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San Francisco Staycation

dad-ashton-vacation

My dad and eleven year old nephew came for a little adventure last week.

We had a whirlwind of a trip! And I am thankful for every single minute I was able to spend with them. Here’s a little recap of our trip in case anyone is planning a bay area staycation or vacation themselves. Every time my dad comes we try to take him on a new adventure, the focus this trip was Yosemite. But it was also my nephew’s first time here so San Francisco was also a highlight. Here are the deets!

In-N-Out. If your guests arrive at lunch or dinner time, then it’s a very easy decision. In-N-Out must be first on the itinerary! It’s conveniently located one exit away from the San Francisco airport which also makes it a no brainer. The palm trees are a nice welcome to California too!

Bay Trail Bike Ride. After getting a good night’s rest, we started the morning strong with a bike ride along the Bay Trail. Bike riding is one of my dad’s favorite past times so I knew it was the perfect way to start the trip. We incorporated a stop at our favorite breakfast joint in San Mateo called The Pantry. This may have been my dad’s favorite part of the trip! The Pantry really is that good.

Taco Bell Beach. My mom spent two years living in the bay area and her favorite little oasis became what she calls “Taco Bell Beach” also known as Pacifica State Beach. She talked about it so much I knew it was a priority for Ashton to make a visit. He even jumped in the water with Vitaliy to experience the frigid waters of the Pacific Ocean. And he came home with lots of treasures he found while exploring.

San Francisco. The following day we explored all of my favorite spots in the city. We drove by AT&T Park, stopped at the bay bridge and walked through the Ferry Building, hiked Lombard Street, and enjoyed a lunch at Pacific Catch in the Marina. We ended our adventures at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge and even got to explore Fort Point which was new for me.

Yosemite. The SF day definitely wore us all out so we were thankful to spend a couple hours driving to Twain Harte, CA where we spent the night before exploring Yosemite National Park. I have a love-hate relationship with Yosemite. The place is incredibly stunning and I am always blown away by God’s creativity. But with my fear of heights, it can often test my nerves. Ashton had only one request, he wanted to see BIG trees, so we started the day with a hike to the Merced Grove of sequoias. We were all blown away! We then drove through the Yosemite Valley and enjoyed it from every view. By that point, we were all ready for a rest and some food so we took a break and enjoyed our picnic lunch. Money saver! And then we ended the day with a sunset hike of the Sentinel Dome. We reached the top and enjoyed 360 views of Yosemite. It was definitely the grand finale of an incredible day!

Columbia, California. To say we were exhausted from our trip to Yosemite would be an understatement. We all slept in the following day and woke up to a big breakfast made by Vitaliy followed by a lazy morning watching Karate Kid. We then packed up and enjoyed a stroll through Columbia, CA. One of my new favorite spots! It’s an old town in the heart of gold country that has preserved its main street. It’s like taking a walk back in time.

The End. I’m not sure if we were still exhausted from Yosemite or just from playing tour guide in general. But on our last day, Vitaliy and I watched the World Cup while my dad took my nephew on the Rocket Boat. We enjoyed Clam Chowder bread bowls at Boudin before ending the entire trip with a hot fudge sundae at Ghiradelli’s Square. My dad’s favorite treat is a hot fudge sundae so I couldn’t think of a better way to end his trip to California.

I can’t wait for our next visitors! Who’s coming? I love playing tour guide because I get to enjoy things I don’t normally get out and explore. With the start of summer, perhaps one or two of the items from our itinerary will make it on your summer to-do lists. Where should we go next? We’re planning an 8 year anniversary staycation for August. I’d love to hear of any hidden gems you enjoy.

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The Suitcase
Of My Heart

I should have bought this journal when I saw it. I just love this quote!

They should tell you when you’re born: have a suitcase heart, be ready to travel.
– Gabrielle Zevin

Someone should have told me this when I was born. I could have used the wise warning. I love that you can interpret this quote both literally and figuratively. And it can be applied to so many seasons of my life. When I first moved to California, I was desperate. I don’t recall thinking about leaving my family. All I could think about was being closer to Vitaliy and beginning our own family. It didn’t feel permanent. It felt like a temporary fix. We needed to get married and we needed to help take care of Vitaliy’s sister Leska. We’d worry about the future later, all we could think about was the moment. I should probably learn from my past and live more like that today. Stop worrying about the future.

But now that we’ve lived there for more than 8 years, it’s beginning to feel more permanent which is hard on the heart. I miss my family. I need a bigger suitcase heart. I can only imagine how much more difficult it will be once Vitaliy and I start having children. But as hard as it can be, I also can’t deny this love for adventure in my heart. One that my husband helped cultivate. I have a new found love for travel. And I’m surprised to say, I have a crush on California.

I’m thrilled that our work not only allows us to travel, but it’s also a reason for travel. I’m currently sitting in my dear friends home overlooking a phenomenal view of Washington, D.C. We are photographing Elias and Yuris’ wedding nearby on Saturday. I’m so thankful to be able to do what I love. I’m so grateful that our work is giving us the chance to explore new places. But even more so, I’m ecstatic that our work has brought us to the city of our dear friends Francis and Joanna. It was actually their referral that brought us here. So a big thank you to them!

I love to travel, but I also love to be at home. I long for adventure, but I also like to play it safe. In joy and in sorrow, the suitcase of my heart continues to grow. It’s packed with those I love, those that are near and especially the ones who are far.

Have a suitcase heart
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Saying No In Order To Say Yes

Squares

At the Making Things Happen conference last October, a lot of things changed inside.

Those changes have continued to develop in our hearts and we’re slowly but surely trying to make them happen in our lives. But implementing change takes time. Change is never easy. And it very rarely comes quickly. One of the best lessons I learned at the conference is that saying “no” just means you get to say “yes” to what matters most.

I’ve been a little MIA lately, but for wonderful reasons. Here are a few of the things that have received a resounding YES in my book! From top to bottom, from left to right.

  1. Good meals. We’ve finally implemented a monthly budget and though eating out happens less, good meals and good food is always a priority for us.
  2. Clients. The wedding season has officially begun. We had a sweet engagement session last week and a wedding in DC later this week. We’ve gotten together with past clients. And I’m most excited about the back end work we’re doing in our business in order to give our clients an even better experience.
  3. Creativity. Running a business can be very hard. There’s so much more to it than just taking photos. It’s so easy to let the business side of things become all consuming. Vitaliy and I have been carving out time to continue investing in our creative muscle.
  4. Marriage. I love this guy! Vitaliy and I are constantly trying to find ways to invest in our marriage. We’re both currently seeing a counselor which has done wonders for us both personally and as a couple. I’m also reading a wonderful book called Intimacy Ignited. I’m only a few chapters in, but I would highly recommend it so far.
  5. Coffee. Life should never be too busy that you don’t have time to go grab a good cup of coffee with someone or to simply enjoy by yourself. I only started drinking coffee this past year, but it has quickly become one of my favorite indulgences. I normally drink it black thanks to my husband who’s a purist, but I recently tried the famous Mint Mojito Iced Coffee from Philz. It was everything I was told it would be!
  6. Time with friends. Vitaliy and I have been working hard to downsize our calendar commitments so that we can either enjoy a night at home or a spontaneous dinner party with friends. It’s been one of the hardest and best changes we’ve been working on!
  7. Family friends. It can be very hard not living close to your family. It requires your friends to become like family. Oddly still, even some of our closest friends live a few hours away. Time spent with them and their little ones is always cherished.
  8. Vitaliy and I have now been living in the San Francisco bay area for over 8 years. We’ve only recently started making a sincere effort to explore and get to know this beautiful place we now feel is home. It’s been fun getting to know it better.
  9. Thank you notes. If you have not read the book One Thousand Gifts, you must do it as soon as possible. I’m now enjoying the 1000 Gifts devotional which has had an even stronger impact on me and I’ve officially started my own list of 1000 gifts. Each morning I wake to write down my previous days blessings. I’m also trying to learn to be thankful for both the good and the bad. So right now, I’m digging deep to find the good out of this pinched nerve in my neck. I am slowly seeing it change me. Vitaliy has joined me and started his own list too.

There’s a little peek into our life as of late. Join us on Instagram for more frequent peeks!

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