Summer Solstice in Santa Barbara

Hi guys!!!!

I have been lagging on the posts lately, I'm having a little stay-cation while I have some family in town and finally found some time to post! 

Every year Santa Barbara hosts a huge Summer Solstice parade! I'm talking the whole city comes out plus visitors from all over! This is a chance for your inner hippie to shine, to dress up, dance in the street and let go! It's so fun seeing all the costumes people wear in the parade and all the floats that are decked out in flowers, streamers, basically the most random scraps one can find! This years theme was 'creatures', and every year there is a theme for the solstice parade and afterwards it all ends at Alice Keck Park where all the floats park and your free to roam around checking out various vendors, grab a beer in the beer garden or join in on the drum circle!

Some of my girlfriends and I made flower crowns to wear, I decided to wear all white & cream, with my H&M crochet shorts and a flouncy tank from Nordstroms with my all white flower crown, they were super easy and so fun to make! Let me know if you gals want a tutorial!

Here's some photos from this year! We watched the parade from Carlitos Mexican Cantina (hello margarita bar!) but I didn't have a very good view for snapping pics of the parade :( 

                                     

The El Encanto

The El Encanto is a boutique hotel that was recently reopened after being closed for 7 years for construction, and was built in 1918! It sits in the lush hills on the riviera just a few miles from my house & I knew the beau and I just had to check it out!

We didn't get to walk around too much since we arrived for a late dinner, but let me tell you- the California craftsman mixed with Spanish style architecture creates a beautiful layout for the chic and simple interior decoration, with plantation style windows and shutters that open to views of Santa Barbara, yes please! 

Here's some shots of what we ate, and what I wore! More shots of the hotel to come soon! 

The beau had halibut 

I had the salmon- which if your a salmon lover like me, this was ahhhhmazing

Top- random cream silk

Jeans- H&M 

Shoes- Vince Camuto

A Picnic at the Rose Gardens

Yesterday was such a beautiful day in Santa Barbara! Lately it's been very overcast up until 2 or 3 in the afternoon, in the Springtime and Summer that's pretty normal so waking up to sun meant it was the perfect day for a picnic! The beau has had Thursday's off so we figured why not go to our favorite place to a picnic, the Rose Gardens at the Mission

I got this picnic basket at the Rescue Mission Thrift Store last week and everything was still in the packaging, usually I'm weird about used utensils and things your place your food in, considering the inside is fabric but since it was all in the wrapping I had to get it!

I got this shirt at H&M during their 50% off the sale Sale a few days ago, the shorts are Joe's Jeans that used to be the beau's until he ripped under the back pocket so I cut them into boyfriend shorts, the booties are Aldo and my bag is CC Skye

What I did last Saturday

After recently seeing my girl, Jessica Chastin star in Zero Dark Thirty I felt pretty inspired to go shooting. Now, Preston and his buddies go every now and then to the shooting range, which I never clearly understood why, but after watching the movie I felt a little more interested in going with them. I can't even imagine having as good of aim as the guys in the movie but I did shoot a couple of my targets and have to say, I felt pretty hardcore!

 I think I'll stick to playing dress up instead though!

Half of it is dressing like you know what your doing right? Note to my dirt covered pants (unintentional) black Patagonia jacket and of course my DV by Dolce Vita motorcycle boots!

Definitely "worked up" an appetite (only 1 of those double doubles is mine)

Closed the day with a beautiful sunset walk

Ojai Valley Inn & Spa

About two weekends ago the beau and I celebrated our anniversary at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa which is about 30 minutes South and inland from Santa Barbara. Between the room, the service, the food, the scenery and the spa everything was absolutely superb!

If you ever get the chance to go, the spa is a definite must! I highly recommend the deep tissue massage! And all of the restaurants are amazing

Loving the mediterranean/spanish style architecture and the sunset on the mountains really is pink!

Our cute little patio with some vintage furniture

About to head to the spa!!!

Anniversary dinner outfit

We had the patio to ourselves right before dinner, which was even better with the fire pits and a glass of pinot noir

The staff covered our table in rose petals with a little card, how cute is that?

A picnic in the Rose Gardens

The Rose Gardens at the Mission in Santa Barbara are my absolute favorite place to have a picnic! I was so happy the sun was out but it's still been chilly during the day here (Californians don't like the cold weather!)

Regardless, it was still perfect for a picnic and a wonderful, relaxing way to bring in the New Year!

Here's what I wore

These boots have been in heavy rotation lately! Not to mention they are SO comfy!!!

Nothing like a good picnic unless your in good company 

SOOOOO HAPPY the sun was out!!!

Can't forget to stay hydrated ;)

Our afternoon view of the Mission

Jacket- Jcrew

Shirt- random men's from Pacsun

Jeans- Zara

Boots- DV by Dolce Vita

Bag- Zara

Happy New Years!!!

Happy New Years everyone!!! The beau and I spent New Years in Santa Barbara with a couple of friends at Joes, which is a restaurant/bar and has some of the stiffest drinks in town! A girlfriend and I opted for splitting a bottle of wine which we later moved onto vodka-cranberries. After Joes we went over to a little club called Indochine and spent the night dancing away.

As for my hopes in 2013, I wish you all health, happiness & prosperity!!! For myself, I am determined to start using some of the cookbooks I bought back in September, clean out my closet and to remember to hold onto each of my relationships, especially since I often get carried away and forget to check up on old friends.

Cheers to a New Year!!!

West Coast Sunsets

Living in Santa Barbara the West Coast sunsets in December are incredible..here's a few of my favorite shots that I took at Hollister Ranch & on Cold Springs Hiking Trail (w/0 a filter or edits!!!)