No trip to L.A. is complete without a trip to Santa Monica beach. My mom and I had a great time—it was a gloriously sunny day but not too hot, with a nice breeze off the water. We got tired of walking at some point and hired a bike taxi; the guy was hilarious and had been taxi-ing since the 70s. He had some great stories to tell, especially about the literal gangs the homeless population had formed on the beaches.

Once my mom and I picked up our rental car, we went to downtown L.A. to check out The Last Bookstore.

It's a really magically designed bookstore and I loved exploring all the rooms and levels and displays!

In July of 2022, I went to LA for a little less than a week to visit my grandma and to go to a Stray Kids concert (my first! I was very excited!) Upon arrival, my grandparents picked me and my mom and took us for brunch at a cute little place near them. Of course, I had to get orange juice (and pretty much got it every chance I got).

Then we headed home. I love my grandma's house. It's so bright and yet cozy at the same time. I especially like the little hummingbird feeder.

The next day, we went on a driving tour heading to Malibu beach, saw amazing mountain views, and had incredible ceviche (not pictured, we ate it too fast) at the Paradise Cove Beach Café.