Beachy Red, White and Blue

I am back! 

Life over at Behind The Refrigerator Door and my business has been busy! But I am LOVING my life at the beach, while helping others get healthier and happier!

This morning on my run I saw this adorable cottage, right there on the beach. I paused my Garmin and HAD to snap pics to share with you!

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Cute, huh?

Weekend Getaway to San Diego

We had the great opportunity to spend a night in San Diego, as a family. Here are some highlights.

E drove the whole way. This is the LDS temple in the background.

It was fun hanging out with my brother in his neck of the woods!

My brother and I. We didn't always look this happy together.
Now it is a HUGE blessing to see him often.

Since my dad couldn't make it, we toasted oysters on the half shell to him.

My honey!

 This big reason we wanted to hit San Diego was for going on the USS Midway aircraft carrier. SO COOL! Every person should do this once! I felt so much pride for our US military!

I cannot wait to see what this kid does!
He has always had flying and military in his blood.

Favorite pic of the weekend!

I have quite a few pics of him on various aircraft carriers at various ages, like this.

Why couldn't she be this fun at Beijing sites????

We stayed downtown in the Gas Lamp District. It was really neat and fun! We went to dinner and the boys went to a movie. We then woke up and said goodbye to Bro and headed to walk around Hotel Del Coronado for a few minutes. Then hubby had to fly out on a business trip! Such a fun time!

Bucket List: Stay here and spend a day in their spa!

 San Diego has so much to offer, we agreed we had to do this again! This city on the water is beautiful and reminded us a lot of Sydney, Australia. We feel lucky to have so many awesome destinations in So Cal!

A Kid and His Camera

Today was one of those days where I said many prayers of gratitude for living in such a beautiful place.

 Dayton, 12, wanted to go to the beach after school. 

This is what he did.

~Not bad for an hour of after-school fun~

Dayton Bottom ~ Go Pro Hero Black 3+
Hermosa Beach, CA

Dayton Bottom ~ Go Pro Hero Black 3+
Hermosa Beach, CA

Dayton Bottom ~ Go Pro Hero Black 3+
Hermosa Beach, CA

You are invited to Cancun with Me!

I am SO excited! I am booking a trip today! You guys know that my family and I travel quite a bit (we are blessed to have those opportunities through hubby's job) BUT THIS trip will be different!

WHY? Because it is going to mean SO MUCH more to me because it will be FREE! I am earning my all paid trip to CANCUN by doing what I love, which is helping people get healthy and happy. I told you my job IS THE BEST! This is just one of the many things I LOVE about Beachbody...I get rewarded for ENDING THE TREND OF OBESITY!

Of course, Mark will be there with me, along with a lot of my friends! The best part is...ANYONE can get in on this action and starting now will:
- KEEP YOU FOCUSED ON YOUR OWN HEALTH GOALS
- Make you GOOD MONEY
- CHANGE your life because you are helping people everyday to achieve SUCCESS! (that is WHY I am SO HAPPY all the time!)

I am starting a new "What is Coaching" Bootcamp on Feb 2nd if you are interested in REWARDING your ACHIEVEMENTS and going to CANCUN with me in APRIL, 2015! Message me and we will chat!

Christmas at the Beach ~ Part I

Merry Christmas from Hermosa Beach!

I love Christmas, especially the lights. I snapped some pics of a few of the sights on my early morning run. This is the strand between the Hermosa Pier and the Manhattan Pier.  Hubby and I have a date on Saturday night to walk the strand and check out even more beachy Christmas lights! Stay tuned...

Hermosa Beach Christmas tree at dawn

Hermosa Beach Pier Plaza at dawn

Manhattan Beach Pier at dawn

One example of Christmas lights on the Strand

A beautiful, traditional display

Cape Cod Victorian with red bows

Icicles on the sand

Happy Thanksgiving from the Beach!

This morning I got my early morning run in and I loved how many people were celebrating Thanksgiving in the water. Hundreds of surfers and boogie boarders were hoopin' and hollerin' this morning.

I am grateful for all of you, near and far, in my life!

Happy Thanksgiving!

What I WIll & Won't Miss About Living in Beijing, China

I have been both continually writing this post and procrastinating this post all at the same time. I have a note section on my phone that I have been recording what I will miss about Beijing for about the last year. That note section started as a tool to help me see the good in the everyday surroundings. Usually when the good was harder to see...quite literally with the air quality.

It is hard to believe our time is up. Just like China is often called "the land of contradiction" it seems fitting that I am conflicted, of course, about leaving. I have grown personally so much throughout these last 22 months, mainly because the place I started from. I didn't want to come. I didn't like China. I was bitter and resentful. Now I love China and already have choked back tears thinking about leaving. 

Why? 

It is hard for everyone to explain.

For everyone it is different. 

I can sum it up by saying that this was a HUGE challenge for our family and we have all risen to the challenge and are better people (and dog) for it. Is it because it is China? Is it because we are on the other side of the planet from family? Is it because it's a different country than the US? 

All of the above!

China is definitely unique in so many, many ways. But it, also, is definitely not the hardest place we could've lived (despite my original analysis).  So, without further adieu...here we go...

~What I Will Miss about Beijing~

no particular order

okay, maybe I did mean to put this one first...

~Friends~

I really thought when we moved here, "How could I REALLY bond with anyone in such a short period of time?" Oh how wrong I was! It is not the time together, it is the quality...here in Beijing I have met the most amazing women who I will always cherish!

~More Hubby Time~

No commute, lunch dates, family outings, dinners together...I've seen him more in China than I ever did in the US...makes for a happy wife!

 ~Xiaolongbao~

Also known as "soup dumplings"...top favorite chinese food for me!

 ~Ya Bao Lu~

We mocked it at first, as it is the Russian section with fur stalls everywhere, but this soon became home. With the all-night-truck-loaders, street hecklers, food stands...we soon realized it was ideal. Every taxi driver knows it and anything you can possibly need is within steps from our door...bank, groceries (limited), phone cards, clothes. park, subway...

 ~The Gym at the City Wall Marriott~

Going to the gym everyday became my therapy! I met a good friend who lives there (she was not happy with me at this moment). The sweat I poured there literally helped get me through the struggles of life in China. 

 ~ Shopping~

Having an H&M a ten minute walk from my apartment, I'll miss that.

Shopping trips with friends.
I even will miss bargaining at Silk! I love it!

 ~Living In A Historical City 

That is in the News Every Single Day~

It is cool to turn on CNN and see live what you are looking at through your own window.

It is not only a city of current relevance, but SO MUCH ancient history!

~Fruit, Especially Pineapples~

These pineapples are so sweet and juicy that you can eat them all the way through!
 And they carve it for you. I eat some every day...really!

 ~Cultural Elements~

I love how Chinese linger outside at night. They gather (here at The Place) and dance, play games and socialize. It is peaceful, calming and they know how to enjoy the end of a hard days work. And boy, do they know how to work!

I will miss the Chinese children (split pants and all) and the elderly people.
 Although we don't communicate, they usually have a smile and a greeting for me, usually because of Jupiter. 

~City parks~

This is the park where we take Jupiter every day (me mainly:)
Parks here are not like in suburban CA.

RiTan Park, my favorite place in Beijing.

 ~Rickshaw Rides~

We have two rickshaw drivers that treat us like VIPs whenever we want to go somewhere that is too short for a taxi or too long for a walk.

~Seeing my Children Accomplish Great Things and Overcome Challenges~

This girl has done an amazing job right smack dab in the middle of her teenage years! She has traveled on her own, been responsible, held her standards, made amazing friends, all while getting fantastic grades! 

D in The Monkey King...he struggled more with living far away from friends, but he played baseball and soared in school. He rarely ever complained and always was ready to sacrifice for others.
WE WILL ALL MISS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BEIJING!

 ~Delivery To Our Door~

With food cheaper to buy than to cook, and my impractical kitchen, we ate a lot of delivery! And it was good! Four nights a week we ordered in while I cooked Tue, Thur and Sun. E's favorite was Ganges Indian (above). D's favorite was Gung Ho Pizza. Mom's favorite was it all because she didn't have to cook! And Dad's favorite was Tube Station or Kro's Nest Pizza.

 ~Lights in the Winter~

Even though China doesn't really celebrate Christmas like the US, they sure do deck out the city in lights all winter.

~Snow~

Speaking of winter, I really loved the snow in Beijing. It was the perfect amount and perfect powdery-like snow that I didn't have to shovel...great for a California girl like me! 

~Taking the Subway~

This, of course, has it's good and bad. But for the most part, it was always entertaining and efficient and cheap! America really needs to learn a thing or two about public transportation.

~Our View~

It really has been amazing living in a high rise with a view like this.
 I will really miss seeing it every day.

 ~No cleaning, No Yard Work = 

More Family Time~

Most expats have ayis (housecleaners and cooks). We chose to live in a serviced apartment. It was fabulous not cleaning bathrooms, making beds and doing floors...just for the record, I did do all the laundry and most of the dishes...by HAND.

Of course, our family fun won't end when we leave China.

 I am sure Hubby would want me to add

~Fireworks at Chinese New Year~

If you are really still reading this...I will make the next one easier...no pics.

~What I Won't Miss About Beijing~

Bad Air !!!!

Slow Internet/Blocked Internet

Rock Hard Bed

People Everywhere, All The Time

People Stopping In the Middle of a Thoroughfare without a Clue!

Rude Taxi Drivers (although this has gotten SO much better)

Walking 20 min to the Grocery Store for Greek Yogurt only to Find They Don't Have Any...Again!

Not Being Able to Find Healthy Food (like Greek Yogurt)

Humidity

My Washer/Dryer Combo (that just broke so now it's just a washer)

Doing Dishes By Hand

My Impractical Kitchen with Tiny Fridge/Freezer

Not Being Able To Find the Majority of My List At One Place (can anyone say Tar-gét?)
The Spitting!!!

There is probably more, but I have held your attention for long enough (many of you for 22 months).

Who knows what Time Out For Me will look like after Beijing, but I do know that wherever we end up...I will still be putting my life out there for everyone to see! 

I hope you will follow us on our next adventure!

Zái Jīan!

& 

Thanks for Reading!

This Week In Pictures

 What a fun week we had! 
Hubby had previously been working around the clock, but things seemed to lighten up just in time for the Chinese Holiday on May first.  He was able to take Mon - Wed off and we had a great time together. Then the kids got Wed off.

On Monday we went with friends to a fancy restaurant called Maison Boloud, right at Tiananmen Square. Boy was it a treat! The chef greeted us at our table and dropped off these yummy Gruyere Puffs. That wasn't the only surprise we didn't order! As a matter of fact we got more "extra" treats than what we ordered.

A little puff cloud filled with Gruyere cheese.

I cannot explain how much these people mean to us!

Tasty hors d'oeuvres we did not order. Smoked salmon and spinach quiches.

The hors d'oeuvres we did order. Mackerel with an assortment of mustards.

My amazing Caesar Salad.

My entreè; bread crumbs with salted cod baked with quail egg and tomato on top.

Hubby's entreè; lamb

Hubby's dessert; peanut butter and chocolate...SO GOOD!

My dessert; lemon tarte

Pal's dessert; crème brulee

A surprise assortment of caramels, nougat and delicate macarons. 

I have never been to a restaurant where I felt so pampered and every single thing I put in my mouth was absolutely delightful. So grateful for this special day!

Despite our huge meal above I finally felt comfortable to go to the tailor and get a Chinese style dress made. 

I have waited a long time to feel small enough to go and do this.

That plum fabric is what I chose. I also got a temple dress made.
That is the tailor who is making the dresses.

While I was getting fitted, Hubby decided to browse the silk scarves for Jupiter! Yes, he thought to buy one to carry him in while hiking the Great Wall....don't ask!

More French food!

We found this small cafe near our house that allows dogs! 

Shanghainese style dumplings

We never get tired of the cute ladies making the jiao zi. This type has solid soup inside, then when they are steamed the soup melts and fills the dumpling. SO GOOD!

A dent in the wall near our house.

Pork organs cooked and sold on the street. No thanks!
Check out the guy chopping right there.

On May Day we packed up the kids in the car and headed out to Mutianyu at the Great Wall to ride the toboggan. On the way there is a huge sculpture of fruit in a walnut marking a fruit farm.

Gigantic fruit. Despite excellent directions we still got lost.
 I recommend always paying the very fair price to hire a driver for the day.

We finally made it! The boy and I on the chair lift up to the wall.

Did you know you can get Subway at the Great Wall? Good to know!

The view of part of the toboggan track from the chair lift.

Our entire family at the Great Wall Mutianyu

Jupiter just wanted to hang out in the shade.

We were all getting a bit tired of taking pictures.

I always used to make fun of people who treat their dumb dogs like babies! 

Now WE ARE THEM!

Yes, apparently dogs are allowed on the toboggan!

He liked it, we think!

One of the things I will really miss about Beijing is the fact that people really don't care what other people think. There is not the competitive desire to look or be perfect. So refreshing! For example, this woman below with an array of loud prints and all complete with platform tennies.

Rumor has it that jay walking is being enforced now. Not quite sure what missy below is going to do with her "Britney Spears headset". 

Watching for jay walkers.

Too bad these blooms only lasted a week. 

That is our apartment building in the background.

Cute kid!

Less than seven weeks until we come home...

Starting to miss Beijing already!