Not Another Resolution

2013 was a pretty good year. I've kept great friends, made new friends, enjoyed time with my family, got a promotion, went back to school, and started this blog..... I'm a firm believer in challenging yourself throughout life so I'm not going to talk about what I won't do but what I'd like to do. (This is in no particular order)

1. Visit a state I've never been to before. Arizona and Nevada don't count, I'm thinking Illinois (Chicago) or Massachusetts (Boston) but may need to set my sights a bit closer.
2. Dance on country night at Borderline. I know everyone went there when they turned 18 but I missed out and need to get my Boot Scootin Boogie on.
3. Take a dance class. I miss dancing!! Sea World Champs 2009!
4. Ride a horse
5. Camp on the Channel Islands. Not Catalina. My dad and I keep talking about a few days of real camping on either Santa Barbara or Santa Cruz. 
6. Rent a paddle board
7. Take a picture with a celebrity. I've lived in SoCal my entire life but have only met one C list celebrity - this seems almost impossible and my luck needs to change. 
8. Go to a Kings Game. No explanation needed.
9. Make my first investment. I study it, I read about it, time to take the plunge.
10. 12 + posts throughout 2014.

And some of my favorite 2013 memories: 

Family:

 

New Friends:

Old Friends:

It's All About LIFE Life

Finally, it's really summer!- yes, I know I'm a bit late but here in Ventura, July marks the beginning of summer. May grey and June gloom have passed and finally, we should see some sun!
I've been a lazy blogger the past couple weeks, I've had one of those out of control months. I got a promotion (which is great but the cause of a couple of 60 hour work weeks so I had absolutely NO creative juices outside of work). Then I turned twenty five and went through a week long quarter century life crisis. AND I started school (over the summer was not one of my best decisions but I get to be in Santa Barbara every Saturday). 

 On my bday proving I can still be a kid

Birthday Fun with the Girls

I'm finally getting a grasp on it all just in time for my summer plans. For once, my horoscope was dead on - "Spotlight-grabbing venus ...blah, blah while I paraphrase the planet crap... you'll finally find balance between your cubicle life and life life. Now share with your friends." So, friends, let me share - here is my life life for the next month or so. 
July 13th - Surf Rodeo - This Saturday! I have a super hot friend (below) competing in the bikini cowgirl roundup! A day of music, surfer boys, girls in bikini's and the beach. Come support Brittani Cherry to see her embarrass the competition.

July 20th - Tequila and Taco Music Festival - No explanation needed!
July 21st - Pooch Parade Dog Walk & Pet Expo - Little Winnie will just have a ball! Pun intended.

July 26th -30th - Fifth Annual Girls Vegas Trip. Summer wouldn't be complete without it. I started thinking about previous trips and WOW, there are some memories I need to share. Watch for 'Ode to Vegas'. Our excuse this year is Julia's bachelorette party. I'm so excited to celebrate with her and even more excited for her and Steve to take the plunge! 

August 5th - Ventura County Fair. HUNTER HAYES. It's too bad he's only 21 because I would sure like a tall glass of him (well he's also only 5'6" so I guess I won't be having a tall glass of anything). Even though I'll be surrounded by screaming tweens, I still can't wait to see him perform! 

'Maturing' Probably Won't Be That Bad

This, my friends, will be a short post. My main point is to show that parents are awesome and that being "older" (I don't use the word 'old' as I recently turned 25) is no excuse to be boring. My parents went to the Oxnard Harbor gourmet food festival (food trucks) and they did it right. Instead of walking the five minute walk from the house to the festival, their culdesac club decided it would be best to take a limo. (One of the neighbors owns a car service, prom anyone?) Of course I decided to tag along. After a short joy ride and a couple bottles of wine, we arrived in style (two from our gang wearing white pants were now speckled with red wine). We chose Cousins Maine Lobster Truck. It was AMAZING - I tried the Maine Lobster Roll. Three ingredients - lobster tail, butter, bun. When that piece of heaven landed in my hands, it only lived outside by stomach for I'm guessing 12 seconds.

And this is Kathy telling the babes on the curb she needs to move the curb block off sign so the Biebs can park his limo. Needless to say they weren't impressed.

My Dream of Becoming a Tambourinist....

....was crushed Friday night.  If I was granted an easy ticket to fame and fortune, it would happen by becoming a tambourinist for a group like Destiny's Child, The Beach Boys, Creed, or Gotye. Think about it, while all the talented members play guitars, drums, and sing, I'll just stand on the side dancing, beating the tambourine, and looking cute (well trying). I've considered putting up a craigslist add to see if any up and coming bands need one but haven't gotten around to doing it yet. 

So back to Friday night - for weeks the roomies and I have been excited to go to Soho in Santa Barbara and see Tommy & the High Pilots play. I figured this is my big opportunity to show my skills. Let me also tell you, the drummer knows I'd like the gig but has failed to setup an audition.

Here's the guys playing, Tommy & the High Pilots are the four on the left. Lucky for me (or so I thought), they had guest musicians playing so I figured I would be included.

Here's me waiting (on the left) by the tambourine I thought I would be playing soon. I waited song after song but never was called on stage to play. By now I've gotten the hint, Tommy & the High Pilots isn't my ticket but it was an amazing soon and I hope to see them perform soon. On another note, if you know any up and coming bands, let them know I'm a 'seasoned' tambourine artist.

O ya, we stopped by Winco on our way home - I HIGHLY recommend going in the middle of the night. Call it a playground for adults who get pleasure from buying cheap snacks and house hold products for cheap without being bothered by those really annoying slow grocery cart shoppers. 

We came, We saw, We conquered

I've lived in Oxnard for 10 years and finally went to see what this Strawberry Festival was all about. Liz, Cherry (at the Strawberry festival, ironic I know), and I had strawberry beer, strawberry margaritas, strawberry nachos, and of course strawberries.

We have four lovely new glasses as pictured above... exactly what we need.. to add to our collection of glasses from weddings, ex boyfriends, birthdays, and our house warming party. Anyone need a set of glasses?

I didn't want to wait in the 20 minute line to take a picture next to the real strawberry festival sign so the one next to the security guard works, right?  

Strawberry margs and sittin on some strawberry festival hay.

What's your sleep number?

So this was a highlight. Liz and I saw this photo op and knew it was a must. We got in line and asked the cute couple behind us to take our picture. We put our faces in the strawberries and both noticed another family taking our picture. We started walking away from the cut outs and noticed a little girl had joined us! That family will have a very interesting photo from the festival. Liz and I were chugging beers and the little girl was as happy as can be.

Last but not least, a ten foot tall cowboy grabbed us by our hair - all his idea.