Chantico Dream

A long long time ago in a far away time, I would go to my local Starbucks and purchase this tiny little  (maybe) 4 oz. cup of dreamy chocolate. My younger self was not partial to coffee or the taste of it AT ALL (my how times have changed). This little cup was so cute, and honestly the sugaraholic in me could've drank 5 of them in one day. 

Then one day *gasp* I merrily skipped to Starbucks, only to have my heart crushed! They had discontinued my precious drink, apparently their were not enough people ordering it. I genuinely believe this to be because not enough people knew about it!

Why were they not advertising this magic?!

Okay, I digress...

Fast forward about a decade, no I'm not kidding...

While in California visiting relatives I found some yummy chocolate bars, like the extra special *wine-tastebud-quality* chocolate. This was the kind of chocolate that would be sacrilege to just open and eat, so I brought it back home and stewed over what special thing to do with it.

You guessed it! I had a sudden flashback to my precious chantico, so I got to work trying to find the perfect recipe. I had one shot to get it right, and SO right it was!

I halved this recipe, considering I didn't have enough chocolate to make a full batch, and it was still perfect I assure you.

Legoland

Last year at this time, we were planning a trip to California, for a college graduation in the family. While out there we were lucky enough to be given tickets to visit Legoland from a family friend.

Let me tell you something: this was such. a. good. time! Me, my girls, & my MIL had an amazing time. I am not gushing because I was asked to, I just loved so many things about this place. The atmosphere was lovely, I had someone asking how our visit was going every single ride we went on. The ride operators asked if there was any way they could make our visit better, but my kids were already so happy! They got to “play in line” on every ride. There are coral areas with large legos in every. single. line.

The food was good, and when going to check out in line, the cashier was helping us to save money by getting the family deal plan. After, while visiting the bathroom, there were complimentary toiletries, I mean who does that?!

I know if you had asked my girls what their favorite part was, it would have been the pirate ships though.  While on the pirate ships, you can shoot your water guns at the other ships while everyone is moving on a track about the place. THEN, you get to get off the ride, walk around the side of the ride, and there are water squirt guns on the side to aim at the people still on the ride.  We were soaked, but it was all good, it was a hot day, and we were happy. :)

When it was closing time, was anyone rushing us out the door? Oh, absolutely not! We had time to take a few more pictures, like the one above.

We WILL be back. We truly enjoyed every moment.

Porto’s Bakery

I was first introduced to this wonderful-in-everyway-place by my lovely sister in law. This introduction, unfortunately was over instagram. You see my SIL lives in LA. Once she finished USC (yes, extremely proud over here), she officially took the plunge of living the high life of a studio apartment *sarcasm indeed*. What is not sarcastic however, is that I am living vicariously through her. Who wouldn’t want to be young, with tons of fun friends, on your own, in Los Angeles? So when we went to visit this past summer my only wish was to go to this place. It’s obviously the closest I was going to get to being young and fun in LA, with children behind me. haha So off we went:

The architecture inside and out was so pretty. I wanted to take tons of pictures, then redecorate my house accordingly.

Tell me one thing in this case that me, my husband, and my two girls wouldn’t want to take home?! Every. single. thing. I wanted to buy and smuggle on the plane.

This is what my husband and I settled on: Tiramisu on the left and mochachino on the right. Mine is the right, good thing, cause it was the most delicious one! I could use one right now, this 1200 calorie diet I’ve been on needs to be blown up!

Missing the Palms

Although the weather here in Indiana is just perfect {no I am not being sarcastic}, I am missing these beautiful things today. I <3 palm trees! Don’t really know what the obsession is with them, but I think I am suppose to live somewhere warm all year long. Can I please go back to Cali? Have a lovely weekend all.

Sea World in 3 Hours

 

I know what you are all asking, “Why only 3 hours”? Well we got a late start on the road to San Diego, and I SWEAR I saw the website say they closed at 8 pm. Well {sigh} guess not! I did get us 20% off by simply making the comment that I screwed up.

In our silly three house you will see, from this post, we go to do nearly everything I wanted to do. Seriously! We walked in the door and immediately were second in line to take this picture. Totally by accident.

We jumped quickly to the first show on the schedule, which was starting in 5 min. How more planned could that be?! By the time we completed this show with cotton candy, it was time to start. This picture is the set of the “Pet show”. It was totally cute with all the dogs, cats, & birds. It is amazing how these animals are.

 

When that show was over, we walked across the park in time to get an awesome seat at the Dolphin show. Of course this is the reason we wanted to go. The girls & I are big fans of dolphins. I really want to swim with the dolphins, to the extent that it is a running joke between my husband and I. The show was amazing! It was worth every penny, and later after the show we walked over to the dolphin tanks. I was an inch. an INCH! from touching the dolphin. We did not a lot of time, or I would have honestly stayed there all night to touch one. Oh well! next time I guess.

There was a tower, in the sky, way up high! This is another one of my suck it up moments. I do not like heights. But it is time to start doing things that I am not completely comfortable with. The girls loved being that high, not me. By we had time to do it, line and all.

Shamu came over to the glass to wave to us! Doesn’t it honestly look like he is waving. We were the only ones by the glass, and he swam right over his giant pool right to us! We didn’t get to see his “show” but this was so much better.

Last but not least, we met Elmo & Zoey. Too cute! Overall, I feel we had an amazing trip in just 3 hours!

The gardens of the Getty

I have a confession to make. I did not really see much art at the Getty Museum. I was just too taken with the gardens, and I couldn’t stop taking pictures. I sure hope I do not bore you with loads and loads of wonderful flower pictures today.

Here they are the gardens @ The Getty:

 

   

  

  

A first time for everything!

So remember this winter when I went ice skating for the first time, it was then and there I decided to start doing things I normally wouldn’t do. Nothing crazy like jumping off a bridge or anything, but just break out of my box a little bit. I am still vowing to do this, but baby steps people!

I have something new to share with you. Remember nothing crazy, just new.

I. tried. sushi!

It was eh, nothing bad, nothing great. I was told it is something you have to get “use to”. I can relate, I totally didn’t think avocado was anything grand the first time I tried it either. Now I am not lying when I say I could sit and eat one right out of the skin for breakfast!

I will try it again, but I have to say I definitely liked the “non-raw-fish” kind better. Someday I will be somewhere fancy-like, where they will have the delish freshest sushi ever, and I am sure I will love it then, because by that time I will have “gotten use to it”.

How about you all out there? Sushi, good or bad?

California - Sequoia National Park

I found this picture via Pinterest, via this Flickr peep.... yes, yes I know I love that site :)

You know what else I love? The fact that I am going to California in a few weeks... counting down the days!

The reason I enclosed this big bold tree, is because I want to go to Sequoia National Park this time around. How about all of you whom look at my blog and NEED to comment. Anyone have favorite things in Southern California? Anyone been to Sequoia National Park, and want to get me any tricks and tips? Love to hear all the imput you have to offer up! :)

Dreamin' of Cali

I just got news yesterday that my wonderful, lovely, amazing, sister-in-law is graduating college in May. I am so proud of her!

BUT, did I mention She lives and goes to school in CALIFORNIA?! Yeap, you got it, this gives me a great reason to visit the sunshine state, somewhere in the NEAR future :)

So today I am dreaming of Cali in this 40 degree weather.

P.S. I may or may not have stolen this picture from her... hehe

Going On a Jet Plane...

You might be asking what do curtains and a plane have in common, right?

When you have two toddlers in the house... this is what they have in common.

Now you're really confused?! Yes, that is JUST a bag! Most importantly, though, it is a bag with a sturdy zipper!

Okay, I have held you in suspense long enough!

Two curtain panels yields two color paks. Throw in a few crayons, pens, coloring pencils {if you have older children}, & a pad of paper or small coloring book. Voila! Instant fun :)

My older girl, Alisa, can sit at the table for hours and draw, so I know this would be an entertainment piece for a plane ride.

We are currently thinking to take a plane ride, to California. My husband has family there, & the girls and I are wanting to visit DisneyLand for the first time. Now it's your turn.. tell me what you think. Would your kids like this activity on the plane? Do you have any other suggestions for that 4 hour plane ride?