Busy Bee

I have been quite the busy bee this last week!  In an effort to absorb everything I can while still in CA, I jam-packed the previous week with all sorts of fun stuff! [so much so that i didn't have time for any blog posts! wth?!]

Let's take this day by day...

Monday- My BFF came up to visit and we checked out a couple little dive bars up here in the Valley, nothing super exciting to report, but wonderful catching up with her nonetheless!

Tuesday- I went with a friend to Hip Hop bingo at the Parlor, Hollywood. Hosted by my two very hilarious friends: Derek "DBone" Reckley and Brian "BS" Smith.  

What is Hip Hop bingo, you ask? Well, it's pretty simple, DBone and BS dress very gansta and play only the hardest hip hop ever heard, all while hosting a spectacular game of bingo...(if you are one away from a bingo, you have to yell out "hiphop!")...& that pretty much sums it up.  Good times to be had for all Tuesdays at the Parlor.  Unfortunately none of us even won a game though!

Wednesday- Went to the movies to see Bridesmaids with two of my lovely Co-workers... & Yes we had a disgusting dinner of popcorn & candy... & yes the movie was very funny :)

Friday- Went to visit Anna at her new place in Newport Beach! We ate the yummiest fish taco's at Bear Flag Fish Company [not usually a fan of fish tacos, but wow, super good!] & then went out to the Peninsula for the night. We made it to a couple different bars, & ended up getting kicked out of Anna's jacuzzi because we went in afterhours...oopsie! 

This was followed by a wonderful brunch on Saturday morning in the Camp (coolest green/alternate/counterculture shopping center EVER!)...Even the parking spots were cool-

Specifically, we ate at the Old Vine Cafe:

I highly recommend the "Open Faced" [biscuits with chipotle-gravy, scrambled eggs & sausage]. YUM. Not to mention that the coffee was superb! Shipped in from Italy...I want to find out how to order it!

  I also bought myself a little housewarming gift for my future home in Portland, which looks like this: 

well, it doesn't look quite like that yet, its just the glass ball in which I am going to grow my hanging-succulent-garden, but pretty nifty anyhow.

Sunday- Memorial day BBQ at the Mossa's. I treasure going home and seeing the faces of so many loved ones :)

Monday (Labor Day)- Another [extended family] BBQ!  

If you happened to notice, Thursday night  was the only time I
 spent at home all week! Phew, I am tired.
 I am also officially on a DIET! 

I think this week will return to normal, & I will revert to my
grandma self and stay in...

At least until Anna's housewarming party on Saturday ;)

Ultimate Frisbee

Believe it or not, my weekly ultimate frisbee games are one 

of the things I will miss when I move away.

My interest in this hippie sport was spurred by one of the 

many Canadians in the lab, & I am actually happy about it!

I would give you a witty-fun explanation of how this all goes down,

& possibly some pretty pictures,

but it turns out that Mark has already done that for me here.

I hope you enjoy his rendering of our weekly ultimate fiasco, 

because I think he summed it up quite well :)

I think my ultimate skills will impress the Oregon hipsters,

[or possibly scare them? we play a rough game...]

& I plan to find/start a pick up league up in Portland.

I feel like an Oregonian already! As a dear friend keeps telling me,

soon I will be buying only green products,

hiking/biking/kayaking on the weekends, & shopping at REI...

xoxo

Santa Monica 10k

Last Sunday I ran farther than I ever have in my entire life!

10 kilometers! [for those metrically challenged, that's 6.2 miles]
I consider that a major accomplishment!
The weeks of training all led to one beautiful run along the LA coastline:

This was my first competitive long distance race,

& I could have never pulled it off without my 

coworker Anna and brother in law Jesse-

We trained together, & they basically had to drag me
to the finish line the day of ;)

We made it in 1 hr 1 min!  Way better than I thought we would do!

It was a very rewarding experience, 

& I've decided that I will do another race for sure.

Hopefully before I move, because running in the rain can't be fun!

[Not yet sold on that triathlon Jesse...maybe after this muscle-soreness fades!]

xoxo

Southern California Saturday

Another week has passed so I shall share
 another one of my favorite places in Southern California:

______________HOME________________

Yes, San Diego is my home, but that is not what I am talking about.

HOME is an amazing used/new clothing shop in Encinitas.
This is a place that I dearly miss up in LA
& I will continue to miss when I leave the state.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this store!  

I am forced to buy something every single time I drop in...

Consequently, this store has been responsible
for some of my very cutest outfits.

AKA:

My 26th birthday dress:

& I believe Miss Anna's dress as well?

My NYE 2010 ensemble:

Various Coachella outfits:

                                                                          [2010]                                                          [2011 w/ the lovely Salina]

& these are only a few examples...

As you can see HOME has taken lots of $ from me...

& I don't regret it at all :)

_____________________________________________________

OH!  I almost forgot to mention that I was lucky enough to visit one of my favorite places last weekend!

Carlsbad State Beach!

It was wonderful...I walked Bug down the boardwalk, 

while sipping my iced Chai from Vinaka:

and then had a beach day with one of my bestest friends and her lovely babies :)

Hopefully I will get to visit all the places I love before the big move!

xoxo

Bug's Training for Portland...

1.  Bug goes outside to do his business-
2.  Bug immediately realizes that the sprinklers are on! [OMG!]
3.  Bug hightails it straight back inside...
4.  Bug's evil mom picks him up and sticks him back outside!
     IN. THE. SPRINKLERS.
5.  Bug tries to avoid any water touching him & Pee's on the side of the house.
6.  Bug runs back inside.

& this is what he is doing this very moment:

Giving me the definition of Puppy-Dog-Eyes!

Because he hates water... aka: rain... 

& it rains ALOT in Portland. 

 It sure is a rough life, isn't it Bug?

xoxo

PS- I owe you a Thursday Tribute to So Cal...But blogspot was down yesterday!! 

So I will have to provide my insider information on a Saturday this week!

Thursday's Tribute

It has been another week, so I have another Southern California favorite!

This week, I'd like to highlight an amazing place for eats and drinks.

__________Stone Brewery__________

32 craft and specialty beers on tap is surely a way to attract my attention,

but its the ambiance and architecture that has 

continually brought me back to Stone.

With an acre of grounds to explore, there are fire pits, 

coy fish ponds and greenery galore.

Not to mention that Stone is San Diego's largest purchaser of local, 

small-farm organic ingredients, which = good food.  

[A little pricey, sure, but the Mac n' Beer cheese is pretty delicious]

This is another gem that I will miss when I move to Portland.

I guess I will have to find a new favorite brewery in Oregon!

[Which shouldn't be hard since Oregon ranks 4th in the U.S. for craft Breweries]

Stone is located in North County San Diego, near my alma mater.

I highly suggest you swing by if you are ever near the area :)

xoxo

Good things come in small packages...

Very exciting news!  

My August roadtrip to Portland is going to be much more pleasant! 

[& I will actually make it there without breaking down on the side of the highway]

I bought my first brand new car this weekend!  

& it just so happens to be my DREAM car.

I feel very spoiled and blessed to drive something so fancy-pants!

It has so many cool options I can't even begin to describe them.  

Check out my favorite one, here.

I finally know why people enjoy driving!

& a very special thanks to my wonderful sister and brother in law for helping me make this happen :)

xoxo