Favorite Things: LA

Gjelina unbelieveableness

For two years I've had a California address, license and phone number, but its only been within the last few months that this place has actually felt like "home." After spending years and years of moving from city to city, I have found it easier to be a quickly adapting chameleon, rather than taking on the daunting task of settling in somewhere. With all that beside me now, I can truly say that I'm happy here. I've got a full life, as ever-changing and frenetic it might be; it's great. However, the newness is still there -  I get giddy to wake up and see a palm tree, I have no clue what wakeboarding is and I laugh at people who drive slow in the rain.

Here are some things that have gotten me hooked on LA:

1. King's Road Cafe - The vegetarian burrito is out.of.this.world. So is the coffee...and the homemade chai. 
2. Gjelina - I've mentioned this before (here), but ever since my best friend and I discovered this gem in Venice, I cannot get enough (nor can she, sucks that she's all the way in NYC ;).) Summer days spent on the back porch eating pizza made with fresh ingredients and good company...basically irresistible. 
3. Planet Blue (especially the Malibu location) - I cannot go there alone. I will spend hours. I will walk out with bags. Yes; plural. 
4. The beach - I'm so cheesy - but after a long day/weekend/whatever, there's nothing more soothing than driving to the beach at dusk, kicking off your shoes and listening to the waves.  
5. Tao of Wellness (Wilshire Blvd/Santa Monica) - Stress relief to the max. See Mark. He's amazing. You should see the elated state of bliss that I am in when I walk out of those doors. Floating is more like it.   
6. Wax LA- See Marisa. She will take care of you. Painlessly. 
7. The style & creativity of the people - Especially when I lived in NYC, I'll admit, I was quick to judge LA for it's casualness and overall "sameness" of people, restaurants, nightlife. Very vanilla LA is not. I couldn't be more inspired by the people I've met here and their ambitions and hopes and dreams. It's pretty incredible. 

Daily essentials

Oldie, but goodie - perfect California day

Rose Bowl Flea Market (still obsessing over these signs)

Converse + formal wear = perfect combination

Swear 100% that this is a completely unedited version of what I wake up to every morning