SLO Blues Baseball

After reading a friend of mines blog, I loved her idea about making a summer fun list and decided to create one for the Terrasas fam!  We have posted our list in the kitchen (pics. soon to come) and have listed different activities and summer camps for the kids and our family to participate in this summer!  Hiking, biking, surfing, bonfires, paintball, fishing, are just a few of the many activities we have listed.  One of my favorites is the Blues Baseball games!!!

I am a small town girl at heart and love what baseball symbolizes!  You know it's summer on the central coast when the Blue's start playing ball.  Every time I think of a baseball game thoughts of fresh cut grass, picnic blankets, lively music, sunflower seeds, red vines, warm days under the sun, and fireworks that light up the nights sky come to my mind!  I can smell the bbq's blazing as soon as I step out of the car and by evening the cool breeze from the ocean's marine layer sneaks through the mountains.  That's when you know you are at a SLO Blues game!  We ended up there a few nights ago and had so much fun!  We ain't the big leagues but these boys play hard and it is inspiring to see them put their heart and soul into the game!  You can view the SLO Blues game schedule at:  www.bluesbaseball.com

The price for kids under 12 is free!!!  Adults are $6 a ticket.  The game opens with the respected "Star Spangled Banner" and we see our little ones passing on the tradition of good old American patriotism.  "Take me out to the Ball Game" is a known classic that the kids can belt from the top of their lungs!  The mascot is a blue bull that runs around the park dancing up a storm and high- fiving every kid in its way.  The Blues involve the kids by letting them to participate each night in multiple events that allows them to win prizes and feel like part of the action.  It is such a small stadium that the kids can run wild and parents can enjoy their afternoon or evening watching a favorite all American past time. 

As Whitman writes, "Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our close rooms.... The game of ball is glorious"

Come join the Terrasas family this summer and enjoy one of America's best left legacy's....Play Ball!!!

Cheers, Natalie

The Sky's the Limit!

I was walking down State Street last week in Santa Barbara when it hit me!  My dreams that I had as a child of working in Santa Barbara one day had finally come true!  I get to work at my office in Santa Barbara tomorrow and it still is slowly sinking in that another one of my dreams has become a reality!
I am extremely blessed to be a successful financial advisor for the central coast of California spanning from Paso Robles to Santa Barbara!  I have worked in the financial industry now for over 11 years and absolutely love what I do!  I love helping clients reach their financial dreams and see their hard earned savings finally go to work for them.  I enjoy helping those just starting off plan for a day that they can retire and live out their future dreams!
I have a motto and that is "the sky's the limit!"  My father taught me to work hard in life.  You have to work hard to play hard!  Some people say I was spoiled when I was younger.  My sisters and I lived in a beautiful home, had nice things, wonderful parents and traveled a lot!  I loved how we were raised and knew that someday when I had a family I wanted to continue that lifestyle.  I knew that when I "grew up" I wanted to live on the coast, have a job that allowed me to have my own office and make my own schedule, make at least six figures a year, have a beautiful family, travel and still enjoy the simple things in life.
Money doesn't buy you happiness but it sure does make life a little easier and a lot more fun!  I got married to my high school sweetheart at the young age of 19!  We had our first child when I was 20.  My life was completely different 13 years ago then it is today but I really appreciate what I learned and the growth opportunity I was given from how we lived back then.  I went from a big house near the bluffs, in an upscale neighborhood, to small apartment living with just a mattress and some milk crates as our side tables.  My husband came home one day after working in -10 degree weather to a wife crying on the bathroom floor because she did not know how to clean a shower.  We barely had enough money for food and a baby was soon on the way.  My dream life seemed to be pure chaos but I loved it and I was happy to share it with the love of my life.  I knew that both of us, as determined as we were, would "put our shoulder to the wheel" and make life become what our dreams were.  It was an exciting time in our lives.  We worked hard and struggled, but we were focused and that in time has paid off.  
I look back and feel so blessed.  I have grown so much through the years.  I am a different person today then I was in my early 20's but one thing has not changed and that is my thirst for success and reaching for the stars.   You are never to young or old to live out your dreams or accomplish your goals.  My mom is another huge inspiration in my life.  She went back to school at age 50, started from scratch, and now has her masters degree and is working as a very successful marriage and family therapist in the central valley.  I am so proud of her and fortunate to have another amazing role model in my life.  
Life is here, life is now.  Search out who you are and what you want to become and go for it!  Don't let your dash of life go by without accomplishing some, if not all your dreams!  
I know tomorrow I will be walking down State street again in beautiful Santa Barbara feeling ever so thankful.  My dreams have come true, now I just need to add a few more to the list again and continue to reach for the stars!  :) 
Cheers, Natalie 

Sundays

I love Sundays!  A new beginning to each new week! 

Our typical Sunday consists of a HUGE breakfast, relaxation and then off to church.  We love to entertain and normally we have family or friends over to eat and visit after church.  On Sundays we try to keep things real simple.  We don’t let the kids watch regular T.V. on Sundays and try to have them focus on either writing in their journals, letters to family, or reading books.  We try to make time in the evening to walk the dogs and just enjoy the coastal weather.
Sunday evenings we have family council.  It is so nice to sit as a family and discuss any issues or things on our minds.  It is a time for Aaron and I to measure where our kids are at and if anything is bothering them.  It opens the doors of communication for our family without judgement.  It is wonderful to find resolutions as a family if there is something that needs tending too.  The kids are very open with us and their trust continues to build in us.  We come together as a family and measure where we are at with our goals and the weeks agenda.  The kids love when we throw compliments their way or let them know how proud we are of them and their accomplishments.
Aaron and I recently started our own Couple Counsel on Sundays, after family council, that allows us to touch base with one another and where we are at in life.  It's allows us to throw whatever is bothering us on the table to hash out.  This has become such a valuable tool in the growth of our marriage.  I truly enjoy hanging out with my husband and discussing life, our dreams, our goals, and how we can not only better each other but ourselves!  This is just one step of many we decided to throw into our lives to not only strengthen our family but add to the enjoyment of our Sunday! 
Cheers, Natalie  

Inspired!

I have been inspired.  “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin has inspired me to dissect my life and really take a good hard look to see if it’s going in the direction I always dreamed it to be.  Am I the ultimate wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, employee, individual that I always wanted to be?  The women who could balance both home life and work life and still have time for herself?  LOL, I think not!  But….I want to be!!!  One of the biggest desires of my heart is to be!  But, in my eyes, it's pure perfection and I think it may take awhile before I reach that point! :) 

My name is Natalie Terrasas.  I am a mom of two, Aaron (12) and Trinity (8).  My wonderful husband is also named Aaron and I am very proud to say that we have been married almost 13 years!!!   I am happy, I am loved, I love to love!  I want to make the most out of life and time seems to slip by so fast!  The fact that my son will be graduating this week and along with reading this book I feel inspired to blog about life.  Making the most of what you have been given, always striving to do better, and becoming the ultimate you!

 I feel I have so much to share and look forward to your comments and suggestions!  I love blogs and have been wanting to write one for awhile!  
Cheers, Natalie