cereal london

London, I'm coming for you! This May. Let the countdown begin...

weekly scenes

There is no one I love spending time with more than my man. With him, I'm utterly myself. Free & happy. The past month gifted us more time together than usual. When life gives it to you, you use it. Adventures, with him, are always better. 

je t'aime paris

Oh Paris. What a dream of a city. Adam and I had such a good time there. We walked for hours each day, exploring gardens and and the beautiful architecture. We just kept going, wanting to see more because at every turn something else would take your breath away. It's much bigger than I had expected, and although full of French people, it is also a very international city. It's like New York's more beautiful older sister - international and cultural, but more grown up and refined. We ate well, of course. I will never forget the crepe we ate on arrival. It was like a giant, "welcome to Paris." We were so hungry, it was so big, so delicious, so perfect. But then again, isn't everything in Paris perfect? I think it just might be...

surround me with flowers: the nyc botanical gardens

I finally made it to the NYC botanical gardens. I've been hoping to get there all summer to check out the 'Wild Medicine' exhibit, but hadn't found the time. At last, over labor day weekend, I got there. The exhibit was great - I learned about tea, antioxidants, citrus fruits, and all other kinds of things. For instance, did you know that nutmeg is good for an upset stomach, but taken in excess and you'll hallucinate? (Don't get any ideas.) 

Beyond the exhibit, I fell in love when we found the cactus and succulent wing of the conservatory. I've started a little collection of my own at home, but this put all of that to shame. Cacti twice my height, huge blooming flowers in electric colors, and fat prickly basketballs - the place was awe inspiring. 

I never wanted to leave the beauty of that conservatory. Mother nature gives me so much joy. I could spend eternity surrounded by her plants. 

a dreamer goes to san francisco

What an amazing little trip I just had to San Francisco. It was my first time getting out to the west coast in my adult life. I was ten years old and still really didn't understand life the last time I was there. At this point, my perspective can't help but be tarnished by the overarching stereotypes and historical anecdotes that I've heard so much of. I could tell, being there, that this was a city founded by hippies and based on love. The air felt fresher, the people a bit friendlier. Marijuana is in a sense legal, and real, rugged nature, is right at your fingertips. If that's not hippie influence, I don't know what is. 

I can in no way cover everything that I experienced on my trip, but let me try and entertain you with some of the highlights...

Outside Lands Music Festival

I arrived on a Friday night and was able to catch Saturday & Sunday of the Outside Lands music festival in Golden Gate Park. Two days of magic infused with music, I could have stayed in that time warp for the rest of my life. I did some freelance coverage while I was there, so rather than try and find new words to express my experience, check it out:

Free People Bldg 25 Blog

Suitcase Mag (Saturday)

Suitcase Mag (Sunday)

Strawberry Hill

We climbed up to the top of Strawberry Hill on our way to the festival one day. Supposedly it's a great view of the bay, but what we got was mostly fog. Where some would be disapointed with that, I actually wasn't. The fog is so striking, and such a bold characteristic of the city. I find it very beautiful and calming in a way. We played around at the top, channeling our childhood selves for a minute. It was sheer fun.

Park Culture

"I spend more time outside here than anywhere else I've ever lived," my brother explained to me. Hanging out in parks is a huge part of the culture here. Because it's so accessible, people go for hikes, they read a book in the grass, play some Frisbee - free time just isn't spent cooped up inside. Not to mention, the city is very green. You find compost bins everywhere and have to actually pay if you want a plastic bag at most stores. It's not a struggle to get people to live green, and I think that ties back to the close connection San Fransicans have with the outdoors. A lesson the rest of us should take if you ask me!

The Bay

So that I could get the lay of the land, one day we started in the Marina district and walked all along the coast and the Embarcadero until we got to the edge of the financial district. The views were spectacular. We walked out on a pier right at the beginning. There were were sailboats all around, and you could get a great view of Alcatraz floating out on the water. We stopped in the Ferry building which is full of little shops piled with well-designed items and food joints serving up fresh, organic, well-crafted grab n' go's. I got a fresh pressed juice and some heirloom lima beans to try out.

The Haight

Only in the Haight have I ever seen a real life nudist. This happened early on my second day there. I quickly knew, this city was like nothing else. That being said, the Haight is a really cool little spot in this world. Neat shops sprinkle throughout and it's overall a happening place. I hit up a yoga studio, Yoga Garden of San Francisco, while I was there that I would highly recommend if you're staying in the Haight. There's a little zen garden as you walk in, and the place is three stories high of gorgeous sun-filled practice rooms. At my brother's suggestion, I followed it up with breakfast and coffee at Bean There Cafe. I loved that I was able to get almond milk in my granola here, and not soy. Additional bonus, they made my fruit salad fresh before my eyes, and the coffee is top notch.

The Persidio

This city has some stellar views, and a trip to the Persidio/Baker Beach really proved it to me. It's a really peaceful nook of the city that I highly suggest finding if you have the time.

Chinatown

I had to make it here while I was in San Francisco. One of my only memories from the first time we came to SF was being told that they served cat in Chinatown. I think my brother was trying to scare me...

Nonetheless, we all know I'm a big lover of Chinese culture and cuisine. My brother and I walked through, and downed some cheap and delicious dim sum before I had to hop on a plane back to Philadelphia.

The Climate

I'm a fall baby. The season lends itself to outdoor activities and is the best time of year for fashion. What's amazing about San Francisco is that it perpetually feels like fall, but at the same time they can grow warm weather plants. My brother's roommates had a lemon tree growing in the house! How cool is that? They also had a fig tree growing out back, and I spotted some olive trees while walking the streets. This place is seriously perfect...

Closing Words

As if I wasn't already full of wanderlust, this city really got my dreams going. San Francisco makes you realize that life doesn't always have to be serious. It can be fun and productive at the same time. As a place, it works. The people get along, the city is very clean and put together, and because they're able to do that, it seems like everyone is able to have as much fun as they'd like. It's about living responsibly so that you can live free.

road trip to rehoboth

Last weekend there was an impromptu trip to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. For some crazy reason, it was the first I've made it to the beach this summer. It felt so good to get into the ocean. Floating there, waves swaying under my body, I couldn't have been happier. I'm a water sign, and I swear, there has always been a special connection. My soul yearns for it, and it was so good to finally get it. Especially with a good crew & fun times.  

gastronomics of china

Man-o-man did I eat when I was in China. Outside of being a pescatarian my rule is that I will try anything at least once. Century eggs that have been buried under the ground to, essentially, rot, fish "tofu," strange fruits...I.Ate.It.All. And I did not stop. All diets out the window when I'm on vacation, that's how I roll. 

It was a fun adventure of the palette, but mostly I fell in love with the whole attitude around food in general. I love the way they eat around the same dish. They really share the food on that's on the table. It's not weird to double dip or eat right off the serving plate. They also have a connection with their food - from raising it, to killing it, to cooking it - in a way that we really miss here in America. There, it isn't blinked at twice by anyone when you come home with a live animal. You most likely know the person that grew your soy beans, and you may have even picked the lotus root yourself. It's a step back to basics, a step back to community. My goal now is to try and preserve what I witnessed for my life here at home.