La Jolla, California

I have been having trouble with Blogger whenever I try to add pics from my phone with the Blogger App, and then go to the computer to type it up. It makes the spacing crazy, the pictures get out of order, and it won't let me add text between pictures or text at the end. It's a little annoying. Vent over.

I had a very good friend, K, and her husband come and visit us over the weekend. K is so cool to be around, so I knew we would have a blast. The weekend surpassed any amazing hopes I had. We did so many fun things, including going to La Jolla. We have wanted to go to La Jolla since we moved here. It's so close to us, that I don't know why we waited so long. La Jolla is very close to San Diego and it is a beautiful and hilly seaside community. Apparently, there are usually lots of seals on the beach, but we only saw about six.

I have to add that there is a story to the photo of Duke playing the xylophone. We had been walking barefoot on the beach, and we walked up the coast to the park so Duke could put on his sneakers. He sat down on a bench next to this lady and she asked if he wanted to lay her xylophone. Of course he said yes! Haha.

Stuff like this happens to Duke all the time. He is very social and seems to attract very social people. It's absolutely hilarious to me.

What's New?

What is new besides the fact that I've been a slacker of a blogger? Here it is. I've been really busy, but now I've had a chance to breathe. Here's a quick update of some things that have been happening lately.

I bought this vintage blanket for our couch! I love, love, love the colors. Took our couch from bleh to cute!

We discovered the most amazing Mexican restaurant. You will know I'm not kidding because I was already digging in before this pic.

Here's a cool mural inside the restaurant. We LOVE Mexican food.

Aww.

Breena went to visit with her boyfriend, Chester. They're in love.

Duke bought me this new cookbook. Has SO many great recipes. Can't wait to try some.

I bought some new clothes for the first time since we've been out here. I was SO excited. The shorts were $45 and I got them on sale for $10! Thanks for looking! :)

Riding Lesson #7

Hey ya'll!!!! (In case you were wondering, I'm practicing for my move back to NC). That's right, ya'll.

Just thought I'd give ya'll an update on my lesson that was last night. This was lesson number seven. I have six more to go before we leave.

I am starting to get emotional about leaving. A few nights ago, Duke and I were sitting on the couch and I just started with the waterworks. One of my parents' sweet kitties had to be put to sleep last week after sixteen years, so I was already emotional from the loss of him. We were on the couch and I just started crying because I am going to miss Artie (my super special lesson horse) so much when we leave. I get super attached to all the horses that I have ever ridden....it's just a problem for me.

I also got emotional before we left the San Diego Zoo. I know. Crazy, right? But, it's probably the last time we'll ever be at the San Diego Zoo! Duke says that when we leave Cali to drive back to NC, I'll probably cry all the way to Arizona. Haha. He's probably right.

Well, I had a great lesson on Artie last night. He is such a good boy.

I am super grateful that I have been able to take lessons out here. Duke has been super supportive of my (expensive!) habit. He goes to my lessons every week, takes photos, videos, gives me water so I don't pass out, and then he always buys us food on the way home. I married such a good guy. <3

Buying Organic

So, I have been trying to eat healthy. Or healthier. Duke lost about 80 lbs on his last deployment overseas, and has kept most of the weight off. We do not eat out very often, and I try to cook most of our meals at the house. It's hard to find meals that are healthy and taste as good as the real thing. Usually, we eat really healthy for breakfast and lunch, and then I just sort of make whatever I want to make for dinner. But, we almost always have veggies as sides.

These last few weeks, I have stopped drinking sodas. For the most part. I looove root beer, and I was drinking one or two cans everyday. It was getting out of control. So, I started buying the small cans of soda, and I'll have one every few days.

Now, sweet tea is another problem. But, I will never cut out sweet tea. I have been drinking a lot more water and milk though.

Last week, I was very excited when I purchased organic eggs at the grocery store. I don't know what made me do it, but I did. I found that they had much thicker shells---and heck, they look so much better with their cute little brown shells. But it got me thinking. What should I really buy organic? So I found this article. The article goes into detail as to why you should buy each item organic. Here's the scoop.

{source}

Things to buy organic:

Beef

Strawberries (or any berry for that matter, and apples)

Cookware

Popcorn

Yard pesticides

All-purpose home cleaners

Water bottles

Food storage containers

Milk

Celery

Tomato sauce

Mattresses and Carpet Padding (what!?)

Five Things You Don't Have to Buy Organic:

Avocados

Eggs

Frozen food in plastic bags

Spices

Clothing

Of course, eggs would be on the not to buy list. Because I bought them. Ok, ok, I fell for the cute brown eggs instead of the white ones with the super thin shells. But, the shells are thicker. And they're brown. And they taste better---I think.

I hope this list was helpful.

Rose Bowl Flea Market

Today we went to the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena, California! Eeek! I have been wanting to go ever since I moved here in April. Our time here in California is running out very soon, so Duke and I decided not to wait until next month to go. I was very excited.

All in all, it was fun. It was so hot today in Pasadena. It made me super thankful that we have been able to live on the coast all this time where there is always a nice, cool breeze.

To compare the Rose Bowl to other flea markets, there are definitely better ones to go to. Like the Long Beach Antique Market. Overall, I would say that the Rose Bowl has more clothing than anything. There's also a ton of junk. And not the good kind. Long Beach has way more antiques. And that's basically what I am all about when I go flea marketing....errr...whatever it's called.

Here it is. What you can't see are the HUGE mountains all around it. So cool.

Four lemonades, one taco, and a lot of walking later, here are my goodies. Two pieces of vintage Pyrex and a vintage mod enamel Dutch oven. Love. Duke put the handle back on, but I forgot to take an "after" photo.

Here is the new home for this guy.

And this guy. And I'm super proud of Duke for trucking through hours of junking and feeding me lemonade. Thanks for reading. :)

Grilled Chicken Kabobs

Oh, delicious kabobs. This was our dinner last night. I'm still thinking about it. My husband is still talking about it. Our friends raved about it. Here's the recipe. Enjoy!

 

P.S. Sorry about the poor quality photos. I was too excited about eating. The photo on the recipe page looks much better. :D

San Diego Zoo

For Labor Day, Duke and I decided to go to the San Diego Zoo. He took me last year, but I love the zoo, so I have been driving him crazy to go back. We are from Asheboro, NC (home of the NC Zoo), but it's still fun to go to the zoo here because it's so different. I didn't take as many photos this time because I took a million last time, but here are some anyways. :)

Duke getting into character at the Sabertooth Grill! :)

Amazing Panda!

I love Pandas.

The Koalas are my FAVORITE!

Sky Tram

Red Panda.

Where's Santa?

What a face!!!

Duke was a little scared to ride on the sky tram. I made him do it THREE times!!!! Haha!

Petting Zoo

Elephant!

Hello, there.