First trip to Laughlin

My boyfriend took me on my very first to trip Laughlin ever. It was January and it was a bit cold and windy so we stayed inside mostly but over all it was a great trip. We meet up with Matt's older brother and wife and some long time friends.
My favorite photos would have to be from the car ride to Laughlin.




How can you not laugh when you see this. It popped up on my phone when I was trying to email something. Made me laugh and I had to take a screen shot of it to remember it. I think it was a van near us.




The view was amazing I didn't realize how wide open it was on the ride out.




My favorite photo of the sunset and I took it on my cell phone, I love how great my iPhone camera is for quick photos like this.




The first day Matt had a headache I think from lack of sleep, water and food so I went to get him some headache meds from the gift shop and this was on the counter.... Made me laugh since he wasn't hung over .... Yet. I didn't get him one but planned to send this photos as a gift to the guys in the pro shop back home. Thought it would would make them laugh too. If they weren't $5 a piece I would have picked up a few but $5 is a drink or a few hands of video poker so a picture was what I decided on.




We stayed at the river palms along the river walk and this was the view from our room pretty nice. It's a nice hotel and I would stay there again.




Matt decided we needed a nice dinner so we went to joes crab shack and he haaaad to have crab. This is his overjoyed smile when it arrived... He loved that they even put a bib on him so he could really enjoy it.




Then he decided we needed to order fancy drinks since it was vacation. So here's the shark bite, one of two fancy drinks Matt ordered for all of us.




Don't worry Matt took the time to enjoy both drinks as well as his great meal.




Matt was mildly celebrating because be thought this ticket was about to be a huge winner.... He picked all the right teams but not the " numbers" or "spread" or what ever it is. So sad to say no money won on this even though all the right teams were picked.




We did see a fun paddle boat going down the river from our window. Fun little photo of the boat very slowing paddling by.




Have no fear I was a big winner! $100.00 isn't that much but it was towards the end of the trip and I put my last $5 for gambling money in and turned it into $100. Let's just say I was overjoyed and the fact that I was able to play on the $5 for hours and still walk away with $100. It was a great win to me.




On the drive back Matt drive me right past the Hoover Dam so
I could see it, my first time seeing the Hoover Dam even if it was just to get cheaper gas. Nice "scenic" stop on the way home and only a few minutes out of the way.




The weather on the drive back was nothing like the drive out. It was freezing cold, windy, raining and tons of fog. At certain points I was sure we would have to pull off and just wait but we slowly made it thought and just in time to pick Sydney up from school. I had a blast and can't wait to go back hopefully sooner than later and hopefully we all will win big next time.
💚 Christa

Love What You Do and You Will Never Have To Work a Day In Your Life...

I want to share with you what I love about my job
and what reminds me I have a pretty great job.
Menifee Lakes Country Club invites you to attend our Bridal Showcase Saturday, February 25, 2012 10am-3pm

Come join us for a day of wedding planning. Meet our preferred vendors for all your wedding days needs from photobooths to Invitations and Honeymoon planning. Enjoy wedding day hairstyles and makeup from Bellezza Salon featured in the Fashion show with amazing dresses from Sky Couture Custom Gowns and Tuxedos from VIP Events. Drop by to receive a full tour of our location and sample food and beverages. Call or email to sign up. Thank you for considering Menifee Lakes Country Club for your wedding and Reception needs. We look forward to meeting with you.    Christa &  Christina

Click here to sign up for the Bridal Showcase. I am lucky enough to plan weddings and be a part of an amazing bridal Showcase we host at my work. It is like planning a giant party with all your closest friends, that just happen to be local vendors. What could be better. So this is where I invite all my other friends to come share in the fun. It is free to attend so if you or someone you know is planning a wedding come join us for a fun filled day of wedding planning. Fashion show and give away, plus the free Bride bag. Hope to see you all there! Christa

The big Three-O

So it's official I turned the big 3-0 this year. It was actually a pretty nice day.





We started the day with Starbucks coffee {free bday coffee later} and birthday cake pops. What better way to start the day.





Sydney enjoyed her cake pop and hot chocolate.





There were flowers and balloons waiting for me in my office when I arrived at work. A big bouquet of balloons from my coworker Christina and fun yellow flowers and a big bouquet of balloons and more flowers from Matt.




Matt surprised me with a nice hotel room and even had more flowers and strawberries and champagne waiting for me. We went out for dinner and drinks. I was really looking forward to having a drink and here's fancy drink number one.



Special drink number two and look it looks like a C right on top for Christa!




Close up of my fruity C drink.




So many drinks sooooo little time.




Birthday dessert. Love it




Matt and I with the amazing dessert. We headed off to down town Temecula after dessert for more drinks and it was a great night all around.




Hoping the rest of the year is just as amazing as my 30th birthday was!

Christa

NYE 2011

So 2011 was filled with lots of ups, downs and in betweens. I think we enjoyed the last day perfectly. I had the day off so it was a mommy daughter fun day.




Sydney and I got ready for an early dinner with my mom at one of Sydney's favorite restaurants mimi's cafe. We took a few photos while waiting for nana to pick us up.




My favorite photo and how I feel most of the time a little overwhelmed but loved.




After dinner we had a relaxing evening in watching our first 3d movie together. It was pretty great and nice we were in our own living room on our own couch with plenty of treats.




No movie is complete without popcorn so we had popcorn to order.... Nacho cheese, Kettle corn and plain with light butter.

We moved to the big stuff after that the bubbly drinks.



As you can see plain champagne won't do for me do we made fancy sugar rimmed NYE drinks.





It may have been a little more to entertain Sydney and keep her from asking is it time yet? But it was fun and took up just enough time. Sydney was just a good helper and loved doing it herself.




Getting our three drinks all ready for the ball to drop. I'll make two notes Sydney's special sparkly drink was actually 7up. Just as bubbly and just as fun as the real "bubbly." Second we celebrated east coast time for new years eve and had our celebration at 9pm California time but midnight New York time. Great idea when you have to get up the next morning or you want to have a few free hours after the celebrating. Sydney was in bed asleep by 9:30. So I think this may become a tradition, family NYE east coast time then mommy time to celebrate how ever I like.


Sydney really, really, really wanted this sparkly shirt for NYE so of course I got it for her. It was a bit scratchy because of all the sparkles and it only lasted about 20 minutes. It did make it in most of the photos though. We let her use all 4 party poppers at "mid night." She is all ready to pop the first one.


My champagne, a little popcorn, a few party blowers and cupcakes with fun NYE and 2012 decorations made for a great NYE.


Sydney not exactly wanting to pose for a photo after the ball drop.



It was a simple and fun no stress kinda evening a perfect way to end the year.




💚 Christa

Slip n slide all by herself

So one nice warm afternoon not too long ago ( late November maybe even December) Sydney decided she wanted to get out her slip n slide. I told her it wasn't that warm and maybe she should wait. Well my little determined kiddo went for it herself. Next thing I know she is dressed in her swimsuit and struggling to untangle the slip n slide all by her self.






She finally got it all set up and I turned the hose on just right for her. Her victory slide, she was so excited.


She was so tired after setting it up she stood and watched the water for a good 5 minutes before attempting her 2nd and 3rd slide. Then stood just like this and decided " that's good, I'm done." Adorable to see her so determined and to figure it out all on her own, then after almost a half hour of struggling setting it up 2 minutes of sliding on it was enough. She wasn't as pleased to take it down. She pulled it off the grass and folded it over and said "there" and walked away. She was cold and wet so I let her get away with it but that means mommy gets to put it where she wants .... In a secret hiding spot till summer. It's still in the high 70s some days here in Cali but I think this will be the last slide till at least April or May.

- Christa

It's starting to look a lot like Christmas

Time really flew by this year and Christmas was gone in the blink of an eye. Here is a collection of photos I took capturing the fun of Christmas and decorating.



A few twinkle lights added to Sydney's new big bed.



Sydney was so excited when we finally hung Christmas lights. With so much going on this year I opted for a few strands of amazing solar powered lights around the garage and a strand of white lights in each of the windows in the front of the house. Let me just say it was great not having to worry about extension cords or shorting lights out when connecting too many stands. Solar powered lights is sooooo the way to go trust me.



This by far would have to be my favorite photo, I took it by chance and it makes me smile every time I see it. I went to check on Sydney and see if she was getting ready for bed and found her snuggled in bed doing math. I love it! She was using her math post-it notes I bought her at the dollar store, and it was clearly a great purchase.



I snuck another photo when I got her to go brush her teeth for bed. She stuck each post-it note on the bed, wall and shelf. Priceless!



We made out first ever gingerbread house this year. Sydney had a blast and was so cute picking out just the right candy and placement for each.



Auntie Cara helped with quality control of the candy and documenting the whole thing.



Here is the finished gingerbread house with the adorable gingerbread man cookie I got from my coworker.



Here is another gingerbread shot. My cute gingerbread mug I got from my coworker.



The stockings were hung and all the gifts were in place all ready for Christmas morning.



Sydney opening her gifts on Christmas morning. She loved all of her gifts this year but the huge doll house would have to be a favorite and has been played with everyday. Well worth the hours of planning, building and sneaking it in and out of the house.



Sydney had to start playing with it and redecorating it immediately. It was adorable.



Sydney showing off her new fairy tink collection. She loved opening all her presents.



A group shot of me, Sydney, Auntie Tarah, Auntie Cara and Max on Christmas morning. It may have been the only group shot we took the whole week. Don't we look adorable in our matching jammies and Auntie Cara and Sydney's matching jammie pants.



Here's a cute touched up photo from Auntie Tarah.



Here is Sydney showing off her brand new iPod touch from Auntie Tarah. It was a whirlwind of a holiday but seeing the look on Sydney's face made it all worth it. �� Christa