Category Archives: Life

Spring Has Sprung at DownEast Basics

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Spring Has Sprung at DownEast Basics

By Erin

Spring has sprung over at DownEast Basics and their new spring collection for 2013 is in full bloom. Last week a few of us headed over to check out the latest and greatest spring fashions that they have to offer.  Splashes of beautiful colors welcome you into the store.  Bright yellows, pastels, greens, coral, oranges, teals, and pinks are in this season.DownEastBasics

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Good-bye 2012, Hello 2013

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Good-bye 2012, Hello 2013

By Erin

As the clock ticks away into the first hours of the new year, one often wonders what the New Year has in store. Maybe this year will change your destiny. Perhaps you are meandering through the path of life, seeking answers to your deepest issues. Whatever your future may be, you must welcome the New Year with an open heart and open mind. Make the best of today, so that your tomorrows can be better. Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do right now. TODAY! Otherwise you’ll be in the exact same spot you are right now, this time NEXT YEAR in 2014 wondering the EXACT.SAME.THINGS.

“The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it.”–Thomas S. Monson

I love that quote immensely, and it fits the new year and all of its hopes, dreams, and desires that it brings all of us perfectly.

So first the past. Here is my recap of 2012 in pictures.  I am still in my first year of blogging, so I am going to start with the month of April, since that’s when my blog was “born” and came into this world. On April 10th, 2012 to be exact. Along with Mary’s brainchild, Along Comes Mary.

APRIL 2012

 Horsing Around In LA was created.

In 2012 I wanted to explore more tea houses, salons, and rooms. I was able to visit quite a few of them! This is something I wish to explore further in 2013. So far my favorite place for tea is Paris In A Cup in Orange, CA. Their Summer in Paris tea has won me over.

I was able to make great use of my Disneyland Annual Pass in 2012.
I was able to partake in a fun ocean adventure on a sailboat.
MAY
A fun day was spent at the spa in Glen Ivy with friends for my birthday.
Allie joined the barn. I LOVE this horse!!!! <3 🙂
 Stroll & Savor adventures on 2nd Street that I look forward to every year in Long Beach. If you are a foodie like me, then you have to check this out!
JUNE
Celebrating my Grandparents 65th Wedding Anniversary and my Grandma’s 90th Birthday
A yearly tradition I hope to continue into 2013! Our 3rd annual Girl’s trip out to the river! So much fun!! 🙂
Lake Havasu/River Trip with the Girls
Disney Fireworks. Yes, I went there a lot this year! I just can’t get enough Disney in my life. 😉
 JULY
What kind of Disney fan would I be without a trip to go visit Carsland at Disney during the summer?

 I was lucky to be able to fly out to Minnesota/North Dakota for 2 weeks to go visit family. This was at my cousin Bethany’s wedding in Medora, North Dakota. It was a beautiful wedding, fit for a princess. White Horses and Carriage included. 😉
Out at my Uncles Farm House in Minnesota. Can you see why I love it out here?
An Experience of a Lifetime at a Dodger Game with fellow friends and bloggers, Jamie & Mary for one of their blogger nights.
AUGUST

Of course, to be fair, we had to hit up an Angel’s game as well!
Trip out to the Black Hills, South Dakota for an exciting celebration for another cousin getting married by spending the week before in an amazing cabin in the hills! This is a place I want to come back to! The cabins here were just out of this world. Wish I could live in one of them!
The Cabin
The Lovely Couple Erin & Andrew at their wedding.
The Wedding Party
Crafted–Blogger Event At Crafted. Tons of hand-made goods that are made local here in the Los Angeles, CA area.
SEPTEMBER
We made it down to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center to watch a Grand Prix. This gorgeous Friesian horse and his rider performed during the National Anthem and after the event. I just love how beautiful they both are turned out! I would LOVE a headstall as shiny and blingy as this guy has to go riding around in.
OCTOBER
One thing I have been wanting to go to was to Disney’s Halloween Party. This year I was finally able to make that happen.
The year of weddings. My good friend from college, Kellie and her new hubby Ryan. I wish one of them were my own… but no such luck there…
Be on the lookout for a post on Grimmway Farms soon! I was ever so blessed to be able to visit them up in Bakersfield, CA and I learned all about carrots and where much of our produce comes from in CA! This was definitely a highlight of my year in 2012 as I LOVE the country/farm life and food in general if you have not noticed. It reminded me so much of being back in Minnesota/North Dakota!
NOVEMBER
CHILL!! With fellow blogging buddies Jamie & Mary.
DECEMBER
Another tradition I started and hope to be able to continue is a Holiday Dessert Exchange with friends and family. You get to sample so many tasty goodies and take some home with you. It’s been a highlight of the holiday season for me.
Helping my grandparents get their tree and house ready for Christmas. This was the first year that they weren’t able to do it all by themselves. So I treasured every minute with them since I never know if they will be here with us come next Christmas. Especially since my grandfather has been in the hospital again since this past Sunday evening and was also in the hospital for few days earlier in December. He gave us a major scare back in September when he had to have an emergency brain surgery.
Celebrating Christmas Eve with my grandparents.
There’s nothing like Disney at Christmas time! I love all the decorations, music, and holiday cheer at the happiest place on earth.
In a nutshell that was my year. The good, the bad, the ugly. A lot has been learned and many memories made. May 2013 bring better health to my family and friends, better opportunities, more good times than bad, important lessons learned, and growth in the right direction to make all of our dreams come true. In my next post I will continue with my goals, resolutions, aspirations and where I hope 2013 will take me. As we say our good-byes and close the door on 2012, I say hello to 2013 with open arms.

iPad Mini Giveaway: Jenny Tsa & Ivan Lai– Cruise Planners

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Jenny Tsa & Ivan Lai – Cruise Planners

By Erin

Besides horses, traveling is another passion of mine that I just can’t ever seem to get enough of.  Ever since I was in high school I grew a love for cruises. The second my friend popped in a video from Disney Cruise Line on what a Disney Cruise had to offer, I’ve been hooked ever since!  After many years of saving up my nickels and dimes I was able to finally go on my first Disney Cruise after I graduated from college in January 2005 with the dear friend  of mine who had originally shown me the Disney Cruise Line video back in high school! Here is a small handful of photos to get you as excited about cruising as I am! You know what would also make cruising even more exciting? Wining a new iPad Mini to document all the good times on the cruise!

Bon Voyage Drinks! I truly cannot wait to do this again!

Our Ship! The Disney Wonder. For my next cruise, the Disney Fantasy is what I have my eye on.

Cinderella!  Many Disney Princesses await you on a Magical Disney Cruise!

Disney’s own private island, Castaway Cay! Such a beautiful sight. There is an ADULT’s ONLY beach too! Talk about paradise.. 🙂

Beautiful sunset in the Bahamas!

Disney Gift Cards I’ve been saving up from Birthday Gifts and Christmas Gifts since 2008 so I can go on my next Disney Cruise! There are 31 of them here so far… it’s all I’ve asked for, for the last 4 years!! I will be contacting Jenny and Ivan soon to book my 7 day Disney Cruise to the Caribbean!

Now that you are hopefully in cruise mode, let me tell you a little bit more about Jenny Tsa and Ivan Lai and the AWESOME iPad Mini Giveaway you probably came here for!

Jenny Tsa and Ivan Lai are based in San Gabriel Valley: Cruise and Land Vacation Planners. 

I’m helping Jenny Tsa & Ivan Lai who are cruise planners from www.FunCruisesForYou.com promote an iPad Mini giveaway. I am more than happy to help them out with this as anything having to do with travel or cruises (especially Disney Cruises) is something that I am deeply passionate about. Someday when I am ready to retire, it is my ultimate goal to go on one of those Around the World Cruises. I will for sure be looking up help from Jenny and Ivan when the time comes to help me get the best deal for that trip!  They don’t charge a fee for their services and will make your vacation plans effortless by hooking you up with the best deals out there.  A customized package is designed based on your travel preferences. Jenny and Ivan’s top priority is to help get you the most out of your travel investment by extending round-the-clock service while defining your travel needs precisely.

Jenny and Ivan are graciously sponsoring a giveaway for their Facebook Fans!

To enter the iPad Mini Giveaway, just click here:

iPad Mini Giveaway!!!

It is super easy to enter through Facebook, and for each friend you refer you’ll get an additional 5 entries! The giveaway will be held as soon as they get 500 fans, so hurry on over and enter! The sooner they reach 500 fans, the sooner you could be holding that iPad Mini in your hands. Open to US Residents ONLY. +21 years.  😉 GOOD-LUCK!!

 

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Jenny Tsa & Ivan Lai – Cruise Planners (www.FunCruisesForYou.com). Horsing Around In LA is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I cannot wait to go on my next cruise!