Disney...we're coming for you!

Ever since we started dating, Seth and I have been going to Disneyland for New Years with a big group of our friends.

Year 1: we were babies!!

Every year its a slightly different dynamic, but each year has been a total blast.

We get up at the butt crack of dawn, aka 2:30 and drive the 7 hour drive to Anaheim and are at the park ALL day. 

But this year, since Seth and I decided to take our honeymoon a couple months after we got married, we won't be able to go to Disney and there has been a mouse eared shape hole in my heart since we decided.

Year 2: still babies!

Not that I'm not excited to go to NYC for New Years and then go on a cruise to the Bahama's...I mean...who could honestly complain about that?! But our friends are already counting down the days and are talking about their plans for this years trip and I get a little sad hearing about it.

Our two good friends Alex and Kristina eat, sleep, and breathe Disney, and they happened to be like brother and sister to Seth which means they are now mine too! Yesterday, we were invited to go down to So-Cal, stay with Kristina for the night in San Diego and go to Disneyland!!

Year 3: looking more like we do now!

Oh man, we do not have the finances right now to go. But we vowed to not eat out for 2 months and to save every penny so we can go.  Also, we are obviously hoping I get that job tomorrow because that will help a lot!

Anywho, Friday afternoon we are planning on hittin' the road, I'll be packing (hopefully) most of our food so we don't have to eat park food or eat out all of the time. And, I heard AAA has discounted tickets and parking passes? Anything we can do to save a buck! That being said, do you guys have any suggestions on saving money at Disneyland? 

We're crossing our fingers that this is just the break we need to relax, have tons of fun, and spend time with our friends!

And let's be real, I really just want to wear our newlywed Mickey and Minnie ears all day. :)

Monday Morning Virtual Coffee Date

Good morning blog friends. It's a little foggy and dark down here in garlic land am I'm contemplating what to do with my day.

Maybe yoga?

Maybe gym?

Definitely cleaning, again.

Definitely grocery shopping.

Maybe some organizing.

The options are endless while I'm unemployed.

If we were out for a real time coffee date I would tell you about the huge transition my life seems to be in.

Newly married.

New town.

No local friends.

No job.

No church home, yet.

I would tell you about the countless jobs I've applied to in the past week, and how I'm trying not to sell myself short by applying at a job someone right out of high school could get. I would tell you that I'm not being patient, you see I'm not very good at this patience thing. I would tell you about my goal at the end of the week to have at least one interview. I would tell you that Seth and I are praying for direction for a job for me, but that I'm still not great at being patient, so to pray for that too.

I would tell you that going into event-planning is sounding really appealing right now. But maybe that's the wedding planning stuff still lingering. I would express my excitement after all of the positive feedback we got from our wedding, I had so many people tell me that I could plan weddings professionally, I just wish it wasn't such a hard industry to get in to.

I would tell you that current life seems to be dream-like. I keep waking up next to Seth and thinking we are on vacation, or that somehow this isn't all real. I would ask if it was the same for you when you got married. But then I would explain how waking up next to Seth every morning feels right, and that marriage is a great blessing that God has given us.

I would tell you that cooking has been interesting, especially when meal-planning and grocery shopping is totally foreign to me.  I would tell you of Seth's graciousness, or maybe his lack of pickiness. Last night he told me that dinner tasted like I'd been cooking for 50 years, I wonder if our dinner guests would say the same thing.

Speaking of dinner guests, I would ask if you wanted to come down to Gilroy for the evening.  We provide dinner, wine, games, and maybe hookah if you're interested.  We like having people over, we like entertaining...I think this will be a trend for our family. Speaking of family, I would ask why as soon as you're married people start asking about kids. I've been asked at least 4 times when we're going to start having kids!

I would tell you about the church we have now visited twice. It's in North San Jose, and it takes about 30 mins to get there from our place. Every time we mention that we live in Gilroy, people practically shriek and ask if it's too far for us to come. If I'm being honest, it doesn't make me feel great when people ask that so we are going to try another Acts 29 church soon that's closer to us. I would tell you that once we find a church home, I will feel more at home, and that the puzzle of our busy life will feel more complete.

There's a chance that you would ask about Seth and school, I would smile and tell you that he is really enjoying it.  Not only is he enjoying it, but he is excelling at it too! I might express my worry about the job market for A&P mechanics for when he is done, and that I constantly need to be reminded of God's sovereignty over that.  There's a lot of "What-If's" in our life right now, I would ask you to join me in prayer about the huge "What-If's".

You might ask about my Etsy shop and handmade crafty business. I would tell you that I have some ideas brewing, but until I have a job situation figured out I don't want to make any moves. I would tell you about our huge closet full of all the stuff that we don't have room for, and that includes crafts. But then I would tell you about how excited I am to get our wedding pictures back so I can start scrapbooking. Because, you can ALWAYS make time for scrapbooking your wedding!

After all of that information, you might be a little sick of me talking so I might let you update me on your life. I enjoy listening to other peoples life stories, I don't ever compare them to my own but smile at the complexity of everyone's story and the variety of it all.  I would encourage you to be totally present wherever you are, to enjoy it all, to drink it all in, and to find some way to record and remember it all.

I would now conclude our date. In this time I have decided to go to yoga, all the wedding stress made my muscles become super tense so I've got to find a way to let it out! I would give you a hug and send you on your way...

Have a great day!

Thankful

I've done a lot of ranting, raging, and complaining lately. 

I could sit here and blame the wedding stuff, but I also need to fess up and tell you that my attitude has been rather negative.

I guess that's what happens when you put other priorities before the Lord, every single time it knocks me down and He gently picks me back up and puts me back on track.

"This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life."

1 Timothy 1:15-16

Today, I am thankful for many things, maybe so many because I haven't stopped to think in a while how blessed I really am. 

Church family

Encouraging friends

Friends that are always willing to help

Friends that bring you wine when you are overwhelmed

Parents who provide

Family that is wacky (not always a bad thing)

Childhood memories recalled

Fiancee's that will do anything to make you smile and surprise you with a HUGE bowl of frozen yogurt

Generous In-laws

Creative friends that help with last minute decorations

And now for the list of inanimate objects:

Super cute coffee mugs

Non-chewed up nails

Comfortable childhood beds

Early morning puppy snuggles

This practice is so easy, and instantly fixes my mood. As the next two weeks get crazier than ever before, I want to practice thankfulness every day!!

Also, 13 days. That is CRAY-ZAY.

Why I Love NOT Camping.

life motto.

Three years ago I hastily agreed to go camping with Seth and his buddies.  This was mostly because we were so attached at the hip that I couldn't manage my birthday weekend without him, but also because I wanted to prove that I could survive a weekend of camping.

I was promised bathrooms, a campsite, and a really easy experience. 

What we got?

If you take the worst camping circumstances you can possibly dream of, and times it by 10, it might come close to describing the awfulness of this traumatic life story you are about to hear.

Might.

Let's put all the pieces together:

1. We got lost on the drive up and 3.5 hours turned into 8 hours of driving.

2. The truck we drove was stiff with no suspension and the ride was bumpier than a 6.0 earthquake.

3. We arrived in the dark, and there were no open camp sites to be found.

4. We had to sleep the first night OUTSIDE, uncovered. (hello, nightmare)

5. When we woke up we discovered that there were still no camp sites, so these crazy kids decide..."lets RAFT out to an ISLAND. I bet there's no one camping there."

6. There was no dirt on the island, just rocks, oh and there weren't any trees either -- which also means no bathrooms or privacy or shade. Hello sunburn.

7. Did I mention I'm terribly phobic of water? Minor detail. These crazies spent the whole weekend cliff jumping while I photographed, I love how Erik looks like he's kicking Seth in this one.

8. It was in the upper 90's all weekend and without shade and a short water supply...

unhappy camper.

9. Did I mention it was my birthday?

I had every right to show my sass

 

10. Half of our food was ruined by explosion of dry ice, this in particular was meant for my birthday breakfast.

11. Our dear friend CJ tore her MCL cliff diving on the first day of our trip.

I do believe this is the jump that tore the knee! 

12. Oh, and when we were trying to leave we discovered the HOLE in the RAFT. What came next was some speedy gum chewing to patch the hole, just to barely make it to shore half sunken with all of our stuff. I was under all of the stuff in the half sunken raft in water that I am terrified to be close to.

One upside: it was super beautiful at night

We like to look back on this weekend and laugh.

I still get patted on the back for being such a trooper, but I was really dying on the inside. 

And that is why I will not go camping ever again for a really really really long time.

I hope this made you laugh, I had fun reliving the experience knowing that my camping experience could only get better from here.

Do you have any camping horror stories?

Birthday Part 2

My birthday has always been a low-key event. SO many people are gone this time of year on vacation that its virtually impossible to plan something. I planned a small BBQ for those who weren't invited to my showers this weekend, I felt bad overloading people on celebrating me. Being awesome gets tough sometimes. 

:)

Seth and I had a few hours before the BBQ so we decided to go to the zoo. I love random adventures with this guy, and it was a perfectly quiet day in San Francisco. Here are some of my favorites.

This awesome Barn Owl had a GIANT wing span. I wish I could have taken a shot of it!

Check out this turtle. If I were a turtle, I would dream of a shell like that!

Who knew peacocks had such long feathers? They were free to roam on the grounds of the zoo, it was a little nerve racking to see one haphazardly running towards you but they were used to humans!

This was my favorite peacock of all :)

I need new tires on my car. So instead of an expensive birthday dinner I asked for a BBQ that was cheap so my parents could give me money towards my tires. I think it was a pretty sweet deal. They said they would have rather gone out because it was a lot of work. Welp...sorry for trying to be efficient with money, mom and dad!

These peeps make me happy

This cake makes me even happier. Dreagers makes the best strawberry mousse cake you've ever had. Go buy it, now. 

Staredowns. All day, every day.

The boys like to snuggle...more than the average group of bros.

Angelo made a new furry friend. You can bet Autumn loved all the company. 

The fantastic girls that celebrated me all weekend. LOVE YOU!

My amazing Maid of Honor flew in ON my birthday. This is the first time I've got to see her on my birthday! My heart was full and I was so lucky to have her here. 

Bridesmaid dress + silly friend = THIS
The girls get to pick how to wear there dresses for the wedding. This is Ashley's top choice at the moment ;)

I have great friends. I had a wonderfully special birthday this year, I know 22 is going to be the best one yet!

Now, please excuse me while I go finish off that cake.

Who am I kidding, I paused in the middle of typing, went to the fridge and ate it before I was done with this post.

Now go buy it so I can create a new addict. Whoever you are, you're welcome.

Birthday Recap

Well, I survived this weekend which is hard to believe. I can't wait to tell you about all the fun that was had! I am reminded of the amazing people that God has placed in my life -- and the past few days have been the best ones this year. 

Thursday was my 22nd birthday, and my friend Toby decided a few months ago to buy tickets to see Kelly Clarkson and The Fray for it! I could bring a friend, so Haeley, Toby and I set out on Wednesday afternoon to Concord.  We decided to stay overnight in Concord, and avoid the madness of trying to drive over an hour home that night! 

We started the night with mexican food and margaritas. How else do you celebrate a birthday?!

"We'll take 2 pitchers of the Raspberry Margaritas, please!"

There was a lot of laughing. A lot of clanking glasses. And a ton of eating. Oh and did I mention margaritas? 

After dinner we hopped in a taxi to head to the venue.  And of course, taxis are the best places to take pictures, right?

It was FREEZING at the stadium. We all thought, East Bay must be HOT this time of year...well we were wrong. We snuggled up under one blanket all night, dancing when we could to warm up! Next time, you bet we will be better prepared!

And finally, the concert was amazing. Carolina Liar opened, followed by The Fray and Kelly Clarkson. I personally have been waiting to dance my a$$ of to Kelly Clarkson since I was 14 and went through my first break up. "Since You've Been Gone" was on repeat 24 hours a day during that time, I even played it on my ipon while I was sleeping. Can you say dramatic?

Thanks to my wonderful friends for making my birthday awesome. You guys rock!

Come back tomorrow for more recaps on my crazy weekend!

xo

22: A Birthday Post

5 years ago I was...

Turning 17. 

Thinking about college. 

Just had met Seth.

A senior in High School.

Wanting independence.

A baby.

SO much has happened since then. And I know I will experience the same kind of change in the next 5 years to come. 

Today as I turn 22:

I am . . .

A soon to be wifey.

A church planter.

A crafty shop owner.
A bookworm, wannabe historian, and a collector.

I want . . .

A hot yoga membership.

An endless supply of buttons.

A house on the beach.

Smaller feet.

I have . . .

A man who adores me.

Friends that spoil me.

Family that supports me.

A Savior who died for me.

I hate . . .

Olives

Cheese.

Open water.

Loud noises.
Bugs.
Bra straps that show.
The list goes on..

I wonder . . .

about life in the future. Friendships, church, jobs..

I regret . . .

Harsh words;

that I can't ever take back.

I need . . .

Lots of reassuring.

Frequent date nights.

Patience.

Coffee every morning.
Coke Zero.

I never . . .

want to plan a wedding again. amen.

I am not . . .

Brave.

Adventurous.
Spontaneous.

I rarely . . .

Swear;

I try my hardest not to let emotions cause me to say ugly things.

Wear socks;
they always get in my way!

I always . . .

Feel like I'm not doing enough; 

feelings of inadequacy run deep.
BUT.
I always know the love of Jesus surrounds me,
and that my adequacy cannot be defined by the world.

I wish . . .

The weekends were longer and the working week shorter.

That pre-wedding bliss could last forever.
That gas was free.
That girls weren't dramatic.
That bugs didn't exist. 

I love . . .

Fresh laundry

White tee-shirts

Buttons.

Puzzles.
Winnie the Pooh.

I am...22!