San Diego

This, yet again, was a year of travel. I can say we have heeded the advice of all when they say take advantage of the time you have before children. We did Puerto Rico, New York, Boston, and San Diego this year. We picked San Diego because neither of us had been there and I love California and warm weather, so it just worked out. I'm not sure what I expected of San Diego but I loved it and much different than I thought. We stayed around Mission Beach, right across the street from the beach. There is a board walk there that we walked pretty much went to every night and watched the sunset. We were about 10 minutes from La Joya-adorable little town, with beautiful cliff views and about 10 minutes from downtown San Diego. We got there on Thanksgiving day, which was a great time to travel because it was rather quiet at the airports. That night in San Diego we hadn't figured out where we would eat dinner (let me say we celebrated Thanksgiving with my family the weekend before so we had had our turkey) so we asked the hotel for a suggestion. They told us Sasha's was a restaurant they frequent and they were having a pot luck. I did not hear this part, but when Jack heard it he thought that just meant a buffet of some sorts. We walked down the street and Sasha's looked closed. I call, they tell us they are closed and meanwhile Jack finds a door open and the guy says come on in. To their family thanksgiving meal. I immediately panic. Panic. What?! I am not sitting with these strangers, eating their thanksgiving food. Luckily, it wasn't too bad. They had a big amount of people and all were spread out in the restaurant so we blended in better than I thought. They did have a potluck thanksgiving and it was so sweet of the owner to let us in on their family dinner. Apparently the restaurant had been in the family for years and they always have family holiday meals here. I felt really blessed to be welcomed like that by a complete stranger. So go to Sasha's if you are in Mission Beach.

The next day we arrive at the zoo first thing as it opens to get a head start before the crowd and again we are shocked by generosity. A lady from San Diego asks us if we want to go in for free. We both think there is a catch, but no, she just does this for people she's knows are tourist going to the zoo for the first time. Yep, so we go in to the zoo for free. What?! God is too nice to us. She says she just likes to pay it forward.

The theme of the trip-great food, beautiful sights, and long walks on the beach taking in the beautiful scenery. It was a great "babymoon", as people call it. Highly recommend. I love how laid back and friendly the people are here. Definitely my vibe. I wish I could be a California girl.

Board walk on Mission Beach. Adorable places right on the board walk and everyone is biking, roller blading, skateboarding, or walking/running. I would love to live somewhere that has this.

Our view from our hotel, Catamaran.
Biggest. portions. ever. Hashhouse a go go as featured on Man vs Food. This was biscuits, gravy, fried chicken, potatoes, and eggs. Oh, lets throw in some watermelon for good measure.
A very large blueberry pancake.
The San Diego Zoo was awesome. Jack's favorite was the tortoise.
Me kissing tortoise. This was not the real one, people

Balboa Park is right by the zoo and was gorgeous. A short walk and lots of beautiful buildings to see. There are several free museums in this area.


Torrey Pines is right by La Joya. It's a national park and they have lots of trails to hike, the beach, cliff jumping, and of course, a golf course. I did LOTS of hiking and lots of people stared at me for doing it. Mmm.

The seals at La Joya

Yes, my eyes are closed but I wanted to show the sign :).
Jack wanted to play badly and gave him the go ahead, but he didn't. He did get this great picture though.
These next pictures are from the USS Midway ship. Was super cool and I felt like I was Tom Cruise in Top Gun the whole time. Except without the gay volleyball scene.
I love this picture of Jack. Laugh every time.


I would say this museum is worth it, even for the ladies.

I really wanted to reenact this statue but felt maybe the stranger behind the camera would be uncomfortable. I regret this decision.
Okay, so Old Town is el crapo. I don't suggest it. There are some cool old houses/buildings but the coolest thing I saw there was this Nacho Libre mask. I also regret not buying this. I'm beating myself up about it as I type this. "Don't you know I've had diarrheas since Easters?!"

Luckily we quickly found out Old Town was lame, got our churro and mexican hot chocolate and got out of there as fast as you could say "hola".
My favorite spot, Cabrillo National Monument. The view was breathtaking. This was where the picture was taken on our christmas card.


Cute old lighthouse used previously. You can go up in it almost to the top.

Below the monument are the tide pools. We missed low tide, but you can call ahead and see what time it happens and see some cool marine life.
Coronado is an island (kind of) off of San Diego that you can get to by bridge or ferry. In the monument pictures, this is what you are viewing. This is the beautiful Hotel Del Coronado, featured in films such as "Some like it Hot", "The stunt man" and "Wicked Wicked".

Sunset Cliffs. The water crashing into the rocks was awesome. Crazy how it just keeps wearing away at the rock. For some reason I could watch this for hours.

We stopped at Sunset Cliffs for what we heard

was an amazing sunset. It was. A must do.
Cliffs of La Joya
Another breath taking sunset that never gets old.

La Joya hiking trail. Not bad.
Us not wanting to leave.

I've betrayed Marky Mark and the funky bunch

Back when I posted about New York I mentioned we also went to Boston, well I still have not posted those pictures. BETRAYAL! And we really did love Boston and loved seeing my friend, Jenny. Here are some highlight pics. We ate great food, did the freedom trail, harvard (jack thought lame!), Cheers, the duck tour, boston commons, the beach, ate amazing Italian food in the North End, and the Sam Adams Tour (jack's favorite). We stayed with Jenny, which was Dorchester where Mark and Donnie Walberg grew up. Down the street from her adorable New England house was the "New Store on the Block". Can't get much better than that.

NFG Christmas

Here's a couple pics from our Neighborhood Fellowship Group Christmas party. The mustaches were a hit, but Michael Scott, I mean Traci, cheated with the budget limit. I like the group picture where I accidentally hit the button before we were ready.

Lay off, I'm starving

For Christmas, Jack and I had a fancy dinner just the two of us to celebrate as a family before we met with the extended family. A little sentimental since it would be our last one with just the two of us, I planned a sit down dinner complete with china and candles on Christmas Eve. I went to one of my favorite cookbooks, Barefoot Contessa's Back to Basics, for ideas. I ended up making a Roasted Turkey Roulade. It turned out really great, especially the stuffing. It was VERY delicious. SO much so I thought I would share it. She adds sausage, figs, and cranberries-I think the sausage makes it. The only thing I would change would mince the figs a little bit better than I did, but other than that, I wouldn't change a thing. Oh and I didn't use pine nuts because I forgot, but I'm sure they add something special. Here's a picture of the stuffing mixture before

Roasted Turkey Roulade

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup large-diced dried figs, stems removed
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup Calvados or brandy
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups diced onions (2 onions)
• 1 cup (1/2-inch-diced) celery (3 stalks)
• 3/4 pound pork sausage, casings removed (sweet and hot mixed)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
• 3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
• 3 cups herb-seasoned stuffing mix (recommended: Pepperidge Farm)
• 1 1/2 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
• 1 extra-large egg, beaten
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 whole (2 halves) turkey breast, boned and butterflied (5 pounds)
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Directions

Place the dried figs and cranberries in a small saucepan and pour in the Calvados and 1/2 cup water. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then lower the heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and celery and saute until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the sausage, crumbling it into small bits with a fork, and saute, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes, until cooked and browned. Add the figs and cranberries with the liquid, the chopped rosemary, and pine nuts, and cook for 2 more minutes. Scrape up the brown bits with a wooden spoon.

Place the stuffing mix in a large bowl. Add the sausage mixture,chicken stock, egg, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and stir well. (The stuffing may be prepared ahead and stored in the refrigerator overnight.)

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Place a baking rack on a sheet pan.

Lay the butterflied turkey breast skin side down on a cutting board. Sprinkle the meat with 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Spread the stuffing in a 1/2-inch-thick layer over the meat, leaving a half-inch border on all sides. Don't mound the stuffing or theturkey will be difficult to roll. (Place the leftover stuffing in a buttered gratin dish and bake for the last 45 minutes of roasting alongside the turkey.) Starting at 1 end, roll the turkey like a jelly roll and tuck in any stuffing that tries to escape on the sides. Tie the roast firmly with kitchen twine every 2 inches to make a compact cylinder.

Place the stuffed turkey breast seam side down on the rack on thesheet pan. Brush with the melted butter, sprinkle generously with salt and pepper, and roast for 1 3/4 to 2 hours, until an instant-read thermometer registers 150 degrees F in the center. (I test in a few places.) Cover the turkey with aluminum foil and allow it to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes. Carve 1/2-inch-thick slices and serve warm with the extra stuffing.

Nesting? or just getting organized?

I guess I've begun what's called "nesting". I am trying to just organize and clean spaces that have seemed to get a little cluttered. But I tend to do this annually so I'm not sure if it really is nesting or just getting more organized. I dunno.

Jack painted the nursery yesterday and it looks wonderful. I picked Filtered Shade by Valspar, thanks to Melissa. I think it just might work. Now my mom is working on the bumper, skirt, and sheets. I also have bird cage addition, which I'm not supposed to know is a present from Mary, but I was there when she bought it. I think it is a nice touch. It hangs on the wall and you can clip photos or cards on it with clothes pins. I've seen the CUTEST mobiles on etsy... think stuffed clouds with hot air balloons and kites. I'm trying to talk my friend, Anna, super sewer and creator extraordinaire into making these and selling them.

Back to the original thought, so I cleaned out my "memories" stash. I seem to keep everything sentimental so I have pretty much every card anyone has ever given me. Notes from 6th grade of my boyfriend telling me "the reason I don't talk to you in public is because I'm shy. Don't think I don't like you because I do. I love you. Ps. Give me your phone number after school". Or a typed letter from Vertical Horizon telling me that they appreciate my letter asking them to play at my friend, Katy's, birthday party but here is a cool sticker.

I have a million from my mom, Mary, Mary Jane, Katy, Keesha, Kim, and Lindsey. Some are quite comical. I also have every card or note Jack has given me. It's so fun to go back through them and remember. I have saved my honorable mentions. Enjoy.

Very faded but it's the Amy Grant Concert featuring Michael W. Smith

1988. I still remember.

My birdcage find that Mary got me.

Notice the Filtered Shade color behind.

Oh yeah, mix tapes.
My favorite movie and saved the stub, Dumb and Dumber. December 23rd, 1994 $6
I would put on these "Fun Weeks" in high school and college where themes would be incorporated. This one was tame, but fun all the same. Fun sock day, bake sale day, fun hair day, show and tell. I still remember I brought my miniature bottle of ketchup that I got the night I met Luke Perry.
I had so many funny letters from Katy. This is one of my favorites.
My friend, Jessamine, and I visited Jared and Luke, high school buds, at UT. They have this huge rock that gets painted and repainted. This was our message and it got put in the school paper. **See my name in the lower right corner
Awww. My baby arm band from when I was born.
I had four skating parties in college every year for my birthday. This one drawn by my roommate, Melanie. So awesome.
Nursery BEFORE... soon to have an after!