Nevada City.

Since I've moved here, I've been aching to see my friends from Hawaii.

With Doug, Becky and sweet baby Tuck only hours away, I couldn't resist a short trip to the DeMartini household up North. 

I had so much fun! It is so beautiful up there and their house was amazing.

We went out to eat in quirky diners in Grass Valley, went up in Doug's dad's airplane, made homemade everything, (ice cream, wooden buttons, which I've wanted to do forever!, etc.) went biking along the ditch, had some crazy tennis lessons, and enjoyed some of the best sunsets I've ever seen from their back deck.

 Made from tree branches with a chop saw, a drill press, and a sander. I will be putting these to great use, just not sure where yet!

We went down by the river and attempted to take some normal pictures, which, let's face it, would not be very normal for us. So, there you have it. All the while, there is a stench of funny cigarettes in the atmosphere. Which may be causing our kookiness.

All in all, it was a great couple of days and I miss these guys already.

Especially this little face...

I love you DeMartinis!

"Whale of a Time"

I've recently had an obsession with whales. 

Any kind really, but killer whales have been on my brain. 

I read an article about how there have been several orca sightings at the Marina right down the street from my house and the past two nights I have had extremely vivid, crazy dreams about huge killer whales. 

The one last night was especially memorable:

I was driving down the road and spotted a pod of whales that were jumping and dancing in the sunlight. It looked like Waimea Bay, which is odd, but that's what it looked like. I ran down to the beach and the whales were surfing in the giant waves. There were hundreds of them...huge ones and baby ones following behind. Is sat there for hours in my dream. I was the only one around and it was like they were putting on a private show just for me. They would swim up close and acknowledge my presence and almost smile at me. 

Could have something to do with this footage that was taken, literally, a mile from my house.

So, so envious that I wasn't there. 

Killer Whales spotted in Dana Point Harbor

Well, just days before this footage was taken, Sarah and I ventured out on a whale watch and only saw one lowly grey whale and hundreds of dolphins. Which was, don't get me wrong, amazing. However, I still wish we would have seen  the Orcas!

Holli Jolly Christmas.

My Christmas was so, so very wonderful.

I was extremely happy to see Sarah after a couple years and we definitely picked up where we left off.

It was like we had never been apart. 

I am so incredibly blessed to have friends that are truly, fantastic people.

Our Christmas Eve day consisted of a drive down Pacific Coast Highway, blasting classic holiday tunes, antiquing, and visiting the Historic District of Crystal Cove in Newport Beach. There was the most beautiful Christmas Tree and cutest little houses right on the beach! Beautiful little shacks. 

I could definitely make myself at home in one of these cozy cottages.

That evening we went down to Strands to watch the sunset and it was definitely a great show. Sparkling cider and foam cups in tote,  we were the certainly the classiest. 

Went home, made my favorite Christmas cookies (Peanut Butter Blossoms) and watched Meet Me in St. Louis. I cannot think of a single other thing I could have done that would have made my Christmas more great. The holiday season was in the air and I was just, pardon the pun, Holli Jolly. 

At midnight, we decided...."Hey, there are no parents here! Nobody can tell us we have to wait until morning to open our presents!" So, at precisely 12:01 am, we opened stockings and presents. 

More adventures of Sarah and Holli to come!

Gingerbread Lovin'

Well, I don't know about you, but I am gearing up for some fantastic

holiday festivities over the next few days. I have my sweet Sarah coming to visit me and I am ecstatic!

One fun holiday thing I've spotted around my hotel is this amazing gingerbread display. 

After it was completed and I finally got a close up look at everything, I was floored at the attention to detail. All I could think about were all the people I wanted to share it with. First, my mother came to mind and I thought "My mom could totally do this! She would love it!". Then, I thought of all my favorite little people: Alex, who I know would be just as in awe as I was. Then I thought of the Uluave clan and how they would be all over it (and probably take a couple bites out of it), and I heard Malia's raspy voice in my head saying "look at all that candy". Then I thought of lil' Tucker and how he would love the giant gingerbread boat. I also thought of Doug and Becky and their love for lighthouses. So, I guess there is a lot more to it than just the sight of the oh, so much teeth rotting candy. It honestly made me a little emotional, because it instantly made me think of people I love and how much I wish they were here to enjoy the holidays and this phenomenal display of sugar with me. 

This thing is MASSIVE.

M&M's, Gummy Sharks, and blue skittles are the ocean. 

Those are runts! So creative!

 Luau! That's a little pig on a spit.

More holiday fun to come!

A few of my favorite things...

about living in California are the following:

-The Farmer's Market right down the street from my house

- The fact that I can still watch surfers (& I'm still close to the Ocean!)

- I get to see friends I haven't been able to hang out with in a long time

At the farmer's market, I found a stand for a bakery that makes all different kinds of Sourdough bread and I'm obsessed. I will probably be going there every Saturday to get my weekly stash. Also, beautiful, red, ripe strawberries in December. Thank you California!

Chloe and I took the afternoon to reacquaint ourselves with the American Girl collection.
This store was insane! I remember as a kid all the little accessories, but this store had EVERYTHING.

And, in other good news: I bought a new camera and will try to start loading some quality photos on here. So, stay tuned!

Thanksgiving

I am so grateful.

This is but a short list.

I could go on and on and on.

Happy Thanksgiving!