avila valley barn

may 11, 2016

Kristin: White Denim Shortalls (Splurge here, Steal here) // Tank Top (Splurge here, Steal here) // Neon Waffle Knit Sweater (Splurge here, Steal here) // Strap Wedge Sandals (Splurge here, Steal here (now 35% off)) // Leather Tasseled Bucket Bag (Splurge here, Steal here (love this cute one, and the price will blow your mind!)) // Pearl Drop Bracelet (Available here) // Aviator Sunglasses (Splurge here, Steal here, (love this pretty pink gilded pair))

Olivia: Blue & Neon Tasseled Romper (Similar here) // White Eyelet Espadrilles (Similar here) // Straw Hat (Available here) // Sunglasses (Available here (only $5!))

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Last week Jacob, Olivia, and I returned to Jacob’s hometown to rest and unwind after what’s been a very taxing couple of months. I must admit before I met Jacob, I wasn’t a fan of California, though my experience had been limited to a quick stay in L.A., where I spent the majority of my trip in a hotel for a conference. But, when he brought me back home to propose in July 2007, I fell in love!

If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to visit the central coast then you’ll understand my love affair. The scenery is breathtaking, the weather is beautiful 365 days/year (60-70s – not too hot, not too cold!), and the diverse environment provides a wide variety of activities regardless of your interests. It’s the perfect mix of beach and country — surfing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, wine tasting — there’s something for everyone.

I was able to enjoy about three months there around the time Olivia was born, and it was wonderful. I don’t know if it’s the weather, the ocean, or the salty sea air (which is peppered with the smell of fresh herbs — there was dill and rosemary almost everywhere I went!), but I just feel both calm and energized whenever I visit. The other thing that I love about the area is the food! Everything is so fresh. I promise, you’ve never tasted peaches, cherries, or tomatoes like the ones from California.

The Avila Valley Barn is one of the places my husband, fiancé at the time, brought me on my first trip out in 2007. He knew I’d love it, and it has turned out to be one of my favorite places — the fruits and vegetables are the freshest I’ve ever found, and if you have a sweet tooth (yeah, that’s me!), you can enjoy a variety of pastries, ice cream and fudge. It’s also a great place for kids, with hayrides, pony rides, and animal feeding. Before our trip, Olivia’s experience with animals was limited to our dog, Roho, and when she first laid eyes on the goats she was entranced! As always we left with tons of fruits and vegetables in tow, and a giant rice krispie treat (one of my favorites) 🙂

Stay tuned for more posts from our trip out to California last week!

Yours,

Kristin

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