A Coastal California Trip & 2nd-Trimester Update :)

I’m officially 22 weeks and well into my 2nd trimester. The good thing, I’m definitely back to my regular energy and self. The bad thing…being back to myself means I am working A LOT. But, here I am on this sunny Sunday sharing a little update with you about my coastal California trip and a 2nd trimester update :)

In case you missed it…

My friends, I did not think curry was going to run out with a pink ribbon. So many people around me (and even myself) thought it was going to be a boy. Of course, either way, I would be ecstatic, but this hit differently than expected.

There was this whole different feeling. I’m going to be her role model and the woman she looks up to the most.

My sister and I did not grow up with our mom around a lot. Mind you, my dad was an absolutely amazing ‘mom’ and did all the right things to make sure we felt loved, supported, and taken care of. Including the cutest little notes in our lunch boxes and sleepover bags and baking cookies for us to take to school on our birthdays (seriously, he was the best dad). But, you know, girls need their mom sometimes. To tell them they are beautiful, to play dress up, to take them shopping, to cheer them on at games, to hold their hand, and to just be there. My mom did what she could from afar and we definitely knew she loved us.. but it’s different.

So, yeah. Seeing that pink ribbon was a feeling I just didn’t prepare for. I’m going to get to be the mom that mine wasn’t able to be. It’s scary and lots of pressure, but so exciting. One of the main things we did always get to do with our mom was painting, creating art, making plays and just being creative. And I cannot wait to do that with my daughter.

And more importantly, I can’t wait to just always be there for her. Every concert, every game, every dance, every birthday party, every crush, and simply everything I wish I could have had growing up. She’ll feel supported, safe, and loved.

A Trip to Coastal California

A few weeks ago my sister and I took a trip to visit my dad and girlfriend in the most magical place… Carmel by the Sea. My friends, I can’t wait to go back someday. I’ve been to LA and Palm Springs (which I freaking loved), but this felt like a whole different country!

I’m so grateful I was feeling good, but also to get to spend that time with my dad. Since he retired, he’s been traveling and visiting the national parks with his girlfriend (they dated in their early 20s and re-connected a few years ago :). Let me tell you, I have never seen him so happy, which makes my sister and me so insanely happy. He deserves all of this so, so much. And yes, getting to have a dad/daughters trip means the absolute world to me.

Carmel by the Sea

We stayed at this AirBnB and honestly, the place was that perfectly coastal-cottage vibe! You could hear the ocean at night, cozy up by the fireplace, and sleep in a quite comfortable bed :) That first night we laid low, but the next couple of days were packed with hiking, sightseeing, and all the memories. We started with a morning walk around the Carmel Highlands neighborhood so we can see this adorable home below.

We had breakfast at The Mission Ranch (so cool) and then headed to Point Lobos. We hiked all the way around and it was just pure beauty. We luckily got one of the NICEST days they’ve had so far, truly so grateful! On the hike, we saw at least 20+ dolphins, some sea otters, and an artist painting in the wild.

We decided to get lunch on Ocean Avenue in Carmel by the Sea and it was so cute and magical. The adorable shops, all the pups, the courtyards, etc. There was just so much to take in and not enough time! I highly recommend taking some time to walk around this area, as there were so many little shops we didn’t even get to walk by.

Monterey, California

Later that day we took a drive through Pebble Beach and 17-Mile Drive to check out the Lone Cypress tree. It’s believed to have been seeded in 1750. It has somehow weathered the wind and salt all these years. It was pretty amazing to see as the sun was slowly starting to set.

Big Sur, California

That next morning we headed out toward Big Sur and hit up a few beautiful locations on the way. The first stop was Calla Lily Valley. We didn’t know what that actually meant, but it was exactly what the name is ;) It was so unexpected and magical! We hiked around for a bit to take in the beauty of the mountains, the lilies, and the coast. Honestly, the photos don’t do it justice..you just gotta see it for yourself!

Our next stop was the infamous Bixby Bridge (seen in the intro of Big Little Lies) and to be honest, it was SUCH a beautiful area and the bluest water. I was taken aback by the beauty. We stopped for a drink at COAST Gallery and Cafe and HIGHLY recommend it. The place was so adorable, had great views, and looked to have a delicious sourdough pizza ;) We ended up actually grabbing lunch at Nepenthe which had great food and a neat vibe!

A farewell to California

We ended the trip with a drink at the Resort next to our BNB to watch the sunset (it didn’t really appear ;) and then headed to our final dinner at The Bench in Monterey. We got a couple of pizzas and the most delicious deconstructed carrot cake dessert. The trip definitely wasn’t long enough, but glad we were able to have amazing weather and the best time together. I’ll never forget the beauty of Coastal California and the time we spent there.