I’ve been reading The Art of Communicating by Thich Nhat Hanh. I’ve loved so much of what he shared in his lifetime, but I’ve been slow to read his books in full (I’m trying to change that). This book’s opening chapter mesmerized me. So much so that I’ve paused to soak in his quotes on the art we are all learning … communication … these quotes of his that I think are beautiful. “Where I live in Plum Village, every time you meet someone on your way somewhere, you join your palms and bow to him or to her with respect, because you know that there is a Buddha inside that person. Even if tha ..read more

After years of use, I promised friends I would finally share, in detail, why I use the Chase Sapphire Reserve (CSR) credit card for nearly everything I buy—how it benefits me. I should note that I don’t act quickly on financial matters. I don’t hurry to take advantage of something just because people say I should. I pause and think things through, a lot. So I had to think about the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card for a long time before I knew whether it would be a good fit for my life. After all, it might not be a good fit for everyone. While soul-searching this topic years ago, about whet ..read more

The Sacred Space was the first place we visited in Summerland, CA. It was such a nurturing place to pause. Even in winter, when clouds briefly appeared. The Sacred Space website explained just a whisper. Their Events and New Arrivals pages revealed just a peek into what they offered. But that’s not how we discovered The Sacred Space. My boyfriend noticed its beautiful corner lot as we drove by. He told me I needed to go inside. He said it would make me happy. And he was right. This local shop and garden felt like a place to retreat. Just by existing. Just by allowing one to be there. It was a ..read more

The first time we headed south of Santa Barbara, California, on the highway, we quickly spotted a sign that read Summerland. I wondered what Summerland, CA., might behold. Soon after that, we found ourselves regularly taking the back roads into and out of Santa Barbara, which had us passing through Summerland itself—a tiny wisp of a town. Once I noticed Summerland’s beautiful small local shops, I wanted to wander Summerland’s street. Down one side and back up the other. I only wished I had done so sooner. A small community with a spiritualist history, Summerland’s local shops presented beauti ..read more

As someone who seeks affordable, ethical, and sustainable clothing brands, I’m so grateful we now have so many sustainable brands to browse through. I can find cute—and almost any style of—sustainable clothing now. It feels so good to know our clothing choices help the climate. But I’ve seriously needed to list out all of these sustainable clothing brands in one place (along with a reminder to follow my values while I shop). So I’ve gathered all of these details and placed them below. Which means I can now just visit this page whenever I need to go clothes shopping… My Guidance for Shoppin ..read more

As much as I love architecture and any place that currently feels peaceful, I hesitated to photograph and share about the Old Mission Santa Barbara and its 1786 church. I hesitated, even though we arrived at this mission and church under the golden sun, blue skies, and fluffy clouds, with billowing flowers out back. I hesitated, even though we returned to this mission and church to witness the sense of community in the park where neighborhood families gathered, walked, and played. I hesitated, even though it had multiple outdoor spaces that I was hoping to tour through. I hesitated because I ..read more

Mesa Verde was the second vegan restaurant I was hoping to try while we were enjoying the beauty of Santa Barbara, California. They served Mediterranean cuisine. That I didn’t have to dress up super fancy made me so happy. We were camping, after all. Tucked into an unlikely location in Santa Barbara’s Mesa neighborhood, Mesa Verde’s interior felt like a tropical green nest. And we loved our server, whom we bonded with over international experiences, as he and his wife have a beautiful story. What a sweetheart. Over several visits, we tried as much of the menu as possible. Plenty of items were ..read more

Oliver’s of Montecito, an upscale restaurant serving all plant-based vegan cuisine, was one of the first eateries I’d planned to visit while in Montecito, California. However, I almost missed out. Oliver’s had such a natural presence in Montecito that I could never find its building. Even though it was right in front of me. We passed it regularly. I also wasn’t sure what to wear to Oliver’s of Montecito. Online photos and menu prices indicated that this was quite a fancy establishment that required dressy clothing. But we were camping. And when we left on this trip, I didn’t bring my luggage ..read more

While wandering past the long drives and dutiful gates found throughout the curvy hills of Montecito, California, we found two villages—both of which were considered to be the village of Montecito. Montecito Upper Village and Montecito Lower Village. Funnily, these villages weren’t clearly labeled as such on maps, and they were almost two miles apart. Hence, my map of Montecito below, which notes these village locations. Montecito’s Upper Village was quietly nestled near the intersection of San Ysidro RD and East Valley RD. That is where we found a small library, church, gas station, post o ..read more

While wandering through Montecito, California, we found two villages that were both considered to be the village of Montecito—Montecito Lower Village and Montecito Upper Village. Funnily enough, these villages were not clearly labeled as such on maps, and they were almost two miles apart. So I’m sharing a map of Montecito below, noting both village locations. Montecito Upper Village, quietly nestled near the intersection of San Ysidro RD and East Valley RD, included a small library, church, gas station, and post office—plus eateries and shops in the Montecito Village, San Ysidro, and Pierre L ..read more