CA 1 Road Trip: The Big Picture

After arriving in Monterey our virst stop in the morning was Carmel-by-the-Sea. We went down to the beach and then decided to check out a local mission.


Next we headed down the coast and stopped at different view points to take a look at the coast. This stop is Bixby Bridge.


Next we drove through Big Sur, the redwood groves that dot the coast. The elevation jumps and we stopped at Nepenthe, a beautiful indoor outdoor restaurant where we had hot apple cider and breakfast at 3:00 in the afternoon. Being on a mountain, in the forest, on the edge of the ocean eating breakfast might just be as good as it gets.

Alden had heard of this place, McWay falls, and had wanted to go for YEARS. Lucky for us it was part of the drive. Talk about BEAUTIFUL. Can you see the waterfall coming out of the rock? The only down side is there is no accesses to the beach, at least no legal/safe access. Alden was pretty disappointed but in the end we decided it wouldn't be nearly as beautiful if there were a million tourists down there.

Sunset kisses...


The next day we got up and went to Pismo beach to see the Monarch butterflies. It wasn't what I expected (the butterflies were hanging in the trees about 20 feet up) but it was still really neat.

We ended our trip eating Mexican at Morro Bay. That giant rock is actually the pit of an old volcano. Can you believe it?

When doing our research for the trip we came across an article by National Geographic about driving the CA 1. It had lots of great stops, I only wish we could have hit them all. Click here to check out the article.

Road Trippin

Alden and I hit the CA 1 for a little weekend birthday road trip. Alden usually prefers to "do" rather than to "have" for his Birthday.

Here is a sneak peek picture of our adventure. I can't get over those cliffs, that water, and the bridge! Forgive me America for day dreaming about Europe lately.

*Stay tuned for more posts of our trip

BIRTHDAY WEEK

Alden's birthday week started out with a bang. On Friday while I was at work Alden's sister Addie showed up out of no where. Currently she is going to school at BYU-Idaho but she decided to pop in this weekend for a surprise. And boy were we surprised!

Alden was still in DC on business at the moment, getting ready to board a plane and come home just to catch the tail end of his birthday (hence the need for a brithday week!).

Addie had the idea that we take BART (the subway) into the airport and surprise Alden and his mom as they got off the plane. BRILLIANT! So we got on BART with signs and balloons in hand (and camera!.. only to discover I forgot my SD card...Rats!)

We made it to the airport with perfect time and ran to meet them at their exit. The double surprise made for and exciting start to Alden's 24th Birthday week.

We then ate homemade German chocolate cake and chips a salsa (what birthday boy wants, birthday boy gets).

The next day included garage selling (our favorite past time), brunch at the Hunts, shopping, Thai food, going to the movie Moneyball and stake conference. Pretty much all of our favorite things rolled into one day.

*Picture includes a slice of Alden's cake as well as a card I threw together via this inspiration.

Happy Birthday my darling.
23 was a crazy year mostly. but I am proud of you. I don't know many 23 24 year olds that do what you do. your positive attitude amazes and motivates me daily. I love you more than all the stars.

Welcome to 24. I've been waiting for you.

Happy Halloween

Halloween usually brings out the worst in me. I have a history of bad Halloweens. If it wasn't the terror of coming up with a costume it was the horror of being a vampire when all your friends were princesses. One year a friend and I were too old to go trick r treating and not cool enough to go to parties so we cut some holes in some black garbage bags and put them over our heads and then we ate chocolate pudding with no hands. yum.

Halloween was alright this year. It made a wicked comeback, and it brought me along with it. Thanks to a last minute pumpkin party with friends and a man in a tux (who just so happens to be MY man and James Bond, lucky girl). So here I am, raised from the dead and back to blogging. Happy Halloween Everyone.