Is drinking beer actually a hobby? Debatable. But exploring and traveling to different breweries certainly has become a hobby of mine over the last several years, so that’s what I’ll write about. I suppose it started when I lived in Chico, because having Sierra Nevada nearby was awesome, and when I moved back over here, I was missing having a go-to brewery to hit up, so I started branching out in search of new ones. It’s now become such a hobby of mine and my husband’s, that we’ve planned several vacations all around this hobby, traveling to the breweries on our bucket list and usually coming home with a few shirts to prove it. Aside from the beer itself, which is fun to taste in flights, we enjoy the natural vibes that come along with breweries. The best ones are usually full of down to earth people who are enjoying themselves and are happy to meet other beer connoisseurs, and of course, good food! One example of this is an elderly couple named Art and Melva that we met on the famed “Ale Trail” in Bend, Oregon last year. They liked us so much that they ended up tagging along with us to several breweries throughout our trip, and we keep in touch via Facebook to this day. They even invited us to come stay with them next time we visit. Below are some of our favorites: 

Jack Russel Brewing (Upper Left)...a local classic.

Coronado Brewing (Upper Right) was picture perfect, just steps from the beautiful beach! Also I highly recommend their carne asada fries.

Deschutes (Bottom Left) is one of my all-time favorite breweries, so touring it in Bend was amazing. Fun fact -- this was the only beer we served at our wedding

10 Barrel Brewing Company (Bottom Right) in Bend, OR. This one was awesome because one side of the bar was outside on the patio, and it actually started snowing on us as we finished up our flight! One of our favorite memories.

A few more of our favorites not pictured:

Stone Brewing (Both the SD & Napa locations)

Bike Dog Brewing (Sacramento, CA)

Red Bus Brewing (Folsom, CA)

Belching Beaver (SD, CA)

We’re going to a wedding in September in Georgia, so we’re already planning on hitting up SweetWater Brewing in Atlanta, and end of this year we are planning a brewery trip to Colorado. And of course Ireland for the Guinness factory is on the list for 2020. Cheers! 🍻

A (somewhat) recent hobby of mine is flying drones and aerial photography. I started getting into drones around 2014 when a friend of mine introduced me to them -- as the hobby grew stronger for him, he invested in more expensive drones and began networking and booking events, shooting music videos and real estate jobs locally. Business was so lucrative for him that he ended up quitting his day job and making an entrepreneurship out of flying drones. I was always in awe of the photos and videos these things produced, so I decided to buy my first drone in 2018 to see where it would take me.

I am no professional flier, nor do I even have my pilot’s license. To fly these types of drones, you don’t even need one! I enjoy hiking and mountain biking as well, and these adventures often take me to some pretty neat destinations. I pack my folding drone (yes, it folds!) into my day pack and take a minute whenever to get an eye in the sky. Even when I am not adventuring, the drone still produces some pretty amazing shots of ordinary scenery. It shows a view that we otherwise wouldn’t see in our everyday lives. Through the past year I’ve learned so much about what these things can do and the content they can produce. I’ve also learned that really breathtaking places often don’t allow the flying of drones and you will be fined for entering such restricted airspace… such is life I guess! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Below are just a few unedited photographs I’ve taken over the past year, maybe you can recognize some local spots!

Side note: If you or anyone you know want some sweet (and free) aerial shots done.. you know where to find me!

I was first introduced to weightlifting back in college by a couple of my friends where they would drag me there whenever they went. In the first year or two, I was not consistent at all and how often I went would depend on my class schedule and if my friends were going during my free time. After graduating college (I no longer had a gym membership), it wouldn't be until a year later until I got back into in gym and that's when I regained my passion for it as it allowed me to take my mind off from the outside world and to focus on my "me time". Needless to say, I have been going consistently since then and it has become my second home.