Quick Hike Up Jesusita Trail, Santa Barbara
The weather is finally starting to act a little more like fall, with its lower intensity light and cool afternoon breezes – and fall is my favorite time to go hiking! So I went out and bought some new Nikes as a little inspiration to hit the trails more often and then took the afternoon off to break them in. Jesusita is a pretty mellow trail if you just take it to the water fountain and back… Not many hills to climb, some wide open meadows and easily navigable paths – one of my faves!
Dinner at the New Mattei’s Tavern
September is non-stop birthday month! Yesterday: Mik-the-losh collected another year around the sun and we celebrated in high style at the all-new Mattei’s Tavern in Los Olivos. The last time we were there was for his birthday two years prior & oh how things have changed!
In Search of Fine Wine in Paso Robles
After a couple years worth of Sunday drives out to the Santa Barbara Wine Country to go wine tasting, my palate is no stranger to a Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir or a Bien Nacido Chardonnay. I know exactly what I like and exactly where to get it! But this last Sunday we decided to mix things up & take an extended overnight trip up to Paso Robles to see what they’re crafting a little farther north.
Comus House at Denner Vineyards
In an effort to expand our wine palates’ horizons we ventured up the 101 this weekend to taste a whole new terroir in Paso Robles. As a special added bonus, we also booked a night at the Comus House at Denner Vineyards. The wine was interesting (more wine tasting details here), but the highlight of this trip was definitely Comus House!
Turning 30!
I just turned 30 last weekend and had the most fantastic birthday this year! Mik took me out to Stella Mare’s the night before and it was beautiful and delicious – my favorite combo! We split a shrimp appetizer and both ordered steaks. We had neither been there before and it was a really nice experience – good choice!
NEW! Canon 70D Camera Review
Canon’s description of their newest camera:
Changing the way users capture still images and video with a DSLR camera, Canon proudly introduces the EOS 70D – a trailblazing powerhouse featuring a revolutionary autofocus technology that unlocks the potential of Live View: Dual Pixel CMOS AF. This game-changing technology allows the EOS 70D to capture video in Live View with smooth and precise autofocus similar to that of a camcorder, complete with the superb image quality that is a hallmark of EOS cameras. Additionally, Dual Pixel CMOS AF provides fast and accurate autofocus during Live View still image capture, enabling you to fully benefit from the freedom of angle allowed by the Vari-angle Touch Screen 3.0-inch Clear View LCD monitor II. Compositional options are now nearly limitless with the two real-world choices of Live View and viewfinder shooting.
Cross Swim Pose
For no reason – a collection of my cross-pose swim photos! I usually try to get a handstand photo whenever I travel, but if there is a pool I’ve added this cross-pose to my must-get shot list. You can stay up to date with my latest cross-pose photos in my Flickr set. Enjoy!
Summer Website Extravaganza
I’m trying to transition out of working part-time at my day-job so that I can officially start working full-time for myself! This summer I’ve ramped up my freelance business and have been working hard on tons of projects that I’m quite proud of… These are the ones that are done or close enough to showcase here.
The Bay Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa
The Bay Hotel is starting to feel like my home away from home after having stayed there the last time I was in Cape Town and extending our stay this time to be there more than a week. I mostly like it because it’s right in the heart of Camps Bay and I can walk almost anywhere I want to go. The pool terrace is perfect for sundowners, Codfather is only a few blocks away and all of the beaches within walking distance are ridiculously good. The decor felt a little dated this time after staying at Tintswalo, La Res and Birkenhead House, but in reality: I think it is… Oh well, the view of Lion’s Head from the pool will never get old!
Abalone House – Paternoster, South Africa
The Abalone House was a serendipitous find on the way back to Cape Town after spending the weekend at Bushmans Kloof. We had planned to drive the entire 250km back to Cape Town via Velddrif and Langebaan, but after a few navigational errors and the entire day lost on dirt backroads, we decided to stop in Paternoster for dinner.
Bushmans Kloof, Cederberg, South Africa
Continuing the grand tour around South Africa, our next stop was at Bushmans Kloof in the Cederberg Wilderness area. There was promise of a Cape Mountain zebra, ancient rock art and a fabulous pool for swimming so I was in for a weekend full of all of my favorite things! With extra special additions of a fantastic riverside foot scrub and massage, an amazing dinner in their candle-lit lodge, African dominoes and the most deluxe afternoon tea spread. I’m moving in!
