outfit selection this year....I mean, could she BE any cuter as Alice in Wonderland?!! I think not.

It's freakin adorable....and see those cute black & white checkered leggings that it came with - super stylish.

She'd tried on a few butterfly outfits at Party City... then kept pointing to this dress. As soon as she tried it on I was so happy - it was perfect! I was thinking it'd be funny for me to dress up as the white rabbit (almost did, bought the ears and tail!) and have James be the Mad Hatter - but that didn't happen (she carried a brown rabbit instead, ha!)... maybe next year we'll plan better and find coordinating costumes!

Halloween morning we took K to school, where we got to see all the other adorableness of kids dressed up. That night we went to downtown Encinitas and had a super early dinner...and after we cruised along Hwy 101 - where a ton of the businesses were open and handing out candy. LOT of adults dressed up too...which was a nice change of pace form our standard trick-or-treating around our pretty quiet community. Definitely a better vibe!

Even the place I work out daily on my lunch breaks got into it.... Totally Rad 80's Fitness! The owner, Danny, I had told he should come dressed up as Richard Simmons....he totally did and rocked those mini shorts & wig, hahaha!

I scored the hot pink shorts ($6) and shoes ($20) at ROSS, and the teal leg warmers ($10) at Target....the grey shirt I had made months ago, from a men's XL and created a sort-of 'dolman' style tee from it. It was the most comfortable costume EVER!

Annual Pumpkin Patch Visit 2013

I love the Pumpkin Patch we go to...it's in Del Mar called the Pumpkin Station. We go every year, with the exception of 4 years ago when K was just 5 months old, and we went to Bates - which was hell. Parking was hell. It was packed as hell. And it was HOT as hell.  So we kinda decided right then & there that we'd find something else, closer to home.

And we did!

Each year there's a Groupon deal they offer as well for rides. And now that K & the other kiddos we typically go with are bigger and love to go on more rides - it's a great deal!




Of course what Pumpkin Patch visit would be complete without first stopping at Starbucks for some hot chocolate & Pumpkin Spice Lattes?? mmmmmm

And seriously...the grey chevron infinity scarf of mine that she has on....too damn cute!



And here's are finished carved/decorated pumpkins! Can't go wrong with glitter & glue in the eyes of a 4yr old!

Dylan's Beachy Baby Shower

Loooooved the theme & color this baby shower I attended for a friend, Christina...and her 3rd baby on the way, Dylan. It was coral & beach-y with accents of burlap - just beautiful!  So of course when asked to do a diaper cake for the shower, I was SO excited...

This is definitely one of my favs to date, and was the tallest as well...being 5 tiers, compared to the typical 3 (and occasional 4):

front & back (with headbands & burp clothes pinned on)

The simplicity of the burlap table runners, sprinkled with seashells & starfish and a vase of beach sand was so perfect!! They even had adorrrable SAND-DOLLAR cookies!! love love love

The 4-tiered cupcake stand was handmade by the hostess' fiance - which turned out friggin AHmazing...next time I needs something like that, I will be callin him up to place an order for sure!!

So excited to meet Miss Dylan Gray - great name!!

Run to Fight Children's Cancer {Ronan Foundation}

If you follow or have seen/heard of the "Rock Star Ronan" blog - you've likely cried a time or two...and been affected immensely by this woman's story. I first heard of her after hearing Taylor Swift perform the song "Ronan" on Stand Up2Cancer that aired on TV back in Sept. 2012.

I sobbed. Kinda uncontrollably.If you haven't heard it...please do now...be warned, grab a BOX of tissues first:



After it ended, I immediately looked up who 'Ronan' was and I cried more reading post after post of this mom's blog. It's incredibly heartbreaking....yet, inspiring to see her gradually working through the daily ins & outs of something that NO ONE should have to go through.

My dear friend Nic also reads the Ronan blog...and when we both saw that there was a 5K coming to San Diego called "Run to Fight Children's Cancer" - we knew immediately that we had to do it....like it was our small way of showing support. Support for all the kids fighting cancer, those who have beat it, those who have lost their battle, and support for all their family & friends affected by this terrible word: C-A-N-C-E-R

I haven't run a race of any kind since the Rock 'n Roll 1/2 Marathon back in June 2012 {read ALL about that HERE} - so I was definitely a bit anxious for this one...though it was only 3 miles, compared to 13!!, I knew we could do it...

We showed up bright & early, dressed in our purple & gold...ready to RUN. There were lots of families there, including kids that were either fighting cancer or were in remission -- and those kids were given little capes to wear that said: "Cancer Fighting Super Hero":

  Post by Run to Fight Children's Cancer.  Seriously great idea!

It was a beautiful course, around the bay through Point Loma...and at the end I made us SPRINT...then we finished, huffing & puffing... tears came to our eyes. If they have this race here again, we'll definitely be there!