As I recap my recent travels to California this past week, I’d like to share my latest learning’s. Knowledge is power after all. Here we go.
1. Shoving all your stuff into one medium sized back pack while traveling makes the transition from one state to another SO.MUCH.SMOOTHER. I’ve been using this bag for week longs trips for a few years now. Minimalism = less stress.
2. Driving on the freeways of California are not nearly as terrifying as I anticipated. I even managed to keep up with the locals. 80 is the new 60.
3. California continues to KILL IT with the vegan eats. If I were a rodent I would never leave the dumpsters behind the below restaurants.
Peace Pies – San Diego
Peace Pies – San Diego
Native Foods – Carlsbad
Native Foods – Carlsbad
Choice Superfood Bar & Juicery – San Diego
5. I love Washington. This isn’t new, but I’m always reminded when I travel away from my home state why I love it so much. The fresh air is unbeatable. Thank you trees, keep trapping toxins in your trunks.
6. I learned what the Santa Ana winds are. Aka abnormal heat waves. Running at 7:30pm, in the dark, and it was 80 degrees!
7. I’m not as anti social as I thought. I made a gaggle of new friend this weekend. It was swell. This helped me appreciate my alone time when I got home. #recharge.
8. Trails in California are not like trails in Washington. They have their own kind of uniqueness, but nothing compares to the peaks in my area. Tried to hike multiple (baby/under 2k’ elevation) mountains, but due to above mentioned Santa Ana, fire warnings were high.
Managed one adventure in the mountains to watch the sunrise.
9. Toilets are not always porcelain. I went to a restaurant with all black toilets and they made my bum feel extra fancy. Pinky up.
10. Running on the beach is no joke. No joke at all. I’m no road runner, but my pace slowed from a 10min/mile to a TWELVE minute mile (and some change) once I found my feet in the sand. Was great.
11. Two more people told me I look like Ashley Judd. Puts my tally over ten people now. I’m thinking about quitting my job and moving to Vegas to be a stand in wax statue for Ashley.
12. I really, really, really don’t like makeup, but I do like fancy hair. Being a bridesmaid means you get fancy hair and ten pounds of make up. I had more make up on my face in one night then I typically have in one year. I’m still washing it off three days later.
More wedding photos and shenanigans to come.
Q: Fancy hair, or fancy face? Definitely hair. I really want to chop mine off so it’s short like these photos. 
Blissfulbritt 
61 thoughts on “What I Learned in California”
Angie
Hair for sure.
Brittany
💁🏻💇🏻
anotherwisemonkey
Lovely post, lots of interesting thoughts packed in. I’m on my way to a vegan cafe here in London. I’m not vegan but have introduced eating vegan fairly often when I’m out. The impetus has probably come from bloggers and Instagram posts. I’m enjoying it, so thank you.
Brittany
Oh my, that sounds wonderful! I want to go to a vegan cafe in London!
danaelizabethx
GAAA! I missed breakfast this AM and looking at all these yummy pics is making my belly GrOwL!!!! LOL!! 🙂
Brittany
Ahh get yourself some breakfast woman!
danaelizabethx
I couldn’t!! I was in the operating room all morning! LOL! I snuck out for a granola bar though…hahahaha!!
Brittany
Ahhhhha!
Josie @ Literature Mistress
Go for it! I bet it would look awesome!
I never seem to be able to manage fancy hair, which is why I’ll have to go with fancy face on that one. I’m not too impressive with that either, but my recent theatre productions gave me some practice, so I’ve got some basics down.
Brittany
All natural is just so much easier…ha!
Rachael @ Catch Me If You Can
you do look great with make-up but you look stunning without so without it is! they did an amazing job on your hair #jealous!!! ahh running on the beach that is a serious workout!!!
Brittany
Thank you, so kind of you! I was so jazzed with my hair, she did exactly what I asked for.
ifijustbreathe
I love traveling with just a backpack. Minimalism is the way to go. Also, you were in San Diego! That’s my hometown. Glad to see you enjoyed it. 🙂
Brittany
‘Twas a good time!
Jessica
Definitely hair.
And pinky up?! You kill me.
Brittany
😂 hahahaha
Kayse
It looks like it was an amazing trip!! You look absolutely fabulous! Soooo much good looking food, too!
Brittany
Thank you my sweet friend!
Ellie
WOAH baby you look beautiful! I think fancy face is more fun than hair, simply because my hair is short so I can’t do fancy 🙂
I can’t wait to go to CA! VEGAN FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!
Brittany
The vegan feasting is sooo legit! Just like Seattle! Thank you friend!
rootchopper
Hair. And now that you mention it, I see the Ashley Judd thing.
Brittany
I suppose it’s not a bad person to look like! Haha.
rootchopper
Considering that I increasingly look like Fred Flintstone, I’d have to agree
P
Native Foods Nachos….the best thing on the planet!!! So grateful to have Native Foods in So Cal 😀
Running on sand sounds just as tough as running on terrain…or wood chips, haha!
Brittany
Duuuuude those nachos were the best thing I’ve had in so long. I died!
Amy
Yessssss that’s exactly why I want to move to SD someday! Warm weather year round… My fingers and toes will be so happy when that day finally comes! 😉 You look absolutely gorgeous in your wedding photos!! I can’t wait to read more about your trip! ♡
Brittany
Thank you friend! It sure was nice and toasty haha.
katalysthealth
You look gorgeous with make-up on and your hair all did! I wear make-up daily but not a full face. I wouldln’t even know where to begin…
And do you see now why Im always crushing on your hiking trails? Cali definitely doesn’t have much fresh and clean beauty like your home does!
Brittany
Yessss I see the reasons! Haha. Get your fanny to Washington girl! It’s unbeatable.
Kristy Rhine
I love your pics. Everything looks great!!! 🙂
Brittany
Thank you! ❤️
Christina Does It All
I totally see the Ashley Judd comparison!!!
Also those nachos looks AMAZING.
Sounds strange, but I had some of the best nachos of my life in Belize.
Brittany
That’s not strange at all! I believe it!
kathy @ more coffee, less talky
you’re gorgeous with or without makeup, although i prefer no makeup because fuck chemicals.
Brittany
PRAISE. So true, I’m with you 100%.
lovejennyxo
such a cool blog! minimalism really is such a stress reliever- totally agree. you take awesome pictures of everything!
xo, JJ
Brittany
Thank you! 🙏🏻
The Hungry Mum
wow, Peace Pies looks fab! So much yummy.
Brittany
It was awesome! Expensive, but awesome.
dave379
If I were a rodent…:) I’m with you on the minimalism and traveling. One bag on the back works for me!
Brittany
Amen! Only problem comes if I want to bring things home, usually it’s food. I just grab a paper sack and call it good.
danielleburchart
AH! Those foods make me want to go to California…even though I DEFINITELY cannot afford to right now. haha! Two and a half jobs, student loans, and trying to find an apartment… zoinks! Just wanted to say that I love love love your site, and can’t wait to keep reading!
Brittany
Thank you!!! I will send virtual treats your way. 🤗
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
Those eats!!! You have me drooling. They look amazing and it’s getting close to dinner time and I think the child is on a growth spurt which means I’m extra hungry. Bring me food please…also can you be here in about an hour. That’s be great. K, thanks.
P.S. You look gorgeous in the ten pounds of make up. You’re gorgeous au natural too. 🙂
Brittany
You keep making me feel all warm inside. I want to teleport to bring you food!
stateeats
Your hair in those last pics is adorabs! I want ALL that Cali food and I want it now. -Kat
Brittany
Soooo bomb!
Luv What You Do
Your hair looks amazing and I am jealous of all your hiking! I LOVE having my make up done when it’s not too overdone!
Brittany
Thank you friend!!
Heather
I love the way your mind thinks… rat in a dumpster- I love it! You look so puuuurty (thought that was fitting bc, well, cats) and I can’t wait to read/see more about GiGi’s Wedding!!
Brittany
Purrrtttyyy. I like the way YOUR mind thinks!! 🙂
GiGi Eats Celebrities
I think it’s still hysterical that you shoved your dress into that backpack 😉 and it looked stupid amazing on you – with zero wrinkles!
Gosh what a friggin’ amazing weekend. I will forever miss it!!!! I love you so so so so so so so so so so so much and I am so happy that everything worked out with the car shit. Gosh, what a F-ing joke that was!
Brittany
That car…that fucking car. Hahaha. I am thankful for the steamer that Monica Gellar had for us. Hahaha.
GiGi Eats Celebrities
MONICA GELLAR – HOLY F BOMB!!!!!! YOU ARE SO SO SO SO SO RIGHT!
Brittany
I can’t take credit, that was all TJ. Brilliant.
Rach @ This Italian Family
Ah! Your hair! So pretty! Love that look on you. And that backpack is awesome. So cute!
Brittany
Thank you, and thank you! 🤗❤️
Cattie's World
Beautiful Pics and you have the Brightest Smile ever.
Brittany
Oh my, how kind. Thank you!
Allie Zottola
“Thank you trees, keep trapping toxins in your trunks.” –> that had me cracking up!
It seems like you had a really great trip to California! I have once sat on a black toilet and it was amazing.
I am with you on fancy hair over fancy makeup!
Brittany
Haha! I love trees and their magical abilities!