Tag: summer

8 dinners to eat in this heat (no oven!)

Food + Drink
Steak salad with cucumbers and tomatoes

A lot of days this summer, we have some kind of tacos for dinner. Well, actually that’s all year. We don’t have a grill and don’t plan on getting one for our small patio, so we rely heavily on the stovetop and try to avoid turning on the oven, especially on weeks when the temperature rarely drops below 75.

There’s nothing wrong with having tacos often, but I enjoy a bit more variety so I don’t get bored of not only eating the same thing all the time, but making the same thing. So, I thought I would share some tried and true recipes that are refreshing and delicious, perfect for summer.

Keep reading for 8 summer dinners that don’t require you to turn on your oven.

Continue reading “8 dinners to eat in this heat (no oven!)” →

September adventures

Life & Adventures

California cloudsPaul's first omlettevarious moleBaby EricKaty Perry at Honda Center

September was a funny month and not in the haha sort of way. I had a renewed sense of energy after coming back from a 12 day trip to Boise in August. I did a lot of applications and interviews. But by the end of September, my motivation was waning. It still is, to tell the truth. That’s why it’s taken me this long to get to my monthly adventures post. I’ve been a college graduate since June, but I’m still searching for a job. It isn’t easy. Honestly guys, I could use some encouragement. I know I’m being a whiny baby, but I don’t care. Okay, I do. So I’ll start by being thankful for what I’ve got and what I experienced in September.

I’m thankful for the things that made September good. Things like:

  • Admiring the view from Paul’s apartment window
  • Eating home cooked food
  • Trying all the moles in the sampler platter
  • Seeing my baby nephew grow up before my eyes
  • Going to a Katy Perry concert with a cool girl
  • A few end of summer beach trips
  • Celebrating my sister and cousins’ birthdays
  •  Watching all of Orange is The New Black

This week I’m going back to my college as an alumna twice. That should be funny (also not in a haha way). Today is the Fall Career Fair and this weekend is the Pumpkin Festival.

What are you up to this week or month or whatever?

Midsomer Times

Entertainment, Music

My boyfriend Paul is here today to share his latest Spotify playlist, Midsomer Times. Without further ado, I’ll let him take it away.

Midsommer spotify playlist

Here we are – the summertime homestretch.

Don’t be afraid to take a dip in the deep end. Put the final weeks of the season to good use. Take comfort in those relaxing moments sitting by the window, watching the sunset turn into a foggy night. Breathe in that crisp, freedom-enriched air on a walk down the street.

With that in mind, spend the next 42 minutes with the ever-so lush Devonte “Blood Orange” Hynes and Bradford Cox film scores, soft Mac Demarco, and the only Spotify-available production of Waldemar Schwartz.

Fourteen years later and Zero 7 still have it, while Neil Young gets in a box.

 


Follow @thewonderwheel for more music and fun animation!

P.S. You should be able to see the embeded Spotify playlist above, but if you can’t, click this link to open Midsomer Times in your Spotify player.

Summer 2014 playlist

Entertainment, Music

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Happy summer, everybody! I hope you all had a good time celebrating the start of the season.

I was at Knott’s Berry Farm, an amusement park, with family on summer solstice. I hadn’t been there in almost 10 years. It was fun, but honestly, I can’t handle roller coasters quite like I used to. I guess I’m getting old.

I’m making plans for summer and hoping for some grand adventures. What have you got planned?

Summer makes me long for weekend trips up and down the California coast. I’m also hoping for a plane trip to visit relatives and plenty of beach days around my area.

This playlist was inspired by the KCRW summer concert series. It’s a great chance to experience live performances, DJ sets and community. Notice I said inspired and not sponsored.

Listen to the playlist on Spotify here.

Last day of summer

Fashion, Style

summer oufit

Yesterday was the last day of summer, so I wore one of my most summer-y dresses and my guy and I had a little photo session. We pretended to be models, but really we’re both just big goofballs. We had fun with it and now I’m confident that outfit posts will become a semi-regular thing. I need to practice taking photos and it could benefit him to do the same. He’s an awesome photographer, but even the best must continue to practice. Besides, it’s fun! I’ve been shooting in manual ever since I got my DSLR Canon about a month and a half ago. Thankfully I know a good amount of photographers that can help me out, including my guy.

IMG_0787 attempt at model pose

We shot these pictures at the Claremont Colleges. We were actually just on one campus, but I’m not sure which one. Earlier, we had walked around downtown Calremont. It’s one of our favorite places to go. We wandered around Rhino Records, had ice cream at Bert and Rocky’s and I got new clothes at this cute re-sale clothing shop that recently opened called Dee-Lux.

There were a lot of freshman walking around downtown who seemed to be on some kind of scavenger hunt. Stores were handing out free stuff for those kids. It made me think back to my freshman year of college, four years ago, which seems so long ago now. My last quarter in college will start this Thursday. It will be good to go back, but I’m also looking forward to being done.

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Outfit details
Erin: Dress and shoes / Target
Paul: Shirt/ Wranglers, Jeans / Levis, Shoes / Vans

Happy fall everyone. It’s time to turn over a new leaf and embrace the colder weather.

Inspiration from assorted places

Series

Here is a bit of beautiful and inspiring things I have been finding across the internet.

Pony silhouette hoodie DIY via Rebekah Gough

The one glittered nail idea via Loren Conrad guest pinning for Glamour on Pinterest

Stanford Digital Photography course via Missy Creed on Pinterest

These are just three little awesome things I found through Pinterest. Feel free to follow me on  Pinterest.

Sorry the post is so short, but I’ve got to go get ready for a day in downtown Pomona. Later!

Take time to plan: my summer goals

Thoughts

The last day of finals on June 7, I eagerly started writing up a list of things to do this summer. I have done this just about every summer since I was in junior high. It all started one summer when my mom sat my older sister and me down and told us to right down what we wanted to do that summer, so that we wouldn’t be complaining of being bored. I vaguely remember my list from that summer. I was probably about 11 years old. Having a water balloon fight with all the neighborhood kids involved was my top priority. My priorities and goals have certainly changed since then, but my main focus is not altogether that different.

Ever since I was a kid, I have been loved getting people together and having fun. I have also always loved reading and writing from a very young age.  My summer goal list reflects that. It is all about getting people together, having fun and setting aside time to focus on my creative endeavors.  Although I seemingly have all the time in the world without a job, I am trying not to be lazy by setting certain goals and going after what I want. I am trying to get one or do some freelance work and besides that I have projects that I plan to work on. Planning is an integral part of making things happen and getting stuff done, which is why I wrote this summer to do list.

I take comfort in making long to do lists of plans and breaking them down into goals that can be crossed off. That is most likely another things I learned from my mom. She has always been a big fan of writing lists, including chore lists that I dreaded as a kid. I made sure this summer list is not something I will dread, but things that I will love doing and will learn from. It’s not just a summer list of things to do, but also a way of getting started on big goals like learning the art of blogging and teaching myself how to make a multimedia slideshow.

I will be adding to my list, crossing things off as I go and writing about the journey it takes me on through this blog. Check out the list below. I hope it inspires others to make goals of their own, follow big dreams and have little adventures.