We're goin' to DISNEYLAND!!!

I'm pretty sure I'm actually five years old. I love all things Disneyland and so when some friends wanted to go, I of course jumped at the chance. I actually jumped so high I flew into some other orbit because I didn't just go for the day, I bought the annual pass (lemme know if anyone wants to go to Disney, I'd be more than happy to join haha).

So a group of 6 of us went to Disneyland and we had a blast! We started bright and early, getting to the park at 9:30 (it opened at 9) and we left around 11 (closing time was 12). It was a long day but it was the beginning of the holiday festivities! If you have never experienced Disney Christmas, it's truly a completely different kind of magical!

The desert versus the western coastline

I'm an Arizona baby, through and through. I love the desert rain, summer sunsets, and the saguaro  cactus in the background of my surroundings. I grew up hiking the trails of the Superstition mountains and Sabino Canyon. So when I found myself back in Phoenix for class, and stranded due to car troubles for 10 days, I made sure I took a trip out into the desert for a little soul TLC.

As much as I love my desert home, I have always been quite partial to Southern California and the beaches when I needed an escape. It's a 5 hour drive or an hour long flight to find yourself kissing the pacific ocean from my home. Family vacations were often spent in Newport, Balboa, or Huntington beaches and I've escaped to Venice and Santa Monica countless times with friends. So now that I find myself living a mere 12 miles from the coast, and worked less than a mile from the PCH, I'm blessed to make much quicker excursions.

Tuesday was such a clear day that I could see the waves of the Pacific from the fourth floor conference room as we sat in a phone conference. I decided that I needed to be down in the sand after work so I made a detour west, instead of heading home inland in KTown. 

Wednesday was another coastal adventure a little bit further south. Travis and I ventured down to University of California San Diego for their Graduate school fair as representatives of the School of Public Affairs. After a four hour fair and some interesting interactions with some students, we packed up to leave. It was forecasted to be a rainy day, something strange for those living in SoCal. As Travis put the boxes into the car the rain had started. Regardless, we headed to the cove for some salt air. 

Whether I am by the waters edge or next to a 300 year old saguaro, I am so happily at peace that it makes it hard to declare a favorite. I am so excited that I have the ability to be in one place one day and the other the next. True blessings to be thankful for!

A little bit of Los Angles. Or a lot, whichever.

Santa Monica just off of Ocean Avenue (And there is Travis!)

Today marks one month since I moved to Los Angeles. It's been an exciting adventure with ups and downs, but certainly more ups! I'd love to share some of my adventures.

This is a straight walk down from the ASU office in Santa Monica. 7 blocks, across the PCH, down a couple hundred steps, and across a quarter mile walk of sand you get the Pacific Ocean! 

Since I've been here I went to a Dodgers game (another is coming up this week against the DBacks, I'll be there in my red in the sea of Dodgers blue), the beach, Hollywood, Downtown, all over! But this week has been nothing short of fabulous!

Thursday nights Santa Monica pier has had a summer twilight concert series. My friend and I decided to check it out and it was a gorgeous night with a beautiful sunset off the coast.

Friday night a friend took me downtown to experience some of the absolute best gems of Los Angeles. Dinner at the Water Grill, exploring the Biltmore Hotel (where they were filming, because apparently they are always filming some movie at the Biltmore, of course), and sitting and taking in the most amazing lakes and fountains in the middle of the mountains of skyscrapers. Growing up on the edge of town in Mesa, AZ it has definitely been a little strange to look up and not see the stars. But in the heart of Los Angeles, in the midst of all of these amazing towering buidlings, you could look up and see a few sparkles. (Just a few, not nearly as many as I would like, but I'm a realist too.)

Now Saturday was spent in true Los Angeles fashion. I relaxed until 11 when my best friend and I took  my dog to Griffith Park for a hike (in a heat warning, 94 degrees, oh my!).

Followed by the USC tailgate.

Even at USC I still represent ASU! 

I'm excited for all of the upcoming opportunities that this is going to undeniably bring for my future career and all of the memories I will get to make along the way!