Meet Alice

Alice is a 15 year old girl living in Ulverston, England with terminal cancer. Her blog brought tears to my eyes and hope in my heart. Her blog, Alice's Bucket List, captures her everyday life and the process of accomplishing all her dreams. And so far she is doing quite the job of completing them! Her blog shows the importance of family, friends and the simple appreciation for life. This young teenager an inspirations to thousands, including myself.

If you want to read her touching blog, visit http://alicepyne.blogspot.com/. To make a donation in her honor, visit http://www.everyclick.com/postpals. To support Alice on her Facebook page, visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alice-Pyne/168029203261666?sk=wall.

Alice's hope is to raise awareness and to get as many people as she possibly can to join a Bone Marrow Registry because she is forever grateful for one stranger who was willing to try to help save her life. In her blog, Alice explains that "Somewhere out there, is a young lad in his 20s who, a year ago, was told he was a match for a child in the UK. Whoever you are, thank you for been willing to save me. x"

My thoughts go out to Alice and her family. I look forward to following her exciting adventures and Bucket List accomplishments! ♥

Pride 2011

Guess who was living in the Castro during the Pride Festival!?! This weekend's festivities were so much fun! I've always been an avid supporter of equality, so I was so excited to go out to show my support and have a fun time doing it!

"We're the three four best friends that anyone could have..." :) All my besties came together for the craziness. We all got together at my place beforehand and had such a fun time drinking mimosas and putting on crazy makeup.

Impressive, right?!

Leaving my apartment and heading to the festivities!

Then we took the Muni to the Civic Center where the real fun started. My favorite part was dancing the day away at the different stages with live music.

Lis had never seen a porter potty before!

You'd be surprised by the amount of naked people that were wandering the streets!

Best costumes and makeup ever!! So many people asked to take pictures with us :)

After spending a long and exhausting day downtown, we headed back to my place for a little rest before heading out again that night. Seriously only a block away from my place was the Pink Party, a huge street block party that occurs every Saturday night of Pride weekend. This is what we arrived to:



Such a fun weekend with my girls!

Photo Friday

Look what Lisa brought me from Ireland!!




My FAVORITE beer/cider (Bulmers), candy bar (Yorkie), and tea (Barry's). You can't buy any of this stuff in the states, so I was so excited when I saw it all. Just a little taste from my second home :)

Meant to be?

So I moved to San Francisco (three days ago to be exact) in hopes to find something to do with my life post-grad. I'm interested in working for a non-profit organization and I thought SF was the place to go since there are so many here. And if I don't find exactly what I want, at least I'll be living in an incredible city, right?!

I'm currently subletting a place from the sweetest girl who is spending the next month or so on the East Coast. When we talked about my plans in San Francisco, she was confident I would find a job. Why, you ask? She swears her place brings good luck, in the job market specifically. When she moved in, she immediately found her dream job - after having no such luck for months prior. Then one of her friends was looking for a job in the city before having to crash at her place for a few days when... she landed her dream job!

If that isn't enough to convince you, we found this book in the apartment:


What Should I Do With My Life? by Po Bronson, the true story of people who answered the ultimate question. It contains inspirational true stories of people who have overcome fear and confusion to find a larger truth about their lives and, in doing so, have been transformed by the experience.

Meant to be?! I guess we will see...

Now I'm off to speed read this thing :)

American Cuisine

I'm trying to make Lisa's experience in the states as amazing as mine was last year in Ireland (partly thanks to her), so I'm trying to be really American :P

I made her pancakes for breakfast (pancakes in Ireland are like crepes). They were a big hit! And tonight for dinner I made pizza along with margaritas (another first for her, can you believe they don't have margs over there?!). I'm excited to be her chef throughout the summer... any other American cuisine suggestions?

Lis excited for her margarita! And
a sneak peek at our new apartment :)

A great day with a little bit of bad

We went to the Golden Gate Bridge and my new fedora blew off my head, off the bridge and into the ocean (I almost caught it too)! What a traumatic experience!

We went to Crissy Field Beach and we both got bad sunburns.

before

after

But despite those things, it was such a great day and it is amazing to be reunited with my friend who traveled halfway across the world to be here :) After an insanely exciting reunion at the airport last night, we got back to our apartment and talked our ears off. It's crazy because it doesn't really feel like we've been separated the past year, we picked up right where we left off.

And I find it hilarious every time she tries to get in the car on the driver's side :)

Farewell Fiestas & Fun

I couldn't have asked for a better last week in Sacramento! Yes, I was extremely overwhelmed and stressed with moving, but each night was filled with some kind of celebration - just what I needed to get me through the busy week.

Tuesday - I took some loads of boxes over to my parents house and stayed for dinner. Then my mom and I laid in their backyard and talked/laughed/watched the stars until about 11:30 that night. I love summer nights! The white lights were still up in their backyard from my graduation party, and laying there with her was so peaceful. I ♥ my mom!

Muth and I wine tasting last summer

Wednesday - My former Red Lobster co-workers threw me a going away party that was so much fun! About 25-30 of my favorites came together for a bbq with lots of good food and drinks. And a fire pit that now has me wanting my very own!

I swear I wasn't the only one having fun. Limited pictures damnit!

Thursday - My sister's quarter of a century birthday! A group of us went to happy hour downtown. We ended up staying there for a few hours before heading to a club that was definitely not poppin' because we were so early. Everyone (except the current unemployed college grad) had work the next morning, so we didn't stay there too long. But all in all a wonderful night!

Happy Birthday Suz!

Friday - I went to another happy hour downtown with a couple of my favorite girls from Sac State. We were intending on just going there and then home, but we were enjoying each others' company so much that we ended up going to a Tapas bar for some more drinks. Sangrias, yum!

Love these girls! This photo was taken on St. Patrick's
Day this year (hence the gigantic clover earrings).

Saturday - Sister's birthday/Father's day/My going away party... we each claimed it as our own :) We went out to dinner at the delicious Chicago Fire downtown before heading to the Rivercats game. It was just the parents, sister, brother-in-law and me. Love hanging with the fam!

Beautiful sunset during the game!

Sunday - Happy Father's Day, Dad!! And yes, my dad is the best because he woke up early on this day to help me move the rest of my stuff. Thanks D!

Dad and his favorite daughter :) at my sister's wedding.

And now I'm blogging from my adorable place in San Francisco! Trying to kill time before the Irish bff arrives... her flight was delayed an hour ughhh. I am SO excited about our reunion and summer together.

Lis and I in Interlaken, Switzerland last summer.

And now it's almost time to go to the airport, woo! :)

No More Lob

It's time to move on, to bigger and better things!

Today was my last day working at Red Lobster. As much as I complain about my job as a server, it hasn't been all that bad. Yes, I am so over a job that doesn't challenge me or use my professional skills, but the good ole Lob has been great college job for me. I can't complain much when I'm able to pay all of my bills based on a three or four day work week. Yes, those tips will be greatly missed!

My general manager is amazing. She has always worked around my schedule and gives me any time off I want or need. She even brought a cake in for my last day of work! And my co-workers rock. They're throwing me a going away part on Wednesday :) I was surprised that I was so emotional saying goodbye to everyone today.

I have ended an era and am now beginning another. It's been a good two years at the lob, but it's time for something new. Thanks to all my managers for supporting this move and assuring me that I will always have a job to come back to (although I can guarantee this won't happen). Goodbye RL!

I think I might miss those cheddar bay biscuits though...

A New Home/Life

I found a place in SF! And I love it :) It is so cute! It's kind of like a guest house in the back of a really nice home. It's a decent size for a junior one bedroom and a good price (well for San Francisco anyway). It feels very homey, is in an adorable and safe neighborhood, and the view from my apartment windows face the gorgeous garden area.

I still can't believe I'm doing this. How many people can just up and move to a different city, let alone San Francisco, in search for adventure?! Oh, and a job... for some reason that part keeps slipping my mind ;)

The beginning of one AMAZING summer is just ONE week away!

Cat Crisis

So I think the heat might be to blame, but the roomie's cat is acting craaazy these days!

Example #1:

Sleeping in the sink?! Imagine going to the bathroom in the middle of the night and discovering this thing in your sink! Freaked me out. And the only way she'll get out is if I turn the water on.

Example #2:

Please do not blame the cat owners for her obesity, she was like that when they got her :) I've never known a cat to lay completely on her back for extended periods of time. She doesn't lay any other way these days.

And no, I don't really have anything better to talk about other than this cat ;)

My Sweet Ride

The awkwardness of biking on the river trail in my baby blue, one speed beach cruiser with a basket in the front while all these competitive bicyclists are racing by me. I might as well have had training wheels on! I was literally biking along (slowly of course - I swear it's a better workout to ride that thing than any of those other fancy bikes), laughing hysterically at the thought of this. It was so hilarious!

me


them

There actually were multiple large groups of bicyclists whizzing by me at record speeds decked out in their professional gear. I felt rather silly, but it was a good workout and an enjoyable evening stroll - so I'm definitely going to go again! Maybe one of these days I'll have to invest in a real bike.

Beach Bum

I think my favorite place to be, EVER, is on a beach. The sound of the ocean = pure relaxation for me. I was going to go straight back to Sacramento after my appointments in San Francisco today, but decided a quick picnic on the beach was necessary since I needed some lunch and had to add some enjoyment to my trip, right?! The quick picnic turned into a two-hour long life pondering sesh, with a small nap squeezed in there :)


I am someone who really does cherish and appreciate my rare alone time. This afternoon was just what I needed to recharge and get motivated for the upcoming weeks of craziness!

Queen PP

With all this traveling to, driving and parking in the city, I think I deserve a new nickname. Queen PP - Queen of Parallel Parking!

I knew I was a decent parker, but damnnnn am I good! My friend would say, "I don't think you can fit there, it's too small." I'd try... back in, pull forward, DONE. My skills amaze even myself. Maybe it's a sign I'm ready for SF?! :)

Uptown Liz: Where Shopping Gives Back

Now that I've completed my internship, I want to talk little bit more about the wonderful company I'd been working for.

Uptown Liz was launched in memory of the founder's 28-year old sister, Liz, who died of breast cancer in 2006. It is an online marketplace that promotes products sold by companies that donate a portion or all of the proceeds to different charitable organizations.

In just one semester, I gained an immeasurable amount of knowledge that I could have only gained through experience. I was blessed with the opportunity to work for an amazing company and an awesome person.

The founder of Uptown Liz was my supervisor, and she did her best to help me learn as much as I possibly could in a short amount of time. A lot of internships are filled with busy work, but I was doing actual tasks that the marketing coordinator of a company would do.

I was able to research and contact many charitable organizations on a daily basis, which was really interesting and fun for me. I occasionally received positive feedback from founders of organizations about the good work I was doing, including comedian Chris Rock's wife, Malaak Compton-Rock.

I feel this internship was the perfect stepping stool to help with my adjustment from college to a career. And even if I didn't gain all this experience and knowledge, it still would have been worth it because it's a great company driven by philanthropy.



To learn more about Uptown Liz or to shop for a cause, visit www.uptownliz.com

Searching, Searching, Searching...

... for a cute apartment or studio in San Francisco. I spent all day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday searching for places (with the tremendous help of my amazing friend/savior, Sondra, who has lived in the city for three years now - I would be so lost without her).

It is so exhausting, but I feel like we are making progress at least. Looking to sublet a place for four months (let alone one or two) is not easy, and renting a place for that amount of time is just not available. Stupid obligatory leases. Because of our price and time range, our options are limited. But there have been a few cute places that I could definitely see myself living in.

I'll be spending a few more days in SF next week, hopefully with good news that I found a place for at least the first month or two.

I just want to be settled in already so I can actively (and conveniently) start the search for a new job.

Omg aren't these places the cutest?! I just ♥ SF

Side note - there was an earthquake on Monday night!! Sondra and I both felt pretty dizzy before realizing that her entire place was shaking. It lasted for a few minutes, such a weird feeling!

Bad side note - we got a parking ticket :( Stupid hidden signs and morning street cleanings!

Good side note - My BFF from Ireland/roomie for the summer will be here in just three weeks!! So excited to see her after our year-long separation :)