Laguna Beach: Travel Guides

First of all, I think Laguna Beach, CA is one of my favorite places I’ve visited (and I’ve been to quite a few places). Meagan and I were trying to conjure up ways we could stay there forever. Car camping, anyone?? From the unbelievable scenery to the relaxed atmosphere, Laguna has something for everyone. Now let’s take a cruise down the PCH memory lane and recap the must sees of Laguna!

In no particular order

1. Heisler Park

A paved sidewalk-trail that runs parallel between the coast and the PCH, Heisler Park boasts some beautiful views of Main Beach. There’s also stairwell access to the beach!

2. Banzai Bowls

Okay so Banzai Bowls aren’t strictly a Laguna thing, BUT Meagan and I had been waiting for years to get our hands on an açaí bowl so we booked it from Main Beach to Banzai Bowls. What was supposed to be a mile or so walk turned into almost a three mile hike (don’t ask me how, it should’ve been a straight shot down the PCH) but we hit a few shops along the way!

3. Urth Cafe

While we’re talking about food, Urth Cafe is high high high on my list. Like Banzai Bowls, there are Urths in other CA cities. It’s really popular with YouTubers like Hannah Meloche and Ellie Thumann and now I know why: it’s absolutely delicious!!! I think most of the food is organic or sustainably sourced or something like that so it’s on the pricier end, but so worth it! Meagan and I both ordered stuffed French toast (post-SoulCycle: we earned it 😂)

4. Gelato Paradiso

Okay this is turning into a food post but I couldn’t not put this in here. Seriously the BEST GELATO IVE EVER HAD. I ordered four flavors to try a variety and ooooo baby. So rich and creamy, my mind is still blown!

5. Laguna Alta

Laguna Alta (top of the world) is a little network of trails that’s popular with mountain bikers. It overlooks the mountains and hillsides of Laguna and really makes you feel like you’re on top of the world or at least on top of Laguna! We drove by the local high school too, and it’s so weird to think that there’s kids like me that live there everyday???

6. Crystal Cove and Shake Shack

Halfway between Laguna and Newport Beach lies Crystal Cove State Park and the Shake Shack. We took a walk down the beach to the Shake Shack where I had one of the best chocolate malts of my life. And an extra long hotdog? It was like a foot and a half long? But yeah the scenery was so pretty along the park

7. Le Macaron

Okay now this is the last food post. Let me just say I love love love French macarons!!! They are my favorite dessert next to creme brûlée and red velvet cheesecake!!! There’s a shop along the PCH across from Main Beach that’s totally dedicated to French Macarons. It was a sign. I HAD to have some. They were deeeelish! (No I didn’t eat all of these, half of them were Meagan’s!-unfortunately)

Highly highly recommend Laguna Beach for your next vacay!!!

Later later

MACK

What I’m Loving: April

There’s just been some things this month that make life a little bit better. So I figured I’d share my April obsessions!

Books: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

I’ve always had this book in my Goodreads cache, but never could pull myself to buy it. I’m about halfway, and I’m already loving it. After a reading dry spell, I was ready for a book that really drew me in and had me thinking about it while I was doing something else and this did the trick! Plus, it makes me really want to save the bees so go me.

TV/Movies: Game of Thrones

After hearing all the hype for several years, I finally bit the bullet and started Game of Thrones. Only two episodes in and I’m hooked so far. But I have a habit of never ever finishing like any series that I start so I’ll probably lose interest oops. Shoutout to my sister for the HULU hookup 😉

Food: Boom Chicka Pop (Kettle Corn)

Crack in a bag. Do not let one of these luscious, purple bags in my site or I’ll mindlessly eat the whole thing. Seriously DEEEELISHHHHH

Hobby: Crocheting and Sewing

Yeah I know it’s very old lady-ish but I think it’s fun and I have some projects lined up that I’m super excited about!! The problem is that I get so burnt out so fast, but I’m trying to make some stuff for my dorm and maybe I’ll be able to sell some other stuff?? HMMMM

The Absentee Blogger (AKA me)

yeah this picture doesn’t relate to this post but enjoy the view

So… I kinda stopped blogging. At the beginning, I told myself I’d post every week. Obviously that didn’t pan out.

I can’t really make the excuse that my schoolwork has completely overwhelmed me. I’m a second semester senior-what’s schoolwork??? Even though I’ve been bored out of my mind in school, I’m still busy with track practice and meets and just other things and let me just be honest. I’ve been really tired. Like the kind of tired where you can sleep on the weekends all you want and still be tired from the word go on Monday and then all throughout the week. I honestly don’t know why I’ve been tired, I go to bed before 10:30 almost every night. Whatever.

I think one of the main things that’s been preventing me from blogging is that I expect too much from myself. I try to write posts, but it just never comes out like I intend. I haven’t decided what platform I want to target or if I even want to have specific targets. I think that takes the fun out of it. Why shouldn’t I be able to blog about anything I want? My blog is basically a public journal where I can pretend to have an audience that cares what I have to say. A public journal with the intent to provide content for myself to look back on while inspiring others. There. I said it.

I have a really bad habit of expecting to be a pro at everything even if I’m just starting out. It’s kinda like that quote that says something like “Don’t compare your mile one to someone else’s mile 26.” Is that how it goes? Or did I just make that up? I really struggle with comparison when it comes to my hobbies and interests. I expect my blog to look like the famous travel blogger’s sites or the creative mommy bloggers. Meanwhile, mine is drab and I still can’t seem to figure out how to add pages or really do anything to my site 😦 It’s very frustrating for me and makes me insecure.

I know it’s dumb to stress about something that should be fun, but I still place unnecessary pressure on myself. I find comfort in the fact that many people tell me that they enjoy reading my blogs-even if it is my family and my boyfriend (I think they’re a little biased) BUT at least someone enjoys it along with me and that should be enough! So maybe I’ll spice things up and switch my theme, huh, what do we think about that? Maybe add some more pages and really get the blog looking like a real site. MAYBE

So, now that I’ve got this off my chest I am going to push myself to post every Sunday. Even if I think my post sounds like the stupidest thing on Earth. Because in retrospect, should I care? Eh, maybe, but there are better things to worry about than if Sue thinks I ramble too much and my posts are ugly and unorganized. We’re all trying our best, sweetie! Don’t you forget it.

Smell ya l8r

MACK