Things I Love About SF!

There are certain things you see that just make you love your City. On my evening run, I checked out the new location of Off the Grid, the super cool, grassroots food truck meetup in Upper Haight. . This adorable pink, retro tricycle was parked right out front.

Chanel lips, drug store price

The Sephora Ultra Shine Lip Gloss is the best beauty deal around. It's a knock off of the very popular, and very pricey Chanel Glossimer lip gloss. My favorite sun kissed, summer gloss is the #17 Shimmery Golden Beige. And at $14 per tube vs. $27 for the real deal, you can slather it on all summer! Yummy.

What's on repeat

I was transported back to high school when I heard the new Katy Perry album - Teenage Dream. It's what I would have listened to over and over, thinking of my crushes, how hard life is and how much I want to be a grown up.

Fast forward, I am grown up, smelling the cotton candy scented cover and listening on repeat.

Zero Zero

After all the hype of Pizzeria Picco in Larkspur, I was eagerly awaiting the SF outpost, Zero Zero opening up in SOMA in the former Azie space. I'm a thin crust pizza kind of gal, so I usually skip the Little Star or Zachary's type pizza and opt for Delfina or Amicis. Zero Zero sticks to the Neapolitan style in a warm, wood decorated space. The cute mural of Pinocchio upstairs lends a whimsical vibe. From the bar they have a impressive list of classic cocktails using a lot of gin and brown liquors. I stuck to the wine on tap, which was surprisingly smooth and fresh. And I always gravitate to wine that is served in a carafe.

As for the pizzas the clear winner is the King Arthur Supreme of Neapolitan pizza, the Castro which includes Sopressata, House Made Sausage, Tomato Sauce,
Mozzarella, and Basil on a thin slightly burned, brick oven crust. The list of pizzas is concise and includes a few SF neighborhoods like Mission and Geary as well as the classics like Margherita and Marinara.

Even after totally indulging on the pizzas, I couldn't pass up the build your own ice cream sundaes. The waitress presented a mini menu and a golf pencil to pick the following options.
1) Choose an Ice Cream - Straus Creamery
2) Pick a Base - brownies, waffle and more
3) Pile on the Toppings - nuts, pie crumble, caramel, AND MORE

The space is gorgeous and spacious, so drop in with ressies or without. You'll probably get seated without much wait.

Mangia!

I said Yes!

BFF just got back from a real vacation with her English Beau. Amongst the beauty and bears of Montana he pulled out the little blue bag she knows so well and asked her to marry him. As their biggest fan, I was elated and thankful he'd finally popped the question.
More importantly I was asked a very important question too. Three little words I've waiting 20 years to hear - MAID OF HONOR. For most it evokes images of hideous dresses, midnight runs to Walgreens and looking ugly so that the bride is ensured to look good. However in this case it means, kick ass parties, mood boards and pajama planning session parties. I said YES!

Beyond Calories

Diet loves apples
Originally uploaded by aviana2

In an effort to get in shape for my long weekend on the beach in San Diego, I've been trying out a new "eating plan". So far it's been mind blowing, I don't stick to anything and I've actually been looking forward to each day of meals. The plan consists of 6 small meals a day, which has been life changing. My late afternoon craving, which usually results in a trip to my coworker's candy bowl, is gone. Instead I have a handful of almonds and a Laughing Cow Cheese wedge - happily. Within the 6 meals, food is broken down into 4 groups - Fruit, Veggies, Protein, Catch-all of the above. Each day outlines the 6 meals and which group to eat from for each. You pick and choose the items from the allowed list of foods. It's almost like a food math equation. 4 + 3 = skinny.

Hot, hot, hot

I dare you not to laugh after watching this video.