west coast summer

It's hard to believe July is almost halfway over. At first I thought summer had slipped away from me, but some scrolling through the photos on my iPhone reminded me that wasn't the case.

Last year was my first summer in California, so naturally I hit up the Pacific Coast beaches. This year? I fell in love with the lake life. I was so glad I could head to Vegas at the end of June to celebrate my oldest nephew's birthday. (10 years old, can you believe it?!) We ended the weekend by renting a speed boat and cruising around Lake Mead. 

Fast-forward two weeks to Fourth of July weekend. My sister's family and I escaped to the mountains in San Bernardino National Forest. Hiking, boating, fires in the cabin. I couldn't believe I was still in Southern California! It was beyond gorgeous up there. I can't wait to go back to Big Bear Lake. Though I have to admit, some of the best views were found on the drive from Big Bear back to our cabin in Green Valley Lake.

But I've found plenty of summer fun in LA and OC, too. From dinner parties with friends, to roaming around Los Feliz and Silverlake. Hanging out at Ace Hotel's rooftop bar while on Furlough and a picnic on the beach with live music on Santa Monica Pier. 

Looking back on it all, I feel so blessed to have made amazing friends out here that I can go on these little adventures with. And to have a little bit of my family just a drive away so that we can have mini-vacations and celebrate big days together. Though, I have to say, I am excited beyond words to go home to Indiana for a visit in a week. (One perk of furloughs, I guess.) I can't wait to see my family and friends and to squeeze all the best parts of an Indy summer into six days. 

In the meantime, yes, life can get stressful. And hard. And I may feel like I have no idea where I'm going next in this adventure. But I look back on these memories that trump everything else and have to admit: life is pretty good.