PHOTOS: KUSADASI, TURKEY & ANCIENT EPHESUS

Last year I was able to visit Kusadasi, Turkey, and the ruins of Ancient Ephesus.
 

I was ecstatic to visit there, because of all of it's biblical history, and the role it played in the early civilizations.

It turned out to be AMAZING!!

I LOVED being able to see where John the Beloved built his church.

I LOVED being able to see the house rumored to have housed the Virgin Mary before her death.

I LOVE LOVED being able to see the bustling city of Ephesus, and tried to get a glimpse of how they lived.

I honestly had NO idea I was such a nerd.

I am.

 

PHOTOS: 4TH, FAMILY AND FUN

How was your week?

Did you have a great 4th?

My husband and I took a week to travel north, to have a much needed rest from the heat, and join in all the patriotic activities that bring us back to our childhood.

We also got to see some FANTASTIC people we don't often get to see.

It was wonderful!!

On the way up we stopped over for a night in Las Vegas, and decided to try out a hotel in the downtown district.  We usually stay on or close to the strip. This time we decided to be adventurous and stay in a hotel that we found at a SUPER deal, in an area that we had not been to before.

It ended up being in a really FUN location.  The whole area had such a different feel than the strip, almost a nostalgia to it.

We spent the night enjoying and exploring The Fremont St. Experience.  They have a huge light and sound show that is displayed on the ceiling every hour, street performers, a zip line, lots of casinos you can duck into for some cheap refreshments. I am a complete sucker for deep fried Oreos!

It was definitely a different Vegas experience than any I have ever had.

On the way north from Las Vegas, there were some crazy fires along the way.  I feel so terrible for all the people affected by fires this year.  The sheer number of them are ridiculous.

Then up to Northern Utah, for good food, fireworks and lots of family.

What a great combination.

On the way home we stopped by to visit more family, it happened to be on my Brother-In-Law's birthday.  He had planned himself a birthday outing and we asked about a month ago if we could join in the fun. 

We ended up going to a Japanese Teppanyaki type steak house called Ninja, and then off to the Utah Shakespearean Festival to see Les Misérables.

What an amazing night!!

Not to mention I got to hang out with 4 of my favorite little girls for a while as well!!

How was your 4th?

PHOTOS: LAKE PLEASANT, AZ

A couple weeks ago, my super cute cousin from Tucson called me up and asked if I wanted to hang out with her for a day.

Well, of course, I did!! I haven't seen her in a while, and so I was super excited!

We talked about the things we could do and she suggested going up to Lake Pleasant for the day.

I actually thought she was a tiny bit crazy, outside all day in 111 degree weather.

But I figured that she grew up here and knew what she was suggesting, so went along willingly.

It turned out beautiful!!

We rented a pontoon boat for 1/2 day, and it had shade on it, and the coolness from the lake was very refreshing.  I would definitely do it again!

Thanks Christina for a FABULOUS day!!

PHOTO: BLACK & WHITE

One of my favorite things is playing with photos. I LOVE how there are so many options out there if you didn't take the exact image that you wanted, you can tweak it so it is more of the vision you imagined.

I just wanted to share a couple of my very favorite black and white memories.

PHOTOS: DISNEY'S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE, CARS LAND

I am a Disney enthusiast.

I LOVE the movies.

I LOVE the music.

I LOVE the parks.

& I LOVE LOVE LOVE the magic!!

This last weekend, Disney had a grand reopening of it's California Adventure Park.

With this, they debuted the new Buena Vista Street area (the main part where you walk in,) featuring new shops, trolley cars, a fun vintage feel, and a new table service restaurant. 

Also, they debuted the new CARS LAND.

It's AMAZING!

Just like you walked into Radiator Springs, because you did.

ENJOY!!