So ends weekend number 2 of California summer. My stomach is stealing from my wallet. Money to food – my major transactions. But you know what? How many summers am I going to spend in LA during my lifetime? Not many, hence, “Live it Up” or translated into a Brett-speak, “Just Eat the Cupcake”.

Speaking of cupcakes, my big project this quarter is to get my sweet pencil freelance website up and running. Hopefully by the end of these two months I will be able to market myself successfully – business cards and all.

Work at BLT & Associates has been spectacularly Hollywood-ish. I feel like I’m part of something huge! I wish I could talk more about what I am doing, but nonetheless, I have been relatively busy on some new jobs. I’ve also been busy strutting the walk of fame,  staring at traffic and palm trees, and dodging paparazzi outside our CNN building.

During the work week I did not shy away from my sweet tooth. Diddy Riese earlier in the week and free mini-cupcakes at Frosted Cupcakery on Thursday. Diddy Riese : build your own ice cream sandwich for $1.50!!! Awesome right? Mine = chocolate chip cookie, espresso chip ice cream and a peanut butter cookie. I think someone should open one of these on campus…for real.

And as for the free mini cupcake – gahahahahaha pineapple coconut. That is my new favorite flavor combo (as I discovered with that sumptuously exquisite pineapple coconut ice cream at PF Changs) . Tropical. “Tastes like sunscreen” – but in a good way, I swear.

Even later in the week Brett and I went to Pinkberry. Twice. This is because the first time they gave us a damn good coupon and what were we to do but go back? Nothing beats light soft serve yogurt with godly toppings.

Brett and I did have real food though, occasionally anyway. Look at this wonderful baked ziti she made with fresh mozzarella and wheat pasta…better and cheaper than most restaurants in my opinion!! Plus we gots tons of left overs to help support our poor college wallets.

Friday was time to GO OUT on the town. To Santa Monica in the van! We went to Circle Bar (later there was a line of people to get in!!). There were good drinks, a neatly lit bar, a small dance floor, small tables and lots of funny and awesome characters…we met quite a few people, good and bad, haha. Overall, it was a successful night out and looks-kinda-like-my-sister-to-a-lot-of-strangers Brett drove us back home to sleep.

On Saturday Rachael drove down from Cupertino/Apple headquarters to visit us and her cousin for the holiday weekend. Rachael always equals fun and funny quotes and stories. First thing we did when she arrived : food. In-N-Out burger is the huge to do out here. Cheaper than 5 guys, less options, but nearly as good. $2.25 for a single cheeseburger with some special sauce, but you know what, f*** that special sauce – IT HAD RELISH. This ruined the burger. End of story.

We rested and then had a good time Friday night at Acapulco Mexican Restaurant y Cantina, a place within walking distance from our apartment (meaning Margaritas were allowable).

First up was free fresh made guacamole (he chopped the avocados right there in front of us). It was free because I’m a food geek and always sign up for restaurants’ emails which result in sometimes useful rewards such as free guac. This guac was addicting, creamy, and so so good and so so addicting (did I say that alreayd?). I think I was full before the steak fajitas arrived. Me and Brett split these and they, too, were so so good (I feel that most Mexican food is). This meal + frozen pineapple coconut margarita + mooching off of Rachael’s lemon cheesecake made me more full than I can ever remember being. Not sure my tummy liked me too much, but I made it up to him by running, running, running 3 days in a row. ouchies.

We returned home that night and watched some show online about prostitutes. Hahaha. I really wish we had TV.

Saturday  started off with Rachael’s cousin and her boyfriend picking us up and driving us to Greystone Mansion/garden/park in Beverly Hills. This was apparently where they filmed Mariah Carey for one of her music videos, and I can see why, it was gorgeous. The sharp stone, the perfectly lined trees, the ponds, fountains, expansive courtyard (in which I imagined I would keep a stable), and beautiful overlooks (from which I expressed how I felt as though I was in a Jane Austen novel, viewing Pemberley for the first time – I got laughed at).

The rest of the grounds were beauteous and Rachael’s cousin expressed a wish to have her wedding there…sigh. After the mansion tour we went to…dun dun dun…SPRINKLES *world’s first cupcake bakery located in Beverly Hills*  While waiting in line we were behind a lesbian couple who, I swear, were even more excited about the cupcakes than I was – pointing through the glass and whining if someone took a cupcake from the stack of ones they wanted all the while showing intense affection for one another. I <3 LA for it’s people watching.

I finally made it through the line and was not disappointed. Perfect serving size, perfectly large amount of frosting, perfect cakely texture, perfect flavors.

I ordered the seasonal Lemon Blueberry : fragrant lemon cake studded with wild blueberries, topped with lemon cream cheese frosting AND Chai Latte : spiced chai tea cake with chai-vanilla frosting.

While consuming, I felt as though I floated from the ground in bites garnered with moist-crumbly-stick-together cake and densely fabulous, sweet-loving, flavor-loaded globs of frosting.

Here the life motto was reinforced – “Just Eat the Cupcake”.

After this we drove past the playboy mansion while we wished we could get in, daydreamed about the grotto, and then drove home. After a bit of relaxing we went to dinner at Swingers Diner where burgers were rated high. I didn’t get a burger though, I had the stuffed grilled cheese (two cheeses melted, guac, grilled onions, and tomato). It was yummy and so were the fat-ass fried onion rings served alongside. Oh, and we split a banana peanut butter milkshake of course!

From there it was off to Marina Del Rey where one of Brett’s friends was watching fireworks from his roof. TRAFFIC made us miss them, but we still went up to the roof to witness some dude breathing fire with 151. ouch? but cool. This place we were at though – pretty spectacular. A huge pool, a doubled hot tub, pretty view of the Marina…we ended the night chatting with lots of smart people (aerospace engineers) around the hot tub. I admit I was a little homesick – I missed the scent of July 4th.  Nothing compares to a parade at the Hoelker’s, the smoke of burnt Mets, ketchup, plastic koolaid juice barrels (Little HUGS!!), Dad flipping burgers, sparklers, fireflies, and fireworks from Northgate parking lot…oh the days.

The next day was Monday and we were off work which was a godsend. More laying out at the pool, more exercising, more relaxing, more drawing. Rachael left and I spent the whole day on me time :D

I know I’m late in posting this…but now I get to include the fact that I experienced an EARTHQUAKE today. It felt neat. I thought someone was shaking my desk, but surprise! The building was swaying. Hmm, maybe I should have viewed this as scary, but fact remains, I smiled when I realized the earth was quivering.

Oh and did I mention I saw Eclipse? Most awkward movie I’ve ever seen, but, fun nonetheless.

I miss Cincinnati and Love everyone, even more than cupcakes. hehe.