Rules

We went to Boulder Creek Ranch this lovely afternoon because we didn't get a chance to go last year. We were curious about what was there, so we wandered around the lake for a while...when suddenly we were escorted off the property for breaking rule #22. Oops.

Funny {and a little mean}

Don't make me put your name in this book.

Magnificent

My Street

{My} Street

 

i heart the instagram app!

Chad turns 21

You can check him out on YouTube

{Rainy} Beach Day

Getting out of town for the day for a trip to the beach. Our original plan was to go to JackSHRIMP for lunch and then head into LA for the Getty Museum & the Griffith Observatory. Our original, original plan was to go to Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant but when Brandin heard we were going down the hill for the day he invited us to go with he & Kayla to Newport. But...JackSHRIMP didn't open till 5pm and the museum closed at 5 so we decided to spend the day at the beach and wait for the restaurant to open. That led us to BJ's Pizza where I taste tested 8 different beers {yum}. Then off to the rainy but beautiful beach...and the following adventures...A jump for joy that ended with a sprained ankle for Kayla :( a trip to the bank, Starbucks, {funny signs} Walgreen's for pain meds & an ace bandage, BevMo! for drinks, Sprinkles for cupcakes and JackSHRIMP for dinner!

 

You're welcome for all of the useful links I have included in this post :) and to end here is the "Jump for Joy" that caused Kayla's sprained ankle...

 

the end.

Say Good Morning

This is my beautiful niece Mallorie last May when the family got together for my youngest sister's high school graduation. It was a treat for my mom to have all of her kids & grand-kids in the same house for a couple of days :) Mallorie was about to do some coloring while waiting patiently for our big pancake breakfast. I pointed the camera at her and said, "Say Good Morning" ...this is the look I got...and I love it!

Happy

Having fun with the Instagram App :)

 

AND...I will undoubtedly be putting on a few pounds on a quest for ponies! I don't often eat at McDonald's but the lure of My Little Pony for both my daughter, age 17 and Ava, age 3 has put me in the drive-thru line a couple of times already...you're never too old to order a happy meal! :)

Ava's Birthday Celebration

She turned 3 on January 11, but today was the day to celebrate Ava♥! Ashley set up a wonderful Strawberry Shortcake themed party with plans for the kiddos to decorate their own mini-strawberry cupcakes. Chaos shortly ensued! What happens when you give bags full of pink frosting to a bunch of 1-7 year old kids? The pictures tell the story and it was a fun-filled afternoon with the little girl I have come to love as one of my own! I love you Ava! Happy 3rd Birthday Cupcake Princess!

A New Journal

My love surprised me with a new leather bound journal this morning :) He is always encouraging me to "just write". I look forward to filling it up with thoughts & memories. It's fun to blog but there is just something extra special about the written words in your own handwriting forever captured in a journal.

Cinnamon Toast Review

 

My review: I heart ANYTHING cinnamon so this was easy to love, but 15 minutes to prepare cinnamon toast is a bit much for me :) I am still partial to the "gross" approach to making cinnamon toast! Anyway, if you toast your bread just right, cover it in softened (real) butter and sprinkle on that cinnamon-sugar GENEROUSLY, it's still pretty wonderful.

Also, I'm thinking I just like the butter-sugar-cinnamon-vanilla mixture to spread on pancakes! I'll try it and let you know :)

I'm Addicted

And THIS is why I'm addicted to blog surfing! I have been making cinnamon toast ALL wrong for like 30 years! Eeeks, I had no idea! But now I know and I can't go back lol...and now YOU know too :) ...you're welcome very much!

Cinnamon Toast the Right Way!

Loving the Pioneer Woman's blog right now!

American Idol = Awesome

Well it looks like it's going to be a fun season after all! I love the Steven & Jennifer vibe :) Here is a photo that I expect will be repeated every Wednesday & Thursday night for the next four months...

 

One More Day

Looking forward to enjoying the new season OR talking crap about it. Hehe.

Oh The Sunshine!

The beautiful weather is making me happy! I want to pull off my thick wintry socks, put on my flip-flops and paint my toenails! I have lived in So Cal all my life and I am still in awe of the spring-like winter days we get blessed with so often.

~Smiles~

Spontaneous Beach Trip

We got a text from Kayla saying, "bonfire tonight at the beach?:) leaving around 5" I just happened to have the night off work so we said yes. First a stop at The Hat for some grub. Yum. Quick freeway drive to Huntington Beach where M. Steele happily takes our $15 to enter the state park. Found a pit with hot embers...we have FIRE! Run to the water to see if it's warm enough for skinny dipping (luckily it's not!). It's already a Full Moon anyway! The camera reflects the moisture in the air so it looks like it's snowing at the beach. Kayla's middle name should be JOY. Lions, "Tig-ons", & Bears Oh My! I only had one drink, really :). Cold Feet. Hot Fire. Smoky Kisses. And of course, S'MORES! 

...and here is the story as told by the camera :)

The End. A wonderful night.

I used PSP Photo X2 - Time Machine/Cross Process filter on all of the photos :)