10 Things: Summer Style

ITS SUMMER!!!!

yeah I know we're in the middle of it now but in California it really just barely feels like it's begun. Even on the 4th we were cold! And work is finally slowing down to where I can take a day or two off and book a vacay.  vacation! that's all I can think about. Funny enough, my best friend just popped the question to of "what should we do for new years?" are you joking?! ook! well here's my top 10 fabulous summer plans. They're not listed in order of importance but I guess in somewhat sequential order.... here we go!

mel and i at our KoL show #1

10. Kings of Leon... yep, just happened but I still have to talk about it. my summer kick off, first road trip, tailgate, sweat-it-out summer show. Played some new tunes, now I'm re-obsessed and I want to go to like... the rest of their tour. yep, all of it. 

9. 311... three eleven, three three eleven. come on, this is me and if I wasn't going to a couple 311 shows in the summer something's wrong. So our schedule is up north (maybe...depends on #8) and then OC and San Diego. Same two venues I saw KoL, ha! their setlists have been pretty ridiculous this summer so I'm excited. I am always happy to see them. 

8. Rage Against the Machine @ the Palladium....what?!?! yeah. Might have a visitor and might try to go. IF I can find tickets. :::crossingfingers::::

7. Girls Weekend... I am jealous of everyone with a summer birthday. THREE of my favorite gals have birthdays this weekend, ridiculous. So I'm heading up to Solvang for my friend Ana's birthday for sunning, wine tasting and some healthy goss. I can't wait, I love a little weekend getaway. We might stay at the hotel from Sideways!

6. Lollapalooza... yes, I am making the trek for the 3rd year to one of my favorite cities, to be with some of my favorite people and take in one of my favorite festivals. I'm going to bounce around and just take in a variety of acts... it's just fun to go. Highlights: Metric, Gaga, The Black Keys, Dirty Projectors, MGMT, Arcade Fire. 

5. Outside Lands... well I have been dying to go up north and Melissa and I are just nutty enough to do it, trek up to San Fran to take in another festival and another Kings of Leon show. Yep, going there! Highlights: The Strokes (since I may skip them to see Gaga at Lolla) My Morning Jacket, Edward Sharpe.

4. Lady Gaga... Gaga is coming to LA!!!!! I am going to go with my girls, have a couple drinks and dance my face off. 'nuff said. 

3. John Mayer..... oh the JM! He was a highlight of our summer last year... we got super up close and personal to John, the tunes, and the abs. I love him. His music means so much to me and I love going with my sister and my best friend. Can't go wrong.

2. RX Bandits.... to cap off the summer, going to see the RXB 3 full album shows at the end of September. Saw them in NYC and it was ridiculous. I'm going to be on the hunt for more tickets so I can drag friends. PLUS, Dexter comes back on the Sunday, so I get to go home to that. I couldn't be happier.

1. Beach, baseball games, pool days, warm nights, happy hours, road trips, bbq..... Looking forward to more of this. Really happy right now and excited about what's to come. I love summer and I am embracing it! 

To-do...

Friday night I'm jumping on a redeye to Baltimore to finally see my love. Going to be there for 5 days and then we're driving (yes, driving!) to Chicago to meet Eric's family. Here's my to-do list. We haven't seen each other in more than TWO MONTHS so I want this to be really special.


10. Go see The Orphan because Eric likes these cheesy horror movies and I heard there's a great twist at the end.

9. Check out Sue the T-Rex at the Field Museum. She is the largest, most preserved T-Rex in (known) existence. I haven't been to a real museum in years. I want to see dinosaurs! The Field Museum also has Egyptian mummies and Mayan artifacts. Sign me up!


8. RX Bandits in Chicago Thursday night. Lots of old friends going to the show and Eric is a huge fan. I really need to pick up their new album, heard it's great!

7. Hiking in Laurel near where Eric lives. I'm sure we'll find somewhere and make it a nice day for some photo op's :)

6. Go see 500 Days of Summer because Zooey is wearing my stuff in it! :D

5. Enjoy a day in Baltimore. Maybe an O's game, stop at the aquarium, sushi date, hunt for the perfect crab cakes. Sunset over the harbor... I can't imagine anything better.


4. Work out!! Yes this is a bit high on the list but we need to get healthy. I am going to make my babe some delish dinners but we're going to get out and walk around, find a pool where he can teach me to swim (better cause he's a pro) and spend some time downstairs in the fitness center.

3. Lunch date at Giordano's :D hopefully we make it to Chi on Wednesday because that is the anniversary of our first "date" and my first serious Chicago pizza. I think I only managed to eat a slice and a half but it was deliiish. He says that's where he knew he liked me, and that date did rekindle my crush :)


2. Lollapalooza! Probably just the Friday end of it but Kings of Leon are aaaall I need to make me happy :) I had tons and tons of fun at the festival last year and need a taste of it this year.


1. Lay on the couch and cuddle up to some HGTV! still no real idea where we're going to end up but we're going to need decor whenever/wherever we move :)

Whirlwind summer trip

In the last two crazy weeks I did a lot of traveling. A LOT.


It started July 31st with Rich, Sophia + I flying from LAX to......

Salt Lake City, UT to.....
Atlanta, GA to our destination of.....

CHICAGO :) for 5 fabulous nights (Lollapalooza and sightseeing)

from there I (alone) flew to....
Washington, DC where I saw a show then took a train to.....
Newport News, VA for the night then hopped up to....
Norfolk, VA for another show then back to....
Newport News to crash before flying out of....
Richmond, VA where my flight was oversold so I headed to...

NEW YORK CITY! for the night :)

then I flew via...
Cincinnati, OH and made an emergency stop in...
Albuquerque, NM before returning home to...

LOS ANGELES on (August 11) Monday night.


Crazy, amazing times. I probably took every form of public transit available. I have to give props to Chicago, I think I'm in love...
pics to come soon! :)