Monthly Archives: May 2015

around san diego - San Diego eats + drinks

Brunch at Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant

May 28, 2015

Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant // San Diego brunch spots

Just call us the brunch bunch. After Farmer’s Bottega and Andaz Hotel’s Rooftop600, I’m back with another brunch idea. This time, we’re visiting Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant, a popular dinner spot in, yes, Bankers Hill, that recently launched brunch on Sundays. The menu changes based on season, and on this particular Sunday, Eaman got the black angus bistro tender ($20) and I got the vegetarian scramble ($11). I’m usually hard-pressed to find a vegetarian brunch option that isn’t pure carbs (i.e. French toast) or pure protein (eggs upon eggs upon eggs), so my veg dish was a welcome surprise, with king trumpet mushrooms, asparagus, the most perfectly cooked peas, and goat cheese to cream-ify the whole thing. That said, the potatoes were too soft for my taste, so I could’ve done without them.

Make sure to check out their cocktail menu, too. The milk tyson punch ($9) goes down particularly smooth, and its milk base makes it a good choice for brunch. And if you know what’s good for you, you’ll also order the cinnamon bun, topped with cream cheese and blueberries. When I saw it land at another table, I thought, there’s no way the two of us can finish that. But because it’s so light and airy—the chef worked with the man behind Hillcrest donuterie Donut Star to perfect the dough—I probably could’ve eaten one on my own.

And the food isn’t the only part that deserves praise. The open, industrial space reminds me of my favorite New York City brunch spot, Public, and Bankers Hill’s enclosed, light-filled patio with a plant wall is one of the best seats in the house.

Check it out:

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Style + Beauty

Workout Wear with Road Runner Sports + a giveaway

May 26, 2015

workout wear // My SoCal'd LifeAthleisure is quite in vogue right now, but I’m not sure there’s another place more well-suited for this brand of athletic style-meets-leisurewear than Southern California. This is the place where people get up early, hike/spin/yoga, and then hit up the farmers market or brunch right after. Just walk around the Hillcrest farmers market on a Sunday, and you’ll see—athleisure as far as the eyes can see.

Since moving to San Diego, I’ve certainly upgraded from ratty T-shirts for the gym to fluorescent, dri-fit tanks and patterned leggings for the yoga studio—and I like it! Given the weather and look-good-feel-good attitude in Southern California, being active is a big part of life here, and I like that I can exercise my right to style even during a boot camp class.

So I’ve partnered with San Diego-based Road Runners Sports, the walking and running store with locations around the U.S. and an online store, to show off a look from their in-house line, R-Gear, and offer a $100 giveaway to My SoCal’d Life readers (more on that below).workout wear // My SoCal'd Lifeworkout wear // My SoCal'd Life

I wanted a mix of pattern, color, and comfort. Hot pink is one of my favorite colors, so this Fast and Fab Singlet in poppy pink was an easy choice. It’s lightweight, which is ideal for hot days and sweaty workouts. Nice criss-cross pattern in the back, too, no?workout wear // My SoCal'd Life

workout wear // My SoCal'd LifeAs for shorts vs. pants, I prefer leggings, but it’s hard to find ones that are flattering without being crazy expensive, but these SpeedPro polka dot compression capris keep you looking lean without the suffocation factor. And for me, $50 for high-quality pants that’ll last especially when I use them 1-2 times a week is worth it. Side note: That’s me in crow pose. It took me six months to get there, and though I’m not sure it’s 100 percent correct, it feels pretty awesome to hold myself up finally. And now I’m this close to nailing a headstand without a wall. Second side note: The shoes were from a previous Road Runner purchase. They’re my first pair of black kicks, and I dig ’em.workout wear // My SoCal'd Life workout wear // My SoCal'd LifeOK, yes, I like to work out, but this R-Gear Cozy Cardi is my new favorite piece. It’s flowy and warm and feels like a blanket without making you look like an Olsen twin drowning in fabric. The arms are fitted to lend structure and the back detail gives it style, but the rest is drapey-chic, as I like to call it. And since I’m always, always cold, it’s ideal for post-workout when I’m running errands and also for plane rides when I’m usually chilled to the bone.

And now for a giveaway! One lucky My SoCal’d Life reader will win a $100 gift card to Road Runner Sports. You can buy anything you want, whether it’s from their R-Gear collection, Nike, UnderArmour, or the other lines they carry. Here’s how:

1. Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below. There are multiple ways to enter, so the more times you enter, the better your chances of winning.
2. The contest will run until 11:59 p.m. PST on Monday, June 1, after which a winner will be chosen at random.
3. Open to U.S. residents only.

Plus, use the code CX15F216 at checkout for an 11% discount off R-Gear products + free shipping. Good luck—and werk it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post was sponsored by Road Runner Sports. I received compensation, but as always, all opinions are my own.

San Diego eats + drinks

Brunch at the Andaz Hotel downtown

May 21, 2015

Heads up! I’m back (hooray!) and have changed my posting schedule to Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Brunch on the Andaz Hotel rooftop in San Diego // My SoCal'd LifeYou had me at dog-friendly. The Andaz Hotel‘s RoofTop600, a lounge that includes DJ’ed weekend parties and a trio of pool parties this summer (Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day), serves brunch on its top floor, and your four-legged friend is welcome. The space, which was remodeled last summer and includes a retractable roof perfect for this recent spate of San Diego rain, is open and airy, with daybeds, a living plant wall, and city views.

On this particular Saturday, it was drizzling May grey-style darkness, so we settled in for a cozy brunch with Teddy by my side. The staff loved him, bringing him a water bowl once we sat down and giving the lovable attention whore a few pets every time they checked on us.

We managed the perfect balance of savory and sweet: The sizable waffle topped with macerated berries and fresh cream and the highly recommended caprese omelet. Oh, and a classic chocolate donut. Did I not tell you about the rain and gloom?

Check it out:

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Life

be right back

May 13, 2015

too-many-tabs-openIt’s time to get real real. I’m juggling a whole lot on my plate right now: working at San Diego Magazine (filling in for an editor on maternity leave), freelancing, blogging, trying to stay active (it’s good for the freelance brain), and virtually checking in with my mom, who’s undergoing surgery today for a broken ankle.

I feel totally all over the place, and each week a few things fall to the wayside. Either I don’t see friends or I don’t work out or I don’t spend any time with my dog or I eat like crap. Bah! I’m going to have to make some changes, what those are I have no idea because I haven’t even had time to think about it, but one thing that will help is taking a few days off from this blog to recharge. Sometimes you need to just sit on the couch while your golden retriever sits next to you and snores ever so softly without the compulsion to cross something off your checklist.

So I need to figure out ways to allow for more of that in my life. Thanks in advance for being patient with me! As with everything in life quality > quantity.

Image via

DIY

how to propagate succulents

May 11, 2015

succulent propagation

Succulents are as Southern California as surfing and palm trees. They’re planted in yards, sold at boutiques, and often the decor of choice in cafes and restaurants. They’re cute, they’re low-maintenance, and they come in all sorts of kooky shapes. I was sold. That said, constantly buying new succulents becomes a costly affair. Enter: succulent propgation, the process of using succulent leaves to breed new succulent plants.

I used this very handy, very visual guide from fellow SoCal bloggers, Needles + Leaves, to get started on my succulent that was beginning to take on a life of its own. If you’re looking to try this yourself, I highly recommend the Needles + Leaves guide, since they took better notes than I did. Ha! But for now, I recently transferred some baby succulents into the new pots, so I thought it would be a good time to share my progress. My number one tip? Let the mother/host leaf die before yanking it off. There were a few times that I pulled off the precious roots in the process.

For those that did survive, take a look:

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around san diego

the balboa park cactus garden

May 6, 2015

Balboa Park Cactus Garden // My SoCal'd Life, a lifestyle blogLiving within walking distance of Balboa Park, the 1,200-acre urban playground filled with trails, museums, restaurants, tennis courts, dog parks, and a velodrome, has its perks. One of them is getting to walk through the less-visited cactus garden, located just across Park Boulevard near the rose garden.

The garden is an enclave of quirky cacti, flowering trees, and walkways with mountain views to the east. Dr. Seuss was rumored to have been inspired by the cacti here and used the shapes as inspiration for his own drawings. And best of all, unlike the rest of Balboa Park, this nook usually remains delightfully quiet.

Take a look:

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around san diego - San Diego eats + drinks

brunch at farmers bottega in mission hills

May 4, 2015

brunch // My SoCal'd Life, a lifestyle blogBrunch may not be the first word that comes to mind when I think San Diego—it’s usually palm treessurfing, and 72 degrees—but I quickly learned that this city is passionate about the intermediary weekend meal. And San Diego offers every shade of the brunch rainbow, from boozy spots and vegan options to acai bowl stands and a place that serves pineapple upside down pancakes.

Farmers Bottega is a happy medium between everything—farm-to-table-focused without costing a fortune, simple without lacking style, and spacious for big groups. Last weekend I went to the restaurant to celebrate my friend’s birthday with a group of about a dozen, and we found the perfect spot for a group brunch: the expansive, dog-friendly back patio. It’s filled with lush greenery as well as brick walls that feel straight out of New York, albeit with much more square footage. The menu includes chilaquiles with vegetarian-friendly black beans ($10), different Benedicts ($10-14), French toast ($9), Cafe Moto coffee, and more. Sounds standard? They also have extensive gluten-free options along with bacon all over the menu. It’s like the two sides of San Diego, health-conscious plus pork-lover, coming together on one menu!

Check it out:

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monthly favorites

5 april favorites

May 1, 2015

April was a blur in more ways than one. I went to Ojai, celebrated my nine-year dating anniversary, turned 30, visited Laguna Beach, and hosted one of my best friends in San Diego. It was also the two-year anniversary of bringing Teddy home. So many amazing things to celebrate, and I felt so lucky to have them all combined into one month. Those were all good.

But at the same time, I’ve also been working harder than ever before, filling in for an editor at San Diego Magazine on essentially a full-time basis by day and freelancing and blogging at night. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t overwhelmed or burned out with my routine totally thrown out of whack. But I’m finding solace in something my friend told me last year. She said some chapters of your life are dedicated to certain causes, whether they be a relationship, work, health, etc. For me, right now it’s about work, keeping my head down, and chugging along. So here I go!

Like I said, there was plenty to smile about in April. Here are 5 moments that stuck out:

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