wineFOR2

[Oh NO!] I have become a coupon groupie. I would say that by now most of the population has become aware of the phenomenon of group discount websites like GroupOn, LivingSocial.com or new edition LiveOpenly.com. The modern day coupons that come to us via cyberspace, finding their way into our email inbox tempting the socially active [but] budget conscious 20-something crowd. 

I recently purchased a GroupOn for a two person wine tasting experience at a local vineyard called Malibu Wines. Little did I know the treasure that awaited me a short drive up the Los Angeles coast. My girlfriend and I hopped into my new Mini and took it for [a spoiled] first day out in the world. We had an amazing day sipping wine, our favorite being a Semlar Cabernet Sauvignon.  It was a 2004 vintage, which if you lived in California during that year, you might remember it being an extremely dry year that fueled fires in the hills of Malibu. In reaction to the harsh conditions the grape vines were forced to travel deep into the soil in search for water. I cant wait to go back for their summer movie nights-- old films, summer night skies and good wine.

<3

[love]letter

I cant imagine having to wait for the mail to come to hear from a loved one who is away... I can barely wait for my boyfriend to find wireless internet so we can use our Skype or new walkie-talkie app! But this being said, I also love the idea of receiving love letters. The lost form of the actual written word tugs at my heart strings... so today on this beautiful Tuesday morning I decided to sit down and and pick up [an actual] pen and piece of paper. 

I feel like my boyfriend, [who lives two blocks from me] who is currently on the other side of the world shooting in Romania, has been gone forever! We have been exchanging the modern form of love letters--via email. This is a practice we have had to resort to multiple times, as we both have a traveling spirit and have been on many trips since we first started dating. If you take the time to write down your thoughts and feelings, you might be surprised to find so much more can come out than during a spoken conversation. Here is a snip from the email I sent last night before falling asleep... awaking this morning to search my inbox for a response. 

Dear Lover, 

I’m ending my day the same way it started—thinking of us, our life and how much I love and miss you; ironically feeling closer and closer to you through your words/emails while you explore a city on the other side of the world. I love your ability to paint a picture so well I can see and feel your experience all the way from Manhattan Beach. You know exactly the way to tap into my mind and keep my interest on getting to the next word as fast as I can. Not that I think when you write you consciously think about phrasing in a way you know I’ll enjoy… but it’s incredible how much I love the way you write. You inspire me to pursue this thing [writing] that I both love and fear. It’s so funny that it takes us being on different sides of the world to do one of the things [that we both] love the most about one another. Why is this? Why haven’t we started writing our book…? I don’t think it’s just me, or you, who enjoy tapping into the minds of our love/outlook on life. Or just us that enjoy reading about and the happenings that occur simultaneously for us as a couple, and occurrences that happen to us randomly as individuals—as we plunge down life’s curvy road [holding hands].... 

<3

[i love]MB

::my moving crew::

::my morning view::

::my office mirrors::

::my finish line::

a day in the life- credit to my instagram iphone app

<3

theKOREAN[ist]

In honor of one of my favorite long standing fashion go-to blogs, the Sartorialist, who is currently in Seoul-- I decided to share some of my photos and thoughts on Korean fashion. My candid fashion photography doesn't come close to touching the brilliance of the Sartorialist's street fashion photos. This task was actually something I found challenging! I missed out on capturing so many great outfits... in fear that my Korean friends [who were actually strangers passing me on the street] would be offended by a tourist snapping pictures.  But hey, there's always room for improvement right?!

Along with my amateur fashion photography skills... I also don't claim to be highly educated on current [or past] fashion trends. But I do believe that I have an eye and decent know-how on putting together interesting looks [at least for myself]. Earnestly trying to follow the fashion path less taken. Or better yet, trying to not follow any path.  I prefer to absorb dressing habits from my environment and find inspiration from art and new cultures. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Korean fashion was inline with my ideals. Break the rules :: keep it classy :: take yourself as lightly as possible :: express yourself :: love out in the open. 

:the shapes, prints & designs [mirror] the architecture found around the city:

::classic structure, mixed with a loose sensibility, showing off their figure but leaving most to the [imagination]::

korean women and their heels. cant have one without the other-- no terrain too rough [fashion is pain]

seoul[ful] couples in matching clothes. a common practice and symbol of love

a few items I picked up at the k-fashion mart in seoul 

gom bae! [cheers]

<3

tails[on]trails

A recipe for success: mix in only the best ingredients you have at your disposal. A topic that has become prevalent in my household over the last week. Mostly the topic of animal free bi-product ingredients, as my animal rights activist boyfriend has decided to go [from vegetarian to] vegan. Meaning that many of my signature dishes can no longer be made for the masses! The menu is getting smaller and smaller and smaller.... 

Tails [on]Trails is one recipe that wont be cut out from the menu... and is one that calls for [many] animal ingredients! Only the best thought and intentions went into the concept of this new dog running service available for animal owners in the South Bay. The company was a vision of some dear friends who who are not only animal owners, whisperers, runners, walkers but [lovers].  

Here are some [puppy ]pictures from a recent tails [on] trails Palos Verdes dog running excursion. A drastic difference of scenery from the snow covered east coast landscape[as seen on TV over coffee]. Enjoying the beautiful California January sunshine with some of our beloved furry canine friends.

<3

happyDAY

I had such an amazing birthday!!! Thank you to all my friends and family for being so so incredibly fantastic. I think there is a saying that goes something like... If you give love, it will come back ten fold. Well on this sunny day in January, I felt it 50 fold <3

my roommates are the best

my creative and talented boyfriend is the best 

do yourself a favor and go see this play!

traces @the pantages

<3

coffee[and]roses

Two of my favorite things in the world [coffee and roses]. I don't know if I've ever seen more beautiful roses in my life! I wish they would last forever [and so does our living room]! My fabulous roommate picked these up at the Yellow Vase, in Redondo Beach. A quaint little bakery, flower shop and cafe. Enjoy the sun and your day! 

<3

CAgrown

On the way home from yoga today... we drove past the Manhattan Beach Farmer's Market that runs every Tuesday from 11-4 pm. It seemed like the perfect place to take Jasmine to grab some lunch and [fresh/local grown] produce. We were wowed by the prices of the food and delighted by the friendly conversation found with the vendors. While at the market we sampled fruit and found ourselves with a few bags full of treats to take home. I was so excited to find good fresh blood oranges!  We also picked up a few trays full of mushrooms, trail mix, dried fruits, raisins and a to-go chicken kebab for pretty Jasmine. We caught the tail end of this weeks market and discovered that the food trucks start a happy hour with half price food plates! We feasted on a large greek platter [$5] roasted garlic potatoes [$3] and picked up a kebab for Jazz [$1]. What a deal! I might make this a tuesday tradition!

<3

[unexpected]brothers

I heard some interesting news on the radio during one of my [many] ventures down the 405. The Black Keys and Big Boi [from outkast] had made a new mixtape together…?! Yup! That's right. They teamed up to produce a mash-up of the Black Keys latest and greatest album Brothers. And even more exciting news... it’s available for free online! It’s been awhile since I’ve indulged in my hip-hop roots… but I figured it was free and I had nothing to lose! I ended up really really enjoying this [interesting] take on the Brothers album. 

It might not be everyones cup of tea… but that is something you'll have to decide for yourself. My favorite on the album would have to be track 2- "Afraid of the General" Download The Brothers of Chico Dusty from SPIN.com

enjoy!

<3

sunday mash[up]

Ahhh Sunday… the day known for being the dreadful day before Monday—the day that 9-to-5’ers hear the workweek calling them loudly away from the restful/playful activities of the weekend.  Even though I am a pseudo member of that group, I find that I [absolutely] love Sunday's! This is a day I’ve dedicated to activities that I really enjoy [and] chores that I don’t particularly care for. It’s much easier to get through a nasty chore when you also treat yourself to a more enjoyable activity as well. The counterbalance has proven to be quite successful and productive!

Come on…[No]one wants to scrub what seems like years worth of spilled meals off your stove. But with Pandora playing tunes of encouragement… you roll up your sleeves and take on the black crust [head on] with my tool of choice in hand-- a trusty mr. clean magic eraser.  This was my big chore for this weekend. Tackling the kitchen—a place where I spend a lot of time dirtying. But before I scrubbed the kitchen to a sparking masterpiece…I decided to dirty it up one more time! To make a delicious meal my wonderfully handsome boyfriend [jake] and myself for our Sunday date night. 

The key ingredients for my Sunday dinner came from my latest stop to Trader’s [Trader Joe’s]… a place that I frequent multiple times a week. Eggplant, panco breadcrumbs, fresh parmesan/asiago cheese… and bananas? Yes an odd mix but I like to think of it as my Sunday mash[up]! I can’t stand when fresh fruit or veggies go to waste… so I always try to find a way to incorporate items that are loosing their shelf life into my meal. And this  meal was delicious! We devoured the baked eggplant with a side of garlic green beans and a wilted spinach beet salad. For dessert… peanut butter banana cookies! Not bad for what was laying around [in my now clean kitchen].

Happy work week!

                                             don't forget to cut thick pieces!

[finished product] breaded & baked eggplant

w/fresh parmesan and asiago cheese

[my bruised bananas] and new flower TSP/tbsp measuring cups 

from anthropoligie 

[finished product] peanut butter banana cookies 

topped w/cinnamon 

on the left- my favorite kitchen tool EVER    on the right- my handy new AMAZING cookie dough scooper[who knew i needed that!?] Thanks auntie

<3

Baked Breaded Eggplant:

Fresh whole Eggplant

Egg

Bread crumbs

2 tsp crushed Garlic

Parmesan cheese

Cut eggplant into 1 to 1 ½ inch slices. Crack sea salt over the exposed vegetable and let sit out for min 10 minutes… to release moisture that is stored inside. Dab with paper towel and repeat on opposite side.

Beat egg with garlic. Submerge eggplant into egg mixture and roll in bread crumbs. Place on stove with cooking pan and EVOO. Cook until golden brown on either side. Top with cheese and bake in oven @ 350 for 25-30 minutes. Serve with marinara sauce, or whatever suits your taste buds!