Summer Checklist

With one of my favorite seasons kicking off this weekend, I thought it would be a perfect time to compile a summer to-do list. Here are some of the activities I can't wait to dive into in the coming months.

• Road trip through Big Sur with my sister
• Try out all the awesome Yoga studios in my backyard in Santa Monica (Bhakti Yoga Shala, Bryan Kest's Power Yoga, The Yoga Collective, Hot 8, and Yogis Anonymous to name a few)
• See a spooky movie at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery (Ok so I got a head start and actually accomplished this one this past weekend. It was awesome! Silence of the Lambs at a creepy cemetery with a picnic and wine?!? I'll be going back again before summers end)
• Frequent the farmers market and cook with seasonal produce
• Go beach camping (and try surfing or stand-up paddle boarding)
• Hike. A lot
• Wine tasting in Malibu
• Visit my friends in San Diego for a weekend
• Host a Sunday Brunch complete with Mimosas
• Check out the Rose Bowl Flea Market
• Go to concerts in the park at one of  these awesome venues
• Visit MOCA, the Getty, LACMA, and the Griffith Observatory
• Expand my herb garden to include some veggies and fruit

images via

Life Lately.. According to my iPhone

Life's been awesomely busy ... here are some pictures to show for it.

 "Chakra" jello shots from our yoga teacher training potluck

 Im a certified yoga instructor now!!!

 Thats me .. happy.. at Coachella

 I've been reading outside on my lunchbreaks..

and making friends with critters like this guy and a praying mantis or two

 My Easter Sunday was spent right here. It was perfect

 I've been eating pretty clean and feeling amazing as a result.

I enjoy putting energy into preparing good fuel for my body.

This was home made tuna salad in butter leaf letuce wraps

Greek yogurt, flaxseeds, granola, and a little honey.

 I'm addicted to these little treasures from Trader Joes.

 I bought a mint plant (and rosemary and thyme).

And now I have extra refreshing ice cubes for cocktails.

Mojito anyone?

Radiohead at Coachella. I love them. I love Thom Yorke. They were so good live

"Almost Stuffed" Bell Peppers  

Ground turkey, onions, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, brown rice, and a lot more Italian seasoning than the recipe calls for.  

I'll make this one again for sure



New York, New York!

photo credit

Tonight I'm taking a red-eye to this magical city. Its been a little over 3 years since my last visit to NYC, and browsing pictures on pinterest just got me extra excited. I can't wait for the sights, the food, the people, the energy, and even the cold weather. Hope you all have an awesome weekend! Follow me on instagram @hi_im_jess for the weekend pictures!

Thank You 2011/Hello 2012!!

The holidays came and went in a festive blaze, as they always do, and here we are at the beginning of 2012. I like to think that I'm always working on growing and figuring out ways to be the best version of myself, but I always love the energy and momentum that presents itself on January 1st with new years resolutions. I have several intentions for the new year that I'm excited to share and hold myself accountable for, but first it seems appropriate to acknowledge what a great year 2011 was. For starters- I feel like I'm the healthiest and fittest I've been possibly ever and I owe that largely to my newly discovered regular yoga practice and (mostly) healthy eating habits. Secondly, my life is filled with people I love and adore and they reciprocate that and have supported me in many ways. Third, my job has been going really well and after over 2 years with the company I feel very content and appreciated in my position and there is talk of a promotion in the near future. Last year I was also finally able to move to an area that I love with a roommate who's been awesome! To top it all off, I was able to do so much traveling last year which is always so fulfilling and exciting for me. I've been so grateful for the wonderful gentleman in my life who appreciates me and misses me when he's away for work and always makes time for me to come and visit. So basically, I'm super excited about 2012 because I know it will be as good or better than 2011 and I can't wait to see what's in store! Here's a little 2011 recap of some of my favorite snapshots from January through December.

January: Beach hiking in San Luis

February: Random shot of my sweet kitty

March: Sipping cocktails at a friend's gorgeous wedding

April: Scenic snapshot from the drive up to Paso Robles for work

(a trip that was made many times in 2011)


May: Red Rocks in Denver, CO (bucket list check)

June: Fun with mustaches at another awesome wedding

July: A very patriotic Independence day weekend spent in Texas

August: Moving fun and apartment decorating

September: A fabulous Labor Day Weekend in South Beach

October: Some of the girls and I in Newport Beach

November: My first authentic cheesesteak in Philly

December: My Sister, Mom, and I on Christmas

Lately...

...I've been traveling a lot. Dallas, Philadelphia, and Austin. They were all awesome
...I can't get enough of Trader Joe's turkey meatballs
...Work has been going really well, and I'm thrilled to say I've been enjoying my job
...I've been trying to crack down on studying the real estate stuff (my apologies for my absence on here)
...Sausage, egg, and cheese hotpockets are my guilty pleasure
...I've been grateful for my roommate and our long chats
...The combination of yoga and kickboxing has me feeling like a million bucks
...Bon Iver and Naked and Famous are on frequent rotation on my Pandora
...I drink a lot of hot tea... green, white, rooibos, herbal... I'm an equal opportunist really
...TV doesn't appeal to me much
...My favorite alcoholic beverage is Jameson + Ginger
...Mastin's The Daily Love is always a treat that I really look forward to reading everyday
...I try not to spend too much time on facebook. It gives me anxiety
...I've been frequenting the Brentwood Farmers Market on Sundays
...My bucket list and 2012 resolutions have been under construction
...I eat spinach everyday. And I love it. And I think I have my Dad to thank for that (still addicted to this of course)
...I've missed my blog, and plan to write on here more

 What a treat it was to get a glimpse of fall on the east coast

A very relaxing sunset over Lake Austin before heading to the airport to come home

 

TX

I'm heading to Texas again this weekend and I guess my Mom figured it would be a good time to hand down these babies. She had the red and turquoise pairs made years ago and they fit like a glove! The middle pair are extra special to me because my Grandma (who was a feisty Texan herself) wanted me to have them when she passed away. I'm not exactly sure why, but I have a feeling it's because she always said I was the 'sassiest' of the 3 grand daughters, and she knew I'd make her proud in her boots.

I'm really looking forward to a quick weekend away and the Texas State Fair which of course means tons of yummy food, beer, and live music.

Training

As an LA resident, I spend a lot of time driving sitting in traffic. This past Sunday, I decided to take the train for a quick visit up to San Luis Obispo to visit my sister. My experience was quite lovely. Not only did I catch gorgeous ocean sunsets on the way there and back, but I also got to chat with friendly travelers and catch up on some blog and magazine reading. Public transit = Success.

(Elle, coconut water, and Toms.. what more do I need?)

Highlights

It's been a busy week and trying to transition back into work mode after a 5 day trip has not been an easy task. Miami was incredible, and while we made sure to enjoy the beautiful beach and (ridiculously) warm water, there was still plenty of  exploring of Little Havana, the Bayside lifestyle, Coconut Grove, and all of the art deco architecture that contributes to that Miami character and energy. Here are some instagram* snapshots from the vaycay. (More to come from the Nikon)

Pool party ready

Gazpacho and a Cuban steak sandwich

Rooftop pool party at the Gansevort

Empenadas at El Cristo on Calle Ocho

Cigar shopping

Refreshing mojitos and daiquiris at the marina

Cabbin it

SushiSamba: Beef Maki Roll bacon, boniato, rocoto jam, soy-garlic jus

Tuna Ceviche coconut, tomato, serrano, grapefruit, cilantro

 Samba Dromo Roll maine lobster, mango, tomato, chive, crispy rice, soy paper, peanut curry

Night out at Arkadia

East coast seafood on the water

South Beach

*Add me on instagram! @hi_im_jess

Overpackers Anonymous

I'm notoriously a [shameful] overpacker. I find that when eyeing my wardrobe for travel, I often consider all possible occurrences and situations that I will [obviously] require the perfect outfit for. Last year after an incredible 2 weeks in Italy, France, and Spain, my travel high came to a screeching halt when I  had to pay an extra £150 (approximately $200) to the airline to fly my overstuffed suitcase safely back to the states. This was the point when I realized I had a problem... and I needed help. Since then, I have made a serious effort to pack lighter, and be more realistic as to what the 'necessities' really are when traveling. Below are the items that are coming with me to South Beach tomorrow. I hope you all have a fabulous holiday weekend!