Sandstone Peak Hike

Despite my high-maintenance tendencies, I love hiking. I know - shocker. Last Sunday, Priyah and I decided to forego the run-of-the-mill Griffith and Runyon for Malibu's Sandstone Peak. We ended up hiking the 6-mi loop in reverse, which meant incredible inclines, gorgeous views, and a great sense of accomplishment and exhaustion at the end. The trail is definitely a bit out of the way, about 25 mi north of Santa Monica, and it can be a full-day hike, but it's totally worth it.

Jakey-Poo is Home!

Jason's and my mutual bffl Jacob is back from his one year stay in Barcelona. He's away for the weekend and then going directly to Santa Cruz, so we won't see him again till late-July. I love that boy. And Jas made a delish frittata with guac for brunch. Now I'm chillin and enjoying my day off :-) Gym and dins with Becky on the schedule.

Yesterday, Larissa and I met up for the first time in ages and had Italian food and chianti. LOVE. It was so good to catch up with her and hear about wedded life and being a new puppy parent (I want one.) I've missed her so much. We already have our next date set up so wooooooo!

The day before that Evan and I checked out Mignon Wine Bar which is right next to Coles in DTLA. Amazing house red, good company and a bit too much bleu cheese? YES PLEASE. Veronica and Evan make me laugh so much :-)

Moving this weekend. A bit overwhelmed, but hanging in there. Just really feeling grateful for my friends and family.

{Music} Lia Ices + Random Thoughts

Busy busy.
Notes to self:

• You cannot cure a champagne hangover with bottomless mimosas. It just delays the inevitable agony. That being said, both are still worth it. 
• I no longer need to use a half-bottle of shampoo when washing my hair. If I do, it takes ten years to rinse out. 
•  My personal trainer is like a jack-in-the-box. He will always pop out and scare the shit out of me when I'm struggling on a cardio machine. 
•  Graham cracker + Nutella + mini marshmallows + microwave = magic. 
•  This song is great and very Regina Spektor-ish. Love.

Pupsicles :-)

Gym. Coffee with NatJ. Making some baked goods for the peeps at work. A gooooooood night :-)

Dad Takes a Dip in the Lake...

We warned him the puppies go nuts around water, but he was quite set on walking by the lakefront.

Big News...

I'm moving! After a couple of weeks of intense searching, I found an gorgeous old Victorian to live in with all my qualifications and phenomenal roommates came along with the deal, including a cute little dog named Lennie. (We're still looking for a fourth if anyone is interested :-))

The house was built in 1902 - hardwood floors, bay windows, lots of light, crown-molding, and a fireplace. We have a washing machine, parking, and a little garden. It's four bedroom, two bath, with little gorgeous brightly lit nooks. And my housemates seem wonderful - LA transplants with senses of humor and good taste in beer :-).

The house is located in Highland Park, which is about eight mins east of Echo Park and about ten minutes north of downtown. It's in a mostly residential neighborhood. I hadn't heard of Highland Park before, but it's apparently the "new" Echo Park, which is just great news for the psuedo hipster in me. (It was one of the first LA suburbs, and was a mostly Jewish neighborhood. In fact, it has one of the oldest operating synagogues in CA. It went through a rough period with crime and such, but it's been picking up after hte last few years.(After watching Madmen with Jenaba (a new roomie), Evan and I grabbed a beer at the York, which was an an amazing urban chic bar a few minutes away with well-priced good beer (I had the Hopscotch IPA) and a truffled grilled cheeses. SOLD.

Here is a pic of it from the LA Times Travel Guide on Highland Park:

I move in July 1, but here are some pics for a sneak peek. They don't do the house justice, so you'll just have to come over for mimosas and pancakes one of these weekends :-)

I'm so grateful to have found such a great place and thankful for my family's support this entire time, since I can be a bit of a brat.

Heaven in My Backyard

Can't speak. Too early. My brother bought me delish coffee. Irritated Scott Walker wasn't recalled. Excited for work. Woke up to fun texts and emails from amigos across the world. Happy. Pics from the garden this weekend.

xoxo

{Music} The National Covers

I'm still working, so this post will be short.

Updates:
- I think I maybe might have possibly found a place - keep sending me good vibes :-)
- I worked out with a personal trainer yesterday. I can't move. It takes me like twenty minutes to raise my left arm.
- I love work :-)

I LOVE THE NATIONAL. It's an obsession similar to Paula Deen's obsession with butter. In addition, I'm not a huge fan of Julia Stone (yeah, shoot me, don't care, whatever) and Oh Land is a hit or miss for me. And then they covered The National. (Julia Stone, like yesterday; Oh Land, last summer). So I wanted to dislike them both for corrupting perfection. But then I listened and these covers of Bloodbuzz Ohio are growing on me. Unfortunately. Thoughts?

And the original:

Griffith Park Hike + {Music} Trent Dabbs & Patrick Watson

Soooooo after a chill morning, I met Evan in Echo Park to look at some apts. I looked at two house shares yesterday. One was a small Victorian owned by a self-professed "white bruhaha" (i.e. tarot card reader.) Among other things, there was no parking, laundry, and a tiny room. (Evan is an amazinggggg friend for helping me with apt search. Thank you!)

So after that little jaunt, we recovered with vegan smoothies at Silver Lake Juice. I got the honey almond cream, which was super light and perfect for a hot day. Then we went to Griffith, followed by some guac, chips, and Blue Frog Blonde at Good.

Then we went to Highland Park to look at another renovated Victorian - four bedroom, two bath, hardwood floors, crown molding, parking, laundry, etc. It was amazing. I'd never been to Highland Park; its about 7 mins from Echo Park in a mostly residential neighborhood. Both the NY Times/LA Weekly have decided its like the new Echo Park. It's def an interesting neighborhood, but a little more investigation and talks are in order, but it's a definite maybe, but keep your fingers crossed that I find something sooooon.

 

And music:

Summer Blossoms

I woke up early and have been enjoying a lazy Sunday morning. Seeing two apts today, hiking with E, hopefully hitting the gym, and seeing Kels. Also I want to bake something for work and call Lex :-)

Until then, excuse me while I enjoy tea with my mommy in the back yard: