Long Beach Livin'

My life this week via iPhone photos:

1. Catching rays at the Marriott pool with family

2. G surprised me with classic Little Golden books for baby on Mother's Day

3. Dinner on sunset at sunset after going to Jimmy Kimmel Live

4. I've got me an origami swan making husband

5. Jalapeno, tomato, cilantro + cheese omelet with avocado and homemade biscuits & gravy - my favorite! Thanks to my chefman as usual

6. These two were wiped out after an afternoon at the dog beach

7. Practicing!

8. In love with these hanging planter displays at Free People right now

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Username: dreynicole

Drey $ Nicole

Long Beach Livin'

My life this week via iPhone photos:

1. Bathroom mirror pic with the bump

2. Daily words of wisdom from street art found on Retro Row

3. LB Bentley's "Happy Cinco De Mayo" photo

4. G made grilled chicken stuffed with spinach, mozzarella & homemade pesto/cracked pepper cream sauce on salad

5. Multigrain pancakes from Trader Joes topped with sunflower seeds

6. An afternoon at Home Depot with my friend, Siera

7. I love how this ombre truck looks like it was watercolored

8. An adorable pocketed bib and bunny for baby

9. Planted an aloe, cactus & succulent arrangement

10. Too much food at our friend, Nikki's Cinco party

11. Chicken yellow curry, sticky rice & egg rolls at Long Beach Thai

12. Cinco De Mayo style. I love how he thinks I'm hilarious :)

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Username: dreynicole

Drey $ Nicole

Long Beach Livin'

My life this week via Iphone photos:

1. Baby clothes shopping is my favorite. Everything is so sweet and teeny

2. Decided to stop for a patio brunch while out walking the pups = Begging

3. Tx Bentley is still very much attached to the bump. It makes him look even smaller

4. A yummy adult pb&j treat from Trader Joes

5. LB Bentley stared at me like this for 30 minutes and I wondered what he was thinking

6. Breakfast at our favorite local spot makes for the best starts of the day

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Username: dreynicole

Drey $ Nicole

Bentley and the Bump

I've noticed lately that Tx Bentley has been so glued to me and the bump. Now that it's become more pronounced, he's always right up against it or even hugging up on it using it as a pillow. When I get up to go to another room he runs right behind to be next to me at all times. Even when I'm gone for 30 seconds just to pee, he'll nudge the door open with his head, get right in front of me and turn around to face the door like he's standing guard and protecting his little bump. I thought our pups might get jealous once baby gets here and they have to share the attention, but it looks like they're just going to be super cuddly and protective!

Drey $ Nicole

Long Beach Livin'

1. My hair is finally long enough for a high sockbun and I couldn't be more excited

2. The most heavenly donut/coffee shop in long beach

3. A few of our favorite Trader Joes pickups- The salmon dip is TO DIE

4. Puzzling together has become our nightly hobby- This one is taking us weeks

5. A delicious cheddar, chipotle, avacado burger topped with crispy fried onion rings

6. I fell in love with this avacado beach house while getting lost on one of my daily walks

7. We took a quick trip to Texas to make up Christmas and spend NY with our families

8. All TX Bentley does at the dog park is whine at our feet to get in our laps and watch the others- antisocial/people lover

Drey $ Nicole

California to Texas Roadtrip

Our roadtrip from California to Texas a few weeks ago was very interesting to say the least! We were originally going to fly, but because we were going to be away from home for two weeks for our wedding and honeymoon, (which were both amazing, by the way!) we had to take the Bentley pups and loads of wedding decorations. We regretfully started our 24 hour drive off at 8pm just after mister got home from work and we got the car all packed up. Why did we leave when the sun was going down instead of getting a good nights rest and setting off in the morning? Well, my stubborn self was dead set on leaving ASAP because I had the strongest craving for taco bueno's party burritos and you can only get them in Texas. Yeah, that's it...food. Driving with no sleep was absolutely miserable! We switched off on driving 4 hour shifts while the other slept. I was woken up at 3am in Arizona by G yelling that he was getting pulled over, which resulted in a warning for going 73 in a 65, but a ticket for driving with a suspended license. (Those darn dui's will haunt you forever, folks.) After we settled down from that set back, our adrenalines kicked back in at the Texas border. When pulling through that pesky little "border patrol" station, our car was quickly surrounded by law enforcement and a k9 was circling us. We were asking to pull aside and step out of the car with our dogs on leashes, and were escorted a few feet away. As we watched a HUGE dog jump into our car, stepping all over our delicate wedding decorations, fancy fur coats and crunchy snacks, we were being questioned for gun and drug possession. Just as I was getting too worked up for my own good, they told us the dog found nothing and we were free to go. (But not before Tx Bentley marked his territory on some of their things!) We finally reached my parent's house a little over 24 hours later with a big bag of party burritos in tow and immediately went to sleep! 

Drey $ Nicole

Long Beach Livin'

My life this week via Iphone photos:

1. A cute little puppy bunny named Tx Bentley!

2. I organized my fall time clothes and it feels so refreshing.

3. Sleeping in and waking up next to this guy on his days off are the very best days.

4. Rainy day thrifty shopping with the cutest.

5. Apple pie a la mode pudding. It's a real thing.

6. Tx Bentley jumped in my arms like scooby doo when a big dog barked.

7. We love Maury here at our house. Even the pups!

8. I still can't believe I get to marry this handsome face just next month. EEk!

9. Post office run with Tx Bentley to send off some of our etsy goods.

10. A cute double date night with our sweet friends.

11. A day after getting nuetured, LB Bentley was back to his puppy self.

12. Downtown Long Beach sometimes reminds me of London, but with palm trees.

13. Tx Bentley snug as a bug in a rug with mama.

14. Wearing this dress with 'November Skies' playing in my ears makes me feel fairy-like.

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Username: dreynicole

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Surprise Visit Day 2: Retro Row

1. Up bright and early for a day of vintage shopping on the infamous Retro Row

2. Mom got to ride shotgun all week since I immediately took over her mini cooper

3. We all died over this beautiful 3,000 dollar pair of vintage chairs

4 & 5. Little hipster in training? She loved my favorite shop almost as much as me!

6. Brightness and feel-good item overload

7. This is about the time she couldn't hang and was over how much my mama and me shop when we get together

8. The cutest little retro barber shop called Salon Pop! The colors are fitting, Eh?

9 & 10. This little lady loves fruit more than anyone- including adults- that I know! I've lost count of how many "fruit salads" she's had since being here while the rest of indulge. She even orders the fruit cup over the waffle fries with her chickfila kids meal! Beats me.

Drey $ Nicole

Too Cute Tuesday: Dog Park

We took a trip to the dog park again today by bike, dogs in tow, and they absolutely love riding in our baskets. They just curl up in the blankets we stuff in there for padding, relax, and let the 30mph wind blow through their hair and flop their ears around, eyes half open and enjoying the warmth of the sun on their backs while we do all the hard peddling up and down these California hills. The life of a spoiled rotten pup. No but I love these trips. Bike riding is so much more fun with a little one in tow, and I feel like I have to be more careful and gentle on the bumps; My maternal instincts come out and I get super protective and pay more attention to my surroundings. Plus the dog park is only a 25 minute bike ride away and not only is it good exercise, it's a chance for me to enjoy the scenery a little more than I would be able to had I been driving a car, cause God knows I've almost slammed into many cars with my wandering eyes in this town. Less about the bike ride there, more about the actual dog park. Here is our trip in pictures:

Mister and TX Bentley have had such the cutest little bond lately. I'm in love with that picture of them together nose to nose! As always he kept running and jumping up in our laps instead of mingling with the other pups like LB Bent. That's okay with us though, we love cuddles and we know he still appreciates getting to go out and enjoy the sun and some fresh air!

Drey $ Nicole

Top Ten Beach Must Haves

Today I'm going to share with you my top ten absolute beachy bare necessities. When I forget even one of the following, my beach trip usually ends up getting cut a bit short, and I can't quite get settled into my sandy little setup. I hope you can use my musts as a checklist to make your next beach trip a complete success!

Sure you put on sunscreen, but a lot of people forget about their lips! After getting the worst blistery lip sunburn of my life, I never skip on the chapstick. Blistex spf is my favorite!

Of course you don't go in the sun without your favorite pair of sunnies!

Reading in the sun is soo relaxing! I always take some sort of reading material whether it be a magazine, novel, or most recently this crafty book!

Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen! I love this brand because it's infused Aloe moisturizes your skin while preventing burn.

I always put a little dark tanning oil over my sunscreen for a bronzy glow. Never apply without sunscreen underneath, you'll super bake!

Ear buds for my pandora app. Music makes it 100 times better.

Jumping waves builds up a real appetite fast! Even if I have something before I leave, I can always count on needing a snack after some time in the water. I usually take a good ol' PB&J. (When my littles don't get to it first!)

When I'm riding solo I roll up one of our beach towels, otherwise we take a big mexican blanket to share. Forgetting a towel and laying on your clothes is the worst when you put them back on and their damp!

A small lunchbox or purse makes for the perfect head rest while your laying out. I also use it to house my phone or ipod to keep the sand from blowing into my screen. 

Most importantly, lots and lots of water. The salt water, sun, and hot sand will have you parched in minutes and you'll be miserable without something to drink. It is so important to stay hydrated when you're out in the sun sweating all your bodies water away. I always grab the biggest bottle I can find when heading out.

Hope you're having fun in the sun!

Drey $ Nicole

Long Beach Livin'

My life this week via iPhone Photos:

1. Goggle glasses by William Rast

2. A theatre showing only one movie at only 3, 5, 7pm

(GO SEE MOONRISE KINGDOM: INSTANT FAVORITE)

3. Babes made a tuna sammich/sushi smile!

4. Apparently someone never learned modesty around here!

5. The most ridiculous douchebag car makeover ever seen

6. Beach cruiser bike heaven

7. Long Beach after dark rules, shhhh

8. Bentley's always on his boob pillow

9. The other Bentley caught nappin' like a human again

10. A tricked out moped (Yes, there is a rooster on top)

11. The cutest little man playing his accordian for all

12. These two kill me when they snuggle each other

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Username: DreyNicole

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