My sweet wonderful sister Cindy put this in my bag before I left California.

Taking a Trip: Cheeseboard in Berkeley

Yes, I know... I can't believe myself either.  Don't judge me... but my favorite pizza is made in Berkeley on Shattuck Avenue.  You really can't judge me until you have had it.  They make only one type of pizza a day.  The long line is for people just to buy one kind of cheese pizza.  It's simply amazing.  It's directly across the street from Chez Panisse.  I have had so much pizza from everywhere, but they are just so consistent... every single time.


It's so perfect that they opened a Philz Coffee a few blocks away.

Graffiti in Japantown

Free Access: Avey Tare at The New Parish in Oakland

Kyoto-styled ice coffee at Blue Bottle

I was in California, yet again. I was all over the place though. All over the LA area, Bay Area and then my native Sacramento. I was gone for 2 weeks. It seems so long... I was slowly starting to feel like I need to get back to NYC, but then I was having too much fun with everyone I wanted to stay for longer. I didn't photograph everything, but I have some fun shots via my iPhone. I was so happy to see this guy above.

Sorry I have been gone for so long. I was actually getting my Mac fixed.

Sitting around and listening to records is such an amazing thing...

Honey and Bear

This photo was taken a few months later. My familys dogs back at home. I think it's so funny how in sync they are. They are actually brother and sister and I love how they are together. It's so sweet and cute.

Bear and Honey

Taking a Trip: I left my heart in California

Beautiful day on top of Dolores Park.

I was just in California visiting my family. I haven't been back in months and I missed everyone. It was a short much needed trip. My sister flew to NYC the same time I was heading back, so I've had a fun week with her too.

At Ritual in the Mission.

I don't remember if you remember this post, but while I was in California last month, my friend was making me a new cocktail he invented and the orange peel said Big Jim on it.

My love.

What to Wear Daily: Stella McCartney Motorcyle jacket

My friend Hieu went ahead and stopped in the middle of the road so he can photograph the sky. Isn't that amazing? Its just a few blocks from my parents house in Sacramento. It's not something you really get to see in full view in Manhattan.

I love this jacket. It fits really well and it's so warm. The pockets are really deep too.

Back to Cali... and Koi.

Guys... I am just running around like a chicken with it's head cut off!

I still don't have internet access... When that is official I will really start posting... I swear!

Anyways... I went back again to Cali before the holiday because my job permits me from leaving any longer than 2 days during the holiday. I have this itch with wanting to travel all the time. I'm obsessed with it. I'm going to be flying to at least another city for leisure each month. I just got my camera back when I flew back to SF from my friend Norm. He is pretty much too lazy to mail it back to me... that it took a flight back and 1.5 months later for me to get it.

This is a photo of my parents backyard. They have had a variation of a koi pond for years. As time progresses, the pond gets larger and larger. They have raised them since I was a kid. When I came back home this last time, I didn't realize how ridiculously huge they have become.

And... oh yeah. Happy Tofurkey Day!

Back to Cali.

Just some photos...

I had a great time when I was back... I got to see a lot of people I love and care about. Yet, I was ready to go back home to NYC!

Back to Cali

(Lucus hanging out on his favorite love seat... doesn't he look sweet?)

I’m actually on my flight right now back to San Francisco. It’s a weird feeling… a bit of excitement because I get to see people that and the familiar space. Since I have never felt at home in California before. Home as in, where I belong. Any time I have ever been to New York, I always felt like this was where I truly belong. In California, I have amazing family and friends and I love them dearly… and miss them badly. But I don’t regret moving 3000 miles away.

New York is like what everyone says. It loves you and it eats you up and spits you out. You have intense days- good and bad. There are times when I’m there and I hate it so bad, I was thisclose to moving back. I found a few reasons that made me want to almost move back immediately. Things that I loved and that were familiar, but I knew it wasn’t right. Being in New York is meant to be.

I had only 10 days to pack to get here. I threw everything in boxes and said my goodbyes and in a blink of an eye, I was in New York. My boss, which is an amazing, kind person, set me up with his friend that was living in Brooklyn. She let me crash there for a few days, while I was trying to find a place. I found one within 2 days and moved in. I love my apartment and I love my neighborhood. I mean… I’m near everything and I don’t even need to leave a 3 block radius (but of course I do.) When I thought I was settled down enough, I looked for a job in fashion. I looked thoroughly and applied at places that I knew would be a great experience. I got replies back right away and then, I found the perfect job. Ideally, I want to work with someone that is absolutely passionate in what they do. I want to be behind them 100% and I want to work hard for them. Within the first month with this designer, I’ve learned so much about all aspects of her business. It’s very serial for me and exciting and overwhelming. Sometimes I can’t believe I’m sitting with her there and looking at fabrics for her current line. I only dreamt about doing that and then bam. I am.

But anyways… going back to California reminds me of this dark time for me… when I was struggling really hard to even get my foot in the door. I don’t regret anything I’ve done in my lfe that has brought me to where I am now. Not a single thing. I’m lucky to now be residing somewhere where my opportunities are endless. I love how I can have a conversation with someone that doesn’t even know me and they can just tell how enthusiastic I am and passionate about what I want to do… and they want to help me. Surprising right? Everything that I have done has been because of me and it’s liberating. I know that the best way to get in the door is if you know someone, but I came there knowing no one. I think the majority of people that move to New York take that chance and end up finding what they were looking for. Some people stay, some people leave but you just can’t bet what a city like this ends up giving you.

I’m just glad I never gave up.