To celebrate Clay’s 30th birthday and the coming of the new year, we met Clay’s family out in San Diego. His brothers have been living there for the past few years and we are so happy to have finally made it out there to see them. While spending time with his family guarantees an abundance of delicious food, we also made sure to have several activities on the calendar this year.

We all stayed in a vacation rental in La Jolla with plenty of vintage charm. We especially had fun with the croquet set in the backyard.

On Saturday we went for a hike in Torrey Pines. The weather was absolutely perfect. While we didn’t make it into the ocean, we did get to feel plenty of ocean breeze.

Later that day, we headed to Point Loma to take some family photos. The fog was so thick we could barely see in front of us as we drove. Even though the weather wasn’t great, I’m sure the photos will be.

On Sunday we took a brunch cruise around San Diego Bay. We enjoyed tasty treats, champagne, and the beautiful shorelines of San Diego and Coronado Island. Two of my favorite sights were some sea lions lounging and the California, a Dutch clipper that gives tours of the Bay.

The trip was so much fun and it was great to see Clay’s family again. We all agreed San Diego was much better than Tahoe, where we spent New Year’s Eve last year. The weather was much nicer and the activities easier to get to. We’ll definitely have to make it out there this summer so we can hit the beach.

As 2012 has started, I’ve been thinking a lot about resolutions. While I’m sure most everyone has some variation of “lose weight” on their list of things to accomplish this year, I thought it best to set some realistic goals for myself. As a lover of all types of junk food, I tend to go to extremes when dieting. Last year I did a twelve week nutrition plan where I cut out all carbs and sugars from my diet. After I began eating normally, I started feeling sluggish and I began to gain weight again. This year, I’m setting four small resolutions with the goal of feeling better, having more energy, and being more healthy.

1. Drink more water.
I’m a compulsive diet soda drinker. When I get stressed it’s even worse. I will drink more water during the day and order water at restaurants when I go out. As an added bonus, I’ll save the $2.50 I spend each time.

2. Replace soda with tea.
Even though I’m culturally Chinese and I grew up with parents who love tea, I never found a taste for it. I will stop drinking soda and replace my flavored drink cravings with tea, hot or iced. Not only will I benefit from the health-boosting aspects of tea, I’ll also be able to use the Tour Eiffel teapot and monogrammed mug I received for Christmas.

3. Take the stairs.
Finding a good exercise routine will be a challenge. Clay and I have talked about hiking, biking, and even running (yuck). When I’m not in exercise mode though, I will no longer go out of my way to be lazy. I will take the stairs instead of the escalator and walk across the parking lot instead of desperately trying to find a closer spot.

4. Feel healthier this Christmas than I did the last.
It’s easy to set resolutions and to get going on them. Clay and I have already bought healthy groceries and picked out some green teas to try. In a few months, I could easily be back to my old ways again. I will remember all year how I feel today and I will feel great this December too.

This Christmas weekend was spent with extended family in the San Francisco Bay area. We’ve always talked about exploring new places instead of lounging on the couch stuffing our faces. Although there was plenty of the latter to speak of, we did find some time to sneak out and see something new. Clay, my dad, and I decided to visit the historic China Camp State Park, just a few miles from my aunt’s home.

The village was inhabited by Chinese shrimp fishermen during the 1800s. The village thrived until the early 1900s when bag nets were banned and, soon after, the export of dried shrimp was also banned. The village, now consisting of only a few buildings, a shrimp oven, and a boating dock, is quaint and feels like walking into another time. The drive there was beautiful, winding through swamplands, tree-lined hills, and a consistent view of the ocean. I’m so glad we were able to make it out to see it.

Spent the majority of today cleaning and sitting on the couch with these two. We can’t imagine our lives without them. What a joy.