When I was little, I never realized the importance of taking time off or taking a break. I’d always thought if I took a break, I would be being lazy. But I’ve found that sometimes to go fast, you have to go slow. And sometimes that short recharge can do wonders for your state of mind, happiness, wellbeing, and productivity. So my husband and I took two days off on top of the weekend to do just that (and to celebrate my birthday).

My husband planned this secret weekend trip (apparently over two months ago!) and didn’t tell me where we were going, just what to pack.  We drove for several hours and stopped by casually along highway 1. It turned out to be a beautiful day.

We found this beach outcropping covered in wildflowers and we both explored the area with our cameras excitedly clicking away. We literally walked across a sea of flowers.

After several hours and losing semblance of where we were going at all, we arrived at this beautiful home. Here’s the spectacular ocean and garden view from our balcony. The place came equipped with welcome cookies, comfy robes, a fireplace, and hot water boiler for tea! We spent our evening out here on the balcony bundled in robes and with cups of tea in hand. 

We stopped into town for a romantic dinner where I had an amazing dish with truffle emulsion. Here’s my not quite innocent husband who planned everything:

We walked around town for a bit after dinner and to the local market for a carton of milk. We saw this cute inn along the way and noticed their “SEH” sign out front. Apparently, it’s part of the society of Small Elegant Hotels! I never knew this even existed! Adding this to lookup and do some more research later.

We spent the rest of the night sitting together by the fireplace. I don’t know what’s in store for tomorrow, just that my husband has plans booked for us all day and breakfast starts at ten. So excited!