I heart adventure: My own backyard

I love going on adventures. . . Especially when they include streets to wander, beautiful old buildings, delicious food (bonus points if there’s a coffee shop!) and some sort of culture.  It’s why I love spending the day wandering around the streets of San Francisco. . . Over and over again.  It’s why a visit to our favorite beach town just brings out the best of me. 

It is so easy to think of adventures as a vacation (my dream!), but sometimes I need to just get out and wander and the schedule AND the budget scream otherwise.  And as unexciting as it often sounds, at the end of the day my cup is full and my heart is happy.  Even if, it was a post excused from jury duty walk to the famous water tower that rests near the court house and a yummy lunch.  It filled a longing in my heart.  

I live in the very center of California, an easy drive to mountains or beach and surrounded by acres and acres of vast farmland.  It is one of the largest (populations) in our state and honestly, we have more people than some states have people (not a joke!).  It is a city that honestly feels like a small town in many ways yet, filled with so much culture and diversity and some seriously delicious tacos.  

But despite its huge population and small town feel, it has some pretty brag worthy sites.  The Forestiere Underground Gardens and the Chaffee Zoo are 100 percent worth your time!  And in the spring, the nearby blossoms of the stone fruit and nut trees are a sight to see! There are also some great museums, like the Fresno Art Museum, the Meux Home, Discovery Center (definitely a place to take your kiddos!), Armenian Heritage Museum, African American Museum and the Kearney Mansion.  I am sure I missed some, too! 

Last Fall, I was seriously craving an adventure, but we were knee deep into the school year and soccer season and Christmas was quickly approaching.  Jon and I needed to go downtown and get some tickets for Ethan’s Christmas present (we really wanted to avoid those hefty Ticketmaster fees!), and decided to try a new to us coffee shop downtown and spend some time wandering around.  This was a mini adventure/check a Christmas present off the list/while the kids were at school kind of day.  The weather was perfection and we were ready.

First Stop: Fulton Street Coffee

We found a parking spot close to the coffee shop and walked in and placed our order at the counter.  The baristas were so nice and welcoming.  The coffee shop itself is in an old (beautiful building) near Warnor’s Theater on Tuolumne.  Not only do they roast their own coffee, but they also make their own house syrups.  I had the Sweet Cinnamon Oat Latte and it was wonderful!  It was nice to sit and chat with Jon over coffee after the busy week and before the busy weekend.  

Next Stop: Walk Fulton Street

Fulton Street is one of the coolest streets with beautiful sculptures, murals and some delicious restaurants and breweries along the way. If you are in the need for a quincenera dress this is the place to go!  It is a street full of culture and diversity.  One of my favorite artists is Pierre-Augusta Renoir.  He is often most remembered for painting ballerinas during the impressionalist era.  Many people don’t realize that after he started showing symptoms of arthritis, it became very heard to hold a paint brush, so he switched to sculpting (a creator’s got to create!) and when you stumble upon one, they are beautiful.  And stumble upon one you will if you want Fulton Street with quiet intention of admiring the sculptures that line the street.  You can also find an Alexander Caulder a few blocks away outside the Saroyan Theater.  (Caulder is my absolute favorite sculpture and I tend to collect pictures of them from the cities I’ve visited. . . Like the the giant orange one in Sculpture Park, Seattle or the Swan in Chicago near ____ tower). 

Lunch: Cosmopolitan Tavern

This restaurant was the place to be!  I’m pretty sure we were lucky to find a seat at a table, because this place was packed (always a good sign)!  While to location we ate in was fairly new, the restaurant itself has been a staple to Fresno since 1904 and even still houses the original bar from the original location.  The food here was amazing and I can’t wait to eat there again! 

And that was the end our our downtown adventure date.  There were many other things we could have done, but wandering is my favorite.  Finding a random Renoir on a street corner a joy.  Enjoying the adventure with my husband. . . Priceless. 

 Do you take time to explore your own town?  What’s your favorite place to explore? And finally, where should we explore next?

A bit of encouragment

  Proverbs 31 has always occupied a spot in my heart as one of my favorite chapters in the Bible.  Something about the woman who occupies the space in those scriptures captivates me.  She is a woman who somehow does it all.  She wears hats of all sizes and shapes as she runs a household, business and still manages so many other things. 

There are so many theories on whether she was a real woman (possibly Solomon’s mom, Bathsheba) or if she is just a compilation of some pretty great characteristics of a Godly woman.  Whether of not take on her you take, those characteristics mentioned in that chapter are life changing and encouraging, because no matter who you are: single, married, mom, grandma, aunt… . . You are a woman of God and worthy of being praised.  Your worth is more than rubies.  You have value even though you are tired and weary (I sure am tired!)

On Mondays, I find myself at a nearby Starbucks sipping my favorite Brown Sugar Shaken Oat milk Espresso drink and taking time to work on my Bible Study and some writing  before heading out to do some grocery shopping.  It is a way to start my week slow and set it up focused on God.  It is away from the laundry and endless to-do list.  It has become a sweet time. My calendar for the next month or so is a bit overwhelming and quite honestly this season in my life has me on my toes.  We have some big things coming up soon and I am seriously wondering how God is going to pull them off. My list of ways God has blown my mind over the years is incredible.  But the thing I keep coming back to as I wait on God to do his thing is the following verse from that same passage:

“She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future.” Proverbs 31:25

Living without fear of the future is waking up each morning armed with a battle of the mind.  It is saying my trust in God is greater than my fears and anxieties (hard, I know!).  It is recognizing that our Savior is our source of Peace and saying no to all the "what ifs" that sneak in and send our hearts beating quicker.

This is my verse for the year.  It is my prayer.  I want to be a woman who laughs at the future, not because I am ill prepared, but because I am trusting in my Heavenly Father to open the doors and answer our prayers.  And in my experience, when I release my fears and anxieties to him, he answers in abundance.  I will be obedient and take the steps that might be the answer (but also might not be either), but I will wait on him.  I will trust him even when every door seems to slam in my face. . . I know God’s got it because he hasn’t failed us yet .

Maybe you’re tired and running on empty, I just want to encourage you today that the God of the Bible is a God that renews and refreshes your heart.  He is a God that loves and cares for his children.  He is ours source of strength and joy.  He wants the best for us and when we submit to Him and His plan, I promise you, he will blow your mind, too! 

 

Weston's Skateboard Birthday Party

 

Welp, our youngest went and did it!  He turned 12! Please excuse me while I just take a moment and cry my eyes out. Okay, maybe I'm kidding.  While I completely miss the little kid phase, this tween and teen phase is really fun!  It really does fly by in a blink! 

This year, Weston has decided that he's really into skateboards and started learning how to skate just after Christmas.  It has been really fun to watch him learn a new skill and in the process hook both Jon and Ethan in the adventure too! 

I'll be honest, planning fun themes for big kids is REALLY, REALLY hard.  So, I jumped on the Skateboard theme.  This year's party was mostly family and friends that are like family and so I didn't plan any activities and prayed the rain would hold off so we could set up yard games.  It ended up being really wet (hello unusual California storms) and so we just had the ping pong table set up in the garage.  The cousins had plenty to do!  

For this party we decided to take advantage of the iconic Vans brand checker print and accent it with some fun colors and tech deck ramps.  I made the artwork using some clip art I found on Etsy (I'll link it at the bottom).  We filled the table with some of Weston's favorite foods, like churros, chips, and cupcakes and also added some fun snacks like goat cheese and a simple, small charcuterie. I don't think anyone left hungry! 

I found some fun streamers from Target that we thumb tacked to the ceiling and added some checkerboard bunting to the hutch behind the table.  It popped and I loved it!

 The tech deck ramps stayed on the table for about 5 minutes before the boys moved them to the floor to play with.  It worked for decor and also for entertainment! They were a big hit!  We also bought tech decks for favors, so all the kids went home with their own fingerboard.  

This party was a blast!  It's so much fun to celebrate this kid!  And yes, I am in shock that he's 12, but behind the shock is just amazement at what this kid brings to our family and to the world.  He is full of joy, loves to help, and you just can't help smile when he's around! 

 

Wanna throw your own party?  Here are some links:

:: skateboard clip art 

:: paper goods

:: Tech Deck boards 

:: ramps

:: Weston's shirt (It was in his Stitch Fix box that came the day before his birthday!   Perfect timing!)

 

I {heart} adventure. . . even if it's local! [part 1]

 I used to want to live in the Pacific Northwest and enjoy the large amounts of rain.  It just sounded perfect.  I’ve been rethinking that dream so much lately because we have just had sooooo much rain here and I am kind of done with it.  Apparently, I need my daily dose of Vitamin D more than I thought I did! 

 So, while we are waiting out flash flood warnings and heavy rainfall (again) and dream of our next great adventure!  In the meantime, let’s talk about feeding that need for adventure when the budget is screaming “STAY HOME!”  Going on trips, whether spontaneous or not, take money.  Some more than others, but food, lodging, and transportation all add up.  And let’s be real. . . Our desire for an adventure doesn’t always line up with what our budget does (insert sad face here).

 But, what if I told you that with a little bit of a budget. . . And I am talking about less than $100 you could have an adventure in your own hometown. . . Or even a nearby town! There are so many things to do around us that often get forgotten and overlooked because we’d rather go someplace else, when in reality you can fill that ache a little bit by spending the day in your own town doing things that you don’t normally do.  Say goodbye Starbucks and Target runs and bring up your favorite map app and get to planning and then get out there!  Find a friend or make it a family affair.  The key is to find something new and have fun!

Here are my tips for finding adventure in your own hometown:

1.        Start your day with coffee.  Find a hole in the wall or local place you’ve always wanted to try, but it’s way out of the way.  Go there.  Buy your favorite drink and sit and savor.  No need to rush. . . It’s vacation. 

2.        Decide what you want to do.  Research art galleries, museums, trails, theaters and make your plan.  We often find ourselves looking for used book stores and record stores. Maybe you want to check out that antique store that you drive by on the way to work.  Add that to your list.  Maybe there’s a local sporting event that you’ve wanted to check out. 

3.        Decide where you want to eat lunch and dinner.  Try new places.  Don’t go to your usual. Check out the yelp reviews because you don’t want to find out everyone gets food poisoning after eating it!  Try to eat at local spots. . . It makes it more fun!  You might find a new favorite spot!  Spring for dessert at the local ice cream shop or try drinks at that local brewery that you’ve always wanted to do. 

4.       Have fun!

 As you make your list and plan your day, you might find that there are way too many things to do in one day.  Now you can plan multiple “trips” with a small budget and if you feel like splurging a little find a cute boutique hotel to stay in to make it feel like you are tourists in your own town!    

I promise it is worth it to take the time go on an adventure in your own city.   

Stay tuned for part two about my hometown. 

Sparks of Joy and a quick catch up!

 I love a foggy day where I can stay at home and cozy up with the fire and a hot cup of coffee.  We are on vacation this week and Monday we woke up to the most beautiful layer of fog!  So glad we didn’t have to drive in it, but we did get to enjoy it to get some work done.  Since there hasn’t been a ton of stuff on the blog front lately (life got incredibly busy), let’s do a quick update. 

Christmas came and went with lots of family gatherings, food, and so.many.cookies!  My parents even made it out despite some crazy weather in Wyoming and in California. 

I went dessert crazy for a friend’s baby shower and they turned out so cute! (Still working on quilting the baby quilt.. . Hopefully next week!)

Weston turned 12 and we threw a party with family.  He got his first skateboard for Christmas and to say he is obsessed is an understatement!  So we went with what he loves and it turned out so cute! All the details and some free printables will be available soon!

In honor of Valentines Day, I posted these free printables and all the details for the cutest (candy-free) Valentine for those classroom exchanges.  I also have a bunch more over here.

For local friends who want to join me on a journey through the Bible this Spring, I am starting a new study at Bridge Church Fresno if you want to join me!  Here’s the deets.

And now for some things that have sparked some joy in my heart and mind. 

 :: Jon got me this devotional for Christmas and I am loving it!  The fact that there are recipes every week is a HUGE plus!  Scripture and Baking?  Yes, please!

:: Amanda, over at @graccieone, had been posting the cutest mini quilt Monday blocks each week and I’ve been a slacker—errr busy and need to finish the current quilt before I play catch up! If you want to learn how to make a block or even grow as a quilter. . . I highly recommend this community. . . They are so encouraging!

:: Kevin’s came out with this pasta al vodka meal and Jon and I ate it last night for dinner.  It was so good and the cauliflower pasta was amazing! 

:: We are loving the National Treasure series on Disney Plus and seriously, Salazar!!!???  Please tell me you are watching, too!

:: Susannah B. Lewis’s new book came out this week and I can’t wait to read it! We read Bless Your Heart, Rae Sutton last summer for book club and it was the perfect chick lit book to get our summer going!

:: I need to make this soon!

:: This is the cutest quilt. . . and the colors!  Totally swooning!!

:: These sheet pan dinners look so much fun!  I think this will be on the menu soon!

 

I hope and pray you are finding things to delight in this week!  Between a cold foggy morning, spring-like afternoons and snow capped mountains to our East and beautiful food, fun shows, and so many other things that make my heart just so happy.  Please share something that made your heart happy or maybe a link so something I should try out and blog about.  Anything you want to see here in this space?  Let me know.

And finally, thank you for being here!