toning it up and feeling good

my sister and i decided to really start eating better and working out on a consistent basis about two weeks ago. i know that doesn't seem like that long ago (it really isn't) but it's definitely made a huge difference in our lives. nat has already lost a good amount of weight since starting to work out a month ago, and i've already seen changes in myself too. it's fantastic. and i'm so proud and happy that my sister decided to do this on her own. i didn't have to force her or ask her. she just did it. which is so rad! if you're interested, we follow Karena & Katrina and try to live the Tone It Up lifestyle. i've had their nutrition plan for a few years now, but am just not really giving it my all. and i can already tell that it is so worth it.

we were supposed to go camping

so this past weekend was supposed to be spent at the san clemente campground (which i grew up camping at and was so looking forward to going back!). but unfortunately, that didn't happen. someone accidentally booked a handicap-only site, and well, none of us are handicapped so we weren't allowed to stay there. at least we realized this a few days before we were supposed to go to the site (thanks mom for asking what site we were on! otherwise, i probably would have killed someone haha). all of us girls still hung out that saturday and we actually went and had tea instead. from camping to a tea party. what opposites!

the place we went to is called seventh tea bar and is located in costa mesa (right next to portola coffee lab!). i had seen seventh tea bar a few weeks ago and had wanted to go so i was happy the girls wanted to go there. the place is rad! and the workers are super friendly and extremely helpful. i mean, we were pretty annoying because there were 6 of us girls all asking questions about tea and holding up the line. how embarrassing! but the staff didn't mind and answered all of our questions and we're really funny! i'll definitely be going back soon. oh, did i mention the tea and the food was really good at the tea bar? you have to go if you're in the area. after we had tea, we walked around soco. oh my goodness, i was in home-goods heaven! it was kind of like walking around ikea, but the really nice version of it. and the much richer version. hah! and i actually bought a few things for when i move out in a few months. score! 

me and jess. future roommate picture!!

we tried to end the night by going to a waffles + beer restaraunt but they didn't really have gluten free waffles. come on people, just because the batter is gluten free does not mean that you can cook it on all of the same stove tops and same waffle presses. it's not gluten free anymore! we did ask two of the servers before sitting down if they were cooked on different iron presses, and they both told us yes. after they took our order, the manager came over and told us that it was cooked on the same press. i don't like to be a pain, but we had already asked three times and no one gave us the correct answer. and we didn't want our friend to have to sit there hungry while we all enjoyed our waffles. so we left and got cheesecake factory instead. happy compromise. i plan on going back to the waffle place, but i really wish more people understood that some people are gluten free because they actually can't have gluten. not because they're trying to be healthier or get skinny. it's frustrating.

besides the waffle dilemma, we had a wonderful saturday. i loved hanging out with all of my girlfriends and am happy we still managed to have a good time despite us not going camping. maybe next year we'll get to go. hopefully!

someone take me back to pieology, please

kean coffee is amazing. pretty much anything with latte art is rad, but kean coffee is especially rad. pieology is fantastic (minus some of the staff, unfortunately). it's basically like a chipotle, but for pizza. i want to go back every weekend. i also wish i could hang out with emily and jess every weekend. well, pretty soon i will be with jess all the time since we'll be living together! eeek! so excited.

sundays are for sister dates. v.3

sundays are for sister dates (plus friends!) at pieology, visiting our old pastor's new church for their new re-launch, having to go to chipotle since pieology lies about being gluten free, freaking out about the fact that delirium is going to be a tv series (how would they even do that?!), and then napping for as long as you can before you have to study for your cpa exam. again. (it still is no fun.)

valentines day

i had a really great valentines day yesterday. my homemade cinnamon rolls ended up tasting gross (i blame the dough), but my pop tart/pastries turned out amazing. i'm thinking i'll make them again this sunday for a friend's birthday brunch. also, i'm really really proud of my card making skills. like, i'm so happy it actually turned out looking like it was supposed to! it was well worth staying up late to finish making it. and, my tulips were perfect (my favorite flower :) and i'm trying not to kill them accidentally or prematurely. hope you all had a wonderful day yesterday!

souplantation + del taco

i blame siaira for my new love for souplantation. del taco and i, on the other hand, have gone way back. like twenty years back. but siaira is obsessed with these places. which just makes it that much more fun to go with her and my sister and enjoy the food too. it's so bad, but it's so good. like del taco's breakfast menu. and souplantation's endless amounts of breads and muffins. soooo good! i pretty much love any buffet-style restaurant. which is why i miss sizzler so much. oh sizzler. you were so good. RIP.

a day in the park.

we've been going out to this park near our apartment. we bought a few toys, some bubbles, face paints, and chalk. we just walk down there and hang out. it's been really nice getting to talk to some of the parents there. 

after we left the park, we went back home to the apartment. perfect timing too, because it started to rain really hard that day. natalie finished reading the fault in our stars. we both love that book and i'm glad she read it right after me. because now we can cry together. ahh soo good!

that night i made everyone dinner. chicken breast, mashed potatoes, and veggies. man oh man was it good. the cook in me has come out during this trip! tricia would be proud!

corso cafe & bistro

a few days ago, we went out to eat just as the six of us. it's always so nice when it's just us. it's great with the jejerans as well, but when it's just us six it feels even cozier. like we're one little family out here in romania.

the restaurant we ate at was phenomenal! the decor was super quirky and cute. the drinks were all fun and tasted delicious. and my stuffed pepper with rigatoni was the most amazing thing on earth. everyone loved the sauce on my plate and we all scraped it clean together (haha!) and we got their homemade ice cream for dessert. and that was gone too, in about five seconds. we can't wait to go back here before we leave (which, by the way, feels so soon! this trip is going by so quickly)

it was a wonderful day. and i am so happy i got to spend it with my friends. romania has been so kind to us. we love it here.