Travel Thursdays: A Bit about LA

You may remember that a few weeks ago I was in LA on a short 4-day trip to visit our family (meaning four other Acrey women, and no Acrey men--unless you're counting the two fat cats, the chihuahua, and the blind Lhasa Apso). Every time I go back to LA these days I have a vastly different experience and spend time in vastly different areas. Sometimes I make it everywhere, from Orange County to Calabasas to downtown, trying out new restaurants, hitting lovely beaches, finding new outdoor spots to have a fruity cocktail. This time, though, I spent almost every second of my time in the Valley, where my fam lives and where Nicole and I grew up. I think the most exciting thing I did the whole time was go to three malls in one day. (And if you don't think that's exciting, you're definitely not from the Valley.)

But while the trip wasn't full of travel-related excitement, it was enjoyable to return home and spend long lazy nights with my family, reminisce with girlfriends over delicious Mexican meals, and finally meet my gramma's chihuahua ("His middle name is Satan," she tells me).

The kittens wanted to visit LA too | Topolino and I meet at last!

Momma!

I arrived in LA at around 1:30pm on a Sunday, so Momma and I thought we'd spend the afternoon in Santa Monica walking around and having lunch, since it was nearby and "there shouldn't be traffic." That's the thing about LA I always forget until I'm back there--your every day is guided by proximity and traffic. Go to Santa Monica from the Valley at 3:30 on a Friday? No way. Or downtown from the Valley at all? Not a chance.

Santa Monica pier on a Sunday afternoon. "It's so crowded!" says Momma. "Why did we think it was a good idea to come on a Sunday?"

Three generations of Acrey... | ...and too much laughter to take a successful picture

Rocco, Momma's fat fat cat. And to think I remember getting him from the shelter when he was the size of my palm...

When the majority of your lazy vacation days are spent in your mom's apartment, I'll tell you one thing you inevitably do--go through old photographs and smile at the memories or laugh your ass off at the 80s hair. Oh man, the 80s...between the MC Hammer pants I have photographic evidence of me rocking and the giant perms on my aunts', it's definitely the most photo-satisfying decade ever.

The Acrey ladies (and wee Nicole and me--your guess is as good as mine as to who's who) did 80s hair right | We were munchkins!

A rare Bob sighting (Momma's other fat cat, who lives under the bed. Always.)

And lest you believe I did nothing on this trip, I did, per Momma's 1 million email requests, help her organize and redecorate her apartment, if only a wee bit. Hence the three malls. And the Target trips. And...oh, you get the idea.

When in the Valley, do as the Valley girls do. And shop.

All photos by Natalie's iphone

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday everyone! F has some family in town from Italy, so we're spending some of this 100-degree weekend at the beach with them--for as long as we can stand before someone passes out or melts... Also, but of course, eating lots of delicious homemade Italian food. Then on Sunday, I'm off for a short but much needed trip home to LA! Yay! I'll try to post at least a few times while I'm there--I don't have much planned for the trip, but my mom seems to want to occupy all my time redecorating her apartment. What are you up to this weekend?

A little 'Hey there, Good Lookin' wink from Zuma for you ;)

Hope your Friday is lovely and see you back here next week!

Image from my Instagram

Loved + Pinned: Places to Go...

Having just come back from a trip (actually it's a week today that I've been back--eek! How time flies!), I'm in the midst of daydreaming about the places I've been, the places I've come from, and the places I have yet to go. That Helsinki print is so stinking cute and perfectly reminds me of one of my favorite countries. And that pink party table in the street?! Oh my, let's throw a bash right now...

Image sources: Helsinki poster by Blanca Gomez pinned by Summer | California Poems scarf [sold] by Leah Goren pinned by EZ | Party table in the street by Carla Ten Eyck Photography pinned by Paris Hotel Boutique | Florida Keys map by Anne Smith pinned by me | River source unknown* pinned by Jessica | Los Angeles print by Albie Designs pinned by Joy

*please share if you know the source!

Happy Weekend!

Happy weekend, everyone! This afternoon I'm off to pick up my race packet for the Miami half-marathon on Sunday. This is my second half-marathon, so I'm more at the giddy-to-run stage than the so-nervous-I-want-to-throw-up stage this time around. I'm also planning on finalizing some entryway and living room redecorating I've been working on, which will hopefully be ready to share with you next week.

(Words I sometimes I need to remind myself of)

What are you up to this weekend? Is it cold where you are? Snowing? Or do you get to run outside and across gorgeous bridges like I do? See you next week!

P.S. This video of our hometown made me laugh out loud.

My and Nicole's dream lawn.

The Valentine's Day gift wrap I want to recreate. (Or to receive. Either one ;)

My ultimate nightmare in a lamp via Man Made DIY (if you know me, you know I hate squirrels).

Where on Earth Have I Been Lately?!

Whenever I get into travel mode I tend to ignore everything else I have to do. Such as cleaning the house, cooking dinner, working out, reading anything but celebrity gossip, or blogging. But I have been back from vacation for almost a week now and so no longer have an excuse to be so negligent around these parts!

Just to catch you up, we took a whirlwind trip to the US over Easter break to visit family and friends in LA and New York, with a one-day pit stop in Boston as well. It was fantastic. I even introduced my German man to Disneyland and wouldn't you know, he loved it! (Not like he had the choice of saying otherwise...) We had a wondeful time and I'm always so grateful for the limited time I have with all my favorite people back there. Here are a few picture highlights. More perhaps to come in another post, if I ever get around to it!

 Ahhh, the joys of acting like a child on the teacups! Makes me feel...well, to be honest, 16 again. I've never stopped loving this ride. And the ridiculous pictures it produces!

This was my first time on Tower of Terror in California Adventure (the newish park next to Disneyland) and OMG if it wasn't the most terrifying thing I have EVER done in my life! (Besides perhaps, my leap off the Park Inn hotel here in Berlin but at least then, I knew what I was getting myself into!) Not that my expression and the laughter of everyone around me gives my fear away or anything. Or the claw mark I left on Micha's right arm...

I dare you to tell me a desert day trip would be complete without a Wild West-style picture. We took one day to drive to Calico Ghost Town (about halfway between LA and Vegas) with Micha's cousin and his wife who are conveniently living in LA for a while and it didn't disappoint. We had beers on rocking chairs in front of a saloon, rode an old train around the silver mines, and ate massive burgers and ketchup-doused fries in Peggy Sue's '50s diner. 

Ohhhhh, mini martinis in NYC...the champagne one was heavenly. I no longer have any idea what any of the others were, but I'm pretty sure I liked 4 out of 6 of them. As sure as one can be after such an evening...

I'm loving the effect we get when using the fish eye attachment on our lens and then super zooming. It makes me feel like a mermaid.

Oh, the amount of food we ate was obscene. Especially the amount of good, homemade Italian food. And cheese. It still has me drooling.

 Walking through the crowds by Fenway after the Red Sox won. We were not at the game, but we did half watch from a sports bar across the street! Nothing like the Sox and a fellow Padovana to immerse you happily into Boston nostalgia and college memories just like *snap* that!

The view from Williamsburg aka Hipsterville. It was adorable over there and the weather was oh-so accomodating. Thanks for that New York! Now next time, just don't get me sick on my last day and we'll have a long and lovely friendship, k?