shopping in Venice — Blog — The Grains Of Paradise

I just wanted to share a couple of pieces I picked up in California last week. Honestly, I’ve gotten so much better about my shopping hauls while traveling on the Mainland over the last few years. I used to be so tempted by things like clothes and shoes only to realize that these items never got worn once I was back home on Maui. Now when traveling, I try to stick to things like home goods, art, and sometimes skincare. Of course, as I mentioned in a previous post, I especially love looking for unique kitchen pieces. Happy to say I didn’t go too overboard this time around.

Image 1 - Coffee cup by Mt. Washington Pottery from The General Store in Venice, CA // Palo Santo holder from Makers Market in Walnut Creek, CA

Image 2 - spreader knives by Laguiole from Whim House in Danville, CA

Image 3 - Ceramic dishes by Humble Ceramics from The General Store in Venice, CA // similar bowls HERE

Image 4 - Brass Spoon by Lue from Tortoise General Store in Venice, CA // Honey Stick by Bee and Raw from Whim Store in Danville, CA

Even though I have lived in Hawaii for the last 21 years, California will always be my home. I was born in Los Angeles but spent most of my youth divided between the San Francisco Bay Area and Ventura County. I was also fortunate to spend my college years in San Diego and Orange County before leaving the Golden State for good in 1999.

We only had six days in California so it wasn’t enough time to do everything we really wanted to do. With rolling blackouts, wildfires, and overnight lows dipping in the upper 30s, some plans ( and wardrobe ) needed to be altered. Despite some setbacks, we still enjoyed a lot of sunny weather, some delicious plant-based meals, and some much-needed quality time with the family.

Below are some snapshots I took with my iPhone over the last week. Little snippets from Wine Country, my hometown in the Bay Area, and near my sister’s home in Los Angeles. I gotta be honest, Carlos and I tend to spend a lot of time shopping and eating out when we’re on the Mainland so the images below will reflect that. We love looking at homeware shops, indulging in good wine, taking long drives, and discovering new plant-based restaurants when traveling. Lucky for us, California has a lot of this.

Mahalo for stopping by!