day trippin': vasquez rocks

One of the best parts about living in LA is how many sweet spots are close enough for a daytrip. Thanks to instagram, I'm always learning about new spots to spend a free day exploring that are within an hour or so from home. Vasquez Rocks, with that rust-red rock and shadowy green brush, was a gorgeous spot to spend Valentine's Day climbing up and around, and I'm already planning a trip back to watch the sunset over the boulders. 

finding LA: urban light

Moving to LA is a bit overwhelming in that there is so much going on, so much to do and see and eat and experience, that you don't really know where to begin. A little over a month in, I'm just barely starting to scratch the surface of my new city, and I think that's how I'll feel for a while still.

Last week we were able to explore just a bit of the los angeles county museum of art. It's huge, and we were limited to two hour parking (welcome to LA on a saturday), so we have a lot more to explore. We were mostly excited to see the Urban Light exhibit, which is comprised of 202 restored street lights from the 1920s and 30s, mostly from southern California (and a few from Portland!). It makes for a beautiful and daunting scene, though made a little lighter by children weaving in and out in various games of tag, and we're eager to return at night to see them lit up (through solar power!). The streets in front are lined with dozens of food trucks, from Korean BBQ to Thai to gourmet hot dogs, so it makes for a good afternoon date, especially if you go on the second Tuesday of the month, when LACMA has free admission. 

LA friends: any tips for other iconic places to visit while we get acquainted with this sprawling city?

california green

We've been trying to either hike in the hills or walk around our neighborhood most evenings at dusk, and it's causing me to begrudgingly fall a little bit in love with Los Angeles. Most people teased me when I mentioned moving to Glendale. I heard a lot of "oh, so you're not going to be in LA" and the like, which, as a small town girl, is very much alright with me. I love how quiet the neighborhood is, how every home has its own eclectic architecture and color palette and garden aesthetic. As much as I  miss the evergreens and clear blue water of my northwest home, I'm growing a bit obsessed with all the different hues of California green--from cacti and succulents to the citrus trees and dark ivy covering the buildings and street signs. And at golden hour, they all light up and sing together. Oh, west coast. I'll always love you.

hat: Nordstrom, boots & jacket: Forever 21

highway two //

If you had told me a year ago that all of this was a 20 minute drive out of LA, I'd never have believed you. Here's to continuously exploring all the beauty right where you are.

julian, ca

Head east to Julian if you want the perfect fall day. We had homemade pie & cider donuts at one of several pie shops, walked around the picturesque small town, and then meandered through the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Reserve, a gorgeous stretch of land that grows more golden in foliage as you climb. We only saw one other hiker the entire time, and felt like we could be the only people for miles--we even saw a fox bound through the hills, a sight we've been dying to see on our adventures! Just another day trip made to soothe our longing for seasons. 

finding seasons

when you live in a place with only the very subtlest of seasons, you may just have to drive until it's cold enough to wear a sweater (finally) and there are crunchy leaves on the ground. in this case, that meant a quick 45 minute drive to mount  baldy to spend an evening amidst a little bit of autumn.