Trader Joe's Opening

Finally, the Trader Joe's in Hollywood on Vine has opened! This post is long overdue, as the store had it's grand opening last month. However, I still wanted to post up some pictures. Most TJs are tiny and cramped with anxiety provoking parking lots, but that is not the case with this location. It was originally supposed to be a Whole Foods, so maybe that is why the space is a bit generous. I'm thrilled as it is just up the street from me! Here are some pics.

Happy Summer Solstice!

Happy first day of summer (for my readers in the Northern Hemisphere)! Although we have lovely weather year around here, not everyone is as fortunate. In the UK, about 20,000 people got in touch with their pagan roots and attended the annual summer solstice celebration at Stonehenge. Looking at their climate, I don't blame them. Over there the sun is definitely something to get excited about.

The above picture is from our recent trip to Europe. When I can organize all our photos, I will post more about the trip!

Hope everyone has a great day! Get a drink after work and enjoy the extra hours of daylight!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful men out there who are so dedicated to their families!

As my sisters live in other parts of the country, this year I had my Dad all to myself. I hosted at my place and made a breakfast that consisted of pancakes, sausages, eggs and breakfast potatoes. I was tempted to make a healthier breakfast with my veggie sausage and my broccoli scramble, but I knew Dad truly desired a good ol' fashioned (what we call in our family) Big Breakfast. I did sneak in sweet potatoes though. Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

A New Season

Gosh, I cannot believe that it's been more than 2 months since my last post! Around the last time I wrote, I had just started a new job and to put it nicely, it was a situation that was less than ideal. I really did not have time for much else. But although I have not been blogging, I was still always thinking about my little S and L. So although I am moving forward, I will post a little about what I have been doing during my little hiatus.

The good news is, I am no longer at the "less than ideal" job. I have also just returned to LA from spending a glorious 2 weeks in Europe with my beloved for our one year wedding anniversary. I am almost over my jet lag and ready to put my little home, that had been neglected while I was working, back into order. I want to cook a little more and pamper the hard working Husband and then eventually go back to work.

I returned from my trip to find my calla lily plant doing more than just poking through the soil. I can't believe that they actually grew! I do not have a green thumb and really know nothing about gardening. But when my Mother,the jolly green little Asian lady, gave me some bulbs, I decided to give it a go. Like the birth of this new plant, I too feel like this is a new chapter for me, personally and professionally. I am rejuvenated and looking forward to getting back into the groove. I am saying goodbye to my former stressed out self and embracing my new healthy relaxed self. Summer solstice is also just around the corner and we Angelenos know that there is no better place to enjoy summer than in LA!

Here's to new chapters and new seasons!

The Gift of Paper

For our first anniversary, I wanted to give my Husband something sweet and meaningful. Because we spent the weekend at the Peninsula and we're also going to Europe to celebrate, we both agreed not to spend too much on gifts. Then I came across the perfect idea at Poetic Home, via this other really cute blog, Design Sponge. It is a vintage card catalog box with "library cards" depicting meaningful dates and memories. It is also a great idea because the traditional first anniversary gift is paper! I got the box off Ebay, had it engraved with a message and the date on the back and then spent time making cards with my favorite memories of the past year. You can be creative and in place of publishers and editors, you can put locations of these moments (ie: Central Park: NY). If you click on the link, there is a website that will generate whatever you type into library card format. If you have a typewriter, even better! You can also keep adding to it in the future. All our special memories will be kept in one place and when we're old and gray we can look back and enjoy the memories.

It's Been an Amazing Year!

I can't believe it has already been a year since J and I got married. Time really flies when you're in love! Every moment has been amazing. We celebrated our anniversary last weekend by spending the weekend at the place where it all started: The Peninsula, Beverly Hills. This is the most amazing hotel with even more spectacular service. They have so many celebrities and VIP guests, but they treat everyone like they are their only guest. All the workers in the hotel not only greeted us by name each time they saw us, but they also wished us a Happy Anniversary each time. There is a reason that this hotel has the most 5 diamond ratings of all the hotels in Los Angeles. (Yes, more than the Four Seasons and more than the Beverly Hills Hotel). Here are some pictures of our stay.

Thank you J for a beautiful weekend. I can't remember my life before you and I can't imagine life without you. I love you!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!!