Monthly Photo Dumps are basically end-of-the-month entries where I dump photos that never get its own blog post or never make it to the ‘gram. They include little background stories and that’s about it. I recently brought this series back to life to show what I’ve been up to the past month. Enjoy this month’s edition of the photo dump!
Lunch with Monica
I don’t think everyone knows this but I was actually born and raised in the Philippines. I moved out to California in 2007 when I was 15 – so when a childhood friend invited me for lunch, I jumped at the chance! Monica and I met up for lunch (with Chris in tow, of course) in Bakersfield at HI-5 Sushi. It’s nice to meet up with someone after not seeing each other for 11 years. We caught up, talked about our careers and future plans over some good sushi (this establishment has the best lobster rolls).
Mother’s Day Lunch
My mom’s into gardening so I actually bought her some lilies so she could move them to ground and see them grow even more. We had lunch at Black Angus Steakhouse and holy smokes, I paired my rib-eye steak with the au gratin potatoes, and it was a life changing experience. I never knew au gratin potatoes were so good!
Back to the Hiking Grind
Also, for the month of May, Chris and I were finally able to put in some hikes into our busy schedules. The entries are still in the editing process but should be up on the blog soon! We did the Marble Falls Trail (Sequoia National Park) and the Buena Vista Trail (Kings Canyon National Park). It was great to finally put on my hiking shoes and set aside the scrub pants, even for just two days.
How was your month of May? Quite scary that we’re already at the halfway point of the year – time sure does fly when you’re busy.
40 Comments
Rose
June 7, 2018 at 9:06 AMAww these photo’s are so lovely and lively!
It looks like you had a great time with your friend and mother’s day. The food yet again, looks so yummie!!
I really wish we had these beautiful places to hike as well.
We have some beautiful nature, but I just adore the surroundings.
The Netherlands are so flat. Not one single hill. Well we have bumps, but that’s it 😉
Bexa
June 7, 2018 at 9:07 AMI love these posts! All the food looks so tasty, sushi is my fave! 😍 I definitely need to try lobster rolls! Looking forward to reading your hiking posts, those photos look stunning! Fantastic post 💖 xx
Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com
Sophie Wentworth
June 7, 2018 at 9:14 AMBeautiful photos as always! Your lunch with Monica looks amazing! Sounds like you had a good month. I agree, it’s scary how fast this year is flying! x
Sophie
http://www.glowsteady.co.uk
What Corinne Did
June 7, 2018 at 9:20 AMsuch lovely pictures! the food looks amazing! sounds like you had quite a pleasant month of may! I love hiking! I hope i will have the opportunity to do some soon!
sharnah
June 7, 2018 at 9:21 AMso many pictures of food! I feel hungry now! Lovely pictures of nature they both look so relaxing, I would love to see views like that especially the water! It is so nice to meet up with old friends isn’t it! x
Disa Rastogi
June 7, 2018 at 9:22 AMNice pics. The potatoes look delicious 👍
Emma Rollason
June 7, 2018 at 9:31 AMI love the idea behind this I always end up with loads of photo’s that never get posted, I keep mine in a file on my hard-drive for when the opportunity to use them ever come’s up. I also love that you’ve got little stories to go along with each image, Marble Falls looks incredible.
Emma x
emmarollason.com
Britt K
June 7, 2018 at 9:32 AMYour hiking photos are gorgeous! It’s just getting to be time for us to start heading out on the hiking trails here and I can’t wait! The pups LOVE it, and it gives us all some great time together.
Britt | http://alternativelyspeaking.ca
Aaliyah
June 7, 2018 at 9:32 AMThis is a great idea for a post! The amount of blog photos I take that don’t make my blog is ridiculous! Especially loved the photos of your hike! X
Creative Nails
June 7, 2018 at 9:50 AMYour hiking pictures are gorgeous, wow! The views look amazing! That steak looks so good too! Sounds like you got up to some fun things in May, it is pretty crazy to think it’s June already?! It doesn’t feel like it was that long ago it was Christmas!
Amy,
https://creativenails.uk
Hebah
June 7, 2018 at 12:03 PMThose views on your hikes are so gorgeous! My month wasn’t as eventful as yours – but you’re right, the year has seemed to have flown by!! PS. love the idea of a photo dump post, such a good way to summarise what you’ve been up to. X
Paige
June 7, 2018 at 12:14 PMGreat post! I absolutely love this idea! What a great way to make use of those photos that otherwise wouldn’t be used for anything!
Sophie
June 7, 2018 at 12:41 PMYour photos are beautiful! I wish I was able to go on hikes in such gorgeous places! Looks like a good month!
Sophie – https://sophiehearts.net x
nat
June 7, 2018 at 5:35 PMI didn’t realise you only moved to California when you were a teen! Crazy. Hope that you have a great June!
Nancy
June 7, 2018 at 10:37 PMI am still loving this Photo Dump idea! Aww, it’s so sweet that Monica and you met up – especially with you two being childhood friends. Wow, 11 years is a long time. Kudos to you two for keeping in touch :)!
Ooh! So sweet of you for buying your mom some lilies. This is a good investment because she’ll be reminded of you every time she goes to her garden XD. YOU ARE EATING WELL WITH THE RIB EYE STEAK. Yum~~
I just LOVE how you’re so close to the hiking trails. Your kind of Disneyland XD XD. Ok, I was going to ask if there was snow in May but that was a river LOL.
Nancy ♥ exquisitely.me
Kay
June 7, 2018 at 11:51 PMThose views on your hike look beautiful!
Kay xx
http://www.mummywho.com
The Frozen Mind (Jen)
June 8, 2018 at 1:19 PMGreat pictures! Sounds like you had a good month!
Kirsten
June 9, 2018 at 5:29 PMAu gratin potatoes are the best! We call them scalloped potatoes here but it’s the same thing. I absolutely love them! I love them with steak or bologna or ham.
Can’t wait to see your hiking pictures 🙂 My husband and I recently got into hiking and are loving it! What a great way to stay in shape and loose weight (if you go enough) and get some great pictures and explore and enjoy the outdoors at the same time! I recently discovered my province has a ton of waterfalls. I guess I knew this somewhere in the back of my mind but just never realized how many there are that are accessible with a little (or a big) hike.
Sakura
June 9, 2018 at 8:23 PMWow the hiking trails have really good scenery. It makes me want to hike somewhere with good scenery too!
Mani
June 9, 2018 at 8:38 PMSounds like you had a great May! I looove the pictures from your hike too, we don’t really have terrains like that in Australia so it’s interesting to me haha. Looking to seeing more of your photos 🙂
kane singh
June 11, 2018 at 3:37 AMNice blog.
xx
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Kate
June 11, 2018 at 8:01 AMThis is such a cute post! The food looks amazing, and your weather there is beautiful!
-Kate // http://www.classyandkate.com/how-i-keep-my-skin-healthy-in-the-summer/
Allie Mackin
June 11, 2018 at 1:09 PMSo fun to see what you are up to. Love the photos and the food looks sooo good. And your hike looked rugged but fun.
Allie of ALLIENYC
http://www.allienyc.com
Sheene
June 12, 2018 at 8:28 PMI knew you were FIlipino but I was too shy to ask because you can be also be Indonesian/Malaysian hehe
Theoretical Girl🌙
Lisa McLachlan
June 13, 2018 at 3:49 AMI loved your April photo dump and this month is no exception. It’s such a good idea of using pictures that would otherwise just stay in folders, I love the online diary aspect of it. And those lobster rolls sound delicious, you’ve made me hungry for sushi now too! x
Lisa | http://www.lisasnotebook.com
Kathrine Eldridge
June 16, 2018 at 3:41 AMLove these pics! The hiking looks amazing there.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Audrey | Brunch at Audrey's
June 16, 2018 at 5:31 AMCatching up with old friends is the best! You know you have a friend for life if you’ve known someone for that long ^-^ // Oh gosh I can’t believe we’re halfway through the year already 😮 I feel like there’s still so much that needs to be done before the end of the year! Ahh!! -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey’s
Simone
June 16, 2018 at 12:12 PMTime is flying way too fast, I totally agree. That food looks very delicious, I’m sure you’ve had lots of fun.
xx Simone
Little Glittery Box
Melanie
June 17, 2018 at 12:21 PMI love these photo dump posts it’s such a great way to share gorgeous pics that never make the ‘cut’. Pictures of food are always winners for me- although do make me hungry! And your pictures of your hike are stunning. Thanks for sharing
Melanie | http://www.frasersfunhouse.com
Annie
June 17, 2018 at 12:30 PMGreat photos! That sushi looks incredible! I think it’s so amazing that you were able to reconnect with your childhood friend 11 years later. I hope I can do the same with some of my old friends! Also those pictures you took on your hikes are breath taking! What incredible scenery!
jane
June 17, 2018 at 11:18 PMLooks like you had a great month of May dear
Spending with friends and loved ones are great
Much Love,
Jane | The Bandwagon Chic
Krystal
June 19, 2018 at 9:19 AMGreat pictures!
E.
June 20, 2018 at 3:04 AMI see you had fun!! I am so happy for you. These dishes look delicious and I love hiking too!
Kisses,
E.
Giveaway: http://www.withcapitale.com/2018/06/giveaway-with-leo-mazzotti.html
https://www.instagram.com/withcapitale/
Shannon
June 20, 2018 at 5:13 PMI love the photo dump idea. If you have photos you love that don’t fit in anywhere else, this is a great place for them. Can’t wait to see some future hikes. It’s winter here so I can live vicariously through you haha. Also, you always manage to capture such gorgeous scenery.
SHANNON VALLE life + style blog
Mercy
June 20, 2018 at 5:52 PMIt’s always exciting to meet up with old friends, I always do that too every time I visit the Philippines. It’s good that you always find time going into the great outdoors, I like the photos of the water gushing in the stream. Have a great month of June.
http://www.busyandfab.com
Colleen
June 21, 2018 at 5:15 PMAll of that food looks amazing!!! And the nature photos are beautiful
xoxo
Colleen
http://www.justthattallgirl.com/2018/06/milan-in-3-nights-exploring-one-of-our.html
Ellaine
June 23, 2018 at 7:15 AMLovely photos! Gave me an idea on a few blog posts I can also create in my blog. Yey! Thank you! 🙂 also, the food look so delicious and tasty!
– Ellaine, In Betweens
Tienne
June 24, 2018 at 1:53 AMWaaaah, almost forgot to go on hiking. It’s summer after all!!!
Zorica
June 30, 2018 at 12:46 PMAmazing post.
xx
https://theonethattravels.wordpress.com/
Britney
July 1, 2018 at 4:54 PMThe hiking scenery is beautiful!