Hiking by the Ocean

Top: c/o Maude Boutique (my favorite tee-ever!) | Leggings: Zella

Hat: Nike | Sneakers: Nike

Fitness Bracelet: c/o Garmin

I got back from California late Sunday night and although I already miss the beautiful scenery and my family and friends, I'm also so happy to be home with Trey, Russell and Lulu. I think the best way to describe the trip is "bittersweet." Spending time with family and friends was absolutely priceless. I desperately needed a break from work and the daily grind and getting to be by the ocean brought so much peace. The purpose of my trip was to attend my papa's memorial service. While it was so hard for me to officially, mentally say "goodbye," it was a joyful ceremony that celebrated his very full and happy life. Just what he would have wanted!

One of the highlights of my quick trip was getting to stay with my best friend since age 14 - Haley! Her husband is currently stationed at Camp Pendleton, and they live on base in Oceanside, walking distance from the Oceanside Harbor and beach. It's a pretty dreamy location! On Friday, she took me on a hike at Torrey Pines, and it was the perfect way to get some exercise, vitamin D and fresh air, while enjoying some breathtaking views of the ocean from up on the cliffs. If you're ever in the area I can't recommend it enough!

I got my Garmin Vivosmart HR right before I left on my trip and set it up in the airport, so I thoroughly enjoyed using it throughout my trip! I've never had an activity/fitness tracker before, so I'm incredibly excited to finally have one! I love that this one has a sleek, low-profile design but tracks soooo much good, detailed information. On this hike we walked thousands of steps, had lots of variance in our heart rates, and climbed the equivalent of 32 flights of stairs! My main reason for deciding on the Vivosmart HR was that it tracks heart rate, which in turn can accurately track calories burned. It also syncs with your phone so you can get lots of great stats in Garmin's app, and read text messages/see social media notifications right on your band. All in all I couldn't be more happy with it!