California Dreamin

It's been a while since we blogged but figured we would start off the new year with a post about our trip we took to San Francisco. I have gotten really good at tagging along with Russ on his business trips. This was no exception. A couple months ago he had to go to San Francisco for work. We've both to San Francisco before but it had been a while, and we'd never been there together. It was fun to do all the touristy things and see how much we could squeeze into a long weekend. 

Our hotel was in the middle of Chinatown. So we did some exploring and that including going to an amazing Chinese restaurant. (Sidenote: It was pretty funny cause the restaurant was playing music but it was just the same Bruno Mars song over and over. So we probably heard it like 15 times while we ate.)

We went to the famous Lombard Street and I guess a lot of people take the cable car from the water to the start of Lombard Street. We decided we didn't need the cable car and we would just walk since it was only a couple blocks away. About a minute into our walk we found out that the street to get there runs basically, completely perpendicular to the Earth's surface and we were walking the steepest hill ever. 

But we made it! And it was fun to watch all the cars slowly drive down the windy road. Plus, bonus, our little hike probably completely burned off our dinner in the process. :)

We looked up the best places to eat in San Francisco, and "Mama's" made almost every list. So we decided to go there for breakfast. We knew it must be good cause we had to stand in line for like 2 hours before we could actually go in and eat. We weren't disappointed. :) And though we were probably starving and would've enjoyed any food by the time we ate...it really was good. I mean look at it!

Of course we had to see the Golden Gate Bridge. Our bus tour drove us on the bridge and it was crazy cause as soon as we crossed onto the bridge, the temperature got like 30 degrees colder, and it was super foggy. 

Since our tour didn't stop and let us see the bridge from a distance, Russ and I found this little beach with a view of the bridge. Not only did we have a cool view, the beach itself was beautiful! 

We got to go to Ghirardelli Square and the Ferry Building.

Us enjoying our Ghirardelli hot chocolate. We also went to the California Academy of Sciences and got to go through their "earthquake simulator." Russ gives the Science museum a thumbs up. 

Left: The science museum also had a big rain forest terrarium we got to walk through. It had lots of plants and some animals. There were butterflies flying free in there. Turns out butterflies are terrifying when the fly out of no where and brush up against your face buuut they're still pretty cute...from far. 

Right: I couldn't leave San Francisco without seeing the house that the Tanners (and Katsopolis family & Joey Gladstone) called home! Unfortunately the real owners painted it purple, but it still felt like if I knocked they would've invited us in for a Jesse & the Rippers concert, and then Danny would offer us some sound advice while emotional music played in the background. 

Left: Start of Fisherman's Wharf. Middle: View from a seafood restaurant on the pier. Right: View across from Ghirardelli Square.

View of Alcatraz in the distance from Pier 39.

Us at Alamo Square Park, in front of the "Painted Ladies."

Just the "Ladies."

It was a fun weekend and we loved getting to see all the sights!

Turning 30 and Turning 4

The summer always holds a very special holiday...Russ' birthday in July. This wasn't just any birthday, it was his 30th birthday! So what did we do to celebrate this milestone? Big surprise party? Big night out? Nope, just the birthday boy and me at home. It was kind of fun to have a quiet, birthday just the two of us. Here are some pics of our party of 2. 

Russ wasn't too worried about turning 30. In fact he said, "Yeah it's not so bad being 30. Justin Timberlake is older than me and he's still really cool. Soo..." I love his logic.

Last night Russ and I had another celebration. We celebrated our 4th anniversary!

1. Russ and I had never had a full meal at The Melting Pot and thought our Anniversary was a good excuse to try it. We decided that we should've just ordered a bunch of the chocolate fondue and forgotten about the main course.

2. Our dessert leftovers were just asking to be turned into a face with a moustache. So we did what any respectable adults would do in that situation.

3. Lately Russ and I have been in a big Mario Kart phase. (Like old Nintendo 64 Mario Kart.) Nothing says love like shooting shells at each other and being overly competitive. It was the perfect end to our night. And this song was pretty much our anniversary-Mario Kart anthem.

4. Can't wait to celebrate #5 next year!

Utah from Top to Bottom

We just go back a couple weeks ago from a trip to Utah. My parents, Russ and I have gone out to Utah for General Conference for the last few years and it has become a fun tradition. It's great getting to see Conference and so much fun to see family who live there and visit with great friends. It was a big added bonus that I got to spend so much time with Russ. He hasn't gotten much time off since he started his new job so it was nice to get to be together for a whole week!

We flew in early and spent a couple days in Moab, Utah to see the arches and windows in the canyons there. It was beautiful and fun because neither of us had been there before. In Moab we got to see beautiful sights like...

...this... 

and this. 

Us in front of one of the "windows." So cool huh?

Random adorable, and might I add adventurous, couple in front of us on the trail. Not only were they precious and holding hands while they slowly walked down the path, but he was carrying an old-fashioned video camera that only added to their cuteness. 

I spent a lot of my time in the canyons trying to make sure Russ didn't fall off the side of a huge cliff. But I guess he's always been one to "live on the edge." (get it?)  Can you spot the Russ in this picture?

I knew we were high but it didn't really hit me until I saw a bird fly right by and perch itself on the edge of the cliff. Realized we were as high as birds fly! (Which to me sounds like as high as you can go.)

It was pretty crazy cause we went from 80 degrees in Moab to about 30 degrees in Park City! (world's fakest smiles?)

We spent a day in Park City and we got some snow! It was kind of a nice change of pace.

We spent a lot of time in the car on our mini Utah tour driving from place to place. One day at the tail end of a rain storm we saw this beautiful rainbow. 

After some time in Provo and SLC, before we knew it our trip had come to an end and we were heading back home. It was such a nice get away and we had such a wonderful time. 

T.G.I.S.

Pretty much every Saturday Russ and I will do the same thing, go to dinner and then watch a movie at home. The last couple of Saturdays we decided to break from tradition and do some things we don't normally do or get to do.

We have talked for months about going to Inner Space Caverns (a cave in Texas) but since it was so far North in Austin we just never got around to it. A couple weeks ago we happened to be in that part of town running errands and so we decided to go for it. No this was not the exciting spelunking excursion you may be thinking. In fact, it was the same cave tour I went on with my 1st grade class on a field trip. Even though we didn't get wedged in between crevaces and need to use a pocket knife to cut off an arm, we did see some bats...so equally as adventurous.

Inner Space Caverns

Here is us in the cave and part of the cave that looks like a sumo wrestler eating an ice cream cone.

Last week Russ and I decided to go roller skating! It had been years since either of us had been roller skating and unfortunately it showed. We realized when we hit the rink that we were the only ones skating who were old enough to have a driver's license. These kids were also freakishly good skaters. Like so good that they actually know how to use the brake stopper on the front of the roller skate instead of just going full speed into the wall to stop. Regardless it was so much fun! If you haven't gone roller skating for a while you totally should.

Jack-o-Lanterns & Jobs

Russ and I had a pretty quiet Halloween. We didn't dress up (sad huh?) and aside from our church trunk-or-treat and passing out Halloween candy the highlight was..............(I'm building the suspense)..........pumpkin carving! So we worked diligently digging, scraping, poking and carving. Below is the proof!

We had a few ideas of what to carve but all ideas came back to one thing...Mitt Romney of course! And to let the trick-or-treaters know they are "Welcome" we thought what better way then by telling them in a pumpkin.

Here are the final products. And yes, yes that is Mitt on the left. So it's not exactly a spitting image but for a pumpkin president we thought it wasn't too bad. And there is our "Welcome" pumpkin. In spite of gooeyness and hand cramping it was a lot fun! 

In other news we are so excited because yesterday Russ found out he got a new job! He's been working the past year as an auditor here in town but has always wanted to do something related to Investment Management. He found a great job and applied, and after months of different rounds of interviews he got it! We still get to stick around Austin and it is a great company and it's affiliated with UT so I guess it's appropriate to throw in a "Hook 'em Horns." I'm so proud of him and can't wait for him to start!

Home Sweet Home

Russ and I moved into our humble abode the first part of December and although it has nearly been a year that we've lived here, we have yet to share some pictures of our place. And I know there are literally only a couple people (you know who you are) who have a desire to see this, I still say to grab a bag of chips, a drink, get comfortable and enjoy this mini episode of MTV Cribs (minus the fancy reverse and fast forward camera tricks they do.)

The front of our house. Try not to be too distracted by our sweet car and amazing landscaping.

This is the entry hall that leads to our living room/kitchen area. To the right are two little bedrooms (one is being used as our office) and a bathroom.

Our living room.

More living room.

Our kitchen.

Our dining area in the kitchen.

We just painted our bedroom and so once we get it all set up I'll post some pictures of that and our other two rooms. We've had so much fun decorating and painting. And we have even had fun doing little home "repairs." (and by "we" I mean "Russ" of course.) We love it...and if you're ever in Texas you can now stay at "Casa de Brown."

In other news. Russ and I just celebrated our 3rd anniversary! Can't believe it has already been three years. We didn't do anything too big, just went out to dinner at a super good seafood restaurant we had never been to in downtown Austin. We usually don't explore any of the trendy downtown Austin eateries, we feel like we aren't cool enough, or I guess in Austin's case, aren't weird enough to go to them but our anniversary was a good excuse to try out a new one.

1.  Where Russ and I ate way too much seafood...and realized how little we know about proper dinner etiquette...and how to act like we totally knew we were ordering something with raw quail egg. 

2. And the night wasn't complete without some Mexican Vanilla ice cream with strawberries from Amy's Ice Cream. One of Russ' favorites.

3. The flowers sweet Russ got me. 

4. I feel like we rarely take pictures of us together so here is our attempt of a self-timer picture. 

We're holding up 3 fingers because we've been married 3 years. Brilliant idea huh? 

Anyways I love that guy and am excited for a lifetime of anniversaries together...with the only guy I know who would eat my raw quail eggs...now that's true love.

From Ordinary to Egg-traordinary

Happy belated Easter to everyone! In honor of this great holiday, on Saturday Russ and I decided to dye some Easter Eggs. I don't know how we've known each other for 5 years and this is the first time we've done it. It was a lot of fun! I think having your fingers turn blue and orange from craft projects is something you never outgrow. Although I hope when we shook people's hands at church and they were fluorescent colored, they felt the same way.

Our top of the line egg dying kits and carton of eggs. 

The master at work. 

Us dying both our eggs and fingers. 

Here they are. Since we both had incredible vision that was somehow difficult to translate with a wax crayon and tiny, wire egg holder I'll tell you what they each are.  For the one person who has any interest in knowing. 

Back Left: Polka Dot, Back Middle: Two-toned (I think it looks like a Nerf football though.), Back Right: Bowling Ball

Front Left: Grassy Field with Sky, Front Middle: Sparkly Sun,  Front Right: Tiger Stripes

The final product. 

Us and our masterpieces. (You like how I somehow looked surprised I'm getting my picture taken?) 

Happy Easter everyone!