thames tears (of happiness)

Along the Thames we strolled, taking in the gorgeous sun that gave way to picturesque views. After the first sight of Big Ben and Parliament I slowly took in the fact that we were really there. I stopped in my tracks and had a moment. Translation: I totally teared-up and here's why:

When I was 19 I signed up for a Europe "fashion trip" with my college fashion department. I was crazy excited because I'd never been to Europe and in addition to visiting designer houses we were going to have plenty of time to sightsee. When I arrived at the airport to meet the group and check my bags I was faced with the disappointment of not having the necessary visas to travel, hence I could not go forward with the trip. I was devastated and learned two valuable lessons 1) don't travel on a Colombian passport and 2) do due diligence when it comes to travel documents.

I cried and cried but my parents reassured me that there would be another and even better time for me to see Europe. I put it in my mind that I would go soon enough and that it would be with my special someone. I didn't know who that person would be but I was confident that it was in the cards for the future. Fast forward seven years and there I was, standing along the Thames River with Joe. It was surreal and I completely lost it. Not only are we here but we are now calling London, England...Europe, our home.

Joe held me tight and I pinched myself in disbelief that we were in this new magical place together. I was never meant to see Europe with a group of strangers nor visit before I was old enough to fully appreciate it. The time is right now.

Life is funny and marvelous but before this post gets any more philosophical click here for more photos of the day ;). Xoxo.

when greene & greene ruled

This Sunday I had the sudden urge to get out of the house...just me and my camera. I found myself at The Gamble House that's fortunately just a few minutes up the road. This place is incredible and the most perfect example of the American Craftsman movement in architecture. Joe and I took a tour of it a few years ago and the detail inside is even more outstanding than its exterior. Built of solid wood and Tiffany Glass accents, this is one of the most well known structures created by the Greene brothers.

If you look through more photos on my flickr page you may recognize the garage (now the operating foundation's bookstore)...it was Doc's home in Back to The Future! Always thought that was pretty neat.

There are so many architectural treasures like this in Pasadena and only in my adult years have I come to recognize and appreciate them. If you have yet to visit and explore Pasadena, it's definitely worth a day trip!

a san francisco treat

Happy Tuesday. To share bits from my weekend in SF I considered playing with these shots on photoshop but 1)  I've gotta head out to work  and 2) I like them as they are, with gloom and all.

We were all about town but ultimately spent most of our time in The Mission district. I'd really love to explore that neighborhood more. For some reason it felt the most like home in a Downtown LA meets Echo Park kind of way.

Here are our dining picks from the weekend and perhaps yours too if you find yourself in this gorgeous city!

Pork Store Cafe, Haight - amazing avocado blt and french fries that were like in-n-out's but thicker. Breakfast is what they're most known for so I'm already looking forward to another visit.

Mr. Pollo, The Mission - a "must go to" ever since I saw it featured on the Food Network's "Best Thing I Ever Ate: best bang for your buck" episode. They weren't kidding... the $15 chef's tasting menu was perfection. And, it turned out to be a take on Colombian food so it was even better (link to pics at end of the post).

Humphry Slocombe, The Mission - all natural ice cream? I'm there. Everyone was there actually. This tiny place seems to serve 10 people a minute and once you taste one of their home-made scoops you'll understand why. I never knew that bourbon and cornflakes would go so well together! I could eat that for breakfast everyday.

Heart, The Mission - the most perfect wine bar and small plates restaurant. We devoured a mortadella and blue cheese with cardamom honey plate. Wine by the glass was well priced and the ambiance was exactly what we were going for. Casual communal tables juxtaposed with local fine art lining the walls made this spot more than just a bar. It had, well, heart.

Nordstrom Cafe Bistro, Union Square-ish - as a former Nordies girl I have a sweet spot for shopping and dining there. With the weather being what it was, the top floor restaurant was perfect for a long and relaxing lunch. The crab bisque soup hit the spot but as a butter lover, I was more obsessed with the parmesan and butter-soaked crostini it was paired with.

We did manage to do other things besides eat...see more photos here!

sf

Hola! I'm back from a chilly and rainy weekend in San Francisco. Despite the weather, every bit of my time there was fantastic. My friend Christine and I played tourists, ate a ton (what else do you do when traveling?), and had enough girl-talk to hold us over for another year. Will post more photos and details tomorrow <3

on bloom street

The lease on my downtown apartment ended in January and I've been back in South Pasadena with the folks ever since. While I do miss being in the city, it is nice to walk down the street and see these signs of Spring all around. Sooo pretty!

An afternoon at the Stahl's

Look familiar? It's apparently the most published home in the world. For the countless times I've seen the iconic Stahl House in photos, I never knew much about it other than it being a private home in the Hollywood Hills. When I found out that it's open for public viewings (ie. this fantasy place was much closer to reality) I went absolutely mad. A beyond excited "oh my god I must go there now!" kind of mad.

We were lucky to get a viewing before Joe left for London and it was SPECTACULAR!!! I literally choked up at the first sight of the angular home perched over the most perfect view of all of Los Angeles; the Griffith Observatory and Getty Museum don't have anything on this place! The day was so clear that we could easily see straight to Catalina Island, down to Long Beach, and everything in between. I would die to live there.

It was truly the perfect end to a great birthday weekend and definitely not a bad way for Joe to say goodbye to LA :) Click here to see more photos!

When we used to wear hats

I love hats. I really really do. Unfortunately my use of them has primarily been for function only (ie wearing a baseball cap at a Dodgers game). The current Mad About Hats exhibit at the Pasadena Museum of History made me long for the days when women wore beautiful headpieces to complement, or better yet, make their outfits. These hats were so fabulous!

So fabulous in fact that the exhibit made me feel so grungy wearing my weekend casuals. This was definitely a reminder that dressing up can be fun and easy, just need to add a few special touches once in a while.

P.S. I Love You

Palm Springs, how I love thee. Just an hour and a half drive out of LA to this sleepy yet perfectly hip town.

It was our third time staying at the Ace Hotel and while we'll always be fans of its casual comforts and poolside beats, I'm sad to report that they just didn't seem to have it together this time around (new management perhaps?). Fumbles aside, we had a great weekend enjoying the bluest of skies, filling our bellies with yummy food, and simply spending quality time together.

And, I'm now obsessed with my new Canon camera. If anyone is handy with these please share your shooting tips! There is much to learn.

Could be worse

If I must go to city hall to contest a parking ticket at least it's in Pasadena. Walking through the building made a typically tedious process somewhat dare I say it, pleasant.

There was a game today?

No Super Bowl for this family. We spent the day watching my 14 month old niece tackle the world instead.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

A day at the races

Two dollars on a long shot. That was the extent of my gambling this past Saturday at Santa Anita Park. The last time I was there I bet two dollars on a trifecta and won $252 - was really hoping for a repeat but no such luck. Instead, I put those dollars to good use on several beers.

It's amazing what getting older will do to you. When I was in middle school I spent many Saturdays hanging out on the lawn watching semi-known bands play while paying little attention to the races and our general surroundings. We thought we were so cool skipping around in the mosh pits and drinking our ice-cold sodas. We were too young to even care about the beer gardens right next to us.

This time around - with beer in hand - I couldn't help but look up and admire the art deco beauty that is the oldest racetrack in Southern California. On this perfectly clear and sunny day the lines and the colors of the park seamed to mirror the angles and hues of the San Gabriel Mountains that sit directly across from it. It was love at 20th sight and a testament that some things do get better with age.

An interesting fact that Wikipedia or the park's page won't tell you is that Santa Anita was the site of the largest Assembly Center for the Japanese-American internment in World War II. My 11th grade social studies teacher was held there as a little boy with his family. It's a truly sad part of the park's history but that's a whole other blog post. Just felt it important to note.