Huffing & Puffing & Hobbling. The Half Marathon.

Well, here we are again and it's been a while...again. I've been neglecting TheSizzle in favor of Body Pump class, sunbathing, work and Skype. I'm also leaving in 16 days (not that I'm counting or anything). 

I digress. I promised y'all San Diego, and here she is. 

SAN DIEGO PART ONE:

MainSqueeze and I hopped on a red-eye flight from Honolulu to LAX, then squeezed into what I was certain was Amelia Earnhardt's first prop plane for the short ride to San Diego. I hadn't slept, and we were supposed to run 13.1 miles the next morning. Riiiiiiight. 

In true Sizzle form, I pinched myself and went on a hunt for some caffeine and got the spring back in my step. We had a great brunch at Café Chloe. Mimosas happened, and all was right in the world. Except I still needed to sleep. 

That night I whipped up a pasta primavera of sorts with linguine, fresh basil, blistered cherry tomatoes, olive oil, lemon, prosciutto and blanched asparagus; topped with some reggiano cheese. It was a great "carb load" meal. 

After MainSqueeze forced me to drink 13123423 bottles of water, it was bedtime (he worries about my hydration. But he'll be very proud to know I currently have a 1.5 litre Nalgene of water on my desk that I have dutifully been chugging as the day wears on).

We were up at 3:45 am for the race. As we shuffled around that morning looking for shoes, shorts, lucky rabbit feet (just kidding) and bibs, we made it to the start line. Before the race, I spotted "Teddy" the mayor from the TV show "Nashville" and made a fool of myself. He got a laugh and I walked away feeling awkward. 

ANYWHO. The race was great, I finished with an OK time considering I hadn't trained like I planned on. I'd like to run another and really push myself. Remind me to tell you the story about our friend #guau accidentally putting a popsicle stick with a glob of vaseline in his mouth during the race. I still laugh. every. time. 

Post race, we rehydrated by way of margaritas on the rocks and fish tacos at a local spot Downtown in the Gaslamp that I do not recall the name of. Probably because the food was unremarkable and I was covered in a thin layer of salt and grime and my joints were about as stiff as a poker. #runningproblems

HOWEVER. That night we had reservations at Cowboy Star, a well reviewed steak house in town. Now, you put 9 red blooded Texans in a California steak house and...well. It was surprisingly decent. 

Amouse Bouche.

We obviously wore our race medals to dinner, and so this deserved a complimentary amouse bouche to start the night off. MainSqueeze and I ordered a nice red (it's good for post-race muscle soreness...or something) and others around the table ordered more wine and various cocktails as we perused the menu. 

pardon the funky photo.

I was immediately drawn to their asparagus salad. I have to say it's one of the most interesting salads I've had to date, and the asparagus were cooked perfectly. 

Grilled asparagus, pro blanco, grapefruit, cardamom-lemon ice cream and Thai Basil. 

The salad was the highlight of my dinner. Being the carnivore that I am, I ordered a  NY Strip steak medium rare and it was a tad overcooked. Honestly, I was so tired that I didn't even care. I usually have a minor conniption if a steak house can't get a steak right, but I figured I'd give these Cali folk a break and suck it up. I didn't have the energy to throw a hissy fit, and hissy fits aren't really my style anyhow.

After steak and sampling the variety of sides we ordered (sweetbreads, mushrooms and some sort of mac and cheese concoction) I obviously had to satiate my hankering for dessert. 

deconstructed cherry pie

I love cherries. I currently have 2 bags of fresh cherries in my kitchen and have made several delightful treats (recipes coming soon). My Dad and I used to hole up in the kitchen on Thanksgiving and make about 10 pies. One of his specialties was a cherry pie that would have you licking the pie pan. Literally. So MainSqueeze and I opted to share their "deconstructed cherry pie" and it was eh. Good but not something to lick the plate over. 

Our good amigo who we will call #guau ordered some bread pudding of sorts as well. Please note that we really did wear our medals our in public. The more laughable thing is that we were all gussied up for dinner, and I was literally HOBBLING everywhere. I don't know why I thought wearing wedges was a good idea, but other diners sure got a kick out of watching me hitch and totter in and out of the restaurant. 

bread pudding something or other and a MEDAL.

After dinner, we all struggled to keep our eyes open and I dragged myself up the stairs to bed. We were truly a sight to be seen. 

Next on TheSizzle, I'll tell you about one of my favorite days ever, spent in the sun with MainSqueeze, rented bicycles, a near death experience, impromptu poker games in the sunshine, cliffs and coves, choreographed dance moves and a coconut margarita that changed my life. 

Until then my friends!

Lei-ing around in Oahu

Greetings Sizzlers! Now that I'm back (somewhat) in the swing of things, I'm happy to continue chronicling my Hawaiian adventures. Next up after Hawaii is San Diego, followed by some Houston treats, Floridian excitements and an up and coming trip that has me pretty darn pumped. 

Back to Oahu and the thrilling adventures of me & MainSqueeze. 

HAWAII PART THREE:

After our initial culinary adventures of Poke and Sushi, I was really impressed. But there were sights to see, waves to play in and trails to be hiked. 

nice view, eh?

MainSqueeze and I are adventure hunters, if you will. So we decided to stretch our adventure legs and get a little taste of a Hawaiian hike. We packed our backpacks (nerd alert) filled up our Nalgenes, packed some provisions and headed out to Diamond Head Crater. The hike takes you up the volcano crater by way of stairways, tunnels, a tight spiral staircase, and very close proximity to sweaty fellow hikers. It only takes about 30 minutes to get to the top, but the views are well worth the burn. This is a great hike for beginners who are testing the adventure waters. 

Memorial day wave catching.

We got to spend Memorial Day on a great local beach. We drove up and down the West side of the Island on Farrington Highway, cruised by "Electric Beach" and settled on a local beach. Do you see how white the water is? That's because the water was CHURNING. I consider myself a strong swimmer and you would not catch me dead in those waters. Experienced surfers took their chances against the tide and rocks, and we cracked open a few cold ones and gaped. 

The Land Before Time. 

Next up, we traveled to the North Shore and snuck into Waimea Valley. It's a popular tourist attraction but the park was closed for a graduation party and we decided to...adventure and walk right on through. It was incredible, it felt like a step back into the Jurassic times; I kept expecting Pterodactyls and  other creatures to peek out of the absolutely lush scenery. The hike up ends at the waterfall, which is beautiful, peaceful and totally pristine. Well worth the risk my friends. 

Ko Olina lagoon. Where relaxation itself comes to relax. 

And now I give you home base. Our "neighborhood beach". I know, right? This gem is a mere 3 minute walk from the front door. If you can ignore the occasional screeching child, it's idyllic. Soft sand, clear water and cool breeze. L-I-V-I-N amigos. It might be a little "resort-y" but hey, it could be a whole lot worse. 

In a nutshell, the trip was incredible. And guess what? I'll be there again...soon. I know. Contain yourself! 

Next up: San Diego adventures!

A Tropical Storm called Life...

Aloha amigos. So here we are. Life is a series of twists and turns, ups and downs, forks and narrows; and it's a beautiful thing. There has been packing, unpacking, repacking, transitioning, staying put, and moving forward. And this is all good. So I hope you're all good too. 

But let's get back to what TheSizzle is really all about. Really good thangs. Food, tunes, treats, surprises, trips, adventures and the ever so random post. 

About a bajillion years ago, I brought you Hawaii Part 1. Well folks, it's time for Part 2. And so we begin:

Hawaii Part Deux:

My mind was already blown from the absolute perfection I experience at Ono Seafood. I still crave that Poke on.the.reg. But MS had more in store for moi. We lazed on the beach in Waikiki, had a few cold cocktails, and watched the world go by. But then it was time. For SASABUNE. 

I'm a sushi person. And I feel like a lot of people say that, but I think my appreciation goes a little deeper than the average bear. 

MS and I decided to walk to our dinner destination. We found a groovy little spot on the way, stopped and had a cocktail to rev up our appetites. Pint + Jigger was a great place, low key vibe with #nomz that looked quite tempting. But we pressed on and refused food to save room for sushi. 

MS had made a reservation at Sasabune and we decided to order "omakase" style. Where you sit, and they bring you food. Forever. And you want it to stop because you're so full, but you don't want it to stop because it's just UNreal. 

COURSE 1: Albacore Tuna Sashimi Style. Creamy rich albacore served in a delicate, light ponzu sauce. I'm hooked already. 

Course 2: California baby squid stuffed with blue crab. Tender, sweet, NOT chewy WHATsoever. The dream continues...

COURSE 3: Toro. What else can I say other than it's a fatty part of the Tuna that literally melts in your mouth. Divine. There were two sauces glazed on top, but my eyes were totally glazed themselves and I couldn't type it into my notes fast enough (cold sake wasn't helping my motor skills much either...)

COURSE 4: Halibut and Red Snapper (from left to right). Fresh, light, incredible. Again, I couldn't type the sauce quickly enough. So feast your eyes....

COURSE 5: Hamachi 2 ways. Whatever ways these were, these were one of the highlights of the meal. Perfectly creamy and buttery. I'm pretty sure the left piece had a ponzu ginger concoction but I was having a hard time keeping up with the amazingness. 

AND THEN MY PHONE DIED. I'm not kidding. And we needed to conserve MS's battery to get us home. SOOO......I didn't take any more pics and I decided I really just wanted to enjoy the experience and enjoy the company. Amazing. 

If you get to Honolulu, you've got to try this place. It's small, unassuming, and only takes reservations. The waiters know their stuff, and they take their sushi seriously.

FOR EXAMPLE:

At one point, I was getting so full, that I was about to pull the fish off the rice, and go riceless. The waiter SWOOPED over, and said "Maa'm, please do not upset the chef. Eat the whole piece, it's an insult." So I felt silly and wasteful, and put the whole thing in my mouth and thought I was going to burst. But it was worth it. Later on, we had South African Rock Lobster, sweet Japanese shrimp, hand rolls, and more incredible culinary delights.

MS and I left thoroughly impressed, full as ticks and already looking forward to doing it all over again. 

Next on TheSizzle.... Hawaiian Delights, sneaking into state parks, and being rrrrreally awkaward around a (notveryfamous) celebrity right before running 13.1 miles. Oh and some pretty #nomtastic San Diegan (is that a word?) meals....Until then, adios amigos. 

Tuesday Tune-Up

Sizzlers, 

It's time again. For Tuesday Tune-Up and for TEAM USA! The World Cup has given me heart palpitations, heartache, excitement and the great desire to run very fast for 90 minutes and pretend to be a world class athlete. Right?

In the midst of my unpacking frenzy and general life nuttiness, I thought I'd take a few to tell you about 2 things. 

1. Treats.

2. Good tunes.

Great combo. Treats and tunes are two of my favorite things. 

1. The "treat". 

Summer must.

For those of you who know me personally, you know I have a little obsession...With leopard/jaguar print. The phrase " as far as I'm concerned, leopard is a neutral" has crossed my lips (though originally it was coined by Jenna Lyons, who is amazing). So you can imagine my excitement when I was sitting at The Swell Cafe in Mission Beach with MainSqueeze, flipping through a local magazine when I saw the absolute gem pictured above by Maslin & Co. This company does animal print, and they do it WELL. Tasteful, classy, with the perfect touch of funk. Find these gems here.  

2.) The tunes. 

I don't know about you, but seeing all the pics from #FPSF, Glastonbury, Coachella, etc. I've been jonesing for some live music out in the sunshine. 

My last night in Hawaii. Amazing sunset (and the company wasn't too shabby either...!!!)

I can't tell you how happy it makes me to sit outside in the sunshine and listen to live music. One of my favorite live performances was in Austin, 2010ish(?) and Band of Horses played an incredible set as the sun started to sink off into the horizon. Unreal. I'll never forget it. I know you've all had an incredible concert experience, no? 

So, my friends. I leave you with a link to my Spotify profile where you can see my playlists. They range from what you want to listen to when you're having a cold brew outside, to what you want to listen to when it's raining and grey out. CLICK HERE FOR EAR CANDY.

Next on TheSizzle we'll talk about #NOMZ. All the vacation nomz I had, all the nomz I've had in between, and nomz to come in the future. Thank you for your patience during my flurry of craziness! 

Vacation(s) and Re-Appearances?

Hola. Bonjour. Ciao. 

Guess what? TheSizzle isn't dead. We've just been:

a.) caught in a glass cage of emotion?

b.) caught in a whirlwind of boxes, trashbags, movers and departures?

c.) literally playing "guess what's in this box" to pick outfits for the past 4 days and therefore  dressed like a Container Store employee (sans the apron) today and is pretty embarassed about it?

d.) all of the above

e.) b&c, a was just fun because who doesn't love a casual Ron B. reference?

So, E. 

Between coming back from Hawaii/San Diego/Florida, moving MainSqueeze to Hawaii and then moving myself out of my apartment, things have been a little...cray? However, I'm (almost) back and better than ever! I have some new features coming up and lots of food/music/interviews. Get excited. 

In the meantime, hold tight, let me unpack s'more and I'll be back with a vengeance. Promise. 

Up & Away

Bonjour Sizzlers, it's been a heck of a week! The Spurs won last night (yeehaw) and I'm off on another trip tomorrow. This time I'm going on a beach vacay to see one of my college besties get hitched! I'll be FL bound in the am and MS gets to come too. 

In the meantime, I'd like to give you the full Hawaii/San Diego experience, so I'm working away on those posts. BUT I won't leave you empty handed. And now, I introduce to you....Tuesday Tune-Up. 

Below you will find a short list of some of my favorite tunes for the week...I hope you enjoy, and you can always just follow TheSizzle on Spotify to check out our musical side! I'm working on my blog intricacies, but all the songs are clickable and will send you to the music!

EAR SNACKS:

Hozier- From Eden

Whiskey Wit- Kwesi Kankam

Badfish- Sublime (I mean obviously)

All I Need- The Cerny Brothers

Baby- Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti 

You Go To My Head- Oscar Peterson & Louie Armstrong

All I Want Is You- Barry Louis Polisar

Fur Coat Blues- Jamestown Revival

River Water- Moon Taxi

I Got Loaded- The Wood Brothers

Let's Get Lost- G-Eazy, Devon Baldwin

Stolen Dance- Milky Chance

Cigarettes and Coffee- Otis Redding (oldie. goodie. makes me tear up a little in the best way)

I hope you enjoy, I will be instagramming on my trip and enjoying every single second. Because that's what life is for. The little seconds. It's too short not to.