Holla from San Diego!!!
We are here for the week visiting with my MIL Karen, who moved here in January, and celebrating the 4th of July. We rented a house in Mission Beach, and we are having so much fun playing on the beach, riding our beach cruisers and soaking up the sunshine.
Well, not all of the sunshine because we had a rare SoCal thunderstorm our first day here!
Upon our arrival we went out to dinner in Mission Beach. Check out this calamari!
We shared a handful of small plates and sushi. Mazen did great staying up past his usual bedtime and getting right on Cali time.
We ended up jumping onto an earlier flight on the way out, so unfortunately our suitcase didn’t make the trip. I took a cup of tea out of the beach the next morning, and despite being dirty and missing my toiletries, all was well.
We cooked a nice breakfast and enjoyed it out on our patio. Karen’s place is close by, so she can walk over anytime. Eggs // sausage // pineapple.
Mid morning I went out exploring on a 5 mile run and headed up towards Pacific Beach. The view from the pier there!
The seaside pathways are so much fun. There are wheels of all kinds – bikes, skateboards, in-line skates, strollers, scooters. I wish we had more of these on the East Coast!
Healthy lunch before hitting the beach! Salad // peppers // hummus // avocado // Nut-Thins.
Our beach time was short due to the storm, but we made fun inside.
Burgers on the grill were on the menu, and we brought our buns from home! Matt made some amazing blue cheese-stuffed grass-fed burgers that we served with Karen’s buttermilk slaw.
After the sun set and a certain toddler was tucked into bed, Matt and I went out on a beach walk.
Just as we were looking at the stars align, we became an aunt and uncle!!
Matt’s brother Andrew became a father! Andrew and Ashley are excited to introduce baby Ava to the world. Mazen is excited to have a cousin (who he keeps calling his sister : ) ) We can’t wait to meet her soon.
Wednesday morning we met up with Gina and Livi for a playdate at the beach!
These two played together 2 years ago in Arizona when M was just a baby, and they were fast friends this time too. Mazen told Livi to hold his hand for the photo <3
The water was absolutely freezing but they didn’t care!!
We left M with his grandmothers for lunch, and Matt and I biked over to Ocean Beach to Pizza Port. Matt was in heaven!
I had a big kale salad, and we shared a few slices of this huge pizza.
We don’t have a car, so we’re beach cruisin’ it everywhere!! {My rashguard is from Title Nine and yes I’m living it in! It’s UPF 30 and perfect for the chilly mornings and evenings here.}
We spent the afternoon on the beach, but again the skies were gray! Mazen is scared of all the seaweed, and the water is pretty cold, but everyone is having the best time out there!
For dinner we made fish tacos with leftover slaw, fresh avocado and crème fraîche. And buttery California chardonnay!
Happy Weekend friends!!! {And Happy Birthday Matt Allen!!!!}
Alex @ get big, go to work says
San Diego looks amazing! Seems like there is so much to see and do outside in such an active community! I would love to visit it one day. Have a great 4th.
Sagan says
Looks lovely – such a gorgeous sky!
Mazen and Livi = adorable. So nice when kids are at that age where they become instant friends.
[email protected] says
It looks absolutely gorgeous there!! Have a great trip!
Sarah Kate says
Welcome to San Diego! I live in point Loma, have read your blog for YEARS and I never thought I might run into you in my ‘hood. Hopefully this unseasonably gloomy weather subsides for the weekend. Have a blast with Karen and I’ll keep my eyes peeled for the KERF crew.
KathEats says
: )
Sarah says
Congratulations to Andrew! That’s the most exciting thing of all. Are your parents with you or did Karen walk over to stay with Maze while you and Matt took your cute sunset beach walk?
KathEats says
My mom is here too!
[email protected] says
Let us know about the house you’re renting after you trip. We’re always looking for cool houses for quick getaway weekends. Have a blast! And enjoy the Cali weather!!
katyrenee says
How fun! Love your rashguard–where is it from?
Laura Ann says
I’m so glad you are enjoying your stay here! I hope Matt will be able to get to North Park where there are countless beer bars and breweries (many child -friendly).
Kaila @ Healthy Helper says
I recognize so many of those places from visiting my sister when she lived there! I love San Diego. I am wondering, how do you get such amazing photos at restaurants?! Do you use your DSLR?
KathEats says
These were all taken with my LG G4! Looove the camera on it!
Livi @ Eat, Pray, Work It Out says
San Diego is such an awesome city! You have to get some acai bowls while you’re out there!
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says
Omg the two little ones are adorable together! Have a blast on vacation!!
Shel@PeachyPalate says
Your food looks incredible! Those tacos and burgers…they belong in a restaurant!!!
Sarah says
I’m not sure if I’m reading too much into this but you said grandmothers. Did Karen move to CA for love 🙂
KathEats says
Haha my mom is here too!
Cassie says
The food looks delicious! What a fun weekend and I can’t wait to see what you do on the Fourth of July!
Tracy says
You’re an aunt! Congratulations! I bet you can’t wait to meet her!
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West says
Hi Kath! Gorgeous photos. Looks like you guys are having a wonderful time. And you got some play-time in with Gina too. My husband’s parents moved to San Diego and we’ve only been down (from San Francisco) to see them one time. I’m looking forward to going back in August. And fish tacos and buttery Chardonnay? That’s my kind of combo! Have fun the rest of your trip!
Lorin says
I live in San Diego (I actually met you once at the Marriott with other blog readers for frozen yogurt a few years ago)! It’s such an awesome place and hopefully you guys won’t have to drive tomorrow. I would avoid it if you can 🙂
Enjoy your time here!
KathEats says
We don’t have a car so traffic shouldn’t be a problem 😉 love it here!
Katie @ Live Half Full says
This post had me drooling over the weather and food! That seafood- yum!
Jeanie says
I swear I can smell the ocean when looking at your pictures. I’m sure the weather is cooler down south there than it is here in Sacramento. Congratulations on the newest family member.
Kristin says
We were just there a couple of weeks ago. We walked the OB pier too. Loved Culture Brewing in OB (went to the one in Solana Beach also). The beach was inundated with tuna crabs when we were there.
Faith says
Soak up the sun/Vitamin D 🙂 We have had rain galore here, & yesterday & today were the first time in I am not sure how long that we saw the sun!
http://www.mydoterra.com/fmdoterra/#/
Melissa Moore says
Kath, you better go paddle boarding! San Diego is the capital of SUP. Gina can show you.
KathEats says
Hoping to this weekend!
Melissa Moore says
Hooray! Happy 4th! And good on you to visit Pizzahhh Porrrrt. So good.
Elyse says
Looks like a fantastic time!
Karen says
Huge congrats to Andrew, and boy are these ever great photos! I am jealous of your perpetual vacation life. I don’t know anyone who has more leisure time than you – constant vacations, unlimited gym time, complimentary this and that, etc. It’s like you live in some sort of fantasy world, which I hardly recognize from real life. No shame, just pure jealousy on my part:) Enjoy!
Char @ Nutritiously Fit says
Your pictures are absolutely gorgeous as always and just makes we want to fly to the west coast ASAP!! Looks like the vacay is great so far. My daughter has the same water wings as M and Livi and it was the best purchase ever!! Those things saved my worrying brain!! haha
Heidi Kokborg says
These pictures are all so beautiful! 🙂
Emily says
Wow, those cheese stuffed burgers look absolutely delish!
lynn @ the actor's diet says
Welcome to the West Coast!
Jennifer says
Welcome back to San Diego. If you feel really industrious, bike on over to La Jolla! Mazen would probably love seeing the seals and sea lions at the La Jolla Cove.
KathEats says
I would love for him to see the sea lions but I think it’s probably a little too far to bike!
Kelsey says
My boyfriend was just at Pizza Port! He was at the national homebrewer’s conferene in San Diego, and Pizza Port is also his “heaven.” Like a kid in a candy store…. 😉
KathEats says
Matt was at that convention too! 🙂
Lauren says
If you don’t mind, where are your sunglasses from? I’m looking for ones like those!
KathEats says
They were freebies from our pavilion! I love them : )
Jessica J. says
I’m pregnant with our first, and my nephew is sooo excited that he is going to have a “sister.” It’s so cute. We keep trying to tell him that our daughter will be his cousin but it hasn’t sunk in yet.
Congrats to you on being an aunt!
Shannon says
I love pizza port so much. We were on vacation in San Diego a couple weeks back and ate there for the first time. Loved it so much, we ate at the one in Orange County two more times while on vacation there for the Fourth of July. Looks like you missed out on swamis IPA—didn’t see it on the tap list. It’s basically the best west coast style IPA I’ve ever had. Ponto session is great as well. What did you end up drinking?
Breanne says
Enjoy San Diego! I’m behind on my blog-reading, but I hope our weather clears up for at least part of your trip! If you make it to Balboa Park, I’d love to meet you! I work at the Natural History Museum 🙂