Tour de Fat

It was a pretty exciting weekend in our neighborhood as Tour de Fat (bikes + beer fest) rolled through town. Just 13 cities have the privilege of being on their national tour,  and not only was San Diego on the list, but our neighborhood park was the location. 

It started out early with a massive bike parade. All you needed was a costume and a bike to join in the fun. My favorite was the group of beer-drinking Mormon missionaries. Bear joined in the revelry as Dash, while Lincoln pulled out Harry Potter for one last run. Post-parade fun involved games, bands, bratwurst and beer. New Begium Brewery hosts the event and the Fat Tire was flowing. I helped myself to one IPA but was wishing I had booked a sitter for a second :) 

They'll be in Los Angeles Oct. 8th, and Tempe Oct 15th. Throw on a costume, hop on your bike and check it out!

Signs of Spring

 Little league pictures 

 Fruit trees blooming outside my window

Shirtless play time 

78 degrees with blue sky. It's official. Spring has come to San Diego. 

Anniversary

Two years ago this weekend, we arrived in San Diego and hoped someday it would feel like home. Fast forward to today, and it not only feels like home, I can't image being anywhere else. We invited friends over this weekend to celebrate the anniversary of our big move. 

We put in all of dining table's leaves, brought out every chair and plate we own, and enjoyed each other's company all evening. The menu included Bruchetta, Olive bread from Bread and Cie, Spicy Cioppino over linguine, and Panzella salad. Some bottles of good red wine, and Strawberry Fraise for dessert finished off the evening. 

We had so much fun, it's going to become a monthly event. San Diego is a beautiful place to live, but it feels like home because of people like this.

Captured

sliver of moon

cooperation

balero boy

(new weekly post of the week's best moments. sweet and simple)

Bold

Living in the Giant Peach has given me a new-found love of bright, bold houses. I'm attracted to them as I walk or bike through my neighborhood. Here are some of my favorites. I think my next house might be chartreuse. (maybe not, but it is an awesome color and cool word, don't you think)

Fresh

The experience of producing these vegetables with my own hands takes a close second to the birth of my children. I'm pretty sure the cucumber above was the most delicious ever grown on this planet. (well, maybe that's a bit dramatic but you get my point). 


My kids devoured the carrots like they were sour patch kids, and my husband who's "so-so" on veggies, barely used any hummus to choke them down. Now, this climate doesn't exactly take much to grow things in, but I'm still as proud as a mother hen. 


Being able to walk to Starbucks, sushi AND having a garden. Now, that's my idea of paradise. 

Sushi 101

Living in San Diego has turned me into a huge sushi fan. Maybe I was a little behind getting on this band wagon, but I'm fully committed now. John and I found this great place by our house, Hive Sushi Lounge. Great sushi and amazing happy hour prices every night. 


Hive's head sushi chef, Tim, puts on a sushi class once a month and we gave it a try last weekend. So fun! We learned how to make 3 different rolls, plus hand rolls and nigiri. Quite a process and takes much practice to make it look pretty. Tim was a great teacher, especially since we were probably a little on the sassy side. We're ready for the advanced class Tim. Are you ready for us?

Discover San Diego

Have you been to Ocean Beach when you've visited San Diego? There are lots of fun things to experience here in this eclectic little beach community.   


You might want to walk the Ocean Beach Pier. Stop in the Pier Cafe 1/2 way down for a cup of clam chowder or a lobster fish taco. Watch the surfers next to the pier.                                       


Have a boardwalk breakfast with a view at the New Break Cafe. 


Visit their Farmers Market on wednesdays, 4-8pm.


Come and experience their annual Street Fair, June 26th. 


Shop their antique stores. Here's a sample.

Discover San Diego

While San Diego is definitely a vacation mecca, I've really fallen in love with the things I've seen off the beaten path. Hence, discover San Diego. 


I'll post pics and comments weekly about something special I've found. Hope this feature will help you picture what we're up to, and give you some ideas for your next trip to town. 


Starting out with my own neighborhood, Golden Hill. This pic is the view from my Bear & Ben's bedroom window. The jacarandas line our street and are in full bloom. The park at the end of the street has one of the best views of downtown I've seen, huge climbing trees, and canyon hiking trails surrounding it. 


Golden Hill, our hidden gem. 
(Next week we'll venture a little further from home)

Retro Cowboy Rocker

Anyone out there with a cowboy themed kids room?

I'm parting ways with this adorable child sized rocker, barely rocked in.

$40 to the right home. If you don't live in San Diego, we could probably ship.

Phoenix Finale

Lincoln & Robson St. buddy, Alton

Day 4 did not disappoint.

Got to hold one-week-old William Reid. Almost made me want to give birth again, but then I remembered the next 17.5 years. (nice job Gelbrichs)

Spent the afternoon with friends in our old neighborhood (Robson St.)

Arrived back at the Morrison's to enjoy a wine and cheese party with friends who have know us since we were single. (now that's a long time)

Wonderful hospitality, conversation and laughter. Perfect ending.

On the long drive back to San Diego, (I'll spare you the pictures of multiple kid melt-downs) John and I talked about how it feels to be gone from Phoenix - our home for so long. We both agreed that we feel like "home" is where we have each other and our boys. But we sure do miss the people we love in the Valley of the Sun.

Thanks for welcoming us back.

Phoenix - Night 1

We pulled into Phoenix at 4:30, just in time to drop our bags, change diapers and head over to meet friends. We still call our group of families the "Young Marrieds" after 13 years of marriage and kids together. (now that I'm plucking out some gray hairs, I'll take whatever I can get)

We started the night with drinks and appetizers, followed by a dance recital at the tennis courts, and finished up with dinner at Joe's Farm Grill. Yum.

I love our life in San Diego, but I sure do miss these peeps.

Check out these adorable pictures by our 10-year-old friend, Caroline. She's for hire, but you might have to pick her up for your photo session.

On the Road

Our first family trip back to Phoenix since we moved to San Diego, 18 months ago.

Big plans ahead, but had to get over the 6 hour car trip there first. Highlights were definitely Ben and Bear's undivided attention for almost two hours as they had their first screening of Toy Story, the awesome play place at the Yuma, AZ Carl's Jr, and time to talk with my husband when everyone was occupied.

He really does think he's reading...

Lincoln finished another Lemony Snicket book. Love them.
John looking like he's so tired of driving, but he really wouldn't let me drive at all.

Phoenix, hope you're ready for the Byard invasion.

Friday Night

On a day like today, it's time to hit the streets. Stroller. Check. Newsie hat. Check. Incredibly slow walk around the neighborhood looking at every leaf, in every hole and stopping to talk with every person. Check.

The perfect start to the weekend. Check.

Today.

Today was a good day. But tonight is better. Kids in bed, clean house, stocked fridge, flowers from my husband (who's riding bulls in Austin, TX) and a good glass of cabernet. Just the right start to spring break.

The Giant Peach - Kitchen Porch

It's been warming up here in San Diego and it was time to finish up the porch off of the kitchen. It had roofing shingles for a floor, so we put in some new plank vinyl that is waterproof and looks like bamboo. It's sold at Home Depot.

I found this table and bench in the "as is" section at IKEA, and bought the turquoise chairs there as well.

A few plants, candles and accessories, and we're enjoying the view with our coffee in the morning and glass of wine at sunset. Come join us!

Pre-Fab

My mom brought up the idea of buying a pre-fab home last month. She's thinking of buying land somewhere outside San Diego and building one.

I've been thinking about the idea ever since and ran across this pre-fab home contest in Dwell magazine. Amazing. Check out the article here.

images via dwell

Field Trip

We have the Golden Hill fire station a few blocks down our street. The boys and I were walking home from Starbucks the other day and were flagged over by a fireman. (I know, how clique that he's good looking) The boys inspected every inch of that fire truck and Lincoln asked every question know to man about fire fighting.

We had an interesting conversation about how the main tanker at their station is "grounded" because of budget cuts. A few days ago there was a fire in my neighborhood and although this station is a few blocks away, the truck had to come from several miles. A man died in the fire and there is speculation now about the time it took for that truck to arrive.

Three things on my to-do list this week.

1. New batteries for our smoke detectors

2. Plate of brownies for the firemen down the street

3. Letter to my local city council about the safety of my neighborhood