In June, the child and I were able to visit my dear TME friend and foodie friend Emily and her family. We have known each other for Years about meeting up and eating all the delicious things in our beautiful hometowns. And we finally did it. Yay!
When we met Em and her family in Bend, Oregon two summers ago, we got a little taste of what a Foodie Friends vacation would be like, but we knew we needed more.
This led to a trip to beautiful Half Moon Bay on the south side of the Bay Area!
Exact T-shirt (M) // Similar T-shirt (or this one!) | Pants (M) | Denim shirt (M) | Tevas | Handbag
5 outfits I wore on our trip to the Bay Area
If you’re familiar with this area, you know that temperatures are often quite cool. Hopefully these outfit ideas will be helpful if you’re planning a trip to the Bay Area or somewhere with more moderate temperatures (like perhaps the Pacific Northwest in early fall!).
As a Portland resident, I thought I knew gray, but I wasn’t prepared for how chilly and eerie the thick layer of fog can be! It’s an incredibly beautiful place and the cutest town ever. While you may not experience many sunny, hot days, it’s absolutely worth a visit.
If you’ve ever visited the Bay Area, you know that layers of clothing are important, especially on the coast or near the city. Parts of the Bay are definitely sunnier and warmer, especially inland. But cool, cool, cool is the little town of Half Moon Bay.
Even though this girl is currently running pretty hot (and warm i mean hot) I was so glad I had my denim shirt. This baby has been my favorite lately as a great top. It goes with everything, isn’t too heavy, and is easy to tie around the shoulders or waist when I don’t want to wear it.
Outfit 1: In Santa Cruz
Denim shirt (M) | Pants (MP) | Birks | T-shirt (M) or this | Handbag
On our first full day in the area, we visited Santa Cruz. First stop: delicious matcha lattes and pastries at 11th Hour Coffee and then we headed to the famous Santa Cruz Boardwalk where we rode rides, played games and, of course, ate treats like fried artichoke hearts.
This combination of bright and muted ice cream colors was so fun, but still the layers suited me perfectly as the day got hotter. Yes, I like to match my t-shirts to my matchas lol.
Outfit 2: Shopping in Half Moon Bay
Pants (M) | Denim shirt (M) | Tevas | Handbag
Our next day started with a relaxing morning and then some shopping in the charming town of Half Moon Bay. It is so pretty and easy to get around, there are plenty of little shops, restaurants, etc. to stop in at. We had kids with us so of course we went to the bookstore and toy store.
Here I am again in my denim shirt which did not disappoint lol. It felt modern to wear it with baggy cargo pants and I paired it with a fun printed t-shirt to add some pattern.
These cargo pants were my favorite find this summer and I’ll definitely be wearing them into fall. They have that comfy waistband I talked about that I love about Wit & Wisdom.
Exact T-shirt (M) // Similar T-shirt (or this one!) | Pants (M) | Denim shirt (M) | Tevas | Handbag
Outfit 3: At the Farmer’s Market
Shirt (M) | Linen Set (M) | Similar Bag
One thing you can find in abundance when you’re A) in the Bay Area and B) visiting Em is delicious food. I mean, look at that produce. And I’m picky, being from Oregon near the Fruit Loop and all. This was our last day there and sunny and glorious. We went to the farmer’s market after taking her little one to soccer (which, as you can imagine, was adorable).
After that we stopped by the chocolate shop Sweet55 around the corner and oh my gosh… I highly recommend it. It’s also a great place to buy gifts to take home if they made it this far.
I actually never travel without this linen blend set you’ve seen before. It’s been in every reasonably warm place I’ve visited in the last year. Matching sets are so handy for travel as you don’t have to think about it, but you can also mix and match the pieces with other pieces for additional outfits. The oversized shirt from Frank & Eileen is also just a dream to pack and easily doubles as a swim cover-up. I know… see, not my denim shirt!
Similar Shirt | Jeans (more here) | Bag
Of course, Emily looked adorable that day with her sunny tote bag and denim-on-denim look, so she allowed me to include this picture for you all.
She is the greatest foodie host ever and although I didn’t take many photos of our actual meal, that was because I was too busy having fun and devouring everything.
Outfit 4: For relaxing + sleeping
Sweatshirt (M) | Jogging pants (M)
I always, and I mean always, travel with my Vuori Performance Joggers. I’m currently in Seattle for one night and they’re in my little suitcase. They pack up so small and are so comfortable, either for traveling, having all kinds of activities on hand, or sleeping in.
Em’s sweatpants were perfect for lounging and sleeping in. I wish I had taken more photos here, but of course I had to take at least one photo at her selfie spot!
Outfit 5: For the trip
Set (M) | Wallet | Shoes
This ribbed set from Dressed in Lala (I have it in black too) is incredibly comfortable for traveling. I love that it still reflects my vibe and doesn’t just look like boring loungewear. Plus, it looks cute with, you guessed it, the denim shirt on top.
I recently learned that my Birkenstocks with the big buckles tend to trigger the scanner at the airport, so I mostly wear my sneakers (ugh, how many times I had to take them off and walk through security barefoot, blehhhhh)
I love them, so I usually keep them in my carry-on in case I want to change when it gets warm, but my Nikes are my favorite. And there’s a reason this girl pays for TSA pre-check…don’t make me take my shoes off.
This was the best little trip to celebrate the end of school for us and our friends. Many thanks to the Stoffel family for the great, delicious time. For anyone who is interested:
- delicious sashimi on the first evening of Hangetsu Sushi
- Crispy Cheese Fried Egg Tacos with Crispy Burmese Chilies (Courtesy of Em)
- delicious Matcha Lattes and pastries at Coffee at the 11th hour in Santa Cruz
- fried artichoke hearts, corn dogs and French fries at Santa Cruz seafront promenade
- insanely good hamburger sandwiches and Mac n Cheese at Papa’s Luncheonette
- local beers, delicious vegetarian dishes and tasty flatbreads at Rossotti’s Alpine Inn
- Baked goods delicacies from Moonside Bakery
- delicious BBQ from Breakwater barbecue (and this southern girl is also picky about grilling)
Um, you can see why, besides the nice company and fun activities, we had a good time. LOL. Foodie friends forever.
Pants (M) | Denim shirt (M) | Birks | Handbag
My denim shirt and I can’t wait to stop by again, Em.
xoxo
M
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