We’re in for an early summer!

The weather in Santa Barbara has been truly amazing, it feels so much like summer. Although here, most of our summers consist of cloudy days and groggy weather, so this is definitely better than summer climate! A few friends and I recently headed over to the well-known, best of the best, Santa Claus Lane beach for a relaxing day of basking in the sun and devouring burgers by the shore. It was one of my best friends’ birthday, so we decided to spend the day rolling in the waves and taking advantage of this amazing weather. We started with homemade pancakes for breakfast, the best burgers at Padaro Beach Grill, and ended home for a scrumptious cake. Doesn’t that day sound exceptional? It was by far my favorite kind of day. Gosh I can’t wait for summer to come again!

I highly suggest going to Padaro Beach Grill for lunch, it’s just scrumptious! I ordered a ‘California Burger,’ which consisted of jack cheese, avocado, grilled onions, and grilled bell peppers as extra toppings. And don’t forget a side of sweet potato fries. Mmmm my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Anyways, definitely stop by there on your way to Santa Claus!

Check out the birthday girl’s blog and gift your ears with tunes of perfection

xo Ivy

More from our venture below!

Crushcake Delights!

Hello to all my foodie followers!

One of my favorite restaurants in Santa Barbara is definitely Crushcakes Cafe where they have the best little cafe and the most scrumptious cupcakes. I have only gone there for lunch and when I need a sweet treat, but I’ve heard they have really great breakfast too! I drove over today with my two good friends; I got a Farmer’s Market Salad, and they each got Caprese sandwiches. I had never had that salad before and it was so good. It was mixed greens with an assortment of fruit, topped with goat cheese…my mouth is watering just thinking about it! Not only do I love the food there, but I love the atmosphere too. They are a little slow, but the place is very cute.

If you haven’t visited, definitely make a point to do so!

xo Ivy

Such a cutie

Three little princesses

Three little princesses and their balloons
Pink, yellow, and orange delights
Tutus and dresses
Frolics and twirls
Away they sail,
Captured by thrill

xo Ivy

More of the cutest pictures below! We took these gems at the most gorgeous field out at the Ellwood Butterfly Perserve

Summer bliss

I’m in desperate need of summer…It’s all I can think about! My family owns two of the cutest little cottages down in Carpenteria, just a block away from the shore, where my friends and I stayed for a couple days last summer. It was such a lively time and I can’t wait to go back! We all look so truly happy in these pictures, I guess we weren’t forced to be weighed down by loads essays and homework. All I can say is summer is all I can think about; having the time of my life with these amazing gals is going to be spectacular.

xo Ivy

MORE below!

A stroll on the pier

While still keeping the day’s warmth, the Santa Barbara pier was as misty as can be this afternoon when my two girl friends and I took a stroll down the wooden planks. We figured we should take advantage of this perfect 85˚weather! We drove down in Olivia’s little jeep with big appetites and got a bite to eat at Char West, which has the best fish and chips. We got a few big cones of our favorite flavors and wandered to the end of the pier to dangle our feet over the blue-green ripples. It was just about the perfect day. I wish we had brought our suits to take a dip, though! Perhaps the water would’ve been a little to chilly anyways…

I of course brought my camera and took a few shots of our fine little venture.

xo Ivy

Check out more below!

Frolicking in the forest

Three little girls went out to play
They danced, they frolicked, they laughed as they may
Such beautiful girls,
Their skirts in twirls,
Gathered in bliss.

The moments that I am so happy to have captured

xo Ivy

 

San Fran Souls

Third post of the San Francisco series: some of the many faces encountered on our trip up north. Some of these photos are of my friend Eden and I, just a few pictures of the gals for a more personal look at our venture, and a couple of souls we met along the way. (Be sure to check out my first two posts about the lovely SF: San Francisco: YUM + SF Places and Spaces

I saw so many interesting faces that looked like they had so many stories to tell, the majority in China Town, but I have to say I was a little nervous to ask for their pictures. I’m not sure why, I guess just being in such an unfamiliar place. I wish I had, though, but I will be sure to on my next trip there!

In North Beach, we went into a shoe store where all of the shoes were handmade; we saw the maker putting the finishing touches on a few pairs while we were there! I thought he would be an interesting face to document because he creates the support for our soles, which take us on each journey we go through…and in very cool designs I must say. I saw quite a few pairs that I would have loved to buy, but since they were all homemade, they were a little out of my price range. Anyhow, I stopped to talk to the shoemaker for just a minute, but wasn’t able to get much out of him due to the customers he had waiting. I did get that he  has been a shoemaker in San Francisco for 30 years!

When we were in Embarcadero, we stopped to watch a spray paint artist creating paintings in front of a crowd of people. He had a bunch of his work lying around him for the people to see, and it was all so unique looking. We thought for sure he was using a stencil for most of his work, but when he began a new painting right in front of us, it was all done using little clever techniques that he had acquired over the years. We were so amazed at what he could make the spray paint do, and he’s only been doing it for six years! I was extremely impressed.

Well, here are the photos of the lovely faces, enjoy!

xo Ivy

Check out more pictures below!