Beach Bound

We took Matthew's mom and his sister's family on a short trip down to Monterey for a few days. We stayed at a hotel that was just steps away from the beach.

Cousins having fun in the sun!

Relaxing on Lover's Point Beach

Our hotel was very convenient.

We also explored the hiking trails off of Point Lobos and Bird Island.

Emily was thrilled that she was in her element!

 We got to finally visit Whaler's Cove: a cabin was built by Chinese fishermen in the 1850s.

It was used to process freshly caught whales which were stripped and the blubber melted and sold as oil for fuel. 

You cannot not go to Monterey without visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium!

We've been coming here since the girls were tiny!

 And the good eats here were delicious! Seafood galore!

Maker's Faire

Freedom Fighters (FF), a group that I am a part of, that focuses on fighting human trafficking by raising funds to purchase another home in the East Bay for human trafficking survivors,  had the great opportunity to hold a Maker's Faire in which the majority of the profits go to FF.

In San Martin, just 45 mins from home.

One of our ladies at our church had this grand idea and with the help of her father who manages this vineyard, we were able to gather various church members who have the creativity to make items to sell at this beautiful site.

Homemade scented candles by Dandles & Co, our very own Danika Park and beautiful hand-stitched ponchos from Oh-bee-have, Lisa Park's talents.

Beautifully crafted mirrors, wine bottles and cheese boards by Pam Martin

Delish edible goodies by Lorie Mohs and Lorelie's Kitchen

Gorgeous photography by Janet Norris

And lot and lots of handmade jewelry by FF volunteers who painstakingly gather together for hours to make all this beautiful jewelry.

100% of the proceeds go to The Beacon, the future Freedom House House

We can thank this lovely lady, Deborah Hall for teaching the other volunteers to make beautiful items from beads.

The venue here at the winery was just amazing!

 Since we were here we might as well try some of their wines..

A flight of reds and whites..

Over the weekend, FF was able to raise over $7,000 towards the Beacon! Praise God!

Me on KTVU

Every first Tuesday in August, Matthew and I host our Neighborhood Watch National Night Out potluck event for our neighborhood. We've been doing this for 14 years now. About 50+ people gather to connect with each other and chat about house or neighborhood issues. I always request a fire truck to come so that the kids can climb on it and get fireman hats. If a truck isn't available, the city usually sends a community service person or a police officer.

Just the kids bring our numbers to 30+

This year we had over 150 of these events throughout just our city alone. This year a fire truck couldn't come due to the shortage of trucks battling the fire in the North Bay so I didn't expect anyone from the city to come this year.

Reporter Azenith Smith from KTVU interviewing me. 

But I was wrong. 

KTVU showed up and wanted to interview the main organizer of our event. I didn't want to be interviewed for so many reasons: had no make-up on, busy overseeing the potluck, did not want any attention to myself, introvert etc. 

The Chief brought a few of her officers: Officer Angela Maniego (far left), who looks so darn young! I had a nice chat with her and how she decided to not go into nursing like all her Filipino family members but into law enforcement. 

Apparently I was told that the new police chief was going to come to OUR event. It being her first public event since being hired as the Police Chief at the end of July. They wanted to know my thoughts about her.. specifically her being the first-female-openly-gay police chief in our city.

Matthew and I with Police Chief Kim Petersen along with Dianne Jones, one of our neighbors who is running for School Board.

Mind you I didn't know we even had a new police chief .. much less a female-openly-gay one so I was quite honest that I did not know a new police chief was hired. But the reporter kept pushing for my opinion on the matter. I answered that it didn't matter of a person's gender, sexual orientation, or race, if he/she is qualified they should get the job.  In fact, I praised the fact that we have a female mayor and superintendent so it's fantastic that we have strong women in these high city positions. She continued to ask what my concerns were about our neighborhood and the city. It was quite an in-depth interview.

Matthew had a great opportunity to chat with Officer Jessie Hartman who is also a Christian!

But of course, about 5 words got onto TV. You can check it in the link below:

KTVU clip & article

I Scream You Scream We all Scream for Ice Cream

We finally got the chance to check this much-Instagrammed, very-hyped, hard-to get-tickets-to museum!

The Wongs girls joined us with a few of their friends

Before you enter into the fun you have to chose an ice cream name for yourself.. I was "Lavender Cez".  The first stop is tasting their homemade ice cream flavors.

I liked the vanilla

Then you get to swing on three different swing backgrounds.

I haven't been on an actual swing in ages.. almost forgot what to do! LOL!

Then dive into a sprinkle pool. Literally..

Yes I found sprinkles everywhere when I got home!

Next is a magnetic wall of letters ... you eat more ice cream.. this time it's soft serve.. after you answer the question: what would you change in the world? I said eradicate human trafficking.

Take more entertaining pictures...

Ride a circus animal or unicorn whichever you prefer..

Grab some cotton candy.. after you text an encouraging message to someone

Crawl into a hidey room that is wall to wall mirrors after you get a Popsicle of some kind. Answer another question: what is your favorite place to be? I said my home!

More pics in a lifesize gummy bear room

End in the rainforest room where you are served green tea mochi ice cream after you answer another question of which I completely forgot what it was.

Emily's mochi was in that huge napkin

I guess I had enough ice cream for the day..