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.

Malibu Creek State Park: Rock Jumping

In addition to jumping off rocks, people also go rock climbing in this area as shown in this photo.

These warm days are reminding me of this Malibu Creek State Park adventure that felt like a much-needed girls getaway at the time, on a beautiful Saturday morning almost two years ago. Don't worry, the rock pool is still there, and so are the rocks we jumped off of. I would check the water levels though — I don't know if it's any different with the drought. If anything, this area is a great hiking choice.

I conquered some fears on this little excursion, and I still vividly remember the experience even today.

Road trip: To Las Vegas and back again

Above is me. In probably my happiest captured form: open road, blue skies, friends, adventuring, and just being completely in love with where I am.

I love road trips. Maybe because I'm from LA and having a car symbolizes freedom a bit more than in other cities. There really is something freeing to me about being able to take your car and go to some place new. Even more so than flying. Sometimes flying doesn't feel as far away — it feels more about the destination: you're in one place, and then all of a sudden you're in the next.

With a road trip, there's a journey. There are stops, there are things to look at, to observe. There are long hours, lots of snacks, and "are we there yet?" moments, but it's all part of this random journey. You know that eventually you'll get to your destination, but might as well be flexible, take the time to explore and have fun along the way.

And the road trip I'm highlighting today is one of many that I've taken from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and back.

Our stops included:

• Bottle Tree Ranch
• World's Tallest Thermometer
• Alien Beef Jerky
• Las Vegas (which was semi our destination too so I'm not counting this)

and back

• through the Mojave desert — attempted to look for a cave that we didn't find
• Cross-eyed Cow Pizza 

Read on for all the random details.

Rise Festival 2014

Go. Experience this event.

Tickets go on sale today at 9am Pacific time for the Rise Festival. I went last October with some friends, and it was truly the most magical — and then one of the most challenging — experiences of my life. But let's focus on the magical. They've implemented changes this year, and they moved locations from the Jean Roach Dry Lake Bed to the Moapa River Reservation, which sounds more promising. They are also hosting it in Pheonix if you can't make it to Nevada.

Find out more about the event and buy your tickets here. Seriously, this is an event you would not want to miss if you have the opportunity to go.

Read on to get my personal experience of the event, and to see photos, and a video. Also, look out this week for the road trip there and back. I mean, might as well make the journey fun too, right?

Seattle Travel Guide

It's been fun sharing all my adventures from this trip! I was really fortunate to have three of the most beautiful days Seattle could ever produce, and to enjoy the weather, the sites, and all the great people I met along the way.

If you're going to Seattle, I put together a reference guide for everywhere I've talked about — and some things I wish I could have talked about — here.

Enjoy, and be sure to share your experiences!