LA Part One: Pasadena

It's not a trip to L.A. without some time spent in a car (cue the obligatory, "I'm stuck in traffic and have a camera" shot).

Every year for our birthdays, in lieu of presents, my mom and I treat each other to a trip down LA-way. I've blogged about it before (see: Time to Roadtrip) We eat. We museum. We Disneyland. We are a people of tradition. This year was a little different though because our duo became a trio. My sister Hayley was able to make it! Yay! We started our trip with lunch in San Marino and a visit to the Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens. 

 Yes, I am wearing a polka dot body suit from American Apparel. Because sometimes you buy a polka dot body suit from American Apparel and you think to yourself "I am never going to wear this thing" and then you think "I WILL WEAR THIS THING! I will wear this body suit till the polka dots come off." And I did...

 Body suits are kind of awkward...and awesome!  On to the Huntington and their Japanese gardens-

 It was so peaceful and calm that Hayley said she felt like she could take a nap on the grass. I dared her to prove it and she did. Now I owe her $1...

The Shakespeare Garden-

But back to the Japanese garden-

 The polka dot body suit and I should not be allowed near this incredible example of bonsai...it makes us feel big & powerful...too powerful

 Onwards to the Chinese garden, polka dot body suit!

The Chinese garden was constructed just a few years ago and it is fantastic place to visit. 

 Clearly, this statue was not happy with her body suit- they are not for everyone.

That evening we visited the Norton-Simon Museum which houses some of the finest art I have ever seen! If you are in the Pasadena area, it is seriously a MUST SEE!

 Hayley was very impressed by the art. Can you tell?

Looking for more on how to be crazy cultured? Check out my previous blog post: Lean into Art

 Show me the Monet!

And how about some carbs with that culture. I have two favorite restaurants in Pasadena. The first is Gale's. They serve Northern Italian food & the food is gooooood. I'm talking off the charts. But, what I really love about this place is that it has a neighborhood feel. You walk into Gale's & it feels like Cheers, but with ciabatta bread. Get the house salad (best salad I've ever had). Get the Pasta Al Forno- trust me. Go for it. Creamy meat sauce, ugggghhhhhh.

Here it is. I realize this picture makes it look like Freddy Kreuger's face, but believe me when I say, "He should be so lucky."

So, I mentioned that I have two favorite restaurants in Pasadena- I give you Europane. I wish I lived in a world with teleportation, just so I could have a macaroon from here whenever I am feeling peckish.

 We tried three types of macaroon: coconut, hazelnut, salted caramel. They were all delicious, but we agreed the win goes to the coconut!

When two macaroons are spooning, it's a spoocaroon.

 We had dessert first, but Europane is pretty well-known for their egg salad sandwich which my mother  got on olive bread...she says she's dreamed of it ever since...

While we are in Pasadena, we always go to the Pasadena Heritage Craftsmen Weekend. Here's Hayley while we were waiting to start one of our tours.

 Hayley said that she thought she should be a model, but a comedy model, because and I quote, "I'm especially beautiful when I make funny faces. So, really I'm more of a comodel, comedy model."

 This cracked my mother up!

 Which cracked Hayley up-

Then everyone switched glasses. Then we laughed so hard we almost got kicked off the tour. Hello, comodels!

Trip to Annapolis: Donuts, Smithsonian, Crab Dip...oh my!

I went to Annapolis this summer for my cousin's wedding, which was absolutely beautiful, seriously be-a-u-tiful. While there, I got to visit the Smithsonian, eat my weight in seafood, and avoid knocking over the wedding cake (one of my greatest fears). But most importantly, I discovered "Carlson's Donut's & Thai Kitchen." This was a yelp find and oh my goodness, what a find it is. This restaurant serves both Thai food & donuts. It's like finding the hidden dream I never knew I had. This place is insane and my dear, sweet, kind father went with me at 7 am (4 am Pacific time) to go pick up a dozen of the world's best donuts.

In case you can't tell, I don't think I'm even conscious in this photo. That's how early it is. But, I am smiling because when I wake there will be donuts! Apparently, they use sour cream in them and don't ask me how I know, but every single type of donut they serve is sensational.

Being from the West Coast, the land of wide open spaces, it's always shocking to go back East and drive through like 5 states in like an hour :) So, we were actually able to make a quick stop by Washington, D.C., on our second day there. First off was the Smithsonian: Air and Space Museum

Can you believe this early airline brochure?! Oh, yeah, it's always super easy to sleep on air plane & personally I find it very easy to carry on my conversations with "ordinary Boston modulations." Next, we went to the National Museum of American History. 

The gentleman with the glasses standing next to one of the earliest Kermits actually goes by the name of "Hipster." I can see it. And now for the gorgeous wedding...

You will notice that I am standing a good distance from the cake... this is because one of my biggest fears in the world is that I will topple a wedding cake, that I will be the crazy spinster relative who takes out the pastry love tower. If you're familiar with this blog at all, you are probably saying, "Say huh?! This gal loves cake." And I do. I seriously do, but it's this same love that is layered with potential doom. I am completely terrified that I will get too close to the cake, forget myself, and tip it over. Because I want to hug the cake. Because any space between me and a cake is too much space. 

And now time for the party to begin! Hayley (sis) and I only have two dance moves- the robot (hers) & the Gandalf (mine)...

My adorable rents.

We had an amazing time. Here we are enjoying the day.

And then I got too close to the cake...just kidding...

We couldn't leave Annapolis without enjoying some seafood & there really is just one place you've got to try- Cantler's Riverside Inn. Two words: crab dip! Let me say it again, crab dip. Crab dip with warm baguettes. Crab dip. 

 

Crab time! Yay Annapolis!

Letter to a Gigantic Eyeball

(via yahoo news)

To Gigantic Eyeball (c/o of the ocean)

Dear Gigantic Eyeball,

I read about you on the Yahoo News Feed last week and since then, I have not been able to stop thinking about you. I'm at work and thinking about you. I'm at the movies and thinking about you. There is so much going on in the world-the debates, the election, the Giants: Go Giants!- but all that fills my thoughts is you. So, I had to take this opportunity to write and ask you a few questions. I hope that's alright. I'm a big fan. I guess the most important question is where is the rest of you? I hope that somewhere there is a giant giant swordfish wearing an eyepatch because that would be kind of badass. Also, I don't think there can be anything sadder than a giant dead floating swordfish missing an eye. Wherever the rest of you is, I hope all is well. I'm sure your other eye misses you a lot. You did grow up together after all.

Now, that we've got the big question asked, I'd like to learn more about you. I've compiled a list of questions. Feel free to answer whichever ones you feel like. I'm not picky, just curious.

• How did you get so big?

• Is the swordfish you came from super sized or is it just a normal sized swordfish with big eyes (like the Steve Buscemi of the sea)?

• Are you omniscient? Do you watch me when I sleep? Do you know Santa Clause? If so, please put in a good word.

• How good is your vision? How many fingers am I holding up? Just kidding, but seriously...

• Do super heroes ever visit you and ask for advice?

• Are you from outer space? Cause I kind of think you are...

• Is the Loch Ness monster as stand-offish as she seems?

• What are you going to be for Halloween? I vote sexy grape or magic 8-ball.

• When is the last time you cried?

• What do you eat? I eat a lot of Mexican food, but my eye-size is not as impressive as yours. I am open to tips.

• Have you considered a career in the entertainment industry? I think you'd be great as Dr. T.J. Eckleburg in the new remake of The Great Gatsby or you could be Mike Wazoski's wise old "eye" father in the new Monster's Inc movie. I'm just brain storming.

• Have you ever seen a dinosaur? I'm guessing "yes!"

• What is the best thing about being a giant eyeball? Feel free to elaborate.

• You're on land, what's next? Any fun plans for the weekend?

Again, hope all is well and that you will do with this letter what you will. You truly are an inspiration and your iris color really is lovely (don't know if I mentioned this before :)

Thanks and take care,

Me

P.S. I watched this video the other day and it has put into melody/lyrics how I feel about you...

Smorgasbord Monday

Helloooo & welcome to Smorgasbord Monday. Here are some delightful interweb snippets to help get you through the week and make you say WOW!

First up, an art project inspired by Google Street View called 9 Eyes of Google's Street View. An artist named Jon Rafman has searched through shots which were captured by pole-mounted cameras attached to Google cars. These shots are such a slice of life and will make you realize how much is happening at any moment on this planet (hint: moose races & vans on fire).

Via apartmenttherapy.com

Up next, this guy videotaped his mother sleep walking and then shows her the video, but not before posting it all on youtube first. Apparently, it is very frustrating to open a tomato cage...

Last but not least, you know how I have a thing for barber shop quartets- oh you didn't? Yeah, I'm obsessed with them. It's gotten to the point where I cannot listen to the radio because the barbershop genre is so grossly underrepresented. Here is Vocal Spectrum performing "Go the Distance" from Disney's Hercules. It's unbelievable especially when Tim Waurick holds a note for 30 seconds @ 3 min in...it makes me see rainbows. WOW!

Have a great Monday everyone and if you feel like you need some more Smorgasbord check out these previous posts: 11/21 or 11/14.

The Cookie Workout

I do not drink. I do not do drugs. I do cookies (see previous posts: Why I Should Never Have Free Time, Last Friday Night & Year 29). I'm a big believer in cookies. They are simple, hard working, the everyman of desserts.  You've got your peanut butter, chocolate chip, snickerdoodle...(I could go all Bubba Gump on cookies, but I digress). Yes, cookies are a wonder, but people are always talking smack and saying cookies aren't healthy. LIES. How dare you say that about cookies? Well, here is my "Cookie Workout" (patent pending :) It is fun, easy, and ends with you eating a cookie.

#1 COOKIE WORKOUT RECIPE

Let's start with the cookie recipe and it's a super simple one: pick your favorite. Pick any kind of cookie you like. I've been making a lot of oatmeal chocolate chip lately (super secret recipe from the inside lid of Quaker Oats container). Instead of raisins, I put in chocolate chips...it works for me. I generally make my dough on Sunday. Here's a tip: scoop the dough with an ice cream scoop and place the dough balls on a small tray, then put the tray in the fridge for about 30 minutes. Take out the tray, pull off the dough balls, put them in a zip lock bag, and put them back in the freezer. Now, when friends come over, you can make 1, 2, 3 or a million homemade cookies in the blink of an eye.

#2 PREHEAT/ WARM-UP

Preheat your oven. My oven takes about 10 minutes to preheat, so during this time I do my own warm up. I start with stretches, push ups, and some light aerobics. I listen to music throughout the Cookie Workout. It's a must! My current cookie playlist I entitle "Child of the 80s." First song on the list is "Make it Big" by the Beach Boys which was used in the opening credits for that cinematic gem Troop Beverly Hills, a film about selling cookies. Yes, it all comes back to cookies :)

#3 BAKING/ DANCE PARTY

Put the cookie in the oven. These cookies take about 10-12 minutes to cook (I like my cookies crispy). During this time, I bust a move. You might want to throw in some songs that make you really want to dance, maybe some Hall & Oates to go with your oatmeal cookie? YES!

Don't forget to create a signature move. My go to move is the "Aggressive Charleston." It's just the Charleston, but with serious attitude. (Note: this move works best in a hallway, otherwise you will probably kick a wall).

Remember-if you feel ridiculous, it means the Cookie Workout is working.

#4 COOL DOWN

Once your cookie is done, let it cool down. Trust me. The optimal cookie eating time is 5-15 minutes after the cookie comes out of the oven. Be patient. Take this time to cool down. Be with your thoughts. Believe in the cookie. Plank.

#5 EATING

So, now you've worked out and you know what that means? COOKIE! But, that doesn't mean that we don't make room for health. I give you the VITAMIN COOKIE (recipe: take a cookie and take a vitamin pill). Mine is a multivitamin with D and magnesium, but make sure and check in with your physician on what type of pill you should take. I eat my cookie with a big glass of water. Trust me, it's important.

That's it the Cookie Workout (2 min of stretching + 18 min cardio + meditation + vitamin pill + hydration). Yay, COOKIES! The next time somebody talks cookie smack, just make this face.

***Note: The author of this blog is in no way a fitness experiment (just ask her high school P.E. teacher) or a nutritionist (just ask the kind people at Jack n' the Box). She just really likes cookies.