From Oakland, With Love

I drove up to Oakland over the weekend to celebrate my good friend's twenty-fifth birfday. Whenever I go to "the city" I always dork out internally and hope I'll see some bloggers! I tried to keep my eyes peeled for the likes of Calivintage or Retro Gypsy, but alas, no luck. I did talk to someone who used to know Kreay Shawn, haha! I had such a great time seeing Melissa, I'd love to move there. We walked everywhere, saw a cool band playing outside Whole Foods, ate at Mau, watched crazy dancing in the clubs, enjoyed some two a.m. taco truck action and there were dj's everywhere. Here are some pics from our picnic at Lake Merritt on sunny Sunday with the crazy lovely pup Stella. And when you get to the birthday cake and candy spread yes, that is a foot-long Snickers bar.

The Fullest Thanksgiving Ever

Palm Desert, California. Thanksgiving 2012

Home Sweet Home

Hiya everybody, I hope those who celebrated the holiday had a blast! If you follow my Instiegram, you might know that I've been tucked away in Southern California for the past week, celebrating life, love and luck with Eric and his family. I'm still working on all the photos I snapped, so in the meantime I'll show you a few favorites that don't even warrant editing.

As much as I enjoyed, appreciated, and needed our vacation, I must say it's really nice to be home. I have a few more days off before I go back to work, so I've already started decorating for the holidays, planning future cookie recipes, and gifts. I almost can't wait until Saturday because it's the day we get the tree!

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Earlier today, we stopped at The New Target (I don't know when I'll be able to stop calling it that) where I spotted a display of colorful ankle length trousers on sale for $20 - I'm adding the black & white pattern and these in the deep blue or green to my wishlist! I didn't try them on so I'm trying to keep calm. Does anyone have these yet?

Worn: Crystal Castles

It's been a few weeks now, maybe a month, but I was blessed enough to see Crystal Castles for the second time with some dear friends. Beforehand, we wandered around Oakland, had a few drinks, a few tacos, more than a few laughs, and headed to the as-amazingly-fun-as-last-time show. We danced our hearts out. I seriously wonder how strobes don't send more people into convulsions. How old am I again? Geez... Anyway, here are some awesome photos I didn't take of Alice Glass, because I didn't brave the front rows, due to my need for air and having a hard time dancing while people are elbowing me in the boob. Uriah was able to fight his tall self up there though, and it paid off!

Monterey Bay Aquarium Pt. 3

The Jellies

I absolutely love the jelly fish section, almost as much as getting to watch the penguins. The tanks are all in a darkened exhibit, lit from withing to highlight to jellies best. Didja know jelly fish are the oldest multi-organ animal on earth? They pulse and flail gently in aqua tanks that seem endless. Their translucence contrasts beautifully with the glowing accents that sometimes look like electric lights. There are even jelly fish that lie on the ocean floor and look like anemones, lifting their bellies to the sun and catching prey as it drifts by.

Sea Horses

The newest exhibit at the Aquarium is The Secret Life of Sea Horses, which I hadn't seen before. These crazy looking little creatures are so fascinating; I'm sorry I couldn't get any better photos of them, but they are more skittish than the other animals in the aquarium. The site calls tehm "shy and secretive." They always moved away before I could focus and get a good shot! There were specimens up to eight or nine inches long, and some as small as fingernails. I learned that the males carry and pop out the babies; seems like more species should try this maybe? I also learned that the tourist trade in dried starfish and seahorses, for example, is having a detrimental effect on the ocean's wildlife. Farmers harvest whole portions of live reefs, fish and all, for profit, while leaving an area denuded.

Penguin Party

I like to think penguins are my spirit animal. These are South African penguins, not the March Of The Penguins arctic kind, but they are just as funny and cute. They have their names on a little armband to tell them apart. One kept worrying the keeper's boot and pant leg with its beak, demanding treats. The swimmers looked so cheerful zipping around in the water and floating by the windows. It's almost as though they're posing nonchalantly while watching us watch them.

Check out my first two posts {here and here} from our day trip to Monterey. And if you're interested in more Monterey Bay Aquarium stuff, check out their exhibits and learn more from their site, www.montereybayaquarium.org