{Weekend Adventures}

I can always tell it's summer by the way we spend our weekends. It's my favorite season because there is so much going on and outdoor activities are wonderfully abundant!

Saturday we packed up a picnic lunch and did some wine tasting at a few of our favorite wineries. Sunshine and relaxation were just the ticket to celebrate four great years of marriage!

 

Sunday afternoon we took a family hike along a local trail and we've officially decided to make this a weekly family activity! So fun, rejuvenating and Claire had a ball packed on her daddy's back!

We introduced our big girl to yogurt for the first time this weekend and she is a BIG fan! They seriously don't come cuter that this girl!!

And finally, Claire decided it was time to ramp up her mobility and started backward crawling! The little cutie can now scoot herself halfway around the house, which means that we have some baby proofing to do!

How about you-do anything fun, exciting, outdoors? I hope your weekend was wonderful!

Spa Day {Indian Springs}

My aunt is still in town so another fun girls outing was in order! Yesterday was a spa day at Indian Springs in Calistoga! We indulged in mud baths and soaked in the mineral springs pool. It was completely amazing and by far my favorite spa experience to date! (Seriously, read more about the volcanic ash mud bath treatment here!)

Last year's birthday plans actually involved this trip, but days before our appointments I found out I had a little Claire in my belly so I had to take a rain check. It was not only worth the wait, but so special because my little spa baby got to join us in the mineral pool!

 We started the day with a little wine tasting at Black Stallion Winery

Followed by a picnic lunch and lounging in the mineral pool at Indian Springs (read more about it here!) before and after our treatments.

Claire was a big fan of the spa scene;)

 And for dinner we headed over to St. Helena for dinner at farmstead, an awesome restaurant whose ingredients are entirely farm-to-table!

Everything we ordered was lovely and the decor is all so farm rustic - I love!!

By the end of the day we had worn out this little pumpkin!

All-in-all a wonderful day with even more wonderful ladies!

Wine + Tulips

I just recently heard about this place called Tulip Hill Winery. Doesn't the name sound amazing?! In another month or so their grounds will look something spectacular {like the picture above, taken from their website} with all sorts of tulips, daffodils and such in bloom!

It's located just north of Napa, making it a perfect little Saturday outing! I hope to check it out in the upcoming month or so-I'll let you know if it lives up to the hype!

Tricks and Treats

Happy Halloween weekend!! I am deeply looking forward to the next few days as we're doing the wine tasting thing with some dear friends, watching game 3 and 4 of the World Series {GO GIANTS!!} and celebrating Halloween with family where we will, of course, be handing out candy to dressed up little sweetie pies!

Have a spooky weekend!

ps~ If you couldn't already tell, we LOVE the wine country!

{photos from one of our trips last year}

{fitting that he's wearing Giants attire}

Productive with a Twist of Fun

Well happy Monday dear friends! And most unusually, I am feeling very good and rested today! Don't hate me yet, the day has only begun:)

I hope your weekend had you hoping it might last a few more days. Mine definitely did, but don't they always?!

Allow me to divulge a few highlights~

*Several hours of our Saturday were spent wine tasting in Amador Couty. The very best thing about wine tasting there is the tastings are complimentary. I know it seems ALL wine tastings should be free, after all, they are wanting you to buy their wine so they should let you taste it. However, many wineries in well known places like Napa usually charge between $10-$40 a tasting. Needless to say, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! Maybe too much as we came home with five bottles of wine...Our motto is: when you find a wine you like, you should buy it! At least we have a good stock going into the holiday season:)


The first winery we stopped at had picnic grounds so we enjoyed our Whole Foods lunch at a pretty little spot with a pretty little view!


Enjoying his almond filled cannoli:)


Our view!



What we came home with:)


*Chris decided to go to the Raiders game on Sunday because it was blacked out. I was more than happy to have him go as I had a lot of studying to catch up on and he has been known to be a very good distraction to me:) I knew if he was home I wouldn't get it all done.

*My Sunday was very productive. And not just a little productive, but the kind where you actually check everything off your to-do list! It went a little something like this:

workout: check
pumpkin pancakes: check (YUM!)
grocery store: check
fold laundry: check
vaccuum: check
clean pantry and fridge: check
study 4 chapters: CHECK!!
pack lunches: check

Remember the Whole Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes I talked about Friday? They were so yummy!!



And I still managed to make this INCREDIBLE Grilled Corn and Potato Chowder while I watched a few episodes of Friends!


By the time Chris got home from the game I was feeling so relaxed and accomplished! We had a wonderful night and enjoyed dinner and a bottle of wine we bought Saturday. Might I add, it was fabulous!

I feel ready to take on this week!

Much Love!

Weekend Plans

Happy Friday! My weekend begins in T-4 hours and it couldn't come fast enough!

This is what I'm looking forward to this weekend:

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes from the lovely blog, Pinch My Salt. I've been itching to make these all week!


Wine tasting in Amador County! Being only about an hour drive and less know than Napa and Sonoma, Amador County is like a hidden jewel! Unless you're from around here, of course:)


I hope you too have some fun things planned for the next few days!