Our birthday celebration weekend started around 11 p.m. Friday night when we finally arrived at Joshua Tree National Park to set up our tent. We planned to get there before dark, but work ended up being crazy for both of us. Let’s just say we got a late start… and by late I mean we didn’t hit the rode until 6 hours after our hopeful departure time. Lucky for us though, the moon was the biggest and brightest full moon we will have all year, so the tent set up was a breeze.
April and Destin showed up just 30 minutes after us.
Sean and I were excited to use all of the new camping gear my parents got us for Cmas and our birthdays (thanks Mom and Dad!).
We were a bit cold overnight but we woke up to a perfect 65 degree and sunny day. We started our 10 mile hike looking for Mastodon Peak, but got a little lost and ended up at another large rock formation we named Pterodactyl.
Somehow our hike turned into more of a rock climb which terrifies me. Holding on to a large round rock that is pushing me off the small ledge I’m standing on is not my idea of fun. But, I made it alive!
We finally passed the real Mastodon Peak, and ventured on to Lost Palms Oasis where we had lunch. Along the way, we saw views of the Salton Sea, fan palm trees, desert plants, narrow sandy walkways and boulder formations.
After our long day of hiking, we were ready for some relaxation. We arrived at our hotel at the Desert Springs Marriot resort and were surprised (thank you, Sean!) with an upgraded room! That night, we finally enjoyed Sean’s Mexican birthday dinner – plenty of cheese and guacamole to fill us for a month!
Sunday was all about doing nothing. We laid by the pool, read magazines, drank smoothies and the boys hit some golf balls. April and Destin had to head home back to AZ, and Sean and I enjoyed a sunset run around the golf course and yet another birthday dinner at a Japanese steakhouse at the hotel.
We’ve decided that we should return to Palm Springs every winter from now on! It was the perfect getaway before a really busy (mainly for Sean) month ahead.
Back to work!


























































Favorite Cities
I feel so lucky to live just an hour away from one of my favorite cities of all time – San Diego. It’s laid-back, has perfect weather, pristine beaches, beautiful hikes, bay views, colorful neighborhoods, a cool downtown area and many of my favorite friends. I LOVE it there.
San Diego lands just above my love for San Francisco. Golden Gate Bridge and Park, cable cars, Fisherman’s Wharf and the most amazing food of any city. If the temps were about 10 degrees warmer year round, I think I would be living there right now.
New York City – Sean told me that if he never met me and was still single he would likely be living in New York. I love the city – Central Park, the never-ending skyline and don’t even get me started on the endless food options – but something about those cold winters keeps me from ever wanting to live there.
Chicago – Millennium Park, the shore of Lake Michigan, my home for 7 years, the best pizza ever and all of my extended family living there makes this city one of my favorite to visit….in the SUMMER!!
Atlanta – and you thought I’d leave you out?! I recently made a list for Jamie on all of my favorite things to do and places to eat in Atlanta and it reminded me of how great this city really is. Now if it would just stop raining….
The cities I am dying to see next are:
Seattle – The space needle, Pike Place Market, ferries and views of the Olympic and Cascade mountains makes me want to hop on a plane tomorrow.
Vancouver – The winter Olympics are renewing my desire to visit this great city. Coast Mountains, Stanley Park and eco-friendly green space make this city stay on top of my list.
What are your favorite cities?