2. Kayaking. A week before starting my job, I took a week off to staycation in San Diego, which included stand-up paddleboarding in Mission Bay (not my first time SUPing, but my first time in San Diego), staying at the Rancho Bernardo Inn, doing less glamorous stuff like handing off long overdue dry cleaning and tailoring, and kayaking with Teddy in Mission Bay. We went with the same outfitter, Aqua Adventures, as we used last year, and the experience was just as sweet, thanks in large part to the guy at the front desk who gave us a tennis ball to throw for Teddy from the kayak. Maybe it sounds weird to non-pet owners, but the hardest part about transitioning to a 9-5 job has been being away from Teddy all day. Since we brought him home two years ago, he’s been by my side while I work, and now it’s strange to see him only weekday mornings and nights. So this staycation week was all about doing fun things with him. I love that little big guy. 3. Weekend getaway to Tri-Valley. Along with my friend Cindy, I visited this quaint wine region east of San Francisco. Read all about it here.4. Pearl Hotel’s Dive-in Theatre. I finally got to check out the retro hotel’s weekly movie event with a screening of 40-Year-Old Virgin. Every Wednesday they play a movie on a poolside screen, and people (not just hotel guests) can watch from the bar and pool area. You can reserve seats—you’ll be expected to order food and/or drinks—or try for first-come, first-serve seating (no food/drink orders necessary). I spent plenty of years in Chicago and New York waiting in line for events, so I’m pretty much over that, and I was so happy to have a guaranteed seat. Next week, a group of my friends and I have seats for a screening of Bridesmaids. Oh, that’ll be a good one.5. A peaceful morning to me, myself, and I. My friend’s boyfriend spends most Sunday mornings alone, at a cafe, reading a book or the paper. I thought to myself, man, doesn’t that sound just lovely? Then I realized, why don’t I just make it happen for myself? I schedule so many other things in my life—work, work events, exercise, friend dates, etc.—why don’t I schedule alone time, too? This particular morning was spent at Cafe Madeleine in South Park with my stack of neglected magazines. I’ve been recreating this experience at home the last few Saturdays, and it’s been a great way to recharge. I highly recommend it. Also, oh the irony of my croissant with that skinny model on the cover of Conde Nast Traveler. Whatever, I thoroughly enjoyed my pastry.

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2. Cabo. My first real vacation in nearly three years! And even though I hyped it up—It’s going to be great! I’m going to relax! Eaman and I will finally get some quality time together!—it lived up to all of my expectations. You can see the photos and read all the info about the off-the-beaten-path hotel we stayed at, here.

3. Burnside. It’s about time the sandwich, one of my favorite food groups, got the hipster treatment. Burnside, the new elevated sandwich eatery from the folks behind Sycamore Den has opened right next door to SD in Normal Heights. There are meat and veggie options, awesome classic sodas, and a bomb fried chicken sandwich (top right in this photo). 4. Temecula. I was in this wine region, just one hour north of San Diego, for work and got to bring Eaman and Teddy along, but I use the term “work” a bit lightly. Look at that dreamy lawn space at Ponte Vineyard Inn, where we stayed. Check out my full Temecula guide here.5. Love wins! Enough said. (photo via)

Have a great weekend and happy 4th!

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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:

1. A weekend getaway to Ojai. I’ve never felt so fulfilled by a destination like I did in Ojai. The hiking, restaurants, people, and sunsets were spectacular, and it was a perfect place for Eaman, Teddy, and I to be together. I hope to make this an annual trip in that same Airbnb!

2. I turned 30! No, it doesn’t feel all that different. Actually I started feeling the effects (like not bouncing back as quickly after an indulgent meal or my knees hurting) at 29. Womp, womp.

3. A stay at the Surf & Sand Resort. I joined some fellow bloggers for a very lovely two nights at the Laguna Beach hotel, where we ate at their oceanside restaurant, tried new spa treatments, and had one of the best balcony views I’ve ever experienced.

4. The Cheese Store of San Diego. I finally checked out this bright and airy fromagerie in Little Italy. The owners thought of everything, from including wine and cracker pairing suggestions on your receipt to this very fitting Anchorman quote.

5. Sunset article on the East Village. My most recent work for Sunset—a day trip guide to San Diego’s East Village—was my biggest project for the magazine yet. Woohoo! I spend my days and nights cold-emailing pitches to magazine editors, and most of the time I either don’t get a response or they pass—it’s such a “throw sh– against the wall and see what sticks” kind of life—so you can imagine how amazing it feels to finally see the fruits of my labor come to life in print. Read the full article here.

Happy Friday!

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1. A trip to San Felipe, Mexico: These two days in Baja were much needed. Even though I was there on work terms, scoping out the tourist scene, the trip was pretty laid-back, thanks in large part to the chill seaside town. We ate fish tacos, gazed at the Sea of Cortez, and saw the most amazing 2,000-year-old cacti.

2. Dinner at Venga Venta Cantina & Tequila Bar: For a taste of Mexico closer to home, Venga Venga in Chula Vista is my new favorite spot. Tucked in the Otay Ranch Town Center mall, this lounge-like restaurant has energy, great decor, a charming patio, and tasty, thoughtful menu. I was invited to try the Guadalajara-inspired menu, a part of the restaurant’s new Destination menu series, and I was blown away. Authentic flautas, infused tequilas, a Mexican take on caprese salad—the chef clearly had fun making the menu, and I’m happy to eat the fruits of his labor. FYI, the Guadalajara menu runs through September 30 before switching to a new region of Mexico.

3. My SoCal’d Life makeover: The logo! The template! The colors! I feel so much more re-energized to blog now that it has a new look.

4. Nomad Donuts: The artisanal donuterie (my word) has really found its footing since it opened a few months ago. Wacky flavors are the m.o, and I loved the lavender sugar donut holes (not pictured) most of all. One of my closest girlfriends from college came to visit that weekend, and it was the perfect way to introduce her to San Diego’s sweet side.

5. Days like these: I’m so thankful to live in a beautiful place like San Diego and for beautiful photo opps like a colorful umbrella positioned perfectly at the Coronado dog beach.

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The five best things I saw, did, and ate in February…

1. Teddy turned 2. In my more than 20 years of wishing for a golden retriever, Teddy is everything I could’ve hoped for and then some. Anyone who’s met this spunky guy can attest to his vibrant personality, playfulness, affectionate nature, unwavering love for both human and animals, and his never-ending desire for belly rubs. I’m pretty maternal by nature, so it gives me a lot of joy to take care of him, but considering the stresses that Eaman and I face as business owners who both work from home, he takes care of us a whole lot, too. He makes us laugh, gets us exercising, and is generally just a really funny dog. I’ll be the first to admit that he was a bit of a nightmare during his puppy and teenage months, but now at age 2, he’s all love—and licks.

2. Weekend getaway to Dana Point and the St. Regis Monarch Beach. I mean, just look at that picture. Need I say more? Actually, I already did. Read all about our stay here.

3. Fox 5 TV segment. I loved doing the occasional TV talking head or hosting gig while living in New York City, so it was fun to put my TV cap back on last month for a Valentine’s Day segment on San Diego’s Fox 5 station. It was all about shopping local for the holiday, and it was a treat to pick some of my favorite items produced right here in San Diego. You can watch the clip here.

4. My best friend came to visit. And we had the best San Diego girlfriend getaway.

5. New blog design. For the last few weeks I’ve been working with a talented designer on a new logo for My SoCal’d Life, and I can’t wait to share the results very soon. Also, a new look for the whole blog! Stay tuned.

For now, happy Friday!

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Here are the five best things I saw, ate, and did last month…

1. Being featured on Apartment Therapy. I’ll be honest, I’ve always, always, always wanted to be featured on this shelter site. Just as cool was seeing how excited my friends were for me. I felt so loved!

2. Hiking Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve. I love this long, flat, green six-mile out-and-back hike that leads to a small, but refreshing waterfall.

3. A visit to the Mingei Museum in Balboa Park. I’m admittedly not a big museum person, but I’ve recently learned that I can’t rely on just my computer for story inspiration as a freelancer. I need to get out, see beautiful things, experience different forms of creativity, and even if it’s not directly related to my field, understand that it can still be helpful. When I went to the Mingei, I fell for the patterns on these batik blocks from Indonesia.

4. Exploring Barrio Logan. This largely Hispanic neighborhood just south of downtown is where most of the cool stuff in San Diego is happening. Whether it’s the art galleries or brewery scene (above), there’s an undeniable pulse as well as a community of people excited to show off their talents. Seriously, go check this place out. I’ll have a full list of recommendations in an upcoming post.

5. Finally checking out Kate O. Sessions Park in Pacific Beach. Oh my gosh, what a beautiful, lush, and expansive park. It’s the perfect place to bring dogs (and, shhh, let them off leash), throw around a Frisbee, and have a picnic, all with the Coronado Bay bridge, Mission Bay and Tijuana as your view. It has lazy weekend written all over it.

Happy Monday!

First photo by Found Creative Studio

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1. Newport/Laguna beach day trip.

2. Friendsgiving as our Thanksgiving.

3. Moderating Creative Connection’s women entrepreneurs panel. I was honored to be asked to host a panel for Creative Connection, a San Diego women’s networking group, at the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla. The event brought together Bridget of Badunkachunk, graphic designer/blogger Mrs. Lilien and designer/event planner Melissa of Pow Wow Design Studio to speak about their experiences as business owners to an audience of eager, inquisitive professionals. The three women spoke so candidly and openly with all of us that—I have to admit—I almost got a little choked up. Part of that was because I connected so much to what they were talking about and the other part was that I was giddy moderating my first panel. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, so thanks to Creative Connection for making that happen. We all left that event feeling a little extra inspired.

4. Wow Wow Waffle—ooh, I’m still thinking about how much I love this hidden North Park waffle shop.

5. Going back East for a week. Being at home with my family and seeing friends in New York and Boston during a random, non-holiday week in November was one of the most relaxing times I’ve had in a while. (It helped that I didn’t have much work.) I didn’t blog or Instagram about my trip all that much, but maybe that’s why it was so relaxing. I truly love documenting my adventures and sharing recommendations, but it was so nice to go out to eat or meet a friend and not take a photo of a pretty sign or adorable dessert. OK, I did take that above picture of Central Park, but wouldn’t you want to savor those fall colors, too?

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1. See that? You’re looking at the San Diego Humane Society‘s newest Canine Ambassador! Teddy and I began volunteering with the non-profit a few weeks ago, and the title is pretty spectacular, no? Think of the position like a notch below a certified therapy dog. Unlike the latter, a canine ambassador doesn’t go through a Canine Good Citizen exam but does have a brief test during which the coordinators make sure he/she sits, comes when called, doesn’t freak out if I leave, is OK with being hugged and is generally loving. Anyone who has met my dog knows that he’s pretty much the most ideal candidate for this position. And it’s good prep for the CGC test because I do want him to be certified to cheer people up in hospitals and nursing homes in a few years when he’s less spazzy.

The opportunities range from weekly Fur Fix events, when locals can stop by the Humane Society’s campus to pet dogs and kittens, to visiting classrooms to teach kids about loyalty, learning and how to meet a dog. So far we’ve done a few Fur Fixes, and let me just say, animals are powerful creatures. Sure, some kids pet the animals and run off, but it’s the adults, particularly the older set, who reap so much joy from their brief interactions with Teddy. Last week I met an old man who has been wanting another golden retriever for quite some time and was nearly in tears when he saw Teddy. That expression of sheer happiness on his face when Teddy sidled up to him is more than enough to keep me going back every week. I almost feel a little silly calling it volunteering since it’s fun for Teddy and me, but I guess that’s how I know I’ve picked a way to give back that’s right for me. The only problem is everyone asks about adopting him. Sorry, folks, he’s mine, but I’m happy to lend him out for this.

2. It was my 2014 goal to write for Travel + Leisure, and I was so excited to finally have a piece—full page!—in the November issue. Happy dance.

3. It felt forever since I had done a proper hike in San Diego, so the three of us finally got ourselves to trek Iron Mountain for the first time last month. (It was also Teddy’s first hike, and he of course loved all the exercise.) It’s a great intermediate hike with lovely views and a peak (with benches!) where you get a much-needed breeze and refuel.

4. My work trip to Sedona came at just the right time, when I needed some peace, quiet, nature and alone time. I can’t wait to go back.

5. Halloween! Duh.

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1. Forget about favorite September memory—going kayaking with Eaman and Teddy in Mission Bay was one of my favorite life moments. Photos sometimes make life seem so straight up joyous even when it’s not, but whenever you see a snap of us three, rest assured that it’s all real because it’s then that I’m at my happiest. When we came across the dog-friendly Aqua Adventures, we brought Teddy along for an afternoon on the water. Life jackets aren’t required for dogs and even though golden retrievers like Teddy are very capable swimmers, the handle on the jackets make it easier to pick him up when he jumped out of the kayak, which was often. At one point we didn’t allow him back on for a while half to teach him a lesson and half to swim himself tired.

2. I feel so lucky to live within walking distance to Balboa Park, and the dusk hour is its most magical time.

3. My friend from New York City, Shyema, visited last month and we got to attend the very special equinox farm hosted by Suzie’s Farm.

4. My last concert experience was seeing Lykke Li in Brooklyn a few years ago, and then I saw her again a couple weeks ago at the North Park Theater. The sound is totally whack in that venue, but LL was fantastic. It was a little heavier on her newer stuff than the older stuff I prefer, but it didn’t matter. No one can rock a kimono like this chick.

5. If you’re in San Diego, it doesn’t get more glamorous and relaxing than a staycation at the Hotel Del Coronado, the most iconic property in the city. Cabana life? It’s pretty, pretty nice.

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1. I think the best way to eat Mexican in San Diego is divey, hole-in-the-wall shacks, whether they’re by the beach like Bull Taco or in a Gala Foods parking lot, like the Marisco’s seafood truck. For the longest time I didn’t know where to go if I wanted quality and a comfortable place to sit down, that is, until I went to Puesto, the upscale eatery with street food eats. The downtown location is a giant, beautiful warehouse, while the La Jolla location, which was just renovated, is more intimate and equally artistic. (The new space is designed by prolific L.A. artist Thomas Schoos.) In August I dined at Puesto La Jolla for a dinner-with-strangers type night that included a group of creative women in San Diego. Amazing tacos (try the chicken verde) plus amazing conversation made for a happy night.

2. The Pearl, a midcentury-style hotel in Point Loma that feels straight out of Palm Springs, is one of the coolest, most unique places in town to enjoy a night out.

3. It’s hard to pick a favorite feature of the new Patio on Goldfinch in Mission Hills—the small plates-focused menu, the nature-themed decor, those ridiculously pretty chandeliers, or the fact that they offer desserts both small and large at nominal prices. It’s a welcome addition with great big-city energy without the pretension.

4. We dog-sat our friend’s golden for a week, and those seven days felt like we were living at a playground (or dog park, I guess). Teddy and Tilly are so hilarious together, and they provided plenty of fun distractions.

5. We ended the month in Chicago and Michigan, the former to visit our college stomping grounds and the latter to attend our friends’ wedding by a lake in Michigan, and the two segments together made for a relaxing, balanced vacation. The best part, by far, was the day of camp activities the bride and groom arranged after the festivities, and as it turns out, I’m pretty darn good at archery. For the full rundown on our trip, head over here.

Have a good weekend!

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