And the Next Trip is...

Remember those two airline tickets that Brett and I won back in March?  Well, we have decided to go Belize in August!  I am so excited because a) I love traveling and b) I get to go to Central America and see the Mayan Ruins.  I am also excited because my sister, bro-in-law, niece, and nephew are going with us (still working on my brother).  My sister owns a time share and so we were able to get a great deal to add on a room for the week at the Captain Morgan's Vacation Beach Resort.  There will be lots to do between the beach, ruins, rain forest, etc.  Brett and I feel very fortunate and look forward to another adventure together.  Stay Tuned!

Some of the many Mayan Ruins

Caving and Cave Tubing

I can't wait to snorkel in this water

Quarter of a Century!

Yesterday, May 3, I had my 25th Birthday!  First of all, I can't believe I am actually 25 and second, this means I am 5 years from being 30.  It's kind of a weird moment because sometimes I feel like I am still 17.  Anyway, I had a great birthday!  

Brett and I woke up early because he had a call for work.  We went to our favorite donut shop up the street and bought our chocolate twists and donut holes.  When we came back to the house, Brett goes and comes out of the spare bedroom with flowers and a birthday bag.  I was definitely surprised and my flowers are very beautiful! Brett is very clever about hiding surprises from me, but when it comes to hiding what he ate like his In 'N Out bags, not so much. ;)

Beautiful Flowers

I had told Brett in the days leading up to my birthday that I only wanted two things, a Cath Kidston Bag (shout out to Tanya) and an Ice Cream Birthday Cake from Baskin Robbins.  Well, I ordered my bag 10 days ago from London and it still hasn't come so when Brett pulled out this birthday bag from the spare bedroom, I didn't know what it possibly could be.  Inside were three Avery Dennison binders and a new book!  I had to laugh at Brett because he likes to pull these kind of pranks on me when his company gives some of their new prototypes away (you should have seen Christmas with the 10 different journals he gave me from the Martha Stewart collection).  Now I can print all our pictures from London and our Mediterranean Cruise and put them in these binders! Woohoo! Thank you, Brett!

Later on for my birthday dinner, I met up with Brett and my brother Dave (who was in town this week for business) at El Torito Grill.  We ordered their guacamole appetizer (so good) and our entrees and this time I decided to try the shrimp enchiladas.  They were really yummy! After a great dinner, we came back to our home, played with Sparky, and ate my ice cream cake.  My cake had mint chocolate chip ice cream with chocolate cake and lots of frosting which is just the way I like it.  

Ice Cream Birthday Cake

Me stuffing my face with deliciousness 

Sparky loves my brother

I really had a great birthday and am thankful for all the birthday wishes and gifts from family and friends through calls, texts, Instagram, and Facebook.  I think 25 will be a great year and I'm sure it will be full of new adventures.  :)

London Day 9 April 15, 2012 The Day We Left London

Brett and I didn't need to be at the airport until 1:45 p.m. so we hung out at the Hart's all morning.  They had church at 9 so we had to say goodbye to them which was really sad.  We are/were so grateful to them for letting us stay at their flat for the week.  We enjoyed seeing and spending time with them.  I think their two girls, Marisa and Natalie are adorable.  They would always act like cats and meow for me.  Before we left for the airport, Brett and I indulged in our throne bread and red pesto.  It was such a treat, and we were sad that we could not take that with us.

Doesn't this look good?

Brett and I left the Hart's at Noon and it took us two hours on the tube to get there.  Our flight back to the States was fantastic.  By the way, I recommend everyone travel Air New Zealand.  They upgraded us to economy sky couch which meant we could turn our seats into a couch and be able to lie down.  It was seriously fantastic, plus you had your own video screen!  After an 11 hour flight and an entire season of Modern Family, Brett and I made it back to L.A.  Brett and I loved London and would go back in a heartbeat.  It was such a great way to spend our first anniversary.  A big thank you to Tim and Tanya and we look forward to seeing you in July.  

London Day 8 April 14, 2012

This day was technically our last day to do stuff in London.  So, we saved the markets for last and The Hart's were able to join us.  We first went to Portobello Road where Notting Hill is and the famous Portobello Market.  Brett found his chocolate and churros and I also bought a couple of tea sets.  They are pretty cute, but I needed two more sets which I didn't find.  We then made our way to Borough Market.  Borough Market is the big food market and we seriously ate our way through this place.  We had Argentine Empanadas, fresh bread, pesto, paella, tropical smoothie, and lots of samples.  I love food and can't describe to you how good it was.

Notting Hill

I could live here

Portobello Road

All the people heading to Portobello Market

haha

Look at those amazing goodies and loaves of bread

Starting the paella

Chocolate and Churros (A favorite of Brett's from Spain)

This describes Brett

At Borough Market... all their nuts

We seriously ate our way through this place

Paella

After resting for a bit, we went to a West Ham game which is on the Eastern side of London (if you go to the Eastern side, my advice is to be careful).  The game was a lot of fun and West Ham won with a total of six goals.  Brighton never made any goals and you could tell their fans were very irritated.  Too bad a fight didn't start.  Anyway, the fans of West Ham were singing and cheering so it was quite an a experience.

West Ham Game

This half fur coat is great

After the game, Brett, myself, and the Hart's went to the O2 which is where some of the Olympic events will be held this summer.  They have a lot of restaurants and Brett and I were dying to try Pizza Express.  It was so good and the Dough Rolls were my favorite.  I would say it was a good way to end our last full day in London.