TIMES NEW JEN: August 2013: Month in Review

A couple months behind on the Month in Reviews so I thought I'd start off my current day off by catching up. First, I wanted to elaborate on the lack of quality posts lately. The last couple weeks have been a tough one on me not only physically but also mentally. Computer systems went down at work during the first week of October and the first of the month is already crazy enough without computer problems so it only exacerbated the workload. My car got broken into outside our apartment complex late September and they shattered my driver's side window to steal my "not-even-worth-it" stereo. Here's a preview of what I walked out to that morning:

I never knew how violating it could feel to have someone rummage through your car. After that, it got me thinking that San Diego was actually rejecting me, that maybe I didn't fit in here. I had been here for an entire year now and I didn't feel like I had a home anywhere. LA was no longer my home and San Diego didn't quite feel like "home" yet either. It was a thought that mentally drained me because I had left so much of myself behind in LA: friends, family, FOOD. But sometimes you need to hit rock bottom before you can rise up again. After this past weekend and the events that transpired, I feel like a phoenix that has risen once again with renewed energy and hope. A good friend said to me the other day, "Anything worth having you have to fight for" and I believe it 100%. I've had to fight for everything I've gotten all my life: for a spot in college, for a spot in pharmacy school, for a job... and let me just say, #wewontstop #wecantstop (LOL I couldn't help it, I had to). On that positive note, let's dive right into August Month in Review!!

Aug. 1st-2nd: Work
After work on Friday we decided to try out Spicy City. It was pretty tasty but not as spicy as we thought since the reviews on Yelp had insinuated that our mouths would be burning.

dan dan noodles

cumin lamb

string beans

Aug. 3rd-6th: Work
I had Tuesday off and didn't really have any plans so decided to head to the dog beach in Ocean Beach for the first time with Brandi and Bentley. First we got our acai bowls from Pirates Cove Tiki Port. Yumes!

my half eaten acai bowl

Aug. 7th-9th: Work
Friday night we headed out to dinner for Donna's birthday at Bankers Hill Bar and Restaurant.

all the ladies

Aug. 10th: Brandy Melville Sale and Jessie Ware Concert
Headed up to Orange County for the Brandy Melville sale. We were literally one of the last people in line and were 2nd from the cut off of them letting people in. I found out later that they had a 2nd sale and they had tons of stuff left! Arggggg!

sale was from 10-4pm. this was the line at around 2:30p.

Later that evening we had the pleasure of seeing Jessie Ware for the 2nd time (our first being the time at Coachella). More from that concert here.

Aug. 11th:
Drove back late Saturday night and then headed out for lunch for Brandon's going away party. We went to Miguel's Cocina. Gotta love my bloody marys!

Aug. 12th-14th: Work

Aug. 15th:
I was checking out the most highly rated places on Yelp and one of them happened to be the Carnitas Snack Shack. Brandon wanted some Mexican food before he left so we headed out for another celebratory dinner. Like I've said previously, ratings for San Diego restaurants are definitely skewed towards the high side. I would say the only thing worth getting at this place is the pork belly. Seriously the best pork belly I've ever had! They do have a different menu daily so maybe that night just wasn't their best. Definitely a must try for the pork belly.

pork belly (a must have!!!)

ootn

Aug. 16th-19th: Work
After work on the 18th we decided to try out a new restaurant in Convoy, Fu An Garden. It's supposed to have spicy food also. The tofu dish we got below was super good. Dan dan noodles were also pretty good. Their menu also has pictures lol always a plus.

Aug. 20th:
Went to Ulta to have my hairs cut. Came out with Azn bangs lol. It was a last minute impulsive decision.

Aug. 21st-23rd: Work
For dinner on the 22nd, we went back to Urban Plates in Del Mar.

On Friday, the 23rd, we went to a friend's house to celebrate one of the baby's 1st birthdays. After that we met up with my cousin and her boyfriend and headed out to Live Wire, a dive bar. Some drinks later, we headed back to the apartment to hookah. But not before we picked up some Mexican drive-thru food to grub on. Here's us in the back seat of my cousin's car with her child lol.

Aug. 24th-25th:
On Saturday night we went to eat at Elephant Bar. My cousin works for corporate Elephant Bar and it was crazy what amazing service we got when she flashed her badge lol. She wasn't going to but one of the managers recognized her because they actually filmed a commercial or menus at that specific location before. I don't think the food at Elephant Bar has ever tasted so good!