C.a.l.i.f.o.r.n.i.a.

I had a very eventful few days in California this past weekend. I flew into San Diego on Friday night (tried flying stand-by on Thursday, and that just wasn't happening) for my friend Melissa's wedding on Saturday. We hung out at the Hyatt hotel that night in La Jolla where the wedding reception was taking place the next day. Mel's parents got this huge suite that was so nice and SO big. We hung out by the pool and eat some Pat and Oscar's for dinner. They also had the most delicious lemon cake bits...i seriously gobbled like 15 of those bad boys. I need to get the recipe and post it.

Shelly. Kasey. Melissa. Mandy.

"do a serious face"...haha.

It looks like we cropped ourselves into this picture. Aparently Melissa can walk on water...haha

Saturday morning we all got ready for the wedding. Mandy, Sierra, and I were her bridesmaids. I was so lucky to witness Melissa and Kasey get sealed in the San Diego Temple. It was so amazing and she looked beautiful. The reception was that night at the hotel and it was so much fun. We danced our little hearts out all night long. I just LOVE weddings.

The bride getting her hair done.

Mandalyn.

Mandy. Erin. Heather. Shelly.

The happily married couple :)

Her dress was gorgeous!

YELLOWWWWW

Aw.

They had TWELVE cakes. I think I tried every one.



Sierra Lynn

Not the greatest picture but the only one I got with the bride. She looked so pretty!

The bridesmaids!

The next day, I picked Branson up from the Ontario airport. He was flying in for a summer leadership program at Ernst and Young in Irvine. We got lunch at one of our favorite restaurants, BJ's, and then saw Knight and Day. Even though it was only two days, it was weird being away from B, and I missed him. It was fun to hang out and not worry about work or anything. So then we went and visited with my family and had dinner and just relaxed. Since Branson was going to be in Irvine all day, I decided that the girls and I would go to Huntington beach while he was at his internship. We went out to breakfast at the Sugar Shack, layed on the beach for a couple hours, eat Sushi, and then went shopping. I absolutely love it down there. Branson does too...i'm hoping he takes a job with Ernst and Young :)


On my way back to Chicago I was flying stand-by. Branson's dad works for SkyWest so we get to fly for cheap, and it usually works out really well. However, there are times when your really not sure if your going to make it home that night. My first leg of the flight back was really good and I got on with no problems. I had a connector flight into Denver where I was supposed to catch another plan to Chicago. I didn't make it on the flight I was supposed to because it was full, but there was a flight going out an hour later that looked really good, so I wasn't too worried. I got a snack and waited for my name to show up on the stand-by list. I thought I would for sure make it on, but then a rush of people come over and are in line for my flight. I guess another flight that was headed to Chicago got delayed two hours, and since the flight I was supposed to get on had plenty of seats open, they sent everyone over to catch that flight...ugh. At first my name was 22nd on the list with about 30 available seats. Gradually my name kept getting pushed back and I was about 75th on the list with a wopping 5 seats open. Can you say frustrating? I didn't think I would be making it out that night. I waited around and missed two other flights that were oversold. I EVENTUALLY made it on the flight that was delayed, and I was so relieved. They called me up to get a seat and I was stoked I had a ticked. Finally. Then I hear my name called and the lady at the first desk hands me a new ticket and say,"I think you'll really like this one." I look down and it says United Business at the top. I was pretty happy about that, but had no idea how incredibly nice it would be. I walk on the plane and its a new 767, which is pretty dang huge. I go to find my seat and can't even believe it. I have my own huge TV in front of me that plays a ton of new movies, any music you can think of, and it even has playstation! The seat reclined all the way like it was a bed, and they gave me a blanket and pillow. I got a free, delicious meal and a delectable chocolate chip cookie fresh out of the oven. I was in heaven. I watched The Last Song (it was the only one Branson didn't want to see) and loved it. I honestly didn't want the plane to land. I was so comfortable. So even though I was waiting around all day in the Denver airport, it payed off. And I have some words of advice. If your flying anywhere far, I would recommend paying the big bucks for one of these seats. I would say it's well worth the money!
This is pretty similar to what it looked like, but the picture doesn't do it justice.