west coast craft

 i had a father-daughter day with my dad one sunday. we took a day trip into the city to go to the west coast craft fair. i wore my new tunic from anthropologie i got discounted for my birthday : )

 we had lunch at a vegetarian "to go" place.

 i loved way too many things there. but i ended up getting the first issue of a new up & coming independent periodical called weekend almanac & a $5 squirrel mini day pack from alite. what a deal! it was a successful day trip indead : )

surprise birthday day trip!

 part of miguel's birthday gift to me was a surprise day trip! i had no idea where we were going. all i was told was to wear comfortable clothes & shoes to walk in.

first we stopped at the cute italian deli that always reminds him of me & bought sandwiches & drinks & chips for a little picnic (one of my favorite things to do!).

 then he took me to a beautiful arboretum. it was perfect because i love the trees in fall. he knows me well. it was very windy & the sun was in our eyes so it was difficult to get a decent photo. haha, so this is what you get:

such a perfect surprise birthday day trip : ) thanks miguel!

a little hello & my birthday

hello! well, my life has once again been a whirlwind. i'm starting to think that it's just a whirlwind period. i hope you americans had a happy thanksgiving (& some international readers too according to instagram!)! i did (having two thanksgiving meals yesterday) & am leaving to visit my cousin wendy today for the weekend & another thanksgiving meal! 

i am still looking for a full-time job & it is a bit discouraging, but i know the right one will come along. i just have to be ready for it. 

i have a few events that i want to blog about over the next few days/weeks of things that i have been doing, so bare with me!

first up, i want to share my birthday with you! i was not in the birthday mood this year because since i was turning 26, i would lose all my medical, dental, & vision coverage from my dad. also, the grace period for my student loans would be up & i would have to start paying them... happy birthday to me! aha. but, miguel knew all of this & was on a mission to get me in a happy birthday mood, showering me with loads of gifts & lots of loving. & it worked. he came to visit me & brought the most beautiful bouquet of roses! yellow & blue are our colors & the multi-color roses were just plain epic. 

he bought me lots of books/comics that i have been wanting! like the second hunger games book, the kinfolk table cookbook, & the soppy comics! 

 these comics are completely miguel & me ;)

then he spent the day with me & my mom shopping & getting sandwiches at ike's place. oh how i love him.

earlier for my birthday morning, i had breakfast with these lovely sisters! lizzie & hannah treated me to eggs benedict & a bag full of amazing things. it was such a happy birthday morning!

oh yeah, i also took my NEW CAR to get it's first car wash (because it's free on my birthday!)! this is a late graduation present from my parents & grandma (& i'm paying for the rest of it!)! i was seriously in shock when they told me that i would be getting a new car. i love my 2013 honda fit sport : ) i named it rosie the riveter.

 my birthday ended nicely with dinner out & strawberry shortcake in.

little did i know that more birthday plans were in store for me, but more on that later.
i am so thankful for people in my life that love me. love really is the greatest thing.

26

today is my birthday : )

spontaneous day trip

 hey! hi! hiiii. wow i've been gone way too long. i don't have any excuses for not blogging. i just haven't been in the mood for it lately. the blog break is over now though (let's hope!) because it is my birthday month (& among other reasons)!

miguel's last class for the day was cancelled on halloween, so we took advantage of this blessing & took a spontaneous day trip to a cute town about an hour & a half away. i used to go to this town often when i was younger & wanted to show him a historical house that i loved looking at & exploring back in the day. this was our second trip to this town together (here was our first!), so it was fun to go back for another adventure.