Written by Candace on June 25, 2014 | 6 Comments

San Francisco Staycation

dad-ashton-vacation

My dad and eleven year old nephew came for a little adventure last week.

We had a whirlwind of a trip! And I am thankful for every single minute I was able to spend with them. Here’s a little recap of our trip in case anyone is planning a bay area staycation or vacation themselves. Every time my dad comes we try to take him on a new adventure, the focus this trip was Yosemite. But it was also my nephew’s first time here so San Francisco was also a highlight. Here are the deets!

In-N-Out. If your guests arrive at lunch or dinner time, then it’s a very easy decision. In-N-Out must be first on the itinerary! It’s conveniently located one exit away from the San Francisco airport which also makes it a no brainer. The palm trees are a nice welcome to California too!

Bay Trail Bike Ride. After getting a good night’s rest, we started the morning strong with a bike ride along the Bay Trail. Bike riding is one of my dad’s favorite past times so I knew it was the perfect way to start the trip. We incorporated a stop at our favorite breakfast joint in San Mateo called The Pantry. This may have been my dad’s favorite part of the trip! The Pantry really is that good.

Taco Bell Beach. My mom spent two years living in the bay area and her favorite little oasis became what she calls “Taco Bell Beach” also known as Pacifica State Beach. She talked about it so much I knew it was a priority for Ashton to make a visit. He even jumped in the water with Vitaliy to experience the frigid waters of the Pacific Ocean. And he came home with lots of treasures he found while exploring.

San Francisco. The following day we explored all of my favorite spots in the city. We drove by AT&T Park, stopped at the bay bridge and walked through the Ferry Building, hiked Lombard Street, and enjoyed a lunch at Pacific Catch in the Marina. We ended our adventures at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge and even got to explore Fort Point which was new for me.

Yosemite. The SF day definitely wore us all out so we were thankful to spend a couple hours driving to Twain Harte, CA where we spent the night before exploring Yosemite National Park. I have a love-hate relationship with Yosemite. The place is incredibly stunning and I am always blown away by God’s creativity. But with my fear of heights, it can often test my nerves. Ashton had only one request, he wanted to see BIG trees, so we started the day with a hike to the Merced Grove of sequoias. We were all blown away! We then drove through the Yosemite Valley and enjoyed it from every view. By that point, we were all ready for a rest and some food so we took a break and enjoyed our picnic lunch. Money saver! And then we ended the day with a sunset hike of the Sentinel Dome. We reached the top and enjoyed 360 views of Yosemite. It was definitely the grand finale of an incredible day!

Columbia, California. To say we were exhausted from our trip to Yosemite would be an understatement. We all slept in the following day and woke up to a big breakfast made by Vitaliy followed by a lazy morning watching Karate Kid. We then packed up and enjoyed a stroll through Columbia, CA. One of my new favorite spots! It’s an old town in the heart of gold country that has preserved its main street. It’s like taking a walk back in time.

The End. I’m not sure if we were still exhausted from Yosemite or just from playing tour guide in general. But on our last day, Vitaliy and I watched the World Cup while my dad took my nephew on the Rocket Boat. We enjoyed Clam Chowder bread bowls at Boudin before ending the entire trip with a hot fudge sundae at Ghiradelli’s Square. My dad’s favorite treat is a hot fudge sundae so I couldn’t think of a better way to end his trip to California.

I can’t wait for our next visitors! Who’s coming? I love playing tour guide because I get to enjoy things I don’t normally get out and explore. With the start of summer, perhaps one or two of the items from our itinerary will make it on your summer to-do lists. Where should we go next? We’re planning an 8 year anniversary staycation for August. I’d love to hear of any hidden gems you enjoy.

Chime in or Share

Written by Candace on June 12, 2014 | 8 Comments

I Do Not Know How To Be A Wife

I recently came to the realization that I do not know how to be a wife.

Well, let me clarify, I obviously know a few things if I’m still married after almost 8 years and I’m quite certain my husband would tell you that he’s happily married. But what I do mean is that I still have a lot to learn. As a wife, I am given the special and unique role of being my husband’s helper. Now, some women might hear the word helper and find offense at such a role, but I’ve recently started to realize the weight of the position I’ve been given. I feel like I’m only starting to scratch the surface. But I’m thankful my eyes are being opened and I’m maturing into my role. But honestly, that’s the part I feel pretty clueless about, however, it’s also the part that excites me the most. I want to learn how to be a better helper because I know that’s getting to the good stuff. If I can be a better helper, I’m confident that it will encourage Vitaliy be a better leader and provider.

But all this got me thinking further. I already know one thing that Vitaliy needs from me: affirmation. It’s a form of respect. He needs me to believe in him no matter what. But let’s just be honest, this is not always easy. I’ve been taught my entire life that respect needs to be earned. Yet, it’s clear to me through trial and error that respect, affirmation and trust have the strongest effect when they are not conditional. This is revolutionary thinking, I know. And it’s very hard. It’s not our natural behavioral pattern. But I want to learn. I want to learn because this is an area of our marriage I’ve often struggled in. But I’m putting myself to the challenge because I feel like I’m onto something.

I know that love believes the best about a person, regardless. And I want to see what will happen in and through Vitaliy if my respect and admiration for him was unshakable. What would happen when he fails and I cheer him on instead of getting upset with him? What if my nagging turned into trusting? What if my belief in his abilities was just what he needed to approach those dreams, where fears were holding him back? These are all the questions I’m asking myself these days.

Any other wives want to take the plunge, fight against our natural instincts, and be the wives we were created to be? I’m going for it! But as you know, I much prefer doing things together.

Let’s make marriage happen! Respect is just what our marriages might need.

Chime in or Share

Written by Candace on June 10, 2014 | 4 Comments

Greg & Seena
Multicultural Wedding

Greg and Seena’s love story is the kind movies are made of.

The two were both working in San Francisco and repeatedly found themselves riding the same Caltrain car into the city. They often swapped glances, but Seena was always surrounded by friends or other riders. Greg realized he was going to have to get creative if he wanted to talk to her.

As they were boarding the train one day, Greg used his years of playing Tetris to devise a way for the two of them to sit together. He quickly calculated the seating arrangements of the other passengers and figured out exactly where he needed to sit in order for Seena to be forced to choose the seat across from him. His calculations were spot on! Now he just needed to find the courage to say hello.

Shortly after taking their seats, Greg received a text from a friend informing him that Fidel Castro had given up power in Cuba after 50 years. That was it – the perfect way to break the ice. He looked at the mystery girl and said, “Wow, Fidel Castro just surrendered power.” She said, wow. They didn’t speak for another 2 weeks.

Then one day he found her sitting alone so he sat across the aisle from her. This time he used the books they were reading as a conversation starter. She laughed and they started talking and by the end of the week he had confirmed their first date. Courage, calculation and persistence paid off! Seena quickly went from the Caltrain mystery girl to the familiar leading lady of Greg’s life.

The two were married last August at the Willow Heights Mansion in Morgan Hill. The rolling California hills painted the backdrop as they promised their lives to one another under the warm summer sun. It was picture perfect just like their love story.

Greg and Seena – I’m so happy to share your sweet story and wedding photos today. Thank you again for inviting us to play the special role as your photographers. Your day was filled with so much joy and beauty. It’s so fun to look back on the all the memories. Vitaliy and I wish you a marriage filled with love and laughter!

Chime in or Share