Happy Monday Friends!

I don’t have a beautiful project to show you….it is awaiting photo editing and some cleaning up.

But, I do have vacation photos to share with you.

Mark and I took a quick trip to San Diego for a sanity break.  Let me state here, if you are married with children, I strongly believe it is MUST that you and your spouse get 24 hours alone at least every 6 months. I am not saying you hop an airplane, or go spend the night in a luxury hotel, but having 24 hours alone, uninterrupted, without kids, work, etc. is one of the best investments you can make in your marriage.  Farm your kids out to friends.  Trade with your friends for a sleepover and you can have a staycation in your home, child free.  If you haven’t taken time to be alone with your spouse in over a year, or years, then start planning today.   Mark and I have been married for over 19 years.  When we were first married, and for several years after, our budget was very tight.  However, we always strove to make sure there was time for us somewhere in our lives.  Sometimes we have been fortunate to getaway for a week.  Other times, we have just gone to San Francisco.  Once or twice, we have stayed home, while our children spent the night and a day at a friend’s home.  The result is always the same.  We feel refreshed, reconnected, and our love for another deepens.

Believe it or not, I have lived my entire life (with the exception of college out of state) living in the San Francisco Bay Area.  In all these years, I have NEVER been to San Diego.  We had a flight credit, and decided to cash it in.  Hotels.com found us a beautiful hotel in the historic Gas Lamp district of San Diego for a bargain.

We ate, we relaxed, we walked the city, and we felt like we were on a mini honeymoon again.  Here are some of the highlights from our quick getaway:

We loved this part of San Diego.  For years, this area was the Red Light District, but has undergone a major overhaul and has been restored to it’s original beauty.  Historic buildings now house restaurants, clubs and chic boutiques.  Perfect area for walking.

We had an AMAZING dinner at Searsucker restaurant.  It is a mix of Vintage Industrial and Modern in Decor.  Seafood and American Gourmet are on the menu.  The food was out of this world and we were moaning with delight over each course.  Of course I ordered the desert with Figs.  I am a Fig fanatic, and I happen to live in an area where they grow like gangbusters.  I even have a Fig Tree in my yard. Heaven on a plate:

We took the Ferry to Coronado Island.  It is cheap, cheap to get there.  Sunset magazine describe the Ferry Ride from downtown San Diego to Coronado island as “15 minutes of Prozac”.  I have to agree.  Gorgeous views, little wind, and everywhere you look, something interesting to look at.

At Coronado, we walked a few miles, exploring the island by foot to the other side, where the historic Hotel Del Coronado is.  Nothing about the hotel disappointed.  The views of the ocean, the exterior, the views.  All breathtaking.

We managed to get a rare photo of the two of us!

After Coronado, we ferried back to the mainland and took a drive up the coast to La Jolla.  La Jolla is like a little slice of the Mediterranean.  Beautiful Cliffs, Crystal Blue Water, buildings built on hills and cliffs, endless delicious things to eat.  It was heaven.

One thing I couldn’t get enough of.  The standard fare in San Diego are Fish Tacos.  If I lived there I would eat one every day.

I had them both grilled and fried.  Either way, my tastebuds went to Nirvana.

We were a little sad to say adieu to San Diego, but definitely plan on coming back.  Next time with kids!  There are endless activities there, and if you are outdoorsy kind of person, this is a paradise of vacation for you.

We came home refreshed, deeper in love, and ready to get back to the real world (I think…..)  Reality after a vacation is sometimes like getting into a cold bath.  Shocking at first, then you slowly get used to it….

Here is where we are headed next, this time with the whole family!

Tahoe in the summer!

Hope you all have a beautiful 4th of July.