Currently...

A few things I am obsessed with at the moment:

1. Kale - This leafy superfood has had me hooked ever since I went through my 30 day cleanse.  It is such a versatile green, and is eaten in almost every single country.  It is one of the most nutrient-packed greens you can eat!
2. Mark Fry - My friend Camille recently introduced me to the 70's psych-folk music of Mark Fry and I am absolutely smitten.  He sounds like a mixture of Donovan and Nick Drake, and he is so ridiculously adorable it kills me.  His paintings/travel stories are wonderful.
3. The Dead Sea - I will be visiting Israel in September, and I can't wait to float in The Dead Sea.
4. The Vintage Book Of Modern Indian Literature - I'm currently (slowly) reading this book when I find the time, which is a collection of Indian Literature from the last 50 years (short stories from varying authors).  The story collections in this book are so beautiful I could get lost in them for days.
5. My bathroom - My bathroom is finally finished and I think it's my favorite room in my house!  I was so happy taking my first bath in the clawfoot tub.
6. Colorful Huaraches - The perfect shoe for summer.  I could use one in every color.
7. Apriums - Apriums are finally in season again, and I get so happy when I can buy these delicious apricot-plum hybrids at the Farmer's Market.
8. Tie Dye - All I want to do this summer is tie dye/dip dye everything I own and drape it all over my body.  I might be insane, but I can't get enough of it. (Tastefully done, of course).
9. London - My bff and I recently decided that we are going to London (and Rome) right after our trip to Israel in September.  I couldn't be more excited about pubs, gorgeous parks, fish n' chips, art museums, and of course, Top Shop.

Dream Destinations

Just a few of the incredible places that I dream of experiencing someday...

1. Patagonia, Chile:  I would love to one day traverse the Andean peaks of Patagonia with people I love. Sometimes untouched nature has this way of making you feel really small and insignificant, and it's that type of modesty and appreciation that makes you realize how lucky you are to exist on this planet.
2. Santorini, Greece:  Santorini is one of those places that you think must not be real because it looks like a dream.  I just imagine myself sitting nestled above the ocean, watching the sunset reflect off the small white buildings and pretending like life is perfect in a place like this.
3. Bokod, Hungary:  Bokod is an extremely small village in Northern Hungary that is almost impossible to get to unless you have a car.  There are only 2,000 people who live there and one main road that runs through the town.  If I wanted to escape, I would come here.
4. Cinque Terre, Italy:  I wouldn't complain about waking up in the Italian Riviera every morning.  It's almost unfair that a place like this exists on the opposite the world from myself.
5. Cote d'Azur, France:  Surrounded by the Alps & the warm breezes of the Mediterranean lies the French Riviera.  I often look through photos from this stunning Provence and find myself daydreaming about drinking mimosas under the trees overlooking the bright blue beach.
6. Istanbul, Turkey:  When I was in Europe last, everyone I met along my travels kept gushing about how incredible Istanbul was.  I recently watched a short documentary about the culture of Istanbul, and I am now obsessed with the stunning architecture, colorful textiles, and especially the food (!!!) of this city.
7. Fjord, Norway:  Geirangerfjord located in Norway is the world's most untouched Fjord.  I imagine how quiet it must be to glide along the water in this pristine Fjord, and how amazingly beautiful that would be.
8. Jerusalem, Israel:  I have actually been to Jerusalem once, but I was very young and barely remember what it looks like in person.  I do, however, remember how powerful it felt to be standing in a place with such deep history.  I am going back to Israel in September and I can't wait to experience it again now that I am older.
9. Kinvara, Ireland:  Kinvara is a small, picturesque seaside village in South County Galway, Ireland.  You can enjoy an Irish feast inside the tiny Dunguaire Castle, built in 1520 while listening to traditional Irish music after a day of fishing.

Mammoth Photo Diary

Mammoth was a trip filled with truly natural beauty, new revelations, hilarious best-friend moments, and a rejuvenated sense of being.  To me, there is really nothing more gratifying than being outdoors, surrounded by nature.
Here are some photos from my weekend getaway to Mammoth Mountain with descriptions below.

Maggie and I left Los Angeles for Mammoth on Friday at around 7pm.  We both had work during the day, so a night-drive was our only option if we wanted to be awake for a day of skiing at 7:30am the next morning.  We made pretty good time, and only made one stop for gas near Mt. Whitney.
The Mammoth house was cozy & inviting (so cozy that we both ended up passing out on the couch that night even though there were 2 huge beds we could have slept in).
The next morning we woke up early & had an intense stretching session followed by coffee and eggs.
The house was conveniently located about 5 minutes walking-distance from the gondola that takes you up to Canyon Lodge at the bottom of the slopes.  Unfortunately, I couldn't really bring my camera up with me while skiing, so imagination will have to suffice in lieu of the lack of actual ski photos.  We rented skis, boots (I still think it's funny to watch people figure out how to walk like a normal human while wearing ski boots) & poles from the Lodge and waited in line for our first ski run of the day.
I hadn't been skiing since I was 13, so it felt really strange trying to figure out how I was never freaked out by the idea of going really fast down a giant mountain of ice when I was younger...because to be honest, it seemed pretty scary this time.  Maggie, of course, fearlessly descended down the mountain like a pro, and I made sure to close my eyes while watching her because it was way too scary.
My boots were incredibly tight (I had no other option but to deal with it), and it definitely made things more difficult in the beginning of the day.  Eventually, I got used to them and was able to enjoy the exhilaration of skiing (albeit at the embarrassing pace of an old lady).  I skied by myself for the second half of the day (Maggie was too advanced for me to keep up), and it was really enjoyable to be alone in the quiet of the Mountain.  I made many stops on different runs just so I could take-in the amazing views of the surrounding snow-capped mountains.  It felt really liberating to actually be doing something challenging & enjoyable at my own pace for once (as opposed to work/school/the hectic daily life of living in Los Angeles).
After a long day on the slopes, we each took a much-needed bath & napped at the house.  Later, we went out and spent way too much money on dinner (including Maggie's first ostrich egg shooter).
We attempted to go to a bar after dinner, without realizing that Ski Lodge bars are the snow-equivalent of the Jersey Shore.  After being asked if I wanted to dance/join some random table of Snowboard Bro's (complete with popped-collars & stupid facial hair), we decided to get the hell out of there and go to sleep.
Last summer, Maggie's (amazing, inspirational, hilarious, cowboy) Dad passed away while on vacation in Mammoth.  On Sunday morning, we woke up and drove to the site where some of his ashes were placed.  The snow-banks were too high to reach the actual tree of his site (we attempted to reach the tree, but ended up both getting stuck thigh-deep in snow and having to hilariously try to help each other try to get out).  Instead, we took in the crisp, pine-scented air & left him some notes drawn in the snow.  I thought that it would be difficult for Mags to visit her Dad's site, but it was seriously so quiet, perfect & beautiful where we were standing that all we could do was smile & enjoy being there.  It felt really good.
On the drive back to Los Angeles, we stopped at a few of the small towns along the way (Bishop, Big Pine, Lone Pine).  We bought (expensive!) jerky at a smoked meat shop in Bishop that kind of blew my mind.
I also took way too many pictures of my newest obsession: small town typography. The lettering in these places is always so good!  I seriously took 50+ more photos of type, but I chose some of my favorites for this post.  (Also picked out my favorite windshield bug catastrophe photo, which I think looks like a sign of the horns. Pretty appropriate).
The drive home was full of amazing sunsets/crazy colors reflected on mountains/lots of mad-libs.
This past week has not only made me feel extremely lucky to live in the natural wonder that is California, but has also made me realize that I'm glad I don't take my life for granted.

Palm Springs Photo Diary

I just returned from my 2 night stay at The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs for Brian's birthday.  I have to say, it was truly one of the few vacations I've taken in my life where I actually felt like I got to relax and enjoy doing absolutely nothing.  I feel completely rejuvenated!
Here are a few of the photos (with descriptions below):

The drive to Palm Springs was beautiful- the desert landscape was just beginning to bloom with color.
It was Brian's 30th birthday.  Besides the stay at the hotel, I bought him a David Sedaris book & an organic old-fashioned shave jelly (it smells like whiskey & pine trees!) from Portland General Store.
Our first night was spent drinking beer & playing Bingo, which was hosted by an amazing older woman who serenaded people in-between games.  We didn't win (we would have won if the girls next to us hadn't been cheating!), but it was still really fun.
The following morning we woke up early and rented bikes from our hotel (rooms at The Ace include free bike rentals!) and took a 5 mile bike ride around town.  It was a great way to start the day.
We got ready for a day by the pool (lots of sunscreen, straw hats, sunglasses, 'The Collected Stories Of Lydia Davis', film camera, and of course a leopard print swimsuit) and then had brunch at King's Highway.  I had the breakfast ALT, & Brian opted for 2 eggs any style.
After brunch, we spent the entire day by the pool.  Brian even took a 2 hour nap (and I took creepy photos of him while he slept).   Later, we snacked on a mezza platter & a chicken salad.
It was hot outside, but the heat was offset by a cool, spring breeze.  The pool was also pretty much empty, which was ideal for us (and it didn't hurt that they played great music outside).
That night, we were tired from sitting in the sun all day, so we stayed in our room and watched movies & ordered room-service.  We pretty much spoiled ourselves.
This morning we checked-out and had brunch at my favorite Palm Springs breakfast spot, Cheeky's.
Brian had oatmeal (boring!) and I had the smoked salmon & avocado eggs benedict.  It was the perfect end to a great mini-vacation.
Driving away from Palm Springs reminded me just how much I love living in Los Angeles.  Visible in the distance, away from the palm-tree studded, 80 degree desert roads, were mountains covered with snow.  It's pretty amazing that LA is surrounded by so many beautiful and different places that are so easily accessible.  (And the fact that at the beginning of this week I was in Palm Springs and this weekend I will be skiing in Mammoth, is amazing!)
Coming back home is never, ever hard when you have the 2 most adorable kittens waiting for you...I still can't believe how big they are getting!

A Girl Can Dream...

Travel is one of the most important aspects of my life.  Growing up, my parents often took my brother & I out of school to go on worldly adventures year-round.  Most of the understanding I have towards people, culture, and the beauty of the world is from my experiences during my travels.  I have been to some truly magnificent places, but I still feel like there is so much more to see!  The world is endless!
Anyways, I thought that I would share just a few of my ultimate dream hotels.  If I'm lucky, maybe one day I will be able to stay at one of these magnificent hotels.


1. Le Sirenuse is a Moorish Baroque style hotel on the Amalfi Cost of Italy in a small town called Positano.  It is run by the Sersale family, who spent years lovingly restoring the building from an 18th century villa into a lavish resort. The charm of this place is absolutely off-the-charts.  John Steinbeck wrote his essay 'Positano' while staying here in the 1950's. You can swim in the pool surrounded by lemon trees and bougainvillea,  enjoy a classic Neopolitan meal by candlelight at La Sponda while overlooking the ocean, hike in the nearby hills, enjoy a day at their luxurious spa, or even rent one of their vintage wooden speedboats and sail off into the Tyrrhenian Sea.  A girl can dream...right?

2.  Within Cappadocia, in the ancient Turkish village of Ürgüp, the 5th century Yunak Evleri hotel sits carved into the mountains.  The "cave hotel" is compromised of 30 ancient rooms which are deeply cared for.  Decorated in traditional Ottoman antiques and furnishings, you find your way to your room by navigating through cavernous hallways.  When the sun sets, guests gather on the courtyard surrounded by Turkish pillows and outdoor fireplaces for a classic Turkish feast.  Cappadocia offers many activities for lovers of the outdoors such as bicycling, hiking and horseback riding in the countryside.

3.  Even though I grew up a mere 20 minutes from here, I have always dreamed of staying at the magnificent Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, California.  The eco-friendly hotel is truly a work of architectural beauty, nestled above the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  Endless views of the ocean, coupled with the serene, tree-filled mountains of Big Sur make this hotel one-of-a-kind.  It is the kind of place where you feel as if the stress and noise of everyday life is worlds away.  The stunning architecture surrounded by endless nature are both humbling.  There are 39 rooms and 2 private guest houses to choose from.  Enjoy sustainable seafood & wine at the award-winning Sierra Mar restaurant located within the hotel, wake up to morning Yoga classes, go whale-watching, or even take a hike in the Big Sur wilderness.

4.  Between May and November each year, the small village of Jukkasjärvi, Sweden is completely quiet, with only 500 permanent residents.  But thousands flock to this rural village between December and April, when the majestic IceHotel takes up its temporary winter home.  Built completely out of Ice and Snow taken from the Torne River, the IceHotel boasts enough rooms for 100 people to stay, a full bar, a church, a main hall and a reception area.  Each sub-zero suite is unique and usually has a theme (this year they apparently had a 'Tron' inspired room), and the architecture of the hotel is different every year.  Before you check-in, they give you a run-down on how to survive in your -5 degree room (hint: lots of fur blankets).  The IceBar serves vodka in glasses made of ice.  When Spring arrives, the IceHotel melts away, until the next year.

5.  Set in the lush, sub-tropical gardens of Madeira, Portugal, overlooking the Bay Of Funchal lies Reid's Palace.  Madeira is an island just off the West African coast with volcanic rock & white sand beaches.  Reid's Palace is over 120 years old with 3 swimming pools, 2 tennis courts, a library, spa and 10 acres of terraced botanical gardens that descend the hillside down to the ocean.  The inside of the hotel is reminiscent of an era past,  where worldly poets, adventure-seekers, and the elite would come for rejuvenation.