Happy Easter

The last week in Newport has been absolutely beautiful with weather in the 80s! Unfortunately I had to work all week(end), but Dan took advantage of some good surf. Thankfully I had Sunday off to spend Easter with Dan. Sadly we can't take advantage of our family's over the top Sunday dinners anymore, so we treated ourselves to a nice Sunday brunch at the Newport Beach Marriott. It was so worth it and made for a sweet 3 hour nap too! Sorry Grandma, it doesn't look like we'll have any little ones for a few more years. We are buffet junkies and this one is up there on our list. No worries Chuck-o-Rama you're still my favorite.

The best part of the holiday was Dan waking me up for a little Easter egg hunt. Just a few eggs and jelly beans, but isn't he the cutest!

Dan is starting to stay up later and later as finals approach. That means I'm up too, but I usually fall asleep into my second Law and Order episode and Dan peels me off the couch when he's ready for bed. Work is FINALLY getting busy, yeah!

Two Pina Coladas

Mexico

As you can tell from our slide show we went to Mexico for Dan's spring break. If anyone is planning a vacation, listen up! My mom's good friend Pam gave us a trip advisory that we held onto like our bible and it made our trip! We flew into Cancun and drove down to Tulum. Love Tulum! The water is beyond amazing, so laid back, coolest people (Mexicans and travelers), amazing food, cheep, etc... It's more Mexico and not Americanized. Basically you won't have 8 year old girls asking to braid you hair. We met a darling Italian couple Philipo and Viola. We ended up traveling around Tulum with them for a few days. Dan would say the coolest part were the cenotes. Clear water pools in the jungle with beautiful fish, lighting and caves. Playa Del Carmen was fun at night but we didn't like the beaches as much. We took the ferry over to Cozumel. The water was crystal clear there, but all the cruise ships and crowds drove us away.

After 5 days of sleeping in huts with misquotes we were ready for The Ritz Carlton. As most of you know I work with Marriott so I was able to book a room for $89 a night! We looked so haggard when we arrived they practically didn't let us in. Once we assured them we were guests we were greeted with pina coladas and fresh eucalyptus towels. I see why people stay there, not for the rooms but the service. If you leave to jump in the pool when you come back you have fresh towels. Dan was amazed that the trash bins were always empty. With all the glitz and glamor our favorite part of the trip was Tulum. You can't deny beauty.

Happy Birthday Mark

Over Valentines week my brother Mark flew in for a couple of days. We celebrated his birthday at our favorite Sushi place and played games at the Waites accompanied by a homemade (Betty Crocker is homemade to Mia) birthday cake! Happy 26th Birthday Mark! Ladies he's single!

Dan had reservations but had to cancel because my parents ended up flying in town that day. We opted for the company and Gina's pizza over romance. Dan was sure to make up for the lost romance once they left. We are so lucky to live in such a popular vacation spot. We love having so many visitors or meeting up for dinner with family and friends. Give us a call if you come this way.

Mele Kaliki Maka

Tis The Season

I LOVE Christmas time. I love the music, the giving, being gifted and everything else that comes with this holiday. Dan and I drove up to Utah a few days before Christmas. We were able to crash all our family and friend events into just a few days before we left for Hawaii.

Christmas Eve we always spend with the Chudleighs. Janis without exception makes a delicious meal accompanied with a variety of desserts. That's right, a variety. One dessert is not enough fun so we have 2, 3, maybe 4! Did I marry into the right family or what! We pop our poppers and wear our crowns all night while we sing Christmas carols by the tree followed by gifts.

We left early Christmas morning for Kauai. It was a little rainy throughout the week but that didn't stop us from having a great time. Boogie boarding was almost as fun as surfing and the snorkeling was fabulous! It was great to have Grandmother with us, what a champ! My favorite was staying at the Tip-Top Motel and Japanese food, but I think everyone else was ready to return to the Marriott. I guess that's my Dad in me, you need to give every trip some excitement, something you'll remember. Sadly I had bad news at the airport on the way home, I had to return to work, tear. My mom is the sweetest living being on this earth. She stayed behind and hung out with me in the OC for a few days until Dan drove back-sucker.

Sweet November

The only thing I don't like about California is the absence of fall. I miss the crisp air, leaves and the fashion people! I love fall fashion but it doesn't fit with the weather man reporting, "It's sunny and 75". I was still able to put my wardrobe to use considering I work in the Arctic of Newport, my office!

Happy 90th Birthday Grandma! Many of you know how amazing my grandmother is, but I think you need to be reminded. Lovinia Harmsen just turned 90 years old on November 5th, 2007. She is out everyday running errands, golfing, morning tennis with the ladies, cooking meals for her family, babysitting great grand children and looking as good as ever. We flew back home for her birthday celebration. A full house was a true display of all the people she's touched these years. I love you Grandma!

Welcome Ty! Jessica had her 2nd baby, Dean Tyler Stevens. So cute and tiny!

Turkey Day! My favorite holiday and well as many of my family members is Thanksgiving. We all head south to St. George and spend the weekend in my Grandmother's pioneer adobe house. It's truly something the Kennedys would do, so picturesque. We spend a lot of together time eating, playing games, singing, football, golf, tennis, swimming you name it! I am so thankful our abundance of family!

Labor Day

"Yeah! We finally get to go home and get our stuff"! We had been living out of a suitcase since May! I have officially wore out my close, I never knew that was possible.

One of my best friends, Rebecca Jane Despain was married to her sweetheart Justin Hewett this weekend. Now this is Love people! She was a stunning bride and the wedding was beautiful.

"We finally get to go to Moab"! Dan's family bought a second home in Moab and we were the only ones who hadn't been. It was a short trip but we had a blast! This was my first family vacation with the Chudleighs and it was well worth the extra drive back to Cali. We (babies and all) went down the river, ate fabulous food (as is expected with the Chudleighs) and relaxed by the pool, as much as you can get with a water slide!

California Here We Come!

We have been seriously blessed this year. I don't know how we choose Chapman but it's an amazing school and Dan is having the time of his life as a 1L. When we first arrived we were living out of Marriott's till we found a place. Dan's friend Mason and darling wife Amanda put us up for a week too! Mason got Dan into skim boarding so we spend many nights at the Wedge in the water, I usually just watch. The rent was a shock but we had to no longer expect Utah prices and take the plunge. It took us awhile to find a place where we wanted to live. We rented weekly from an older lady named Deke in the historic town of Orange where Dan goes to school. We literally knocked on her door and asked if we could live there. That is correct, we were desperately asking strangers to live with them. So sad. After about another month we finally found a charming "little" back unit in the flower streets of Corona Del Mar. We LOVE it! Dan and I go on walks after dinner to the beach, run though Crystal Cove, surf a variety of breaks, Dinners in Laguna, the list goes on and on. I never knew this part of California existed. I received my California Real Estate licence and am still working with Marriott in vacation sales.

Summer in the City

We are now into the third year! Last summer Dan and I spent in New York City where Dan worked as an intern for Merrill Lynch. You can take the girl out of the city but you can't take the city out of the girl. I have a true love affair with NY. Believe it or not Dan is starting to love it too, it think it's the food. Although I did cry the other day when he said he could never live there for more than 2 years. That summer was a blast. We were able to spend time with my sister Anne and her beautiful family. She had her 3rd baby "Jane" while we were there. She's a supermodel baby, I want to quit my job and be her agent. The highlight of the summer was visiting Dan's old stomping grounds in Bethany Connecticut where the Chudleighs lived till Dan was 7, beautiful. If I didn't have ADD I could live there! Our Eastern road trip also took us to Boston, Newport, Mystic and Martha's Vineyard where we met up with Peter and Brittney and their family who joined us in the city later that week.

A bittersweet moment- Dan and I were in Brooklyn for pizza one night when we got our first call saying Dan was accepted to Law school! You think I would be happy right? Dan applied soooo late that we thought for sure we wouldn't get in, so our plan b was to travel that year. I had spent endless hours sitting on the floor at B&N planning out our travels and now what? After a few tears I was able to share the joy. Dan you are amazing!

We left NY straight to San Diego where we spent 2 weeks at the beach. A lot of surf, sand, good food and great company. Dan and I spent a lot of time driving around looking at schools, we had to make a decision fast! We decided Chapman University and Dan started class that week.

Second Year

Are you still with me? If this gets boring just skip ahead. But isn't this what blogging is about, snooping about other's lives. Wow, I just realize if you're reading this (don't you have anything else to do? me either) I am a celebrity.
Anyway, 2006-2007 was an adventure! In May 2006 Dan and I returned to Hawaii only this time we didn't stay at the Manoa Surfrider we lived in our 1968 VW Bus. Dan went to UH while I worked on my tan and nannied a 3 year old and 2 newborn twins, hell! Sorry Jones if you're reading this, but I think you would agree. We had a few encounters with the cops and our home ( le bus) caught on fire; nevertheless, Dan and I had an awesome summer. We have a true love for Hawaii and we now have three annual vacations. We returned to Dan's favorite vacation of the year "The Beach". Every summer my whole family "hangs out" at our beach house in San Diego for 2 weeks. We saw a lot of sand that summer. That year Dan worked his butt off in all his pre-dental courses to come home one day and say "I think I want to go to Law School". Well all that education was a waste, but I am so happy he's doing what will make him happy. I started working for Marriott Vacation Club that fall in marketing and continued till through the spring (Mia's longest job yet!). We both had season passes to Park City that winter and skied like crazy! Dan has made me a pretty good little skier, I can finally keep up! That May Dan graduated and we went to Cali to celebrate. Trips this year: Hawaii, Jackson Hole, San Diego, Palm Springs, Springville PA, NYC and think that's all? Sorry if I missed you.

First Year

The Honeymoon, Frisco, Zion, Mexico and Waco Texas!

1st year

We were married May 7th 2005 (will post some pics of wedding later). After what seemed like a quick Hawaiian honeymoon we both hit the books full time that summer. There is something seriously wrong with summer school, but we got through it. We worked together selling pizza books for the students group. Working with your husband is a dream and so encouraging. This is the job that started Dan's entrepreneurial thinking. That winter I worked for Steve Smith the CEO of Spenco Co. We had the opportunity to live in Park City that winter/spring and work one on one with one amazing man. I graduated from the U that May. School and work never seemed to get in the way of some great vacations. We set out on our own a few weekends to visit all the beautiful places Utah has to offer, as well as our annual trips to NYC and San Diego, San Francisco, Puerto Vallarta, and Las Vegas to see the Stones in concert (thanks Steve) and Wacky Waco Texas (thanks again Mr. Smith). We were off to a good start!

Meet the Chuds

Welcome to our blog! I have been hesitating to become a blogger, lets see how it goes. Please go a little easy on me for the first few posts and please keep in mind I am not a perfectionist. My mom says I am 100% busy with 70% effort. I get many things done but no one thing is ever perfect. Dan and I (Mia Harmsen Chudleigh) have been married for 3 years this May! We are no longer concidered newly weds but Dan makes me feel like a a new bride everyday. The first few post are a recap of the last 3 years together, the best years of our lives!