{Dessert Addict}

Most people have a stopping point, where their brain or stomach lets them know they've officially overdosed on sweets and they need to stop. My brain & stomach do not. Which means when I'm brought to amazing restaurants like Extraordinary Desserts in San Diego, my brain will force me to daydream about that place for weeks after. Seriously, I need a trip back! 

Our good friends Sarah & Damian had been to the restaurant before, and recommended we go back for birthday celebrating after the football game. Sarah is well aware of my chocolate addiction, and could not have picked a better place to go!

The downside to this fantastic restaurant is the wait time for dinner. I think we waited a little over an hour to be seated, which would have been fine if they didn't make you stare at glass case after glass case of dreamy looking desserts. They even have a register at the front if you need a treat to snack on while you wait.

We were finally seated before anyone of us freaked out from hunger or caved from temptation. I didn't get a good shot of the dining room since it's all lit pretty dimly, but it's filled with modern-ish looking furniture on the inside with high & low tables, booths and a beautiful patio.

We ordered a few different appetizers & paninis and an amazing grilled cheese sandwich with caramelized onions. The bread was a little to thin/crispy for my liking, but all the ingredients were amazingly fresh and flavorful. We ate until we were stuffed but managed to save room for the most incredible (dare I say...extraordinary?) chocolate cake I've ever ever had. Ever.

Not real.

We also ordered the berry bread pudding, which completely changed my outlook on bread puddings. I didn't use to like them and now I do. But I'm insisting on gold leaf to top the dessert from now on.

Chris & I managed to pull ourselves out of food comas to go out that night, while S & D headed back home. It was so nice to have them drive all the way out to hang out while we were in town, and I'm excited for the next time we all get to see each other!

{Huckleberry Bakery and Cafe}

Over the weekend, Chris & I roadtripped to California for an incredible couple of days. I took a HUGE quantity of photos, and plan to post all week about the fun places we checked out in the cities we explored! After leaving AZ late on Thursday, we drove straight to Hermosa Beach to stay with my friend Sarah. Early Friday morning we were up exploring the pier, enjoying crisp cloudy weather along the beach. Then we were off to Santa Monica for breakfast and a some shopping with our friend Lisa!

It was there that I fell in love with a new cafe, Huckleberry.

This place is beautiful on the inside, and the amount of bakery/menu items they offer is amazing! I still can't figure out how they produce so much, since everything is made onsite with a relatively small looking kitchen. As we waited in line, I couldn't help but to snap pictures. The glass cases you pass as you wait to order are clearly there to tempt customers into buying more, which we did. (You win, Huckleberry).

Drooling yet?

I settled on a breakfast sandwich, while the other two jumped straight into lunch. And perhaps we ordered a few doughnut holes for the table...they were too hard to resist!

My fried egg sandwich (which I swapped out for scrambled) with Niman Ranch bacon, Gruyere, arugula & aioli on country bread.

Lisa ordered the Grilled cheese sandwich with Fiscalini cheddar & a cup of the tomato soup. The soup was SO GOOD. Seriously, Chris & I both don't like tomato soup, and easily could have finished our own bowls of it! Especially with the fresh bread chunk served on the side for dipping, delish.

Chris ordered the turkey sandwich, which was bursting with meat, Tillamook cheddar cheese  sliced grapes & arugula on thick multigrain bread. It's safe to say our plates were completely licked clean by the time we walked out of there. 

I already want to go back! The prices are reasonable, and so worth it.

Have you spent time in Santa Monica? 

We only stayed for a few hours but I'm thinking a full weekend visit needs to be in my near future!

{Birthday}

It's my birthday today!

Chris has been spoiling me.

My mom has been spoiling me. 

At work, they surprised my coworker & I with birthday cake 

(we share this fantastic birthday week).

So far, its been fantastic!

23 is already off to a great start.

Happy Friday all! 

{birthday boy}

Chris turned 24 on Sunday!

At my ripe age of 22, I am officially dating an old man.

An old man that is thankfully quite young at heart. 

So we threw a party.

A day and a half of birthday extravaganza. 

Highlights of the partying include: apparently very strong bellinis, dinner with Sarah, hand-made birthday cards, a free pizzookie, all star birthday goodies & Chris not noticing the dining room decorated for a good 30 minutes, dinner with his parents, the smell of extra minty Starbucks steamers, Mortal Kombat & Bieber movie marathon, fresh strawberry swedish pancakes & sleeping in too late. 

It was great. 

Happy birthday boyfriend! I hope you have a wonderful year leading up to your inevitable quarter life crisis. Enjoy your youth while it lasts.

{IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!}

WOOHOO!

22 years ago, today, I was born.

It was a good day, if I do say so myself.

This time last year I was celebrating the big 2-1 with a double bday party with Sarah.

Who's birthday was on Monday (happy birthday! again).

Then I hopped on a plane to Vegas for the weekend!

Where Chris surprised me:)

This year....

I'm in Seattle!

Enjoying the day with friends & family.

Pedicures, sushi, and packing up my room for the long roadtrip...

more on this later. 

( check back monday)

So I am off to enjoy a cupcake & celebrate!