this past weekend i celebrated my 29th birthday. i’m not one to make a big fuss or throw a wild party, and i’ve very specifically informed all of my closest friends that i do not like surprises. instead, i prefer to take the opportunity to ease into my new year on a relaxing weekend away. it’s actually become a bit of a birthday tradition for me. and this year, we drove three hours north to a little town called gualala along the california coast, to stay in a beautiful beach house at st. orres overlooking the ocean complete with everything you could possibly need: expansive views, a cozy fireplace, a sauna, and a jacuzzi overlooking the water.
the beginning of the trip was just a bit tumultuous. the forecast threatened rain and thunderstorms, and we found ourselves driving through winding country roads when the gas light started blinking. past the point of no return, we meandered along the hilly terrain for 50 miles until we finally popped out on the coast to be greeted by a service station. the entire time, we were doing our best not to imagine what it would be like to find ourselves stranded in the middle of a thunderstorm on a windy one lane road without cell phone reception. but our fears were for naught because we we made it out alive with .2 gallons of gas left in the tank, and a bright blue sky with the sun continuing to shine as we explored the area before heading to the house for a very pleasant evening (see photos).
the next morning wasn’t quite so kind, but it was honestly just as beautiful. i woke up obscenely early to look out at the ocean and watch the waves crash along the shore while big grey clouds filled the sky and it began to rain. and it pretty much rained for the rest of the day, foiling our plans to explore the nature areas, but certainly not stopping us from enjoying a few indoor activities like breakfast in bed, naps, and more sauna time. on the way back, we drove along the coast and reminisced about our bike tour, almost amazed that a couple of years ago, we actually rode that entire stretch of highway one on our bikes.
all in all, it was a weekend i will not soon forget!
a beacon of light. never have i been so excited to find a gas station.
quite possible the prettiest gas station ever.
a room with a view. i could seriously get used to this.
i still can’t decide what was better. the jaccuzzi overlooking the ocean, or the sauna.
sometimes rainy mornings are the best.
the saddest part of my day was when we had to pack up and leave. i stuffed all of my belongings into my amelia weekender by portland-based line, ellington.
60 comments
beautiful photos!! i love your dress!!!
LOVE this post. you are a great writer, too, which makes your blog even better in my book. I’m turning 29 Friday and haven’t planned anything except dying my hair and going to the opera. I’m jealous of your weekend away and it looks like you had a nice relaxing time with a little bit of adventure and uncertainty. xo.
sounds like such a beautiful trip! love the snapshots:)
That dress is just lovely! Where is it from?
it’s steven alan, but unfortunately, it’s sold out on the site. i got it on super sale at the end of the season… :(
What a magical place! So pretty!
these photos are amazing! looks like such a nice place to stay!
style-extraordinaire.com
Lovely dress!
The BoOtlace
http://schnuersenkelrolltreppentod.blogspot.com
What a beautiful weekend! Love the stripes and plaid together!
Marie @ Lemondrop ViNtAge
Happy belated birthday! My 25th birthday is just a few weeks away. I’m just like you in that I love to spend my birthday relaxing. All I need is my sweetheart and some good food.
Oh so sad about the rain…but it looks like a beautiful place to spend the day indoors anyway :) Glad you found a gas station on the way out. Driving on empty is one of the worst feelings! It’s like some kind of impending doom…yeesh.
this sounds like the perfect get away! i hope you have a wonderful time.
wow, you look so pretty and inspiring ^^
just lovely!
xxx
kissmequick
Such a wonderful way of celebrating your birthday! Have a good year! :)
love this place.. where is it??
x
Elle
st. orres!
Thanks so much for posting this…I think you just found my honeymoon site for the summer!! XO
oh, that’s so awesome! they also have a really fancy restaurant. we didn’t try it this time, but i’ve heard it’s pretty awesome.
you look fantastic!
Looks like a lovely weekend!!
Happy birthday!
Anna
Ohhh!! Happy belated birthday, dear :) love your dress! Just stunning :)
Xo,
Larissa
http://livingincolorstyle.blogspot.com
thank you!
definitely sounds like the perfect birthday. I had a surprise birthday this year however, it was my first, and I was definitely overwhelmed, but still really shy at parties as I always am.
haha, if anyone ever threw me a surprise birthday party, i would probably cry. just because i get so overwhelmed by having that much attention on me. i know it sounds silly, but it’s true! though i’m sure that like you said, it would be a blast once you got over the shock! it’s actually once of my great fears to, like, have a whole group of people sing happy birthday to me in a public place. i would die of embarrassment!
Um wow! I know this is a weird picture to pick from all the beautiful sights of the sea and nature but i love the wood with the cut out hearts! I’d totally try and DIY that (somehow) into a bed headboard!
Ooh is that the Steven Alan dress? I’m jealous you have it! It’s so, so adorable! I love it! And it looks lovely on you! xx
yes! i had been wanting it for months and months, but couldn’t quite justify the price tag. then i randomly found it in an online boutique for way over 50% off! super score.
Love this post! Gualala is a wonderful little town. My fiancé proposed to me at the Point Arena lighthouse a little bit further north of Gualala, and we passed through it on our drive back home. The town is very Old West with its late 19th/early 20th century buildings. Very charming!
aw, that is such a wonderful story. it really is the perfect place for romance!
Beautiful photos and I love your dress.
Love all of your photos. It looks like such a lovely weekend.
C x
http://www.memoirsofalittlethingcalledlife.com/
stunning dress and photos it looks like you had a lovely time and happy birthday too dear
XX Ilana
My Modern Vintage
Happy belated birthday! These pictures are all so lovely.
adorable look!
Bises,
monkeyshines
http://monkeyshines-monkeyshines.blogspot.com/
The first picture in your post is just so adorable. Great capture. Your post in its entirety is fantastic. The writing is spot on and the photographs are so fabulous and inspiring.
Happy Belated Birthday!! That first photo is amazing. I love when little moments like the movement of wind against the skirt of dress can be captured. So beautiful! xoxo
Your dress is to die for.
Happy belated birthday!
xo
cortnie
Happy birthday! Looks like it was a great weekend :)
http://www.saysskippy.blogspot.com
I’m happy to see that you were able to find a place to celebrate your birthday! That place looks spectacular with that beautiful ocean view! Happy belated birthday!
Happy belated birthday! Looks like a lovely weekend. & that dress is gorgeous.
I LOVE birthdays and love having an excuse to gather friends together (great excuse to get people who don’t know each other to hang out!) but I totally respect that everyone likes celebrating different. And honestly, this looks like a pretty wonderful celebration. Happy birthday. All the best for your coming year!
Happy birthday! Sounds like a totally fabulous way to celebrate to me!
Happy Birthday ,it was my 30th on the 20th Jan ! i celebrated with a lovely party full of all my fave people and received a fab Marc Jacobs handbag from my husband – it could not have been better , love your blog , im a fashion lecturer and your images always inspire me.
Wau!!! Fabulous photos!!! I like your dress!!!
What a GORGEOUS place to stay! Easing your way in….that sounds like the perfect birthday : )
Oh my gosh … your story about almost running out of gas reminded me of a time the exact same thing almost happened to me, but in Utah! Boyfriend and I were moving to California and drove the whole way from Minnesota … well into the desert, and about 50 miles beyond the last “No more gas FOREVER!” sign the light came on … we frantically took a random turn, hoping to find a station, and managed to pull into a two-pump station in some ghost town in Utah as the car was sputtering on empty. Fun times. Glad you found gas!
I’m in love with your hair! And navy coat!
Gemma x
http://www.gemmsatire.blogspot.com
Happy birthday! This looks like heaven, how lovely!!
Hello! First off, hope you had a great birthday! And secondly I, too, live in the bay area and love driving to the coast. But Gualala is my all time fav. I’ve gone camping there since I was very young, but sadly haven’t been there in two years. Your post made me smile and yearn to go back. Thank you!
looks like a perfect birthday getaway. happy 29th lady!
<3 steffy
Steffys Pros and Cons
Looks like quite the scenic spot! Great way to spend a weekend. Love your shoes too!
http://creativelystylish.wordpress.com/
I do this too!!! The last four years my beloved took me to Normandy, Bruges, a German spa and this year we will visit Versailles. It’s such a wonderful thing to do for yourself – especially when you get to pick the destination : )
http://www.cakesandshakes.wordpress.com
sorry that you had to suffer with all the rain to celebrate your birthday like that. All these photos are really lovely though. What a cute dress too.
Happy Birthday!!!!
Lucky you, and happy birthday!
happy birthday! looks like a fantastic time
Happy belated birthday! Sounds like a nice little trip!
xo Jennifer
http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com
hi there, could you please tell me the name of the option at St. Orres that you stayed in? I’ve wanted to visit every since you first posted these pics, but can’t seem to find a cottage with a hot tub overlooking the ocean and my boyfriend and I really want to book it. Was it the “treehouse”?
it’s the osprey cove. it’s a two story house, but you can rent out just the top floor with one room. the pictures on the site just don’t do it justice!