the LA girly grubbin’ guide

now i would never even begin to consider myself a los angeles local, guru, or anything of the sort… but after calling this place home for a over a year, I am beginning to learn the ropes. in my eyes, once you don’t need that annoying GPS system chanting your every next turn, you have made it. and don’t get me wrong, that voice was my BFF when I first moved out here. i couldn’t even pull out of my complex without typing in my destination. i finally said see ya to siri and can now use my brain + memory to maneuver my movin’.

since i have become familiar with many different areas in LA due to different internships, jobs, friends, and such… i have my favorite places depending on your exact locale. while there are still so many savory sights for me to see, these are my go-to hotspots in each hood i have lived thus far… (don't worry, west hollywood + bev hillz and more will be chatted about soon!)

the valley (burbank, toluca lake, studio city, glendale, north hollywood…etc)

i've got some mad love for the valley. not only was it the grounds where my first and amazingly overpriced furnished hellhole stood (the oakwoods near the studios, look it up... all the disney and nickelodeon teenyboppers lived there at some point) it also was the location of my second apartment with my best frand in the terrific toluca lake. consider this area much like a suburb from the midwest… perfect, yettt i was ready to part ways to party a little, ya feel me?

-olive & thyme

if you follow me on instagram, twitter, or any social media platform, ya gotta know this is my SPOT. the best café for coffee, salads, overpriced yet delicious desserts, and it was a great little walk for my roomie and i. the workers there know us by name and know what exactly what we order depending on our mood and the time of the day (or month in my case...).

-aroma café

yes, another café. sorry, i just cant get enough of them. when you aren’t focusing on vanessa hudgens sitting right next to ya, or maybe some other c-lister, you can truly appreciate the wide selection of food, and the wonderful scenery and atmosphere. it is so cute and cozy… my favorite lunch spot when my boss and i need a little afternoon break from the office.

-golden road brewery

since I am a st. louis girl at heart, i appreciate a good brewery. not tryin to say this place comes anywhere close to AB, but it's as good as it gets out here. this place has the brew selections, but their food is just as tasty. and filling. this spot is perfect for a girlfriend get together or a date destination.

west siiiiide (venice, santa monica)

even when i was living in the valley, i would frequent the west side what seemed to be daily. a few of my best friends lived there, and i mean, it was much more happenin’ than my neck of the woods! these beach towns have so much to offer that choosing three is going to be tough.

-venice ale house

ON the beach. literally too many drinks on the menu that i want to choose 7. and surrounded by california cuties. what could you not like that about these? and not to mention, their food is amazeballs. i was counting on the alcohol selection to be totally rad, but the food was over the top yummy that it seems like this place is too good to be true. + this is the best place i have been to see the sunset. in other words, go. there.

-sugarfish (i am taking the SM location, but they have restaurants all over!)

i used to consider myself such a newb when it came to ordering sushi. like the california roll or spicy tuna was good enough for me. the awesome thing about sugarfish is that most people order the different “trust me’s” where they give you a little of everything to try. i'm not the most adventurous when it comes to trying new and unqiue food, but i am telling ya, i liked everything I put in my mouth from that platter! the fish was to die for (get it… the fish are dead hehe)

-gjelina

i am saving the best for last. this place is unreal, out of this world. i swear to you NO ONE has ever tried this place and said one bad comment about it. except maybe the prices are a bit steep, but once you are done with the dinner, you aren’t even thinking dollar bills. you are left so satisfied you can't help but smile. i would suggest a few of my favorites to you, but I promise it would probably consist of the entire menu. this yumminess is down the street from my venice pad which is super convenient, yet super dangerous at the same time.

{photos via pinterest}.

so who wants to come visit!? xx

simple s'mores.

Ever wish you had a personal fire pit with you 24/7? I sure do. After my visit to the Parker a few weeks ago, s'mores are always on my mind. When I came across a recipe for this delicious delicacy on pinterest, that only involved an OVEN, I couldn't pass it up!

This dessert doesn't even need step by step directions. Just remember to break all the graham crackers in half, cut a marshmallow in half {put the sticky side down on the cracker} & then set your oven on low broil. Watch those bad boys for a couple minutes, then put a Hersey kiss on top! How easy!? The warm marshmallow will melt the chocolate, leaving you with a tasty treat.

Simple S'mores are perfect for a little get together on a chilly night, a project with some kiddos, or anytime you are having a sweet tooth! It is up to you how many you make //  how many you can eat! I may just have to make another batch this weekend :) xx.

juice me up.

In my post-grad life, I have spent more money on Trader Joe runs and coffee/juice than clothes, and I quickly realizing that I must be growing up! Fruit over fashion? This can't last for long. But I have recently become very addicted to the "green" drinks, whether it is the Green blends or Very Green from TJ's, I just can't get enough of them. 

Juicing has become such a trend, especially out here on the West Coast. Depending on where you live, there may be a juice bar around the corner or a farmer's market with fresh fruit & veggie blends, but if not - you can always buy your own juicer! This way you can make the most tailored combination for yourself including your favorite produce. I have learned that silicon-rich green pepper supports your complexion, aloe vera compliments cellular regeneration, mint eases stress, coconut relaxes the mind and body, and lemon is energizing, leaving you feeling revitalized. Using this knowledge, I add certain ingredients in my mix depending on my health and mood. 

My roommate bought a Juice Man a few months ago, and I just started using the machine rather than buying a few overpriced bottles a week. Yes, it may not be as quick and easy but it sure does save the buckaroos in the end. Here are some of my tops thus far ::

I have tried many green smoothies I have loved, such as the Whole Foods Green & Glowing (had one last night!) and Jamba Juice's Apple n' Greens. The Green & Glowing smoothie has unsweetened coconut shreds, amazing. I ask for vanilla almond milk to give it more of a sweet taste and it is the perfect treat! And this isn't just an LA refreshment since Whole Foods Markets are all over the country! Woohoo.

*Greens 2 @ Pressed Juicery :: kale, spinach, romaine, parsley, cucumber, celery, apple, lemon. Pressed Juicery is my favorite juice spot in LA, but those six dollar juice bottles are killin' me. I can't walk inside a PJ location without walking out with 5 minis (which are $4.50). They are great meal replacements and the Apple Strawberry Coconut serves as a delicious dessert. Go PEEJ.

*Greens 2 @ Kreation Organic :: A true salad in a bottle, Green 2 will help you bring balance to your body. While celery regulates your body temperature, romaine promotes healthy kidney function, cucumber supports your urinary system, and spinach aids in digestion, kale calms inflammation, celery improves your metabolism, and apple detoxifies. The taste is completely refreshing and you know it's just doing great things to your bod. 

*The HOMEMADE JuiceMan Green Machine  :: the blend i made this morning was a mix of kale, spinach, grapefruit, apple, lemon/lime, blueberries, & coconut h20. i never really make the same combination twice, i just keep testing my favorite produce to see how it turns out! plus, you get tons of vitamins and nutrition by experimenting. i always make sure to put in plenty of greens, and then decide different yummy fruits or additions from there. it's the cheaper version of the juice bar creations, & it is a fun DIY :) 


What is your favorite no guilt goodie?

grapefruit guacamole.

Do you love guac as much as I do? I found a fruity guacamole recipe on pinterest and decided to put my own twist on it, in other words, not following one step of the directions correctly! It is the perfect mix of refreshing & tangy, and there are only 4 ingredients which makes it super easy to make. It will be great for those summer BBQ's with a side of veggies or tortilla chips. I must say, it is even better than the Chipotle version my roommate grabs three days a week. Plus you get more bang for your buck! 

Ingredients ::

2 avocados 

1/4 onion, diced

1/2 grapefruit, peeled pieces

3 teaspoons of salt

Instructions ::

1. Dice the onion & toss into a bowl with 1 teaspoon of salt.

2. Add grapefruit pieces, but remember to remove the membrane before putting into bowl.

3. Cut and peel 2 ripe avocados. Mash the avocados with a fork.

4. Add two more teaspoons of salt & garnish with a slice of grapfruit!

Sometimes the mashing must be done with your fingers as well as the fork. Beware, things may get a little messy but that is the fun part! Enjoy!

the perfect parfait.

Whenever I go out for a weekend brunch, I find myself ordering some version of a yogurt+granola+fruit combo. 10 bucks later, I realize I could eat another two meals for a fraction of the price! So go me, I have decided to make my own yummy yogurts #yolo. You can make them the night before & bring them to work with ya in a marv mason jar or even eat it on the go. I simply just made three layers: {the yogurt on bottom, granola in the middle, fruit + toppings on top!} This tasty treat even looks pretty, what a bonus.

Ingredients:
Strawberries
Blueberries {or any kind of fruit you want}
Greek Yogurt {I used TJ's Nonfat Vanilla Greek}
Honey
Sweetened Shredded Coconut
Granola {I used TJ's Vanilla Almond Granola}

the finished product!

dig in.

Now we all know that breakie is the most important meal of the deal, so what is your favorite early-morning-eats?

it's always a good thyme.

I don't know why it has taken me this long to blog about my one & only, Olive & Thyme. This cutie cafe is a hop and a skip away from my apartment, so in other words, this place is my main hang. Never have I ever been let down by this family-owned favorite. My wallet isn't as crazy about it as my tum is, but ya win some, ya lose some, right? The decor is just screaming instagram's name, the staff make you feel as if you are right back in the Midwest, and the grub is absolutely, must I say, orgasmic. My picks are the cobb salad, the fruit w/ yogurt & honey, and their intelligentsia vanilla lattes. Plus they sell macarons, like talk about a match made in heaven y'all.

eggcellent.

Get Slutty.
Great breakie, great name. Every Saturday&Sunday morning, the legendary eggslut food truck parks it at the Handsome Coffee Roasters located in downtown LA. With such a catchy name, you can't pass this one up. Nestled right under the 5, this little hike is totally worth the wait with the loud jewish american princess hipsters. And not to mention, you get a little two for one action (hunky handsome coffee plus a mason jar full of protein). My roommate and I tried out their speciality, Thee Slut, which is a crazy combination of eggs+potato puree. Other items include, the sausage egg & cheese, eggslut avo burger, & the fairfax. Wanna get slutty on the weekends without the moral hangover? Hit up the Handsome Coffee Roaster or the Hart + the Hunger location & get egg-stra cray.

  

farm party.

Welcome to the farm party, otherwise known as Stefano's at LA Farm. You will automatically be introduced by a killer atmosphere and quietly wonder to yourself if you are actually in or outdoors. The "outside" seating is constructed to feel like you are in some sort of tent, filled with fireplaces and comfy mod couches. If I hadn't gone with my best friend, it would totally have been the perfect scene for an awkward date spot. Although we ordered a few items off the small plate section, let me make this clear. They are not lying about the serving size, they are truly SMALL plates. All I have to say is an order of bruschetta comes with one. So it's notttt the best place to go on a splitting spree. But if you are looking for a great place for a glass of wine with a girlfriend and to spend some money you think you have - come one, come all. They even generously have a glass container of double bubble gum on the way out. Definitely a trendy place that I would come back to when I am not footing the bill :)