A Girls Weekend

I'm so excited about this weekend.  

I'm meeting one of my oldest dearest friends for a long weekend.  

We've both been having a stressful year {for totally different reasons} and feel like it's time to get away from our husbands, kids and reality for a couple of days.

Not that we don't love our reality, but sometimes you need a break.

You understand...

Last year we went to Cabo San Lucas for a week.

{Me & Shawn just off the plane}

It was divine. 

{Look at the water.  The color is so beautiful, it's unreal!}

Absolute Heaven.

But this year is a bit different.  Our trip is more last minute and we both have limited time with kids and businesses and homes and husbands and. and. and.....

So we're meeting half way between our cities in San Luis Obispo.  

As it turns out, this is where we met in high school when we were 16 {last year} 

and two other old dear friends still live in the area.  

Do we say "Best Friend" after age 16?  

If so, then I am going to spend the weekend with some of my best friends.  

We've shared memories, laughs, cries, boyfriends, apartments, CLOTHES!  

We've been through graduations, weddings, babies, divorces, heartaches and happiness.  We've fought and made up, and know each others dreams, fears and insecurities.  

We're family and I love them very much.

No Cabo this year, but our 2 will be 4 {at least some of the weekend} 

and that almost makes up for the venue change. 

{I urge you to again look at the water!}

Can't wait to share some of our stories when I return.

Hugs,

Carrie

Our Guest Room

I re-uphostlered a vintage bench last month and noted that 

it would be taking up residence in our guest room.  

Well, I decided to show you that room.

We live in a California Ranch style house built in 1947.  

When our home was built the developer built several other houses on our street.  

It's not a subdivision, and the homes are not identical, but they have a similar feel.  

The developer built our home as his own.  He chose the largest lot and changed the attached garage into his office.  Then built a detached garage.  

He included a small, teeny tiny, itty bitty, 

bedroom and 1/2 bath next to what would have been the garage

and that is our guest room.

See, tiny {cozy in realtor speak}.

But it works for short stays and who wants a long term guest?

Nobody!

{I know, I need to press the sheets. Add it to the list}

A large number of the walls in our home are tongue and grove redwood paneling.  

We painted most of it.  

I know, I know.  It's wood, and the grain is beautiful, and it would cost a fortune now.

Yada Yada...

I'm certain there are many people who would strangle me, 

but that wood sucked up all the light in the house and it had to be brightened up.  

I left this room wood {for now}

Even though it's not grand, I try to make sure it's as luxurious 

and well appointed as possible.

There's an alarm clock, TV, books on relaxation....

Bottles of water, reading lamps...

A luggage stand, fresh towels and a tray with sundries our guests could have forgotten

{tooth brushes, tooth paste, deodorant, mouthwash, Advil, razors, Chapstick etc}

{my little vintage bench}

Even a place to sit down and tie your shoes.

Just because it's small doesn't mean it can't be comfortable.

Hugs,

Carrie

PS ~ You'll even find waffle robes and slippers in the closet. 

{they're next to the vacuum cleaner, but they're there!}

Happy Campers

I was gone on an adventure last week.  I was chosen to be a chaperone for my youngest son's outdoor education class {aka CAMP!}.  Being a chaperone is so desired that the teachers have to pull names from a hat to choose parents.  I was lucky enough to have been picked and could not have been happier!

Although, my little guy wasn't nearly as happy about it.  Turns out, I'm can be "a little tooooo...." {his words}.  He said I could go as long as I promised not to bug him too much about sunscreen, dressing warmly, taking a shower, and eating his veggies.  I figured I could manage that for one week so we had a deal and I was in.

The trip is 5 days with 60 kids, 8 chaperones {4 dads, 4 moms} and 2 teachers.  Even though I'm the mother a boy I was assigned to lead 11 girls and manage their cabin {for obvious gender reasons}.  I was fortunate to share my duties with another mother and our group of girls paired up with a dad chaperone and his group of boys {including my own} for all activities, except eating and sleeping.  

The kids completed team challenges.  This one involved wood planks and getting each member of their team from one side of the 'pond' to the other using only the planks.  The 'alligators' {grown ups} would 'eat' {kick out of use} any planks the kids weren't standing on.  There was some trash talk to try and unnerve the little buggers, but they did pretty well...

Except for one casualty...The wood planks left a splinter in this boys finger and it required some simple surgery performed by our patient and kind naturalist.

Of course there was hiking and lots of it!

There was a Barn Dance where we doo si dooed the night away

We stopped to smell the wildflowers.  They were sweet ~

We went to the ocean and hiked the dunes

Headed to a marsh where we learned about plants and animals that live in brackish water

And we ate pickleweed which did in fact taste salty just like a pickle

We all made it to the beach!

The kids played wave tag ~ the grown ups watched closely ready to jump in the icy water and save somebody if needed.  Thank the Lord it wasn't needed.

Faces got sandy and dirty

We saw seals {see his little head poking up}

Two!

And sand crabs

we saved a snake from the middle of the road

And although it was all exciting, and exhausting, and fun, it would have been nothing without this face

This face that warms my heart and fills my soul.  

I love him to bits and feel so thankful to have had that week with him.  

No TV, no phone, no computer.  

I know the memories will last a lifetime for me and I hope they'll last for him too.

Hugs,

Carrie

PS ~ You'll only see the face of my child in these images so as 

to protect those who may not want their kids faces on the internet machine

A Quick Trip to Modesto...

Last weekend we were invited to attend a fundraiser for an elementary school in Modesto.  We are good friends with the couple who invited us and they always attend our kids school fundraiser {and generously donate I might add} so we decided to take them up on the invite. 

I didn't take any pictures of the auction, but after we left the event we found ourselves at a 24 hour donut shop!  When we walked in the owners were making donuts...Fresh!

It smelled so yummy I wanted to eat a whole dozen, but I contained my indulgence to just the one...

Jon had a donut too....

...It made him crazy

Joe and Laura couldn't resist

We don't have them very often which maybe the reason they taste so good.

I know they're unhealthy, but life is short ~ have a treat!

Hugs,

Carrie

PS ~ the only photos I took of our hosts didn't come out very well so I didn't post them.  

They really were with us ~ Thank you John & Lisa!