Undercover Kareoke with Jewel

If I were a famous singer, I would totally do this!

Undercover Karaoke with Jewel from Jewel

Sunny in the City

Record breaking high temperatures in the Bay Area this week! These last couple days I've been dyyyying to have air conditioning in my apartment. San Francisco is definitely not used to this kind of heat, but its actually kinda nice to be able to go outside in nothing but shorts and a t-shirt at the end of September. I feel like I'm re-living my Arizona days! Finally we're experiencing a bit of summer that failed to RSVP this year...

After two long weeks, Derek returned from Rochester NY on Friday and we decided to spend part of the weekend together up in Marin and out at Baker Beach. Baker was surprisingly not that busy when we arrived in the morning, but by the time we left in the afternoon there was a SWARM of people coming in. We were basically stalked by slow moving cars behind us wanting our spot. It's funny that people in SF (including myself) jump at the opportunity to hit up the beach. I live on the coast where there are plenty of beaches, yet my trip to Baker was only the 2nd time I've gone all year. I think I'm willing to cope with my lack of AC for a little while (emphasis on the "little") in exchange for more hot sunny days like these :)


At the Marin car wash at 8am on Saturday. A special thank you to Derek's jet-lag for waking me up this early on the weekend.

Arriving at Baker Beach in SF

Golden Gate bridge from Baker.

Setting up camp at the beach.

Take 'em to the Brickyard

I was never a huge football fan, but I guess you could say I've been 'warming up' to the sport in recent years. (You can thank my Oklahoma football obsessed boyfriend for that). This has been an interesting start to the football season for me. I joined my first fantasy league with all girls- which is sort of a joke because none of us know anything about the NFL! And for the first time in years, my struggling Arizona Wildcats have made it on the map. It's about time, seriously.

This past Saturday was the much anticipated Arizona v. Iowa game, and a few of us went to Brickyard to watch it all together. Ohhh how I love making college football an excuse to bring us all together :) What an awesome game!

Arizona alum crowding around the TV

Laura and I at Brickyard

Scott & Smyth came out from Walnut Creek to watch the game in SF

Nicole & Whit at Brickyard

Celebrating the victory over Iowa, 34-27! Whiskey shot anyone?

Target trumps Marina Safeway

This post is inspired by my recent trip to Target this afternoon. We all have an agenda when we're running errands and there's nothing that I hate more than shopping for things I have no idea where to find, or getting stuck in a crowded mess of people. I literally have a panic attack every time I go to the Safeway in the Marina because its such a cluster...

There are so many reasons why I love Target: it's inexpensive, it's convenient, it's clean, it's never that crowded. The clothing is also amazing. And today I discovered something new and exciting about Target. There is a new Fresh Produce department. As lame and anticlimactic as that sounds, you have no idea how exciting this is! Now I can avoid grocery shopping at the Marina Safeway foreevverrrr!

Target, I love you.

True Blood --> Truely Obsessed

Those of you who know me, know how ridiculously obsessed I am with the HBO show True Blood. The season finale was this past Sunday and I've fallen into depression mode now that I have to wait until NEXT JUNE to watch my favorite show again. Whyyy must I wait 9 months for the premiere? It's just not fair.

Last night my friend Tyler came over and we layed on the couch re-watching episodes from season 2. (Okay fine, I re-watched episodes...Tyler had never seen them before, haha). If you haven't watched the show before then you need to rent season 1. It's sooo addictive!

Check out the latest cover of Rolling Stone. Too much??

I'll take Justin Bieber's meat bikini for 200 please

Last night I went to 'trivia night' at The Bitter End bar/restaurant in San Francisco. My work crew from Glam Media joined- there were about 10 of us crowded around a table for 4. Trivia is hosted there every Tuesday at 9pm, and I didn't realize before how intense some of these trivia-goers can be! They arrive 2-3 hours early to reserve seats, mostly by throwing purses or sweatshirts on tables and then leaving (which I think is SUPER obnoxious). Luckily we managed to squeeze everyone around our tiny table.

What's always fun about trivia at The Bitter End is the 'team name' competition. The winner of the best team name gets a free round of drinks. After several ridiculous suggestions we eventually decided to go with, "I'll take Justin Bieber's Meat Bikini for 200 please." Overall, pretty random. Saying that team name out loud really makes one think twice, which is exactly what we were going for. Unfortunately we ended up losing- I think we got 4th place. Don't ask me the name's of the top 3 teams, because they are definitely not blog appropriate.

Here's a preview of the 'face' round we had at trivia night. Can you name all these faces below?

Turning tragedy into triumph

I recently found out some devastating news about a close friend of my sisters. Her family lost their home in the San Bruno fires last week, when a massive fireball erupted from a natural gas line. It's been reported that as many as 38 homes have been destroyed, 4 people killed and over 52 injured.

Unforeseen tragedy's like these really puts it into perspective how valuable life is. My mom said to me earlier in the week, "Life can shift radically at any given moment. I'm grateful for you and that you are here now." I'm thankful that my sisters friend and her family are safe and unharmed. This all hits very close to home for many of us in the Bay Area, and I can't even begin to understand how these people must feel- having lost loved ones, their life possessions, entire homes. So far PG&E has given their family $2000 of visa gift cards which is almost nothing for a displaced family of four who've lost everything.

I've decided to help as much as I can with clothing and financial donations to this family along with others affected by the fires. Click Here to learn more about how to donate. Even if it’s not much, it'll still make a difference.

Sonoma County road trip

I love weekend road trips, especially up to Sonoma and Napa county. Sometimes I forget how fortunate I am to be living so close to wine country, as its one of the most beautiful regions in the world. This past weekend was my second trip up to the wine country this year. It's been a regrettably cold and busy summer, which has made it a bit more difficult for me to make it out there- despite it being only an hour away.

My friend Keith (whom I've known since I was in Kindergarten!) threw a small wine-tasting/BBQ get together in honor of his birthday. His mom and step-dad live in Healdsberg and have the most beautiful house beside all the vineyards. On our way to the event in Healdsberg, my friend Nicole and I made a pit stop at her family cabin at the Russian River. We sat out on her back deck in the sun, drinking Corona's and catching up on the latest.

Later in the afternoon we drove to Healdsberg to greet the rest of the crew, BBQing at the house. Keith loves to cook and is an amazing chef, so we all were treated to a fabulous meal consisting of grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, caesar salad and bottomless glasses of wine. It was a very relaxing and enjoyable day, the perfect break from city-living that I needed.



Nicole's family cabin at the Russian River. It's so cute!


Relaxing on the back patio of Nicole's cabin.


The backyard view from the river cabin


I have no idea where this creature came from. Nice door stopper Nicole!


A sneak peak inside the Russian River cabin. It was recently remodeled.


Grapes growing on the fence in the backyard


Nicole's family garden, so pretty!


Nicole on the deck at the Roadhouse Restaurant by the Russian River


Driving over this cute little bridge from the Russian River into Healdsberg


Nicole and I arrived at the house in Healdsberg to find a serious game of beer pong in the works!


Me and Nicole drinking wine on the back patio in Healdsberg


Dane, Keith and Jeff posing in the backyard


Nicole and Matt sitting at the back patio table


Dane and Kristine hanging out beside the BBQ

Video Music Awards

Usually I'm not very good at tuning into award shows, but the VMA's were on last night and I decided to record and watch it. (Sadly, my boyfriend is out of town for the next 2 weeks so I have nothing to do on Sundays except be lazy in front of the television). I'm not really into the TV musical performances as much as I am....the fashion! But I will admit that I watched the Justin Bieber performance ;) Here are some of my favorite shots from last night-


The host of the VMA's, Chelsea Handler.


Lady Gaga on the white carpet before the show


Justin Bieber sandwich. What a lucky kid.


Katy Perry and Haley Williams from Paramore, both up for best music video award


Ke$ha is wearing a trash bag as a dress!


Sofia Vergara from Modern Family. She is so cute!


Katy Perry, Rihanna, Ke$ha and Nicki Minaj backstage.


The Jersey Shore cast- Pauly D, Snooki, J-Wow and The Situation


Lady Gaga and Ellen backstage


Justin Timberlake, Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield backstage. They're all starring in the movie The Social Network which I really want to see!


Evan Rachel Wood (I love her!) and Joe Manganiello, both stars of the HBO series True Blood.


Jane Lynch, Cory Monteith and Kevin McHale of 'Glee' backstage


Ashley Green (Twilight) and Jared Leto (30 Seconds to Mars)


Lady Gaga and Drake. She's wearing her meat dress!


Lo and Stephanie from The Hills. (My friend Lee saw these two at the Las Vegas airport the weekend before the VMA's!)