Moments of My Week

I love seeing other people's Instagram feed posts, so I thought I'd do my own. These are from the last two weekends and this last week.

 

1. Being 'pinned' by my Star Scout. SO PROUD OF HIM.

2. Breakfast made by my boys and I - Shawners made blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes, Justinbustin made oven-baked bacon, and I made the eggs.

3. Sunday brunch and shopping date with my man

4. Flowers from two separate occasions from my man -

the small one while we were on a date, and the gerberas just because

5. Black Forest and white chocolate raspberry macarons at La Patisserie with Mai

6. Strawberries and cupcake wine on a lazy Sunday afternoon

7. Valentine's chocolate strawberry cupcakes from Lick It Bite It or Both

8. And last but not least, puppy chow made with Shawners - he hasn't forgotten about it after Ashley gave us puppy chow in Arizona

Oasis Photo Shoot and Morning Date

Brando and I went on a date morning this morning instead of a date night last night, as we went out with family and the kids last night. I love that Brando knew I was a little upset about not having a date night so before we even left for dinner last night, he scheduled on the calendar a date morning and emailed me a reminder that said, "Date morning - Be happy". He knows me so well.

We have a shopping and restaurant mecca near us called the Oasis. It's a mecca for our area, any way. The Oasis has been there for over five years, but the other restaurants and stores were built in the last year. It's situated right on Lake Travis with the most stunning view around. The sun sets just over the lake and makes for the perfect romantic evening eating at any of their now many restuarants: Oasis, Soleil, Austin Java of which this location has coffee only, Austin Chill which has self-serve yogurt, and another seafood restaurant that I don't remember the name and can't find anywhere - perhaps they are not open yet. Brando knows I LOVE going there to watch the sunsets or just see the gorgeous lake and explore especially since it's only a mile from our home, so that's where we headed to.

Our date started off with coffee at Austin Java and then we walked around and had fun exploring the decks before the crowds of people came. We had a huge storm last night so all the patio chairs were wet, which made it even more intriguing.

Besides the view, the architecture, design, and pure color of the place is SO MUCH fun it's the perfect place to have a little fun with the camera. Brando and I took turns, like usual, with the fun colors, architecture, and angles. He did quite a bit more than I, though, as I was mostly obsessed with the busy, colorful backgrounds and he did more inventive things with less of a main focus backgrounds.

There's so many photos, actually, that this is just a small portion and I'm saving the rest for later when I get to it. As you can see in the above photo, I've gotten a little bored of standing still for photos, so the majority of the rest of the photos I have are goofy and fun as can be. Which was perfect, because it made for a perfect, silly date morning.

My handsome hottie of a hubby. He shaved his hot as hell scruff, so now he looks like a baby, but still hot as hell.

These windows reminded me of doors. Gorgeous, either way, and I had Brando snag a photo for me because it would take too long for me to figure out how to change the settings for the perfect picture in a second.

Earrings and Bracelet ~ Bunny's Too, Plaid Shirt ~ Rip Curl, 
Lace Shirt ~ Macy's, Belt and Jeans ~ Forever 21,
 Boots ~ Seychelles from Bunny's Shoes

Love Brando's eye with photography and am trying to accept how different his style is than mine, thanks to the encouragement of GFF. He creates gorgeous images, magazine, high-quality, sharp as a tack images versus my love of vintage or blown out images. He blows me away with his knowledge of all the ins and outs of the camera and how they work together. I swear, he should teach photography classes, as he's taught me all I know and I know more about cameras than some photographers I have met. Now if only I could utilize that knowledge with my camera as well as those photographers utilize their knowledge with their cameras.

Things to Do In Santa Cruz

Here is a post I did quite awhile back on things to do in Santa Cruz. A girl I met on the beach in Santa Cruz who was visiting with her girlfriends from Portland on this last trip, and Athena, who recently moved to the Monterey Bay Area from Hawaii, motivated me to update the original post with a few new activities, completely unbroken photos and links, and repost it. Some of the photos below are from our last trip and are noted. For a list of the activities we made sure to hit up on this last trip to Santa Cruz go here.

Our personal favorites in Santa Cruz…

Small plates at Soif. You feel like you get a $100 meal for $20. We did this this last trip to Cali and took this picture. That’s just the appetizer though… often, afterwards, we would go get

Chicken quesadillas and a $5 delish margarita at El Palomar Taco Bar (walk through Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Company to get there or go through El Palomar next to the bar).

An apple pie apple at Marini’s.

A Root Beer Float at Cafe Limelight.

Breakfast on the sea at Aldo’s for a beautiful setting and good food. Usually we’d bike down there on our bikes to enjoy a Sunday or Saturday morning breakfast.

Incredible breakfast food at Walnut Avenue Cafe. There are so many places to shop and browse if you happen to catch them on a Sunday morning and get a 45 minute wait.

Bunny's Too is practically next door to Walnut Avenue Cafe and my favorite boutique to shop on Pacific Garden Mall for inexpensive but unique items.

Petroglyph Santa Cruz
Petroglyph was our all time favorite family past time this year. You can paint pottery for hours. Once you start you really can’t stop, it’s a strangely relaxing hobby.

Further up Hwy 1, approximately eight miles past Davenport turn left into Greyhound Rock State Park area (that link also contains an interesting list of coastal access points and beaches I can't wait to explore). A gorgeous beach and some fun rocks to climb. If you go at low tide you can get on the actual Greyhound Rock where seals sunbathe.

Unbeknownst to me until several years ago, four minutes up the road from Greyhound Rock is Ano Nuevo State Beach which has the largest mainland colony of elephant seals. Peak time to visit them is December through March, and something I tried desperately to do this last time. However, it fell off the priority list, so take lots of pictures if you go.

The Farm on Soquel across from Cabrillo College in Aptos for lunch with a friend or a picnic at the beach. The Mediterranean Chicken sandwhich is out of this world with fresh mozzarella and herb bread. My hubby loves the tri-tip as well. They’re also a great stop for breakfast on any random morning. The best thickest French Toast and excellent bacon and egg croissant sandwhiches. They also have great Cafe Au Laits.

Pacific Edge Rock Climbing to take the kids. $8 on the boulder for however many hours you want, no repelling training necessary. We were always surprised how long we were there.

Crows Nest UPSTAIRS to spend an in expensive evening watching the sunset. Or sitting inside next to the fire pit on a cool evening or outside they have heaters next to the building that work wonders. Downstairs where this photo is from is fancier, not as good of food and pricier to boot.

Stockton Bridge for a special evening out. Their Peach drink that I wish I could remember the name of is so very yummy.

Another photo from our last trip, Paradise Beach Grille is down the street from Stockton Bridge, and arguably has even more amazing food and the perfect ocean view deck for a warm summer evening.

Peachwoods is my all time favorite for a special occasion. Their artichoke cakes and peach fritters are out of this world. My favorite part is their 4 course dinner, starting with the soup or salad complete with chilled gold forks, the peach sorbet to cleanse your palette, and the peach iced tea. Each of their many clocks does something completely different and fun at the top of the hour.

Riva’s on the wharf for Cardinal Margarita’s, fried zucchini, and Chocolate Hazelnut gelatto. Their other food is decent too if you want to spend an evening on the water.

Pizza My Heart for pizza and salad, they have a $7 pizza, salad, and soda deal that will feed two. Their pizza is so delicious that along with Kianti's they catered our vow renewal celebration with pizzas named for our favorite beaches including one we renewed our vows on, Natural Bridges.

Mr. Toots for coffee in the cool summer mornings spent at the beach in Capitola.

Saturday mornings at the Aptos Farmer’s Market in the Cabrillo College parking lot. They have the most amazing stuff there. My favorites were the Kawasaki (sp?) farm for cucumbers, and there was one on the corner of the very top row next to the exit that I wish I could remember the name of, but they always had the best stuff for the most inexpensive prices. Blood oranges, strawberries, you name it. Felton Farmer’s Market was always a blast as well – they have Hawaiian shaved ice on Tuesday afternoons and roasted corn. Yum!

Ice cream at Polar Bear, now known as Cafe Violette, in Capitola. Perfect after a long bike ride, or after a hot afternoon at the beach. My favorite was Where Have You Bean All My Life? It’s actually coffee with ground up coffee beans.

Pizza and salad at Kianti’s. Their Friday and Saturday night show of Riverdance like dancing from their waiters and music turned up extremely high, then the owner’s nephew flipping pizza dough in the air, behind his back, and alcohol being thrown on the fire. It’s quite a production. And the best part was the kids being entertained with their own roll of pizza dough to play with. Their outdoor seating is perfect for an afternoon of people watching.

Cakes at the Buttery. Their sandwhiches are yummy, too, and their pastries. Further down if you feel like walking is a lingerie shop that I wish I could remember the name of. The owner is extremely friendly and used to own the flower kiosk downtown for years before she sold it and decided to open this in her Seabright neighborhood.

The Santa Cruz County Fair for small town fun. If you’re ever visiting in fall, this is so much fun. My kids still talk about the Sea Lion show they had.

Twin Lakes Church for our souls. Pastor Renee Schlaepfer is so wonderful he’s actually been to the church we go to and love out here and we tell people how much we miss him and then tell them who and they say “Ooooh, now I get it.”

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for good ol’ entertainment and a really fun date. Several times B and I had the chance to escape here for a ride or two, just us, when they wouldn’t close til’ late at night in the middle of the summer. It was like being a kid again. The Giant Dipper always gives me a headache but is a must ride. They have a new twirly ride that I rode and screamed the whole time. The guy across from me was laughing his head off at me and said he didn’t know if I was laughing or dying on there.

I’ve had this post sitting in my drafts forever and figured it was about time to draft it and get it out here for anybody vacationing in Santa Cruz anytime soon. And it’s making me miss there so. very. much.

Girls Weekend

Hello, Phoenix! It was so good to see you this weekend. Unfortunately, it flew by all too quick to enjoy every aspect of your perfect weather clad atmosphere. Your mountains are beautiful, and the sanctuary you provide my sisters, cousins, Grandma, Grandpa, and I is irreplaceable. From shopping, to having tea parties in
and laying out by the pool, to bonding conversations, to having our hair colored by my hairdresser sister, to eating out, to enjoying filet mignon grilled by my grandpa, being introduced to a new card game called 31 won by my sister who was turning 31 that day, to massages, to riding golf cartsincluding fitting six people on a two seater, to telling each other ten things we appreciate about each other with lots of tears, it was a weekend to remember.

Lovely Arizona

Lately my posts have been out of state, and I love it!

This past weekend I went to Arizona to see my grandma get married. She was married to her first husband for 50 years and he passed away. She remarried to the grandpa my kids remember, divorced him, even though they still spent all their time together, then he passed away. Now she is married again to another grandpa for my kiddos. She is amazing.

My sister who lives near me and I flew out there together and enjoyed the whole weekend with my parents, my cousin whom I go visit in the OC, and my grandma and new grandpa. It was amazing. Rejuvenating. Relaxing. Wonderful. The stress melted away in less than the two days I was there. And now I am back.

I didn't realize even though I have kids I can still go see my grandma all by myself! I didn't get to visit her as I was growing up, so there's no reason I can't do that now! I can't wait for next time! As well as to explore more of the gorgeousness that is Arizona with the beautiful skyline,

the tiled mosaics of dragonflies flying aside a river along the highways,

and the gorgeous mountain ranges amidst the flatness.

I also can't wait to visit and explore the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley!

Free Time, say what?!

What do you know? As luck would have it (or rather hard ass work), two of my papers are written as of last night. And so I thought I'd share with you a few of my favorite pictures Brando took while we were in Hawaii.

After a long and sweaty hike - I was wearing the jacket to keep

the sun off my shoulders. Impressive, Brando.

I multi-task on morning walks along the shore

The result - happy ten year anniversary us!

Waimea Bay

Waimea Bay - absolutely breathtaking

Waimea Bay

Kayaking with sea turtles

Walk along the shore