A RESPITE IN SANTA CRUZ

We drove down US-101 and CA-85 towards Santa Cruz; me, giddy about the adventure of being on a new road to new place, Ken, pleased about the little getaway. He drove expertly through the windy roads and kept turning the station back to EDM.  The windows were down and everything sparkled.

There were a lot of different places we could have spent our night away, but I chose Santa Cruz because it was really close to San Francisco, it had a history of surf culture, there was an Airbnb place that I wanted to stay at, and I wanted to check out the downtown are of a small to mid-sized city in California. Our first stop when we got there was Seal Rock and the surfing museum and I was blown away by the view and the surfers dropping into the water from the rock. Just standing in that spot surrounded by the ocean was like a balm for my soul.

The wharf, the boardwalk, and even the downtown (even though everything was closed by the time we got there) - in my mind, all these places were glazed with sun. Was it just my imagination and preconceptions, or was everyone more relaxed?

We needed this. Even if it was just one night away, even it it was just pitter patter around on unknown streets, try on sunglasses in surf shops and drink a pitcher of margarita, it was just me and him. The busy versions of ourselves seemed eons way, and I reveled in those extra moments we saw each other in the sunlight. 

INSPIRED BY LATELY

Some things that I'm pinning on my inspiration board lately:

I want to make this lemon crepe cake or myself on mother's day; via Honestlyyum 

This Gorgeous headpiece from Design Conundrum would be perfect for a party in the forest

Cropped tops: Swimsuit from UO via SugarandSpiceOffical & image via FunkyMonkey

I want to try: Palo Santo Incense sticks via Cup of Jo & SachaJuan Ocean Mist

I want to capture more moments like this photo by Ana Cabaleiro 

NAPA VALLEY

I've confirmed it, wine country is one of my happy places. Sunny, gorgeous rolling hills, wine and people likewise obsessed with wine, little markets with cheese and amazing sandwiches. I mean, come on. We made a day trip up to Napa while we were in San Francisco and it was blissful and romantic.  I felt like I was in a movie; a good movie, about a girl who visits wine country with a husband who isn't necessarily a wine enthusiast but gets excited with her and makes the effort because he is just that wonderful, a friend who is just as enthusiastic about wine and much more knowledgable about wine country, a mother-in-law and her best friend who was gracious and watched the girl's toddler while the girl was wine tasting, and the toddler, who was as sweet as a dumpling and offered lots of hugs and kisses in between wineries.

We visited three wineries: Stag's Leap because I had their amazing Artemis with some friends back in New York long ago, Robert Mondavi because it is a large producer with different levels of wine and has a great tour, and Peju winery because it was our friend's favorite. I came home with a few bottles from Stag's Leap and Peju and have already started in on them because they are irresistible.  Our day was a only a small sampling of wine country but it was enough for a dreamy, hazy, lovely visit and enough for me to resolve to go back someday.

Yes that is a block of cheese that she is tearing into. It was a day of luxuries for all of us. Don't worry, I didn't let her even get close to finishing it.

A LITTLE FLASHBACK VIDEO

Now that we are in the month of May I have a video from Christmas to show you guys! This is a video I put together from our Festa Di Natale Christmas dinner party last year.  It's incredibly shaky due to the fact that I was distracted and multi-tasking while taping but I'm glad I got some of it on camera. My favorite part is when Meghan and Kevin announce that they are having a baby and totally catch all of us by surprise and delight - that's part of the reason why I haven't shared it until now, but I think the cat is out of the bag at this point. Three more months to go until baby Capeheart!

AND THIS IS OUR WEEK BACK

Sloane got this little coloring book for being "student of the week" (which she got like three times in a row!! she's a genius!) and as we were flipping through it, I asked her what each of the animals on each page was. Then we got to this page and I asked her, "And who is that?" Her response without a moment's hesitation: "Mommy!"

You know how I was complaining about the rain in my last post? Well I take it allll back now that it's not raining anymore and everything is green, and spongy and just gorgeous all around. It's like the world is in technicolor! For the petrichor, I'll take a few rainy days.

I am positively thrilled to have made it to Friday. If you were to ask Ken and if he were to be honest, he'd say that I was a huge pot of crabby every time we talked after work this week. During some of those days the absolute last thing I wanted to do was drag my butt over to the gym, but I made it there both times and each time I left feeling like a brand new woman. I'm in love with working out for the way it makes me feel afterwards - sweaty and strong. And it puts me in the best mood.

It also puts me in a superb mood to get through the week in one piece, and be faced with a weekend filled with my sisters and an obstacle race! Ken has to fly out for work on Sunday night, but let's not think about that now and just focus on rolling around in the green, plush, after-rainstorm grass and eat ingtoo many yummy earth lollipops.

We went to go watch Ken play in a volleyball tournament and Sloane took this photo of our feet while we were watching the game.

  We had some friends come through town with pregnant bellies and little tykes last weekend and we feasted and visited Franklin Goose. Sloane kept me company in the dressing room with silly faces, and pushed around a 'baby' in a tiny stroller.

On Sunday, little Issac had his first birthday party (outdoors! on a lovely spring day!) and Laura took this photo of our babes eating lunch. Well, Sloane eating lunch and Eden learning her numbers.

After a couple of days of being upset about being back at daycare, Sloane has transitioned back beautifully. She has been in the best mood and has been a little angel all week. I'm hoping that means traveling suits her.

Thursday mornings never felt so good. 

And my sister is here!! The other one is coming in late tonight, but for today, Eunice is watching Sloane while I work from home and I can't think of a better set up. In my fantasies, I work from home while my sister watches my baby so that I can give them smooches whenever I want.


Have a fabulous weekend you guys!