Date: 40: Raglan Public House

Excuse the numbering of our next few dates.

My numbering was off just a bit.

I guess #39 was just so fun I wanted to relive it. 

And onto Raglan...

Raglan Public House is yum-yum-yummo!!

There's no two ways around it.

 

They have a bunch of fabulous items on their menu,

but can we just stop for a minute

and take in the fact that I had a soft pretzel with jalapeno cheese dip for dinner?

+ 1,000 Points, easy.

Anyone who knows anything about me knows I'm obsessed with cheese

(and I'm lactoseintolerant, but really.. obsessed with cheese).

After watching another gorgeous San Diego sunset at the OB pier,

Jeremiah and I dined alfresco, on farm-style benches, under twinkle lights

...yes, that basically translates into 'perfect.'

Add to that delicious beers, craft cocktails

and the fact that I had a stinkin pretzel with cheese for dinner

and I was pretty much on Cloud 9.

We need to go back.

Now.

Date 39: Luc's Bistro

Last November, I had a dental implant surgery

that left me with very limited dietary options for a few days.

But that didn't stop us from dating. :)

Jeremiah stopped by a little restaurant by our home

for some majorly delicious comfort food

and we had a little date night in instead.

The mac n' cheese at Luc's Bistro normally comes with bacon and breadcrumbs,

but when Jeremiah told them that I could barely chew,

they whipped up something special for me

and it was absolutely delicious.

The food alone would have won me over,

but how sweet of them to customize my order.

Our date night in was a success.

One styrofoam cup filled to the brim with delicious pasta

and an extra side of drugs please. 

Date 38: Banker's Hill

Banker's Hill is a super cute neighborhood restaurant

that I had been dying to try for a long time.

After watching the sunset over the bay,

we enjoyed all sorts of yummy appetizers:

deviled eggs, tacos and pumpkin soup to name a few.

We also had delicious cocktails and desserts.

 This adorable little eatery comes highly recommended.

Date 37: Discovery Lake

After stuffing our face with burgers,

a walk around the lake only seemed appropriate.

On a Saturday morning, 

we headed up to San Marcos

for a walk around Discovery Lake

(and acai bowls afterwards. :))

There's a short (1 mi?) path around the lake

that's paved and relatively flat.

We spent the morning putting our feet to the pavement,

enjoying God's creation, and then relaxing on the dock.

The perfect way to kick off the weekend.

Date 36: The Burger Joint

The Burger Joint is a place that had recently opened up in Poway

just down the street from our house.

As the name suggests, they serve burgers, fries and shakes. 

But not just your standard cheeseburger with ketchup...

We tried the Wellington (mushrooms, onions, bleu cheese..), 

the Southwestern (chipotles, black bean salsa, pepperjack...) 

and an order of sweet potato tots with mojo (read: house) sauce.

While the tots were delish as most tots are, the burgers were just okay.

The flavor was pretty good, but I think they tried to pile on to much

and the bun just became soggy and unsupportive

(yes, I just talked about food the way you'd describe a parent 

who doesn't want their child to get a tattoo. weird.)

We've been back since when we've been craving a burger and didn't want to drive across town.

But I'm not sure I'd say this is a local favorite for us.

Date 35: Indigo Grill

I'm slightly embarrassed that I'm blogging about a date we went on over a year ago,

but I'm determined to eventually get through all 50 dates.

Date 35. Little Italy. Indigo Grill.

We went during Restaurant Week

when the price-fix menu is limited

and I STILL had a hard time deciding what to order.

Their food is full of such flavor,

artistry, and creativity.

A beautiful butternut squash soup

The best corn pudding I've ever tested

and all sorts of other goodies.

We should really go back soon... :)

Date 34: Craft & Commerce

This great little restaurant reminds me of a library-turned-speakeasy.

It sits on the outskirts of the vibrant Little Italy neighborhood, 

but doesn't take reservations

so I had been waiting for the perfect time to try this place.

We ended up meeting my sister and her boyfriend

for a slightly early Saturday night dinner one weekend.

It was perfect. There was relatively no wait.

But both the indoor and streetside seating were full and lively.

While we enjoyed the entrees we ordered for dinner,

we absolutely loved their creative cocktail menu

and flavorful appetizers.

I'm pretty sure my bacon wrapped date obsession

was born here. 

  

 

Insider Tips: 

Sit up at the bar and watch the bartender mix up 

all sorts of custom drinks with egg yolk and other fun ingredients.

Oh and make your way over to the bathroom... there's a delightful little treat in there. 

Date 33: Gingham

While I'm sure there are a handful of neighborhood favorites,

La Mesa doesn't top my list when looking for good eats.

But a relatively young restaurant on La Mesa Blvd has me looking for excuses to head East.

We've since been to Gingham to try their lunch/dinner menu,

but during our first visit there last summer,

we hit up their Sunday brunch with my sister and her boyfriend.

In the same family as Herringbone, Burlap, Gaberdine and Searsucker

(all on our list of favorites),

this East County eatery serves up a cowboy's take

on some of our favorite dishes.

 

Pulled Pork Eggs Benedict.

Yes, it's just as amazing as you're dreaming about.

Beautiful decor. Fun atmosphere. Unique dishes. 

And oh-so-delicious 

Date 32: Domenic's

Having eaten pasta multiple times a day while we were in Italy,

we were having major withdrawls shortly after we got home.

We had driven past a little Italian place called Domenic's almost daily,

but it's an unassuming place that had never really caught our attention.

Our quest for Italian food brought us there

and HO-LY YUM.  

 

The atmosphere is authentic.

The garlic knots are delish.

And the Spaghetti all'Amatriciana rivals anything we tasted in Italy itself.

I'll cut to the chase.

We don't drive right on past this place anymore.

What a little gem.

And right down the street from our house... :)

Date 31: Which Wich

Quiznos was recently replaced with Which Wich

in one of the shopping centers near our house.

Since we're kind of sandwich fanatics,

we thought this was the perfect place to try out

one Sunday after church.

They've got a pretty sweet setup.

You grab a brown paper bag,

bubble in all the goodies you want

(or select a pre-set sandwich from the menu)

and then off your little baggie goes down the assembly line.

A couple of the toppings cost extra

(the standard avo, extra cheese, etc.)

but you end up with a sandwich just the way you like it

without having to follow the sandwich maker down the counter

saying 'yes, mam,' or 'no, none of that' like you do at Subway.   

Insider Secret: 

They hang your bag so you can watch it progress down the counter.

If you draw something fun on the back,

you'll know exactly where yours is in the mix. :)

Date 30: Aqua Cycles and Kayaks

This summer, I snagged a Groupon

to rent these Aqua Cycles and Kayaks (not pictured) 

down at the Carlsbad Lagoon.

We had such a fun time paddling around with our friends,

enjoying the sunshine, talking about life,

and getting a workout 

all at the same time. 

Gosh, I'm so thankful for this place we call home.

Today

Outside my window . . . .oh wait, my office doesn't have a window. ;-) 

Outside my door? I see a wall. Exciting, hu?

I am thinking . . . about my father-in-law who's having a birthday tomorrow.

From the kitchen . . . I enjoyed a tasty smoothie this morning. 

My blender is getting a workout these days.

I am wearing . . .green jeans that are a little too baggy to tuck into the black boots I'm wearing, 

a white lace top, a black sweater and a white and yellow striped scarf to keep me warm in my cold office.

I am creating . . . a list of things I'd like to tackle after work today and tomorrow, 

and a PPT presentation.

I am going . . . slightly crazy, I think. 

I am reading . . . email after email after email.

I am hoping . . .the little prayer pep talk I just had kicks in soon.

I am hearing . . .a couple of colleagues talking in the hallways. 

I think it's time for some Pandora.

Around the house . . .everything looks clean and pretty and makes my heart smile, 

but inside the closets... my organization projects await.

One of my favorite things . . . is being married to that cute boy I'm in love with. 

Did you know 5 years ago yesterday is when he asked me to be his Mrs?

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . . Bible Study tonight, errands tomorrow,

 lunch with a dear friend on Friday 

and meeting sweet baby Joey to kick off the weekend.

A picture to share . . . how about my desktop image? 

Isn't that man a doll?! *swoon*

Date 29: Lucha Libre + Sea World Shopper's Pass

This summer,

Jeremiah and I hit up the

well... rather spirited taco shop in Mission Hills.

Nacho Libre.

The line is always long, long, long.

But if you ask me, it's worth it.

At least once.

And hey, the cashier even gave us free drinks for our patience in line.

We tried quite a few of their tacos,

but I'm pretty sure the Tap Me Out was my fave.

(Don't miss the salsa bar.)

After dinner,

we used the Sea World Shopper's Pass

to pop in for the Shamu show.

When we were dating,

we had season passes to Sea World

so it was kinda fun to walk down memory lane a bit.

And after the show,

we booked it out of the parking lot

and over to Fiesta Island

- which in my humble opinion -

is the best place to watch the Sea World fireworks.

Toes in the sand, bums in our lawn chairs

and eyes-to-the-sky for a lovely light show.

The perfect way to end our summer night.

----

In case you've never heard of the Shopper's Pass:

you can basically get a pass at Guest Relations

that lets you pop into the park for an hour.

As long as you're back within an hour 

(and have a receipt to show you bought something)

you get your deposit back and get in for free.

If you show up later in the evening,

the parking attendants will likely let you in for free as well.

It's a cheap date and so much fun.

Date 28: Food Truck Meet-up

I don't know about you,

but in our neck of the woods

Food Trucks are all the rage.

And I love it.

On Thursdays, a few great trucks meet-up in Scripps Ranch.

So of course, Jeremiah and I had to go try out a few new ones.

The famous Devilicious. Yummo.

Like asparagus grilled cheese, yummo.

I know, right?

And the dessert truck?

You can build your own ice cream sandwiches 

with your choice of cookies and ice cream.

I'm a sucker for snickerdoodles. Gah. 

Date 27: Cinepolis

Picture this:

You've got your feet kicked up in a recliner, 

wrapped up in a blanket if you'd like.

Cocktail of choice in hand.

You're chowin' on somethin' yummy.

Maybe a burger. Maybe sushi. Maybe fondue.

And your watching a new movie on a humongous screen.

You will never want to go to a 'normal' theater again.

The Mister and I saw the new Batman at the Cinepolis in Del Mar.

And apart from staring at the Exit for half the movie

praying almost continuously for the families in Aurora,

Jeremiah and I really loved the experience.

In fact, I think we'll go again this weekend. :)

Advice:

Don't forget to get your tickets ahead of time.

The chairs are numbered like theater seats.

The best seats go fast.

Date 26: Peterson's Donut Corner

We were driving home from a day in Santa Monica.

It was just about midnight.

And what was opened?

You guessed it.

Peterson's 24-hour Donut Corner!!

Always fresh. Always cheap. Always delicious.

and Always open.

(bring cash)

Date 25: Nicky Rotten's

This summer,

Jeremiah and I wandered down to Coronado

for a Sunday afternoon on the bay.

We played frisbee at one of our favorite parks, watched the gorgeous sunset,

and walked across the street for Burgers at Nicky Rotten's.

Since we had just gotten back from Italy,

the bruscetta caught my eye.

They have SO many yummy things,

but roma tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, provolone,

parmesan, and mixed greens with pesto aioli...

ah, my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

It's seriously DE-licous.

PS: How do we get to live in such a gorgeous city?

Really?!

Thank you, Lord.

Date 24: Moonlight Theater

This summer, Jeremiah and I double dated with Lyssie and her now-fiance.

We packed up a picnic and enjoyed Legally Blonde under the stars.

Have you been to Moonlight?

I think this may need to be a summer tradition.

2013: Goals

The second half of 2012 was very much an equipping year for me.

It was a tearing down and a building up.

It was a preparation for what I believe will be an incredible 2013.

I've been talking with the Lord about some of these goals for months.

And others He more recently placed upon my heart.

Needless to say, I'm really excited about them.

Lord willing, these are some of our/my goals for 2013:

{Personal Goals}

*Continue to spend my mornings with the Lord
* Donate blood this Easter - There. I wrote it. Hold me accountable. Please

{Marital Goals}

* Spend Sundays Sabbathing - This year Jeremiah and I will not be making any commitments on Sundays. We will be reserving Sundays for the Lord, for rest, for reflection, for each other and for our families.
* Monthly Dates - Each month, we'd like to plan 3 dates: Something Old, Something New and an Act of Service, too. The "Something Old" will be something we've done before and have been wanting to do again. The "Something New" will follow the same format as our 50 First Dates. And the "Act of Service" will be some way of giving back to the community and loving on others. I'm really excited not only about the ways that we will continue to set aside intentional time to invest in our marriage, but also for intentionality of giving of our time and resources.

{Financial Goals}

* Give more generously - I'm really challenged that we would spend as month of our monthly budget on other people as we do on ourselves. To have actually factored this into our budgets in a couple ways in addition to tithing, I'm really excited about what God is doing here.
* Pay off our final Student Loan - I think there'll probably be a celebratory dinner once this bad boy is gonzo.
* Save. Save. Save - For a new car, for more home projects, for a rainy day

{Travel Goals}

* Watch the sunset over the Grand Canyon
* Take my picture in front of the MacLeod Castle
* Eat Dim Sum, Sushi and Thai in their native countries
* See the leaves change in the Pacific Northwest

Do you make any New Year's Resolutions? What are your goals for 2013?

Date 23: Vintana + Esco Gelato

We had only been home from Italy for a couple days,

but already I was having MAJOR gelato withdrawls.

When you eat something once (or maybe twice, but who's counting?) a day for weeks,

one day without it feels like an eternity.

Anywho, I knew about the new little gelato shop that had opened in Escondido a few months prior,

but all the restaurants I was hoping to pair it with have gone out of business recently.

(This economy is dumb.)

When the Cohn Family opened a new restaurant in Escondido,

I was really excited to try it out (and stop by Esco Gelato for dessert, of course).

Vintana is located on top of the Escondido Lexus dealer right off the 15.

It has a beautiful view of the local hills and a tasty menu to go with it.

Their Happy Hour is great, too.

We've had the shrimp and corn fritters, the ceviche, the brie, 

the filet trio, lobster bisque, lobster mac n'cheese, and um... well, half the menu.

It's all delicious. And their cocktails are just as good.

If you're headed to Esco Gelato,

pray they have the sour cream and brown sugar.

They change their menu all the time and always have wonderful flavors.

But the sour cream and brown sugar pairs so perfectly with the peach.

It's my absolute favorite.

I'm salivating just thinking about it.