One of my favorite things from our trip to California was taking Gwyneth to see the ocean (which of course involved a lot of sunscreen and an adorable swimsuit). I was surprised by how much she absolutely LOVED the ocean. Poppy and her family met Steph and me at the beach just North of Solana. Poppy helped me walk Gwyneth down to the water and as each wave cold came and splashed up over their feet, both girls were in fits of giggles. It was awesome. I'm pretty sure Gwyneth wanted to ditch me and run straight into the waves.

 

Gwyneth and I had a wonderful trip to California. Gwyn makes a great little travel companion and I really loved this time with her.

The main thing I discovered on this trip was that we really have some wonderful friends in California. It is really amazing when your friends open their homes up to you and your silly, squirrelly, sometimes-tantrum-throwing, one year old. It meant so much to me to be welcomed into our friends' houses for a night, a week, a cup of coffee, or a shared meal. Everyone was so excited to meet Gwyneth and loved her so much. We are very happy to be home but are already missing all of our wonderful CA friends.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from our trip...

Gwyneth with Hadley and Deborah. Gwyneth and I went over to visit Deborah and Co. twice, once to cook dinner for them and once for coffee. I wish we could have spent even more time with this lovely family.


We met up with Whitney of Eat Sleep Cuddle for lunch on our way from San Diego back to LA. I really love her blog and it was so nice getting to meet her, I only wished we lived closer so we could cook and eat together all the time!


We spent almost a whole week in San Diego with Steph and Andy and their kiddos, Harrison and Lucia. Steph and I are so similar and every time I get to see her I just feel completely understood, fulfilled, and loved. She's a great friend.

There's also this little blossoming romance.



We spent a great day with Steph and Co. at the San Diego Zoo. I have wanted to go to the San Diego Zoo ever since I was a little girl. I wanted to either be a zoologist or an actress and was obsessed with a promotional CD/game from the San Diego Zoo. It was a blast with the kids. It was one of those perfect days where not one of them cried and everyone was happy.

(In case you were wondering, Gwyneth is licking the flamingo fence in the photo on the right. It's good for her immune system, right?)


We stayed with Tara and Cole for the majority of our time in LA. They were so welcoming, accommodating, and loving. Gwyneth loved playing with them, and I loved having helping hands. They were amazing. They even babysat for me while I went and visited the film set of one of my favorite directors for half a day.

We did a lot together: trip to Venice beach, lunches and dinners out, a morning at The Getty Center to see the Herb Ritts exhibition, and Tara and Cole took the time to put together a sweet Easter basket for G too!

We also got to visit with our lovely friend Romi Dames (a very talented actress), my wonderful agent Carlyne and her daughter Joell, our friend/casting director Rene, our friend Karman, and our friend Darren. It was two weeks packed full of friends. 

We had so much fun together on this trip. Gwyneth is a total California baby!

 

This trip has been really fun so far. Gwynnie and I are getting ready to head down to San Diego to visit our friends, Steph and Andy. This first part of the trip has been wonderful but has involved a lot of juggling and visiting lots friends. I'll do a more detailed post on all our busy activities when we get settled in San Diego.

I have learned on this trip that having flexible expectations is key. I thought I'd have time to settle down and work, to watch movies, go to the beach, have picnics at parks, to read, etc. But traveling with a 15 month old is kind of a goose-chase. I've been staying the last couple of nights with Tara` and Cole. Tara has been a nanny for years so she totally gets it and has been just wonderful! She's helped me baby wrangle here at their apartment, and out at meals which has meant I can breathe and finish my sentences. You don't realize how squirrelly a one year old is until you travel with them by yourself!

I'm amazed at how much we've done in the past few days and how much fun I've been having with my little sidekick. She's been a trooper with all the changes in location, routine, sleep habits, meal times, etc. She's a good girl.

Once we're in San Diego it'll be me and Steph hanging out during the days while our three little ones play quietly together and nap in tandem, and all sleep through the night. Right?

Gwyneth and I are headed out to San Diego this morning to photograph the newborn baby girl of Steph and Andy.  Lucia was born on Monday morning and I can't wait to photograph her. I met Steph a few years back and photographed her first pregnancy...

 

 

 

 

Took photos of her first son, Harrison when he was a newborn...

 

Then I photographed their family again when Harrison turned one...

 

 

 

A few months back I took her pregnancy photos again...

 

 

 

I fell so honored that I get to capture the first few days of Luci's life.  I will be staying with them so I'm going to get to take a lot of family photos.  After experiencing the magic of that first week myself, I am so excited to get to capture it for them.  They are such a lovely family and Steph is an amazing mom.

With that, I'm off for the next few days.  Then I'll be back just in time to celebrate our second wedding anniversary and then it's time to launch the new site next Monday! I'm so excited to share it with all of you, it's been such a labor of love.  "See" you in a few days.

 

I posted about the first half of our long, fabulous weekend yesterday.  Here's a look at the second half...

Saturday...

 

After ruiniting with G, Kyle and I went to go pick up our ribs from Bill the Butcher which happens to be right next door to Victor's Celtic Coffee Company!

 

Man, we missed her!!!

Best coffee on the Eastside.

We spent the rest of the day on Saturday relaxing with the family, sipping beer and playing in the pool.  I had my camera on me most of the afternoon and took lots of photos...

 

Lounging with Grandpa!

  

Croquet was played.  Alligators were ridden.

It was a lovely afternoon.

 

After visiting with Grandpa it was off to meet up with Uncle Ryan for brunch at Pete's Eggnest on Greenwood.

 

G took a special liking to Uncle Ryan's shades.

We headed home to get the ribs started and to snap some family portraits of Dayne, Amber and the kids.

And, of course, more sipping of beer.

We had a wonderful dinner thanks to Kyle's rib smokin' skillz.  Then we headed over for s'mores at Ryan's house. 

It was a late night for the babe but it was so fun to hand out with Ryan and his friends and eat s'mores with Reese's pieces, sit around a little bonfire and catch up.  We had such a fun, wonderful weekend.  Hope you did too.

The End!

 

We took off for a long weekend and headed to Seattle late Wednesday night and we just got home a few hours ago!  It was so much fun to spend a longer-than-usual amount of time with our families.  Kyle brother, Dayne, his wife Amber and their two kids, Bailey and Chloe were visiting so we stayed extra long. (Note: I am pretty sure I didn't punctuate that sentence correctly... I never know how, many, commas, to, use).  Here is a look at our wonderful weekend... well the first half of it!

 

We got a blueberry tart, gruyere and caramelized onion magical croissant thing and a caramel and sea salt cake (I also got a salted caramel macaroon but ate it immediately).

 

 

Meghan, G and Rob.

 

Macaroooooons!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have the best big sister in the whole world!

After pastries, it was time for...

 

Bill the Butcher is in Redmond, WA.  We've been wanting to check it out for ages.  All their meat is local, sustainably farmed and organic.  We placed an order for some spare ribs to grill later in the weekend.

We returned to Kyle's parent's house, cooked up Lemony Roasted Chicken and played scrabble.  Then we all went to bed...

Friday...

We got up bright and early to play with the kids.

 

Some of us weren't quite awake yet.  Then we packed up the whole gang and headed to the Woodland Park Zoo! 

 

Erika and Chloe ready to explore!

 

Our little monkey in the monkey house.

 

Gwyneth was taking notes so she could show us her foot in mouth skills...

Nice!

Bailey checking out the penguins.

 

Silly Dad.

 

Poppy and her family members.

After the zoo we headed to Red Mill Burgers for lunch.  I've always heard great things about their classic, all-american burgers.  We weren't disappointed!

 

 

 

Amber, Dayne, Bailey and Chloe.  Those kiddos were pretty exhausted from the long day at the zoo!

 

 

We spent the remainder of the afternoon relaxing and playing outside.

 

Then... Kyle's parents sent us parents out for the night!  They booked as a room at The Heathman in downtown Kirkland and bought us dinner at Trellis!  We are so lucky!  It was such a special gift.  I was, of course, quite nervous about being away from Gwynnie but everyone kept telling me, "it'll be good for you", and it was.  

 

Our room.

 

Amber and Dayne.

 

Me and Kyle.

 

Double date night!

 

 

 

 

Steak with pomme frites and bone marrow butter.

 

Lamb with a pomegranate glaze and kale.

 

Duck with watercress.

Thanks Dave and Erika for such a lovely, thoughtful gift.

I'll post Part 2 tomorrow!

 

A few weeks ago Kyle and I took Gwynnie on her first visit to Pike Place Market in Seattle.  It was rainy and cold (despite the fact that it was June) and she was over-tired and miserable.  We only lasted about an hour but it was still kind of fun.  Actually, that's a lie, it wasn't but I took some fun photos!  Growing up in Seattle, Pike Place Market always has a nostalgic energy.  I love the abundant produce and the overflowing flowers.  I felt kind of like a dorky, high-school photography student again (Pike Place is where every photo student heads with their first camera).  

We are in Seattle for the weekend and we are taking Gwyneth to my very favorite place today... The Woodland Park Zoo!   It's still rainy and cold but we are gonna bundle that babe up and hope for a sunbreak.  I'll be back on Monday with a Wonderful Weekend post!  

 

After a long, cold winter we were so in need of a vacation.  Lucky for us, Kyle's parents had bought us tickets to go to Cabo, Mexico for Christmas!  It was our first time ever taking a vacation where all you do is sit on the beach!  It was WONDERFUL!  There's nothing like getting up in the morning and putting on your swimsuit at 8:30.  I took a lot of pictures... just apparently not many without the baby in them.  It would appear that she never got set down during the whole vacation.  She's gonna need attention detox this week.  Here's a few pics from our trip.

 

 

I have been trying to find the time (and the WIFI) to do a San Francisco Weekend post, but since that didn't happen... (turns out they don't have WIFI at campgrounds) here is a big ol' post encompassing the whole second week of our Babymoon!

Day 6: San Francisco, CA

We spent our first day in San Francisco wandering around The Haight district.  We stopped at Trader Joe's and grabbed a few items for a quick picnic in a park before hitting the streets and exploring the shops.  We happened across the Magnolia Pub and Brewery so we stopped in so Kyle could try out their beers.  Our server, Sal, gave us his recommendations for his favorite places to eat in San Francisco which was great because we love to try out the local's favorites.  

The Magnolia Pub and Brewery

 

Day 7: San Francisco, CA

Cafe Delucchi

From North Beach the trail heads down through Telegraph Hill to the waterfront.  We walked through part of this historic waterfront but it was really crowded and touristy so we found a bus back to the starting point and decided to head "home".  The walk was a really fun way to see and learn about San Francisco.  

For dinner we decided to grab In-N-Out for old time's sake.  I haven't had fast food in years and years and images and facts from Food, Inc. etc. kept popping up in my mind and I was feeling really guilty.  But, against my better judgement I ordered a cheeseburger (animal style) and french fries.  It was fun, but not very good... it tasted like fast food!  Aw, well.  We spent our evening watching the Food Network and relaxing.

Day 8: San Francisco, CA

For our third day in San Fransisco we went to visit our friends Chris and Casey at their fantastic apartment right near Golden Gate Park to watch the Seahawks play the 49ers.  By the time the game ended it was time to head for, what else, more food!  Once again we took Sal's recommendation and headed to Zazie, a french cafe-style restaurant in Cole Valley.

Kyle had the Grilled Hanger Steak with heirloom tomato, Vidalia onion, gorgonzola gratin and portobello cream sauce and I had the Crispy Duck Leg with haricot verts and warm fingerling potatoe salad with mustard and pancetta.  The food was rich and delicious and I was starting to worry a bit about what our scale might say when we got home... but that didn't stop us from ordering...

...insanely good Crème brûlée and one regular and one decaf espresso for dessert!

A view from the hill on the drive home.  The strip without lights is Golden Gate Park.  

Day 9: San Francisco, CA

For our final day in San Francisco, we decided to spend the day exploring the California Acadmey of Sciences.  It's part science center, part aquarium, part zoo and part rainforest.  The admission was pretty pricey but it was a fun way to spend most of the day.  I wasn't as thrilled with it as I was hoping to be for the amount of money it cost, but it was still fun.  

Being silly.

We were starving by the time we left Academy and stopped at Papalote (another of Sal's recommendations).  The food was fresh and the salsa was fantastic.  

After our late lunch we headed out to find the Toronado Pub which is a famous beer bar so Kyle could scope it out and have a couple of pints.  

Kyle in paradise looking at the beer menu.

Since it was our last night in the city, we spent it having dinner with family.

A few other places that Sal and my friend John recommended but we didn't have time to try were....

Nopa

Abacus

Le Fringale

Tadich Grill 

Yank Sing

Day 10: Driving from San Francisco, CA to Gardnerville, NV via Yosemite National Park

Bright and early not as early as we had planned, we headed out of San Francisco to drive to Gardnerville, NV where my Aunt Carla and Uncle Matt live.  We took the long route so that we could drive through Yosemite National Park.  

Aidan blowing out the candles matches on his cake pie.

Day 11: Driving from Gardnerville, NV to Goose Lake, CA/OR

The drive from Garnerville to Goose Lake State Park was gorgeous!  Once we got through Reno it was all so picturesque.  The campground was clean and pretty and it was the perfect time to stop.  It lies right on the border between California and Oregon (although it's technically in Oregon).  For dinner we roasted chicken sausages on the fire and made a salad before we threw down a few more rounds of Yahtzee!

Day 12: Driving from Goose Lake, OR to Pendleton, OR

We packed up in the morning and set out for Pendleton, OR.  The drive was, again, picturesque and gorgeous along 395.

Day 13: Pendleton, OR

In the morning it was time to "Let 'er Buck!" as they say.  We headed to the Rainbow Cafe to meet up with my sister (Meghan) and her husband, Rob.  The Rainbow is always packed during the Roundup and serves trucker-style diner breakfasts that take forever to get...it's all about the experience.

 

 

The whole family.

Ryan and Dad.

Meghan and Rob.

A future cowboy named Oregon.

Then, we headed downtown to check out the scene.

Outside the Rainbow.

Inside the Rainbow.

Ryan.

Dad and the ladies.

Day 14: Pendleton, OR

After a busy day on Friday at the Roundup with lots of photos, I opted to leave my camera at home for the finals day.  Luckily, my sister's husband had his iPhone and with the help of some binoculars he was able to snap some really cool shots of the rodeo.  We also bought a cute onsie for the baby!

Me and the Pops.

 

 

The finals day of the rodeo was great!  We headed back to Uncle Grey's around 9 and Kyle and I proceeded to kick some major butt at hearts (turns out playing cards sober is really effective to winning).  

Day 15: Driving from Pendleton, OR to our home!

We got up early, packed up and headed home!  It was pouring rain for most of the drive but by noon we were home.  The fridge is reloaded, the laundry is in progress, there is a chicken roasting in the oven, the cozy pants are on and we're watching Sunday Night Football.  We had a wonderful trip, but it's always nice to come home.  Calypso is thrilled that we're back.

 

 

 

 

It's been such a great first week of our Babymoon and we still have a full week left!  Here's a look at our trip so far...

Day 1: Ellensburg, WA

We started off our trip in Ellensburg to celebrate Alfonso and Nina's birthdays with friends, beer hot chocolate and a pig roast.  The wind was icy cold and whipping through Ellensburg so we were all bundled up but that didn't stop the music and fun!  

Kyle testing out the impromptu driving range.

Jake turning the pig.

The "Rotisserie" Crew

Maria and her pup.

Pilot.

Adrian playing the drums.

My best friend Marion (on the right) and her sister, Crystal.

Marion's Dad carving the pig with a machete.

Bundled up.

Kyle about to dig in.

Day 2:  Astoria, OR

Early in the morning we packed up out of Ellensburg and headed toward the coast.  It was a long day of driving but we were ready to relax.  We put Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix into the CD player and I knitted away at a hat (which I finished before we got to Astoria).  We arrived at our destination around 4 o'cock and set up camp at Fort Steven's State Park.   We made turkey burritos for dinner with yummy, organic ingredients we had packed up before we left.  We built a campfire and settled in with hot chocolate for several rounds of Yahtzee!

Eating dinner while wearing my newly knitted hat.

Our neighboors flamingo.

 

Yummy buttermilk pancakes (from Trader Joe's mix) for breakfast.

The Druid's Delight... espresso, milk, vanilla, caramel and chocolate whip cream!  Perfect for a cold, wet drive!

The sun came out!!!

The view from The Burning Plain location.

Gorgeous sunset from the location while shooting.

Newport:

Funny seals.

Local Oceans.

Grilled fish and chips with fennel slaw.

Coconut prawns.

Curry mussels. 

Day 3: Driving and camping in the Redwoods, CA.

We woke up in Newport and hit the road right away because we had a long drive ahead of us through the Redwoods.  It was grey and wet again and stayed that way through most of the Northern Redwoods.  The trees are so dense and beautiful!  It's impossible to describe their size!  We got to where we were going to camp but it was still very cold and rainy so we opted to keep driving South and inland along our route in the hopes that the weather would warm up a little bit.  Luckily, it did and we set up camp in the Southern part of the Redwoods, made a quick dinner with our burrito leftovers and had hot chocolate and a few more rounds of Yahtzee!

Some very damp plants along the coast.

Day 4: Driving from the Redwoods, CA to Santa Rosa, CA.

Since we'd driven a little extra the previous day we had a fairly short drive into Santa Rosa.  We stayed with Kyle's Uncle Craig and after quickly settling in and taking two much needed showers we went out to dinner with Craig and his two wonderful daughters Kellie and Katie at one of Kyle's favorite breweries, Russian River.  

Katie, Kellie, Craig and Kyle at Russian River.

Day 5: Driving through Napa, CA and into San Francisco, CA.

We had headed to bed early and, after plenty of sleep, we got up and packed up, ready to head through Napa and into San Francisco.  We got coffee with an old friend and met her new baby girl before hitting the road.  The drive through Napa was gorgeous although it was a bit torturous as I couldn't have the wine!  A friend had recommended the Rutherford Grill for lunch so we stopped for a great chicken salad (for me) and prime rib a jus sandwich (for Kyle).  Then we headed to the Coppola Vineyard right across the steet (which the same friend had recommended) to check it out.  The winery was absolutely gorgeous!  It felt like being at a French villa.  The wine tasting was about $50 so we opted not to partake, but the stop was worth it just to check out the vineyard and museum-like winery.  We arrived in San Francisco and got settled in at Kyle's Aunt Lynsie's house in Foster City (a suburb just South of the city) and then headed over to Kyle's cousins Derek and Brandon and Brandon's wife Anifisa's house for dinner.  Anifsa is pregnant and due just a week after me, so we had lots to talk about!  Dinner was great although we spent most of the night glued to the window (watching the fire) and the television (watching the news) because the San Bruno explosion/fire was just minutes away from their house.

The Coppola winery.

Arriving in San Francisco on the Golden Gate Bridge.

Still to come... Our weekend in San Francisco (I'm too sleepy to post all about it now... speaking of which, I apologize if there are any misspellings in my post!), our drive through Yosemite (after careful consideration, we've opted not to stay in Yosemite due to the fact that it sounds like it may be too physically demanding since I'm quickly heading towards the six month pregnancy mark), a stay with my Aunt Carla, a bit more camping and the Pendelton Roundup!

 

On Saturday we are heading out for our Babymoon Vacation!   We've got our tent (and Aerobed) ready, Newman's Ginger-O's packed, Harry Potter books on CD set to go and a new knitting project to begin! 

Here's our plan:

We'll spend the first night in Ellensburg, WA celebrating our good friends' joint birthday party Puerto Rican style, including mucho rum, a roasted pig and wonderful friends.

The Birthday Boy Alfonso "Why is the rum gone?" Gonzalez

The Birthday Girl, Nina "I don't want to snuggle" Gonzalez

From there we are heading straight to the Oregon coast!  

Oregon Coast (Photo by Kyle)

We'll spend the night camping in Astoria and then make our way leisurely to Newport.  After that, it's off to the Redwoods!  I am so excited to see this magnificent area of California.  I can't believe I've never been to the Redwoods.

From the Redwoods we'll head into Santa Rosa to visit Uncle Craig...although I don't think Kyle's let him know we're coming yet...hmmm.  Then, we're considering a stop in Napa although I'm afraid that being close to all that amazing wine might be tortorous...water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.  Then we'll be in San Francisco for four days staying with Kyle's Aunt.  I'm so excited to explore this culturally rich, artistic city and to eat amazing food!

For the second half of our trip we'll head into Yosemite National Park for a couple of nights of camping and relaxing since the next couple of days will be spent working our way back up to Pendelton, OR for the Round Up!  For those of you who don't know about the Round Up...how do I explain this event...the Round Up is a fantistically fun, crazy, let 'er buck rodeo that we attend nearly every year.  As it happens, this year happens to be the Centenial celebration for this rodeo so it should be extra fun.  We always stay with Uncle Grey (not really our Uncle, he's Marion's Uncle) and Tina.  We relax with my best friend Marion and her family (the previously mentioned Birthday Boy and Girl).

 

Action at the Roundup.

Dad doing his photography.

Uncle Grey and his dogs.

Uncle Grey sitting in his "thoughful spot" as Whinnie the Pooh would say.

Party central.

At the Roundup with my Dad and Stepmom a few years back.

Dad with Dean Clark a member of the fence crew and all around great man.

Poor Daddy getting run over by a bull last year.  For the record, although he does appear to walk straight into the bull's path for no reason...he actually got clipped by the bull earlier and was disoriented.

Poor Daddy icing his injuries after the rodeo ended for the day.

Enjoying the Roundup last Summer.

Then, at last, we will be returning home to our disgruntled cat... 

and Poppy...

This photo is a little out of date, but it always makes me laugh.

We're so excited to head out on the road and explore the coast.  We'd love any recommendations you have from places to check out, stops to make, great restaurants to eat at, your favorite things in San Francisco and anything else!  Most of these places are new to us so we'd love any advice you've got for us!  I'll try and post a few blogs along the way, but it may end up just being one long post when we get back!

 

 

This weekend we headed up to Whidbey Island, Washington for our friend's wedding.  We packed up the car, put in the Harry Potter CD and hit the road.  We drove up along the 101, opting to take the scenic route.  We stopped at a pretty State Park for a very French road trip lunch.

 

We just had to stop at this dive bar called, what else, the Geoduck.  For those of you who didn't grow up around Geoducks, they're a big deal 'round these parts.  They're a kind of clam with a funny name and they are the mascot of Evergreen State University...hmmm.  Kyle had a drink and we took in the view and the, um, interesting souveniers like hot pink camoflauge shirts and thongs that had "The Geoduck" embroidered on them. 

We arrived in Port Townsend where we took the Keystone ferry across to Coupeville where the wedding was going to be.  Port Townsend is a cute, tiny town with lots of shops and yummy (yet overpriced) ice cream.  I had their fresh made ginger ice cream...a pregnant lady's dream!

We had about an hour to wait for our ferry and that was the perfect amount of time to wander up an down the main street and explore the little shops before making our way back to the car for our ferry.  Unfortunately, the woman running the toll booth put us in the standby line even though we had a reservation so... we missed our ferry and had to wait another hour for the next one, so we explored Port Townsend again to see if we'd missed anything...we hadn't, but it was still nice to check.  I love taking ferries!  It's totally nostalgic if you grew up in the Pacific Northwest.

We got checked into our cute little Bed and Breakfast, The Spinnaker Tea Garden where the owners Juanita and Marty welcomed us.  They are the sweetest couple and clearly love running a B&B.  The beds were comfortable and the breakfast was fresh and delicious.  Juanita even packed us up a picnic lunch to take on our way when we left!  

On Saturday morning we spent a little time wandering in downtown Coupeville (which spans about a block and a half) but most everything was closed because it was early so we had to find other ways to entertain ourselves.

 

(Le Souffle in Paris)

(Le Menu)

 

(Me cooking...Calypso being lazy.)

(Browned meat and cooking veggies.)

(Braised pearl onions.)

(Sauteed mushrooms.)

(Fresh baguette from the new Hood River bakery.)

(The table all set.)

(My Dad, Kyle and Nance enjoying the beouf bourguignon.)

(Souffle success.)

 

 

Sorry it's taken me so long (a week actually) to finalize my L.A. Trip blog.  I was so exhausted after coming home that I needed a while to reboot. 

(Photo by David Hume Kennerly)

(Relaxing on Karman's patio... Dress (Jean Paul Gaultier for Target), Gladiator sandals (Frye))

 

 

Saturday:

 

 

 

 

 

(The Aroma Cafe 4360 Tujunga Ave. Studio City, CA 91604)