Beautiful weather, amazing food, and beautiful Balboa Park!

This week has really been beautiful. Thursday a friend and I met up for lunch at the Tea House over looking the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park - the day couldn't have been more perfect! It was 80 degrees out, we had so much to chat up about, and the food was amazing! Oh and the Tea - there must have been over 35 choices! I first went with a Vanilla Bean tea, which was yummy! We spent over 3 hours there, so 1 tea wasn't enough! I then tried a citrus grapefruit tea and that was delish! After meeting up with my friend I went and watched Amelia practice cheerleading. Silly girls - very entertaining! Here are some pics from my day!

Wordless Wednesday

Dentist time!

I am so happy to report that Ashton handled the Dentist very good this time! She was able to look at far more than any Dentist has ever without putting him under! She was even able to get a few teeth cleaned (his front ones) and he let her check for cavities! I have to say, I was shocked! This was a child that anytime he went to the dentist he would gag and throw-up when ever they tried to put anything in his mouth!
He did have 2 cavities, so we did have to get a referral to a pedi dentist that has access to an operating room because he'll have to be put under to fill them and get x-rays. But I was thrilled this how this appointment went - such great progress here!

Photo Challenge - Face

This is one of my favorite face photos I took this week! Go link up your face photo!

Weekend Fun - food and surfing

We met up with some friends at Hodads for burgers on Saturday. Hodads is the place to get some of the best burgers in San Diego - it was delish! After we left Hodads we walked around OB window shopping. I decided to check out some wetsuits for the kids since the weather is getting cooler. We ended up walking out with a surf board (used of course)! Something for the kids to start practicing on. I might even try this surfing stuff too! The only thing I regret is I bought a pink surf board .. I used have picked one that was unisex - Ashton looks pretty funny carrying around a pink surf board! Ha!

Before and After

I thought I'd show you guys another before and after! This is from one of my Ocean Beach images. Pretty much all I did was lower the exposure in the sky (in Bridge), clarify the clouds (a lot), removed a few things, and added some saturation. Quick and easy. I love the colors in this one!

Before:

 After:

Ocean Beach, CA

I had no idea we were going to meet up with some friends at Ocean Beach - it was last minute! That is why Amelia was wearing clothes and not a swim suit =) Ocean Beach, or as we call it out here OB, is a really unique beach! It sort of has the same feeling as Venice Beach to me. It's just a fun place to hang out, always something to see, and just has this very laid back feel. The pier is AWESOME!

I Heart Faces - Raise Your Hands Challenge

Show and Tell Photo Challenge - Black and White

Edited in an old film grainy process - I've been meaning to try this. I have a few other ideas I want to try. 

At it again ..

So we tried the Cake in a Jar idea once again, but with the Neon colors. They turned out awesome! Amelia had a girls night with her friends and everyone enjoyed making these (and eating them)!

This is all you need (2 boxes make about 6 jars) and of course you need frosting!

 You separate about 2 cups of cake batter in 5 bowls (or cups) Add food coloring - use the Neon - trust me on this one!

 Then you pour about 3 tablespoons of each color

 This is what it starts to look like!

 And this is how you eat it =)

Morning walk to school

Wordless Wednesday

Self Portrait in Color and B/W - I think I like the B/W better.