Itty Bitty Vacation

 Well, believe it or not my computer charger is STILL not here... talk about snail mail for heaven sakes! If that thing doesn't come within this week, I'm gonna have to choke a B... I'll just leave it at that.

On a more blissful note, we took a mini vacation this past weekend! We left Thursday night, drove to the GORGEOUS town of Mendota... somewhere between the lovely Bakersfield and the charming Los Banos... who in their right mind names a town LOS BANOS?!?!?! I mean, REALLY, you couldn't think of anything better? I feel bad for the people who live there and whats worse is with that name I would expect some divine bathrooms, with like a toilet of gold or something equally as wowing but OH NO... you do not even want me to whisper a detail about the banos in Los Banos... but I have to, because you're my blog, and oh holy hannah i have got to tell someone! Two words -- flies.heat. use your imagination.... or even better, DON'T!The next morning we woke up and finished our drive and arrived in Tahoe!

Tahoe is one of my favorite places in summer. I just keep falling more and more in love with it. My grandparents have a Cabin on the lake there where I spent so many childhood summers and winters, I always loved Tahoe but now, I really appreciate it. It's like a retro wonderland, like if the Hampton's could meet Camp Wynamucka and date for a while, make out under the canoes then get married and make a baby... that baby would be TAHOE!

The trip was tiny.. pint size.... itsy bitsy, we came for a wedding that was absolutely beautiful, I will share it with you later but it was jam packed with so much greatness!! I took some killer shots on my camera but of course we have to wait for that damn charger... so until then Tohoegrams for you lovies!!!

1 Year Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to the sweetest soul I know, my best friend, the love of my life, my husband Patrick O'Rourke!!! You are the most selfless and caring person I know, not a day goes by that you are not sacrificing yourself to bring a smile to someones face and I feel so entirely blessed that I call you mine! You make me so proud daily and your unconditional, consistent love for me reminds me of God's love for us <3 I know it sounds like such cheese but I could not imagine my life without you and I feel so unworthy of your love yet you never cease to show me and make me feel so loved! I admire you so much as a man, husband and friend, you are so wise and caring, you have a gift for serving others and it makes my heart sing! I cannot thank you enough for humoring my weird anxieties and reminding me that worrying will not get me anywhere, as annoying as I know I probably am, you never have complained and you always are right by my side supporting me. I am so grateful we found each other that random night at Papasandbeer Rosarito whoever knew that would be the night I met the most amazing man in the world...my HUSBAND! I love you so much Pat, I cannot wait to share the rest of our lives together.

Love,
your Wife <3

P.S. If this is suppose to be our hardest year... I can't even fathom what an "easy" year is like because I can honestly say this has been THE BEST year of my life!! XOXO

PS. I Miss You

Happy Weekend Lovers!! 

Hallelujah for the weekend... even though mine consists of studying for midterms....:(

Today, I am dreaming of and missing last week/end! 

I was in the gorgeous Palm Spring with my dear family and I miss them!! 

Why can't we just all live closer?!?!?!

Anyway it was a wonderful family reunion of sorts!

It started on Tuesday at 5:00

that's when I got out of class! 

I got a wild hair and decided to drive up to Palm Springs just me and Carlita 

{Pat had work and school booo :(} 

and SURPRISE my family!!! 

And, I am so glad I went for it! 

I text my sister-in-love Julie on the way up there just so she could keep me posted on their whereabouts and keep the old farts awake...but somebody just couldn't keep a secret!

cough*JULIE*cough

not to name names ;) 

She told my brother Wes 

"I know a secret about Kayla"

and of course he said 

"SHE'S PREGNANT!" 

and she said 

"NOooooo!... she's gonna be here in like 15 minutes and she needs a way to get into the gate!" 

and so he went out to get more "chasers" and worked over the gate keeper 

{flashed her his right boob ;)!!}

 to let me in! 

Thanks Wes.... 

SO then I got there and let Wes walk in with Carlita and say "look what I found at the door?!?" 

Then everybody got real giddy and smothered me with sloppy kisses and bear hugs! I loved it! 

I had so much fun... it is hard to beat the dessert this time of year! The weather was so grand! 

Also... I got spoiled rotten with a shopping spree and fine company so that was lovely too!

Can we all just go back?!?!
Round two, ya?!?!

Here are some "Palmstagrams" from the trip!

Blondes Only Lunch on El Paseo

mojito me!

Cooking everyone a vegan dinner!

My mom's new Puppy Ina

I got to watch them read their Married Interview!

Is there anything more precious?!?

My brother Wes and his dream car the Dalorian

Me and My beautiful aunt Carol

My grandparents crappy place ;)

Me and my little BFF

At Stone Brewery!

Happy Weekend Dolls!!
XOXO

Wisdom, Wrongs and Whoopie With The Zards!!!

Hello Lovies!! 

Yesssss, it is that time again!! 

Time for your weekly dose of Wisdom, Wrongs and {every body's favorite ;) } Whoopie!! 

The couple we have this week are such dolls!! 

I actually think they may be mine and Pat's San Diego couple soul mates! 

And trust me people - I DON'T just give that title to anybody! 

They're those people that you just instantly feel at home with, so loving, and kind and when we share a laugh {which is the majority of the time!} it makes my heart smile! 

When we hang out with these two lovebirds we always have the best of times, we're so at ease with them it feels like we've been best friends for yearsssss! 

And boy do I love that! 

Gracie and I have actually known each other for years! We went to high school together and her husband Brian is from our neck of the woods too! But I just met him a few months ago!! 

Me and Gracie had not seen each other since high school!! I had wanted to meet up with her ever since I found out she was in San Diego but then things would get busy, all of the sudden, weeks, months, YEARS had past and then all the sudden one day I told myself "message Gracie TODAY!!!" So I did and, I am so glad I did because we were reunited and it felt SO good! 

{yes, like the song!} 

And when I met Brian...I realized there could be no one ever more perfect for Gracie. They are one of those awesome couples that just make your heart dance because their love for each other is so authentic and selfless! So pretty much, I love them, I love hanging with them and Brian and Pat get along so well together it's totally cute! 

And, I'm sooooo excited for them because they are expecting a little girl this July!!! 

{SO SOON!} 

She will be gorgeous because she's getting like the best DNA in the world and I am hoping she will rid me of my baby fever!! But who am I kidding.... she ain't gonna break that fever! let's get real now!

So please... meet the Happy Couple 

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Zard!!!!! 

I know!! Chills right!?! They are STUNNING!!

1. How long have you been married?

B & G: 2 years

2. What made you realize you could spend the rest of your life with one another?

B & G: When we started dating, we each thought to ourselves that we wanted it to last. It wasn't until one night, about 2 months after we started dating, we had our first true 'deep talk' and shed our first tears together. That night, we each slept restlessly as we each felt so close to each other yet perhaps a little insecure of the others thoughts on the vulnerable evening. The next day was the first day we said "I love you", each realizing in our hearts there was no turning back, or any desire to. 

3. What was the best piece of advise you received during your first year married?

B & G: Don't keep secrets because you're on the same team.

4. What is your favorite thing about being married and why? 

B & G: The level of intimacy that we share for one another, that even though we feel like we each know the other so deeply, we want to know more about each other.

5. What is your fondest memory throughout your married years?

B & G:  #1: The morning we found out we were pregnant. #2: The morning we felt perhaps we might be pregnant while in Vegas for our anniversary. 

6. What is the biggest struggle you overcame in your marriage?

 B & G: Moving away from our individual families while transitioning into our own family. 

7. At the end of a rough relationship day, what is the most important thing to remind yourself? 

B & G: We remind ourselves and each other that we're on the same team, and have confidence that other's love goes beyond any situation. As Brian's dad taught us, there are 2 rules to live by: 1) Don't sweat the small stuff. 2) It's all small stuff.

8. What advice would you give to others who are trying to make their love last forever?

B & G:  Selflessness. Always remember to make the other person a priority. 

9. Where is the most risque place you made whoopie? 

B & G: We'd tell you but neither of us can remember.

How precious are they?!?! 

Thank you so much Brian and Gracie for sharing!! 

You guys are absolutely adorable and congrats on Baby Zard!!

Make sure you leave these two darlings some love via comment or like!! 

And if you and your spouse are dying to be interviewed, Let me know!!

K.c.hull@hotmail.com!!

Wisdom, Wrongs, and Whoopie WIth The Hull's!!!

Yes, folks....

It IS that time!! 

The time of 

Wisdom, Wrongs and {everybodies favorite} Whoopie!! 

Today is a good, good day! 

This weeks couple is so very near and dear to my heart! 

The husband was my VERY first friend, and my VERY first enemy ;) 

he's my brother! 

And his much prettier half...well, she was my nanny! 

And now my sister! 

{sounds wayyyyy more scandalous than it really was... she was his girlfriend before my nanny but, I like to make my brother sound like a perve :) I mean what sister doesn't?!?}

The two dolls were high school sweethearts. Young lovers at their finest... and they still are today after over a decade of marriage and two little kiddies!

I love them both to the moon and back! 

My brother knows how to push my buttons like no one else but he can also make me laugh till tears so I guess I like him ;) And Julie is as sweet as tupelo honey, she has one of the sweetest soul of ANYONE I know with the perfect hint of sassy! I mean... they just don't make em' better than that! We're all still trying to figure out how Wes got so lucky...

What I love about this interview is they filled it out separately and haven't seen each others answers!!! They've been waiting in suspense for a whole week and now I finally get to share it with them! What makes it EVEN better is I'm with them both right now!! SO I get to hear their laughs and see their smiles!! YAY! 

SO without further ado I give you some of my very favorites 

Wes and Julie Hull 

{This picture really captures their fun love!} 

and a little something else....

YUP! that's me as the flower girl!! Just wish I still had those awesome kitten heals... barf! 

 and a little note from Julie about these priceless photos...

"Our Wedding pictures are hilarious to us.  The day of our wedding the lady that did my pre-wedding hair trial didn't show up the day of the wedding to do my hair!  So, I didn't get what I wanted at all, neither did my bridesmaids.

Wes has never let anyone else do his hair since the wedding!  They messed it up sooo bad. So basically we hate our wedding photos.  Maybe one year we can dress up and do it again :-)"

1. How long have you been married?

Julie: We have been together for eleven in a half years and together almost sixteen!!!

Wes: We have been married 11 years 5 months and 21 days.

2. What made you realize you could spend the rest of your life with one another?

Julie:  What made me realize I could spend the rest of my life with Wes is the way we get each other and we don't force one another to change into something we are not.

Wes: There is no one time I just always knew. Some things in life are very obvious.

3. What is the best piece of advice you received during your first year of marriage?

Julie: The best piece of advise I received during our first year of marriage is never go to bed angry at each other.  We have broken that rule a few times in these eleven years, but we have done pretty well with it.

Wes:  Always file your taxes on time, and don't spend more than half your monthly income on your house payment. Most importantly "credit cards are the devil".

4. What is your favorite thing about being married and why?

Julie: My favorite thing about being married is going through this journey together and being so comfortable together ( In a good way, we are like an old married couple).  I love it!!

Wes: The longer we are married the more the things change. It was once just being together, then it was making plans together, then it was starting a family, then it was raising a family, and now my favorite thing is seeing all of those things grow and come together just like our marriage.

5. What is your fondest memory throughout your married years?

Julie: Being together since we were in High School you go through a lot of changes together.  I can't pin point one fondest moment, but since I have to definitely my wedding day and the day Megan and Wayne were born.

Wes: There are so many great memories that I can't even start to pinpoint one. My favorite times are when we are all enjoying the same activity, weather it's golfing or just hangin around the house.

6. What is the biggest struggle you overcame in your marriage? 

Julie:  Probably the biggest struggle we overcame in our Relationship not Marriage is for sure our younger years.  Figuring each others buttons and which ones NOT to push.  Our married life so far so good :-)

Wes: For me it was learning that Julie had a whole other life and family away from ours. Just kidding

7. At the end of a rough relationship day, what is the most important thing to remind yourself?

Julie: At the end of a rough relationship day the most important thing to remind yourself is not to hold GRUDGES and FORGIVE!!  (Wes, Kayla, & Shirlee).  Sorry to throw names out their but it kind of runs in the family... Lol

Wes: I just have to look around for a second and see what all we have made together, and I realize what I've got.

8. What advice would you give to others that are trying to make their love last forever?

Julie: My advise to others trying to make their love last forever is to always tell the truth no matter what!

Wes: Always tell the truth, and listen to your spouse.

9. Where is the most risque place you made whoopie?

Julie: Hhhhmmmm, whoppie ;-)

     In our younger years, at a golf course, thats all I am going to say

Wes:  I don't understand the question. I guess Whoopies most risque movie would be the one were she dressed up like a nun...sister act I think it was. ....Please don't use any of this against me when I run for president in 2016

and here are these two lovebirds now with their adorable babes!! 

Awe.... they make my heart smile! 

Love you Wes and Julie!! 

Thanks so much for participating!! 

Please leave them some love via comment or like!

Stay tuned for next week!! I can't wait to share that couples interview with you!! 

and

If you and your lover would like to participate please email me! 

@ k.c.hull@hotmail.com 

Wisdom, Wrongs, and Whoopie With The Davidson's!!!

Hello Lovies!! 

Today is a very dreamy day over here. 

We have our SECOND installation of 

Wisdom, Wrongs and Whoopie

:)

Does it get better?

Don't think so! 

Today we have a DARLING couple, you can't help but fall head over heals for them in a matter of seconds. After I finished reading their interview I couldn't resist just smiling. They're so lovely, so fun and so dang cute! I just want to pinch their cheeks! {too weird?} And besides being so completely scrumptious they are wise beyond their years, I think they are young lovers with old souls, you can really feel the love between them. It gave me butterflies!!  

They are

 Mr. and Mrs. Davidson 

Russell and the gorgeous Jaleen. 

I went to high school with both of them 

{They were high school sweethearts!!!} 

Jaleen was always such a sweetheart and she always looked fabulous in her cute little A&F outfits! 

{A&F was the sh*t at the time ;) } 

The only thing I DON'T like about these two is that they live in San Francisco!

Why you gotta be so far away!?!

:( 

I know if they loved closer I would probably try and hang out with them 24/7 and be a stage 5 clinger because I'm a little bit obsessed with them so maybe it's a good thing they're in SF :)

Here's the Gorgeous couple on their Wedding Day! 

SO. MUCH.LOVE

And here is their interview answers... grab a tissue and prepare to laugh!! 

1. How long have you been married?

Jaleen: We have been married for a little over a year and a half. 

Russell: A year and a half (together for 9)

2. What made you realize you could spend the rest of your life with one another?

Jaleen: When we went on a three week national parks road trip in my little VW bug, complete with a tiny two-person tent and stainless steal wine glasses. We camped in below-freezing weather in Yellowstone and melting weather in the Grand Canyon and didn't shower for days at a time. At the end of the trip we looked at each other and said "If we had more money we would go for another 3 weeks". Of course I knew I wanted to marry him long before then, but this experience made me realize that marriage would be the most wonderful adventure. 

Russell: Before proposing we had been together for 6 years and although we had normal ups and downs as any other couple does we only grew closer and stronger. I loved everything about her and I knew in my heart that there was nobody else that I would rather share the joys of life with.

3. What was the best piece of advise you received during your first year married?

Jaleen: Hmmm, we have heard it all: "Never go to bed angry", "Fight naked" etc. but my very favorite advice has been to make it a point to pray together. 

Russell: This came after we had been married over a year, but the best advice has been “Combine your bank accounts”. Although it was really practical it was extremely important. It wasn’t just a combining of finances but a change of perspective that removed separation and tension in our marriage.

4. What is your favorite thing about being married and why?

Jaleen: In my vows I said that Russell has this way of "showering me with love and putting me in my place all at the same time". I absolutely love the way that he still flirts with me, that he picks me up and hugs me every time he gets home from work, and all that other good stuff. However, the best part about being married is that my husband challenges me every day and we grow together through every life adjustment. 

Russell: I love the way she always challenges me and how I can approach every situation knowing that she will be there for me.

5. What is your fondest memory throughout your married years?

Jaleen: My fondest memory has been getting the keys to our tiny apartment in San Francisco, because we had no idea what opportunities would come out of our "new life". 

Russell: The day of our wedding was amazing. It stands out to be because we had been together for a while before getting married I didn’t think that marriage would change our relationship much. But marriage has been a great change and that day stands out with such significance and importance that I will never forget how perfect everything was on that day.

6. What is the biggest struggle you overcame in your marriage?

Jaleen: The biggest struggle and the biggest blessing has been moving to San Francisco. We are used to living in small towns, so moving to a city that neither of us new very well was culture shock. I will never forget Russell having to teach me how to ride Muni and BART. But we have come to view our relationship in a completely new and refreshing way. We are high school sweethearts, so after being together for 9 years you think you know each other inside and out. Getting a fresh start by moving to a big city and meeting new friends has challenged us to look at marriage differently.It has always been natural to treat him as my best friend, but now I have learned to view Russell as my husband. 

Russell: We have had quite a few struggles throughout our relationship. Many of our struggles came from changing situations and circumstances that arose. We moved to San Francisco after college and also wanted to start a family, two things which were completely foreign to us. We quickly realized that we had very little control and that God placed us in each situation for a reason. Communication and prayer were what held us together and helped us through each situation that arose.

7. At the end of a rough relationship day, what is the most important thing to remind yourself?

Jaleen: That the purpose of marriage is not happiness, but holiness. 

Russell: If we have had a disagreement I have to remind myself that no matter how much I believe I am right I need to try to see things from Jaleen’s point of view. Rarely are either of us 100% right about something. Overcoming rough patches is not done alone and selfish thoughts and motives doesn’t make crossing them any faster.

8. What advise would you give to others who are trying to make their love last forever? 

Jaleen: 1. Never stop being playful 2. TALK! 3. Find great friends to vent to. 

Russell: Marriage is not something that you can enter into to make yourself happy. Although you will find joy and happiness from your relationship and your spouse, but if that is what you rely on then it will be very difficult to face the rough moments of life when they happen.

9. Where is the most risque place you made whoopie? 

Jaleen: Hot springs? :)

Russell: (Russell is too shy to answer this one ;) ) - Jaleen 

I told you that you would love them! 
Please leave them some love via comment or like!! 

Thank you so much for sharing Jaleen and Russell!! 

You guys are way too awesome! 

Stay tuned for next weeks couple they are very near and dear to my heart!! 

AND 

***Spoiler Alert***

Let's just say I am seeing a trend with the hubby's being a little shy about the whoopie question but this next one takes a real interesting twist! 

Email me @ k.c.hull@hotmail.com if you would like to participate in an interview!!