staycation

Japanese Tea Garden San Francisco

 in General Fashion  tagged outfits / san francisco / staycation / summer 2026 by

wearing: gold hoop earrings / stripe dress / scarf / nail polish / caramel top handle bag / sneakers /

The Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco is located in Golden Gate Park and dates back to the world’s fair in 1884. It’s a peaceful garden filled with well-kept vegetation and beautiful koi. Despite visiting on a holiday weekend, we were able to enjoy the peaceful vibe and take in the beauty of the garden.

After walking throughout the garden, we stopped and had a relaxing cup of tea. I enjoyed the Jasmine tea. It was brewed just right. Love!

You can see my 4th of July blue glitter nail polish above, despite being a holiday weekend, we were able to enjoy the gardens and easily find a seat in the teahouse to enjoy our tea.

One really cool thing about the Japanese Tea Gardens is that they limit how many people can enter each hour, so it keeps the crowds down and allows you to enjoy the setting. Pro tip: 9am-10am is free Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Be sure to book tickets ahead of time online through Golden Gate Park.

After visiting the Japanese Tea Gardens, we walked over to the California Academy of Science and enjoyed the exhibits and aquarium. I recommend checking it out; even my college age kids loved it, so did us adults.

It gets foggy, as you can tell from my photos. So, make sure you bring a sweatshirt, scarf or light jacket.

Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned for more summer coverage!

XOXO

Cathy

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