Views For Days

Another amazing weekend in SF down in the books.

My friend and old co-worker was here last week and I was lucky enough to get to spend the weekend with her. She was the first to see my apartment, although not finished, I agreed. We explored some my neighborhood for dinner and drinks and had some real wins. I am pumped for the places we tried.

Saturday Sam and I met her on Filmore and showed her what the SF toast scene was all about. I think it is safe to say she fell in love too. Can anyone resist avocado toast or peanut butter, bacon and banana toast? Who thought of these things?! From there we headed on a little walk to Alamo Square, home of the Painted Ladies (Full House anyone?). The weather was absolutely perfect, as always. After catching some annoying perfect blue skies in the lawn of Alamo Square we made our way to the SF Beer Fest in the Mission. Now that was a good time filled with beer, cider, more beer - oh and beef jerky!!! I guess I can't forget about the music, they were dressed up very Christmas-y.

We weren't feeling like ending our day just yet. I know,, we started at 11am, it was 5:30pm and our next stop was Twin Peaks. Who cared if Megan and I both had stylish booties on? We were going to do a little hike to see amazing sunset views of this damn city ... and so we did. Twin Peaks was just simply breath taking. I will be back - again and again.

We finally wrapped up our night (I don't know how we didn't fall asleep) at Waruku. The best ramen of my life. Then Megan and I went to bed and Sam played Playstation. I had to add that it there. So true.

Sunday brought us back to the only Minnesota Vikings bar in SF. Yep, the one 3 blocks from our apartment. Sam makes friends there like it is nobody's business. Must be a Minnesota thing. :) I did lots of shopping for our apartment, pretty much knocking everything off our list - new kitchen table/chairs, desk, closet organization, bathroom stuff, frames. So excited it is coming together.

It's kind of crazy this week is Thanksgiving. We have been so busy that we haven't really been able to think about it. Another fun week though. My good friend from NYC (Amanda) is in town for two weeks so I am so truly pumped to get to spend lots of time with her. She just became an aunt. Time to celebrate, for lots of occasions. I also get to spend Thanksgiving with an old co-worker and friend who was so sweet to invite Sam and I to do so. Excited as I know we will be spoiled. :)

Speaking of holidays ... Christmas is right around the corner. I haven't even had time to shop/think about it. I was trying to get creative with gifts this year. Any thoughts? Things live giving keys, etc.

Next topic on the mind: The gap. I can't relate to my sister and we are in the same generation. When did this change.

Happy One Month to this San Franciscan

Can you believe this tomorrow will be a full month that we have been in California? Time flies!

It has been a week since we have moved into the apartment. I will tell you a few things.

• The food in our hood is beyond good. Nick's Tacos - had them, twice (don't judge us). Pizza, Vietnamese. It is all amazing.
• The bus system is new/amazing/tricky. I never road the bus in NYC, so it was a new experience. I won't lie to you ... after a long weekend of unpacking and all that jazz, a new job and lots of work AND then having a rough bus commute Monday and then getting on the wrong bus Monday evening, getting off in a rough neighborhood - I had a breakdown. Yep, I teared up (just a little bit). 
• Our apartment is amazing. It is newly renovated (as in days before we moved in), in an amazing neighborhood, I have my very own walk in closet (separate from Sam's stuff) and it is just so stinkin' cute!

I haven't quite had time to "want" to or "need" to make friends, just yet. But I did start to think - making friends as you get older gets hard. This is my third time moving to a new city/state and man does it get hard. I noticed myself check out a girl on the bus and ask her about her book because I could see myself being friends with her. I laughed at myself. It's funny the things we do. So, if anyone knows someone in San Francisco that they want to pass off to Sammy or I, please do! I could give you our personal profiles, but if you know us, I am sure you will know if we/they will get along. :)

The holidays are coming - how did that happen? Oh and I am going to be the big 3-0 soon. Sam likes to rub that in. I would rather just skip it. Yes, it is a big one, but I don't feel 30 and I don't believe I look 30. :) Wishful thinking??

We need to start making a list of places to visit now that we are on the west coast. Such a new/different playing field. I think we nailed them all when we were on the east coast - onto the next!

Here are a few to start it.

1. Mexico
2. Alaska - Denali National Park
3. Hawaii
4. Yellowstone
5. Redwood National Park

Ok, I think that wraps up tonight updates.

SL

Cali-fornication (And I'm Back!)

Are you ready to paaaaaaaartay? I am back!

I have been (re)inspired to blog again. I like to think it was taking a few months off or my new (job, city, career move) eh, everything.

I got a new life ya’ll. See how easy that was? Kidding. It wasn’t that easy. I worked my pretty little (okay, big) butt off for this move in my life.

Sam and I have officially moved to the West (best) Coast and the beautiful state of California – San Francisco to be exact. Instead of telling you about our neighborhood, Russian Hill, I just copy/pasted Thrillist’s “Where Should You Live in SF” since we move in tomorrow …

Russian Hill

• Home to the (not actually) crookedest street in the world, hidden staircases, and cozy restaurants, Russian Hill is a favorite spot for people who like the idea of the Marina, but don’t want to live in the Marina.
• Who lives here: Young urban professionals; couples who haven’t had babies (yet); San Francisco families with old money
• Bar and restaurant scene: Polk St has a ton of bars and restaurants and there are cute little cafes smattered throughout the neighborhood. Lord Stanley, Reverb, and Cocotte are all great places to eat dinner and Bullitt and Tonic both have a busy, if not a little younger, bar crowd. Greens is the place to go to watch the game.
•  Public transit situation: There are plenty of buses running through the neighborhood (1, 10, 12, 19, 27, 30, 45, 47, 49), as well as a cable car.
•  Quote from a resident: “I have a car, but I never use it. Everything I need is on Polk St, including groceries, coffee, and booze. If I could stay here forever, I would.” - Meredith M. 

Why SF from NYC? I will quote my BFF, Meghan, “I love cheap rent!” Haha. Because it really doesn’t get more expensive (sadly) than SF. Well, I got an amazing opportunity to interview for a competitor brand (yep, I said it) so I did. Thanks to an old colleague (now my boss) and scored a pretty sweet gig at the brand/home office doing digital marketing. I am pumped. I loved my old company. Obviously. I wouldn’t have been there for almost 9 years if I didn’t, but this was the right move for me at this time. I am looking forward to this new journey and every single dang challenge and obstacle. BRING IT ON! Plus, I get to wear jeans and look stylish and super cute. Duh, bonus! J

So, yep, here we are. Sam and I took about 10 days to explore our new state. We went from Lake Tahoe to Yosemite National Park to the California Beaches of Carmel/Monterey. I can honestly say after that trip, we just looked at each other and said how happy we were to make the move. (PS, Sam wasn’t happy at first since I told him the next location could be his choice.) Oh, and bonus – Sam’s brother, Kyle lives and works in Curry Village (Yosemite National Forest). How awesome is that?! Yeah, you could say Cali was love at first sight and we pretty much fell in love. I guess you could say out of everywhere – this fits our personality the best so far.

Cons (because I won’t lie and tell you everything has been rainbows and butterflies):

·         Time zones can suck and so can a 3 hour time difference with friends and family on the east coast. Gotta figure this one out!

·         Living in a hotel with cats has been … interesting to say the least. Did I mention I can’t wait to move into our apartment?

·         My body clock or whatever is way off. I wake up at 5am (8am east coast) and am tired at like 6pm (9pm east coast). Does this ever stop?!

Really, that is it. The freaking sky is always, always, always blue. The weather is perfect. This is almost a CON for me because it will never give me an excuse to be lazy and have a “do nothing’ day. I know, how inconvenient. SF also has two great things; healthy people (so maybe it will rub off on me) and “toast.”

Hmmm, what else do I have to update. Oh, Sam got a super cool job too – with Blue Apron. Sorry, you can’t have free food, but maybe a discount. I made Sam work for them because I loved their product so much. I am totally and completely kidding. Sam is a bada$$ and got a great job because he is so awesome.

We are getting a car. Yep, it’s been a number of years and a few good cities WITHOUT cars. I hate having a car, but Sam loves driving (probably more than me). So, he is getting a car. He also works near Berkeley so it will make the commute more manageable.

For now, that is it. Excited to share more once we start exploring.