outfits

Visiting the butterflies

 in Fitness / General Fashion  tagged fall 2025 / hiking / outfits / santa cruz / staycation by

wearing: sunglasses / statement earrings / lightweight jacket / long sleeve tee / classic jeans (old, also love this pair) / nail polish / water bottle / east/west handbag / sneakers (also, also love this pair) /

It’s Monarch Butterfly season! Every year, from mid-October to January, the Monarch Butterflies visit Natural Bridges State Park in Santa Cruz and dazzle us with their beauty.

The butterflies gather on trees and enjoy the natural foliage around the area. Although there were large groups hanging out together on trees, my iPhone camera was too far away to get a good photo. That being said, I was able to get the up-close picture you see above!

Natural Bridges State Park offers an easy hiking trail, made up mostly of a wooden bridge, through the area where the butterflies enjoy gathering. This allows for the perfect view of the butterflies.

The parking lot is conveniently positioned between the butterfly trail and the beach. So, you can do both on the same day without moving your car. Love that!

After we viewed the butterflies, we relaxed on the beach and watched the waves and surfers. The view of the ocean at Natural Bridges State Park is fabulous. If you are local, it is a must-see!

After our visit to the beach, we went to downtown Santa Cruz and enjoyed a delicious meal at El Palomar. The food was top notch, and the service was friendly, fast, and beyond expectations. It’s my new favorite restaurant in Santa Cruz! Love!

So, if you are local or visiting the area, I recommend this fall/winter activity. You will love seeing the butterflies and relaxing on the beach!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

Some Like It Hot! Broadway San Jose

 in Events / General Fashion  tagged broadway san jose / fall 2025 / outfits / san jose by

wearing: sunglasses / statement earrings / sweater / black pants (similar here) / nail polish / belted tote / black boots (similar) /

About last night. . .

Last night we attended opening night of “Some Like It Hot!” hosted by Broadway San Jose. It was such an amazing production! I love the music, the costumes, and the comedic moments. It was such a fun show!

We arrived early in order to enjoy a glass of wine before the show. It was so nice to go out on a weekday-it breaks up the week! haha, love that!

There’s nothing like Broadway. So, I love that fact that we have traveling Broadway shows right here in San Jose in a beautiful venue known for its architecture. I highly recommend catching “Some Like It Hot!” before it travels away!

You can find ticket info at BroadwaySanJose.com.

What I wore to “Some Like It Hot!”

Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to catch the show before it leaves San Jose!

XOXO
Cathy

*tickets were gifted by Broadway San Jose, all thoughts and opinions are my own

Fall day in the city

 in General Fashion  tagged fall 2025 / outfits / san francisco by

wearing: sunglasses / stud earrings / stripe long sleeve tee / holiday nail polish / wide leg jeans (on sale) / caramel handbag / black boots (old, similar here) /

It’s a beautiful fall season! Last weekend we went to the city for the Italian parade. It just so happened, fleet week was happening at the same time. So, in addition to seeing a parade, we got to look up and catch a glimpse at the air show. As you can see in the photo below, the Canadian Snowbirds drew a heart in the sky. It is partially blocked by trees from my angle, but we could still enjoy it.

We started our day with breakfast at Caffe Greco in North Beach, then we headed over to Washington Square to watch the parade and admire the planes in the sky.

The restaurants in North Beach were impacted since it was the Italian Heritage celebration, so we walked down to Chinatown for lunch where it was easy to get a table, and there were normal menu prices. It was a good choice since we enjoyed dim sum at my favorite dim sum restaurant in San Francisco, Peninsula Seafood Restaurant on Jackson. So good!

The weather was perfect for a parade and also for fleet week. No fog! Right? Crazy! This made my wide leg jeans and long sleeve tee perfect for the weather. Love that!

So, if you ever decide to attend the Italian parade, be sure to plan ahead for lunch. I recommend avoiding event pricing and walking to Chinatown. But, if you want to immerse yourself in the event, be prepared to make reservations and watch for event pricing at the North Beach restaurants. Otherwise, the event was really fun! We enjoyed the parade, the car show, and overall vibe with my fellow people of Italian descent. Love!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy