beach days - after work runs along the beach trail - visits from my best - happy hours - live music - wine and girl talk - new running shoes - making the perfect guacamole - twilight golf dates - planning a weekend away - the river - a healthy lifestyle - sleeping in - yoga on the beach - gluten free bread - movie nights - playing (and winning!) arcade games - a clean car - summer bucket lists - backpack beach chairs -  iced tea lemonades - bbqs - the smell of sunscreen - summer!

what's making you happy this week?

a happy list

graduation - it's just around the corner.  i can't tell if i'm sad, nervous, happy, excited, scared, or a combination of all of that and more.  probably the latter of them all.  i can't believe that after 8 long years (yes, 8! holy shit!) i'm finally going to be walking across that stage and getting my diploma.  you best believe i will be fist pumping and bawling my eyes out all at once up on that stage.

my job - i'm so happy with my job right now.  not to toot my own horn (but really, what else is a blog for? ha!) but i'm killing it at work! like, kicking ass and taking names.  moving up that target ladder and making my way to where i want to be.  i can't wait to see where this venture can take me and look forward to all the exciting thing that will hopefully be happening in the next few months.

friends - i think i mention my friends on every single happy list, but hey, when they are as awesome as mine, you just can't help it!  i'm so thankful that my friends will be able to help me celebrate my graduation, even it means driving over an hour to spend a half of day with me.  seriously, they are the best.

my travel bug is being fulfilled -  i have trips to havasu and nashville booked.  trips to palm springs, new york and santa barbara in the works.  i'm so happy to finally be dusting off my suitcase and putting it to good use.  time to rack up those air miles! woo hoo!!

my momma - with mother's day this weekend, i can't forget how happy my mom is making me lately.  she is working so hard to plan my graduation brunch and is supportive and patient when i change my mind a million times, get emotional over how many people can or can't come, and decide i just want to change it all last minute.  i'm definitely a stress case and she's handling it so graciously.  so thanks, mom! you're the best!

a happy list

happy friday, friends!  time for another happy list!  with march quickly coming to an end, there are some things that i can't help but look forward to and be happy about.  

- my 26th birthday (in 10 days! eee!) i think i'm looking forward to this birthday more than any of my other birthdays.  i feel like i'm in a great place with a lot of life changing things to look forward to this coming year.  sure, i may not be exactly where i want to be, but i know i'm on the right track and i'm happy about that.  that's pretty much all that matters to me.

- baseball season is just around the corner ... thank god!  i've missed my boys in blue - go dodgers!  i can't wait to kick off baseball season with the padres vs dodgers home opener in san diego the day before my birthday.  beer, baseball, and beautiful san diego weather - you can't beat that!

- one word: stagecoach!!!  it's a country music lovers dream.  my tickets came in the mail and made me even more excited for the ultimate redneck weekend.  

- my friends are seriously the best.  i'm so lucky to have some of the kindest, genuine and thoughtful friends around.  random texts about anything and everything, late nights laughing about nothing, and sharing our triumphs and defeats with each other.  oh, and you can't forget about the crazy snapchat wars!

- also... date nights, trying new restaurants, sunday fundays at the pool, bottomless margaritas, surprises, 50/50 burgers, the voice, hair cuts, sunset wine cruises, march madness, new bathing suits, feeling special, daylight savings, happy hours, and much, much more!

a happy list

my dear friend ashley posts her happy lists from time to time and i thought it would be fun to post one too! so, here goes nothing!!

- having an annual pass for disneyland.  i've wanted one for years and i finally pulled the trigger last month.  since buying it on jan 9th, i've been 6 times!!  i love being able to just enjoy both parks without feeling rushed to get on as many rides as we can.  i even got to cross a few things off my disney bucket list, like eating at ariel's grotto and seeing world of color!

- the best of friends who you can stay up into the wee hours of the night trash talking about who ever and whatever you want to.  also, said friends who are the biggest supporters of anything i do.  i love you, peeps.  you know who you are.

- little paper straws with pink hearts on them and the giddiness that fills me when i think of what they will be used for!

- my new army jacket.  it's safe to say i'm in love.  don't be surprised if you see it around the blog and my instagram a lot from now on.

- being able to spend quality time with my mom and grandma.  it's so special and sometimes i take it for granted.  i'm lucky to still have my grandma and i want to take advantage of it to the best of my ability.

what's on your happiness list lately?

happy list

these days i've been trying to focus on what makes me happy, what i'm looking forward to, and all the great things going on in my life.  staying positive is a big challenge sometimes, and having a list of all the little things that put a big smile on my face reminds me of all i have to be thankful for.  and what better way to say goodbye to october and hello to november than with a happy list?!  thanks to lauren for the fantastic idea!

random texts from friends that make me laugh

peppermint white mochas

mornings spent sleeping in

celebrating birthdays

big bowls of buttery popcorn

oversized sweaters and leggings

a clean car

crock pot chili

pumpkin cupcakes

grocery shopping

avocado

success

planning a holiday happy hour

nights in la

my tuesday night drives to san diego

good grades

hugs from good friends

magic mike

girls nights 

wine

thanksgiving feasts

an organized to do list

country music

halloween candy

scarfs

finding new ways to wear my clothes

my mom surprising me by doing my laundry

baking

my promotion

polka dots

black cherry sparkling water

random texts from my brother

you

taking control of my life

knowing what i need

in n out

my family
baseball
san clemente
a summer evening on the beach
picnics
feeling fulfilled in life

what makes YOU happy?

a happy list

hi guys.  i've been a little mia this past week or so, and as you know if you saw my last post, it was from a killer combination of work and school.  but, i have a little break from school and have the next two days off from work.  i'm looking forward to a little time to relax and have some fun!

being that i'm in a happy mood today, i wanted to share some things that have been making me extra happy lately!

a new scarf, new boots and new socks.  

now if only the weather would cool down ;)

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la adventure with kai and lex this weekend. 

500 days of summer on the beach? perfection.

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a birthday for my twins* this weekend. 

you bet i will be in the bounce house after the kids leave.

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feeling satisfied and full with my work life.  

it feels great to be recognized for hard work.

---

going on 6 weeks of no meat! 

hey ash, this isn't all that hard afterall.

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this song. it basically sums up my life motto. 

"soak it all in, it's a game you can't win, enjoy the ride"

what's making you happy today?

*no, i did not birth 2 children overnight. they are my very good friends' daughters. 

a happy list

skinny caramel macchiato and morning sunshine
day dreaming about aruba thanks to kristin's tourist tuesday post
congratulating my brother on passing his coast guard test
a clean room, folded clothes and an organized dresser
cooking dinner with my mom
a green smoothie for a yummy snack
new sunglasses and teal fringe satchel for stagecoach
rocking out to this song from edward sharpe & the magnetic zeros

a happy list

happy thursday friends!

just popping in to share some little things that have been making me extra happy this week.

smoothie & sunshine on the front porch - red & khaki ootd

healthy eating at it's finest - stagecoach tickets!

top knot & coral - healthy eating take 2

a happy list

this week's happy list couldn't have come at a better time.  today was a bit of a stressful and emotional day and i love being able to focus on all the happiness that has gone on in my life this week.  

double gulp & celebrity apprentice on sunday night 

[ thanks to olivia for the inspiration ]

a new addition to my dresser

[ featuring steph, tamms & liv ]

san clemente after the rain

treating myself to an early birthday mani / pedi

a happy list

happy hours on the pier, soaking in the sun

solo shopping trip to the outlet mall & scoring some great deals

raiding the candy store for the old school classics

holding hands

great friends who motivate and encourage me

realizing how much i truly want to be back in school

birthday planning beginning to start

just a few things making me extra happy this week

a happy list

happy thursday!! 

today i'm sharing some things that have made me extra happy this past week!

emails with great friends planning exciting things
organizing guest posts for a new series
mentally planning my birthday that's next month
being featured over on meg's lovely blog today
getting my hair done at this sweet little spot

my new polka dot scarf thats perfect for these chillier days

sunday funday complete with pitchers and pool

a happy list.

Hey guys!  So the lovely Tammy over at Lemons, Avocados and the Bay does a "happy list" series on her fab blog and I was lucky enough to grace her blog via a guest post with my happy list for life.  Since I love the idea of creating happy lists I thought I would share the one I put together with you guys here.  What things are on your happy list?

travelling 

being a tourist

taking lots of pictures

exploring new cities and small towns

eating at a new restaurant

trying a new beer

big flavor beers

baseball

going to baseball games

best friends

the beach

my hometown; san clemente, ca

family

my faith

hiking

the outdoors

yosemite, ca

national parks

awkward moments

so cal slang

peppermint white mochas

the smell of rain

snuggles

and many, many more!

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."  

- Frederick Keonig