Alamere Falls

One of the many benefits to living in San Francisco is being in such close proximity to so many great (and totally different) weekend activities. You're basically one hour from...anything: the beach, skiing, wine county, hiking, so on and so forth. (And that's if you even want to leave the city) The only hiccup people run into is a lack of car, but even then there's the option to Zip Car it...or have friends with cars.

This past weekend, my three closest friends in the city as well as some other good SF friends drove the winding (like winding to the point to where I almost thew up from being car sick) roads up to Alamere Falls to go hiking for the afternoon. Literally, I was freaking out because of all the photo opportunities; I could barely even handle it. We all had a great time laughing and telling stories the entire way. On the way back we were especially funny...but I think that was the delirium and not so much us actually being funny. We were out there for like a million hours and by the time we got back to the car we were starving. Our car (Mike, Adam, Andy, and I) stopped by this little restaurant in town where I shoveled down garlic fries, clam chowder, mac n cheese, a burger, and a baked potato. As much as you'd think I would be wishing I had ordered a sensible salad, I don't at all. It was the perfect meal to wrap up a perfect day.

Morning Treat

Since it's Friday and essentially everyone in San Francisco "works from home" I decided I would treat myself to sleeping in and taking the 9:45 EA Shuttle to work. It's amazing what an extra hour of sleep can do. I woke up so rested and in such a great mood. Usually, I wait until work to eat oatmeal from the cafeteria complete with walnuts, raisins, cranberries, coconut, blackberries, and brown sugar, but since I would be getting in closer to lunch, I stopped and got the bagel above from Posh Bagel on Castro before I caught the shuttle. Umm...so good!

Wet

After a weekend in LA with what I'm willing to call perfect weather, it's back to winter in SF. It's been a little dreary the past couple of days which (honestly) is a nice change from the sun. It almost helps you appreciate it more when it's scattered with a few days of rain. Plus - I get to bust out my rain boots! As I was walking to work this morning, I couldn't help snapping a few pictures to show that SF (even in the rain) is still such a picturesque city. Oh - and I also incorporated my outfit for absolutely no reason whatsoever. #sns

LA Vacation

So this was a fun weekend.

SF friends, Adam and Matt (SF1 and SF2) decided to take advantage of the extended weekend (thanks to MLK) by also taking off on Friday and heading down to LA for a few days. It was everything I wanted it to be: warm sun, clear skies, pool time, and lots of partying.

We'd start every morning at out friend, Chandler's house with a view I'd probably kill for (see above). After lazing getting dressed in our swim suits and tank tops, we'd pile into his jeep and head down to the Standard Hotel for mimosas and Bloody Marys while soaking up the best sun Cali has to offer. Afterwards, we'd shop or grab a bite to eat, take a nap to recharge, meet up with friends, and pay way too much for drinks go out. Granted, we were all feeling it Monday morning, but it was totally worth it. Both my body and wallet are glad I don't live in LA, but they're always happy to go for vacation. Bloop.

Anda Piroshki

Last weekend, I took the 24 down to Bernal Heights to go look at an apartment that I found on Craigslist. Literally it was the worst...unless you like the smell of cat pee and shame. However, even though it's SUPER lezzy, I really enjoyed Bernal Heights as a neighborhood. While I was there, I met up with my boss, Rose (straight) and her puppy for a beer. (we had beer; the puppy had nothing) and we got to have a little one on one time outside of work.

Before I left, I stopped by this little Russian bakery (Anda Piroshki) next door for a hot piroshki! FYI, a piroshki is an individual-sized baked or fried bun stuffed with a variety of fillings. I got ham and cheese and it was so so so good! That plus a slow drip coffee and I was good to go!

Grapefruit Salad with Homemade Dressing

Last week I went on a date with this super cute guy at Ragazza, a small Italian/pizza restaurant across the street from my apartment. While there, I had the blood orange (Blood Orange & Avocado Salad w/ goat cheese, fennel, black olives & chili oil $9). I basically lived for it and died for it at the same time. Truly, the wine and pizza were pretty amazing, too. SO - when I cooked for him last week I decided to make one that was similar:

Salad:
Mixed greens
Two grapefruit
Goat cheese
One avocado
Red Onions

Dressing:
Equal parts olive oil and lemon juice
Chopped fresh rosemary
Oregano
Salt
Pepper

Room Progress

...but this is all you get.

Finding an apartment in San Francisco is next to impossible unless you're willing to stomach paying over 1500/mo for a room. Not apartment. Not house. ROOM. Literally everyone I talk to who pays less always follows up how much they pay with, "but like, I've been here for four years. This would go for $2200/mo now." Then I want to slap them and be them at the same time.

The point is that for now, I'm subletting until I can find an apartment that I love/can afford. However, that's not going to keep me from putting some effort into making the one I'm in now cute. It was a bit of a mess because I had to move furniture out of that room that was left in order to move my stuff in but there was literally no room because two other people were moving as well. It was like a game of Tetris....from hell.

Ritual Coffee

Love it.

The past few days here in SF have been absolutely beautiful. Clear skies, 0% humidity, and with highs in the mid 60s, I literally couldn't ask for better weather. Kat (above) has become one of my closest friends in the city, and after (usually) spending Friday nights together, we've gotten into the routine of waking up and getting coffee (and/or pho) the next morning.

Instead of simply going to Starbucks in Castro which is the closest, I let her bring me around the city in her Mini Cooper for a more refined/unique coffee experience. This past Saturday, we stayed in Hayes Valley and went to the Ritual Coffee Shop on Octavia. Per their website:

"Ritual has been a pioneer in this delicious shift in coffee consciousness since we opened our doors on Valencia Street in 2005 and started what some call a coffee revolution in San Francisco. Our goal then--and our goal now--was to craft the very best cup of coffee available anywhere. Period. We've learned a lot over the years, but the care and attention we lavish on our process is unchanged, including tasting every coffee several times before it goes out to our coffee bars and into your cup."

And just in case you were wondering, my mocha latte was everything.

This is a portion of the wall outside of the apartment that I'm hoping to move into soon. Yes, I had something lined up, but of course that didn't work out after the person moving to DC decided to stay "a few more months". So as I was scrambling on Craigslist, I came across this rent-controlled gem. In unit washer and dryer (unheard of - especially for the price) hardwood floors, huge bay windows, new beautiful kitchen. I'm crossing everything hoping that they'll pick me. So until I've secured the apartment, enjoy the picture of the wall outside.

Happy Friday!

Layer Up

Vest: J.Crew - Jean Shirt: Levi's - Plaid Shirt: J.Crew - Chords: Levi's 511 - Watch: Timex - Glasses: Ray-Ban - Shoes: Asics

Christmas Down

My commute involves the following: Take the 24 to 18th. Get off and get Starbucks (Grande medium roast in a Venti cup), then either walk (or if I get lucky take the 6) to Delores Park where I catch the EA Shuttle down to Redwood City. Recently, I've not been so lucky and I've had to walk to the park. Walking isn't the issue - it's only about 10 minutes. I just feel better about myself when I can successfully coordinate 2 buses and a Starbucks trip.

Either way, since I've been walking I've noticed all of the Christmas trees, wreaths, and decorations all over the place. It looks a bit like a Christmas massacre and it's so sad! All that love and excitement while it's in the house then just tossed out like your wide leg jeans. I just love the holiday season and I'm not ready for it to be over!

Sit and Spin

I thought that I was going to really hate not having a washer and dryer in my apartment. I've always had growing up like most people in Louisiana as well as in my own house, and there were two of each in the apartment I lived in in NYC. Those were the best. Like -there were options for every type of fabric, you could set the humidity level for softness, and you even had the option to collate, staple, and fold. You get the point.

Similar to most apartments in NYC, washers and dryers in unit is a rarity and I was not looking forward to spending an hour and a half at some random/stabby laundromat. Then I discovered how ridiculously cheap it was to have it washed, dried, and folded for you. Like...$10 for a load of laundry. I'd happily pay double that just so I didn't have to move clothes from the washer to the dryer (I HATE doing that!) not to mention folding. SO, this is where I go. The Sit and Spin in Castro is so, so great and the name is kind of everything to me. Right?!

Happy Tuesday!

Foliage for a Spacially Challenged Existance

Yard? Forget it. Patch of grass? If you're lucky. So how do you enjoy a little greenery around your SF apartment? Like this.

Get creative. Usually, apartments at least have an outdoor stairwell or entryway where you can plant SOMEthing. Get some boards, nail them together, buy some soil, and plant away. (Or just go to Home Depot and buy one that's premade - that's just so not Mended Nesty. #judgingyou #jk)