Downtown's Hidden Gems

 Downtown is one of my favorite spots in Los Angeles. There are so many hidden gems that get lost in the chaos of convenience stores and skyscrapers . In the heart of the city there are plenty of exciting places to visit that are all in walking distance from one another. Two of my new favorites are The Last Bookstore and Perch which are completely out of sight to the untrained eye.  Their secret locations are what makes them so exciting to seek out and visit.

When you walk into The Lost Bookstore for the first time, it seems like you've uncovered the secret instantly. It is packed with new and used books that would take days to sift through. Little do some visitors know that there is a novel labyrinth just two flights of stairs away that make it unlike any other bookstore you've ever seen.

Art installations made of books are just around every corner. 

As we wound through the labyrinth each piece felt a little more like Wonderland and less like an LA bookstore.  

 There were very fascinating books everywhere 

The crime, horror, and weirdness section was built into a vault and packed with Stephen King and L. Ron Hubbard. 

And more art installations

Once we explored enough of book Wonderland we headed around the corner and up 16 flights to Perch. This rooftop bar has one of the best views of downtown and East Los Angeles.  

They also have a fabulous happy hour! 

You can't visit LA without uncovering these spots for yourself. Together you get a perfect look into LA's quirky yet glamorous offerings. 

Beauty On My Mind

I am definitely a beauty junkie. Tints, serums, concealers and essential oils are my obsession. If I like one a lot I hardly hesitate to splurge and then rave about it to everyone.

Beauty has been exciting to me for over a decade and began when my mom asked if I wanted to pick out some mascara to wear to my first day of 7th grade. I chose a cheap blue one from the drugstore (yikes!) but nothing had ever made me feel so excited, powerful and ambitious before.

Since then, I have matured my beauty routine but maintain the ideology that beauty is about completing my look, accentuating my features and is the most relaxing 10 minutes of my routine. I think it is important to feel fierce stepping out even without a completely done-up face, in fact I do it all the time! My makeup doesn't give me confidence and it shouldn't be the only source of self-esteem for anyone. It's just about experimenting and relaxing but it happens to be beautiful!

Now to the products that I am loving right now!


Let's start with skincare. I always start out with a moisturizer right after cleansing to maintain smooth and supple skin. This one from Neutrogena is a little more traditional and is fantastic at locking in the moisture.

My seriously favorite new moisturizer right now is Josie Maran's Argan Oil. Once you move to Argan oil, you'll never go back! This natural oil moisturizes, fights fine lines and can even help to heal acne. If you've never used oil I suggest this from Josie Maran to test it on your skin!

My trusty foundation is from M.A.C. I use their Studio Fix because it provides full coverage and SPF 15. Their matching technology is truly amazing. My skin tone is NW20.

I have tried a lot of mascaras in my day and this one from Covergirl has been a routine favorite for about a year and a half. It is super affordable, goes on clump-free and works better than some designer brands I have used in the past. I won't name names though...

I love the curved brush!  

NARS has the most amazing duo compact that looks amazing on just about everyone. I love to mix the Laguna Bronzer into my foundation during the summer and wear the Orgasm blush year round.

I spend a good amount of time on my brows but hardly any money on them. This wax/powder duo works amazing with a good eyebrow brush.

For a bold smoky eye to accompany my brows, I use Clinique's really simple compact. I am definitely  not an eyeshadow pro so I keep it simple and dab some of the dark shade into the outer corners of my eyes before mascara and finish with the golden color on the top lid. I got this one as a gift with purchase but the All About Shadow quad is fab! 

Lastly, I am loving this tinted lip balm from L'Occitane. My favorite shade is Rose Nude.

Shop my favorites: Neutrogena Hydro Boost water gel, Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil, M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid, Covergirl clump crusher, NARS Blush and Bronzer duo, NYC Brush On Brow Kit, Clinique All About Shadow, L'Occitane Pivoine Sublim Lip Balm

Wild About Grapefruit Cocktails

I have been crushing on grapefruit lately. Even though they're prime in the winter months, the citrus taste is so refreshing and rewarding in July. Grapefruit it loaded with nutrients like Vitamin C, Vitamin A and magnesium. These large citrus fruits also pack a punch with antioxidants like beta carotene so all the more reason to dig in.

My absolute favorite way to have grapefruit right now is when it plays the lead in a cocktail among an interesting cast of characters. The tart flavor is fantastic when mixed with ginger, cucumber or jalapeño so my eyes have been quickly scanning the happy hour or brunch cocktail menu for "fresh grapefruit". I've even asked for it at the bar once or twice. I usually wind up pairing it with a drop (or two) of tequila to keep it simple but I've been running into some deliciously unique cocktail combos featuring fresh grapefruit juice that I just have to try.

Get hooked to the grapefruit cocktail by sipping on one of these yummy libations this summer. There's something for everyone here whether your favorite bevy is tequila, gin or rosé

(I wish this post had a scratch and sip feature!)

Grapefruit Gimlet

1 part grapefruit juice, 1 part gin. This simple cocktail provides a hefty introduction into the world of grapefruit cocktails. Add some simple syrup if you like it on the sweeter side.

Grapefruit Elder Flower Sparkler

This ultra feminine cocktail gets it's rosy hue from your favorite rosé. Just add ruby red grapefruit  juice and a splash of elderflower liqueur for a not-too-sweet ladies night bevy.

Spicy Paloma

The paloma is an all time favorite tequila, grapefruit and lime juice cocktail. It's low calorie, flavorful and great for tequila lovers. A bit of agave nectar and jalapeño simple syrup add the perfect amount of kick to liven up the classic.

Rosemary Greyhound

Rosemary simple syrup gives this vodka based classic an extraordinary herbal flavor.

Champagne Grapefruit Mojito

Swap the rum for champagne in this mojito and add grapefruit juice to taste after muddling the mint and sugar.

Cucumber Basil Grapefruit Cocktail

This drink is über summer-y with the fresh tastes of lemon, cucumber and basil. To get the strong cucumber taste use cucumber vodka and try muddling the basil with lemon.

Mexican Mule

Because tequila is my favorite liquor to mix into a grapefruit cocktail I thought I would save this for last. This bold drink also features ginger beer, lime and peppercorn.


Sources: Refinery 29,  PopSugar,  PBS,  Tastes Lovely,  The Frosting, Style Me Pretty, Treats and Eats

Quinoa Crusted Chicken Parmesan

This twist on the classic Italian comfort food is packed with protein and is so tasty. You won't even notice what this Chicken Parmesan is missing between bites until you realize how great you feel after. I wouldn't claim you could fool your Italian grandmother with this take on Chicken Parmesan but you could definitely get it past a hungry friend or two.

It has all the comforting flavors of the original recipe but feels lighter and comes with less calories. It's the perfect play on the traditional Italian dish and is a good way to spruce up those chicken and quinoa dinners. By keeping the ingredients list short and the preparation simple, this Chicken Parmesan can definitely be added into your dinner rotation even on your busiest of days.

Here's what you'll need:

This recipe is good for 2!

2 chicken breasts
1 cup quinoa
1 cup Marinara Sauce
1 cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
1 1/2 cups flour
1 egg
2 tsp Italian seasoning
Salt & pepper
1/4 cup basil

Start with preheating the oven to 400 and lining a cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Then pour the cup of quinoa into a pot with 2 cups of water and get the quinoa cooking on the stove.

 I do this first because quinoa usually takes about 20 minutes to cook and you'll want to allow time for it to cool. To speed things up I would suggest using O Organics Quick-Cook Quinoa which only takes 5 minutes to prepare!

Once you have the quinoa bubbling away it is time to prep the chicken breast. I set out two large plates, one for flour and one for egg.

If you'd like to keep this recipe GF feel free to omit the flour or try Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Flour. Whatever you choose make sure you don't forget the seasoning.

On the flour plate I keep it simple by tossing in 2 tsp of Italian Seasoning and a pinch of s&p. With a dry fork, give a quick mix of these seasonings into the flour.

Next crack one egg onto the second plate and whisk with a four as if your prepping for scrambled eggs.

Then give a healthy coat of flour to the chicken breast on both sides.

Once coated, bring the chicken over the the egg and dunk it in on both sides. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty!

For a cleaner dip into the quinoa, I transfer the breast back to the flour for one last soak in the flour.

As the quinoa is cooling I set out to heat up some marinara sauce in a pan and season to taste.

As it heats I prep my toppings for the chicken. Plenty of parmesan cheese is a no brainer for this recipe but feel free to get creative with the rest. I like to keep is simple with lots of parmesan and a sprinkling of julienned basil.

When the quinoa is all set and cooled, spoon it out onto a third large plate then bring the chicken breast over. The quinoa coats the chicken breast surprisingly well although you may need to pat some quinoa onto the edges. Don't be afraid to pack it on.

Once you have both chicken breasts dressed and ready, drizzle a little olive oil onto your aluminum foil and lay the breasts down flat and side by side.

Pop the sheet into the oven for 10-15 minutes or until the quinoa is golden brown. Take the sheet out and top the chicken with the goodies. Spoon on the marinara, and sprinkle the parmesan and basil with a heavy hand. Replace the sheet in the oven again and watch the cheese sizzle over the chicken breast and get deliciously gooey.