Running from the Law: San Diego to Sundance

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

San Diego to Sundance

Hello! I feel like I've been away from this little space for a month with all the traveling I've been doing these days. Back-to-back trips from the snow, to the beach, back home, to the mountains and home again make for one exhausted mama. I've been gone 7 out of the last 8 days and even with 35 cups of coffee today, it's catching up to me. I'm wiped out. While both trips were amazing, I certainly missed my kids (and my bed) more than I ever imagined. Getting away and spending quality time with friends was good for my soul, but this mama is ready for a long relaxing weekend eating chicken nuggets and playing hide 'n seek with my babies. But first, let's recap the trips, shall we?
First up, San Diego, California for three nights. While technically this was a work trip (lawyer conference during the day), I managed to get a good amount of time in with friends and soak up some sunshine in my off-hours. Desiree, Erin and Liz were kind enough to road-trip down from L.A. and hang out with me on Sunday, before the conference began. Meeting these girls was AMAZING and the four of us had so much fun catching up over a harbor-view lunch and sunset cocktails. I so wish I could have hung out with them for days and days. Who knew that you could have SO much to talk about with people you've never met! This makes me really excited for a potential meet-up in September! I also got to have a lovely dinner with Katie, who I met "in real life" four years ago when I was in Coronado for the same conference while pregnant with Mac. So much has changed for both of us since then (three babies!), but we picked up right where we left off. It was so amazing seeing her light up when she talked about her son and how much she loves being a mom. I just love that girl. The rest of the week was a whirlwind of meetings, calls, seminars, emails and note-taking. I did manage to take a run along the beach all three days I was there, which was amazing. I loved exploring the island, watching the kids play on the beach and the surfers in the waves. If I had an ocean view, I'd run every single day! I got home late Wednesday night, spent all day Thursday with the kids and caught my next flight bright and early Friday morning.

Second trip of the week was Park City, Utah for Sundance Film Festival. My gorgeous bestie Ally (the cute redhead in the blue coat) is getting married in May and this was her bachelorette weekend with the girls. We spent the good part of Friday in/around Salt Lake City, which was absolutely beautiful. I've never been to Utah, so this was really fun and exciting for me. We made our way to Park City and checked into our awesome little ski-in/ski-out condo right next to the mountain resort. Park City itself was adorable - I have a soft-spot in my heart for mountain towns and this one ranks right up there with Jackson Hole, Breckenridge and Vail on a cuteness level. Of course we were there for the films (and celebrities), but I'd love to come back sometime with Ryan and ski. It snowed a ton while we were there and the mountain looked incredible. We spent most of Saturday strategizing movie waitlists and eating an obscene amount of Thai food. We made it to a showing of a film called "Sophie and the Rising Sun," which was about a Japanese-American man in South Carolina right before/after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. We spent the evening chatting nonstop over plates full of cheese. Sunday we all headed back to Salt Lake to catch our flights home. I had a later flight than the others, so I had a chance to meet up with Laura for a drink. She was just as gorgeous, funny and sweet in person as she is online. I'm so incredibly lucky that blogging has given me friends all over the country! Who would have ever thought? 

And now I'm home and simultaneously want to play with my kids non-stop and take a 3-day nap. 
I'm exhausted, but my heart is so full. 

25 comments:

  1. You definitely deserved these trips, mama!! I'm glad you got some you time, even if you missed the babies. Those beach runs sound amazing... and nothing better than time with Erin. Nothing. Of course, I'm biased. ;) Park City always looks like so much fun... One of my kids always goes to Sundance and seems to have the best time!!

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  2. So glad you liked Park City and Salt Lake City. I agree that Park City ranks up there on the cuteness factor of ski towns. We'd love to live up there, but worry about the daily commute in the winter. Glad you had a fun double get-a-way with your girlfriends. That's sometimes hard to do as a mom.

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  3. Sounds like you had an amazing time! Yay for meeting up with blog friends. I'm so jealous. :) You defintely deserved the fun trips (even if work was mixed in there). Glad you are home and enjoying your babes!

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  4. I'm exhausted just reading that! So much travel. Hopefully you got some extra sleep during your kid free time! And thanks again for such a lovely afternoon!!! You most make it back!

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  5. Looks like so much fun!! I know what you mean though - it's great to get away and have those trips to yourself, but so, so much better to get back home to the kiddos!

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  6. What a whirlwind! That's a lot of fun and friends packed into one week. Sounds like a great time :)

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  7. Such a whirlwind week and SO MUCH FUN! I'm glad your back home with your babies and hope you rest up for a great weekend with them!

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  8. So many blogger meet-ups! Love seeing the pictures of some of my favorite bloggers getting together across the country! And it definitely makes me want to make September happen big time! Glad you had a couple of great trips! Welcome back to the Midwest!

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  9. Wow, how awesome do your trips sound?? I love that you were able to meet up with so many bloggers! Maybe I need to plan another trip to California :) Sounds like you had a great time, but there's no place like home.

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  10. What a fun trip!! I love that you were able to meet up with everyone!! How in the world did you pack from San Diego to Utah?! :)

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  11. Wow, that sounds amazing, fun, and exhausting all at the same time! And yet of course you missed your kids like crazy! We simply can't have guilt free fun anymore can we?!

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  12. What a fun trip! I can't wait to hear more about it at dinner in a few weeks!

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  13. I'm so, so glad we were able to meet up while you were here! I (selfishly) hope your work sends you back here for another work conference soon so we can see each other again! But if not, there's always September!!! SO excited!
    So glad you had such a good time in Utah with your friends for the bachelorette party and as well as meeting up with Laura!

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  14. You got to do 2 things that are on my bucketlust in a span of a week lol. Sundance is one and the other is a blogger meet up :) Now take that nap and recharge!!!

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  15. SD was a the best. I cannot wait to do it all over again in September.
    Park City looks and sounds amazing. And meeting up with Laura, so fun!

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  16. What a fabulous trip! I'm jealous - you need to get out here to Boston!

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  17. I'm so jealous of your trips! And that you got to meet everyone! So funny that Ally is your bestie (LOVE HER) and Erin is mine! Ha!

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  18. Your weekend sound likes so much!! Id miss my kids so much too but I bet it was fun too! It's always good to get that time away.

    liz @ j for joiner

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  19. You had quite the week! I can't even begin to tell you how amazing it was meeting you. I felt like ive known you forever and can't WAIT to see your face again!

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  20. Hurray for bloggy meet ups! Sounds like both trips were a success!

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  21. From the beach to the mountains & snow all in one week! Both trips look and sound fabulous. I love that you were able to meet up with Liz, Erin and Desiree (and slightly jealous too). I can't wait to (hopefully) meet you all in person in September!!

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  22. Looks like the perfect girls' weekend! I love your StitchFix coat, but am also ogling over your friend's baby blue fur coat! Gorgeous!

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  23. Exhausting, but so fun!! Beautiful beaches to beautiful snow. I love that you got to meet up with such awesome gals. Hope to meet you all someday-September too!! :)

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  24. It was amazing to see you, share mama experiences and catch up. So glad to know you! xoxo

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