One of my favorite parts about Los Angeles is the abundance of parks — from tiny neighborhood gems to acres of protected land in the middle of the city. No matter where you live in the sprawl, there is a probably a beautiful park just right around the corner. But, for all my eastside dwellers, or for anyone looking to experience some eastside charm, here’s a list of my top ten favorite parks in or around east Los Angeles.
Continue reading “Best Parks in Eastside LA”Category: More
Quotes // Middlemarch
Currently // Spring of ’18
Currently is a seasonal series where I recap some of the simple things I’ve been doing / making / reading / listening and such throughout the season. Thanks for reading along.
Reading // Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. Kingsolver boldly addresses the concerns of modern farming, from the depletion of the soil, to the treatment of animals, to our own suffering health. But she is also hopeful about our future as we learn from the past. Inspired, humorous, factual and optimistic. My friend called it “idyllic and yet realistic- the perfect balance.” It will definitely have you running to your local farmer’s market and then to the kitchen.
Doing // Camping. I took Lewie on his first camping trip in Washington and he was in heaven. He spent most of the time playing naked in the dirt and eating watermelon. It was amazing to see him explore nature and I wish I had gone sooner. I’m already planning our next trip. Fort Stevens in Astoria, Oregon looks amazing. Plus, here are some simple tips for camping with toddlers.
Watching // The Crown. I’m obsessed. You can read all about that here, plus some royal home decor inspiration.
Making // Grocery lists. Historically I’m pretty awful about weekly meal planning because I find the internet an overwhelming place for recipes. So instead I’m gathering a few favorite cookbooks for meal planning instead. Current favorites: River Cottage Every Day. Apples for Jam. Bountiful. Sunday Suppers.
What are your favorite cookbooks?
Writing // Motherhood interviews. I just finished my first interview with my friend Jessie Love. Coming from a journalism background, I love interviewing and writing people’s stories and I feel so honored that I’m getting to do that again on this blog. Jessie’s story is about choosing hope for their unborn baby, Franklin, who was diagnosed with a rare disease and then choosing healing after Franklin’s death at eight days old.
He lived when the medical community said he wouldn’t, he fought when they thought he couldn’t, and he left a scar on my heart that I never want to go away.
Currently // Winter of ’18
Currently is a seasonal series where I recap some of the simple things I’ve been doing / making / reading / listening and such throughout the season. Thanks for reading along.
Buying // Baby gifts! My best friend is having a baby girl and so I finally have an excuse to buy a baby gift. I love practical and creative gifts, like hand-me-down baby books and swaddles, but I also think it’s nice to gift something beautiful you would never buy for yourself.
The store, Merci Milo, just opened a brick-and-mortar in Los Angeles. The owner curates the best toys. Some personal favorites are these wooden animals or these cuddle dolls, both made in Germany. Also, Amazon offers some great sustainable toy options.
Reading // This poem over and over.
Thinking // Have you ever heard of the organization Give Directly? It’s based on the economic model of basic income. Instead of giving to a charity, who then decides how the money is allotted, Give Directly does what the name suggests and gives directly to those in need. This progressive idea could potentially lift millions out of poverty. Give Directly is orchestrating a 12 year experiment in Kenya to track the effectiveness of basic income. You can follow along with the experiment here.
700 million people around the world live in extreme poverty. It would take $80 billion in cash transfers to move everyone above this poverty line, while the world spends almost twice that in global aid every year. — Give Directly website
Making // Homemade Pizza. I love baking and for me, winter is the perfect baking season. This pizza dough recipe is ideal for weekend meals with friends. I’ve made it countless times and always get compliments on the crispy crust.
Watching // Anne with an E. I just finished the series with mixed feelings. I think the casting is superb–I mean how charming is Amybeth McNulty?! But it’s definitely a darker twist on a childhood classic and critics have strong and differing opinions. The New York Times calls it a “rewarding return” while Vanity Fair calls it “terribly wrong.” Whose side are you on?
Currently // Autumn of ’17
Currently is a seasonal series where I recap some of the simple things I’ve been doing / making / reading / listening and such throughout the season. Thanks for reading along.
I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers – Anne of Green Gables
Most of October in LA was unbearably hot, until just before Halloween when the temperature miraculously dropped 40 degrees and suddenly like Anne I’m in love with October again and all the traditions this season brings.
Autumn always seems to gather people together. The sun sets so early, it becomes natural to spend the evenings at home with friends and family, making meals, enjoying an outdoor fire, sharing stories. After the whirlwind of summer, autumn is a chance to slow down, to reconnect and, like Anne, to be grateful for the beauty of the world.
Here’s what I’ve been up to this Autumn.
Coveting // Cozy blankets, like this sweet rose quilt made by artisans in India. I recently wrote a list of ethical blankets under $100. Now that the weather is cooler, all I want to do in snuggle in a blanket and read.
Reading // The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. An honest and raw portrayal of grief, but also a reminder to be grateful, to take chances and to live.
“Life changes in the instant. The ordinary instant.”
Baking // Wheat bread. Homemade bread takes some time, but it’s quite simple, very inexpensive and tastes 1000 times better than store-bought. Make a double recipe and share with some friends.
Listening // Valerie June The Order of Time. I have a special place in my heart for Valerie June. My dear friend bought her homemade cd from a record store in Memphis and in college we listened to that album countless times. So when I heard her again a few years later on NPR I was ecstatic. I felt like I had found a favorite sweater I forgot I loved.
Doing // Things without my phone. I’ve been so attached to my phone lately and for no good reason, so I’m taking some intentional time away from it, like going on a walk and leaving my phone at home. A small jolt of fear curses through me when I realize I’m without my phone, even though I don’t even need it. It’s shocking how many times I’ll reach for my phone just within one hour simply out of habit.
How about you? How are you slowing down and enjoy this season?
Quotes // The Year of Magical Thinking
Currently // Summer of ’17
Currently is a seasonal series where I recap some of the simple things I’ve been doing / making / reading / listening and such throughout the season. Thanks for reading along.
Making // Roasted Plums with Brown Sugar & Balsamic with the plums from our backyard tree. This recipe is so simple and refreshing. Perfect for those warm summer nights with a dollop of ice cream on the side.
Listening // Harry Potter on Audible. It’s my summer tradition to re-read Harry Potter, but this year I’m listening to series read by Jim Dale. I feel like i’m experiencing the magic all over again. Over the series, he performs over 300 different voices for all the characters. You can watch his interview about the experience here.
I hate the word actor… Act means putting on something fake, you’re acting it. I just think the word should “be.” You just go up there and be.
Wearing // ThredUp finds. I actually love thrift shopping but it’s difficult to shop with with a toddler in tow, so I did my first online thrift shopping at ThredUp and bought shorts, two silk tanks and a skirt all for under $40. I was trying to find clothes I could wear for the summer and could also transition into cooler months. ThreadUp can be a little overwhelming at first, but I found the best luck by searching for specific brands and fabrics that I know are higher quality and will last.
P.S. If you’re new to ThredUp you can get $10 off your first order with this code:
http://www.thredup.com/r/RH97X5
Reading // The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. My friend gave this book to me a couple years ago. I finally picked it up and devoured it in two days. The message of grace is truly humbling and outstanding.
“Mama’s love had always been the kind that acted itself out with soup pot and sewing basket. But now that these things were taken away, the love seemed as whole as before. She sat in her chair at the window and loved us. She loved the people she saw in the street– and beyond: her love took in the city, the land of Holland, the world. And so I learned that love is larger than the walls which shut it in.”
Using // Cloth Napkins — eco-friendly and beautiful. Using a cloth napkin is such a simple but lovely way to make any meal feel more festive. I bought both these pink ones and the printed ones (top photo) at a thrift store, and wouldn’t these yellow ones be ideal for a summer picnic?
