Weekend Warriors: Beach Bums

Weekend Recap: January 10-11th

I’m planning on doing an update post soon since I’ve been MIA for a few weeks (blame the holidays and the presents/mall hangover daze that follows). However, for now I thought I’d share some pics from my fun weekend.

We took Friday off and spent the morning in Santa Barbara where we ate at a cute little diner right off the beach. Mid-afternoon we made our way up to the 101 to Cayucos, CA where a few of our close friends along with Frank and I, rented a beach house in the sleepy beach town along the Central Coast to celebrate my best friend’s birthday.

She wasn’t expecting a big group and was happily surprised (yay!). We spent the next two days lounging and celebrating. We walked to the beach and hung out in our pretty home for the weekend just eating s’mores, napping and drinking (it was pretty damn perfect).

Not to sound cheesy, but it was definitely one of those weekends where I felt genuinely thankful and lucky to have friends that I love so much. This weekend was just full of lots of love and laughs (again, sorry this all sounds so cheesy). Can’t wait to plan another getaway soon!

xoxo

Sandi

weekend warriors

Weekend Warriors: Traffic and Turkey

Weekend Recap: November 27-30, 2014

After four days off, I go back to work tomorrow (insert crying emoji here). Thanksgiving has come and gone and we’re that much closer to the end of the year (yeeks!). My turkey day was filled with lots of family time (including a wonderful visit by my future mother in law) and cousin time spent yelling at a TV playing Super Smash Brothers. I’m really straddling the line between adult and kid, but I’m OK with that.

My long weekend off started hellish/in the most L.A. way possible. I encountered mind numbingly horrible traffic. The kind that makes you want to just park your car in the middle of the road and walk home. The kind where you find yourself looking at the clock then looking at the road then looking at the clock until you’re dizzy. It took me about 2 and half hours to go less than 25 miles. It was horrible, but thankfully that was the worst part of my weekend and the rest was a whole lot better.

My days off were spent eating…eating…some drinking…lounging…chilling and shopping. It all felt very lazy and American. It was great!

Also it finally rained on Sunday and I got to bust out my North Face jacket. It’s the little things, right?

To close off this weekend, let me just say a few cheesy things. First off, everyday I find myself more and more grateful for my parents and fiance. (I’d be lost without them). I’m thankful for my close friends (I consider them family) and for my health (can never take that for granted). But most of all, I’m just thankful for the opportunity to keep improving and growing into the kind of person that I want my loved ones to be proud of (sorry about ending on a preposition). I’m the worst right? Cheesy rant over!

Here’s to another week (the first of my birthday month!).

xoxo

Sandi

weekend warriors

Weekend Warriors: San Diego Bound

Weekend Recap: November 15-16, 2014

It has been one of my missions as an adult to find a “place.” When I was in San Francisco, my friends and I thought we found a bar that would become our place. We’d become regulars and they’d cheer every time we came around. Well that never happened, but that dumb idea still lingers in the back of my dumb head. Here in the L.A. area, the closest I can say to having a “place” is Golden Road Brewery. It’s not terribly close, but it’s worth the drive to drink some good beer in a chill environment. Am I a regular? No. Does anyone there know my name? Nope, not even a little bit. But it’s usually among the first choices thrown out when my best friend is in town and wants to hang…so that’s as close to a “place” as I’m getting. I’ll take it!

On Saturday we made the little over half hour drive to Golden Road to sit, drink some beer and do lots of people watching (which are two of my favorite things…ever). We went into the photobooth and great (read: ugly) memories were made. Example below.

Sunday, Frank, my parents and I decided to make the 2.5 hour drive down to San Diego. Why? Well with the holidays quickly approaching (eeks!), my parents decided that it would be a good time to take a trip before my dad becomes totally consumed by work (my dad works and has worked in the restaurant industry my whole life and the holidays are super stressful and busy for my dad). It’s always fun and encouraging to spend time with my parents. Their relationship is constantly motivating and always leaves me hopeful for what my own marriage will be like after 30 years.

We spent a fun day at Old Town San Diego where we ate some bomb tacos and walked around taking in all the rustic charm that San Diego has to offer. By charm I mostly mean food. Example below!

We ended the night with an AMAZING dinner (yay! more food!) over looking the harbor. It was tiring and well worth it (the sign of any good weekend activity). Until next weekend!

xoxo

Sandi

weekend warriors

Weekend Warriors: Any Excuse to Go To Santa Barbara

Weekend Recap: November 8-9th, 2014

We need no excuse to make the drive to Santa Barbara. The city is beautiful, the weather is perfect and one of my best friends lives there. Every time we visit, Frank and I have a twenty minute discussion on why we should move there. Not sure if it will ever happen, but it’s nice to dream. This weekend we had an actual reason, we had a potential wedding venue to visit (eek! adult things!).

After work on Friday, we made the drive to see my friend and her cute house. We chilled. We drank. We were (a little too) merry. On Saturday we recovered by walking around State street and taking it a little easier. Later on, we had dinner at this really cute place called, Benchmark Eatery. Service was awesome and the place was really cute. The picture below is of the world’s largest onion rings. MMM, friend food!

On Sunday we said our goodbyes and drove up to Lompoc to look at a gorgeous venue. It was beautiful! Don’t want to jinx it. But we really like it…we shall see!

On to another week!

xoxo

Sandi

weekend warriors

Weekend Warriors: Donuts and Sunshine

Weekend Recap: October 25-26

This weekend my fiance was off to San Francisco to gather with his fellow Giants fans, so I took the time to soak in the quality time with my parents. We’ll be moving out in the next coming months and as great as that is, truth is I’ll miss the time spent with my parents. So Saturday my mom and I ventured to the valley, shopped and ate. The whole day was spent chatting and gossiping.

On Sunday, with my dad off we all ventured to Santa Monica.We went to Dunkin Donuts, which I’ve been trying to visit since it opened a little over a month ago. This Santa Monica location is one of the first DD’s on the west coast and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I can’t say if it compares to the DD’s back east, but I can tell you this much…coffee was on point, donuts were good and the line wasn’t too bad.

From there we drove down to the 3rd street promenade and my dad showed me where he worked when I was born (at a hotel near the beach), we walked around, went down to the pier and got to play tourists for the day.

Got a pretty pic of some colorful cacti (love!) near the promenade.

On the way back we scooped up some pupusas from El Molcajeta (best pupusas in L.A.!), drove back home and chilled until Frank came home. Felt good to have him back, I really missed him. With Monday already over, here’s hoping the rest of the week goes just as fast!

xoxo

Sandi

weekend warriors

Weekend Warriors: Cupcakes and Palm Trees

Weekend Recap: October 18-19 2014

This weekend felt very adult-y. On Saturday we went to go see a wedding venue (yeeks!), which I will post pics of if we decide to go with it. It was in downtown L.A. It was beautiful, but I’m pretty superstitious so I don’t want to get my hopes up in case that’s not the place. The motto of this whole pre-wedding planning business is ….”We shall see.”

Before that we were in Hollywood were I went to one of my favorite independent shops, Johnny Cupcakes. It’s an addiction but it’s in control. I have about….7 of their t-shirts, two of their phone cases, a keychain and lots of pins. Like I said, it’s under control. I went to go pick up some more goodies. To follow the bakery theme, their “bags” are pastry boxes. It’s all in the details.

I caught a pretty shot of Fairfax Ave and all it’s palm trees. I’m a sucker for palm trees.

Sunday was spent napping, watching Parks and Recs and running some errands.

Here’s to another week!

xoxo

Sandi

weekend warriors

Weekend Warriors: Overindulgence

Weekend Recap: October 11-12

The motto of this weekend was #treatyoself. Do I regret it? No. Do I regret it? Yeah a little.

I shopped a little too much and ate a little too much. Candy, ice cream, pizza…I ate like an 11 year old kid who’s been left alone for the first time. On a brighter note, I got a cute shirt for less than $10 at the Gap (thanks 40% off sale!), ate some great ice cream and ate lots of candy at Lolli and Pops.

Weekend, you were great but I got stuff to do this week! On to another week.

xoxo

Sandi

weekend warriors

Weekend Warriors: San Francisco for 40 Hours

Weekend Recap: October 4-5, 2014

Bluegrass Music. San Francisco. Waterfalls. Golden Gate Park. Caribbean Food. Bernal Heights. North Beach. Pimms Cup. Lots of Driving. Photo Booths. Brunch. Beer. Mimosas. Rooftop Bars.

This weekend was…eventful.

It started Friday night when my best friend picked me up and we headed 6 hours north to San Francisco. It’s been over a year and half since we moved to the L.A. area, and honestly I’m always down to go visit the Bay Area… so when my friend asked if I would accompany her on a road trip to a free music festival in Golden Gate Park, I said…”Yes please!”

We were lucky enough to stay at her friend’s super cute apartment in Bernal Heights that had the nicest garden. I just had to take some pictures, especially since the weather was so sunny and bright (which is a rarity in SF, although when we came the city was experiencing a heat wave, but heat wave in SF means 85 degrees not the 110 that it means in L.A.).

We had brunch on Saturday at a little cafe on Dolores street in the Mission District. I took a pic of my food because it was pretty and I’m lame and feel inclined to take pics of all pretty things, including eggs.

We had some mimosas, grabbed our backpacks and were on our way to the park.

Now I’ll be honest…I know little to nothing about bluegrass music. I’ll tell you what I know…I’ve heard some Sara Watkins and I really love everything I’ve heard, I know some Johnny Cash (that’s bluegrass adjacent, I think?), and I know it involves…guitars, fiddles, banjos and other more complicated instruments I’ve never heard of. So with all that impressive knowledge, I went to the park to listen to bluegrass all day with my best friend who knows all the things about the bluegrass. Minus the blistering sun and hoards of people, it was a lot of fun. We had beer, snacks and laid in the park.

When it ended we made our way east to the Haight district where we ate some yummy Caribbean food, on the way there we spotted a waterfall. Crazy right!

From there we met up with some of old friends from my college days at S.F. State where we drank some more beer, danced and had a really fun (and sweaty) time at a local bar. After we practically sweated through our clothes, we made our way to North Beach to drink tasty drinks at 15 Romolo and take ridiculous photo booth pics that don’t need to be published online in case one of us runs for president one day.

It was a busy Saturday to say the least. Sunday we had brunch at a rooftop spot with one of my bestest friends. We caught up, drank more mimosas, my bff had the bloody mary she’d been craving all weekend, paid too much for eggs benedicts, took some pics and were on our way back to Southern California.

This weekend was exhausting, fun, eventful and amazing. I loved spending so much time with my best friend, and I’d do it all again if I could. Today I was able to go to work without falling asleep at my desk, so it was a success. Now to go back to pretending I’m an adult for a week. Until next weekend!

xoxo

Sandi

weekend warriors

Weekend Warriors: Quinceañeras

Weekend Recap: September 27-28, 2014

This weekend was spent reminiscing and celebrating. We were celebrating my little cousin Hillary’s quinceañera (15th birthday party, much like a debut or Sweet 16). She looked precious in her light green dress and blond curls. It was nice to spend time with my cousins. The night was spent eating, drinking and dodging my parent’s invites to dance with them (Frank and I indulged them for one song though!).

The night definitely got me thinking about my own 15th birthday. It was filled with much of the traditional touches of a quinceañera birthday party – pink dress, creepy doll, crown, awkward entrances and speeches. I was definitely not excited, I wasn’t much of a girly girl and the idea of spending an entire evening in a dress with lots of eyes on me was a nightmare. Honestly I wish I hadn’t been such a brat about it. Ugh, youth. I’m glad my little cousin seemed to enjoy her day and I hope she enjoyed the gift we got her.

bday cake

Sunday was spent listening to Frank yell at either the phone or the TV for football fantasy related things. I knocked some things of my to-do list and relaxed before another work week starts. In awesome news – I’m feeling a lot better. Thank goodness for strong strong medicine.

to do list

xoxo

Sandi

weekend warriors

Weekend Warriors: Santa Barbara Living

Weekend Recap: September 20-21, 2014

I know this is two days late 😦 but I’m currently battling a cold that hit me hard Sunday afternoon and hasn’t let up. I took yesterday off and I’ve been trying to attack the sickness with everything I can…vitamin C, plenty of fluids, rest and medicine. So far it’s only sort of helping. Yes, it’s only been three days but I’m already over being sick! Rant over.

This last weekend, Frank and I traveled up the 101 to Santa Barbara where one of my bestest friends in the world lives. She has an adorable house and she’s always lovely enough to host us. Beyond just hanging out and catching up, this last weekend we went up to celebrate her mama’s birthday. I’ve known her mom as long as I’ve known her (about ten years…yeeks!), she’s an awesomely amazing lady and I hope to be just as cool when I’m her age.

So my friend, Jena, is one of the most creative and craftiest people I know so when she was telling me about the plans she had for her mom’s birthday celebration I knew it would be great…and it was. She baked delicious goods and made tasty drinks. We played Cards Against Humanity. Basically I would say it was a total success.

I had to snap a photo of her little bar cart area. It’s straight out of Pinterest, and I love it. I could live in that corner…it’s that cute!

Here’s hoping I wake up tomorrow feeling magically better!

xoxo

Sandi

This is Sandi

Tag Archives: weekend warriors

Weekend Warriors: Beach Bums

Weekend Warriors: Traffic and Turkey

Weekend Warriors: San Diego Bound

Weekend Warriors: Any Excuse to Go To Santa Barbara

Weekend Warriors: Donuts and Sunshine

Weekend Warriors: Cupcakes and Palm Trees

Weekend Warriors: Overindulgence

Weekend Warriors: San Francisco for 40 Hours

Weekend Warriors: Quinceañeras

Weekend Warriors: Santa Barbara Living