Friday, November 24, 2017

Thanks!

Happy belated Thanksgiving!

I hope you all had a lovely holiday with your loved ones. I just wanted to say thank you to each and every one of you for being part of my blogging journey these past few years. I really appreciate all of the feedback and comments.

Reflecting back, this year has been one of the most challenging years that I have faced. Amid the ups and downs of everyday life, I am very thankful for the continued love and support from family and close friends who have always been there for me through the toughest of times.


2017 has been a year of adventure, soul searching, and figuring things out. I've learned a lot about building inner strength, initiating change, and letting things go. Growing up has never been so hard. 


Having learned so many lessons this year, things are starting to look up. I've never felt more sure about who I want to be, what I want to do, and where I want to end up in the next couple of years. Organization, a positive mindset, and a plan of action definitely help!

Here's to finishing the year strong, and to many more memories to come.

Until next time,

Melissa

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Palm Springs

Can you believe it? We're already halfway through November. I've been so busy that it took me some time to wrap my head around the fact that Thanksgiving is next week.

This past holiday weekend, I took some time to get some much needed R&R and meaningful time with my family. With everyone being spread out, it's hard to get everyone together all of the time. This past weekend, we all headed up to Palm Springs and Joshua Tree to celebrate my dad's belated 60th birthday. It was great to see everyone and to relax under the beautiful California sun.

DAY 1:

We headed off to Cabazon Dinosaurs where we had a 'dino'mite time searching for fossils, searching for dinosaurs, and climbing the inside of a T-Rex. After a long drive, we grabbed dinner at Resevoir and then settled in for the night.


DAY 2:

My family has a bunch of early risers, so we got our day started with some breakfast from Elmer's. Amazing breakfast, great coffee, and giant German pancakes. We loved this place so much, we eventually came back for round 2 on Monday.

After breakfast, we headed to the Crochet Museum, where we found a lot of interesting art installations. I was a little bit confused when we got there, but nonetheless, I settled right in and found myself amidst a creative wonderland.






While everyone seemed to enjoy the pitstop, we were all very excited to head to Joshua Tree National Park. Due to the holiday weekend, admission was free. We had an amazing time climbing boulders, checking out desert plants, and watching people rock climb and boulder. Everybody was in great sprits, and we all had fun in good ole Mother Nature. 



Following a long day out in the desert, we headed to PioneerTown and then Pappy + Harriet's for lunch. PioneerTown had a very rustic feel to it. We saw a woman spinning yarn out of wool, and cowboys walking out and about. While we enjoyed the town, we enjoyed the food at Pappy + Harriet's even more. It was here that we had some of the best chili that we've ever had. We loved it so much, we ordered chili for takeout. We'll definitely be back!


Of course every long day calls for a trip back to the house for some relaxation and pool time. It was a great day indeed.



DAY 3:

We began day three bright and early at FARM, a French inspired breakfast hot spot in Palm Springs. I absolutely loved their French press coffee and breakfast. My sister and I split some French Toast and a Croissant Breakfast Sandwich, while the rest of the family dined on specialties like the Croque Madame, and the Saumon Epinards. 

After breakfast, we headed to the Living Desert zoo and gardens. There, we rode camels, fed giraffes, and petted baby goats. The kids were ecstatic to see all of the animals, especially the camels. We also were able to witness the cheetah run, which was a unique experience. Overall, it was a relaxing afternoon filled with exploration and wildlife education.



Of course, no afternoon would be complete without another retreat to the pool. By the time family game night rolled around, I was ready to retire for the day.


DAY 4:

On our final day in Palm Springs, we had breakfast at Elmer's for our last hurrah. Everyone was still in very good spirits, and we were all quite happy to have been able to spend this much time together as a family. 

Following breakfast, we headed to the local botanical gardens for a morning stroll before heading back home. The cactarium was my favorite part of the botanical gardens, offering an array of both beautiful and obscure looking cacti in a greenhouse. 





Overall, I really enjoyed spending this past weekend with my family. Being away from my regular routine and spending time in the company of loved ones has helped me to reset and refocus on my life. I'm excited to see more of my family in the upcoming weeks with the holidays coming up. Christmas is my favorite holiday, so I'm looking forward to our annual family traditions and festivities. 

I hope that everybody will have an amazing Thanksgiving weekend next week, and a lovely holiday season!

Until next time,

Melissa