Ten Months 'Til Christmas!

It's exactly 10 months until Christmas Day! So, what did I do to mark this dubious occasion? Today I stopped into our San Diego mega Christmas store, City Lights, to see what was cooking. Having never truly gotten over Christmas passing, I was more than a little excited to surround myself in a plethora of yuletide trappings. We practically had the place to ourselves too. It's a fairly large store, though not quite as big as Bronner's in Michigan (near where we used to live). I am just grateful we have a place like this in San Diego at all...I think it may be the only one in all of California that is this big.

The owners really focus on certain brands and collectibles, so some of it's very pricey, but just beautiful to look at. I couldn't help but notice that the Christmas trees were decorated especially beautiful right now...I was very inspired! They also have an amazing Dept. 56 display, only part of which did I take a photo of. I could just look at that thing for hours! I love the Halloween room too, but it was especially nice to see some of the Easter decor, as I've never been in the store this time of year. Here are some photos I took while there...



This was the display located at the entrance just as you walk into the store. Such Olde World charm!

I fell head over heels for these pink, white and mint green flocked trees.


I really thought this tropical tree with parrots was unique!

Ahhh Dept. 56 display...I love imagining what it would be like to live in one of these villages.


I adore this scene with Santa and Mrs. Claus dancing on the ice. How romantic! :)

They also had some beautiful Easter merchandise out! I love especially loved the stuffed Easter carousel figures and Santa as the Easter Bunny.




Can't forget about a little Halloween either...such a fun room to explore, full of all kinds of strange and wonderful things! I especially loved the vintage style glitter houses, similar to the Putz kind you see for Christmas.

SeaWorld Visit!

One of the great benefits of living in San Diego is having one of the great SeaWorld locations right in our backyard! When we lived in Michigan we had the chance to visit the SeaWorld in Cleveland before it ultimately closed. It's a fun place to visit on vacation, but for the locals it's the place to go at any given time!



On our first visit to SeaWorld in San Diego, we decided to get 2 year passes. We've certainly gotten plenty of use out of those passes, as we visit about once a month. Of course it is a place you can spend the entire day, but we prefer to go for a couple hours at a time. No reason to rush or exhaust ourselves - we go on our terms!



For the most part, our frequent trips are planned with purpose. Sometimes we go to see specific shows, and for a truly romantic evening we attend the night shows. Other times we like to walk through the aquariums, look at the exhibits, feed the dolphins or go on rides. During the holidays there are also special shows and attractions, which keep us coming back as well.



Summer time is definitely the busiest season of all for SeaWorld, and we found that out once again when we decided to see the new Shamu show, One Ocean, last weekend. A month earlier we went to a members-only sneak peek at the new Sea Turtle Reef. There really is always something new to do and we've yet to grow tired of visiting. Right now I am looking forward to the opening of Manta, the new roller coaster currently under construction!



Of course I realize that not everyone is as fortunate to have a SeaWorld close by, but with locations in San Diego, Florida and Texas, it's definitely worth visiting the closest location to you. Summer vacation is always ideal, but any time of the year will do!



Photos courtesy of SeaWorld

Oktoberfest!

Oktoberfest is a German festival held each year in late September or early October. It's basically an annual Fall festival, associated with the consumption of beer and traditional German foods, along with general merrymaking. This past weekend my husband and I spent our Saturday at the La Mesa Oktoberfest here in San Diego. It's quite a large event, claiming to be the largest Oktoberfest West of the Mississippi River. It contains 8 blocks of food, carnival rides, vendors and live music, and has become a tradition for many families in the San Diego area. This is only our second year attending, but I suspect it will become a yearly tradition for us as well. Here is a look at some of the highlights of the day.

We arrived by trolley to avoid the traffic and parking hassle. The stop was right in the middle of the event, which was the only way to go!


First things first, time for some lunch! It wouldn't be Oktoberfest without bratwurst!




Topped with sauerkraut and grilled onions - YUM!


Caramel apples - I'll take one of each!


Fresh baked bread


Looking at some festive arts and crafts...








One of my favorite parts is stopping at Act II Consignment and looking at all the jewelry and accessories...


Everything is a dollar, buy 10 get 1 free!


Listening to the Bavarian Beer Garden Band...


Doing the chicken dance...


Eating Carne Asada Fries


Time to go, but not without one last look at the beautiful sky.


Can't leave without a bag of fresh kettle corn!


And yes, this will all get eaten in the days to come!

Coming Out Of Hiding

Sorry, I know it's been quiet here lately. I think most people experience burn out after Christmas, not to mention it's usually a great time to play catch-up with projects we've planned or neglected through the holiday season. Spring and Easter are on their way so I suspect we'll be picking up in the coming months. It's an exciting time of year, and something I think we're all ready for!

Here in San Diego we have been experiencing Spring-like weather for the past month or so. Flowers are blooming and the temps have mainly stayed in the mid-60s. The evenings are a little cooler, but I've found myself venturing out more and more. Taking a walk, going to the park or even opening the windows to let in some fresh air.

My husband and I recently started going back to school, and as part of the requirement we must take 2 physical education classes, so we chose a swimming exercise class that is excellent. That means we spend 2 nights a week in the water, which is something I've been longing for since the end of summer. Aside from being great in recreational terms, physically it's what we've needed after the excess of the holidays. Kind of helps with that New Year's resolution to get back on track in the health department!

This leads me to a quick tip before I close. If you've considered taking some workout classes but didn't want to pay the hefty fitness center fees, consider what your community college offers. At around $26 a class per semester, you can't beat it! It also allows you to take advantage of those wondrous student discounts about town, so you benefit in more ways than one. *wink* Just remember, no matter what it's like outside, there are plenty of way to enjoy life and the beauty of nature.

Visit Your Local Christmas Shop

Halloween has just ended, so you might be thinking - isn't it a little early to be shopping for Christmas items? To which I reply, not at all! Actually the best time to stop into your local Christmas shop is probably sometime between now and Thanksgiving. After all, you want to get in on all the choice merchandise before it starts disappearing from the shelves! Christmas will be here quicker than anticipated and by then it may be too late.

In Michigan we made our annual trip to Frankenmuth in the Fall, which is home to the world's largest Christmas store, Bronner's. If you've never heard of Bronner's, I will tell you, it is a sight to behold! It offers 96,000 sq. ft. of holiday merchandise and gifts, and is open 361 days a year. If all that wasn't enough, the 1/2 mile long drive is covered with thousands of lights and displays. There is also a beautiful replica of the Silent Night Chapel, which is where the beloved carol was sung for the first time in Austria on December 24, 1818. Here are a few pictures from our visit last year:

The little German town, where the store resides, also offers a great deal of fun for visitors with its cute little specialty shops and charming old world architecture. For most, a trip to Frankenmuth is an all day event, but even if you don't have a sprawling, extravagant holiday super store, I'm sure that no matter where you live there is bound to be a Christmas shop of sorts to be found. You may want to start by looking here: Christmas Stores By State.

In San Diego, that store is City Lights. According to their website they are Southern California's largest holiday store with over 22,000 sq. ft. of displays and product. Though it may dwarf by comparison, it's certainly large enough to appease this Christmas lover. The outside is not nearly as elaborate as Bronner's, but inside there is a vast array of neatly arranged ornaments, trees and decor. My favorite part of any store like this is looking at the impressive Department 56 village layouts, and City Lights has one of the best I've ever seen! I could spend days just gazing upon the tiny landscapes and dreaming I was set squarely in the center of it all. Best of all, they had a large room for discounted items, which is worth stopping into as you never know what you may find!














This is such a great way to spend the afternoon with the family, so be sure to find out where your nearest Christmas store is located and take a visit. There is no better way to invoke those visions of sugar plums dancing in your head!