Sunday, August 10, 2014

Vacation - Part 1


We made a huge road trip to attend Joshua's graduation from Marine Basic Training in San Diego, California.

The trip started off with our family reunion in West Texas, then from there we made a quick stop off in Lubbock for the night. Lubbock to Flagstaff, AZ (stopping in Alburqurque, NM), the Grand Canyon to San Diego. After a few days in sunny San Diego we headed back to Texas after stopping in Tuscon, AZ. 

It was a great trip and I can't wait to share it with you! It had many challenges, the prime one being keeping Cora entertained (and all of us sane) for the 45 + hours of driving (over 3,000 miles!). 

Day 1 - Family Reunion


My mothers family has a reunion in west Texas every summer. When we were planning the trip we were upset that we wouldn't be able to make it this year with it being Cora's first reunion and Stephanie (future sis-in-love) first year (almost) in the family so we reworked the plans and were able to arrive on Friday at the beginning of the reunion and stay through the afternoon on Saturday.

Day 2 - Lubbock
We left the reunion and traveled to stay with family in Lubbock. It was only a couple of hours from the reunion but when traveling with a little one, those hours are important when shaving them off of the long drive we had on day 3.



Day 3 - Travel to Flagstaff, AZ

When planning the trip I knew that we'd need to stop somewhere about half way and let Cora (and the rest of us) have some time free from the car. I picked the National Petroglyph Monument in Albuquerque, NM for us to stop and picnic at for lunch and give us the opportunity to hike some to stretch our legs.


There were several trails and it was an almost free ($2 per car) place to stop and sure beat a road-side park or a gas station parking lot.

Though this was one of the longer legs of the journey, it really didn't feel like such an awful drive but we sure were glad when we made it to our destination for the night, Flagstaff, AZ.

We grabbed a nice quiet dinner at the cutest diner on Historic Route 66.



I must have hit my head and not recalled the incident because I was a mess during dinner. I managed to spill my drink everywhere, make a huge mess with my food and when shaking the ketchup bottle the lid came off and sprayed ketchup all over the restaurant... I about died of embarrassment. The staff was very sweet about my disasters, all of them.


This was just the start of the trip, Grand Canyon (at Sunrise!) and San Diego to come!

Monday, August 4, 2014

What's On my Wishlist

When the holidays roll around (and with my birthday being so close to Christmas, I don't usually get gifts, so I'm pretty much talking once a year here...) my wish list can be a little ridiculous!  Come December, I've spent the last 11 months compiling my wish list.
In some ways I'm the most overly practical person I know. I will splurge and purchase things (sometimes unnecessary) for John and Cora, but I find it hard to justify spending money on myself. I just really value saving money, so I have to be really sure that something I'm going to spend good money on is something I both need and want.

Currently on my wishlist:


Samyo 100ml Aromatherapy Essential Oil Purifier Diffuser Air Humidifier with 4 Timer Settings & 6 Colors Changing Light

I'm clearly a wild one here, wait until you hear how I picked this particular one. It is the least expensive that has good enough reviews that I don't think it'll break in the first while of use.








One would think that the double beverage dispenser is the less practical side of me coming out... but alas no. Well kind of no. Who doesn't love cute glass ware that makes entertaining fun? I love pulling out dishes for entertaining but this particular item is something I'll be getting for punch at my brothers upcoming nuptials.








Now we're getting to my weaknesses. I love TOMS!! I wear them (or a similar style shoe) practically every day! With dresses, shorts, jeans - you name it! I love how versatile they are and I think they're just adorable! Mine are far more practical than this pair, but aren't these cute! I saw them in the catalog the other day and they just might make it to my Christmas wishlist :)





Honestly that is about it for my wishlist. There are a few other things that I need, honest to goodness needs (read another pair of jeans that fit - I have one pair, new bra, other such fun things...), but part of my long history (and success) of keeping from buying impulsively and sticking to a strict budget (and paying off debt!!) means that I've gotten really good at denying myself the fun of making mental wishlists that I really can't afford to fulfill.

What's on your wishlist? I hope it's more fun than mine!


Linking up at Momfessionals for What's on...