Pointe Dume

June 3, 2018June 3, 2018Leave a comment

Cruising down PCH, wind in hair, Lana del Rey’s 13 Beaches, playing boldly in the background. This is my favorite way to spend a Saturday morning.

My first stop: Malibu Pier, to have an iconic California breakfast at the Malibu Farm restaurant. Everything about this place makes me happy.

From the rustic decor, the plants hanging from the ceiling, the rooftop terrace, and most importantly, the spectacular food!

Not to mention they make the best iced lattes + homemade watermelon juice.

Their Swedish Mini Pancakes are my absolute favorite!

An artful juxtaposition of the most perfectly complementing flavors. The thin, soft yet subtly crisp pancakes, are topped with a tart medley of cooked berries, and then finished with a dollop of light homemade whipped cream.

I also adore their fried egg sandwich. I ask to sub the bacon for avocado.

Farm fresh vegetable stand on the Malibu Pier.

A quick, breezy drive down PCH later…….

Stop 2 : Zuma Beach : A secluded haven

Hike trails to Pointe Dume

Sand in my toes, a breathtaking view- I wouldn’t want it any other way.

XOXO,

Shiza

Fall Adventure Ideas

October 31, 2016October 31, 2016Leave a comment

With the chilly weather and college application deadlines looming ahead, I haven’t been out on a fun, carefree adventure in a while. I have been craving the excursions of summer and of last year, when I had more time on my hands. I figured it was time to ditch the books and my cozy room for a new experience that will inspire me. Here are a couple of ideas that will get you out of the house and throw in a little adventure into your week.

Museum Days

Truthfully, I’m down on to go to any museum during any season. But I think museums during autumn are special. People walk into the halls bundled up in their fall gear, coffee and camera in hand. The art and history are lovely, but people watching is nice too, especially in LA. Most museums take only about an hour or so to go through, so after your short excursion you have the rest of your day to hit the books or do other work.

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The Broad, Los Angeles

Morning Hikes

Talk about killing two birds with one stone- satisfying the crave of adventure and exercise is fulfilled with hiking. The cool morning air energizes your lungs and the nature clears your mind. Fall hikes are definitely picturesque as well, with the color change of the trees and the falling leaves.

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Abalone Cove, Palos Verdes

Antique Stores

My sister and I were bored one day after school, so I invited my friend to come with us to the local antique store we discovered a couple of years ago. Crammed with things from used postcards to Russian dolls, its truly an exciting place, albeit a little creepy. Also a fun place to take cool, vintage pictures! You never know what you will discover at an antique shop; it is like going back in time. I found a yearbook from the 60’s with the funniest senior quotes.

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Studio Antiques, El Segundo

Coffee Shops

It’s not autumn (or a hectic school year) without weekly trips to the local coffee shop to motivate myself with a farfalla (Oreo/espresso frappe aka heaven in a cup) to do school work. I love the atmosphere of coffee shops. Make it an adventure and discover a new coffee shop every week, try a new drink or pastry every time you stop by, or talk to the interesting person in front of you in line who orders the same drink as you. july-18-2016-841

Blue Butterfly Coffee Company, El Segundo

Corn Mazes

I had at least add one cliché fall activity in here. Personally, I’ve never been to a corn maze but it sounds like a great and exciting time. The car ride there would be an adventure in itself; most farms with mazes are a good drive away. Gather a couple of your friends, and prepare to spooked and challenged by a well-made corn maze.

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Big Horse Corn Maze, Temecula (not my photo)

So there you have it, 5 excursions you should go on between finishing assignments and avoiding the rain without going too far and not spending a lot of money. Also, very moderate and doable, so you can’t put it off. Go on, adventure awaits!

Have fun,

Firda

January Favs!

January 28, 2016January 31, 2016Leave a comment

As January comes to an end, here are a couple of my favorites from this weird and hectic (for me, anyway) month!

Food:

My first try of Paradise Bowls acai in Manhattan Beach! Really refreshing and pseudo-healthy but quite $$. Will def try the other flavors in the future.

Jams:

Finals week = chillaxing music to study to, aka John Mayer. I listened to probably all his albums which had me reminiscing, but Room for Squares definitely caught my attention. Specifically,

No Such Thing – John Mayer

Why Georgia – John Mayer

83 – John Mayer

Neon – John Mayer

Style:

Copped these new periwinkle blue Converse in like November but decided to finally try them out for the new semester. A nice dash of spring during these chilly winter months.

Places:

I went by the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles for the Japanese new year. It’s such an informative and interesting; it digs deep into the Japanese internment camps on the West coast and the dark side of American history. It also has some super cool Japanese art!

A total must if you’re in the area.

Reads:

See How They Run, the sequel of All Fall Down by Ally Carter came out recently! It’s about a teenage girl named Grace who lives in an American embassy in a small coastal European country filled with scandalous secrets, which is also the place where her mother was targeted and killed. I read some of it at the bookstore but forgot my money but I’m definitely going back to buy it! It was so gripping and had incredible imagery; I can’t wait to finish it.

Miscellaneous:

We got new moon jellies at the aquarium and they look absolutely incredible when the lights are off that I had to share!! Visit your local aquarium if you’re bored one weekend.

Another thing I’ve started in January was a social media cleanse. I deleted my Instagram and Twitter apps from my phone last week. It’s been kind of lonely and you have a crazy amount of time to think, but I think it has helped me focus on me more than what some people did over the weekend. I encourage you all to test it out even for a day.

Hope you enjoyed all my favorites for January and try them out in February!

Always,
Firda

Through One Lens & Another: A Series

November 25, 2015November 23, 2015Leave a comment

So hey- I was scrolling through my photos and found some gems I took at the Hermosa Festival during Labor Day through the lens of my sparkly phone & sunglasses. Just a simple beach day with the fam- sissy featured. I don’t know what I was trying to accomplish that day; I think I was inspired by Shelby Hamiltons ‘s blog and how she did some cool photos with her sunglasses but I sure am glad I did. Also, I think I was trying to see Hermosa through the lens of someone from a distant time with vintage-y photos. It’s weird thinking about past intentions. I call this work “Through One Lens and Another”. Enjoy and please tell me what you think!

Xo- Firda

Sitting, waiting, wishing

Sparkly vanilla cones

The flowers (?) reminded me of my old house when one time we used them to make a stew and then a cat peed in it. Don’t know the name of this plant to this day..

Labor day beach mob

I want a boat

Would never get tired of this view

A perfect imperfection

All smiles

Pier people

Summer Retreat: Mammoth Lakes, CA

September 16, 2015September 16, 2015Leave a comment

Hey y’all! So between summer camp counseling, my online history class, and hanging out with friends, a nice, spontaneous camping trip was much needed! Location: the absolutely gorgeous and popular skiing spot Mammoth Lakes, California or what most people call it, Mammoth. I’ve heard a lot about the place from friends and family, but it going there for real was spectacular. Unfortunately, I was a little sick but it was still great! With the fresh air, mounting trees, cutest chipmunks, stunning lakes, and a beautiful waterfall, it was definitely the best summer trip yet!

On the road: Passed by grape vines, cornfields, ranches, and many cows. Also, first time at the Mojave Desert! It had some eerie ghost towns and some cute old towns that brought us back about 50 years.

Almost there!! You don’t see this many trees in LA + peep the lake. So gorgeous.

After the usual setting up/eating part, we decided to take some pictures around the campsite.

Hammock view;)

“Summer” nights: Absolutely freezing- I wore an ultra chic ensemble of 2 sweaters, pants and fluffy pj pants, and my dad’s leather jacket. Also a story for the books: me, my sister, parents, and their friends were casually sitting by the fire, eating and enjoying the stars when my sister calmly whispers, “There’s a bear..” And there it was. A huge one even on it’s paw, casually opening our bear free storage locker that we hadn’t closed and locked yet. Rookie mistake. We watched quietly as the beat devoured my Hawaiian bread. Of course, no one listened to me that we were supposed to make loud noises, but I suppose I was too scared to do so. Also, it was kind of funny. Some guy was taking a video. Then we snuck to a tent where I started laughing and sister proceeded to tell me to be quiet. I texted my friend who would appreciate this kind of situation. Eventually, after trying to scare it away using the car alarm, it walked off toward the lake, which, coincidentally was where my tent site was. #fantastico

Although, waking up to this wasn’t all that bad. I had a major cold so after a breakfast of half frozen Nutella on a tortilla, I grabbed my cup of tangerine flavored Emergen-C, and observed the serene and freaking perfect Twin Lakes. Then an impromptu kayak ride was a must. Definitely felt like a ~part~ of nature.

Soo serene. I might even like lakes more than the ocean…maybe.

Free trolley rides to the top of the mountain are so worthwhile. Probably heaven on earth…

Morning hike to the bottom & halfway up a waterfall!!

Takin the road less traveled. After that, it was time to pack (or more like reading Mango Shaped Space and soaking in the last of the beauty and fresh air). Overall, it was a trip to remember! I definitely recommend going here- even if you’re super sick. On our way home, we went through Yosemite- another great excursion for another post.

Hope you all enjoyed, xo

Firda

South Coast Botanical Garden 🌐

June 26, 2015June 28, 20152 Comments

The South Coast Botanical Garden on the edge of Palos Verdes is truly a gem! One of the best places I’ve ever been in LA so far this summer! Since it was a free day (3rd Tuesday of every month), I decided to stop by with some family and friends. 87 lush acres of trees, flowers, gardens, trails, animals, and other wildlife. Walking in, we were greeted with a quaint Japanese garden, one full of cacti, a children’s garden, a gorgeous rose garden with a stunning fountain, and tons more. I didn’t get to explore the whole place; you best believe I’ll be there again soon. Everyone needs a little flora and fauna in their day. This’ll be a photo blog, cause I want the pictures to do the talking.

Xxx- Firda

Pink fuchsias!🌷

Can’t go wrong with a cute koi pond!🐟

So picturesque.📷

Weeping bottlebrush.😢

Hungry caterpillar🐛🌸

Love these!!😋

The trees were great on this sunny day.🌳

The Wild West for a hot sec🌵

Kinda, sorta hiking? Wear comfy shoes.👟

Adorable bridge that’s supposed to be over a stream but y’know that drought situation.💦

“A rose by any other name would smell such as sweet..”🌹

Signs if you get lost which is bound to happen- it’s huge!🚩

A great place for cheeky photoshoots😜

Nice place to sit and chat.💺

Not the Trevi but it’s close enough🌀

Bridge over a koi pond in the children’s garden🌈

Lavender love💜

Summer Salad Recipe

May 6, 2015May 7, 2015Leave a comment

Aloha ❤️Today I am sharing with you guys a mouthwatering summer salad recipe. This recipe is super healthy and flavorful. It is like eating California in a bite. With local ingredients and lovely flavors, you will forget that you are eating a salad!!

Ingredients:
– 1 Box of Spring Mix Greens
– 1 Tomato , thinly slices
– 1 Persian Cucumber, sliced
– 1 Lime
– 1 Avacado, sliced
– Handful of Blackberries
– 1 Fuji Apple , thinly sliced with a squirt of lime juice to prevent it from browning
– Handful of fresh mint and basil
– Pinch of Red Chilli Flakes
– 1 tsp. Red Chilli Powder (optional)
– Handful of Walnuts, chopped
– 1 clove of fresh Garlic, minced
– dash of lemon pepper
– dash of Italian Seasoning
– dash of Mediterranean seasoning salt
– Salt & Pepper, to taste
– drizzle of Olive Oil, for sautée
– leftover roasted/baked chicken

Directions:
Part 1: Cook Chicken
Drizzle some olive oil into a pan on medium high heat. Add minced garlic. Allow the garlic to infuse into the oil for a minute. Then, add the chicken.
Allow the chicken to warm through and get slightly browned. This adds flavor. After, add the spices ( lemon pepper, seasoned salt, chilli powder & flakes, italian seasoning) . Stir the chicken on low heat. In the end, add a handful of chopped basil ( about 1/4 cup or so). The basil adds an earthy and fragrant flavor to the chicken. Voilà , your chicken is ready! Set aside.

Part 2:
Wash all of the fruits and vegetables needed for the salad. In two bowls add some of the spring mix. This is the base layer of the salad. Next, add the sliced avacado on both salads. Squeeze a bit of lime on the avacado so that it doesn’t go brown. Sprinkle some salt and pepper to flavor it. Next, neatly arrange the cucumbers, tomatoes, blackberries, apples, and mint on top of the salad. Afterwards, add the chopped walnuts. Lastly, place the chicken on to the salad.

Tips:
Add the same amounts of fruit/vegetables to both salads. Arrange in a pattern for a pretty presentation.

Variation: You can leave out the chicken for a vegan salad. It will taste just as good!

Bon Appetit
Xx,
Shiza

Spring Break- Point Mugu, Malibu

April 2, 2015April 2, 20151 Comment

Happy Spring Break! This past weekend I was blessed to be able to go camping at Point Mugu State Park in Malibu. It was totally last minute, I literally packed 15 minutes before I left. Turns out last minute plans ARE the best, because I had an amazing time. With the beach across the street and plenty of hiking trails to choose from, there was a ton to do! I arrived from the always beautiful PCH around 6, and after putting our stuff down, went promptly to the beach to see the sunset, which was absolutely gorgeous. After, we had the typical camp dinner by the fire. Have you ever had Thin Mint s’mores? Cause you totally should. Oh, and the stars we absolutely mesmerizing, I saw Orion, the Little Dipper, Big Dipper, and maybe even Jupiter (if it wasn’t the North Star).

After a very cold and uncomfortable sleep, I was waken up by the sound of birds. And after an amazing breakfast of homemade funnel cake (best I’ve ever had) and Samoas and Thin Mints (the girl I was camping with is a Girl Scout), we decided to go on a hike at one of the park’s many trails. We chose the overlook one, because we wanted to see the ocean from the hills. The hills were luscious and the flowers were a beautiful yellow. It was slightly foggy and a bit chilly but nonetheless beautiful. The ocean view was decent.

The beach was really cold and the waves were huge, so I mostly stayed by the shore. There was the coolest rock formation at the side of the beach with caves and such but the tide was too high so we couldn’t explore.

In sum, Point Mugu is a total must go! There’s something to do for everyone and the nature is stunning.

Till the next adventure,

F xx

Something I’ll Never Get Sick Of

January 31, 2015January 31, 2015Leave a comment

Happy Friday lovelies! So since you guys probably want to have some fun this Friday evening, I’ll keep it short and simple. One thing I’ll never get sick of, ever, would probably be sunsets. Everyday the colors of the sunset are different and always breathtaking. Totally cliché, I know, but they are so beautiful and no matter where you are, the sun will always set. I have a thing for constants in life. The amazing sight will always end your day gorgeously. Here are some pictures of sunsets I’ve taken, from the beach to car rides to the streets. Enjoy, and have a safe and wonderful weekend.

xx – Firdausi

Hidden Gems : Malibu Cafè

January 26, 2015January 31, 2015Leave a comment

I absolutely love Malibu Cafe. Its in a discreet part of Malibu a hidden place where only some now about, up in the mountains, at Calamigos Ranch. Although I’ve only been there twice everything about it is simply breathtaking. From the gorgeous lake in the middle of the outdoors-y rustic restaurant to the sublime food the cafe has to offer it has honestly captivated my heart and is one of my favorite places to go to. I love the relaxed vibe the restaurant gives off and is truly a must go spot in California. Also, be sure to paddleboard or row on the lake , while your waiting for your food to come. I promise its amazing. Here are pictures from my adventures yesterday💞