Lakers v. Clippers Date Night VIPs

I love it when a blessing comes our way and we are able to escape on a much needed date night.

My hub called me a couple weeks ago to let me know he was given a couple tickets, and a parking pass, to the Clippers v. Lakers game.  I was so excited as I love a date night and a night in Los Angeles makes the event even more exciting.

After getting the kids squared away we headed to LA.  I drove because everyone (mainly me) will be in a much better mood if I drive.  Traffic was good.  Great conversation catching up.  With all the great conversation I forgot to even ask where we'd be sitting.  Once before we went to a game and had great seats, I think 100 level; I thought this time they'd be the same.

San Juan Capistrano Staycation Pt. 2: Los Rios Street Flowers & Shops

A sign found along Los Rios Street

I love the simple beauty of flowers.  I will never tire of looking at a little sprout emerging from the ground or a burst of color from a beautiful flower in bloom. 

Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made, and forgot to put a soul into. ~Henry Beecher, Life Thoughts, 1858

There are always flowers for those who want to see them.
- Henri Matisse

How can there be too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers.
- Mother Teresa

Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as men or animals. Some seem to smile; some have a sad expression; some are pensive and diffident; others again are plain, honest and upright, like the broad-faced sunflower and the hollyhock. ~Henry Ward Beecher, Star Papers: A Discourse of Flowers

These sedum planters inspired our backyard redo.  Love them!

I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.
- Claude Monet

I will be the gladdest thing
Under the sun!
I will touch a hundred flowers
And not pick one.
~Edna St. Vincent Millay, "Afternoon on a Hill"

I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck. ~Emma Goldman

A Night To Remember

The anniversary couple...married November 1992

Yesterday we celebrated our 17th Anniversary. It's hard to believe 17 years have so quickly flown by.
The day started out like many other Saturdays... Soccer game, basketball practice, etc. After our youngest played her soccer game I learned that it was also last day of baseball sign-ups. What?? We just finished fall sports, just started practicing winter sports, and it's already spring sport sign-ups? Thus began the tension of our day.
I had to rush over to sign-ups with birth certificates in hand and proof of address. I waited in the long sign-up line after filling out my 15 (yes, 15!) forms and then finally made it to the close-out line. It was there I realized I didn't have my checkbook and definitely didn't have the $300+ cash in my wallet.
I phoned DH who was enjoying a U10 play-off game and asked if he could run home and grab the checkbook. "What?? They don't take debit?" was his response. Mine too.
Well, finally as they were closing the gates to sign-ups he arrived with the checkbook, and the boys were signed up for spring baseball.
By then I was feeling tired, frustrated and just wanted to go home for a nap. The relaxing anniversary day I had planned in my head was not panning out.
After a quick lunch at a favorite spot, we headed home. I needed a nap and a workout. The boys went to shoot hoops.
Because of the busyness and the tension DH and I almost decided to cancel our anniversary dinner plans. Things were just not feeling celebratory. Some days things just go awry and you feel like the enemy is out to get you. This was one of those days.
So I took my snooze. Hopped on the eliptical when I got up and started to feel better.
Maybe the date would work out.
In the meantime, DH and the boys had gone out to Ann Taylor Loft and bought me a new outfit. Super cute! Fit Perfectly!
I scrambled and called a friend who would love to have the kids over.
Despite the rough start, we were ready to leave by 6:00pm. The kids called me downstairs and much to my SURPRISE my Chariot did await!!! Hub had rented a limousine for us to take out to dinner!
I had never been in a limousine before. Excitement abounded!!

Their First Limo Ride...the High Life!

The kids, hub and I piled in the limo and we dropped the kids off at their friends' house.

We then went to a fabulous restaurant called The Cannery. The food was amazing!! As was my company!!

Salad and Grilled Seafood...Presentation was beautiful!

And the perfect ending to the perfect meal...bread pudding and coffee

The day seemed to begin in disaster, but at the end of it I felt COMPLETELY
Loved
Pursued
Cherished
and Adored!
Thank you sweetheart for a most memorable 17th Anniversary!