Funny how Instagram has taken over blogging. At least for me 🙂 I know there’s still a big blogging world out there, I mean, look- this blog is still around, I keep paying for it each month and I rarely post! I got burned out on sharing my family’s personal life but really it’s good to celebrate. I was thinking this morning how many times we get to find reasons to celebrate, not only for the 6 birthdays in this house, but the other milestones, anniversaries, graduations, etc. And to think I’ve gone through it all with HIM. I was scrolling back when this blog first started in 2005 and saw our 7th anniversary post. 
I mean I’m totally dating myself by posting that photo with the filter frame on it! Some things haven’t changed- our love, our desire to grow and adventure, our dedication to our family and the laughs we’ve shared together. Unfortunately even the heartaches this past year that have helped us grow together too. I’m forever grateful for this life he gave me. Never taking anything for granted. Happy anniversary to us ❤
Paislee Press free download for Digital SB day!
Digital Scrapbook day is next Saturday and the amazing Liz has put this set together for you, free download until Tuesday, May 3rd. There’s photo templates, available in 3×4 and 4×6 sizes, featuring hand drawn script. The individual wordart elements are also included as individual PNG files. I printed a few pieces out for an upcoming trip I’m taking and using my new Passport Size Midori Traveler’s Notebook to keep it all together. I’m beyond excited! 🙂 
Edited: Jon Canlas took that photo of me and dad. Just Cam and Els came all the way down to San Diego to take pics with him that day. He asked us to come for some workshop he was shooting, I think?? We got some nice pics that day. I think Dad and Cam didn’t love them but I did. The city says NYC birthday weekend, I guess the weekend we went when Grampies got sick? It kinda looks like San Fran for dad’s bday but see that’s why we write things down.
the roosevelt hotel
For our Christmas presents this past year (2015), Chris and I chose to prebook a few mini trips and dates that we could look forward to throughout 2016. This was just a one night stay away and it was only about 14 miles from our house! We stayed at The Roosevelt Hotel. 
We were impressed at how cool this hotel is! 
Because we had no agenda, we roamed the surprisingly massive grounds at The Roosevelt and ventured outside where the tourists congregate for just a brief moment.
A few of my essentials for poolside creating while Chris braved the cold water! I finished that book First & Then and I LOVED IT! It's a YA book, but didn't read too much like one.
Obligatory self timer shot so that we can be included in my books too! :)
We found a little coffee shop a few feet away and spent our morning sketching and reading. Our favorite getaways- ones where we explore our neighborhood, find new places for dates and have nothing on our agendas.
Portland Weekend Getaway
Last weekend, Chris and I had the opportunity to make a quick trip to Portland to explore the city and visit with his sister and her family. It was a lovely break from the heat of Southern California. We ate and drank so much coffee, roamed around Powells and just had the most delightful time! Here are pictures galore! Brought the Midori along with me to try and record the trip. Most times I was good about it, sometimes I forgot. :) 
We stayed at the Ace Hotel, which was conveniently located right next to Stumptown, our favorite! 
The lovely Multnomah Falls. Little bit of drizzle but still lots of people!
Ahhh it's been over 100 degrees here in So Cal, just looking at these pics brings me relief 🙂
As per usual with Chris and traveling, lots of roaming around and walks before 9 am. Perfect.
Bollywood Theatre, yummy food and amazing decor. 
So many pieces of wall art I just loved. 
The one thing that Elsie requests when we go somewhere is a tee shirt of the place we visited. We found this cute shop that sells many local artists. Perfect! Tender Loving Empire.
Powells we love you and could spend days upon days there! 
Unexpected rain means a new set of Docs. Haven't owned them in about 20 years! 
Loved this little book shop that had a little reading art gallery in the back! Reading Frenzy. 
And alas, the sun came out for the last few hours we were in Portland. So pretty and perfect temperature! 
Had the infamous Por Que No tacos for our last meal in Portland. SO GOOD! The decor, I melt. SO CUTE. 
Last stop, Voodoo to bring back for the kids. I thought they were yummy but Elsie's verdict: "They taste like any other donut I've had." The girl has eaten a lot of donuts and we have some pretty good shops here in LA. :) 
We loved our visit cannot wait to get back next year with the whole family!
lorde thanks to instagram
A few weeks ago, I came home from work and plopped on the couch to catch up on instagram. I follow gwynethmademedoit and happened upon her post where she had a few extra tickets to the Lorde concert at the SB bowl. We live in LA. Not super close to SB but not too far either. I quickly snatch up the tix and then call Chris to make sure he can make it home earlier from work. Thanks to WAZE, we make it in record time to watch an amazing show, in the pit, even! Love that we scored some spontaneous date points, always important after 16 years of marriage 😉 WE LOVE YOU LORDE!
ojai for 24 hours
Chris and I often plan little getaways, somewhat nearby. We put them on the calendar, make sure my mom can come stay with the kids and then we get giddy for the next few months as we look forward to having some adult time! But this was a spur of the moment getaway. Like… we planned Thurs night and left Sun morning. We have stayed at the Ojai Valley Spa a few years ago with the kids and loved it but that's a big indulgence! So we went the airbnb route and was so pleasantly surprised!
Morning started at the farmer's market. WHY DIDN'T I BUY SOME BASKETS?! 😦
Our little cottage for the night.
LOVE this place!
Our cottage owner is a potter. Her studio is also on the property and her work is amazing!
Most of our time was spent reading and relaxing by the pool. Chris read Gone Girl. I started Goldfinch.
Fig. I'm pretty sure this is my new favorite store. More than Anthro even! So delightful!
Freaking love all the quotes all over this store.
Shop Summer Camp. Cute, hip little shop for lots of moonrise kingdom sorta stuff. 🙂 Our airbnb owner's pottery is featured there.
Found the tastiest, healthy food at The farmer and the cook. Thanks to yelp! I'm super picky about my smoothies but this one was delish! Also had cashew "cheese" for the first time, on taquitos- SO good.
Cocktails at the Ojai Rancho Inn. Initially tried to get a room here but since the pool was out of order, we went the airbnb route.
Few thoughts about leaving Ojai and going back to busy LA. It's close enough to drive within the day but feel far enough like we got away. It's much quieter in Ojai. People seem more relaxed and are very pro local. I love and appreciate little getaways with my man. They're rejuvenating and relaxing. Good things!
Boyhood
Chris and I saw the movie, Boyhood, a few weeks ago. We were amazed at what they pulled off, filming the same boy, spanning from age 6 to 18. Of course it made me think of my own boys and their own stories they are living. I felt for the mom (Patricia Arquette, love her!) and nodded my head in agreement as other parental situations would come up that I've been through. Good soundtrack, solid acting, thumbs up.
The photo was taken in 2009 by our fave photog Jonathan Canlas. Journaling today, Aug 2014. Not scrapping as much has taken off the pressure to create immediately with new photos and new supplies.
Some notes while creating for the first time in years. 1. Don't try it after sitting in traffic for many hours previously. Mind is already mush and cannot make creative decisions. 2. Brads and black lines around the layout edges are my forever. Did I just date myself?
don’t judge a soup by its texture
my husband is a vegetarian and the rest of us aren't. he's probably the easiest vegetarian I know though. I can make him anything and he's usually pretty happy. last night I noticed I had a plethora of sweet potatoes. I roasted them and some cauliflower, threw it in the food processor with a little veggie broth and a dash of half and half and called it done. he was hesitant when he saw the baby food resemblance but devoured and thanked me for his new favorite soup. this was mine with a dollop of cream and basil. his had red pepper flakes and a fresh shave of parmesan atop. yum.
together
he's been traveling but is now home. i can't explain how out of whack my head and heart gets when he's gone. i'm so thankful for all my munchkins that keep me on my toes, not too much time to really feel sorry for myself! he's my partner that gets to tackle our day to day life with moi- working, parenting. parenting especially. last week was incredibly emotional for me. as soon as i picked him up from the airport till the minute we fell asleep, i don't think i stopped talking. 🙂
i love him.
(i'm super thankful for my 2 girls (sil and conster) who babysat me on text/fb/phone while i talked their ears off everrrryday) 🙂
layout for writeclickscrapbook.
lots of goodies from studio calico and some basic grey here.
super cool photo by the amazing jonathan canlas.
reunited
last weekend. he's been traveling quite a bit lately and it's good to have my other half back home with me! he walks and drives the kids to school for me in the morning so that i can stay indoors with elsie in our jammies. and while he was gone, racing to get everyone out the door- not an easy task. i always pack lunches in the morning, even though the night before would be more practical. i am not a morning person. i will tell you that i drive in my pajamas 🙂 just getting out the door on time is good enough for me. and of course we happened to run out of coffee and instead of just ordering some online, i did the thing that we haven't done since july- go to starbucks! we got this machine and it has been so wonderful for us to just make our own coffee at home and not spend a fortune at starbucks every week. my week was just off. besides being exhausted in general- i tend to stay up till the wee hours and then have to wake up for school in the morning- vicious cycle…i found myself missing conversations. it's just not the same to converse over email and texting. i miss my daily need to unload every detail of my life and our kids lives to my husband. it was emotionally exhausting as well. thank goodness for my inlaws, who live nearby, i frequently visit them to keep my loneliness to a minimum. and to let elsie unload some of her energy and chattiness onto other family members 🙂
but ahhh all is well back in our household. we are complete.
watersix 