Palos Verdes: Frascati Trail

I'm spending some time reminiscing on past memories. Because exciting news and all that coming soon for the future. For now, this experience from the winter of 2013 when Whitney was visiting from Kansas City, MO, and my friend Kelsey was in town and I realized that not every hiking trail in Palos Verdes is worth driving to. Isn't there a quote though that you either win or you learn? #fbf

READ ON FOR MORE ABOUT MY "LEARNING" EXPERIENCE 

Los Angeles: California Science Center

Almost three years after the space shuttle Endeavour was moved to the science center, I finally made it a point to go and visit. I wanted to see for myself this thing that was in space and the journey it took from here to there and back. In any case, I'll take any reason to go to The California Science Center.

The California Science Center in Exposition Park is a great place to visit and discover. Aside from the fact that it's next to/part of USC's campus #BruinPride (haha JUST KIDDING rival USC folks – it's only semi-personal), it's a really great place to go on any afternoon and learn about science in an interactive and fun way. Plus, it's free to the public which is always a plus.

Some things you might have to pay for:

• Parking – $10 (unless you take the metro which is lots cheaper and a short walk from the station to the entrance)
• IMAX movie – around $8.25 (for 18 years and older) this is an experience worth getting tickets for though. The IMAX movies aren't like the 3D movies you see in a theater; they really make you feel like you're part of the ocean or in Jersualem (depending on what movie you choose to see). Right now you have three different films to choose from: Hubble 3D, Jerusalem 3D, or Humpback Whales 3D. We chose Jerusalem in lieu of the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit.
• The Endeavour – this can actually be "free" too if you buy a ticket to one of the other exhibits or IMAX movie, otherwise it's a $2 processing fee when you make an online reservation (a reservation is required through September 7)
• Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit – you can get a combo deal with the IMAX movie purchase – $26 (for 18 years and older), but the exhibit alone is about $20 (for 18 year old and older). This is one thing I didn't get to do when we recently went, but Yelp gives it a four out of five star rating.
• There's also attractions like the high wire bicycle (where you're riding a bicycle on a wire at the top level), a small rock wall, and a motion-based simulator which you can buy an "attraction pack" for all at $7. 

Basically you can really choose how much or not at all you want to spend. The point is that this is one of the coolest museums for all ages in LA and is right next to a rose garden, California African American Museum and the Museum of Natural History. Just throwing that in there.

CLICK THROUGH TO READ MORE ABOUT WHAT SCIENCE-Y THINGS OCCURRED

Getting Chopped — A Hair Story

In the summer going into my senior year of high school, I had a friend from Chicago that really wanted to cut my hair. I was all for it in the moment. I was staying in Sicily with a host family, and some physical change seemed like a good marker of the change I had hoped to go through internally on this six week program. As if I had become a renewed person or something silly like that, and a new haircut or a nose piercing (which I searched for a place forever for on one of the last days and didn't find, much to my mom's happiness) would show that.

We agreed the next day he'd chop it off, give me a sort of bob kind of look. And then I woke up that morning recovering from the nightmare I had where I woke up within my dream and I had gone through with the cut and I hated it, feeling uncomfortable, and not me. I was terrified. So I didn't go through with it.

We made a deal that the next time I was in Chicago, he would give me a haircut.

I never felt inclined to go to Chicago because of it. Now he's living in New York, and I'm still not in Chicago, but now I felt like my long hair — about the same cut that I've had for fifteen years aside from some bang alterations — didn't feel like me anymore.

It's interesting and strange to me how something so seemingly unimportant becomes such a defining factor of your identity.

Los Angeles: Watts Towers

Welcome to my childhood dream in real life: visiting the Watts Towers.

We had a hands-on-art project in elementary school where we learned about these towers and used wires and beads and clay to pretend like we were replicating their sheer amazingness. My "art" piece is long gone now, but the desire to see the towers in real life remained.

Fast forward about sixteen years and I finally made it a priority. 

READ ON TO FIND OUT MORE

Daybreaker LA: On a Boat

Daybreaker is a "morning movement that will start your day off unlike anything else." This Los Angeles to-do has been on my list since I read this article back in November. Wild party with dancing, food, some yoga, and no drinking? That's the definition of my kind of party.

I would say getting up at 5am to get to Marina del Rey and participate in a dance party on a boat before my regular work hours is definitely an abnormal start to my day. And huge kudos to the guy who dressed like a sun/sunflower. Hands down best costume of the Daybreaker experience.

CLICK THROUGH TO READ ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE...

Afters Ice Cream

If you're looking for a really sweet treat this weekend, go here.

Afters Ice Cream is another experimental mix of two good things coming together to create one great thing. This seems to be the trend nowadays — beginning with cronuts — but I'm not complaining.

They've chosen to combine donuts and ice cream into one very sugary ice cream sandwich. And that's not even including the interesting choices of ice creams they have like Cookie Monster (which includes a vanilla base mixed with oreos, chips ahoy, and something else she told me that might explain why it's blue), and Milk & Cereal.

Celebrating Independence Day

Land of the free, home of the brave: "AMERICA!" — said in a very loud, definitive tone, with a slight southern twang. Just cause.

That's how I say it anyways when fourth of July is rolling around. The festivities are slightly different every year, but I ended up doing what I did last year which was baseball game in the morning (the most American way as I'll explain further) and BBQ in the evening wrapping it all up watching firework shows from the beach.

Read on for all that day of America celebration greatness.

Monthly Inspiration: July

IT'S JULY!! How insane is that?! Without being in school, it's still a little strange to me when I realize it's summer because there's no marker of "summer break" like there is with school — even though it's been two years since I graduated college. Working full time makes me feel like time blurs together even more.

Anywaysss, aside from reminiscing about what used to be, I'm looking at where I am now, and taking time to reevaluate my goals from January, and also prepare to embark on some crazy fun future adventures! More to come on that.

For now though, I'm just remembering this quote, chosen by my friend Whitney: "Trust your heart and trust your story." Because isn't that what life becomes? A collection of stories? I'm hoping to make mine a good one.