In my very first post on this blog I mentioned that I once had a food blog, then I had a travel blog and then I started this blog. (I failed to mention that in high school I also had a movie blog back before blog was a word.) Each holds a special place in my heart, but this is the blog that feels most true to me. It’s my sanctuary of all things happy, exciting, sad, scary, insecure, delicious, adventurous, beautiful and canine-related. Me in a nutshell, I guess. It’s also helped me through my first shaky year of freelance by giving me routine and an opportunity to put something out there that’s all mine. And to have people read and care? That’s pretty awesome.
So on this day, my one year blog-aversary, I’m running my first giveaway! One lucky winner will get two prizes, both of which represent my love for food and San Diego’s small business scene. Read on for details about the prizes:
Tomorrow marks our one-year Caliversary, and I can say with absolute certainty that there is no where I’d rather be at this point in my life (and maybe forever?) than San Diego. I wanted to live somewhere warm, sunny, outdoorsy and healthy with an emphasis on a good quality of life. And let me tell you, San Diegans live very well. They go to the beach, hike, buy from the farmer’s market, relax and work to live (not the other way around). They have a very positive, friendly and happy outlook on things. How could they not? San Diego is beautiful.
I also wanted to live in a small city, which is such a 180-degree switch from my late teens and early 20’s. I love that San Diego feels like a sprawling urban suburb — oxymoron, but it does feel that way — with tons of distinct and very different neighborhoods. I like that it’s quiet and slow. I like that the city feels most alive in the mornings. I sometimes miss New York’s energy, but at the end of the day, San Diego’s laid-back pace is what I want.
I don’t like the idea of straight-up juice cleanses. Though juice cleanses swear they’re not meant to deprive, that’s what they sound like to me. And anytime I’ve attempted one, I almost always end up stuffing my face with cookies by the end of the day.
But then I got to know Beaming, a new juice bar in Del Mar (that ships nationally, too), and they had a novel idea: What if a juice cleanse combined cold-pressed juices with actual food and the freedom to snack? You’d get the same detoxifying properties without feelings of deprivation or guilt. The company’s founder, Lisa Odenweller, has a laid-back, relatable approach. “If you’re hungry, eat half an avocado or some almonds.” There’s no reason to starve yourself, she had told me.
Inspired to take better care of the mind-body-soul connection after I came back from India, I decided to try Beaming’s 4-day Total Rejuvenation Cleanse. I had always, always, always wanted to try a cleanse but had never found a company that structured their cleanses in a way that made sense to me. Beaming’s would be the jump start I needed. Was it hard? Some days. Was it worth it? Yes.
Straight from the mouth of a real girl who likes her food, here’s my honest account of the four days:
This weekend I took the train up to L.A. to visit one of my best girlfriends, and since she lives on the west side, we decided to use the train station’s downtown location to explore somewhere far east of the 405. We chose Silverlake, and it was a breath of fresh air to be far away from the glitz, ritz and overall sceney vibe I’ve found in places like West Hollywood and Santa Monica.
If you find yourself in L.A., step into the cool little enclave of Silverlake for well-edited boutiques and awesome food choices. Here are some picks:
A peek at what the holidays looked like around these parts, including December Nights in Balboa Park, celebrating Eaman’s business launch with cake from New York City, a few hikes, a weekend pop-up shop of local artisans, freaking Teddy out with a horse head costume I won at a white elephant party and gorgeous 80-degree days. Oh, and I thought it was only fitting to end the last video recap of 2013 with a song about how YOLO.
2013 was maybe the most challenging year I’ve ever faced. Never have I had to deal with so many curve balls at once–from getting to know a new city and making new friends to navigating the world of freelance, raising a new puppy and watching Eaman start his own business. It was a lot to contend with at once. In a way I’m kind of ready for 2013 to be over.
That said, this year was also about many dreams coming true. I very much believe in willing things to happen and will forever remember 2013 as the year when so many goals became realities. Sometimes I sit on my couch and look at my freelance articles, my boyfriend (of nearly 8 years!), my puppy sleeping by my feet and the homey space we’ve created here in San Diego and give myself a little pat on the back. We done good in 2013.
Onward to 2014. I want more stability. I want to feel less “new.” I want to stick with the yoga regimen I got serious about at the end of 2013. (I’m loving Pura Vida, a vinyasa studio in downtown San Diego.) I want to brush more off my shoulders. I want to go to Big Sur. I want to stop falling asleep on the couch. That last one needs to happen asap.
Happy new year friends! Thank you for reading, following and writing.
