Three Things

My (favorite) latest apps:

1. Venmo - Like their website points out, it's like your smartphone and wallet had a beautiful baby. This free app makes it incredibly easy (and secure and quick) to settle split bills between friends.
   
   
   
2. Tiny Review - Developed to be a platform to "caption the world" and post succinct photo reviews linked to locations. My initial reaction was moreso "Great! Easy instagram-like memes." I foresee much random fun to be had and wit to be spread via this app.
   
   
   
3. HeyTell - Who wouldn't want to turn their smartphone into a walkie-talkie?
   
   

Three Things

My current reading list:

1. Is Everybody is Hanging out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) Mindy Kaling
2. The Fallback Plan Leigh Stein
3. The Night Circus Erin Morgenstern

What's on yours?

Three Things

Last month, I dropped by Artisinal LA's Holiday pop-up shop in Pasadena and sampled all sorts of great food and drinks from local vendors. Everyone was super nice, and by the time I finished circulating the different tables, I emerged with a foodie high and even bigger appreciation for the variety of local businesses in the community.

Creme Caramels from Creme Caramel LA

Candy bacon from Cast Iron Gourmet

Organic spirits from Greenbar Collective

Three Things

Anyone who knows me well knows that I have a teensy bit of an obsession with shoes. Since the cleanse of my collection before moving to California, I try to limit purchases to classic versatile styles that I know I'll get a lot of mileage out of - style and comfort-wise. Here are my three current go-to themes:

Metallics
(Hunter wedge wellies & Kelsi Dagger pumps)

Classic black with attention to detailing
(Mossimo booties & Rosegold pumps)
Neutrals
(Schutz peep toe booties & Cole Haan pumps)

Three Things

I am quite excited that they've extended deliveries to a year-round system for the CSA California drop-off at my work. Since joining in late spring, the batches of fruits and veggies have gotten me to try all sorts of new recipes. Here are photos of my latest experiments from the latest batch:

Roasted tomato soup from Smitten Kitchen

Sausage and Kale Soup from Martha Stewart

Cauliflower Gratin from Smitten Kitchen

Three Things

Three snapshots from my 10 days on the East Coast in September.

Reunited with Feven and Allison at Cleo & Alex's wedding in Street, MD

Bacca - Tamara's adorable golden-doodle pup

Enjoying Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA & soft pretzels with Pete after Desi & Tim's wedding

Three Things

This week's Three Things post is more of a Three Pictures Across Three Years post. One of the friends I'm excited to catch up with next week in NYC is Alana - we met via IMLP, the only two girls in our US Energy class...many cities later, we've both moved onto new professional adventures on opposite ends of the country but are only a tweet or blog away!

2008 - Atlanta, new roomies first night out on the town!

2009 - Shanghai, out of the classrooms

2010 - New York City, right before we flew out to Atlanta for IMLP graduation

Three Things

Summer may almost be over according to the calendar, but we're in Southern California. That means there's definitely still a few more beach weekends to go! Here are three of my picks depending on what type of beach day you're looking for:

Santa Monica - Between the boardwalk-esque pier and Promenade shops, you can escape the Los Angeles heatwave and enjoy the beach breeze without having to get sand all over your feet.

San Clemente - Gorgeous view from Calafia Park. Beautiful beach, nearby trails and yummy eats like Hapa J's around the corner.

Laguna Beach - Thousand Steps Beach has an intimidating trek to and from the beach but is definitely worth the leg workout!

Three Things

This week features my favorite flea market finds:

Dress form found at the Rose Bowl Flea Market.

It's actually pretty true to my size as well - perhaps a sign that a DIY venture in my future should be sewing related?

Square leather ottoman with nailhead detailing and great varying shades of tan at the Melrose Trading Post. I debated and haggled hard for this baby.

Refurbished coffee table from disregarden at the Melrose Trading Post.

Three Things

[that I can't get enough of right now]

1. KIND bars - my favorites are the Almond & Coconut or the Dark Chocolate Cherry + Antioxidants.
   
2. Jouer Mini Tinted Lip Enhancers - normally I just swipe on Pangea Organic's lip balm, but Jouer's Bellini has become a part of my simple morning makeup routine.
   
3. LUSH's Godiva solid shampoo - smells so good, takes a while to completely use up...and I have super long (still curly, if you're wondering about my digital perm) hair now.
   

Three Things

• Sunny summer West Coast late afternoons = making plans to avoid traffic getting the beach. Sunny summer Atlanta late afternoons = making plans to avoid the line for getting into Sweetwater outings. Both very fun and great in their own special ways.

• Humidity has struck the West, making me wish I could be near a river where I could improve the kayaking skills I learned in April. My friend John took a few of us out to North Carolina where we ran the Lower Green and learned basic wet exits - so much fun!

• July & August are always associated with my IMLP Bootcamp memories. Three summers ago, we were at Junior Bootcamp in Danbury. Two summers ago, Senior Bootcamp at Shanghai. Last summer we all had training at Crotonville before our Graduation in Atlanta. Miss you all!

Three Things

• Ever evolving and always colorful Venice Beach Graffiti Pit makes for a great photographic subject and backdrop - the skate park a few feet away makes for some great entertainment as well with some really talented skateboarders of all ages.
  

• View from the convertible on a boat on the way to Balboa Island in Orange County. Sure beats waiting in traffic on the main roads.
  

• LA Galaxy vs. Real Madrid exhibition game at the LA Coliseum. Last summer was a lot of fun, traveling around Europe during the World Cup - getting to watch Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Benzema take to the field together was just as fun!
  

Three Things

• How cute are these Kauzbots? Each version represents a different philanthropic cause, a percentage of which the sale proceeds will be donated towards.
  

• Automatic arm party courtesy of Rachel Abroms' awesome leather wrap bracelet. Just add watch, maybe a skinny charm bracelet from Melrose Trading Post and you're good to go.
  

• I've tweeted several times about how happy I am that I participated in the CSA California program that delivers fresh produce to my workplace every other week - I figured it's about darn time I featured it on the blog as well. I've learned so many great ways to prepare new types of veggies that I never would have been brave enough to buy at the markets or stores myself.
  

Three Things

• I found Stitch's doppleganger on a t-shirt at Co-op 28, this awesome little store right down the street from my apartment. I cannot say enough good things about the neighborhood of Los Feliz - so proud to becoming well-versed in the local gems I have within walking distance!
  

• The line at Wurstkuche is totally worth the wait. I may also be addicted to their Chipotle Ketchup.

• Paradis ice cream (also on the list of walkable gems) has filled the void that Greenville's Luna Rosa left in my heart. Specifically filled their Chocolate Sorbet paired with Roasted Hazelnut Cream.

Three Things

• I absolutely love the abundance of Jacaranda trees in LA. It makes my runs and walks more enjoyable, stuck-in-traffic scenery more bearable and overall life more colorful.

• Melrose Trading Post has become my favorite use of 2$ (the entry fee) and area to wander around on Sunday mornings. How awesome is that bed frame? How often can you get Argentine empanadas then walk less than 10 feet and get made-to-order crepes followed by browsing vintage postcards and prints?

• Tawny versus the vintage Wedgewood gas oven continues. Can anyone explain why my cupcakes turned into minature mountains of chocolate yum? Without actual proven measurement, I'm pretty sure my oven cooks at least 30 degrees higher than the dial reads or about 10-15 minutes faster than recommended.