Life, Lately - Entry No. 4

August recap: a year older, getting my beach fix, birthday festivities, a new playlist

Aug 30, 2025

Life, Lately.

Documenting big and little moments of my life in a monthly recap to look back on when I need joy and the reminder that I do actually do things and have things going on, because sometimes I get that BIG overwhelming feeling of “what am I doing with my life! I never do anything!”

1. I took a solo trip to Seaside

A few years ago my “church mom” gave me the amazing gift of being able to stay at the beach a couple of nights, and I went all by myself. I took my bible study with me, some art supplies, and my kindle. It was such a nice trip exploring new shops and cafes (and familiar ones, too), sitting on the promenade journaling my prayers, and sketching while I ate fish tacos with a view of the ocean.

Well, I had been wanting to do it again, but this time I went for just a day. Maybe this fall I’ll be able to spend a couple nights at a different beach! My first stop in Seaside was Seaside Coffee Roasters, this super cute & quirky coffee shop with good coffee and good breakfast/pastries. This place has a cozy ambiance that I really like.

Pictures of Seaside Coffee Roasters, the last 2 photos taken from the bathroom lol

I then hit Beach Books because I love bookstores, and even more so a bookstore by the sea! This time around I got to try a couple things I actually hadn’t tried before because it seemed like every time I went they were closed: Beach Day Coffee and Zingers Ice Cream. After looking around a bit, I went and sat on the prom to enjoy the ocean. I took my book of Psalms with me, and as I read and reflected on God’s incredible attributes and took in the ocean waves and salt air, it was the peace and bliss I had hoped to recapture.

One of the highlights of this trip was finding this vintage telephone at an antiques shop. It was apparently released in the 1990’s and made to look like an old rotary phone.

Yeah, the 90’s are vintage now?! I was born in 1990!

2. I turned 35

And I have conflicting feelings about it. On the one hand, there’s been some really good things to come out of my 30s. I am less shy and quiet, I know myself more, I am more assertive, my communication skills have improved, and I have a deeper relationship with God. Of course, these are things I’ve had to learn as they don’t just magically come with getting older. I have God, friends, and my church family to thank for all this personal and spiritual growth.

On the other hand, 35 feels like entering a new stage of life - the one leading to less desirable things like perimenopause and menopause, the loss of “youth,” not only from a societal standpoint but also according to biology. There are so many mental and emotional implications to this that I don’t dare hash out in this post. So, I think I’ll leave it at that.

3. Visited the Gearhart McMenamins Hotel

A few friends and I went to the MecMenamins Hotel in Gearhart, Oregon (which I hadn’t been to before) and it was just a great day with semi-perfect weather. Haha you can’t talk about the Oregon coast without mentioning the weather cuz you don’t know what you’re gonna get! Something I never had to think about in Los Angeles.

The hotel, which is right next to a golf course, has pubs with some really good food, lots of quirky art, and moody interiors. We had lunch on the back patio, went over across the street to the beach and played a fun game and watched the waves, then went back to McMenamins for some dessert (and cajun tots ALWAYS) and played a card game. This whole day made my heart happy!

4. More birthday festivities - Chinese food, Brushes & Mocktails

On my actual birthday I hosted a paint and sip night. I made a couple of donut hole towers and our mocktails: a guava rose spritz and a sparkling lavender pink lemonade. While I liked both very much, the guava rose spritz was the winner for me.

Paint and sip night! Or as I called it, "Brushes & Mocktails"

I had the idea to pull decor and other items from my apartment to set up a still life in the center of the table and we’d all paint the still life while sipping our mocktails. Add a little music and conversation. It was a great night and I have some really artistic friends! Thankful for the friends who are always down to do stuff like this with me and help make it happen :)

5. I signed up to be a vendor at a holiday bazaar!

This will be my first time being a vendor at ANY event and I’m so nervous! I’m trying to not get overwhelmed but I have a lot to do. I’ll be selling stationery that I design and make myself. This will be a new ~~challenge~~ adventure, and I’ve kind of dreamt of doing it for a while, so I’m excited for it.

6. I bought some Doc Martens (prostheses update, sort of)

While I do not yet have my prostheses, the time is drawing near. If all goes well, I should have them sometime in September. Which meaaannss that I needed to buy some shoes 😂

A couple years ago I got rid of all my shoes (I wasn’t using prostheses anymore), including my black canvas Docs and my mid-shin-length black leather Docs. It was kind of hard giving those up, but I figured it was time.

Well, I bought a pair of those exact same black canvas Docs I used to have, and I have to admit I was excited to be buying shoes again lol. I bought them online, of course. I can’t help but laugh imagining the shocked and confused faces I would’ve caused at a shoe store.

7. Some of my favorite things this month

I’ve been loving this playlist I put together of songs I already had on repeat, and I TRIED my best to make it flow. So, if you listen to it, I recommend you listen straight through.

Starbucks released a matcha Frappuccino with a strawberry cold foam and it is sooo good! I went and got a Venti for my birthday (for free!) and asked them to blend in freeze dried strawberries. With extra strawberry cold foam. YUM. I mean, it’s supposed to be a treat ;)

I’ve been adding almond extract to my morning coffee. All you need is a few drops and it instantly elevates your coffee! Works for French toast, too! Highly recommend.