A Birthday and A Year.

My 24th birthday has come and gone.  It was quite nice actually for all the anticipation that I had for it.  Monday night went to a dinner for some of my dearest friends who came in town from Minnesota.  I was not expecting them to sing Happy Birthday to me, but it was a very nice surprise.  Then, Wednesday was my actual birthday and I had some friends over to just hang out...it was a lot of fun if I do say so myself.  Now that the new year is upon us I look back at the list that I made of goals to complete for this year.  Unfortunately, I did not complete them all, which is OK I suppose.  But the list that I am compiling for next year will be a tad shorter (probably 10-12 items) and more attainable.  So far I only have 4 things on it

1.) Apply to Grad School

2.) Go wine tasting in Napa

3.) Start playing the piano again

4.) Learn to crochet a pair of slippers.

...what else do you think I should add?  I am having a little bit of trouble thinking of new things to put on it...

Well...until next year!

#15-- Check!

Number 15 on my list: Go on a blind date.  Now stop.  Stop right there.  This was no ordinary blind date.  I had a little phone date with my lovely friend Jordan (all the way on the left) this morning.  So literally, a blind date.  We decided yesterday that since we have not talked in quite a while, we should have a little coffee phone date this morning.  It was so good to talk to her.  (I had meant to call her earlier this morning since we are on a 2 hour time difference, but I woke up a smidge late!  But it was perfect timing since she had just put down her baby for a nap)  We caught up on everything that she was doing:  going back to school and doing her student teaching so that she will finally be able to teach in Minnesota, how her church is growing, and how much she loves her 4 month old son!  I am sad that we didn't get to talk in person but I think they are planning a trip out here in December...I can't wait!

Here is her dear little family!

Image courtesy of Jordan

#11--Semi Check

On my list, I put say yes more.  I felt like I was always saying no to doing things, and that life would be more fun if I said yes!  So yesterday, one of my sorority sisters asked me last minute to go to the OC fair.  I almost said no...mostly because I wouldn't know anyone who was going.  Then I remembered my list, and said yes!  I had so much fun...I also met one of the baby zeta's (that's what we call the new members, and I haven't really met any so it was nice to hang out with her for the night!)  We mostly walked around since there is so much to see...watched the hypnotist... those are always fun.  I like fairs because they have so many weird things like chocolate covered bacon?  Apparently it's good...and signs that say, "The Fun Starts Here" I find signs like that hilarious.  These pictures I took with my phone so sorry about the quality:

Anyone else thinking Adventureland with the banana stuffed prizes?

#3--Check

Yesterday I was hired back at Starbucks.  I am so excited to finally be back in the employment realm you have NO idea!  I'll be able to do more things on my list now that I will have money to actually do them! I start next week.  But after 8 months of not having a job...I'm scared that it might be hard to get back into it.  Not doing the work part...but scheduling everything else around work since I'm used to doing whatever whenever.  At least I only have 2 classes when the quarter starts..and one of then is a 100-level class (I know, a 100-level this late?  I didn't know I had to take it!)  I am excited because I really want to take a trip up to Napa...and now I can see that it is possible.  I am so thankful that this job came along, and am excited to start again.

#7-- Check!

Even though #7 on my list says to go to Galleano Winery and San Antonio Winery I am still going to check it off my list because I went out to Temecula with some friends and hit up a few wineries there that Cheryl says are personally better than Galleano and San Antonio.  So that's that.  The first winery we went to was Ponte Winery.  My initial thought was, "I'm going to have my wedding here!" Except for the fact that I am missing a groom...but that's just a minor detail, right?  The inside is adorable, and country-esque.  The wine was pretty good too. 

The next winery we went to was Mount Palomar.  My initial thought here was...THIS is where I am going to get married! I liked this place better because it was more secluded and random people couldn't just walk by and watch the ceremony. (again, still missing the groom!)  The people here were so nice, and their wine was SO good.  We were so close to checking off #12 on my list... if only we had gotten there a little bit earlier!  But we did see the bride and groom taking pictures!  You can kind of see her in the picture.

We then headed over to Robert Renzoni.  On the outside, it looked so quiet...like no one was there.  But once we opened the door, it was like there was a party inside!  We got to talk to one of the owners who was so nice, actually everyone that worked there was really nice!  Sorry I didn't get any pictures here!

Our next stop was Oak Mountain.  This place was really fun.  Apparently every Saturday they have gourmet pizza and music.  While we were waiting to start the wine tasting...there was an avocado oil tasting.  There were different flavors to try like Tuscan herb, or lemon herb.  So good.  It was then that we realized how hungry we were!  We didn't even do a tasting here! We left and headed over to Bailey winery, and had lunch and their restaurant called Carols.  A perfect end to the excursion!

Once we got back...I headed straight over to my lovely friend Steph's going away party.  She is movie to Nashville with her husband and band.  I am sad that she is leaving...but so excited for her at the same time.  Love you Steph! (And seriously...if you ever need me to house and dog sit for you...I will!)

Wow...long post!  What a fun weekend!

Day 23: In the next year I am going to... Check for #18

...be turning 24 years old.  Since when did I get so old?  I still feel like I am barely...21?...sure.

...graduate from college... this is seriously scary!  But I still will probably go back to school for my masters... so maybe it won't be that scary after all!

...move out?  Nah...I have it so good at home!  I doubt that The House Fairy would follow me to my new place!

Anyways...

Check # 18 off my list!

I was drinking wine with some of my friends (Syrah and Shiraz specifically...I had even brought it with me!) and I was really enjoying it!  Then they brought out some Riesling (my previously favorite wine), and it was too sweet for me.  So I think that I am able to check this off my list and say that I have officially grown a taste for red wine.  Yay me!

The Grand Canyon...Pt. 4

On the way in we saw another campsite with the theme of The Flintstones.  We decided that on the way home we would stop and take pictures:

We then took a small detour onto Route 66 to see the Grand Canyon Caverns.  (Sorry the pictures are blurry, I was having a little trouble with my camera)

After the caverns, we saw this fire truck that was the inspiration for the fire truck in the movie Cars.

We also passed through Peach Springs, the city that the Cars movie is based on.  It took us all of 3 minutes to drive through it.  The rest of our trip was smooth sailing from there...although you wouldn't know it from my GPS directions!

We did run into some Berma-Shave signs that entertained us on the way home!  It's hard to believe that we did that much in a little under 48 hours!  I'm so glad that we went through with this spontaneous trip, and that I get to check off #1 on my list!  Everything was so easy, and seamless...I would recommend everyone taking a trip like this.

The Grand Canyon...Pt. 3

After our hike, we were so tired.  We decided to head back to our campsite, and possibly listen to the ranger show that was going on at the site.  We stopped in the little town to see a few things that were going on, and a lot of it reminded us of the Oregon Trail. 

There was also a Native American Art Show, and we decided to check that out as well!

The best times to see the Grand Canyon are at sunset and sunrise.  We decided that we were going to wait for sunrise since we were so tired.  Then, we ran into one of the rangers and he said that we should see the sunset, it is the most beautiful.  So, we decided to do that...it was worth it.

We went to a different location than where we were at the beginning of the day.  It was a half hour further to get the the Desert View Watch Tower, but I'm glad that we got to see another angle of the Canyon.

I am so glad that we didn't miss the sunset!  At night it got freezing.  I think that the average at night is 28 degrees?  It definitely felt that cold!  We fell asleep around 9:30 (We were very tired!) 

I woke up in the middle of the night with the most excruciating need to go to the bathroom.  I thought that it had to be at least 3 a.m. and I was hopeful that I could hold it till morning, but when I looked at the clock it was only 11 p.m.!  I couldn't believe it.  I woke up Cheryl and made her walk all the way to the bathroom in the freezing cold with me.  I was able to sleep a little more comfortably, but I still slept in the fetal position all night because I was so cold!  I don't think that I wouldn't have been able to get myself out of bed for the sun rise had we missed the sunset! 

We woke up in the morning around 7:30 a.m., packed up, and headed back home.  But, we still had a few more stops though...

The Grand Canyon...Pt.2

Our expectations:
Mine: That it would be red
Teresa: That it would be big
Cheryl: That it would be deep

Well...all of our expectations were met!  The view is absolutely beautiful.  I can't even express in words what it is like.  We started the day at the Yavapai Observation Station.

Here is what we saw there:

It was so beautiful!  This is the view looking down...

This is Cheryl:

This is Teresa:

And Me:

We wanted to do some hiking, so we did the Bright Angel Trail (not on mules!)

We hiked about a mile down, which wasn't too bad, but it was really steep on the way up!

These are pictures that we took on the way down:

After our intense Hike!

The Grand Canyon...Pt. 1

About a month ago, two of my sorority sisters (Cheryl, and Teresa) and I had planned to go to the Grand Canyon.  Those plans fell through.  Then this week, Teresa proposed the idea of going to the Grand Canyon this weekend (this idea came on Tuesday)  After much deliberation, and going back and forth:

"Yes! Let's go!"
"Oh wait, it's memorial day weekend, lets wait."
"Well, should we go?"
"Nah, lets wait and plan better."
"Oh, come on lets go!"

We officially decided to go on Thursday.  So we quickly got everything together, and made plans to leave early on Saturday morning...early being 2:30 a.m.  We got up early, packed up Randall the Raincloud (that's my car's name), and headed out.  We drove...and drove...and drove some more...the needle creeping closer...and closer to empty.  We finally saw a gas station decorated with palm trees....mirage looking.  It was seriously in the middle of no where.  The price of gas? $5.00 a gallon! That was outrageous!  But, we needed to fill up, so we didn't really have a choice.  Inside the gas station there was a sign that requested that customers do not complain to the employees about the gas station, and that they are there after spending a fortune because they wanted to be...blah blah blah... it was pretty funny...there was also 2 huge fish tanks with all these weird fish, and the water was incredibly dirty...I felt so bad for them!  But, we had the Grand Canyon to see!  So we kept on driving...and driving and driving some more. 

We were about 50 miles out, and one of my favorite parts of the trip happened here:  When we stopped for gas there was a big group of motorcyclists.  Not just any normal motorcyclists...but French motorcyclists!  I was trying to eavesdrop on their conversations...Two women were talking about the gloves that they were wearing, and how one of them thought that they were too small.  I almost introduced myself, but I thought that I would rather not get caught in a conversation that I couldn't fully understand!  We got back on the road, and headed up to the Grand Canyon!

We arrived around 10:30 a.m. and headed straight to get a campsite...they were all full (apparently people book their trips to the Grand Canyon months in advanced...who knew?)  Luckily, there was a campsite 2 miles away, and we were able to get a site there.  We set up camp, then headed back to the canyon...

The Grand Canyon...Coming Soon

I just got back from my trip to the Grand Canyon.  It was a-mazing! I will tell you more soon when I have the energy and patience to sift through all of the photos. 

Coming up:

Waking up early... kooky gas stations... French motorists... camping...

temperature... the view... the hike... the Flintstones...

Caverns... Route 66... Berma Shave...

Can't wait to share it with you, and to take a nice, long shower!

Easter Day--Check #22

This Easter was a little different than most that I've had because my parents were out of town, and my brother and his wife had to work.  Jamie and Brady, and I watched Lily and Emma.  Luckily, this provided me with an opportunity to check off #22 on my list.  Since I didn't really have any ideas for other photoshoots, I thought that Easter would provided a good one.  Here are a few pictures that I took of the girls:

It was a mini-photo shoot, but I think the few that I did take turned out nicely.  I hope you all had a wonderful Easter as well!

P.S. I have a trip to the Grand Canyon in the planning stages.  Just a few weeks until I get to go!