If home is where the heart is, then my heart is languishing in several pieces in various corners of the planet…San Diego, San Francisco, Kauai, Paris, Aix-en-Provence, Rennes and now a little village in Central Brittany. They’ve all felt like home at some point in time.  But my soul is in California: it’s where I grew up, did my studies, met most of my close friends.

This particular trip back to California in June was particularly special because I had so many things to celebrate, including the wedding of two dear friends. But to start at the beginning: I finally met my new nephew August for the first time.

He’s only 2 months old in this photo, but already wearing clothes for 12 month olds!

And of course, I got to spend time with my older nephew Rowan, now happily a big brother.

One happy Auntie

And of course, I was happy to get to see their mama too, my one and only Big Sis. And her husband. And my parents.

I was also reunited with some of mes filles in San Diego…(Shout out to Lisa, Kelsey, Monica and Carris).

And more of mes filles during a 2 day road trip to L.A…(Shout out to Katie, Melina and Jem).

Where, by the way, we ate some really incredible food at Tavern and A.O.C.

Can’t decide what to order? We tried one of each of the cocktails on the menu.

We didn’t just eat in L.A., we also vintage shopped in Silver Lake, browsed the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market (where I spotted C.J. from Top Chef!). The 2 days in L.A. flew by, and before we knew it we were headed South back to San Diego. Where we found these little munchkins…

Is there anything cuter than your sister’s kids playing with your best friend’s kids? But, too soon, we were saying goodbye…After 11 days in Southern California, eating fish tacos, drinking craft beer, running on the beach and sleeping in my childhood bed, it was off to the airport to Oakland, where my brother picked me up.

He whisked me off to eat at his new(ish) restaurant in Berkeley, Easy Creole, where I got the VIP treatment, bien sûr. If you’re lucky enough to live in the Bay Area, please do check it out. They always have loads of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available on their daily changing menu. I’m proud of you bro!

A dégustation of the day’s specials: Bourbon Red Beans, Spinach and Mushroom Etouffée, Tofu Ropa and Chicken Creole with Brown Rice and Creole Bread. Délicieux!

Gluten-free cornbread

After, we went back to my brother and sister-in-law’s new house near the Berkeley hills. Jess and Julie really lucked out: their new maison has amazing views of the new Bay Bridge, and the City all the way up to the Marin Headlands.

The famous Bay Area fog lifts just enough to let the sunset peak through

After a too-short visit with  J&J, they dropped me off North of San Francisco in Mill Valley where I reunited with mes meilleures amies de Rennes Emma, Berit and Kelsey (the bride!).

Enfin, on est réuni! 

We spent a perfect weekend eating, drinking, dancing and celebrating the marriage of Kelsey and Steven.

Pre wedding brunch at Sweetwater, our resident bar for all the World Cup Games. Allez les bleus!

The bride having post-Wedding drinks at the 2 a.m club. La classe.

Daytrip to Point Reyes to shake off the hangover from the wedding

Hog Island Oyster Co., where we had an amazing picnic lunch avec des huitres and a phenomenal view to boot.

After an amazing 2 weeks in California, I said à bientôt and schlepped it back to Kreizh Breizh. The almost 24 hour trip was worth it, because when I got home I had these little buddies waiting for me.

Mes amours

*** Thanks to Maren, Kelsey and Steven for some of the photos