Atascadero, CA
My sister-n-love and I drove to Atascadero which is new Paso Robles and SLO. It was about a 4-5 hour drive from Roseville. We had no traffic and only stopped to pee once and some how it was like our destination was getting further and further away even with no traffic. We eventually made it and were greeted with donuts from Mandy & Ryan! They reached out to my husband and best friend to see what kind of donuts we liked (even though I had politely said "no it's okay..." but secretly wanted them!) It was just the sweetest gesture from the sweetest couple. I've known Mandy since college and didn't come to know Ryan until a little after we graduated.
Mandy, our friend Megan, and I were getting tattoos together when Mandy mentioned this beautiful Airbnb they rented for their 5 year anniversary, and 9 years of being together! I saw pictures and told her "YASSS, we should do photos there!" Mandy was shocked and I was serious. I mean what's better than driving to the coast, during summer, to a beautiful farmhouse to take photos? Nothing! It's what I love to do. Driving in the middle of nowhere blasting some tunes and having good life conversations with great company! Anyways we settled it, I met Mandy and Ryan in Atascadero (I can't even pronounce it,) and we took photos for a glorious hour! I had them tell each other funny things that they love about one another, dance along the fence line, and touch foreheads a lot. (I love forehead photos because how often do we actually look into each other's eyes and really see each other and it always makes people smile the best as they get the butterflies again.) We finished the session and they went wine tasting, while my sister and I went to Morro Rock State Beach, enjoyed our donuts, and then went to lunch at Fish Gaucho (highly recommend) and drove back home. It was a sweet, love filled day, accompanied by great conversations, beautiful photos, beautiful people, surrounded by beauty. With a love like theirs they made my job smooth as butter.
" And not a day goes by, I don't need your smile, I don't feel your heart, In every mile, Empty streets, And whistlin' pines, but not a day goes by, You don't crowd my mind..." Brett Eldredge (Crowd My Mind)
