Road Trip with Mushck

For honeybun's birthday, I decided to take her for a lil roadtrip (which required quite a bit of driving). It was amazing to spend the time with my mom without any external pressures of school/kitchen remodeling. This was the first time we had taken a trip together and I hope it will be the first of many. My mom was an easy travel partner. As long as she had coffee and sunglasses and the promise of a cold lager and tasty food at the end of the day, she was golden.

On the itinerary:

Day 1: San Simeon, Cambria
The Morgan Hotel: We had ocean views and could hear the waves at night. Super clean, comfy, and accommodating. Would def go back.

Indigo Moon: We ordered the fig-olive tapenade brie crostini, pepper-seared ahi, blue crab cake, goat cheese and leek tart, and green salad. It was easily the best meal of the trip. Delicious, fresh, complex flavors and amazing cheese. I loved the brie (duh) and my mom was over the moon about the lightness of the tart.

Harmony Zin: tart and refreshing.

Day 2:
Moonstone Beach: pretty and foggy for our coffee run.

Linns: We got the benedict (standard.) But the raspberry lemon meringue pie was phenomenalllllll. I generally loathe meringue - they tend to be chewy. This was light and toasty and wonderful. And the raspberry was an amazing complement.

Grow: This is my heaven. A gorgeous well curated nursery with rare succulents. My mom and I collected 8 new types to add to her already impressive collection. Also the owner was a lovely man and so funny and great.

Firestone Brewery: We had a tasting of the 805 (my mom's fave, light), Pale 31, the DBA and UDBA. The UDBA was one of my fave beers ever. It's unfiltered and only served at the brewery. I couldn't get enough of it.

Figueroa Mountain Brewery: My mom got the pilsner and I got my Hoppy Poppy. We ate pretzels and mustard in the lovely beer garden and they played Ingrid Michaelson while we watched people play horseshoes. So lovely.

Hotel Capri: Tots wants to be Ace Hotel. Clean but a bit too modern for honeybun and I. Great location and views though.

Some Italian Restaurant: with amazing mushrooms and live music (Carole King anyone?)

Day 3: Ojai
Knead Baking Company: We got the breakfast cake with raspberry and candied orange. Fucking amazing. My mom loved the cheddar dill scone and we got the honey chocolate nut bars for Jas. A lil pricey but wonderfully flavorful and perfectly executed.

Ojai Roasting Company: I had the latte. The espresso was too light for me, but mellow. Mom's drip was great, although a lil burnt.

  

Two Birthdays and a Wedding

So last week was crayyyyy.

On Tuesday, Benny, Scott, and Grant came over for an early birthday celebration for Bobes and I. Pizza, beer and far too much fun was had by all.

The next day, I did a glorious dinner with Alene, Aline and Seda at Church and State. We ordered mussels, the charcuterie plate, mac and cheese, a flatbread, steak/frites, lavender honey goat cheese, and market veg plus the salted caramel chocolate tarte and the pot de creme. Yum.

Then I drove up to Santa Cruz and partied it up with Kat (the most lovely host ever), Nika and German, Aimee and Danny, Megan and Molly, Alicia and Conner, and the old/new Wanzer crew: Emil, Raj and Rameet. There was dog beaching, whiskey-drinking, crepe-making and burger-eating. It was wonderful. After Rob gave me the best surprise by showing up at Wanzer on Friday, we hit The Red. So funnnnnnn

Then on Saturday, after recovering with coffee and a walk with Emil, I went to Megan and Mark's crazy gorgeous wedding at Nestldown. It was a fairy-tale, intimate wedding in the redwoods. Megan looked ethereal - I can't even describe it. I was so grateful to be there that day. And then I caught the bouquet. Crazy times.

I hit up the city and met Rob and Eric at their apt. I took it easy, because the next day we did bottomless mimosas at Pasion with Alexandra and Carrie. Then we went to Golden Gate Park for the afternoon while Sophie stole toys from small children. We ordered a ton of Chinese and watched Zero-Dark-Thirty. Phenomenal day with phenomenal people.

So now I'm in a crunch with school and life. More updates on that later.

much love

- A

Lodge Life

Just finished a quiet brunch with Jacy: honey wheat banana pancakes, scrambled eggs and crispy bacon. Currently doing a bit of work and planning a hike. Happy St. Patrick's Day! xx

 Beer tasting at Mammoth Brewing

 Snuggles

 Lodge Life

 True Love

 Coconut latte and mimosa

 IPAs with Jacy

Baby found a pinecone

Mammoth

Evan, Galen, Vincent and I are currently chilling up in Mammoth for the weekend. Jenaba, Jefferson, Jacy and the pups are coming up this afternoon for a beer tasting, hiking, skiing, etc.

It's so nice to get out of LA, even though I'm going to be working most of the weekend. However, Sophie is a regular snow bunny, so we definitely have to spend some time outside. I have some big news to share, but I want to make it a proper post.

Time to hit the books before the mimosas start!

xx

Inspiration v. Fever

I've been feeling a bit under the weather, but hopefully enough vitamin c will put me back on my feet. In the meantime, I've been pinning. Enjoy.

Source: flickr.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: sfgirlbybay.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: 24.media.tumblr.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: all-things-bright-and-beyootiful.tumblr.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: iudie.tumblr.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: 24.media.tumblr.com via Amber on Pinterest

Back and Overwhelmed

Sitting on my couch for a few days was a welcome reprieve. But I didn't do much of anything and now I'm paying for it. Time to go cray on school and work and my future and working out and keeping my sanity. Plus Mammoth, Santa Cruz, SF, wine tasting, MPRE, outlining, concerts, cite checks, take-homes, interviews, blahhhhhhhhhhhh

Went to Sound for a private party last night - grey goosin' it (in a very tame way) was super fun with my girls. However, Sunday night is not my night to go out. Ethical lawyering on three hours of sleep is a challenge.

xx

Weekend Rambling

I'm exhausted from a lovely hike to a waterfall at Eaton Park in Pasadena with Evan, Sergio and Audrey. Sophie was a regular mountain goat.

Yesterday was lovely. Ellie and I finally tried out Sqirl on Virgil. I wish they had more seating inside, but it was a glorious latte and buttered brioche with blackberry meyer lemon preserves. The rain had subsided and there was a peak of sunshine and it was a lovely spring morning.

I had a few errands and then made a mixed grain, avocado, kale, red onion salad for dinner. Jacy and I had a bit of wine and played some amazing music videos.



This morning, I woke up and made breakfast for Jacy, Jefferson, and Evan. Berry-banana-tangerine smoothies, scrambled eggs, thyme bacon, and banana and chocolate chip pancakes.

Evan and I went thrifting and then we met Sergio and Audrey for our hike before having a quick bite at Home. Planning on meeting Aline and Jacy for a drink at the Hermosillo. Tomorrow, Sophs and I have a quick trip to the vet, our daily hike, and then lunch at home. I have to finish a take home test and then Jacy, Ellie and I are heading to Sound for a party.

Time for some more work and perhaps a nap. xx.

Wake Owl and Stout

Last night was much needed. Dianne and I met for dinner at Stout and then hit up hotel cafe for wake owl. I had the Six-Weeker Burger, fig, caramelized onions, and brie. OMG. Those are my three favorite things if you didn't know already. I also had a mediocre, too-light IPA that I can't remember the name of because I blocked it out. I would definitely go back if I were in the area for a show. I always end up going to Kitchen 24 or something, and I need a new stand-by. I also walked by one of my fave bars in the area, The Blue Boar, and was reminded that I need to go back. Any takers?

So Wake Owl was amazing. I don't think they have quite pinned down their style yet. It's still evolving but very organic. Generally folk-y in feel, the boys of the band had an Edward Sharpe feel - violin, tambourine, calico button downs and country boots. Gotta love it. They really were there to perform, strongly teasing the audience to "shut the fuck up" so we could hear them play. They did an acoustic version of one of their new songs and I might have died. Hotel Cafe has always been my go-to for a more intimate music venue and these guys were perfectly suited for it.  It was very sweet and untainted and thus, extremely relaxing, which my food coma could have helped with. 

Off to a hike and then some work shit. Hoping it doesn't rain. xx

Mmmmmoderation: Kale + Egg

I spent a lot of time over the last couple of days on my mom's couch. And by that, I mean I didn't move from the couch. And by that, I mean I DID NOT MOVE. Except to go to the bathroom and to get food, so I could eat on the couch. And sleep on the couch. So that was great. I ate apple fritters, chicken curry, chinese, french toast, etc. I also did no work. It was a time of gluttony and rest. So now I'm over that as is my family. (I get really demanding when I'm glued to the couch.) Anywho, I headed back to LA today to start work again and am back on my "lets-do-something" train. Took Sophs for our daily hike, lifted some weights with Jefferson, and hit up Trader Joes for some healthy goodness in addition to going to a work meeting that last three hours. Here's my post-work out snack/late lunch recipe: Balsamic sauteed kale with a thyme baked egg.

Ingredients:
- A couple of handfuls of kale
- A couple dashes balsamic
- An egg
- Fresh thyme sprigs
- Olive oil
- Salt and Pepper

1. Preheat pan with olive oil, throw in kale. Sautee and add balsamic. Cook until balsamic is burned off and kale is wilted. Add salt and pepper to taste.
2. Put a bit of oil in a ramekin. Throw egg, thyme and pepper in there. Throw it under the broiler until cooked to your taste. I like it runny over the kale. Yummmm.

3. Assemble. Inhale.

Heading to Hotel Cafe for Wake Owl and trying out Susan Feniger's Street. Yum.