A Rainy San Diego

End of January some friends and I decided to escape the inversion & cold
that was in Utah and head to sunnier skies to soak up some vitamin D in San Diego.

Unfortunately for us the weekend we went it rained most of the time,
but at least it was warmer and there wasn't the horrible air quality we'd been used to.

We made the best of it with a scenic train ride to quant beach town of Encinidas one day,
and walked around charming old town San Diego the next day.

Lucky for us the last two days there was no rain and we
got to see the most stunning sunset.

More pics on the rest of the trip later! 

A beautiful sunset.

I was in San Diego a few weeks ago and luckily got to see

one of the most stunning sunsets.

Cars were on the side of the road taking pictures, we sat there in awe and

took a bunch of photos to try and do it justice.

I live for a good sunset, add the ocean in the mix 

and I'm in heaven.

More pics of San Diego on their way soon!

I was a fool.

Digging this new song by Tegan & Sara.

Enjoy!

Fun in the snow.

This winter the temps here in Utah have been low low low
and the snowfall seems to not stop,
so what else do you do when this happens...
you play in the snow for days on end.

New Year's day we started it off with a sled day,
siblings, parents, kids and of course the dogs,
which happen to be sled dogs {so appropriate}!

We played for hours on end, sledding down the hills, having the
dogs pull us around all over the park, it was good times followed
by hot chocolate and warm baked goods.

Conclusion:playing in the snow is what gets me through these cold winter months.

Oh hey 2013!

A little late to the happy wishing to you all, but better late than never...

so Happy New Year!

2013 has already brought on some changes for me, 

with a new promotion at work that's keeping me 

insanely busy and some other ventures on my plate.

I usually have all my goals typed out and saved to my desktop

to review and remember them throughout the year...

but this year I've just

felt like I want to simplify my life in all aspects, 

so I've decided instead of specific goals I'd

have a mantra to carry me through 2013 and 

the years to come.

So here's to 2013, may it be kinder to all of us, 

may we strive to be a bit better and have learned a bit more

about life and ourselves!

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Christmas Part II

My dad, such a clown!

These two brothers, always joking and scheming it up.

Every year since I can remember our family gets together with
my dads extended family on Christmas night for a party.

My aunt makes an elaborate & delicious meal, we play games,
watch movies, talk about everything under the sun,
and end the evening with a Christmas exchange.

We Santamaria's look forward to it every year
and it finishes off Christmas on the right foot--
an abundant amount of fun had by all!

Christmas Part I

We started our Christmas festivities with our traditional Christmas Eve dinner,

followed by treats and movies, then the next morning opening gifts and our huge 

breakfast...gluttony at its finest!

It'd been several years since my entire family was together for Christmas,
so to say the least we were excited this year.

Especially with all the little ones gathered together, I think that is one of the
many reasons Christmas is so exciting; seeing the excitement through the eyes
of little children.

My nieces face of sheer excitement...she gets it from my dad as seen below.