A Boot Scootin' Birthday

Ever since Stagecoach Country Music Festival started up back in 2007, it has been on my radar. Every year there has been some sort of reason that I couldn't go- a family vacation, work schedule, a boyfriend who hates country, etc. But this year, the stars aligned.

Last October, as I was cleaning out my car, Eric walked out and told me that he had just bought two Stagecoach tickets for us. It caught me by surprise since Eric isn't exactly the biggest fan of country music.

"But you don't even like country," I said.

"I don't," he said. "But, you do."

I'm pretty sure this is where I squealed, threw my arms around him, and started counting down the days until April.

Little did Eric or I know, at this point, that the festival fell on the same weekend as his 30th birthday. As the weeks got closer to the festival date, Eric started to regret that he would be spending his 30th birthday singing along to country tunes as opposed to spending the weekend doing what he loves- snowboarding and hanging out with his friends and family.

Being the good wife that I am, I told him to sell the tickets and I would plan a trip to Mammoth for his birthday. Barely a week before the big concert weekend, Eric and I were driving to Fullerton to meet with a buyer who wanted our tickets. On our way there we were both silent and the mood in the car was glum. Suddenly, Eric pulled off the freeway miles before our exit. "I feel like I'm taking my dog to the vet to be put down. We have to go to Stagecoach." He smiled, I smiled, and all was right in the world again. (Sorry potential buyer!)

Stagecoach was a weekend of withering heat, stifling crowds, and non-stop mass partying. And we were undaunted... it was everything it was hyped up to be! My family made Eric's birthday very special. (Yes, my whole family was in Indio for Stagecoach!) He blew out his candles on is his birthday key-lime pie (his favorite) and scored a pair of Rayban sunglasses from my folks.

And from my sisters, it was a theme- ammo and targets for shooting! How could this guy not be a country music fan? I mean, hunting, fishing, driving tractors, life in a small town, and songs about booze are basically Eric and country musics whole M-O!

But, three days of dancing, singing, drinking, and getting crazy with friends and family cracked Eric's resolve against country music. Stagecoach now has him burning country CD's and programming his car radio stations to the local country channels. He's even looking up concerts in Denver for when we move to Colorado Springs this summer! Thank you Jason Aldean and Brad Paisley for roping my husband in! Thank you teenage girls in booty shorts, and thank you Jack Daniels- my husband is now a country music fan!

Check out those Raybans!

<3

A Getaway and Girl Time!

When you live in an area as desolate as Edwards AFB and you get the opportunity to leave you JUMP on it! Which is why when Eric was sent TDY to San Diego for a NATO Conference I did not hesitate to tag along!

We spent the weekend beforehand at my parent’s house in Orange County where we were able to relax a bit and drop off our puppy, Brody, before heading further on down the coast.

Meet Brody:

 Isn't he adorable?!?!

On our way to San Diego we stopped at a brewery called Green Flash recommended to us by some friends of ours. This was my 4^th trip to San Diego this year and oddly enough, my first time going beer tasting in a city that is known for its many microbreweries.  Green Flash was a great place to spend the day and had many tasty brews to enjoy (my favorite was Trippell).

The weather in San Diego was AMAZING- the best I have ever experienced there! We stayed at the Marriott on Coronado Island and had an amazing view from our room.

I spent my days in San Diego lying out by the pool, and luckily Eric had a fair amount of free time. We took walks around the island, checked out some of the local pubs, and enjoyed the local cuisine. On Monday night, I was able to join Eric at the Welcome Reception and meet some of the other people from various countries attending the event. It was an amazing night!

I was enjoying the beautiful weather, Coronado Island, and the company of my husband so much that it was hard to leave them all behind on Tuesday night when I had to jump on the train and head back to OC. It was a beautiful sunset ride on the Surfliner and the views from my window seat were spectacular.

It was the perfect way to set the mood for my two days of pampering. This little desert rat got herself a haircut, mani pedi, and a spray tan! Yup, I was all gussied up and ready for a girls Bachelorette weekend in Las Vegas!

Vegas was a heck of a good time, as always. But I was more than ready to be reunited with my husband and our fur baby and head back home to Edwards! And there is no destination that is better than going HOME! Even if it is just for four days!