Home Sweet Home

It's always fun to go away, but I have to say that there is also nothing like "home!"  Before I tell you about all of our away adventures,  I want to tell you about one of our favorite places to spend the day. Sometimes it's easy to forget that Southern California is a vacation destination for everyone else in the world. It's so easy for us to take for granted what is right here in our very own "backyard."

As a family we spend most Sundays down in San Clemente, the halfway point between San Diego and Los Angeles. This was the place I came to when I first vacationed in California, and I have loved it ever since. There are 20 acres of sand, a 1200 foot long pier, 342 days of sunshine, great places to eat, and a quaint downtown shopping area. 

Our starting point is Pacific Coast Church located right off of I-5 and Avenida Vista Hermosa. It's about a 25 minute drive from our home.  We always notice about a 10 degree drop in temperature as we head down to San Clemente.  The kids are well taken care of with free donuts, bagels, orange juice and fruit punch every Sunday morning. A nice way to start off our day. We enjoy Pastor Mark's detailed study of the bible where he takes us through each verse and helps us to see God's word in a whole new light. 

After church, we are off to have some family fun!  We usually head down to Avenida Del Mar, the main street of shopping. One of our favorite restaurants down there to eat at is Avila's El Ranchito Mexican Restaurant. On a pretty day, which is most, we will ask for a table out on their patio. The food is delicious and their margarita's are the best.

We have found several shops that we like to frequent also... Bliss Boutique is one of my favorite clothing stores.  The clothes are usually one of a kind and trendy.  Often it's hit or miss in finding something I like, but when I do find something, I am forever in love with it.

Rascal's Ladies Boutique has styles ranging from sexy to demure, classic to forward trending. They carry Clothing and Accessories, Lingerie and Sleepwear, and Brighton Jewelry. They don't have a web site, but you may find them at 114 Avenida Del Mar.  

And when you have a great husband like I do, he offers to watch the kids while he sends his wife off to the have a massage at the 5 Elements-day spa. After my treatment, he suggest (yes, suggest) that my daughter and I go have a pedicure. How sweet is that!

Oftentimes, we head down to the pier to spend our day at the beach instead of shopping. 

This past week, we decided to go down there to have dinner on the pier at The

Fisherman's Restaurant. It sits right out on the water and is the most relaxing atmosphere. While dining on the "Crab Feast" (yum-o!), we not only see the train as it goes by blowing it's horn, but we also see a man flying by with what looked like an electric powered parachute...much cooler than hang gliding!  

The waves are big and surfers wait to catch the biggest one. After dinner, we sit out on the concrete barrier as the kids swing on the swings at dusk. A large group of people are picnicking at the tables, while one of the guys in the group plays soft rhythms on his bongo drums. The waves are crashing against the shore and my feet are in the sand. This is why I find San Clemente so extraordinary and the perfect place to just get away.  

 If you are in town in July make sure to join us for San Clemente's Ocean Festival. There will be fun, food and entertainment...A guaranteed good time!

See you don't have to go far from home to find a little bit of paradise!

Sorry for long delay....

Hi,

I've been off traveling again!  To... Sedona, Az., Amsterdam, The Netherlands; and to Dallas and Austin, Texas.  Now I am back for the summer and will have some time to catch up on my blogging and tell you all about my trips!...so much fun!!

The kids last day of school was today.  It's hot here in California, so we are heading to the pool tomorrow. 

Check back soon for more blogging.

Why God Made Moms...

Questions second-graders where asked about the most important women in their lives...

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He Just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your Mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats alot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home, & dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your Mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your Mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on her back of her head.

Source: Unknown

Tent Camping and Batter Blaster!

I always wonder why I continue to be a Girl Scout Leader for my daughter's troop. It's not something I love to do, but I do it for my daughter and that means the world to me. This time it was tent camping at El Dorado Park in Long Beach. It's called Junior Jamboree and I have to admit, I had a good time!  Over the years, I have learned to be a good little camper.  I know how to pitch a tent and I have learned that a good sleeping bag and a full size air mattress are a must! I have also learned that 10 year old girls like to stay up and talk late into the night. Luckily, I no longer stay in the same tent as them, so I manage to get a good nights sleep.  I have learned that 2 days is my maximum time without a shower.  Nothing feels better than taking that hot shower when I get home.  It reminds me of the same feeling I got as a kid, when I would come home from the Gulf Coast after a long day at the hot sticky beach, all sandy, and jump in to our shower. AHHH!  It was like heaven!!

Now I have to share something with you....Sunday morning before we left, we made pancakes. My family would tell you that I am not a breakfast cook. It's not my favorite meal. But I have to tell you I was amazed by this product that one of the mom's picked up at Costco.  It's called Organic Batter Blaster.  It's amazing! I was sold on this stuff. It squirts out just like cool whip.  No mess in the morning. Gotta love that.... Check it out!

This video will show you exactly what I mean....My kind of breakfast cooking!