Long Beach Livin'

My life as of lately, according to my smartphone photos.

Inspired by Bleubird Vintage 'Bits and Pieces' (A Friday ritual)

1. Couples bikerides to the beach 2. My everyday sunset

3. Best burrito made by mister 4. My new son

5. Early morning paper reading 6. I wake up to a Starbucks delivery everyday

See you next week for some more weekly life updates, via photo!

With Love,

Drey $ Nicole

P.S. - A big Happy Anniversary to my Mom today!

A dose of Drey: Fact #7

A dose of Drey: Fact #7

My favorite color in the whole entire world is PEA GREEN. All of my life, up until last year I believe, I've called it Olive Green when asked what my favorite color is. The color I love though, and the color of olives just aren't the same! My kind of green is that mushy pea, ugly old 70's couch, baby diarrhea green.

Sincerely,

Pea $ Head

Final Destination

Twenty-seven hours, eight red bulls, three five hour energys and two sodas later, we're finally here! It wasn't so bad with staying overnight in El Paso, trading off, and stopping often. We even picked up a few goodies at a New Mexico giftshop. There was a Mexican blanket/pancho 3 for $19.99 deal that we snatched up, racking in a pink, black and white blanket, pancho style hoodie in turquoise for mister, and a pink one for our unborn baby girl. No we're NOT expected...we just couldn't find one that I liked for me, and the little girl one was just too cute to leave behind! We also got a shotglass for my mom's collection, fridge magnets for every state we drove through on the trip (currently up displaying a few photos we snapped back home while visiting with my sister), and of course fireworks for Gian. I jogged down the side of an interstate at sunrise for the first time in my life. We stopped at all the state line signs and took pictures! In Phoenix, Arizona we went to a little Mexican food spot called Los Taquitos, that was featured on the show 'Diners, drive-ins and Dives.' It originated out of a taco truck, run by five sisters and a brother. They've now worked their way up to their own restaurant, and it was amazing! We're here in Long Beach now getting everything unpacked and settled in, and then the posts will become regular again! Stay tuned for new life updates!

Sincerely,

California $ Girl

Skype Dates

Thank the lord heavens and Niklas Zennström for inventing Skype and getting me through these last two weeks. The long wait is finally over and mister will be flying into Texas in the morning. We're going to have a few days with our families here and then hit the road for a fun road trip to our home in Long Beach, California. I couldn't have done this without you, Skype. I will continue to use you to talk to my parents, friends, and the rest of my family from California. It's so much better than just a voice over the phone. BEST. INVENTION.

Anxiously yours,

Drey $ Nicole

A Monday night tradition

Okay, so I have a three guilty pleasure show limit. Whether it’s The Bachelor, American Idol, or Big Brother, we’ve got a routine for it. Currently we’re on The Bachelor so it’s a Monday night ritual, but it changes to Tuesdays and sometimes Thursdays come summer time. My stepmom, we’ll call her Marmie, (a “Little Women” reference) and I meet at our favorite place, Pei Wei. We talk, gossip, catch up, and eat wonderful foods. The manager there knows us well because no kidding, this has been our weekly routine for about 3 years now, same spot. He calls us by name, gives us extra attention and even appetizers and meals on the house here and there! We kill just enough time to let tivo do it’s job, then we go home and watch commercial free! I think it’s cute and fun and I can always count on that day. I’ve got a strong thing for traditions and routines. Do you have any guilty pleasures or little traditions with your family and friends?!

For the love of reality television,

Drey $ Nicole

P.S. - The kitties love The Bachelor too!

A letter to the President

Dear Obama,

Why am I 22, have 3 jobs all with the city, live in a two bedroom 1 bath house on my own, struggle to pay rent but always manage to get it done on time, and I OWE sixty-seven dollars in taxes???? Last year I made 15,000 and this year I made 13,000. Yet, I owe $67 this year when I made less, and recieved close to $800 back last year? I feel like I'm being punished for having 3 jobs and trying so hard because that's what it takes at my age to afford my own place and be responsible, when others are sitting on their couches everyday mooching off the government recieving food stamps and being supported by unemployment checks for doing nothing! Can you please explain because I'm feeling pretty defeated.

Sincerely,

Drey $ Nicole

P.S. - And I voted for you.

Recycle Rant

It really bothers me when people don’t recycle. Olly is having a tough time grasping the idea, and you can bet I aint to proud to dig through the bin and pull out boxes, paper, and cans he’s thrown in there. It just makes so much more sense. Not only are you doing a good deed for your environment, it’s more organizational, and you don’t have near as much trash to put out. It takes me like two weeks to even fill a trash bag and have to put it out on the curb. You don’t even have to put recyclables into a trash bag because there’s no food or fluids on them. So you’re saving money on bags too! I hate to be one of those people trying to shove a belief down your throats because the media is making it the “cool thing” to do right now, but come on people, it’s simple. Don’t be a rebel on this one!

Make the world go round,

Drey $ Nicole

P.S. – Did you know it takes 500 years for 1 glass bottle to decompose in a land field?! Think of all the beer bottles and tomato sauce jars building up into a huge pile somewhere! Gross. Don’t think because it’s out of your sight that it just goes away.