by analilia on May 14, 2013
This August will be my 9th year in Los Angeles. First of all, time really does fly by. Second of all, I am surprised at how much I still don’t know about this city and all that it has to offer. This weekend I visited the Japanese Garden in Van Nuys. It’s surrounded by the 405 and 101 freeways, yet from the inside of this garden you would think you were in Japan. It’s 6 1/2 acres of pure zen.
You enter through a dry garden.
Then there’s a beautiful stroll of greenery. Water Lilies in the lake, tall bamboo…a tea house. It’s an impeccable garden.
The garden is open Monday through Thursday 11:00am to 4:00pm and Sundays 10:00am to 4:00p. Admission is $3.00 General Public. 6100 Woodley Ave Van Nuys, CA 91406
What’s your favorite garden?
by analilia on April 30, 2013
It’s starting to feel like summer. Longer days, warm weather, avocados at the farmer’s market. And of course carne asada for dinner. Carne Asada is one of my favorite dinners. It’s easy to make, inexpensive, and it reminds me of Sunday dinners with my family in Napa. And of course it’s delicioso!
Here’s how you can make your own carne asada dinner:
Grill Skirt Steak seasoned with salt and pepper at 450° F for approximately 4 minutes on one side, flip and grill for 3 minutes on the other side.
You will find the Guacamole recipe on a previous post.
Salsa: Roast 2 large size tomatoes and 1 serrano pepper either on grill or comal until the skin gets charred. Place in bowl. Cover bowl with a towel, which will steam the veggies. Peel the skin off once they’ve cooled. Place in blender with a pinch of salt.
Warm tortillas on comal. Then you’re ready to make the tacos. Meat, chopped onion, cilantro, salsa, guacamole, and queso fresco. ¡Qué rico!
What’s your favorite summertime dinner?
by analilia on April 22, 2013
One of my other freelance jobs is being an expert scout for Citysearch LA. Since today is Earth Day I thought it would be appropriate to make a Guide with my favorite vegan restaurants in Los Angeles.
Do you eat vegan food? What’s your experience with vegan food? Do you have any favorite vegan restaurants you go to all the time?
by analilia on April 19, 2013
Say goodbye to boring black and white socks and bring a little color to your feet. Socks are the easiest way to accessorize an outfit. Recently there have been a bunch of companies making really fun and colorful socks. These socks are an easy way to add a little funk to an outfit and show your personality.
Here are some of my favorite brands:
This Swedish company started in 2008 wanting to spread happiness to an everyday essential by creating colorful designs. Happy Socks are so popular that they can be found in 50 countries.
This Angelino company is one of the most unique sock brands I have come across. Not only do they have fun patterns, but they have unexpected textures and designs, like the clear socks with black dots. They are also some of the most expensive socks ranging from $15-$39.
These organic socks are not only super cute and comfortable, but they are also eco-friendly. They are produced in a factory that uses 100% wind power, which means 46% less energy was used to make these cuties. We can make a difference in the environment if we each take a step in Pact socks.
I love argyle socks. They are preppy, colorful, and a true classic. This San Francisco company’s motto is “Unafraid to stand out. Argoz socks are argyle socks that are scientifically engineered to deliver 74% more awesome.”
Add a whimsical touch to your wardrobe with little sailboats, sharks and cherries. This Los Angeles based company has a wide range of fun and colorful socks. They only thing missing is single colored socks.
