How Pinteresting Wednesday -- Cake Inspired

We're halfway though the week and now that I am working again and am lucky enough to have this weekend off, humpday actually means something again!

I am not sure what possessed me but today my pins are Cake Inspired.

Maybe its the fact that I haven't had chocolate in a week due to Lent and chocolate cake sounds amazing right now. I also use to be obsessed with cake challenges on the Food Network. 

I originally didn't intend on going all wedding on you but for the most part my cakes seemed to lean that direction. Especially the sandcastle cakes...my dream wedding cake!

Source: maddichan.tumblr.com via Madeline on Pinterest

Source: thesweetestoccasion.com via Jacqui on Pinterest

Source: tlc.howstuffworks.com via Gina on Pinterest

Source: bitsandpeacesofme.blogspot.com via Andrea on Pinterest

Source: cakecentral.com via L on Pinterest

Source: cutestfood.com via L on Pinterest

Source: knotnotes.tumblr.com via L on Pinterest

Source: robynlovescake.com via L on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via L on Pinterest

Source: google.com via L on Pinterest

Source: weddingwire.com via L on Pinterest

Source: justdessertsobx.com via Holly on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Miss Ally on Pinterest

Source: brides.com via Kathe on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via allie on Pinterest

Wavehouse San Diego - Just Keep Swimming

I have the most exciting news ever! Exciting news applies to me.

The Wavehouse pool is opening back up!

In order for you to better understand, let me tell you what the Wavehouse is, give a little background about the pool and let you know that swimming is my absolute favorite workout.

Swimming is my absolute favorite workout.

I love swimming, it is peaceful most of the time and relaxing and such a great full body workout at the same time. I love the results swimming gives my body. It shrinks my hips and butt and tones my chest and arms. Once upon a time I use to be skinny. I thank running combined with swimming.

The Wavehouse is a pretty sweet beach bar in Mission Beach. Connected to the bar is the Wavehouse Athletic Club, which is a gym. Inside the gym is The Plunge, which is the largest swimming pool you will ever see. Its pretty historic but now it is, or was, a part of the Wavehouse Athletic Club. If you are a member, like I was for three years, you get access to this amazing pool.

When I lived in San Diego my first time, I lived about 1/4 mile from the Wavehouse. I was a member and would ride my bike to swim about three times a week. I was in great shape. 

When I moved to Colorado, I obviously couldn't find a swimming pool to compare. Nothing compares to this place. 

I can't find pictures that do justice to the size of this place.

Anyway, finding a nice pool in Colorado was a fail. I did find a pool that I'd use but it was small and overcrowded. When I knew I was moving back to San Diego from Colorado, all I could think about was getting back in shape at the Wavehouse. I was beyond looking forward to swimming three times a week again and one of the first things I was going to do when I got back was sign up for a membership. 

Things went downhill on May 26th, 2011 - just a few short months before I moved. I was at work and decided to take a look at the Wavehouse online because I was so looking forward to being back. I stumbled upon an article that The Plunge was closing. For good. I was devastated. 

When I moved back to San Diego in August swimming was all I could think about. I tried the local YMCA on and off because I was desperate for a pool. It wasn't good enough. In October, I heard rumors The Plunge was going to open by the end of November. Basically they kept pushing it back. The end of December. The beginning of January. The middle of February. 

I run past the Wavehouse every day. Sometimes I'll walk around and peek through the windows and see if there is any progress on the repairs that need to be done. Last week I finally saw the pool was drained and saw some machinery, a promise things were finally moving along! 

When I ran on Saturday morning, I thought I'd take another look. I was hopeful but at the same time know how long its taken for anything to happen. I didn't expect any change. I peeked though the window and saw the pool was filled with water! I knew it had to finally be opening soon! I walked in and asked and was told March 1st. 

My friends, by the end of the week I will be swimming again!! Hopefully my skinny shorts will be fitting by summer!

Bittersweet Situation

This is sort of a combined post about two different things that end up coming together as one.

First of all I have to shout from the rooftops I love my job!

This is only a pretty big deal because I haven't been happy in a job since I was 16.
I can't even believe how different it feels to like work. Its such a great feeling to not dread Sunday nights turning into Monday mornings. I'm not overly excited to wake up early or lose my morning running/blogging routine -  but I don't mind being at work and thats big! I also hope I'm not speaking too soon about this.

 If you missed what it is that I've been doing, you can catch up here.

In a nutshell, I have a seasonal job working at a kayak rental place. Its right on the beach, the people that I work with are so much fun, the customers aren't bad either, and now that I somewhat know what I  am doing the busy times aren't so stressful they're actually fun. 

Things got way better on Friday when on my way to work I got an e-mail from my manager telling me what a great job I have been doing, how impressed she is with me and what an asset I am to the team. Things like that make you feel awesome inside and my already great attitude about the job got even better if it was possible at that point.

I've got some big changes around the corner, once again. If you've been around my blog for awhile you know that I've mentioned I am moving back to Michigan sometime at the end of the summer. Our lease is up at the end of July and July is when we have tentative plans to take action on that move. I'm in a tough position right now for a few reasons, one reason I mentioned last Wednesday. I'll be lost if I can't spend some time - even a couple days - at home this summer.

I haven't even really settled into my new job but I am already stressing about plans. I was happy to take a seasonal job over something I knew I would have to quit when I move. Seasonal equals not permanent and I won't feel bad leaving because the season will be over. Perfect right? Not exactly. 

July is in the middle of the busiest time of the season for kayak rentals. I feel like I can't just leave my job in the middle of the season. That decision became even harder once I received such great feedback about being such an asset at work. I could stay in California until after Labor Day and finish working so I don't feel like a bad person. If I do that, I'll miss out on any summer boating in Michigan.

I know what you may be thinking. There is always next summer for the boat. I don't think that way though. I know I can't live my life in "what if's" but if something were to happen to my dad between now and next summer, there is no more boat. The only reason I think like this is because I've seen too many of my friend's parents die unexpected lately.

Basically, over the next couple months, I have a very tough decision to make.
Do I leave work in the middle of the busiest time in order to move on with my life, or do I put my life off for a couple of months so I can be a good worker?

Meanwhile, these next five months are going to fly by. Leaving a place I love to be closer to the people I love is one of the hardest decisions I have to make. I love everything about California except for the fact my friends and family are over 2,000 miles away. There are so many things I will miss. But for now, I'll have to live these months in the moment and enjoy life!

Nail Fail

TGIF anyone else with me on that one? Its was my first full week of work and let me tell you, I am SO ready for a break! I actually have this weekend off but weekends off are going to be a rarity for me going forward. Sad face. I can't wait to get home to a giant deserving glass of wine!



Today I am linking up with My Vickilicious Life for my first time with The Nail Files.

Mint has been pretty big coming into the spring season and even though I am a blue person, I am really loving the mint. I saw this shade of Essie polish and I just had to have it for St. Patrick's Day.
I bought a bottle last weekend and have been too excited to wait until St. Patrick's Day to use it.
Now that I have it on my nails it reminds me of Easter. This is a great shade to use for not only St. Patrick's Day but any time of the spring or even summer seasons. 
I love the color but don't feel like I took great nail displaying pictures. I also did a crap rush job of applying the polish. Does anyone else think pictures of their hands look awkward? I also can't do the picture of holding the bottle correctly. Now that I've pointed out all of my flaws...

Happy Friday everyone!

Its OK Thursday!

I haven't linked up for Its OK Thursday's in awhile so I figured there is no better time than today!






Here's what I am saying Its OK to..

That sometimes I have no money but still let the urge to shop take control.

Instead of going for a run and eating a healthy breakfast on Monday morning, M and I walked to get a huge breakfast at the pier. QT is always ok and I had to work later in the day.

To feel like I was on vacation while eating mentioned breakfast while sitting on a deck overlooking the ocean. 

To find out one of my best friends is having a girl and be extremely excited for her and a teeny bit jealous.

To be nervous about the blog/work/life balance now that I have a job.

To be secretly hoping M might hide a ring in an Easter egg. High expectations lead to major disappointments.

To be super excited my mommy is coming in April and to secretly wish I lived alone for the week so she could stay with me instead of stay in a hotel.

To have anxiety about summer plans and wonder if my move date might change due to my job. I have a problem of living in the future...not sure if that's ok?

That I ate both a Cadbury Egg and Reeses Peanut Butter Egg in one sitting after deciding to give up chocolate for Lent.


What's OK with you?

Because I Can't Go Home This Summer

There's something thats been tearing me apart the last few days. Since I moved from Michigan almost six years ago, every year I've gone home at least twice. For Christmas and summer. Summer is super important to me and here's why...

I grew up on a river and lakes including the Great Lakes and this boat is a huge part of my life. Since leaving home, its been just as important to me as Christmas. 

I can't miss a summer spent on the boat. 

This year, my main plans were to go home over the 4th of July, only my favorite holiday growing up. After considering our lease was up at the end of July and knowing I am moving home, I decided that forfeiting the trip home for the 4th would be made up by catching a couple weeks around the boat at the end of the summer. 

Well now, I've been lucky enough to land a job. The only problem is, the job is seasonal. Now I'm not sure if I'll be leaving California as early as the end of July and if I don't, well I certainly won't get permission to leave a seasonal job for a long weekend in the middle of the summer. This may mean no boat this summer and it gives me a heavy chest. 

This week my pins are Nautical Inspired.

Source: monsieurfafa.tumblr.com via L on Pinterest

Source: bing.com via L on Pinterest

Source: vineetkaur.tumblr.com via L on Pinterest

Source: crushculdesac.tumblr.com via L on Pinterest

Source: nauticalsupplyshop.com via L on Pinterest

Source: nantucketyouth.tumblr.com via L on Pinterest

Source: piccsy.com via L on Pinterest

Source: wordsofsolace.tumblr.com via L on Pinterest

Source: warymeyers.com via L on Pinterest

Source: hollyschaeffer.tumblr.com via L on Pinterest

Source: anchorsfuckyeah.tumblr.com via L on Pinterest

There is nothing better than a Northern Michigan summer. Except for maybe being on a cruise.

Meet My Kitty

A lot of people/bloggers have fur babies that are dogs. My fur baby is my cat, Buttwheat. Yes, Buttwheat. I am way more of a cat person than I am a dog person.

My baby lives at home in Michigan with my parents. Although I love her to death, she loves my parents more than me.

She is like a child in our home and to some extent she replaced me as a daughter. She has so much character and I don't know what my parents would do without her. My baby isn't so much a baby anymore, she is something around 20 years old!

I can't wait until I settle down someday (soon) and can get my own little kitty that will live with me. I think when I move back to Michigan that will be the first thing on my agenda.

And now I leave you with some pictures of my fur baby!

She was playing with my iPhone. So intrigued. 

Where she hangs most of the time, in front of the fire. 

Little princess on my mom's bed.

Lake Tahoe - Part Two

When we went to Heavenly in Lake Tahoe in 2009 there was this cool little shack in the middle of the mountain called Snow Beach. It was a bright blue little bar, the perfect place for a Bloody Mary stop.

Snow Beach - Heavenly - Lake Tahoe 2009

This trip, I couldn't wait to get to Snow Beach and bask in the sun while drinking a Bloody Mary. Only problem was, Snow Beach was no more. Snow Beach has turned into Steins with an additional  umbrella bar.

The German in me loves a good beer and brat. While I have no problem with a place like Steins, I was missing my Snow Beach. There's nothing better than sitting in the sun on the side of a mountain listening to reggae and drinking a Bloody Mary. Oh silly me, besides being on a cruise ship that is. 

I still got my Bloody Mary while I relaxed in the sun. Thats all that matters.

******

Scattered around the mountain were photographers who will take your picture for free then post it to a site called Epic Mix. I thought this was great since it was just M and I, we weren't with anyone who could take our picture whenever I wanted. We stopped for pictures quite a few times and I must say we have some keepers.