Despite the fact that I’ve made it abundantly easy for me to have a healthy breakfast at work (tasty low-fat granola and coconut milk at both of my two desks) cinnamon rolls keep calling my name. At this point, I’m starting to worry that I truly am addicted. No matter; I’ve now found 10 more reasons to indulge — even on the weekend! — thanks to LA Weekly’s list of the 10 best cinnamon rolls in Los Angeles. Uh oh …
Is it possible that my hair could look remotely similar to Karla’s here if I were to cut it short? Dangerous. Maybe I’ll just obsess over the adorable vintage-inspired frocks on her blog — like this to-die-for number from my favorite, Shareen Vintage — before I get ahead of myself.
{Photo via Karla’s Closet}
I was starting to think I might give in to this whole, “it’s technically fall now” idea, but it seems at least in Southern California, Mother Nature isn’t quite ready to accept that idea either. Summer is still here, my friends – and so is my Summer Bucket List.
My latest adventure (Summer Bucket List item No. 2) took me for the first time to the shores of Catalina Island. While I’ve spent many a lazy beach day staring at the island from afar and even taken several SCUBA diving trips to waters just off of its coastline, in my 10 years as a SoCal resident, I’d never actually set foot on shore.
Being that it was the boy’s and my anniversary, we opted for the quieter Two Harbors side of the island and spent the day kayaking (which I’m happy to report went swimmingly despite my tendency to be overbearing in kayaks), checking out the scenery and eating at the only restaurant in the town.
At dusk, we hiked up to a viewpoint above the back side of Two Harbors’ two harbors. The sun began setting over the mountains and I whipped out every camera in my possession while the boy tried to usher me up another hill to a second lookout area. After two dozen photos and many more urgings from the boy that we climb to the higher lookout, I relented. We climbed to the top – me singing “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria” the whole way (this isn’t as weird as it sounds if you consider that the epic scenery pretty much forces you to go straight to “Sound of Music” references) — and then this happened :)
I said yes.
The last time I went to Disneyland, I was 16. I was on a trip with my high school orchestra and justifiably (I think) confused about why we weren’t visiting the beach during our short reprieve from the Arizona desert.
I’ve never really been Disneyland’s No. 1 fan. I think it’s an amazing place full of fun rides and inventive lands, but when the cost easily competes with what I’d pay to go on a trip to one of the real places depicted in “small world,” I have to draw the line.
But despite my ambivalence toward “The happiest place on Earth,” my interest was recently piqued when I remembered I still had this on my Summer Bucket List: “23. Indulge in a local tourist trap.” Even more enticing, my best friend and favorite theme-park companion was in town and my fabulous “cast member” roommate was able to get us in for free! Sold.
Arriving late (for Disneyland standards), we were thrilled to discover it was actually a pretty quiet day at the park and quickly bebopped around from the new Cars Land in California Adventure to Disneyland classics like Splash Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean. We also discovered, after seeing several people dressed in swanky retro attire, that it was “Dapper Day” at the park and spent a good amount of time drooling over the various ensembles. (I was smarting a bit about that one since I love to take any excuse to dawn a retro outfit.) We ended the day with a bang, first watching the fireworks display and then the spectacular World of Color show.
While I don’t think I’ll ever become an annual-pass-holder, I was completely and utterly smitten with my day at the park. I didn’t realize what a treat it would be to experience Disneyland as an adult. Taking moments to consider all the amazing ingenuity and creativity that has gone into the place, I appreciated it that much more. In its own small way, Disneyland may have made a No. 1 fan out of me after all.
Last weekend, for one of the first times in my life, I threw myself a proper birthday party. Generally, I have some grand idea for a party that after a couple failed attempts at organizing turns into a quiet dinner with the boy or something similar. Last year, I pawned off the planning on the boy and I must say he did a bang-up job – with a Twitter account and everything! But this year, given the theme I had in mind, I knew I had to make things happen for myself.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved the beach. And I’ve loved vintage clothing for just about as long as that. I can still remember pining for one of those silly retro swim caps adorned with brightly colored daisies throughout most of my childhood. So when I started to see retro swimwear popping up, even at pretty mainstream stores, I knew it was time. I had to throw a retro beach party.
As usual, I had grander plans in mind that what panned out (i.e., renting a beach house in Malibu with a semi-private beach), but plan B just out front of Crystal Cove’s Beachcomber Café turned out to be a good one. Equipped with some games, towels, umbrellas and, of course, vintage swimsuits, the boy, me, and some amazing friends – including our very own Celeste — frolicked on the sand all day long. We got lots of compliments on our suits and the party theme. But the best part was all the great photos we got to take (highlights above).
So that does it for Summer Bucket List item No. 5 – but not for retro beach parties altogether. I’ve still got my eye on one of those Malibu beach rentals for next summer ;)
All my life I’ve loved hammocks. My all-time dream is to travel to a beachy destination that stays nice and warm through the night, sleep in a hammock right on the beach and then wake up in the morning, grab my surfboard and hit the waves! I’ve had some experiences pretty close to this in Egypt and Colombia, but so far, I’m still waiting for my full dream scenario to come true. In the meantime, I’ve decided that I need to quell my hammock obsession by taking a nap in one at some point this summer (thus Summer Bucket List item No. 18). But even that poses a bit of a challenge as my apartment, while nestled in a nice little courtyard, isn’t quite set up for a permanent hammock. And my other option – sneaking into a hammock display at the local World Market store – doesn’t sound too appealing or relaxing.
So I was very excited to see this DIY hammock idea from Design Sponge, which not only gives me an excuse to buy some of those fancy towel/blanket/things I’ve been seeing around lately but also a fun way to check No. 18 off my Summer Bucket List.
I love that so many retro fashions are in right now and that finally the trend has trickled all the way down to bathing suits. Bathing suits are the one item that I’ve never felt fully comfortable taking down the retro road alone, but with high-wasted suits and boy-short one pieces taking up residence at Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, even Forever 21, it’s a lot easier to imagine sporting one on just a regular old beach day.
Here are just a few of the retro swimsuits catching my eye lately – and a couple that I’ve purchased as part of Summer Bucket List item No. 6!
Dolly Gingham Maillot from Anthropologie – It seems it’s already fall in Anthropologie land because their website says this suit is no longer available. But you can still find it on eBay — and maybe even for less money!
Most fashions at American Apparel tend to come with the caveat of weak construction, and in the case of bathing suits, the result is often that too little is left to the imagination. However, if you’re careful about your choices, you can find some great retro styles that still have a little modesty built in. Including these two styles (in melon and lemon, respectively — actually much classier than they look in the strange American Apparel photos), which I’ve purchased for Summer Bucket List Item No. 6.
UO Ruffle One-Piece Bathing Suit – Urban Outfitters actually has a number of retro styles in its swim collection this season, but this is my favorite. It’s so sweet and classic. And if you’re a little skittish about going full retro, this is a safe way to stay on the border between modern and vintage.
Beach Honeycomber One Piece from Mod Cloth – This is a great pattern in another retro, but modern, swimsuit. Mod Cloth has a number of classic retro styles that are both playful and practical at the same time.
Of course, I’m still on the lookout for a truly vintage swimsuit. I’ve tried on a few and let me tell you, we’ve come a long way in swimsuit construction. It’s no wonder women took a little longer to jump on the surfing bandwagon. Still, I know, just like my favorite swim shorts — my dad’s from the ’70s! — I’ll find something that’s that perfect mix of vintage and modern.
I may have had a wheezy cough and I may have only stayed for a little more than an hour, but I finally made it to the U.S. Open of Surfing! I’ve been several times in years past and while it can be a bit hectic, it’s always a good time. This year, the sponsors – which included Hurley, Converse and Nike — and the always hilarious commentators really upped the ante. The waves even put on a decent show (which isn’t always the case) and the boy and I saw a couple surfers do some amazing aerials and 360 turns. And of course, I couldn’t leave without getting a little swag on the way out – free Hurley hat included!
That does it for Summer Bucket List item No. 9, but I still have a long way to go before the summer is officially over. Perhaps, I’ll just have to make summer last just a little bit longer …
Update: Curiosity landed safely (and beautifully, I might add) on the surface of Mars at 10:32 p.m. PDT! Read more here. Check out the amazing team who got her to the surface, here.
Tonight’s a big night for one amazing little lady who also happens to be my coworker. Her name is Curiosity. Eight years in the making, Curiosity is NASA’s most technically advanced Mars rover ever and she’ll be only the fourth rover to ever explore the Red Planet. Essentially a laboratory on wheels, Curiosity’s mission is to explore her landing site in Mars’ Gale Crater to determine whether Mars has or ever had the ingredients for life. Since November, she’s been making her way to Mars and tonight is the defining moment when she makes a treacherous descent to the Martian surface using methods never before attempted. In a way, she’s competing in her own Olympic sport and like proud parents, we’re all biting our nails in the stands hoping she sticks the landing.
Even though we can’t watch the events of her landing (scheduled for 10:31 PDT) unfold on Mars, there will be plenty to see from the mission control room at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which will be featured in live landing night broadcasts on USTREAM and NASA TV starting at 8:30 p.m. PDT. (I won’t be in mission control, but I’ll be watching the live events from my cubicle and posting updates to the NASA website – including Curiosity’s first images from on the ground!) Here’s how to follow the excitement and geek out with Curiosity – and me — tonight:
Here’s to wishing Curiosity a safe landing and an amazing adventure on Mars!
I did manage to make it to one event on my whirlwind weekend list, even if it was for the last hour of the last day. I just can’t stand to miss the Renegade Craft Fair — or manage to leave without buying a thing or two. In addition to finally purchasing an adorable narwhal portrait from one of my favorite illustrators, Ryan Berkley Illustration, and discovering the stunning and whimsical work of Lela Shields, I figured out how I’m going to complete Summer Bucket List item No. 19 (buy a plant and keep it alive all summer long): by purchasing a premade mini terrarium containing a plant with no roots that can essentially be carried around like little pet succulent and only needs to be watered once a week! It was only $10 from Terrarium Shop — with a cute little stand to boot.
I’m sure you’re thinking, “Kim, you must be able to take care of a plant that’s higher maintenance.” Nope (Chuck Testa). It has to be just a step away from artificial for it to survive me. I think me and my epiphyte (that’s what it’s called according to Wikipedia) will be very happy together.
