Daaaamn. Time is flying. It's somehow the first day of summer... And we are already more than halfway through 2019. How? How is that possible? These past few weeks have been especially busy. It feels like I've barely even been home – and I work remotely, so I'm already home more than the average person! For Memorial Day Weekend, Matt and I road tripped with the pups up to Las Vegas for our dear friends' wedding shower. Then last week I flew to the east coast for my work's annual all-staff retreat in Pennsylvania. Then this Sunday Matt and I are headed to Europe! YAY, YAY, YAY! We are off to Dublin, Barcelona, Santorini (this time around for the previously mentioned friends' nuptials!), and Paris. Honestly, though, this trip completely snuck up on us... and so I don't feel super prepared – but hey! That's half the adventure anyway, right?
Oh! And this is our first international trip since going vegan, so if you have any tips and/or recommendations for any of those cities, pleeease share!

Eco denim jacket: J.Crew - on sale!

Multicolored striped fit and flare dress: Francesca's

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Cognac espadrille wedges (also seen here, here, and here): Gap

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Gold hoop earrings: J.Crew Factory

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Gold bracelets (also seen here, here, and here): J.Crew Factory and Madewell via Shopbop

Yellow circular straw bag: American Eagle - 50% off!

If my roots throughout this outfit post are giving you major anxiety and/or a stomachache, rest assured that I have since gotten them taken care of. I had to get my hair right for our travels! 💁
I'll see you in July (if life slows down at all post-vaca 😉)!

PS: Be sure to follow along with our travels on Instagram @alliegee319!

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On Turning 30

Well, this is the last day of my 20s. (Meaning I turn 30 tomorrow, in case that wasn't apparent enough 😉) These past few weeks of my 20s have been so fun-filled (hence the lack of LunaVida posts 😳). Two of my best friends since grade school flew to San Diego to celebrate us all entering a new decade together. Then my mom visited from Ohio right after, and we went up to LA for a tour de vegan food. This past weekend, Matt and I took a road trip with the dogs up to a cabin in Big Bear for my birthday. And today, on the final day of my 29th year, I began a brand new job. Today is the last day of my 20s but the first day of working for my dream organization (!!!).

People have been asking me in the months leading up to March 19th, "Aren't you scared to be turning 30?" Honestly, I'm not nervous at all. Oddly enough, this lack of negative emotions has shocked me for the past few weeks leading up to today, because all your life you grow up with people telling you how terrifying the "Dirty Thirty" bday is. I just haven't experienced that anxiety of aging at all yet though. (Minus the wrinkles and white hairs that have popped up. Those? Those have been a bummer.).
I just feel lucky. Really, really, really lucky to be right where I am. Living in San Diego in a teensy tiny house by the beach with Matt and our four [nonhuman] babies. Working from home for one of my very favorite animal protection organizations, The Humane League. Being able to do the exact work I've dreamt of doing since I was a kid, which has always been to work for animals. Planning a trip to Europe this summer to see two of our best friends get married in Santorini. Having healthy and loving relationships with friends and family (and, as of last month, a brand new niece too!). Simply getting the opportunity to do all of these things so early on in life. The very things that I grew up fantasizing about one day happening, but never being quite sure of the path it'd take to get there.
If I am being 100% truthful though, it was far from an easy journey the past decade. That said, however, I'm fortunate enough to finally be exactly where I imagined I'd be at 30. Reaching this place took a lot of risks and years of hard work. I say this not to be boastful, but because as I've become an adult I've realized it is okay to be proud of your accomplishments. We all work so hard to get where we want to be and, just like we'd congratulate our friends' on their successes, we should be proud of our own too!
It takes a lot of dedication and some real fearlessness to get what we really want out of our lives. And at times, for me personally at least, this meant I even had to accept that by defying people's [outdated] expectations of a "typical" 30-year-old (ya know the one - married, with a mortgage for a house in the suburbs that has 2+ guest bedrooms, and pregnant with my second child), some people just simply will never understand the choices we make. Again, that is okay. Just like the whole "white-picket-fence-American-Dream" lifestyle that many grow up hearing about is a great goal to have in life, so is the flip side.
(Side note: If you didn't already know, Matt and I met when we were 18. Over the past 11+ years together, I can't even begin to count the number of times people have told Matt and me how we have chosen to live our lives together isn't acceptable/appropriate/sustainable. Just because we don't have a "traditional" lifestyle or plan to have a wedding ceremony doesn't mean we aren't in a deeply loving, committed, supportive, lifelong partnership. Throughout all of our years together, we have never let public opinion sway us. And for that, I am so grateful. I never forget how fortunate I am to have a strong partner in Matt who is always on the same page at the end of the day, despite what some may say about relationships like ours. And while many people may judge our choices, we also have many family members and friends who are very understanding of Matt and I deciding not to get married and have kids. We do, however, know lots of other couples and single people who are also constantly plagued by the same extremely personal questions about marriage and having kids -- and that sh*t really needs to stop. It's time we let people make their own life decisions without always feeling the need to include our input. End of rant. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk 😜)
Whew. I seemingly got way off topic there! But it all comes back to this one vital theme I've learned throughout my 20s: It is okay not to want the same things that "everyone else" seems to want. Because truth be told, the most important expectations we need to live up to are our own -- not the standards set by our friends, partners, moms, dads, grandparents, in-laws, neighbors, etc. After all, when we are on our death beds do we really want to look back and regret never having made our own decisions because we were too afraid of what others may have said? No thanks. I want to go out knowing that even though I fell (and will most certainly continue to fall) on my face hundreds of times trying, at least I didn't give up on the life I always dreamed of.
Here's to the best that's still to come.

[These photos were taken off the side of a highway in the middle of nowhere during our road trip from Denver last summer. Matt and I simply couldn't drive safely while simultaneously trying to enjoy the view of this post-storm sunset. Sometimes ya just have to pull over and get out of the car on the side of a desolate road.]

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Thanks for reading and supporting this little blog o' mine. On to the next ten years 😊

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Being A Professional Bridesmaid

Last week I got back from a trip to the seventh wedding that I was a part of the bridal party. (No, that is not a typo. I really meant lucky number 7.) Next summer Matt and I will fly to Greece (yesssss!) to be in our friends' wedding in Santorini. This event will then make it Nuptial #8 for me. Of those seven, I've been Maid of Honor twice. I've traveled to more cities than I can count on two hands for engagement celebrations, bachelorette parties, showers, the actual weddings, etc.
You may now be saying "Damn, girl. That's too many weddings to be in. It's time to stop before you become a real-life 27 Dresses." Something along those lines tends to be the advice people tell me when they hear just how many times I've been involved in weddings, none of which have even been my own of course. (#AlwaysABridesmaidNeverABride) I just can't - and never plan to - turn down such a lovely offer from my beloved friends and family to be a part of their Big Day. It's an honor that I still take to heart very seriously, and I'm always happy to be included in their festivities in any way, shape, or form.

Now, you may be asking yourself how one gets to this point. Well, it all started when I was crowned "Flower Girl"  in my mom and stepdad's wedding way back in the 90s. (Ye Olde Flower Girl was a title I actually longed for, for many years previous but for some reason was never chosen. Possibly because I'm told I was an obnoxiously loud child, and this role is generally given to a so-called "well behaved" kid.) From there, I grew up surrounded by a fantastic core group of grade-school friends. Then I met another amazing group of human beings in college. Then I graduated and began my career in the nonprofit sector. NPO people are some of my all-time favorites; they made it easy to make friends as an adult even though honestly, I always imagined it would be super hard. I was fortunate enough to continue to meet additional lifelong friends into adulthood. (I really do consider myself extremely lucky to already have had so many strong companions in my life that I am confident will stay by my side for decades to come. It is one of my greatest joys in life, actually.) Throughout these nearly three decades, friends and family members have gotten engaged and, thus, eventually married.
Since that first wedding in the late 1990s up to present day, I've been a bridesmaid to my college friend, oldest sister, two friends from middle school, and now a friend I met at work back in Arizona. I've also acted as MOH to my other sister and my college BFF. (I know - that's a lot of wedding experience for someone who has never had an actual wedding day themselves!)
Each day was stunningly beautiful in their own ways. It may sound sappy but the memories that are made at each of your loved ones' weddings are one-of-a-kind. For me, this includes the getting ready aspect of the day too which is personally a favorite part of the day. Spending the whole morning with your besties in matching robes in a hotel room, getting pampered, drinking champagne, reminding the bride that she needs to eat real food and drink water, and trying to joke enough to help suppress those nerves are some of the best times of the entire experience. (I think this is something that bridal parties sometimes forget - no, we're not there just to show up a few hours early to get an updo and fancy makeup and put on a matching dress. We're there to make the day more fun and less stressful for the bride, plain and simple.)
Something I do always love to see is what "role" each member of the bridal party typically takes. In every wedding I've ever been in, each person involved has taken on a specific duty, whether that was strictly dictated or just naturally playing to their own strengths. There's always the bridesmaid who is good at handling the details, like making sure the mother-in-law doesn't hover too much in the room and stress out the bride. There's the small talk bridesmaid who can chit-chat with all the extended family members and keep them entertained. There's the DJ bridesmaid, responsible for keeping the energy up in the bridal suite. There's the tough ass who takes all the bride's phone calls and texts and tells people to "Leave her the hell alone - don't you realize she's getting MARRIED IN TWO HOURS?!" And then there's the funny one who is kept close at all times to keep nerves at bay.
Each person plays a vital part in the couple's special day. Whatever your role may be, just remember to keep your bride or groom as calm as possible - even if you're sweating uncontrollably too. (Am I the only one this happens to? Like, why am I crazy sweaty right before the vows are recited? I'm not the one saying them in front of 100 people!! Never fails to happen, though there is no logic behind it...)
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Quick 3 Bridesmaid Tips:

• Focus on the bride throughout the day - obviously. But also be sure to check in with her during the party part. Brides and grooms spend so much time going person to person to thank them for attending. After they're done, try to find a way to get them out to have fun with the group - even if just for a song or two. They planned this amazing event and deserve to actually enjoy it too!
• Being in a wedding is expensive. Straight up. I won't lie and pretend there's a "budget" way to do it. Between the $150+ dress, travel to and from the various events, hair/makeup/nail appointments, etc you will most likely spend a small fortune -- but you can save a few dollars here and there! For example, when possible, consider rooming with others guests. Splitting a hotel or Airbnb in half will save you quite a bit. You can also go in together on a group gift with the rest of the bridesmaids and/or groomsmen. I recommend buying one of the highest priced registry items. Split between everyone you can end up saving money while the couple gets one of their dream gifts they may not otherwise have received!
• Put down your phone, pay attention to the ceremony, enjoy the meal and pleasant conversation, and then hit the dance floor all night long. After all, no one regrets dancing too much at a wedding. (Truly, go dance. No matter how good or bad you may think you are, I can guarantee no one is actually judging you like we all tend to assume.)
  
  

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Have you been in a bridal party before? What role you usually take on during weddings? I'm a dancing queen 💃 You can 100% find me shimmying as soon as the dinner is over up until venue curfew.
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PS: Long time no see! As I previously mentioned, Matt and I were on a 10-day road trip across the great Southwestern United States (Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona) with the pups for said 7th bridal party wedding. When we got back to San Diego last week we were busy preparing for going back to normal life. Then yesterday was our 11 year anniversary so we had to celebrate vegan food style, of course! But now I am back to typical day-to-day living, which means back to LunaVida posts on a more regular schedule :)
PPS: I don't think I have ever written a wedding-themed post in nearly six years of blogging, yet somehow it's been back-to-back!

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Transitioning Your Wardrobe From Summer To Fall

Happy (practically) fall! This time of year is always welcomed in my book. I love that we start to wake up to those crisp mornings, the daytime warms up, and then it's back to chilly evenings all within 24 hours. As lovely as summertime may be, autumn is by far my preferred season. No matter where I've lived throughout my life, this time of year has always been my favorite. The only downfall each September? Determining how to best utilize my wardrobe when it's cool early on in the days but hot by noon. That's where flowy sleeveless tops, distressed cropped jeans, ankle boots, and the like (AKA pretty much the exact outfit in today's post) come in the save the day! Breezy for the rising afternoon temps but super easy to add on a cardigan for the nighttime 💁

Flowy rust print top with lace detail: Target

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Guess light wash ripped girlfriend jeans (also seen here, here & here): Macy's

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Perforated cut out heeled ankle boots: Target

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Wooden clutch (also seen here, here & here): c/o UncommonGoods

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Hammered silver cuff bracelet (also seen here, here & here): Souvenir from our trip to Greece

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Speaking of love and autumn, Matt and I are headed on a big road trip soon with the pups! We are headed up to my BFF's wedding in Colorado (YAY! - more on that to come), where the fall "ViBeZ" should be flowing! I am so ready for the cooler weather, leaves changing, and warm cups of coffee out on the front porch. Basic? Sure. Do I care? Absolutely not ;)

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On The Line | Blouse + Denim Shorts + Slides

Whoa... After a very unintentional LunaVida hiatus, I'm back! Let me start off by apologizing for said hiatus. I took this break because my sister (today's blog photos are courtesy of her, and she's pretty good, right?!) and 5-year-old niece were in town visiting from Cincinnati. Now all of a sudden it's somehow already August. I have no idea how or when that happened because didn't we all just celebrate the official start of summer, like, a week or two ago? Anyway, while my family was in town we did as many quintessential San Diego things as we could fit it - including everyone eating vegan for the week, which was fun! My niece even went back to the good, ol' Midwest as a permanent vegetarian like her mom which makes me so happy and proud. Go, Lacey!!  

Blue and white striped blouse with tassels: Old Navy via my mom 😊

[similar - 35% off for a limited time!]

Cuffed jean shorts (also seen here, here & here): JCPenney

[similar - 50% off & free shipping with codes FRIENDS and BEST]

Cognac belt (also seen here, here & here): Gap

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Brown flat slide sandals: Target - so comfy and under $13!

Silver hoops (also seen here): c/o Happiness Boutique

Silver cuff bracelet (also seen here): Gift

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How have you been spending these past few weeks? It's been feeling like full-on summertime here in SD with temperatures hovering around the low 80s. Now, I'm not one to complain about this weather at all, seeing as I previously lived in Phoenix, Arizona and Tampa, Florida (two of the most outrageously hot places in the country)... but our little house doesn't have air conditioning so that has been an adjustment. A very sticky, sweaty adjustment indeed.
Happy August'ing!

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Things To Do in San Diego | Summer Travel Guide

Happy Friday! My sister and niece just booked a flight to San Diego to visit Matt and me. To say I'm excited is an understatement because it's been over a year and a half since they've been here! (Also Shannon takes the best blog photos, I won't lie.) Then next month my oldest friend in the world is having her bachelorette party here too! Therefore, today's post is a list of suggestions of must-see places and things to do if you're also planning a trip to SD, whether it be for just a long weekend or 7+ days. (Honestly, this list is just as much for you as it is for me since we have a lot to fit in and I need to remind myself of the priorities!)

Must-sees for a long weekend 

The quintessential tourist spot -- that locals love too -- is Balboa Park. You can easily spend a whole day there meandering around the rose gardens, 17 museums (check online for info on free days and all day passes), cafes, etc. It's close to downtown so you can take a leisurely stroll, short Lyft ride, or Bird Scooter there too!

A post shared by Allie | LunaVida 🌱 (@alliegee319) on Dec 6, 2017 at 3:36pm PST

A post shared by Allie | LunaVida 🌱 (@alliegee319) on Dec 4, 2017 at 9:09am PST

I may be biased since we live here but La Jolla Cove should most certainly be on your list if you're coming out this way. The coastline is breathtaking and, best of all, there are seals and sea lions all around in their natural habitat! Plus, the little downtown area called "The Village" is super walkable and full of nice restaurants and shops.  

A post shared by Allie | LunaVida 🌱 (@alliegee319) on Feb 25, 2018 at 8:42pm PST

A post shared by Allie | LunaVida 🌱 (@alliegee319) on Feb 7, 2018 at 5:57pm PST

A post shared by Allie | LunaVida 🌱 (@alliegee319) on May 30, 2018 at 6:21pm PDT

As the name suggests, catch the sunset at Sunset Cliffs after a day of walking around Ocean Beach, the hippiest little Southern California beach neighborhood you'll ever see. (If you're looking for food Plant Power is a MUST - as are their milkshakes! We go pretty much every time we're down in OB.)

A post shared by Allie | LunaVida 🌱 (@alliegee319) on Mar 29, 2018 at 7:21pm PDT

A post shared by Allie | LunaVida 🌱 (@alliegee319) on Feb 19, 2017 at 5:14pm PST

Must-sees for a whole week vacation

 If you have the extra time, get over to the town of Coronado. It's quaint and the beaches are stunning. The famous Hotel Del is there too, which is a great spot to cozy up around a beach bonfire while looking for dolphins.

A post shared by Allie | LunaVida 🌱 (@alliegee319) on Nov 24, 2016 at 3:34pm PST

A post shared by Allie | LunaVida 🌱 (@alliegee319) on Nov 30, 2016 at 4:54pm PST

If you can, I totally recommend spending a day to drive along the coast to check out North San Diego County. North County has some of my very favorite cities like Del Mar, Solana Beach, Leucadia, Carlsbad, etc. They all offer cute coffee shops, amazing ocean views, and all those relaxed "SoCal vibes" people come here to experience.

A post shared by Allie | LunaVida 🌱 (@alliegee319) on May 6, 2017 at 6:20pm PDT

A post shared by Allie | LunaVida 🌱 (@alliegee319) on Jun 11, 2017 at 11:14am PDT

A post shared by Allie | LunaVida 🌱 (@alliegee319) on Apr 2, 2017 at 12:43pm PDT

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve has some of the best hiking around. You do have to pay entrance to get inside but it is totally worth it. The views are STELLAR and the hikes are fun! (Even if you don't love to hike, there are plenty of easy walking paths to enjoy too.)

A post shared by Allie | LunaVida 🌱 (@alliegee319) on Sep 22, 2017 at 3:16pm PDT

A post shared by Allie | LunaVida 🌱 (@alliegee319) on Aug 1, 2017 at 6:57am PDT

Mount Soledad is not far from La Jolla Cove and it offers an amazing 360-degree view of San Diego. On a clear day you can see the ocean, city, and mountains all from standing in one (very high up) spot. It's the best view we've found yet!

A post shared by Allie | LunaVida 🌱 (@alliegee319) on Jun 20, 2018 at 3:19pm PDT

A post shared by Allie | LunaVida 🌱 (@alliegee319) on Jul 1, 2017 at 12:43pm PDT

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I've previously written about places to go in San Diego - which you can see here, as well as my favorite local vegan spots here - but now that we've lived here longer, the list has grown exponentially and needed updating for sure!
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Where are your favorite spots in San Diego? If you've never been before, which spot looks like it'd be first on your list?

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