Street Diaries: An Extended Weekend In California

If you follow me on Instagram, you might have unfollowed me on Instagram for all of the stories I posted while I was in Los Angeles this past weekend for some work-related nonsense and fun. And by work-related I do mean work-related. Don't be fooled by the Aperol spritz in my hand. 'Twas a weekend full of running errands, stuffing goody bags, stressing about the guest list and who was going to show up, and then running up and down the stairs of a three-floor lofted suite in Santa Monica for seven hours making sure that everyone was having fun and that everything was clean and orderly.

The company I intern for had an event in LA this past weekend, our first big event outside of New York City for the U.S. office, and somehow I got invited to go. Still not sure how, but I stopped questioning it a few weeks ago. That meant I got to trade in the east coast humidity and okay-ish weather for some sunshine, warm temps, and some cool breeze that didn't turn my hair into a frizzy mess. As much as I missed NYC while I was gone (hey, I can't help it, I haven't been here long enough to get sick of it and need an escape!), it was nice being back on the west coast, even if it was for work and not pleasure (but I mean, we had fun anyways, how could we not?).

My boss found us the most Instagrammable spots in the Venice and Santa Monica areas for us to head to so we could enjoy our time in California outside of the work aspect. Rose Cafe in Venice was everything you could expect from something with that name. The interior was super open and bright, but we sat on the patio for some food and drinks pretty much as soon as we landed and got back to our Airbnb to unpack and make a quick change. I got an Aperol spritz because I love myself and a margherita pizza because I hate myself (cheese and I don't get along). Then my new Instagram husband aka my co-worker snapped some pics for me and I felt like I was living my best life, even if as my roommate put it, my best life is probably actually in New York.

Top: Zara

Jeans: Levi's

Shoes: Topshop

Sunglasses: Quay

Bag: Rebecca Minkoff

Jacket: No idea!

What's better than following up lunch with a trip to the beach? Falling in love with a goofy looking skateboarded who you will never see again and also only saw from a distance and then slightly up close because you practically threw yourself against the railing to get a closer look. I touched the sand with my toes for the first time in like four years or something like that, which is probably really insane to just about anyone. So if there's anyone out there that hates the beach just as much as I do, let me know so I don't feel so isolated on this issue. But, Venice Beach, you were fun to walk around and I will give you that!

For someone who is so terrified of heights, rooftop bars are way too fun to pass up. I'm a slut for a good "skyline" picture, even if that skyline is actually just a bunch of palm trees and the ocean. Ugh, I mean, what a garbage view, am I right? I couldn't even look at it without wanting to vomit. I got a drink called a Rosebud with some alcohol in it that I don't remember along with some mixers that I don't remember that was topped with another liquid I don't remember. What I do remember was that there were tiny little pink rosebuds used as a garnish and that's all that matters, right? It's what on the outside not what's on the inside...wait a second...that's not right.

This is a really random transition and I don't have much to say about this besides the fact that Gjusta was a really cute place to eat and I loved the little patio area. The service was, admittedly, really difficult to understand and took a bit of time (it's California though, not New York, so that's to be expected) but was breakfast (and my unpictured latte) worth it? Hell to the yeah. This was on Saturday, the day of errands on errands on errands. We checked out the space of the event, picked up drinks, picked up decorations, and then went back home to stuff bags repeatedly until we ran out of bags to fill. I'm a big fan of tedious tasks, which I now realize sounds super sarcastic but is actually the cold hard truth.

Romper: NSR

Shoes: Nine West

To call the event a success would be an understatement. It's nice seeing a month of stress and planning and then even more excessive planning pay off. I can make jokes all I want and play it off cool, but I don't joke around when I say #BestInternshipEver. I also finally got to take this NSR romper out for a spin. I didn't wear it to the event, but I wore it to dinner afterwards, even if it was definitely too chilly to wear it. I bought it before I moved and never got a chance to wear it because, well, obviously it's just been way too cold to do so. But, it was the only clean thing I had left in my suitcase that wasn't my airplane clothes, so I sucked it up, enjoyed the breeze on my legs (I threw a denim jacket on) and headed over to James Beach for some kickass tacos, which are vital to my existence. 

Am I still exhausted from the trip? You betcha. Am I still awake at nearly midnight writing this post to get it done now so I have less to worry about in the morining? Yup. Do I wish I could skip the next three days of work and dedicate my life to sleeping? That calls for a third yes!

What was the last trip you went on?