Road Trippin’ to the Lost Abbey
I love exploring parts of worlds that I think I already know really well, and find places I didn’t know where there. Every time the Boyfriend and I drive down to San Diego, we talk about exploring certain places and going to certain things – and this time I wasn’t going to make it all the way down here without visiting some of the tasty flavors. No folks, not Mexican foods as it seems every one thinks – BEER!
I sat down at the laptop, and popped open my now defunct Yelp account, and searched breweries in the Escondido and San Marcos area; and one kept popping up every time I searched Google and Yelp. Lost Abbey and it’s sister brew company Port Brewing Company. After working out the details of where we Read more…
Running Mama: Post 13.1
This past Monday, I got up and went for a run. As I lay in bed thinking about staying there, going to the gym or lacing up the trusty New Balances that I have come to adore in spite of their pink accents – I wondered why I ever started running at the gym again. Oh right, it has been more than a good decade since I ran with any purpose other than girlish figure maintenance.
Being at the gym is a downer now that I have run a killer half marathon. Literally, I couldn’t get past two miles on the dreadmill without feeling bored, tired and lame. I can’t understand how I got to eight miles on that thing before the Safari Park Hill of Read more…
The Gypsy Den – Good Eats.
The Boyfriend and I do our best to get away every now and then. We are true passion travelers with a desire to uncover the unknown but lately we’ve been finding that the local flavor in So Cal is full of hidden awesome.
This weekend found us taking the many freeways from our hidden burrow in SCV down to the OC for some friend time at California Adventure. Our Monkey-less weekends are usually spent wondering around the house and working on our freelance projects or building the amazing pet project we both have our hearts deep into Stark Social Media. Read more…
Running for Rhinos.
When I was 21 years old I ran what I thought would be my very last half marathon. But that all changed yesterday…in a big way. Yesterday, I ran the San Diego Safari Park Half Marathon and got bit by the bug again.
For the last four months, I have been increasing my mileage and pushing myself to the limit with my running and trying my hardest to keep on track. In spite of all the random road blocks, I did it. With the motivation of the Boyfriend and the Monkey I ran 13.1 miles yesterday and only about 3 of those miles truly sucked ass. At the 10K point I felt wicked in control of my own running destiny. My timing was good. My pace as phenomenal. And then, I hit this…
THE HILL OF DOOM!! (insert dramatic music here) After training for eight weeks with the Jeff Calloway system which allows the runner to run/walk for intervals throughout the running period, Read more…
Epic Self Discovery!
Yesterday, the Monkey and I drove up the coast for what was coined an Epic Play Date hosted by Hyundai. It truly was epic.
Initially, when I saw the offering posted on a Facebook group I am a member there was no way I was skipping the conference I already had plans to attend. Unfortunately, after a family tragedy I had no desire to be around people. No desire to schmooze and gather biz cards or flaunt my wares for all to see. There was no part of me that wanted to listen to anyone tell me how to make my blog more successful or brand myself. Crap that’s what I have the Boyfriend for…literally that’s his job, branding.
I digress.
Yesterday morning I woke up to the alarm and was weary. Withsadness and with the desire to escape and so the Epic Play Date seemed perfect. I packed the Monkey in the car – grabbed some Starbucks and hit the 101 Freeway to Santa Barbara. To be honest, I had no idea what was in store. What could possibly be epic about driving to a ranch in the middle of nowhere and hanging out with bloggers that I read daily?
If you haven’t read my post from yesterday the truly epic-ness of the day came from what I experienced with my Monkey. Read the post and then come back. Read more…
Feel it and write it.
When I started blogging it was for my soul. To relinquish the bad juju that was hovering around my heart and in my brain. A means to therapy for my brokenness and the way I made some fabulous friends. Friends who stood with me during court battles even though they weren’t there. Friends who offered virtual hugs no matter what time of day I tweeted bad news or frustration at my situation. Today spending time with my Monkey, it dawned on me why I did this to begin with.
To share my story.
There was a time when I wrote just about being a single Mom in the healing process…that was my story.
Then I wrote about dating as a single Mom and all the bullshit that comes of it…more of my story.
Today my story is haven fallen in love with the Boyfriend and raising my Monkey with him.
Somewhere in between there, I started making a little side cash with my writing. Copy editing jobs and social media management jobs came my way, along with a few paid posts here and there – thanks to some phenomenal networks and then at today’s event that was indeed sponsored by a brand, I realized that these things were a part of my story. Sharing in family activities with other bloggers and experiencing a high from knowing that they were sharing stories while creating new ones.
I’ve never really pitched my blog. Fortunate I’ve been to be accepted to networks and syndicated groups, but I’ve never gone after PR agencies and pitched myself for a blog opportunity. Everything I’ve ever done has been organice and natural. I’m so much more comfortable pitching my clients than I am talking about myself, and in the recent hullabaloo that got a bunch of people upset about this-or-that, I simply just don’t get it. The attacking each other and the berating of each other just seems so awful.
I love writing. I will write about post about today’s event later or maybe tomorrow. I’m going to start writing more. I’m working on my editorial calendar and will even have a guest post on another site which I am really looking forward to…renewing my passion…finding my footing…not forgetting where I came from.
It all seems so muddled when it’s really so simple. Just write. Feel it and write it. The end.
Easter at Prince Pines.
Kids love adventures. I love adventures. Our family loves adventures. When I was a little chica my Mom used to plan epic adventures. We’d pack up the car to the brim and just go places. It seemed so effortless. My Mom and her AAA Travel Guide with a pen, a highlighter and some maps took us all over So Cal and beyond! The memories I made from those adventures and still carry with me have created the passion I have for crafting amazing outings for my own family.
Thanks to my new fabulous friend Amanda Prince and owner of Prince Pines, I was able to plan a journey to the mountains of intensely fabulous proportions! With Spring Break looming on the horizon, I was desperate for an escape from town that didn’t include an overcrowded amusement park or jaunting to the beach in horrible weather. So after connecting with Amanda in the So Cal Lady Bloggers group on Facebook, I started crafting a trip for me and the boys that would include relaxation and a little fun in the snow.
Read more…
