girl time

Our last day in Sacramento was spent waking up early in time to head off to join my Mom for some much wanted yoga...err, hot yoga.

I love yoga mixed with walking and pilates whenever I can fit it into my day. Our travels have allowed plenty of walking, not so much stretching so I was eager to lengthen myself while trying a new form of a favorite activity.

I've never done hot yoga, bikram yoga, before. Recall my first official yoga class was just a couple weeks ago in Austin but it wasn't hot.

My sister met my Mom and I at the studio where Mom practices. We arrived early enough to snag the best spots on the floor and of course to take some before hot yoga pictures while we were still happy...we knew we wouldn't want to smile for the camera after 90 minutes of sweaty stretching...eww.

There were a few times I thought I might die during yoga. Heat makes me miserable so I am not sure why I volunteered myself to find my balance while posing in what felt like 100 degree weather but I've always wanted to try it and couldn't turn down the chance to experience it with my Mom and sis.

We survived the class, thankfully. My Mom gets a rush from the intense workout...my sis and I get lightheaded and just really, really sweaty. I think I prefer my hatha moves a bit more but truth be told, if ever invited again I will be sure to pack a water bottle and grin while executing a killer cobra.

After showers we honored our health by going to lunch in Galt at The Sqeeze Inn...probably thought of as a heart attack waiting to happen by some but I believe all things in moderation (all things natural, that is, know those ingredients and know where you food comes from, it will change your life!) so I felt pretty fantastic about ordering a burger smothered in cheese, mushrooms and bacon.

We hit up a local thrift shop after lunch where I found an electric blue plaid skirt for just $2.98, then headed home where I sipped tea and honey and chatted with my Mom about life and love and friendships and work and...everything...Mom and I could chat forever.

A few hours later my sis drove me to the airport where I met up with Rob and took our last flight with Jet Blue home to Hollywood...sigh...

family gathering

Later the same day family gathered at Madge and Tom's for a delicious meal and delightful conversations and company.

Madge never fails to offer a fantastic spread of home cooked comfort food...chili, macaroni and cheese, corn bread, polish sausages and plenty more, all followed by an assortment of pies. We piled up our plates and enjoyed a meal with loved ones.

We always appreciate time with family and were so glad to have this special memory.

cafe party with Madge

One of the best times in the day is cafe party time where coffee is brewed, sunshine is flooding a room and conversation is full of energy and eagerness to begin a new day.

I love cafe parties and might be the only person who gets excited to celebrate with them but find myself happy to attend whenever I can, especially with Rob and especially with dear family and friends.

Our second morning in Sacramento was spent with a cafe party with Madge, my sweet mother-in-law.

I am always in awe at how gracious and loving Madge is to both Rob and I. She is a hard working, intelligent and loving mother and I count myself incredibly fortunate to have her in my life.

We sat at her dining table and sipped coffee and enjoyed coffee cake. We chatted about a varitey of things, from travels to family to creation...never a dull moment.

After a while Brian joined us and found himself laughing while watching silly videos with Rob...must be a brother thing...

The rest of the day was spent running some errands in prep for a family gathering later in the evening...more to come soon!

dinner with mom & dad

After strolling downtown Sacramento we met up with my sister and brother-in-law to drive out to my parents for a country side dinner.

I was so eager to see my sister, Juliet and her wonderful husband, Dustin. I try and I try to recruit them to move in with us in Hollywood but the timing just seems to be off at the moment.

Upon arriving to Juliet and Dustin's, I was once reminded how grown up my little sis has become. An autumn scented candle filled their apartment air and confirmed the fall season was yet again present. Photographs throughout their home displayed love for each other and love for family and friends and recent folded laundry signified though happy to enjoy moments at home, no time is to be wasted when you are young, in love and employed...

Juliet just landed an excellent nursing job. Our family is incredibly happy for her as she has worked her hiney off to get a job she loves and looks forward to each day.

We piled into Juliet and Dustin's car and headed out to my parents in Herald, California...population 1000.

Going to my parents is always a treat. The air is fresh, the breeze is embracing. At night you see incredible stars. Everything is a bit slower in Herald. You can count the number of cars that pass by, they are few but always accompanied with a wave...sometimes a honk if drivers are extra friendly.

We were greeted with hugs and kisses from my Mom and Dad...we are loved by our families, we are incredibly blessed.

Each visit is a bit different but there are always similar elements of our stay in Herald. Dad always shows us the progress of his garden. My Dad is amazing. He can grow anything...corn, melons, berries, squash, green beans, snap peas, oranges, peaches, nectarines, basil, rosemary, cilantro, tomatoes, lettuce, swiss chard, to name just several.

His latest venture is grapes.

"Cool Daddy" vineyard was planted just last year and is already being harvested and fermented into wine by Dad himself.

Amazing.

My Dad has been crushing, fermenting and tracking the progress of homemade wine, hopefully aged and ready to toast to within the next year or so. He showed us how the wine is made and the tools he uses to track its sugar counts, bitterness and acidity.

I hope one day I am half the gardener my Dad is.

After walking just some of the garden, we spotted carrots and berries, rinsed them off and added them to a salad we enjoyed at dinner, along with grilled chicken and steaks, steamed rice and grilled squash with fresh herbs.

After dinner we walked next door to visit my sweet Grandma Flo.

She is always a delight to chat with and always has something interesting she is working on, be it stylish jewelry (Jewels to go by Grandma Flo) or cutesy aprons...this time she pulled out some newspaper articles she dug up and was reminiscing over.

My Grandma was adopted in Chicago of 1937. Her adoption story is quite thrilling as she was the object of all the local newspapers, a child celebrity, she says.

She told us all the story of how lifestyle scams by her birth parents made headlines while her adopting parents fought for little Florence Ann for days and days until she was finally placed in the safe arms of her beloved new mother and father...we marveled at all of the original articles and noticed we were reading them exactly 72 years to the date of which they were printed.

Grandma's story was quite inspiring...we all sat around the room and listened to her recall younger days.

tourists in our hometown

We flew into Sacramento on a Monday night and Rob's brother, Brian was sweet to pick us up from the airport.

Since it felt about three in the morning, we were eager to crash on the cozy bed Rob's Mom, Madge, prepared for us. We slept as long as we could, woke up for coffee and breakfast, picture uploading, The Rachel Zoe Project (I got hooked in the plane, I just love Rachel's genuine passion for her job) and the icing on the cake...laundry.

Since all of our family was working Tuesday we decided to spend our free time acting like tourists in our hometown of Sacramento. Rob and I grew up in Sac and used to take dates at places like the Delta Queen and fancy restaurants in downtown Sac. We would get dressed up and take pics as if we were going to a prom...we would even name our dates, you know, like how there are cheesy names on the bottom of your prom pictures, like, "An Evening to Remember" and stuff like that?

We were so dorky, but fun and creative daters.

We drove downtown to check out Capitol Dawg, a little hot dog joint we read about in Madge's Sacramento Magazine.

Rob enjoyed a hot dog inside such an ecletic and colorful kitchen.

Afterward we walked around, went inside cafes, read local papers and then landed at The Beat.

Rob tries to make it to The Beat as often as possible when in Northern California.

The owner at The Beat is a really nice old guy. One time he gave me a CD for free...

We liked walking downtown. It's familiar but much more hip and urban than I remember. New lofts shaded by the collection of trees gave a fresh earthy vibe and little art studios and dance rooms made me happy for the locals who have opportunities to tap into their creative sides and explore the wonderful world of expressive design.

brooklyn bridge

Our last day in NY was spent walking across the Brooklyn Bridge on the most glorious, clear day, ever.

Look at that amazing sky.

We paused near the water for a bit in Brooklyn and played with the self timer.

I like this shot of Andy.

After our walk we went out for a sushi lunch, then after more walking around in Manhattan we were on our way to our last stop with Jet Blue, Sacramento.

Sigh...I hope we get back to NY soon. We had an amazing time in such an incredible city.

central park & lombardi's pizza

On Sunday we enjoyed walking through Central Park.

It was a stunning day after the rain...blue skies, white clouds and a crisp, Autumn breeze.

I absolutely love spending time at the park. It is never dull, always inspirtational to walk about and see the lovely greenery and diverse groups of people also enjoying the park.

After a full day outside we met up with Ina again and her friend, Gudrin, also from Germany.

We shared NY pizza from Lombardi's (our pizza of choice, no offense, Chicago) and enjoyed company with each other.

After dinner Ina took us to Zum Schneider, a fantastic little German bar where we didn't fail to do the congo, dance like chickens, sing in German and be amongst the German folk dressed in leiderhosens and cute little dresses.