The Brazilian Invasion (Wednesday Files)

Beans are on the stove cooking right now.  The smell is good... very good.  And it always makes me feel a little more in touch with the Brazilian side of our life.  Because when beans come, so does the rice, the salada, the Portuguese.

I was just scrolling through some pictures from this summer... not the ones from my crazy 24 day whirlwind on the East Coast, but from the other whirlwind that came through: The Brazilian Invasion.

Not only did we have seven people live with us this summer for a whole month (people as in family and friends), but we embarked on a ten-day road trip with them all.  Two cars, fifteen hundred miles, plenty of pit stops.  Pismo Beach, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles... with a visit to Mickey in there, of course.  Too bad I forgot my camera that day.

Venice Beach is always interesting, and this time proved to be no different.

Hollywood?  The stars are still there in the sidewalk, right where I left them last time I visited.  But San Diego?  San Diego always impresses me.

Of course, our favorite moments were not caught on film.  Unexpected street fairs.  Finding ice cream in unlikely places, like the Los Angeles Union Station.  A good game of soccer in the middle of a parking lot while we wait for traffic to subside...

But some great things were captured.  Like this shot.  I guess this shows how kids really feel about Las Vegas ;)

Apparently, though, it wasn't all bad, as we can see below.  And the car ride?  Not so bad either.  Lots of singing, plenty of jokes, some napping... not a single DVD or iPad in sight.  For hours upon hours.  Because when the Brazilians invade, they make the most of it.  And I am grateful to have been along for the ride.

(A 'Wednesday Files' post)

All in a day's drive... {The Wednesday Files}

 

Man, I love my state.

Happy Wednesday, Friends!

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The Wednesday Files

I cannot believe it is Wednesday already.  By the amount of posts (1) and the type of food (easy) that I shared, you can guess how things have been going...

A few thoughts/tidbits for your Wednesday:

1. Spring is here!  Not that I, living in California, have any right to complain, I know... but still!  SPRING IS HERE!

2. Speaking of being Californian, I would like to prove to you that we have snow.  We do!  Sure, we drive to it and then leave it behind, but snow can be found in many places in this great state.  Proof:

(Have I ever mentioned how difficult it is to take a normal picture with my husband? He is the king of goofing off, especially when the camera comes out.)

3. Yosemite.  It's my favorite place to see said snow.

4. In totally un-snow-related news, I tricked all of my students into eating a large, healthy salad.  How?  I taught them how to make salad dressing for a Science experiment.  Then they needed the greens to enjoy it.  Sneaky sneaky teacher ;)  (And guess what?  Most kids like it.  Who says kids won't eat their veggies?)

5. Girl Scout Cookies.  I don't think they will ever go out of style.

Help add to the list by sharing a random tidbit that is floating through YOUR mind this Wednesday :)

California in January {Wednesday Files}

Santa Barbara, California, in the middle of January

As I was wondering what to write for this week's Wednesday Thursday Files, I saw a friend's Facebook post.  It reads:

I have all my big windows open on this beautiful afternoon. It feels like the ocean is inside my house. California, I'm so glad I married you.

Amen, Melanee.  Amen.

Happy not-Wednesday, Friends!

Nothing Comes Close to the Golden Coast

You have probably noticed a serious lack of cooking going on here.  I have said it before, and I will say it again -- I am too busy living this summer to be cooking.  Which on one hand makes me very, very sad.  Because I love cooking.  But on the other hand? 

Well, when you have views like these you have no desire to be in the kitchen!



Ventura Wharf



The Courthouse in Santa Barbara

We took some time out of our already jam-packed summer schedule to squeeze in a road trip, just the two of us.  No convention to sit through, no bridesmaid dress to pack.  Just us, the open road, and a cooler full of food.

Our first stop was Ventura, a town on the coast about an hour (or so) north of Hollywood.  We walked and enjoyed the palm-lined paths next to the ocean, he enjoyed some surfing, and I enjoyed my chips and book. 

Next stop?  Santa Barbara.

This has always been, hands down, one of my favorite California cities.  It has beautiful Spanish architecture and a nice sea breeze mixed with good eats and great shopping.  If you want a romantic get-away, this is the place to go.



A door full of engravings of California's founders, along with some Catholic saints.  California was officially established (other than the Native Americans already here, of course) by Catholic missionaries.



The Mural Room



Lighting inside the courthouse



Spiral stairs.



Outside the courthouse, which is free to visit and you can wander around freely



State Street, Santa Barbara's famous downtown area



A little alley way off of State Street



Sunset over the city, view from the pier

The next day found us running around on the Pismo Dunes.  We didn't get a buggy or anything, but we still had a lot of fun.

And finally, we spent a day at a lake, soaking up the sun and wakeboarding.



The peaceful drive out there



Ahh... life at its best.

 What a PERFECT getaway.  We didn't go very far, but we had a blast.  Sometimes what you need is right in your own backyard.

And now I leave you to head to the kitchen.  Brownies?  Yum.  S'mores?  Yum again.  Let's see what happens when those two ideas are combined!


(A 'Wednesday Files' Post)

Thanksgiving Without Scarves -- Oceanside, CA (Wordless Post)