hello monday {santa cruz style}

Hello Monday!

Hello beautiful Santa Cruz and lush, green trees. 

Hello perfectly planned weekend away, rest for my soul, and pure bliss with my man. 

Hello handsome husband.  I love the way you bring me joy and laughter. 

Hello absolutely stunning bride.  I am forever grateful at the bonds we created in college. 

Hello reception and the deep blue ocean out in the distance. 

Hello dear friend, road trip companions, and running partner. 

Hello love of my life (and a good hair day!). 

Hello amazing mama, I love to see how God has touched your life and what an amazing mother you have become. 

Hello celebrating the last college friend tying the knot, I think it's time that we start planning reunions!

Hello perfectly frothed latte, you were sweet goodness to my soul. 

Hello Red House Cafe.  You are ridiculously cute, and your food was delish, and I felt cute just sitting inside of you.  

Hello Monterey!  Thank you for being a fun little stop on our way home.  How about you move a bit south so I can spend some more time in your neck of the woods?

way up high in the sky

This past weekend we spent the day squinting out eyes, staring up at the fascinating attractions up in the sky, and marveling and what our military forces do for you.  We spent the day at the Air Show. 

 I remember being a kid, dragging the toes of my shoes to slow down time, doing anything possible to not go.  The planes and jets were just so loud, it was always hot outside, and there was nothing to do.  Even when my dad escorted the Blue Angels and we got nice VIP passes I still would've given anything to be anywhere but there.  

I don't know why I never wanted to go, but I wish that I had appreciated what was in front of me all of those years.  The planes.  The jets.  The power behind them.  And the fact that the master minds behind these amazing machines protect our country.  Every single day.  As I've grown, so has my appreciation for the military and the beauty in aeronautics. 

 I wish that I could go back to those days as a kid and humble myself, appreciate the wonder that was before me, and be more grateful for the family I spent my time with.  Since I can't do that I guess I will stare up into the skies, squint my eyes, and reapply my sunscreen for the tenth time so that I can really savor how fortunate I am.  Fortunate to live in a town that is decorated with so many men and woman that serve our country.  Fortunate to have a husband that reminds me to actually think about how planes work and the engineering behind them.  Fortunate for a free event that helps get our minds off of our crazy work.  Fortunate for freedom.  

over the past 2 weeks...

 

You know when you finally see someone that you haven't seen in ages and there is that awkward hello.  You feel like you don't even know where to begin on life.  Do you tell them all about you or start asking how they have been?  Where do you even start?

Well that's how I feel right now.

Awkward....how have you been?  How is October treating you?  I hope that you have been super lovely!

Oh, me?  Why thank you for asking.  Well...life has been busy so let's start back to two weeks ago.

This cute little grandma of mine came to visit!  Plus I also convinced her into being my golfing partner for my school's golf tournament.  I'm not much of a golfer (like at all) and was hoping she would be my good luck charm, or at least make both of us look good.  Which she did!  I loved her trip because she actually stayed with me this time!  With my mom living just 30 minutes away with a much bigger house there is really no reason for her to stay with us.  I loved every minute she was here with us.  

 

Then I tried my hardest to pretend that Fall was here.  The weather man kept telling me otherwise, though.  I may have opened up my first can of pumpkin for this season while it was a balmy 90 degrees outside.  Some girlies came over and we all made a fall wreath as well, and every time I open my door I love that it is telling me "hello fall"!

Oh...did I mention that I won something on the radio?!?!  It was my first time so I was just slightly zealous (meaning I was giddy all day long).  Part of my prize was tickets to see Jekel and Hyde on Broadway.  Well, the date night was fun....but the play-not so much.  I've been to a couple of shows, and I wouldn't have selected this one in the first place, but I wasn't too impressed.  I am grateful, however, that we got a nice free date night! 

In other news, I finally got some new specs and can finally see while I'm driving!  So sorry to all you fellow San Diego drivers, I promise that when I was covering one eye I was driving totally safe.  I also finally had some "self-care" and fixed those eyebrows on my face and got a bang trim.  Isn't it such a beautiful thing when you just get a little trim and feel like a brand new woman?  Speaking of bang trim, the straight bangs are gone :( and the side-swoopy bangs have moved in.  

The second part of my radio prize was tickets to San Diego Fashion Week which I attended this past Saturday with one of my co-workers, who is a total fashionista.  PS: She just started a blog that you MUST check out here! 

 






Sunday was spent in my new cozy henley, getting fro yo in the afternoon, and watching the football game and making dinner with my favorite friend and her husband.  Our weekend was absolutely perfect and now we are back into the crazy schedule called life!

I do have a huge favor for all of you.  As one who believes in the power of prayer I have a request.  My mom is having surgery tomorrow to remove a cyst located on her wrist and I would greatly appreciate it if you could keep her in your prayers tomorrow.  Thank you SO much!