Here I am-- back at it on the early AM CalTrain commute, turning up the volume to some Lord Huron as I watch Karl, the San Francisco fog, roll around the bay. The post-stay-cay blues have my head up in the clouds.

Last week, some cool humans that I know made the great trek out west. Mom saw a naked bicycle parade. Dad was offered edibles. And we ended up at Swensen's more times than I can count haha. This cold winter of a summer didn't quite phase a nice Midwest family like ourselves from enjoying that ice cream goodness more than just once.

It was really fun to aimlessly wander and share the paths of my everyday life with the ones who have been on the other side of my phone calls and Snapchats from these exact spots for the past year. I think I may have taken over a thousand pictures of them in these recognizable yet mundane places just so I can savor the memory of them being here.

Mom in my kitchen...

...Mom sitting on my bed.

Happy people J-chilling and crackin' jokes on my couch...

They were here!! ♡

I remember when I first found out I was moving to San Francisco. I think my dad was most excited for all the Dungeness Crab in his future. Needless to say, we enjoyed all the crab and you bet we washed it down with some ice-cold Anchor Steam. Dungeness Crab doesn't quite make it on my weekly grocery lists so I made sure to capitalize on it while my dad kindly got the checks. Griffin was here for it, too.

It kinda turned into a food tour of SF while they were here, which I was definitely not mad about. Climbing those hills really works up an appetite! (Which by the way... Mom and Dad: if you are reading this... how are your calves feeling today????) A favorite dinner spot was (and always will be) The Mona Lisa in North Beach. My mom and I discovered it when she visited in October so it was fun to take her back and reminisce. Side-note: one time, the waitress there said she was gonna name a dish after me... still waiting for "The Stunna" to show up on their menu.

We actually ate in Little Italy like four nights in a row. We can't help it. It's in our blood! Pasta. Seafood. Wine. Repeat.

Things to remember: mom loves these trees!

So when we weren't outdoor dining at a dreamy Italian restaurant, we were touristing hard and frolicking around other SF neighborhoods. Urban Putt in the Mission. Climbing hills in Russian Hill, my neighborhood. Window shopping in the Marina. Brunching in Hayes Valley. Chasing rainbow sidewalks in the Castro. People watching at Fishermans Wharf. Looking for Uncle Jesse and fam at Alamo Square. Edibles at Dolores Park (LOL, JK... couldn't talk Dad into it.) Bus touring through the Tenderloin (Griffin's favorite part of town). Wondering just how much stuff they can possibly pack into each store in China Town. Coit Tower views above North Beach. And really just going wherever the wind blew us. Haha.. and I kind of mean that quite literally.

After a full week living it up in the city, we dipped out for some much needed California nature. This day was the icing on the cake for a perfect way to wind down our amazing vacation. Dad really balled-out and rented us a BMW convertible to drive up north along the coast. First we drove down the infamous crooked Lombard Street and then headed to Stinson Beach where they put their feet in the Pacific for the first time! It's a lot chillier than the Gulf of Mexico where I grew up channeling my inner sun goddess and beach bum... but I've never not loved an ocean. We ended the day in Muir Woods National Park and then the lookout vista at the Golden Gate Bridge.