Winter 2026 Snapshot

 This school year I haven't been working, but between volunteer work and home projects, I have been very busy. 

Nail Strenghtener

Favorite New Product: OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener

I have a nail that keeps splitting from the side, so this has been my go to thing to try to fix it. 

Life Hack: Lectio 365 App

We lost a family member in January and I have felt like my attention span is pretty limited lately.  In this season, I have been using the Lectio 365 App a lot as part of my devotion time. 

Last Book I Finished: Everything is Tuberculosis 

This was a book totally written for someone like me! I love non-fiction that can be told in a story type format. I was amazed at how much history was impacted by this disease and how much it continues to impact lives today. 

Life Project: Ducluttering

Again, life has brought another round of decluttering with a new season of life, a death in the family and 8 (!) years in this house. 

What we are eating today: Avocado Salad

In my house, we refer to this as "Spain Salad" because it was created as a simple meal at the end of a travel day. When we travel, we often eat a simple breakfast and then lunch out as we are exploring. When back at an AirBnB at the end of the day, we have simple meals like this salad. Made of chopped avocado, cherry tomatoes, black olives and cheese, it is best in summer and fall when the produce is at its best. 

Related Links:
Fall 2023
Summer 2023
Fall 2022
Spring 2022
Winter 2022 Snapshot
Fall 2021 Snapshot
Summer 2021 Snapshot
Spring 2021 Snapshot
Winter 2021 Snapshot
Fall 2020 Snapshot
Summer 2020 Snapshot
Spring 2020 Snapshot
Winter 2020 Snapshot
Fall 2019 Snapshot
Summer 2019 Snapshot
Winter 2019 Snapshot
Fall 2018 Snapshot
Spring 2018 Snapshot

Eastside Sites

There a number of fun little spots you could make a morning adventure on the Eastside of Santa Barbara. We have been hearing about the frog wall for a long time and finally went to see it. It is located on Paterna Lane which is located just off Alameda Padre Serra (APS) via either Lasuen Rd or Drover Rd. There is a lookout spot at the junction between Paterna, Lasuen and Drover that is the perfect place to park. 

Frog Wall Parking

Walk less than a black down the path on Paterna Lane to the Frog Wall. Take 5 minutes to enjoy the variety of frog statues there. 

Nearby you can visit nearby Franceshi Park via the Mission Steps while you are there (just short walk down Dover Rd). 

Franceshi Park has many paths and a lovely view of the city with the ocean. The dilapidated old house has an interesting history. It has amazing views of downtown and the ocean. 

If you follow Lasuen Road back to APS, you will find Orpet Park on Lasuen Rd and along APS. It has lovely walking paths, landscaped areas and grassy areas for dog running. My girls remembered being here many years ago and recreated the picture they took back then. 

Between the two sides of Orpet Park, there is a historical site. I have driven by this covering and wondered what it was for. It is the last standing streetcar stop from the network of cars that existed in the late 1800's and early 1900's. 

Just down APS, you can visit the Mission Rose Gardens and Old Mission Reservoir or the Mission itself.  

Related Posts:

Santa Barbara City Parks and Open Spaces

Natural History Museum

Eastside Neighborhood Park

Franklin Park (School)

Eastside neighborhood park

Orpet Park

Support for the Goleta Mom work

Do you love to get notifications for events in our area on Facebook and Instagram? Do you love looking up a park on the blog to see if it had bathrooms? Consider supporting the work I do by supporting some things I love! (I do get a small kickback or benefit from these, but I only recommend things that I have tried and truly love.)

Online Cooking and life skills classes for kids & teens:  https://sl290.isrefer.com/go/vip/rdupar/

Fashion and Color Analysis with Created Colorful

Online Pilates and wellness with Lindywell

Favorite checklist tool: Trello! 

Book Discussion Questions: Present Over Perfect

My spiritual formation group is still meeting and reading together. Our most recent read was Present over Perfect by Shauna Niequist.  It is written as essays and is autobiographical. It is available on Hoopla as an ebook and on Audio through my Goleta and Santa Barbara libraries. We split the book into 2 3 section chunks. 

Parts 1-3
- What aspects of Shauna's life change resonated with you? (Or didn’t.)
- Shauna talks about the idea of “Fake resting?” (page 35) Is this something you are prone to? Why or Why not?
- On page 37, Shauna lists some fundamental questions. “Am I loved? Does someone see me? Do I matter? Am I safe?” Which question jumped out for you?
- Page 49 reads “If you're not careful with your yeses, you start to say no to some very important things without realizing it.” How does this cause you to reflect on your own life?
- On page 74, Shauna shares the analogy of pouring out the vinegar before you get to the oil. Is this how you pray instinctively? Or do your prayer habits look different?
- On page 83, Shauna mentions that each church can only be “half the pie.” What gaps have you found in your church experience?
- Page 106 reads, “In seasons of deep transformation, Silence is the greatest guide. Silence will become the incubator for your new spirit, keeping it safe, growing it steadily. Has this been your experience with silence? How so?
- Page 128 reads present over perfect is about rejecting the method every day is a new opportunity to prove our worth and about the truth that our worth is inherent, given by God, not by hustling.
- There are a lot of stories we tell ourselves about what’s required of us. (“I’m a hard worker.”) And a lot of stories our culture tells about what’s required of the moment. (“Carpe diem!”) What story are you telling yourself about what constitutes “the good life” right now? Is that story particularly gendered or Christian? Does it matter? *
- What practical ways are there to reshape the life we live? 

* Thanks to Kate Bowler's question list

Parts 4-6 

Other places to hear from Shauna: Kate Bowler and Emily P. Freeman

Beach Packing List for Teens

See the original beach packing list

The needs for the beach have changed as my kids have grown. We no longer take a wagon and take far less stuff.

Our beach packing list includes:
1. Chairs (At least one in my car at all times)
2. Umbrella (I can stay a lot longer with an umbrella)

3. Hat (See above)
4. Towels Some of us need 2 -- one for sitting and one for drying

5. Sunblock
6. Easy to eat snacks (Crunchy peas, chips, popcorn, etc)
7. Water bottles with closing lids

8. Boogie Boards
7. Sand toys (sometimes)

Tips for sand removal: 

See original post for the little kid tips

We get as much off at the beach and rinse in the backyard when home, showering right after.

We use coconut oil for tar removal 

See original post for more ideas

Other #MomLife Posts:

Original Beach Tips
Road Tripping with Kids
Beach Tips with Kids
Hiking List with Kids
Travel Packing Lists

Bowlero

Recently we purchased a summer bowling pass from Bowlero. For $40, you can bowl 2 games every day and have free shoe rental (Sunday- Friday open-close and Saturday open-4pm). For $55, you can upgrade to any location, a daily $5 arcade credit and 15% off food/nonalcoholic beverages. The passes are good May 13th - September 1st. 

Otherwise: 

Cost: Online Reservations will put the cost at about $125 for a lane for 2 hours including shoe rental. It is far cheaper to walk in and get the lane, but you are not guaranteed a quick spot.  

Location: Goleta near Yogurtland on Calle Real

Directions: From downtown, take the 101N to the Fairview exit and take right onto Fairview. Take another right onto Calle Real. Bowlero is about 1/2 block down on the right. 

Parking: Free on site

Hours: M-W 2pm-11pm Th/F 2pm-12am, Saturday 10am-12am, Sunday 10am-11pm
Time: 1-2 hours

Drive Time: 10 minutes 

More Information: https://www.bowlero.com/location/bowlero-santa-barbara

Nearby:  Goleta Library, Fairview Gardens 

Quote from my 11 year old: "It's great to bring friends." 

Related Posts: 

Choose Your Own Adventure 2025 

Refugio Nature Program

We spent a weekend camping at Refugio State Park and enjoyed perfect weather (in June!). We noticed that they have a junior ranger program with activities. The little house where the junior ranger programs are located is at the far end of the day use parking lot.

Otherwise: 

Cost: Day use pass for the Refugio State Beach is $10.

Location: Refugio State Beach 

Directions: From Goleta, take the 101N to the Refugio exit just past El Capitan. Take a left to go under the freeway, another left to follow the frontage road and a right to the kiosk.  

Parking: In the day use area unless you are camping. 

Hours: see the Instagram page for updated info

Time: 45 minutes if you do the craft

Drive Time: 20 minutes 

More Information: Instagram or State Beach Website

Nearby:  Refugio State Beach, El Capitan State Beach (Closed in 2025) and Gaviota State Beach

Quote from my 11 year old: "I liked the craft." 

Related Posts: Choose Your Own Adventure 2025