The thing about good friends- great friends - is that you can go days, months, years- 16 years to be exact, and add in a couple of kids and you can pick up like no time has passed. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
So you may be aware that last year, I found myself in Davis, CA for Thanksgiving last year! But I was lucky enough to be invited to family friends that live near by in Rocklin, CA. What a small world! Ironically enough, this was a family that I had not been in direct contact with since childhood, but they graciously invited me to come for Thanksgiving dinner at their home. It was a wonderful experience and then when Mom came out for her Spring Break last year, we were able to get together once again.
This year, I was able to reunite with more family friends. Again, 16 years had passed. This time I was able to also spend it with Mom, who (whom? I don't actually know) came in from Washington (where she is now living, yeah- you missed quite a bit in my absence, apologies! More on that later, I promise).
Making friends as an adult is tough. I'm sure I don't need to tell you that, but realizing that if you make the correct kind of friend- you can keep them your whole life. Mom and I spent a week with our friends in Oregon, after not having seen them since 2002, with their children (children that we met for the first time). We even made plans to return in July for our friend (my first friend)'s 50th birthday!
So while 2018 may have been a difficult year creatively and emotionally- I'm eternally grateful for GREAT friends!
As previously mentioned, it's important to have something to look forward to! This month's and this week's big event, Taylor Swift's Reputation Tour in Santa Clara! Check the review!
Pure excitement!
A few months back, I reached out to my long time friend, Jen about her and husband and the possibility of us going to see Taylor Swift in Santa Clara! Luckily, she got their tickets for Josh's birthday! Little did we know the type of treat we were in for.
Jen
Josh
May 11th, was only the second night of the tour and the first outside venue! Y'all, we GOT FIREWORKS AND PYROTECHNIC!
The last TS concert I went to was Speak Now in Cleveland and prior to the introduction to the wristbands! The institution of the wristbands made the experience that much grander! To get to light up with the music and different colors around the stadium was something else!
Y'all I was not READY FOR IT!!
Are you ready for it?
Ironically Jen caught the confetti, and selflessly offered it to me!
Shake It Off
Dress
Don't Blame Me
Going from B Stage 1 to B Stage 2
We chose to attend Night 1 rather than 2 simply due to price, and of course- Night 2, Swift dedicated The Best Day {one of my all time favorite songs} to all the Mommas cause Andrea was in attendance!
But let me tell you, hearing Long Live again in medley with New Year's Day, IT WAS FANTASTIC!! Chills.
Seriously, this was so visually pleasing, it was beyond! I'm hoping that while she always puts out a song that has concert clips, that Reputation's is Getaway Car and exactly how she performed it!
I know that there's a year until the concert ends, but I CANNOT WAIT for the concert dvd in some capacity! Here's hoping it's on Apple Music again!
Do yourself a favor, check out ALL the fan accounts on Tumblr and Instagram and basque in the glow and knowledge of these people that can articulate some of the best theories...
I got my tour merch! I'm still contemplating the snake ring! Here's how I styled the tee!
If you're seeing the Reputation Tour, you're in for a treat! If you're on the fence, GO!
Momma B and I both had corresponding Spring Breaks this year, so I brought mom out to California for Spring Break!
Waiting at the airport for Momma B
I planned the whole trip for maximum adventures! Mom got in Friday afternoon and we went for pedicures and dinner downtown.
On Saturday, Mom was reunited with family friends that she had not seen in 20 years. We spent all day there catching up!
On Sunday, we had lunch with friends from Ohio that now live in California and enjoyed WEtv's Monk marathon.
Then on Monday, we went to San Francisco for the day. We hung out at Crissy Field for a while and then went to Ghirardelli Square and treated ourselves to some sundaes!
Momma B doesn't like photos, so Mother Nature helped her out- Mother to Mother
Those first three days were such a whirlwind and the next thing we knew, it was Tuesday and time to head south! SoCal was calling our names...
So we had to take Thomas to doggy day care at Camp Bow Wow.
Then our 5 hour road trip to LA began.
Once we drove past LANCASTER, CA- can you believe?! *Jonathan Van Ness voice* We drove through Santa Clarita Diet (must watch season 2, now available on Netflix). We settled into our hotel in Burbank for the evening.
After complimentary milk and cookies, we decided to go to In-N-Out for dinner!
After enjoying our Double, Doubles... we got a Lyft to the LACMA Urban Lights...
I've been obsessed with the Urban Lights since the scene in Hit the Floor when they danced at LACMA!
Wednesday, we woke up and headed to Warner Brother Studios for their Studio Tour! 10/10 would recommend! Thanks for the suggestion, Becca.
We went abroad...
Pottermore told me I was a Ravenclaw, but it's always nice to get a second opinion.
We went to Stars Hollow, Connecticut, obvi. (Along with Bluebell, Alabama & Rosewood, Pennsylvania)!!
Miss Patty's Studio
We made a quick trip to San Francisco, to one of the infamous Painted Ladies.
Toured around Burbank, where we saw Mayim Bialik and Kevin Sussman.
Were able to visit the set of The Ellen Show!
Then we headed to New York, so we could get coffee at Central Perk!
The One Where The Underdog Gets Away
Knowing I could stop by Central Perk, I had to look to Rachel Green for fashion advice!
After our tour essentially around the world, we went to The Walt Disney Company Studio Lot for a personal tour by my sorority sister and friend, Becca!
Thanks Becca!
After our thorough tour of Burbank, CA we headed home... to Irvine!
Our old home
Our favorite old haunt
We stayed with friends that we hadn't seen in 6 years and yet it felt as if no time had passed. These friends have lived in this house for all of my existence and this house truly feels like a home away from home.
The moment we left the Walt Disney Studio lot began our no specific time line of the trip, except for the people we were going to see. Which truly was the perfect way to go about our Irvine part of the week.
Thursday, we went to our old go to Target and drove around town on our way to Newport Beach to see another friend we haven't seen in 6 years and we just chatted the day away catching up on the little details that you don't share on Facebook and again it was as if we had all just been together a few weeks prior and not the 6 years that eclipsed our time together.
Friday, we went to Laguna Beach and sat on the beach and realized how at home we both felt.
After our stop at the beach, we headed to the Irvine Spectrum that we were amazed to see how much it had grown in the six years that had passed since we had last been.
The Irvine Spectrum is where we met friends that we hadn't seen since we moved 16 years ago, this was prior to a wedding and four children ago.
Afterwards, we went back to our Irvine "home base" (our Wednesday stop as well). We had dinner and chatted until we went to bed.
Saturday, we woke up and had breakfast and chatted until we left for Davis.
Of course we had to stop at Ace Donuts before heading out of town.
We picked up Thomas and finished our Queer Eye watching and went to bed.
Sunday, we took some Easter photos and then we took Momma B to the airport.
After dropping Momma B at the airport, Thomas had to get a bath.
Now we are excited to host more people this week!
xo,
KJB
Obviously the theme songs from Laguna Beach and The OC made an appearance throughout our time in the literal OC!
