Top 10 Reasons You Know You're in California...

So I've been in California for about a week now, and I honestly forgot how much I missed this place.  My hubby and I met in SoCal, and I guess I just fell in love with him right along with the 75 degree weather, destroyed jeans and flip flops.  I can't help it... I think I'm a California girl at heart.  The best part of SoCal is getting to see all of my amazing friends that are putting up with me... I mean putting me up... while I'm here :).  Note: If you find friends that you can meet up with after hardly being in contact for years, and you pick up right where you left off... these are friends for life - keep them.

So after being in CA, I realized that not everyone knows what this amazing experience is like... so I decided to take it upon my self to tell you... (and some of these were taken with my blackberry... so no judging!).  Here we go...

10.  You're surrounded by palm trees...

9.  TRAFFIC!!!

8.  Skateboarders... everywhere...

7.  You can only buy certain things in the OC... CA... (that pic is coming later!)

6.  The sunset happens over the water...

5.  In-and-Out Burger on every corner...

4.  The real Real Estate isn't in the convenient places...

3.  You can pick your own fruit to squeeze for your own juice... (photo taken in the backyard... seriously!)

2.  It's the place where the mountains and the ocean meet...

and lastly... 1.  Duh, you can see the Hollywood Sign! (uh, hello!)

More to come from the amazingness that is California late-ah!

Men at Chess

Yesterday I was sitting at Starbucks in Raleigh waiting for Lisa and Kirk to arrive for their engagement session... and stumbled upon this...

 

My immediate thought was "This is adorable."  And of course my second thought was... "Where is my camera?"  So, I ran outside to the car, grabbed my camera and came back in and snuck a few shots.

But here's what hit me today... Because of the things that have happened in my life I count the word "friend" something priceless and treasured.  The people that I call "friend" I know that I can trust with my raw emotions, and can help me weed them down to something more manageable.  These are the people that I can share my hopes & dreams with, and they won't tell me to get my head out of the clouds.  These are the people that I will cherish for life.  That I will play chess with when I'm 80 (if I ever remember how to play).

To all of my friends... I love you.  Thank you for being trustworthy and a confidant.  I will hold you dear in my heart and in my life until kingdom come.