Monday, March 19, 2012

my week back home to southern california

I was talking on the phone to my mom about a month ago. 
Bryan was in California at the time and had just had dinner with my parents. 
My mom was telling me how much she missed me being there. 
Sarcastically, I mentioned that if they bought me a flight, I'd be there. 
Within days my dad had sent me a flight itinerary to confirm.
Before I knew it I was on my way back home to Orange County to spend a week with my parents!

Mission Viejo -aka- My Hometown

I was welcomed home with a cute note and a day by my parents pool.

My parents and I spent a day in Temecula's wine country. We started our day with a divine cheese spread and lunch followed by a tasting at South Coast Winery. We then headed to Wilson Creek and ended our day at Calloway.

The next evening we had dinner & drinks in Laguna at Las Brisas followed by a short walk to watch the sunset.

My favorite breakfast - B&B is kind of cult food in south county. It's a must have when I'm home!

A friend of mine from tour was in town, so we went on her uncle's boat out of Dana Point Harbor.
Drinks at The Rooftop in Laguna (many meals have been eaten here on RHOC)

Last year my parents went to the Sonoma winery that Bryan and I got engaged at, so we popped the bottle of wine they bought and I reminisced in my head...

The meal I request every time I go home - my mom's homemade linguini with clam sauce

My last meal before I left was mexican at the good ole standby, Tortilla Flats, on LMVA.

Fun fact: 
I worked at this lake, LMVA, for 4 years (in high school and college). MANY of my childhood, teen and early college memories revolve around this lake. 

Although I have been happily living in North Carolina for almost 2 years now, I lived in southern California until I was 29 years old and will always proudly call Mission Viejo home. 

41 comments:

  1. love that you got to come home to see your folks :) looks like you had a fantastic time! and umm those boots your wore to the winery...love them!!!!!! :) :)
    btw, how is your momma doing? i know you said she is home, but how is she holding up? and you since you aren't here? thinking of you and your family :)

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  2. Wow what a great trip! I love that they flew you home. You are stunning, as usual! Looked like THE perfect week. :)

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  3. You're really making me want Ben to be stationed in California now. How GORGEOUS! I haven't been since I was in highschool so it's been a while, I feel like I hardly remember it. You look so much like your parent's it's crazy. So glad you had such a wonderful trip with your family!

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  4. you are so pretty. seriously...it makes me hate you. kidding. so glad you had a nice time at home. now i'm hungry and thirsty for some booze (what else is new?).

    p.s. your mom and my mom have the same handwriting.

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  5. What a fun trip back home. I bet your parents followed you around the house, beaming from ear to ear to have you there.

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  6. I was expecting our St Patty's day pics when I pulled up your bloggie this AM. But love these too. And now I must get myself a real camera because the quality is so great in yours.

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  7. Your parents are adorable. So nice of them to flight you out spontaneously. I adore your bright colored outfit..so pretty girly! Glad you had a great time home

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  8. Everything looks so pretty including you and your family! Glad you had fun and had the opportunity to head home. Sometimes that is the best kind of vacation!

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  9. sounds like a fabulous time! and look at that sunset!

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  10. Ok you have the most adorable parents ever!! Must have felt SOOOOO good to be home!! Looks BEAUTIFUL there!!

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  11. It looks like you had a great time!! It looks like a very beautiful place! xx

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  12. your neighborhood is gorgeous!! Can I come visit your parents? :) I love the sunset photos- amazing. I miss warm weather. Glad you had fun visiting home!

    www.thedailyeverythings.blogspot.com

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  13. I've always wanted to go to California! Such pretty pictures!

    alyssaslifestory.blogspot.com

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  14. So pretty! Been there once for a soccer tournament.. My old college roomie was from Laguna

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  15. Oh gosh, where do I start? I've already told you how much I LOVE Mission Viejo. I think you are literally from the most gorgeous place on Earth. It's true. It sounds like your trip home was perfect and much-needed. I'm glad you got to spend so much time with your adorable parents!

    I ADORE your lime green/watermelon outfit. Those colors look great on you!! And the sunsets... obviously I love those too :) Your mom reminds me of how my mom was. I used to love when she'd leave little notes like that. I'm praying for her!! xoxo

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  16. Looks like yall had the best time. I love the note from your mom.

    I guess I didn't read your blog in February 2011 but Kevin and I went there and definitely had lunch at Las Brisas. We LOVED the area. So awesome you're from there!

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  17. 1) Love seeing all your pictures from California! 2) Your parents are adorable 3)Mission Viejo is such a gorgeous place to call home. 4) And you made it to my neck of the woods ;) How was the almond champagne at Wilson Creek?

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  18. Has anyone ever said that your mom looks like a bit like Candy Spelling?

    It looks like you guys had a good time! I love the scenery, so beautiful.

    You know my motto, there's no better time like family time!

    xx

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  19. Isn't it hard being torn between two different places that you love??

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  20. Great pics! Definitely a trip down memory lane for me, too! Bagels & Brew = THE BEST!

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  21. Love that they had a plane ticket for you to come home! SO sweet!!

    That glass of white wine made my mouth water!

    Love your bright shirt combo AND the light blue off the shoulder shirt!!

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  22. What a fun vacation! Las Brisas is my favorite view and their margaritas aren't too shabby either:)

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  23. OMG that home made meal looks AMAZING!! Looks like a gr8 time!!


    http://infinitelifefitness.com
    http://mscomposure.blogspot.com

    P.S. sometimes i forget if i stopped by a blog! i got some not so nice messages a few times from ppl who i did not know and i left comments on their page so i try to have some type of introduction so i don't seem like a stalker...LoL

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  24. Amazing pictures!! That pasta looks soooo freaking good!

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  25. What a beautiful place to grow up!!

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  26. I have been to or heard of every place you have mentioned! My sisters God Parents are in Temecula!! Im so glad that you had a nice visit. I LOVE southern CA. I wish my husband would go back, but it will not happen. He is still totally open to NC though and we discuss it a lot.. who knows!

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  27. Uggh. I am so jealous. I wish my Dad would buy me a ticket home! Although, I heard the weather was terrible this weekend.

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  28. Looks like you chose a perfect weekend to go home! I love las Bria's such beautiful views there! I'm a fellow OC gal residing in San Clemente!

    Xx Kelly

    www.MessyDirtyHair.com

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  29. your hometown is sooo pretty. i gotta make a journey out to southern cali sometime. It seems like the U S of A's paradise (next to hawaii). how cute is your family too?!? i love it! so glad you got to go. what's the latest on your mama? i hope she is still recovering well.

    oh and those boots and that gray dress....LOVE! you look gorgeous as always.

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  30. I love that note from your Mom. Whenever I'm home, they'll leave them on the kitchen counter. It brightens my day to see Mama-Daughter love :)

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  31. love that you got to go home & see your parents! & what a great trip :] all the pictures are amazing + that homemade pasta looks so good.

    xx :: ashlyn

    let it be beautiful.com

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  32. Wow, those pictures of your hometown are just GORGEOUS....looks like a dream!

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  33. Sooo fun! I loved reading this - and LOVED how close you are to Laguna & such.

    The Sonoma winery, I HAVE TO ASk because I'm a bachelor/ette junkie -
    That winery didn't happen to have been Ben Flajniks was it?

    I'm so amazed at your lifestyle, I love it. I really enjoyed this - SO BEAUTIFUL. My favorite part of the post was the note your Mom left you. ♥

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  34. Great photos. Looks like you had a wonderful time :)

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  35. Um, can I go visit your parents because that trip home looked amazing!! Glad you were able to spend time with your family!

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  36. I use to go to Temecula every chance I could get when I lived in Vegas.
    Even did a winemaker dinner there once October at Wilson Creek.
    love.love.

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  37. I need to go to Rooftop soon...I've heard great things about that place.

    And Tortilla Flats?? YUM! Their margs are SOOO good.

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  38. I love your blog I am your newest follower from NOR CAL:)
    xoxoxo
    Amanda
    www.insuranceoutlaw.com

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