Star Struck

A star in it's own right, the "Father Of The Bride" House! The 'Father of the Bride' movies are one of my all time favorite's, and today while working in LA I got to see it in person! It was so fun to see it in real life (I felt like someone let me on the movie set), and remembering all the great parts of the movie that where filmed here!---and notice, it looks just the way it did in the movies! I came home and showed Brody the photo, and with out saying anything he knew just what house it was---so proud! =) ...and made me even more excited to watch the movies again!!

"Keep right onto Queens Way, Way"

**More photos of the day added to our photo album site**

Last week we found out that during January California residents could get onto the Queen Mary for free! Well, this has always been something we have wanted to explore, so we jumped at the chance to see what the Queen Mary had to offer! So after Brody's soccer game (They won!) we headed off to the ship!

The free part was a 'Self-Guided Tour', which for us is the best (and most fun) way to be able to do tours at your own pace and just see the things that interest us! =) Somehow we ended up in the engine room first---and when I say room, I don't give it enough credit, this area was SO big we couldn't believe it! I think it was several rooms (& floors) actually.

...And we should warn you, keep a little guide with you or an eye on a way to get out because if you're not paying close attention you could get all turned around and feel pretty lost (and sorta trapped) in there! But don't miss it! It was amazing to see all that machinery! =)

At one point you exit "engine city" and you are out side of the ship (but in a little room they have added) looking into the water at one of the massive propellers.

The view as we walked onto the ship again, via one of the bridges onto the top deck.

These gulls did not fear humans! There were tons of them at one end of the ship (people were feeding them), and they got a little too close for comfort! (I didn't have to zoom or crop for this shot) =)

Us strolling along the sun deck....aaand maybe thinking about going up for some Shuffle Board! ; ) ...I'm not sure I know a 100% what Shuffle Board even is....but it was on the map!

The view was amazing!

Brody entering the Wheel House, where we got to see where the Captain & Crew stayed.

The view from the top!

Captain's Bedroom

Inside they had a very nice shopping area, and also about 4 or 5 places to eat! It was a really fun area to look around at trinkets and such. We found a great little Scottish shop, where we ended up getting Brody a tie that was the knit for the Brodie Clan, and we also found some European candy that is sorta hard to find here in the States. We were really excited about our find! =)

More shops and eating

After we explored the ship we headed over to 'The Pike' for dinner, where we ended up eating at Bubba Gumps!

It was a little bit of a wait so we took a walk along the water, and this was our view as we headed back to Bubba's---this is looking across to the Aquarium! It was such a beautiful day!!

Here is Brody's tie and our candy! =D

It was such a fun day and we are so happy we finally took the time to see the ship, we just loved it! If you can get there before the end of the month, you really should! All you need to do is show your CA licence and you are in!=)

Let's go RVing!

Brody and I have a funny little thing (one of many) where we think it would be such a blast to rent an RV and travel around the US to spots like the Grand Canyon! =)  I am sure it won't be for many years, probably either when our kids are older or we are retired! And maybe it sounds more fun then it really is, but we will find out! =) Anticipation and thinking about it is half the fun right?! ....So after lunch today we stopped by Travel Land USA for a little look around! 

We looked in several huge Diesel pushers.  

They are so nice inside. Definitely something you could do some long road trips in! =)

I sat in the drivers seat and couldn't believe how much bigger the thing seems when you're behind the wheel. The guy there said that it is easier to drive then it looks, and they teach you some driving tricks. It still looks intense, but we are up for the challenge!

The Airstreams were really fun to look at, I love how fun and retro they look. They were really cute inside, kind of modern.

The Travel Land USA is kind of a horse shoe layout with RVs on either side of the road, and this cute pond in the middle of it all! 

We had a fun little lunch stop off to do some RV investigating. If you have ever thought of RVing, this is a fun place to look around! 

While the boys were away, the girls were at play!

This past week was the big Dallas Market show, that my Dad and Brody go to twice a year to meet with their accounts and show them new product that has come out. While they were at the show my Mom and I had a lot of fun! We went to Disneyland, went on a couple rides and had a nice dinner! The next day while we were down near San Diego driving along the Coast Highway we came across this cute little Harbor where we ended up having lunch!

The Monterey Bay Cannery Restaurant

We also found these huge pirate looking ships, that they were busily getting ready for...something. =)

It was such a beautiful day to be exploring up and down the Coast---We had such a fun day, just relaxing & enjoying what a beautiful area we live in!=)

On Friday morning we drove out to Santa Barbara to watch Newport Harbor & CDM play in a Water Polo Tournament (with the other top 14 teams in the state). On our way up we made some stops. We stopped off in Montecito to see if we could figure out where Oprah Winfrey has a house---and happened upon the cutest cupcake shop ever! We were parked in front of the shop to mess around with our navigation system and I couldn't help but to go in! I met the shop owner, who was just the nicest lady! She explained to me all the wonderful flavors she has which are really unique--one was peanut butter with a peanut butter cup inside the cake part (I wish I got that one as well), another was a maple syrup waffle (I think I got those right?), and so many more fun flavors!!

I have tried some cupcake places, like 'Sprinkles'---which I have given several trys but I have always been really disappointed with Sprinkles. To me they are really dry and don't have a very good flavor, I think most of Sprinkles is just hype and trendiness. This cute little shop 'Whodidily', surpassed all our expectations!! This was the best cupcake we have ever had! My Mom and I were both pretty shocked by how moist and full of flavor they were. It was JUST how you want a cupcake to taste! If you are ever passing by Montecito you HAVE to stop off at 'Whodidily' and grab a bunch of cupcakes, it will be more than worth the stop!! I would love it if you could order them on-line and have them sent to you, I could go for a chocolate and a peanutbutter one! =)

Here are the gates to Oprah's estate! It was pretty fun to drive by it---it looks like it would be one amazing house! =)

Some shots of the Water Polo games. Newport ended up taking 4th, and CDM got 3rd!

It is a lot of fun to watch Water Polo! I have loved becoming more and more familiar with the sport, and following the Newport Harbor games! =)

Margot Money passing the ball (CDM team)

We stayed in this charming hotel right in Santa Barbara called 'The Sandman', it was really cute!

The Stake Center (or we kind of figured it was a Stake Center, it was pretty big) in Santa Barbara. It was really pretty!!

The Santa Barbara Mission!

We just drove by it before the game, so here is me and the mission....=)

The school where we watched most of the games was in such a pretty area! If you can see it, there is a house at the top of the hill with orchards around it. It was such a beautiful view! In between games we went over to State Street to shop and have a really nice lunch. Santa Barbara is such a beautiful area, it is always so much fun to spend time there! =) It was such a fun weekend!

We had such a fun girls week!! And now we get to look forward to having our guys back tonight! =) We are so grateful for all the hard work they do, and sure missed them this week! ♥

Fun Card

* Super soft animal pillow for road trips-$20.00
* Birthday Crown- $4.00
* Two sets of funky cute Minnie ears- $14.00
* Left over to spend on whatever I want in D-Land - $31.00
* Disney footing the bill just because it's my birthday - Priceless!

A week ago today was my birthday! With everyones schedules and other things, it ended up being about a week long of Birthday hoopla (and ton's of yummy cake!!), which isen't a normal thing for me, but it was fun! I am sure some of you have heard of the pro-mo Disneyland is doing where you get in the park free on your Birthday! Sounds too good to be true? Like there should be a catch, because come on, it's Disneyland! But, It is JUST what it says! Totally free on your Birthday! Since I already have a pass I was able to get the dollar amount of a one day, one park admission---$69 dollars free on a 'Disney Fun Card', for me to spend....when ever & just on merchandise, you can't use it on food. You just register {here} online, and go to any ticket both with a print out of the e-mail they send you on your Birthday, ID & you are in! Pretty cool huh?!

Me with my loaded up Birthday fun card!

Us getting on Star Tours--It was freakishly busy on my Birthday, so we didn't end up staying too long!

On Wednesday we went out the dinner with my parents at the Claim Jumper in South Coast Plaza---and then went to Baskin Robins down the hill from their house to pick out an Ice Cream cake---a tradition that I have done for my Birthday for 20 years! (yikes!, I don't feel old enough to have a 20 year old tradition!)

Mmmm...Cookie dough ice cream and chocolate cake!

Dad cutting the cake!

Since Monday night was jam packed, we thought we would have a do-over on Saturday night---I know, your thinking "If Monday night was crazy, what makes you think Saturday night would be a good do-over night!?" shockingly it was not that busy! =) But before we went into the park, we ate at the ESPN Zone in Down Town Disney! For some reason I had a craving for their BBQ pizza---ran the idea past Brody, and of course he was up for it, the Cardinals were playing on the BIG screen!! =)

We totally lucked out and were seated RIGHT in fount of the gigantic big screen TV that had 12 smaller TV's around it and text boxes with other sports...type...info on them! Next to our table was a row of people eating and enjoying the game in big leather recliners! It cracked us up!!

Best BBQ pizza ever!!

It was such a blast & the food is SO good!! The place was full of Cardinals fans, and every time they scored or anything good happened the place roared! =) We loved it! And will diffidently be going back soon!!---doesn't this sort of remind you of a NASA control room? =)

We parked by the big Parking structure, but out side of it, the corner opposite the RV parking, closest to Down Town Disney & walked across the street to the restaurant--& then took the Monorail into the park! It was quick and so easy! If you are ever wondering a good way to miss all the tram crowds, this worked great! =)

We thought we would make it a night of going on rides we haven't been on in a long time! Amongst those was one we have never been on together (or since we were kids for that matter), Casey Jr. Circus Train! We sat in the Monkey cage...we are pretty simply entertained!=)

It was a really fun night! A nice do-over from Mondays crowdedness! Also it was such a great Birthday!! A BIG "Thank you!" again, to everyone for the Birthday calls, cards, gifts, texts, Facebook messages and so much more (also to Malias for the cute Birthday post!)! Love you all!

PS- I gave my Mom's blog a quick little make-over. If you have not started checking up on her blog, you really should! =)

PPS- Anything on my blog where a word(s) is a different color then the rest of the text in a post, that is because it is a link! Click on it, and see where ya go! =)