Vacation Day 4: Solvang To San Francisco

After our fun three days in Solvang we headed north to Pleasant Hill where my Grandma lives. It was a pretty drive and we saw A LOT of farms and vineyards.

One of many vineyards we passed.

It also just happened to be the day of the Kentucky Derby!!!

Sorry for the picture quality, I was watching on my phone and it was not behaving.

I did manage to watch the race! And the quality was relatively good. I really wanted the girl jockey to win but she didn't. She did, however, finish fifth, I think-don't quote me on that, which makes her the only female jockey to have ever finished the Derby with that rank. So there!

We finally made it to Grandma's house. We played with the cats, or rather the one cat, before we left for dinner. Tango was the only not shy cat. Grandma has 13 Siamese cats, all beautiful but sometimes they can be shy. All of them were shy except for Tango and he was really quite fun.

He moved too much so I had to hold him to take a picture that wasn't ALL a blur.

We went to a Mexican Restaurant for dinner. I don't remember the name but this MASSIVE fake hat was hung up just outside.

That night we stayed in a hotel in town because our resort in San Francisco wasn't quite ready for us. Stay tuned for day 5!

How Big is Your Brave?

Sara Bareilles just release a single from her new album a few weeks ago. 

I am obsessed. I decided to buy the song and add it to the playlist I listen to while I run. 

Lately, getting back into the steady schedule of running I have been completely overwhelmed with fear and anxiety. I wish that there was some kind of rationality behind the fear/anxiety but there usually never is. 

I suppose I just get worried that I'll start working hard to lose weight, to get in shape, to be healthier and to run my 10K but what if it doesn't work? What if in four months I hurt my foot again and have to stop? What if I don't lose any weight (which is crucial for me bettering my chances of someday getting pregnant)?

What if, what if, what if. 

Then I heard this song and realized that in order to prove all the naysayers wrong, I have to be brave and believe in myself. Not only do I want to prove the naysayer wrong, I want to prove my doubty self wrong too! I have decided that I need to beef up my "brave".  

I love this song. 

Josh Groban also has a newer song titled "Brave" and it is just as inspiring as Sara's. You should really take a listen!

So, how big is your brave?

Vacation Day 3: Solvang and The Beach

We were only about 30 minutes away from the closest beach in Santa Barbara so we decided that, since we had already seen just about the entire town of Solvang, that we would go for a drive and then for a dive. 

That morning we woke up and headed over to Paula's Pancake House for Breakfast.

It was totally yummy. 

Top: Normal pancakes Bottom: Danish pancakes. SO MUCH BETTER THAN NORMAL ONES!

Then we went to the beach.

The water was cold but that wasn't anything new. I'm used to the cold water however, usually it's MUCH warmer outside so that frolicking in freezing cold water is usually more enjoyable. 

Neil and I played in the waves for about an hour and then I decided I shouldn't let my entire body go numb so I laid out for the most part.

Then we walked along the beach and found a really cool rocky area. Lots of starfish, crabs and squishy things. It was kind of gross and cool all rolled into one big adventure.

When we got back to the apartment (I should really be calling it a resort because it's not an apartment or a hotel or a timeshare...) we wanted some PIZZA! I love Pizza. So we went to a local Pizza place (inside the building with a HUGE wind mill) and got pizza and a salad. 

We're pretty sure that they marinade their beets in some kind of alcohol. Good thing Neil took the first bite and realized before I went and put some on my salad. Not that I would have. I don't like beets. 

Anyway, it was slightly funny and overall it was a great day.

The best part?
We wondered into a Bakery (same bakery with the mouse rolling out invisible dough in the shop window)
and I asked what they do with their day old pastries.
The lady turns and says, "Well, on Wednesdays a company comes by and pick them up from multiple bakeries in town and takes them to a soup kitchen. But we didn't know what to do with day olds from other days. You're in luck. We just decided a few minutes ago that we would sell everything day old for a dollar each everyday but Wednesday! Would you like some?"

Would I?!?! Honey, give me the biggest box of danishes this town has ever seen!!!
We had been around town the day before and literally visited EVERY bakery. The cheapest danish could be bought for $3.25. We got 5 danish for ONE DOLLAR EACH! Now, if you know me you know I love deals. LOVE THEM. I am also a lover of pastries of the danish variety. So this combo made for one very happy Caitlin.

They were so good.

Vacation: Day 2 In Solvang

Day Two of our journey was really our first full day in Solvang. 

It was long. And HOT! But there was a breeze and if you found some shade it was fine. Plus all the shops we were going in and out of had AC so, I didn't melt. 

This day was FILLED to the brim of visiting bakeries, antique shops, little bookstores, and basically just wandering around the town.

One Bakery

This bakery had a mouse rolling dough in the window. Creepy and somehow cute.

Wind mills. Wind mills everywhere.

It was the closest thing I had to a British phone booth.

Finally we made it to breakfast. Aebleskiver, eggs and Danish sausage.

From the Winery/Cheese shop we went into. All we cared about was the cheese!

A clever play on words. I love it.

The gardens all around the city were beautiful.

Hello there, Hans!

We saw this among the variations of the Princess and the Pea. I need this book.

The Tin Soldier keeping watch!

Shops, bakeries, restaurants, museums, LOTS of walking. That was our day!

Thoughts While Running

Today was day TWO of my own "Insanitense" (insanity/intense) workout regime I have made for myself. 

Yesterday I started with Jillian Michaels' core workout and then a couple hours later I went for a 1.5 mile walk/jog. 

I quickly came to realize my mistake. 

See, though Jillian has named that particular workout as "core", let's face it. She's a liar and you are getting a FULL BODY WORKOUT. Running after that felt down near impossible. 

Anyway, having learned my lesson from yesterday, I walk.jogged first today. 

Sometimes my jogs are uneventful. I pass 4 cats sitting in relatively the same spots everyday. The same yards have their sprinklers running. For the next week or so it'll stay the same until I need more running distance for the training.

Anywho. 

I always listen to music while I run because, quite frankly, if I don't my run is never as good. 

Most days, I just sing the songs in my head but today my brain was going nuts with all sorts of thoughts and then Jai Ho came on. Here are the lyrics and my accompanying thoughts. My thoughts will be italicized.

*Music comes on and I don't really know what they say in the first verse and I don't care to know because...it's the Pussycat Dolls...*

*Cue the Bollywood music!!* 

Jai ho!

This beat is heavy so heavy you gonna feel it

My legs are heavy and I certainly feel that

Jai ho! You are the reason I breathe

Breathing?

You are the reason I still believe

Jai Ho

You are my destiny, Jai ho!

The only destiny I need is to finish my run

 Jai Ho

No there is nothing that can stop us

Is stopping an option?

Jai Ho

Nothing can ever come between us

Jai Ho

So come and dance with me

Well, that certainly isn't going to happen at this moment. 

 Catch me, catch me, catch me, c'mon catch me, I want you now. 

A little old lady could probably catch me at this speed

 I know you can save c'mon and save me, I need you now

This song is really weird

 I am yours forever, yes forever I will follow any way and any day, never gonna let go. 

Jai ho, Jai ho

Escape away I'll take you to a place

Hey! My legs are taking me to a place!

This fantasy of you and me I'll never lose the chance 

Jai Ho, Jai Ho

I can feel you running through my veins

I'm running, not through anyone's veins but I'm a runnin'!

There's an ocean in my heart I will never be the same

What would that feel like? An ocean in your heart? Yuck. Salty, weird looking fish. Yeah, pretty sure you wouldn't ever be the same after that. 

Just keep it burnin' yeah baby just keep it comin'

My calves are burning....Hey look, a new cat! I've never seen that one before. 

 ***

 My attention has clearly been diverted by said cat. And this cat was friendly. He came up to me (I was on my cool down so I stopped to pet him) and wrapped himself around my legs. He was purring and I just pet him and made a new friend. It was awesome.

So there you go, my running thoughts while listening to "Jai Ho". Enjoy.

Vacation: Day 1 Utah to Solvang

Before we left for our official vacation be went down to Manti to visit and take care of some business. 

They have puppies. They have PUPPIES!!! 

Do you understand?!? 

PUPPIES. 

Seven of them. And they are all ADORABLE. 

Basically, I parked the car, walked straight through the house to the backyard and climbed into their little play pen.

I wish I could take one home but none of them would be happy sitting in my tiny little apartment with no yard and no "chores". Border Collies need chores. Neil's parent's dog, Meg, chose to herd chickens. 

Anyway, after a good night's sleep, we were off!

Solvang. 

A Danish town just a 30 minute drive up the mountain from Santa Barbara city.

This was a lake we passed on our way up the mountain.

Quaint, small, fun. 

We stayed in an apartment that is twice as big as our own.

This clock was right outside our window.

Picture before Dinner! :)

Vacation Before the Plunge

Neil and I went on a vacation to California. 

Ten days. 

Two cities. 

So much fun. 

It was nice to get away. From Provo, from work, from the "norm".

It was the perfect length of time to be away before plunging into "full time" work and workout routines. 

Anyway, I'll post day by day (for the most part) about our adventures.