cali adventures {san fran}

Since it has been almost 3 months since our adventures in California I don't really remember much about San Fran other than that we weren't overly impressed with the city.  Maybe it was the dodgy area where we started (pic below) or the chilly temps and cloud covered skies but to be honest, San Fran disappointed the 3 of us.  Even though disappointing, I am still glad we took the time to walk around because who knows when I would have ever gotten the chance if it wasn't for my sister living so close.

Check out that guy behind husband.  Straight chillin. 

I don't know how anyone could be overweight in this city.  With the 45 degree hills you have to walk up to get pretty much anywhere is exhausting.  But you def get a workout for your quads and ass. 

Since it has been so long from our trip, I don't really remember every detail but as you can see we hit up China Town, Lombard Street, and walked up more hills to pay money to walk up even more steps for a foggy view of San Fran from Croit Tower. 

Have you been to San Fran?

What did you think of the city?

Hope you are having a good Saturday!  Yay to long weekends!

Until next time

sign of the times

If you ever want to feel old, just head to an outdoor concert surrounded by young 20 somethings getting wasted and drunk dancing all while feeling nostalgic for the days when you were that wasted, drunk dancing 20 something.  Last night I got the chance to see Mumford & Sons live.  And as much as I enjoyed the show, I kept catching myself thinking "man I wish I could just sit down" or "this would be perfect in a cute little coffee shop or something."  When do such old person sounding thoughts happen?  

So today's post is brought to you by... Signs you are getting wiser older: 

*you ask for things you need rather than things you want for Christmas or your birthday.  Ex: vacuum

*you don't drink that 3rd glass because you know tomorrow will be hell if you keep going.

*hangovers last until Wednesday. at the earliest. 

*you get motion sickness. in the front seat.

*you are a morning person

*when you get up past 8 and feel as your whole day is shot because you slept in. 

*all of your friends are having babies on purpose. 

*you think those girls walking around in tank tops and heals in the middle of winter without a jacket just look plain ridiculous. 

*you dress weather appropriate

*you need at least 8 hours of sleep. 

*you look forward to nights in, on the couch with a good book or movie while sipping on some wine or tea (if you are really old). 

*standing room only means a next day of lower back pain 

*you "just don't get kids these days."

Have you seen Mumford & Sons in concert before?

Does going to a show make you feel old?
What are other signs that you are getting older?

Linking up with Whitney for #backthatazzup and Jelli today! 

Mumford & Sons - "Sigh No More"

Sunday Sounds

Noosa - "Sail" 

Until next time

[insert caption here]

Well, it's Friday and you know what that means?  Last day of holiday in Topsail, NC (pronounced Topsuhl around these parts).  Since I am not really sure what I wanted to write I thought it would appropriate for my second Happies & Crappies. 

Happies: 

I have been on vacation all week * I have woken up every morning to the sun shining through our sliding door and to the sounds of the waves crashing the shore * I finally have myself a tan * laughed ourselves silly last over a game of Cards Against Humanity * Our last day is sunny * I am getting tattoo number 2 tonight * While I am sad vacation is ending, I am looking forward to our bed. * We will be coming home to a clean house. WOOT. 

Crappies:

*Today is our last day.  You know how they say that if you lived by the beach you wouldn't probably wouldn't go to the beach.  I am pretty I am not that person. * It is a 10 hour drive home. 

While I was doing my usual Instragram browsing routine this morning I stumbled upon this quote from Invisible Children and felt it to be appropriate for how I felt seeing the moonlight glowing across the Atlantic the other night.

If you follow me on Instagram you will have already seen this photo.  This time I used my favorite Word Swag app for the quote and Rhonna Designs app for the cute little designs.  What do you think?  Pretty good quote, huh? 

And since it is Friday, a good Friday post is not complete without #backthatazzup! 

 

What are your happies & crappies for the week?

What about your "can't put into words" moments?

Linking up with Whitney, Jelli, and Stephanie today!  

Until next time

Phonetography Favs {Hipstamatic Pt. 1}

In case you couldn't already tell, I kinda love to take pictures.  Something I have always loved to do.  What started as disposables then point and shoots then SLR now my iPhone5 and Canon 60D are my go to modes for taking photos.  Since the 60D is not as easy to carry around, and since I am clumsy I like to avoid taking it places where I could easily get it wet or drop it, I tend to rely heavily on the iPhone for my day-to-day photos.  I bought my first iPhone in 2010 and was amazed then by the photo quality of my photos.  However, since upgrading to the iPhone4 and now having the iPhone5, I feel like such a silly girl.  It is amazing how much technology has grown.  

Anyway, one of my favorite iPhonetography apps, and one that I don't use as often as I would like, is Hipstamatic.  With the many options for filters, films, and flashes you would understand why I both love it and find it frustrating/overwhelming at the same time.  So in an attempt to use it more often, while sitting on the beach yesterday (sticking with the beach themed posts this week #sorrynotsorry) during breaks from reading, I decided to try some different film/filter combos.  And below are a few of favorites.  

Film: Ina's 1969

Filter: Libatique 

Film: Blanko

Filter: Bettie XL

Film: Kodot XGrizzled

Filter: Roboto Glitter

Film: Ina's 1969

Filter: Watts

Film: Kodot XGrizzled

Filter: Roboto Glitter

Film: Ina's 1935 

Filter: Tejas

Film: Ina's 1935

Filter: Roboto Glitter 

I only got through the first 5 films yesterday.  I have every single one of the film/filter combos (a total of 31, ridiculous right?  Now you see why I find it overwhelming?) so I have 26 more to go.  But I thought I would share my favorites with you in different posts throughout the next few months as a little series of favorite phonetography apps.

Are you an iPhone or Droid user?

What are your favorite phonetography apps?

Do you have Hipstamatic?

linking up with Shanna today!

Until next time

summer reading

One of my favorite things to do in my spare time is snuggle up with a good book with a big glass of red preferably soaking in a hot bath.  Some of my favorites are Harry Potter (in case you haven't already figured that out yet), My Sister's Keeper, DaVinci Code and Angels & Demons, Black Like Me, I Know This Much is True.  I didn't start loving to read until after high school but the first book I fell in love with was To Kill A Mockingbird in 9th grade Honors English (Honors English? I know, right).  I also love to spend Summer evenings on our back deck as the sun sets with a drink and book in hand.  So since I am posting from Topsail, NC on a week long vacation with my husband and his family I thought I would share with you what I have read over the Summer so far.  

*all images via Google Images

Inferno by Dan Brown

In case you have been living under a rock for the last 10 years, Brown made it big with DaVinci Code in 2003.  And his ability to capture your attention from page 1 has not changed.  Of course I loved this book.  Maybe not as much as Davinci or Angels & Demons but still a page turner.  And like all of his other novels, he throws in some good twists throughout just to keep the reader on their toes. 

And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini 

I am a huge fan of both Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns so I was excited to see Hosseini's next book on our book club's list of choices.  During the 5 minutes we discussed the book, most everyone found it to be quite depressing.  If you have read JK Rowling's new book The Casual Vacancy then you'd agree this book is no more depressing than it is maybe tragic.  I love Hosseini's writing.  He does such an excellent job of describing the story line so that you feel as if you are there.  I do have to admit I did confused a lot as I didn't always catch the transitions in the story lines and didn't realize he had moved onto a different character until a few pages later.  And unlike Inferno, while it's not a hard read, there were times I would have to put it down for something less heavy.  This is definitely a book you need to be in the mood to read.  But if you love learning about different cultures, this is perfect.  And if you'd like a much better summary of the And The Mountains Echoed, check out Casey's thoughts over on her blog.  She does a much better job at describing it than I would ever do. 

Deviants and Compliance both by Maureen McGowan

I accidentally discovered Deviants while browsing the Amazon's Top 100 Cheap books on my kindle while looking for a little break from And The Mountains Echoed.  If you are into those mindless post-apocalyptic young adult novels then this is perfect for you.  Both are page turners and entertaining in the same away The Hunger Games series is (although I don't think they are nearly as good as the The Hunger Games).  If you are into this kind of stuff then these are perfect.  I am hoping for book #3 soon. 

  

Darkly Dreaming Dexter and Dearly Devoted Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

As the last season of Showtimes' Dexter nears its end, I am starting to have a hard time letting go, so I decided to read the books in an attempt to ease the pain.  The show is loosely based on these books by Lindsay.  And by loosely based, I mean season 1 followed the first book almost exactly (until the end.  don't worry I won't give anything away) but starts to go a completely different direction in season 2 than the book.  From what I have read so far, all of the characters are the same from the show.  And to be inside Dexter's mind even more so in the books is just great.  That's my education in Psychology and sick interest in sociopaths talking.  I mean both my husband and I have laughed out loud to Dexter's thoughts.  If you can appreciate a sociopath serial killer who works for the police department as a blood splatter analyst humor then this book is for you.  And if you watch and enjoy the show, you will very much appreciate the humor as it is great in the perfect Dexter way.  

What books have you read this Summer?

I am currently reading Lindsay's #3 Dexter book but I am looking for some good mindless beach reads.  What do you recommend?!

Also, on Goodreads?  Friend me!

linking up with Tarole, Leann, Bre, and Carrie today!

Until next time

Sunday Sounds

I am sure I am not alone in this, but I have been obsessing over this song recently. 

until next time

Cali Adventures {Carmel & 17 Mile Drive}

Since my mind is still on vacation mode especially since we are leaving tonight! I thought I would stick with the beach-y theme and continue to share our Cali adventures.  This time, our trip to Carmel.  

If you ever want to feel fancy, just walk around Carmel.  It is probably the nicest ocean view towns I have ever been to.  But holy is it cold and windy.  Surprisingly there were actually people laying out in their swimsuits.  Which might explain all of the British flag swim suits because who else would lay out in 60s and wind but those silly Brits. 

We then took a drive up the coast on 17 Mile Drive.  Seriously some of the most beautiful views of the ocean I have ever seen.  And don't even get me started on the homes that we drove past.  With views like the ones below, I can only speculate to how much those bad boys cost.

Although we had hoped to get up to Santa Cruz, once we hit traffic on the highway to get there we were all sick of being in the car again so we headed back to 80 degrees and sun.  We hit up the town in search of some good drinks and fun atmosphere.  Since Cider was calling our name, the husband Yelped pubs in the area and found The Rose & Crown English Food & Ale House.  We stayed until 10ish then went back to M's apartment, had some more to drink over good conversation.  

Reminded me of my adventures in Scotland & Ireland. 

Palo Alto at night. 

And of course, a Friday post wouldn't be a Friday post without a little #backthatazzup action:)

Linking up with Whitney today. 

Until next time