Summer Reads

I just returned from my wonderful vacation and I’m gearing up for Leslie and Tina to come out and spend their vacation with us in San Diego. Needless to say, things have been a little crazy. So I thought that I would just leave you with a few shots of my summer reading, with a promise to follow up with a summer book review!

 

A few of my favorites at the moment…

 

Riding over to Brooklyn

I was inspired by our bike riding expedition in Amsterdam...so I suggested that Nick and I rent bikes in NYC!  We didn't just tool around on them...we biked to Brooklyn!  It was so much fun and as Nick said "one of the best things we've done in NY".  It was a sweaty, hot day and a little more of a workout that I had anticipated, but still so awesome.

We rented bikes from a shop two blocks from us on Charles St...nice guys and a cool bike shop.  Started at Charles St and the West Side Highway and rode along the bike/running path all around the tip of Manhattan toward the Brooklyn Bridge.  We passed through Tribeca, Battery Park, the Financial District, South St. Seaport and then up to the Bridge.  Biking across the bridge was definitely a work out...but being on such a historical, iconic NY structure was worth it!  We took lots of pics and then just rode all the way into Brooklyn.  We waited in line (not planned) for some famous Brooklyn Pizza, Grimaldis!  Soooo good and fueled us up for our ride back.

If you're interested in the time and distance...5.5 miles there and 2 hours because we stopped alot to sight see and take pictures; 4.25 miles back and about 25 mins because we took a direct route home.


It's never too late to be a tourist in your own town...love from the city!

our routes...blue going to Brooklyn and red going home. see in detail here

Penny Park in Tribeca

World Financial Center and World Trade Center Building I

World Financial Center Marina

Nick biking along Battery Park & Gardens

Lady Liberty and Ellis Island

the bikers and the Hudson River

I loved my basket and found out my bell was very necessary...damn pedestrians!

pretty cool downtown Manhattan heliport where Pilot Swartz will land his private chopper one day

the future private helo Matt will fly us in

helicopters waiting to be chartered for flights around the island or waiting for rich clients

Brooklyn and the East River

sign for the South St. Seaport under the FDR

Brooklyn Bridge...here we come!

enjoying a sunny summer Saturday

Manhattan behind me

yummy pizza...annoying line

cheesin it up...pun intended.

eating my pizza folded like a real New Yorker

Taco Shops, Races, Cupcakes and Pet stores

Can you think of a more random blog post title – I think not! This is what our weekend looked like – it was a smorgasbord of fun. 

 

Friday

I am a HUGE fan of Man v. Food. I love to eat and I am super competitive (it can get bad, real bad). So it kind of makes sense that I can often be caught watching this food-eating competition show. On Friday we decided to follow in Adam’s tracks and make our way over to Lucha Libre Taco Shop in San Diego. This is an incredible local taco shop in the Mission Hills area of San Diego. If you are in the area, make sure you stop by for one of their Surfin’ California burritos or Tap Me Out tacos. You will wait in line, but it will be worth it.

 

Lucha Libre

The Champions Booth. Reservation needed!

Tacos in the taco shop.

Man v. Food

Saturday

We finally made it to the Del Mar races. People from all over the county travel to Del Mar, California to bet on weekly horse races. On Fridays and Saturdays, a free concert follows the races. Because Weezer was playing this past weekend, we ended up going with a group of friends. Honestly, I don’t know too many Weezer songs, but like I said before – I’m up for anything competitive. I guess it was not my lucky day (or Matt’s) because we lost it all. Apparently, choosing a winner based on a name is not the best system. Next time, Freedom Star, next time.

The races.

Before we lost all our money

Weezer on the big screen.

Sunday

Sunday was Sadie’s 2^nd birthday. So, of course, we anointed it Sadie Sunday and made the day all about her (so different from every other day, I know). We started the day by buying doggie cupcakes from Sprinkles, went to PetSmart to pick out birthday presents, and finished the day at Fiesta Island, where Sadie ran and swam for what seemed like hours. I think she wants every day to be Sadie Sunday. And I can’t really blame her – it was quite a day.

Birthday presents

The anticipation is killing her...

Enjoying her freedom

Feeling tough now that she is 2.

Her favorite place

Sprinkles cupcakes. Sadie gets them for her birthday and we get them because...well, just because we love them.

I'd say that Sadie Sunday was a success!

Vacation

While I've had a great summer and have traveled, and continue to travel (stay tuned for my 9 day Cali trip to visit Casey around labor day) there is nothing like a true vacation.

My family had our annual week at Sunset Beach, NC in July. It was a perfect hot summer week with no rain.  We didn't do a whole lot of activities, which is exactly how we like it.  We did however let two new members join in this year...King Cole and Little Miss C.  They both added a lot of fun to our vacation and seemed to really enjoy themselves as well.  Cole loved the beach and swimming in the ocean...Caroline also loved the beach, crawling in the sand, and her cheerios.

Nick played 5 rounds of golf and we played 9 holes together one evening...my family had our annual putt putt game and I beat Nick which I rubbed in quite a bit ;)  My Dad held the winning title for the 2nd year in a row.  We also went out to eat and tried something new...gas station pizza.  The pictures pretty much tell the rest...

we read...

we ate...or tried to sneak a bite...

we got some zzz's...

we caught some rays...



i must brag...he's a poster pup.

we played at the beach...

we visited with a friend...some of you may recognize this guy

and we took the annual family photos.

already wishing to go back!!