Labor Day in the OC

I sometimes feel like I'm in several long distance relationships.  I certainly feel that way about my friends Ally and Allan, who live all the way in Atlanta.  But the good part about long distance is that every time we see each other, it's an occasion to celebrate!  This weekend, when the Al's (yes, it's official now guys) were in town for a wedding, we did just that.  We started on Friday afternoon with a few cocktails and the most beautiful sunset at Monarch Bay in Dana Point (I had the spritzer with white wine, St. Germaine, and soda water...yummm).

Brian missed out on the cocktails because he was busy rocking the GMAT, but when he finally did join us, we headed out and had a festive dinner at Javier's (you'll have to take my word for it), complete with the perfect margs.  We laughed, celebrated some more, swam in the in-laws' pool, and then went to bed happy.

The next morning, we headed to my fave brunch spot in the area, Ramos House.  It's right in the historic area surrounding the Mission San Juan Capistrano and the tables are set out on the porch of a real house (presumably occupied by the mysterious Ramos?).  It's just about the cutest place you could imagine.  (Except for the train that runs right on the back of the patio, which sounds like it could be cool, but really, it's just loud if you're sitting too close - just ask Ally haha.)  Plus, all the vegetables are grown in the garden, and everything, even the ice cream, is made in-house from scratch.  It's the kind of place that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside (that could also be the Bloody Mary).

Did I mention that they make THE BEST Bloody Mary ever?  It comes with a scotch egg -- i.e. a quail egg coated in sausage, breaded and fried to perfection -- and a crab claw.  Seriously.

Such good times.