A California Sunday

I love Sundays. Especially when Charlie is home and doesn't have duty. Today was one of those days. It's so nice not to hear a 4:45 am alarm, probably more for Charlie than me since that's his alarm, not mine. I get an extra 45 minutes more. This morning we slept in until 7:30 and then I took him to my work neighborhood for a little tour of all things exciting I have discovered. First, this heart tree <3

 Next, a stop at Snooze, a hipster/retro breakfast and brunch place that was recommended to me at my California teaching regulations class. I absolutely love the style of this place, it's so fun! We were seated outside, bonus!

We did have to wait 45 minutes for a table...so of course we had time for some self photography... :) Nice face Charlie <3

The food definitely lived up to the recommendation and yelp reviews. Charlie had Breakfast Pot Pie and I had Avocado Bennies.

This is the neighborhood I work in, it is pretty awesome.

The Spruce Street Bridge. A little hidden gem I discovered running on my lunch breaks.  Built in the early 1900's its one of the oldest bridges in the city. It's a suspension bridge and it has quite a bit of sway in it when you walk across it, which is kind of fun.

The view from the center of the bridge. 

Walking back.

Next we went to Seaport Village so I could get a few birthday presents at one of my favorite stores, Urban Girl Outfitters. They have so many neat things.  And it's on the bay so any place with a water view is alright in my book. Salt water makes me happy and reminds me of home, a perfect addition to our Sunday. <3 

Photo Tour

Heres a little photo tour of what we've been up to lately:

Yes ladies, he sews, a lot better than I do :)

I started morning glories from seeds on the deck, this was my first flower. Then a hummingbird moth came and laid eggs on my plants and I had a serious tomato worm problem a few days later. Ugh! All better now though...

  Our tv died :( So Charlie says you can't ever get a smaller tv than what you had so we are now at 55''! Boys...

Charlie bought me a pie when I found out I got my job :) It was yummy! (this is before we baked it)

My dad sent us two melons he grew! Awesome! So sweet and delicious!

And then Amanda sent us love from Vermont! We were spoiled that week :) 

We decided a beach day was in order so we went onto Coronado to the Navy beach. It was awesome! Not a lot of people, lots of sun and a perfect breeze...ahhhh...

 That's my love :) in front of these cabins we discovered that can be rented for under $100/night! Go Navy!

Salt water = my favorite

Thats Point Loma.

On the way home at the grocery store...ha ha. It was from Texas.

Going home on the Coronado bridge. Thats Charlie's Ship, the Independence, inside the green dry dock.

There it is...getting worked on. (Cheers from this girl :)

I made these for Charlie, a.k.a. cookie monster. Chai spice cookies with Pumpkin Kisses. He said he approved. 

Last but not least, we finally found it. After looking in several stores that claimed they had it and didn't, we found Pumpkin Head at a small market in Normal Heights. Yay! My favorite Maine beer!

Alright, now we are up to date. More to come <3

Good News!

It’s been way too long! However, my lack of blogging has been for a good reason! I got a job! I am now a lead teacher at Aspen Leaf Preschool in the Bankers Hill area of San Diego! Yay. As you know, it was super hard for me to leave my Kindergarten teaching position at Lura Libby School because I loved my job and the people I worked with so much. So…looking for a new job seemed like a pretty daunting task, how would anything ever “measure up?” But this job just seemed like it was meant to be from the start. I saw the ad, sent my application packet and in a few days I had an interview. A few days after that I was offered the job! I feel so lucky because it seems like a really good fit. Bridget, the owner, is great and I am so thankful to her for giving me this opportunity to work with little ones, my favorite age group!

I was doing pretty well with the whole “I don’t have a job, what am I going to do everyday” gig I had going, but waking up every morning and getting ready for school feels pretty great. So, I am even happier now.  School is where I need to be. And receiving a paycheck can’t hurt either. Charlie was more than supportive while I was job searching but it’s nice not asking for money anymore. I like to be independent so asking was probably harder for me than it was for him. 

We are on week two of school now and I am settling into new routines and a new teaching style. I am doing a lot of research for my new age group, but I love learning so I welcome the opportunity.

Here are a few photos of my new classroom and school. And, of course, some flowers that I walk by on my way J.

*For more about school check out my classroom blog @ http://misserinsclassroom.blogspot.com

Through the doors leads to the deck, which can be like an outdoor classroom here because it's usually very nice outside. 

Reading area

Morning Meeting!

Walking on 2nd Street to my car. So beautiful.

Roses!

This color is so pretty!

Not a rose :)

While I was waking through the rose garden above after work one night last week, the owner of the house offered me a rose :) 

             

Football Season...

Football season has started and Charlie is psyched! Was he this into football when I first met him? I don't think he was... Anyway...when a game is on and Charlie is home, he is probably watching it. Since I am not a huge fan (although I am beginning to "get it.") but I want to be near Charlie when he is home (not that often) I decided to start a knitting project. My grandmother taught me how a few years ago, but I never really got into it. I made a few scarves, just straight knit stitch all the way and that was about it. Last spring, I was inspired to try something more challenging by my super talented friend Iris after she made these adorable baby booties. I hadn't forgotten about them and decided now was the perfect time to try. After a trip to Michael's (about 3 minutes away with all green lights) to buy a set of size 2 circular needles I was off and knitting. I had to teach myself how to read Iris' pattern because I knew nothing about knitting abbreviations,  but with a little youtube help, I figured it out! Unbelievable! I can't believe it! Ask Charlie, when it started coming together, I was literally squealing! Here are a few pics I took along the way:

Thanks Da for teaching me! (an oldie but goodie)

First part, simple enough, knit until it your work measures 7 cm. 

Next step, short rows! Yikes, I was nervous! But I got it figured out pretty quickly! 

Tada! A bootie is born! 

Now I am working on the second one, but it is coming out so much better than the first, I'll probably have to make three so two will match...oh well.

On another note...I am working on ramping up my running mileage and last week I ran 28 miles! Yes! Feeling good! Here's my favorite recent run pic. A hummingbird sitting in the morning sun on a bird of paradise, and he sat there and let me stop and take a pic!

Lastly, here are the ingredients for my delicious breakfast smoothie I made today. Charlie passed his pumpkin craving onto me...Yum! You should try it! Liquid, healthy, pumpkin pie!

Scenes from a reset run...

 A reset run is a run that restores your equilibrium, or balance, or just helps you “shake it off.” I learned about this concept from Kristin Armstrong's book Mile Markers, which I love.

I needed a reset run because: 

-no Christina (!!!) 

-no Janel (who will help me go fast?!)

-no calm, quiet, no traffic roads like Clarks Cove...sigh...

-no Maine salt water views

But I finally ran. Almost 4 miles. That’s twice around the “big block,” as Charlie called it (meaning 2 blocks really) and once to Fenton place and back. It was not quiet, or calm but I did it. Actually, it’s not really that bad, it’s just different. Our house is on a pretty laid back street and the blocks that I ran around are made up of nicely landscaped office buildings (lots of flowers!) A small section of the run is on Friars Road, which goes to Qualcomm Stadium, home of the Chargers! (We are so close to the stadium the other day I thought a plane was crashing into the house because it was so low, and loud! Charlie said it was just a game time fly by…)

Anyway… my reset run did the trick. I cleared my head and will get back out there tomorrow. I just needed a push. Christina called me just as I was sitting down to post-stretch…perfect timing my friend.

Here are some scenes from my run:

This is our street, River Run Drive.

Bougainvillea helps make retaining walls pretty. Also the little plant underneath I love and have some growing on the patio.

So beautiful with a fragrance to match! Ahhh...

These are fun!

Bolt up!

Thank you for the shade palm trees.

This is how you get "flocked" if you're staying at the Marriot. Ha ha.

California Juicin'

Yesterday I went to my second Hillcrest Sunday Farmer's Market. I was so impressed the first week, I looked forward to going again all week! Charlie was on duty so it was a solo mission this time. One stop for gas ($4.19) and I was there. A women walking to her car saw me looking for a parking space and waited until I came back around to leave her spot. Awesome! I made sure to pass on the favor when I was leaving. I stocked up on veggies for the week and a few other fun things. This weeks special fruit: Nectarines! A personal favorite of mine, not so much Charlie, he can have bananas :) And...I got him tortilla chips. He will be happy. My coolest buy of the day though was my GreenFix smoothie. I sampled this last week and should have bought it then. Ingredients include: Kale, Collard greens, Romaine, Dandelion greens, Parsley, Water, Apple juice, Apple, Banana and Flax seed. So super healthy and it tastes so delicious. I bought one and drank it there and then also a quart for home. When I got home I read more about it and learned it has a huge following here. People basically follow them around to all the farmers markets all week and drink up.  

Looks like another great week. Although this is hot for SD. 

We made this on Sunday night. It was really good. I saw the recipe on a blog I like to read titled Whollyeats! You grill the watermelon first and then drizzle on the dressing. 

 

Heres a look at the garden center at the Nex. Next time I am buying my flowers here instead of Lowes because they look so much better! And I love the pink hibiscus!

Two magazines came for me in the mail today and a card from my grandmother! Good mail day! I think I'll read one :)