Catching Up on Playing in LA

I have several new posts, but before I move onto what is most recent, I want to get this post in before it gets completely forgotten!

Two weekends ago, Todd was given two tickets to the USC/Utah game from a friend.  Long story short, the friend was somehow connected to a family well-connected with USC.  We arrived to the game to find ourselves, 5 rows up perfectly centered between the uprights in the end zone.  Needless to say, we had amazing seats and a wonderful time!

After the game, we were both hungry, and I wanted to stop at babycakes to stock up on some gluten free goodies.  Next door to babycakes, is one of the two restaurants in LA that claim to have invented to original French Dip Sandwich.  We went in to see what all the fuss was about....

...and after a mediocre meal, we decided Phillipe's will be where we attempt an amazing original french dip the next time around ;)

A Sweet Birthday!

I am a huge sugar fiend -- I can't help it, and I can't get enough of it.  My biggest vice is cake.... and creme brulee, and tiramisu, oh and ice cream!!!  I could go on an on!  As you can see, being gluten free, casein free, and sugar free has been a huge mental hurdle for me!  However, as much as I love these goodies, I hate being sick so I am very good about not eating things I am not supposed to.  All of this to say that of all days, I really wanted some cake today -- my birthday.

I have been wanting to head down to babycakes in LA, the premier boutique bakery for all things gluten free, sugar free, and vegan.  I had not made it there just yet because, in the past, the massive amounts of traffic, horrendous parking, and navigation of the not-so-safe downtown streets talked me out of a silly little cupcake every time.  However, the nostalgia of cake on my birthday took hold of me today, and it is all I could think about all morning.  [Sidenote:  If you know my husband at all, you know he does not cook, and he certainly does not bake!  So any hope of a homemade cake was a wasted wish.  Furthermore, it is my birthday, so I was determined to not pick up a paint brush OR a whisk all day!]  After several hours of going back and forth and not being decisive, I decided to go!  

This wasn't an easy mission, it was just as bad as I thought it would be!  We live just outside of LA county (thank goodness!!), but somehow a short distance always turns into a several hour trip!  I left at 10 am, and this is the traffic I sat in (funny how this still baffles me after 6 months of living here)....

When I made it downtown, I circled the bakery about 6 times trying to get as close as I could while adhering to one way streets and roads that did not allow turns during certain hours.  I finally parked a block and a half away, and if you know downtown LA, you know that was entirely too far away to be walking alone.  Before I even got 50 yards down the street, a Los Angeles police officer approached me and asked where I was heading.  He was so nice and walked the remaining block to the bakery with me...I was so thankful!  I was welcomed by this....

...and this once I got inside....

One dozen cupcakes later, and $50 lighter (Yes, I almost fell over when they told me my total) I left with these awesome goodies that made the entire 3 hour odyssey worth every moment!  

My plan is to stash some of my cupcakes away in the freezer for a later date....we will see how long that plan lasts!  As far as Todd's plan...he may be more willing to bake a cake or procure a birthday cake prior to me taking things into my own hands and getting the Rolls Royce of cupcakes next year! ;o)  

This has made my mouth water, I'm off to find those cupcakes!

Moving Pros & Cons

I know my last post about moving did not elaborate very much on our feelings about moving, so I thought I would take a minute to share some of what we are feeling (at this moment!!)

Lets start with the not so great:
- We will greatly miss all of the friends we have made in Orlando over the last several years
- We will be further away from our families, and will miss them being in a "driveable" distance from us!
- We will miss all of our friends coming in and out of town to go to conferences and spend a few days with Mickey!!
- Everyone in California will think my Southern accent is bad until they meet Todd - we will be aliens!
- Our church has been such a great support system here, and we will surely not be able to replace it!
- I will miss restaurants that have horrible names, but are so yummy like Hannibal's and The Ravenous Pig!!
- While I know we will have other wonderful things in California, I will miss shopping and eating on Park Avenue, mornings at the French Bakery, and Saturdays at the best farmer's market!
- Brick roads, oak trees canopying charming streets, lakes on every corner, and the charm of Florida will be long gone! (who knew I would ever love anything about Florida!!)
- We will greatly miss not having state income tax -- 9.3% in CA will HURT!
- Todd will have withdrawls from the Magic, and the new Amway Arena that is not even 3 miles away from our condo!
- The unknown!!

And the great:
- Todd's new position is a wonderful thing, and a much needed change we are looking forward to
- We can find a new church, and will meet new friends!
- We can then introduce said friends to the wonderful new Southern gem in the middle of their city that they don't even appreciate, I'm sure:  Chick-fil-A !!
- I can have In-N-Out burger whenever I want it...bunless for me of course!!  If you don't know what I am talking about, see here!!
- We will be missing the worst part of the year in Florida (hot, hot, hot), and enjoying perfect weather in California during the summer
- The beach will be practically in our back yard!
- Todd is excited to be in a city that actually has pro sports other than just basketball....however, he wants to make it clear he will NOT be a Lakers or Clippers fan (who likes the Clippers, anyway??), he is staying true to the Magic!
- As a child, we lived in San Diego for a few years (my little brother is a Californian by birth) and my Aunt and Uncle and one of my cousins still live about 2 hours from LA so we will be able to visit them!  In addition, my extended family is in Seattle so it will be easier to make a trip that way!
- We will have all new weekend getaway locations!
- I'm convinced living Celiac-induced gluten-free will be much easier in the land of skinny-minis on Fad Gluten Free Diets!

Well, that's it for now!  I'm sure I will have so many more thoughts on this, but will spare you from reading more until a later date!

Hood Household Changes!

No, we did not buy new furniture, or rearrange what we already had....I am sharing pictures of our house as it is now, because oh so soon it will not look anything like this, and all of these things will be packed to travel to the West coast, and sit in storage for about a month.  We have loved this cozy little condo, and will miss it!

Why the West coast??  Todd is staying with his current company, but accepting a promotion that will temporarily take us to the corporate office in a suburb of Los Angeles, California.  So, we are relocating to Sunny Southern California before the month of March says goodbye!  It is all happening so quickly, and we are sad about leaving so many things behind on the East coast, but we are so excited for Todd's career advancement and our new adventure together!

We are heading out to LA this week for a house hunting trip.  We are asking for prayer for us to be efficient as we only have 3 days, and to find housing that we can call home for the next few years.  When we get back to Orlando, my parents are coming to visit (and returning Breck since they are babysitting while we are gone).  We are planning on possibly our last trip to DisneyWorld with them on our season passes (we will soon have Disneyland...one Disney to another).  Then, it will be back to craziness as we will only be in Orlando for another week after that!  We will be sure to keep everyone updated on our move through our blog!