day trip // desert wander

Reason #5857 I love living in California: drive two hours in any direction, and the landscape will look completely different and magical. Thanks to all the heavy rains this year, all kinds of wildflowers are in bloom in the desert for the first time in years, so a group of friends and I made plans to drive out and see it for ourselves. Lots of picture-taking, climbing rocks, trying not to get pricked by cacti, and general silliness. The perfect day.

Chunks of these cacti would be all over the ground, just waiting to stab our ankles. We dubbed them "death balls."

The weirdest/coolest trees ever!

We saw this from the road and immediately pulled over. We called it Pride Rock.

Dawn enjoys her Lion King moment.

Raina found this painted rock, and we decided to re-hide it.

Shortly after this photo was taken, Dawn came across a red snake on the move, and she proceeded to lose her shit, and ran away screaming.

Looking for cool rocks. Also, bird bones.

I love this group of women so much, and I'm glad we got to do this! It's funny; we were originally headed to the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park visitor/information center to start our hike/picture-taking, but all of these photos happened when we decided to pull over on a whim because we saw something cool from the road and wanted to check it out. Sometimes I think the best day trips happen that way. Bonus: no other tourists around to clutter up our shots! (Once we actually got to the visitors center, we saw tons of tourists all parked along the same stretch of road, taking their photos all in the same area. Amateurs.)

bits of home // june

1// This is definitely my most covered wall in my house. Some people like a sparse, minimal office, but not this girl. My eyeballs like to look at color, and art, and funny cards, and a flea market mirror from Spain.

2// I pre-ordered Wendy MacNaughton's Meanwhile in San Francisco months ago, and it finally arrived last week. It is delightful and full of illustrations, and you should buy it immediately. The cover even turns into a poster! My short visit to San Francisco last year felt like it lasted only five minutes, so this book reminds me that I need to give the city a proper visit soon.

3// This little guy wasn't doing so hot until I moved him to a shadier spot in my backyard, and then bam! Thrive city. I'm getting better at this keeping-plants-alive game, I promise.

4// I've talked about my small camera hoard before, so nothing new here. But I quite like how they look on the built-in shelves in the office.

bits of home // september

1// The new house is such a score. Especially when this is just a small taste of the backyard. It's all Fern Gully back there, and I love it.

2// Fat Cat Yoga, aka lots of naps. I learned a long time ago that she will never sleep on any kind of pre-ordained "cat bed" like the ones you get at pet stores. Rugs and carpets suit her just fine. Oh, and wrinkled up packing paper on a carpet, which is what she's sleeping on right now as I type this.

3// morning tea and a miniature sugar skull.

4// Oh, air plants, you make me so happy. Especially when you're nestled in a hanging glass orb in front of a great big window.

Happy weekend :)

bits of home // january

Winter in California: I don't hate it. More like a delayed autumn really. With lots of rainy days.

And leaves. So many leaves.

Dearest donkey tail succulent, may you live a long and fruitful succulent life. I promise not to over-water you like I have in the past. Sincerely, Me.

I'm pretty sure this is guava? Whatever it is, this is its first appearance since I've moved into this house. Also, if you look closely, you can see how the kittah successfully snuck into the shot. I seriously did not even notice this until just now.

plants on the brain

 Now that I'm getting a little bit more settled in my new home, I desperately want to spruce up the interior with some greenery. Greenery that won't die within a few weeks, which has been a common theme in my house in years past. But I recently read this great article on how to buy houseplants, and I'm inspired to get it right this time. Not to mention the fact that I now live in a climate where plants like succulents and cacti practically thrive on neglect. Just one more reason I love living here :]

{all images via pinterest}

local gem // the neighborhood

Dear Neighborhood, you are a pleasure to live in. Your tree-lined streets and historic, pre-1940 structures are a treat. Cookie-cutter neighborhoods and homes are for the birds. Every time I take a walk, I discover something new. I love hearing the sound of the trolley in the distance. I love seeing my neighbors taking their dogs for a walk. Today, while I was taking a short walk, I heard someone practicing an instrument inside their home. From another house, I heard deep bellows of laughter. I came across one of the neighborhood cats on my walk, a black and white tuxedo cat like my own, but way more friendly and social to strangers. It's the little things really.