gabardine

Last night, my friend Megan and I checked out Gabardine in Point Loma. In typical Brian Malarkey-fashion, the details were incredible, the service was unbeatable and the food was pretty awesome, too. If the name sounds familiar it's because he was a Top Chef Miami finalist... pretty nifty, eh? Since then, Malarkey has opened a bevy of fantastic restaurants in San Diego; perhaps you read about Searsucker here. 

fishing rod light fixtures

synchronized swimmers

 cute interior

peter rabbit pimms cocktail... such a win

balsamic brussels sprouts

broccolini with cheese fondue

seared albacore

sea bass

All in all it was a memorable meal. The brussels sprouts and cocktail were my favorite and my only real complaint was that my sea bass was slightly overcooked... but the nuts, dried cherries and sauce definitely made up for it.

In other news, my weekend was pretty great. Amanda and I cleaned our apartment inside and out and I planted some new succulents. I also spent some quality time with my bed... why is sleeping so great?

friday's letters

in pushkar, india

Dear India, You've been in my dreams lately and I just might be seeing you sooner rather than later. 

Dear Seven Grand Whiskey Bar, I'm very much looking forward to meeting you after work for a strong beverage. Please prepare accordingly. 

Dear Squishy (the bunny I'm watching), I can't wait to have a photo shoot starring you, yes you, this weekend. You're so cute and fluffy and your little nose just makes my life, but could you please calm down when I try to pick you up? I just want to cuddle and love you; there's no need to be scared! 

Dear Amanda, Moving forward, if we ever work together again, you cannot leave me. My quality of life has greatly decreased since you left. 

Dear Coffee & Tea Collective, Thank you for getting me back into drinking coffee. Your iced coffee and smiling faces make my morning... every morning.

Dear San Diego, It's July. Can June Gloom please take a hike? It's ugly and ruining my hair. 

Dear Justin Vernon, Marry me? Please? Your music makes me melt.

PS: This was my first Friday's Letters... how'd I do?

balance part two

photo courtesy of picship

[click here for balance part one]

I usually like to keep it light but sometimes I just need to write about what's on my mind. So what's on my mind? I have an itch. An itch to get out and live, explore, frolic and laugh. Maybe Probably travel. Lately, I've felt as though I've been so immersed in this fantastic blog world that I have abandoned a lot of my usual activities. I haven't been spending as much time outside as I used to, I haven't read a book in I don't even know how long and I haven't gone for a run in months. Though I'm grateful and excited about my fairly newfound passion for all things blog related [writing mine, reading yours etc.], I think I need some balance. I've written about it before but clearly it's something I'm still struggling with.

Recently, one of my favorite bloggers and fellow USD alumnae, Laura, wrote about mindfulness and that's what inspired this post. It got me thinking how much time I spend online, on my phone and in the blog world. Some of this time spent online is productive and you know what I mean; it is so exciting to get an email informing me that one of you guys commented on a post... it really and truly makes my day. But being online and on my phone almost constantly? Probably unnecessary.

I think the great thing about blogging is that you can go outside, live life, photograph it... and then come home, cuddle up on the couch and write about it. It's all definitely a balancing act and I still have not figured it out. 

{How do you balance your life?}

i love days when...

photo courtesy of organic elements

...a simple girls' night in turns into a college reunion bachelorette-judging session [how absurd is that show!]
...I find liters of chocolate Zico.
...Trader Joe's has all of my favorite pre-packed salads in stock [harvest salad, anyone?]
...I find a couple of new blogs [one // two // three] that I can't stop reading.
...I get to bunny-sit for a whole MONTH. Dreams do come true!

take me {there}: ace hotel

I'm going stir crazy. I really think I am. My whole life, I've had an awesome trip to look forward to [I know I know I'm so deprived]. And now, for the first time... ever, I don't. I'm dying for a weekend away to relax and explore somewhere new, but as you may have noticed, I am the minority in this blog world. Correct... I'm (gasp) single. Which means no cute guy to share in my adventures or plan weekends away with. Does anyone else have this problem?

This past weekend, Amanda and I went up to Palm Springs for the night. We were there for just under 24 hours so it was a short trip, but the whole time I kept thinking how much I'd love to come back. [enter: future boyfriend?] And: take the tram, stay at a cool hotel, do some hiking, eat at all of the trendy restaurants, spend all day by the pool... sounds great, right?

But thanks to Tammy and a few other bloggers who have visited Ace Hotel, I'm DYING to stay there [hipster heaven = my heaven] with or without my future boyfriend. I love the simple and eclectic decor and I definitely want to take a nap in that hammock. 

photo credit: pop sugar & oyster.com 

{Yup... I think I'd fit in just fine.}