Autumn in Paris

I've been knee deep in last-minute planning for our upcoming trip to Paris. We finally worked out an itinerary and bought train tickets for a day in Brussels (!), so that's a load off my shoulders. I've been pinning and shopping like crazy (I can't very well go the most stylish city in the world without new clothes, can I?).

My French is very rusty (I studied the language for five years, but that was quite a while ago, and it's not as if I get to use it much in California), so I've been brushing up on that. I just know that no matter how prepared I am, I'm going to freeze the first time someone speaks to me in French. Hopefully I'll get comfortable with it after a day or two.

With all that, doing some work for the election, extra freelance work, and my usual life, it's been pretty crazy around here. Oh, and we're having some work done to the house (mostly outside, but we've done a little inside and plan to do more in the coming months).

Once things slow down a bit I hope to share some pictures here. But for now, a bientot!

A Blissful Getaway

I promised more on girls' weekend at the spa, so here you go. We wanted a place that was all inclusive, so we wouldn't have to worry about driving around town to eat or be entertained (and yes, so we could have a few drinks). My friend's husband actually stumbled on the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa and suggested it us It's a bit pricey, but if you want some serious pampering, this is place!

Ojai is a picturesque arts community between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, and the resort began in the 1920s as a private country club.

No detail is overlooked, from the architectural features (archways, pedestal sinks, hand-painted tile baseboards in the bathrooms) to the impeccable service. When we needed a corkscrew, it was a just a room service call away. More coffee in the morning? Ditto. Don't want to walk from one end of the complex to the other? An employee will undoubtedly offer you a ride on a golf cart.

The resort has a beautiful golf course, tennis court, at least four eateries, at least three pools (including one family pool), a coffee and snack shop, and bike/walking trail. It offers fitness and yoga classes and hikes as well.

But the star (in my book, anyway) is the spa. We each got a relaxation massage, and it was heavenly. The spa offers a range of massages, facials and other treatments. After the massage, we spent a few minutes in the steam room. We didn't think to bring our swimsuits to the spa, but there's a beautiful pool. (Next year we'll know better!) We had a delicious and (relatively ;-) healthy lunch near the pool at Cafe Verde.

Weekend Getaway: Morro Bay

It gets hot here in the summer. Really effing hot. To cool off, locals like to head to the coast. When I was single, I usually went to Pismo Beach, which seems to be the favorite destination. It's always hopping, with crowded streets and busy restaurants. But my husband's family always vacationed in the much more low-key Morro Bay, so that's become our go-to spot (although we still venture over to Pismo once in a while).

The main attraction of Morro Bay (besides the ocean and cooler weather) is 581-foot-tall Morro Rock:

Although it looks like it's sitting in the middle of the ocean, you can drive over there and walk around on the surrounding beach. It's also a reserve for peregrine falcons, and you know I can't resist the animals!

Morro Bay is dog-friendly, and people can bring their pets into stores. Dogs are welcome to join their humans for meal at restaurants with outdoor seating, and there's plenty of that. We've taken our little ones to Rose's Landing a number of times. They're always welcoming and friendly, and I love the fish n' chips. Plus it has a great view of the water and the rock. Dorn's is another good place for seafood and views. For coffee, we go to Top Dog Coffee (oddly, I don't think we've ever brought our dogs there!).

Shops line the Embarcadero. My favorite is Fiona Bleu gallery for well-priced jewelry and Jonathan Adler home goods. Of course, Erik likes to check out the guitars and amps at Central Coast Music.

We haven't gone whale watching in Morro Bay, but we did take a glass-bottom boat tour. You don't need to get on the water to see the sea lions, though—they come right up to the docks, honking and stinking and looking for food around the fishing boats.

Usually we go for the day, but sometimes we make a weekend of it and stay at the La Serena Inn, which we hope to do this summer. It's  a couple of blocks from the beach, but rooms on the top floor have unobstructed views of the rock. (And apparently now it's pet-friendly, though I doubt we'll be taking three dogs to the coast anytime soon.)

Where do you go to cool off?

Weekend Getaway: Palm Springs

Have you seen this brightly colored beacon in the desert? It's the new Saguaro Hotel in Palm Springs, and I'm dying to check it out. Not just because of its happy color palette or that it's been all over Pinterest and in-the-know blogs of late, but because I stayed there a few years ago, when it was a much more low-key Holiday Inn. Crazy, isn't it?

By The Saguaro

I came across a picture of the new Saguaro and, despite the shocking new facade, it looked familiar, so I did a little sleuthing and discovered it was the place where we had stayed.

The Holiday Inn was nice enough. I'll admit that when I travel, finding the chicest hotel isn't my top priority. I like clean, comfortable rooms in a good location at a good price, and that's what we got. Plus it had a nice pool area, and the mountains in the background are pretty spectacular.

The only bummer was that the poolside bar was closed when we were there. I had imagined sipping mai tais by the pool. I don't think I've ever had a mai tai in my life, but it seemed like the thing to do. So instead I went to the indoor bar and got a pina colada and brought it out to the pool.

The new version, brought to us by the folks behind the nearby Ace Hotel, retains the great pool area and, from what I can tell, the reasonable price, but adds a whole lotta personality. It's also pet-friendly, which I always like, even if traveling with our dogs is out of the question.

If you're planning a trip to Palm Springs, I recommend stopping by Pomme Frite for a decadent croque monsieur (mmm, melted cheese!), and don't forget to save time to check out the area's midcentury modern houses. We saw a road runner on our tour!

I'm Mad About...

We're headed to LA this weekend to see a George Harrison exhibit at the Grammy Museum (I didn't even know there was a Grammy Museum!)—and maybe get in a little shopping.

Here are some things that caught my eye this week:

Garrapata State Park

• This is a wonderful idea: In an effort to raise awareness, a Northern California woman (joined by friends and her foster dog) is visiting 70 state parks set to be closed because of budget cuts and blogging about them. So far she's hit nearly 30 parks. I've been to several of the sites on the closure list and am sad to hear that they might not be accessible to future travelers.
• It's time for another Pinterest challenge. Will you be participating?
• I love the idea of bed linens for dogs (but I doubt it will keep the little ones off of our bed).
• Orla Kiely bedding for Bed, Bath and Beyond? Yes!

Travel Plans

Thanksgiving is almost here, and with it comes the beginning of the holiday travel season. I'll be sticking close to home this year, but I'm sure many of you out there will be visiting family and friends in far-flung places.

For those as obsessed with organizing as I am (and particularly for those who aren't!), I thought I'd share a packing and travel checklist that I created for our trip to Vegas. Although I love my online calendar, when it comes to lists, I prefer paper and pen.

Pretty cute, I think. And useful.

Here's a comprehensive packing list for those planing a trip abroad. This blog post has great tips on packing for vacation. And for those who'd rather plan electronically, there's an app (or two) for that. Happy packing!

Colors of the World

Looking through my boards on Pinterest, I've definitely noticed some recurring themes: blue walls (of course!), white kitchens, big windows, sparkly chandeliers. Most of the rooms I'm drawn to are airy and feminine with subdued or neutral colors.

But when it comes to cities abroad, it's bright colors that catch my eye:

Images via Pinterest

Do these images inspire wanderlust? Where do you want to go this summer? And would you consider hiring personal packers?