THOUGHTS ON TURNING 25

Twenty Five. 20 + 5. Twenty + Five. 25.

This is one of those ages in high school/early college you just think about. You wonder where will you be. What you will be doing. Who you will be with. Why did you end up there. Now that I'm at "that" number, I can say that my journey to the quarter of a century has been a great one. In my early twenties I graduated college, met, dated, & married, held my first teaching job, moved across the country, and so much more. To celebrate, I have come up with 10 small and simple things I want to accomplish the next year. Just things to make me look back on during a future birthday and think, "Hey, that time in life was pretty great." So cheers to the big 25....I have a feeling it's going to be pretty fantastic.

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• send a hand written note to someone once a week
• participate & journal a 3-5 day juice fast/cleanse
• take an overnight trip somewhere in Southern California
• read the Book of Mormon 3 times 
• eat & journal a list of favorite local San Diego restaurants 
• host a dinner party once a month
• complete & journal 5 exercise "challenges" 
• practice new photography/Photoshop techniques
• bake a pie from scratch 
• attend the temple once a month

A WEEKEND FOR THE BOOKS

This past weekend was the perfect mix of busy & relaxing, which is just the way I like them. Starting out with some Friday Night Lights & a major bum kicking by my brother's high school football team, to a Sunday evening dinner party with friends, we spent a lot of time with family, friends, and food (my 3 favorite "f's"). Saturday was one of those days where staying inside would've just been a crime. I woke up early and took a long bike ride around Coronado Island with Crystal picking out or favorite bungalows and chatting. For lunch we ventured to Liberty Station for the best dang sandwich in town (Con Pane) and a walk around the old navy barracks. Derek and I ended the night with my family before we send Rachel back to school for the year. We surprised her with a favorite treat--mini bunt cakes--and they were quite the hit. Sunday night was the perfect night to sit on the patio with friends for dinner. A perfect weekend, I would dare to say. Practically perfect. 

SUMMER'S LAST WEEKEND

Labor Day Weekend is what most consider the end of summer. Luckily, we've always lived in cities where the end of summer isn't for a long while after that. I see quite a few more weekends at the beach, wearing shorts, and soaking up the rays in our future. But, for everyone else's sake, I guess we will just count this weekend as "the last of the summer". We've had a weekend of  bike rides along Mission Bay, wave riding, a trip to our favorite place, and BBQ eating. Now, if only we could convince the last of the tourists to skedaddle out. I'm ready to have my city back. 

TWO SMITHS COME TO VISIT

This past weekend we had visitors! Trina & Whitney came from Idaho for a quick visit before heading back to school & work for the year. We spent the weekend in all of our favorite San Diego spots-- Old Town, Sea World, the beach, and eating lots and lots of food. We even snuck in a quick visit at the hospital to see Doctor Smith in action. At the beach, we all braved the cold (at least I think it is!) water for some boogie boarding and by the end of the day, I would consider both Trina and Whitney to be pros. Whitney had a goal of learning to surf and stood up on her second try--that girl is amazing! Chalk this one up for the record books kids, I don't know if there is a more fun place to visit then San Diego. Next time, we need to get the whole gang out here for a major party. 

KAYAKING ON THE BAY

I think one of the greatest things about living in San Diego is being able to enjoy the weather year round. Thankfully, sweet Lela, our ward enrichment leader took this into high consideration for our enrichment activity for the month. I love working with her and she is so very talented-- I have a feeling all our activities for the year will be up to this caliber of fun and creativity. This month, she planned for us to kayak in the bay--and it was a major hit with all the wonderful ladies in the ward. It was the perfect evening for chatting, snacking, and getting out on the water. There's just something about the freedom of being out on a {tiny} boat, paddling into the sunset that just sets your mind at ease. Ahh, take me back. 

THE TALE OF THE FORGOTTEN MILK

I usually grocery shop on Friday evenings because Derek tends to stay late at the hospitals. I enjoy my weekly date with Trader Joe himself as I pick up a bunch of flowers along with our weekly needs. Last week, when I got home, I realized I had left my milk in the little red cart. Luckily, Derek kindly grabbed some on his way home Saturday afternoon so it wasn't a big deal. We went along our week, having our granola bowls filled with milk and not thinking a thing about the lone & forgotten gallon in the red cart Friday night. All week, I realized my car smelled funky, and after a couple days I had enough. I started looking in every crack and crevasse of my car and came up with nothing but a couple pennies that had fallen in the cracks & a lost pen. I decided to check the trunk, and when I opened it, my knees hit the floor. The stench was so awful. It was there, right in front of me, a full gallon of milk hidden in the turquoise reusable bag. I quickly grabbed it, bag and all and chucked that, what I can only assume, chunky milk into the dumpster. This past Friday, I made sure to tell my cashier "Can you not bag the milk, please?" because, lets face it, I don't think my car (or stomach!) could handle another case of the forgotten milk.