Our Beautiful World 179 ~ Light

One of the thing on my new year list is to spend less time blogging, in order to do that, I need to make a little changes.....

First thing, we decided to close Our Beautiful World down after February, so we just have a couple more posts to do at OBW.

This week, the word is LIGHT.

I picked this photo I took with the LIGHT that cast the long shadows of Randy and I at Oceano.

and I sure love the LIGHT during sun set....

I am not an early bird, so we never catch any sun rise, but I do have tons of these.... LIGHT at sun set.

please come join us at .....

Our Beautiful World

Our Beautiful World 176 ~ Peaceful

Back in the summer, I had a few bad months, life was in chaos and I was feeling depressed for the longest time, I needed a get-away so badly so we went to Oceano, CA for a few days just to be by the ocean.

we did pay a high price for this Airbnb rental, but the owner locked up the front bedroom, which is the one facing the ocean, so it was a bummer, however, from the living room downstairs, we are still able to get this view....

we walked on the beach every morning and evening, it was that peaceful feeling I longed for.....

I think my little boy agreed too....

we really love how peaceful it was by the ocean.

Join us this week at...

Our Beautiful World

 

Absolutely Fabulous Layout

It's been a while since I last make a 12x12 layout, I am finally back in routine after all those traveling, here's one for....

Challenge Yourself #34

I don't think I have a lot of layout with fall colors, but here's my take on this beautiful fall palette....

I picked a dark brown cardstock for my background and then start working those fall leaves around....

 the sentiment die is from MFT, I absolutely love it....

this photo with my son Lione was taken at Yosemite National Park last December

Finally home and OBW 169 Holiday

Whew.... I am finally home, sleeping on my own bed last night.. 

it was trip after trip since late September, we went to San Francisco, and then the weekend after is Oceano, CA for a break I desperately needed, came home for just a few nights and then we were off again to NYC, and then home for a day and off to Colorado, we came home late last night and I desperately needed a break from all of these trips, I am going to stay home for at least 10 days, YAY!!!!!! and then we will be off for another road trip to Orange county. 

I feel so disconnected with my blog..... and I am late for my OBW post.

HOLIDAY is the word this week.

In Singapore, when we said HOLIDAY, we mean going away, like a vacation mean to American. Here in America, I think most people think of HOLIDAY like Christmas, Thanksgiving etc... 

So..... I pick this photo...

for Thanksgiving HOLIDAY, which is around the corner.....

You'll see it everywhere in America this time of the year, of course sometimes we took for granted that is obvious to see pumpkins everywhere in the fall, not until my girlfriend Ann, who live in Germany told me that she loves how every household is decorated with pumpkins in front of their front door in Vermont, she was here in USA last fall and simply loves it....

I took the pumpkins photo when we went to a local farm stand in Oceano, CA.

besides pumpkins, they also have strawberry field just at the back of the farm stand....

well, whatever the word HOLIDAYmean to you, come share with us at...

Our Beautiful World

PTI Make it Monday #263 ~ Background Building with Frames

We got home on Tuesday from Oceano....

it was a relaxing short break for me, even though we might not choose Oceano again (I will go into details when I do my project life), I am just happy that I can be near the ocean.

Life is back to normal, everyday is so busy since we got home, an upgraded software on my Iphone and a new printer, both not compatible with my Macbook, I spent lots of time dealing with those two between teaching, and then we are leaving again tomorrow for NYC, just feels a little overwhelmed with a lot of traveling back to back and small errands need to be done : (
anyway........ here's my latest make for....

 
The Challenge:

PTI Make it Monday #263 ~ Background Building with Frames

The frames are from PTI but I forgot the name

I used a stamp from PTI Botanical Blocks Stamp Set, inked with gold and embossed with clear embossing powder and then add water colors and clear accents...

 

the sentiment is another die from PTI.

Ok, gotta go pack my bags as well as prepare the guest room as Clare and the gang will be home in just a bit! Thanks for stopping by.....

Oceano, CA

Last Thursday, we pull out a few sweaters from the lost corners of the closet, load the car with a few food items and things for Papi, off to a trip to Oceano, CA, to be near to the ocean....

much of my life seems to have revolved around islands....

born and grew up on one.....

being near the water really makes my heart HAPPY.

 

walking along the beach in the morning and evening....

listening to the sound of the waves....

and when we are not doing those, we just look out of the glass door or sit at the balcony staring at the ocean......

Ahhhh........... I didn't know the days could pass so quickly even you are doing nothing, tomorrow will be our last day here at Oceano, and I already can tell, I will miss that lonely seagull so much!

 

Project Life 2015 ~ December 16

Project Life 2015

*warning - photo heavy, everywhere we go is so beautiful, I couldn't help but snapping away
 

December 16 
We have a full day today, our plan is to drive around Monterey, Carmel by the sea, 17 miles drive and then the Pacific Coast Highway, on my list is also McWays Fall on PCH, of course I am the only driver, I know it will be a long day so we starts the day early.

I drove to downtown Monterey, it was not what I have in mind, when I came home, DH told me it was Monterey Cannery Row, the place we visited the last time, anyway..... I took a loop at downtown Monterey, and then proceed to Carmel by the sea

 

after we parked the car, we walked to the beach....


there were a lot of dogs running freely at the beach, Papi wants to join in the fun too



he also left some cute prints on the sand




Life is better by the ocean....


it is true ....


 

after that, we went for a little walk at this story book town....




 my sister trying to break into Hansel and Gretel's house


Papi and I are just happy sitting here......


 we get our lunch at Carmel Bakery, the Asian chicken soup is yummy.


 
 

after Carmel by the sea, we do the 17-mile drive.
I have done this 2-3 times, I don't really find it special because glaring at some rich men's mansion
I got tired driving round and round so we move on to the Pacific Coast Higway

one of my all time favorite.....

regardless where we stop, we are able to find good spot for picture

 

I have been to Pacific Coast Highway many times, but I have not been to McWays Fall, I found the information on the internet few months ago and I know I must come take a look

it was a short hike, slightly less than 10 minutes, walk through this tunnel 

and the view is amazing

you can see McWays Fall from a distance

the waterfall is 80 feet, used to fall right into the Pacific Ocean, but after an earth shake in the 80s, it created a beach

 

I used my zoom lens so we can have a good look at the waterfall

the only thing is Papi can't go with us because it is a State Park, so Lione has to stay with Papi in the car and I go with the rest of the gang, and then run back to the car so Lione can take a look too, good thing is just a few minutes walk

after McWays Fall, our plan is to drive home since we have many many hours to go

but we couldn't help and make a few more stops because everywhere is just so beautiful 

like the sea lion park....

we see hundreds of sea lions resting on the sand

by this time, I think we should really head home

it was a long day for me especially I am behind the wheels for more than 16 hours
 

if I do this all over again, I probably would stay somewhere near PCH for a night, and then drive home the next day or at least have a second driver, it is just too much for me to drive that many hours in one day but I am glad we all get home safely

 

thanks for hanging in here with me, I tried my best to cut down the number of photos I like to post it here, but there are just way too many good pictures and I really can't accommodate all in one post.