ísland

What an epic road trip! Learned so much, but here are 5 things from the top of my head…

1. Iceland or Mars? - Iceland was beautiful, wild, and untamed. We drove around lush, green mountains in the South, then made our way around a complete grey area of black sand nothingness, passed by glaciers and hundreds of waterfalls, and then worked our way up North ~ which looked like my dreams of the North Pole.
2. Unpredictable weather - I learned about this before our trip and completely underestimated it. One minute it was sunny, the next minute it was hailing. Woke up in the middle of the night to see snow fall for the first time. The cold Icelandic wind enhanced all the crazy weather. One day we were hiking and it started to hail. The strong wind bashed the hail to our faces … ouch!
3. Sleeping at night - There was no night. Well, at least when we went this time of year. The sun set around 11PM, but there was still plenty of light after that… it never really got dark. The sun then rose at 3AM… so plenty of light to go on adventures! I had my handy eye mask to help block out the light at night.
4. Major gas stations were awesome … like N1! Great stop for clean/private bathrooms and delicious Icelandic hot dogs ~ Pylsur! They add crunchy onions and special sauces to their hot dogs. We even bought some at the local grocery store and cooked it in our camper van. It  also wasn't uncommon to find a gas station with sit down restaurants inside them.
5. Something in the water - The hot water from the faucet smelled of sulphur. I heard the reasoning behind this was because the water was heated using geothermal energy. The hot water that poured from the faucets and shower heads came directly from water springs located one of two kilometers beneath the ground with dissolved sulfur compounds.

All in all.. Iceland was AMAZING! A trip like nothing I've even been on. I took a ton of pictures, but figured that sharing through video would be easier. Here's our trip in a nutshell:

Music: one of my favorite songs by Sigur Rós called Inní mér syngur vitleysingur

realiti

Ad Freak

Commercials I'm loving right meow.

This cute Tinder Plus commercial that takes the brand beyond just a dating app, but an app for adventure!

 

This sweet Tiffany's commercial that tells a story and puts so much more value to that ring.

Starting Over

Hello Blog. Hello World!

The last time I blogged was three months ago and so much has happened in such a short span of time!

After I got home from work last night, I whipped up some soba noodles, dumplings, and brown rice. Lorenz and I ate our dinner on a cardboard box while watching TV. Out of the blue I started crying! I didn’t know why, but tears were pouring down my face as I was eating my soba noodles! Lorenz kept asking me what was wrong and kept trying to comfort me. I just started giggling and tearing up at the same time. “I’m just so happy,” I told him. “We’re eating dinner on a cardboard box inside our OWN apartment!” 

It’s been over seven years and Lorenz and I have always dreamed of the day when we could finally be on this stage of our relationship. We've come so far and have gone through so much, that this was just one of those moments where I realized how much we've grown. These easy moments are going to be the memories we’ll remember when we’re older. No furniture. Eating on a box. Starting our lives. Sometimes, it’s just the simple things that really make you appreciate life.

I couldn't be more thankful. 

Break Free

My coworkers and I made a music video! It was initially supposed to be a music video of our trip from LA to NY, but we were so busy that we didn't have time to film in NY. It's all just for shits and giggles! The lyrics really don't make any sense and I think that's what makes it funny. Enjoy!

K + H

I feel so honored to have been a part of my cousin’s beautiful wedding! Here are some of my favorite photos taken by JC Guzman: http://www.jcguzmanphoto.com/ 

             

















 

Go.

#amelonaday

Encountered this awesome project on Instagram! It's a movement dedicated to generating cause awareness for Traumatic Brain Injury by way of melons, people and art. http://www.amelonaday.com/

Sundate at Anaheim Packing District

   

The Kroft

Super yummy gourmet sandwich and poutine place. I really loved the Rib-eye Dip and their cucumber lemonade. Definitely worth standing in line for!

Dinner Party - Outstanding In The Field

I've been wanting to join this culinary adventure for some time now! Dinner inside a secret cove, on a sandy beach, or a lush green valley - sign me up! The food looks deliciously fresh and the long table looks so dreeeaaamy. Too bad tickets cost about $260 per head. Le Sigh.. http://www.outstandinginthefield.com/

Bestia

I went here with my family a couple months ago and wanted to come back with Lorenz. After a two month reservation wait, we finally went! I don't understand how this place is always so busy. Mind you, we were here late on a Monday night and it was hustling and bustling with people! Delicious food, nonetheless. Their drinks were so good- we ordered three rounds! We ordered some small plates with our drinks - the fig salad, roasted bone marrow on top of spinach gnochetti, veal tartare, and squid ink pasta. I want more!