loveliness.

Live, travel, adventure, bless and don't be sorry.
loveliness.
  • Home
  • about
  • travel
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • Canada
    • Indonesia
    • Singapore
    • Mexico
    • Philippines
    • Thailand
    • USA
      • Arizona
      • California
        • Los Angeles
        • San Francisco
      • Hawaii
      • Montana
      • New York
      • Oregon
      • Washington
  • loveliness
  • books
  • favourites
  • Category: California

    • hello goodbye

      Posted at 10:35 pm by jasminedesirees, on September 25, 2013

      I still don’t know my way around here very well, probably because I’ve been so dependent on technology that I’ve never had to learn. My phone GPS is broken right now, so on the way home from San Jose last weekend, we ended up getting lost and going through San Francisco, which worked out anyway because I had a friend visiting and she wanted to see the city.

      It was a gorgeous day, not a lot of traffic, the sun shining and good tunes on the radio, and as we drove north on the 101 and came around the last curve and saw the San Francisco laying out in front of us, with it’s cute, colourful houses on the hillsides and the skyline off in the distance, I realized for the first time that I really love this city.

      It would be just like me to finally notice that just as we’re starting to get serious about planning where we want to go next, but you can’t have everything in life. The transition to living here was definitely rough, I’ve never been so lonely and homesick in my life, including when I moved to an island in the middle of the ocean without knowing a single person.

      It was a great experience for me in hindsight,  nothing helps you figure out who you are faster than no longer have anyone around you to tell you who they think you should be. It’s scary at first, but once you figure out that the only opinion that really matters is your own, even if it’s because there is nobody left around you to have an opinion, it’s very freeing.

      Looking back, I can pretty clearly see how each new place I’ve lived has changed me and shaped my viewpoint, and I know I’m very fortunate to have had the ability to live in so many wonderful places. I can’t wait to see what is in store for me when I get to my next new home.

       

      Posted in exploring, life, San Francisco, travel | 0 Comments | Tagged exploring, home, life, San Francisco, travel, wander
    • Tiffany’s

      Posted at 9:30 pm by jasminedesirees, on September 20, 2013

      Last night we went to the launch party for Tiffany’s new jewellery line, Atlas. I went with my friend Hannah, and it was a good time. They had some really good appetizers (and some not so good ones, avoid black bean tarts at any cost), and we drank all of the champagne that exists in the world, as evidenced by my pounding headache and immediate craving for a cheese bagel the second I opened my eyes this morning, one hour past my alarm.

      We also got to meet Aimee Song from Song of Style, and she was very sweet and just as beautiful in person. It was a pretty fun night, we were quite like Holly Go-Lightly, but without the emotional baggage or jaunty hats.

      The Atlas line was pretty, I liked some of the bracelets especially, but call me old fashioned, if I’m going to pay that much for a piece of jewellery, it needs to be really sparkly.

      Aimee Song, she was very sweet
      Sparkly chocolate truffles. Everyone was completely covered in edible glitter
      Tiffany jewellery models
      Posted in San Francisco | 0 Comments | Tagged aimee song, champagne, diamonds, jewellery, party, San Francisco, song of style, tiffany's
    • eat all the things.

      Posted at 9:07 pm by jasminedesirees, on August 22, 2013

      I have a friend coming in to town over Labour Day weekend from L.A., and she was wondering about the best places to eat in San Francisco for a truly delicious, unique experience. I asked my food-loving co-workers for suggestions, and I got a lot of feedback. It turned into a pretty impressive list, so I decided to share it.

      I’ve been to the first few, and really enjoyed them, and I’m pretty excited to start eating my way through the rest of the list.

      Tacolicious– The tacos here are really delicious, they have a bunch of different kinds, and they have really interesting margarita flavours to try as well.

      Spruce– This place is a little more expensive but it’s really funny because if you go in here, every.single. person. is eating a burger. Their burgers are amazing, their fries taste like potato chips, and they gave us a free giant cookie when we came in for being first time visitors, but I was already so full from eating everything else that I was like “I’ll never be able to eat this cookie, I’ll have to save it for tomorrow”. And then I ate the whole thing before we even made it home.

      Cafe Delucchi– In North Beach, the “Italian” part of the city, I went for dinner here a few weeks ago with my Italian girlfriend and it was so friggin good. Then we went across the street for hot chocolate and cannoli’s, it was one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time.

      Tartine– I’ve never been here but I’ve had food from here. It’s pretty much an SF institution, and their flourless chocolate cake might be the best thing I’ve ever eaten.

      Flour and Water– Pizza and pasta, came very highly recommended

      Thanh Long– Vietnamese fusion cuisine

      Burma Superstar- Apparently a very unique experience.

      Yank Sing– Deem Sum

      State Bird Provisions– This place has a constantly evolving menu, and is apparently a cliche, but classic San Francisco suggestion

      Golden Boy– People are pretty crazy about this pizza place.

      Frances– A bit expensive but really good food-

      AQ– Uses seasonal ingredients to make brand new

      Mission Chinese– Life changingly good Chinese.

      Swan Oyster Depot– A place to get very fresh seafood. I’ll be taking my sister and brother-in-law here for sure.

      Foreign Cinema– I’ve heard the food here is amazing, and the really cute thing is that they show movies on the wall of the court yard.

      AsiaSF:  It’s a bar and restaurant but the servers are really beautiful drag queens. It’s apparently a must do for visitors to the city, I might take my sister there when she comes in to town tomorrow.

      The Latin American Club: If you like margaritas as much as I do, and I’m not sure that it’s possible to, you should check this place out.

      And the final suggestion I was given: get a bacon wrapped hot dog in the mission. We used to go to Mazatlan all the time to see my Grandpa, and the bacon wrapped hot dogs they sell on the street at 2 a.m. are a thing of beauty, so we’ll see. Big shoes to fill, and what not.

      I’d love to get more suggestions, so if you have any for me, please leave them in the comments. 🙂

      Posted in food, San Francisco | 0 Comments | Tagged food, foodie, restaurants, San Francisco, Spruce, State Bird Provisions, Tacolicious, tartine
    • back in the saddle

      Posted at 4:06 pm by jasminedesirees, on August 19, 2013

      On Saturday night, I finally got to go to the Saddle Rack for the first time. The Saddle Rack is a country bar in Fremont, CA, complete with mechanical bull. There was a big group of us and it was really fun. My absolute favourite bar in the world is Nashville’s in Waikiki, so I’m always trying to find somewhere in California that I like as much.

      Nashville’s is still better, but I’m definitely biased as I basically lived there for 3 years, people I didn’t know would come up to me randomly on the street and by like “Oh hey, Nashville’s! You work there, right?”. I don’t have any immediate plans to move into the Saddle Rack, but it was a great time. Often when you’re really anticipating something for a long time, it can turn out to be a let down (every New Year’s Eve ever) but this was just as much fun as I’d hoped.




      Posted in California, Hawaii | 0 Comments | Tagged bar, California, country, dancing, saddle rock
    • tiburon

      Posted at 11:54 pm by jasminedesirees, on July 29, 2013

      The same day that I had my first adventure at the SF Ferry building farmer’s market I also took the ferry across the Bay to Tiburon, which is something I’ve wanted to do since the first time I came to visit San Francisco.

      We went to the wrong pier at first and almost missed the ferry and had to take a high speed pedi-cab ride to make it in time. Amanda was feeding the seagulls right off the back of the ferry and it was pretty neat until one almost took off her hand.

      We wandered around Tiburon, poked around some cute little shops and ate some sinfully delicious chocolate truffles, and laid out on the grass where we had a front row seat to a happy couple taking photos on their wedding day.

      We went to Sam’s for supper on the water, and just relaxed, it was a really great day.

      our trusty stead
      wind blown
      Alcatraz (not Azkaban, which is what I accidentally call it most of the time)
      Such a funny face
      Gorgeous day on the Bay
      Eat ALL the things
      Soaking up sunshine
      Would love to live in one of those little brown houses
      Bubble man
      Homeward bound
      Posted in California, life, San Francisco | 0 Comments | Tagged California, exploring, ferry building, San Francisco, summer, Tiburon
    • ferry

      Posted at 5:42 pm by jasminedesirees, on July 23, 2013

      Ever since I moved to the Bay area I’ve been hearing about the farmer’s market at the Ferry Building in San Francisco on Saturdays.

      I finally got the chance to go last weekend, and it was pretty awesome. We ate ourselves sick on cheese and fruit samples, I finally got to try Cowgirl Creamery cheese (get the Redhawk, just do it) and then we bought a bottle of wine and some snacks and just people watched and enjoyed the video.

      Sadly, we had plans afterward so I couldn’t really buy anything to take home, but it was probably best as I’m not sure that anybody really needs a $24 dollar jar of artisanal nectarine chutney (whenever I hear chutney in my head it’s always in the voice of Schmidt from New Girl).

      ommmm nom nom
      It was such a beautiful day, I had an actual physical craving to buy sunflowers
      lavendar soda, I was intrigued, but mostly I just wanted the bottle
      not gonna lie, we ate all of this.
      Posted in California, life, San Francisco | 0 Comments
    • artsy

      Posted at 8:56 pm by jasminedesirees, on July 12, 2013

      It’s been a super busy week at work, today was the first day that I was actually able to take a lunch break, I blame you, Comic Con.

      Today is a gorgeous day in the city and I was super hungry so I decided to go out for a walk and see what I could scrounge up for snacks. I’ve been working in the same place for a year now, but I hardly ever eat out at lunch so when I do I tend to just run to the same place every time. Boringggg.

      While I was out wandering I came across an art supply store so I poked my head inside to look around, hoping that my lack of paint splattered overalls and thick rimmed glasses wouldn’t give me away as a complete art store newb. I’ve been wanting to take more art classes for a while now, but it never seems to work out, they are always during the week day? Who is taking art classes on a week day afternoon? Jealous.

      I ended up buying a bunch of stuff that I don’t really know how to use, but I’m going to have lots of fun experimenting. The colours were so pretty, and I harbour a secret suspicion that I am actually a masterfully spectacular artist, and the only reason my talent has remained hidden for so long is my lack of access to pastels.

      And I never did end up getting lunch.



      I don’t know what I would make with this. Probably a snow man. But it’s beautiful.

      Posted in art, life, San Francisco | 0 Comments | Tagged art, hobbies, painting, San Francisco
    • wine-o

      Posted at 4:16 pm by jasminedesirees, on June 25, 2013

      A few weekends ago a group of us went wine tasting for one of my friends’ birthdays. It was a beautiful day, and we had lots of fun. We went in Livermore, to 3 different wineries, and I discovered that at a lot of the smaller vineyards, the people that work in the tasting rooms are volunteers, and they get paid in wine.

      So I’ve definitely found my future career path. Out of all the wineries we went to, 3 Steve’s in Livermore was my favourite, it was across the courtyard from Tap 25, which had beer tasting for the boys, and the owners were very friendly and knowledgeable. They kept refilling our glasses and chatting with us long after our tasting was over.

      Possibly as a direct result of this, I decided it would be a good idea to do beer tasting next door. I really don’t like beer, so in a cruel twist of fate, all of the beers I picked to try were sold out, so they would give me an extra beer to make it up to me, and I ended up with 8 or 9 glasses of beer to drink, and I didn’t like any of them so I had to keep foisting them off on some unsuspecting gents at the end of the bar.

      It was a super fun day, and I’d like to go again immediately, and also every day thereafter.

      basically an engagement photo of us two
      this is Bill, he is from Kansas, and he helped me pick out all of my (gross) beers
      birthday girl
      jack skellington
      gorge
      the winemaker’s sister was an incredibly talented painter
      just a few of the beer I had to drink, not delicious
      Posted in California, friends, life | 0 Comments | Tagged beer, California, drinking, friends, wine, wine tasting
    • shake your ta-tas

      Posted at 4:17 pm by jasminedesirees, on June 19, 2013

      A few days ago in San Francisco there was a protest in front of the Union Street Victoria’s Secret store. Women of all shapes and sizes showed up in their bras and undies with signs to protest the lack of body diversity displayed by the store, and by other retailers as well.

      I think it’s pretty awesome that these people were brave enough to show up and stand up for what they believe in, and to do it in such a fun and bold way.

      It’s not just the lack of body diversity shown by the models that’s a problem at Victoria’s Secret. I worked there for a few months (I was a bra specialist, NBD) and I always thought it was very strange that a company claims to be “all about bras”, that they don’t carry a more diverse range of sizes. I was constantly having to turn people away that were willing to come in there and spend $50 to $100 on one bra, because we didn’t carry their size.

      And these were not all very large women either, as bra specialists, we were required to try on all the bras that come in so we could be familiar enough with them to sell them, and most of the bras that they sell didn’t fit me either.

      Victoria’s Secret has an opportunity to be a really strong advocate for all women, to make them feel beautiful and sexy, and also to tap into a whole new market for their products, women who are constantly searching for beautiful, comfortable bras that fit properly, and they are really missing the boat.

      Full story here.

      Posted in San Francisco, thoughts | 1 Comment | Tagged body image, bras, protest, San Francisco, victoria's secret, women
    • 2 years

      Posted at 3:39 pm by jasminedesirees, on June 14, 2013

      Dear California,

      It’s been two years since I left my old state to come be with you. People warned me about you, and told me things like “You won’t like it there, people are rude”, or “Seriously, you’ll never be able to drive there, everyone has road rage,” but I ignored them and jumped in head first.

      The honeymoon period was great, it was all trips to Disneyland, Long Beach and Capitola, “Here have some more cherries”, and “Want to go wine tasting?”. But once it was over, and real life began, things got a little shaky in that I hated you and would stay up late at night crying over my ex (state).

      We’ve had our ups and downs, but as a wise man once said “You can’t force somebody to love you, all you can do is stalk them until they panic and give in.” It took some time (about a year) but you’ve definitely grown on me, and now we have a bond that will last forever. Or at least for one more year, whichever comes first.

      xoxo,

      Jasmine

       

      Posted in California, Hawaii, life | 0 Comments | Tagged anniversary, California, Hawaii, life
    ← Older posts
    Newer posts →
    •        
    • Follow loveliness. on WordPress.com
    • Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    • Popular Posts

      • biking through bali
      • about
      • oz
      • back packed
      • tips for traveling indonesia
      • favourites
      • phi phi
      • coron, busuaga
      • mugged
      • viewpoint
    • Recent Posts

      • half dome: part 2 (the climb)
      • half dome: part 1 (before)
      • favourites
      • queretaro
      • white sands
      • orange county
      • life update
      • news21
      • land’s end
      • big sur
    • Instagram

      No Instagram images were found.

    • Categories

    • Archives

Blog at WordPress.com.

loveliness.
Blog at WordPress.com.
  • Subscribe Subscribed
    • loveliness.
    • Join 323 other subscribers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • loveliness.
    • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...