blondes reunited!

when ashley surprised me for my birthday with

plane tickets to visit us in SF, i couldn't WAIT!

such a fun surprise and so perfect to finally get 

her out here. we traveled all over europe together

during our study abroad in france, and she is the

best travel buddy. up for anything, loves all the

same food and activities as me, will always split 

meals with me, hilarious, low-maintenance,

exactly what you want in a travel partner. we've 

spent hundreds of hours on european trains, 

seen almost every city in france, explored 

every single square inch of paris all summer,

biked through amsterdam, eaten too many waffles 

in belgium, met lots of euro friends, hitchhiked, 

stayed in hostels, visited the most amazing sites, 

spent our life savings in switzerland, studied 

french together, lived with local families, 

had hilarious experiences, and just bonded like

you can't in any other way. i think travel brings

out the best and worst in people, and there is nothing

that brings people closer than experiencing new

places, figuring things out, and having the very

best times..with a few mishaps and funny stories

mixed in :) basically, she is the best friend and i have

been missing her---having her out here for her first

time ever in san francisco brought me back to the days

of backpacking through europe and seeing everything

possible...except this time i live here, we speak the

language, and we weren't hauling huge bags around :)

i love this friend and hope we always travel together!

^^ it was a beautiful {but windy} weekend!

^^ we had to take her to our very favorite breakfast

first thing. warning- this weekend included lots of food..
and lots of pictures. don't say i didn't warn you.

^^ with my bff & husband,

waiting for brunch. can't complain.

^^ we did the typical jumping picture 

at the bridge which was fun...

^^ until ash FELL. on the ground. 

real life. i'm still crying laughing. 

^^ and, she's up!

^^ "no pictures please"

i guess he has taken a lot here 

so he can get away with this :)

^^ more good food, yes please.

^^ we saw swan parents with their BABY swans

at the palace of fine arts. can't handle!

^^ we drove across the bridge to sausalito,

ashley LOVED it. who doesn't? i snapped

this picture out the window as we drove 

through town because...that city view!!!

^^ new discovery in sausalito thanks to our 

friend amy... le garage french bistro! one of 

the best croque monsieurs. it took us right 

back to our days in france where 

we ate lots and lots of those! 

^^ this restaurant is a hidden gem because it's outside

of the town of sausalito and out on the water in an

old wharehouse...hence the name le garage. YUM.

then back across the bridge! never gets old.

^^ up coit tower

^^ i had to take the biggest nordstrom fan 

to the biggest nordstrom ever! hello 7 levels.

^^ and, a stop at mocca on maiden lane. we finally 

tried their famous tri-tip sandwich and we were all 

BIG fans. i'm just a little worried because this 

place is a 5 minute walk from our apt.. so we

might come back here a little too much. also, it's

darling-- i would come just to sit in that alleyway!

^^ next up, chinatown!

^^ do you think we ate a lot this weekend?

^^ please go to sweetheart cafe in chinatown

and get an avocado boba smoothie. sounds weird,

but don't knock it until you try it. incredible.

^^ we discovered the basketball court that will smith

goes to in "the pursuit of happyness" (yes happiness is

spelled like that for this movie). then we had to go home

that night and watch the movie again of course. love it.

^^ the cable car museum, another

favorite. i still can't understand how 

those things work. it is mind blowing!

^^ nick's crispy tacos never fails us,

we stayed and talked after eating 

for 2 more hours... the best night.

^^ chase insisted we take ash to his favorite place,

and none of us complained. yum yum yum.

^^ we fit in some late night cako cupcakes

and, the bay bridge at night...

magical.

^^ we even got her to google SF!

^^ and then, the most important stop of all...

^^ goodbyes are made easier with chocolate + promises 

to come back soon! adore you ash!

xo