10 on 10: Santa Cruz Mother's Day Edition

Saturday morning. 

Americano, & scrambled eggs with avocado.

Snug as a bug in a rug.

I see you. 

Waiting to go.

Returning a block of cheese and 2 avocados. And some mother's day booty.

Dropping off some goodies to grandma. 

Finally made it to Santa Cruz. Hanging at (under) the wharf.

The Boardwalk, so photogenic.

And so classic.

Back in town. Tzatziki & gyros, mediterranean food is my love language.

Ending this gorgeous day with a smile on my face and pink shoulders, by linking up with Rebekah!

Mylie's Guest Post

Mylie and I teamed up for a little guest post over at my sweet friend April's blog today. 

She's off gallivanting on her honeymoon, and I'm only slightly jealous.

Head on over to The Striped Flamingo to read about one of our recent adventures!!!

Be Crafty AZ: An Adventure to Remember

If you pull the letters from Be Crafty AZ, you can also make the words Be Crazy.
Which, if you think about the fact that I spent 25 out of 72 hours on the road for this adventure, I absolutely signed up for Be Crazy.

And you know what, it was totally worth it.

I left work a little early on Friday afternoon, and sadly not early enough, as I hit awful Friday traffic while I headed south to Katy's house.

I consoled myself with Dark Chocolate Cadbury Mini Eggs and a Diet Cherry Coke from Sonic (happy hour, praises!)

Thankfully, as I sat in traffic along the Pacheco Pass, I got to admire California showing off her gorgeous spring landscape.

I mean, right?

Katy and I sat together on her couch for about an hour after I got there, before we were the grown ups we are, and put ourselves to bed. We had an early morning and long day ahead.

Up before the sun, we started making our way out of California.

We were greeted by some gorgeous skies, which my iPhone could do no justice.
And before we knew it, we were almost halfway to Arizona, driving through the great windmills of Palm Springs.

Everytime I have driven through these towering structures, it has been for something really awesome.
(Resolved Conferences and a Bachelorette Party).

This trip was no exception.

Before we knew it, we were in the vast California desert quickly approaching the Arizona border.

Rest stops that promised restrooms and services, were nothing more than dusty boarded up buildings, and abandoned gas stations. Right out of Cars.

Thankfully, Katy and I had bladders of steel, and managed to keep composed for the next 40 miles.
Which looked a lot like this.

For 8 hours to Arizona (and another 8 hours back). Katy and I didn't listen to one song, sermon, or radio show. We just talked. For a total of 16 hours. Ha! I guess we really have the gift of gab.

Finally, we crossed in to Arizona. Crossing something off my bucket list, posing by a "you're now entering such and such state" sign.

Me, Katy, and the Grand Canyon State had a full on photoshoot on the side of the road.
We shortly stopped for lunch at the funniest little town, Quartzsite, AZ, where the people watching and roadside stands were divine. I seriously regret not taking any pictures.

A couple short hours later, we had arrived at our hotel, where we kicked off our shoes, closed our eyes, and caught a couple of much needed zzzz's.

After that, Katy and I headed over to the Lovliest of Homes, belonging to Heather, who was a gracious and incredible hostess with the mostess. 

Where we enjoyed a warm spring Arizona evening with blog and instagram friends, new and old.

 I also spent the evening plotting how I could stash Heather's pup in my purse without her knowing.

And we had a blast taking Instax Pics with each other, and now I totally want one.

Here's Katy and I with Amanda and Lesley. 

Next thing we knew, it was time to get up and get going off to the Be Crafty Workshop.

 

But first, coffee.

We arrived on site, at the Old Main at the ASU Campus, and while I ran a quick errand, these ladies transformed the place into something magical.
It literally looked like this when I walked in.

The grand entrance, was exactly that, GRAND.

How cute is my felt flower nametag made by Cole!
It's one of my most favorite things, she makes incredible felt flowers!

And the Be Crafty AZ Team
Cole, Heather, Katy, Amanda, Lesley, and Kate!

With three adorable new friends, Ruth, Rebekah, and Annalea.

And with Katygirl, of course. 

I tried to hijack Lesley's chalk art lesson with a lesson on how to draw Cat Emojis.

Thankfully, Lesley didn't allow that to happen, and I ended up with something pretty awesome. (At least I feel like it's pretty awesome. It needs a little touching up though.

I also met some wonderful ladies, who were crafting at the table with us. It was so fun to laugh and craft together.

And the sweet Be Crafty girls, knowing we had an 8 hour drive ahead of ourselves, squeezed us and hugged us, and sent us on our way, with mason jars full of lemonade.

We headed west, chasing the sunset as we went.

And stopping for a photo op...

Or two.

The next morning, I woke up at Katygirl's, enjoyed coffee with her and her kids. Played some I Spy, read a few books, watched some Tinkerbell, had lunch with everybody, including Scottyboy, and then hit the road for the final leg of my trip home.

Where, I promptly placed myself on my couch for the rest of the night, with a margarita in my Mason Bar Jar, both exhausted and refreshed from a time of being social, and creative, and enjoying friends. It was a whirlwind of an adventure, and one for the record books.

Weekendlies: The Pre-Christmas Break 4-Day Weekend

An extended weekend calls for two collage recaps.

1. My very own cottage.

2. A night in Napa.

3. Wine cave.

4. Finest dining of my life. 

5. Work buddies.

6. Tea & cookies.

7. Wine country.

8. Post hike refreshment.

9. Pink Grapefruit Mimosas.

1. Mylie paper.

2. The million dollar gift.

3. Jingle Juice.

4. Christmas cheer.

5. Beautiful friends.

6. No words needed.

7. White elephants are my favorite.

8. Joy.

9. My Sunday snuggle buddy.

Magical Weekending!

Hi.
How is everyone?
It's already Wednesday Saturday, and I haven't been able to recap my latest weekending. However, the good news is my weekend ended yesterday Tuesday. The bad news is my weekend ended yesterday Tuesday. (Edit: I started this blog on Wednesday, and am finishing it on Saturday, oops!)

Let's just start off by saying, I'd been looking forward to this past weekend for MONTHS.
A while back Katy invited me to come visit, and that visit parlayed into a quick trip down to the land of all things Mickey and Mouse.

I'd been looking forward to it so much, I had a countdown rolling on an app on my phone.

Sometimes when I look forward to things so much, I come back disappointed.
With my visit with Katy, this was not the case. Not even close.

Instead, I wish I was still rolling shotgun by her side. Holding her sweet kiddo's squishy hands and watching some Curious George with a cup of coffee and a pumpkin muffin loaded with pumpkin butter.

Doing life. That's what Katy and I did.
Well, except for the quick visit to Sleeping Beauty's castle.
Still doing life, just the really magical kind. 

I left town early on Saturday AM, surprisingly containing my packing to one suitcase and one backpack.
I grabbed a grande Blonde Roast, 2 pumps of sugar free vanilla, and started cruising down to the middle of the Golden State.

Ahead of time, Katy had sent me the most awesome infinity scarf from our cute friend Cory's awesome shop. Temps were scheduled to be in the 80's all weekend, so it was now or never to keep my neck warm.
(Thankfully, back at home things are nice and cool, and that scarf will be reappearing soon).

About a half hour into my ride, I rolled up next to this orange blob. Which, to an untrained eye, would just be an orange blob. But, it actually was one of the contenders from last week's World Pumpkin Championship! A lot of the pumps come from Gilroy, so I have a feeling that is where he was headed. To be pulverized and deseeded (I'm making that word up) to become a happy pumpkin dad to maybe the 2014 pumpkin champion.

A few repeats of The Civil Wars, The Rend Collective, and a really awesome sermon later, I arrived at katygirl's kingdom. There were some excited squeals from young and old, and before I knew it we were back out the door on our way to the Diz.

But not without a quick stop into Oh, Hello Friend.
So cute.

I got a couple of things I had been wanting, and happened upon the most awesome Give Thanks sign - which just so happened to be made by a friend of mine! (I didn't even know until I turned it over).

After that, we were on our way.
Katygirl found us a sweet little place to stay, complete with a Starbucks on site.
Well done, Katygirl, well done.

We checked in and headed out to D-town Diz.

The sights, sounds, and smells. All magical.
We grabbed dinner and a drink. And ate some magical chips and salsa.

Walked around for a bit. I probably stood in front of the caramel apple window for a bit too long.
I am obsessed with how they are made. They are just so cute. I just want to bite a marshmallow ear off of a Minnie apple and run away.

And we perused the shops. And navigated the Saturday night crowds.
Then headed back to our kingdom for the night and slept under the watchful eye of this carousel horse.

First thing in the morning we were bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready for a full day of mousing around.

And mouse around, we did.

 Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Indy.

Matterhorn, Alice, Buzz, Space Mountain.

Katy takes Buzz pretty seriously.
I, on the other hand, look like I saw an alien.

We explored the Halloween Tree (which is the coolest, BTW), and checked out the day of the dead exhibit.

And grabbed lunch while some one shot some commercial or music video in front of us.
No clue who though.

And after that we decided to Adventure. California Style.

We swung, we screamed, we soared, we were terrified.
And not the way you'd think.

I dragged Katy on Mickey's Adventure Wheel, where she was terrified.

And then we went on the Symphony Swings, where I thought I was going to die for a full 30 seconds.

And after we adventured our heart out, we returned to the land of Diz. 

Where we dined solely on Mickey shaped cuisine.

And as the Diz transitioned from day to night, the castle glowed in the background.

And we returned to the ever awesome Halloween Tree.
Where jack-o-lanterns grow, and twinkle lights glow.

And ate the ears off our Mickey ice creams. First.
Because that's how it's done.

And reflected on a beautiful day hanging out with one of my favorite people at the Magic Kingdom.

That night, we drove back to the katykingdom, and I got to sleep in this beaut of a bed.

And woke up to this beaut of a babe.

And enjoyed coffee with the sweetest critters in all the land.

And got to see a little behind the scenes of @katykristin's #mondaychalks

A few errands.
Katy, you are my hero.

And a little more behind the scenes of katygirl designs.

Where often times, I'm on the otherside of that computer screen, this time, I got to be right there in the flesh.

And after naps, Katy and I, and the critters headed to the park.
And this neighborhood creature of death came to meet and greet me.

And then the kiddos got baths.
And I got a little evening snuggle in with my good buddy Miles.
One of my favorite moments of the day.

And who needs bed head when you have bath head.
OMG. Right?

And soon it was bedtime, and Katy and I enjoyed a little bit of Catfish.
Okay, a lot bit of Catfish.

I woke up to news of Kimye's engagement, and pumpkin muffins. And coffee.

And a quick hug and hello to Lorieloo & two of her three littles.

Followed by some errands/entertaining Cammie.

And then soon, way, way too soon, it was time to say goodbye.
Thank goodness for rearview mirrors and big waving hands.
And a heart full of love and sunshine.

Thank you Katygirl (& Scottyboy too), you are truly the hostess with the mostess.
Thank you for the incredible day at the Diz, and the even more special days with you and your posse.
You are a rockstar mom, and I admire your love for your husband and kidlets, and the passion you have for all you do. You are gentle, and patient and kind. You are thoughtful.  You love big.
And most importantly, you live out the gospel daily, in so, so many ways.