On Emails I Send to my Sister

I send ridiculous emails to my sister. My latest was of this photo: 

The subject said: Did I do that?!?! 

The body: Love, Urkel. 

On How the Polaroid is Not Dead

Instant photos are alive and well. My wall can prove it. Fuji has crafted an Instamax camera that produces instant photos about the size of a credit card. At about $1.50 a picture (order the film online), I am able to bring back the bygone large square Polaroid.  The photos are complete with a strip of white for recording that special moment caught on film.  

On What's in My Sack

I carry around a "Mom sack" it is the University of Southern California's version of the LL Bean Boat & Tote. Unfortunately, when pack up for the day, I am most likely not gearing up for a sail.  What I currently tote:











Homemade salad for lunch which is light, fresh, and the perfect combatant of the post-lunch dragging feel. 

My slim Crooks & Castle wallet.   The compact home to my identity.

Gum. Gum chewing keeps me alert and confident. Onions sometimes make their way into my homemade salads so this is purely for the sake of office etiquette.(Why this I make this specific gum choice has been mention in a prior post! Check it!)

My pleasure read of the moment. It is summer after all.  Even though I am working, I break up the Metro commute with a good novel. I am only 12 pages in, but am purely amused. This book is going to be good. Rumor has it Franzen kinda dissed Oprah's Book Club. Tahaha!

On a Weekend Highlight

This past weekend was fantastic! I fit in some yoga, some biking and running. I shopped for new office clothes.  I went on a special date, and I attended a local event that showcases artists and designers.  The event was called UniqueLA.  Hosted in the California Market Center Penthouse (Fashion District DTLA), hundreds of artists gathered to show off their wares, sell some crafts, and hang with good music and good food.  I got a great knit hat, a bric-a-brac brooch thing for the Moms (Mother's day was Sunday for you suckas that forgot to praise your mama!), a tee shirt from MNKR (that has a swear word on it! Go me!), a free CD and canvas bag, and many ideas for future arting and crafting. Time for me to get out my glitter, glue sticks, and puffy paints!

On The One Year Mark

I have been living in Los Angeles for exactly one year now.  I cannot even believe it.  I have only just begun to discover all of the little treasures that this massive metropolis has to offer.  I have been compiling a list of eateries to visit in the city because, in my opinion, there is no better way to take in the sights and sounds of a place than by doing it while breaking bread, and in true Janell fashion, sipping wine. 

Eatery Wish List: 
Forage 
Mozza (Highland)
Clementine
The Trails

Fig & Olive (I have been in NYC, but have yet to check out the newly opened LA satellite.)

Father's Office

The Farm Shop (Read about it in the NYC Times, my mum sent me an enticing article.)

There are many, many, many more, but these are on the top of my list. If anyone out there wants to make it happen and accompany me to scope these places out please let me know! Summers are for exploring and wining and dining! 

 The places I have been (sometimes multiple times) and love (and will return to, yet again):

Urth Caffe The coffee is rich and strong. It is nice to sit with a friend and get a French Press of the Scandinavian Blend. I am a sucker for pastries and happen to like their Green Tea Muffin even though, at first, it sounded odd. Expect a crowd, more so at the Santa Monica location than on Melrose, but the weekends are kind of crazy which signifies that the place is good. My breakfast pick would be the multi-grain waffle with fresh berries while my lunch choice would be a combination of 1/2 an Urth Salad (the not so ordinary house salad has feta, chick peas, olives, hearts of palm) and a cup of the Veggie Chili with an Arnold Palmer for a beverage, and of course, sit outside. 

Huckleberry Another cafe that draws a crowd. I am in love with their breakfast sandwich.  The egg is perfectly runny and the bacon is always well cooked, but not too crisp. This is perfect when paired with a mimosa. I had the best birthday lunch here. Request a heart shaped butter cookie to go or some other goody from the pastry case.  You can indulge later and make your visit linger. 

Alcove I have been here a dozen of times and will keep coming back. It is the spot MK and I frequent post long runs in Griffith Park. We sit our sweaty selves outside so as not to bother the other diners. Mark had a legendary faint at this place, but I am pretty posi he would revisit Alcove with their big salads, paninis (the turkey/pesto I crave from time to time), and their breakfasts which are served all day (there is a good one with egg whites, greens, toast, and chicken breast grilled to perfection). 

Umami Burger Trivia Q: What are the 5 tastes? I don't think I said one word the entire meal because of how good my truffle burger tasted. I am the type that eats burgers every other month. Umami may have served me the best burger I have ever tasted (close contender being The Neighborhood in San Diego).

Larchmont Bungalow My neighborhood haunt. I make it a point to get to this cafe once a week: to grab a pound of locally roasted coffee to make at home, for a quick fresh OJ and a morning muffin, or for an afternoon iced Chai with a shot of espresso aka Dirty Chai.  Sometimes I spend hour here sit with my Mac Book or the New York Times.  I have tried their claim-to-fame Red and Blue Velvet pancakes (get the half order). Yummy! 

LA and I together one year later. Some much yet to do. So much yet to taste.

On Malo Mondays

I anticipate Mondays. Weird. Malo has made Mondays doable, in fact, enjoyable. There is nothing quite like a ground beef/pickle/cheddar hard taco and a Negro Modelo after a day of work. Throw some chewy chips in there and wow! You have yourself a night. On Mondays, I stray from my water + salad regime and let my hair down for some tacos. It's about time you join the club, especially, if you are asking "what are chewy chips?". . . 

On Wishing I was a Brit

Somedays I wish I was a Brit speaking with a thick Cockney accent. . . or maybe just a Kate Middleton kind of Brit.  She looked absolutely stunning in her wedding gown on 4/29. Cheers to her for bringing back the full sleeve. Strapless is so last decade/prom/club-esque. If I was Brit I would be able to use words such as: gaff, bollocks, fag (*in lieu of cigarette), arse, lift (aka elevator), dodgy (instead of sketchy), and pram; not to mention spend my holidays as pictured above.