GUEST BLOGGER: Raya from thepaperpony

Hello there! I'm Raya Carlisle - a wedding/lifestyle portrait photographer by day & blogger by night (literally, as I am typing this it is 12:30am). My blog thepaperpony is where I post all my creative endeavors, from photography to sewing projects to home design. One thing I love most about blogs is that it's like having your very own magazine & you are the Editor-in-Chief. Today & next Monday my article for sfgirlbybay is a travel piece on my little city-by-the-sea, Ventura California. This was a great excuse for me to spend the day downtown with my 8 mo. old baby boy introducing him to my favorite shops & eateries & taking photos along the way.

First Stop: Breakfast at Savory • 419 E Main St

Breakfast is my favorite meal & this is my favorite place to eat it in Ventura! I also love to buy bread there because they wrap it up in a gift bag with tissue paper & everything - it's the little things : )

two-hands-necessary lattes, delicious omelets & fresh-baked croissants

Then, we took a walk up the street to El Jardin - a little cove harboring some of the best shops downtown, namely Sassy Sally's • 451 E Main St.

Sassy Sally's is an indie boutique carrying an ecletic mix of vintage, small designers & proprietor Lindsay Miller's altered & repurposed clothing designs. Her shop is over-the-top colorful & fun, so I had to take lots of photos.

if only I wore a size 6 shoe

Lindsay is so cool. She has a sewing machine on site should inspiration strike while she's minding the store.

lots of warm light & hearts on the dressing room ceiling. Love!

Sassy Sally's is worth a trip to the shop itself, but the good news is that an online store is coming soon in case you never make it to Ventura. Visit sassysallys.com or myspace.com/sassysallys & thanks Lindsay for letting me photograph your lovely space!

I hope you'll come back next Monday for the second half of my tour of downtown Ventura. A sneak peek...Italian food & quirky antiques. See you next week!