Oh hi, Ojai

On October 1st, Derek and I celebrated our second year of dating each other. Being the gigantic sweetheart that he is, he of course had something amazing up his sleeves. He planned a surprise weekend getaway to Ojai, CA.

We left late Friday night and traveled by night, like western bandits fleeing across the desert. Alas, we arrived at the surprise location. Just off the "main road" in Ojai was our home for the weekend, The Ojai Rancho Inn.

The Ojai Rancho Inn

Imagine Sunset Magazine Marketing and Instagram had a baby. The offspring would be this precious roadside hotel. So many simple details that made it beautiful and unique. Upon checking in the uber hippie chick offered us incense to cleanse our room. Derek got into the "cleansing" and showed a pyro side to him I have never seen before.

morning coffee bar

this leather chair on our porch

We spend our mornings enjoying coffee from the coffee bar, catching up on the Ojai Vally News, and burning incense (told you he was into the incense).

local newspaper, succulents, and incense

cup o'joe

this handsome and intellectual creature

headboard art

 

of course they had mason jars

is this fireplace for real? get in my apartment!

After enjoying our morning brew, we decided to head into town to grab a bite to eat. We used our favorite mode of transportation, bike (duh). The inn even had cute little white bikes to borrow.

bikes on bikes on bikes

We rode down the street to a fantastic little bakery, Knead. Surrounded by locals and the pet dogs, we enjoyed a lemon riccota tart (basically lemon cheesecake for breakfast).

After breakfast, it was time to work off that little pastery. We headed up into the hills for a mid day hike to a waterfall. The further up we went, the further away it felt from all our problems. It was so peaceful and quiet.

 

Derek is way more of an "explorer" than I am

 

Upon desending from the mountains, it was pool time. Derek has compared my pool lounging to that of a lizard on a rock; verb tense "lizarding". I sure did lizard hard by that pool.

 

 

poolside

 

 

forever summer in California

 

For our anniversary dinner, we hit up local hotspot Azu for some amazing Tapas. We ended the unforgetable day with smores at the firepit by the pool.

 

Sunday started off with a quick check of the fantasy team lineup (goodie), then continued with mimosas and more lizarding by the pool.

 

 

breakfast of champions

 

 

poolside #2

 

It was such an amazing weekend, I was sad to come back to reality. I couldn't think of anyone else I would have rather spent the weekend with, or better yet, the last two years. I love you very much, Derek. Looking forward to many more adventures with you!

Happy Anniversary

Happy 30th Wedding Anniversary to my parents! Today, mom and dad have spent the last 30 years happily married to each other. 

Danette, a junior cheerleader at Blackfoot High School, couldn't help but notice a tall Snake River basketball player entering the Broncos' gym in a "Tootsie Roll" hat for the cross county rival game that night. She whispered to a fellow cheerleader, "He's cute" and it was in a sense, love at first sight.

The two dated the remainder of their junior year and senior year of high school. It was a forbidden love, or at least I like to think so (much more romantic). The cheerleader and the star athlete from opposing schools... together.

After two years of serious dating after high school, the two decided to spend the rest of their lives together and tied the knot on August 25, 1979! They have since been blessed with 3 children (including yours truly). They have lost loved ones, sent kids to college, traveled, had work promotions, been to countless sporting events as the number one fan of their all star children, and been there for each other when times were hard.

I have never seen a couple more in love and happy, even after 30+ years, than my parents. They are each other's best friends and are so excited to spend each day with each other. I hope to have the kind of relationship that they have one day with my future husband. I have asked them what the key to a good relationship such as theirs is. Communication and trust.

Congratulations Mom and Dad! I am so happy for you!