A year in review

2015 is coming to an end. Crazy huh? Time really does fly.  The realization that the year is coming to an end brings out the sentimentality in me. So with a scroll through my iPhone library come a few highlights of the past year.

New Year’s Eve/Jan 1st, 2015

With one of my best friend’s finally moving in with me to the other moving away, both joined me for a night at JRDN. The setting, ehhh. But then again, it’s always the people and not the place that create the best of memories.

JANUARY

“Crashed” the Republican National Convention. Pleasure meeting you Scott Walker.

Revamped my then apartment. Two girls and lots of trips to Home Goods and Home Depot later, the apartment started to finally feel like home.

Enjoyed the most entertaining game of soccer ever. Bubble soccer, just do it

Spent a sister weekend gorging on Juniper & Ivy and “selfie”ing with Richard Blais.

FEBRUARY

Watched the Superbowl at Juniper & Ivy, with Richard Blais. Pretty sure I was more entranced with the experience than the game. 

Took a field tour of the San Diego Airport. 

Attended my first ever ship christening at the NASSCO shipyards. 

MARCH

Celebrated the anniversary of Puesto at the Investor’s dinner.

Ate a 15 course chef tasting meal at Juniper & Ivy.  One word: incredible.

APRIL

Flew to home away from home – Portland – and went spelunking (google it) through one of the largest underground caves.

Cheered on the Padres, quite a few times. 

Showed off San Diego to one of my study abroad roommates turned best friend.

MAY

Celebrated Opening Day at the San Diego Yacht Club.

Won tickets to see The Piano Guys in concert.

Completed my first ever districting campaign in the City of Chula Vista.

Celebrated UTC's revitalization at the "Uncorked" event. 

Ate, drank and read with Brian Malarkey at the annual Eat.Drink.Read fundraiser, benefiting the SD Council on Literacy. 

JUNE

Moved into an even better and bigger home sweet home.

Coordinated a summer social and fundraiser to support PR programs for San Diego students.

Ventured off to Europe with the fam. Landed in London to realize our bags were lost… and so they were, for the next two weeks.

Visited the homeland of my parents, Ukraine and fell in love with the people, the culture and the food.

Worshiped alongside thousands of other people at Franklin Graham’s crusade. Praise be to God for all
the lives saved that day. 

Fell in love with Austria. 

Felt like a princess while visiting Neuschwanstein Castle.

JULY 

Went to Prague and was blown away by its charm and beauty. 

Reminisced at home - Riga, Latvia. 

Visited Istanbul and experienced a whole new world full of color and culture. 

Brought out the superheroes at the San Ysdiro Health Center's Marvelous Gala at Hotel Del. 

Visited my soul sister in San Francisco. Walked 20 miles each day and ate some of the best Indian food I’ve ever had.

Went to a military ball.

AUGUST

Was surprised with so many birthday celebrations I lost count.

Won tickets to the Best of San Diego party/sipped and sampled some of the best SD has to offer.

Celebrated as friends said “I do” at one of the most love and family filled weddings I’ve been to in a long time.

Witnessed my sister making the best and biggest decision in her life, her baptism.

When God Isn't All You Have

There’s a popular quote in Christian circles that goes “When God is all you have, you realize that God is all you need.” These words are many times expressed to those going through hardships, conflicts and trials. The words are voiced as words of hope to bring encouragement when it seems like all else is falling apart. Furthermore.  It’s often said, and the Bible reminds of this, that in those moments of despair, depression and confusions that we cling closest to God. We ask for prayer and pray more than we ever have. Looking into my own life, the analysis is very much the same. I’ve relied on God the most and asked for the most help and support in moments of heartbreak, devastating illness, death and personal or professional failures. Your turn to God willingly, and even sometimes unwillingly, when the weight of the world is falling on your shoulders.

Pain and low points are a part of life. They come and go. They are sometimes a result of our own doing, and sometimes completely unexplainable and unstoppable. But, life isn’t just marked by pain. Life also brings moments of success, triumph and just a slew of gifts and blessings.

So what about those moments? When, while life isn’t by any means perfect, it sure is good and you feel as though you are reaping in gifts from above?

Something I’ve been thinking about is how to cling to God when God isn’t necessarily all you have. When life is being extraordinarily blessed, there are ways to still cling to God. Pain produces growth and maturity, but I think that in a season of added goodness, there is much more for growth as well.

I thought about things that I often lack or perhaps have smaller quantity of in the “hard seasons” and I’ve found that it’s commonly focus, time, energy and financial resources. In the periods where life is just weighing on your shoulders, those are the things I try to conserve in an effort to restore myself or a given situation. While I think it’s okay to conserve your energy or say “no” or save money when life stretches you thin, those are areas I want to give more of in a response of thanks to blessings pouring in.   

I think the first step is recognition and thanks for the goodness that’s been given to you. It’s so easy to ask God for things, but all too often we don’t say thanks then those things are given to us. In the moment of excitement, we forget the giver. Remember the story when Jesus healed 10 men from a lifelong struggle with leprosy and only one came back to thank him?

Second, I think it’s never forgetting that all good things are gifts from above and that they weren’t achieved just through our own strengths. I need to be reminded that God is the giver of these things as it says in James: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

As I celebrate the new blessings and additions in my life, I want to make sure that in these joys and high points, I’m striving to cling to God all the more and continue to hold him first above all else. I want to always be reminded that God is always all I need, and the other wonderful gifts he gives are all the more reason to praise him more.  I want to pray more prayers of thanks and I want to give more time to Him. I want to be more intentional and focused on nurturing my prayer life and my church life. Through this season, I want to give more of my time and energy to Him not only through direct contact, but also by serving and pouring into others through the giving of my time and resources. Sounds ambitious huh?

It is. And it’s easier said than done.

Because this week and next and the one following isn’t going to bring a plethora of free time or extra money or energy. The grind will keep going and each day will bring its challenges, but beyond that, it shouldn’t stop me from giving thanks. God is truly all I need, even in moments when he isn’t all I have.  

I’ve been given so much, and to whom much is given, much is rightfully expected. 

Quote of the Day 08/26/15

Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.              [Ephesians 4:1-3]

On this 12th day of August...

Thanks Mom for giving birth to me today!

Hello blog,

It's been a while, and I'm sorry. 

As I feel a little extra loved and a little extra special today, and as much as I want to write something deep and philosophical, It sounded more fun to do a little fun facts list about myself. 99 percent of the time, this blog is focused on #foodforthought and I wanted to switch it up for some #funforthought. 

That being said, here's a few of my favorite things.

1. Flowers. Flowers. Flowers. Plants. Plants. Flowers.
I know they say girls love flowers.. but I seriously adore fresh flowers and potted plants. Saturday afternoons are perfect for Home Depot runs for my latest potting endeavor. Any flowers that come my way, I make them last as long as I can. And I believe that fresh flowers in the house are always a must. 

2. Big umbrellas, with wooden handles.
This is the Italia reminiscing in me, but I have such fond memories of walking around Italy with this over-sized maroon umbrella with a curved wooden handle. Unfortunately, it didn't fit into my suitcase and we parted ways.. but in the rare times it actually sprinkles in Southern California, I pull out my Italian umbrella replacement (an over-sized polka dot Kate Spade version) and start planning my next Italian getaway. 

3. Animals, especially the cuddly kind known as puppies and kittens.
Growing up, I wanted nothing more than to be a veterinarian with a part-time dolphin trainer job. Those dreams were cut short when I started flunking out of every science class. That being said, my family has so many pictures of me hugging every cat, dog and dead fish (post fishing trip) I could find. Animals make my heart smile.

4. ...And fish[ing]. 
Digging for worms and spending summers at the lake was a huge part of my childhood, and comes with lots of happy memories with my grandfathers. I hate to brag, but I was a rock-star worm finder too. 

5. Books. 

During the years of kindergarten through 8th grade, I read hundreds upon hundreds of books. I read them so fast, my teacher's didn't believe me. I used to read so much, my parents would have to cut me off... which then I would proceed to lock myself in the bathroom and continue reading. Guess what I hid under the bathroom sink... books. 

6. Juniper & Ivy/Puesto. 

You San Diegans will understand this reference but J&I and Puesto are my two foodie happy places. Not because they are trendy or cool or the place to be, but because the people are incredible and both places feel like home. They treat me far better than I deserve and they are seriously the best two restaurants in the region, they are stars of their craft. www.eatpuesto.com // www.juniperandivy.com 

7. South Africa & Australia. 

Not that I've actually been to either, but for years, I've fantasized about the day I get to visit these two remarkable places. I feel in love with SA after meeting the most incredible people and Australia, well Sydney bridge climb and Great Barrier Reef, I'm coming for you!

8. Home. 

I mean this in multiple ways. Home to me is a special place and I am a firm believer that a clean and well designed home is a happy home. I take pride in making my home well like a safe space, this is comforting and welcoming not only for myself, but most importantly others. Also, home to me is where the heart is, and a large part of my heart will always be with my family in Santa Barbara. My favorite life moments are when we (that's 17+ people) get together for a midnight pow-wow, laughing, talking, and eating way too much cheese and crackers. 

9. Quotes. 

I love a good quote and they seem to spill out of me at the random-est of moments. Cheesy quotes, deep quotes, helpful quotes, meaningful quotes, sarcastic quotes.. all of them. 

10. Simple unplanned moments. 

I've always loved event planning, but that being said, I love those "life's little moments" occasions. The unplanned visit, the unsuspecting friendship, the surprising sunset... the things that make you stop and pause and remind you of just how blessed you are. 

11. Thoughtfulness
I am the biggest fan of "the little things." My heart melts with the little gestures - the thoughtful morning message, the "just because" flowers, a handwritten letter, a coffee waiting on my desk.... Grand gestures are well, grand. But life really does consist of a million little moments right? 

12. Mom.
This one is self explanatory so I'll leave you with this - she's the greatest woman to have ever lived/be living. On my birthday, she's the one to be celebrated.


What are some of your favorite things?


[Cue Julie Andrews/Sound of Music now]

À la carte Jesus

I went to lunch with a friend the other day and he suggested we go to one of those “make your own” pizza places that are heating up (no pun intended) the lunch scene. The concept has carried over from simple sandwich shops to single serving pizza shops to build your own burger joints. Restaurants are shifting away from generic entrées and adapting to à la carte style menus, where you can create your own dining experience, tailored specifically to your tastes and preferences.

Customization is highly desirable, even expected, in our culture. We alter our houses, our closets, and our cars. We tailor our clothes to fit our bodies, we buy sandals that mold to the arch of our feet, and we sleep on mattresses that adjust to our bodies. We have a liking for things that are modified to our own preferences, tastes, and opinions. We like to pick and choose in order to have the à la carte experience.

But when did we start to also have an à la carte Jesus?

The world will tell you the idea of “Truth” with a capital “T” is something that is very much personal; We define our own values, beliefs, and ideas of right and wrong. With this logic, we've reached an epidemic of everyone is seeking truth with no one able to find it or to define it. We left it so open-ended and so individualized, that nothing holds weight outside of its beholder. In a “what floats your boat” mentality, we are left with only our own opinions and our own accountability, and if you factor in how many times you have been wrong or mistaken or failed, there is not much hope for trust in your own judgment. 

The beauty of God’s word is that it brings us the very Truth our souls so desperately crave. The Truth with a capital “T” kinda stuff. 2^nd Samuel 22:31 tells us, “God's way is perfect. All the LORD's promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.”

Perfect.

God’s way is perfect.

All His promises are proven true.

But despite the irrefutable, undeniable perfection and sovereignty of God and the flawed and crooked nature of our ways, we opt for the à la carte option; we tailor God to us instead of us to God.

It’s a contradiction. We come to know perfection, God himself.  The very One who died so we may live. But we don’t accept all of him.  But we don’t accept all of Him. We remove bits and pieces of His Truth and replace them with our desires and compromises. We choose fun times, hazy memories, tempting options, and slippery slopes because after all, God loves us and He forgives. He will forgive our bad decisions and all will be well. He’s got to expect us to fail at some point anyway, right?

Stressed?

Late Friday afternoon I was driving to meet with my coach and my head just started pounding. It had been a rough few weeks and I was exhausted, and my throbbing migraine was yet another reminder of the accumulated stress. It was that feeling where you no longer have words and you just want a time out.

I've never been stressed like this. A lot of things had come together, all creating a perfect storm of stress, and led to me stressing about not stressing about the stress that was stressing me out. Did you follow that?

As I made the drive and was woken by the sudden breaking of 5 p.m. post work commuters, for a brief moment, it was a feeling of defeat. That's it life, you win, I'm out. But before I surrendered to life's trivial trauma, the lightbulb went off: "have you prayed about it as much as you've stressed about it?"

There it was.

And the answer was probably not.

Okay, no. I didn't.

I was trying so hard to manage that I forgot the very essence of what makes all things possible.

Life's stresses are not unique to me or you. They're an every day, every person reality. Things happen. My particular stresses were a combination of a few things, with the major being going to the doctor and hearing bad news. When a doctor says this is bad, you know it's bad. I'm a sick person, and I am still learning how to deal with it, how to balance and how to take care of myself.

But, what I so foolishly forget is that I actually don't have to be figuring this all out on my own.

Quote of the Day 02/19/15

"Patience strengthens the spirit, sweetens the temper; stifles anger; subdues pride; bridles the tongue; she makes us humble in prosperity, cheerful in adversity, unmoved by calumny and reproach; she teaches us to forgive those who have injured us, and to be the first in asking forgiveness of those whom we have injured; she delights the faithful, and invites the unbelieving."         [Bishop Horne]

Quote of the Day 02/04/15

“Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point.” [C.S. Lewis]

Juniper & Ivy: A Love Story

(It's important to note the title suggestion I received from my editor Andrew -

 "I'm obsessed and may need clinical help")

By what merits do we call something exceptional or extraordinary? Ideas of perfection seem always to be subjective. Perfection, like beauty, is found in the eye of the beholder.  

That being said, I’d like to assert that I have found perfection, the crème de la crème, the best of the best, the very thing that should be the standard by which all challengers should be compared to and to which all contenders should aspire to be.

That standard of perfection? 

A restaurant (the other is my mama, and you can read that post here).

Juniper & Ivy, your name should be listed as the synonym for perfection in every foodie’s thesaurus.  

Juniper & Ivy interior and kitchen,
and my designated seating..the plating station!

Juniper & Ivy is the gastronomic child of food genius, Top Chef Superstar, restaurateur, author, and the only celebrity that makes me blush, Chef Richard Blais. Blais studied under some of the world’s iconic chefs, including Thomas Keller and Daniel Boulud. He began his first eateries in Atlanta and in 2014, Blais brought San Diego its greatest culinary gift to date. He debuted Juniper & Ivy in March 2014, changing life for us foodies as we know it.

I didn’t know it was possible to love a restaurant until I stepped into J&I one unforgettable April evening. I had been a fan of Blais since my mother/daughter date night ritual of watching Top Chef and Top Chef: All Stars. Blais was always our favorite, but never did I think that one day, he might just know who I am.  

First time meeting Chef Richard Blais at the San Diego Burger Bash 2013

20+ visits later, I am in a full-on food love affair with J&I. Consuming food from dozens of food establishments each month is daunting, educational, and entertaining at the same time. I used to love it. But now, J&I has ruined my hobby, in the very best way possible.

Richard Blais doesn’t cook because of the profit or because his name makes people’s hearts swoon. He cooks because he wants to and because he has a passion for food.  He sees dining for what it can be and aims to do that which others have been too afraid to do. 

The "carne cruda asada toast" 

I have found myself comparing anything I may eat to “the standard” (aka Juniper & Ivy) and to the thought process “WWRD” (aka “What Would Richard Do?”). I still aim to be objective and give each new restaurant’s dish the courtesy of due process. But often I find myself holding back thoughts of that perfect bite of the moist and flavorful carne cruda asada toast, with the oozing quail egg that perfectly softens  the toasted edges of the thick cut bread, giving the senses both crunch and softness and salt and sweetness and a taste that makes you wonder how you will ever eat a piece of toast the same way ever again.  I blush at these memories of J&I, and quickly scan Opentable for the next available reservation. 

This past winter, I checked off an item from my foodie bucket list when I dined at a few two and three Michelin Star restaurants. Daniel Boulud and Jean Georges’ establishments wowed me. They enticed my palate and my mind with their attention to detail, and their perfectly orchestrated lunch and dinner service. The food was as beautiful as it was delicious. I also spent an evening at Colicchio & Sons, wanting to have a taste of Tom Colicchio’s acclaimed Craft restaurant collection. The service was on point, the dishes flavorful and satisfying, and the atmosphere made you forget the winter storm brewing on the other side of the glass window. 

These restaurants were some of the best I will ever visit. 

But…they weren’t J&I.

As I stared at the beautiful entrées on the gold plated dish wear, I longed to be at Juniper & Ivy. I longed for the surprising twists, the complicated yet complementary flavors, the sarcastic remarks of Chef Jon Sloan, the organized chaos of the plating station, and the comfort of the yodel  (see pictures below and you’ll understand). The greatness of J&I also stems from the staff that embody the very essence of Juniper and Ivy, and the Richard Blais’ culinary vision has. 

As told to me by the staff, Chef Blais, alongside business partner and J&I investor Michael Rosen, didn’t open Juniper & Ivy to give the general public the mild and lackluster dishes that they are used to; he opened it to cook the food he dreams of, with the confidence that there are those that will appreciate the oddness that makes each starter, entrée, and dessert beautiful, balanced and unforgettable. 

           

The best thing that happened (in 2014)

It's mid-way into the first month of the new year and I've been itching to still write out some kind of reflection on 2014. As I was driving the other day, my muddled thoughts cleared to remind me the best thing that happened in the past year.

It was my relationship with my mom.

I've always had a good, close relationship with my mom. As the years have passed, we have over time transitioned from a mother- daughter relationship to really a best friend relationship.It especially deepened when I moved away for college. This new life transition while necessary, was also challenging. When everything is changing in your world, you want to find a constant, something or someone steady that doesn't change. My constant was my mom. College helped us solidify an even better relationship.

I would say two very significant events in the past year really propelled us forward. Just days before 2014 came, I went through a break up and who was the only person who could make it better?

My mom.