Sacramento

My parents and I took a little trip to downtown Sacramento one day for lunch. We ate at a great little brewery called "Brew it Up". Off of H st and I believe 14th? (you'll know you're close when you start smelling the hops, it was quite potent). Delicious food. I ended up with a GIANT taco salad in a flour tortilla bowl. My dad tried out their beer sampler, 4 mini glasses of whatever flavors you like. You can also brew your own beer there, and they'll keep it stored for when you visit with friends!

after we took a little stroll down to the capital.




the trees were blossoming


then we visited the vietnam war memorial



someone placed flowers in the hands of statues, it was pretty neat:

POW monument:





it began to POUR down rain all of the sudden, so we took refuge under some orange trees

we then moved onto some bamboo, which were cool but did not actually provide much coverage



some blue sky in the distance


my failed attempts at capturing the downpour:

part 1 - the drive

to sum up the whole week in one word=relaxing.
MUCH needed.
but i didn't get to do everything or see everyone I wanted.
(apologies shanny and lorrin :C )

so the boy made us get up BEFORE the crack of dawn:



surprise #1: taking the scenic route, the 101.
he made us get up early so we could see the sunrise along the coast
...except it was foggy and overcast


but we didn't let that bother us.
it was still beautiful.


nothing beats that stretch of ocean on the way to santa barbara
(also quite enjoyable by train if you get the chance!)

and long periods of sports radio were broken up by musicians like jackie wilson.
we have a habit of singing "your love (is lifting me higher)" at the top of our lungs.

he loves to travel in style (yes he wore a 3 piece suit WITH dress shoes...hehe)

all the while, my trusty tomtom led the way...

to surprise #3! lunch in monterey :D

this was the only part of our trip that the sun actually came out, it drizzled the rest of the way home.



it took about 2 or 3 extra hours as opposed to taking the 5 but it was worth it!
stay tuned for more of my trip

(though I must admit my photo taking steadily declined after this, in exchange for sleep and food and sitting on couches with the ones I love)

vacation!

oh spring break, i have been waiting so long for you.

tomorrow the man and i are taking the drive up to the top half of california. apparently there's some surprises in store for me? he likes to do that, and as much as i love being surprised, i hate knowing that one is coming...if that makes sense. next week will be much relaxation with side trips to downtown sacramento and hopefully san francisco!

get ready for actual travel posts in a travel blog! (what a concept!)

i wish our 7-ish hour drive will be as glamorous as this vogue editorial:

but i won't get my hopes up :) it will probably more likely involve comfy clothes, chex mix and gatorades, which is quite wonderful as well.

fantasies

now that this dreadful quarter is over and spring break has commenced, i once again have full command over my brain.

i have a minor girl crush on zooey deschanel. ok, that's a lie. i adore her. she's just so fun and whimsical, and i've been told that i look like her a little?

well she and matt costa star in this little promo video for oliver peoples and it is my inspiration for today's post:


wouldn't it be so fun to take little weekend side trips to quaint hotels and completely play a character? just pretend to be someone else, dream up elaborate stories to tell your waitress and bring fanciful "costumes". that would be such a relaxing and fun escape. whether with a dear friend or significant other, so many laughs would be had, inside jokes created and stories to tell all your friends when you get back.

p.s. for more zooey love you MUST listen to her musical album she made with m. ward, their band is called "she and him" and the first album is titled "volume one". so wonderful!