Los Angeles, California

Home sweet home.  I didn't realize how much I missed California until I actually went to visit.  It was a great trip, and I am glad I had the chance to go.  It was fun getting to explore Los Angeles as if I were a tourist, I got to see and do things that I had missed for the past 7 months... Here we go:

I explored Beverly Hills, walking down the high fashion streets (i.e. Rodeo Drive) and window shopped...A girl can dream right?

I also spent time working on my fitness.  Have you tried Pilates? It's a hard targeted workout, and I love  Natural Pilates-the instructors are soknowledgable and every class is challenging!  It's hard to sit the next day, and I can't wait to go again on my next visit.

There are so many yummy things to eat in the Beverly Hills area, and I enjoyed everything I had missed, because in Germany these places do not exist.  I got to eat all of my favorite things:

La Scala: Chopped Leon Salad

MoMed: Butter Lettuce and Grilled Chicken Salad

Sugarfish, my ultimate favvvvorite! The warm rice and the buttery fish.  It is the best-I like the Trust Me Menu, which is: edamame, tuna sashimi, albacore sushi, salmon sushi, yellowtail sushi, halibut sushi, snapper sushi and a toro and blue crab roll.

GoGreek Yogurt with Sour Cherrys

Teuschers chocolate shop (I would love to go to the headquarters in Switzerland one day, hint hint Jordan).  I love the decor, they have the most beautiful store, and their packaging is so delicate and cute.  Besides, their butter crunch truffle is SO good-smooth chocolate and a bit of crunch.

One thing I was looking forward to doing for months prior to my arrival back into the states was to work. I was lucky that my wish came true.  I really missed scaling teeth, it was such a good feeling holding instruments in my hand and putting them to good use! 

I love that I got to see some of my favorite patients. If I could come home more often to work I would do it in a heartbeat.  I enjoyed the livelihood of my dental crew, and we celebrated assistant Eddie's birthday with a singing cake. 

It was great to work alongside my dad, and getting to watch some dentistry under general anesthesia. 

My mom and spent some time in downtown LA.  

Check out the coolest building: The Disney Concert Hall

Every time I go downtown there is so much change happening-new renovations, new restaurants and new things to see, so we went to The Broad museum, it was incredible.  Mr. Broad's art collection is pretty amazing, much of which used to be pieces he had hanging in his house. I was thoroughly impressed! Here are some of the things we saw:

Andy Warhol: Campbells Soup; Jasper Johns: Flag; Glenn Ligon: Double American 2

Jeff Koons: Tulip, Blue Dog, and Rabbit

One of the installations that I particularly enjoyed was the Infinity Mirrored Room.  It was a mirror-lined room with a dazzling and seemingly endless display of little glowing LED twinkle lights.  If you go to see this exhibit, make sure you get your ticket to enter the room right when you walk in, because each person gets to go in alone for 45 seconds.

We went to The Boiling Crab, which is a fun experience (as long as you don't mind dirty hands) and it's so flavorful! I love the whole experience of wearing a bib and eating with your hands.  The spices are intense, they will definitely make your temperature rise! I'm glad I got to get messy with my mom.

I spent time visiting with my nieces and nephews. Some highlights were making cookies with Georgia, playing Old Maid with Leo and Vanden, chasing after Quinn, and meeting baby Zeke.

I loved seeing with my sweet Grandma Syl.  I am so impressed by her texting skills as a 90 year old, and I taught her how she can read up on our blog.  She's so cute, I love her so much.

I spent time with my Aunt.  We caught up on her exciting past travels, and I got to catch her up on where we have been lately.  She took me to the travel book store where we got some ideas for future travels, and a cool map of Lisbon.  I hope someday I can go on an adventure with her!

It's a good thing she likes food too. We went to Blue Plate Oysterette and enjoyed a seafood tower and fish tacos!

Close by is great place for a casual stroll: The Grove, it's like a Disneyland for adults.  Some fine dining, a trolly ride, and shopping.  It was a beautiful day to visit and look at the water show and check out the shops.

I had heard about the restaurant Sweet Greens, which was close to the Grove, so I went. They have great salads, I had a portobello mushroom, squash and wild rice salad with a lemonade-Wow! I wish I could make it on my own.

It wouldn't be a complete visit home without a trip to Korea town.  I love the little side dishes that Koreans eat; the glass noodles and spicy kimchi are my favorite.  Park BBQ is where it's at!

And for a dessert a friend and I tried MILK ice cream shop.  We had the best macaroon filled ice cream sandwiches: a Thai Tea and Red Velvet for the win!

I made a visit to the beach towns: Santa Monica, Venice, and Manhattan Beach.   In Santa Monica I enjoyed walking around the 3rd Street Promenade, window shopping at some of my favorite stores: J.Crew and Lululemon.

My favorite thing about Santa Monica is The Jonathan Beach Club.  

Warm sand, blue water, and some good light reading is all it takes to create true bliss for this California girl. 

Walking down to the ocean is my favorite part!

I headed south of Santa Monica to Venice Beach; famous for their boardwalk, houses on little canals, beautiful beach, and shopper's paradise of Abbot Kinney Blvd.  It is definitely a vibrant mix of people and attractions!

For a bite of good food in Venice, there are so many restaurants to try!  I had never been to Plant, Food & Wine before and wanted to see what it was about.  Here's what we tried:

For a starter: Smashed Avocado with Za'Atar Flatbread, Herbs, Capers and Lemon

For the main event:

"Gypsy Toast" with the best coconut whipped cream I have yet to try, "Polenta Scramble" with wild mushroom and sweet potato hash, and a "Roasted Tomato Sandwich" with avocado, arugula, and avocado "mayo".

For dessert "Chlorella Olive Oil Cake" made with fennel-mint gelato, and chocolate, and fennel seed.  Later I learned that Chlorella is a green algae. Yuck!

Then even farther south to Manhattan Beach to explore the surfer scene and to walk along the famous pier. 

Ever since I have been back, I've been California dreamin!  There's nothing like catching up with family, friends, good times and relaxing.  I'm looking forward to going back again soon for a round two~!

A Valentine's Day Gift Guide

January is coming to an end and I am ready for February.  Valentine's candy is on display, love is in the air, and I am excited for all things pink (and an excuse to eat more chocolate).  Here's some inspiration to impress your partner!

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For Her

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1. Clarisonic Mia Fit-I love my Clarisonic and the new Mia Fit is light and compact, making it great for travel!  Your skin will feel fresh and clean every time you use it.
2. Crimson Heart Umbrella-This is the perfect pick-me-up for dreary day. It brings a smile to my face just thinking about it.
3. Sparkle Heart Baggy Beach Pullover-Simple, casual, and I like the glitter heart. Put this sweater on and prepare to cozy up on the couch with your sweetheart.
4. Essie "Sugardaddy"-One of my favorite polishes "Sugardaddy" is a pale pink and is the perfect sheer.
5. Valentine's Day Mug- Great for a warm beverage, I love the hand painted look.
6. Heart Charm-I love collecting charms and wearing them. Wear some love around your neck this Valentine's Day to help you think of those you love. 
7. S'well bottle-S'well bottles are awesome. It keeps my water cold all day, and it doesn't sweat at all! The bottle is slick and I love the slim design.  The pink is bright you won't loose it anywhere.
8. Diptyque Candle-These candles are strong, and the Diptyque Rose candle smells like roses in the best possible way.  Set the mood with a candle this February, and enjoy some nice scents.
9. I love US tea towel-I love hanging tea towels from my oven handle. It's a cute piece of decor that can hang the whole month long, and may even come in handy...
10. Heart Shaped Waffle Maker-The way to a mans' heart is through his stomach right?  Bring out your domestic side and show some love this Valentine's Day with a heart shaped breakfast.
11. Sugar Lip Treatment- I love this product! It is moisturizing and the hint of tint helps make your lips look a little more plump, with over 5,000+ amazing reviews it's a keeper!

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For Him

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1. Tie Bar- A tie bar is a staple in any well dressed man's wardrobe.  This tie bar is a great little accessory for Valentine's Day.
2. Socks-I love fun socks, and they help add character to any outfit.  Valentine's Day socks are playful, and you can hide them behind any business attire.
3. Toothbrush- My husband loves this Sonicare Toothbrush.  He says it makes his teeth feel like they just been professionally cleaned.  The black color is manly, and help your man achieve a pearly white smile.
4. Candle-A rustic leather wrapped candle is always nice for your man's nightstand.  These candles come in some of my favorite scents: patchouli, vanilla, and sandalwood. 
5. Patagonia Jacket- I love this jacket, and I LOVE the ruby red color.  It's light weight and packs great.  It will keep him warm when it's freezing, and he can wear it in all weather. 
6. Shave Kit- Pamper your man with a travel size shave kit that he can take with him on the go.  I love the Art of Shaving products, they are great products. 
7. Watch-Watch's are becoming a huge fad for men.  Add to his collection with a fun everyday watch that will make him stop and look at the time.
8. Briefcase Barbecue-This is such a fun gift!  It's great for a BBQ picnic for two, and it will make your man feel manly...since men love grills.
9. Undies-Who said lingerie had to be for women?  My friends say their husbands rave about MeUndies, they are soft, comfortable, and once you get one pair.. that's all you wear.
10. S'well Bottle- Men and women alike should have one of these.  I really like the teakwood print, it isn't girly and what a great gift to help encourage your man to stay hydrated.

I hope you have a lovely Valentine's Day, if you have no one to buy a little gift for...treat yourself!  

Vienna, Austria

We made it to Vienna after spending New Years in Budapest.  I loved Vienna, and think it is definitely going to be on my Top Ten of 2016 travels.  The weather was a bit chilly, winter in Europe hangs around after the ball drops, but we found a really great cozy apartment on AirBnb.

Our first order of business was to explore the city.  The buildings are amazing, and what a beautiful city to be the capital!

While wandering the streets we found a great wurstelstand called Bitzinger. Oh my goodness we had the most delicious sausage with cheese stuffing!  It lives up to its reputation as the best sausage in Vienna.  I miss it already.

We went to the Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens.  The site is outstanding and is one of the most well preserved and impressive palaces in all of Europe that I have seen!  It is quite a summer residence for the Imperial Habsburg family who ran the Holy Roman Empire and later Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1273-1918.  There is emphasis on the history of the Palace  during the time of Maria Teresa and Empress Elisabeth (Sisi).  Maria Teresa was the only woman to officially rule the Habsburg empire.  She was a strong and effective empress, and a great social reformer.  Interestingly enough, she also welcomed the boy genius Mozart into her court, and thus created a star! Sisi on the other hand...while she is the darling to the local tourists-her popularity revolves around her narcissism and struggles with royal life. 

I would recommend going bright and early to get your ticket, because the waiting time can be VERY long.  You can also buy your ticket online if you prefer. You can take either a guided tour, or use their audioguide... I would recommend the audioguide.  We had to wait...so we explored the grounds. 

Pretty ponds, but too cold for water

Can you imagine this being your summer office? Well it was for Maria Teressa.

and I found some really good looking people to take photos of...

The rooms inside the Palace were lavish-Bohemian crystal chandeliers, white porcelain stoves and beautiful ornamentation covered in gold leaf.  

The Christmas Markets were still in swing so we had a chocolate dipped sweet pretzel with coconut flakes.

They no longer have the Habsburg treasures in the Schönbrunn Palace so we went to the Imperial Treasury.  I recommend taking the audioguide-the history behind each piece makes everything seem so much more precious!  The Treasury has an amazing collection of relics from the Holy Roman Empire and the Austrian Empire.  The Austrian crown jewels and an extensive collection of incredibly well-preserved royal robes are on display for people to oooo and awwww over. 

Hello Royal Crowns...can I have each one of you?

Amazing fabrics made of gold and pearls.

The largest emerald ever cut.

The cradle for Napoleons son, made out of 600 pounds of silver.

 Just beautiful trinkets...

After the Treasury we stopped in for a Habsburg delight at Demel.  The confectionery started in 1786, was the preferred chocolate of the Royals, and is still around today to as a very fancy delicacy shop. Their dark chocolate bar wonderful, and one of the best I have had so far!

We went to the Imperial Treasure at the Capuchin Monastery. This used to be where the members of the House of Habsburg stored their gifts and relics, but now it is filled with what's left of the Austrian's emperors, empresses and other Habsburg Royalty.  There are pewter coffins of all sizes to be seen. Each coffin had two locks, the key to one was kept by the monks and the other key was stored in the Imperial Palace inside a specially designed dresser.

The biggest double-coffin belongs to Maria Teresa (1717-1780) and her husband who she loved very much Franz I (1708-1765).

Sisi was burried alone, she did not like her husband (he was her cousin) and lived a miserable life after the death of her son.

Before heading back home we stopped for platschinkenkuchl and Scharren, which is the Austrian way of saying crepes and pancakes, and at Heindl's is where we found it. 

We tried a No. 11 (Viennese Meat pancake in a cheese sauce), and a No. 12 (a farmhouse bacon pancake with a mushroom cause). In case you were wondering, No. 11 took it for the win.  

For dessert we had the Feiner Vanilleschmarren Kaiserschmarren, which is a vanilla favored pancake, served with stewed strawberries.  It was delicious!

We loved Vienna, it is so beautiful.  I can't wait to come back in the spring when all the flowers are blooming.  It seems like it will be a great place to bring our bikes and explore. Good thing it is only a 5 hour drive from where we live, because we will definitely be back!