We had a fantastic weekend, peeps, and I got home so late on Sunday night that you’re getting this recap a day late.
On the flight down to SoCal on Friday morning, we had an amazing (!) view of Yosemite National Park from the plane. I’ve never seen the Yosemite Valley that clearly from the plane. It was absolutely breath-taking and I was able to snap a quick picture (click on the picture to see notes). Luckily, this time I remembered to get a window seat on the left side of the plane (I tend to have my “duh”-moments when I realize that I chose a seat on the right side where I can’t see a damn thing.)
We made it to Ventura around 2 p.m. and I helped my MIL pick out some plants for her patio in the afternoon. We headed to dinner at Anacapa Brewing Company in Downtown Ventura for a belated Mother’s Day dinner in the early evening and then went to the Ventura Improv Theater. Oh my goodness, belly laughs for two whole hours!
On Saturday, I had a lunch date set up with Maegan at the Lazy Dog Café in Thousand Oaks. It’s a SoCal chain restaurant, but the food is pretty amazing and we had excellent service. When I ordered an iced tea, the rather cute waiter recommended an Arnold Palmer, which I had never heard of. Then he said, even better is a Tiger Woods (and Arnold Palmer with a splash of cranberry juice). We were persuaded to try it (“if you don’t like it, it’s on the house“) and it was quite delicious! As first time customers, we also got a free order of garlic-parmesan flat bread — so, you can imagine that was an easy way for us to be SOLD on the place!
I had a delicious Maggie’s Snake River salad (with bacon bits and goat cheese, yum!) and Maegan and I chatted away. OMG, how I love to meet online friends that turn into IRL friends so, so easily! I don’t think we shut up longer than 10 seconds for the entire time we were there! It was like she took so many thoughts right out of my mind.
We got some fro-yo around the corner for dessert (and frankly, because I didn’t want to let her go home quite yet, ha!) and it could have been an absolute PERFECT day, if Maegan hadn’t injured her foot on the stupid glass door at the fro-yo place (pictured below on the right). Our meeting ended with gushing blood on the top of her foot. Ouch. I really hope she won’t always keep that as a bad memory of our first date! It went so well otherwise!
We had a BBQ at J’s parents place in the evening with yummy steaks, potatoes and salad.
On Sunday morning, I helped J’s Mom plant the plants and flowers we had bought on Friday and then we went to the beach! First stop, the Ventura Pier (which I love!) for some fish tacos at the new Beach House Tacos.
Later in the afternoon we met up with J’s brother at San Buenaventura Park for some fresh oysters at ‘The Jolly Oyster‘. (Sadly, no other pictures.) I am not really eating oysters (as in, not at all, at least not raw), but I indulged in some Sauvignon blanc, french bread and brie. Yum. There is nothing better than a seaside picnic!
Despite it being overcast and breezy, it was pretty warm and I just loved to spend some time on the beach the last couple of days! And just like that, the weekend was over again. Fortunately, we were able to take advantage of the whole day in Ventura, as I had booked the last flight of the day to return to Sacramento. We headed back to the airport around 6:30 pm.
Of course, I noticed that it was “getting kind of dark early”, but completely blanked out on the fact that there was a solar eclipse happening on Sunday. Duh! Did you see it?
How was your weekend? Did you do anything fun?
Heike
May 22, 2012 at 10:29 amYep we saw the eclipse even though M told me NOT to look into the bright sun! ;)
We went to see Basketball on Sunday! SMF!
Love you pics!
H
Holly
May 22, 2012 at 10:49 amLooks like a fun weekend! Your beach pictures make me miss my ocean!!! We didn’t do a whole lot this weekend – I planted my window boxes, and we spent a lot of time visiting with my husband’s family. I missed the eclipse – I knew about it, I just completely forgot to look! (And didn’t have the special glasses, anyway!)
Alyx
May 22, 2012 at 11:58 amOh my goodness, these photos are awesome!
I miss the ocean… Socal is gorgeous!
Sounds like you guys had a fabulous weekend!
Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields
May 22, 2012 at 12:11 pmWhat a great weekend!! It sounds like it was just fabulous!
I didn’t see the eclipse at all :( I was bummed!
Gina
May 22, 2012 at 12:19 pmWOW! Sounds like such a fabulous weekend! It’s been forever since I’ve made it down to So Cal. You’ve inspired me to make it happen!
Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks
May 22, 2012 at 1:06 pmSounds like you had a really brilliant weekend! I’ve had (and like) Tom Collins before, but Tiger Woods? Sounds really good, too. Hmmmmm…
Holly
May 22, 2012 at 1:07 pmWhat a great little getaway! This post makes me so jealous, ha! I’m so glad that you had such a great trip!
Lisa of Lisa's Yarns
May 22, 2012 at 2:51 pmI totally would have eaten oysters for you. :) I love them. I didn’t always like them, but they have really grown on me as an adult. Esp with a little tabasco. Mmm…
Sounds like a wonderful weekend! That’s great that you were able to meet another blog friend! I love turning a URL friendship to an IRL friendship! And everyone I’ve met as has been just wonderful and exactly like they are in their blog!
My weekend was good. I got a lot of studying done, but took a break on Sunday to have lunch with family which was the highlight of my weekend!
katelin
May 22, 2012 at 4:10 pmlove all the pictures and looks like a fabulous weekend. also lazy dog cafe sounds like a place i need to try!
Maegan :)
May 22, 2012 at 4:20 pmOh yay! What a fun post and, heehee, so fun to see me in there :) I had such a GREAT time on Saturday, I didn’t want to go home either so I’m happy we got the fro-yo to hang out more :) Can’t wait to see you again! xxoo!
Stephany
May 22, 2012 at 6:55 pmWhat a fun weekend! Your photos are so beautiful. And yay for meeting a blog friend in person. I’ve only met one but it’s so funny how easily conversation flows with blog friends. And it’s not easy for me to keep a conversation going so that’s saying something!
My weekend was sad, ha. Our cruise ended on Saturday morning and we were on the road back home at 7AM. The rest of the weekend was spent trying to readjust to normal life! That’s not so fun. ;)
Chrissy
May 23, 2012 at 8:32 amOk, totally jealous that the two of you got to meet! Hope I can join in sometime in the future and come over to Cali to meet you guys! Lovely pics, seems like the perfect weekend! xxx
Travel Spot
May 23, 2012 at 2:20 pmWhat a great weekend! I love Arnold Palmers but have never had a Tiger Woods! I will have to try it! What a great view of Yosemite! I have been lucky a couple of times, but it’s pretty rare that it’s clear and there is a bit of snow AND you are on the correct side! Great job! Did you remember to sit on the right on the way back?
Melissa
May 24, 2012 at 7:18 amYou always have such lovely adventures on your weekends! And your pictures are GORGEOUS!
terra
May 24, 2012 at 9:27 amOysters are terrifying to me. The thought of putting them in my mouth makes me gag. Ugh. But brie and wine?! YES PLEASE!
Also, I totally missed the solar eclipse and I was even in Vegas and probably could have actually seen it. I’m so annoyed with myself about it.
Kat
May 25, 2012 at 5:05 pmSounds like you had a lovely time! :) And Yosemite Valley is GORGEOUS, my goodness. Wow. With all those great cities and random things to visit in the US, I tend to forget that there’s even more stunning nature in between!
Viv
May 27, 2012 at 2:37 amLooks like a great weekend. Isn’t it fantastic when online friendships turn into real-life friendships without any effort?