Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
What to look for this week...
Disneyland! What?! it's full of people? Imagine that!
Apple pie Crock Pot Style here
Latest play date craft date: Thanksgiving turkeys (use baby's foot and hands) here
Apple pie Crock Pot Style here
Latest play date craft date: Thanksgiving turkeys (use baby's foot and hands) here
Wednesday, November 06, 2013
How to hike to the Hollywood sign! (we did it wrong BUT figured it out and made it!)
This was great fun! Mostly because I got to be with my little family outside on a joint mission. It really helps when my husband suggests things to do so that I don't worry the whole time if he likes the plan and is having fun!
This was great fun also bc listening to my husband complain and moan and joke was so real and refreshing! I was cracking up!
Here are the instructions we used and -GASP!- failed to follow! This can be found here where you can learn other routes as well.
easiest - route to the 1,680 foot summit is via the Hollyridge Trail. To get there, take Highway 101 south to Franklin (or Gower, if you’re coming from the south, in which case you will turn right on Gower and right on Franklin) and head east to Beachwood. Turn left and follow Beachwood almost two miles to its end in the Hollywood Hills. Park where you can and begin hiking on the Hollyridge Trail, which climbs for a half mile and meets the Mulholland Trail. Head left, and look for a paved (but closed to traffic) road heading off to the right: appropriately named Mt. Lee Drive. This brings you to the top of Mt. Lee, where you can see the sign below, and if the weather is clear, the views are great. You can see the ocean, the Palos Verdes Peninsula, downtown Los Angeles, the Santa Ana Mountains of Orange County and more. The total distance on this hike is 3 miles round trip, with an elevation gain of 750 feet.
I have highlighted key words for you!
When you park go up the road to your right. If you look behind you, you will see the sign up and away. You are going to follow the people. If you are smart you will find someone who knows where they are going. Guess what?! all these trail names Mr. Anonymous speak of in the above text---they don't exist on any signs that I SAW!
And....Guess what! If you miss that left turn you are heading the wrong direction towards the observatory not the sign!! And Guess what else, the left is behind you while you are walking looking around at all the views on your right! I am telling you it is easy to miss-- for reals yall!!!
If you have walked for more than 10 minutes and you are not on paved road yet you are going the wrong way! Turn around! If there are horses on your trail--turn around!
My point you ask? It took us 1.5hrs to get up to the sign and about 25 coming down--the right way!
Again, this was great fun! bc I got to enjoy a REAL experience with my husband and son :) And the views were great!
This was great fun also bc listening to my husband complain and moan and joke was so real and refreshing! I was cracking up!
Here are the instructions we used and -GASP!- failed to follow! This can be found here where you can learn other routes as well.
easiest - route to the 1,680 foot summit is via the Hollyridge Trail. To get there, take Highway 101 south to Franklin (or Gower, if you’re coming from the south, in which case you will turn right on Gower and right on Franklin) and head east to Beachwood. Turn left and follow Beachwood almost two miles to its end in the Hollywood Hills. Park where you can and begin hiking on the Hollyridge Trail, which climbs for a half mile and meets the Mulholland Trail. Head left, and look for a paved (but closed to traffic) road heading off to the right: appropriately named Mt. Lee Drive. This brings you to the top of Mt. Lee, where you can see the sign below, and if the weather is clear, the views are great. You can see the ocean, the Palos Verdes Peninsula, downtown Los Angeles, the Santa Ana Mountains of Orange County and more. The total distance on this hike is 3 miles round trip, with an elevation gain of 750 feet.
I have highlighted key words for you!
When you park go up the road to your right. If you look behind you, you will see the sign up and away. You are going to follow the people. If you are smart you will find someone who knows where they are going. Guess what?! all these trail names Mr. Anonymous speak of in the above text---they don't exist on any signs that I SAW!
And....Guess what! If you miss that left turn you are heading the wrong direction towards the observatory not the sign!! And Guess what else, the left is behind you while you are walking looking around at all the views on your right! I am telling you it is easy to miss-- for reals yall!!!
If you have walked for more than 10 minutes and you are not on paved road yet you are going the wrong way! Turn around! If there are horses on your trail--turn around!
My point you ask? It took us 1.5hrs to get up to the sign and about 25 coming down--the right way!
Again, this was great fun! bc I got to enjoy a REAL experience with my husband and son :) And the views were great!
Monday, October 28, 2013
Tac's First Birthday!
Maannnn, I hope I am not the only mom who gets way too worked up about things like Baptisms, birthdays, holidays... ALL the expectations and pressure! Is it all in my head? Real, Imagined?
All I know is that there seems to be a lot of it. I suffer from a condition known as learned perfectionism. I am not a natural perfectionist- it doesn't suit me so when it comes out it ain't pretty. I think most women can relate to this. I don't know if you learned you had to be a perfectionist from society or within your self, home... nature nurture blah blah. Again, I do not know but the pressure is there. This sounds like it needs to be its own post.
Back to the Birthday BOY!
This party was amazing! I was most anxious about people coming or not and guess what!? you all came and it meant the world to me. Tac knew you were there. He recognized his little friends and he knew the day was about him. He had so much fun playing at his favorite park. He did a great job during the (another pressure moment) first cake photo op. He wore his hat that I made him. He smiled, he made a mess, he played, he played, he played. He even napped before the party so he was in a good mood....not so much after. We came home and tried to get him to nap...NOT. So we invited the IN LAWS back and opened presents instead. He definitely understood that the day was about him.
So at least my stress did not overshadow His special day.
I cannot express how much it meant to have so many friends make such an effort to come celebrate with us. I will never forget the kindness.
PICTURE TIME!!!!
Maannnn, I hope I am not the only mom who gets way too worked up about things like Baptisms, birthdays, holidays... ALL the expectations and pressure! Is it all in my head? Real, Imagined?
All I know is that there seems to be a lot of it. I suffer from a condition known as learned perfectionism. I am not a natural perfectionist- it doesn't suit me so when it comes out it ain't pretty. I think most women can relate to this. I don't know if you learned you had to be a perfectionist from society or within your self, home... nature nurture blah blah. Again, I do not know but the pressure is there. This sounds like it needs to be its own post.
Back to the Birthday BOY!
This party was amazing! I was most anxious about people coming or not and guess what!? you all came and it meant the world to me. Tac knew you were there. He recognized his little friends and he knew the day was about him. He had so much fun playing at his favorite park. He did a great job during the (another pressure moment) first cake photo op. He wore his hat that I made him. He smiled, he made a mess, he played, he played, he played. He even napped before the party so he was in a good mood....not so much after. We came home and tried to get him to nap...NOT. So we invited the IN LAWS back and opened presents instead. He definitely understood that the day was about him.
So at least my stress did not overshadow His special day.
I cannot express how much it meant to have so many friends make such an effort to come celebrate with us. I will never forget the kindness.
PICTURE TIME!!!!
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
What to look for in the second half of October!
Upcoming headlines:
1. How to make your child a party hat for his/her first birthday (a what not to do guide) hat hang ups
2. Tac's first Birthday at Grant Park
3. How to survive two weeks in a row of in town in-laws and the following waves of withdrawal !yay! while weaning and preparing for Bday party!yay!
Ummmmmm- obviously I am not good at hiding my anxiety!
Look at my poor pumpkins!!!!
I hosted a play date/ mommy craft date night on Monday!
I did not do a very good job of documenting this event....we tend to be a little occupied.
1. How to make your child a party hat for his/her first birthday (a what not to do guide) hat hang ups
2. Tac's first Birthday at Grant Park
3. How to survive two weeks in a row of in town in-laws and the following waves of withdrawal !yay! while weaning and preparing for Bday party!yay!
Ummmmmm- obviously I am not good at hiding my anxiety!
Look at my poor pumpkins!!!!
I hosted a play date/ mommy craft date night on Monday!
I did not do a very good job of documenting this event....we tend to be a little occupied.
Wednesday, October 09, 2013
Big SURmazing
Hopefully you caught my post about our recent trip to San Francisco... Now hear about how we got home!
Driving the coast (Big Sur) has been on our Bucket List for this year in LA ever since we well, ever since we made our LA Bucket List! On Friday we began discussing renting a car for Sunday. Tyler's cousins live in San Fran and my high school friend, TK, lives in Mountain View and we knew we wanted to connect with them. Tyler had already experienced a cable car ride and never wanted to do that again. We also experienced a taxi ride with a scary Russian who did not appreciate Tac banging his sippy cup on every surface in the back of his vehicle. And damn it, I brought a car seat all the way from LA and I was going to put it to use. Also, tac had a terrible time getting sleep in our shared hotel room.
Many reasons and boy was the drive unbelievable!!!
Tessa suggested we spend the night Saturday night in Half Moon Bay, south of San Fran. It turns out that Tessa, Mike, and their beloved Bernese Mountain Dog attend the BMdog festival annually which happens to be located in Half Moon Bay! So After the Dirty hippie fest we drove to HMB and spent the night. The next morning we were able to catch Tk and family at the beach for a nice reunion before continuing our day. We also made a pit stop at a Pumpkin patch (We found out... is the location for the BMD festival and farmer John is the founder of the fest). Did you know that this area of coastline is known for its pumkins? Me neither. Horses, crops, and cows those are the property owners of this gorgeous coastline. I am pretty proud that there exists some coastline that is not commercial. (ok, well the farmers are business men but they are not in commercial real estate!)
I am going to stop talking now about the beautiful drive except to list the wildlife we saw and let you see for yourselves.
8-10 whales!!!
dolphins
maybe a shark?
seals
elephant seals
tons of birds
fail!
Lighthouse
Elephant Seal Vista off the 1HWY
Driving the coast (Big Sur) has been on our Bucket List for this year in LA ever since we well, ever since we made our LA Bucket List! On Friday we began discussing renting a car for Sunday. Tyler's cousins live in San Fran and my high school friend, TK, lives in Mountain View and we knew we wanted to connect with them. Tyler had already experienced a cable car ride and never wanted to do that again. We also experienced a taxi ride with a scary Russian who did not appreciate Tac banging his sippy cup on every surface in the back of his vehicle. And damn it, I brought a car seat all the way from LA and I was going to put it to use. Also, tac had a terrible time getting sleep in our shared hotel room.
Many reasons and boy was the drive unbelievable!!!
Tessa suggested we spend the night Saturday night in Half Moon Bay, south of San Fran. It turns out that Tessa, Mike, and their beloved Bernese Mountain Dog attend the BMdog festival annually which happens to be located in Half Moon Bay! So After the Dirty hippie fest we drove to HMB and spent the night. The next morning we were able to catch Tk and family at the beach for a nice reunion before continuing our day. We also made a pit stop at a Pumpkin patch (We found out... is the location for the BMD festival and farmer John is the founder of the fest). Did you know that this area of coastline is known for its pumkins? Me neither. Horses, crops, and cows those are the property owners of this gorgeous coastline. I am pretty proud that there exists some coastline that is not commercial. (ok, well the farmers are business men but they are not in commercial real estate!)
I am going to stop talking now about the beautiful drive except to list the wildlife we saw and let you see for yourselves.
8-10 whales!!!
dolphins
maybe a shark?
seals
elephant seals
tons of birds
fail!
Dork!
Elephant Seal Vista off the 1HWY
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)