Lunch with Mom + Dad

{taken with film}

Beach Weekend

{wishing you a beachy weekend}

What are your plans this weekend, friends?  I'll be getting back to my NorCal roots with a beach weekend in Santa Cruz complete with an Eddie Money concert (who am I?), a birthday celebration, and rumor has it there might even be a jarty!  Can't wait to share with you when I get back!

Oscar's Cerveteca/Take 2

Remember when I said Oscar's was...disappointing?  Well, after some controversy in the comments section, and a personal invite from Oscar himself to give the place a second shot (I'm kind of a big deal around here...jk), I made it back to Oscar's last Saturday.  I walked over with Brian and Leslie (that friend of mine who just moved to L.A.), figuring that if the food still left much to be desired, we could always go across the street to the mysterious Mexican place that looks like a liquor store but could really be a sketchily delicious meal waiting to happen.

But there was no need to venture anywhere this time.  Things have changed at Oscar's -- fewer iPod Touches, better food.

First change -- they have these little fold-up tables on the inside now so when you wait, you can at least have a place to put your drink now.  Oh yeah, they have those now, too -- drinks.  Wine and beer, hooray!  So that's a second change.

{beer!  and chicken empanadas that really were just vehicles for that unreal mayo}

Third change -- the menu.  Some items are the same, like the Southern burger (we didn't order that one again), but there are some new additions that turned out to be really tasty, like beer-battered shrimp with a citrus butter sauce.  So butter-drippingly good that it comes with a towelette, and you'll need it!

Last time, I thought the fish tacos were bland and underwhelming.  But this time, the pork tacos were so flavorful, soaked in a spicy, tangy sauce.

And the corn on the cob smothered in butter, chili powder and parm?  That smile says it all.

It was truly a fab dinner.

Hats off to you, Oscar's, for changing my mind!  I'll be back again soon!

One for Wednesday

Just add goat cheese.

Look Up

{Getty Center}

There's a lot going on up there.

The Getty

The Getty Center just might be my favorite place in L.A.

Next time, I'm bringing a picnic.

Friday Tidbits

{in the lobby of La Colombe d'Or in Houston}

After a few Fridays of randomness, I've decided I kind of like the random tidbits.  There are so many little moments I want to share, and there's really no other way to share them. So I might keep these Friday posts around unless you protest.  Here we go again -- 

*Overheard on the strand (the path that runs down the beach):  shirtless, long-haired rollerblader man wearing nothing but neon yellow spandex shorts yelling at lady riding on a stair stepping bike (the new craze) as he speeds past her: "That's bullsh*t!  Get a f*ing bike!"  ONLY IN LA.

{stair stepping bike via}

*I impressed the little old Asian man who works at the Trader Joe's cashier so much with my fruit and veggie choices on my shopping trip that he proposed marriage to me on behalf of the bagger, Robert.  Apparently, my healthy eating choices make me prime wife material.  I was flattered.  Then hated myself for being flattered (omgI'msuchagirl).  Then I confused myself, and was thankful to have olive skin to hide the blush.

*I discovered the way to a man's heart on Tuesday: Don Draper ice cream from the Lake Street Creamery food truck.  Vanilla, caramel, bourbon, and smoke.  Yes, smoke.  Take note.

*I think the Bar exam aged me about 50 years.  When I wake up in the mornings, I immediately turn on GMA (Good Morning America, for those who have not yet developed a penchant for octogenarian humor), and just yesterday, I caught myself chuckling all alone in my apartment over a commercial.  I wish I were kidding.  I think I need a spontaneous trip to Vega$ or something.  Any takers?

*Speaking of GMA, guess who the musical guest was on Thursday?  LMFAO.  For reals.  Can we all just agree that there is a place and time for teal-bedazzled pants, belly shirts, white-framed hipster glasses, and techno dance moves, but 8AM with George and Robin is NOT it.  Seriously, ABC.  Just accept that you're not in with the young crowd anymore.  It's getting awkward, and I hate being forced to cringe before lunch. 

*I hate how finishing a really good book feels like losing a group of really good friends.  I just finished The Help yesterday, and this morning I was so disappointed that I couldn't catch up on Aibileen and Minny's lives...I know, I really am 25 going on 80.

I've got family in town from France this weekend and I'm excited to show them around (despite the oddly unsummery summer weather we got going on right now in LA).  Happy weekend to all of you!

Beaching It

It's a gloriously sunny day here already, so I'll be laying blissfully on the beach today finishing up The Help and starting Hunger Games!  Happy Thursday!

Houston Part III: Tom and Jessie Get Married!

Today, I'm finally getting to the point of this whole weekend trip to Houston: celebrating the marriage of our college friends, Tom and Jessie!

Tom + Jessie and Brian and I go way back to 2006, when I set Brian and Tom up to be roommates in the apartment above the Fish Pub in Florence, and we all became the best of friends in the wonderland of study abroad.

{bromance budding in Firenze}

While we were there, we took an unforgettable trip to Paris together (with Caroline, too!) where we rowed a boat in the Versaille pond, drank wine from baby bottles, and ate way too much cheese fondue.

Back in real college, Jessie and I had fabulous times together, too, especially our senior year when Brian and Tom lived in the same apartment complex.

And last weekend, Tom and Jessie tied the knot, and we were so happy we could be there to celebrate!



Jessie asked me to take a few pictures at their rehearsal dinner, and obviously I was thrilled.  (You all know that I wouldn't have been able to stop myself from documenting the whole experience, anyway.)  It was a beautiful night at Brennan's of Houston.  We shared a delicious meal, a hilarious slideshow, and heart-warming speeches.

{redefining the meaning of "mom shoes" - MOB on the left and MOG on the right}

The next evening, Tom and Jessie said vows, Brian stood as Tom's groomsman, and we partied like it was 2008.

Congrats, Tom + Jessie, and welcome to Marriedland!