STARS like US, stay INTOUCH with PEOPLE

When you move abroad, or anywhere for that matter, you know you'll miss a few things--family, friends, In N Out burgers, weather...But then there are those things you take for granted and fail to realize have become apart of your everyday life. For me, one of those things are magazines. Remember those trips to the grocery store during rush hour, after a long hard day at work? Rushing through the store, trying to avoid banging into other grocery carts, people, children, vegetables! For me, the only good thing that resulted from that experience (aside from dinner), was waiting in the check-out line to catch up on my weekly "reading." You know, Us, People, Star, and Intouch. I'll be the first to admit, sometimes, I chose the extra long line so I could get through all four (lets be honest, it takes about 2.5 minutes to "read" each magazine!) of those mind-numbing, crap-filled treasures!

So let's take a virtual trip down the grocery store check-out counter and "skim" through the wonderful array of U.S. magazines I miss:

Would You Judge Me...

If I bought this T-Shirt?

Home Is Where the High-Fructose Corn Syrup-Free Peanut Butter Is

Salt
You might imagine the list of items I might request an American visitor to bring to London for me. At the top of this list sits peanut butter, crunchy or smooth; salted or unsalted. I've wanted it all. London grocers do carry it, but its like the "Jiffy" equivalent, meaning, filled with crap including high-fructose corn syrup. A few days ago, I remembered a little gem we refer to in the States as Whole Paycheck. Yes, there is a Whole Foods here in London. Obviously its in the hoity-toity area of town, but luckily, I don't live far from it.
more salt!

Being inside Whole Foods felt like I was magically transported back to the States; everything in the grocery store was where it should be. Eggs were refrigerated, spices were in the baking aisle, and yogurt was in the dairy section alongside the milk and sour cream. This Whole Foods was like the King of all Whole Foods. Thank God for my iPhone because you know I took some pictures up in there. People!! A half aisle was dedicated to chocolate, sections just for salt! carton-less eggs! Not to mention that it was two-stories so cheese and wine were on the top floor, and everything else was on the bottom floor. I was amazed.

And guess what? Peanut butter. Mmmmmmmmmmmm. AND! A selection to choose from.You know the American in me always loves a selection! I went for the Whole Foods brand because I am not spending $10 on peanut butter!

The other wonderful thing about Whole Foods is turkey, chicken, beef or lamb sausage. You won't find that in other grocery stores (at least not to my knowledge). So all in all, I had a positive experience at Whole Foods and my wallet did too.

Chocolate aisle and chocolate counter!

I'm Still Here!

So much to say, yet little time and brainpower to say them. Been working on a paper which I hope will get finished tomorrow. But quick update:

Love the job!
Johnny Weir rocks!
When will SNL get the message: Betty White for SNL Host stat!
I love you Michelle, but be careful throwing around the word obesity and BMI (which is bs!)
Lost is amazing and is one of my all time favorite shows and current obsessions!

And I promise to post pictures of my jobby-job later this week.

Fun Tube Ad

Love the hairdo's!

Review Taqueria: A Little Bit of Mission in London?

Folks, I think I've founded a little bit of the Mission District in SF, right here in London! Who would've thought? I went to Taqueria today to see what all the GOOP was about and it wasn't too bad! And by that I mean, I did not have the urge to break down and cry.

I ordered a Elote (half corn on the cob with a spicy, cheesy rub on it) and an order of carne asada tacos with a diet Coke. Andi ordered a salad, carne asada tacos and a horchata. The tacos were actually pretty tasty! The other things, not that tasty! The horchata was too sweet, watery and lacked flavor, the salad was just eh!, and the corn on the cob, good, but nothing to write home about. Obviously, the diet Coke the perfect compliment! Would I go there again? Yes, for the tacos.

Also, not only were we not served chips and salsa as a complimentary snack, but they were not listed as sides on the menu either. Boo.

So authentic? No. Does the trick when I have a desperate craving for some sort of Mexican food? Yes.

Oh! And the desserts did not look appetizing!

Today I miss...

1. Torrance Beach. When I picture myself relaxing, tanning and feeling utterly content, I am laying on the warm, soft sand of Torrance Beach.

2. Windy San Francisco afternoons. Now that I have this short 'do, my hair can't slap me in the face anymore!

3. Watching debates and speeches in D.C. bars with my very politically-minded friends and random opinionated locals.

4. Driving from Boulder to Nederland after hours blasting Fiona Apple, Pearl Jam and/or Modest Mouse with the windows down, breathing in crisp, cool air.

5. Going to random house parties on hot, sticky summer nights in Philadelphia waiting for the freestylin' competition to begin.