staycation

Visiting Levi’s The Vault in San Francisco

 in General Fashion  tagged levis / outfits / san francisco / staycation / winter 2026 by

Levi’s The Vault (museum) from top: Worn by Beyonce’s, Levi’s covered in Swarovski crystals / Iconic matching outfits by Levi’s worn by Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears / Kurt Cobain’s jeans /

Levi’s has reopened their corporate museum “The Vault” and also their corporate store. Love! If you live in the Bay Area, this is a fun excursion while you’re visiting the city. More info at LeviStrauss.com.

The current exhibition at The Vault is centered around Levi’s pieces worn by iconic musicians. I am sure you recognized the ones I featured in this post! Love! This exhibit closes in December, but a new one with another theme will open in February. Stay tuned!

The museum is a one-room exhibition, so it only takes about fifteen minutes to visit. Since Levi’s headquarters is by the water and the piers, it is easy to combine other activities with your visit. In addition to visiting the store, there are a few restaurants nearby, the Exploratorium is a five-minute walk away, and more! We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Xica.

Enchiladas at Xica. This restaurant is so good! I can’t wait to go back! Yummy! Highly recommend.

wearing: earrings / sunglasses / scarf / sweater / handbag / nail polish / Levi’s jeans / black boots /

Of course I wore Levi’s jeans to visit Levi’s The Vault. These jeans are classic, comfortable, flattering, and also available in various lengths, making them perfect for petites! Love that!

Although chilly outside, it was a beautiful day in the city. After enjoying lunch at Xica, we walked around the waterfront and enjoyed the fog-free view.

I will watch for the next exhibit and keep you posted! Levi’s a huge part of San Fracisco and fashion history, so I love keeping up with them!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

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

Taco Bell on the beach

 in General Fashion  tagged casual style / outfits / restaurants / staycation by

pictured: Cantina Bowl / Pina Colada (no alcohol) / me-windblown wearing: sunglasses / earrings / bracelets / black tee / black handbag / jeans / black loafers / nail polish /

OK, so if you are from the Bay Area, you already know about Taco Bell in Pacifica. This is touted as “the most beautiful Taco Bell in the world.” Apologies, I don’t know the original quote author, if you know, tell me and I will update credit.

The Taco Bell in Pacifica is actually a Taco Bell Cantina and it has a full bar inside! Yes, they serve alcohol if you are interested. In addition, they have a to-go window on the outside of the building so that you can stay sandy and salty from the ocean while indulging in your Taco Bell craving. Love that!

I filed this post under Staycation Bay Area because it really is a destination if you don’t live in Pacifica. You can combine a beach day with Taco Bell. This is also a beautiful and affordable way to have dinner on the beach while watching the sunset. Yes, I have done it, and it is fabulous. Highly recommend!

The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating. I love the patio, but we ate inside on this particular occasion because the wind was quite strong. The interior windows are large and allow full view of the beach. So, if you dine inside you can enjoy the beachy vibes.

Since it was a windy day, we enjoyed our lunch inside with a view of the beach and then took a walk along the beach. My hair flew everywhere, hence my hand on my head in the photo above.

This really is a special Taco Bell. You can have an affordable meal at a restaurant on the beach-which is almost unheard of here in the Bay Area. So, I highly recommend a beach day in Pacifica!

Pro tip: Avoid weekends. If you can go on a Tuesday or Wednesday, then finding parking and a table will be a breeze.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy