Thoughts and Things: California

Ah! It felt like I had been waiting to take this trip forever! Enjoy the photos from my adventure out to the West Coast. 😀

American Airlines treated me well! According to my phone, we were around Memphis when I took this photo. I literally stared out the window the entire flight across the country. I don't think I had ever been on an evening flight before. 😊

Props to you if you understand this lyric reference. 😂 I arrived at LAX around 11pm on June 19 West Coast time and was super exhausted.

To aid in the slight jet lag, coffee was first in order the day after I arrived! This is the Ink and Bean Coffee Saloon and Wordshop. Super cool interior. Books are hanging from the ceiling, rustic typewriters line the walls, and it just has a neat (dare I say, hipster) ambiance. I enjoyed their cold brew.

Palm trees in Anaheim. 😊

This is the Anaheim Packing House. It's kind of a fancy-type food court with all kinds of yummy vendors.

WV is following me lol.

Okay, the Popbar is awesome. I'm about to start drooling just thinking about it. You can pick any pop you want and get custom dips and toppings. I tried the strawberry pop with chocolate dip, graham cracker crumbs, and white chocolate drizzle. Oh my goodness. 😍

Neat Star Wars artwork at Pop Comics in Anaheim.

YES. I've been wanting to try In-N-Out for so long. Just scrumptious. 👌

Lush store at the Anaheim GardenWalk.

Stumbled upon this cool art walk with colorful murals!

It had been too long, Disney. 💖

Got to enjoy all the magic with my longtime friend, Archana, and her awesome boyfriend, Kartik! Their shirts said "His Jasmine" and "Her Aladdin". 😭 *dies of cuteness overload*

Long line? Take a selfie.

Lunch at the Jolly Holiday Cafe and Bakery.

DOLE WHIP.

My face the first time ever riding Space Mountain.

Dinner at the Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante.

💖

Officially my new favorite coffee stop. Dripp! I love their nitro cold brew with sweet cream.

Finally got to experience the magic that is IKEA.

Just making myself at home!

One of Archana and Kartik's doggies, Simbi!

Definitely recommend the Griddle Cafe in Los Angeles. They have all kinds of delicious food, be it breakfast, brunch, or lunch!

I'm starting to realize I ate a lot of burgers on this trip...

Tried some yummy Jasmine milk tea with boba at Snow Monster.

That's right. 💁

These pretty flowers and succulents were everywhere! 😊

Los Angeles County Museum of Art!

LA Farmers Market!

Cutest baby goat!

Tried Rambutan for the first time!

Insane gas prices.

For some reason, seeing a valet for IHOP cracked me up.

Venice Beach!

These purple trees were unreal and popped up everywhere. I believe they're called Jacaranda!

Lemonade restaurant was super tasty! The actual lemonade was definitely exceptional. I tried the watermelon rosemary.

Tasty bagels at Bagel Me! in Orange, California.

Colorful trees in Fullerton!

Panda Express!

Roasting Water boba tea! You get to keep the cool bottle. 😀

We walked around Laguna Beach right around sunset. Fun place!

Art display at Laguna!

Crescent Bay at Laguna! There were dolphins in the far off distance!

Yes, you're reading that correctly (lol). We found some sandwiches at Eggslut in the Grand Central Market in LA!

😂

Dinner at The Pizza Press. You go through a line and pick what toppings you would like and it comes out looking and tasting delicious!

Walt Disney Concert Hall!

🌸

So glad we visited the Last Bookstore in LA!

Book tunnel!

Beverly Hills!

Amorino Gelato in Beverly Hills was so good! They specialize in making beautiful flower shapes! I think mine (left) may have melted a tad.

I hadn't planned on going to Disney twice, but it was totally worth it.

Famous Disney pickles!

Toontown!

Big Thunder Mountain stopped working just as we were going through the first cave. The cast members had to come and "rescue" us. This is what the bat cave looks like with the lights on. 😩