Greetings From Santa Barbara!

Details from my mom's little garden... She is such a pro.

My hotel has a lagoon and a pool. Too bad the weather isn't quite sunny yet. Typical Santa Barbara! Hopefully that marine layer will burn off soon. Mom made tacos last night. She is the best. Finally feeling rested after a stressful moving-out week in Seattle! 

Santa Barbara Christmas

Best Cosmopolitan I've ever had, at Harry's / Dang good sangria at Los Arroyos

Mom and I visited the beautiful Santa Barbara Mission

A little jaunt on Butterfly Beach

Family photo

Back North

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Saying goodbye to the gorgeous weather (70 degrees today!) and my family... Heading back to Seattle. Where it's cold. And rainy. Ugh, get over it, Allie.

So Excited!

This Friday, I'll be heading down the coast to sunnier and warmer weather in my hometown of Santa Barbara. Yes, that is the beloved Christmastime I know well: blue skies and in the mid-60s. I'm very excited.

Goodbye, for now

I hate traveling sometimes. That's why I just upgraded to a seat with extra leg-room, as a little present to myself. Totes something MK/Ashley would do, amiright?

Bye, Santa Barbara. See you in a month.

Style Icon: Santa Barbara Holiday

Santa Barbara, California style is pretty laid back, as my fellow SBians can attest. Mostly, you can get away with wearing Uggs, stretch pants, long cardis, and sunglasses to any type of function. Honestly, I'm happy that this isn't the norm in Seattle, but it's kind of nice to take a break for a long weekend and slip on the ol' Uggs without feelings of shame or guilt. Today, my mom and I went downtown and browsed the art museum and a few cute stores, while I wore something similar to the above: strappy flat sandals, jeans, loose-fitting tee, mismatched jewelry and the ever-important shades. In & Out is not a part of the outfit, but I just wanted to include it because I'm really excited to eat it :)

I don't mean to brag, but....

...this is where I am right now.

Feel free to call me a lucky bitch, I'd understand.

T Minus 21 Hours...

Until I'm here:

Pray for Santa Barbara

My hometown is experiencing terrible wildfires, yet again. I heard this morning on the Today Show that eighty homes have been destroyed. And my dad told me that one of the dorms at Westmont College has burnt down. Unfortunately this sort of disaster is something we Santa Barbarans are all too familiar with. I remember having to evacuate my home when I was younger because of the threat of fire.


Above is one of the homes in the affected area. Luckily, my house is a good distance from where the fire is, so my family and home are safe. But please pray for those who have lost their homes, pray for the firefighters.

Why I Love Santa Barbara

1. Lunch at Los Arroyos: Chips, Salsa, Gauc, Iced Tea, Carnitas Tacos. I decided that if and when I get married, Mexican food will be catered.

2. I'm wearing a dress and sandals. And I'm not cold. I need to use sunglasses. Because there's this thing called sunshine here.

3. My dogs are so wonderful. Obsessed. Rosie's gotten kind of fat but I still love her. Ralphie likes to attack balloons.

4. Tita, my bestest friend. She tells really funny stories. Like she told me that at SB's community college graduation, one girl wrote on her announcement card that she was going to work at Spearmint Rhino Gentleman's Club as a joke. Right away her boyfriend called her and broke up with her. Then she ran off crying. Classic.

5. Blue ocean, Mediterranean landscape, bougainvillea, palms = paradise.