Leaving Los Angeles

I survived my trip to Los Angeles! It was so much fun and even though I’m completely exhausted I wouldn’t trade these last few days for anything.

From beaches to malls, restaurants to backyard BBQs, childhood friends and new blogger buddies…once I crossed into LA County, you couldn’t wipe the goofiest grin off my face. Just being here made me so happy, it kind of makes me wonder why I left.

After a 6 hour drive across the golden hills and lush farmland in the Central Valley, my first stop was Malibu. I have so many strong memories at Zuma Beach because it’s my quiet getaway whenever I needed to collect my thoughts. I spent some “alone time” before meeting up with my friends. At heart, I’m an introvert because socializing drains me more than it energizes. So, I had to charge my social batteries as I watched the waves crash along the shoreline.

I traveled over 300 miles in Socal, from Malibu to Costa Mesa, Santa Monica to Orange County, catching up and chatting with people along the way. I learned how to listen to house music from my friend’s DJ boyfriend. I was the capstone of a human pyramid at a beach bonfire. I bowled 100 in a skirt…not the best idea, by the way…the skirt part, I mean. And I got to meet up with some bloggers.

I had dinner with Michelle from Quest for Fashion Sense at the Haven Gastropub. The food was delish and I was so focused on chatting with her that my friend had to remind me to eat. It’s always a blast meeting up with bloggers in real life because they’re not always what you imagine…they’re so much better in person.

Easy access to the beach is probably one of the biggest things I miss about Los Angeles. I was never a huge beach person until I came to LA and though I’m not big on water sports, I just like the smell of the ocean and people watching.

At The Montage in Laguna Beach, my friend attempted to teach me to skimboard. I wasn’t so great and I ate it so many times but at least I had one successful run. The Montage resort was so pretty that I was in awe of the keyhole rocks, the private coves, and the cliffside view. It felt as if I stepped into a fairy-tale beachside landscape as I wandered about and watched the sunset.

For the 4th, I didn’t have too much planned as I usually just join other people’s celebrations with BBQs and fireworks. Elaine of Clothed Much and I spent some time at the Century City mall, having lunch at Pink Taco, and scoped out the Beauty Culture exhibit at the Annenberg Space for Photography. The exhibit is simultaneously beautiful and disturbing as it examines how we perceive beauty in fashion/art as well as our quest to attain the unattainable through plastic surgery and other means. It was an eye-opening reminder that society’s current idolization of feminine beauty is so distorted from the natural way we are in reality. If only we could think ourselves beautiful without enhancements then our “beauty routines” would be so much simpler.

Overall, this visit to LA reminded me of the value of having great friends as well as having an open mind for new experiences. Spending time with people is more important than the hunt for new things. Just being able to share our experiences with one another is something that can’t be replaced or taken away. I’ll definitely treasure all these little memories and when I look back on the photos, I’ll remember so much more than just the smiling faces.