Weekend Wars

{So very SoCal}

Remember that amazing MGMT song "Weekend Wars"? It's so utterly summer and the perfect song to play while driving down the PCH without being too cliche.

This weekend was all about laid back fun. From a drive up the PCH and a failed attempt to find the Malibu Creek trail, to a very hipster birthday party hosted by Podshare (this revolutionarily awesome youth hostel), to a barbecue in San Clemente with the best fish tacos I've ever tasted in my life, my weekend was completely satisfying - the perfect recharge before going back to the grind.

{My favorite breakfast: avocado on toast with sea salt}

{Kevin the beach bunny}

{The view from the top, Malibu}

{Podshare birthday party}

{The best fish taco I've ever tasted - exploding with avocado, lime, and freshly speared fish from that morning}

Crispy Salmon with Mango and Avocado Salsa

{Crispy Salmon with Mango and Avocado Salsa}

Eureka! This may be the most luscious, delicious salmon dish you've ever tried. I promise.

Grease is the Word

{Grease sing-a-long at the Hollywood Bowl - check out the Hollywood sign}

Who plans for months to go to the Grease sing-a-long at the Hollywood Bowl? We do. Ever since seeing Coldplay back in May, three of us bought our tickets immediately for the Grease sing-a-long, and finally the day came.

Dressing up in our best Pink Ladies/ T-Birds gear, we packed up with bread, cheese, crackers, snacks, and the delicious California Chicken Cafe, hopped on the bus, and prepared ourselves for a night at the Hollywood Bowl.

If you haven't been to the Hollywood Bowl, the best way to do it is to catch the Park 'n' Ride. You park your car at a given location and hop on a bus so that you can drink and eat happily (which we surely did).

After picnicking on a grassy area and drinking oh-so-much wine, we made our way in to a pre-show which included the actress who played Frenchie, and the entire Grease movie complete with sing-a-long lyrics, bubbles, and drunken fans who knew every word to every song. Overall, it was one of the most interesting Saturday nights I have had in awhile.

{Wine + Grease sing-a-long}

Friday Night at Dodgers Stadium

{Dodgers Stadium at sunset on a Friday night}

Lucky lucky girls. One of my friend's neighbors works in sales for the Dodgers so we were hooked up with free Loge-level tickets for the Padres vs. Dodgers game. I had been to many Padres games (since I am a San Diego native and a sad sad Padres fan), but I had never been to Dodgers Stadium, so this was definitely a check off of the LA bucket list.

The traffic was terrible, but I did love that the stadium was secluded from the rest of the Los Angeles hustle-and-bustle. I tried my first Dodger Dog, and I even was allowed onto the field for the fireworks! It was a great to end the first week at the new job with another new adventure. Plus, beer and a good hot dog is always welcome.

{A cold Bud Lite and a Dodger Dog with the works}

{Kevin and I on the field for summer fireworks}

Weekend Wrap-Up via Instagram

{My goodies from the Murad Spa}

This week and weekend were full of surprises. I started my new job at Murad as their social media associate, and on the first day I was sent down to the spa at the end of the day for a facial and a line of tailored skincare products (and my skin has never looked better!). It was one of the easiest of transitions I have ever experienced.

So, this weekend was full of celebration from my first Dodger's game to going to the Grease sing-a-long at the Hollywood Bowl. Lots of fun and lots more to come this week! Here are some of my favorite Instagrams from the weekend:

{Chicken Paillard on my date night at Nook}

{Employee sale on O.P.I. nail polish}

{My friend's choice of wine for our Hollywood Bowl adventure}

Easy Bruschetta Balsamic Tomato Salad

{Easy Bruschetta Balsamic Tomato Salad}

You can call it a sauce, you call call it an Italian salsa, but I like to refer to it as a balsamic tomato salad.

During the summer, nothing is better than tomatoes and balsamic vinegar. Yes you can roast them or sautee them, but who wants to eat something warm when it's hot out. Not I (especially in this hot SoCal weather). Here's a perfect dish that goes fantastically on a crusty baguette on a hot summer night especially with a glass of Pinot Noir.

Ingredients:
2 tomatoes
4 garlic cloves
4 TBSP balsamic vinegar
1 TBSP olive oil
Dash of salt
Dash of pepper
Dash of dried oregano
Dash of dried basil

Chop up the tomatoes in cubes. The smaller you dice the tomato the more it will soak up the vinegar. If you prefer a more subtle vinegar taste, you should chop the tomatoes in larger cubes. Mince the garlic cloves. Throw tomatoes and garlic into a bowl.

Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and herbs. Drizzle with vinegar and oil. Toss all together and pile on top of a crusty baguette or eat with a spoon - I enjoy it either way.

It's the perfect dish for summer. It's filling, satisfying, and refreshing. Enjoy!