Matt and I were in Los Angeles over the weekend. We spent a day in Venice Beach, where we went on our third date almost exactly four years ago. Walking hand in hand along Abbot Kinney evoked nostalgic feelings for both of us. We reminisced about the moment when we first met and how far we’ve come along since then. Today, we share a life that I wouldn’t trade for anything else in this world.

Our first stop was Gjelina. I had been dying to go there after hearing so many rave reviews about the restaurant and it definitely lived up to the hype. We decided to have a light lunch so that we could enjoy smaller meals throughout the day.

To begin, we ordered the marinated beets with burrata. The toasted walnuts and balsamic glaze really tied this dish together. We also split a pizza topped with gruyere cheese, caramelized onions and arugula … simple but delicious!

We ended on a sweet note with a bubbly strawberry-rhubarb crisp.

After lunch, we wandered over to Surfing Cowboys, a store filled with an artful blend of mid-century and eclectic pieces. While we didn’t buy anything, we left the place with lots of fun ideas for Matt’s future man cave. A few stores down is Firefly, where they sell an array of uncommon gifts for almost any occasion … perfect for a knick knack hoarder like me. Lastly, not to be missed is Bountiful, which is owned and run by the sweet Sue Balmforth. I felt like a kid in a candy shop as I gawked at her whimsical collection of antiques and cake stands that were stacked from floor to ceiling throughout the store.

All images by me.