Cha - cha - cha - changesss!

So I changed my layout and colors once again.... I can't resist myself! I am just one of those people that becomes bored really easily: I remember growing up, once I was of age to start decorating my own room and had permission to paint my room, the world changed.

Let's see... age 16. First, there was the light blue paint that quickly enveloped my walls that showcased all of my Abercrombie & Fitch surfing pictures that were taped up onto my wall (I have to admit, looking back this was the best of them all).

Next, I decided that all four walls being a light blue was getting boring. How to fix that? Paint a palm tree on your wall! Seriously? Oh yes.

I can't even remember if my parents knew what I was up to that day. I just remember grabbing the paint cans from the garage and beginning to paint a huge palm tree on the wall. And the best part? I actually drew two coconuts on this tree, a little fantastic finishing touch that pretty much looked hilariously phallic by accident. Oops..

So about a year later, if that, the blue walls became boring once again and I was growing tired of the coconut jokes. I needed a new color that fit my senior year and my new attitude. What color fit that? A royal purple of course. I painted three walls a nice white, and then the wall behind my bed was a nice royal purple that stood out dramatically. It was perfect and was that perfect amount of extra oomph that I was craving.

Unfortunately a few months after that we moved out of our wonderful home. I always wondered what the buyers had thought of that random purple and dramatically gorgeous room... (okay the gorgeous part is a lie, but at 18 years of age, who cares right?)

So anyways, this is all basically a warning of the upcoming color and layout changes this blog will fall victim to. But hey, it is better than being boring right? Oh yes

I now realize I need to go find photos of this palm tree and share it with everyone...

Free goodies for your blog!

The lovely Shabby Blogs has their new Valentines Day layouts and goodies available, so hop on over and go grab your blog some cute decorations :)

Rainy Day Recipe

While being stuck inside yesterday during the crazy rainstorm, I became restless and wanted to bake something fun. Why not? :) Rikki Tikki and I were snuggled up most of the day in our blankets and it was time to try and be productive, so here is a fun recipe for you guys to try out on a nice rainy day!

Three Berry Pie

1 cup fresh strawberries, halved
2/3 cup white sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 cups raspberries
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
2-3 tsp fresh lemon juice
cinnamon
1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie (I used a pre-made crust instead!)

** Note: I personally used frozen berries. Just make sure you let them defrost for about half an hour before using them.
(Only takes about 20 minutes prep time and then 60 minutes cooking time)

1. In a large mixing bowl, stir together sugar,cornstarch and a splash of cinnamon. Add strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and lemon juice; gently toss until berries are coated.
2. Line a 9 inch pie plate with half of the pastry. Stir berry mixture, and transfer to the crust lined pie plate. I personally made sure to sprinkle a little bit of the white sugar and cornstarch mixture on the crust before pouring the berries inside to help it from making the crust soggy.
3. Top with second crust, and seal and crimp the edge. The recipe didn't call for it, but I brushed on a egg and water mixture (1 egg + 1/4 cup water) over the top crust before placing it in the oven. It worked out perfectly :)
4. Place a foil trim over the crust to keep it from burning!
5. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes when using fresh fruit, 50 minutes for frozen fruit. Remove foil. Bake for an additional 20 to 30 minutes, or until the top is golden. Cool on wire rack.

and TA-DA!!!
Enjoy your treat!!
And obviously, make sure to top it off with some wonderful vanilla bean ice cream ;)

A Happy Day

Today is my 26th birthday.
I am wearing glitter eyeshadow and going to Disneyland.
My mom sent me cupcakes in the mail,
I received cards in the mail from other family members,
and I even have over 30 birthday comments on my Facebook.

I am smiling and today is a good day.

A Walk In The Park

Today I went for a glorious walk around my neighborhood and enjoyed the amazing January weather that California is currently having. Seventy degrees and clear blue skies to start off the new year? Um heck yes.

Currently the hubby and I live in the good ol' Orange County bubble. We are renting out a condo in an awesome neighborhood that is full of million dollar homes on one end, and fun shops on the other end: Starbucks, Kohls, Ann Taylor Loft, Target, Peets Coffee, Islands ... need I keep going? So basically whenever I want to go outdoors I have lots of stuff to keep me busy and I love it :)

In my attempt to lose some weight I started my daily walks again. Unfortunately, I didn't get much walking done today...
I ended up turning into a little kid at the park and had way too much fun taking photos and watching parents play catch with their kids.


Whenever I walk around the neighborhood I pick out which house I want, and I just have fun thinking about the future and the day the hubby and I will be actual homeowners. This house was my choice for today. A girl can dream, right?

I loved being able to catch the sun setting on the park and was able to capture it on my camera.


Sometimes I think when you get caught up in the world you just need to literally go for a walk in the park; it just helps settle you down. Parks were places to have fun and be free when we were children, so why can't they be the same now? Heck, I was even trying to get on the swings but the family with their kids wouldn't leave :( Haha

Next time I'm going to find a way to get onto those swings and kick and kick and kick until I get super high in the air and just feel like a kid again ... can you tell swings make me happy?

The end of 2009 in photos

After Christmas I headed out to Arizona to visit my family and see my mom and step-dad's new home. We had a nice little Christmas celebration of our own and just had fun relaxing, which is pretty much what a trip to Arizona always consists of. (Oh, and shopping ... lots of shopping). The hubby got to stay home and enjoy the quiet (with the cat of course).

On the drive out, when I got to the Palm Springs area, the clouds were insane! I love it when clouds become huge and billowy, making them even more of a mystery just floating around in the sky.
This year I got some of the best gifts I have ever received. (Wow, don't I just sound superficial). There was just something about this year where everything seemed extra meaningful. I think I am going through that odd phase of trying to *admit* to myself that I'm a grown-up now and it's okay. Who would have thought that would be such a struggle? I'm excited about this upcoming year and being 26 though. Okay, back to those presents ..

My grandmother crocheted this gorgeous ivory blanket. I am a SUCKER for things like this. Family means so much to me, and I don't believe that there is anything much better than a handmade item from family. Thank you for my blanket Grandma !
Isn't is just gorgeous??

And then ... there is this beauty.
My mom bought me this gorgeous and dainty letter 'C' necklace. I don't wear much jewelry, but I am a sucker for little pieces like this. This little thing has not come off at all in the last two weeks ;)

And what did the husband get for me this year? A new iphone!! And not just a normal iphone... the new 3Gs iphone. I am in geek heaven.
Oh, and then there is this photo.

This is a pond near my mom's new home that we stopped at to feed the ducks. So here we are to the left feeding those three guys, and then I look to the right and see the swarm of ducks coming our way. It was the most funny thing.... cause they can't swim that fast but they were all SO determined to get their butts to us and get that food. Thankfully it started to rain right after we took this picture and we took off. That would have been an interesting fight for the bread crumbs...But now, I'm back at our wonderful home and enjoying the quiet before school begins again. And by the way .... 75 degrees and clear on January 5th in California?

I love this place.

In this blog, I hope to keep track of my recipes, craft projects, plus all memories big & small.

I started blogging for my family, and along the way I've had so many wonderful people let their presence be known in my little corner of the internet.

I hope that in the future, this will grow into something I can look back on one day and be thankful I had.

So here's to the first diary I ever kept that I didn't freak out and throw away, or delete when life changed in a different direction.