Hotel Del Weekend 2019

For the weekend of December 13-15th we went back to the Hotel Del to celebrate our two-year engagement anniversary. We said that we probably wouldn't do this every year, but it is such a quick and easy flight over, and we are enjoying doing some of the same things over that we have done in years past.

This year we did not rent a car given it cost quite a bit to park it and we didn't really drive it much last year. Our flight was delayed by about an hour, so we had the Uber driver drop us off for lunch and then we walked to the Del. We went to Boney's Bayside Market for lunch (somewhere we will not go back to again) and ate on the bay with this view.

Once we got to the hotel our room was not quite ready, so we went out and sat on the beach for a while. It was kind of chilly so we definitely were not trying to get a tan.

The theme this year at the Del was Winter Wonderland so all the decorations were white.

Dinner Friday night was a Leroy's - I would recommend this restaurant.

After dinner we walked back to the hotel and got a gelato at Sundae's.

Saturday morning we got up early and walked the beach towards the dog beach. It is nice to get up and take pictures of all the decorations when no one is around.

The tree in the lobby - again, a white theme.

This is the ornament of the year for 2019 - I bought one to bring home.

By Sunday morning, Sandy the Snowman was destroyed and there was a sign that the Grinch had stolen our holiday cheer.

These sandpipers were all standing in a group - I had never seen so many lined up like this.

This is now a tradition - we love Tent City for Saturday morning breakfast.

I get a juice (either orange or green) and quiche every year.

We came home from breakfast and I took a nap and sat on the deck and read for a while. It was great just to relax in the hotel room.

Unfortunately the view this year was of construction. I am sure it will be really nice when it is done but this year were not the best views.

Around noon we walked across the island to take the ferry from Coronado to downtown San Diego.

We walked around Seaport Village, and then we had lunch...

...at Puesto. We ate at the La Jolla location last year, and this year we went to the downtown location. 

We walked around the Embarcadero for a bit before catching the ferry back to Coronado Island.

Since we did a late lunch on Saturday neither of us were that hungry for dinner. We had a fire pit reservation at 8pm, so s'mores became our dinner for the night.

I made my own marshmallows this year to roast - they are just made of water, gelatin, honey and vanilla. They worked out pretty well, but they don't hold together when roasting like a "regular" marshmallow. I also brought GF graham crackers.

It was a really windy and cold night so the fire felt great.

Sunday morning we tried a new restaurant called Little Frenchie.

It was a cute restaurant.

After breakfast we had some time before we had to get an Uber for the airport so we walked around the courtyard and then had lunch On the Rocks.

It was such a great weekend and I am thinking we will probably be back next December!

Huntington Beach

Last weekend I did the typical summer in AZ trip and went over to California for the weekend with Dave and Robin. We flew from PHX to SNA on Friday night and then back on Sunday late afternoon.

Our original plan was to go to Universal Studios on Saturday, however, the Vans US Open of Surfing was right outside our hotel (literally). We decided to hang around it all day Saturday.

Lunch from nektar on the hotel patio Saturday afternoon.

I took a nice long nap on the beach and when I woke up this guy had built a sand castle tower - in case you can't read it, it says I am the Light of the world - Jesus.

Pre-dinner pictures on the pier on Saturday night.

Our ride for the weekend. We had rented an SUV, however, Budget was out of them so we got a free upgrade - Mustang convertible.

I love convertibles - especially in CA! Saturday night we went to dinner in Newport Beach at this place called Juliette - it was a farm to table restaurant so of course I enjoyed it.

Artsy picture of the Huntington Beach pier before my run on Sunday morning.

Sunday mid-morning we rented a surfboard. I had been on a board just twice prior and I need to get on more. SO. MUCH. FUN!

The view from the hotel room. We stayed at the Shorebreak Hotel, which is a Kimpton hotel brand. It was really nice. 

We went to lunch at Fashion Island on Sunday before heading back to the airport. I wish I was back in Cali now :)

Cabin Day Trip

Today my mom, dad and Grandma Hazel were driving up for the day to the Hiatt's cabin in Happy Jack, AZ. I didn't have plans and had never been before, so I decided to go up for the day with them. We left Phoenix at about 7:45am this morning...goal was 7am, but we couldn't get on the road without a Starbucks stop.

On the way up we stopped at a local honey shop in Pine and I bought AZ local honey, peach butter and BBQ sauce. Wish I took some pictures but left my phone in the car.

We arrived at the cabin right at about 11am. We ate breakfast there, and then took Cruzer for a walk to see a couple of his siblings that still live up there. We then pretty much spent the afternoon on the porch, in sweatshirts, with blankets and a fire burning.

It rained in the afternoon for about an hour, and poured for probably a good 20 minutes. It was so refreshing to listen to the rain. The thunder was pretty loud too.

 Cruzer thinks he is a person and needed a chair for himself.

We stayed for dinner, and I found a recipe for honey mustard veggie kabobs.

Grandma, MaryAnn and Jim visiting on the patio before dinner.

I also made quinoa to go with the kabobs.

It was a great day. I decided that having a cabin up north would be kind of nice :)

Thanks to the Hiatts for having us.

And I am so thankful for every day that we get to continue to have Grandma Hazel here with us.