Glen Ivy Hot Springs

Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness! Sunday was one of the most relaxing day of my life. My friend brought me to the spa. Believe it or not, I've never been to a spa. Which I now realize is one of the biggest mistakes I've made in life :)  I plan to make up for all the lost opportunity! I've got my return visit booked at Glen Ivy Hot Springs in a few weeks. This time I making it a date with my husband. 

Everything about Glen Ivy is wonderful. Lots of heated pools. Shaded property. Lounge chairs. People bringing drinks poolside. Mineral baths. No children. For all you mommas, teachers, and caregivers out there, think nap time multiplied by 100 kind of quiet. I can only ask myself why have I not been doing this self-care thing regularly? After all the spoiling I had Sunday, I know the necessity!

At this particular spa there was a mineral bath which is suppose to be great for you in some way. The thing is it smells like rotten hard boiled eggs. Not the most pleasant or the first thing you want to consider doing to relax. But it really did feel so relaxing. And you get over the smell..mostly.

This was one of the saline tubs. A gigantic tub with epsom salt.

Club Mud. The best thing about Glen Ivy Hot Springs in my opinion. Check inhibitions at the door! It's like being a three year old again and throwing caution to the wind. Club Mud is all about covering your self head to toe in mud then baking yourself until you are a crusty shell. I loved every minute and this is why I'm headed back. Well, that, and the floating bean bag chairs… and the fresh squeezed blood orange mimosas. Ok, and maybe the no kid thing.  

Tell me readers, are you a spa lover? Please share all you know! I'm just learning the ropes.

West Coast, Best Coast

"They" say the west coast is the best coast. The Pacific Ocean is better than the Atlantic. I'm not sure who "they" are but I really do like our ocean. As the days fall away on our departure calendar, our military family is trying to get in as much beach time as possible. Just in case, "they" know what they are talking about! 

Shoreline Beach area, Santa Barbara, California. 

February 14, 2016

Potato Chip Rock Hiking

Potato Chip Rock seems like the most popular hike in San Diego County. Everyone talks about it. Posts pictures about it. All the hype really made me curious to see Potato Chip Rock for myself.

That flat sliver of a rock is Potato Chip Rock. 6 mile roundtrip for that. I thought I might understand after seeing firsthand but not so much.

The views are pretty cool. Mountains, oceans, lakes. Not bad. 

The incline is killer on the flexors. One of the most challenging climbs we've done.

Lots of little paths to climb off the main trail. Always a big hit with the kids.

The beginning of the hike when everyone is still smiling.

The higher you get the bigger the rocks.

Which is fine by this kid!

There are a couple well hidden secrets. First, nobody tells you about the multiple cell phone towers at the top. It's not very serene...at all. The towers kind of ruined it for us. And the line of 50 people waiting to take their picture on the rock sliver. And that the trail is really just a utility road for the cell tower people. Not really a nature hike by any means :(

Blueberry picking at Temecula Berry Co.

Spring is one of the best times to be living in Southern California. The weather is warm but not hot. Everything is green. The sky is the best shade of blue. Everything is in bloom including blueberries. And you know, we Midwesterners, love a good harvest! You can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of the girl! I finally convinced my husband to go to Temecula Berry Company with me. Ok, so I really just kept bringing it up over and over again till he caved. Same thing really.

I've found if I just announce "family fun day" nobody feels they can argue with me. It's my default when I hit resistance ;) Eventually the kids cave and agree it's fun ;) I use it sparingly! I don't want it to lose effectiveness.

There could be worse things than having to spend time together picking blueberries.  Really, it's blueberries. The family does look like they are having fun...or mocking me. Ok, the teenager is definitely mocking me! 

Oceanside Pier

Some places never get old! Oceanside Pier is one of those places. We've lived here nearly 13 cumulative years and Oceanside Pier is our tried and true. My mother in law is here visiting and she has done the pier walk as many years as my husband has been stationed in SoCal. And we are going to keep taking her as long as we live here ;)

Oceanside is a bit seedy, let's not fool ourselves, but there is something endearing about an old wooden pier that withstands the test of time.

Big Bear Lake Adventures

When you grow up with snow in winter, then Christmas will never be right without it! My husband struggles with the sunny and 75 Christmases more than I do. In fact, he declared next year we will go somewhere with snow for Christmas. I hope he changes his mind before then! Playing in the snow at Big Bear reminded me of how cold snow is. Or how cold it has to be for snow to be on the ground. I think I like the idea of snow...from a warm house, with a good book, and hot chocolate.

#notafan 

But you know who is a fan...

#bestdayever

We went to hike but snow play overruled.

Snowball fight?!? He is so mean to me.

And sledding! I think we managed all the snow fun you can have. 

Minus snowman building.

Here are a few pictures I couldn't quite fit in.

Many of my favorite views are from the top. They always put things into perspective.

Sandia Creek Trail Hike

Our latest hike-from Fallbrook-Sandia Creek Trail. Fallbrook isn't the most interesting place to hike but it's local and there are many scenery options. Sandia Creek had a lot of water which is always nice to stumble upon on a hike. I'll let the pictures do the talking.