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Happy 2013, everybody!

Daniel and I have been thoroughly enjoying this year so far. What's great about the new year is that it always starts out with one very exciting event: Daniel's birthday! Unfortunately, when we woke up on January 5th I was feeling so sick. It was such a bummer since I had plotted to surprise Daniel with a trip to visit our friends in San Diego, Ben and Pippa. After opening presents (so many awesome new games and kitchen appliances! Thanks Chris and Julie!) I gave Daniel a card with plans of our San Diego excursion. His reaction:

After I loaded up on copious amounts of DayQuil (which I hate taking but was so sick I couldn't even taste it! It's the little things) we hit the road. Our first stop was Stone Brewing Co. We have been wanting to visit Stone ever since Daniel's cousin Mike, who works for Stone, generously gave us all our beer for our wedding. Their Bistro and Gardens in San Diego are so fun. We grabbed beers and enjoyed them in their outdoor garden area where we were able to slink back in adirondack chairs and wait for our table.

After enjoying a great meal with Ben and Pippa (elevated BLTs, bahn mi, and a beer float for Daniel to top it all off) we drove down into San Diego and got ready for the Packers game. Sidenote: Can I just say it is so much more fun to watch a Packers game with other fans?? I feel so outnumbered in Santa Monica. Maybe I just haven't met the right crowd but there are so many Steelers, Broncos and 49ers fans down here. It's really nice to be able to complain about John Kuhn being so hit and miss, or how much we hate Buck/Aikman as game announcers and actually feel understood. You know you're in good company when your friends' cat's name is Lambeau. Anyways.

We watched the game at Jimmy's Famous American Tavern which was so fun. If I lived in San Diego I would probably be there all the time. It's right on the water and we had awesome burgers and drinks. Plus Ben treated us. What a guy.

We capped the night off at Dave and Buster's for a ridiculous night of games, and where the biggest highlight so far of 2013 came--a GIANT, 60 inch screen to play Fruit Ninja. I could not believe my eyes when I saw it. Although it is a lot more difficult to slice fruit when the screen is bigger than your body, that wasn't the point. I was amazed. I know it was Daniel's birthday, but that game was more of a birthday present to me. We had a blast in San Diego--thanks Ben and Pippa!

Since Daniel's birthday, things have quieted down. We have enjoyed a little bit of relaxation and preparation for the new year. I have been journaling and reading more, which were part of my resolutions, and I started a book club with my girlfriends, which I'm sure I'll post about later. Daniel and I have started to get in running shape in order to start training for a half marathon later this year. We also got hooked on Downton Abbey, which means long evenings of intrigue and drama, and after each episode looking at each other, nodding, and watching another. We've been lucky enough to have had friends come to visit, and we're looking forward to more hosting and entertaining in the coming weeks and months. Our next visitors are my parents, who will be visiting us this weekend and we're very much looking forward to cheering on Colin Kaepernick, brunch at the Penthouse, and maybe some shopping/museums.

We hope your 2013 is off to a great start too!

-S