Going Down Under!

I added a new thing to my 30 under 30 list - going to Australia!  I initially wanted to do a great big trip, like Europe or something to that effect.  Kevin knew he was going to have to work a lot and wasn't sure how we were going to take a crazy trip like that, but then Sherri found an Australia trip on Groupon.  I had seen it a few weeks earlier and thought it looked like a great idea and very fun and after some deliberation, decided that we should go.  Kevin couldn't go because he didn't think he could get time off work, my other sister Lindy didn't think she could get time off, so Sherri and I decided that we were the only two who could sacrifice and make the trip :)

I am so excited - it's a 15 day trip and hits up Cairns, Brisbane and Sydney, I think.  It includes two flights within the country as well as round-trip from LAX.  Which works out well since we live very close to LAX :)  I can't wait - we are going during the beginning of August and will be a great way to celebrate graduating and turning 30 :)

Books I'm Reading

School just started back up this week and I'm working as a Supplemental Instructor again but still have some free time to get some reading done.  I posted the link at the bottom of this page, but it's a really cool site that let's you check out book digitally for free.  I'm able to read them on my phone or iPad and I hadn't been reading on the iPad a lot because usually you have to pay full price for the books.  

This book was really good - even though at first I thought it would be a little too scientificy for me.  However, it turned out to be really interesting about cell research and how these scientists took cells from her which ended up continuing to grow for decades and they used them to find vaccines for lots of different diseases.  

Ever since seeing the movie I had wanted to read this but didn't really want to buy it - then I found it on this site and downloaded it and read it.  It was very entertaining and interesting how Facebook all came to be and of course the debate over if Mark Zuckerberg stole the idea of Facebook.

I had also watched the TV show, True Blood, and found out that it originated from a book series.  I decided that since I have some time to get into a series, I started reading these and I am on book 6 right now.  I checked these all out from the Redondo library and am enjoying them.

scdl.lib.overdrive.com

Runyon Canyon and Hollywood Sign

Another thing that I've always wanted to do in L.A. is hike Runyon Canyon.  Lots of people go there on the weekends and I heard that it's super crowded, so luckily Erik was able to go with me during the week and there were still some people out and about but not too many.  

I saw this snake sign and immediately thought that this was a bad sign.  But I didn't knowingly see any snakes all day, so it was all okay.

View from the top

Proof that I was there

Action shot of running the hill

I love love love this chair.  It's a giant chair and one of my new favorite photos.

Erik and his roommate Luke accompanied me on the hike

View of the Hollywood sign from where we were

Then we drove further to a place that had tons of signs that said not to go any further so we could see the Hollywood sign

Erik found a better trail and we walked around and got a great view

Gotta take advantage of a good shot :)

Afterwards we went to lunch at Umami Burger where my friend Kywan manages and the food was delicious.

I keep it cool and classy in L.A.

Lakers Game and Fun with Friends

So, Martin's sister, Tyler, lives in L.A. now and works for Fox Sports - and she often gets tickets to sporting events.  Luckily, two weeks ago Sherri and I were able to go with Tyler and her boyfriend Chris to a Lakers game.  They were great seats - row 12 - and we had a great time.

In L.A. Live at Lucky Strike before the game

Tickets - face value is about $160

Great seats - thanks Tyler!

Chris, Tyler, me and Sherri

About a week ago Kevin and I had breakfast/lunch with our good friends Christian and Amanda and their daughter Lili.  They are moving to Washington State in a few weeks so we wanted to spend some time with them before they left.

After breakfast Kevin and I had the day free so we ventured into Venice Beach and went to a few places that had the Strand beer to support Kevin's brewery.

Me in front of the Venice sign

Another thing I have been doing is making food from recipes on Pinterest.  This one was baked spaghetti and Kevin loved it.  It lasted for quite a few leftovers and Kevin was able to take it into work at the brewery and eat it at lunch.

http://www.plainchicken.com/2011/11/baked-cream-cheese-spaghetti-casserole.html

I highly recommend making it - I also used ground turkey instead of beef and added mushrooms and onions to it - it was delicious.

Kev cleaning up

Last Sunday Kevin got called into work at the brewery which left his baseball team down a player.  It turns out that they were down quite a few players and needed help, so Kevin asked Sherri's boyfriend, Jim Joe, to help out and play on the team.  Though the Pirates didn't win, I think they all had fun and Jim Joe did great - he caught a couple pop flies and even did a diving catch.  This picture is of all of us afterwards at Bouzy - Jim Bo, Austin, me, Jules, Jim Joe, Sherri and Janna.  

Then after that we played Just Dance 3 at our apartment and had a great time.  

Made something crafty

So, on my list of things to do before I turned 30 was to make something crafty or creative.  I saw this braided scarf on Pinterest (my new favorite website) and decided that it would be my crafty thing and that I would make it for my sisters and mom for Christmas.  This was my first attempt and I ended up keeping it for myself.

I think it turned out pretty cute - and definitely wasn't that hard.  I even learned how to do a blind stitch in order to finish it haha - and that's something I never would have said before attempting this.  I added the link at the bottom so anyone that wants to can make it too.    

http://www.putapuredukes.com/2011/09/braided-scarf-tutorial.html

Visiting Lindy in Huntington Beach!

Another thing on my list was to visit Lindy in Huntington Beach.  She has lived there for quite awhile and the only time I visited her was when my parents and I helped her move in over a year ago.  Since then she has moved into an apartment and I have never visited her new place, so on Jan 2nd, I crossed another thing off my list :)

Sitting on Lindy's bed - proof that I visited :)

Urban Outfitters had lots of fun stuff

We ate at the Gypsy Den - it was yummy and lots of fun

It was great to visit and I'm hoping to do this much more often - plus they have lots of great shopping 

New Year's 2011

For the first time in a loooong loooong time, Kevin and I both had New Year's Eve off.

Kevin, Keith and I started at Sophie's in the Redondo Village

Danny met up with us

Our good friend Jules was working that night and she ended up meeting up with us later

Walking to Dustin's house

Keith, Shannon, Jules, Kevin and I at Dustin's house to ring in the New Year

Jules, me and Shannon

It was really nice having the holidays off this year and I hope that it can turn into a tradition every year :)