How to enjoy the heat wave...

It's never hard to forget the reasons that I moved out west, especially when my toughest decision of the week is our weekend plans...Catalina Island vs. Mammoth Mountain.  Seriously?!  Is this really my life?  Sometimes I literally wake up and pinch myself.

Catalina Island...1 hour drive and 1 hour boat ride from home!

Catalina Island

Mammoth I have been to so many times and will be there a zillion times more and love every second of it, especially spring riding!  However, I have not yet been to Catalina Island.  How did this ever escape our weekend plans over the past 2 years?!  I have heard of many people going there and staying in spas and getting pampered, etc, which all sounds amazing....until I did some research and realized that you can hike the entire island in 3-4 days and possibly run into Bison! 
 

Now THAT really grabbed my attention!  We do not have enough time off from work to do the full hike this weekend since our vacation time is devoted to our upcoming Jersey trip, but we can do a portion of it and at least camp out and enjoy this heat wave that is coming. 

I am leaving the final decision up to Casey since it is his birthday weekend!  But seriously, what a life!!

Easter Sunday with our west coast family...

Sweet little Mabel Lane, born during last year's Easter earthquake,  invited us over to celebrate at her house. 

Click here for photos.

BE GREEN.

Today, many Catholics and Christians across the world celebrate Good Friday...this is the day that Jesus was crucified and then he comes back on Easter Sunday.  I went to Catholic School through 6th grade and hope I have that right!  I could have recited an entire mass in those days, but never knew what half of it meant ....all I remember is always feeling sick to my stomach as I sat in church every single Sunday...week after week....  Does that mean I don't believe in God?  Not at all...I definitely believe in something much more powerful than us....and I even pray!

But that's all off topic anyway.

What I am really here to say is Happy Earth Day!  Let's not only celebrate history, but let's try to look out for our future!  Take time to honor something else that is more powerful than us...good ol' mother nature.  She provides for us like a nurturing mother, and yet like ungrateful children, we walk all over her....literally, but also figuratively.  We need to take time to celebrate the earth everyday...and if I sound like I am getting soft, well, I probably am!   I spend alot of time outdoors and in nature....it's where I am most peaceful....and I admit that sounds really cheesy but couldn't be more true.  And I know alot of my fellow outdoor lovers would agree with me.

So what do we do to "save the planet"?  Just to name a few, we take part in the basics everyday....Eating mostly organic, local and seasonal with the help of our CSA.  We recycle. We rarely ever eat meat and definitely never cook it.  We don't use plastic water bottles and I am working on the no-paper towel challenge with Casey.  Which is difficult when he does the Costco runs and comes home with this...

So I have my work cut out for me...like taking a blanky from a baby.  But in the end it will also save us money.  We even have conversations about getting rid of our cable...GASP!  Honestly, with the amount of TV we watch, it wouldn't be too difficult.  But it's like taking what you have for granted.  We might get rid of it and start craving episodes of the Jersey Shore or one of the other mindless tv shows.  Who knows.  But for now....it is only conversation. 

So what are you going to do today to take part in Earth Day?  I do hope I just created some awareness with this little reminder.


To make your participation easier...
Donate to Surfrider to support them in the work they do or try some household cleaning alternatives from EcoCycle

Hey little sister, what have you done?

My sister in law gets married. My in-laws are in town for a week in a house on the cliffs in La Jolla, nothing short of breathtaking.  My parents come to visit as well as a few other jersey peeps. East and west coast friends and family unite!  The week was absolutely amazing.  And for an introvert like me, it was equally exhausting.  I was almost just as tired as the day after my own wedding.  Socializing non-stop is draining!  Which is maybe why on Monday I shampoo'd my hair twice and forgot to condition.  There's something about forgetting your own shower routine that really makes you feel extra out of it.
At least my hair was clean, though quite frizzy.

Some highlights of the week...
And for additional photos watch the slideshow...I will add as I get more.

Me and my man...bunch of hams we are...

View from the La Jolla house living room...



The "I Do's"



Just Married!!!



Shoobie

Check out Jonny Hof on the uke making the NJ Surfrider website. The article is in response to NJ's new beach access rules. Even got first mention over the Souls. Huh? Oooh - just kidding Jon!

Saturday Morning Hike

Saturday morning...let's get up at 6am to go hiking!  Woohoo!  We love it though.  Really we do!
Bear Canyon Loop...steady inclines, wildflowers, mountain lion tracks that made your heart race more out of fear than pace.  It was when Casey asked me if I carry a knife that I realized those might not have been dog tracks that we were seeing.  Luckily we did not have any run-ins, but I definitely jumped nearly 10 feet when a flock of birds flew out from some bushes next to me.  I prefer bears over mountain lions any day.

Our pace was so quick we were practically jogging at some points.  Note: jogging in hiking boots is like asking for shin splints.  10 miles in under 3 hours...not too bad, but we can do better and will be in training over the next few months for the High Sierra Trail we hope to do this summer.

Pretty Wild Flowers

Plane Crash

View from Sitton P



Snow capped San G in the distance