family – VEG VIBES

Mat leave [May – last month]

Published on September 8, 2025September 11, 2025 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

I had a tentative goal to finish my mat leave roundup posts around the time Mike went back to work from his leave or before summer was over. We’ve blown past these two things! Cam is now a big kindergartner and Kenna has actually started at her own little school/day care. She’s 9.5 months (which feels like a big deal to be bc of the whole 9 months in / 9 months out trend) and I have other things to post about, like our trip to Tahoe, Toronto, and Napa, but I know I’ll want to come back and read about my final month of maternity leave ever!!! So with my shorthand notes and pictures on my phone as a guide…. Let’s go back.

May

My last month of leave with my baby girl!! Unlike with Cam, when I go back to work, Mike starts his leave so I feel mostly comfort knowing he will be with her everyday and she isn’t going straight to school just yet. (Cam also didn’t go to daycare at this point but we were still in covid so my mom was able to “join our bubble” and watch him at our house, which I absolutely loved.)

We have a trip to Hawaii to look forward to in the middle of the month but until then, I am soaking in my lazy days at home with Kenna. The days blurb together in a way but somehow the weekends are still treasured. Even though I’m not working, there’s still that Friday feeling, you know?

Kenna continues going to PT once a month.. Between Kenna crying and her Physical Therapist hustling through what feels like hundreds of exercises to do daily, I find the sessions completely overwhelming. This babygirl does not seem to be interested in rolling over but physically she is able to do it.

It’s hard to believe I’m going back to work in a few short weeks! The ~6 months away have been a journey. My recovery wasn’t as straightforward as I thought it would be and that caused a lot of frustration, tears, and worry. Breastfeeding was a bit touch and go but we mostly maintained our rhythm. There were certainly a few dreadfully tired nights – the hardest being when she just wouldn’t go to sleep at all – but they were few and far, which I’m so thankful for. Sleep is >

Kenna and I spent a good amount of time on the couch – her sleeping soundly in my arms, me watching episode after episode trying not to move much. These endless hours of TV time depict something that happens often in parenthood that I am never quite ready for… something that completely consumes your days can suddenly vanish without warning, leaving you missing those days forevermore. I think most of the time this phenomenon is talked about with cuddles, bedtime stories, and other sentimental things but I might cry if I think about all of those! So here is a list of the shows/movies we watched 🙂

Ballers – Mike and I watched this one right when we got home from the hospital; there is just something about “the show” you watch in those newborn days (do I feel like Dwyane Johnson was in the trenches with me this time around? …maybe).
Glamorous on Netflix – this series was so cute. I can’t believe I hadn’t watched it before. Also Kim Cattrall? Icon.
The Six Triple Eight with Kerry Washington – loved this story.
Joy on Netflix – also a good story.
Rewatched Bethenny Getting Married? and Bethenny Ever After – this is revealing a lot about me but I’ll own it; (1) I love shows from that first decade of reality TV, like Laguna Beach and Newlyweds, because they don’t feel as trashy (2) I like Bethenny! Mike makes fun of me for this but he’s dealt with it for over a decade now (The Big Shot with Bethenny was another one I loved)
The Americas narrated by Tom Hanks – I love a good nature documentary.

Overall, during my leave, wins for me felt like:

a made bed (preferably early on in the day)
staying on top of the dishes throughout the day, or at least having them all in the sink
having “French dinner music” playing in rooms throughout the house, Taylor Swift and Noah Kahn were also big hits
HAVING THE WINDOWS OPEN!!!! I can’t stand being in a house with the windows closed, esp when I’m in it almost 24/7
Getting out on a walk (extra points for the “long loop” but I was happy with anything really – done is better than perfect, right?)

It was hard when:

the house was a mess and ! was thinking more about what had to be cleaned than being present with my kids
I already talked a lot about this but the pain and healing was just so challenging
little things like my glasses being dirty or my hair being in my face would agitiate me SO much while I was breastfeeding and not able to move freely (it was like a crash course in embodiment sometimes!)
days were my supply dipped, even though I had a stash of frozen breastmilk and sd=he took formula from 3 months

A few closing notes… I found myself comparing this journey to Cam’ being a’s newborn days a lot, particularly when it came to my body and what is was doing. Maybe this is normal, maybe it’s torture?

The support we received in those early days/weeks was so cherished. Especially all of the food friends delivered that trailed on through Christmas. We were so grateful for every single meal.

Overwhelming my months with Kenna were just so incredibly precious. I’ll always treasure the weeks that it was just us during the workweek. Lazy jammy mornings. Long walks. Cuddles. Her laughs and lightning-fast movements. Her interest in things; her quiet way of taking in the world around her. Her little smirk. Every picture and video I have of this time is cherished and will be browsed upon often. It is so true that they are only that small for a blink.

Read about [Nov + Dec] here, [Jan + Feb] here, and [Mar + Apr] here.

Mat leave [Nov + Dec]

Published on June 3, 2025June 22, 2025 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

I’m back to work after 6 1/2 months at home with my little girl. Time will be more limited but I’m committed to recapping my leave with Kenna. What a gift to have this extended time with my new baby. What a necessity to have it to recover, heal, and stabilize (mostly). Here we go.

November

We bring our baby girl home! She’s born 5 days early and after 1 night in the hospital, we are back home with Cam; officially a family of 4. I’m on regular doses of pain meds and generally feeling pretty good.

My milk hasn’t come in by our second night home though. I can tell Kenna is hungry and ready for more substance. Mike goes out on a formula and bottle run at 2:30am while I stay home with an almost inconsolable infant. When he returns she gulps down 2 oz so fast and sleeps for 4 hours. I feel a bit sad I couldn’t provide her what she needed but mostly relieved she is full and sleeping. There’s no ego in those early days.

She doesn’t have more formula as my milk comes in the next morning. Despite finally having supply, Kenna doesn’t gain as much weight as she should have at her 2-day check up. We go back 2 more times to make sure she is eating enough. *Shoutout* to one of my bests, Lauren, who comes over with her husband during one of those appointments and watches Cam. The extra support means everything.

Getting Kenna to feed is quite the ordeal for the next few days. We get a hospital grade pump delivered to us because she has lost more than 10% of her birthweight. To get Kenna to eat, I start pumping for my “letdown” to happen with Kenna at my breast. Mike is armed with a syringe of formula to coax her into latching. On my cue, he dribbles a small amount onto the nipple shield I have to use to entice Kenna to start sucking. We do this for 2 or 3 days until she finally starts latching on her own.

We have a family cuddle on the couch almost every day. Mike, Kenna, and I doze while Cam watches a holiday movie. Cam is getting a surplus of screen time. *Shoutout* to our neighbors who invite Cam over for a playdate to give us some time to nap. They also host us for our first home-happy-hour (parent style); Kenna naps in my arms while I munch on cheese and crackers and sip a half glass of wine.

We spend Thanksgiving at home just the four of us, since Kenna is only 10 days old. Mike makes an untraditional feast of lobster rolls, Cesar salad, and green beans. Kenna’s umbilical cord stub falls off and we don’t keep it so I feel like I should make record of the date here! I am so thankful for this little family of mine.

December

Mike’s parents come to meet Kenna! They are only here for a few days en route to Australia. My mother-in-law kindly cleans our house between baby cuddles and I am so thankful for her. Her ease with our kids and grace in also knowing what Mike and I need in these tender days is admirable. Her and Mike’s dad also sweetly walk Kenna around a local movie theater for almost 2 hours so we can take Cam to see the new Moana movie; this way Kenna is close by in case she needs a feed, but not in the loud theater with us.

Nights are still a blur of waking up basically every 2 hours. We set our alarms to be sure we never go more than 3 hours without feeding her but babygirl wakes us up on her own every time before it goes off.

We go to a Christmas Tree lighting when Kenna is just over 2 weeks old and I can’t believe we are out at such an event with a newborn. It’s a community thing so we see a ton of friends there and it feels good to catch up. Kenna also sleeps the whole time, which makes it easy.

Mike is on the first part of his pat leave and, while Cam is at school, we catch up on chores and do a few fancy lunches while Kenna dozes in the stroller next to us. We didn’t get to do this with Cam because of lockdown. It is mostly really nice to be able to experience eating out with a tiny baby cuddled up the whole time but there is a part of me that is nervous when we’re forced inside because of cold weather… Will crowds always kind of freak me out (covid trauma)?

One particularly fun morning includes coffees at Santana Row and stumbling upon the amazing family room there, complete with plush swivel chairs, a big screen TV with cartoons (for older kids), separate smaller rooms with sinks, a changing area, and a comfortable chair to feed your baby. We hang out in a feeding room for 30 minutes, drinking our coffees and making plans to come back with Cam later.

We decorate the Christmas tree that afternoon and hang our four embroidered stockings. Mike had the foresight to order Kenna’s in advance; locking us in on the decision of her name with that $30 stocking purchase. 😉

At 4 weeks we introduce the bottle to Kenna. She takes it right away and I get back a small about of flexibility now that she doesn’t need me to eat every time. She still only drinks breastmilk so I pump and Mike feeds her. I’m able to go on a 3 hour (!) coffee date with some of my new mom friends while our older ones are at a holiday camp. The conversation is so real and lovely. Friends get your through.

*Shoutout* to my bests, Leslie and Lauren, who also offer to watch Kenna AND Cam so Mike and I can go on a date. We walk to our favorite place for a drink, knowing our littles are safe with two of my oldest and dearest friends.

Around this time, I decide to wean myself from pain meds as well, thinking I am mostly recovered. Everything I read online – as well as advice I get from my doctor – says that 4-6 weeks after a vaginal delivery you are back in action.

Um. Sadly this was not the case at all for me. I’m in an almost constant state of discomfort, often breaking down and crying to Mike.

“Why am I still in this amount of pain?” “How was a c-section a better, faster, smoother recovery?” “Will this ever go away?”

I am convinced the lack of sleep of newborn life is stalling my healing but there really isn’t another road to take. I need to feed her. Around this time, Kenna’ has her’s longest wake window is from ~6pm – 10pm. She is very fussy for these hours and eventually goes to sleep when we do. Mike and I are haggard, asking each other, “she has to be tired now, right?” After whatever magical combination of sush’ing and rocking works on any given night, we get a solid 5 hours of glorious sleep before she wakes up for a quick feed around 3am. Then, with the magic of the snoo swaying her back to sleep, we get another 2 or 3 hours.

Sometimes we take shifts in trying to put her to sleep. Usually I can’t sleep with the TV on but exhaustion overrides old preferences. Mike and I watch Red One in parts; the first half together; the second half just me, awake with Kenna while Mike sleeps and then vice-versa. We tell each other how far we got as we nudge the other one awake. “My turn to sleep.”

Christmas day creeps closer and we take Kenna to meet my whole family. We’re so tired. Kenna sleeps while being cuddled by various family members (all in masks because again, covid trauma?). Cam gets a million presents. It’s overwhelming and wonderful.

We ring in the new year at a friend’s house just down the street, counting down with Nova Scotia because everyone has kids to get in bed!

January and February recaps coming soon…! 🙂

Hawaii 2025 (first trip as a family of four!)

Published on May 21, 2025 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

My mat leave is coming to an end. Kenna is 6 months and Mike and I have been married for six years this month. All great reasons to spend a week in Hawaii if you ask me!

I heard on a podcast that traveling with a baby is like throwing a party; there is a ton of prep and a ton of clean up but it’s worth it. I adopted this as my guiding light leading up to our first trip with babygirl Kenna. Packing was encompassing (unpacking still isn’t complete). We weren’t sure how she would do on the plane for five hours and since there’s really nothing you can do once you’re in the air, we were a bit fretful. Amazingly, she – and Cam – crushed both flights. Kenna napped 3 times on the way there and Cam watched movies basically the whole time.

That feeling of looking down at the bright blue ocean mixed with streaks of teal and wakes from boaters as you descend onto any Hawaiian island is hard to match. We stayed at the Aulani, the Disney resort, on O’ahu for the second time. Happily when we arrived our room was ready. Yay! It was time for a quick change into our suits and a dip in the pool.

The time change is 3 hours behind California which meant at 3pm Kenna was ready for bed. Yikes. I took her on a walk to the store across the street to stock up on some basics and to strategically have her fall asleep with a surefire way to wake up – when the stroller stopped moving. This worked pretty well as she made it to 4:30pm local time before going to bed for the night, after her walking catnap. Cam followed a bit later while Mike and I treated ourselves to welcome cocktails and dinner on the patio.

Kenna woke up at 3:30am the next morning! This wouldn’t have been so bad (6:30am for us) if coffee was available at that time but, for good reason, nothing was open until 6am. Finally when the cafes started to open we got coffee and pastries from the Four Seasons next door, a morning tradition that would continue for the next 5 days.

We went to the beach after and it still remains the best beach I’ve visited for kids. It is absolutely stunning, the water is warm, and the waves are manageable. Kenna lasted ~30 minutes before Mike took her back for a nap. Our room was luckily on the ground floor, which made nap time accessibility much easier.

Cam and I stayed at the beach and I mentally challenged myself to play a game of “yes to everything.” Meaning whatever he wanted to do I would say yes to. There we sat making “beach soup” with water I had scooped from the sea. Next we dug a river in the sand to the ocean. Open-ended play like that isn’t my strength so I actually found it a lot easier to let Cam lead 100%. We had a great morning on the beach together and it wasn’t even 9am. Ha.

Mike did a fitness class next while I took the kids to a small splash pad, something that seemed within reason for me to do with both of them solo around water. There we snacked on açaí bowls and danced around in the shallow water before Mike met back up with us.

Our meal schedule was skewed given the early wake up calls. That night we had a very early dinner across the street at Monkey Pod. Just like everyone else who visits Hawaii, the Mai Tais there are our favorite – which made it very disappointing when both of ours tasted different than we remembered from previous trips.

Cam and I ended the day with a spin in the lazy river before both kids were asleep and Mike and I enjoyed dessert on the patio.

After our fancy Four Season’s coffee the next day (and another early wakeup call!), it was my turn for a fitness class. I did a Seaside Stretch on the beach and it wasn’t my favorite class but it was free and under the palm trees so I really can’t complain. Before I left for my class I suggested a nap for Cam when Kenna slept since he seemed to be having a hard morning. Mike got both kids to sleep and we were able to enjoy some 10am Mai Tais after my class!

We spent the afternoon alternating between pools and nap coverage back at the room. For our after-hours entertainment that night, we took shifts visiting the hot tub. What a way to end the night! Of course, we were in bed by 8pm; still not having had adjusted to the time difference.

The next morning Mike did standup paddle board yoga while me and the kids played on a blanket on the sand. It’s crazy to think Cam didn’t visit a beach until he was over a year old because of the pandemic and Kenna has had an entire beach vacation. She did pretty good but it is hard to entertain a baby at the beach. When Mike wrapped his class I flirted with the idea of going for a swim in the ocean. The water was still a bit chilly and I wasn’t particularly in the mood however there isn’t a ton of predictability when traveling with littles so I knew this could be my only chance. Who knew what tomorrow or even the rest of the day looked like?

Morning beach visits meant the beach was mostly ours!

After my swim I played “crocodile” with Cam and it was another moment for me of just tapping into fun with him. So often I won’t get in all the way in the water because it is too cold or I won’t get my hair wet because I just showered… this trip felt different. I likely won’t be this person all of the time (I really don’t like cold water!) but love the idea of some wild abandonment every once in a while; fully swimming, really playing, hair wet, sand everywhere. Let’s just have fun.

Later that day we rented a car to travel to the Dole pineapple plantation. Looking back, the cost was a bit extreme for one outing but it would have been more difficult to take a ride share with carseats, etc. The few hours we spent there was a lot of fun. We wandered through a giant maze while it drizzled on and off (Kenna’s first experience feeling rain so it was cute and funny to see her little body respond to the drops, arms and legs flailing). Then we took the Pineapple Express train to explore the plantation / let Kenna nap in Mike’s arms. We stubbled upon some pineapple bushes before heading back to the resort, which was a fun way to end our excursion.

That night we had our least exciting dinner; rushed take out on the patio since we were all ravenous when we got back. Cam wasn’t tired when we tired to put him to sleep so we had an extra little patio guest with us too. 🙂

We kicked off our last full day on the beach for another swim out to sea, this time with Cam joining me! We played a round of crocodile again and then Mike and I alternated taking Cam to the pool while Kenna napped. Somehow I convinced him to spend like 30 minutes in the hot tub with me during my time, which never happens. Ah, what a treat.

Midday we needed a pick me up so we ordered a round of rums and cokes for us and OJ for Cam (milk for Kenna girl!). I rarely drink soda but it was the best call; refreshing with a hint of caffeine. We tried to go back to the hot tub after but Cam’s affection had drifted. Instead we went to the pool as large gray rain clouds rolled in. Uh-oh. Mike took Kenna back for a nap when the rain started but me and Cam stayed and swam in the rainstorm. Swimming in the rain has to be one of my favorite activities. I don’t know why but it is so fun.

Despite the Mai Tais not being what we remembered, Monkey Pod still has some of the best food. It was a treat that the day/nap schedule unfolded in a way that we could make it there for happy hour!

It was sad to know our vacation was coming to an end. Mike and I have been counting down the days for almost a year (in the thick of winter and newborns days, we would often look at each other and ask, “is it time for Hawaii yet?”). Before the trip I made a vow to not spend so much time fussing about tidying or meal prep. I wanted to be there and be present with Mike and the kids. I am proud of myself for letting our hotel room be in a perpetual state of chaos. We did the dishes and threw our dirty clothes in the same general direction, but aside from that, sunscreen and hats, toys and shoes were everywhere all of the time. This is very unlike me and how I like to exist in my environment but committing to this challenge allowed for space to get out of the hotel on time, enjoy more of my family’s company, and really tap into vacation mode.

A rainy, cloudy last night didn’t bother us

On our last day, we had the morning to spend doing our favorite things one more time. We got coffee and pastries at the Four Seasons. I was supposed to do another Seaside Stretch but got the time wrong and almost accidentally did a bootcamp (when I saw the medicine balls instead yoga mats I quickly inquired and then got out of there before anyone asked me to do a squat or a burpee). We pushed Kenna’s “wake window” to the limits and spun around the lazy river multiple times. Cam and I walked to get French toast, bacon, and açaí bowls to bring back and enjoy on the patio. I did a patio yoga sesh with beach towels stacked as a makeshift mat to makeup for my missed class. Mike was able to take Cam to the water play structure that was closed our whole visit until that morning and Cam went down the waterslide over and over again.

Then it was time to shower the last sand off of us and pack our things. The trip was an absolute dream (although, to be candid, it wasn’t all sunshine and pineapples on the way home – Kenna had a blowout before our flight and we left her milk on the plane).

We can’t wait to visit again; to swim and play and soak each other in. A little lovely family of four.

We aren’t huge character-picture people but if we see one, we’ll stop and pose!

checking in + 5 year anniversary trip

Published on May 22, 2024May 22, 2024 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

Oh, hi there. It’s been over 3 months since I’ve posted anything here. Since I mostly maintain posting to remember more details about the day to day, I’ll do a quick check in before diving in for our annual Tahoe anniversary post!

Since Hawaii back in January, we’ve celebrated Cam’s 4th birthday! Instead of throwing a classic party, we opted to go to Safari West with family and close friends who have a little one too. We stayed in an airbnb too, so it felt like a nice weekend getaway.

Mike and I spent ~24 hours in Vegas to surprise a friend celebrating his birthday. Highlights included staying at the Bellagio, seeing a zombie burlesque, and drinks at a dueling piano bar. This was the first time we’ve spent a night away from Cam that involved a flight so that felt like a milestone.

Another trip was a weekend up to Reno to visit my grandparents and celebrate my grandma’s birthday! We spent the day visiting a farm that had tractor rides, bounce houses, food trucks, and tulips to pick.

Now it’s May and we are just back from Tahoe, spending the weekend celebrating 5 years of marriage in our longtime spot (and recently rebranded), Everline Resort & Spa. Per usu, right after we arrived we had a takeout dinner from Sandy’s Pub on the big, open grass area. There are a ton of lawn games there, which means entertainment for both Cam and Mike. 🙂

We love visiting this resort in May because it isn’t as busy as peak snow sport season or the hot days of summer. The only downside is the weather is a bit unpredictable. Last year was colder than we’ve experienced, with enough snow to still go sledding. This year was pleasantly warm! After dinner we went to the pool to soak in the mountain view and test out the water temp. Luckily it wasn’t too chilly and we spent the evening dipping our toes in and prepping for the weekend ahead of lots of pool time!

The next day was our actual anniversary. That day 5 years ago we were surrounded by our family and friends, having the best time celebrating under the stars. Flash to present day, we decided to try something new in Tahoe and drove to Meek’s Bay. When we first arrived, the parking attendant ($12/day to park there) told us the property was rundown with unreliable bathrooms (not a great sell) but we were free to go next door and utilize that beach instead.

He didn’t have to tell us twice. We didn’t even bother checking out that beach, opting to drive straight next door where there was a snack shack and clean, working bathrooms. The views were incredible and I love the photos we have here. But we all know pictures don’t paint the whole… well, picture. The sand was really rocky and hard for Cam to walk on. There were a lot of bugs. And the water was freezing, although that part is expected. Nonetheless, we spent a few hours huddled on our beach blanket (that I snagged in Spain – I love getting very functional things on vacations like beach blankets, hand soap, etc. so I have little reminders of our travels often). Cam of course loved throwing rocks and sticks in the lake while Mike and I enjoyed cheese, crackers, and kombucha on the beach.

That night, my grandparents – who live ~45 minutes away – offered to come to the resort to watch Cam while we went to dinner. So, after some afternoon pool play, Cam had quesadillas and played dinosaurs with his great grandparents. Mike and I got some 1:1 time and celebrated with salad, steaks, and a s’mores desserts. A great time for everyone!

Mike hit the slopes early the next morning so Cam and I spent a lazy morning getting ready and exploring the resort before taking the shuttle to meet daddy for lunch. Cam loves riding shuttle buses (adorably reminding us to “put our buckle seats on” each time) and this particular one had lollipops onboard for kids. Lucky ride! We ate at Tremigo, just like last year, expect this year the food wasn’t as good. Waah, I hate it when your expectation for something doesn’t match reality.

A new treat was the ice cream truck located across the way, which was great for Cam. They offered $3 mini scoops – I haven’t seen this anywhere else but loved it. Perfect size, good price. Mike did some sale shopping after while Cam and I chilled out and listened to a bit of live music in the middle of the village. Doesn’t live music make every experience just that much better? And then we were back to the resort for more pool time, of course. This is also when I was able to crack open a new book. The best.

After a long day and lots of sun, we were all tired. Cam went to sleep hard and fast after his bath BUT 30 minutes before his usual bedtime. Which we found out later might have been a mistake…

Mike and I ordered Reubens and Caesar salads to-go and watched House Hunters, trying desperately to make it at least until 9pm before falling asleep. Then, around 8/8:30pm, Cam woke up and we knew his bedtime had been too early. Because we were on vacation (or, more likely, because we were tired ourselves) we let him watch a show on the iPad when he requested one. He still couldn’t fall asleep after so we caved again and decided to have an official sleepover, moving our House Hunters to the bedroom we were all sharing to fall asleep together after one last episode. Maybe some people will think this is terrible parenting but looking back, I actually love this memory. I hope Cam does too.

On our final morning, we took one last lollipop shuttle ride over to the village for coffee and fresh pastries with a beautiful mountain view. Then it was back to pack and hit the road home with another great anniversary trip in the ~~books~~ blog! See you next time!

Family vacay | San Diego to Sebastopol

Published on July 16, 2018July 16, 2018 by ashley@vegvibes1 Comment

We’re coming off of 2 weeks of family vacation and I wanted to document some highlights.

My grandparents celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary on Saturday, June 30th. Mike and I flew down to San Diego to meet them, my mom, little bro, and stepdad. San Diego was the first place my grandparents lived together as a married couple so it had sentimental value. Mike and I also celebrated our one year anniversary there years ago. I will say San Diego was more crowded than I remember.

This time around, we all stayed in the same Airbnb in downtown. Unfortunately the parking at our Airbnb was terrible. We had the 2 cars my family drove there in and risked a ticket every night by parking in the church lot next door. Our Airbnb was also very cozy for 6 people, plus a baby, but we managed.

After we settled in, we drove to Old Town. My grandma used to work at Wells Fargo so I planned a surprise tour of the Wells Fargo museum for her. Our guide was very informative and fun. After, we had lunch at Bora Bora. My mom and I spilt the cheese enchiladas and they didn’t disappoint!

img_20180630_131300 — Exploring Old Town

That night, we went to dinner at Donovan’s Steak House to celebrate my grandparent’s milestone anniversary. Parking in downtown was a nightmare, as to be expected, but everything else was perfect. We basically all ordered steak and I didn’t hear a single complaint. The waitstaff was friendly and attentive, even holding Gio for a bit!

After dinner Mike and I went to the National Comedy Theater. We had been there years ago and knew we wanted to go back the second this trip was planned. It is the funniest improv show. Like, bent-over-belly-laughing funny.

When traveling, some of my favorite things to check out are local improv/comedy clubs, yoga studios, and walking tours. Which, speaking of… on Sunday we made a spur of the moment decision to do a walking tour of Coronado. Mike and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary on the island ~2 years ago and fell in love (you can read about our stay here and here). The walking tour was $20/each for 90 minutes. We saw a bunch of historical houses and ended at The Del. I thought it was well worth it for everything we learned. Plus, we were the only ones on the tour, which is always a nice surprise.

Gio’s first walking tour; catching a ride from SISTER

img_20180701_115842 — Canadian cutie outside The Del

We had lunch after at Tavern. I’m surprised this place wasn’t more crowded because it was really good. It’s a big win when your entire group is happy with the menu and their food. The decor here was really cute too. And I’m a sucker for ambiance. My family was ready to head back after but Mike and I stayed to enjoy a drink on the patio together. Then we took the fairy back to San Diego, which I definitely recommend as it is pretty cheap and just fun.

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That night my friend from high school came to visit because her son is a huge Andy Z (my stepdad) fan. It was so cute to see him starstruck by Andy. We all just chilled out with some wine and heavy apps. As with most family vacations, we turned in pretty early; tired from a full day of activity.

On Monday we went to the San Diego Zoo and I was like, #OutOfOffice y’all. What’s better than being on vacation on a Monday? I knew the SD zoo was huge so we had to get an early start. First up? Flamingos!

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We had an okay lunch of hummus wraps and pasta salad that, surprisingly, didn’t break the bank. Food at any of these places (theme parks, zoos, etc.) is typically so unhealthy and expensive. I was glad our lunch was decently priced but I really should learn to pack a picnic instead.

The real highlight of the zoo was when Mike and I were strolling along and a zookeeper came out saying “please move to the left side of the walkway so we can walk our cheetah.”

Wait, what!?

Sure enough, seconds later, there is a cheetah walking a few feet from us (obviously on a leash). The trainer stopped at a bench right in front of us to feed the cheetah. It was one of the coolest things I’ve seen and completely unplanned.

img_20180702_132931 — …not the best picture but the Cheetah is behind her dog buddy, who were introduced when the cheetah came to the zoo and are now BFFs (the dog helps the cheetah stay calm and relaxed).

Sadly, we were all had to go home on Tuesday. Before heading to the airport, Mike and I went to a cute cafe we discovered, Lofty Coffee. Best house made chai lattes. I typically don’t order chai unless I know it isn’t made from a powder, so I was happy to see a solid option on the menu.

It is a quick flight home from San Diego. Being that we were on vacation, we headed straight to our pool. That night we went to our neighbors for apps, dinner, and gallons of wine. 😉 It was so nice to catch up over good food and a few drinks. Plus, the girls and I decided to start a book club. (tipsy Prime usage FTW) so we’ll be getting together again soon.

Mike’s parents arrived for a visit on Wednesday, 4th of July. For the past 4 years, we’ve spent the 4th with our friends Gary and April (in Calabasas last year and Mexico the year before!) so I was happy that they could make it too. We grilled chicken at our house for tacos and played a few games. It was a fun, low key 4th of July.

Having taken the week off, we decided to take Mike’s parents to the Barlow for an overnight stay Thursday to Friday. They’ve been to California a number of times and have done almost everything touristy in the area. This was a new adventure so it was extra fun. The Barlow is a sweet little area filled with organic food, wine, breweries, cafes, and our favorite distillery.

We started with a wine flight and cheese plate at MacPhail tasting lounge. It was nice to be outside enjoying the warm weather and catching up between pours. It is a particularly exciting time because we’re in the middle of wedding plan, which I always find fun to talk about.

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Next we went over to Pax and spilt a bottle of wine, plus an order of warm olives. Again, such a nice time.

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After we went to a brewery for burgers and a few rounds of games. Sadly, I lost both… Specifically Jenga, when I pulled the block that made the tower tumble. Boo!

36678567_1848170358810433_3460502626955689984_n — Faaaaiiiilll

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We ended the night with a dip in the hot tub and a discussion of wedding songs. 🙂

Friday started with coffee at Taylor Lane, where they serve organic coffee and creamy almond milk. Win. We took Mike’s parents to Spirit Works Distillery after to show them the barrel room and spilt a tasting flight.

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Wanting to beat rush hour in SF, we left shortly after. On the way home we met my dad for a light bite at The Fish Market in San Mateo. The Fish Market has a few locations throughout California but the best one is in San Mateo, without question. It was a nice day so we sat outside on the patio. I was happy my dad got to spend some time with Mike’s parents since they live far away and our families don’t get to see each other often.

The week was fun and family filled. We packed in a lot of activities in a short amount of time. But, to be honest, the rest of Mike’s parents stay was just as jam-packed as the first few days. They were here for 10 days total and we did something almost every night.

On Saturday, we had our lovely engagement party hosted by my mom and fam. It was great to see our closet friends and family come together and get to know each other before our big day next May.

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On Sunday we enjoyed a cheese, cracker, and beer night to get through some of the leftovers.

On Monday I went back to work but we still went to a Giants game that night. Which they won. Go Giants!

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Tuesday was dinner at home. Mike cooked. The best.

Wednesday we were back at The Fish Market for an official meal there. My dad joining again. 🙂

Thursday we visited the hotel that our room block is at for our wedding. Notably also enjoying a glass of wine on their cute patio and brainstorming after-party ideas.

Friday was their last night here (sad), which called for a fancy dinner at Dry Creek Grill. This was our first time there and we loved it! I can see it becoming a go-to place to dine for us.

Overall it was such a fun 2 weeks with family. I can’t believe how fast time is going. Our wedding is just over 10 months away and I have a feeling it’s going to go by in a flash…!

❤

Bali(part four)

Published on May 9, 2017January 19, 2022 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

Read about the rest of our trip here, here, and here.

After our overnight trip to Ubud, we were back to mornings of smoothie bowls and luxuriously having no set plans to fill the day. Mike decided one morning to give surfing lessons a try. While he set off with his board and a personal instructor, I sat on the beach with the intention to dive into a book. Instead I chatted the whole time with a mom whose daughter was also taking a surfing lesson. I learned through our conversation that her daughter competed in the Rio Olympics as a swimmer for Australia!

After Mike’s lesson we decided we could go for a massage (keeping with tradition from New Years Day when we were all in Santa Rosa) and I am shocked we didn’t do this every day we were there, given how affordable it was. We paid about $15 for a hour massage!!

The rest of the day pretty much consisted of pool time, eating, and more pool time. The luxury of a day not planned, I’m telling you!

On our last full day in Bali, we wanted to fill it with all of our favorites. We woke up early and set out for first breakfast. And then, a little while later we sauntered back to the villa for second breakfast. We dipped in and out of the pool, chasing our plunges with Bin Tangs.

Lunch was at Taco Casa for more of their strawberry sangria and nachos! An indulgent mid-day nap rounded out the afternoon.

Mike’s sister and company flew back to Australia that night but not before a last round at The Lawn. We went back for a drink, some apps, and a dip in their pool (how genius is it to have a pool at the restaurant?). Then we took our last family walk on the beach back to the villa.

A few hours later, everyone was packed and ready to go home. With all of the company we had that week – not to mention, the giant house we were staying in that was now quiet – it felt pretty lonely for just Mike and I to be left there.

We quickly reapplied bug spray and headed back to The Lawn for dinner (The Lawn isn’t paying me for this post, I swear hah). We ordered cocktails but probably should have skipped them because we were both already so tired. It was approaching 9pm, which was around our Bali bedtime. lol

We woke up the next morning and – you guessed it! – had smoothie bowls on the beach! We walked around the main strip before it got unbearably hot and then headed back for a last round of Bin Tangs and a plunge in the pool.

Our transport picked us up and an hour later and we were ready to embark on the 18 hour journey back home. Until next time!

** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe.**

Bali (part one)

Published on April 24, 2017January 11, 2022 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

What a dream; those black sand beaches, warm ocean waves, kombucha tea, and seemingly endless organic food. Bali was hot, humid, and lush. A thousand Instagram likes with every post in this paradise.

We were lucky enough to experience 9 beautiful days here with Mike’s family. After 24 hours of travel from SFO to DPS, and an hour in rush hour traffic (which takes on a whole new meaning in Bali but more on that later), we finally arrived at the villa we were staying. We quickly dumped our suitcases in the living room, drenched our skin in bug spray, and we were out the door to dinner.

The humidity in Bali is no joke. The short walk to restaurant was sticky as my body tried to acclimate to the new climate. But when we arrived at The Lawn, an open beachfront eatery, I fully set into vacation mode. Drinks while waves crash in the distance… ahhh. Relax. Reset.

The next morning we woke up earlier than expected but, jet lag has no rules. We grabbed coffee and then hit up a local yoga studio for a 90 minute class. Rejuvenate.

After yoga, Mike and I went for lunch at Little Flinders. Mike’s family had been there the day before for lunch and everyone liked it. There were so many cafes and cute restaurants to try, recommendations are key!

We met everyone back at The Lawn a little later for another round of drinks. This is the only day we had rain while we were in Bali; which was lucky, given we tested our luck traveling there at the end of monsoon season.

After drinks we opted for a casual dinner at a pizza place near where we were staying. The pizza was sooooooo good and became a favorite spot of ours during our stay.

Like I mentioned, there wasn’t a rain drop in sight after that initial downpour and it was hot, hot, hot. The next day we all walked to a local market nearby, where I bought a couple bracelets and a cute dress but it was too warm to stay for long. Instead we opted to go back to the house and get in the pool! Sweet relief.

Dinner that night was at The Shady Shack, by far my favorite place we went to in Bali. It was a quick walk from where we were staying (a huge benefit of our airbnb was the location!) and they had only vegetarian food. Nom.

Check back in soon to read about our day at Potato Head Beach club.

** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe.**

White Christmas

Published on December 29, 2016April 10, 2021 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

What a wonderful time of year!! Mike’s family is in town for the holidays and we spent the past week in Tahoe. On Monday we all drove up to South Lake Tahoe and opted to stay in Airbnbs since we’re a big group of 6 adults and 1 toddler. Having access to an entire house and all of the comforts of home can’t be beat on a family vacation.

Our first Airbnb was nice and spacious! After we unpacked, a few of us went to the store to stock up on supplies. What a money saver to have a kitchen to prepare meals in when traveling! After a day of traveling, we decided on an easy dinner of spinach and cheese ravioli with green beans.

We spent 3 days in South Lake before heading North Lake, despite what I always say: South Lake is for friends, North Lake is for family!

During our wild stay in South Lake, we ate at MacDuff’s (the same pub we went to in February when we went to Tahoe with friends). I love this place, particularly in the winter because it is so cozy. And what’s more comforting than a huge portion of corned beef and cabbage (my go-to order) in cold weather?

img_20161220_191258 — Baby Ella ready to leave MacDuff’s!

On one of the full days we were there, we walked down to the beach to get some steps in. While we were beach front, we stumbled upon a restaurant called Jimmy’s. Here we warmed up with spiked minty cocoa and hot toddies. It was snowing a little bit but not enough to stop us from sitting outside around the fire pit. Talk about a movie moment; snow, a fire pit, and boozy winter beverages. I’ll take it!

img_20161221_122501 — Drying socks fireside

On our last night in South Lake we went to see an improv show at Harvey’s. Felicia Michaels and Gene Pompa were performing. They were both funny but I remember the show being better a few years ago when Mike and I went with different comedians performing.

On our way up to North Lake, we stopped at Free Bird Cafe to fuel up on coffee. I just happened to come across this place when I Google mapped “coffee” and I’m so glad I did. It is a little hole in the wall type place with good coffee and healthy snacks. Definitely recommended!

About half way through our drive, we stopped at Emerald Bay and went on a snowy hike. I was happy to get some exercise in after many glasses of wine and indulgences. I didn’t snap many pictures this vacation but, if you haven’t been, Emerald Bay is worth a visit. It’s gorgeous!

That night we got a severe storm warning and I was like, hold the phone, we need to stock up on water and all of the things. now. Which might have been a little assuming to the group of Canadians I was traveling with, all who are much more familiar with snowy weather than my California bones. Armed with water (and wine) to weather the storm, we spent a lazy night in playing games.

The next day, despite the snowy weather, we headed to mine and Mike’s home away from home, The Resort at Squaw Creek (you can read about our other Squaw adventures here, here, and here) for lunch at Sandy’s Pub.

img_20161223_090738 — Fresh snow in North Lake

While we were there, Mike and his brother-in-law hit the slopes snowboarding and, from what I heard, the conditions were perfect. We all meet them for lunch in the Village at Rocker@Squaw. Nachos ang wings all around!

On Christmas we spent the morning opening stockings and eating breakfast. A few years ago we were in Australia on Christmas (read about it here), which had a similar vibe to this year’s Christmas festivities. The day was casual (it’s hard to lug presents for everyone when traveling to different countries) and cheerful!

After stockings, we packed up and headed to Reno for Christmas dinner with my grandparents, mom and stepdad. It was great having so much family altogether. 🙂

This weekend we are off to Sonoma for New Years. Stay tuned!

** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe.**

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