Coming from the East Coast, where summers are humid and rainy season is no joke, I still sometimes find it surprising that I landed in this desert city of San Diego. The coast and beaches certainly help me forget that, but drive a little east, where most of the harder hiking trails are located, and you’re in legitimate cacti country. That also means dry, dusty hikes that—I’ll be honest—I’m not incredibly fond of.
But that’s why it was such a pleasant surprise to find the lush and verdant scenery at Los Penasquitos (“Little Cliffs”) Canyon Preserve, situated between Ranchos Penasquitos and Sorrento Hills. Sometimes the greens were so bright that it was almost like someone cranked up the saturation levels. And minus a few times when you see houses or the highway, you feel secluded à la Cheryl Strayed hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in Wild. OK, Los Penasquitos is a totally flat course, so not at all on par with the difficulty of Cheryl’s journey, but that same palpable feeling of being away from it all is there.
The nearly 4,000-acre preserve includes more than 10 miles of trails—a mix of shaded and non-shaded areas—that accommodate hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians, as well as a historic adobe ranch house and event space for weddings. Along the trails you’ll find sycamores, cacti, and even bobcats and coyotes, one of which I spotted the first time I walked this trail.
The most popular route is a six-mile loop that brings you to the waterfall—it’s pretty, but “waterfall” is a generous term—at Lopez Canyon before either rounding back the way you came or completing the loop, which involves crossing the creek to get to the other side. Since the trail is all walking and can get a wee bit monotonous, we definitely wanted to cross the creek and finish the loop on the opposite side of the trail. It takes some delicate hopping-over-stones footwork but is very much doable. Eaman even did it while holding Teddy by the leash! You’ll see people stop at the canyon to sun on the rocks, take pictures, picnic, or even read a book. And more than a few dogs will eagerly pull toward the water desperately wanting a quick dip in the cold water.
Tired, sore, and fueled with enough Vitamin D for a good month, you’ll likely want copious Mexican food after. At least that’s how we felt.
Holly is a self-proclaimed “foodmaker” who shares her recipes on FMITK (From My Impossibly Tiny Kitchen) and has been featured on FoodandWine.com, thanks in part to her wildly popular Pretzky Bun recipe (a pretzel meets a sticky bun). If that shouldn’t give you a clue about her creative twist on things, then take a look at this Beyonce-themed dinner party she cooked up. Drunk in Rub chicken wings, anyone?
Today Holly talks about why feeding people is so special and people-watching…among other things.
Name: Holly Haines Age: 32 Neighborhood: University Heights, San Diego Job: Foodmaker @ FMITK.com
What did you eat for breakfast today?
Coffee. I’m horrible at eating breakfast, but it’s something I’m trying to work on this year.
What’s the best thing about your job?
Experimenting with different flavors and spices, then getting to share those experiments with the people I love. Feeding people is my higher vibration.
The worst?
The food fails. Nothing hurts more than looking forward to a dish and having it turn out horribly.
How do you tackle a creative block?
I usually meditate. Or try to focus on something completely different—that’s when a spark of inspiration usually happens.
What are you currently reading? The Professional Chef—it’s the textbook used at the Culinary Institute of America. There are so many technical terms I have yet to learn!
What’s your favorite spot in San Diego and why?
My favorite spot is anywhere with delicious coffee and people-watching.
What was the most awesome thing about today?
Waking up and breathing. The day exists, and so do I… that’s awesome enough for me.
Doing: Three fun writing assignments and finding the confidence to pitch ideas to new outlets.
Practicing: Yoga at night. I used to be really strict about going only in the mornings because I consider it a great day-starter, but there’s something to be said for winding down with a good stretch. I’ve also been feeling like come 6 p.m., my mind is bouncing around like an over-stimulated pinball, and evening yoga has been the only way to dial it down a few (hundred) notches.
I know hardly anything about makeup and still don’t know how to deal with my curly hair, but skincare? Skincare I know and love. Ever since I received my first Clinique 3-Step kit, I’ve been diligent about scrubs, moisturizers, SPF, eye cream, and everything that goes along with it, and part of my morning routine involves reading about other people’s routines on Into The Gloss‘ Top Shelf column.
Here’s a little rundown of what I use, what I love, and what you should try:
Kate and I first met on a press trip, and soon after we exchanged info, we realized we had a lot in common—a love for travel, writing, natural beauty, and healthy eating. I know, one could say you can throw a stone and find people like that in Southern California, but I really connected with Kate’s thoughtful, meditative style. She seemed smart, focused, and talented. A quick glance at her excellent writing-photography-DIY site, and you’ll see that all of the above rings true.
In the spirit of the new year and healthy starts, you should check out her inspiring post on her daily wellness routine and details about a book she’s writing (!). And in the spirit of my 7 Questions With series, Kate talks about the opposite of a creative block and why her North County neighborhood is so dang special…among other things.
What did you eat for breakfast today?
Homemade banana ice cream with dates and cacao nibs.
What’s the best thing about your job?
Being creative. Everything that I truly want to do comes back to that feeling of being a kid again when all I did was draw and make up stories. Now I take photographs and write stories.
The worst?
I put a lot of pressure on myself, which is something I need to work on.
How do you tackle a creative block?
Honestly, I rarely have a creative block. I have the opposite problem where I think of way too many projects I want to do. So, for me, I have to tackle decision-making and really only choose projects that deep down I want to do as opposed to what I think I should do.
What are you currently reading?
Just finished Wild. Loved it. Now I want to do something drastic and crazy in 2015.
What’s your favorite spot in the city and why?
Hands down, Leucadia. This place reminds me of my childhood in Ventura, CA. Can’t beat the laid-back vibe.
What was the most awesome thing about today?
Hmmm, the fact that I’m here in beautiful San Diego, that I have people I love around me and that I haven’t given up on my dream.
As goal-oriented as I am, New Year’s resolutions used to feel so forced to me. But now that the new year aligns with our move-to-San-Diego anniversary, it seems more fitting to set a new intention for the next 12 months. It’s a time when I take stock of what I’ve accomplished, where I’ve faltered, and how better I can live this now not-so-new San Diego life. I have a bunch of resolutions on the docket, but here are three biggies:
Cook more, eat out less. I don’t drink, I’m not a concert-goer, I rarely go to the movie theater, and I definitely don’t shop much—so where is all my money going? Eating out. I had always thought I was so good about eating in, but after I looked at my last few credit card statements, I realized that all these lunch dates and dinner excursions are adding up. Part of that stems from the fact that I work from home and cabin fever is sometimes inevitable. I also try to justify extraneous grocery purchases—fancy tomato sauces or sesame oil that I’ll hardly ever use—by rationalizing that hey, I’m eating in! But I need to be less tempted; I don’t always need dessert and I shouldn’t snack just because I’m bored. I also need to plan non-dining activities with friends. The funny thing is I’m fortunate enough to eat out for free thanks to my day job as a freelance travel and food writer, so I’m certainly not deprived. I’m aiming for two (paid) meals out and 2-3 coffees per week. There are bigger things worth saving for in my opinion like travel (see below) and eventually, a house.
A trip or two. Everyone is all, “I want to travel more this year!” but I’m coming from a slightly different point of view. I’ve traveled a lot in my life. In fact, I spent 2011-2012 backpacking around the world, so I’m really not one to say I’m deficient in this department. But last year, we traveled only for weddings, to see our families, and one great but work-related trip to Palm Springs. For someone who spends her money on mainly just food or travel, I do feel like I’m missing out. Since both Eaman and I are self-employed, finances are not what they used to be, but I’d really like to save my pennies (see above) to go on one California road trip and one Hawaii trip. Or maybe combine those two to do something bigger like Cuba or Brazil.
A yoga headstand or handstand or tripod headstand or forearm stand. I started a regular yoga schedule last summer, and while I’ve seen progress in a few poses (crow and sidecrow), I’m still scared to death of being upside down. I think it’s rooted in my many years of classical Indian dance training, where the focus is about being very grounded. But I need to just get over myself. It’s really not about the physical. As many things, it’s all mental.
Now that I work for myself, the holidays is usually the only time of the year I feel like I’m actually on vacation; everyone else is so out of pocket, that I’m forced to be, too. I thought it’d be filled with more work, but the time ended up being a really fulfilling San Diego staycation.
For better or worse, Eaman and I tend to put a Type A spin on fun, and so we had a to-do list of fun things to do over the holidays, and we covered pretty much everything. Movies, hikes, beach (like Windansea Beach, above) coffee, pumpkin cream cheese cupcakes, time with my girlfriends, Christmas light-gawking—I couldn’t have asked for a more fun two weeks. A couple days ago, we were actually a little, dare I say, bored because we had ticked off all the to-do’s and realized that each day had been so gratifying that, how could we top it? Clearly, a good problem to have.
When you have a blog or are active on social media, there’s often this feeling of having to feed the beast constantly. Take a break? Take vacation? Hardly!
But actually, this time, I’m going to take that break. I’m going to take some time off from the blog until the new year (or maybe New Year’s Eve). Part of that time will be spent working, while the rest will be spent engaging in some G-rated fun, like watching A Charlie Brown Christmas, baking, hiking, long coffee dates, and more. Eaman and I were in San Diego last year during the holidays, and having that time in a fairly empty city felt like a staycation. We were forced to not think about work because no one was around. So even though we have to parse out some of that time for our to-do list (#selfemployment), we’re hoping to recreate some of last year’s fun and actually take a break.
Enjoy your holidays, safe travels, and happy holidays. I’ll still be around on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and I guarantee I’ll be spending more than a couple hours throughout the holidays on Pinterest with some gummy bears by my side. That’s my kind of holiday vacation.
