Palm Desert Photo Diary
We are home from Southern California and getting back into the swing of things. I’m such a routine person, so it feels SO good to be home and back to the grind. But, I definitely enjoyed time by the pool, the warm weather, and spending so much quality with Mike and Harper. It was a much needed break for our normal day-to-day for sure! Hectic, but good, lol.
This was our first trip with Harper since she’s become a toddler. Unfortunately, she wasn’t feeling her best at the start of the trip, so it was quite the couple of days. We had her checked for an ear infection right before our trip and everything came back normal. I couldn’t pinpoint what it was, but something was definitely off as she was not acting like herself. I almost want to say it was a developmental growth and/or teething (although I don’t see any new teeth). Lots of crying, whining, and clinging. Harper is normally the happiest little girl – independent, silly, and goofy. She did really well on the plane ride to California, which was a blessing based on how she was feeling. But, day 1-3 was VERY tough on Mike and I. The stress of traveling, coupled with LA traffic, and a sick baby was no bueno. Day 2 in Palm Desert things shifted. Harper was her old self again and all the stress settled. We were able to enjoy a drink by the pool and sit and eat a snack/meal in peace, ha.
Watching Harper explore and try new things was so amazing. Right now she’s all about pointing out the birds and planes in the sky and So Cal was perfect for this. She’s such a ham – lately she’ll fake laugh to get people’s attention and then wave to them. Not going to lie, it’s the cutest thing ever. Her little personality is shining through and it’s EVERYTHING. She rocked both flights, although the flight home was even better than the way there. We entertained her with clings, stickers, toys from home, snacks, and Mickey Mouse Club on our phones. We had someone in the airport (who was flying solo but has 2 kids) say she was an angel – so well behaved. One of the things we learned on this trip – we’re so thankful for her temperament and disposition. She wasn’t herself for about 2 weeks and they were some of the toughest days we’ve experienced as parents. We feel so blessed that that’s not our everyday. Oh, I should also mention, Harper slept SO well. She always sleeps well, but with so much going on, she slept in until 7am or later every day.
LA
LA was colder than we expected. I looked at the weather in advance, but still it was cold. I didn’t pack enough layers for Harper, so she re-wore quite a bit while we were there. Re-wearing dirty clothes makes me cringe, but we had to do what we had to do (I will be sharing all our outfit details in posts to come). I hadn’t been to LA as an adult – I would drive to UCLA for a boyfriend in college – and wow. I guess I’ve been watching too much reality TV lately. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it was just a little (or a lot) too congested, crowded, and dirty. I’ve lived in the Bay Area my whole life, so I thought LA would be similar. Boy, was I wrong. We stayed in Echo Park, ate in West Hollywood, went to the Grove and Santa Monica. I’m sure there’s plenty of areas in LA that are beautiful that we didn’t see, so I don’t want to give up on LA just yet. The shopping, weather, and healthy restaurants have always been so appealing to me from afar… but I may be rethinking it all, lol. Maybe, we’ll visit again sans baby.
Miramonte Indian Wells Resort & Spa
We were super thankful for the peace and calm in the desert. The Miramonte Indian Wells Resort & Spa was such a sanctuary. The grounds were absolutely stunning and the weather was perfect. This time of year might be the best time to visit because it’s warm enough to jump in the pool, but it’s not deathly hot. We hung out by the pool everyday and Harper and the parents enjoyed themselves. The poolside food and drinks were really good. Mike ordered me tacos that weren’t on the menu and they were one of my favorite meals of the trip. Our room was such a treat, too. It was so big there was a curtain divider that worked perfectly for sleeping in the same room as a baby. We were able to close the curtains when Harper went to bed and still watch TV and enjoy snacks and wine. The hotel threw in a couple of massages for Mike and I and it felt like such a dream. I’ve been terrible at self-care since having Harper, so a little me-time was so necessary. My massage was amazing and the facilities were stunning. We might have to make this a yearly visit.
Palm Desert
This was our first time to Palm Desert and it exceeded my expectations. The downtown strip is nice and has a ton of good shops, Whole Foods was down the street from our hotel (when you’re plant-based, this is everything, lol), and the weather was just divine. Mike kept joking, he could see himself living in the desert.
The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens
The Living Desert was one of the highlights of our trip. We have yet to go to the Zoo with Harper, so this was our first experience like this. Harper loved seeing all the animals – her little point is so cute! We would take breaks in the shade and she would say hi to everyone who would pass by. She had the best time. And Mike and I loved watching her light up. If you’re ever in the area, this is a must-see.
A special thank you to Miramonte Indian Wells Resort & Spa for sponsoring our stay.