MAD DREAM DESIGN

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Solvang, California

I honestly don't remember Solvang from when I was younger, but my dad said we used to go there to get Aeblskivers when ever we were near Solvang. So naturally, I had to give them a try....again. A pancake dough ball topped with powdered sugar and jam, is what was placed in front of me. Yep, I can see me liking these!

Not only did I try out some Danish food, I also for the first time, went wine tasting. Fess Parker, Zaca Mesa and Bridlewood were the tree wineries we visited. They were all gorgeous and the drive through Los Olivos, Santa Ynez and Solvang were all amazing.

When I see places like this it makes me wonder why I live where I live, in the suburbs. I am always on the water or at the beach so I get to experience that sort of beauty everyday. The green rolling hills of the country I do not get to see everyday. The thing about Santa Barbra county, and in particular this area is you are relatively close to the beach but you are in the country. I have always thought that that was really cool. The best of both worlds you could say!

Two of Us

I went to The Lighthouse Deli & Cafe with Jimi two weekends ago for our "Valentine's Day" day together. We took President's Day off and went up to Long Beach for the whole day. It consisted of road trippin', breakfast, The Aquarium of the Pacific, coffee, coffee, good tunes, and good company. Not only do I love road trips that consist of me and Jimi exploring or embarking on a new adventure, but I love it being just the "Two of Us." My favorite Beatles song off of my favorite Beatles album...Let It Be. "Just the two of us riding nowhere." Yep, that is pretty much it. Good laughs, good conversation, and good vibes. I feel like that is all we would ever need...a car you can sleep in the back of, a destination (or maybe not), an iPod and the open road.

The Lighthouse Deli & Cafe is exactly as I remember it, with the exception of a new paint job outside. I had not been back there for probably 10 years. My grandpa, Poppy, used to take me and my sister there every time we came up to Long Beach to visit him for the weekend when we were younger. It was always The Lighthouse Cafe, a new toy, a little adventure to the Seal and Sea Lion rescue or The Park, Kid's Cuisines, Squeeze Its, an old movie, and the two couches in his living room. Seriously the best! Lily knows what I am talking about.

Since it had been so long since I had been to The Lighthouse Cafe and back then my sister and I were only ever about French Toast and Hot Chocolate(which I still get), I had no idea what the food was actually going to be like. Jimi is not easy to please (as far as breakfast and fish tacos are concerned) so I was hoping this little trip was not going to be a disappointment. Let me just say, the food was A-M-AZING. Jimi will agree with me...he rated it 2nd best to Omelette Parlour! And for those of you had the chance to get a bite of OP before it closed know that this is a very good rating. So if you are ever in Long Beach looking for breakfast, I recommend it. And for my paddling friends, it is just a block or two from the launch site of the Cabrillo run.

So here is to good memories, road trips, being pleasantly surprised, and still loving hot chocolate as much as I did when I was a kid. <3

California Girls

My Girls and I

A New Beginning...

So, what has been happening since May 2010 (the last time I posted). I started a third job, I moved out of my parents house and into a house with my boy, I did a lot of paddling, including the Na Wahine O Ke Kai race which goes from the island of Molokai to the island of Oahu, and I have been trying to get my car fixed for the last 4 months!

So here is to 2011 and a whole new round of blogs to come!

Watching The Spitfire Grill makes me want to move out in the middle of nowhere you can be surrounded by trees and nature. A place that has seasons where you can watch the scene change right before your eyes. But, then I think there is no ocean there. The ocean heaven on earth to me. It is my church, my home, my playground. Maybe one day I will find a simple little spot that combines all of these things into one, where I can grow old. But for now, I will just have to be content with collecting all these amazing scenes and memories as they come to me. The only way to really do that is by traveling...2011 is gunna be all about traveling.

This year's list so far:
San Francisco - Jan 2011
Grand Canyon - Summer 2011
Guanacaste, Costa Rica - August 2011
Paris and Aix-en Provence - November 2011

For that last trip I now have the French Tutor app for my iPod...maybe learning some French should be New Year's Resolution since I have not found one yet! I'll start now...

'Au revoir 2010, Bonjour! 2011

Sally Mann

Im in love with the photography of Sally Mann...

It is pure, innocent and raw all at the same time. Its authentic and beautiful in its own way.

Most of these photos are from her series "Immediate Family" and "At Twelve: Portrait of Young Women" and are of one of her three children in their younger years.

Enjoy.