Places + Spaces: The most perfect road trip

I don't think anything that I've ever seen on Social Media has ever inspired me as much as this Roadtrip up the Californian Coast did (and still does). Orange VW camper bus. Pacific coast sunsets.  Best Friends. Honestly, after seeing these pictures, I started looking up VW Bus rentals and already have a roadtrip setup in my head! How could I not??

(Unfortunately, at the end of the trip, their VW Bus broke down and had to be retired. You can read more about the trip on Steffys Pros and Cons)

All pictures are by @steffyspandcs, @mdegreff and @sincerelysarz

A few of the stops along the way

1| Donutfriend in LA
2| Old Fisherman's Wharf in Monterrey
3| In N Out (how else would you end a Californian Roadtrip?)
all photos by @steffyspandcs

South Park Exploration

Saturday my friend Anna and I took a trip to South Park. A San Diego neighborhood close to Downtown that is known for its unique boutiques and artsy feel.

Walking along Fern street for a couple of blocks between Kalmia and Grape, one will find lots of little cafe's, vintage stores and yes, even Food Trucks. There is 1 7Eleven and a Sombreros, other than that, every store seems to be a small, unique business, which makes the Neighborhood a perfect spot for Treasure Hunting (check out Bad Madge, Junc Life, Progress, Graffiti Beach and a thrift store with apparently no name on the corner of 30th & Ivy) and Guilty Pleasure Pleasing (check out Eclipse Chocolate and Daily Scoop). For Dinner, visit The Station and if you feel like listening to some live music, there's the Whistle Stop. And don't forget to check out the beautiful Craftman Homes along the way. 

At the end of your trip, head south on Fern and then east on Date and enjoy this awesome view of Downtown San Diego on the other side of Balboa Park.

Ich Bin Ein Berliner - Pictures from a trip to the German Capital

Berlin Fashion Week is in full swing and I thought its a good enough reason to share a little bit from our trip to Berlin last year. We went to Germany mid March to early April, and it was freezing!! Actually, far below freezing. It turned out that Germany had it's coldest and longest winter in 50 or so years. Obviously a good time to take a boy from the desert over there (Manny had never really seen snow falling from the sky before).
We only had 2 days in Berlin, so even -10 degree weather didn't stop us from sightseeing and enjoying our trip.

We looked at old buildings, ate Doner at a small Imbiss and made our own chocolate at the Ritter Sport Flagship Store. I definitely need to go over there again sometime ... maybe in the summer though . . .

Whale Watching

One of my Christmas presents this year from Manny was tickets for a Whale Watching Tour (that's what happens when you tell your husband you don't want material things, but rather go places). We had a great time though!

Places + Spaces - One week in New York

Like many other people, I would definitely not mind living in New York one day. It seems like everything is possible and everyday is an adventure. Thanks to Instagram, it is now easier than ever to "stalk" your favorite New Yorkers and live life in the big apple through little squares.

Here are some of my favorite Instaplaces in New York City from this week. I'll definitely add those to my Places To Check Out When I'm In NY. Maybe you will, too.

At Mudspot with @palosmitas

Places + Spaces - Redlands,CA according to @BONNIETSANG

I don't know about you, but I constantly fall in love with coffee shops, vintage stores, hotel views and hiking trails that I've never been to - Thanks to my Instagram feed!! I like them, screenshot them, to-do list them ... and hopefully one day visit them and get the chance to post a fall-in-love worthy insta-shot as well.
Ok, yes, I spend maybe just a bit too much time on Instagram and I might just have a weird love affair with pictures of coffee mugs, but lets see beyond the creepy stalker in me. Those little pictures inspire me to discover new places and not just go to the Starbucks on the corner all the time, or spend every weekend home on the couch. Instead, it makes me want to go outside and check out new places (especially ones with pretty packaging, window displays, and vintage signs).
Anyhow, long story short - I decided to collect my favorite insta-places and share them and hopefully inspire you to explore your hometown and make a beyond-the-touristy-sights to-do list for your next trip.

So, here it goes: Places and Spaces Week 1 feat.

I don't remember how I found Bonnie Tsang on Instagram, but I looove her feed. She is a photographer based out of LA and always has the best Insta-Places. It really makes me want to go to LA more often.
For New Years, she went to Palm Springs and visited the nearby town of Redlands. She posted a few places that I really want to check out if I'm ever over there.

See for yourself.

|1| A La Minute Made To Order Ice Cream Shop, Redlands @ALaMinute |2| Parliament Chocolate Creators of Small Batch Chocolate, Redlands @ParliamentChocolate |3| Redlands Galleria Antique Store