OC Fair and Art in Laguna...

Had a couple of lovely excursions this week that I thought I'd throw into a blog.

Thursday night we did our McCoy Fam Bam OC Fair trip.  Sadly we were missing my two brothers, but we still had a lot of fun.  I really make sure to not miss this event as best I can because this is what making memories is all about.  Although I do think next year we're going to switch it up, take work off and go on a weekday right when it opens.  The weeknight crowds are getting to be a bit much.

There was also this really cool Art/Music Display they had in one of the big buildings that was fun to check out!

Annual McCoy Fair Trip

The tall boy crew

Pat and I opted for wine

Dad always treats the ladies to fine jewelry from Brenda

Winner winner chicken dinner

1st place

Our friend Jenny's Table Display

I want this table setting

Good Lord this is intense!

Just thought this was a cute quilt

Was blown away by this mosaic piece

Dad tried his best

Me & Pat were actually the winners

I love this so much.  LOL!

A lovely evening had by all!

That following weekend I had pitched to my little adventure group to hit up the Sawdust Festival and Art-a-Fair in Laguna Beach.  

It was a perfect day!  Overcast most of the time and not super hot.  Just lovely.  We hit up the Kitchen in the Canyon place I love for breakfast beforehand then hit both the Fairs.  Afterwards we wandered into a really nice wine bar and chilled with a glass of wine.  Talk about a perfect day!

Hell yes Pat & I split a bottle of champs!

The Saturday Crew!

My mom's good friend always has a booth at the Art-A-Fair

Hey I know that guy!

Random Alien piece

I mean we are mostly theatre people

Lovely

Wine at McClains

Love spending time with people I love!

Artists Way Week 4...(Re-Do)

 Ooooooo boy did I fail this week.

So we're supposed to do "Reading Deprivation".  Now - as I mentioned the last time I did this, the book is somewhat dated and the point of reading deprivation is to basically not zone out on something ie: reading a book, but now adays - binge watching TV or even more so - scrolling on your phone.  I was all set to kick ass at this but being in a relationship and living with someone makes it more challenging.  For example - we watch shows together.  Pat isn't doing the Artists Way so he's not going to want to not watch TV for a week.  I can not scroll on my phone - which I really did make a valiant effort to do, but I certainly didn't totally deprive myself of that.  But I will say this - before I even started the Artists Way this time - I realized I scroll mindlessly on my phone way too much.  Struggling with it this week certainly put in perspective that it's an issue.  Pat and I are working on making some lifestyle changes and I plan on making this one of them.  So I may have failed this week but I'm def inspired to do something about it.

Anywhoo - on to the tasks:

There was a lot of "List 5 things..."  Hobbies, Classes that sound fun, Not fun things, skills I want, I used to enjoy, silly things.  The ones that jumped out at me were Pottery and Planting Herbs.  I also apparently still want to learn to play the Ukulele. The planting herbs surprised me.  I usually hate gardening - but the fact that I'm getting more into food and cooking I'm loving the idea of having my own herb garden.  So that's kind of an exciting thing.  I have two pots right now as kind of a test run and if they survive I'm going to get more!

Rosemary is happy.  Parsley in the back not so much...

 

Some other tasks involved your 80 year old self and your 8 year old self.  Those "selfs" writing letters to my current self.  Well 80 year old Jami said fuck all and is traveling the US.  8 year old Jami used to make bracelets out of flowers and catch ladybugs and doesn't care about the future - but did point out to not care about boys or what other people think so much.

I missed a few days of my morning pages because I'm completely off my routine this week.  I'm fighting a cold which has a nasty cough attached to it so I haven't been working out which means I'm all messed up on my routine.  I have got myself to the pages - maybe not 1st thing after I wake up - but I've got there.  But I did lose a few days.  So hoping to feel better this week and get back to my routine.

My Artists date this week I took myself out to sushi.  I had mentioned to Pat there was a new sushi joint up Chapman Ave we should try.  He didn't seem too thrilled, so I thought "You know what?  I'll take myself out to lunch there one day!" So I did.  I brought my Artists Way book and journal and worked a bit while I ate.  The sushi was just ok but def glad I checked it out.  I sat at the bar and the chef was super nice.  I also just love how beautiful sushi is always plated.  I don't know if people appreciate that as much. 

Look at me on my Artists Date

I mean the plating is just lovely

I always look forward to my check ins with Justin and this was an especially long one.  We get to talking and time just flies right on by.  Justin is one of the very few people in my life I can just "be" with.  I love him dearly and miss being able to see him in person, but I'm just loving our weekly calls.  We both fell off a bit this week but have also both had some really great synchronicity moments which is what the Artists Way is all about.  I'm kind of excited to see what comes about.  I'm in kind of a weird place but there's plans and movement to a better spot.  Signs seem to be smacking me in the face as well so I need to be open and receiving of these as well.

Week 4 - CHECK!

Artists Way Week 3 (Re-Do)...

This week was a bit more challenging for me it seemed.  I'm finding myself not as excited as I was last time.  I'm not sure what that's all about, but I'm still enjoying myself and sticking to it!

Did my morning pages every morning!  Even when I was in Temecula. Those were actually my favorite.  I made coffee then sat outside writing my pages while watching the sun rise over the grape vines.  I mean can't get better than that right?!

Can look at this every morning?

I brought my Artists Way book and workbook with me on the trip too and finished my reading.  I also ended up doing my Artists Date while out there.  Pat (whose just getting into wine, so his tolerance is not as good as mine **giggle**) needed a nap.  I thought this is a perfect time for my "date".  So I grabbed the book and hit the pool.  That's where I actually finished my reading and just enjoyed lounging at the pool for an hour.  I was eaves dropping on the conversations between a Holland Family and a dude from Chicago which was fun to listen to!

Today my Artists enjoyed some sunshine

 

There were a lot of tasks this week and I found myself pondering quite a bit over answering them thoughtfully.

A few fun questions from many were asking about favorite childhood things.  Toys, games, what did you enjoy doing, etc.  I found it interesting to compare the list from this time and last time and the ones that were actually the same were these:

"If I could lighten up a little I would - "  I put OCD last time, and relinquish control this time.  Hmmmm.

"If it weren't too late I'd - " both times put go back to school.  Should I?  I battle with that often.

"If I weren't so stingy with my artists I'd buy her - " both times I said Art Room.  I currently do have a little set up in the garage - it's time to start using it!

I found the "Taking time for myself - " one eye opening because last time I said Easy and this time I said Much Harder Now.  This makes sense because I wasn't in a relationship before.  I love Pat to the moon and back, but I have found I haven't been taking really any "me" time at all.

It tells you to remember your childhood room.  I can only remember my "black" years where everything was black.  LOL.  But when I was little my Papa did build a half moon piece of wood where I hung a canopy down. I also have always been a fan of lights and soft glows.  I think it's time to add more lights into our home.   I'm sure Pat wouldn't mind.  This will def be put on the to do list.

This is right when we 1st moved into our condo - I love the lighting.  I want to do more of this throughout our home

 

Another task we're to remember accomplishments as children, fave foods, fave traits.  It also asks us about friends who nurture us (Maybe more notes to write?), friends we admire, people we'd like to meet who are dead.  I did find a common theme here - my traits as a kid I loved were my imagination and creativity.  I used to write and perform little skits all the time and I loved the outdoors.  What I admire in people is their ability to just get up and go and just do shit.  Zero fucks given.  Just go.  Travel.  Explore.  The last two trips I've taken it's made me realize how much I want to explore more.  To get out there more.  See more.  I think traveling is helping inspire me.  My friend just took an Art trip to Sedona with a friend she met in an online Art Class.  I thought that was amazing!

I miss performing.  I miss being creative.  I am auditioning for a show next week, we'll see how that goes.  If anything just to audition.  I also plan on talking to Pat about traveling more.  Even if just little trips.  I might do some on my own - but I am a people person for sure and would enjoy it more with a companion I think.

I'm really glad I'm doing this.  And I'm really glad I'm documenting it again.  I'll be coming back to this a lot.

 

Turning Termites into Temecula...

We got notice that we had to be out of our condo for almost 3 days and 2 nights for termite tenting.  Let's start off by saying F YOU to our HOA.  Thanks for that you dicks.  Talk about an enormous pain in the ass.  We got no stipend.  No nothing.  Just get out and figure it out yourselves.  So we had to house Luna (Thank you mom for kitty sitting) and bring Poe along with us wherever we went.  Oh and we had to bag up ALL OF OUR FOOD EVERYWHERE.  It was such a pain you guys. We took some stuff to my moms.  Had to move all my plants.  Bagged up everything with their special bags and just had to hand over the key and be like "bye!"

It was so weird.

It was also weird to return to our condo knowing it had been just chilling in poisonous gas for 2 days.  Like.  Its cool.  Ok.  Your clothes and stuff is fine.  So...I guess we're good?  It felt super apocalyptic too, cuz all our neighbors were all coming home around the same time Wed afternoon with luggage kinda going "WTF", like we were.  Then the unpacking and unbagging and moving stuff and it was like 90 degrees.  So that was just awesome.  There better be no goddamn termites.  So to our HOA (who also mind you just sucks in general with so many other things) - 

Ok...on to the Pat and Jami making lemonade out of lemons - or better yet - WINE.  We recently joined the Europa Village Wine club so we thought - hey - let's just stay there when we pick up our wine!  OK!!!

As much as I love Europa - they don't let pups stay overnight so we found a winery that does.  Carter Estate Winery!  Woot!  We booked a bungalow and set it up.

We headed out Monday morning after breakfast in the Circle and hit our 1st stop which was our favorite and our wine club - Europa.  They also are one of the few tasting rooms that open earlier than 11am.  They welcomed Poe inside too!

Poe's 1st winery

Members Only

1st tasting of the trip!

Next up was a little snack at Oak Mountain.  We wine tasted here last time and loved it.  Knew the outside took pups so we headed there.  Sadly the patio experience was not as fun as the wine tasting we did last time, I think the server was new...or just confused...but anyway...had an ok charcuterie board and fun tower wine tasting.  Oh and it was also sprinkling! LOL!  Last day of July and it rained! (Quite the downpour for a few min when were were inside Europa)

Tower of tasting

We then decided to see if we could check in early at Carter and we could!!  Yay!  This place is rad.  Huge rooms.  Gorgeous views.  My biggest complaint is do NOT let them put you by the pool.  We had the room right next door and that evening was met with screaming children until 10pm and weird convo in the jacuzzi right next to our patio Tue nite - so that kinda sucked.  But I'd love to go back and stay in a different room because otherwise everything else was rad!

Poe is ready

Poe got a goody bag too!

We got wine.  Yaaaas!

Assed out already

Walks around the vines

In my element

 

That night we had dinner at Oscars Brewing where pups were allowed on the patio and what a patio it was!  Really pretty view of a little park with a lake!  Food wasn't bad either.

We then walked around the little lake (Because there was also a geocache!) and I'm glad we did because it was really pretty and also I think the teenage makeout spot - so that made for some giggles.  There's also a very touching memorial.

So many black ducks!

My one and only geocache for the trip - can you see me holding it to the upper left?

Patiently waiting for mom to geocache

Tuesday morning we were greeted with a beautiful sunrise.  Our bodies never let us sleep in anymore, but it pays off sometimes.  I enjoyed my coffee watching the sun come up.  I went in for a refill and Pat starts yelling - get back out here!!!  There were hot air balloons taking off right in front of us!  It was so rad!

Poe and I enjoying the sunrise

Can I start every day like this please?

So rad!

This was followed by a walk around the property and vines before it got hot.

More balloons

Walkin around

Back to Europa since they open at 10!

We love Europa!

Next up was Baily Winery who also allowed dogs inside!  Yay!  We had a lovely visit with the wine guy and did a couple of tastings.  He mentioned a Sip Pass which we plan to purchase.  Look into that friends! A really great deal for weekday wine trips. 

Lunch on the move

Found the Shakespeare in the Vines location!  Guess it's at Baily!

Baily tasting

Poe liked the cool winery floors

Bought a Cab

We figured we'd hit up the sister winery to Carter for lunch - South Coast Winery.  I'd been to this one years ago.  Really dig the grounds.  Food was delish!

Mango Mimosas!

Back to Carter to chill.  I hit the pool for a bit.

We then decided to try the Carter Estate Tasting room.  Yet another that allowed Poe inside!  Yay!  I wanted to get a souvenir here since we stayed here.  They had plastic champagne glasses to purchase so I told the fella to add that on, well he gave me glass one's for free!  That was a lovely surprise.

Poe is getting used to this winery biz

Love these towers!

For dinner the Baily guy had said the sunsets at Akash were amazing and they apparently were having a Taco Tuesday truck - so off we went.  The grounds were awesome.  And the guy was right - killer sunset.  Tacos were ok. It was a bit crowded for our taste, but that may be due to Taco Tuesday - or the fact that it really was a great place to just hang and look at the view.  Reminded us more of a brewery feel.  Many little photo shoots (Influencers, etc) happening which made for great people watching.  It was the perfect end to our trip.  Just beautiful!

Are you a brewery or a winery?

Ridiculous sky

I can be an influencer too!

Sunset Poe

Oh come on!

We need longer vacations like this

The sunset was so pretty I kept running around our place when we got back trying to capture it.

Thank you Mother Nature for that one

Wed morning was up and out since we knew we had a lot to deal with coming back.  But one last morning sunrise and off we went.

Bye bye Temecula!

I'm so thrilled Pat is getting into wine!  We'll be visiting Temecula much more often!  Can't wait!