this summer i was lucky enough to spend it with Graham, in the flower shop, and with my family.
graham and i had the opportunity to take two weeks off of work (s/o to kathy for giving me the time off) to travel down the west coast. we had no plans and wandered around aimlessly. we started on the coast of Oregon, headed to Portland, drove through the Redwoods and the places where Graham spent his childhood summers, spent a few days in the Bay Area, headed down to LA, and then spent our last day in Oceanside. but before we started this trip, i was lucky enough to go with my mom and sisters to visit alex in vancouver.
VANCOUVER//
it makes my heart the very happiest when i get to be with all of my siblings in one place. it feels good and it makes me feel whole again. it's not very often we get to be in one place at one time and laugh and just love eachother. it is such a good feeling knowing alex is safe and happy.
OREGON COAST//
we spent a couple days on the Oregon coast with some of Graham's family friends. we were able to go to pacific beach and cannon beach. the temperature was so nice and the beaches were beautiful.
we had two days in the city. we explored the university district because that was where our hotel was. we also made our way down to voodoo donuts and that area of the city. we walked around china town and went to a beautiful Chinese garden.
REDWOODS//
we drove down the avenue of the giants and i cried when i saw the first tree. i was so overwhelmed by the fact that something could be so big and beautiful. the fact that we live in the most beautiful world and we get to enjoy it all. Graham showed me the old farm that his grandpa used to have and we enjoyed an afternoon down by the eel river. i felt like my mom because as we were down by the river, i collected various bones, pretty rocks, and the coolest driftwood. i think Graham thought i was crazy. we also drove through other small towns that were surrounding the area. we hadn't made plans for that night and where we were staying, so Graham started to panic. we looked up hotels and airbnb's, but there were none even close to us. so Graham called his aunt and luckily they were kind enough to let us stay with them for the night. the next morning, we enjoyed breakfast with them and then headed to San Francisco.
SAN FRANCISCO//
Graham had another aunt that lived in the Bay Area that opened up her home to us and let us stay with her. we spent one day in Haight and Ashbury and the Golden Gate park. it was fun to people watch and explore that area of town. we went to the dahlia garden in the park and i was in heaven. that night we went to an over look that you could see the Golden Gate Bridge perfectly. the next day, we went to the Castro District, went to my fav cookie shop, spent a lot of time in book stores, and found the coolest nursery full of cactus.
LA//
we drove down to the LA area to stay with one of Graham's cousins. the first day we were there, we spent all of our time at the beach. the next day, we did disneyland and wow it was so fun. Graham knows how to do Disney. the next day, we met Rian, Sophie, Mateo and my mom at Zuma beach. it was so fun to see them after so long! we left the next morning and headed to Oceanside.
OCEANSIDE//
we headed down to Graham's hometown and had plans to go to a Padres game. i threw a fit and was sick of being in the car so we decided against it (oops). we were driving down the street and saw a cute flower shop, so of course we had to stop. next to the flower shop was a cool piercing studio and i had an impulse to pierce my ear. by the time i walked in to the time my ear was pierced, it was about 15 minutes. after that, we spent the rest of the afternoon at the beach. once the sun was setting, we decided to go to our favorite restaurant. it was the most expensive meal that we had the whole trip. after dinner, we decided to drive home. we left around 11PM. hashtag blessed that Graham drove.
i had the best summer. it makes my heart happy to have the people that i do in my life.
OTHER COOL THINGS//
sophie graduated high school
i went to a LANY concert
madi came to visit
i fell even more in love with my job and flowers
visited alex in vancouver
went to a jon bellion concert
spent multiple mornings at the crepery
went to a pool party in rockville, ut
ate too much watermelon
spent a lot of time at the pool
my childhood bff got married
remodeled bloom city
fell even more in love w graham
