Road Trip

I took this week off work with no real plan in mind, just to not be at work.  Plus it was my birthday and Thanksgiving, so it worked out.  We decided last week that we would probably make a trip down to the Santa Barbra area to see our friend, check out some things Matt has been doing down there, and try and visit some family on our way.  Well, on my last day of work I got my first cold in years!  How does that work out?!  Needless to say the trip got pushed from Saturday to Sunday and then to Monday, leaving us with a 3 day trip.  So, we had a jam packed little road trip.  It was fun, cold and all,even though I managed to pass my cold on to the hubby too. =(  I didn't get pictures of our whole trip, but I did get the best part... the beach!

The drive in.

Can you tell I blew my nose 700 times on the way there?

This is how I got my pictures, and why they may be blurry. ;)

so beautiful

first glimpse of the beach

There was a playground between our site and the beach! I just had to ride a dolphin!

we made it to the beach just in time for the sunset

view from our campsite

it was soooo chilly that night, I had to seriously layer up!

The next morning was ABSOLUTE PERFECT beach weather! So awesome!

On our way out that day we saw a bobcat.  He didn't really like that we were watching him, he kept trying to hide behind a bush.  We weren't leaving without a picture though.

We went and checked out this amazing entrance that Matt was working on with our friend Pat.  It's a little hard to tell in the picture, but it is massive! Super neat.

It was a fun quick trip, we didn't do everything we wanted to, but we had a good time.  Next time I think we'll just stay at the beach for a week straight!

Our Thanksgiving

I'm finally home!(for a little bit) We took a short road trip earlier this week (I'll get some photos up soon), were back for one night and then headed off for Thanksgiving festivities with the fam-bam. This year we had a very low-key Thanksgiving with a small group of friends and family, it was perfect.

Me and my beautiful mom

Me and the hubby

At pretty much every dinner at my in-laws I am in charge of decor and setting the table, it's what I do. This year I completely spaced and didn't even think about it until the food was coming out to the table! So, we had a very basic and thrown together table this year, nothing fancy whatsoever. I can blame my brain fart on this stupid cold I have right?!  ;)

last minute make shift candle holders, because I couldn't find real ones

Our feast! All organic and fresh from the farm! Seriously, they went and picked the produce that morning!

The table from my view

Everyone grubbin on some amazing food!

For everyone who wonders what a vegetarian eats at Thanksgiving:

I don't think I was missing out! Everything was delicious.

and then there were the homemade pies!

It's a little hard to see, but she cut Happy Thanksgiving into the pie! How cute is that!

I indulged in some pumpkin cheesecake with homemade caramel and candied pecans...mmm

Someone, I won't say who indulged in a whole heap of pie! He ate it all too!

I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving too! 

Insta-Friday + My birthday!

It's my birthday today!  Woot!  I wish I could say that I did something amazing, but I had to work today.  Bummer, I know.. BUT, I am taking the next week off, so it was totally worth it!  Now I get to spend my first week of being 26 doing whatever I want! Yay!

Here are some snap shots from my week.

more snuggly pets

me and the hubby

really pretty sunset

my new chicken friend I met the other night

Also, in case anyone was wondering I haven't been so awesome on my goal to shape up by my birthday (see more here) I've been eating pretty good, but totally slacking otherwise.  I did get on the scale this morning just to see and was pleasantly surprised to see 132.  I know I still need to tone up, but I was excited none the less.  

So, here's to turning 26!  It's going to be a good year, I can feel it!

linking up with

Top Ten {crafty things I want to make}

A few things from my crafty to do list:

Source: anthropologie.com via Ameryn Marie on Pinterest

Source: ny-image3.etsy.com via Ameryn Marie on Pinterest

Source: cherrystreetcottage.blogspot.com via Ameryn Marie on Pinterest

Source: e-tells-tales.blogspot.com via Ameryn Marie on Pinterest

Source: youtube.com via Ameryn Marie on Pinterest

Source: beyondbeyond.co.uk via Ameryn Marie on Pinterest

Source: pepperdesignblog.com via Ameryn Marie on Pinterest

Source: annabooshouse.blogspot.com via Ameryn Marie on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Ameryn Marie on Pinterest

Source: grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com via Ameryn Marie on Pinterest

Girls Trip!

This weekend a few of us girls bundled up and took a trip up the mountain to Apple Hill.  It's a little area full of apple orchards, farms, vineyards and crafty stuff galore!  We explored, bought some fun stuff, and ate entirely too much!  Everything is apple, how could you resist?!  I was terrible and didn't take any pictures, luckily one girl did! (thanks Jess) So, here are some shots of our day.

Just getting there, coffee in hand

me fumbling to find an open organic farm on the map

in front of the organic apple farm who were clean out of apples! =(

All in all it was a good day, minus me not leaving with a box of apples... next year I'll make it up in October and clean them out! =)

How was your 11-11-11?

My husband's family has been taking pictures every year on 01-01-01, 02-02-02...  Some have been themed, some haven't.  This year wasn't, well not really.  It turns out it was my nephews 11 week birthday.  How fun is that?!  So, we tried to get a party hat on him for the picture, but it was past his bedtime and he wasn't having it!  So, we pretty much just got some random pictures of us. Whatever works right?!

see, not behaving. ;)

and there may have been some fighting over who gets to hold the baby.

Anyone else get some good 11-11-11 pictures?

what do you do with all those greens?!

I'm not sure if it's how I eat or where I shop, but I can't make it home from the grocery store without some interesting comments... 'what do you do with all those greens?'  'do you have a lizard at home?... a turtle?' 'I bet you know how to make a salad!'  LOL!  I know I can't be the only vegan in my town, so am I the only herbivore?  I usually leave the store with 90% fresh veggies and the rest beans and grains... oh and beer. ;) 

a glimpse of my cart today

Is it really that strange to buy 'real' food?  And why are people so afraid of kale?  It's yummy, I swear!

my 'loot' for today

I try to eat local and organic all year long.  I've found it really is the best way to get the freshest food possible, and also the best tasting!  A tomato fresh from your garden in August is SO much better than one that is a few weeks old from thousands of miles away in the middle of December.  Think about it.

I guess that makes me a HerbiLocavore. ;)  Anyone else with me?  Or am I the crazy hippie lady buying up all the 'rabbit food' everyday?