LIKE SUMMER CAMP

LAST MONTH, J AND I HAD the pleasure of staying a night at Ojai Rancho Inn courtesy of a contest I entered sponsored by Shelter Social Club and Made With Map. The winning photo is below. The whole weekend was pretty much like being in summer camp again-- or at least what I'd always hoped and imagined summer camp would be like; I never got to go to sleepaway camp. But this weekend was filled with all-wood cabins and shuffleboard and teepees and swimming (with the best roundie towel ever by The Beach People) and amazing macaroni and cheese with gouda and bacon. Okay, so maybe it was more like summer "glamping" but either way, it was so much fun. Ojai is pretty slow-paced, which is nice since J and I are both that way, too. We were also able to visit one of my most favorite stores ever, owned and run by my friend Rachel, and it's coincidentally called Summer Camp. If you ever get a chance to go to Ojai, go for the shop, the macaroni, Ojai Rancho Inn and Desert Images, which is this huge amazing cactus nursery run by this old couple in the middle of a neighborhood in Ojai. There's a super cute Australian Shepard that roams the grounds too. (I so need and want a dog, but we can't have one where we live. Every time we go for walks I wish I had every dog we pass by.) We went home with a few treasures from Desert Images and Summer Camp.

Also featured in the weekend was the Kiru Shift dress which is the dreamiest, floatiest pinky silk-dyed dress and a beautiful handmade ceramic and leather necklace by Lauren Winter. You can see more of her lovely pieces on her blog and her shop. Thanks to The Beach People for the amazing towel. You can also find the roundie towel on their website and, locally, at the Ace Hotel LA Chapter, I believe!

The winning photo from a trip to the Salton Sea in January. Read about it here.