Curly Wurly Lush Perfume Head

I used to be in love with Lush. When I was younger, it was only in Canada and was on the top of my list of places to visit when on shopping trips to Vancouver, B.C. The store smells like a dream with unlimited girly products in fun packaging that make you swoon such as fizzy bath bombs dipped in roses and massage oils shaped like chocolate bars. It’s been years since I’ve been in one though, so I was excited to find a Lush near my office in downtown San Francisco!

Last week, I purchased two of their product that are.to.die for, so I thought I’d share them here with my curly headed gals (or those who need a little moisture in their lives). All one or two of you. Bueller… Bueller…

Curly Wurly is a conditioning shampoo that you can use every day (even if you have dried-out curly hair!) It’s like a coconut moisture milkshake with actual slivers of coconut, and I want to eat it then rub it all over my head, over and over. (Weird).

R&B (Restore & Balance) is a leave -in conditioner that smells like the best Hawaiian sunblock ever, combined with the prettiest bouquet of lilacs and lilies. It leaves my hair so soft and adds back in the moisture that’s sucked out from having a frizzy curly Jew fro on top of your head all day. I literally walk down the hall at work, shaking my head back and forth, so I can smell myself. (Weird, again).

AND, I officially reached my limit of using the word “moist” on my blog for the year. Enjoy!

Currently Feeling: Somewhat frustrated, bummed and annoyed, but surprisingly upbeat!
Currently Anticipating: Showing my cancer fundraising support at the Mr. Marina competition tomorrow – should be a bit ridiculous, but a good time!
Currently Needing: To grocery shop – gah! Not having fresh fruit and veggies at my house for meals grosses me out.

Bay to Breakers Crazytown USA

Bay to Breakers… where do I even begin?! I recently heard someone refer to the annual San Francisco celebration as “Pride for Straight People,” which I suppose is pretty accurate (although, as you’ll find from my below pics, B2B is not just “straight people.” But, I digress.

Imagine tens of thousands of people all walking/running the same course through the city, dressed in creative team costumes, crazy attire, tutus, or you know – naked. Throw in some street dance parties, houses with people hanging out the windows and porches crowded up and down the course, and a gigantic city park full of groups lounging – some passed out, some dancing, most drinking. Pepper in boomboxes, bubbles, glitter, shots, fishnets, loud singing, strangers making out, mimosas, and… did I say dance parties? Imagine all of that, and you have Bay to Breakers – the number one weekend to visit San Francisco, if you want to be promised a piece of what makes San Francisco “so San Francisco.”

As my friend Janelle said, and fellow Pink Taco , “Everyone in this city is just loving life.”

You and me too, my friend. You and me too!

Me as a "Pink Taco." Totes inappropriate, I know.
(Sorry whomever - read the disclaimer in my side bar).

Soaking up the sun with my friend Lauren.

Party in the streets.

Two pink tacos are better than one.

Superman?! Wonder Woman?!

Hip hop penguin.

Apparently they "Love Pink Tacos...." errrr.
Probs *a little bit* more than Janelle and I.

It might be worth mentioning that as I was standing in my bathroom at 8 a.m. the morning of Bay to Breakers, dressed in hot pink spandex from head to toe and glitter all over my hair and body, I found myself plucking two GREY HAIRS from my head with tweezers. It was at that moment that I questioned my maturity level. (I know – shocking!) Lest I mention I was about to go hang out at a house full of 23- and 24-year-olds.

And then I realized – if dressing up crazy and “loving life” on B2B is immature, I plan to spend the rest of my life two grey hairs away from a full head.

Currently Feeling: Like working the Monday after B2B should be illegal.
Currently Anticipating: Rotting my brain on episode two of The Bachelorette tonight.
Currently Loving: The phrase, “Peanut butter and jealous sandwich.” Think I’ll make it part of my regular repertoire.

The Best of SF is Smoked Fettuccini with sea urchin and bacon at SPQR

Recently I was looking for a restaurant to meet a former coworker at to catch up. I didn’t feel like going too far from home (Pac Heights), but wanted something that was classy and quiet enough for a convo but with yummy food and a good wine list. I decided to try SPQR on Fillmore St. and ordered their smoked fettucini with sea urchin and smoked bacon, topped with a quail egg, which is now on my “dream about that dish regularly” list.

I’m not a *huge* fan of Italian restaurants – to me, spaghetti is spaghetti. Blasphemous, I know! I want unique pairings, fancy ingredients and combos that wow me. Marina sauce with meatballs and noodles this does not equal. SPQR is an Italian restaurant that does. Their “primi” pasta dishes are unlike any other. I’m talking mustard capellini with a guinea hen ragu and mimolette cheese, cocoa pasta with foraged mushroom, fontina and black truffle; and chestnut tagliatelle with cider and chestnut braised suckling pork. Plus, they have bacon or pork in like half their dishes. All of this makes them a prime candidate for Je’s SF-Best Crown.

BUT, the cherry on top of SPQR’s whipped cream menu – they have a “chef’s counter” that you can make reservations at. It’s basically a six top counter that overlooks the kitchen where you can watch the chefs work their magic and see what each dish looks like. It helped me choose the smoked fettucini… and I am NOT sorry.

Currently Feeling: Exhausted after a crazy busy week sponsoring SF Business Week at work and having personal plans every weekend. It’s hump day, and I’m ready to SLEEP.
Currently Anticipating: Costume shopping for Bay to Breakers tomorrow. I have about four different costume ideas I need to choose between!
Currently Loving: A very flattering compliment I received today that’s left me smiling all evening.

An Update on Project Love

A "LOVE" bracelet I received in the mail from a friend

I wrote on Valentine’s Day this year about how my word for the year is LOVE and how I’m starting Project Love in 2012.

To remind you, my goals of Project Love are to:

1. Let LOVE back into my life, not only how I’m showing love, but most importantly how I’m finding it
2. LOVE my body more – think positively about what I love about my body and fuel it with the love of healthy food and working out
3. LOVE strangers more through smiling at those I pass on the streets instead of adverting my eyes
4. LOVE my friends and family from afar through handwritten letters instead of texts, phone calls instead of emails and random acts of kindess to surprise them

I know I’ve been silent about where I’m at with all of it, and don’t think it’s because I haven’t been focusing on LOVE. Quite just the opposite, actually.

Before I update you on the matters of my heart, I’ll start with letting you know that I’m loving myself, and my body, a lot more these days (which was one of my top LOVE goals, this year). My intense “clean diet, feet on the street, less drinking” lifestyle change has gifted me back the figure I felt was missing since at least 28. Just last week I zipped up my skinny skinny jeans and favorite white pants I haven’t worn in years. (!!!) With that confidence boost, I feel like I’m flirting more and feeling a bit more “sexy” again…

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One Year SFversary through Instagram

You guys, I made it. Today marks my first official year of living in San Francisco.

This time last year I was driving through Washington, Oregon and the first half of California with my sister and cat in my red VW Bug, arriving in San Francisco at 1 a.m. on May 13, 2011. I was *really* unsure of what was ahead of me. I was *really* unsure of leaving my friends and family behind. I was a bit anxious, and really emotional. I didn’t know what to expect – I was just making the leap, sans an official “job” or boyfriend to support my choice. But, I was thrilled to be embarking on the adventure I had talked about wanting to do my entire 20s.

A few people said to me, “Oh the first year is the hardest!” about moving away.

I don’t know if I am luckier than the average bear (oftentimes I think so), or if I’m stronger or more independent… I can’t answer that. But I can say I found little about my first year in San Francisco to be hard. Sure, it was challenging and sometimes I felt homesick or overwhelmed about not knowing anyone or anywhere. But overall, my year was sparkly, fun, magical and new. I laughed a lot; I met the people I’m meant to meet; I’ve eaten at more fabulous restaurants in one year than should be allowed. I’ve grown professionally; I’ve kissed cute boys; I’ve shared the most important pieces of me with new girl friends; I’ve reinvented my reality. I’ve seen more live music than any previous year of my life; I’ve lost weight (hello skinny jeans from 20-years-old!); I’ve tried so many new things and discovered new favorites; I’ve made a special little home for myself.

And to top it off, I feel like I’m just getting started. I feel like my life in San Francisco is really starting to rock and roll… I’m finding the heartbeat of the city, meeting new groups of people, filling out my calendar, and just simply loving life and those who I’ve made my family here.

I can’t wait to see what year two brings, and share those special moments with all of you, blog lovelies.

Here is my first year in San Francisco through my Instagram lens (you can click on each photo to find out details of what the picture is of or where it was taken in the city, if you feel so inclined)…

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The Best of SF is a glass blowing and beer party at Public Glass

Last Saturday, my friend Jess and I went to an event at Public Glass, a nonprofit glass blowing studio in San Francisco. The event was called Hot Glass, Cold Beer, and I heard about it on Twitter through @jeannebee.

For $25, we got to pick our own hand-blown glass, and it was filled up all night with unlimited beer, wine or pop. (Let’s be honest – who chooses pop?!)

Hot Glass, Cold Beer also featured live acoustic music, snacks like homemade guac and chips (always a crowd pleaser) and glass blowing demos.

Jess and I mixed and mingled throughout the packed house, and had a GREAT time. It felt like a creative, artistic way to spend our Saturday night (in a new scene AND with wine).

I’d definitely recommend going to the next Hot Glass, Cold Beer event at Public Glass!

Currently Feeling: A little homesick. I need a quick trip to hang out with my BFFs.
Currently Anticipating: Dinner and an urban hike tonight with a friend.
Currently Needing: A new workout routine, desperately.

The oatmeal combo I bet you have not tried

Let me share one of my most favorite things the Internet has gifted to be recently… an oatmeal combo that’s SAVORY, not sweet.

I SOO wish I could remember what Internet rabbit hole it came from, but alas, I can’t retrace my steps. But the blogger made a great point – oatmeal is a grain. Just like couscous, brown rice and bugler wheat. So why does everyone feel the need to make their oatmeal sweet?

Ah ha moment!

I’m a savory breakfast kind of a gal, so have largely strayed from eating oatmeal. But since da oats are so dang good for your heart and health, this recipe makes me HAPPY!

Just take 1/4 – 1/2 cup of uncooked oats and prepare it to instructions. Add one chopped slice of Canadian bacon + shredded Parmesan cheese + a poached egg + hot sauce or just salt/pepper to taste (I prefer Tapatio). The trick is to not have too much oatmeal…the egg and ingredients should “sit” on top of the oatmeal like polenta dishes with poached eggs on top. And the cheese/hot sauce will season the oats so it doesn’t taste bland.

I double dog dare you to try it this week!

Currently Feeling: Relief I got through a tough convo today. Onward and upward!
Currently Anticipating: Heading to bed early tonight, so I can make an early gym trip in the am.
Currently Wanting: An iPad! I admit…now that I leave my laptop at work most nights, and even most weekends, I want something to browse and blog with at home. Ehhhh.

Stella Sundays is Mustache Disguised

It’s been awhile since Stella graced the interwebs with her beauty…She’s feeling a bit shy, so wanted to go undercover today.

“I mustache you, do you think I’m still pretty? Meow.”

Currently Feeling: A little Sunday night anxiety. This week is going to be busy and stressful!
Currently Anticipating: Focusing on eating healthy and working out this week to manage stress levels and feel awake and happy!
Currently Loving: The salsa I made in a cooking class today. More deets coming on the blog this week!

Going Out then vs now

“I better explain what the concept of “going out” with someone meant back then, because time has changed it. I was talking recently to a woman friend whose daughter had come to her in a state of distress. She was in her second term at university, and had been sleeping with a boy who had – openly, and to her knowledge – been sleeping with several other girls at the same time. What he was doing was auditioning them all before deciding which to “go out” with. The daughter was upset, not so much by the system – though she half-perceived its injustice – as by the fact that she hadn’t been the one finally chosen.

This made me feel like a survivor from some antique, bypassed culture whose members were still using carved turnips as a from of monetary exchange. Back in “my day” – though I didn’t claim ownership of it at the time, still less do I now – this is what used to happen: you met a girl, you were attracted to her, you tried to ingratiate yourself, you would invite her to a couple of social events – for instance, the pub – then ask her out on her own, then again, and after a good-night kiss of variable heat, you were somehow, officially, “going out” with her.”

Only when you were semi-publicly committed did you discover what her sexual policy might be.

– an excerpt from The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes, Winner of the 2011 Man Booker Prize 

Currently Feeling: Excited about a silly new idea I have (hope to launch it in two months)!
Currently Anticipating: Thursday night shenanigans in the City tonight with Jess. I’m thinking black heels and red lipstick will come out to play.
Currently Needing: To slow my pace a bit. Hoping next week will be more low key.

The Best of SF is the Hunky Jesus Competition at Dolores Park

I can’t say this enough about San Francisco (and you’ll probably hear it 100 more times) – this is the most fun, random city that has weirdest events to attend daily. *cough* Air Sex Competition *cough* I’m still debating if I want to write about that one here… you might just have to send me a personal note to get the details. Anyway, there’s a saying I myself say or hear probably once at day, “That is SOOOO San Francisco.”

Well, the Hunky Jesus Competition at Dolores Park on Easter Sunday is “soooooo San Francisco.” Weird, inappropriate, random, hilarious, and NOT.TO.BE.MISSED if you ever happen to find yourself in SF on Easter, or live here.

Twenty plus “hunky Jesus” men took the stage in costumed themes such as “Cheeze-It Christ” (naked with a box of Cheeze-Its) or “Jesus H Christ Takes the Cake” (a Jesus with an H-shaped cross, smeared in cake). Only one walked away a winner: Funky Jesus (the one pictured above with a gigantic cross electronic guitar that he actually played with a bottle of whiskey). Now if that doesn’t say, “he has risen!” I don’t know what does.

And of course, the competition was hosted by drag queens and the park was full of 1,000s of lovely Easter-decorated San Franciscans… I’m talking elaborate Easter-basket hats or coats made with Peeps. It really all was just too spectacular, and it helped to take away the sting of not having my own family Easter celebration or a basket of Peeps and Cadbury Creme Eggs at home.

Currently Feeling: A lot of “chores” hanging over my head – I’m way past due on grocery shopping and have a pile of laundry on my floor I”ve been trying to fold for a week!
Currently Anticipating: My one-year SF-versary is only two weeks away!
Currently Wondering: Why it’s so hard to find a taco with a hard shell to eat these days!