summer getaways: palm springs

p a l m  s p r i n g s  ;  "the people are the city"

My best friend, Becky, and I have been wanting to plan a get-away for a while; just the two of us. We knew we wanted it to be close enough to drive to, but far enough away where we felt like it was an actual vacation. Living in Orange County, we have the best of most worlds. The city, the beach, the mountains and the desert. We chose the desert, and started planning a two night/three day trip to Palm Springs. 

If you know me, then you know I always look for a deal. I use Travelzoo as a good tool to find the cheapest hotels. I found the cutest little boutique hotel called Alcazar. It had great reviews, good rates and it was right downtown. I was especially sold once I saw that "townie bikes" came with our room purchase. Yes, please! 

You know how there are so many different types of vacations? There are the ones where you plan out every detail, and there are ones where you do lots of excursions and touristy things. And, then there are also the ones where you go with zero plans, except to swim, relax and have fun. That was the getaway we both wanted. 

On our way out to Palm Springs, we made a stop at an awesome brewery called Hangar 24. I recommend the Orange Wheat! We went once before for my bachelorette, so we wanted to go again. It was nice to make a pit stop to get our vacation started off on the right foot!

Hangar 24 - Orange Wheat

We got to Palm Springs on Sunday afternoon, and scoped out our hotel. It was the perfect place for a relaxing trip. The property is quaint and has only 30-something rooms, with one pool and one jacuzzi. I would definitely recommend it, and especially going on a Sunday-Tuesday. Better rates and less people! The hotel is very modern, and the landscaping was beautiful. On the hotel property, there are two other really neat places: Cheeky's & Birba. Cheeky's is a famous breakfast/lunch spot in Palm Springs, so we knew we needed to go there! Birba is this bar and lounge, with really neat cocktails and an urban atmosphere. I loved that we didn't have to go very far for anything. We could walk or bike everywhere. That's my kind of vacation! 

becky // townie bikes // our hotel

french toast breakfast at Cheeky's

While we were in Palm Springs, I told Becky that I wanted to branch out with my choice of drinks. I am a beer girl, and that has always been my go-to. I wanted to try different drinks, and step out of my comfort zone a bit! I even tried a Churrotini (great concept, but I disliked it so much that I sent it back!). Our go-to for this trip turned out to be something I never thought I'd enjoy: margaritas! I've never been a fan of tequila. Maybe it was the fact we were on vacation in the desert, or that it was 100+ degrees, but I was really craving margaritas! I'm a fan now :)

homemade margaritas, thanks to Trader Joe's

Overall, this was one of my favorite little getaways. It was great to spend quality time with my best friend, and to embrace a little R&R. Palm Springs is such a neat little desert town, and I look forward to going back someday.

getting ready for the pool!

riding bikes around town

XO

Brenda

journal day: beauty is an opinion, not a fact

Journal Day Prompt from Dani of Sometimes Sweet

How would you say your upbringing or background has shaped your idea of beauty? Were you taught to apply makeup or do you hair by your mother or friends? If not, where did you observe what is now your norm as far as beauty practices? And although most of us have been inundated by different cultural beauty "norms" via the media, would you say that television and magazines have had a strong impact on shaping what you think of as beautiful? This week, write about your idea of beauty- how your background has shaped it and what that means for you today.

Growing up, I would say that I was definitely more of a Tomboy than anything. I played sports, didn't wear makeup and I even wore boy Dickies shorts (I know, I know. Gross). I didn't even start to think about "girly" things until I was in high school. That is when I started to wear makeup for the first time. I didn't really ask for help when it came to makeup, I just did what my mom did. My makeup routine consisted of: Covergirl rose blush on my cheeks, a little bit on my eyelids, Vaseline on my eyelashes - then curl them, and to top it off, Vaseline on my lips with a little bit of blush over it. Even as I'm typing this all out, I'm chuckling to myself. My mom pulled this look off, but me? No way. I looked so funny! I stuck with it anyway, because it was all I knew. 

Come Sophomore year of high school, I decided to throw some black eyeliner into the mix of my makeup routine. I was what you would call a scene kid. Basically, I was really into punk, hardcore and screamo music. Hence, the black eyeliner. I'd go to shows and see all the other girls (and, even some guys) wearing it, so I figured I'd try it out. I would cake that eyeliner on, too. Sigh. I'm sure we could get all psychological and look far more into the reasons behind this (hiding from the world, rebelling, insecurities, etc.), but really, I just liked that look.

Thankfully, just a few years later, I moved in with my best friend, Becky. Most of you know Becky is a hair stylist. As far as I've known her, she has always had an inkling for makeup and hair. In her earlier years of going to Cosmetology school, I became her "guinea pig". I definitely got the better end of that stick. She's a natural when it comes to these types of things. Becky took me under her wing, and showed me the ropes. I will say, I didn't always catch on though. I can remember having SO much trouble when it came to applying eyeshadow. And even now, if you know me at all, you will maybe see me wear eyeshadow once a year (and Becky was probably the one to apply it for me). We both went through this phase, circa 2007, where we'd wear BRIGHT eyeshadow. I'm talking orange and yellow. Becky pulled it off. I, on the other hand, just looked like a David Bowie fanatic. I just couldn't get it. Since then, I've just decided to stick to a very normal and basic routine. I'm totally okay with that. I'm so grateful to have someone like Becky in my life to show me the ropes. She still is that person for me. She still does my hair, and she still gives me tips on makeup. Every girl should have a Becky in their life.

 

orange & yellow
// 2007

keeping it basic & simple
// 2012

Physical beauty truly is about perspective. Each person is so different from the next. I can see my Pinterest feed and think, "how on earth does that person like that?!", and I know others might feel the same when they look at what I pin. But, that is what I think is so great about this world. Beauty is not a fact, it's an opinion. 

As much as I can sit hear a poke fun of my past, I really do appreciate it. I didn't really grow up caring all that much about what other people thought of the way I looked, or didn't look. I was raised to be true to myself, and if that meant being a Tomboy, or wearing David Bowie makeup, then that's what it meant. We all go through different seasons of life, and our appearance tends to reflect those seasons. Who knows, maybe one day I'll start wearing eyeshadow, and I can only wonder what that season of life will bring...

XO

Brenda

Let the Good Times Roll

This past week has been great. I finally started training at California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) and I am on the floor as a server (again). I went through three days, back to back of training and then did a few shadow shifts, and now I am on my own. It's crazy how much it really is like riding a bike; everything just came back to me. Even though serving was not where I imagined myself post LiNK, I am still grateful for this job. I am excited to be making money again, and finally being able to save so I can MOVE OUT!

My friend Meleca has been so hospitable to Becky and I. We have been staying at her home in La Mirada. It has been such a blessing because it is saving me on gas and time. God is truly providing for me in the most unique ways lately! Plus, it's been nice being around Becky more and getting caught up with Mel too! I can't complain either because Jamey is only a few minutes away from here :) and then work is right up the road as well. Win-win!

Life has truly been smiling on me lately, and I am loving it. Summer is approaching, and that makes me one happy camper. Give me sunshine, or give me death, that's what I say!

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Here are a few things that have been making my heart smile lately:

                            

Water - I gave up drinking soda for a month and since then, water has been a good friend to me.

Jamey - He is such a joy to me and I can't get enough of him!

Becky - I have been so happy spending so much time with my best friend lately!

Spontaneity - I realize I am only getting older, but being spontaneous and adventurous should not be put to an end because of that. I am learning to embrace this more. In this case, it was an aimless drive filled with some random adventures, and singing of course.

I am looking forward to seeing The Head & The Heart on Monday with my Love! I can't waittttt!

[Brooke, I am stoked to see you and Matt too!!]

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What are you looking forward to for this week?!

XO

Brenda

Creative Challenge Almost Completed!

So, I realized that I miscounted my creative challenges. I thought I was on number 24, but I actually labeled one of them incorrectly on a blog. Lucky for me, that means I've done one more challenge than I thought! Here is my update (which seems pretty pathetic to call it that, since it's only 3 items) for this last week! Enjoy <3

Day 23 

My good friend, Sean, and I made Thai Yellow Curry Chicken.

I have this odd fear of cooking chicken. 

I am convinced that I will be so absent minded when cooking it, 

and get salmonella. 

Anyone else share this fear?

Day 24

You've seen this guy before, his name is Chris. 

I tend to do a lot of my random art projects with him. 

We spent all Friday afternoon gluing square pieces of paper onto a thick poster board. 

500 pieces to be exact. 

This was a mosaic art display for a show we had at our church.

                                   

Day 25

I've always been fascinated by those neat melted art canvas pieces, 

so I decided to do one for my creative challenge, but add my own personal touch to it. 

*I created a stencil that said the words "give grace"

*I glued the words onto the canvas

*I organized and glued the crayons by certain colors to the top of the canvas (I didn't have any hot glue sticks, so I used a glue stick)

*I blow dried the crayons on high heat (warning: this WILL get messy, be careful!)

This is a super fun and relatively easy art project to do. 

The best part is that the wax from the crayons melt quickly, and also dry just as quick. 

After I was done, I peeled off the glued on letters so that the white from the canvas could pop.

My inspiration for the words "give grace" come from a book in the Bible called Ephesians. Lately, Ephesians chapters 4 & 5 have been coming up in my life, 

so I wanted to do an art piece to reflect the season I am in as well as these chapters. 

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, 

but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, 

that it may give grace to those who hear." 

Ephesians 4:29

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One of the highlights of my week was spending quality time with my best friend, Becky. We hung out Saturday night and went to dinner with some friends, Karoke (yes!), sleepover, morning breakfast, lunch in Orange and drove around town. I really love my best friend. She's definitely my better half. Some people don't get it, and lots of people don't get us, but that's okay. 

Love you, Best.

Sunday afternoon lunch at The Filling Station in Orange, CA

(Becky: left, Me: right)

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I hope you're having a great start to your week! There's still time for you to submit to me your ideas for my creative challenge (I have 5 more to do!)

XO

Brenda