Life gets in the way...

This last week was a little rough but there's no need to go into details, let me share some good stuff.

Point Dume, Malibu

I was supposed to go on vacation to Sequoia but things didn't work out so I ended up going to Malibu instead. One of the things I love about living in LA is the abundance of beaches including my favorite spot, Point Dume. When I'm there, I forget everything and the only things that concern me are the waves, the breeze and the rocks.

What's your place of solace?

Every time I go to the beach I pick up a sea shell, rocks or mussel shell as my own little souvenir of that trip. One thing I also brought back was a sun burn- yeah, those are always fun especially for those of us with alabaster skin! Alas, it wasn't as bad after multiple applications of aloe vera lotion (thank god). I told my best friend to remind me of my stupidity (for not reapplying sunscreen!) and she gladly obliged (of course).

via Pinterest

On Thursday, my friend and fellow blogger, Melanee,  invited me to a sale's event at her family's jewelry shop in Beverly Hills and how could I resist jewelry??

She's in the grad program I just graduated from!

My best friend and I ended buying each others xmas gifts early (we'll give them to each other xmas day though). I also bought my mom a necklace which I gave to her right away because she's worse than I am when it comes to jewelry. :)

We capped the night by visiting the famous Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. It was the first time for both of us so we had to try the famous chicken and waffles. I got a side of potatoes and gravy and she got mac and cheese, collard greens and cornbread. It was all delicious except the collard greens is definitely an acquired taste.

Carol's Special (a breast & a waffle)

We sat right in front of this photo

 I ate the entire waffle but I could barely finish half the chicken let alone the mashed potatoes. I have to say, the mac and cheese was superb!

What are some famous restaurants in your area? Are they as good as the hype led you to believe?


All in all it was a good week with some rough spots in between. Tune in this week for my review of Beauty Choice's Rodial Glamtox eye pen. 

Baby girl got her nails done

Red nails for the diva

Sometimes there's nothing better than staying in, relaxing at home having some girl time. As you can see, I enjoyed it a little too much with my babygirl, Bella. While most people I've talked to don't think it's nice of me to paint her nails, other pet lovers like me admit to doing it every once in a while. I have to say, with no modesty whatsoever, my girl is gorgeous and pulls this look off flawlessly :)

As for my nails, well there is no picture worthy of posting because somehow they never seems to last longer than a day. Granted, my sister says I'm the worst when it comes to nails because I don't put in enough time and maybe it's partly that and also the fact that I haven't been really excited about a color in a while. The last polish I bought was from Sephora called Kiss me on my Mistletoes, and as the name gives you an idea of the time of year that was, it's clear I need some inspiration.

What are your favorite nail polish brands? Colors? What's your routine?

Check out You Are My Color's nail polish giveaway! Click here

Never thought I'd say this but...

post aqua aerobics

ATTEMPTING to rock climb

... I miss working out! My summer membership at my gym ended and I'm contemplating renewing  but it's costly for this unpaid intern! What I loved most was the exposure to different work out routines. I went to Spin classes, extreme bootcamp, yoga, pilates and body sculpting among others. I had never worked out like that before and boy, it was intense! I remember coming out of class dripping in sweat (my Zumba instructor once pointed out my excessive sweating in class *redface*) yet I loved knowing I had a great workout.

In the meantime, I'm trying to continue exercising on my own but it's not close to the same level nor do I have much motivation since it's just me. BUT I do love walking my dogs and that is motivation to at least stay active. 

What motivates you to workout? What are some of your favorite classes? Least favorite? I admit, Spin is a great workout but every.single.time I was in class I hated myself because it's HARD!

50 shades of crazy

The original romantic hero

I started my internship almost three weeks ago so I've been super busy acclimating while trying to keep up my gym routine at least three times a week. To sum up my current state in a word it would be- tired. LA mag is great and I've learned a lot but, like with anything new, it's intimidating and overwhelming at times. I loved going to the gym to release the stresses of the week but unfortunately my gym membership for the summer ends this weekend. Of course I'm debating whether or not to renew but as I'm  currently working at an unpaid internship I have to think twice about all my expenses. In the meantime I'm going to TRY and at least workout half an hour a day (or every other day) to at least keep my muscles toned.

** Check out my first blog post for LA Mag**

But on to some good stuff (re my post title). I finally caved and read Fifty Shades of Grey. The cons: badly written, overwrought chapters and some really cheesy dialogue. The pros: as far as the genre goes, it's good enough, good music (e.g. T.Tallis, Chopin, Roberta Flack). When the main character continues to declare herself "unworthy" you practically agree with her (never a good thing for the heroine) and her talk of him "owning" her is a HUGE turn-off. Yes, Christian is definitely twisted and I don't think I could tolerate a man that jealous and controlling however, I can see the appeal when he's all "hearts and flowers." I do appreciate that the characters are developed enough that it kept me reading, that is very rare for an erotica novel (ok, I've read a lot but maybe not that many). As for the BDSM aspect of it, I have to say I don't think it's the best window into that world since it's not really about a BDSM relationship. I admit, reading about caning, fisting, and a cat (not the living kind), was definitely shocking but it was not something that she actually explores in the book. I feel that is part of the reason why it appeals to so many women- it's sexually explicit but in a raunchy/romantic kinda way without it being real BDSM. Overall, it's good escapist literature and if I had to choose between this and Twilight, I'd stick with this. On that note, I'm curious as to who will be in the movie and so I've compiled a  wish list ;)

Ian Somerhalder as C. Grey: Copper hair, sex appeal & that gaze- it works 

Natalie Portman as A.Steele: She plays the innocent girl/sex goddess so well (see Black Swan) 

Cause really, who else could play Elena but Kim Cattrall?

I know this is kinda random but Hector Elizondo as Taylor

Blake Lively as Kate: I think she has enough sass to pull it off

Cillian Murphy as Hyde cause he plays bad guys so well

Those are the only actors I can come up with so far. I got into the book pretty late in the game so there was already talk of who would play in the film; as I was reading the books, these actors kept popping up. I think Elizondo would take the film into the Garry Marshall realm but when Taylor is constantly described as "avuncular," this guy comes to mind.

Have you read the book? What did you think? Did you feel as clueless as Ana about the whole world of BDSM?

I'm currently reading In the Land of God & Men by Sylvia Paternostro and Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence. Good reads!

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Post-vacation wreckage

The day I got back from Big Bear, I arrived to find the shelf in my closet had detached and the rail holding all my clothes fell right along with it. Photographic evidence of the disaster below:

one half of my closet. I'll explain the smiley face backpack

And so began my week-long efforts to organize and clean the closet. Despite the fact that I had no plans to do as much cleaning but instead was forced to, I'm actually grateful because I was able to get rid of bags and bags of clothing. Moreover, I found some mementos from my youth, including my Jansport backpack full of just some of my paperwork from high school, that lead to several bouts of nostalgia . Here are some of the other items I found:

Anyone else get birthday grams from school?

90s- smiley face anything, nanos, Nsync, Lisa Frank, Polly Pocket etc

the box of miscellaneous stuff

early 2000s school paper on the expansion of "the Facebook"

I carried this around with me everywhere!

I am clearly a 90s baby. My family and friends tease me for keeping so much useless stuff but for me it's about sentimental value. I am not a hoarder ( i repeat...).

Check out my After shot which includes my newly decorated closet door. I used all the postcards I've collected from photographers including Herb Ritts, Ansel Adams and Marc Muench.

What are some keepsakes you keep hidden away in your closet? Ever had a closet disaster?

You know you're a 90s kids when...

...Your ipod falls in the tub and despite going into panic mode, you think "at least I still have my portable cd players." Hey, if all else fails... :)

I know the whole "90s kid" list is played out but I still thought I'd list some of the quirky things that remind me of those days and decade that doesn't feel that long ago.

1. Tigerbeat, BBop, Teen and YM magazine... oh and Teen People!

2. The zipper folder- so I could leave all my loose papers in there without worrying about losing them

3. Jansport backpack and white out- only a 90s kid would know

4. Blue make-up ( I was a particular fan of blue eyeshadow but I also put blue mascara on my eyelashes AND hair)

5. TRL, Diary, Making the Video- basically, Mtv when it stood for Music

6. Three-way calling and having to answer every call cause there was no caller ID

7. Before cells we had pagers. Why? There was no practical reason and that was part of the fun 

8. Over exposed photos with those flowery, starry, butterfly-filled etc. backgrounds

9. "bomb" "dope" "diggity" 

10. a world without social media where most emails ended with @hotmail

Sorry I've been away...

E.Weston. I just love this shot. That is all.

My only excuse is that I've been enjoying my time post thesis madness while simultaneously looking for a full-time job. Since I graduated May 22, I've been to San Francisco, Big Bear and I've been sick. In the midst of that I've continued updating the website I worked on for my thesis and I landed an internship at Los Angeles Magazine! I start in August and yes, I'm excited. I also renewed my membership at the rec center at my school ($43 for 3 months!) so I've tried to go to the gym at least three times a week. Working out has proven to be a great stress reliever and with each workout I'm noticing slight improvements that keep me motivated. I've been going to yoga, spin, body sculpting, Zumba and water aerobics and I love them all even when I'm cursing myself for signing up (hello, Spin class!).

Despite my weekly efforts, I initally was still lazy when it came to my eating habits and I kept excusing my indulgences by telling myself I would burn it off the next day. It's true what they say- 30 percent is fitness, 70 is diet. I've since tried to cut down my bread and cheese in take and I went back to the boring yet trusty snack of lettuce and tomatoes with EVOO and balsamic. I also try and eat a hearty yet healthy breakfast and I really have to push myself to NOT eat chips, cheese, or pasta like it's my last day on earth.

One of my eye opening moments was when I visited Big Bear and wore my two-piece to the lake after enjoying a patty melt with steak fries. Needless to say, I had a bloated belly that will forever be etched in memory courtesy of the group shots we took. At the ripe old age of 26, I'm realizing my metabolism isn't what it was when I was 21 so I better start eating like it. Nevertheless, it was a weekend getaway so I felt no guilt about enjoying my time with my girlfriends especially considering it was our first get-together in months. We camped out for the night: we built our tent and our own fire AND survived without a shower and only port-a-potties with no sink. We were practically cave women compared to how we actually live and we enjoyed every minute of it. From cooking s'mores in our fire pit to telling ghost stories (one of the restaurants we visited is supposedly haunted), we were able to get a away from reality for a bit and just enjoy nature.

Likewise, San Francisco was amazing. It's so different from LA and I just love how it reminds me so much of my hometown of Rosario. I really, really love Golden Gate Park, you really need a whole week to truly enjoy everything it has to offer. I'll post more about my adventure in SF soon.

Thus, this post is really an excuse to show off some of my vacation shots. Enjoy!

 How has the last month been for you?

BTW, I promise to post weekly (if not daily) not monthly from here on out and yes, I'm aware of the irony considering my blog title. :)

 

 

Alcatraz

Lombard St aka The Crookedest Street in the World

 

 

Tree at Carmel by the Sea

Carmel River State Beach

Big Bear campsite- Hanna Flats

Boulder Bay Lake, Big Bear

Summer Escape: Venice Canals

 I've lived in LA for over 20 years now and just last year I discovered the (apparently famous) Venice Canals. Million dollar homes surrounded by water and nestled in a nook in Venice gives it the perfect blend of LA beach city vibes with a cozier and secluded environment. My best friend introduced me to this spot and it was love at first sight- the quaint homes, the ducks, the canoes! Oh to live there! I looked up rent for one of the houses and it's... you ready?.... $50,000 a month! What I liked is it's not a very popular tourist spot despite it's fame-heck, it was featured in Hollywood's love letter to LA-Valentine's Day.

 If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend it. It's a beautiful sight and a great spot for a brisk walk and you can always drive over to the beach or 3rd Street Promenade to experience the night life full of street acts and good food!

What are some spots you've visited that aren't very well known? Any other spots in LA or anywhere else you recommend?

reality v. wishful thinking

In the morning, I like to think I look respectable enough to be seen in public:

not that I think I look like her but I feel nicely put together 

what I feel I look like when I get to work

 

 

 

 

Ideal Habits:

workout via pinterest

 

 

getting work done!

REALITY:

naps! via Pinterest

 

 

 

pizza is my weakness! via Pinterest

work! via funny blog

 And that is why I can't update my blog consistently. 

grad school fifteen

 Forget freshmen fifteen, I'm dealing with compulsive eating courtesy of grad school . Whenever I feel a wave of the usual omigod-I-will-never-finish-this-project stress coming, I either sleep, eat or play with my dogs. They may not be the worst kinds of indulgences necessarily but boy do I indulge more than I should. Before I know it, I've lost an hour (maybe two ok three!) doing anything but what I should be doing.

This makes me wonder if everyone has these tendencies or are there people who handle stress well and turn it into productivity... I, for one, am pushing myself to continue my workout regimen despite how tired I am.

Of course I'm taking baby steps because I enjoyed three pieces of caremel filled chocolates after dance class. Yikes!

my work and my indulgence

What do you do when you're stressed? Of all the things I mentioned, naps work the best for me still.

Experimenting in the Kitchen

 Oh the adventures that come with being hungry! It's amazing what you can come up with when hunger strikes which is exactly what happened to me recently. Armed with baguette bread, chicken strips, veggies and cheese I came up with the chicken sandwich pictured. I was trying to be healthy so instead of just heating up the chicken strips and making some mashed potatoes (my go-to dish when I'm hungry and short on time), I opted to make this instead. I sauteed onions and red bell peppers in olive oil and added powdered garlic, creole seasoning, black pepper and paprika to my chicken strips. I toasted the bread and topped everything off with fresh spinach and a little bit of mozzarella cheese cause I love me some cheese! I have to say, for something I never made before it was really delicious.

Yum-o as Rachel Ray would say...

Have any of your kitchen experiments turned into staple dishes? I was proud of myself and no longer starving so it was definitely a win-win situation ;)

Also, this dish was made by my dad in his own kitchen experiment with kale. Now, I had never had kale before and I admit it doesn't look too appetizing but he boiled it and added garlic and lemon and it's now one of my favorite healthy dishes- SO GOOD. Note the presence yet again of the chicken strips and this time we used basmati rice but I'm sure any rice with lemon and garlic will taste just as good.

Chicken with kale and rice

Happy Kitchen Adventures!

white envy

I am loving Marilyn Monroe's bathing suit in this shot and I'm also amazed at how difficult it is to find a tasteful, white one piece nowadays.

Anyone on Pinterest has seen this shot plenty of times ;)

Are the days of sexy yet classy bathing suits gone? I've searched major department stores and everything I come across (online) is a bikini with an occasional tankini. Not to say that a bikini can't be sexy/classy but it would be nice to have more options. I did find a few including one inspired by this very suit but most were not my style. Do a google search using "white one piece swim suit" and tell me if you feel the same.

La Blanca from Nordstrom's

 

from Monroe suit from Sears

Kardashian Kollection 
 

I never thought I'd buy food from a truck but...

... I recently had the chance when my school celebrated the opening of the new Student Recreation Center. From Fresh Fries, The Grilled Cheese Truck to Kogi- there was a variety of goodness to choose from. However, I knew from the get-go I wanted to try Kogi. I remember watching Food Network and if I remember correctly it was Best Thing I Ever Ate (Love that show!) and Adam was raving about the Kogi taco and it looked amazing. Basically, it's Korean-Mexican fusion and while I know very little about Korean food, I was more than happy to try it. So when I found out they would be at my school I jumped at the chance and they did not disappoint.

kogi  burritto- YUM

 I asked the guy taking my order what was in it and between the clanking noises from the kitchen (he is in a truck after all) and the chatter of the long line of students behind me, I got nothing. So I ask the one question that matters most to me when it comes to burritos-"does it have beans?" I'm happy to report that it does not. Call me a faux foodie all you want but the only beans I eat are garbanzos.

I made my order and I only waited a minute or two and my name was called out and I was handed a glorious, chunky burrito. I took one bite and understood what all the fuss was about.

Now you know when you eat something good and you're just anticipating the next time you get to it? this was it for me. I wish they had a local shop because the timing of the truck is not exactly convenient BUT I know I'll be checking their site for the next time they are in my neck of the woods.

Have you ever tried food from a food truck? What was your experience? Recommendations please! :)