seasons of love

I celebrated another five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes of Nina B for several days this January, and really I don't think we could have done it up any better.

Thank you for this one, Meredith!

It started with Saved By the 90s, where I resurrected the navel piercing I got spring break my senior year in college when my dad gave me a few hundred bucks and told me to get myself something nice. He wasn't really that impressed, but in true Dr. B fashion, didn't say much. LOL. I also channeled my best Gwen Stefani because what can I say, she's a badass! Hollaback Girl! Anyway, this was such. a fun. night. There was chicken and waffles, PBR tall boys, late-ish night pizza, falling asleep on the sofa and finding popcorn stuck to your back upon awaking ... always a sign of a good night. Thank you to my faithful neighbors and Tana and JT for humoring me.

 

My birthday was on Friday so I got BFF happy hour. What better way to celebrate your 29th Birthday than with your 110-lb besties. Cards, gifts, plenty of laughs, a cocktail or two, plus Tana and I coincidentally each brought a bag of beauty products we were looking to offload, so everyone got a little something and my bathroom got a little bit neater. WIN WIN.

Saturday I managed to convince a small group of friends to run the TBF IPA Trail Run. I had a blast. We ran, we popped bottles in the parking lot, some of us won things, we ate delicious treats, there was personalized Nina B race swag, more gifts ... what more could a girl want than to be surrounded by people she loves doing the thing she loves. It was especially meaningful because I know a lot of those folks are training for big races with big training plans and yet they still made it a priority to run with me that day. Thank you, to the best running club in town.

After running, I got home just in time to meet up with my family after J1's soccer games. There were more presents and then we had lunch and headed to the mall to use up my birthday coupons, which is one of my favorite things every year ... particularly the free Sephora birthday gift. After shopping, Gus picked up my favorite fruit tart and the Js wished me a happy birthday! I couldn't ask for a better day with the family.

And just when you thought my birthday was over, the lovely Cindy K. showered me with even more birthday gifts, including my new favorite water bottle!

My heart is full. so. so. full. A year in the life of Nina B is measured in daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee, in inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. But most importantly, it is measured in love. Seasons of love. Thank you to each and everyone of you for the place you have in my life. The next five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes would not be the same without you.

california cold

When a Californian travels to another part of the world and the temperature is relatively warm (or even hot), but for Californians it's cold as hell, it's California cold. We've only been here for seven years, but it really only takes about year to turn you into a marshmallow. Case in point, the time we went to Minnesota in the SUMMER and I had to buy us all hats because it was so f*cking cold.

The point being, we headed to San Diego for winter break and it was f*cking cold, and rainy. Regardless, we made the best of it.

On our way down, we drove right by the entrance to Disneyland and like the mean parents we are informed the Js that we were not going to Disneyland. Behold, the face one makes when you are so close yet so far from Disneyland.

We did, however, stop for the night at Great Wolf Lodge. This place is on point. I mean, if I can't go home for Christmas, might as well be in a building wholly designed to look like a northwoods cabin complete with fake snow.

 Plus, they really cater to the adults, with beverage carts strategically placed throughout the resort. The water park was indoors so I didn't even need to worry about being California cold.

The next morning we headed to San Diego to grab Grandma Amy from the airport and check-in to our rental for the week. Grandma Amy came with 3 large suitcases filled with Christmas presents. Then it was time for the fun to begin.

We braved the downpour and headed to Scripps aquarium. It's an aquarium. If you've been to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, you do not need to go to this one. Unless it's raining and you have nothing else to do.

We also waited FOREVER and by FOREVER I mean so long that by the end J1 was silently sobbing in a corner because she was "STARVING," but knew that if she said anything, we'd just tell her to be patient ... hence, the silent portion of the sobbing. I mean, I'm not going to say the wait was totally worth it, but there were mimosa flights that did not suck.

Gus and I took advantage of the built-in childcare and were able to get some adult time for our anniversary. We ate at Nobu, then wandered through a wine store (because that's what we do), and ended our evening with a night cap at this cool bar in the Gaslamp that I can't remember the name of but had some really really expensive scotch.

Oh, and the expensive scotch place also had a Moet vending machine. Who doesn't like that? NO ONE.

I realize there are ALOT of photos in this post, but you know you want to see the most festive Uber ever. This guy was super proud of his pimped out ride.

Christmas Eve we went to Legoland. The best part of Legoland? I never have to go there again. Even though, thanks to Margaret, I am not aware they sell beer, I still don't want to go there again. Everyone will tell you that it's not all that. I mean everyone did tell me that. But you really have to experience it for yourself. Once. Just once.

Christmas Eve was a Christmas miracle. We didn't have dinner reservations until 8:00 p.m., yet my precious angels wore their fancy outfits, ate their fancy meal, and there was not a single complaint. Dinner at 8:00 p.m. meant they had already sold out of lobster much to J1's dismay, but I think she made up for it with the oysters.

Christmas Day included present opening frenzy and just hanging around the house.

The day before we headed back to Sacramento, we hit up Belmont Park, which was right down the street from our little house. J2 was dedicated to that ropes course.

And because I didn't think the car was really quite full enough, and because secretly I think Gus really wanted to impress me with his feats of strength, he won me a giant hamster to keep me company while I rode b*tch 8 hours home between two children. I love that hamster.

 

And 2019 is almost a wrap.

gus runs a (half) marathon

He's not Brittany. And he didn't run a marathon. Nor did they make a movie about him. BUT, Gus finished his first ever half marathon this past fall. Good job Gus!

We were scheduled to run Monterey Bay Half last year, but due to fire and smoke all we got was a weekend in Monterey with a trip to the aquarium. We did, however, run into fellow Carleton swammers Carrie, who was also escaping the smoke, and Karin. So, it wasn't all in vain.

This year though, it actually happened. We didn't run together, train together, or even start in the same corral, so the whole effort was kind of futile in terms of relationship-building, but whatever. I had fun. I think Gus had fun, although I'm not sure he would do it again.

The course was beautiful. Running by the ocean is one of my favorite things.

We hung out with some friends at the start.

Gus PR-ed. I mean because really, how could he not? So did I.

And there are even cute pictures of us together for social media. Because if there weren't, then did it really even happen?

Did he like it? I don't know. Will he do another? You'll have to ask him ...