Out to Sea

One of my birthday requests (besides getting this guy up here - fail.) was heading to Tomales Bay Oyster Company for a few hours of shucking in the sun. 

The holiday weekend packed in the picnic tables with more Marina-frat-boys playing beer pong than usual, but it was still a pleasant weekend spent in the shelter of a lone tree and sparse grass (note: tree attracted a family of Asian tourists who took refuge in the rare shade, and camped out in our food!). Once we returned to the city, it was pretty obvious we had made the right decision to get out: the cloud cover was heavy. 

Great Summer Reads

Summer reading is typically categorized as light, frilly pieces that don't bring any weight to conversations once fall hits. Inspired by Buzzfeed's "65 Books You Need to Read in your 20s", I compiled a list of my favorite books that take beach reading to a whole new level. Instead of suffocating your brain with romance novels or frolicking tales of sex and lies, turn to historical literature that feeds your hunger for appealing literature that stimulates.

"Dearie" The Remarkable Life of Julia Child," was a hefty number by Bob Spitz that I couldn't put down, even when poolside. Even if you aren't a self-proclaimed foodie, I would suggest this one as well as this summer's popular hit for women, "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead" from Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg. 

1. Tortilla Curtain by T. C. Boyle 
2. Bossypants, by Tina Fey 
3. Little Bee, by Chris Cleave 
4. The Lacuna, by Barbara Kingsolver 
5. The Paris Wife, by Paula McLain 
6. The Last Time I Saw Paris, by Elizabeth Adler 
7. Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child, by Bob Sptiz 
8. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, by Sheryl Sandberg 
9. Summer at Tiffany, by Majorie Hart  
10. The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway (suggestion: read on tape)

Next up: Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Woman's Prison. I saw the title while scooping out new books in the city this past week, and was immediately attracted to the back cover. Anyone else read it? 

Lou Mora is my Photographer

I love all the things one can discover when perusing through the Twitter universe. While scanning some of my favorites, I noticed a conversation between two bloggers about Lou Mora's recent project at the Sunset, a distinct neighborhood in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles. The portraits of neighborhood rascals are all beautifully shot with a unique personality, but his lifestyle pieces really caught my eye.  

The Los Angeles based photographer has contributed to a number of some spectacular publications, including the visually stunning Kinfolk Magazine and Filter Magazine. He's even worked with a few San Diego favorites like MiresBall. I love that he's locally based, and has a long list of clientele as diverse as his work. 

To see more of his portraits and lifestyle shots, visit Lou Mora is my Photographer. 

Summer Swimsuits

I love finding a comfortable bathing suit that I can wear all summer long. 

Since I was born and raised less than a mile from the beach, it was a tradition to pick up a new swimsuit every summer. When my tastes starting evolving to more designer wear, I kept up with my desire for an annual suit for summer by shopping at H&M and Target. While I love my strapless swimsuit from the season, I don't mind coveting a few numbers found on my Pinterest boards {I wear.... & Seasonal}. 

Happy Birthday America {& Me}

Fourth of July is most often characterized as a day of BBQ, drinking and fireworks. While it's a celebration for America, I also celebrate my birthday. Yes, I get fireworks on my birthday every year.

It's not quite as glamorous as one might think, though if I had to have a holiday birthday I would take this over Christmas. So today I turn 27, much to my chagrin, and look forward to another year of firsts, exploration and growth. 

Tootsie Time

I love clogs, but haven't purchased a pair since I still have memories wandering around in my mother's clogs that were heavier than a pair of anvils (at least from what I recall). But I love that the Maguba clogs are lightweight and extremely versatile - making me feel like they'd go with both sporty weekend wear and fancy workday outfits. 

{If it wasn't obviously via Pinterest, I love shoes. Inspired by Santa Barbara Chic, I think it's time to feature my passion on the blog}

Summer Cocktail

While in Chicago a few summers ago, we stayed at the Affinia Hotel just off Magnificent Mile. The summer heat called for a few afternoon cocktails, and with our travel plans on hold we slipped into the hotel's roofbar bar, C-View. As part of Marcus Samuelsson's C-House (which recently closed), the bar was a perfect mix of comfort and class. 

The Darren

Citrus vodka 

Pomegranate puree 

Fresh lemon

Basil 

Spruce up your Dog: Hot Dog Recipes

{mango relish dog}

{grilled guac dog}

{7-layer dip dog}

I'm an all-American girl, meaning that when it comes time for a BBQ (or cook out as the boy likes to call it) I usually go straight for the dogs. I haven't been a hot dog lover forever, so I tend to mask the real taste of my meat pop with a ton of sugary sauces. 

The best recipe I've found comes from my Colombian girlfriend who layers sliced pineapple, crushed Kettle chips and green onions on her dog. It's messy, but feels devoid of any excess processed sugar (like ketchup), without overwhelming me on the doggie front. 

What are your favorite dog recipes? 

One of my favorites from Chicago

DIY before Pinterest (a la 'Trading Spaces')

The discussion was childhood shows while strolling down Market one unseasonably warm summer afternoon recently (San Francisco has those day). Who hasn’t rallied off a list of signature Nickelodeon shows together with friends?   

Racing home after school wasn’t just about the homework for me - it was about TLC’s “Trading Spaces.” No, MTV’s “TRL” was not on my list. I don’t know if it was Paige’s effervescent smile or the speedy DIY sessions that magically transformed rooms in just 30 minutes, but I was a major fan. The minute my fingers touched the front door of my home, I was racing to the couch to catch up with my favorite gay designers and those unsuspecting families.  

My pure dedication to this show had all been forgotten. It was The Learning Channel’s ode to Do-it-Yourself projects before DIY became a popular Pinterest board. How could I have missed the connection? These were real people….painting their own walls! And using a sawmill to create an armoire! It was pure genius, in my opinion, even if I was never given permission to carve, paint or mount anything in my own home.


{image via}