California Trip

Around my birthday the only thing I wanted to do was head back west to California. I was really missing my friends and everything "normal" to me so Ryan suggested I make a trip back and that would be his gift to me for my birthday. I didn't put up much of a fight. It worked out great that my parents were able to watch Dominick for us and I could make the trip alone. My friends were nice enough to open their home to me for the week and I had a rental car so it worked out perfectly. I was there the 21st-28th of April. 

I got in relatively early on the 21st (11 AM) so I got my bags and rental car and headed to Koreatown for some yummy goodness. If you're ever in LA and want legit Korean food head to Ktown. I didn't go there this time since I was alone, but if you're looking for Korean BBQ go to Road to Seoul. I PROMISE you you won't be disappointed. After Ktown I headed towards the Antelope Valley to pick up Disney tickets from ITT since I was going the next morning. I stopped really quickly by our friends' house to surprise them with a really quick hello before grabbing sushi with the friends that I was staying with. By the time we got to their house I was EXHAUSTED. I didn't sleep well the night before due to being so excited and having to get up to leave for the airport around 3 AM.

The 22nd I went to the Happiest Place on Earth with my friend Olivia. It was the most perfect day to be there. The crowds were almost nonexistent and the weather couldn't have been better if we asked for it. We did both California Adventure and Disneyland, rode all the rides we wanted and then some (some even twice!). We ate our way through the day and it was perfect. We had popcorn, churros, dole whip, cream cheese pretzels and ended the day with Mexican at Downtown Disney! We were even home before 11. Serious win! 

The next day I went to Santa Clarita and did some shopping and spent the day just being. I was seriously so tired from the two days prior so I didn't want to plan anything big. It was wonderful just being. I ate fro-yo and walked around and it was great. 

Friday Miguel (my friend's husband) and I went and had breakfast, ran to Target and then to the mall again because I HAD to find a dress for that weekend in Vegas. We did all of that by 11 and headed to go drop my car off and pick up Penelope (my friend) and their son from work and school because we were headed to Vegas. The drive was long, but once we got there we unpacked and then headed to the Venetian for gelato and a gondola ride. We walked around for a little while and then went to Fremont Street. Once we got back to the room Miguel and I ended up going to play roulette (and lost) while Penelope and Nick went back to the room and called it a night.

Saturday we got up and went to brunch at Hash House A Go Go. Afterwards we hit up the Stratosphere where Miguel, Nick and I went to the top. Afterwards we went back to the room and dropped some stuff off and walked to M&M World. I was pretty much in a haze by this day because of all the lack of sleep I had been getting. I walked back and took a quick nap because Penelope and I were headed to see BRITNEY SPEARS! We had dinner at a restaurant in Planet Hollywood prior. It was a super fun concert, but I wasn't feeling all that great. I figured it was from being tired, but come to find out I actually got food poisoning. I never actually got sick, but I had the worst pain of my life...it was in my back and just all over. QUITE MISERABLE. 

Sunday we got up and got around and had another huge breakfast at the cracked egg before driving the LONG ass drive back to the AV. It ended up being close to a 5-6 hour drive. Once we got back they dropped me off at some of my other friends' house where I was having dinner and had left my car. It was so good catching up with them and I loved this day so much.

Monday was my last day there and I ended up just going to see some friends on the base at the credit union I used to work at and at my old job at NASA. It was so good to see everyone. That afternoon I drove myself out to Santa Monica for the day. I had really been wanting to go and it's one of my all time favorite spots in SoCal so I went there for the day. Most of my friends were working so I spent a lot of time doing things by myself, but I loved every second of my trip.

Tuesday I dropped my rental car off and got on a plane back to the good ol' mitten. I was so excited to get to see Dominick the next morning.