The Start of My Three Day Weekend

First things first, how amazing is my blog design?! Thanks to Nicole at Poppy Pixel Designs, it looks absolutely amazing. I'm in love with it.

So I get to have Sunday through Tuesday off (yesterday, today, tomorrow) and I am stoked about it. We would have gone somewhere to take advantage of the 3 days of glory, but we didn't know about it til last week sometime (we didn't get our April schedule til this week). Anyways, we had a pretty fun Sunday!

We missed church - when you live an hour away from anything, there are a lot of opportunities to get stuck behind slow drivers. So we walked around Old Town Temecula - which was adorable.

Lots of cute gift shops, antique shops, and cafes. All the buildings look old fashioned with that wood you can see in the picture above. We will definitely be going back to explore a little more :)

Then we met up with Meg [henning love] and her husband, Sean! We went wine tasting together and had a blast. Meg and I got to meet in February but have wanted to get together again ever since. I'm sure glad we brought along the boys, we kept having to interrupt them if we wanted to talk. Zach and I loved getting to hang out with them & can't wait for the next time :) Meg took most of the pictures so check out her blog until I have time to steal them from her!

By far best quote of the day was from Sean, "So Zach.. how much of your life is taken over by blogging?"

I loved that wisteria ... mmmm!

After winetasting, we were deciding if we should eat in town or trek back up the mountain when I realized Zach has never been to BJ's. When I lived in Thousand Oaks, I was at BJ's pretty regularly. It's just so good. Zach has heard me talk about it more than once, so we decided to go out :) Why is their pizza SO GOOD?! And their homemade root beer / cream soda / orange cream soda ?? To die! 

No BJ's trip is complete without a Pizookie!! YUM!

We also bought paint and flowers at Lowe's... I know how the rest of my weekend is looking! So excited :) Hope y'all had a great weekend too!

Did anyone play any April Fools jokes? ? I thought about telling my family I was pregnant, but I was afraid they wouldn't think it was very funny, lol.

Is This Real Life?

Sit in that six-lane backed up traffic
Horns are honking, I've about had it
I'm looking for an exit sign
Gotta get out of here, get it all off my mind
And like a memory from your grandpa's attic
A song comes slippin' through the radio static
Changing my mood
A little George Strait 1982

And it makes me wanna take a back road
Makes me wanna take the long way home
Put a little gravel in my travel
Unwind, unravel all night long
Makes me wanna grab my honey
Tear down some two-lane country
Who knows
Get lost and get right with my soul
Makes me wanna take
Makes me wanna take a back road.

I've been cooped up, tied down, 'bout forgotten
What a field looks like, full of corn and cotton
If I'm gonna hit a traffic jam,
Well it better be a tractor man
So sick and tired of this interstate system
I need a curve and wind-a-twistin'
Dusty path to nowhere
With the wind blowing through my baby's hair

[source]

Take a Backroad - Rodney Atkins

Six months ago, whenever this song came on the radio, I would cry. I was commuting an hour or more each way to a job I didn't like; I had somewhere to be every single night after work; I didn't get enough sleep; I didn't exercise; I had no time to do anything I wanted. All of my commitments were things I didn't want to cut out though, so I felt stuck. I was leading Young Life, and the coordinator for that school, I was part of a bible study, I wanted a social life, and to spend time with my extended family. None of those things are anything to get rid of, but they all take up time, and in my case it was taking all of my time.

**********************************************************************

Today as I drove to the post office, I literally got teary eyed thinking, "WOW.. this is real life!". I had country music blasting, the windows down, sun shining, breeze blowing, not a car in sight as I overlooked the valley and saw the ocean in the distance. All I could do was tell myself - I actually live here. This is my real life. I am sooooooo happy!

So I took some pictures to share :) And, I love visitors. 


All photos from my iPhone; all photos unedited - if you can believe that.

See the grocery store way down there?!

Just imagine what this looked like in person. Breathtaking.

Weeeee! [ok maybe this one is a little edited]



Bottom Line: I am BLESSED!

Beautiful Weekend With My Fwiend

Source: 27.media.tumblr.com via Katie on Pinterest

I have been very blessed since making our big move in November. Both of my best friends and my parents have been down to visit already, and one of our closest "couple" friends are coming in April!
This weekend, I got to spend four days with one of my very favorite people in the world. Elise flew down for training at a YL camp for her summer assignment, and extended her trip in order to spend some time at the Harris house! We had so much fun together.

I make a lot of silly voices, and when I am around Elise, it just gets worse. Like all we do is talk to each other in weird voices without noticing.

We talked a few times about how when you try to describe why you're friends with someone, you just cant. We just are. We've been friends for almost six years now and pretty much don't know how I'd ever live with out her. We just get eachother.

Love you Elisey!! My life is better because you're in it. See you in June :)

It's a New Year & Time for a Tidier Home!

I personally love the New Year holiday.. au contraire to some other peeps. I love that although nothing really changes, it gives you a chance to think about things you'd like to improve, accomplish, or complete. So what if lots of people don't keep their resolution all year, at least they thought of one! I think its important to evaluate your life every so often and New Years is the perfect time for it :)

The New Year is also a great time to reflect on what you've been up to lately (my 2011 post is coming soon!) and I think that is also very healthy. It's easy to forget the little things; when I was writing down notes for a post about 2011 I could barely remember what I did last spring. Although, I think that is partially due to a wedding-planning induced anxiety coma. Yup, that did make sense.

Anyways, thats why I love new years. Its a simple holiday but I just love the freshness of it!

So this year, I really wanted to put some thought into my resolution. I don't do a resolution every year, only when I feel like I have the time and/or energy to keep it up. This year it was actually prodded by a lovely lady asking me to tell my resolution for a blurb about me on her blog!

So I got to thinking.. what can I resolve to do that will be meaningful, impactful [atleast in my household], and keep-able? Sure I could spare a few pounds around the love handle area ish, I certainly could wake up earlier, cook more meals for my husband.... or keep my house cleaner! Yup that sounds totally doable doesn't it?!

A tidy home is a happy home.

Yeah, I just made that up. But I totally believe it!

{source}

So if you know me in real life, you know this is kind of a big deal and semi-unnatural for me. All my life my dad has called me a 'walking debris trail' because you can usually tell exactly where I've been in the house and which route I took too, based upon my stuffs I leave behind. 


BUT even thought I tend to be a cluttery person, I actually hate clutter. [fun fact: clutter is as a matter of fact, my favorite word to say. say it with me.. clutter. Wasn't that nice?] I really hate clutter and how it makes me feel like my life is in shambles. I like things to be neat and tidy but the problem is that I have OCD tendencies when I try to organize, and if everything doesn't have an exactly perfect spot, I just give up all together.


Which brings us here: a problem big enough to make a new year's resolution about :)


First I must organize and find a home for everything that's out. Lots of project ideas, clean folded clothes, mail, and useful crap. You know, stuff thats mine but needs to be put away! Once I have successfully gotten the place picked up I'll need to keep it that way! I have been doing this slowly so I don't get overwhelmed.

Source: elblogdedmc.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

Here's how I plan to keep my resolution:

• Make our bed each morning before starting my routine.
• Wipe bathroom counter & mirror after getting ready in the morning.
• Never move from one room to another empty handed, to eliminate the debris trail build-up.
• Put away clean laundry immediately after picking it up from the dryer.
• Keep crafts/projects put away until I am ready to actually work on them.
• For things that must stay out (for instance I made bridal shower invites this weekend and didnt want to put them away each night in the middle of working) keep in organized piles, not a heap of paper.
• [this is a big one] Don't drop everything at the door and plop on the couch when returning home! Put things I am carrying away before parking my booty on the couch for the night.
• Finally, take 10-15 minutes each night to put away anything that is left after the rest of my steps!

Alright y'all, I have faith in myself that I. Can. Do. This. Please have faith in me too!! I would really love for my house to always be neat and that would make cleaning much easier too! Not to mention, Zach likes to straighten and organize things, so if I get them put away I know they will stay that way!


I'll keep y'all posted on how it goes! Maybe even show pictures of our little home!

Happy New Year! What is your new year's resolution this year?? Or do you hate them?

We Went for a Drive

Okay, I know I have mentioned a few times how beautiful it is here. On our way home from church last week, we stopped at one of the many "vista points" on the road to our home to look and take some pictures. Just wanted to share!

'nuff said.

Love this picture & my bearded husband.

The view looking South

view looking West. that blue on the left beyond the land, is the ocean

this view is from the main part of camp. that blue is also the ocean.. its much more vivid in person!

Sadly, we have lived here for almost a month and haven't actually been to the ocean! I'm hoping my hubster will take me on a date there soon. Until then, I am totally enjoying these views from the place I call home.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,
   slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The LORD is good to all,
   and his mercy is over all that he has made.
Psalm 145:8-9

I Need Your Opinion!

Happy Sunday to you all, I hope you had a fabulous weekend! I spent mine with my little sister who turned 21 yesterday. Happy birthday, Cara!

Today I was working on my Christmas list, because a few family members have asked about it. I've wanted some black boots for awhile now; I used to have one slouchy pair and one pair with buckles, and I walked holes through both of them. I think I've practically earned a new pair!

Anyways, here's where you come in. I found these three on Target.com and I like all three styles. I might look around at other stores but these are the general styles I am debating about. What do you think?

a is basically a combination of the pairs I used to have, slouchy and a buckle. I feel like I could wear these with jeans and a hoodie, or with a dress and leggings.

b is kind of a fantasy. I've always wanted cowboy boots and have never had them. I know these aren't real cowboy boots, but they are super dee duper cute.

c I have these in cognac and love them; I think they are classy. I love that I can wear them with everyyyything. The only downside is that they are tall - like almost to my knee.

So, what's your vote?! Help me decide! As you can see, I've already evaluated all of them and I still can't decide.

Thanks for your help! :)

The Big Move

Where to start... Well. First things first, we're here. I am thankful we made it, although the drive from Seattle to San Diego was long, emotional, stressful, and tiring. We're here. When we arrived, it was pouring rain. Lunch was being served a half hour after we arrived so we got to meet a few of the staff that was working. Since it was Sunday, most people had the day off for church.

We didn't unload the moving truck that day (because of the massive amount of rain) which made me a little uneasy; I wanted a home. As soon as we drove away from Seattle, I felt homesick. Moving is familiar to me, but to be transparent, as soon as we got to my grandpa's house the first night, I broke down crying and told Zach "I just want to go home." I don't know what it is with me lately about having this "home" I keep talking about. I just want to feel settled, permanence, comfort, and not so many things up in the air.

Monday morning we woke up to BEAUTIFUL blue skies and not a cloud in sight. Already I felt refreshed. Two guys that work here helped us unload the truck, and it only took about an hour. I was beyond thankful for their help.

from our front porch

Every single person we've met at the camp has been so incredibly welcoming. The first morning, I went into the dining hall to get some coffee, and a girl named Jodi approached me, told me how she'd been waiting to meet me since she heard we got hired, and mentioned that she knew it must have been hard to leave our friends and family in Seattle. Already I knew I would like her, because immediately she showed compassion. Then, she came out from behind her counter, and with a smile on her face told me, "I just want you to know how glad I am that you're here. I can't wait for our friendship to develop, so we can look back and say 'Remember the first time we met?'" and gave me a big hug. Tears welled up in my eyes. She will never understand how much that meant to me, to be welcomed with a hug and such intentional words. If you ever read this Jodi, thank you.

Before leaving Seattle, I told Zach I was going to be intentional about my attitude. I am pretty good at always putting on a happy face, especially around new people.  I am making a conscious effort to be real, not just happy. I want my smiles to come from joy, not from what I feel like people want to see.

Speaking of being intentional, I now live an hour from any sort of grocery store, and an hour and a half from big stores (Target, Michaels, Costco, etc). And half of the hour is a 7 mile road with 12 switchback turns, at a 7% grade incline. Yup, we live on the top of a mountain. In San Diego County. Makes for incredible views. But, it means that unless I want to burn up a ton of gas and time, I better get real organized, real fast. So far I have been keeping a list of things we need from town; and I will have to be really good about meal planning too. So much for the late night runs for ice cream, or more importantly, a forgotten ingredient for dinner. I have a feeling we will be learning how to be innovative with our food, space, and free time.

We've majorly downsized in our home. Which is great. I absolutely love our new space, just is taking a lot of creativity to find a spot for everything. But who doesn't love a good challenge :) I am so excited to share pictures of our new house just as soon as everything's put away. Those that know me, know I am not very tidy. But trust me, I will be now! There is no room for untidiness and I am honestly excited about keeping a clean and clutter free home; I think it will be refreshing.

Here's who has been roaming around our house since we arrived, he is just one of about thirty we've seen!

Did I mention that the property is actually in a State Park?

So here's to simplicity, fresh relationships, becoming tidy, pulling together my emotions, and being content that I have a place to rest my head, and a husband to hold me through it all.

We're here.

Find Bliss. Stay Awhile.

This morning is especially gloomy in Seattle. Last night it rained the BIG raindrops and this morning wasn't too much better. Now that I'm typing this, I do see some sun through the window, which isn't helping my point.

I don't understand Pinterest at all but I decided to give it a whirl by typing in "Bliss" to the search bar. My favorite definition of the word is supreme happiness; utter joy or contentment. For me, gloomy days just don't fit into that. Here are some of the things I found on Pinterest ...

I want to move in here.

 If this doesn't make you smile, I don't know what would.

I love everything about this room. My new kitchen at camp might have to be inspired by this photo.

Let's spend a few hours here. It looks warm and perfect.

Just perfect. I love the sunlight in the top right trees.

What we all hope for: to grow old together. Love her laugh lines around her eyes, and his gentle embrace of her.

I hope these pick up your Monday like they did mine!

PS. if anyone can explain Pinterest, and/or how to tag back to the pins that'd be great. I don't want to look like I'm stealing these or anything!