California 2015 - part 1

CALIFORNIA YOU GUYS! Oh my gosh. It's a weird weird place, but I love it. I have this picturesque idea in my head of what it would be like to live there, and I'm sure it's far from the actuality (how do you afford it??), but every time we go I just sigh and think... gosh, what if? Obviously, never gonna happen. But, it's a pretty picture.

Anyway, so we went to California! We left early Saturday morning to meet my daddio and step-momma who were flying in from San Antonio. We flew in from Dallas, because duh Temple has no major airport, and Dallas is just a little farther than Austin and waaaaay cheaper to fly out of. But let me tell you, I love the Austin airport. I do not love the Dallas airport. Even if it's called cheaper and called "Love Field". Once upon a time when we lived up there for undergrad I adored that little airport, but you guys, it's not little any more! It looks completely different and it's a mess. Security was too much of a lengthy party for my taste and getting our luggage when we came back took for-ev-errrr. Also, just any airport after the Austin airport seems lame. It's just the best and there's no changing my mind.

Back to the trip! Parentals were met up with and off we went! We flew in to San Diego, but we were staying in a little beach town about half an hour northward called Solana Beach. The coast of Southern California is just an endless string of beach towns. It's amazing. My step-grandma lives in Cali and had a week of a timeshare that she graciously offered to us Brooks/Hogans to use. It was so so so great. When we first got there it was a little warm, and my dad asked, "Where's the AC?" And my step-gma said, "Outside." And he was like, whaaat? But really, no AC. You just open them windows! I panicked at first (I am a fullblooded Texan and lover of AC), but it was okay! Especially because the day after we got there a big ol' cool front/storm system blew in. So the nights were filled with cool sea air and I was a happy camper. Plus my allergies all but disappeared, it was a miracle.

Lets talk for a minute about the beaches in SoCal, because they are something else. Endless for one thing, but also the water is crystal clear (where we were anyway), stupid-pretty cliffs everywhere, and the waves are just a whole different breed from what we get in Texas. The beaches are real scenic to say the least.

Those stairs. PHEW, they were killer. We stayed just a short walk from the beach, but part of the walk was those crazy stairs! Heck of a workout.

Clearly, the day we got there the weather was great. Sunny and warm and perfect for the beach. But that night, in blew the rain! And the cool weather! We woke up and it was like a whole different season. I wasn't mad though, I adore cool weather (helloooo it's October!) and Cali needs that rain so bad! And we still did everything we wanted to. Just, soggier.

The next day, in the intermittent rain, we explored beach towns! We drove up the 101 and stopped and checked out beaches every now and then. I think this first town is Carlsbad. It was cute!

My dad and his infamous move of sneaking up behind you and grabbing your leg. Bad news is Brendon started picking it up too.

I think maybe this is Oceanside? We accidentally parked right next to the Top Gun house:

It's definitely seen better days and there are some truly terrible murals on the side of it.

By the end of all our exploring, we were pretty dang soggy. But the good news is that even if it rained, it never lasted long. The sun would make an appearance every now and then.

On our way back we stopped at a little food and wine festival in Del Mar, which was just next to Solana Beach. All these towns just run together. Del Mar is real fancy though. The tickets to said festival were pretty outrageous, so we just walked around and checked everything out, sans tasting. And then we headed back to the condo? hotel? timeshare? and chilled for a bit/dried off before we tackled... MORE BEACH!

But that's it for today. I'm breaking it all up into not so logical parts, so your eyes don't explode from beach overload. :)

Taos 2014 version 2.0

So we started the year off in Taos, and we ended it in Taos. In January of last year (ha!) we went on a last minute adventure to Taos, and then we both took the last week of the year off and I coerced Brendon into going skiing again. I think he's conceded at this point that it might need to be an annual winter thing. IT'S JUST SO FUN. And going to Taos feels like coming home. I love those mountains, so much.

Altitude sickness struck again, worse than last year. I lost the whole first half of our first day skiing. How stupid is that? But thanks to carbs, water, and time, I skiied all afternoon. This was Brendon's second time skiing and this go 'round he felt more comfortable! I started dragging him down blues on our first day and I may have forced him down (half) a black with me the last day. We got some good skiing in! The snow was exponentially better than it was last year. Not powder by any means, but still so much better. It was also, WAY COLDER. Like in the teens! The last day was the best day, the weather was great and we skiied the heck out of the mountain. Plus, it was New Year's Eve! Best way to wrap up the year!

Skiing means lots of warm layers. And lots of warm layers mean real terrible fashion. I had on another pair of pants under those long johns. It was cold.

Throwback. My name in my gloves from when I was a youngster. Because that's what happens when you're a kid. Your name gets written in stuff to keep it straight from the other kids.

By the end of the last day, we were pooped. We skiied real hard, plus skiing three days in a row is intense! I think next time we'll have to take a day off in the middle to rest.

Best tortilla soup in the world!

On New Year's Eve they do fireworks on the mountain, and they have skiiers ski down with flares in their hands. It is actually way cooler than it sounds. It was really really neat. Also, these folks were talented! They skiied moguls, in the dark, with flares instead of poles. Impressive. Also visually very cool. The fireworks show after was crazy. The longest fireworks show I've ever seen. Or maybe that's because it was like nine degrees and we were standing outside. Also, fireworks in the mountains are pretty epic. The echos were nuts and the light reflecting off the snow was really pretty.

What an awesome night. For dinner that evening we ate at this place called the Love Apple, which was seriously straight out of pinterest. We're talking mismatched vintage plates, burlap curtains, garlands, and rustic wreaths. Even the waitresses' hair was braided in these insane updo's that screamed pinterest. Cutest place ever, and the food was on point. They have this vegetarian pate... wooo! Taos (and New Mexico in general) is so veggie friendly! We ate really good this year. Old Martina's Hall was also a highlight! Anyway, after dinner we hung out at the hotel, and surprise, I didn't make it to midnight. I passed out around 11, and Brendon woke me up at midnight to do our little poppers we got... then I passed out again. When you're used to waking up at 5am, midnight just doesn't happen! And that's okay. We woke up the next day, had some breakfast, and then skedaddled out of town!

And oh my gosh the drive back. So Taos was so cold because this "artic blast" came through that week. It also came through Texas! We saw a little snow in Texas when we went up, but coming down, it was crazy. Snow and ice covered everything (including the roads) from far west Texas to the west side of the Hill Country. Everything was white. Like far more snow and ice than New Mexico! We saw car accident after car accident and even got stuck for half an hour while they shut down the interstate. It was slow going, especially since we took a lot of back roads. Cars upside down, 18-wheelers in fields, it was nuts. But we made it safely home, slowly but surely, thanks to Brendon's excellent driving and the Bruce Wayne's almost new tires. It was a learning experience for sure.

But anyway, Taos, we love you we love you we love you. You are such a magical place full of the friendliest people. We cannot wait to see you again. You are more than worth braving the snow and ice!

Newport Beach, CA

Yesterday Brendon wrapped up his last interviews and it was officially vacation time. For both of us. Because y'all know I've been chillin' for days. We rented a car and drove to the beach! (Renting a car for a day is SUPER cheap, y'all.) Newport Beach is a straight shot south of Anaheim, and it just so happens to be a very special place to us! When we were in high school we were very obsessed with the OC. I mean, who wasn't? Anywho, it's set in Newport Beach. Duh. So because we were insane, the summer after high school, Brendon and I drove to Newport Beach, CA on our very first road trip. First of many. So long nostalgic story short, this was a lovely little walk down memory lane for us. Not much has changed! Here's a gazillion photos. Sorry boutcha eyes.

It was the loveliest evening. The weather was phenomenal (big surprise Cali) and we got there in time to see the sunset. Oh and can we talk about the sun setting? IT SETS AT LIKE 4:30 PM HERE. So early. Which is a pity because the days are so amazing. It gets relatively chilly as soon as the sun goes down. Still fantastic weather though. Anyway, perfect evening. Happy girl. I love vacation.