I’m so excited about today’s post because it combines my two favorite things in life: food and travel. Whole Foods invited me to take part in a blogger challenge on behalf of their new travel venture, Whole Journeys, which creates specialized, multi-day international and domestic trips for small groups. The trips are all about engaging with culture through food, whether that means wine tastings, lessons in cheese making, or hands-on cooking classes.
If you read our travel blog, then you’d know that this way of seeing the world is right up my alley, and there were more than a few examples to prove it. We asked the staff at a restaurant in Myanmar to teach us a traditional recipe. We worked on a Patagonian farm to gain a greater appreciation for food sources. We did a homestay in Mysore to try local meals. Food with travel makes us happy and fulfilled.
So my task was to create a recipe using an ingredient from one of the Whole Journeys destinations, and together we decided on Peru. Whole Journeys’ Peru trip includes meetings with Whole Planet Foundation microentrepreneurs and the COCLA Cooperative farmers whose organic coffee can be found in Whole Foods. For me, not only was Peru the first country of 14 in our backpacking trip, but we still think about the kind people, the rich history, and the innovative cuisine to this day.
My ingredient was cilantro, and even though I could make anything my traveling heart desired, I wanted to pay tribute to the country of the hour. Enter: the goes-with-everything aji amarillo sauce.
There are two things I love about the new boutique Hi Sweetheart. One is the sunny, well-curated collection of home decor, kitchenware, gifts, and jewelry. It’s one of those places where I could very well see every single piece finding a home in my apartment. The second is its owner, Molly Rossettie, an Orange County native who just moved back to the West Coast after spending a handful of years between New York and Philadelphia. Even though her background is SoCal, I could feel that East Coast connection as soon as I met Molly. There’s just an instant recognition and familiarity. Plus, she has the best of both worlds: a totally relaxed personality paired with big-city style and sensibility.
So I wanted to find out how a SoCal native is adjusting back to a more laid-back life after living in two of the busiest East Coast cities. Today she shares her favorite La Jolla happy hour spot, Hi Sweetheart’s music playlist, and more.
Lazy Hummingbird is yet another reason to love the wonderful coastal hippie ‘hood of Ocean Beach. This friendly locals cafe offers coffee, tea, pastries, live music, and even Fair Trade Peruvian textiles, but what it’s most famous for are its acai bowls. They recently stopped serving the bowls while figuring out new health code regulations, but once the acai was back on the menu, my friend (who lives across the street—jealous!) and I ventured over for a weekend breakfast.
What you first notice about the bowls is the size. They’re gargantuan, really. If you’re hungry, Lazy Hummingbird is your jam. If you like nut toppings, Lazy Hummingbird is your jam. If you want banana slices, Lazy Hummingbird may not be your jam. Apparently they’re not allowed to slice bananas due to health regulations. How they slice the strawberries, I’m not sure. As far as the actual acai blend, it was tasty with the consistency of a thick smoothie, which I appreciated, because those icy mixes are just never good. It may not be my favorite acai bowl in the city—still figuring out that one—but it’s certainly in my top 3.
But it is one of my new favorite cafes in San Diego. I love the intimacy and why-don’t-you-stay-a-while vibe, even though it strangely shares a space with FedEx. (That said, it’s the most laid-back, non-corporate FedEx you’ll ever see!) Lazy Hummingbird also has a welcoming patio, where customers and their four-legged friends relax, a comfy working area with free wifi, and a sweet, fun staff to boot. We happened to be there on the cafe’s 3rd birthday, and they were all wearing party hats to celebrate. Local-driven, cozy, and friendly—all the makings of an excellent hang-out. Check it out:
I’m that girl (woman? person? what are we saying nowadays?) who will get up in your grill if you don’t slather on SPF. I’m that girl who feels unlike herself if she doesn’t moisturizer her face after washing it. And I’m that girl who is devoted to weekly exfoliating sessions, not to mention face oils and eye cream every day.
So you could say, I’m a wee bit into skincare. I’m not a makeup fan, but I get so much satisfaction out of nurturing and nourishing my skin. A part of it is vain (wanting great skin when I’m older), and the other part is common sense (avoiding skin cancer).
So when Simple Skincare asked me to review some of their products as part of their Kind to City Skin campaign, I figured it was a great fit. The campaign is a global initiative to help women understand the impact that city living—both environmental and lifestyle-related factors—can have on their faces. My years in New York City came with plenty of skin assaults, from the pollution and humidity to the stress and late nights out, but San Diego presents its own set of challenges, the biggest of which is the constant sun and need for SPF. (I know, life is really rough.)
Simple prides themselves on zero harsh chemicals and zero artificial perfumes or dyes, and these days I’m looking to eliminate as many negative ingredients as possible. Bonus points for the brand’s efforts to keep prices low; you can find Simple at Target!
Here’s a look at what I loved, along with a chance to win a skincare pack giveaway!
I know there are some high-fashion devotees here, but rarely do we San Diegans wear heels or traipse around in splashy dresses for brunch like I sometimes would in New York. Just after moving here and obersving my surroundings, I finally bought T-shirts after years of blouses and “tops.” All that to say, San Diego’s dress code is much like our attitude m.o.: laid-back and oh-so-relaxed. Not a bad thing, but sometimes I miss the fun of fashion.
So that’s why meeting someone who says “Eff you” to the status quo is so refreshing. And that’s why I was instantly hooked to Lauren Winget and her style blog, La Petite Winget. In Lauren’s world, neon reigns supreme, patterns are meant to be mixed, and paying full price for something you can make yourself (or with the help of an expert tailor) is just silly. I recently met Lauren at a blogger event, and I must say, girl’s got an unabashed, bold, playful style—and a great sense of humor about it all. For example, she fully cops to wearing little boy suit pants.
Today she talks horses, grilling, and two ridiculously cool pieces she designed with said tailor:
I told myself I wouldn’t do it, but I chopped most of my hair off yet again. The first time was back in 2007, during my senior year of college. I was going for a Victoria Beckham-inspired graduated bob—trust me, it was trendy at the time—and I loved it, except for the fact that it required frequent trimmings and was a mother to grow out once I was over it. (By the way, I’d get my trims at an Aveda school—very cost-effective!)
For the last few months, I had been kicking around the idea of lobbing it off, and it got to a point last week where it just had to be done. Last night I did it—with inspiration from here and here—and it’s like a weight’s been lifted. Sure, I’ll hate growing it out when the time comes and I’ll look 12 when I don’t style it properly, but I just needed to rid myself of the physical and emotional baggage.
It just doesn’t make sense to join a gym when, like us, you live near Balboa Park, a sprawling, 1,2oo-acre park in the middle of the city, where museums, cultural centers, and rose gardens mingle amongst dog parks, archery courses, lawn bowling, and miles of trails. For a city without a lot of traditional attractions, Balboa Park makes for a pretty impressive sight, whether you’re a tourist or not.
I remember the first time Eaman and I walked around Balboa Park after moving here—I was basically giddy. I couldn’t believe that all this beautifully manicured space was at our disposal whenever we wanted. And since I’m a sucker for Spanish-style architecture and bougainvillea, this place has become a fast favorite.
The Park hosts tons of events throughout the year, including free yoga on Sundays, free outdoor movies in the summer, and multicultural programs at the International Houses, but I love it most at quieter times—during my morning runs, walking with Teddy in the evening*, or picnic-ing in one of the many, many grassy areas.
I really needed to get more fellas in this series. And I got us a good one today! Meet Brandon Matzek, a marketing professional by day and food blogger by night. What first grabbed me were Brandon’s images, with their photo studio-esque lighting and expert styling. What grabbed me after was how professional his posts are, and how he expands on them through his Instagram feed, where we learn about the stories, emotion, and love behind the cooking. We also learn about some great new restaurants. True story: I found out about the excellent Mexican wrestling-themed eatery Lucha Libre through his Insta!
I finally met Brandon in person this week at a blogger event, and I can confirm he’s as nice as he is talented. Oh, and he’s a Jersey native like me. Win, win, win! Today Brandon chats about what’s been on his breakfast menu for the last year, his mom’s homemade tomato sauce, and his summer treat of choice.
