I don’t know about you guys, but January is my all time least favorite month. Since I was a little girl, I’ve always gotten the winter blues right after Christmas is over. I can’t understand how the world can be SO merry and then all of the sudden in a matter of days, the whole season is forgotten and there are Valentine cards in stock before December is done. I’m a big fan of leaving my tree up for a while (sometimes until February…) because I need a little twinkle in my life during the long, cold winter. Also, trees with lights on them don’t have to mean Christmas…they are wintry! Winter can still equal twinkly and cozy. Plus, when people come over they always say, “I’m so glad you left your tree up!” Let’s not cave to the pressures of society friends, leave your tree up if you want (if it’s artificial…)!

Anyway, I say all of this because January got me longing for the California sunshine that I experienced last month during a trip to San Francisco. It wasn’t 80 degrees, but it was still a pleasant 55-60, which is pretty good for December. Funny enough, I was in a little boutique at the check-out counter and the cashier asked me if my purchase was a gift – I told her no, it was a souvenir because I live in Chicago. She then went on to ask, “Is it as cold in Chicago as it is here?!” I must have looked dumbfounded. Except for maybe a couple of other mid-western cities, the answer to the question “Is it colder in Chicago?” will always be yes. But hey, if I lived in California, I too might have blinders on to the rest of the country’s climate woes.

Believe it or not, I had never been to California before and figured it was about time! It’s a huge state with so much to offer, but I knew I wanted to see Big Sur, so picking San Francisco as the home base made sense. Our itinerary included exploring the city (on boat and foot), trying out some of it’s restaurants, driving south on Highway 1 with pit stops in Monterey, Pebble Beach and finally Big Sur. San Francisco on foot is not for the out-of-shape. I’d seen the hills in movies but my gosh, we’re talking almost 90 degree angles. I loved the city though, it had such a Mediterranean vibe to it. With the salty air, pastel homes and ornate architecture, you’d think you were in Greece. As for our drive — I’m pretty used to the Atlantic Ocean by now having lived on the east coast my whole life, and the Pacific could not have been more different. It was both gorgeous and terrifying (the cliffs!). Although I’m a portrait photographer, I enjoyed capturing landscapes for this trip. It’s fun to challenge yourself with new genres!