San Diego with the Wife

I've been fortunate to have numerous friends come to San Diego to visit me and we are running into a systematic tour; the Torrey Pines hike, La Jolla shores, PB bar crawl and downtown, but when we can sneak in some unique activities we try.

We took Ashley to Little Italy, where Tyler works for the Christmas Tree lighting.

Then we ate dinner at the hipster Craft and Commerce, Tyler heard about some bacon wrapped corn dogs. The food was just okay, the drinks were yummier!! Try the Lay Lady Lay it is a delicious, fizzy, raspberry beer concoction.We also took her to the Lamplighter which was a karaoke bar in Hillcrest. I signed up, but chickened out before my performance.

On Sunday Ashley and I spent the afternoon Temecula tasting wines at Callaway Wineries.

Wine Tasting Room

Getting tipsy with the 6 tastings

LA Photo ReCap

Vivian Ward's home/motel in Pretty Woman

Jimmy Kimmel

Saw this in a Prison Break episode, Marilyn Monroe died in a room here

Capitol Records

Los Angeles

Safe in LA- Gold Motel

I love this band and in an effort to relate to my recent experience in LA I thought I'd share this upbeat jingle. 

My best friend, Ashley came to visit me in California a few weekends ago and I was super excited.  She earned a free flight on Air Tran proving the the point system works, but it would only fly her to LAX where I had to pick her up. 

I hadn't been to LA since I was 8 years-old.  It's actually where I saw my first hooker and later realized was the premise of Pretty Woman, an amazing movie. 

Day #1

The trip to LA from SD was a lot longer than I had anticipated. I thought it was a mere 2 hours away, but after sitting in traffic, battling Santa Ana winds and trying to wake my butt up from slumber I realized it was a longer journey.

After what seemed like hours I picked her up from the airport where we then headed to downtown LA to check into our boutique hostel/hotel, Stay on Main. I recommend hostel/hotels, private rooms if you can get them, but it's the best deal.  Hotel rooms tend to go for $150 a night and when you think about it you're literally in the room for a few hours.  It's a place to store your luggage and rest your head, but when you travel, at least for me, you're out seeing the sights not watching bad cable in the hotel room.  Thus, I've stayed in hostel/hotels in numerous locations.  Definitely read a plethora of reviews and watch for star ratings. I'm sure some people can be harsher than they need to, but it is helpful to get a personal opinion.  Stay on Main earned 4 stars in my book. It was clean, cozy, contemporary and they had mini bathroom essentials (as I forgot to bring mine).

Our next stop was wandering the streets of LA, where personally I did not feel safe.  LA or Hollywood Blvd was just dingy and not as glamorous as television and movies make it.  There were a lot of homeless people and the streets smelled like urine.  It was kind of daunting walking around alone. Hence we snapped a couple of photos, found ourselves in the middle of a Ryan Gosling movie set and then grabbed a bottle of wine to drink in the hotel.

Day #2

We booked a bus tour, which is also another one of my traveling recommendations, although some people may find it dorky and uber touristy I think it's an excellent way to see a lot of iconic aspects of the city in a short amount of time and for cheap! On our city tour we avoided traffic, parking and getting lost.  We saw a lot of LA from Hollywood Blvd to the Sunset Strip to Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive to Paramount Pictures, just to name a few.  It was totally worth it and this particular tour bus stopped at various locations to allow passengers to hop on and off.

It was a fun quick trip, but I was ready to get back home and show her around San Diego and if you're wondering the traffic back was horrendous.

Sweet and Salty

I know I just posted my tips for San Francisco, but last night Tyler and I were craving this dessert we had at Beretta's and I had to expose our secret temptation. 

You can't even begin to imagine what this tastes like on the tip of your tongue and trust me I know it sounds unusual.  The olive oil gives the gelato a creamier consistency and the sea salt sprinkled liberally on the top is such an elegant surprise. People mix sweet and salty all the time,  but with panna gelato? It is so worthwhile, try it. You'll be dreaming about the flavors afterwards.


I had to share!!!

The San Fran Experience

We had such a great time and were able to cram quite a bit of activity into our short two day stay.  Mike took us to some of the coolest bars and best places to eat, although he said the food is amazing almost everywhere.

"The time to hesitate is through"

(Fun Fact: Jim Morrison was a Seminole, FSU)

Every trip needs a theme song, this seemed to fit our mood and was stuck in my head the whole time.

Here are some pointers, tips and suggestions if you're thinking about taking a visit.

• Tacolicious - we heard it was amazing, but it wasn't open when walked by and we were starving so we didn't want to wait.
• Aub Zam Zam - cool, quiet dive bar. Perfect for a cocktail.  The boys had old fashions and I stuck to my vodka water (strong drinks).  The outside is turquoise and has a Moroccan feel to it. You just stumble upon it, they seem to enjoy their secrecy so there's no website. Address: 1633 Haight Street
• Hobson's - fun feel. It was crowded for Halloween, but they have a wii upstairs you can play.
• Squat & Gobble -  Amazing! They have all sorts of crepes, I had the Italian and Tyler ordered the Hawaiian.  It was so good.  Fresh ingredients, cheap prices, and great tasting grub. 
• Beretta's - I can't describe the atmosphere accurately, cookie influence, but the food was awesome.  Meatballs are the bomb and the pizza is so good.

San Francisco is full of culture, energy and love.  The people are so laid back and if you have the energy to walk it’s a great place to see by foot. Take in a park or two and just sit down and people watch.  If I had more time and money I’d definitely be shopping for days.  They have the coolest shops on Haight street!!

Sunday Funday

I have recurring daydreams about the 70s, where I’m laying in a field listening to and feeling the music around me.  I’m a hippie with long hair and knee high boots, swaying and laughing and surrounded by friends.  I’ve always loved that lifestyle; carefree, lazy and being with nature.  

Friendship

To me it seemed ideal just appreciating humanity and the earth.

1970s

But when I think about how I spend my normal days in an office typing at a computer from 9AM to 5PM watching the sunshine slip behind the clouds before I can go home it isn’t surprising to want to live that daydream permanently.  Luckily my 48 hours in San Francisco helped keep the fire burning in my imaginative mind.  For a matter of 4 hours I was that eternal hippie I wanted to be.  

Ty and I lounging in the park.

 

Drum Circle in Dolores Park

The sun was shining and warm. The locals were peeling off their normal layers to let the sun kiss their pale skin. We were soaking up the complimentary vitamin D as our bare feet appreciated the soft grass.

The park was full of people, smiling faces, sleeping bodies, couples cuddling in love, and music circles.  We were posted up next to a small drum circle of three members, then a man joined them playing on empty beer bottles giving their beat a distinct clink.  Then a tambourine joined in soon the small circle became a big one and music was filling the park.

Drum Circle in the 60s

Nick and I, reunited

Every so often a “cookie man” would wander our way selling gourmet baked goodies of the adventurous nature.  There is a guy famous for his chocolate truffles in flavors like white chocolate mocha and coconut almond caramel swirl. That’s intense.

Lounging

San Francisco was amazing. The people are so free spirited. I didn't think of the city having so much culture and such a young population, but it definitely gave me a different California scene one in which I wouldn't mind living in.  It was nice to escape our little beach town of San Diego and experience San Fran and thanks to Mike we did it like a local. Awwww, California is amazing. 

Our 48 hours in San Francisco, Saturday

I absolutely love to travel especially when I’m visiting friends, have a free place to stay and a couple of bills in my pocket.  I tried to make our weekend as worthwhile and budget friendly as possible so I booked our Saturday flight at 7:00AM which had us up and running at 4:30AM.

Although we were tired and a little under the weather we were excited about our little adventure. First things first, locating a bar to watch our Seminoles and luckily we found Blue Light the San Francisco FSU Alum bar. Thankfully it was a blow out against NC State.

Blue Light, I took a little nap in the booth.

Then we were off on an exclusive walking tour of the Bay area. I’d been when I was younger, but didn’t remember much so of course I forced everyone into the touristy thing.  They trooped it up.

Boys looking at the Bay.

 The Fisherman's Wharf was pretty crowded we just cruised by on foot.

 This place was amazing. We had a World Famous Sundae and I saw how their chocolate was made. Free smells.

The Buena Vista

This is where Irish Coffee originated.  Unbeknownst to me it contained a large amount of alcohol, whisky that is.  They warm up the glasses with hot water then pour it out, drop a sugar cube at the bottom pour a 1/4 boiling hot coffee, 3/4 whisky, and a little whipping cream to sweeten the deal.

Monk Fish

The last stop on our little Saturday stroll was China town.  It was quite the culture shock. A few steps into Chinatown and you could swear you were in a different country.  The lifestyle and community is so different from the American way of life.  Even though we saw scary fish like this staring at us, we had to eat at a Dim Sum spot.

Give Back

You must be the change you want to see in the world. - Mahatma Gandhi

You want to make a difference, but you don’t know where to begin.  This is something I often think about especially when something pulls at my heart strings. When I was living in my hometown I volunteered quite a bit.  Honestly I wasn’t truly driven by the need to help, some of my reasoning stemmed for selfishness. I was either bored or felt rotten about how I was currently living my life and felt the need to pay back the universe in order to avoid karmic retribution, but after I began volunteering the change I was making on the world actually made a change in me. I understood why people try so hard to make a difference and to give back.   

If you’re anything like me you’re eclectic, wild hearted, free spirited and frantically all over the place.  Which in my life is a great thing, it keeps life fun.  But you tend to be into so many different things, types of music, areas of the world, books, styles and personal interests.  I favor the sunshine, ocean, dogs, bare feet, tacos, pickles and beer, but I get along with almost everything. 

When I volunteered I dabbled in a variety of things, working for First Coast No More Homeless Pets, helping the staff put together surgery packets for low cost spay and neuter surgeries. I volunteered with L’Arche Harbor House, an assisted living facility for developmentally challenged adults, where I became a house member and visited with residents of the Nouwen house.  I worked with Surfers for Autism helping prepare for a surf event for children.

I’m still interested in volunteering, but have yet to find an outlet. If you’re looking for a way to make a difference, but don’t know where to start, here are some of the trendy, eco-friendly, youthful philanthropies in the world. 

Waves for Water- They make efforts to bring clean water to remote locations or those that have undergone a natural disaster.  Volunteers pay for and deliver water filters that provide fresh drinking water to citizens.

Credit to wavesforwater.org, helping the community with couriers

Toms – A trend within itself and you don’t have to do anything but shop.  Tom’s will donate a pair of shoes to a less fortunate individual when you purchase a pair.  They come out with new designs to keep up with the latest fashion. Its guilt free shopping if you ask me. 

So many styles, they are addicting

Surfrider Foundation – They have locations all over the USA.  It’s easy to join and a great way to meet friends.  Protect the ocean, waves and beaches. Give back. 

Threads of Change – Another shopportunity.  Purchase one of these amazingly beautiful items and proceeds go to educate women and children on health, birth control and hygiene to prevent and control the spread of HIV in Ghana. 

ASPCA – AMINALS!!! Yes, our furry friends need your help.  I would adopt all of them if my boyfriend wouldn’t freak out, but puppies, kitties, bunnies and more. Help them!

This is my pup he looks like a rescue, but he just needs a grooming

I’m thankful everyday that I’m healthy, young, educated and have a great support system of family and friends. Even when I feel down and out I know that I am luckier than most in the world and I have little to complain about.  Instead of griping we should put our energies into the world to make a difference. Plus volunteering is so in right now J

Ang aking pamilya ay aking buhay

I just completed my Tour De Florida and it was amazing and exhausting, but long overdue.  Although I love my life in California it made me realize the little things, big hearts and people I miss back home.  I miss the mildly sticky humidity, the afternoon thunderstorms, the warm Atlantic Ocean water and all the bright, shining, smiling faces of loved ones. 

Family is something you can often take for granted especially when you live in your home town. The importance of a family dinner, the opportunity to sit on the couch while your mom makes you a snack or does your laundry, listening to your dog bark at everything or just sitting on the porch swing with your dad in complete silence are completely forgotten.  When I was home I hardly went home, at least not to the home I was raised in. I spent most of my days at the beach, in the water or drinking with friends and although I believe that my friends are my second family, I never really thought much of my parents or my old room or the little quirks and traditions of my home life.  Then I returned after a six month hiatus and it overwhelmed me. I missed the “Filipino” food smell of my house, all the little flip flops waiting by the door because the rule is “No Shoes in the House”, our  dog, Lucy barking and jumping.  I missed my old room now packed with boxes of materialistic things I couldn’t take with me to San Diego. 

Doesn't she look happy to see me?

I guess it was selfish of me to think everyone’s lives stopped when I left Florida and that they couldn’t go on without me, but as soon as I stepped into my Whitehouse I realized how wrong I was. I missed them so much more than they could ever realize. I stared at my mom and dad for hours as they asked me questions about my new life. I tried to memorize the lines in their faces so I could take it back with me. I talked my sister’s ear off and watched her eyes spin in circles. I held my baby niece for the first time. I ate my mom’s homemade food. I laughed. I cried. It felt good to be home.

Time for Business

Aside from the beach bike rides, Padres baseball games, endless burritos, waves, sunshine, hikes and etc. we had to buckle down and get serious. We've had a lot of fun being out here and have fortunately been able to do and see quite a bit, but there's still so much more to see.  That exploration drives us to work hard and play hard and luckily both of us have secured legitimate jobs that we love.

I was working part time at Bird Rock Surf Shop , but unfortunately minimum wage was only going to get me so far. Tyler was trying to concentrate on his thesis and preparations to finish up his master's in psychology, but with the need for both of us to work we had to continuously apply for jobs and keep our fingers crossed especially when the FUNds got low.

After much persistence on July 14, 2011 I was hired as a Project Coordinator at SEO, Inc.  I love my job, co-workers and industry.  I never thought I would be working in an internet marketing environment,  but it is really interesting and I'm learning new things everyday. The bonus is I get to write on a regular basis and that's a big plus.

Shortly after my employment offer, Tyler applied for a position and was hired rather quickly at the San Diego Reader, a weekly publication in our city.  He's the Digital Media Coordinator and is very happy about his position.  It's exactly what he wanted to do. 

We have been very fortunate over the past few months, so please don't stop wishing us well and sending your love and positive vibes to the west coast.

California suits us.
xoxo

We love our Friends

Our San Diego Family on July 4th, we won flip cup too!

FSU friends are here too!

Friends from home visit to drink with us

to dine with us

and hike with us!

We also surf and I get hurt,

but nothing heals the soul like the ocean

Cali life is good.

Un-mexpected

The first night we were here was Tyler's 26th Birthday and unfortunately he was a little bummed not being able to rage and celebrate with all his friends and family.  He did however get his first surf session in California waters (the Pacific Ocean is chilly) and as a new resident which soothed his soul a little.  But the icing on the cake was an unexpected invite to Rosarito, Mexico for the weekend with some new and old friends.

The living room of our 6 bedroom house

The view of the ocean and waves from the kitchen

We made some great new friends, the black specks are the boys surfing

Horseback riding through the barrio

All you need is Love

Our yummy lobster dinner

Our New Home

It was such a relief to finally arrive in San Diego.  We made it to our apartment without a hitch and the keys were waiting for us in our lock box. I have to admit I was a little nervous. I had had the comforts of this tiny metal vehicle for the last 5 days and the opportunity to just turn around was at my disposal, but now I was here and standing on my porch.

Luckily the apartment was better than the photos! Having worked in property management in the past and experiencing the nightmares of unexpected move-ins or apartments that weren't ready I was just hoping that  wasn't going to be our experience.  Here are a few photos of our little one bedroom apartment and our IKEA furniture.

Putting furniture together with only Swedish pictures poses a challenge

But we got through it.