Life in Snapshots: August Week 4

49ers playing in their new home - Levi's Stadium

Celebrating my promotion with a few good friends! 

Best kale salad in the city

Celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi with my family

My happiest place on earth - beaches of Santa Cruz

Life in Snapshots: August Week 3

A little guidance from Oprah to start the week. It's easy to forget the big dreams in light of the little ones.

A leisurely dinner at Chez Maman with this little scruff and his delightful owner

Diets are really hard, especially when fresh fig ice-cream and chocolate sauce are involved. Dessert at Hops & Hominy - worth the calories.

Is it just a coincidence or fate that Gap opened up in London the same year I was born? I am thinking destiny for sure!

Made a few new friends on an evening hike; one of the many reasons I love California

Life in Snapshots: August Week 2

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I knew this week would be 95% work and 5% play because I had a big presentation on Friday. As expected, I worked the usual 11 - 12 hr days in preparation for it. What I didn't expect were the curveballs that would be thrown along the way. Changes are on the horizon and opportunity is knocking and it definitely looks like a lot of work, so I guess I better figure out if I am up for the challenge.

Trading in the summer sandals for fall flats

Long to-do lists call for large coffees

I dressed purely for comfort this week - soft pants and big glasses

A beautiful bridal shower for a beautiful bride at Satori Tea Company

Great new book, tea, bed; don't disturb me - I'm reading

Life in Snapshots: August Week 1

Loving BR's new look for fall. This little burgundy number will be mine!

Shaking up the weeknights by hanging with Mr. and Mrs. Carter

Jane on Larkin's cappuccino - heaven in liquid form

Some nights I have Peanut M&Ms for dinner 

Shakespeare in the Park - not the Globe Theatre, but cozy entertainment on summer nights

Life in Snapshots: July Week 4

The last week of July was just OK. Work kicked up a notch, so my weekdays were filled with meetings and excel spreadsheets. The free time I had from the nine-to-five grind was spent working out or grabbing some food or drinks with a friend. It was what I call an even keel week. Everything was in equilibrium and I got a good amount of work and play.

Newly discovered haunts: RN74 (good happy hour and the space is enormous with lots of light)

Old stomping grounds revisited: Hobee's (this is my spot; if you have known me long enough, you have had breakfast at Hobee's with me. I have been going here since I was fifteen. It's the Central Perk of my life), Oren's Hummus, Joya (the lounge in the back isn't crowded and a great spot to sit and have a conversation), Cafe Pro Bono (my favorite Italian joint in South Bay; the owners are so fun and wonderful), Shoreline Park - the Baylands trails is my favorite spot to run in the bay area, especially during sunset time.

Needless to say, I blew my restaurant budget out of the water for the month of July. So, I guess I will balance that out in August by trying out some of those Pinterest recipes I keep pinning.

Leisurely brunch at Hobee's laughing it up with a good friend on a Sunday morning. Now you know why I have been going there for ten years. Look at that plate! The cinnamon tea is also wonderful.

The sweetest souvenir I ever received and one of the most useful too! It definitely adds some island flavor to my afternoon tea 

Two peas in a pod: catching up with one of my good friends from college

Spending Saturday indulging in my favorite activity - vacation planning!

Running away from my troubles and worries

Life in Snapshots: July Week 3

The last week for me was all about the past (ha!). I ran into some people I haven't seen in years and reconnected with some that I haven't talked to in months. It's funny how life likes to send you a reminder that the world we live in is small and that people in your past still sometimes haunt your present. Last week was also my final week of freedom before work kicks into high-gear for a month, so I enjoyed some quality down time. I also had the worst Saturday ever where Murphy's Law kicked my sorry butt. A warm Saturday morning, farmer's market at the Ferry Building, a Free Gaza protest, and a Giants game meant the city was packed to the gills and getting anywhere was a pain. I had a graduate school event I needed to get to and that cost me a nice hefty Uber ride there and a 2 mile walk back in heels and a blazer. I was never so happy to take off my shoes and take a long bath. Fortunately, the day ended well with drinks on an outdoor patio enjoying the summer nights.

Newly discovered haunts: Mission Beach Cafe (the pancakes were the best and the wait is actually worth it), Four Barrel Coffee (great, but I am still a Philz girl)

Old stomping grounds revisited: Steins (one of my favorite places in South Bay and a great place to spend a summer evening since they have lots of outdoor seating), Fig & Thistle (cozy little wine bar), Brass Tacks

Brunch at Mission Beach Cafe with a friend who made the one-and-a-half hour wait enjoyable

Italian cooking night with the roommates and and Trader Joe's

Recreating one of my mom's curry recipes

Wandering around Mission and finding some amazing printed sundresses

The sandal tan that happens every summer