Cost of Living Link Up with BHB

The other day I was watching “House Hunters,” an HGTV show I’ve casually enjoyed over the years, when I was filled with such rage that I wanted to hurl the remote across the room. The newlyweds were searching for a 3,500 square foot home for the price of a down payment in LA. Leave it to house hunting to make you painfully aware of the great variance in cost of living by region. So when the beautiful and witty Blair’s Head Band mentioned doing a Cost of Living link up on her blog, I got really excited.

Real estate is a big one, but what about the little things we buy every day. I was genuinely curious to see how Los Angeles measured up. I set off on my lunch hour to the nearest grocery store armed with my iphone and BHB’s list.

I should note that I selected Vons (owned by Safeway, the second largest supermarket chain in America) as my sample. I have an assortment of grocery stores at my disposal and I think Vons is probably the best value/ most “normal” option. There are certain things I like from different stores, and I typically shop at least a few different markets per week. This is not because I am a great bargain hunter a la Extreme Couponing. Sadly, it is the opposite. I am both picky and disorganized with menu planning. It’s all sort of a mad dash and I typically end up at my neighborhood Bristol Farms, which is lovely and high quality but generally overpriced for basics. Actually, it would be be fun follow up to compare prices at Bristol Farms to see how they measure up on this link up.

The grocery list and the current prices at Von's in Santa Monica (Los Angeles):

• Sabra hummus:  $4.99
• Triscuits: (on sale, regular price $3.99) $2.50
• One dozen large eggs:  $2.49
• One gallon of milk:  $3.99
• Boneless skinless chicken breasts (price per pound):  $4.99
• Goldfish crackers:  $2.79
• Skippy creamy peanut butter: (on sale, regular price $4.79) $2.99
• Dawn dish soap:  $3.99

Grand total $28.73

Now it's your turn. Play along, link up at BHB and comment below.

May through July

Let's ignore my false promises and lame attempts and just catch up where we left off.
May has come and gone (thank you, captain obvious) and I am no closer to being a real blogger. Nonetheless, the past few months have been rather blog-worthy. I said goodbye to a comfortable job with colleagues who felt like family, started a brand new job with a new culture and set of coworkers. While only having to move down three floors in my office building. We joked that for a person who doesn't like change, it was as low impact as possible. Same building, same parking structure, same gym, same commute, nicer shoes.

We started house hunting. Right off the bat we found the most precious Spanish bungalow with a white Carrera marble kitchen. Seriously, the stuff (my) dreams are made of;  put in an offer, (I) became completely emotionally attached. Counter offers, 24 hour deadlines, "Dear Seller" letters and lots of anxiety later- we did not get the house. The LA real estate market is no joke. After the whirlwind that was our first offer, we decided to take a step back and just wait to find something great. Since that point (first week of June) there has been absolutely nothing remotely exciting. And so we wait. And learn. And save. Anyone who knows me will be quick to tell you that I'm possibly the least patient person ever. So there is that.

On the bright side, this summer has been exceptionally fun. We celebrated one year of marriage and attended three fabulous weddings in four weeks. It doesn't get much better than watching people you love walk down the aisle, say their vows and then party the night away. Fourth of July was spent at the beach and last weekend we borrowed a spectacular boat for a day trip to Catalina. We saw the Postal Service at the Greek Theater (a story for another day) and indulged in too many delicious meals to count. Now it is almost August and finally up to speed.

Wedding One: Elizabeth & Robert in Carmel, California

  

Wedding Two: Tess & Joel in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Wedding Three: Rachel & Ryan in Los Angeles

More to follow when I get my paws on some professional photos from the last two weddings. All deserve a post of their own, but this is a start. 

Blog Every Day in May Challenge

It is already the fourth of May, and this is my first post of the month. However, when I read Jenni's May blogging challenge and all the fun prompts, I decided to give it a try.
I urge you to check out the challenge and play along! In the interest of catching up, I'm posting days one through four today.

Day 1: The story of your life in 250 words or less

I am (apparently, one of the few) born and bred “Angelenos.” Meaning, I grew up in Los Angeles, and was spoiled by the weather, and too big of a chicken to ever move away. I was a psychology and English Lit major in college, and after a stint in advertising, found myself working in the wonderful world of finance. I say that with extreme sarcasm because I was lucky, and managed to find one of the few jobs in finance that revolves around people skills and not numbers. I met my husband five years ago, and we were married last July in what was, without a doubt, my dream wedding. I was one of those stereotypical girls, who started planning their wedding at the age of eight, and I have to say, it did not disappoint. I loved almost every second of the planning and now enjoy helping my friends plan their special days and hosting every sort of party imaginable. As that awkward kid who fantasized about weddings, I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, to which I answered “a mom.” This has not changed, yet remains a few years down the road. I enjoy online shopping, decorating our little condo by the beach, traveling as much as physically and financially possible and obsessing over food and wine.

Day 2: Educate us on something you know a lot about or are good at.

I am fantastic at online shopping. I go back and forth on whether it’s a blessing or a curse. On one hand, the majority of items I buy are things I really need want, and the purchase is prompted by a sale. ie I need a pair of new black pumps for work. I receive an email from Bloomingdale’s notifying me that all shoes are currently 20%. Bam, Cole Haan pumps are purchased and I just saved $60.

This online shopping habit can be done while on work conference calls- thus multitasking and using my time more efficiently.  This opens up my weekend or after work free time to spend with those I love- as opposed to brave the crowds in a store, trying to find a pair of shoes. We all win. However, I must warn you- it’s a slippery slope. Just because J Crew is offering 25% off doesn’t mean I really need to purchase anything. Spending money buying another pencil skirt, even at 25% off, isn’t a savings.

The other element to successful online shopping is being ok with making returns. I often order two sizes, since I am unable to try the item on/ the discount is time sensitive, knowing that I will return one- if not both. If you are too lazy/ forgetful to make returns, you should not shop for clothes online.

Day 3: Things that make you uncomfortable

Confrontation. I first saw this challenge on Natasha’s blog and when I read her answer to day number three- I knew there was no getting around it- I would have to copy her. Ask anyone who knows me well; there is nothing I hate more than confrontation. It makes my skin crawl. I know it is sometimes necessary, but I would still rather be passive (and then possibly even a bit passive aggressive) than deal with conflict face to face. 

Talking about money. I’ve relaxed on this one a lot. I was raised never ever discussing money or what anything costs. It still makes me a bit uncomfortable, and the thought of negotiating my salary/ job offer makes me queasy.

 

 Dealing with the in-laws. Just being honest. Its one thing to grow up with your family, know their own type of crazy, what makes them tick and how to deal with it. It’s a whole other can of worms, to marry in to a family with all new eccentricities and not have a clue how they operate. Their methods for dealing with conflict/ stress/ secrets are completely different from anything you’re used to- add the heightened emotions of a new marriage/ wedding- and things get really, ummm, uncomfortable.

Day 4:  Favorite quote

Sonoma Bound

 I am off to celebrate my lovely friend's "last fling before the ring" aka her bachelorette bash in Sonoma.
I think we may have watched The Sweetest Thing one too many times in our apartment senior year because we decided to "road trip" it up there.
I am not a road trip girl by any means, but I don't get to see my college friends nearly enough so I couldn't say no to hours (and hours and hours) of catching up and reliving our "glory days."


I am loving all the wedding events as of late, because they are the perfect excuse for some luxurious girl time. I have no doubt we will pick up exactly where we left off. Drinking wine, playing Apples to Apples and laughing our faces off. Pair that with a limo, some delicious meals and Sonoma wineries and this weekend will surely be unforgettable.

Menu Monday

In an attempt to be a "real blogger," I'm going to hop on board the sharing meals/ recipes train. Knowing that I wanted to do a Menu Monday link up provided the extra motivation I needed last week- and I was quite pleased with the results. We prepared dinner at home six out of seven nights (!!!). Not only that, but we ate at our dining room table (as opposed to the couch/ coffee table) for every dinner. This is a personal record, on both counts. I am proud, more than that, I found it be really enjoyable. The time spent preparing and enjoying dinner each evening, away from the noise and distraction of the tv and computer, was restorative.
I have been making an effort to eat healthier and cut out processed carbs in an effort to loose some of the winter/ post- wedding weight.
Food photographer I am not, but this is my first try so hopefully I'll improve with time?

Sunday: Kale & Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad. Super easy. Omitted the croutons, topped with a generous serving of fresh shaved parm.  Grilled the chicken on the BBQ (marinated for 10 minutes in a little evoo, garlic & lemon juice). Sean makes a delicious homemade caesar, but I opted for Newman's Light in the interest of saving calories/ mess on a Sunday night.

Monday: Warm Asparagus, Gorgonzola & Steak Salad. I've seen this recipe on quite a few blogs. Everyone seems to love it and the simplicity attracted me. Sean and I gave it two enthusiastic thumbs up. I am not a huge steak person, but I will happily eat anything that pairs with blue cheese (I used crumbled blue instead of Gorgonzola, because that's what we had) and asparagus. Sean was pleasantry surprised that we were eating steak at home. So easy, so satisfying. This is a keeper.
(I completely forgot to take a picture of the dish after it came out of the over. I was hungry.)

Tuesday: Shrimp & Veggie Asian Stir Fry. Sean has mastered the stir fry. I have no idea how he does it, but this one contained sliced peppers, broccoli, mushrooms & Trader Joe's frozen uncooked wild blue jumbo shrimp.

Wednesday: Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Zucchini Boats
I forgot to take a picture, but Gina's is a lot prettier than mine anyway. These turned out pretty well. Better than I expected honestly. I had to cook up some chicken just for this dish, which added to the cook time/ effort. Next time I will probably just make this when I have leftover shredded or rotisserie chicken. However, for being low carb- you really do get the chicken enchilada flavor here. It was a satisfying dinner, and possibly even more enjoyable for lunch the next day (but I'm pretty partial to leftovers). I think it's important to note that Sean & I both really like zucchini, if you don't like zucchini I would avoid this recipe/ or stuff a different vegetable.

Thursday: BBQ chicken tenders with Mustard BBQ Sauce, roasted cauliflower & Addictive Brussels Sprout Salad 
I love Brussels Sprouts and this salad was a fun twist on my favorite slaw recipe. I added a lot of fresh parm, and loved the nuttiness paired with the toasted walnuts. The cauliflower was roasted at 500 degrees with a bit of olive oil & cut up garlic for 10-15 minutes. I sprinkled a little leftover parm on top for grins. I LOVE roasting veggies at a high heat. The chicken tenders were marinated, grilled on the bbq & topped with a little pre-made Mustard BBQ sauce. So simple, so good.

Saturday: Sausage and Kale Mock Lasagna Casserole
I started to get nervous as I was preparing this dish. Kale leaves in place of noodles? Will my Italian husband  think I'm insane? It actually worked and tasted really good! Be sure to use plenty of kale (I used 2 huge bunches), because you need "lasagna" coverage for two full layers. Also, using a healthy amount of cheese helps to separate the layers too. I think the recipe calls for a 9x12" casserole dish. I went smaller, and enjoyed that it was a little thicker. Nonetheless, this was pretty easy in the end and really satisfying. The leftovers were possibly even better.

Friday Favorites: Five Things

I am always curious to read blogger's "Five Things" posts. So when the lovely BHB tagged little old me, I was happy to play along!
Without further adieu, five random facts about me:

1. I am a morning person; most productive during the first few hours of the day. Early to bed, early to rise and I'm happy girl.

2. I believe birth order has a profound effect on personality. I am the oldest in my family, and I typically take on the "big sister" roll in my relationships.

3. I hate driving. I spend a large portion of my life in the car, and while I enjoy having alone time to listen to NPR, I hate the actual act of driving. It doesn't help that I consider myself to be a terrible driver. (At least I'm honest!)

5. I am always in the mood for sushi. Any day, any time. It always sounds good!

4. The Sound of Music is my favorite movie of all time. I can't even begin to estimate how many times I've watched it. A few years ago, Sean and I traveled to Austria and went on the Sound of Music tour in Salzburg. I rank that day as one of the happiest of my life. There were tears of joy (and lots of singing).

The gazebo where Liesl & Rolf sang "I am Sixteen Going on Seventeen"

The Church where Maria & the Captain were married

Skipping & singing

The Villa Von Trapp

*Let's not discuss my capri leggings ensemble.

I tag Tess , Sarah, Shoshana  and anyone else who wants to play along. Just let me know so I can read five facts about you!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Napa Recap, Part Two: The Food

Recapping our trip to Napa without discussing the food would be amiss. Especially since one of our dinners is in the running for best meal of my life.
I enthusiastically vouch and highly recommend every restaurant listed below.

Hog Island Oyster Co. at Oxbow Market, Napa

I am huge oyster fan, and it just doesn't get any better than Hog Island. They have six (or so) different oysters to choose, from all over the world (or country?). I go with the sampler platter and sit at the raw bar because I like to watch the shucking take place, and learn a bit about the different types. We typically also order the clam chowder and grilled cheese, since both are out of this world. Oxbow Market is a foodie's paradise- restaurants, gourmet food stands and other food related paraphernalia  enclosed in a giant warehouse (there is probably a better word than warehouse, but I'm going blank right now).  You can eat in at Hog Island or the Corner Door (I've heard great things, but haven't been able to tear myself was from Hog Island to try it) or get sandwiches, gourmet cheeses and charcuterie to have a picnic. Gott's Roadside is located next door if you're in the mood for a burger and killer onion rings. This is my top lunch pick for Napa Valley! (Also, the Hog Island San Francisco in the Embarcadero is just as phenomenal.)

The French Laundry, Yountville
Dining at The French Laundry has been a dream of mine for years. I ventured so far as to say it was my goal to eat there before I turned 30. Apparently I made an impression on my managers, who surprised Sean and me with a gift certificate for our wedding. I was so stunned when they handed me the card that I cried. (It was also my last day at work before our wedding so emotions were running high.)
Nonetheless, it took us eight months to use the gift (including making our reservation exactly two months prior, when the "books" open). Thanks to the godsend that is Amex platinum we were able to phone in our request early, and they did the heavy lifting to get our ideal time. French Laundry offers two dinner seatings, 5:45 & 9:30. It is a three to four hour dinner, so I was really hoping to get the earlier time. Luckily Amex came through for us again, and we ended up with my ideal slot on Friday evening. This was more than just a meal, it was the destination- we planned our trip around the experience.
So, after all that build up, how did it measure up?
Beyond words.
I can be a tough critic, especially when I have high expectations, and to be perfectly honest- I was a little worried that a restaurant with such a reputation wouldn't live up to my fantasies.
The good news is, it did! I quickly realized that when my imaginary BFF, Anthony Bourdain, calls a restaurant the "best in the world," along with Restaurant Magazine, and they maintain 3 michelin stars year after year- they know what they're doing. Every single bite of the nine course + meal was exceptional. However it is not just the food, it is the service that makes this restaurant truly brilliant. The space is small and extremely charming, housed in a stone cottage surrounded by gardens where they grow the majority of their vegetables and herbs. I was surprised by how intimate it all was. There were about sixteen tables (max) on two levels, and we were waited on by an extremely knowledge staff. We sat down at 5:45 and finished around 9:45- during the four hours, there was not a second of discomfort. It was pure pleasure. For some a four hour long dinner sounds like torture (my brother), but for me it was pure paradise.
At the end of our meal, as we were headed out, I asked the host if he would mind taking a photo of us. He said, why don't you guys come in to the kitchen and take a picture with the chef.
He escorted us through a hallway and in to every foodie's dream land- the kitchen of French Laundry. I tried to take it all in, but I think at that point I was just overwhelmed with happiness.
We were introduced to the chef de cuisine, David Breeden, and then posed for a photo.
And then I died of happiness. All in all, a perfect night and without a doubt the best meal of my life.

 

 

 

French Blue, St Helena

Great brunch spot. The patio has a beautiful fireplace and heated seats. I had the puttanesca baked farm eggs and a grapefruit mimosa. Sean had an epic Bloody Mary. I stole his pickled cauliflower!
This is a great place to fuel up for a day of wine tasting with a hearty breakfast and bit of a booze. 

Auberge du Soleil, Rutherford

There are quite a few great wineries up in Rutherford, but not many places to eat. The Auberge du Soleil is a fancy hotel with a Michelin star rated restaurant and less fancy (but still pricey) cafe with an unbelievable view. We stopped in for an afternoon snack. The weather was unbeatable and we sat outside with our friends, enjoyed a seafood platter, some flatbread with dips and a carafe of wine.  

Our friends, Heather & Ryan

Mustards Grill, Yountville

Sean has declared the Mongolian pork chop at Mustards to be on his list of last meal on earth foods. We can't come to Napa and not go to Mustards. The food is hearty and flavorful, the atmosphere is relaxed. It is the perfect spot to refuel after a long day of wine tasting. I particularly enjoy the crab cakes, the pulled pork sandwich and the onion rings. I’m not a pork chop fan, but I steal bites of Sean’s- it’s that good.

After recapping, it now makes sense why my pants are tight. It was worth it, but I should probably hit the gym! Everything in moderation, right?