Heat Wave Recap

My weekend isn't over yet, between work stuff, kicking it with Grant and dinner with Lauren tonight, but it's too hot to move from my couch right now, so  I'll record the goings-on now.

Friday:
I finalllly got to catch up with Shaleen at Hopskotch in the heat of the day. It was amazing to see her, especially catching up on life post-bar and discussing where our wandering career paths are leading us. I miss our days at Hadsell, partly because I no longer remember the hard work, just the trips for iced coffees and the occasional happy hour. We ordered the herb fries and had an IPA each and discussed our escape plans.


Then I drove up to LA for Seda's birthday. Aline, Evan and I walked Soph about, had a quick nibble at Home and then hit up Perch to see the girls. I hadn't been to Perch before and despite the interesting crowd, I loved it. Beautiful view, great company, amazing weather. Love love love.


Saturday:
Evan and I ventured to Westwood so I could books at my favorite library, the Young Research Library at UCLA (nerd alert). It was closed despite their posted schedule, so it was an utter fail. Until we went to Profeta and I got my favorite latte in the State of California. I used to study at Profeta for all my exams, taking advantage of free wifi, the beautiful patio and gawking at the cute baristas.

After Evan and I met up with Christina to talk wedding plans, travel, future plans and general aging. I haven't seen her in ages and I am so excited for her to move back to California permanently so we can resume our shenanigans.





Following a brief respite at home at my mom's a/c, I battled the heat to see Michael and Freddy for a beer and nachos, which was really fun, as usual. We were chillin outside for most of it, enjoying the temperate evening. I've definitely missed that teddy bear, even though the little bugger took a millisecond to remember me.

And I finished up the evening in the best way - seeing Aimee at her show in Long Beach... which happened to be a punk show... which I was not dressed appropriately for at all. I actually thought I was at the wrong place, because Aimee's band is a soul one, not punk. When I pulled up and heard punk, I was slightly confused. I finally found her and met her bandmates, caught up with Moreah (not for long enough) and of course, we hit the photo booth. I love her and I feel so grateful to have seen Aimee, dare I say, regularly, in the last few months.

Excuse me while I refill my coffee.

xx

Dinners for 12 Strangers!

I've written about being ridiculously proud of being a Bruin sporadically in the past. One of the best activities I have participated in has been Dinners for 12 Strangers. I haven't missed a dinner since 2007, have attended a Dinner in London and have had the opportunity to host my own the last two years with Anthony.


A Dinner for 12 Strangers is essentially a smattering of 12 individuals: students, alumni, faculty, grad students, etc. Someone signs up to host (i.e. me) and then invitations are sent out to students and others who would like to participate/eat home-cooked food. We had such a wonderfully energetic and fun group of students last night and Anthony and I planned and executed a rather delicious menu:

• Bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with blue cheese
• Caprese salad 
• Quinoa Salad with roasted Brussels and sweet potatoes with a honey-lemon dressing
• Cheese plate with brie, pecorino, prosciutto, salami and grapes
• Various flatbreads with mozzarella and herbed goat cheese, andouille sausage, caramelized onions and thyme mushrooms with pesto and a vodka cream sauce
• Lemon Bars
• Chocolate and Vanilla Macarons 

This event allows students to interact with alumni, young and old, and become a part of the broader UCLA network. In addition, it allows psychotically enthusiastic alumni like myself to keep in touch with my youth. (Dude, I felt so old.) And I had guinea pigs for my new recipes (i.e. the quinoa salad.)

I had an amazing time and I hope the attendees did as well :)

GO BRUINS
P.S. How great is my sorority squat in that first photo? Be jealous.

Dinners for 12 Strangers

OMG last night was amazinggggg. So every year, UCLA facilitates mini-networking events for students, alumni and professors. While I was at UCLA and even when I was in  London, I attended these dinners, called Dinners for 12 Strangers. Last night, however, was my very first time hosting and I had a great time.

The Menu:
Paige made Brie, Honey, Pecan, Pear-Filled Puff Pastry.
I made arugula, prosciutto, goat cheese pizza, a veg pizza and a fennel sausage and sundried tomato pizza.
Anthony made a delish chocolate espresso cake for dessert.

We watched the Oscars, laughed a lot, I cried over a commercial, we gasped when Jennifer Lawrence fell and I was extremely nostalgic about UCLA and college and the fact that I'm turning 25 in three weeks. Cray Cray times.

I can't wait to host again next year :-)

{Music} Lady Danville

Lady Danville, Spring Sing alumni/mis amigos, are offering a free download of their cover of MGMT's Kids. I love it. You would too. So download it here.
Cool beans.