August 20, 2014
In addition to this blog and various magazines, you can now also find me contributing to Brit + Co, the online community devoted to creative living, making and doing. On my end, that means DIY ideas, food recipe round-ups, and posts about babies on Instagram who dress better than you. Stay tuned for more!
August 18, 2014
A glimpse of my weekend, according to my iPhone…
We’re watching our friend’s golden retriever, Tilly, for the next 8 days, and it’s always a good time when she’s over, not just because she and Teddy get along so well, but because our place turns into an apartment full of kids—us included. This shot of them holding paws just kills me.
around san diego - San Diego eats + drinks
August 15, 2014
Ask a San Diegan where to brunch by the water and most will say Caroline’s Seaside Cafe, a La Jolla eatery nestled within UCSD’s Scripps Institute of Oceanography. As far as restaurant views go, I’m not sure I’ve seen a better one in the city. The cafe is perched above the popular wedding venue Scripps Seaside Forum, overlooking north La Jolla Shores by Scripps Pier. That means you get a view of surfers, SUPers, and in our case last Sunday, a wedding rehearsal. It was cloudy that day, and I imagine it could get toasty on a sunny day, but who are we kidding? It’s a comfortable 72 degrees here almost every day!
I had gotten the impression that Caroline’s was all view, zero taste, but I beg to differ. Is it a gastronomic adventure of epic proportions? No. It’s brunch. It’s basic. It’s fresh. It’s tasty. The Mediterranean eggs were a favorite, and my latte, a crucial brunch element in my book, was also top-notch. Yes, you go for the view, but the food doesn’t disappoint.
After brunch, with Teddy in tow—Caroline’s patio is dog-friendly—we stumbled upon a colorful flower garden and found ourselves walking north on what’s apparently called Gaylord’s Trail. It was a dead end but afforded us awesome ocean views and gave Teddy an opportunity to give us his best Simba-“Circle of Life” moment.
Check out that and the rest of Caroline’s ahead: read more
August 13, 2014
Thursdays in college were a big deal. We weren’t living with our parents, so we could go wild on a school night! Now I usually spend my Thursdays at a casual dinner or working (meh). But last week I had a chance to get out of my rut and check out The Westgate Hotel’s poolside jazz series. Every Thursday this summer, the iconic hotel in downtown San Diego has been hosting local musicians on its luxurious rooftop alongside a menu of small plates, cocktails and wine. I went to last week’s concert with my friend, and it was like an oasis smack dab in the city.
A beautiful pool, breezy open-air seating, soothing music and golden hour hue that washes over the rooftop—I’m not going to lie: I loved feeling a little fancy on a Thursday. I got to dress up, throw back a (virgin) cocktail and listen to local talent in a while watching the sun set. Yes, we may have been the youngest people there, but hey, 20- and 30-somethings in San Diego, this is such a refreshing change of pace from the typical bar scene. The event is free with a $20 food and beverage minimum and runs through the end of the month September [updated]. Take a look:
August 11, 2014
Nothing says you’ve adapted to life in SoCal like a weekend of acai bowls, vegetarian food, barre classes and the beach. Yep, I’m a total cliche. (I also worked and choreographed a dance for my friend’s upcoming wedding, but that’s far less exciting.) Here’s a glimpse of the weekend according to my iPhone…
I recently stumbled upon VegNOut in North Park, a casual vegetarian cafe with an aloha vibe that reminds me of a great acai bowl spot in Honolulu. Sadly, this place is closing at the end of the month, so go before it’s gone! The veggie dog (above) is awesome.
Portland-based Barre3, which opened a UTC studio this year, hosted a free barre class this past Saturday by the pool at Hotel La Jolla. I’m more a yogi than a barre devotee, but of all the barre studios I’ve tried, Barre3 is my favorite. The instructors are always welcoming and encouraging, and free classes by the pool ain’t bad either! Check their Facebook page for updates on upcoming free classes in San Diego.
Post-barre acai bowls at the chain juice bar Nektar. Unfortunately, the tropical acai bowl wasn’t anything to write home about—a bit bland and in need of more granola.
I parted ways with my girlfriends after Nektar and met Eaman at La Jolla Shores, a very busy beach that’s ideal for beginner surfers. That day the waves happened to be perfect body boarding conditions, too. While Eaman boarded, I napped. That barre class was hard!
We’d been craving an ultra-classic Italian restaurant, and had kept Venice Pizza House in our back pocket for such an occasion. It’s a family-owned, hole-in-the-wall spot on El Cajon Boulevard, where the owner’s granddaughter was our waitress and soda is served in those red Coca-Cola cups that bring back so many childhood memories. It’s not an everyday sort of meal—I’m still sweating the cheese out of my pores—but it’s the perfect place for an indulgent meal. (Get the cannoli, too!)
Sunday morning brunch at Caroline’s in La Jolla. More on that later this week!
A post-brunch stroll by Scripps Seaside Forum.
Happy Monday!
August 6, 2014
The last few weeks have been looking a lot like the above picture—except I don’t have beautifully arranged flowers on my desk ($$$) and I certainly don’t sit at my computer armed with that many accessories. (Isn’t it harder to type with all that flare?) While I get a lot of fun freelance assignments completed—I’m so excited to share them when the time comes!—I’ll be taking a mini-break here and will be back on Monday.
Until then!
Image via
August 4, 2014
1. The sleek and inviting Monello—sister restaurant and neighbor to Bencotto—brings traditional Milanese eats and customs to the Little Italy neighborhood. I finally got to try it last month and went home with the most pleasant bread and cheese food coma. Favorites included the panzerotti (lightly fried mini calzones), funghi fritti (fried portobello mushrooms served with a black truffle aioli) and margherita pizza. The real star of the show, however, is the raspa durra cheese, a young cow’s milk that pretty much melts in your mouth. Also worth noting is Monello’s apertivo. Though it falls around the American happy hour time of 4-7 p.m., it’s a Milanese tradition that has nothing to do with half-price drinks. Instead you pay full price for drinks—stay with me—and get to eat a few small plates for free.
August 1, 2014
These days the news (and my Facebook feed) seems more like a barrage of sad and disappointing news from the Middle East and beyond. I’m not here to provide political analysis, but I am here to provide respite. Here are a few things that’ll hopefully make you laugh and serve as an escape.
Have a good weekend!
I’m a huge fan of New York Magazine‘s celebrity diet diaries, where a writer—usually the hilarious and talented Rebecca Harrington—spends a week living like an A-lister (her Gwyneth one is the best). This time Maggie Lange spends a week at a wolf refuge to live like Shailene Woodley. (New York Magazine)
Go, San Diego! A modern live-work space in the city’s Barrio Logan ‘hood houses nine units, each of which range from 450 to 595 square feet. It’s a great lesson in micro-living. (Dwell)
Apparently seven hours of sleep is the golden number that results in the best cognitive and health performance. Huzzah! That’s what I usually get. (The Wall Street Journal)
I just can’t come to terms with these Beyonce and Jay-Z break up rumors. Say it ain’t so. Also, just think of the headline possibilities! “Not So Crazy in Love” and “Shouldn’t Have Put a Ring On It” and of course “Everything You Own in a Box to the Left.” (The New York Daily News)
Research for a story I’m working on led me to this super interesting article about the coconut water turf wars that erupted in 2004 between Vita Coco and Zico. Sh– got ugly. (The New York Times)
Is there a love more pure than the one between a dog and its owner? This video of a schnauzer who passed out after being reunited with its owner who was away for two years is concrete evidence. Watch, cry—and keep the volume down because that dog’s squeal is as high-pitched as a dog whistle:
