And so....

If you all remember our visit to this same hotel 2 years ago, we went back.  Catalina Island Inn. 
It's everything adorable, and everything quaint, yet plush.  It's clean, and close to everything.
Well, everything in Avalon is pretty close to each other. 
With last minute plans for our final six pack members, we'd have plans set in stone.  Leaving New Years Eve around 9am-ish.  Our destination:

Each time we've planned any trip to the island, I always dwell on "the weather"...

Catalina Island Inn- View stepping out of hotel looking to the right...

Inside the little lobby.

Outside our door

Yummies in the morning...

My favorite kind of art...

As we walked up to the taco bar...for margarita's lunch....

But let's get to the serious stuff.  Our ride over.  New Years Eve...Flat water LOOK AT THE BACKGROUND! Delicious water for sea sick peeps like Bill and I!...And...clear skies.."Hello Billy and Randy with a chip in his lips...Skipper!"-

My beautiful friend, "Skippers Wife"

We arrive, and side tie.

To "America Jane" 

Next stop after we basked in the sun, and had lunch...The Marlin Club-

Dinner venue at Steve's Steakhouse...

Our six pack member feeling really good, with his Irish Red Cheeks full blossom-

We love you Russ

The Six Pack

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This picture.  1am.  Living in the moment-

And here we have The Morning After...haha!

And just like that, just over 24 hours later...we were headed home....

But not before we popped a bottle to celebrate 2014 and what it will give to us. 

Plus it just makes the ride home that much more peaceful and fun....ha!

This picture.....Russ and Jodee, I love this....love love love this.  Beautiful-  Not only are they beautiful inside and out, they served us yummies from the minute we got there, until the second we pulled away.  Even brews and snacks for the ride back...

And as we idle away, Bill and I always look in each others eyes, with sheer fear of crazy water.  Trust me, we've been there, done that.  But.....

But......

It was like this all the way home....

And these little lover faces joined in the fun...

Celebrating this new year, and what it will offer us....

Giving us some moments together as friends, in the middle of the ocean, with encouraging words.  Words to one another of how better things will be.  How this life is fast, and hard.

Yet so good.

Especially when we see whales right next to us.  Just that sound in the distance...pure beauty.  Pure natural goodness.

And it was back to reality...as we closed in on our harbor...we get a call from Kris. "Mom, I'm fishing in our secret spot"-  And yes they were.  New Years Day 2014-

Happy Friday to you guys...It's been a full fast week.

PS. If your local in CA, make a trip to the island.  Shop prices.  Go when the season isn't busy.  Stay at the Catalina Island Inn.  I promise you won't be dissappointed.  And if the price is high, shop em.  Call em.  Make it work.

Be safe this weekend kids.  Mine is full of beauty and love with our lover faces, and Winter Formal.  

Big love, and peace to you and yours.  Be still in your heart if the day is hard, and the nights are long.
They will pass, and the sun will shine down on your sooner than later.  I promise. It's just getting through it.  You will.  You will.  

Celebrate this one.

I am busy.

Busy with life.

Busy with work.

Busy with Winter Formal.

Busy with cleaning, and cooking.  Busy with being a Mom, and a worker bee.

Just busy.

I have not made the time to sit down, and upload the rest of our New Years celebrations.  And for that I am a tad sorry.  Only because that trip will go down as one of my favorites on that island, as of yet.  Catalina, and Six Pack, you were good to me. 

Someone is celebrating a birthday too.

Hint:  Black Beanie.


So while I celebrate his life, and my slice of this life...hang tight kids.

"Let us celebrate your life with wine, love and sweet words..."


Happy Hump Day Humpers.  Say what?

Boom.

Leese

Through his planning eyes....

Gianni and Kali will officially be together 2 years next month.

Riding along side this relationship are quite a few dances.  And many have been planned out.

The cute planning that goes into these dances is so adorable.

Their last Winter Formal (invite process), and this is how it went.

Of course perfectly wrapped....

Hmmmmm

At this point we assume they are exchanging gifts...

This is how her nose felt.  Raw. 

Mom....enough pictureszzzzzz.....ha. 

Gianni, you little cute stinker you. 

It read "It's about that time"-

Oh hello Mr. Marc Jacobs.

I love this shot. 

Their picture from last  year.....cut out and folded so cute...awww!

Gianni, in this world, we always say.."All you need is love"-  It's because of your sweet, loving and ever so precious ways that will always make this big world, go sweetly around.  I have watched your tender heart, and felt the echos from it.  We love you baby boy.

Winter Formal, full force now.  All appoints set in stone, and dresses ready to be displayed.

Only difference this year? 

Our crew of Mama helping hands, weren't invited to the new house of hosting.  Might have to pull a sneaky card.  #YOLO.   haha!


Happy Tuesday lovers.

Don't forget you are beautiful.

Big love,

L

Finally.

I have sorted through Christmas.
And New Years. 
I cut and pasted pictures into folders.
The tree is finally at the curb.
Clutter has been dusted into the sky...
Stuff that needs a home, but really doesn't have a room, found it's way into "A" bin.
All the cute Christmas cards are down, and gone.  Some were absolutely adorable.
There are some lights still up.  Some I actually love.  And for that reason, will stay for a while.
Christmas Day was spent at The Gaylord home, and it was warm, and perfect. 80 in the harbor. Who could complain.
New Year's was spent over on Catalina.  With "The Six Pack".  The word perfect, is an understatement.
All of it.  The ride over.  The calm water.  The mooring, side tied to the other 2 lovers.
The hotel, the restaurant, the.....just everything. 
The ride back, was enchanting.  For anyone that follows us on Instagram was lucky enough to see the creatures out in the wide open seas.  Dolphins, whales, Sea Lions....all of it.  Blessed our New Year's Day.

Stay tuned while I get back in the groove of work, the weekend, and prepping Winter Formal girl.
(This deserves a whole separate post coming up soon...Gio, over the top again....)

Happy New Year guys!  Thank goodness for a clean house, and a full fridge.

Peace to you...from our family to yours.

Sneak peek of what was.....like a serious whirlwind. 

Cousins+Grandparents.....Christmas Day 2013

Short Sleeves Christmas Day...2013 - Eighty Degrees

My boy.  And Destiny....

Soon, we'd head to the lake.  Bright and early.

On Christmas Eve, this girl here was lucky enough to catch the flu-
Fever, chills, no appetite, and lots of bed rest.  She rallied for Christmas Day with plenty of Dayquil, Tylenol, and more dayquil.  She was quite the mess.  Poor thing.

Our trip to the lake was to tuck all the fun away until Springtime. We make the best of our hardwork, that's for sure.

 Maintenance, maintenance...schmaintenance..... All part of the deal, right?

 And while we cleaned, Miss Kali experimented with my new lens.  Action shot? 

 I love these shots.  So pure and organic-

Chapter Eighteen. 

Sickie girl feeling better?

Our three day wrap up was filled with work, good times and of course, as always the most superb sunsets.  Soon we'd pack it up, and head back to prep for the next shin-dig-
New Years! 

Stay tuned for that trip.

Until then, wave goodbye to this beautiful place....

See you in the Spring.

Boom.

Happy Monday Marshmallows. 

Who's feeling rather plush lately, raise your hand....(hand is raised. ugh)

This happy Mama Lisa

Flippin Calendars.

Well, hello two thousand fourteen!   Nice to meet you.  Let me also introduce you to the little girl of nineteen seventy seven.

“Maybe this year, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives not looking for flaws, but looking for potential.”  


That was my favorite top.
I loved the outdoors, and being around animals.
I rode my bike all day long.
I found creatures, and creatures found me.
I made friends with most everything I came in contact with.

I was a happy little girl.  A little girl that fell into the arms of free spirited parents.




While driving to Havasu-

The day after Christmas.  After watching the sun rise above the desert ridge...with a very happy Mama.  With very sleepy kids.  And a very exhausted Dad.  And a very silly Mama.  I was soon handed what I would call simply awesome.

Kali handed me her phone, with that above little picture of me in her hands.
I melted.

You all do remember that I have begged any and all family for pictures.  Of me, specifically.
Of course, I got crickets. 

I really have none.  While my sister was still at our parents, she must of smuggled a few for me.

Talk about make my year.  There are many years, and months of my childhood that were a tad "rough", if you will.  Therefore, many, many moments have been lost, in forgettaboutitland.  I believe my search for memory, and MY history is told through pictures.  Therefore, I hunt them down.

Tina, you rockstar picture getter you.  You made the tail end of my year sister, you did.

Happy New Years guys.

Live it up.


“Today is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one"

Remember to spread kindness to those least expecting.  

Because KINDNESS IS POWER.....

Love and peace to you and yours...



xoxo

Peace out.