After a red-eye flight and an accompanying cold I caught a day earlier, it's safe to say I'm glad to be back home. My trip to Anchorage for the holiday was filled with seeing friends from my past (3rd grade), driving down memory lane to see my childhood houses, waking up to fresh snow on the ground, and a certain dessert that's become a classic in my mom's kitchen. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday as well!
*morning dog walk in the fresh snow*
*a picturesque view of a frozen creek and bridge*
*an antique shop: a combination of old and new*
*upside down trees, miniature trees, and aluminum trees*
*vintage ornaments to go along with a fresh tree*
*Mom's famous pavlova*
*drive through coffee huts strewn all across town*
I'll start by saying, I've been a bad blogger. It's been several months since my last post, but I am back for good! Let's just think of it as an extended summer vacation, and I won't bore you with excuses.
It may be October, but the weather is far from showing any signs of fall here in LA. This past weekend, we spent a day at Catalina Island. It was my second visit (the first was during my Senior trip in 2004), and from the moment we stepped out of the ferry I wondered why we hadn't made a trip sooner. At first glance, the island is reminiscent of an Italian city, much like Capri, with the white buildings and tropical pops of color. It's hard to believe that this little oasis is 26 miles from home, but there's always another ferry available to take in the future.
traveling by land and by sea: a local's orange cruiser & our ferry to the island
Original Jack's: a much needed Kona coffee & high carb breakfast
Our day excursion: 1,400 feet in the sky
Descanso Beach Club: sitting beachside & a Bloody Mary
There's days when my own neighborhood just doesn't cut it, giving me the perfect opportunity to visit other lovely nooks of this big city. We spent the sunny afternoon walking the streets of Westwood Village, grabbing some flowers for the apartment, and satisfying my sweet tooth at Diddy Riese.
L.A Fashion District is a mix of good and bad, but the thrill of finding "fashion on the cheap" always has me coming back for more. Amidst all the items up for grabs on Santee Alley, here are some goodies that stood out to me. If only my bartering skills were a bit more refined!
Stay tuned to see what I picked in an upcoming outfit post.
Living a hop, skip, and a jump away from a great cafe is one of the benefits of my place. Crave Cafe, open 24 hours 6 days a week, is perfect for those random cravings no matter what time of day. I like to think of it as my very own Central Perk, a la Friends. If only Rachel worked behind the counter...
Whether you want a bowl of Cookie Crisp, a panini, crepe, or even frozen yogurt, their chalkboard menu has you covered. My pick for today's visit? Bread pudding with melted chocolate chips and nutella swirls, accompanied with a cafe latte.
Don't leave without taking a red velvet cookie, either. Words can't describe.
I'm always on a mission to find a great pizza place, and I definitely found one in Lucifer's in Los Feliz. The best part about it is their inclusion of hot sauce on the pie. You choose the level of hotness and a pizza on the menu. We chose the Pepperoni Ultimo that includes pepperoni, red onion, green bell pepper, sliced pineapple, buffalo hot sauce and arugula.
There's a certain feeling you get when looking out onto an entire city. It's hard to believe that thousands of people are going about their lives down below. It allows you to slow down and really think about where you are in your life. A mix of feelings cross your mind. You may feel big while looking down on the city, but in the whole scheme of things, you are one in ...9,862,049.
Tank and Necklace found @ L.A Fashion District last week Cuff Shorts from Express Mae and J Studded Messenger Style Bag Raybans
Griffith Park and Observatory was a nice little getaway from my normal routine in the Valley. We are loving that area so much, in fact, it might end up being on the top of our list when our lease is up in a few months. Dr. Seuss said it best... "Oh the places you will go."
Yesterday, a coworker was discussing her wedding. Someone asked where it was, and she replied "the Japanese Garden over in Van Nuys." After several "oh's" and "awww's," she discussed how her ceremony was held in the Tea House. I immediately knew I had to check this place out, especially because my boyfriend and I are thinking ahead to our future wedding :)
The Japanese Garden proved to be a nice little getaway. It's amazing that this place exists at all, especially being right in the middle of the Valley. Check out the video of the tea house.
Photos and video provided by my iPhone.
The garden has pretty strict rules. It would have been a bit more enjoyable if you could sit for a bit or have a small picnic, but the "no food or drink" and "stay on the paths at all times" rules ruined any future plans of that. I'm also not going to sugar coat this following point. Some areas have a very distinct smell. Whoever was in charge of putting it next to a water reclamation plant was not too bright. It was very tranquil, and a nice little visit. However, we'll continue our search for a wedding location that fits us much much better.
Living in this city is great for many reasons, but my favorite is that I am constantly finding new places that I love. I guess that goes right along with living in any new place, right? By "new places" I don't just mean a shop or restaurant. I'm referring to these quaint neighborhoods hidden in between busy streets. Out and about the other day, my boyfriend and I came upon one by the name of Tujunga Village.
It's a one block stretch of vintage stores, little shops, and cafe's tucked in between adorable houses just like this one. The houses had the most amazing flowers. I was tempted to pick a lot of them, but refrained out of the fear of being caught. I could have collected a great bouquet.
Before walking the neighborhood, this served as the setting for our lunch date. I ordered a Humble Salad (the name was better than the dish). The picture shows a much more delicious choice, the grilled chicken sandwich with pesto and sun dried tomatoes. Do you think there's a disorder for constantly wanting what the other person at your table is eating? Cause I have it....food envy.
I know there's tons of little gems like this one, it's only a matter of time before I come across another...I'd love any suggestions!
Today, the boyfriend and I made our first visit to Six Flags Magic Mountain. It will be one of many trips, now that we have season passes. That place did not disappoint one bit, especially the insane X2 roller coaster. It was, by far, the best ride I have ever been on!
Seriously! Your individual seat moves forward and backward 360 degrees, all while you are following a track of loops and turns. You have speakers on your headrest, flames shooting out of the ground, it's nuts! Not to sound like an Apple campaign, but "this is the future" of rides as we know it!
This video gives you a gist of how the ride works. (Cut to 50 seconds in)
My plan was to include some pics during the day, but we were having too much fun to get some good shots. Besides, do you really want photos of me with a head rush and crazy hair after a roller-coaster or drenched after that water rafting ride? No...I think not. Although, that would be pretty hilarious.
