San Diego

Last week Sam and I spent the week in San Diego. It was our week break between spring and summer semester. We had such a good time! It was so nice to be able to spend some quality time with each other since it doesn’t seem like we get much of that lately.

Naturally, we had to take pictures of the states we went through…

Somehow we missed Nevada on the way there…

The San Diego skyline from Coronado Island. It was cloudy the first couple of days we were there.

So while in San Diego we decided to purchase a 3-for-1 pass to the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, and the San Diego Zoo Safari. We had a lot of fun but the places wore us out!

Our first adventure was to the San Diego Zoo. Can you say HUGE? Seriously, it is gigantic. We were there for about 5 hours. And a little over half way through we no longer stopped at every animal and exhibit. Needless to say, by the end of the day at the Zoo we were pooped.

I waved when this gorilla looked straight at me… he obviously did not like that because he moved to another spot and faced the other way.

Our next adventure was Sea World. It was way fun! And we got a little sunburned because we forgot that the sun burns people after 5 straight hours of being outside in it. The shows were pretty cool and the rides we went on were fun too.

Our last major adventure was the Zoo Safari. It is part of the San Diego Zoo but not really located close to it. It is really like out in the middle of nowhere. It is different from the regular Zoo in that it is on a LOT of open land and many animals live together… like they would in their normal habitat. It is pretty neat. Part of our admission was the African Tram. Basically you are in a giant bus thing with tons of other people and you get to go out around some of the habitats to see the animals. There are other adventures you can go on but they are wicked expensive. Like on one, you get to go on a car thing out by the animals and get close enough to touch them. You’ll see what I mean in one of the pictures. It would have been really neat to do that but we didn’t because, well let’s be honest, we are cheap and broke :).

The rhino on the right that is all by himself is I believe a Northern White Rhino… which happens to be the most endangered species on the earth. The Zoo has like 4 of the 7 that are left in the entire world.

We really did have a lot of fun in San Diego. We stayed in a condo in Solana Beach, about 20 minutes north of San Diego. We went on bike rides along the coast, ate at yummy local restaurants (shout out to Hodad's, a delicious burger place Sam's friend Julie from high school took us to... it was on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives" so it is not healthy at all but SO stinkin good!), played pool, relaxed in the hot tub, went to the beach, took a stroll through Old Town San Diego, watched movies, napped a lot, and just enjoyed one another’s company. Oh, and we also did a session at the San Diego Temple… which is SOOO beautiful! Now one of our favorite temples. I highly recommend going there if you are ever in the area… and I know Sam would agree with that statement.

I tried to capture Sam’s angry face here. He got REALLYYYYYYYY frustrated with California drivers on our way home. It was kind of funny. But then kind of not because they really do suck at driving.

Baking and Cooking

Today I do not have school OR work... which pretty much never happens anymore. One of the beauties of the end of the semester. Therefore... I spent the morning baking!!

I made my mother's DELICIOUS banana bread (seriously it's the best... AND has no butter or shortening!) and then tried a new recipe for oatmeal butterscotch chip cookies. Last time Sam and I made oatmeal butterscotch chip cookies they were DELISH but would not stay together at all. Thus, I tried a new recipe. These ones do stay together a little better. And are delish as well! 

Anyway, so far today has been lovely. Baking is just so relaxing, I love it. I don't get to do it enough so I decided I would take this opportunity to make some yummy treats. Which will be going to Sam and I's work tomorrow... so they will be the judges of it all. AND... later I am going to try out a new recipe for baked potato soup and twisty breadsticks. YUM! I absolutely love to cook so I am excited to try these out... they look wonderful!

Flowers

Here is what my most wonderful husband came home with after work last night:

He got them for me "just because." What a sweetie. Stuff like this goes a long way for me.

Have a Happy Easter tomorrow!

Bicycle Riding...

We recently got Sam a road bike and it has been a blast! He figured he'd like it better than running and so far he is loving it. And I am loving it too... because now he can come riding with me!! Going on a ride with someone is much better than going alone... in my opinion. This past Saturday we went for a ride and it was awesome. We could not have asked for better weather!!

Sam and I in our gear... we are so hardcore.

Sam with his new snazzy bike. I must admit I am a bit jealous he has a brand new bike and I don't. And that his has red on it. Oh well, one day...

I really am excited to go on many more rides together. It is a great workout and it is fun being able to do something together that we both really enjoy. Bring on summer!!

Spinning...

So today I taught my first ever spin class - it was so fun! I was definitely nervous at first but after a few minutes, I got comfortable and it was just a good time. One of the classes I am taking this semester is Group Instructor Fitness Training... we basically learn how to be a group fitness instructor. We are required to attend a fitness class at least 9 times and the 9th time we go we have to teach the entire class... a little intimidating. That's how I felt at least. But it was a good experience and I cannot wait to do it again. In the near future I am going to get certified to teach spinning classes and then I can actually go to gyms and teach for real - woot!


Just in case you were curious, here is the playlist I made for the class. It is pretty great if I do say so myself.


You Make My Dreams - Hall & Oates
We Live - Superchick
Rolling in the Deep - Adele 
Gotta Get You Into My Life - Earth Wind & Fire
You Can't Hurry Love - Dixie Chicks
We Weren't Born to Follow - Bon Jovi
Lay Me Down - The Dirty Heads
Black & Gold - Sam Sparro
Real Gone - Sheryl Crow
Misery Business - Paramore
PYT - Michael Jackson
I Will Learn to Love Again - Kaci Battaglia
Forget You - Cee Lo Green
Bounce With Me - Kreesha Turner
Street Lights - Kanye West
Happy - Natasha Bedingfield


So there is a good motivating workout playlist if you are looking for one. It has to be good since it has a Michael Jackson song... a workout isn't complete without a little MJ!!

My job

So today I realized that I forgot to share all the fun details of MY new job! Well, about a month ago I got a job with the Purchasing Department at the U. My good friend Alexis called me up one evening and asked if I still needed a job and I did so she gave me her boss's info and after an interview I got the job! I was SO relieved. I had been looking ever since Sam and I got married and the job market did not look too promising. It is hard to get a decent job without a degree I have decided. And of course I needed one that works with my school schedule and wanted one that did not require working on the weekends. This one is PERFECT for both accounts. They really work with students which is wonderful.

So far I am enjoying the job. I do a lot of data input, I work at the front desk sometimes, and then I just do all the other jobs people need done. Grunt work basically. But I don't mind it. The work isn't the most exciting stuff ever but it is a good atmosphere to work in. All the people are really nice and helpful so it really makes the job a lot better. Plus, I get to work with Alexis and a few other friends... so fun! AND I even have my own cubicle! Here is the little beauty...

I think it is pretty cool I have two computer screens... although I always forget to use the right one...

Everyone else has a name tag so I just decided to make my own :)

Okay so it is not incredibly glamorous but I did not even expect to have my own cubicle in the first place! So I like to think it is cool. 

Sam got a new job!!

What a happy day- Sam got a new job!! He is SO stinkin excited! Beginning April 4th, he will be working for JCPenney as an Accounting Clerk in the jewelry and ledger department. Sam has been working hard at getting a new job for a while now so we are thrilled that he got this one! This is the one he wanted most. Sam's brother Jon works for JCPenney... which is how he knew about the position. Jon works in a different department but I am sure they will still be seeing each other more often now... which is always a good thing. Sam is such an incredibly hard worker and he is very smart so he will be a great asset to the department. Plus, this will be great job experience for him... to get his foot in the door in the accounting world. I am SO proud of him! He is going to do so great!

Seriously... who could ever say no to this cute face anyway??