Since I’ve been sitting in the car for awhile now and we still have another 12 hours or so until we roll into New Orleans, I figured I’d dump some photos I took during my last few days in Santa Barbara. My hometown is a special place, and I am never able to stay away for too long. Growing up there, I had no idea how beautiful it was until I moved away to Georgia for college. The South has its own special charm and I love it, but California will
always pull me back. Not to mention my whole family lives there, which is obviously a huge part of it.
When I moved back to California a few years ago, I had gained a considerable amount of weight during my time
in GA (I blame macaroni and cheese and fried chicken), and within a few months of being back I had changed my eating habits and added a ton of exercise into my life, and not even really on purpose. There’s just something about being in SB and the fact that the weather is perfect year round and everyone is outside getting physical activity… It’s contagious, really.
A couple years later, Jeremy and I both found ourselves considerably lighter (I lost about 35 pounds and Jeremy lost 50), and our lives were filled with fresh produce, home-cooked meals and clean eating. It’s just so easy to live like that there.
It’s also just flat out beautiful. Pacific Ocean on one side, and mountains to hike a couple miles away.
I’m so excited for our travels and at the same time I’m excited to return to SB. We most likely won’t live there permanently again (until we’re older and rich and can buy a beach house), but we’ll at least be driving distance away. Jeremy and I spent our last few days last week enjoying sunrise at the beach, hiking our favorite trail, and I ran my favorite path two last times. I meant to take pictures of all my favorite spots around town, but alas as it often happens, we planned on doing many things we didn’t end up having time for.
Here are some pictures:
Jeremy standing in front of the house where we got married.
Lily Runs the World 
Beautiful pics! I’m so jealous that you get to go to New Orleans soon. I told you that I love love love that city. Enjoy it!
So by the time you get back from traveling I’ll be living in SB! Thanks for letting me know how awesome it is!
Shoot, we could have given you our apartment to keep while we’re away!
Haha I was just kidding (maybe). I want to move somewhere warmer though and you just convinced me of how awesome SB is!
I highly recommend California! I’m biased though…
I can’t wait to be there again, I haven’t been since before Katrina! My best friend lives there so it should be a good time.
Goregous pictures! It sounds like Santa Barbara is an amazing place.
It really is!
Such beautiful pictures! Looks like an amazing time!
Thanks! It’s a special place for sure.
That’s so beautiful, Lily – thanks for sharing these pictures! I spent a bit of time in San Diego when I was living in the US, and you are making me want to go back there soon!
You should! I go through serious withdrawals when I’m away, I’m even feeling it now and it’s only been a day!
Love the pictures! Can’t wait to visit california again
Thanks!
Wow … those palm trees are TALL. I kept going from picture to picture thinking … oh…I am going to comment on that. Then I’d go to the next photo and think the same…but the end of the photo show I was just all WOW … very nice place indeed.
It is a magical place, I highly recommend people visiting!
Huge like to those gorgeous pictures! You are an incredible photographer.
Aw thanks! It’s easy when the subject is so beautiful 🙂
Gorgeous photos! I miss my college town!
Thanks! Ugh I know, I really do miss it already!