Sunset Cliffs

This past weekend I went to check out the Sunset Cliffs in San Diego for the first time. I realize that it is called Sunset Cliffs but I wanted to go during the daytime. I love daytime shots because the sky and water are both a bright blue color. The coastline was just gorgeous and the water was sparkling. It reminded me of Greece or Australia. San Diego has some of the best coastlines in the United States I think, because we have the cliffs and not just regular beaches (although we have those too.) There is one famous cliff that kids like to jump off of. It looks pretty treacherous to jump especially when the tide is super strong but lots of them did it anyway. The only drawback to this area is it is mostly residential (great if you live right there) but otherwise empty with other things to do. I will definitely be back but next time, during sunset.

Paris Before The 2024 Olympics

After Amsterdam, we stayed 2 days in Paris. Originally we were supposed to go to Belgrade but it ended up being way too hot there. I am always down for Paris. We were not sure how busy it would or wouldn’t be before the Olympics. I think most locals left and there were not too many tourists either. We were staying right by on of the the Opening Ceremony Stages.

We stayed at Hotel Fauchon, which is a hotel that is owned by the food company Fauchon. The hotel was one of the best hotels I have stayed in Paris. The service was top notch. Right away were were escorted to a lounge and given macarons and a beverage, while the host checked us in on comfortable couches. He then showed us to our beautiful room. The room was incredibly clean and modern with pink signature Fauchon touches. He told us we could enjoy all the snacks from the mini bar complimentary. It was nicely air conditioned too, because it was very hot in Paris!

Highlights:

Bar Hemingway at the Ritz: I have been to Paris so many times, I cannot believe this was my first visit to the Ritz. It is such an iconic hotel and probably the most beautiful and luxurious in Paris. It did not disappoint whatsoever. We went to famous Bar Hemingway for drinks, and voila there was no wait! The drinks were so wonderful, and so was the service and atmosphere.

Hotel del la Marine: I highly recommend visiting this museum. It is no very large but it is worth it for a quick visit. You feel like you are in Versailles without having to take the day trip. I think the chandelier room was just as magnificent as Versailles actually.

Tomb of Louis XVI Marie Antoinette: We just randomly stumbled upon this as were were looking for a coffee shop. I just think it amazing what you can come across in Paris, something of such great history just by walking around.

2024 Olympics: It was really cool to see them setting up for the Olympics. Lots of streets were closed off so we didn’t worry about cars or traffic around us. It was also very empty, we had absolutely no lines for anything!

Cons: It was HOT and humid. Not as hot as Belgrade would have been but still very warm. And air conditioning is so hit or miss. We ended up eating outside because it was cooler than inside. We went to Maxim’s and their air conditioning broke, so we sat there in the sauna having our cocktails. At least we were the only ones there!

Summer in Amsterdam

This July, my husband and I took a 10 day trip to Europe, the first time since Covid. I couldn’t believe it had been that long since we were back. The trip was everything I could have wanted and more. We spent 4 amazing days in Amsterdam. I really took to the city. It is actually pretty relaxing and slow paced there in Summer. I loved walking around and watching the locals put tables outside of their houses to have dinner al fresco. The sunsets were gorgeous, as well as sunrises (being jet-lagged has its perks). Amsterdam is a bit weird in a good way, but the people were so nice and helpful.

We stayed at Hotel The Nobleman for the first 3 nights and the Andaz the last night. The Nobleman is a gorgeous boutique hotel that definetly had darker Rembrant aesthetic. Each room is based on a famous Philosopher,. We stayed in the Spinoza room which had a beautifully painted ceiling, and a brass bathtub. The complimentary breakfast was so good as well. I really enjoyed the dutch pancakes. The last night, staying at the Andaz was drastically different incredibly bright and loud with crazy decor. It was a bizarre hotel but so fun, just look at that goldfish wallpaper! We also had a large terrace with views of the city which was so nice.

A few highlights of the trip:

The Cheese: There are so many cheese shops, and a lot of them have a ton of free samples. Loved all the cheese here! My favorite cheese was the Boeren Goudse Opleg at Bar Perry.

The Ryks Museum: I didn’t love the inside of the museum, it was the outside that I really enjoyed. The building itself is a wonder, and the gardens surrounding the museum are free to visit.

The Siren and The Secret Garden: These two restaurants were probably the most amazing and over the top bars/restaurants I have ever been to.

The Pulitzer Hotel and the Waldorf Astoria: We went to both bars here and they were exceptional. The Waldorf especially, the mixologists made every cocktail we had bespoke to us. The Pulitzer bar is dark and lovely, I had my first Bitterballen here.

The Coffee Shops: There are so many cute little coffee shops all around town, we tried a few different ones everyday. The pastries were so good and fresh. I also enjoyed a famous Stroop Waffle from Hans Egstorf it was warm and gooey but definitely a lot of sugar and larger than I expected.

Cons: The Bicycles! This was the only drawback. I LOVE that the city does not have a ton of cars and is very green/eco friendly. However, watch out for the bikes especially when they are turning a corner.

The Fontainebleau Las Vegas

Last weekend my husband and I stayed at the new Fontainebleau Las Vegas. I have actually visited the property before multiple times for dinner but never stayed here. Here is a little review of the hotel/casino.

The Pros: When you first check in everyone is very friendly and welcoming. We stayed in one of the suites which was beautiful and had the most incredible view of the huge pool, The Sphere, and some of the strip. The room was so clean and new. I loved the amenities, great bath products in pretty bottles, the most comfortable robe I have ever worn, and the bowtie slippers. The rest of the property is just beautiful and I don’t mind that it is further down the strip. It is quieter and we can walk to Resorts World and The Wynn. The food court is also awesome. best bagels I think I have ever had and I am from New York City. The restaurants are all very solid and each have their own unique vibe. The best I think being Don’s Prime. Mother Wolf and Komodo are good but can be hit or meh. Best cocktails are at Collins and Chyna Club, and Papi Steak is basically a nightclub and you will most likely run into celebrities there.

The Cons: No bottled water in the room which most luxury strip hotels give you complimentary in suites, and very very overpriced for basic necessities and certain restaurants. My husband hated playing in the casino, which is huge big drawback.

All in all I definitely enjoyed staying here, and will be back sometime in the future.

A Day Trip to Catalina Island

Just yesterday my friend and I took a long awaited trip to Catalina Island. I have been in a very Italian Spring/Summer kind of mood lately- binge watching Ripley and enjoying my neighborhood of Little Italy. After much deliberation, I decided to just bring my new Fujifilmx100VI with me instead of my DSLR. I am SO happy I did. It was much lighter and the photos turned out so well.

We took the ferry from Long Beach which only took an hour. The ferry was a lot of fun. We saw the Queen Mary ship and even some dolphins! We sat inside at first then went upstairs to enjoy the views coming into the island. It was a bit chilly and windy up there but not too bad. We were quick to get off the ferry and start exploring.

We walked straight to Descano Beach club to have some lunch. If you are looking to book beach chairs at the club I recommend doing it well in advance because they sell out. It was not that kind of trip for us though, we wanted to walk around. We enjoyed a gorgeous view of the beach during our lunch. After that we walked along the path back into town to check out the casino. Unfortunately it closed at 3pm that day! Oh well, we kept going and climbed up all the way to Chimes Tower. The tower was also closed but we marveled at the amazing views. It was still worth the trek up.

After that we explored the cute shops in town. Then we grabbed Aperol Spritzes at Topside rooftop. After that we ate dinner at Bluewater Grill. They have amazing sourdough bread! The food was also great and the waiter gave us very big pours of wine. We had to head back to the ferry though soon after dinner. The ferry ride back was beautiful, we got to enjoy the sunset as we were leaving.

I highly recommend Catalina Island for a day trip. However staying multiple days or even 1 night I do not think is necessary. Most of the hotels also did not look that nice. I only saw two that looked decent. We got to do pretty much everything we wanted in one day. I would love to go back an visit again though soon, especially to visit the casino!

Super Bloom in La Jolla with The FujiFilmx100VI

For over a month I have been experimenting with my new FujiFilmx100VI, the newest of the Fujifilm 100 series. I have been wanting to shoot differently for a while now. I had gotten tired of the DSLR look. I finally feel excited and passionate about photography again because of this camera.

It has definitely been a learning curve. I am still figuring out just how I want to use the camera. The 35mm focal point is also sometimes challenging because I am used to using a 24-70 zoom lens. I have come up with some wonderful film recipes which I love, so much so that it is hard to choose which ones to use. I am shooting in both JPEG and RAW, although I have mostly been using the JPEG images. They look great right out of the camera. However I am still uploading all of the photos into Lightroom to make some minor tweaks.

I decided to visit La Jolla to practice with my camera, and it was a magical day! Because of the rain, California has had a beautiful Super Bloom of flowers. Everything is so lush. I also went on a super sunny day, not a cloud in the sky which can be rare for La Jolla. There is usually cloud cover or fog. Overall I am very happy with how my shots came out. I think I am done with my DSLR, at least for now!

Don't Worry Darling

Palm Springs is one of my favorite places in the United States. It is one of the only few places that has stood still in time. Being here is like being transported back in time to the Mid Century. The 60’s are my favorite decade and I am constantly inspired by everything. We stayed at The Weekend Palm Springs, a boutique hotel in the Old Las Palmas area. It was such a nice and relaxing hotel within walking distance to many shops and restaurants. We walked around the area a ton, took photos, and even bought some modern art. We ate lunch at the Colony restaurant which has such a gorgeous vintage pool area. We also at at Copley’s for dinner which is also just a beautiful old school restaurant. This trip reminded me of the movie Don’t Worry Darling. Am I the only one that actually likes the movie? I watched it again when I got home, and yes the ending does not make much sense but I still loved the cinematography.

Trixie Motel

For my birthday my husband and I spent 2 days in beautiful Palm Springs. I am a big fan of Ru Paul’s Drag Race so of course I had to stop in and check out the Trixie Motel, owned by drag queen Trixie Mattel. We did not stay here so I cannot say anything about the rooms, but the experience was so fun. It is such a pink paradise. We were welcomed by their very friendly staff who showed us to the bar area. We ordered some drinks and also ate pink popcorn. The entire hotel is as kitschy as can be. Hanging on the walls are photos of Trixie photoshopped into famous photos. We took our drinks to the pool area, which was lined with pink and white umbrellas and magenta flamingos. I definitely recommend stopping by if you are a fan or just love pink!

Rose Garden

I recently took a walk around Balboa Park which is one of my favorite spots in all of San Diego. I walked around their beautiful Rose Garden to take some photos. I didn’t actually expect to love these photos but I really do for some reason. I think the best inspiration is not found on the internet, but always in real life. I have to remind myself just to get out there and explore, you never know what you inspires you.

Introducing The New Print Shop

Hi everyone! I finally opened my new print shop using ShootProof.com! Head on over to the Print Shop tab at the top of my website or click here and check out prints for sale. You can view each individual print or the entire gallery. Choose from Fine Art Prints, Canvases, Metal Prints, and Digital Downloads for personal use/printing on your own. I am always adding more work so check back soon!

The Colony Palm Beach

On my recent trip to Palm Beach I ate lunch at Swifty’s at the Colony Hotel. The Colony has been high on my list of hotels to visit for a long time. I love the vintage look and feel of this hotel. I decided to use my Fujifilmx100s in order to make my photos look more vintage. Swifty’s is a must do for lunch/brunch in Palm Beach. It is very much a see and be seen kind of place. After lunch I walked outside to the pool area which was very busy even in off season. It was so beautiful, just how I imagined, complete with their iconic umbrellas. I am so happy I finally got to visit this grand dame of a hotel!

La Jolla Walk

One of my favorite things to do in San Diego is to walk along the coast of La Jolla. Every summer I come here as much as I can to enjoy the incredible views. I always get different shots here because there is so much to see. I love that you can always discover new beautiful spots. This time the sea lions were out in full force. I love to watch them flop around and bark. Afterwards I walk around the town of La Jolla and enjoy some lunch or dinner at one of the many delicious restaurants. I feel so lucky to live in such an incredible place.

Snapshots from Sonoma

Last weekend my husband and I went to Sonoma for a jaw dropping wedding on a vineyard. Gramm Vineyards is located in Windsor and my dear sorority sister was getting married there. We stayed in Healdsburg at the Harmon House during the two days for the wedding and then headed over to Downtown Sonoma to stay at the MacArthur Place Hotel. I love the MacArthur, it is a wonderful place to relax to wind down from wedding festivities.

Glass

It’s been a while since I posted in this journal. I have not really been photographing too much recently but I have been focusing on my previous work and my archive that I have accumulated for about 10 years. I have been wanting to put myself and my work out there for quite sometime but I was very frustrated with Instagram so I haven’t posted on there for years. I was curious to look into some new and different social media apps to display my photography. I have used other apps like Flickr and 500px but I really don’t love them. I still post on 500px from time to time, but it has so much spam it is ridiculous.

My first stop into putting my work out there was on an app called Glass. I started using it 1 year ago and I absolutely adore it. It is exactly the photography app I have been looking for since well, Instagram went down hill years ago. It is a minimally designed app that doesn’t throw a millions things at you at once. It is just for photography, that is it, nothing else. Professional or amateur photographers alike can display their work. Instead of likes they have appreciations. Glass does have a feature to follow people, but you cannot see the follower count or the appreciation count. It is not about numbers, or advertising it is about community.

I was fortunate enough for Glass to see my work early on and actually feature me on their Highlights section. It was one of the first times I felt like my work was noticed. My work was also featured in different monthly highlight categories. It is nice to be noticed but that is not just the reason I love the app. I get to discover other photographers’s work as well and I don’t feel a crazy level of comparison, more like inspiration. The creators of Glass seem incredibly passionate about what they do, and they are involved in the community. Yes I do pay for the app every month, but it is worth it! I am rooting for Glass.

PS- This is my own opinion it is not a paid review. Nothing on my website I get paid for except my actual photographic work.

Vintage Vegas

There are not too many places in Las Vegas anymore that still have that vintage feel. Downtown is one of those, and if you go past Freemont street you will find what is left of old Vegas. Most of the motels are deserted or run down but still have the vintage neon signs up. I recommend going for the day to walk around and then stopping by The Ferguson and Container Park which are gentrified areas with hipster bars, shops, and restaurants. The surrounding area is more than a bit dodgy but if you really want to see the old signs you have to walk around, just be safe and aware.

Los Cabos

This past week my husband and I spent my 35th birthday in Los Cabos. It was our first time there and it just blew me away. The food, views, hotel, and service was incredible. Cabo is only a 1 hour and 40 minute flight from San Diego. It was like we flew all the way to the coast of Europe but with a super quick flight, no jetlag (only an hour time difference which was not noticeable), and a relaxing and fun airport experience. We stayed at The Cape Thompson resort. I only have amazing things to say about it.

We were picked up by the hotel’s professional driver from the aiport. The resort is about a forty minute drive from the airport, but the scenery on the way is stunning. We checked into a beautiful suite overlooking the ocean, complete with a see through rainfall shower and terrace with plunge pool. We were welcomed with a complimentary bottle of tequila which we enjoyed while watching the sunset. Afterwards we ate dinner at their restaurant Manta, rated one of the best vacation restaurants in the world.

The whole trip we really just relaxed, spent time at the pool, spa, walked on the beach, and at A LOT of food. Every single meal we had was amazing and it is hard to rank them but my favorite was definitely my birthday at Alebrije located in The Rosewood Las Ventanas. They had the best blue corn tortillas I have ever tasted, paired with fresh queso they made right in front of us and lit on fire. After that we were invited to check out their 1920’s speakeasy La Botica. It was such a fun scene with great live music and everyone dancing.

There are many different areas of Cabo and all together they make up Los Cabos. The area we stayed in was not very walkable, so we had to take a lot of taxis but only about as far as 10 minutes away each time. The hotels are super serious about security, so we always felt safe. We checked out a few hotels such as the L’Auberge Esperanza and the Rosewood Las Ventanas, both stunning resorts. We also went to the marina which was the only close by walkable area. We ate lunch there and stumbled upon a beautiful rooftop with views of the whole city.

All in all it was one of the best trips I have ever experienced. Everything just topped my expectations and went smoothly, and with travel that is not always possible. In Mexico the people really cater to you having the best experience. I cannot wait to come here again!

RH

RH (aka the new Restoration Hardware) is now becoming one of my favorite restaurant/design concepts. So many have opened up in cities around the US lately. My first time going to an RH was in Yountville. I fell in love with everything about it. My husband and I first tried out the wine bar which is adjacent to the restaurant. They have a beautiful outdoor courtyard area. The chandeliers are so mesmerizing.

The first time I went to the restaurant was actually in Dallas with my best friend for brunch. The Dallas RH is on the rooftop of their 3 story furniture store. It is so much fun to eat brunch and then walk around the store. It reminds of a museum with the archways and everything so perfectly laid out. The food is another win, I ate their egg dish which is basically just scrambled eggs but they were some of the best I have ever had. I also highly recommend their truffle fries, they are a must!

My second time to Yountville we ate dinner at the restaurant late at night and it was magical. I love how they incorporate nature inside the restaurant. Here we ate burrata, a salad, and one of the best burgers ever that is on my top 5 burger list. It tasted like a super high end fast food burger in a great way. Overall RH so far in both locations was absolutely fabulous.

Hotel La Valencia

Hotel La Valencia is located right up the hill from La Jolla Cove. After my walk along the coast I headed up the (somewhat steep) hill to cool off at the hotel. While I was there I of course took photos because the hotel is gorgeous. I have been there many times before but I explored a bit more this time. It is definitely one of the prettiest hotels in all of San Diego, a such a beautiful retro pink paradise.

La Jolla

La Jolla is one of my favorite places in all of San Diego. It reminds me so much of being in Australia on the coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee. I decided to head out to La Jolla for the last weekend of August and just walk around and photograph. The water is such a beautiful shade of aqua blue. I love looking at the sea lions that sun bathe on the cliffs, the waves in the ocean, and the people snorkeling in the cove.

Summer in Little Italy

For more than two years my husband and I have been living in San Diego. We rode out the pandemic in quite possibly the best place. Yes there were a ton of shut downs during that time but we could at least eat outside when it was December. Now that life is back to normal, we have been doing everything we wanted to do and more exploring San Diego. Since Little Italy is the area we know the best and go out in the most, here is a little guide to my neighborhood.

Restaurants

Born and Raised- The Consortium Holdings restaurant group has a ton of amazing concepts in San Diego. Born and Raised is their upscale steakhouse and it is one of the most beautiful restaurants in San Diego. I recommend checking out their happy hour which is upstairs on their outside deck.

Herb and Wood- We have been here so many times I cannot count. The food is always incredible and the chef always changes it up. They also have a good brunch. It is one of the best restaurants in San Diego.

Kettner Exchange- We have also been here so many times, and the chef also loves to change it up, actually even more than Herb and Wood. I love the tapas style of plates, you can get small or larger dishes here.

Camino Riviera- A restaurant by the owners of Kettner Exchange, except the chef takes a Mexican spin on his tapas style dishes. The place is amazing to take friends, it feels like you are transported to Tulum.

Juniper and Ivy- Another favorite of ours and super popular restaurant. The food is always unique and delicious. I highly recommend the duck here if it is on the menu, it is huge but amazing.

Davanti Enoteca- My favorite Italian restaurant in Little Italy. They are known for their Foccacia Di Recco which is probably one of the most amazing things I have ever tasted. They also have one of the best brunches with a Bloody Mary buffet bar.. Make sure to get a table at their beautiful back patio.

Monello/Benecotto- Two incredible Italian restaurants that are back to back with fresh ingredients. They also have a great apertivo hour- whenever you order a drink they give you a small plate of appetizers.

Barabusa- Possibly the trendiest Italian restaurant in Little Italy, but the food is really delicious and fresh. The Granchio pasta is wow! We don’t come here that often because it is always packed but I still recommend it to out of towners.

Isola- I love this Italian place, it reminds me of places I have visited in Roma. The ingredients are very fresh and their pizza is delicious.

Ironside- The best seafood restaurant in the area. They have a beautiful bar and fun tiki inspired drinks. They also have one of the best lobster rolls I have ever tasted.

Rovino- I feel that this restaurant is very homey and it is never too busy but we love it. The portions are huge and the prices are very good.

Coco Maya- The newest restaurant to open up, located on a second floor rooftop overlooking Little Italy. This spot is super trendy already and loaded with influencers types. I was not a huge fan of that, however I really enjoyed the view, food, and decor. It is nice to have a different kind of cuisine in Little Italy to check out.

Seneca- Technically in the waterfront area, but still in the vicinity and worth a visit if you can get a reservation! From the same Consortium Holdings group and Born and Raised, this restaurant is at the top of the Intercontinental hotel. If you cannot get dinner reservations I highly recommend the brunch or lunch because it is never that busy and you can see the view during the day.

Anime- Also in waterfront but close enough. This is the best asian fusion restaurant in the area. The food is unique and the menu is always changing. The bar is gorgeous so even if you do not eat here definitely get a drink.

Bars/Breweries

The Guild Hotel Bar

False Idol/Craft and Commerce

Topsail

Wolfie’s Carousel Bar

Burgeon Brewery

Karl Strauss Brewery

Balhast Point Brewery

Coffee Shops/Cafe’s

Portal Coffee

Frost Me

Pappalecco

James Coffee Co.

Kuma Cafe

Extraordinary Desserts

What to Do

The Little Italy Mercato- Open every Wednesday and Saturday, this farmer’s market takes up multiple blocks and has everything from the most beautiful fresh flowers, local produce, fresh cheese, and food to go. I prefer the Wednesday market as it is smaller and less busy, but the Saturday market has much more so I go to both. Get there early because it gets crowded and places do run out of things!

Relax in the Piazza- The Piazza is the hub of Little Italy. It is a public area to relax outside with tons of tables and iconic fountain. There is a great food hall too to get some lunch, dinner, or gelato. It feels very European.

Go Antique Shopping- Further down toward the end of Little Italy there are a bunch of furniture, home decor, and antique shops. I have picked up a few great pieces here from furniture to home decor.

Go on a Brewery Crawl- From one end of Little Italy all the way to Broadway you can stumble upon multiple wonderful breweries. They are not the actual headquarters of the breweries but they are the store fronts where you can get all the local San Diego beer and great food too.

Art Walks- In April Little Italy hosts their largest art fair. It is so big that the farmer’s market has to be moved, so on that Saturday you have both the art fair and the farmer’s market, it is a great day! There is also an art walk every week in the month of June on a smaller scale.

The Little Italy Dog Park- If you have a dog this is a great dog park to bring them too. They also have a coffee cart if you want a pick me up or a treat in the morning.

Admire the foliage- In the spring and summer months Little Italy is blossoming with beauty. San Diego is known for their Jacaranda trees which are purple trees. Yes, all the city blocks in May are lined with literal purple trees.

Walk on the Waterfront- I am still going to include the waterfront in my guide because it is just a few blocks away from Little Italy. Everything that I mentioned is within walking distance. Do not miss the beautiful waterfront during sunset.