cabrillo national monument

A few days ago we visited Cabrillo National Monument. This is probably my all-time favorite spot in San Diego to visit during springtime. Two years ago we came here for the very first time and we've been back several times since, but this trip was definitely my favorite. Due to the massive amounts of rain we had this winter, everything was so green and there were wildflowers everywhere!! 

The Old Point Loma Lighthouse- they just recently opened the top for public access!

I don't know what it is about fields of flowers, but I can't resist.

We've been to the Carlsbad Flower Fields each year we've lived here and I'm working on making round 3 happen this year. Sam already hates me for it. I offered going to the Poppy Reserve instead but that's 3 hours away so I don't think that's going to happen either... so someone please visit so we can go to the flower fields together!! 

 The gorgeous trail down to the tide pools. It was high tide while we were there and we were on a time crunch because Sam had to get back to class but maybe one day we'll get there at low tide to explore all the fun coves.

 This is seriously my happy place. I never get tired of the gorgeous views and the picture perfect scenery. So if you're visiting San Diego in the spring, I would put this on your list. There is a $10 entrance fee but it is good for a whole week. Definitely one of my favorite things to do in San Diego on a budget. 

party week on a budget

This past week was a little out of the ordinary because we basically just partied everyday. While Sammy is in limbo-land aka video game heaven before his summer internship starts, I try to grab any little time that I have left with him. We didn't do anything crazy or expensive because we are trying to be frugal, but that's what you get when you're an #adult. So here's a look at what we did this week on our law school budget.

Monday night after Cortney and I got home from work #workingwives , we + husbands met up at Belmont Park in Mission Beach. We kept it simple with some window shopping, sunset and surf watching on the beach, and for only $6 we rode the Giant Dipper Rollercoaster. 

10/10 would recommend. Best $6 I've ever spent. Go sometime. 

Tuesday I didn't have work so Sam planned a day at Balboa Park. Most of the museums are free entry on Tuesdays and I've been dying to go to the Botanical Garden so it was perfect. The Botanical Garden wasn't as amazing as I hoped but it was free and like we stepped into the Jurassic Park jungle so that was cool....but w/o the dinos so even better.

And to top off Tuesday, another cheap form of high quality entertainment -- a Bachelorette viewing party with some friends.

Wednesday & Thursday just work, which is also frugal because I'm making money/bringing home the bacon/making it rain/bringing home the Benjamins...and all those other money idioms.  

Friday was my last "free Friday" before work starts. We started off the overcast morning wandering La Jolla and had some breakfast at the Cottage (definitely not budget friendly but it was kinda a bargain because that one meal held me over for breakfast, lunch, and an early dinner...) 

We then headed to the beach totally expecting the Memorial Day crowds but we got a front row parking spot, had the beach basically all to ourselves, and the sun came out for a nice 75 degree beach day! 

Saturday we beached it up again but this time with some surfing included. The sun was MIA but that's totes fine when you got a wetsuit and no crowds stealing your waves. 

Sunday, dinner with these hooligan cousins! 

It was such a fun week that didn't break the bank & we needed it after all these car repairs (broken AC), my swimsuit buying addiction, and Sam's shoe purchase (sometimes when you are an adult, you have to invest in fancy black shoes to look professional for your summer internship).

Moral of the story, go to the beach for a good free time. Note to self: grow up and work more.

a fairly good time

The San Diego County Fair was definitely a fair to remember! Not only was it like my second time at the fair but that was literally the theme of the fair this year "A Fair to Remember" so ya. Also this was the first time Sam and I have been to some sort of amusement park together! We've never done Lagoon, Disneyland, or Knotts Berry Farm together which is sad and strange and I've definitely been to all of those places since we've been married!! So um Sam where the heck have you been?! We're going to have to fix that situation real quick. But anyway, onto the fair!

 The best part about our fair trip was that we got tickets for a bangin' bargain of $4 each #wefrugal.  

The absolute worst part was we arrived right after the petting zoo closed! Oh the humanity! But we were still able to see the animals and let me tell you, we saw the cutest twin baby goats ever! And that's saying something because I've seen a lot of goats. Also did you know pygmy goat racing is a thing? Ya it exists at the Del Mar Fair and I would just like to take this time to publicly thank whoever came up with that idea. THANK YOU!! I could've gone home happy after the petting zoo but we added in some fried food for a more complete fair experience and watched the sunset while eating our funnel cake. #itsthelittlethings

 I'm fairly positive we'll be hitting this up every summer while we're in San Diego but I'll definitely plan it better so not another petting zoo goes un-petted....Uh see you next time twin goats!

|| Erin

fan of jan

January 2015 hit us full force. We've already had some ups and downs but I'm surprised how many great things have come our way. So let's get to it!

++ Remember that one time I thought my dental hygiene license would come in a matter of weeks? Well those weeks turned into five months...But as of January 5th, I am now a California licensed hygienist! I've had a couple of job interviews (some good, some really bad) but I am currently just temping. Temping itself is another story, probably one that will never be told. (but really my first experience was crazy!)

++ To make the most of our time here in San Diego we decided we should become
Sea World Trainers!! 

Jokes! We did decide to invest in wetsuits though. And I seriously could pass for an Sea World employee in it. Our wetsuits have been so dandy this "winter" because we try to go surfing every weekend #worthit.

++ Also we decided to buy our own surfboard! Sure we're not experts at surfing yet so why get a short board? Well it was a super good deal so we obliged. Our first day with it I managed to stand up once but I'm guessing that probably won't happen again anytime soon. 

++ Hands down probably the highlight of 2015 so far-- we are the new owners of the mom van!! My loving mother drove down to San Diego to deliver this gem. What a beaut. Talk about perfect surfboard mobile and perfect second mode of transportation when Samuel gets his summer internship #blessed.

Thanks Mom and Dad!

++ Our whole six months in San Diego we have been tv-less. Sure living without cable is great but constantly watching movies on a laptop is no fun. Then on Sunday a little miracle happened...Cue sign in a neighbor's yard for a free tv. Yep we snatched up that tv real quick and it works perfectly! #winning

++ I've been good at making dinner every night which is saying something! But every once in awhile you need to go on a little date to the Thai food restaurant down the street.

^^ looks like mr. lion is hungry too ^^

|| Erin

as you wish halloween

Last Halloween Sam and I won the costume contest. Let's be honest, we probably won because Sam is brown and went shirtless but I'll never forget those indian costumes.

That being said, this year we especially felt the pressure to dress to impress. Thinking of a clever couple costume is hard but we finally found the perfect one. One that was "inconceivable" and filled with "wuv, tru wuv".

You probably guessed it, our costumes featured the classic Princess Bride. Sam and I grew up with that movie so it was a great fit. (We seemed to be quoting it all day) Samuel was my sweet Westley/The Dread Pirate Roberts and I was Princess Buttercup.

Goodwill was solely responsible for our costumes. A whole $20, not too shabby. And thank goodness for the wonderful person who got rid of their red satin long-sleeved leotard so my costume could be perfect. Seriously the leotard is MONEY! It will probably make an appearance in years to come...

We had a fun Halloween making new friends and eating so many delicious treats. I'm already thinking of next years costume because this Halloween seemed to come and go too fast. I mean, it's not even fall here yet.

|| Erin

hello zoo

Say hello to the newest San Diego Zoo members!! I'm not bragging or anything; we just take pride in our good investments. Our dual membership was $119 for an unlimited year's entry to the zoo and safari park! Even just going twice pays for itself! Now you know where we will be spending most of our weekends. I've already been to the zoo twice in a span of five days...Making the most of it? Guilty.

Our first zoo visit was with our friends Maddy and Alex. They live in San Diego and have zoo memberships as well. Only two words can describe them: "zoo veterans!" They know everything and anything about the zoo and it's animals. Every dirty detail (Ex: we were here when so and so gave birth!) and every animal's name. (Ex: Cookie the Honey-badger). They were the perfect people to introduce us to the zoo and we had so much fun with them.

 

 

My second zoo excursion was sans Samuel. My cute cousin Isabella turned 5 so we celebrated at the zoo. Just Izzy and I. We have spent loads of time together this summer so it was fun to change things up for our playdate. She is the craziest, loudest and silliest five year old I have ever known so our zoo trip was not one to forget. And I'm pretty sure everyone at the zoo thought she was my child so there's that.

Also I'm quite certain that she had more fun playing on the animal statues and picking flowers than walking around to see the real animals. We stopped at every single statue and she insisted that I take a picture. (Don't worry I'll keep those pictures to a minimum). But her faces as she tried to mimic the animals are priceless. 

  

  

Along the way we treated our tired feet to a ride on the skyline and a foot massage. That foot massage  was the best 25 cents I have ever spent. She was in heaven!

 

We love our zoo membership because we can come and go whenever we please. And because the zoo is exhausting and that's the cold hard truth. 

|| Erin