Neon, Palms and Ocean Views

A work trip turned into a fun trip last week when I hit California to collaborate with my good friend Jon of Happy Mundane. It had been 8 years since I’d visited California, and I’d never been to SoCal. There was inspiration everywhere I looked, from the rows of palm trees to the abundance of shopping centers with neon lighting. And don’t get me started on the mall interiors! Throw in a cool breeze, coastal views and lush vegetation at every turn, and you can officially declare the state of CA paradise. Today I’m sharing some of my favorite snapshots…

Neon and Palms

Is there anything better than the combination of palm trees and neon lighting? From locations like The Market in Tustin and Irvine to the Irvine Spectrum Center, there are a slew of amazing photo ops. I was in fluoro tropical heaven:

Laguna Beach

I’d never been to a beach where scenic cliffs met sandy shores, pine trees, palm trees, succulents, and mountains in the distance. My plan is to get back to Laguna Beach as soon as possible. The food is great, the shopping is anything but tacky souvenir fare (which does have its merits–but hey, variety is nice), and there are public paths that make working out next to the ocean the ultimate breeze. As in “tropical breeze”…

Malls and Modern Architecture

Shopping opportunities abound in California! The gift shops are carefully curated, and it’s fun to see the work of talented artisans and designers. Jon also introduced me to some absolutely stunning malls, and my favorite was South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. There’s some great ’80s architecture to enjoy here, as well as new flourishes that channel retro style. From arched skylights to brass railing, enjoy the photos that follow. I’ve also tacked on a couple of images of buildings that caught my eye…

A big thank you to Jon for being the host with the most and knowing the exact locations that would inspire my photo frenzy! Hope you all enjoyed the photos… XOXO, Kate