a magical, magical, magical post.
magicalness 1 : cupcakes.
magicalness 2 : steak & casual fun.
magicalness 3 : DISNEYLAND.
In order of magicalness this blog will be written.
(1.)CUPCAKES. On Wednesday Brett and I went to Crumbs! Crumbs it has been nearly a year since I’ve tasted you. The display in this store on S. Santa Monica was impressive. There were way more flavors than listed on the website and I was giddy happy over the sugarly colorful array of calories.
I bought the Fluffer Nutter (peanut butter marshmallow frosting with marshmallows baked inside) and the Coffee Toffee (vanilla cake with caramel inside and coffee caramel icing on the outside rimmed with toffee – Nana I thought of you when getting this flavor!). I made the mistake of eating a half of each in one sitting. sicky? a little. I was disappointed in the dryness of the cake, but the flavors were a blend of favoritism. Also, I think the sweetness overload, for once in my life, defeated me! I’ve realized now that Crumbs cupcakes taste better when they are picked at.
Now, it pains me to say this, but, I think my cupcake loyalty has switched to Sprinkles. I’ve written about this bakery before, and now again, I must praise, praise, praise their holy balance of icing to moistily meltable cake…each bite assimilates in my mouth and enlightens my tongue in SUGAR PERFECTION. I was lucky enough this past Friday (after a long meeting at work) to discover that there was a Sprinkles TRUCK (yes a vehicle that carries around these cupcake gems and delivers them to lucky street-goers) outside of my work, waiting for me to bombard it. Without much thought I got the lemon coconut. Sigh. so. yum.
Speaking of trucks…they are quite the popular thing in LA (and Portland for that matter). People at work have raged about the Nom Nom Truck and since it,too, was outside on Friday, I bought a little taco of pork, pickled veggies, lettuce, and spicy sauce. $2.50 for a perfectly gourmet tasting lunch from a kitchen on wheels!! I was thrilled.
(2.)STEAK. Food goodness continued that day when Brett and I went to take advantage of my Birthday entree at a Mexican restaurant in Westwood. Margarita Gigante, guacamole, steak, shrimp and chicken fajitas, AND fried ice cream. After this slew of food we bar hopped, met some people that wouldn’t leave us alone, met some Aussies or Irishmen (I don’t really know) and then crashed at home and slept in and had the most wonderful lazy Saturday accompanied with free FroYo (true B&A style).
GIGANTE.
Saturday night my boss/supervisor at work hosted a BBQ at her and her partner’s beautiful home. It felt like a true LA backyard shindig – gourmet cheese, wine, mini-crackers (haha), kabobs of steak and chicken, grilled mushrooms, pearl couscous, mac salad, asparagus, ribs, a huge cake…It was so nice to hang out with co-workers outside of BLT! This co-op has been the first in which I’m part of a real “team”. Go Marketing Team!! I love it and the camaraderie is great…totally helps pull you through those tough workdays.
(3.)DISNEYLAND. What more can I say? I fulfilled my childhood dreams that stem from watching the Disneyland-fun Sing-a-Long VHS almost every week as a 6 year old. My favorite parts consisted of the song at the Haunted Mansion, Pooh Bear failing at eating his honey, and the Canyon roller coaster on which all of the little kids in the video looked like they were having an absolute blast. Mom, you deprived me of this joy!!! How dare you?!
Anyway, I finally got to see Adventureland, Frontierland, New Orleans, Fantasyland, Toon Town, Tomorrowland, Main Street U.S.A… FINALLY. I gasped out loud when we came across the Haunted Mansion. I then started to recall the sing-a-long video…and so did Brett and suddenly our little kid excitement increased times twenty. We rode the tea cups, Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Carribean….and mucho more!
We also waited in line with the other little girls to see the princesses! Jasmine, Mulan, and Belle (who I have a new found affinity for. So much to relate to – France, books, Felipe the horse, a loving Dad (miss you Daddy!!), and a beast (or a few)) were the princesses that we got to “meet”. Speaking of princesses, we also saw Tiana singing in New Orleans – she was so cute and fun!
We continued walking around, shopping, saw more characters…but what really impressed me overall was the seamless architecture and landscaping of the entire park. Everything was integrated and themed in such a way that made me forget I was in icky LA. I wish I knew the right architectural terms…but everything from the woodwork, ironwork, the plants, the small sets, the themed music, the displays as you waited in line, the cleanliness, the perfection and enchantment of every structure and composition was impeccably imaginative and indulgent for any mind from 2 to 22 and beyond. I was in love!!! I don’t think my mouth ever closed – constant awe and nostalgia in every street corner and ride…to say the least, it was magic at magic’s greatest. Thank you Walt Disney…over 50 years later…people are still falling back through childhood into your world of happiness :D
vegas, baby.
So I decided that Vegas should stay in Vegas, but despite that, here’s a brief overview. The fine details will not be revealed!
1. Long drive through the desert. LA to Vegas
2. Gigantic, huge, spectacular, gourmet, brunch, dinner, seafood, waffle, sushi, brie, dessert, EVERYTHING buffet at the beautiful and snazzy Bellagio.
3. Complaints about stomach pain.
4. Rooftop pool at the Stratosphere (our hotel).
5. –
6. Took the monorail to the main strip.
7. –
8-10. 700$ was gained by one lucky person, ankle spraining, site seeing, gambling…etc…
11. –
12. IHop. Nasty.
13. Harrassment from homeless people.
14. 10 minute nap on the floor.
15. Long long drive through the desert.
16. Back safe and sound in nasty ol’ LA.
The perfect Vegas weekend completed.
I wore my birthday weekend like a crown bestowed from the gods.
I am now a 22 year old. Exciting right? But this extremely insignificant transition was made into a spectacular memory by the arrival of my Mom and Mrs. Peggy Baumer on July 30th in anticipation of a wonderful time in Los Angeles, California. I spent that Friday morning in a Marina del Rey Starbucks waiting for their plane (direct flight!) to land in LAX and for my Mom to hopefully navigate the treacherous roads of LA to the hotel across the street. Finally they arrived around one and settled into the Courtyard Marriot (after huge hugs of course). I couldn’t believe how good it was to see my Mom, she was the best taste of home I could ask for.
Despite the taste of home though, our stomachs were still ready to devour whatever lunch we could find. We walked over to The Counter, a custom burger place about 10 minutes from the hotel in a cute shopping center off the Marina. Let me just explain how awesome this place is…you’re handed a clipboard with an ordering sheet containing all of your biggest burger dreams on it…choose what meat, how much, what bun, what toppings, what cheese, what sauce…and it’s not just normal stuff here. No way. It’s brie, roasted peppers, onion straws, guacamole, cranberries, carrot strings, olives, pepper jack, green chilies, peanut sauce… whatever you can imagine sitting on a burger is typed there in front of you waiting to be checked and loaded onto your order. Granted if you keep checking boxes you could end up with a 30$ burger…but that’s your problem. Anyway, I got green chiles, guac, chipotle aioli, onion straws and gruyere cheese on an english muffin…a little mixed up but it must have been good because before I knew it I had eaten the ENTIRE burger. hahaha it was so worth the feeling of a baby in my tummy.
After this we waddled 2 miles to Venice beach. Who knows why we thought it would be a good idea to walk so far, but we did it and before long we had trekked around the Marina and landed ourselves on the Venice Pier. We people-watched a bit, saw some surfers, sipped on the best peppermint white mocha frappuccino of my life, and then walked the 2 miles back to the hotel where we crashed down into some lounge chairs by the pool. The sun beat down but the air was cool. Mom and Peggy could not get over how cool the weather was and many times this weekend I got to say “told you so” when they had goosebumps out in the summery night air of southern California.
Anyway, we relaxed and then, believe it or not…we were too tired after that 4 mile excursion to bother driving out anywhere so we ordered some drinks at the hotel bar. I had a White Russian in honor of “The Big Lebowski” which I had never seen until this past week and which made me crave that particular drink that Dude never seems to be without. Anyway after some extremely tired slap happy banter between all of us our pizza was delivered from Abbot’s, a local place that specializes in bagel crust! We had the typical pepperoni with a dense, fluffy crust rimmed with spicy red peppers. IT WAS GOOD, especially while sitting on the bed in front of a TV (TV?!?!). The way pizza fills your mouth with hot grease, slimy cheese, and doughy delight is the ultimate comfort for any taste bud.
Even though I was full, I ventured to try some of the cupcakes we had picked up earlier that day. We had stopped at Hotcakes, the bakery that won the Food Network “Cupcake Wars” show which also featured a cupcakery in Cincinnati (kinda neat huh?). They pretty much lived up to their award, but alas, not as good a sprinkles. The flavors weren’t quite as powerful, but the icing…mmm, was it creamy and smooth. Can’t complain about good icing, that’s for sure.
I fell asleep in a food coma (as I did every night of this past weekend) and awoke early the next day in preparation for a trip up to Malibu. After a quick Starbuckian breakfast, we drove along the Pacific Highway up the coast to high-class Malibu with its packs of intimidating bicyclers and stately houses. It’s really unexpected how everything in California has an old 50’s vintage feel to it – sort of grungily aged yet nostalgic of its glory days when its architecture was actually clean and new. It was the same up the coast, old stucco buildings, mod buildings, and beachy houses swept by waves and Pacific winds. There were these types of dwellings and then there were also those gated, monstrously golden, tiered balcony houses hidden by palms and flowers for those uber rich people that have remained elusive to my mid-western eye. Anyway, we stopped along the coast to watch a pack of dolphins and some kayakers then we randomly saw a sign for a yard sale. I nearly bought some boots! but alas, my feet were too big.
After this we headed to Malibu Wines up in the hills, far above the coast, and out of the misty fog. We were early, 11:30, but they let us in to find a seat amongst the bumble bees, vines, umbrella tables, green grasses, flowers, blue sky, wooden seats…this was bliss even before we uncorked our first bottle. The people-watching at this little grove was superb. We witnessed the set up of some baby and wedding showers, the picnics of couples, the meeting of friends…and all the while we were sipping 3 bottles and chatting away about everything and anything from lovesick at 21 to marriage to how LaRosas smells like feet. Tipsy, warm, feeding off gourmet cheese, grapes, turkey pepper panini and coconut brownie from the nearby foodtruck – all of this led to seven hours at the vineyard. SEVEN?!?! It passed by like nothing as we watched the weird Ozzy Osbourne/ Gene Simmons Asian guitarist and young and old people enjoy the same indulgences as us – wonderful atmosphere, 2008 Semler Rose, 2008 Saddlerock Rose, and best of all, incredible friendships.
After my Mom had sobered enough for driving, we wheeled back down the coast to Santa Monica, parked, and waltzed into a little Mexican place whose menu was way too full of variety. We ordered some grub, something with cheese, tortilla, salsa and guac and had a good dinner before winding our way back to the hotel. Oh and did I mention I picked up some cheesecake? The new Reeses flavor from the Factory? No? Well let me just say calories never tasted so good. That denseness drugged me into sleep where I dreamed about a huge crown, a palace that redecorated itself, a swimming pool, an old teacher…
I woke up the next morning to my birthday, as if the past two days hadn’t been celebration enough already, and pancakes. The Griddle Cafe. Just look at that menu, holy horses. I made the mistake of ordering a coconut mocha, which I could barely sip for the heavenly sweetness of it, but enjoyed, nonetheless. Then came the stack. Mom and I split what’s called “Scotch on the Rocks” : Our intoxicating coconut, pecan, oat, and butterscotch chip-filled flap jackes topped with real whipped cream and powdered sugar. Um. I. Can. Not. Even. Explain. How fluffy, sweet, crunchy, textured, warm, whipped, salty, sugary and delicious these were. It in fact makes me sick to my stomach thinking about how rich they were, but my stars, every bite was like being transported into a forest of glorified maple doused morning luxury. Needless to say, we barely finished half this stack. The cute waiter scolded us for our failure, but we had no choice but to surrender if we wanted to survive the day.
The rest of the morning we took a driving tour past my work and down Hollywood Blvd. We also stopped by Greystone Mansion before going to the Grove and the Farmer’s market where I was lucky enough to get a birthday present at Vicky’s on top of all of this wonderfulness.
After touring it was still only noon but we were looking for somewhere to relax and recover while enjoying the ocean. This led us to crazy Santa Monica Pier where the driving and the pedestrian traffic was congested as ever. We made it through though and snacked at the Mexican restaurant over the ocean at the end of the pier. Yum for Amaretto frozen margarita, cheese quesadilla, and free flan due to my birth date ;)
We chatted and relaxed on the ocean breeze for a while then walked back through the crowded pier to the crowded 3rd street promenade where we witnessed crazy street performers, singers, dancers…and more…like people painted silver and Michael Jackson look-a-likes. We kept wandering, kept walking and eventually decided to go see Inception. Second time around for me and still just as good!
After the movie it was time for my birthday dinner (note that I had been treated to enough food already, but we were now starving again) at a little Italian place right next to the theater on the promenade. My Pasta Carbonara was salted creaminess, divine loveliness, the best Italian pasta I’ve had in a while. This as well as a glass of red wine and yet another free dessert (tiramisu) was the perfect end to the most perfect weekend! I should devote an entire paragraph to thanking Peggy and my Mom for flying out to visit me. I know they love seeing new cities, but I don’t think they realize how much I LOVE seeing them and having someone to tour and vacation with in these cities that I’m stuck in for months at a time. I couldn’t think of a better pair to share the weekend with…so much wisdom and love between them…THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
After this week, I only have 3 more weeks of work left before I get to come back home to the Midwest where I get to see everyone and everything I’ve been missing. Who wants to go eat at Skyline then walk to Graeter’s with me when I get back? 3-way and two dips of mint chip please? Make sure you get a big chunk of chocolate in that scoop. Thanks very much. <3
One last thing – thanks Mom for the Fruit Loops.
AND okay, I shouldn’t do this…but I’m lazy and I didn’t post last weekend so here is a brief update on what I did/ate…
First of all…I’ve been walking around at work a lot and this past week I came across the Winnie the Pooh star on the Hollywood sidewalk…made me think of my little brother (not so little, really). As did the homemade Oreo that I picked up from a bakery near the CNN building…oh was it better than Nabisco. Remember Tony, don’t eat those Oreos and play video games…or else you know what.
Next comes my revisit to Stan’s Donuts in Westwood. I love these coconut bites and BUTTERMILK MAPLE BARS?!?! omg. This was the best donut, maybe, that I have ever had in my life (though the sour creme donut at Servati is still better, I have loyalty!!!)
Finally, Brett and I have been obsessing with frozen yogurt. Yea we’ve been to Pinkberry but my new favorite is Yogurtland. In this little cup here is Cookies n’ Cream yogurt, Peanut Butter yogurt and Chocolate Coconut Truffle yogurt with cookie dough and more…um and it was all only $2.60. You serve yourself (over 10 flavors to pick from at this location) and pay by the ounce…and it’s not healthy, but it surely isn’t bad like ice cream!!! SO GOOD. Cincinnati, get your act together, Yagoot does not compare.
So there’s the brief. I’ll be back next week with news of Vegas!! (If I survive).
oops! time in LA is a horse running like the wind.
I accidentally skipped posting last week and so I’m going to do a combo post, weekend 3 and 4 all in one!
Work is continuously epic. I’m learning how to layout movie posters now and I’m getting to interact with the sketch artists who all have amazing illustration skills (that I am completely jealous of, but inspired by). What a gooood co-op. As always, I can’t say much about my job, but I can tell you where I went out to eat with my co-workers. Last week we went to 24 Kitchen, a restaurant just up the street from the CNN building. I eyed the mac and cheese like a ninja – Elbow Macaroni and a three Cheese Blend of Cheddar, Mascarpone and Gruyere with Peas and a Basil Herb Crust. While waiting, mouth salivating, I took notice of the mod interior with its silverware lamp shades and waiters dressed in pink pants. In the end, the mac and cheese needed some salting (a lot of salting) but the basil was just crunchy enough and the cheese just creamy enough for my picky sauce-loving palate.
While at work, we also did Chipotle (sweet sweet taste of home *sigh*) and then I went out with my supervisor and my new DAAP-departed full-time coworker. We went to Stout, a classy little burger place with a simultaneous outdoor, indoor setting. The weather has improved and it was the perfect environment for having some non-BLT related conversation. I had a “stout skinny style” veggie burger (meaning they put it on arugula with no bun – me likey). It was a patty made from a base of quinoa and beans with avocado, pepper jack cheese and chipotle mayo – very tasty. We also split some sweet potato cuts which were also soo good. Sorry for no personal pictures, I didn’t wanna whip out my camera and be a geeky foody while my boss was talking, but here’s an online photo of the sweet potato chips and the burger my coworker got instead!
The weekend of July 10th was full of new friends and sushi. Friday night Brett and I went to a local bar in Westwood and met some French peoples along the way. We had a good time hanging out but I felt that my French was pathetically dying…all I could remember how to say was “oui, merci, desole, and Je m’appelle Amanda”. O well! Saturday at the pool we met some people from our building – someone from Oregon, Scotland, and some Cali natives – that was really nice and now we have a few more connections out here.
Saturday evening was our BIG night out. Meaning $$$. We wanted a true Hollywood experience and we were craving sushi. I made reservations at the Geisha House on Hollywood Blvd down the street from Grauman’s Chinese theater. Here is what their website details – ” Sensual…Ethereal…Mysterious… GEISHA HOUSE provides a sexy dining experience that titillates the senses, beginning with the palate and continuing from there…” The paragraph goes on…haha but I’ll let you visit the site to read more. Basically we paid for the environment at this place with its valet parking, two story dining, red lighting, two-level fireplaces, DJ, costumed Geisha, interesting seating decor, and might I add, most importantly, the best sushi I’ve ever had.
I’m limited in my sushi experience, but this stuff was succulent deity. We felt like stardom sitting there with our fancy cocktails and our Marilyn Monroll, Red Rocket and Ocean Dragon rolls.
Saturday night after our meal and photo with a Geisha, we were thinking of going out…but nah. We spent the rest of the weekend relaxing. Sunday was gloomy and our wallets felt beaten.
Now I will skip to this past Thursday. It was Allie’s birthday (she’s a classmate from DAAP co-oping out here as well) so we all went out to celebrate at Cheesecake Factory in the Grove and then to Improv, a comedy club in Beverly Hills. The Grove was really classy. It was Rookwood twenty times ritzier. It was a small happy village with beautiful storefronts, cobblestone, a train and glitzy things to buy around every corner. The only problem with this wonderful outdoor mall is that I must window shop and nothing more. Still, it’s fascinating to take it all in and thrilling to think…hmm who is that behind those sunglasses, could it be Brett and mine’s hero, Miley? HAHA.
Now for the food, I don’t think I need to describe the fabulousness of my favorite restaurant. Just know that we ordered an amazing Thai dish to split as well as the Stephanie’s Red Velvet and Tuxedo cheesecakes. I was beyond full.
As for the comedy club, it was neat except you HAD to buy two things (drink or food). I already wanted to explode, so this news was very unwelcome. The show itself was pretty funny. Our big group of DAAPers was seated front and center, prime spot for making eye contact that results in being made fun of. It was a good time, some of the comedians I enjoyed more than others…
-Dad, I had to get a picture of Seinfeld for you ^ :)
This weekend, due to all the running around during the week, was pretty laid back. We did go see Inception. I HIGHLY recommend. It was mind blowing and not hard to follow – just simply mind blowing and awesome. People clapped after one of the action scenes because it was so bizarre yet beautiful at the same time. O loved it. In fact, I want to go again – so many more details to catch you know? The theater we saw it in was packed and gigantic…it’s been used for premieres before (the picture below is of the theater at the twilight premiere). It was neat to sit there with the fancy red curtains and swirled carpets and gilded decorations knowing that a few stars had previously studded the place.
Last night was spent hanging out with our new friends in the building. It was a laid back, pizza ordering, tipsy kind of night. Today after I did some drawings, we attempted to go to Manhattan Beach. It was pretty. I saw it. That is all I have to say about it as well as I HATE YOU LA FOR YOUR LAME PARKING.
I miss the midwest. I’m homesick for autumn, grill outs, and grassy hills.
Overall in these past two weeks I have made huge progress with my website and I cannot wait to get it up! Once I get going on something like this I really buckle down. Seriously, right now, I can’t wait to get back to drawing the characters for it. On that note…goodbye! <3
(and I promise not to be late with my next post!)
happy 4th, happy freedom, happy cupcakes.
So ends weekend number 2 of California summer. My stomach is stealing from my wallet. Money to food – my major transactions. But you know what? How many summers am I going to spend in LA during my lifetime? Not many, hence, “Live it Up” or translated into a Brett-speak, “Just Eat the Cupcake”.
Speaking of cupcakes, my big project this quarter is to get my sweet pencil freelance website up and running. Hopefully by the end of these two months I will be able to market myself successfully – business cards and all.
Work at BLT & Associates has been spectacularly Hollywood-ish. I feel like I’m part of something huge! I wish I could talk more about what I am doing, but nonetheless, I have been relatively busy on some new jobs. I’ve also been busy strutting the walk of fame, staring at traffic and palm trees, and dodging paparazzi outside our CNN building.
During the work week I did not shy away from my sweet tooth. Diddy Riese earlier in the week and free mini-cupcakes at Frosted Cupcakery on Thursday. Diddy Riese : build your own ice cream sandwich for $1.50!!! Awesome right? Mine = chocolate chip cookie, espresso chip ice cream and a peanut butter cookie. I think someone should open one of these on campus…for real.
And as for the free mini cupcake – gahahahahaha pineapple coconut. That is my new favorite flavor combo (as I discovered with that sumptuously exquisite pineapple coconut ice cream at PF Changs) . Tropical. “Tastes like sunscreen” – but in a good way, I swear.
Even later in the week Brett and I went to Pinkberry. Twice. This is because the first time they gave us a damn good coupon and what were we to do but go back? Nothing beats light soft serve yogurt with godly toppings.
Brett and I did have real food though, occasionally anyway. Look at this wonderful baked ziti she made with fresh mozzarella and wheat pasta…better and cheaper than most restaurants in my opinion!! Plus we gots tons of left overs to help support our poor college wallets.
Friday was time to GO OUT on the town. To Santa Monica in the van! We went to Circle Bar (later there was a line of people to get in!!). There were good drinks, a neatly lit bar, a small dance floor, small tables and lots of funny and awesome characters…we met quite a few people, good and bad, haha. Overall, it was a successful night out and looks-kinda-like-my-sister-to-a-lot-of-strangers Brett drove us back home to sleep.
On Saturday Rachael drove down from Cupertino/Apple headquarters to visit us and her cousin for the holiday weekend. Rachael always equals fun and funny quotes and stories. First thing we did when she arrived : food. In-N-Out burger is the huge to do out here. Cheaper than 5 guys, less options, but nearly as good. $2.25 for a single cheeseburger with some special sauce, but you know what, f*** that special sauce – IT HAD RELISH. This ruined the burger. End of story.
We rested and then had a good time Friday night at Acapulco Mexican Restaurant y Cantina, a place within walking distance from our apartment (meaning Margaritas were allowable).
First up was free fresh made guacamole (he chopped the avocados right there in front of us). It was free because I’m a food geek and always sign up for restaurants’ emails which result in sometimes useful rewards such as free guac. This guac was addicting, creamy, and so so good and so so addicting (did I say that alreayd?). I think I was full before the steak fajitas arrived. Me and Brett split these and they, too, were so so good (I feel that most Mexican food is). This meal + frozen pineapple coconut margarita + mooching off of Rachael’s lemon cheesecake made me more full than I can ever remember being. Not sure my tummy liked me too much, but I made it up to him by running, running, running 3 days in a row. ouchies.
We returned home that night and watched some show online about prostitutes. Hahaha. I really wish we had TV.
Saturday started off with Rachael’s cousin and her boyfriend picking us up and driving us to Greystone Mansion/garden/park in Beverly Hills. This was apparently where they filmed Mariah Carey for one of her music videos, and I can see why, it was gorgeous. The sharp stone, the perfectly lined trees, the ponds, fountains, expansive courtyard (in which I imagined I would keep a stable), and beautiful overlooks (from which I expressed how I felt as though I was in a Jane Austen novel, viewing Pemberley for the first time – I got laughed at).
The rest of the grounds were beauteous and Rachael’s cousin expressed a wish to have her wedding there…sigh. After the mansion tour we went to…dun dun dun…SPRINKLES *world’s first cupcake bakery located in Beverly Hills* While waiting in line we were behind a lesbian couple who, I swear, were even more excited about the cupcakes than I was – pointing through the glass and whining if someone took a cupcake from the stack of ones they wanted all the while showing intense affection for one another. I <3 LA for it’s people watching.
I finally made it through the line and was not disappointed. Perfect serving size, perfectly large amount of frosting, perfect cakely texture, perfect flavors.
I ordered the seasonal Lemon Blueberry : fragrant lemon cake studded with wild blueberries, topped with lemon cream cheese frosting AND Chai Latte : spiced chai tea cake with chai-vanilla frosting.
While consuming, I felt as though I floated from the ground in bites garnered with moist-crumbly-stick-together cake and densely fabulous, sweet-loving, flavor-loaded globs of frosting.
Here the life motto was reinforced – “Just Eat the Cupcake”.
After this we drove past the playboy mansion while we wished we could get in, daydreamed about the grotto, and then drove home. After a bit of relaxing we went to dinner at Swingers Diner where burgers were rated high. I didn’t get a burger though, I had the stuffed grilled cheese (two cheeses melted, guac, grilled onions, and tomato). It was yummy and so were the fat-ass fried onion rings served alongside. Oh, and we split a banana peanut butter milkshake of course!
From there it was off to Marina Del Rey where one of Brett’s friends was watching fireworks from his roof. TRAFFIC made us miss them, but we still went up to the roof to witness some dude breathing fire with 151. ouch? but cool. This place we were at though – pretty spectacular. A huge pool, a doubled hot tub, pretty view of the Marina…we ended the night chatting with lots of smart people (aerospace engineers) around the hot tub. I admit I was a little homesick – I missed the scent of July 4th. Nothing compares to a parade at the Hoelker’s, the smoke of burnt Mets, ketchup, plastic koolaid juice barrels (Little HUGS!!), Dad flipping burgers, sparklers, fireflies, and fireworks from Northgate parking lot…oh the days.
The next day was Monday and we were off work which was a godsend. More laying out at the pool, more exercising, more relaxing, more drawing. Rachael left and I spent the whole day on me time :D
I know I’m late in posting this…but now I get to include the fact that I experienced an EARTHQUAKE today. It felt neat. I thought someone was shaking my desk, but surprise! The building was swaying. Hmm, maybe I should have viewed this as scary, but fact remains, I smiled when I realized the earth was quivering.
Oh and did I mention I saw Eclipse? Most awkward movie I’ve ever seen, but, fun nonetheless.
I miss Cincinnati and Love everyone, even more than cupcakes. hehe.