Author: LA

When the decision was made to move back to Northern California after approaching my 8th year down south, the flood of emotion over everything I would be leaving behind hit quick.  All the amenities that I had become so accustom to were all going to become memories of how things were.  The infinite menu selections at all times of day, with optional door to door delivery would be reduced to a few pizza joints that might deliver up to 10:00pm.  Yougurtland, Canter’s Deli truck, that Mexican Japanese BBQ place in Korea town, all bound to be places that I would lay at night dreaming about.  The more I pondered the more overwhelming the sense of loss became and I wasn’t the only one feeling it, Ryan was feeling it too.  His last visits were full of revisiting our favorite spots together on top of trying all those spots we always said we would go to.  We bought enough Crumb’s cupcakes on Larchmont in the final months to open our own bakery.

We knew what we were about to leave behind and we did all we could to soak it up before it was all just a story.

I think during any transition in life the fear of losing the comfort of what you know can initially out weigh the excitement of new memories about to come.  (I realize how bad that sounds like ones of those “like if you agree” quotes on Facebook, just so you’re aware.)  The reality that I was moving to be with, inevitably, my future Mr. was truly the most exciting step I had ever taken, just took a minute for both of us to get there.  I constantly found myself asking “What are we going to do in Sonoma County? ”  There just didn’t seem to be that much to do, especially in comparison to everything at my disposal in LA.

The decision had been made around October of  2010 that a move was unavoidable and by March of 2011, I threw all my belongings in a U-Haul, loaded the cat and boyfriend into the Jetta and waved good-bye to Hollywood one last time.

The first step I took to help ease the feelings of being a new kid was get to know the area.  I knew my anxiety of relocating somewhere with nothing to do was ignorant and stubborn of me and I had a determination to squash it.  Luckily, I had an unbelievably good looking tour guide to show me around.  It wasn’t long before I had discovered, my favorite areas to people watch, top spots to munch at and even some places to shop.  There was life beyond La Brea after all.

Today, beginning my fourth year as a re-transplanted transplant, I relish in the endless options of how to spend our weekends.  With San Francisco about an hour away, Marin County between us and the local scenery that includes everything from vineyards to sand filed beaches, there is little room for complaint.  The biggest highlight for me has been discovering something that Ryan and I can both be passionate about.  In Los Angeles, I loved the infinite options of free things to do, ways to spend an afternoon enjoying the priceless things in life.  Photography has really filled that void for me, for us.  I think that with camera in hand we both have discovered Sonoma County and the areas around us with a refreshed vision.  The two of us have such diverse creative outlooks and very opposing strengths and weaknesses.  This has allowed us to learn from each other skills, techniques and view points that would have been impossible alone.  I have always loved photography, mini photo sessions with myself or the streets of LA was a frequent pass time of mine, but if it wasn’t for me relocating and starting this adventure with my Noodle, I would never be able to truly call it my hobby.   Leaving everything I knew to start again has been all the more worth it, as I have gained one hell of a bff of a husband and reached a level in my photography that I never would have seen coming.  Home is where the heart is, and at least for now, my heart is here.

 

 

 

Spoiling ones self when living in the wine country is extremely easy.  Wine tasting and dining that brings people from around the globe are at your finger tips.  One of our favorite ways to pamper our taste buds is booking an afternoon at the Bubble Room at J Winery.  Just ten minutes north of us, J is not only the home of our favorite Sparkling Wine but also to one of the best food and wine pairings in the world, personal opinion (I would assume the opinion of anyone that has ever been there).

Trying to explain how perfect their pairings are is too difficult.  At the risk of sounding dramatic (as if that’s ever stopped me) there are no words to explain the ah-inspiring experience in it’s entirety.   It’s so difficult to put it into words that I’m going to do what anyone with Google would and reiterate the description straight off their very own website:

“The Bubble Room remains the premier tasting experience in the Russian River Valley. In a beautifully appointed, full-service tasting salon, you and your guests will enjoy an exclusive three-course meal including rare library and small-production wines, served with delicious, organic and locally-sourced fare.”

Seriously.

This was our third time as a couple and this time we took my parents as a part of their Christmas present last year.  Got to love a gift that is beneficial for the whole family.  The menu is ever changing and consistently surprising.  Yesterday’s menu included rabbit and lamb, both something I have never ventured with before and in any other setting probably wouldn’t.  Our tasting included four Sparkling Wines, the best Chardonnay I have had in years and one of their classic Pinot Noirs, along with others.   With a formally relaxing setting, surrounded by wall to wall windows of the front garden and patio, the environment is inviting and wine country authentic.

Tasting highlights for me were the smoked grilled beets paired with the Brut Rose` and the rabbit served with angelica root paired with the 2012 Bowtie Chardonnay.  The presentation of the rabbit was literally spring on a plate.  To satisfy my sweet tooth, which is no simple task, the Inverted Brie Tarts dipped in a melted Ratafia Caramel was to die for.

Insert visual to ensue jealousy here:

 

 

In the spirit of spring time I was also secretly anxious for the opportunity to finally wear something that didn’t involve boots or a scarf.  One thing that can be said about my shopping style is I shop anywhere and everywhere.  One spot that I often forget to pop into is Kohl’s.  On our last trip to the always running a sale department store, I was pleasantly surprised with the Lauren Conrad line.  It was a collection that I’ve been dying to peruse after completing the entire series of both Laguna Beach and The Hills over the past ten months.  Not only am I not ashamed to admit that but it actually felt like some sort of worldly accomplishment worthy of a Facebook status.  I am now even more Team LC after finding my current favorite dress.  The all over floral pattern is perfect for wine tasting, any inevitable red drops are easily camouflaged.

Favorite accessories of the day were my Mom and Dad.  Pretty darn good kick-off to Mother’s Day weekend.  No crime in doubling it as a boost to birthday month as well, if I do say so myself.

 

In keeping with the first day of birthday month spirit, babe and I decided to do something rare for our character and eat out on a Thursday night.  By Thursday we are usually too exhausted, hanging on for Friday, cleaning out the DVR and eating at home.
We gussied up and headed to Montgomery Village to our first real date spot, Monti’s Rotisserie & Bar. It’s imperative that I say first REAL date because on our first dinner out he brought his roommate along, you know, for security. That night I had passed the non-psychotic standard American girl test, and we had our first real date, sans third wheel, the next evening at what is now one of our top favorite spots.
Monti’s never fails. The food is always exactly what you hope it’s going to be, if not more. The wait staff is generally always helpful and friendly. Most importantly, the cocktail selections are on point.  With an ever so often changing menu, options always seem fresh.  This go around I struck luck and discovered possibly the best thing I have ever eaten at a local restaurant, suckling pig “Piadine”.

Served, on an enormous flatbread that was covered in humus, paired with caramelized onions and dressed arugula, laid a pile of freshly pulled pork.  The presentation made me miss good Indian food restaurants in Los Angeles, pulling pieces of warm flatbread and making little combo bites with just the right amount of each element.  The highlight for me, a self-proclaimed condiment queen, was the trio of dipping sauces they serve with it.  Thanks to my Acai Cosmopolitan I had for an appetizer, I forget the details of the ingredients but I remember the gist of the diversity.  Red was spicy and probably my favorite, white was a creme fraiche and the green was a pesto that I swear had lemon, in a good way.  Being the “Thursday Night Special”, I plan on hitting up a few more Thursday nights before the menu changes.

*Noodle Note: Babe had bacon and melted onion pizza.  Really needless to say how that was.  Bacon. Pizza.  Melted.

Birthday month wouldn’t be kicked off right if it didn’t involve something special from the closet.

Side highlight of the night, I finally got to use my biggest score I’ve ever found, my Kate Spade Summer House Sylvia hand bag.

During an accidental trip to a Healdsburg sidewalk sale I just happened to chance by a Kate Spade clearance table.  Kate Spade clearance table. (Just in case you missed that). I literally struck gold.  I’ve never been one for a sale that starts with the word sidewalk (it’s usually all so disorganized and picked over) but Healdsburg has forever changed my mind.  I strongly suggest watching the calendar.  It happens twice a year and as my Mother says, “A Kate Spade clearance table? I’d fly in for that”.  My Mother lives an hour away so, you get it.

 

 

Every year my birthday comes at the end of May, naturally. As a kid, the 26 day countdown always felt like pure torture. It wasn’t until I wised up in my early 20s that I realized why wait until the 27th of the month when you can make your own rules and celebrate a solid 31 day block? This was undoubtedly one of my most wisdom filled moments of my early 20s, one of few. (Wisdom and early 20s don’t generally go hand in hand.)
Luckily for me, birthday month was readily accepted and caught on quick. Many close to me are fully aware of this practice and some have even adopted the trend as their own. I encourage any to do so.
This year, I am beginning my 31st birthday month, or as I refer to it, my 2nd 30th. The fact that I have been alive for 31 years is perplexing to me. I don’t feel like I have been alive for 31 years and I for sure don’t feel like 31 is what I thought it was going to be. Fortunate to say, it feels much younger and so much better than I imagined.
In 31 years I have outlived so much. Beverly Hills 90210 only lasted 10 years. POGs only seemed to last through the 6th grade. N*Sync formed and broke up faster than I entered and graduated high school. I’ve even outlived LA Gear and that was some multi laced quality footwear.
Coming to realization that time does not wait, age is more than just a number, and life has already started to feel as if it is passing by led to serious motivation to do something…purposeful, even if the purpose is still formulating, purposeful none the less.
Today I say, cheers to turning 30 for the 2nd time. Cheers to myself and my rock of a husband for stepping a little out of the comfort zone and beginning something that has no certainty. Here’s to truly entering the years that once seemed so far away with the risk of a new venture.
Here’s to LA-Normal.