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	<title>My SoCal&#039;d Life</title>
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	<link>http://mysocaldlife.com</link>
	<description>travel, food, style</description>
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		<title>So long, farewell (for now)</title>
		<link>http://mysocaldlife.com/so-long-farewell-for-now/</link>
		<comments>http://mysocaldlife.com/so-long-farewell-for-now/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2015 12:00:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Archana]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mysocaldlife.com/?p=6897</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s with a mixture of sadness and relief that I say I will be taking a break from this blog. For how long? I&#8217;m not sure. Why? Let me explain. (It&#8217;s a long one. I have many thoughts.) I started this blog just a few days after moving to San Diego to document my journey [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com/so-long-farewell-for-now/">So long, farewell (for now)</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com">My SoCal&#039;d Life</a>.</p>
]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/windansea-beach.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5902" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/windansea-beach.jpg" alt="windansea-beach" width="600" height="413" /></a>It&#8217;s with a mixture of sadness and relief that I say I will be taking a break from this blog. For how long? I&#8217;m not sure. Why? Let me explain. (It&#8217;s a long one. I have many thoughts.)</p>
<p>I started this blog just a few days after moving to San Diego to document my journey as an East Coaster-turned-San Diegan. I wanted to find cool shops, delicious restaurants, scenic hiking trails, great coffee, and more. It has served me very well. It forced me to get out and experience a city in which I had no friends, no family, and no job. It was speed dating.</p>
<p>But this wasn&#8217;t a passion project. Seasoned bloggers say, &#8220;Never start a blog to make money,&#8221; but from Day 1 I wanted this blog to make money. Of course I wanted to do so organically, but making it a business was the goal. I&#8217;ve already done the just-for-fun blog thing—first about <a href="http://lettuceveg.com/" target="_blank">food in New York City</a> and second about <a href="http://newyorktonomad.com/" target="_blank">backpacking around the world for a year</a>. With My SoCal&#8217;d Life, I was ready for the big time.</p>
<p>In many ways, building the blog was easy. I was freelance magazine writing from home, had very flexible hours, and attended events for work that I could cover on the blog. Slowly, surely, and naturally, I built a brand, point of view, and voice. Cut to this summer: I started getting opportunities to monetize—not much, but a stepping stone. At the same time, I took on a full-time writer position at <em>San Diego Magazine</em>. Now I was juggling a 9-5 office job, freelance work, and a blog that was growing.</p>
<p>These last few months have been awesome in many ways—a stable job! an expanding blog!—but in other ways it&#8217;s been a huge struggle, whether it&#8217;s because I never had time to unwind, was constantly multitasking, or asking my boyfriend to take photos of me in some ridiculously posed manner. I felt like I was missing out on life and its simple pleasures. I felt like I was suffocating and gasping for air because I wasn&#8217;t getting the downtime that everyone needs to feel sane. I was becoming grouchy, distracted, forgetful, and a bit anti-social, too.</p>
<p>It took getting out of San Diego to realize I had to make a choice. I was in New Orleans for a press trip and started seeing various signs that I should take a break from the blog. It&#8217;s a bit of a long story, but the end result was like coming out of a fugue. I needed to let go of something because I was doing too much of everything.</p>
<p>I took these last two weeks to see how it felt not to blog. It was sad, and I felt a bit like a failure, but quite honestly, it felt like a weight off my shoulders. Two weeks later, I&#8217;ve decided that the blog is the thing that has to go.</p>
<p>On the practical side, my full-time job and freelance writing generate money; blogging, less so. On the abstract side, I&#8217;ve been watching blogging devolve in a direction I don&#8217;t like and I&#8217;m not sure I want to be a part of it at the moment. The numerous hashtags, the ill-matched sponsored content, Loop giveaways, the hyper-stylized Instagrams—it can come across as wildly phony. I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s coincidence that at the time the brilliant <a href="https://instagram.com/socalitybarbie/" target="_blank">Socality Barbie Instagram</a> account debuted, I decided to take this blog break. I wanted to give the gal behind this Insta a virtual high five when she <a href="http://www.wired.com/2015/09/hipster-barbie-much-better-instagram/" target="_blank">said</a>: “People were all taking the same pictures in the same places and using the same captions. I couldn’t tell any of their pictures apart&#8230;I get it, it’s pretty to look at. But it’s so dishonest. <em>Nobody</em> actually lives like this. And it’s so overdone that it’s becoming boring.”</p>
<p>But guess what? I&#8217;ve done it, too! I&#8217;ve styled my lattes, typed the copious hashtags, and made Teddy pose with me (though he likes following me around anyway). The tipping point was signing up for a sponsored post that in the end would&#8217;ve seemed very off-brand. (I didn&#8217;t end up going through with it.) And look, I understand that bloggers gotta get paid. We&#8217;re writers, photographers, graphic designers, stylists, publicists, and videographers rolled into one. It&#8217;s hard!</p>
<p>But do I have the energy and time to devote to it, to grow this business in an organic way but still have beautiful photos, frequent social media updates, and creative content? I do not. And I don&#8217;t mean to slight the industry because some bloggers do an exquisite job of naturally infusing sponsored content, like <a href="http://www.abeautifulmess.com/" target="_blank">A Beautiful Mess</a>, <a href="http://advicefromatwentysomething.com/" target="_blank">Advice From a Twentysomething</a>, and <a href="http://witanddelight.com/" target="_blank">Wit &amp; Delight</a>. And I like looking at beautiful, well-styled images, too, if it feels real-ish. I&#8217;m not a hater, but at this point I&#8217;d rather be an observer than a contributor.</p>
<p>Some friends have said, &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you just blog once a week or once a month?&#8221; Frankly, I get my fill in other ways. I write about San Diego for work already. Perhaps if my blog was about fashion or music, it would be a nice escape, but writing about the same topic for all facets of my life became boring. Now I&#8217;d rather spend that time expanding my mind in a different way—reading a book, volunteering with Teddy, trying a new hike, etc. And it&#8217;s not like I&#8217;m swimming in free time; my freelance work keeps me busy in the #werkafterwork grind. I&#8217;m kind of amazed I was doing a blog on top of it all!</p>
<p>The blog has given me a beautiful thing—a platform from which I could explore my city and use it as an entryway to freelance writing. It was a lesson in branding, a vehicle to shape my voice, and a way to make friends. But when it feels like a chore, it&#8217;s time to step back. So that&#8217;s what I&#8217;m doing. Like I said, I&#8217;m not sure when I&#8217;ll be back, but I&#8217;m sure this time away will be time well spent. (Just last week I laid in bed at 8 p.m. to listen to the rarity that is rain in Southern California. And then I passed out at 9 p.m. And it was amazing. We all need a little do-nothing time in our lives.)</p>
<p>What can you expect now? <a href="https://instagram.com/archanapram/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, which is essentially micro-blogging. I will continue to contribute there because I love that platform. It&#8217;s a place where I can share my favorite restaurants, beaches, experiences, pictures of Teddy, and the occasional styled caffeine beverage. I hope to see you <a href="https://instagram.com/archanapram/" target="_blank">there</a>.</p>
<p>So until I&#8217;m back, thanks for reading, commenting, sharing, and loving. I&#8217;ve grown in many ways because you lovely people have kept reading. And the blog has been such a big part of my San Diego move, so big that I felt the need to write a novel about hitting pause :) Thank you for the love. Big hugs. xx</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com/so-long-farewell-for-now/">So long, farewell (for now)</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com">My SoCal&#039;d Life</a>.</p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Be Back in a Bit</title>
		<link>http://mysocaldlife.com/be-back-in-a-bit/</link>
		<comments>http://mysocaldlife.com/be-back-in-a-bit/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2015 16:27:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Archana]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mysocaldlife.com/?p=6894</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>I&#8217;m going to take the next couple of weeks to work on some side projects and work on this crazy life-work balance. Sorry for the vagueness, but see you in a couple of weeks!</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com/be-back-in-a-bit/">Be Back in a Bit</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com">My SoCal&#039;d Life</a>.</p>
]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I&#8217;m going to take the next couple of weeks to work on some side projects and work on this crazy life-work balance. Sorry for the vagueness, but see you in a couple of weeks!</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com/be-back-in-a-bit/">Be Back in a Bit</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com">My SoCal&#039;d Life</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>5 August Favorites</title>
		<link>http://mysocaldlife.com/5-august-favorites-2/</link>
		<comments>http://mysocaldlife.com/5-august-favorites-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2015 12:00:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Archana]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mysocaldlife.com/?p=6885</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>The best things I ate, saw, and did in August:1. Weekend getaway to The Garland Hotel. We—Teddy, too!—spent a night at this stylish boutique hotel in L.A.&#8217;s North Hollywood nabe this past weekend as part of a work assignment. There were so many fun design details, including this cool butterfly wall, movies played nightly at [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com/5-august-favorites-2/">5 August Favorites</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com">My SoCal&#039;d Life</a>.</p>
]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The best things I ate, saw, and did in August:<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/garland-hotel-los-angeles-hollyood.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6886" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/garland-hotel-los-angeles-hollyood.png" alt="Garland Hotel, Los Angeles // My SoCal'd Life" width="600" height="602" /></a>1. <strong>Weekend getaway to <a href="http://www.thegarland.com/" target="_blank">The Garland Hotel</a>.</strong> We—Teddy, too!—spent a night at this stylish boutique hotel in L.A.&#8217;s North Hollywood nabe this past weekend as part of a work assignment. There were so many fun design details, including this cool butterfly wall, movies played nightly at the pool, macrame decor in the restaurant, and a mini dog park for pooches. More to share on this in a few weeks.<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/pearl-hotel-dive-in-theater.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6887" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/pearl-hotel-dive-in-theater.png" alt="The Pearl Hotel's Dive-In Theater // My SoCal'd Life" width="600" height="593" /></a>2. <strong><em>Bridesmaids</em> at The Pearl Hotel.</strong> This was my second time at the retro San Diego hotel&#8217;s weekly poolside movie screenings, but this time I was with a bunch of friends watching <em>Bridesmaids</em>, which is really the best kind of movie to watch with a big group. All those quotable lines! On a sappy note, moving to San Diego in 2013 without knowing anyone was hard and making friends from scratch was even harder. To think I went to this with nearly a dozen people who are now such lovely friends of mine was very soul-satisfying.<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/liberty-station-ntc-san-diego.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6888" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/liberty-station-ntc-san-diego.png" alt="liberty-station-ntc-san-diego" width="600" height="601" /></a>3. <strong>Best of San Diego party</strong>. A great memory for a few reasons. One, it&#8217;s my favorite of all of <a href="http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/events/" target="_blank"><em>San Diego Magazine</em>&#8216;s events</a>. Two, I really love that $30 Forever 21 dress. And three, Eaman and I hardly have pictures together anymore—mostly because I tend to take pictures of Teddy and overhead shots of lattes, whoops—so it was nice to get a framer with him.<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/golden-retriever-san-diego-southern-california.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6808" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/golden-retriever-san-diego-southern-california.jpg" alt="golden-retriever-san-diego-southern-california" width="600" height="600" /></a>4. <strong>Meeting Teddy&#8217;s brother</strong>. Randomly <a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/weekend-recap-16/" target="_blank">running into Teddy&#8217;s long-lost brother</a> while walking around North Park? AMAZING!<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Screen-Shot-2015-08-24-at-3.50.12-PM.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6857" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Screen-Shot-2015-08-24-at-3.50.12-PM.png" alt="Screen Shot 2015-08-24 at 3.50.12 PM" width="600" height="434" /></a>5. <strong>Travel segment on KPBS.</strong> I&#8217;ve done radio before—I did a live play-by-play of Will and Kate&#8217;s royal nuptials for ABC back when I lived in New York—but last week&#8217;s segment on KPBS was my first radio clip in San Diego. I chatted all about last-minute Labor Day travel. You can listen to the full segment and watch a shorter TV spot <a href="http://www.kpbs.org/news/2015/aug/24/san-diego-travel-experts-discuss-last-minute-summe/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m sure many of you are either ducking out early for the long weekend or mentally checking out if you&#8217;re staying local. I&#8217;ll actually be heading out to New Orleans tomorrow, so I&#8217;m signing off a bit early this week. See you next week! xo</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com/5-august-favorites-2/">5 August Favorites</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com">My SoCal&#039;d Life</a>.</p>
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		<title>The Top Dog-Friendly Spots in San Diego</title>
		<link>http://mysocaldlife.com/the-best-dog-friendly-spots-in-san-diego/</link>
		<comments>http://mysocaldlife.com/the-best-dog-friendly-spots-in-san-diego/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2015 16:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Archana]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[around san diego]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[beach]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[beer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coffee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dogs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Halloween]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hiking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ice cream]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kayak]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[park]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pumpkins]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mysocaldlife.com/?p=6868</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>I wanted a dog for 20+ years. I dreamed about having a dog, cried about not having one, studied dog encyclopedias, read training manuals. In short, I was obsessed. But I also knew to wait until the right time and right city before making that dream happen. More power to the people who can manage [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com/the-best-dog-friendly-spots-in-san-diego/">The Top Dog-Friendly Spots in San Diego</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com">My SoCal&#039;d Life</a>.</p>
]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/dog-friendly-san-diego.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6879" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/dog-friendly-san-diego.jpg" alt="Top Dog-Friendly Spots in San Diego // My SoCal'd Life" width="600" height="450" /></a></p>
<p>I wanted a dog for 20+ years. I dreamed about having a dog, cried about not having one, studied dog encyclopedias, read training manuals. In short, I was obsessed. But I also knew to wait until the right time and right city before making that dream happen. More power to the people who can manage big dogs in New York City, but it didn&#8217;t seem feasible to me. Then when we landed in San Diego, I didn&#8217;t waste any time. Three months after pulling up to our new home, we went to look at litters and found our sweet Teddy boy.</p>
<p>Though initially we were exhausted puppy parents who failed at bringing him out with us—do it; it&#8217;s amazing socialization for them—we now take him almost everywhere. And lucky for him, San Diego is a doggy wonderland. There are tons of dogs parks, three dog beaches within a 20-minute drive, cafes that welcome pooches, ice cream specifically prepared for them, shop owners who keep treats on hand for four-legged visitors, and more. Teddy is one spoiled pooch.</p>
<p>So in celebration of yesterday&#8217;s <a href="https://instagram.com/p/63BxE-kDC8/?taken-by=archanapram" target="_blank">National Dog Day</a>, here&#8217;s a round-up of our favorite dog-friendly spots in the city:<span id="more-6868"></span><a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/coronado-dog-beach-san-diego.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6875" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/coronado-dog-beach-san-diego.png" alt="Coronado Dog Beach, San Diego" width="600" height="600" /></a><strong>Coronado Dog Beach</strong>: Between the sparkling mineral mica in the sand and impressive Hotel Del Coronado down the sand, this has to be the prettiest dog beach in all the land. I&#8217;ve gone maybe 20 times or more, and each time, the owners are responsible, the dogs are gentle, and the space is really clean. (Except this past weekend when I went and seaweed was <em>everywhere</em>.) It&#8217;s one of my favorite spots in San Diego because it combines my love for dogs, the beach, and time on the sand. <a href="https://instagram.com/p/4r2RIGEDOS/" target="_blank">Here&#8217;s a 3D view</a> and <a href="https://instagram.com/p/tvjNoXEDLd/" target="_blank">another</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/patio-on-goldfinch-dog-friendly-.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6170" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/patio-on-goldfinch-dog-friendly-.jpg" alt="Patio on Goldfinch — dog-friendly restaurants in San Diego // My SoCal'd Life" width="600" height="800" /></a><strong><a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/dog-friendly-patio-on-goldfinch/" target="_blank">The Patio of Goldfinch</a></strong>: Most restaurants in San Diego welcome pooches to their patios, but this Mission Hills restaurant takes it up a notch. The entire front area of the restaurant—enclosed and indoors—doesn&#8217;t just welcome dogs but also offers them treats made with leftover table scraps. Bone appetit!<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/dog-friendly-kayaking-san-diego.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6777" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/dog-friendly-kayaking-san-diego.jpg" alt="dog-friendly-kayaking-san-diego" width="600" height="400" /></a><strong>Kayaking with <a href="http://www.aqua-adventures.com/" target="_blank">Aqua Adventures</a></strong>: This dog-friendly kayak and SUP outfitter is more than happy to include your dog for a day out on the water. The guy who helped us with our equipment even gave us a tennis ball to throw out from the kayak for Teddy. Yes, he jumps out of the kayak every few minutes and then requests to come back up less than 30 seconds later, but it makes for a really fun, silly ride. And even though hydrophilic Teddy can swim easily, we give him a lifejacket just so we have an easy way of pulling him back into the kayak&#8230;500 times.<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/grape-street-dog-park-san-diego.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6872" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/grape-street-dog-park-san-diego.jpg" alt="Grape Street Dog Park, San Diego" width="599" height="400" /></a><strong>Grape Street Dog Park</strong>: You might not think &#8220;beautiful&#8221; is the right word to describe a dog park, but it rings true at Grape Street, a five-acre sprawl that&#8217;s the largest of Balboa Park&#8217;s three dog parks. It&#8217;s so big that it feels like three parks in one, despite the fact that <em>three</em> goldens choose to congregate at one water fountain. There&#8217;s a mix of grass and dirt, and the parks department does a great job of sectioning off certain dried-up areas to promote new grass growth, making for a lush, green park. With a view of the golf course and downtown, it also happens to be a great place <a href="https://instagram.com/p/wpk2ZwEDOM/" target="_blank">to catch the sunset</a>.<br />
<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/kettle-and-stone-coffee.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5525" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/kettle-and-stone-coffee.jpg" alt="Kettle &amp; Stone cafe in Mission Hills, San Diego // My SoCal'd Life, a lifestyle blog" width="660" height="660" /></a><strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/kettle.n.stone" target="_blank">Kettle &amp; Stone</a></strong>: Plenty of San Diego cafes welcome dogs indoors, from Coffee &amp; Tea Collective to Young Hickory to Holsem, but Kettle &amp; Stone in Mission Hills stands out. The sweet owners (who have treats!) are happy to have Teddy inside, but the sidewalk is where the action is. It&#8217;s one of the friendliest I&#8217;ve ever seen, the kind of place where strangers meet, dogs make new friends, and lovely conversations are had. It&#8217;s now a semi-regular weekend tradition of ours.<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Screen-Shot-2015-08-26-at-11.01.42-AM.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6876" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Screen-Shot-2015-08-26-at-11.01.42-AM.png" alt="Screen Shot 2015-08-26 at 11.01.42 AM" width="600" height="599" /></a><strong><a href="http://www.sandiegohikers.com/Hiking-Trails/Iron-Mountain-Trail.html" target="_blank">Iron Mountain</a></strong>: I don&#8217;t mind Cowles and Mt. Woodson/Potato Chip, but for a less crowded hike, this trail in Poway is ideal. Like the Goldie Locks of San Diego hikes, the six-mile out-and-back path is not too hard, not too easy. Dogs are allowed on leash, but make sure to BYOWater, and though there isn&#8217;t necessarily a breath-taking view at the top, I enjoy the simple pleasure of relaxing with Teddy and feeling the breeze before heading back down.<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Daily-Scoop-South-park-san-diego.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6873" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Daily-Scoop-South-park-san-diego.png" alt="Daily-Scoop-South-park-san-diego" width="600" height="601" /></a><strong><a href="http://www.dailyscooponjuniper.com/" target="_blank">Daily Scoop</a></strong>: Sure, you can get a scoop for your dog at most ice cream shops, but this South Park ice cream parlor sells &#8220;<a href="https://instagram.com/p/qVerfzswy_/" target="_blank">dog scream</a>,&#8221; which includes a pre-scooped serving of vanilla or peanut butter ice cream with a dog treat. And so long as it&#8217;s not too busy inside the shop, pooches are welcome inside, too.</p>
<p><a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/bates-nut-farm-5.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2412" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/bates-nut-farm-5.jpg" alt="bates-nut-farm-5" width="660" height="440" /></a></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://batesnutfarm.biz/" target="_blank">Bates Nut Farm</a></strong>: This family-friendly farm in Valley Center has an epic pumpkin patch late September through Halloween every year. It&#8217;s become our tradition to drive up to pick pumpkins each fall not only because the mountain landscape and technicolor leaves remind me of true autumn, but because Teddy climbing over all the pumpkins and trying to eat the stems is pretty paw-some. We also let him pick his own pumpkin with <a href="https://instagram.com/p/uRSKOyEDEj/" target="_blank">this method</a>.<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/hillcrest-brewing-company.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5628" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/hillcrest-brewing-company.jpg" alt="San Diego beer // My SoCal'd Life" width="660" height="495" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Breweries</strong>: Dozens of breweries allow pooches. In fact, I&#8217;m surprised when I hear one <em>doesn&#8217;t </em>allow dogs. At <a href="http://hillcrestbrewingcompany.com/" target="_blank">Hillcrest Brewing Company</a> (above), the staff often brings Teddy treats made from leftover barley. Check <a href="http://www.sandiego.org/articles/breweries/dog-friendly-breweries.aspx" target="_blank">this helpful list</a> for some suggestions, and cheers!</p>
<p>Where else do you love taking your pooches in the city?</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com/the-best-dog-friendly-spots-in-san-diego/">The Top Dog-Friendly Spots in San Diego</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com">My SoCal&#039;d Life</a>.</p>
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		<title>life at the moment</title>
		<link>http://mysocaldlife.com/life-at-the-moment-3/</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2015 17:23:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Archana]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[<p>A little peek at life in real time: Currently I’m… Reading: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It&#8217;s amazing. AMAZING! Adichie is such a skilled writer who can balance pain, laughs, insight, and quick wit. (No wonder Beyonce sampled her TEDx Talk in &#8220;Flawless.&#8221;) Given how much people have hyped this book, my expectations were high, but all the praise is [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com/life-at-the-moment-3/">life at the moment</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com">My SoCal&#039;d Life</a>.</p>
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				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Screen-Shot-2015-08-25-at-10.15.04-AM.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6864" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Screen-Shot-2015-08-25-at-10.15.04-AM.png" alt="Imperial Beach, San Diego // My SoCal'd Life" width="599" height="599" /></a></p>
<p>A little peek at life in real time:</p>
<p>Currently I’m…</p>
<p><strong>Reading</strong>: <i>Americanah </i>by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It&#8217;s amazing. AMAZING! Adichie is such a skilled writer who can balance pain, laughs, insight, and quick wit. (No wonder Beyonce <a href="http://www.vogue.com/946843/chimamanda-ngozi-adicihie-feminism-beyonce-book/" target="_blank">sampled her TEDx Talk</a> in &#8220;Flawless.&#8221;) Given how much people have hyped this book, my expectations were high, but all the praise is warranted. My copy is due back to the library this weekend, so now it&#8217;s a race to the finish the last 100 or so pages. Pretty sure I&#8217;ll be sad to be done with this one.</p>
<p><strong>Traveling to</strong>:<strong> </strong>L.A. this weekend for work/play, New Orleans next week for a blog trip (!), Malibu at the end of September for a wedding, and likely Catalina in early October. After a relatively quiet August, the travel ramps up yet again. Woot!</p>
<p><strong>Eating</strong>: At home more. I went through a few weeks of constantly eating out, partly because I was too tired to cook and partly because I was wholly uninspired. This <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/1080344/blistered-eggplant-tomatoes-olives-and-feta" target="_blank">Martha Stewart blistered eggplant dish</a> was a particularly memorable meal and perfect for summer.</p>
<p><strong>Watching</strong>: <i>The Wire</i>. One episode in, I&#8217;m not totally won over yet but am curious to see why people call it <a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2013/07/01/the-wire-lawrence-gilliard-chad-coleman" target="_blank">the best show in the history of television</a>. I&#8217;m also watching my <em>Real Housewives</em> (<em>of Orange County</em> and <em>New York</em>) because there&#8217;s no better mindless entertainment after a long, hard day.</p>
<p><strong>Exercising</strong>: Differently. As much as I loved going to a yoga studio, with the amount I eat out for work-related events and meetings, I wasn&#8217;t getting the burn I needed to balance out all the calories. It wasn&#8217;t about weight; I simply felt unhealthy and sluggish. So I joined Fit, an admittedly fancy gym that offers spinning, weight classes, yoga, barre classes, and more (I get a discount rate through work). I swore off gyms after OD-ing in New York City and also because San Diego is such an outdoor activity kind of town, but I needed efficient workouts. I like doing my weekday morning classes and then adding in long walks and hikes with Teddy on weekday evenings and weekends. #balance</p>
<p><strong>Working on:</strong> Purging. It&#8217;s funny that for two years of working from home, our one-bedroom apartment (which is a decent 600 square feet) seemed like the right amount of space for me, Eaman, and Teddy. Now being home only on weekday evenings and weekends thanks to a full-time office job, I find the space totally claustrophobic. Maybe it&#8217;s because the novelty has worn off. Maybe it&#8217;s because I can finally separate work from home, and <em>really</em> need home to be an uncluttered sanctuary. Either way, I&#8217;m getting a lot of satisfaction out of walking around the apartment and tossing (into a bag for Goodwill) items we don&#8217;t need or hardly ever use. Decluttering my space has done wonders for decluttering my mind. I also plan to check out Marie Kondo&#8217;s <em>The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. </em>Have you heard of it? It seems like a bible for minimalists and manual for hoarders.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com/life-at-the-moment-3/">life at the moment</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com">My SoCal&#039;d Life</a>.</p>
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		<title>Best of San Diego by 5 Neighborhoods</title>
		<link>http://mysocaldlife.com/best-of-san-diego-by-5-neighborhoods/</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2015 15:58:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Archana]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[around san diego]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[barrio logan]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[<p>For this month&#8217;s issue of San Diego Magazine, the annual Best of San Diego package, which highlights the best of the city&#8217;s food, drink, shopping, and more, I rounded up five of my favorite neighborhoods and the top restaurant, bar, and classic fave in each. There&#8217;s the Italian eatery Catania in La Jolla, a cool brewery in Barrio [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com/best-of-san-diego-by-5-neighborhoods/">Best of San Diego by 5 Neighborhoods</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com">My SoCal&#039;d Life</a>.</p>
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				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/san-diego-la-jolla.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6851" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/san-diego-la-jolla.jpg" alt="La Jolla, San Diego // photo via San Diego Magazine" width="600" height="401" /></a></p>
<p>For this month&#8217;s issue of <em>San Diego Magazine</em>, the annual Best of San Diego package, which highlights the best of the city&#8217;s food, drink, shopping, and more, I rounded up five of my favorite neighborhoods and the top restaurant, bar, and classic fave in each. There&#8217;s the Italian eatery Catania in La Jolla, a cool brewery in Barrio Logan, my favorite home boutique Pigment in North Park, and other goodies. You can read the full story <a href="http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/San-Diego-Magazine/August-2015/Best-of-San-Diego-2015/Best-of-the-Neighborhoods/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p>And tomorrow the magazine will be throwing its annual Best of San Diego party at Liberty Station&#8217;s NTC Promenade. I was on the news yesterday to talk about a few of the vendors that&#8217;ll be there—you can watch the clip <a href="http://www.sandiego6.com/san-diego-living/The-Best-of-San-Diego-Party-322332762.html" target="_blank">here</a>—and I must&#8217;ve done a pretty bang-up job because tickets are now sold out. (I kid.) If you&#8217;re local, I hope you got your tickets—see you Friday!</p>
<p><em>Photo <a href="http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/San-Diego-Magazine/August-2015/Best-of-San-Diego-2015/Best-of-the-Neighborhoods/" target="_blank">via</a> </em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com/best-of-san-diego-by-5-neighborhoods/">Best of San Diego by 5 Neighborhoods</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com">My SoCal&#039;d Life</a>.</p>
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		<title>How to Pack the Perfect Picnic</title>
		<link>http://mysocaldlife.com/how-to-pack-perfect-picnic/</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2015 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Archana]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[around san diego]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Food]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[<p>We&#8217;re spoiled in Southern California with al fresco weather nearly year-round, but that distinct summer vibe—think flip-flops, beach towels, late sunsets, and barbecues—is hard to replicate in the others seasons. That&#8217;s why I&#8217;ve been fighting my laziness and making sure I tick off all the summer goals I made mental note of in June. Things like heading to [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com/how-to-pack-perfect-picnic/">How to Pack the Perfect Picnic</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com">My SoCal&#039;d Life</a>.</p>
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<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_0368.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6834" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_0368.jpg" alt="How to pack the perfect picnic // My SoCal'd Life" width="3456" height="2304" /></a></p>
<p>We&#8217;re spoiled in Southern California with al fresco weather nearly year-round, but that distinct summer vibe—think flip-flops, beach towels, late sunsets, and barbecues—is hard to replicate in the others seasons. That&#8217;s why I&#8217;ve been fighting my laziness and making sure I tick off all the summer goals I made mental note of in June. Things like heading to Sunset Cliffs to watch golden hour on a weeknight or hanging out in Imperial Beach on a Friday evening when the farmers market turns the pier area into one big block party. And also picnics, tons and tons of picnics.</p>
<p>There&#8217;s no shortage of good picnic spots in San Diego, from Balboa Park and Mission Hills&#8217; Pioneer Park to Windansea Beach and even the area outside our baseball stadium, Petco Park, but my favorite is Kate Sessions Memorial Park in Pacific Beach. The wide, grassy space (on a sloping hill) has trees, ocean vistas, skyline views, and a very lax policy on keeping dogs leashed (you didn&#8217;t hear it from me). It&#8217;s also where I chose to ring in the big 3-0. It&#8217;s a really special, really beautiful spot.<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/kate-sessions-park-pacific-beach.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5412" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/kate-sessions-park-pacific-beach.jpg" alt="Kate Sessions Park, San Diego via My SoCal'd Life" width="660" height="660" /></a>So with the spirit of summer in mind, here are six steps to to plan your next picnic party:<span id="more-6696"></span></p>
<p><b><a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_0354.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6836" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_0354.jpg" alt="How to pack the perfect picnic // My SoCal'd Life" width="3306" height="2204" /></a>The type of pack.</b> Baskets are a sweet nostalgic touch, but I also have a cool backpack that comes with insulated pockets, slots to store plates and utensils, and even a clasp on the outside to secure a rolled-up blanket. It&#8217;s a great option if you&#8217;ll be biking to your picnic destination.</p>
<p><strong>The tools.</strong> I highly recommend packing real plates, glasses, and cutlery. Beyond the argument for being eco-friendly, it&#8217;ll feel more like a proper meal. Don&#8217;t forget napkins, cutting/cheese knives, a bottle opener, salt, pepper, and a bag to store all of your trash. (Do <em>not </em>be a litter bug.) But my favorite tip of all is to bring a big Zip-loc because once you open those cheeses, the Zip-loc will be a safe place to store the now-unwrapped fromage.<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_0369.jpg"><br />
</a><a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/best-food-for-picnic.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6829" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/best-food-for-picnic.jpg" alt="How to pack the perfect picnic // My SoCal'd Life" width="600" height="449" /></a><strong>The food.</strong> I like to include at least one veggie side, a serving of fruit, one cheese and/or meat side, one main, and a dessert that can withstand heat unless you have a proper cooler. On this day with my girlfriends, I packed baby carrots, grapes (the organic ones at Trader Joe&#8217;s are the best), <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-tomato-mozzarella-caprese-skewers-appetizer-recipes-from-the-kitchn-204620" target="_blank">caprese salad skewers</a> (which look very impressive but are stupid simple to make), this <a href="http://cookieandkate.com/2010/chickpea-salad-recip/" target="_blank">Greek chickpea salad</a>, and to make the meal a bit fuller, we added a cheese platter. Using my handy cheese guide, I combined goat, cow, and sheep&#8217;s milk cheeses for variety and added dried cherries, pesto, crackers, and sliced baguette. For dessert, we had chocolate pirouettes.<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_0337.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6831" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_0337.jpg" alt="IMG_0337" width="600" height="400" /></a></p>
<p><strong>The drinks.</strong> Wine and beer are good options, but I hardly ever drink alcohol. Maybe a glass of wine or a sangria here and there, but 99.9% of the time, I want a virgin cocktail that tastes &#8220;fruity and fizzy,&#8221; as I often tell bartenders. A lot of the carbonated options out there are full of artificial flavors, but the new <a href="http://clvr.li/1dvd6Qi" target="_blank">IZZE Sparkling Water</a> is USDA Organic Certified—made with organic natural flavors and organic cane sugar. The twist-off bottles come in three flavors, including Mandarin Lime, Raspberry Watermelon, and (my favorite) Blackberry Pear, and it&#8217;s an ideal refresher in the heat—a bit bubbly, a bit sweet. A low-calorie drink, IZZE Sparkling Water has just 10 calories per 12-oz serving and a hint of organic pure cane sugar (1-2 grams). Lately I&#8217;ve been taking them to work for that inevitable 3 p.m. need for sugar. Between the bubbles and the sweetness, it&#8217;s satisfying and in the time it takes to drink, I forget about that donut/pastry/cookie I wanted.</p>
<p><strong>The cool factor.</strong> Coolers, insulated bags, ice packs—there are a variety of ways to ensure that your food and drinks stay fresh. Some people pack cooler items on top of your basket because heat rises, but we separated our foods into separate bags by temperature. (My <a href="http://www.swellbottle.com/" target="_blank">S&#8217;well bottle</a> is amazing at keeping hot things hot and cold things cold.)</p>
<p><strong>The extras.</strong> Grass can get a bit damp, so make sure to pack a thick enough blanket that will keep everyone dry and comfortable. <a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_0286.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6830" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_0286.jpg" alt="How to pack the perfect picnic // My SoCal'd Life" width="600" height="400" /></a> <a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_0387.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6833" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_0387.jpg" alt="How to pack the perfect picnic // My SoCal'd Life" width="600" height="917" /></a></p>
<p><i>I was selected for this opportunity as a member of <a href="http://clvr.li/OHjC82" target="_blank">Clever Girls</a> and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.</i></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com/how-to-pack-perfect-picnic/">How to Pack the Perfect Picnic</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com">My SoCal&#039;d Life</a>.</p>
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		<title>brunch at the new breakfast republic</title>
		<link>http://mysocaldlife.com/brunch-breakfast-republic-north-park/</link>
		<comments>http://mysocaldlife.com/brunch-breakfast-republic-north-park/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2015 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Archana]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[around san diego]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[breakfast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[brunch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[North Park]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pancakes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mysocaldlife.com/?p=6695</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>A place for a quiet cup of tea and petit, crustless sandwiches this is not. Breakfast Republic, the new North Park eatery dedicated to morning fuel, is bold, brazen, and a little in-your-face.&#160;The front patio is a mix of wood, steel, brick, and chalk. The interior palette consists of red, greens, and yellows. And the [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com/brunch-breakfast-republic-north-park/">brunch at the new breakfast republic</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com">My SoCal&#039;d Life</a>.</p>
]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/pancakes-eggs-menu-breakfast-republic.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6771" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/pancakes-eggs-menu-breakfast-republic.jpg" alt="Breakfast Republic in North Park // My SoCal'd Life" width="600" height="600"></a>A place for a quiet cup of tea and petit, crustless sandwiches this is not. <a href="http://www.breakfastrepublicca.com/" target="_blank">Breakfast Republic</a>, the new North Park eatery dedicated to morning fuel, is bold, brazen, and a little in-your-face.&nbsp;The front patio is a mix of wood, steel, brick, and chalk. The interior palette consists of red, greens, and yellows. And the rooster motif? Let&#8217;s just say they weren&#8217;t afraid to play up the &#8220;cock&#8221; pun. In sum, it&#8217;s barnyard chic-meets-North Park hipster.</p>
<p>And Breakfast Republic&#8217;s&nbsp;menu is equally&nbsp;flamboyant, with pancakes in flavors like Oreo, churro, and mint chocolate chip (choose three different varieties to make the very awesome pancake flight), veggie tostadas, jambalaya, S&#8217;mores French toast, and a beer and sausage sampler amongst other items. There&#8217;s also Cafe Moto coffee and 20 beers on tap, along with a chance to buy some Breakfast paraphernalia, like tees and their very cute coffee mugs.</p>
<p>Take a look:<span id="more-6695"></span><a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/breakfast-republic-north-park-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6764" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/breakfast-republic-north-park-2.jpg" alt="breakfast-republic-north-park-2" width="600" height="900"></a> <a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/breakfast-republic-north-park-san-diego-3.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6765" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/breakfast-republic-north-park-san-diego-3.jpg" alt="breakfast-republic-north-park-san-diego-3" width="600" height="400"></a> <a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/breakfast-republic-san-diego.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6768" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/breakfast-republic-san-diego.jpg" alt="breakfast-republic-san-diego" width="600" height="901"></a> <a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/breakfast-republic-san-diego-north-park-1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6770" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/breakfast-republic-san-diego-north-park-1.jpg" alt="breakfast-republic-san-diego-north-park-1" width="600" height="450"></a> <a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/brunch-breakfast-republic-san-diego.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6769" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/brunch-breakfast-republic-san-diego.jpg" alt="brunch-breakfast-republic-san-diego" width="600" height="400"></a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com/brunch-breakfast-republic-north-park/">brunch at the new breakfast republic</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com">My SoCal&#039;d Life</a>.</p>
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		<title>weekend recap</title>
		<link>http://mysocaldlife.com/weekend-recap-16/</link>
		<comments>http://mysocaldlife.com/weekend-recap-16/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2015 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Archana]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mysocaldlife.com/?p=6699</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>A glimpse at the weekend that was&#8230; I headed up to L.A. with some friends for Unique LA, a pop-up market hosted by Unique USA, an organization that brings locally designed and crafted goods to various cities in the form of tradeshow-style shopping events. But first&#8230;coffee! Though my caffeine headache was looming throughout our morning drive, [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com/weekend-recap-16/">weekend recap</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com">My SoCal&#039;d Life</a>.</p>
]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A glimpse at the weekend that was&#8230;<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/verve-coffee-dtla.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6816" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/verve-coffee-dtla.jpg" alt="Verve Coffee, L.A." width="600" height="852" /></a> <a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/verve-coffee-santa-cruz-los-angeles.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6817" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/verve-coffee-santa-cruz-los-angeles.jpg" alt="Verve Coffee, L.A." width="600" height="600" /></a>I headed up to L.A. with some friends for <a href="http://www.uniqueusa.com/markets-la" target="_blank">Unique LA</a>, a pop-up market hosted by <a href="http://www.uniqueusa.com/" target="_blank">Unique USA</a>, an organization that brings locally designed and crafted goods to various cities in the form of tradeshow-style shopping events.</p>
<p>But first&#8230;coffee! Though my caffeine headache was looming throughout our morning drive, I held out for quality coffee that I knew I could find in the newly happening downtown LA area, where Unique LA took place. Enter: Santa Cruz-based <a href="http://www.vervecoffeeroasters.com/" target="_blank">Verve Coffee Roasters</a>. This location was elegantly minimalist, save for the lush plant walls by the patio, and shared a space with <a href="http://juiceservedhere.com/" target="_blank">Juice Served Here</a>. I&#8217;m so glad I waited; the latte and croissant were certainly worth the caffeine withdrawal.<span id="more-6699"></span><a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/unique-market.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6812" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/unique-market.jpg" alt="unique-market" width="600" height="600" /></a> <a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/unique-usa-vendors.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6815" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/unique-usa-vendors.jpg" alt="unique-usa-vendors" width="600" height="600" /></a> <a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/unique-usa-leather-goods.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6813" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/unique-usa-leather-goods.jpg" alt="unique-usa-leather-goods" width="600" height="800" /></a> <a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/unique-usa-market.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6814" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/unique-usa-market.jpg" alt="unique-usa-market" width="600" height="600" /></a>Ah, but back to the shopping! The two-day shopping bonanza included L.A. and other U.S.-based vendors selling jewelry, prints, clothing, pet gear, and more. I went in with the goal of finding some delicate jewelry pieces and came home with a ring by <a href="http://www.kylechandesign.com/" target="_blank">Kyle Chan</a>, and a ring and earrings by <a href="http://www.wildcatboutique.com/" target="_blank">Wildcat Boutique</a>. The market is ginormous, at times the vendors seemed repetitive, and some of the price points were crazy ($60 candle, what?!), but I found my own great options and appreciated how laid-back, roomy, and non-frenzied that whole market was. I also loved the various DIY stations. Above, we got to paint illustrations with watercolor paints, courtesy of the team behind <em><a href="http://25beautifulthings.com/" target="_blank">25 Beautiful Things</a></em>, an adult watercoloring book. The two prints I painted are now hanging in my office. If you&#8217;re interested, Unique is headed to <a href="http://www.uniqueusa.com/sf-market" target="_blank">SF (September 19-20)</a> and <a href="http://www.uniqueusa.com/ny-market" target="_blank">NYC (dates TBD)</a> next.<br />
<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/gracias-madre.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6810" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/gracias-madre.jpg" alt="Gracias Madre, L.A." width="600" height="492" /></a> <a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/gracias-madre-la.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6809" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/gracias-madre-la.jpg" alt="Gracias Madre, L.A." width="600" height="800" /></a>We then spent nearly 40 minutes driving from downtown to West Hollywood (AHH!) for a late brunch at <a href="http://graciasmadreweho.com/" target="_blank">Gracias Madre</a>, a super stylish vegan Mexican restaurant, where we dined on fried plantains, roasted cauliflower topped with cashew cheese sauce, guacamole, and grilled peaches  It&#8217;s truly one of the most beautiful restaurants I&#8217;ve ever seen! The price points are on the high side—my plantain entree was $18—but it was fun to finally experience a restaurant I&#8217;ve been seeing so much on Instagram. Their cocktail menu is impressive, too. My only complaint is that I wanted a virgin drink, but our waiter informed me that they can&#8217;t do any substitutions or menu changes.<br />
<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/mamas-bakery-north-park-lebanese-san-diego-food.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6811" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/mamas-bakery-north-park-lebanese-san-diego-food.jpg" alt="Mama's Bakery, North Park" width="600" height="450" /></a>We came back from L.A. Saturday evening, and I vegged out the rest of the night in preparation for a working Sunday. In order to balance a full-time job, freelance magazine writing, and blogging, you have to accept that you <em>can&#8217;t</em> balance it. But to get as close as possible, I&#8217;m trying to be more strict about working on Sundays. So after a few hours clocked, Eaman and I headed to <a href="http://mamasbakery.net/" target="_blank">Mama&#8217;s Bakery</a> for my favorite garlic chicken shawarma wrap.<br />
<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/golden-retriever-san-diego-southern-california.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6808" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/golden-retriever-san-diego-southern-california.jpg" alt="golden-retriever-san-diego-southern-california" width="600" height="600" /></a>Then the best thing ever happened. We were walking in North Park, happened upon a golden retriever and his owner, and after we began chatting, we realized this. is. Teddy&#8217;s. brother! It started with the owner saying that his dog was also 2.5 years old. Then he said he got him from a breeder in the same area as we got Teddy. Then he said his birth date was also February 3. And just like that we met, Rusty, Mr. Teddy&#8217;s brother! It&#8217;s most every dog owner&#8217;s dream to find a fellow littermate, and here was Rusty rolling around for belly rubs in the exact same way Teddy does. Beyond looking alike, their mannerisms are very much the same, too. It was wild and weird and wonderful. And yes, we exchanged numbers and will be taking the two bros to the beach soon. What&#8217;s better than a golden retriever? TWO! (Or five.)</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com/weekend-recap-16/">weekend recap</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com">My SoCal&#039;d Life</a>.</p>
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		<title>A Hipster&#8217;s Guide to 24 Hours in San Diego</title>
		<link>http://mysocaldlife.com/a-hipsters-guide-to-24-hours-in-san-diego/</link>
		<comments>http://mysocaldlife.com/a-hipsters-guide-to-24-hours-in-san-diego/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2015 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Archana]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[around san diego]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mysocaldlife.com/?p=6694</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Today marks the end of what&#8217;s been a really fun exercise in creating diverse and entertaining day-long itineraries for you. I spotlighted the design lover, the urbanite, the Zen seeker, the off-the-beaten-path foodie, and today I&#8217;m focusing on the hipster, that single origin coffee-drinking, suspender-sporting, vintage glasses-wearing, underground party-hopping millenial who loves to stay on top of his/her new [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com/a-hipsters-guide-to-24-hours-in-san-diego/">A Hipster&#8217;s Guide to 24 Hours in San Diego</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mysocaldlife.com">My SoCal&#039;d Life</a>.</p>
]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/hipster-san-diego-spots.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6797" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/hipster-san-diego-spots.jpg" alt="A Hipster's Guide to San Diego // My SoCal'd Life" width="600" height="600" /></a>Today marks the end of what&#8217;s been a really fun exercise in creating diverse and entertaining day-long itineraries for you. I spotlighted the <a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/design-lovers-guide-to-24-hours-in-san-diego/" target="_blank">design lover</a>, <a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/guide-san-diego-urban-downtown-city/" target="_blank">the urbanite</a>, <a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/a-zen-guide-to-24-hours-in-san-diego/" target="_blank">the Zen seeker</a>, the <a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/a-off-the-beaten-path-foodies-guide-to-24-hours-in-san-diego/" target="_blank">off-the-beaten-path foodie</a>, and today I&#8217;m focusing on the hipster, that single origin coffee-drinking, suspender-sporting, vintage glasses-wearing, underground party-hopping millenial who loves to stay on top of his/her new fiction reading but also spends an obscene amount of time perfecting an Instagram shot.</p>
<p>And lest you think I&#8217;m turning my nose up at hipsters, it&#8217;s actually quite the opposite. Hipsters favor all things cool and trendy with a flair for the non-mainstream. And let&#8217;s be clear: I&#8217;m a hipster. And here are all my favorite hipster spots. Go on and enjoy the anti-establishmentarianism:<br />
<span id="more-6694"></span><a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/wow-wow-waffle-san-diego.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6789" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/wow-wow-waffle-san-diego.jpg" alt="A Hipster's Guide to 24 Hours in San Diego // My SoCal'd Life" width="600" height="450" /></a><strong>Breakfast at <a href="http://www.wafflestreets.com/" target="_blank">Wow Wow Waffle</a>.</strong> How&#8217;s this for hipster cred? Wow Wow is a waffle eatery tucked behind a North Park laundromat and decked out with upcycled lecture hall seats from Point Loma Nazarene University, succulent walls, and plenty of books and magazines. Off the charts hipster! And it&#8217;s where my happiest mornings start. I&#8217;m truly Wow Wow&#8217;s number 1 fan. The waffles, made with a Brioche-based dough rather than a batter, are the best I’ve ever had, and for drinks, the flavored lemonades are quite popular, and coffee comes with free refills. (Open Fridays and Saturdays)<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/aloha-beach-club-north-park-san-diego.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6788" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/aloha-beach-club-north-park-san-diego.png" alt="A Hipster's Guide to 24 Hours in San Diego // My SoCal'd Life" width="600" height="602" /></a><strong>Boutique hopping in North Park.</strong> Walk north five blocks to the crux of Hipster, San Diego, better known as 30th Street and University Avenue and its surrounds. This is where hipster favorites like, craft beer (<a href="http://fallbrewing.com/" target="_blank">Fall Brewing</a>, <a href="http://store.bottlecraftbeer.com/" target="_blank">Bottlecraft</a>) and craft coffee (<a href="http://www.holsemcoffee.com/" target="_blank">Holsem</a>, <a href="http://www.darkhorsecoffeeroasters.com/" target="_blank">Dark Horse Coffee Roasters</a>), meets cool-kids shopping. After you&#8217;ve walked around the area, head to <a href="http://alohabeachclub.com/" target="_blank">Aloha Beach Club</a> (formerly known as Aloha Sunday). If you didn&#8217;t think surf culture could be hipster, think again. Beyond surf gear, the Club also sells <a href="http://alohabeachclub.com/collections/well-being" target="_blank">upscale bath and body products</a>, <a href="http://alohabeachclub.com/pages/apparel" target="_blank">apparel</a>, and more. <a href="http://www.huntandgathershop.com/" target="_blank">Hunt &amp; Gather</a> is also worth a look-see for vintage clothes. (Photo via <a href="https://instagram.com/p/5SKe5Hwu3d/?taken-by=alohabeachclub" target="_blank">Aloha Beach Club</a>)<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/tacos-perla-san-diego.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6793" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/tacos-perla-san-diego.png" alt="A Hipster's Guide to 24 Hours in San Diego // My SoCal'd Life" width="600" height="599" /></a><strong>Lunch at <a href="http://www.tacosperla.com/" target="_blank">Tacos Perla</a>.</strong> A plum location on the newly happening corner of 30th and Upas streets is a perfect place for the trendy taqueria, where street-style tacos get all fancy on us. Backed by the owners of The Pearl Hotel, Perla and its chef consulted with prominent Tijuana taqueria Kokopelli on the menu, which spans carne asada, mahi-mahi, and a great (and constantly rotating) selection of vegetarian and vegan tacos as well as the robust salsa bar (above) corralled in an old Coca-Cola crate. You can even order fried crickets. #hipster<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/gym-standard-boutique-mens-san-diego.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6787" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/gym-standard-boutique-mens-san-diego.png" alt="A Hipster's Guide to 24 Hours in San Diego // My SoCal'd Life" width="600" height="600" /></a><strong>Shopping at <a href="http://gymstandard.com/" target="_blank">Gym Standard</a>.</strong> Over by 30th Street and El Cajon Boulevard is this sleek, sparsely outfitted boutique dedicated to cool sneakers, offbeat magazines, and plenty of plants with cool planters. Yes, it feels wee too-cool-for-school on the outside, but owner Edwin Negado is one of the friendliest people in town. He&#8217;s welcoming, kind, and charming. (Photo via <a href="https://instagram.com/p/3mayW1lkJg/" target="_blank">Gym Standard</a>)<br />
<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/coffee-tea-collective-san-diego.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6795" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/coffee-tea-collective-san-diego.png" alt="A Hipster's Guide to 24 Hours in San Diego // My SoCal'd Life" width="600" height="602" /></a><strong>Afternoon pick-me-up at <a href="http://www.coffeeandteacollective.com/" target="_blank">Coffee &amp; Tea Collective</a>.</strong> There&#8217;s no such thing as too much caffeine for a hipster. After Gym Standard, head next door to the equally sparse Coffee &amp; Tea Collective. (I included their downtown location in my <a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/design-lovers-guide-to-24-hours-in-san-diego/" target="_blank">Design Lover&#8217;s Guide to San Diego</a>, but the North Park cafe is the O.G.) The baristas are absolute sticklers for perfection, so expect attention to detail with those single-origin blends. Given the small space and few outlets, it&#8217;s not a great place to work, but it&#8217;s perfect for reading and catching up with friends.<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/quartyard-patio-san-diego.jpeg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6786" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/quartyard-patio-san-diego.jpeg" alt="A Hipster's Guide to 24 Hours in San Diego // My SoCal'd Life" width="600" height="400" /></a><strong>Pre-dinner hangout at <a href="http://www.quartyardsd.com/" target="_blank">The Quartyard</a>.</strong> What was once a vacant lot in downtown&#8217;s East Village neighborhood is now a popular community park that includes a beer garden, Sausage &amp; Meat restaurant, dog park, coffee shop, and more. Named after the shipping quarts used for the different structures, The Quartyard is a unique outdoor patio and a testament to turning nothing into something (really great).  (Photo <a href="http://www.quartyardsd.com/blog/2015/7/1/reblog-thrillist-ranking-the-best-patios-in-san-diego" target="_blank">via</a>)<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/burnside-san-diego-normal-heights.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6785" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/burnside-san-diego-normal-heights.png" alt="A Hipster's Guide to 24 Hours in San Diego // My SoCal'd Life" width="600" height="602" /></a><strong>Dinner at <a href="http://www.burnsidesd.com/" target="_blank">Burnside</a>.</strong> North Park gets most of San Diego&#8217;s hipster cred, but Normal Heights is quite the enclave of anti-establishment fun. Case in point: Burnside, a new elevated sandwich canteen from the folks behind the very cool cocktail lounge Sycamore Den. Any hipster will tell you that the casual food with an upscale twist is <em>so</em> in right now. (See: donuts, fried chicken.) At Burnside, the menu is short but sweet, including a pork or tofu banh mi, ribeye with Korean bbq sauce, a <em>stinky</em> grilled cheese, and my favorite, favorite, favorite, the buttermilk fried chicken ($9). Be sure to get the fries, too. A half-order ($4) was the perfect amount for me and my boyfriend to share.<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/polite-provisions-san-diego.jpeg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6792" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/polite-provisions-san-diego.jpeg" alt="A Hipster's Guide to 24 Hours in San Diego // My SoCal'd Life" width="600" height="404" /></a> <a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/polite-provisions-san-diego-normal-heights.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6791" src="http://mysocaldlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/polite-provisions-san-diego-normal-heights.jpg" alt="A Hipster's Guide to 24 Hours in San Diego // My SoCal'd Life" width="600" height="398" /></a><strong>Drinks at <a href="http://www.politeprovisions.com/" target="_blank">Polite Provisions</a>.</strong> After dinner, stick around in Normal Heights for drinks in one of my favorite San Diego bars. Polite Provisions is a stylish, speakeasy-style spot housed in a former pharmacy. (We hipsters love a bit of old with the new!) The space is well-designed—tiled floors and a white marble bar counter—and the drinks are equally fashionable. Their punch bowls are great for groups, and while my boyfriend&#8217;s go-to—Attorney&#8217;s Privilege made with bourbon, bitters, and a syrup of almond, rose water, and sugar—is no longer on the menu, he still gets it whenever we go. If you get hungry, you can order from next door&#8217;s <a href="http://sodaandswine.com/" target="_blank">Soda &amp; Swine</a>, a meatball-themed eatery, and eat your meal in Polite Provisions. (First photo by <a href="http://www.politeprovisions.com/gallery/2015/5/26/roc04d9sl7tpreqht3glkkw9y8zfxd" target="_blank">Zack Benson</a>; second photo by <a href="http://www.politeprovisions.com/gallery/xwpm9ul1dwoy5nafe4vquqcz3222gt" target="_blank">Lyudmila Zotova</a>)</p>
<p><strong>Extra credit</strong>: <a href="http://blindlady.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blind Lady Ale House</a> (pizza in Normal Heights); <a href="http://younghickory.com/" target="_blank">Young Hickory</a> (coffee, acai bowls, and plenty of space and Wifi to get some work done); <a href="http://nomaddonuts.com/" target="_blank">Nomad Donuts</a> (gourmet donuts).</p>
<div class="entry-content">
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>OTHER MY SOCAL’D LIFE CITY GUIDES</strong><br />
<strong><a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/design-lovers-guide-to-24-hours-in-san-diego/" target="_blank">A Design Lover’s Guide to 24 Hours in San Diego</a><br />
<a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/guide-san-diego-urban-downtown-city/" target="_blank">An Urbanite’s Guide to 24 Hours in San Diego</a></strong><br />
<strong><a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/a-zen-guide-to-24-hours-in-san-diego/" target="_blank">A Zen Seeker’s Guide to 24 Hours in San Diego</a></strong><br />
<strong><a href="http://mysocaldlife.com/a-off-the-beaten-path-foodies-guide-to-24-hours-in-san-diego/" target="_blank">An Off-the-Beaten-Path Foodie&#8217;s Guide to 24 Hours in San Diego</a></strong></p>
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