Sports and Sunshine

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Hi! It’s been quite some time—I know! I’ve been such a blogging failure. We recently returned from an extremely fun trip to California, so there were lots of opportunities for photos! Hopefully, you don’t mind getting snapshots of our favorite moments over the next few days. We left after work and went as far as Vegas (our normal pitstop). Although we’ve driven all the way to California in one day, we definitely prefer stopping for a bit of pool time and of course, Grimaldi’s! It makes the arrival in California substantially more exciting when you’re not fighting to stay awake or recovering from stiff legs and tired eyes.

As usual, when our delicious pepperoni and mushroom pizza arrived, the conversation ceased immediately and we got down to business. We definitely didn’t even realize that we stop speaking for about five solid minutes as we get through our first pieces! We sure to love Grimaldi’s! We wanted to get a good night’s sleep in order to leave early the next morning, so we were kind of Vegas losers. We fell asleep around 10. I’m pretty sure that makes us official adults.

We stopped in Baker at The Mad Greek, which is such a fun sight in the middle of the desert. I was completely taken with the colors of the building. So simple and clean (love). It was a marvelous photo subject. The next hour or so of driving was filled with impersonations, karaoke and travel anecdotes. If you want a good laugh, find my husband and request an impersonation of anyone. The man is hilarious.

Our arrival in Orange County couldn’t have come sooner for little B. We drove directly to the nearest dog beach and just let her run! She was such a champ in the car and she deserved the hour of splashing and digging (don’t worry – we refilled the holes as we were leaving!). We were pretty worried about how she’d handle the ocean and sand—her first encounter at 2 months old was filled with whining and diving into my purse. We were so proud! She definitely loved it. Her happy disposition was just a preview of all the fun that was to come! We can’t wait to share. Stay tuned!

If you want to see what we did, check it out on Instagram: @rachealjade.

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Disney Day: Part 2

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I had to extend our Disney visit over two posts because there was just too many cute pictures to share. This day was absolutely amazing, but so exhausting! I nearly cried leaving the park because it hurt so much to walk! Does that mean I’m too old for Disneyland?! While we definitely had our tired moments, it was nothing that couldn’t be cured with a massive turkey leg or Dole Whip. We consider ourselves to be Disney veterans, yet we were consistently amazed by all the new things we discovered. Exploring the little details of the park was inadvertent and simultaneously wonderful. Discussing the detailed facades, the identities of the decor designers and the grams of sugar in a churro helped pass the minutes of waiting in the winding lines.
At the end of the day – in spite of aching feet and tired limbs – the beautiful fireworks and subsequent faux snow made for some pretty magical memories. It was the perfect ending to a fabulous family vacation!

Destinations: Two-Day Paris Itinerary

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Day One: I have started every trip to Paris the exact same way: at the Louvre. It’s the quintessential Parisian experience and it easily gets you in the mood for all things Paris! A walk through the Tuileries Garden is essential. A public park following the French Revolution, this immaculate promenade is always populated with various birds, squirrels and the obvious tourist. It’s the perfect photo backdrop and it’s so unbelievably peaceful. I highly recommend pulling up a chair next to the centrally located pond and people watch for several minutes! 
Halfway through the gardens, take Allée de Castiglione toward Rue de Rivoli. Resist the dozens of tourist shops filled with “I heart Paris” tees & Chinese-made Eiffel Tower statues and follow Rue de Castiglione to Place Vendôme. I absolutely love this spot. Maybe it has something to do with the Chanel boutique? 
Continue in the same direction along Rue de la Paix until you reach the next big intersection. A quick glance to the right spots the impressive and historic Opera House. Take the tour. Really. Hopefully, there isn’t a rehearsal going in because the theater is obviously the most impressive portion. 
Following the tour, a cab ride up Champs-Élysées is extremely fun. A fun idea? Go around the Arc de Triomphe roundabout before getting dropped off for some fun shopping!
Tip: Find a Lenôtre (there’s one down Avenue Victor Hugo)–you won’t regret it.
Day Two: If it’s your first trip to Paris, this may not be the day you’d pick, but it was highly enjoyable! Paris Disney. Awesome. Best invention. 
We took the RER A directly to the park (Get on the RER A , heading towards Marne-la-Vallée Chessy, and get off at Marne-la-Vallée Chessy) and it was extremely quick! 
After our fun-filled Mickey day, we spent the evening under the Eiffel. After it got dark, we snapped a few photos then made our way (on the Metro) to the Arc de Triomphe. Thanks to the concessions price, we paid only a few euros to take the stairs to the top. The view is well worth the price and you’ll get to see just how expansive the City of Light truly is.