The Seaside. Today's Post-Mendocino.

Mendocino Village from Hwy. 1

Down to the beach!

A dream come true for Savannah, her first time flying a kite!

What the...?
Village Antiques. My Favorite.
The Gallery Book Store. Worth the super long drive.

The Seaside. Today's Post-Albion

We've spent the last three days at the ocean where our Alma Mater has a Biological Field Station. We and some college friends rented cabins and together with all our little ones, enjoyed the rugged Northern California coast.

Albion.
Tomorrow's post? Mendocino.

A Tradition.

Tim and I have made a tradition of visiting Mendocino once a year since we were married in 1999. We used to visit more frequently when we lived in the Napa Valley but now that we are so much further away, we only go for our anniversary or a rare weekend away from the little girls. We love to stay here. If you can't stay here, at least try these recipes so you can enjoy the culinary aspect of being a guest in Mendocino. Want to live like the locals or at least mingle with them? Eat here.

We used to take Maile.

Savannah and Tim at Glass Beach.

The rugged Northern California Coast.

Savannah in our favorite Mendocino Coffee shop.

Meaning.

I adore these paintings by Lisa Cougdon, a self-taught artist from San Francisco. I am a sucker for paintings that contain ribbons filled with words (think Frida Kahlo). Those ribbons give viewers such insight to the artist's humor, genius and state of mind.

Buy her prints/paintings here.

Just Peachy.

Yesterday the little girls and I went to what they call "the Field of Flowers".

The pink blossoms on these peach trees are so fancy and cheery. I was sure the little girls would frolic in the sunshine underneath such naturally girlie decor but instead Savannah was worried about the dirt in her jellies and Ivy was punishing me for taking off the blue dress she was wearing before we left the house. So instead of photos of little girls and playful whimsy, here are two sad little girls who enjoyed nothing of our outing down the street and instead went home to take a long nap.

Makawao

My favorite town on Maui is Makawao. I first discovered how much I love this old cowboy town when we were on our honeymoon. I love how it sits nestled in the junglish mountains looking out to the sea. The shops are filled with current, hip fashions. Everything you touch in the shops feels like a dream-perfect for a Hawaiian vacation.

Heading out of town towards Paia, there is a church that sits on the right as the road gets curvy. I love this church. I want to be this church. These photos don't do it justice. Where it sits, between the mountains and the sea, is what gives it the character it so proudly carries.

Tim and Dusty Time.

Too much time has past since Tim and I had a week together-by ourselves. Five years is too long for any relationship to be put on the back burner and so we left the little girls in the very capable, kind and loving hands of family members and headed to the place our married life began... Maui.

A room with a view.

Don't you love the way vacation clothes look in your hotel room closet?
They hang so happily, waiting for the perfect opportunity to be worn.

I returned to California happy to have had the best vacation a girl can ask for, at peace to be reconnected with who I am away from the little girls, relieved to have spent such uninterrupted time with Tim and refreshed, ready to be a Mom again.