Day 24

Andddddd Radio Silence over!

Where have I been? Well still being vegan that's for sure. But mostly just been really fucking busy.

2 busy 4 photo

Work today was INSANELY busy, I felt like I was running around from start to finish. Also doesn't help when you oversleep either, ESPECIALLY when you need to pack an overnight bag and then some. So I did the logical thing and left that all at home to rush into the office.

Still 2 busy 4 photo

It seemed the second I finished my vegan toast, everything just started happening at once. But honestly I DO prefer it that way, sure beats sitting around twiddling your thumbs. Causing being bored is boring.

BACK TO FOOD! For lunch I ordered us k24. It was going to be some Caribbean place but I felt a bit out of the price range plus there were NO vegan options. I panicked and just picked the first thing that came to mind since it's right down the street.

Like Kitchen 24 is GREAT if you want some decent food at 3AM, I mean they even serve drinks until 2. It's definitely served a purpose for myself and my friends after dancing our ass's off at the ecco and seriously craving pancakes (because pancakes are always a smart decision at 2AM). I went there once for our brunch meetings with Al & Sabrina and the wait was over an hour and the food DID NOT match this.

ANYWAY, back to k24, I got a tofu scramble, and it was entirely mediocre. NOT as good as Home's. Side of potatoes, those were good. All and all was not happy with my experience there. delivery was late, they messed up a few orders. I'll label it Mehhhh

Now after work was the big event guys. So important it warranted changing out of the acid wash jeans I was wearing at work today (yeah the dream of the 90s is alive in my closet). BUT I did keep the Orange Hat, I mean come on guys, its Orange Hat Day, and as already established nothing goes wrong on Orange Hat Day.

What was this crazy event that occured on Orange Hat day? I will tell you. Meeting Main Squeeze's Sister hereafter known as MSsS & MSsS'sMS (yeah re-read that one twice and you'll figure it out. Nicknames that MSsS came up with (big shout out there :)

Not pictured for political reasons. (Russian Spies)

We were going to go to was Hostaria Del Piccalo and it looked sooo good. There was even a vegan pizza on it that I was gunning to try, but alas reviews were too mediocre so last minute we changed to Next Door By Josie.

The atmosphere of this place was SUPER cool, yeah SUPER in all caps. I mean, it was kind of hidden and had a really good vibe to it. It was just fancy enough to be fancy but not too much to not have TV with sports hahaha (it was a bar after all guys)

However delicious drinks & cool atmosphere aside. Do Not go here if you are vegan! hahaha. I did the typical thing I do now "I'm vegan, what would you recommend I get?" And the poor waiter just looked at me with a blank stare. But he was super nice about it considering the menu was like someone said "I want to get a bunch of dead animals and dairy products and just build a menu around it." No pictures of my food either, cause I'm not gonna be snappin blog photos while meeting MS'sS & MS'sS'sMS...sheesh, who do you think I am?

But as they say, Food is Food (do they say that?) And I was able to eat a bit of Salad, (thanks for ordering something I could eat half of MS!) Sweet Potato Fries, (No I don't want mayo with that, mustard please!) Of course insert laughter in my head when they bring out the meat mcmeat entrees for everyone else and small pesto bean salad for me. Whatever I'll be THAT girl today.

Dinner went well over all though, I feel like there will probably be another adventure with MS, MSsS & MSsS'sMS and also either a significant increase or decrease in readers as I keep repeating those nick names in a post.

How many days left? Yeah 6. That's right. SIX. DAYS. LEFT. SIX!!!!!!!!!!!

Over & Out

Day 18

It's Thursday, thursday, gettin' down on Thursday. Wait, it's not wednesday?

Man I love four day weeks, they're ALMOST as cool as Orange Hat Day. Almost....

Tell you what though, I remembered the hair dryer but NOT the curling iron. Bahh, life is so hard without curled hair. Also, learned you can't get from Santa Monica to Hollywood proper in 20 minutes. Whatever whatever. I blame the construction. Still made it in on time, but 10 minutes later then I hoped too.

Like, that's the thing with Los Angeles (yeah I'm gonna go on one of those rants). The thing with LA is WtfisupwithLA!?! You can't get ANYWHERE. like hey, here's a great idea, lets build a huge fucking city and make it super difficult to travel outside your zip code.

I mean, DC, NY, SF the other places I've lived, they were more then adequate in helping me get around without a car. I mean hell, I even dated a guy who lived in Gilroy while I was living in Marin for a summer. The relationship was just as exciting and satisfying as one would imagine when dating a person living in the garlic capitol of the world, but the POINT is, I was able to take a cab to a ferry to a subway to a train that got me to Gilroy, CA from Marin.

like Los Angeles, GET A DECENT SUBWAY. And don't give me this new Subway to culver city crap. I mean, lets talk about how stupid this new map is. Okay so we're going to Santa Monica now, that's Awesome. but what if I want to get from Santa Monica to UCLA? Hmm? Or if I want to say take the subway to my work at hollywood & Vine from Santa Monica, I have to go all the way through downtown to get there? For a city as progressive as Los Angeles I'm gonna put a big "Fuck You" Stamp on their public transportation.

Oh right, food. That's what we're here to talk about. So after I angrily devoured some apples while cursing LA for breakfast, I decided on my FIRST vegan burrito! omg. From Loteria, and this place is pretty good. Like I've had way better mexican food but it certainly gets the job done. And being so close to work? Obvs.

So we had our home-made guac (vegan free one in case sofia joins us!) some chips, salsa, guesidillas andd my vegan deliciousness. Beens, rice, salsa, corn, onions, peppers, mmmm. I have to say. With my own vegan guacamoles. It was BOMB. Like who needs cheese right?? (she says gritting her teeth).

Other question. How was there a world before Netflix instant streaming? I really have no idea.

Sallie Mae, I hate you. You're ruining my life. Student Loan bill fail. Just right now. Too angry to continue blogging.

over & out.

Day 17

It's official guys.

Today. Is Orange Hat Day.

I don't know what other day YOU thought it was, but that's it. That's what we have going on today.

And that's the thing about Orange Hat day, Nothing can go wrong on Orange Hat day, its like Christmas minus lots of gifts. Yeah you heard me. JUST like Christmas. I totally waltzed around the office in my own little orange hat land, just touching the ground long enough to say thanks! to people complimenting my orange hat, then back into Sassy Vegan space.

For lunch we ordered from my personal favorite, 'Desert Rose' which we have already discussed re: Mandy Moore spotting. One of my co-workers had a really funny thought about it, sparking the idea in my brain that it very well COULD be a front for the armenian mafia. I mean, it's never crowded, always open, and yet somehow has managed to stay in business this whole time. Hmmmmm...maybe Mandy moore is somehow involved too!!!

Anyway, I picked this place because just last week I discovered they have a secret VEGAN MENU!! Well it's not so much secret as its listed on the site and not given out with the regular menu when you get food there.

I got the vegan pizza, just the veggie kind. MS got the vegan BBQ pizza, I'm gonna say, his was BETTER mmmm, but mine was really good as well. BUT if you're gonna get vegan pizza, go for the BBQ one. Both could have used BBQ sauce, but sadly work didn't have any. (Must remember to order some for next week)

Also, had a very lovely lunch with one of my co-workers. Its really nice to finally get to know the people that I work with, I mean I have been here a few months but I'm just starting to not feel new anymore...and in that respect, the novelty of being vegan is also wearing off. At first it was like Ohhh lalala, vegan. Now it's just kind of like yeah, I am what I am. I am also dreaming of the groupon I bought for Gardens of Taxco, which I am taking MS too the DAY I switch back to being a half vegetarian/vegan. Are they open at midnight?? Oh sorry, I didn't mean to dream of sweet delicious cheesy super cheese mexican food.....

Off to Santa Monica again...*east side reference and grumble*. Yeah whatever, you guys have a beach blahblahblah, I HAVE THE ECHOPLEX, ARCLIGHT AND GOOD CONCERT VENUES! Ha-ha!

While west of fairfax, I had the delightful opportunity to try Vegan Ice Cream!! At Sweet RoseCremery. MMMM, so good, so good!! Sweet Rose Creamery is a sister shop to Huckleberry's. And I don't know how these people do it, but they DO IT RIGHT. Must put on list to check out Rustic Canyon as well.

Of course was brought here by Main Squeeze (duh). Who is he? Who is he?? You'll never know!! (well that's up for debate). And he was so nice, he even bought my dairy free soy-chai ice cream! It was DELICIOUS omg. so good, SO GOOD! Orange Hat Day IS really the best day ever! hehe

For the record, I am biased when it comes to chai because...I LOVE CHAI!! If I could I would consume chai morning noon and night. Hmmm, also something to add to the grocery list for work. One of the coolest things when I lived back home is every day on the way to school my dad would stop at starbucks and buy a chai latte for me (and a double shot 2 sugars in the raw latte for him). It didn't matter how late we were running. WE WERE STOPPING AT STARBUCKS! This is where I learned how to chug a hot tea beverage in under five minutes..because it's kind of bad form to walk 20 minutes late into english class with a chai in hand.

Chai, Chai, Chai.

Looks like we're over the hump guys! Only 13 days left of this shi- shiawesomeness...?

Day 17 Over & Out

Day 16

Screw you cheesy Naan.

Yeah you heard me.

In an effort to keep up with NOT caving, I decided to get Indian food for our snack today at the office. Which was a great idea until the person on the phone asked me if I wanted an assortment of naan, to which I remembered the pure deliciouness that was the cheesy naan from East India Grill.

The food arrived and I just stared at it, and it back at me. Mocking me. Mocking the veganism....I reached for it...so close...the chessey naan was so close. Then I heard this voice in my head, the voice of disappointment and you know what I DIDN'T EAT IT!!! YEAH!!!!!! VEGAN PIZZA FOR EVERYONE!

YEAH!!!! AWESOME!! ughhhh I want that nannnn...I mean NOIDONTNOIDONT

Unfortunately there is no photo of the cheesy naan because as soon as I won my epic inner battle I booked it quicker then a bandit from a cop from that area with my samosa's and vowed not to return.

Otherwise today really wasn't that memorable in the scheme of things. Twas your ordinary tuesday.

I do have to figure out a different breakfast to have because I am getting sick of toast and fruit. Maybe cereal? Vegan Cereal? That's a thing right? get some soy milk up in this ish? Yeah okay, lets rock this.

Short Post Over & Out.

Day 15

Four pounds.

Yup, lost four pounds. (What what!!) Even after nomming all those onion rings. That's what you call awesome.

So to reward myself, I decided today to eat vegan ice cream! (lets gain back 10) Which turns out is super low in fat anyway, so it wasn't really a splurge. And I have to say, it was delicious! I figured if I was gonna try one it should be green tea as well, don't know why but just seemed right. And it was! buy this ish.

After a morning & afternoon of running around I celebrated my day off by declaring the first day of Orange Hat Day, a holiday to be repeated many times in the near future. I have to say I am quite pleased with my purchases, la-ti-da, look at me go.

Tonight the main squeeze took me out to eat at Mohawk Bend, and it is DELICIOUS!!! I am in love with that place. I mean the "fuck off" hostess was a little weird (looked like she was about to start crying or something) but their beer selection! And their food. Holy god.

I got these battered brussel sprouts that tasted like Buffalo wings w/Vegan ranch!! SOGOOdDDddd. yeah, so good I'm miss-spelling shit. I also need to start remembering which beer I try there cause each time I get one it's so good but then I can't remember the name because I'm to busy being blown away by delicious food and beer.

Then afterwords, (this is when life gets awesome) MS took me to see Portlandia the Live show @ The Echo!!!!! It was SOO funny. Let's just put a portlandia clip here while we're on the subject.



The live show was hysterical! Kyle Mclaughlin was there! Oh and here's the kicker in line behind us at the front AND in the drinks line was Michael Cera right behind us. MS kept trying to get me to buy him a drink, but I was too awkward as was Michael Cera to make that happen. I should've gone with my orange hat courage...then me, Michael & Sofia could've all hung out together...oh well.

Michael Cera aside, the show was AWESOME, so funny!! It was a mix of clips from season 2 (The dream of the 1890's is alive in Portland) mixed with live acts & music. If you somehow have the means to catch this show, DO! I just can't stop raving about this show, so hysterical.

I did muster up the courage to ask Fred & Carrie a question only to be CUT OFF!!! FAIL!! Come on guys, just because I'm last in line. Whatever. I won't hold it against them though.

Upon arriving home I learned that one of my roomates ALSO bought a juicer. I guess this is a thing now? Are we all juicing?? I don't know, it ain't my thing. I mean I do love some juiced juice, but drinking a cucumber still is weird to me.

No photo. Short Attention span.

All and all it was a great night! So much fun at that show! :) :) And so much fun wearing Orange Hat. Being vegan is awesome.

Day 15 Over & Out.

Day 14

Oh no, did I really eat all those onion rings last night? Yeah, yeah you did Sassy. Yeah...you did.

Welp, looks like I'm working out extra today. Anywho, Sammi & I were supposed to go to vegetarian brunch, BUT by brunch we mean late late lunch, meaning I'm eating some lunch for my brunch. SAMMI, hurry up!

I made some vegan minestrone soup with bread & vegan butter. I dont know if I just bought the wrong kind, but the earth balance butter at work tastes great, whatever "living well" shit I bought tastes super duper blah. But I ate part of it anyway. Honestly, if you wanna do vegan, just buy a shit ton of those Aunt Amy's, I will swear by it forever and ever.

Anywho after some time, some work & some working out, Sammi and I finally went to "brunch" at 3:30. And wouldn't you know it, this is the BEST time to go to brunch because there is no wait, fancy that!

It's back to Home which I have been wanting to go to again since the switch to try the ever illicit "Tofu Scramble." Now, I've never had a tofu scramble, but the idea of a non-egg omlette freaked me out so much I put it in an episode of About Abby just because how can you NOT talk about a Tofu scramble? I mean come on, that's ridiculous!

So we went to home, got said tofu scramble (well I did, Sammi got eggs of some fashion) and let me just say, it was DELICIOUS. I nommed the shit out of that tofu scramble and I am un-apologetic for it. Put some BBQ sauce on it? mmm We also got Bruschetta which is Vegan too!!! yay!!! so many treasures that I am discovering.

After nomminh it was time to do something entirely necessary and that is SPEND LOTS OF MONEY ON CLOTHES. See all this money?? Yeah it's going into fabric! Oh and guess what else, it's NOT EVEN MY MONEY. $$$$$ SHOPPING!!! Oh the sugar daddy that isn't really my sugar daddy but I will gladly accept anyway. Also, special kudos to Sammi for finding me Orange Hat. (photo to come soon) Basically, it & she rock my world.

I mean all an all it was a super productive Sunday, nomming, shopping, then coming home to finish up on my writing then watch movies with my friend Kim? What more could you want from day 2 out of 3 in the three day weekend?

Nothing. That's the answer. I require nothing else.

Whose made it two weeks? This girl has!! And hey, I barely even miss cheese at all!

Day 14 Over & Out.

Day 13

How funny that day 13 didn't fall on the 13th! But check this out, I am STILL trucking. Who the heck thought I would be able to function without sweet delicious cheese. Maybe this is a thing now?

So it's a three day weekend, hey, that's cool. Sorry, totally sleepy right now. Last night was a lot of fun, a bunch of my friends got their videos into the Hollyshorts film festival which was super fun. I like being in proximity to productive and talented people, keeps me in check and motivated to get my shit done. Check out their videos if you have not already:



And then afterwords was ever crowded Bar Lubitsch, how sad that it didn't live up to it's expectations from the week before. Guess you're NOT becoming my new hot spot Bar Lubitsch! Whatever. back to birds this weekend....maybe.

Here's the thing. all I want to do is find that perfect spot in LA where the music is awesome, the dance floor isn't thatttt packed and the drinks are decently priced. Where is this place? Do you know where it is? Because everywhere I go seems to be lackluster. I just want to dance guys!!!

While I was waiting in line for a drink, some guy comes up to me to start hitting on me, and look I'll play along for five minutes if it means I get a free drink out of this. (haha collective groan from the men) And who knows why but his first question is where do you like to eat? Which I reply with "I'm vegan" and he goes "I was TOTALLY gonna guess that, you look like a vegan." And I just start cracking up in my head, because I"m like how much of a vegan can I look like after 12 days? Oh and you're not going to buy me a drink? Whatever, BYE.

After words I was unable to join my friends for pizza since I can't eat it, ahh the trials of being vegan....Also I was just plain tired. I mean I could've gotten hummus & pita bread. ...I wonder if that would be any good at 2AM. Usually that's more a 2pm kind of meal. Perhaps I will try that out sometime in the near future.

Today for lunch I went to this little gem of a cafe in Glendale called "I love tofu & bbq" which ironically does not feature THAT much tofu. I wonder whose smart idea it was to name it that. But regardless, I love their tofu plate so much in fact I nommed the whole thing and forgot to take a picture of it. Oh well, the humorous receipt will have to do.

Now lets also talk about how I spent my productive afternoon, getting done all the things I needed to do. Also known as FINISHING DOWNTON ABBEY!! oh. my. god. Yes. yes. yes. Season 2 and the Christmas special? SO GOOD!!!! I won't give away how it ends, but ya need to check it out. STOP READING THIS AND WATCH THAT SHOW. Caps. Necessary.

Thank the dear lord, I was able to finish it time though for a house party that belonged in my early college life. Me and my girlfriends walked inside, took one look around and immediately vetoed it. But you know, stayed to be polite for a bit. While there I managed to find the chips, because you know, there's always a jumbo sized bag of chips lying around at a party hosted by young 20 something boys. Sadly the first bag I reached in was not vegan, it was covered in some sort of cheese dust...how not vegan do we reallly think that is? BLEH, give me the plain animal powder free chips pls!!

Afterwords we went to the slightly more grown up location of Barney's Beanery. Yeah, TOTALLY more grown up. 100% adults here.

I have to say, I am a fan of that place. It's a cool little "whatever whatever" I don't love it, but it's pretty fun and a chill location to watch a game. But if you're vegan and want to eat...don't go here. There's really nothing for you to eat. I went with vegan onion rings and BBQ sauce, cause that was about it. No hummus & pita bread here. So that experiment has yet to happen. SOON. very soon. However, if you want to go somewhere on a Saturday night where you can be debaucherous and drink bear...GOHERE

Sad day when Sammi went to make the Sassy ranch concoction that I taught her about on new years. Everyone tried it and loved it (as they should) and I just had to wistfully watch as they went to nom town on delicious....delicious ranch. insert my tears of sorrow here.... :(



Oh well, I've finally reached the point where I'm confident that I'm not going to break, at least I hope not. Lets all pray I can do another go around of this....because this sassy ranch is pretty freaking tempting...NO. I will not. Nonono. (hopefully)

Over & Out