on repeat | i need my girl by the national

I recently noticed that I don't write much about music. Which is funny. More often than not, a song has the ability to completely change the path of my day or make me come to a realization I should have reached long before. In particular, this song undoubtedly seems to sweeps me away to the most peaceful state of mind; to a place of hope.

I hope you like it too.

PS: Did you read this post by the ever-inspiring Meg? I've shared it with all of my friends. 

I promise it'll hit home in the best way possible.

writing as a hobby

above the fog | marin county, calif.

I write a lot about balance. You can find those posts here and here. And lately, for probably the first ever in my 24 (almost 25, ew) years of life, I can feel things coming together. I feel content. I have a job that I like working for a company I love. My friends are above and beyond amazing. I've started reading again (Gone Girl... holy crap. So. Good.) and most importantly, I've started writing again. When I was writing as a career, I often felt uninspired or forced to produce something I wasn't quite proud of.

But once my career no longer consisted of writing and it became 'just a hobby,' writing was pushed to the back burner.

When I don't write, I feel a little empty inside. Even if it's writing for no one to see, writing even the shortest bit makes me feel happy.

Recently, especially with the wonderful Laura's new writing workshop, I've been dying to try writing fiction. But for some reason, I'm just a little apprehensive.

I'm curious, have any of you ever tried or succeeded in making the jump from blogging about what you know to blogging about what you've made up?

outerlands

Nestled on a corner in the Outer Sunset, Outerlands has been on my list for a while. With walls covered in the world's most beautiful wood, light fixtures burrowed into various types of plants hanging from the ceiling and an all-around intimate atmosphere (including blankets in case you get cold), I decided immediately that Outerlands could very well be my new favorite spot.

Upon first glance, not much stood out on the menu (except for the homemade bread and butter, obviously). But as always, I appreciate a menu that surprises me. Since my heart wasn't set on anything particular, we blindly ordered and were truly blown away by the flavors and creativity of each dish.

house-made bread and butter

braised carrots with cheese curds, oats and fennel - my favorite dish

market vegetables with grains and a soft boiled egg

aforementioned, the wood was quite dreamy

Let's just say I'm already planning to return (I hear the brunch is to die for).

{Outerlands: 4001 Judah Street; San Francisco; Reservations Necessary}

i dream of cocktails: wilson's smash

In celebration of one of my newest and most favorite friends' birthday, we checked out 15 Romolo in North Beach, right in the heart of all the strip clubs (convenient, right? just kidding). With menus that look like old newspapers (swoon), an old school photo booth, juke box and all around spiffy decor, I couldn't help but fall in love. Though we ordered a bevy of appetizers - all of which were pretty good - the real winner was a certain cocktail, Wilson's Smash. Created by one of their bartenders, Wilson's Smash combines a hefty serving of rum with caramelized pineapple, absinthe and bitters and is topped with just the right amount of mint leaves. 

It was so good we ordered two pitchers and never looked back.

{15 Romolo: 15 Romolo; North Beach, San Francisco}

sometimes the only thing that makes sense...

...is a teepee.

That's correct. I was quite jealous of all the child teepee pictures floating around the blogosphere so I made my own. As a headboard. Stay tuned... I plan on adding some pretty sweet embellishments and features to this guy!

on repeat | bloodhound by the donkeys

You know those songs you listen to over and over because they're just that good? That's how I feel about Bloodhound. A tune from one of my favorite bands, The Donkeys, this song has been on repeat for at least a month.

spinach dip grilled cheese

I had no idea what to call this gluttonous creation and spinach dip grilled cheese is the only thing that made sense. Inspired by my new idol Joy the Baker, this sando is far from healthy but absurdly satisfying, which counts for something, right?

Ingredients:

Sourdough bread, cream cheese, parmesan cheese, jack cheese, plain Greek yogurt, two cloves of garlic, fresh spinach, butter, olive oil

First, sautee spinach with crushed garlic in a bit of olive oil until wilted. Transfer to a bowl. Add parmesan cheese, cream cheese and Greek yogurt and mix.

Butter bread. Place spinach and cheese mixture in the bread and top with slices of jack cheese. Grill in a small, buttered pan on medium heat until golden brown on each side. FEAST.*

*Caution: Feast in moderation. It's quite rich and cheesy.

looking back

fourth of july | 2013

For some reason, every Fourth of July, I find myself looking back on where I was the year before.

Whilst in India, Fourth of July 2011, I remember being really proud to be from the U.S.A. I remember the nuns at the orphanage wishing me a Happy Independence Day and making pizza for them to honor my home country. I remember this Fourth being the first that I actually felt a connection to the holiday, which was previous just centered around barbeques, fireworks and friends.

Last year, Fourth of July 2012, I was in the midst of a sad period of my life. Despite all the things and people I had to be thankful for, I wasn't a very happy person. Nonetheless, I put on my favorite polka dot shorts, tried red lipstick for the first time (it was a keeper) and spent the day frolicking around Mission Beach, San Diego, one of my favorite places in the world, ending the day at In-n-Out with my then roommate.

This year, I felt on top of the world. I woke up at my best friend's house and we ventured into San Francisco to join our friends for a picnic of sandwiches, cupcakes and beer. The sky was cloudless and blue; the weather was warm; the air, brisk; and the laughter between my friends and I was endless. I felt  free from my own insecurities and free from the sad place I was trapped in just a year before.

For the first time in a long time, on the Fourth of July 2013, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

pretzel crisps + the fourth of july

As the Fourth of July quickly approaches, I find myself brainstorming red, white and blue treats to share with my friends on the festive holiday. Besides raspberries, blueberries and the classic hotdogs and burgers, pretzels come to mind when I picture a Fourth of July BBQ or picnic.

Pretzel Crisps, quite the tasty and low-cal snack, was kind enough to provide the pretzels for this recipe and obviously, it was inspired by incredible Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere.

With just three ingredients and a prep time of only a few minutes, these chocolate covered Pretzel Crisps are a delicious and easy treat and can be tailored for any holiday.

What you'll need: 

Pretzel Crisps (original flavor), one cup of chocolate chips and sprinkles of your choice.

Simply heat the chocolate chips in the microwave until they melt, dip Pretzel Crisps in the chocolate and while warm, add the sprinkles. I recommend putting these on wax paper and popping them in the fridge for 15 minutes or so to set.

Thanks Pretzel Crisps for the fun challenge!