SoCal with the 'rents

It was so fun to spend several days with my parents in southern California! They stayed a few days after a work trip to hangout with us which was so perfect because we love an excuse to go down to SoCal. 

We met up with them in Santa Barbara, one of our favorite places, and stayed at the Bacara Resort with this view from our balcony. Great way to start the trip, right? 

We just love SB. It's so quiet and peaceful but not out in the boondocks. It has good food and is close to LA. (Someday I will post my suggestions for the ultimate SoCal vacation). We had a fun time taking the 'rents around to a few of our favorite restaurants in SB and then headed for L.A. 

No trip to L.A. is complete without a Diddy Reese ice cream sandwich. Mom's a superstar with her sunglasses on inside. When in Rome right...

Probably the most unique experience of the trip was visiting the Magic Castle. This place was so odd and really indescribable. I wish they allowed pics because I could do a better job of describing it that way. 

It is an exclusive magic club with an old school strict dress code (yes believe it or not we did not choose to dress this way). For example, men can share their jacket with a lady when seated but when walking around the castle men have to wear their jacket. Very specific right?

One of my dad's childhood friends performs at the castle from time to time and was able to get us in. Unfortunately he wasn't performing that night which is probably just as well because I'm almost certain he would have embarrassed me. 

My parents still love to talk about when I was his assistant as a kid and how funny it was to watch me try so hard to separate these metal rings. He would separate them like it was nothing then hand them to me and I tried so hard and couldn't do it.

Since you aren't allowed to take pics inside this was the last pic we got. The first 3 magic shows were amazing. The last one was terrifying because, once again, I was selected to be the assistant during the show...it was just like the old days. No rings this time just pure Linds stagefright. If you know me very well you know that being in front of an audience is about the worst thing that could happen to me. My only saving grace was that the other girls asked to assist was drunk and made me look a little better. I guess my calling in life is not to be a magicians assistant and I'm ok with that. 

After the Magic Castle we headed to our rental house about 45 minutes south of LA in Laguna Nigel. The house had lots of space to hangout and enjoy life. It was so peaceful and relaxing and perfect. 

Mom and Dad were in CA for a work trip and one of their events was a Great Gatsby themed party. Aren't they cute!

Our last meal was in Venice Beach at Baby Blues BBQ. Good BBQ and the best banana pudding I've ever had. 

We stayed a few extra days in LA after the 'rents left. We got lucky that the weekend we were in town was the same weekend as our friend Grace's art show. To make matters better it was in an ice cream shop. Sold!

And it's always fun to see these guys. Chris and Jared took us around LA and kept us entertained.

Also, they took pics for us so we didn't have to take selfies. 

Still no Kardashian sighting. What's up with that?  Maybe next time.