California Love

I've recently come across some absolutely beautiful sentiments from writers who are aching for their communities, cities, and states during the coronavirus pandemic. Krystal from This Time Tomorrow dedicated a post to New York City, and as tears welled up in my eyes from her poignant words, I knew that I wanted to do the same for the state I call home. Having been born in Los Angeles, and my dad's side of the family having deep roots in the San Fernando valley, I know that I've taken this place for granted. It's easy to do. You become spoiled. You get caught up in your everyday life and you forget how good you have it. The palm trees, the ocean, the sunsets - they all become routine and fade away into the background.

My mom and I moved to a small town called Temecula in 1988. L.A. with all of its hustle, bustle, and traffic had become too much for her, and she wanted to raise me in the simplicity of a quiet neighborhood. My dad stayed behind working in Reseda, but he drove down every weekend to see us. I remember that drive. Back then, it only took an hour and a half to make your way down the valley through parts of Orange County, and then you'd start seeing more greenery, less cars and people. Finally, there was Temecula cascading into sight. 108 miles separated us, but it felt like worlds apart.

I didn't leave much when I was growing up. I went back and forth between L.A. and Temecula, but it wasn't until my late teens that I really started exploring California and all it has to offer. And it has so much to offer...


The Pacific Ocean: my sanctuary when life feels too blurry or confusing. One deep breath of salty air and it gives me the courage to keep paddling, a not-so-subtle reminder that "sometimes in the waves of change, we find our true direction." Whether it's calm or choppy, low or high tide, it is constantly shifting.

Big Sur, California

Carlsbad, California

The Mountains: a welcome escape, especially during warm California Winters when you crave some snow like the rest of the country. The winding roads lead off into little secert lookouts and hideaways, each one more scenic than the last. Finally when you get to the top, snow and ice covering the pines below, you realize just how far you have come.

Big Bear, California

The Desert: my husband's personal favorite, so much so that he turned his inspiration for it into a business. So many people love getting away and riding their dirt bikes and off-road vehicles along the sandy, rocky hilltops. I mostly like to watch, being the risk-averse person that I am. But they say "the desert is truth, life pared down to the bone."

Ocotillo Wells, California

The Valley: those hidden gems, tucked between hillsides and mountain ranges. I've been up to Paso Robles, a beautiful place with even better wineries. I have yet to go to famous Napa, probably first on my next "must-see" list. But Temecula is where I was raised. It's familiar, it's the comfort of knowing someone or something so well. And now as an adult, I can appreciate its imperfect beauty while sipping on my favorite local wine. 

Temecula, California

Everything In-Between: From San Francisco to Pismo Beach, Santa Barbara to Laguna, I can absolutely vouch for the special qualities that make each area of this large state so unique. I haven't been all the way up north since 2014, but I can't wait to go on another long road trip and explore even more. Each time, there is something new to see or a detail you missed before.

Palm Springs, California

Long Beach, California

San Diego, California

Dear Cali,
From the mountains to the sea, I'm in love with your vast diverse beauty, and the 40 million people who also call you home undoubtedly agree. I've thought about leaving, what it would be like to live somewhere else, but we both know I could never leave you. There's a reason why travelers come from all over the world just to get a glimpse of you. Some never leave, holding on to a hope that you will help make their wildest dreams come true. You are one of a kind, California. And you have my whole heart.
Sincerely,
A California girl

I cannot wait to get back to the places I know and love most, in a state that has shaped me into who I am.

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Postcards - Autumn In New Jersey & New York

Ah, the east coast. I hear it's decidedly more beautiful in the Fall, with all its changing leaves in fiery shades of red, orange, yellow, and some leftover green. I've been to New York in June, and I distinctly remember how sticky and humid it felt to walk around the hustle and bustle of the city. This trip, in contrast, was an absolute pleasure to walk around in. And walk we did. My feet are still recovering one week later.

In putting these photos together (and this isn't even half of them), I realized that doing a travel guide would be much too daunting. I feel like I'm not the best at them anyway because when I travel, all I want to do is wander around to wherever my heart takes me, stop in to places that look like they offer good food and drinks, peek into little shops, and when I'm being hosted by friends, I like to surrender and let them take me where they want to go. I don't think I've ever done a guided tour...maybe in college? Frankly, getting lost is my favorite way to explore a new place and New York City is no exception. I actually think it was made for that.

I will say that this 5 day vacation was enlightening for me in many ways. I discovered that I don't hate sneakers as much as I once did. Nate was thankful because the amount of complaining I would have done otherwise...I also loved New Jersey much, much more than I expected I would - it truly is a gorgeous state.  Another thing, I can get by on very little sleep (two nights we didn't sleep at all because we had to commute from Jersey to the city when our friend went in to work). It was nonstop go, go, go from the moment we got off the plane in Newark. Oh, and I rode on the subway which I totally dreaded because you know, social anxiety and all that. My old dark friend was no match for the overwhelming excitement I felt. There really was no time to be anxious. We crammed in as much as we could in those 5 days. It was a complete whirlwind.

The first half of our trip was spent with friends who graciously let us stay with them in their home and who showed us New Jersey and the countryside of New York state. The second half they had to work so that's when Nate and I spent time on our own in NYC.

These photos, or postcards if you will, are all in chronological order so you can get a real sense of what we did and saw each day of the trip. I hope you enjoy!

Seaside Heights (Jersey Shore)

It rained all day until serendipitiously as we set foot on the beach, the rain let up.

We took the train to Cold Spring New York 

Central Park

The Met Museum

We walked the first floor for 3 hours. So much to see!

Chelsea Market

The High Line area was one of my favorites.

The Oculus and WTC 

So incredibly moving. Our friend works close by so we rode into the city with him and got to watch the sun come up over the 9/11 memorial.

Brooklyn, probably my number one favorite area 

Sezane where I bought a little black wallet I'll share in another post.

Overall it was an A+ vacation and all of my Autumn dreams have been satisfied. The only real question remaining is...when can we do it again? But if you have any questions for me, feel free to ask!

Linking up with On The Daily Express and Straight A Style.

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The Monthly Edit // October

"Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go."

Unknown

I keep saying this to everyone I've spoken to lately, and I'll say it again to you; this month has been epic! I didn't think October could top the excitement of this Summer, but after our whirlwind trip to New Jersey and New York, I take back what I said last month regarding Fall. It may not be a thing here in California, but if you live in a state that actually gets to experience the beauty of it then I completely understand the allure. October on the east coast is just magical. 

I'll have a complete photo diary of the trip next week so I don't want to be repetitive in this post. I'll admit that I'm still trying to catch up on sleep and everything else, so let's just dive right in!

Visiting NYC this time of year was an absolute pleasure. Nate and I sat at the Highline Hotel for about an hour taking in the sights and sounds of the city. 

Camping at Vail Lake with friends at the beginning of the month was the perfect way to kick start Fall. We enjoyed the mild weather, watched our friends' kids dress up and go trick or treating throughout the campgrounds at night, and grabbed some of Vail's famous bloody Mary's at the cafe in the morning. This camping trip is a tradition so we look forward to it all year long! 

Eating my fair share of soup now that it's cool enough to do so. My favorite is French onion (look at all that cheese). I've never made it myself but now I'm on a mission to see if I can attempt at least a decent one! If you have a recipe, please share it with me. 

Packing for our trip proved to be pretty successful. I will say that we did such an extraordinary amount of walking that I wore my Nike sneakers the whole trip. I've never been a sneakers girl, but who has time for blisters when there's so much to see! Plus, I like how sleek this particular pair looks so you may be seeing them on me in a proper outfit post. I did wear some slip-ons on the plane and for the first day, but I'm just happy I'm at a point in my life where I'm not a slave to uncomfortable shoes anymore. 

Watching Peaky Blinders season 5. In my opinion, best season yet! There are only 6 episodes though so we went through it pretty quickly and I'm a bit annoyed by that. I could watch Cillian Murphy all.damn.day. Here's the trailer if you want to catch up.

Thing(s) I Liked In October: 

 I finished personal training sessions at an athletic sports club that Nate goes to. Man oh man was it tough, but I pushed myself and realized that yes, I can do hard things despite the fact that I'm not athletic at all. I still have yet to start taking the group classes with Nate, but I'm challenging myself to begin next week. After all the food we ate on our trip, my jeans are tight.

Thing(s) I Didn't Like In October: 

There were many times that I didn't feel like blogging, so I didn't. Which is fine, but it can also be frustrating. I find that I've been self-censoring a lot lately, meaning I have things to write about but I've seen such an increase in people sharing way too much on the internet that it's honestly embarrassing. There's a fine line. I don't know, maybe I'm being a prude and overreacting but sometimes it seems like nothing is private anymore and I just can't wrap my head around that. 

That's it for now but I'll be back next week. Happy Friday!

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The Monthly Edit // July + Road Trip Wrap-Up

"Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road"

Jack Kerouac

To say that this month has been the best I've had all year would be a serious understatement. Our big road trip was the highlight, but spending more time at the beach has been a huge mood lifter as well. At this point, access to the ocean is the main reason Nate and I still live in California. When we've talked about moving, "but what about the beach?" always comes up and then we drop the subject entirely.

When we were on the road - sometimes for 8, 10 hours a day - I had a lot of time to reflect. Some thoughts were lighthearted (for example, why do I get better cell service in the middle of nowhere than I do at home in the suburbs?) while others (the meaning of life, marriage, children, etc.) went a bit deeper. I felt grateful that I was reconnecting with one of my closest friends in a way I never really have before. Nicole and I have been friends since high school, experienced a lot together, but you learn a ton about people when you're on the road. Her family made for ideal travel buddies! They drove separately, but we basically did a caravan with them most of the way. Nicole and her husband have two small twin boys. They are the sweetest kids, and it was really exciting to see things through their eyes. Since Nate and I aren't parents to humans (yet), I was slightly worried before the trip that plans wouldn't mesh but I was dead wrong. Instead, Nate became their "uncle", I found out I'm cool at collecting rocks, and Nettie wants to be chased around by little people every damn day now.

I kept a journal too. The things I wrote (verbatim) included:
I wish I felt like this at home -  freedom from routine...

The feeling like I can try new things and actually be good at them, or at the very least, enjoy myself.

While I genuinely love clothes and cosmetics, it's SO important to take a break from consumption. I love camping because there's something liberating about it. You realize how much "stuff" you really don't need.
Edit: I came home and wanted to throw everything away (a fleeting thought of course). Still, it's good to keep in mind as someone who blogs about clothes.

Forgive me, I legitimately wrote this after a few drinks late one night ----> F*%$ the #nsale!

You get the point. All this to say that we created memories that will last a lifetime. If you ever get the chance, take a drive and explore more of the country, whichever country you're reading this from :)


And with that, here is my monthly edit for July:

Shopping at the Revolve x Palms Casino pop-up shop while we were in Las Vegas. The store's selection is limited and it definitely caters to a more stereotypical "Vegas" clientele (think lots of form fitting dresses and skirts, crop tops) than I've come to expect from Revolve, but it was still worth a look! The store itself is visually stunning with an entire wall made of flowers. That in itself was worth the stop. I ended up buying this wave spray from the Ouai and I really love it.

Wearing my hair naturally, thanks to aforementioned salt spray and my tried and true John Frieda foam. I also got a fresh trim this month, which always feels amazing in the dead of Summer!

Excited to celebrate Nicole's 35th birthday at the river in Arizona in a couple weeks. God, mid-way through our thirties already!

Photographing Nettie every chance I get, especially with her adorable life vest on at the pool.

Working out with a personal trainer became a thing again this month. Nate has been taking morning group classes at a gym near our house, and he somehow convinced me to take private classes with a trainer for a few weeks. The plan is to get more comfortable with working out again, and then I'll begin taking the group classes with him. So far I'm sore as can be, but I feel more mentally focused overall.


Things I liked in July: E V E R Y T H I N G

Things I did not like in July: See Above
Okay, I'm sure I disliked some things in July but let's just keep the positive vibes flowing! If only for this month.


I hope you have a great weekend! I'm off to Ohio for a few days but I'll be back around this time next week.

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Daily Ritual T-Shirt Dress & Nordstrom Sale Buys

I hope everyone enjoyed my little break from style and beauty talk as I shared my road trip experience. I'm still working on a wrap-up post to tie everything together because I still have so many thoughts! But until then, I'm excited to get back to it with this Daily Ritual t-shirt dress I've been wearing on repeat.

Before my road trip, I bought this easy t-shirt dress by the brand Daily Ritual. I originally saw it on my friend and fellow blogger Gina, and it just looked so incredibly comfortable! Perfect for long drives, travel days, running errands, grabbing coffee with a friend, as a swimsuit coverup - so many options!

Wearing // Daily Ritual t-shirt dress, Steven sandals, Clare V bag, H&M scarf, Gorjana necklace

It's one of those items that you'll constantly reach for. Wear it with some sandals now, pair it with a utility jacket or long cardigan come Fall. The fabric (rayon and spandex) is soft and stretchy, and it hugs curves without feeling constricting. An issue I've had in the past with t-shirt style dresses is that they were either too clingy, or they draped too loosely. This one strikes the ideal balance. I got my normal size medium and the fit is perfect. I rarely say that you guys need something I feature, but in this case, if you're searching for a versatile dress then look no further.


Before I go, I quickly wanted to share what I got from the Nordstrom anniversary sale this year. The clothes and shoes didn't tempt me too much, although I did get a Barefoot Dreams circle cardigan and I love it! It'll be awhile since I can wear it, but I've been curious about these cardigans for a couple years and I totally get the hype now that I have one. I got mine in the pearl shade which is a soft grey. The fit is true to size.

I was most excited about the Charlotte Tilbury products so I got both the Pillow Talk Lip Kit as well as the eyeshadow palette. I'm a huge CT fan but her products are quite expensive. I used all of them yesterday and am really happy with the colors and quality.

I know the sale feels overhyped, but I find it's best to tune out all of the noise and shop it on my own. Did you get anything from the sale? Have a great weekend and I'll see you here on Monday!

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Summer Road Trip Recap: Wyoming

A look into my Summer road trip continues today with a recap of Wyoming. We planned this entire vacation to center around Wyoming, so I was extremely excited as we drove closer and closer. Every mile we traveled seemed more breathtaking than the last, and when we finally crossed over the state line I was blown away by its pure beauty.

I read somewhere this weekend that you haven't seen true beauty until you've visited Wyoming and I absolutely agree! There are so many bodies of water, and the sky is as blue as blue can be. The air is fresh and crisp, the trees and mountainsides a vibrant green. I'm a beach lover to the core, but the beauty of Wyoming is on a different level altogether. I think I almost could trade the ocean for all it has to offer.

We stayed at a spacious property owned by our friend's previous boss in Etna, Wyoming. It's a sleepy little town with spectacular views of the mountains, and it's located just a couple hours outside of Jackson and Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone National Park:

Yellowstone was a huge reason we wanted to go to Wyoming. It's a vast 3,500 square mile wilderness that takes hours to complete if you want to see everything. We managed to do quite a bit in about 8 hours, but I think we'd need one more day to hit each stop. It was beautiful weather, and aside from the thunderstorm that moved in as we were leaving the park, it was perfect for walking around. I wore jeans, my favorite new t-shirt, a utility jacket I layered around my waist, and tennis shoes. 

The drive in has gorgeous views of the rivers and Yellowstone lake. We got out of the car when we wanted to take a closer look. It's definitely not a drive to be rushed! A lot of these photos I took as Nate drove, I just hung my camera out of the window. We saw bison, antelope, and our friends even spotted a grisly bear! Don't worry, they were extra cautious and they did just fine...but don't go too close to the wildlife! It was really cool to see these animals in person though. 

One of my favorite things to see was the "Grand Canyon" of Yellowstone. It's really something, with the canyon opening up to reveal a massive waterfall and river below. I felt SO small.

You see the bison grazing just outside our car's window?! 

Old Faithful Geyser:

Our friends had been to Yellowstone twice before, but they had never made it to Old Faithful so that was high on our priority list. It's a cone geyser that erupts every 44 to 125 minutes. On the day we went, it erupted about every 90 minutes. We walked through the site, spotting beautiful teal colored hot springs along the way. And like clockwork, we were able to see Old Faithful erupt! There was a giant crowd that formed in a circle around the geyser, and I swear there were moments where you could hear a pin drop. We all waited with baited breath...My friend's twin boys were getting impatient, and we kind of were too, but I'm glad we stayed to watch mother nature perform her show!

Jackson Hole:

We didn't have much time to explore Jackson Hole after our long day at Yellowstone, but I loved it from what I saw! I wanted to shop the local boutiques because their merchandise looked so cute in the windows, but alas we got some pizza and called it a night! However, Jackson Hole is a great place to stay in if you want to fly into southern Wyoming. It's very popular with world-class skiers and celebrities (from what I was told by a local). 

Etna Wyoming:

We spent the 4th of July doing something very American - sitting by a pristine lake and fishing. It was my first attempt at fishing and I actually caught one! Unfortunately, it didn't quite make it to shore but I would have thrown it back anyway. This particular lake was about 30 miles from the property we stayed on, and it was so neat seeing how locals live. It's a beautiful place, that's for sure.

It was really hard to leave Wyoming, but I hope we can go back someday! It really is magical, especially if you love nature like I do. I would highly recommend adding it to your travel list!

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