Pre-Vday mini-vacay.

Topshop drapey top, Uniqlo jean leggings, random accessories, Longchamp tote, Topshop sneakers

Vintage blazer from Mom, F21 sheer blouse, Mossimo skirt, Nordstrom dotted tights, Carlos pumps, vintage bag

I went on a mini getaway with the Hubby as a pre-Vday celebration. Though he was sick as a puppy, we managed to get a ton of rest and restoration, as well as filling our tummies with yummy food at our favorite San Luis Obispo joints.

Surprise tickets from the Hubby to see Swan Lake at Cal Poly SLO!

Avila Beach, San Luis Obispo

Takoyaki at Goshi's

Delightful apple dumpling a la mode at Apple Farm.

Some other great spots we frequent in San Luis Obispo:

Splash Cafe - great for their award-winning clam chowder, seafood salad, pastries & more!

Firestone Grill - they make a mean tri-tip sandwich - buttered toasty bun w. juicy slabs of tri-tip immersed in their homemade bbq sauce

Madonna Inn - Go there for the over-the-top kitsch decor, which will transport you back to the 60s. Their cafe has much eye candy, with huge slices of pink cake decked with white chocolate shavings and more.

Goodwill Outlet - We discovered this place on a whim. They literally charge you clothing by the pound and records are .50 each, amazing.

Antique Shops - Scattered all throughout the Downtown San Luis Obispo area.

Avila Beach - Our favorite spot, and coincidentally, a vacay spot I grew up going to as a kid.

Doc Burnstein's Ice Cream Lab - Located in the tiny downtown area of Arroyo Grande, they serve old fashion ice-cream in numerous flavors, as well as ice cream demos for kids & adults alike.

Joy stands for...

Oh, how we all love Wednesdays, the middle of the week hump we need to leap over to bring us closer to the weekend. Stress and anxiety has been lurking around me lately and times like these remind us to take time to "smell the roses"-aka find joy in the little things each day, no matter how absurd or ridiculous they may seem.

My top destressors:

1. Prayer
2. Cooking/baking
3. Photography
4. Eye candy blogs (food, fashion, fotography)
5. Being around loved ones

Visual smiles-


French macarons from an extra-sweet friend (Colleen). The pretty pink packaging is delightful.


Getting "feet" when making macarons.


Flavor: Plain vanilla with a sorbet texture- my first attempt at making ice-cream.


Gray salt from France gets me excited.


The Hubby, pretty in pink!


These two always make me smile.


Actually having my NAME personalized on a piece of jewelry (my name is NEVER pre-made).


Reuniting with old high school friends.


Dark chocolate anything.


At Pacifica Beach with Mom & Dad (camera man)


Contemporary art that actually looks cool- Zadok Ben David and his 12,000 metal laser-cut plants that were hand painted on one side, black on the other. Go see it at the Bergamot Station in Santa Monica!


Photo taken from Ryan (I think he was referring to his gf "Joy")- either way, I found the angel and the photo itself funny.

The sharing of joy, whether physical, emotional, psychic, or intellectual, forms a bridge between the sharers which can be the basis for understanding much of what is not shared between them, and lessens the threat of their difference. -Audre Lorde