California Life!

I've been in California for 9 weeks now. As hard as it's been being away from home and Braden and Macie, I have been up to quite a few adventures while I've been here in California. Here is some of what I've been up to:

In-N-Out. Lots of In-N-Out. So yummy.

After being in California for 2 weeks, Braden and I were able to meet in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. We were invited by our friends, the Etters, who have a time share there. It was absolutely beautiful! The water, the resort, and especially getting to spend time together an with friends. We were able to go to lots of fun local places (Maro's Shrimp House, Soloman's, The Office). And of course spent lots of time  relaxing at the pool.

The view from our room

The Cabo Arch

Another perk of living in LA is my dad comes out here pretty consistently and we were able to meet up a few times for dinner. It's always fun getting to spend time with my dad!

Me and Dad in Seal Beach, CA

Living with such good friends has been such a blessing. It's been difficult not being home, but being with Jenn and Phil (and their dogs Brody and Marley!) has helped that a lot. There's been lots of paddleboarding, wine tasting, shopping, and cheesy jokes (from me), and me and Jenn driving Phil crazy.

Drive in movie! We loved Jurassic World

One of the best parts of living in SoCal is being so close to amazing wineries! The wineries down in Temecula are great, and it's always fun sipping wine and hanging with friends.

Danza Del Sol

Baby Grapes!

Lindsey (and Ayla!), Jenn and me

Beautiful Sunset

My college roommate, Charissa was in town and it was fun getting to catch up with her at Anaheim Packing Distract, a great warehouse type place with lots of little restaurants inside.

My college roommate Charissa came to visit!

On the 4th of July weekend, we hiked to the top of the Hollywood sign. The views are absolutely beautiful! In typical fashion, Jenn and I accidentally coordinated outfits. This time Phil joined in too!

Matchy matchy at the top of the Hollywood sign

After hiking to the Hollywood sign, we went to Pink's Hot Dogs, a Hollywood staple for over 75 years! My hot dog came with bacon, mushrooms, nacho cheese, and grilled onions. A definite improvement over a regular hot dog! Yum!

Phil and Jenn

Braden came to visit me in CA a few weeks ago! We had a great time. We went wine tasting in Temecula which was fun. We went to Ponte, South Coast, Robert Renzoni, and Danza Del Sol.

Ponte Winery

On Saturday we were supposed to go paddle boarding, but what do you know, it rained. So we spent the day eating In-N-Out and ice cream!

That night we were finally able to use the gift card that Braden's brother and wife gave us fro Christmas almost 2 years ago at Church & State. It was fancy and yummy. Although I'm not used to my food looking at me!

Last Sunday we went to the happiest place on earth- Disneyland! It's Disney's 60th anniversary Diamond Celebration so it was really fun getting to see the park especially fancy. With Fast Pass we didn't even spend too much time waiting in lines and got to ride all he rides we wanted to. I of course had to buy a big pink Minnie bow!

Space Mountain!

In front of the castle!

Star Tours!

Climbing the Matterhorn!

Splash Moutain

Mickey Ice Cream!

Thunder Mountain Railroad

Happy Birthday Disney!

The only disappointing part? We didn't get to meet the princesses. But I think if we had made Phil wait in line for that, he just might have killed us. It was a fun day!

Since this weekend was my last weekend, we went paddle boarding in Laguna Beach! It was a lot more difficult than paddle boarding in the harbor in Newport. I pretty much fell in immediately, which Phil and Jenn said was hilarious. It was a little cloudy starting off, but once the clouds burned off, it was absolutely gorgeous! We saw lots of fish, and seals even swam right around us! We thankfully didn't see any sharks, but it is a little unnerving to be paddling out where you can't see the bottom of the ocean. Especially on a board that makes you look like a seal to a shark. But is was AMAZING and I would definitely do it again (maybe next time I won't fall in!)

This summer I have been trying really hard to stay in shape. I unfortunately bought a different kind of running shoe (I usually buy Asics and bought Nike Free's) and gave myself a little bit of shin splints. Needless to say, I have been trying to rehab those, and of course bought my trusty Asics again! Instead of running, I went to a locally owned barre studio called Tone Barre which was so much fun! I am hoping my shins will be good to go by the time I start marathon training soon! I officially signed up to run the Walt Disney World Marathon in Orlando in January. I haven't decided if I am really excited or if I am just crazy. Maybe ask me how I'm feeling once I start my training.

High tech shin healing!

I can't believe this is my last week in California! There are a lot of things I will miss, but I am definitely so ready to be home with my husband and my puppy dog. See ya Saturday, Colorado!

New Years Resolutions

Wow! Things have been busy in the Jones family. Here are some things you might've missed:

We've had lots of visitors!

In November, Braden's mom, and then brother and his wife came to visit us! We enjoyed catching up with everyone and actually getting to host people at our house. It was a little difficult to have people stay with us while we were living in hotels! 

In early December, our best friends Phil and Jen from LA came to visit us! We had a great weekend shopping, eating, and visiting Estes Park, and it was awesome getting to catch up. It's hard to believe we were in California a year ago already.

For Christmas this year it was the first year that we got to spend in our own home! My folks ended up driving in from Texas. It was a fun laid back Christmas, although Braden and I were both working a lot. Macie had a great Christmas too- Santa brought her lots of toys!

Christmas Jammies!

Mom and Dad and the pups

We have loved winter so far here in CO. It will get cold and snow, but usually only lasts a few days until it warms up and melts away. The only one who hasn't enjoyed winter is Macie! The little turd refuses to go potty outside when its cold/snowy. She literally screams. It's so embarrassing! We finally gave in and got her a potty patch for her convenience.

Macie and the potty patch

Since we have lived here a few months now, we have really enjoyed getting to know the area. There are several shops and restaurants within walking distance, and we were pleasantly surprised to find out that our favorite pizza place that we discovered while living in LA (and thought was local to LA) has a location about 20 minutes from our house. We love Pieology!

yum.

While we haven't made it up to the mountains as much as we would like to, we were able to go snowboarding at Loveland Pass a few weeks ago. I was doing much better with my carving until I had a bad fall- I seriously thought that I was going to have to call ski patrol to come and get me! Luckily it was just a really bad bruise, but that was the end of my snowboarding that day. We are hoping to make it back several more times! The drive up to the pass is really cool- lots of old abandoned mines. Braden and I have even heard there are ghost town tours which sound super interesting!

This new year has started out wonderfully. Braden is working full time at Target and coaching his soccer team. I have actually started my new job! I am now only driving 15 minutes to work instead of an hour, and I am loving working with autistic kids again. I am in the Level 2 autism program which means the kids I work with are higher functioning. I get to work with them on some language but mainly social skills. They are precious! My favorite one liner so far was one little boy who looked at me in the middle of class and says "Mrs. Jones, what kind of car do you drive?" I said "We are thinking about math right now." He got a funny look on his face and says, "well, I'm thinking about what kind of car you drive." They keep me on my toes and they certainly keep me laughing! I am still working on Saturdays at the hippotherapy clinic, although we haven't been able to see kiddo's for a few weeks because of the weather. I am hoping to get that started again soon! I have also been picking up some hours at a nursing home PRN. Since I have so much more time without 2 hours of my day being spent commuting, I have enjoyed getting back into working out. I usually run in the mornings and then I've started going to a hot yoga studio down the street. I have really been enjoying the hot yoga! I've never sweat so much in my life. 

Because this is my first post in the new year, I thought I would share some of my resolutions for this year. I've never been one to make many resolutions, but this is the first year that is really took a little bit of time to think about some of the things I wanted to accomplish. My number one thing is to live healthy- I have really been trying to eat more natural and less processed food as well as drink more water and less non-water beverages. I can really tell a difference in how I feel. Another big part of my health is my THRIVE. It's so important to be able to get a good nights rest and have energy- THRIVE helps me have the energy to wake up bright and early to run, work all day, and then go to hot yoga in the evenings. It also helps me get a full and restful nights sleep. I got a Misfit band for Christmas, and have noticed that if I don't take my THRIVE, I get at least 45 minutes less of restful sleep. That's significant! My body responds so much better to exercise and recovers better as well. I have been taking it for 8 months and have never felt better- if you haven't tried it yet you are missing out! (click here for more info) I also want to run another half marathon and beat my previous time- I loved training and running my half last year!  I might want to add on a full marathon, but I want to see how I feel after running another half before deciding for sure. My running so far has been going well (even in the altitude!) and I have a couple of races I am looking at. I also would like to keep going to yoga! I think the stretching/poses really helps my joints and lung capacity. Along with that, we have a lot of things within walking distance! I want to walk instead of driving. One thing that Braden and I really want to do is hike a Colorado "fourteener". I've seen pictures from the summits and they look just breathtaking! More hiking and exploring is definitely on the list! Another goal is to find a church and small group- We have tried so many churches since moving here and we haven't found one yet that we feel like is a good fit which is kinda discouraging. We keep wondering where do the young married people go to church in Denver? (If anyone knows, please let me know!). We are so excited for what God has in store for us in 2015!

Things since being in Colorado haven't exactly always been a walk in the park- both of us have had difficulty with jobs, finding a church, etc. But it's also been incredible! We look at the mountains and are amazed at the beauty of God's creation and know that this is exactly where we are supposed to be- even in the most trying times, HE is faithful.

Love and blessings to you in the new year!

Harry's Wondrous World

When I was in Orlando, I was able to go to Harry Potter World. I have been wanting to go ever since I heard that it had been opened. I am a huge Harry Potter fan and was so excited that I was able to experience it. I'd even re-read the series (and ordered a special shirt!) in preparation! Unfortunately, the shirt I had ordered from Etsy came in the wrong style, but it was pretty epic- it said "It's LeviOsa. not LeviosA". Since my Harry Potter shirt didn't work, I had to settle for normal muggle clothing. Such an amateur.

When I first walked into and saw Hogsmeade Village, I may have gotten a little emotional (and by "may" I mean I definitely did). It is so incredible and you really feel like you've walked into the real place that you've imagined so many times reading the books.

I was that person who got emotional

Everything there is so elaborate and realistic. In Hogsmeade there is the Three Broomsticks, Zonko's, and Honeydukes, to name a few.

Please respect the spell limits

Hogwarts

Hogsmeade

Me and Amy in front of Hogwarts

The ride that is in the Hogwarts castle is incredible. The inside where you wait in line is exactly how the castle is described in the book and what you see in the movies. The pictures even move! I rode this ride so many time that the ride operators started recognizing me.

Super excited about boarding the Hogwarts Express in Hogsmeade Station

Waiting to board the train to London

Platform 9 3/4

The Hogwarts Express was incredible. The "windows" show scenes leaving Hogwarts/arriving in London, as well as "shadows" of students in the hallway- it's incredibly realistic!

Me and Amy on the Hogwarts Express

The platform at King's Cross Station

Hedwig and Harry's trunk

This trick mirror made it look like people were really disappearing onto the platform!

The Knight Bus

Outside King's Cross looked like you really had arrived in London. I was even able to find Number 12 Grimmauld Place.

Number 12 Grimmauld Place!

Once you arrive in London, you are able to get away from the unsuspecting muggles into Diagon Alley.

The dragon on Gringotts

Diagon Alley

Once in Diagon Alley, I had to get a wand. I obviously chose Ollivander's because they are the best.

Once in Ollivander's, a special wand fitter helped me find the perfect fit. 

Discussions got a little heated.

Finally, the perfect wand chose me. You know, because the wand chooses the wizard.

My wand!

There are even occasions to practice your spell work in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. At certain points you wave your wand in a specific motion and say the corresponding incantation and watch when magic happens (just be careful not to poke someone's eye out!) I was even complemented on my magical skills!

There were lots of interesting books to see in the window of Flourish and Blotts, including the Monster Book of Monsters.

Gilderoy Lockhart's books were even there. I'm surprised they are still bestsellers, especially after it was revealed that he was a fraud.

Of course, no trip to Diagon Alley would be complete without a trip to Gringott's, the wizard bank.
While we were there on a tour, Harry, Ron and Hermione escaped on a dragon! What are the chances...

The Gringotts goblins hard at work

Of course my trip to the wizarding world would not have been complete without some butterbeer! It was absolutely amazingly delicious.

Harry Potter World was absolutely amazing and surpassed all my expectations! I am so glad that my recruiter Amy was there to experience the magic with me. It was definitely difficult adjusting back into the muggle world. Until next time Hogwarts!