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12.20.2011

on our 2nd date of christmas...



We celebrated my birthday, good ole' December 17th! My favorite part is always midnight, when my husband is the first to shower me with birthday love. This year I was so tired I wasn't aware of the time and he surprised me with a HUGE  birthday balloon, pretty roses (my favorite), and a red velvet candle lit cake. He is precious.

A much needed haircut/hydrating hair therapy was welcomed, merry carolers greeted passerby's with their cheery melodies on main street in Ventura, a family dinner outing was enjoyed & bazooki's, courtesy of my sister (the best bazooka baker) were devoured. 

I really love this time of the year, and that I get to celebrate another year of life in this festive season.

12.19.2011

on our 1st date of christmas...

My boy & I went for an evening walk at zuma beach in Malibu.
Fresh ocean air & a pretty sunset was welcomed.
And climbing mini sand hills made me very happy!
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Then our all-time favorite fish-n-chips shack, Malibu Seafood, filled our tummies.
Food always tastes that much more delicious when surrounded by colorful christmas lights and a beautiful view of the sunset ocean.
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12.14.2011

12 dates of christmas.


I felt that what better way to celebrate this lovely time of the year
 than with 12 little dates with my husband?
Exactly.

So I joined in on marci's  12 dates of christmas idea, which her friend naomi spread the word on.

Join in! And if you do, send me a link :)

11.29.2011

be here now.



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for thanksgiving, the husband & i enjoyed 3 different family gatherings. i got to spend sometime visiting with my grandma and grandpa on my dad's side. i made my grandma a batch of chocolate chip cookies (specially for her) since it's her faavorite. then we all went to my mom's side at my nina's ranch and feasted over a delicious meal in a cozy home surrounded by lots and lots of lovely family. we ended the night visiting ryan's family and his grandma who flew in for the holiday, and it was so nice just sitting around chatting.


i used to think it was kinda a hassle to visit all these families in one day, but really, it made me realize how special each and every family is and how many loved ones i am so thankful to have in my life. i love family. 


{oh yeaa, thought i should mention ryan and i saw the muppets thanksgiving night and it was pretty darn cute. minus the fact that i can't stay awake during movies past 8pm anymore for the life of me. i'm old}.  

11.23.2011

as of lately.

as of late i've been thankful for simple things like...

comfortable winter clothes aka cooler weather

fruit.fruit.fruit. loving persimmons

raisin box quote on the lid: "change will come; it's a lifetime guarantee"

more random quotes: "let a smile be your nametag"


11.22.2011

dr. conkey's candy & coffee co.


have you ever been to dr. coney's candy & coffee co? if you are ever near simi valley area please do!
you'll be glad you did.

i stumbled upon this treasure cove while running errands during dusk with the husband. it was a rainy dark night and the lit up sign of this little store immediately drew my attention. ryan already knew about this place and was happy to be the first person to take me there (uhhh, how had i not been here before having grown up so close in the area?) 

that changed quickly.

this is so funnn because it's a shopping/gift store filled with antiques and pretty things to take with you and decorate your home with (i scored a vintage wooden calendar, pictures to come later). but it's also a bakery/coffee/candy shop! this is the place to find 
your holiday cup of chai latte or bundle of homemade fudge goodness.
i know we'll be visiting soon, my now favorite local coffee shop.

{i apologize for the bad quality photos}



11.18.2011

cozy mornings.


quiet, cozy mornings are absolute bliss. mornings like this*: waking up in a warm cabin in the forest, driving in the rain with my husband to a waffle cafe full of sweet, heart warming aromas. 

*from our trip to lake arrowhead

on a happy friday side note, thank you to naomi for sharing this past week that marcel the shell is back!! with a book in tow and a possible tv show! hurrah! 

11.11.2011

muse costume ball.

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                                       tea party alice                                                                          fox spirit
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                                                                           she wants revenge concert
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                                                                                      beetlejuice dj
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 ryan drove us here with my eyes closed just to show me this wonderful lit up sign, knowing i would appreciate it. love the little things he does to show he's thinking of me.


I know I'm playing catch up here (my dearest apologies for being absent around here as of late): October 29th the husband and I celebrated Halloween at the Muse Costume Ball at LACMA. We love Halloween, and the mystical vibe of the event was quite entertaining. Personally I'm used to dressing up every Halloween and seeing lots of little people in costume since I work with children. This year it  sure was the sight to see sooo many adults dressed up and go all the way out. No slutty costumes here...(sorry if you like that kinda thing) but there were so many creative costumes that night. My favorite was a lady dressed as Coraline and her friend as the other mother. I love!


Best part, unfortunately no pictures could be taken, was the limited Tim Burton exhibit. Seeing sketches of the movies I love forming on paper was amazing, and so was seeing the original hands of Edward Sissorhands! Burton rules.


oh, happy 11/11/11 & Veterans Day!

10.20.2011

lake arrowhead.


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Weekend getaway  to Lake Arrowhead with the DeLang family.
Thunder storms at night, smell of rain in the forest, boat rides on the lake, 
watching movies in bed, good food, sleeping in a cozy loft, family bonding time...


I love little family trips.

10.13.2011

a quote.

via tumblr
"When a woman has a kingdom heart, she has an active understanding of what matters most to the heart of God.  She lives in the balance of passion and contentment.  She learns to love well, give without regard to self, and forgive without hesitation.  The woman with a kingdom heart may have a duffel bag full of possessions or enough treasures to fill a mansion, but she has learned to hold them with an open hand.  Hold everything with open hands.  I don't think we are ever allowed to grab hold of anything or anyone as though they matter more than the kingdom of heaven.  When you hold relationships with open hands, then people come in and out of your life as gifts of grace to be cherished and enjoyed, not objects to be owned and manipulated.  And then when you hold your dreams with open hands, you get to watch God resurrect what seemed dead and multiply what seemed small."

A Beautiful Offering, by Angela Thomas

10.11.2011

mother & daughter outing.


i'm really enjoying our local town's farmers market in moorpark. the friendly, health vibe definitely took me back to the markets up in northern california. but it was even better because i was able to go with my mom! 

i love mother daughter evenings tasting and picking fresh fruit while browsing ideas for lovely handmade jewelry for my grandma to make. i'm thinking this needs to happen more often.