Warmth In The City

 It was going to be 74 degrees in the city that week, so I thought it was a good day to drive down the mountain and spend an afternoon in the city before the rains and snow come this month.  So, off I went with my son to have a day of fun and smiles.  It's 50 minutes to the city, so I don't like the drive, but it's all worth the discomfort when we arrive and are ready to explore new places.  Our first stop was Starbucks, of course.  And you can't go wrong with coffee and a chocolate croissant, warmed up.

Our next stops were Target and Hobby Lobby.  I was in awe looking around at Hobby Lobby - it has everything you need for crafts and decorating the home, but I didn't find anything that was a must to bring home.  At Target, I bought some make-up, pancake mix, syrup, Hershey's kisses, and these cute nail stickers for the kids. 

We went from pine, fir, and cedar trees to California palm trees in less than an hour.  There were palms everywhere in this one shopping center.

  While my son got a haircut, I went inside a pie and bread shop.  It's a quaint shop filled with homemade breads, pies, pastries, and more.  I thought the pies were a little pricey though.

We were getting hungry, and it was time for lunch, so we drove over to our favorite Mexican restaurant.  The food is delicious, and the waiter is always so good to us.

After, we drove over to Michael's.  Lots of cute Easter stuff already, but I didn't buy anything there.  Then, it was Barnes and Noble.  My son went to the coffee shop there for an afternoon pistachio latte, while I browsed the store.  I needed a calendar, and was hoping there was still a Mary Engelbreit one, as it's already February.  There was!  We have to glance at our calendars all year long, so why not get a bright and cheerful one, right?

Our next stop was World Market, one of my fav shops.  There is a little coffee cart when you first walk inside World Market.  They have samples of different coffees, and after walking for so long, it's always a treat to stop and rest and try a new coffee blend.  There, hanging from a mug tree was the prettiest cup, and it was so me.  It looked so Valentiney....and Springy.

After, we headed over to Dick's and Kohl's, which I didn't find anything, but my son bought a couple shirts.  Then, our last stops were Sprouts and Home Goods.  At Sprouts, we bought some organic apples, green tea, and pecan pie.  Have you ever had pecan pie at Sprouts?  So yummy - actually, the best pecan pie that I've had.

It was a long day of walking, and my feet were really sore by then, so it was time to head on back up the mountain.  It was really warm in the city, and starting to get too warm by the end of the day, so I appreciated the coolness of the air at 3,000 ft. driving home.  I rolled down my car window and took a breath of that fresh mountain air.  At one point during the drive it gets to 4,000 ft, and we saw a bit of snow on the side of the roads, so pretty.

One of my favorite things about spending the day in the city is the haul that I get to bring home to enjoy.

It was such a wonderful day, and it's always good to return safely to the place we call home.  It's nice to explore the city once in a while, and I've lived in the suburbs all my life, but I really like the calmness and peace that these mountains bring to me each and every day.

Right after I finished this post, I looked out my back window and saw four deer!  They are still working on the fencing, and the deer walked right through the opening and into my back yard.  They stayed a while, and at one point, were very close to the house.  What a surprise, what a blessing.

Happy Valentine's Day!