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Locals Guide to Los Angeles California

Street Art in Los Angeles

Free time is a real commodity these days, which makes how you to choose to spend it that much more important. Things to do in… (insert city name here) is easily my most common search term.

#containeryard Los Angeles Calfiornia
Container Yard

There’s no shortage of interesting activities here in LA, it’s quite the opposite, in fact there is so much going on that it can hard to keep track or keep it straight. I’m here to help, at least where Los Angeles is concerned. Whether you’re after a day in the park, live music, architectural gems or a delicious meal this handy directory created using all the posts I’ve written about the City of Angels should help you find a way to fill your days.

Sony Studio Tours Los Angeles California

Museums

Did you know there are over 100 museums in Los Angeles? I haven’t visited anywhere near all of them, but I’ve hit quite a few including: The Broad, LACMA, The Peterson Automotive Museum, The La Brea Tar Pits, The Craft & Folk Art Museum, The Paly Center, The Huntington Gardens and more…

Things to do in Malibu California #gettyvilla

The J. Paul Getty Museums 

11 Places To Get Your Culture Fix In Los Angeles

The Huntington Library & Gardens 

Pop Up “Museums”

Speaking of museums, there are no shortage of pop up “museums” in LA. While these listed below have come and gone, many of them have opened in other cities and countries around the world.

Candytopia Santa Monica

The Museum of Ice Cream Los Angeles

Happy Place Los Angeles

Beyond The Streets Los Angeles

InstaFun

If you haven’t posted it on Instagram, were you really there? Of course you were, but sharing the fun is a big part of any experience, and LA has no shortage of instagrammable spots for you to both share and experience.

#skyspace Los Angeles California

Instagrammable Los Angeles

InstaLA! 15 Places to Snap Those InstaGood Pics

InstaLA! Part 2: #WallAntics

InstaLA! Part 3: Art Explosion

Shopping

While it’s true I haven’t written a lot about shopping in LA, that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy it, and there are no shortage of places to get your shop on in Los Angeles, which also happens to be home to the largest Fashion District in the United States.

#thelastbookstore
The Last Bookstore

Shopping the Sample Sales in LA’s Fashion District

24 Hours in Los Angeles HilaryStyle

The Last Bookstore…

Dinning

You never have to hit the same restaurant twice in a city the size of Los Angeles, and I got to wondering… Just how many dining choices are there? So I asked Google, and it turns out the answer isn’t completely clear. Though what is clear, are that many of them sell doughnuts! “Seriously though” the most common answer was around 20,000 ish, so for the purposes of this post we’ll go with that.

Sidecar Doughnuts Santa Monica California

Taste of Los Angeles

Speaking of donuts…

Donuts Are The New Cupcakes

The Beverly Hills Hotel

Art & Music

If public art and live music are on your list you’re in luck. From the Hollywood Bowl to the Forum, and the Venice Beach Art Walls to Downtown LA we’ve got you covered. Los Angeles, ranked in the top 10 for most instagrammed graffiti, which is no surprise as one can hardly turn a corner, drive down the street, or grab a coffee without running into yet another fabulous work of art.

Bumblebeelovesyou #streetartlosangeles

5 Places to Get Your Groove on in LA

Los Angeles, How I ❤️ Thee…

What do you say LA? Messages from the Street (Art That Is)

6 “Los Angeles” Artists & Where to Find Them

Venice Art Walls: Caution Wet Paint

Interview with Urban Canvas: Street Art hilarystyle

Hiking

I’ve just started exploring LA’s many hiking trails, but If you’ve never been to LA before the Hollywood Sign is a great place to start as getting up close to one of LA’s most well known icons is pretty special.

Hollywood Sign Griffith Park Los Angeles California #hollywoodsign
Hollywood Sign Back View

Hike to the Hollywood Sign

The Hidden Staircases of Silver Lake

Explore a Neighborhood

According to the Los Angeles Times, there are 272 neighborhoods in LA just waiting to be explored.

#venicebeach

Things to do in LA’s Koreatown

12 Things To Do With Kids In LA’s Silver Lake & Echo Park Neighborhoods

8 Reasons VENICE Should Top your LA List

Theme Parks

I consider myself something of an expert where Disneyland is concerned and over the years have gathered some helpful tips and tricks. It’s quite possible to enjoy a day out at a theme park as long as you have the right mind set. Yes, there will be crowds, lines and heat, but if you haven’t visited the original Disneyland, or The Wizarding World of Harry Potter I highly recommend.

#teacups #disneyland #fantasyland
Disneyland TeaCups

Keep Calm & Disneyland

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Guided Tours

Let’s face it as much as exploring on your own can be a great thing, there are times when a guided tour is the only way. Especially, with limited time in a city.

#DTLAArtsDistrict

Downtown Los Angeles Graffiti & Mural Walking Tour

Warner Brothers Studio Tour

The Sweet Tooth’s Walking Tour of Downtown Los Angeles

Downtown LA Arts District Graffiti & BBQ Tour

Haunted Los Angeles: Exploring the Shadier Side of the City of Angels

Beach Life

Everyone has their own version of paradise, but when I think of paradise the first place that comes to mind are the Southern California Beaches. Long wide stretches of soft warm sand dotted with brightly colored umbrellas, perfect for picnicking, body surfing, and sandcastle building.

#santamonicabeach
Santa Monica Beach

Santa Monica Beach

Things to do in Malibu California

Tide Pools & More at Leo Carrillo State Park

Holiday Fun

From over the top festive theme parks, Halloween parties and ice skating to neighborhoods dripping with Christmas lights and boat parades there is no shortage of ways to celebrate holidays in Los Angeles.

Holiday at Disneyland #disneylandchristmas
Sleeping Beauty Castle Holiday

10 Family Friendly Ways to Celebrate the Festive Season in Los Angeles

Halloween Fun in the City of Angels

Things to do in Los Angeles

In a city as vast as Los Angeles, on any given day, there are countless opportunities for tourists and non tourists alike. So many, in fact, it wouldn’t really be reasonable to try and list them all in one list, or would it?

#thehollywoodsign #hollywoodsignhike #griffithpark #losangeles
The Hollywood Sign Hike

50 Things To Do in Los Angeles

50 MORE Things To Do In Los Angeles

22 MORE things to do in Los Angeles

One Amazing Day in LA

Toddlers to Teens 10 Things to do in Los Angeles

12 Iconic Film Locations in Los Angeles

SkySpace Los Angeles

Los Angeles! The Hollywood Sign!

Day Trips from LA

I LOVE LA, and with so much to see and do its hard to imagine ever needing a break, but thanks to my wanderlusting soul, there are days when “getting out of town” seems like a good idea. The good news is you don’t have to go far to satisfy the wanderlust. There are a number of nearby beach cities just waiting to be explored and all, depending on traffic, within a very manageable driving distance.

#piratestower #lagunabeach
Victoria Beach

Day Trip: Laguna Beach California

6 Day Trips from LA: The Beach Cities

Day Trippers: Joshua Tree National Park

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200+ Things to do in Los Angeles

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22 MORE things to do in Los Angeles

LA Skyline Griffith Observatory Los Angels California

I’ve spent the better part of three years exploring LA, and there truly is no end in sight, which is just one of the multitude of reasons I adore this city. As you can imagine I’ve got a long list of recommendations, and in fact have already shared over 100 of them with you, some of  which appear in previous posts including: 50 Things To Do In LA, 50 MORE Things To Do In LA, and Taste of Los Angeles, all were born out of the idea that I am determined to take full advantage of everything this city has to offer.

Abbot Kinney Gelina Mural Los Angeles California
Abbot Kinney

Originally I made lists and methodically checked off item after item. These days I don’t have a list per se, but my exploration hasn’t slowed…

Here are 21 more things to do in LA:

Shopping on West 3rd Street
Location: Six connecting blocks between La Cienega and Fairfax, Los Angeles

While it’s true I haven’t written a lot about shopping in LA, that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy it, and there are no shortage of places to get your shop on. With over 100 one-of-a-kind boutiques, murals and trendy restaurants West Third Street is one of my favorite shopping destinations.

#shoppingla Best of LA Mural West 3rd Street West Hollywood California
West 3rd Street Los Angeles

The Original Los Angeles Flower Market
Location: 754 Wall Street, Los Angeles

The Original Los Angeles Flower Market is located right in the center of LA’s Flower District, the largest wholesale floral district in the United states. The market sells more than 125 different varieties of cut flowers as well as other types of foliage and floral accessories to go along with them. With or without the excuse of an upcoming event, wandering down the rows bursting with colorful blooms in every shade and variety is a great way to spend a morning.

The Original Los Angeles Flower Market #ranunculus
The Original Los Angeles Flower Market

The Fabric District
Location: 8th Street down to Olympic Boulevard, between Maple Avenue and San Julian Street, Downtown Los Angeles

With over 200 wholesale and retail shops in LA’s Fabric District you’ll find everything from denim and camouflage to silks and upholstery, lace and leather, zippers and ribbon, and  with prices ranging from 99 cents and up you’re bound to find something in your price range.

#lafashiondistrict
Fabric District Downtown Los Angeles

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Location: 900 Exposition Park

You could spend the entire day at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and still not see everything! Did you know that skateboarding was invented in LA? So was the electric guitar! You can learn all about the City of Angels and its unique contributions to culture at the permanent exhibition: Becoming LA. Younger kids will love the discovery center, the mammal halls, and roaming the museum’s gorgeous gardens.

Natural History Museum Los Angeles California

California Science Center
Location: 700 Exposition Park

Young and old will enjoy a visit to the California Science Center where touching and interaction are a welcome and necessary part of any visit. From The Space Shuttle Endeavour to under the sea ecosystems, and the human body, there is no shortage of things to see and do.

Axolotl at the California Science Center #axolotl
Axolotl at the California Science Center
You might also be interested in: Toddlers to Teens 10 Things to do in Los Angeles

Koreatown
Location: West of Downtown Los Angeles

Encompassing three square miles west of Downtown Los Angeles, Koretatown is ta vibrant and diverse community, which is fast becoming one of LA’s most popular neighborhoods. It’s no wonder as there are countless restaurants, shops, bars and entertainment venues just waiting to be explored.

Koreatown Line Hotel Shepard Fairey Los Angeles California
Line Hotel K-Town
You might also be interested in: Things to do in LA’s Koreatown

The Marciano Art Foundation
Location: 4357 Wilshire Boulevard

The Marciano Art Foundation isn’t a particularly large museum, but with exhibitions from big name artists like Yayoi Kusama and Ai Wei Wei, it packs a lot of punch. Admission and parking are complimentary, but online reservations are required.

Yayoi Kusama Marciano Art Foundation #yayoikusama
Yayoi Kusama

Echo Park Lake
Location: 1632 Bellevue Avenue, Los Angeles

Echo Park is a great neighborhood with a lot to offer, but a highlight is Echo Park Lake, where you can rent the Lake’s famous swan pedal boats. The lines can be long, but if you take turns waiting, the rest of the group can pass the time walking the lake path and watching the turtles and other wildlife in the park.

Echo Park lake Echo Park Los Angeles California #echopark #losangeles
Echo Park Lake
You might also be interested in: 12 Things to do in LA’s Silver Lake and Echo Park Neighborhoods

Din Tai Fung
Location: Westfield Century City Mall

It’s a dumpling experience! More than a decade after eating at Din Tai Fung for the first time I can still say I’ve never had any that were better!

Pork XiaoLongBao #dintaifung
Pork XiaoLongBao

Staples Center/LA Live
Location: 1111 S Figueroa S. Downtown Los Angeles

Whether it be a sporting event, a concert, or even ice skating during the holidays a visit to Staples Center and LA live is always a good time.

#staplescenter #laclippers #goldenstatewarriors
Warriors v Clippers Staples Center

Cartwheel Art Walking Tours
location: Downtown Los Angeles

Haunted LA or Graffiti and BBQ  Walking Tours

Cartwheel Art Tours and immersive experiences offers multiple walking tours in Downtown LA, but It’s almost as if the BBQ and Graffiti tour was created just for me. The three hour tour includes an insider’s look at graffiti writing in the Downtown Los Angles Arts District, a graffiti lettering workshop, and a late lunch at Pearl’s BBQ.

Arts District Downtown Los Angeles California #nukeuticrew
Nuke and I at the Graffiti Writers Workshop

You’ll Learn about the darker side of LA’s history on the Paranormal Nights and LA Vice walking tours. Led by historical journalist, Hadley Meares, the tours are a perfect mix of history and horrific. Along the way you’ll be treated to spine chilling tales of unsolved murders, bombings, mysterious elevators, haunted hotels and more.

The Wolves Downtown Los Angeles California #losangeles

You might also be interested in:
 Haunted Los Angeles: Exploring the Shadier Side of the City of Angels
Downtown LA Arts District Graffiti & BBQ Tour

Griffith Park Hollywood Sign Hike
Location: 3200 Canyon Drive, Los Angeles

If you’ve never been to LA before the Hollywood Sign should be on your list in some form, and getting up close to one of LA’s most well known icons is pretty special.

Hollywood Sign Griffith Park Los Angeles California #hollywoodsign
Hollywood Sign Back View
You might also be interested in: Hike to the Hollywood Sign

Griffith Park Observatory at Night
Location: Griffith Park

While there are a number of places to get a sweeping views of the City of Angels, there aren’t any as iconic or as famous as the one from The Griffith Park Observatory.

#griffithparkobservatory
Griffith Park Observatory
You might also be interested in: 12 Iconic Film Locations in Los Angeles

Hollyhock House
Location: 4800 Hollywood Boulevard Barnsdall Art Park

Architecture lovers will enjoy a visit to Hollyhock House, Frank Lloyd Wright’s first LA commission, located in the Barnsdall Art Park. Completed in the 1921 for Aline Barnsdall, Hollyhock House impacted and continues to impact residential design to this day. The House’s location offers views of Downtown Los Angeles, the Hollywood Sign and the Griffith Park Observatory.

#franklloydwrite #hollyhockhouse
Hollyhock House

The Cinerama
Location: 6360 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles

See a movie inside The Cinerama Dome, located on LA’s famous Sunset Strip. Built in 1963, it was the first theater of its kind and is currently one of only 3 three such theaters in the world.

The Cinerama Theater Hollwood California #cinerama
The Cinerama Theater

Amoeba Music
Location:6400 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles

Multiple levels of new and used merchandise related to all things and all types of music make Amoeba the go to for music aficionados of all kinds. It’s a superstore of music if you will.

Amoeba Music Sunset Blvd Los Angeles California
Ameoba Music

RockWalk at Guitar Center
Location: Sunset Boulevard

Elvis’s Blue Suede Shoes, Kurt Cobain’s guitar, and Johnny Cash’s handprints, are just a few of the fun items you’ll find at RockWalk a music landmark and pedestrian pathway located at Guitar Center’s flagship store in Hollywood.

#rockwalk #guitarcenter #hollywoodcalifornia
RockWalk Hollywood California

Paint Your Own Graffiti
Location: Venice Art Walls

It wouldn’t be an LA list HilaryStyle if I didn’t include something art related. There’s nothing quite so freeing as grabbing a can of paint and creating your next masterpiece on the wall. That’s right paint your own mural right on Venice Beach at the Venice Art Walls.

#venicebeach Art Walls Venice Beach California #lagraffiti
Venice Beach Art Walls
You might also be interested in: Art Walls: Caution Wet Paint

L.A. Louver Gallery
Location: 45 North Venice Boulevard, Venice

You’ll find the L.A.Louver Gallery just steps from the sand in Venice Beach. In its current location since the 1990s, but established in 1975, the Louver exhibits contemporary from artists from around the world. Admission and parking are free, just remember to brush the sand off your feet before you step inside.

L.A. Louver Gallery Venice California
L.A. Louver Gallery Hockney Exhibition
You might also be interested in: 11 Places to Get Your Culture Fix in Los Angeles

Tide Pooling at Leo Carrillo State beach
Location: Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu

The tide pools at Leo Carrillo State Beach are teeming with sea life and we spent the majority of our time at this beautiful destination peering into the water. Among the many creatures we saw were striped shore crabs, a baby sea star, sunburst anemone, and a black sea hare.

Leo Carrillo State Beach Malibu California
Leo Carrillo State Beach
You might also be interested in: Tide Pools and More at Leo Carrillo State Park

Huntington Langham hotel Tea Service
Location: Huntington Langham Hotel, Pasadena

The Sunday Chocolate tea at the Huntington Langham is a real treat! You’ll know you’re in the right place when you smell the chocolate.In addition to chocolate you’ll be treated to traditional tea sandwiches, scones and cream, and bottomless champagne.

Chocolate Tea Huntington Langham Hotel
Chocolate Tea Huntington Langham Hotel

The Skirball Center
Location:

The Skirball Cultural Center  is home to one of the oldest and largest collections of Jewish cultural artifacts both in the United States and in the world. It is LA’s first Jewish museum, and it’s their mission to preserve and advance Jewish heritage in both social and cultural contexts.

Skirball Jewish Exhibition Los Angeles California
Skirball Jewish Exhibition

Have you visited any of these places? Have I missed any must see LA Spots? I’d love to know about them. Let me know in the comments below.

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22 Things to do in Los Angeles California

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Faraway Files #81

Faraway Files A Travel Blogging Community

Summer break has finally arrived, and here in Southern California tourist season is in full swing. Did you know that according to the LA Tourism and Convention board 48.3 million tourists visited LA in 2017?! That’s a lot of visitors, and all of them are eating, but where?

Eating is one of travels greatest joys, but it can also be one of the most frustrating. How do you avoid the more touristy establishments and pinpoint the best places. You’re in luck if you plan on visiting Los Angeles because I’ve got you covered, and I’ll be sharing some of my favorite LA eating establishments with you on this week’s edition of Faraway Files.

Katy and Erin hosted last week, and Katy’s favorites were:

Day trip to Sant Cugat del Valles by Cultural Wednesday
Cloisers Sant Cugat Manastery
Snapshots from San Marino by Red phone booth
viewofsecondtowersanmarino

 Europe by Campervan by Adventure and Sunshine

Europe-campervan-tunnel

Street Art in Montreal by Dotted Line travels
Phlegm - 2013

Welcome to Faraway Files, the travel link up hosted by Erin from Oregon Girl around the World, Katy from Untold Morsels, Corey from Fifi + Hop, Hilary from Hilarystyle and Clare from Suitcases and Sandcastles.

This is the place to link up your travel posts every Thursday. Faraway Files is a weekly file of the best travel ideas on the web. We want to dream of faraway places, to make new travel plans and share our travel secrets. Inspire us to travel to places we’ve never considered before or revisit a place we thought we knew. We know that you can feel faraway even when you’re close to home, so share your experiences of travels near and far wherever you are in the world.

Don’t forget to comment on the hosts’ posts as well as any others that catch your eye. The more links you read and share the more fun and successful our community will be, so please join in.

We’ll try to read and comment on every post and we’ll share them on social media too. Each week we’ll choose our favourites and highlight them on our blogs and social media channels using #FarawayFiles.

How it works:

  • Link up one travel-related post and add the Faraway Files badge onto the post or your blog (code below) or link back to the hosts.
  • The link up will go live every Thursday at 8am, UK time, until midnight on Friday. It will alternate between Untold Morsels, Suitcases and Sandcastles, Fifi + Hop, HilaryStyle and Oregon Girl around the World. This week’s link up is right here.
  • Link ups work best if everyone shares so please comment on all of the marked hosts’ posts and at least one other.
  • Tweet us your posts (@suitandsand, @UntoldMorsels, @oregongirlworld @fifiandhop @hilarystyleme) using the hashtag #FarawayFiles and we’ll retweet to our followers.
  • Love Instagram? Share your favourite photos from your posts with us, tagging #FarawayFiles and we’ll add our favourites to our Faraway Files Instagram feed.
  • Check out our Faraway Files Facebook page too.
“hilarystyle"

 

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Faraway Files A Travel Blogging Community

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DIY: Skateboard Decks

I love a project and I love a challenge, so with a house full of skaters it makes sense that once again this summer’s DIY project centers around skateboarding. Last year we made our own longboards, which were a huge success and have seen a ton of use, this year we decided to paint the decks!

The desire to recreate a skate shop display wall is what led to this summer’s project idea. We all admire the amazing artwork we see on the decks hanging on skate shop walls, however purchasing multiple brand name skateboard decks is cost prohibitive, so why not find a way to do it ourselves!

While we will be using these skateboard decks as objet d’art in the boy’s rooms, these boards would also be perfect for riding! Keep reading for a list of supplies, hints, techniques, and inspiration!

Supply list:

  • Blank skateboard deck(s)
  • Frisket for making your own stencils
  • paper/cardstock
  • paints – Acrylic or Spray
  • Paint brushes
  • varnish to seal your design
  • face mask to cover nose and mouth
  • disposable gloves
  • blue tape
  • table/surface covers
  • enclosed area for spray painting
  • paper towels
  • dedicated trash can
  • apron or old clothes
  • Board mounts

Blank Skateboard deck(s) –

DIY Skateboard DecksFirst you’ll need to gather some decks! They can be used or new. We ordered our decks new from an online wholesale website, which meant a minimum order of 10 boards. Our cost per board was $15 including tax and shipping. We chose to sell some of the boards, at cost, to friends who were also interested in this fun project, however this could also make a great birthday party activitiy, or maybe you want to hang 10 boards!

Pre-Project Prep

This may seem obvious, but I feel I should mention: Prepare your work surfaces before you get started, especially if you’re using spray paint or varnish to decorate/finish your decks. You’ll want to create an enclosed area to prevent overspray, and its important to wear a mask, and gloves.

DIY Skateboard Decks
Don’t use your living room rug as a work space!

Chosing to decorate only the bottom of the decks, we used blue painter tape to cover the sides and top.

Techniques

Each of us designed our own decks and interestingly each of us had a different technique in mind. That’s the great thing about art, anything goes!

Painting

DIY Skateboard DecksThis is a great project for all ages! My younger son was able to design and paint his board with minimal help from me.

He used acrylic paints for the background, which dry quite quickly, and a cardstock stencil to create the smiley face!

DIY Skateboard DecksI helped him finish the board off with a UV protective varnish.

Stencils

DIY Skateboard DecksMy older son has fully embraced the SoCal culture, and regularly enjoys both skateboarding and surfing, which is what inpsired my design. In order to get the clean crisp look I was after I would need to use stencils.

DIY Skateboard Decks Los Angeles California
Use an exacto blade to relase any stencils that won’t let go.

Using frisket, a low tack material often used by grafitti artists, I created my own stencils. The great thing about Frisket is that it creates a tight seal keeping paint out of unwanted places, but it can also be easily removed! It can be purchased online or at your local art supply store.

DIY Skateboard Decks Los Angeles California
I used the negative image to help me place the letters.

I used the Silhouette Cameo machine to cut my stencils, however one can easily cut these materials freehand with a razor blade or scissors.

DIY Skateboard Decks Los Angeles California
Remember to use an enclosed area before spraying.

After you apply the stencils, use paper and painter tape to protect any areas where you don’t want to apply color. You’re now ready to paint! I chose shades of blue to represent the water meeting the sky. To achieve this graduated look I used Montana Gold spray paint a quick drying paint with a low flow spray.

DIY Skateboard Decks Los Angeles California

Give the paint ample time to dry, especially if you’ve applied a heavy coating. Once the paint has dried, carefully removes the stencils using an exacto knife. Don’t rush when you pull of the tape and stencils as you don’t want to pull off any of your design.

I finished the board off with a UV protectant varnish.

DIY Skateboard DecksI enjoyed this process so much I made another deck, this one featuring one of our family’s favorite snacks, popcorn!

Tape off the areas you don’t want to paint.
Once the paint is dry apply the next stencil.
Remember to wear gloves.
Tape off the areas you don’t want to paint.
The paint must dry completely before applying the next stencil.
Unless you want to repaint… don’t apply the next stencil too early.
The popcorn was a multiple step process.

Simon got in on the stencil action with his Miami Sunset design!

DIY Skateboard Decks

Image Transfer

DIY Skateboard DecksOur final technique was image transfer. Simon wanted to transfer an image he created previously, but didn’t want to recreate it, so we used acrylic gel medium to transfer the image to the deck.

Gem Medium can be found in the acrylic paint aisle. Use a laser jet printer.
Prep your deck.

You do this by printing your image out using a laser printer. Paint your image with a generous amount of gel medium. Saturate everything, but don’t make it so wet you tear the paper.

DIY Skateboard Deck Los Angeles California
If your image contains text make sure to create a mirror image.

Lay the image down and smooth it out. Let it dry overnight before you complete the process.

DIY Skateboard Deck Los Angeles California
Saturate your image with gel medium an apply it to the board.

When you’re ready to remove the image use a damp sponge or smooth cloth to help you remove the paper. Don’t rub too hard! Give it a minimum of 8 hours but overnight is best!

DIY Skateboard DecksI also wanted to try this technique, so I created a deck using an image I took at the tamago stand in Tsukiji fish market during our Tokyo trip. To create this distressed look I rubbed the image with a rough cloth and then sanded off excess bits of paper.

DIY Skateboard Deck Los Angeles California

Remember to create a mirror image so your text won’t be backwards!
Finish up with a coating of UV protective varnish.

We still need to practice this technique but came out with two Decks we were really happy with! We all really enjoyed this project and let coming up with more and more ideas! My son’s birthday is coming up… I feel a party theme coming on!

DIY Skateboard Decks Los Angeles California

Tips & Advice:

  • We purchased the a spray painting tent, disposable gloves, and masks at our local art store!
  • The blue tape and plastic can all be purcahsed at your local hardware store, however we found that we had many of these items around the house left over from previous projects.
  • Don’t rush! Allow time in between steps, especially when applying and painting stencils, or you’ll end up repainting. Trust me, I know.
  • Don’t worry if you make mistakes! It’s just paint, paper, etc. you can always sand off your design or paint over it until you achieve the look you want!
  • We plan to mount our boards with these Sk8ology hooks to give them the appearance of floating on the wall… Once I get them up I’ll update with a photo!

DIY Skateboard Decks Los Angeles California

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Take Me With You…

#thismomentisyours

Okay, it’s probably not reasonable to take me with you on your next adventure, but, now with the help of GPS-Guided travel articles you can almost take me with you, and that’s the next best thing, right?! Wondering how to make this possible? Read on…

#hilarystyle
I’m ready, lets go!

I recently discovered a new app, GPSmyCITY, that ties in beautifully with the reason I started this blog in the first place, my love of travel and the desire to share what I love with others. The GPSmyCity app provides offline access to travel related articles from 750 cities around the world, some of which were written by yours truly!

#swanstairs
My most recent Los Angeles discovery: The hidden staircases of Silver Lake

Like many people who travel, I do a lot of research before I go, the problem is gaining access to that research once I’m at my destination. The reality is that wifi isn’t always available, which means I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to pull up that great article, blog post, or map, when I need it most. However, even if I could, there’s the high cost of international data to consider. This is where the GPSmyCITY app comes in handy!

What is a GPS-guided travel article?

A GPS-Guided travel article is exactly what it sounds like: An article with GPS coordinates embedded directly into the text. The best part is that once you’ve downloaded the article you won’t need access to the internet to use it!  Download all the articles you’re interested in free of charge. Once you’ve decided on the article(s) that best work for your destination, you have the option to upgrade for a small fee f $1.99*, which will activate the GPS coordinates within the article along with an offline map.

#gpsmycityhilarystyle

Say goodbye to dragging along those heavy guide books, besides, they only offer information about the most well known spots anyway. When you bring along a GPSmyCity article, you’ll have everything you need to find all those hidden travel gems (for example, those hidden stairway walks in Los Angeles) right on your smart phone. Bonus: You’ve saved money and your aching back. How great is that!

Ready to try it Out?

Here are two easy ways you can access GPS-guided travel articles:

  • click on a link below for the article you are interested in (if you haven’t already downloaded the free GPSmyCity app, you will see a prompt to do so). After downloading the app, you will be directed to the article, where you can choose UPGRADE to get the GPS-guided version.
  • From the GPSmyCity app, you can browse by city to see which articles are available.

You can download any article for free or upgrade for offline GPS-guided use.

I’m really excited about the ability to share my articles with you in this new way, and hope you love it too. To introduce you to this new idea, I’m able to offer three of my articles free of charge for the first week. (expires March 12, 2017)

Some of my other articles, are also available on GPSmyCity! They offer details about my favorite museums, shopping spots, off the beaten path surprises, and delicious food finds. With GPSmyCity on your smart phone, you really can take me with you!

Versailles, France
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Bruges, Belgium
York, England
Glasgow, Scotland
New Orleans, Louisiana
Santa Barbara, California
Seattle, Washington
Toledo, Spain
Santa Cruz, California
New Orleans, Louisiana
Los Angeles, California

*Note: If you do upgrade one of my downloaded travel articles, I receive a small portion of the sale, which I’m hoping might contribute to maintaining this travel blog…

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Mom Stuff: I’m Not A Soccer* Mom…

My kids don’t play organized sports and that’s okay! In fact I’ve always liked it that way, but more importantly they like it that way. Please don’t misunderstand I’m not anti team sports, and we did encourage the boys to try…

#soccercampIn fact after years of signing my older son up for the “right” team, getting up early on weekends, shlepping the little brother along, volunteering, preparing snack, washing the uniform, losing the uniform, returning the uniform and driving back and forth to soccer, baseball, basketball, and swim team I rejoiced when he finally asked to quit.

In truth he didn’t really have the drive necessary to succeed, but expected success, how was that going to work long term? I could see years of disappointment ahead and as a mom I could hardly bear it.

It wasn’t all bad and there were some nice moments along the way, but none of them made up for all the times I had to drag him all of us to practice knowing he wasn’t even really having fun. I used to pray for a rain out and we live in California –  where we’ve been experiencing a drought for the past 5 years.

Freedom

Once we’d liberated ourselves from the grueling team sport schedules, I worried about what would happen to our friendships after spending years being part of “the team.” What would happen now? Would it be okay? Turns out it would! Phew!

We slept in on weekends while our friends did the sports thing and then met up with them later… But, that all changed as soon as we moved. It’s hard to be the new kid when you’re not into team sports? How do you meet people?

Guess I’d Better Set That Alarm After All

#surfteam

Simon discovered surfing this past summer and joined his school’s surf team! How cool is that?! Watching him practice and seeing the look of joy on his face has finally opened me up to what it must feel like for other parents during their child’s sporting events. Instead of a field we meet at the beach, it’s the rash guard that’s lost and the wetsuit that needs a wash, but the little brother loves the beach and even though surf boards make carpooling difficult I’ll do the shlepping, because I love to see the look of happiness on my son’s face!

#surfpractice
Sunset Surf Team Practice
#carpoolwithsurfboard
Heading to sunrise surf practice

So maybe it’s not a Ball Sport as Simon calls them, but he’s found his passion, which sadly for me means no more sleeping in on weekends. Its back to those early mornings, afternoon practices, team events and competitions, only this time I won’t mind a bit!

So, I guess I’m joining the sports mom club after all… better late than never!

Where there’s a will there’s a way
Happy Little Bro
Drying the “uniform”
Surf Buddies

*Insert team sport here.

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Thanksgiving Traditions

#mexicanesquite

It’s obviously no secret that I love to travel, but when I’m home I take comfort in my daily routines and rarely deviate from them. Throughout the year It’s a nice mix of the excitement of the new and the comfort of the known. For much the same reason I look forward to the holidays every year. We get that much needed break from the tedium of the school week and the joy of our annual holiday traditions!

Making a New Tradition

#mexicanesquite

Like most people many of our holiday traditions revolve around food, and some of the recipes go back generations! I can’t remember a new dish being added. Ever. Each of us has our favorite, mine was always the sweet potatoes. I admit the mini marshmallows baked on at the end were a big draw… However, I recently discovered a dish I love so much I’ve decided to break from routine and give it a shot at becoming a new holiday tradition! That is if I decide to share…

Mexican Street Corn Salad (Esquites)

Not only is this a delicious dish, it’s very easy to throw together! Add as much or as little of each ingredient to make this recipe truly your own.

  • Vegetable oil
  • 1 ear of fresh corn per person (remove the kernels)
  • Salt
  • Chopped Cilantro (save some for garnish)
  • Mayonaise
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Cotija cheese crumbled (save some for garnish)
  • Lime juice
  • Chili powder
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced

Heat the oil in a large non-stick pan over hight heat. Add the corn kernels, salt and toss them a few times before letting them char one side. Repeat this process on the other side and continue until all the kernels have reached the desired amount of charing. About 30 seconds before removing the kernels from the pan add the minced garlic and stir. Transfer the kernels to a large bowl.

Mix in the cilantro, both cheeses, the mayonnaise, lime juice and chili powder. Salt to taste and garnish with extra cilantro and cotija cheese crumbles. Many people also add chopped jalapeño or hot sauce as well. Serve warm. Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

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What’s Going To Happen Now?

#sunset

#sunsetIs this really happening? WTF? What’s going to happen now? These are just a few of the thoughts floating around in my head right now and I know I’m not alone.

When writing about my travels, new fashion finds, or just plain fun (Basically the inconsequential things) the words just pour out of me. I’m constantly running to my computer to put a new idea down before it disappears into the ether. However when it comes to the more serious topics like parenting, relationships, or most recently politics this isn’t the case. In these instances where the need to get my feelings across seems more important than ever I struggle to sort through the myriad of complicated thoughts and emotions running through my mind in the hopes of organizing them into what I hope will be the coherent articulate words that will convey my message.

Often, after a few failed attempts I hit the delete button and move on to something easier or more cheerful, something not so vulnerable, and I really wanted to do that this time as well…

Like many like-minded people, I am shocked by the outcome of our recent election, and I am struggling with the idea of an uncertain future, for our country as a whole, and though on a much smaller scale, more personally for my own family. At the same time I’m trying to remain calm and keep things real and normal for my children all while trying to convince myself that the little pep talk I keep giving myself isn’t a pipe dream and that things can still turn out okay.

I’ve been spending a lot of time at the beach lately, it’s a great place to gather my thoughts and of course view the sunset! Mother Nature puts on a different show every night, but the one certainty is that there will always be another one tomorrow. With so much uncertainty in our future this is a welcome and beautiful constant.

#sunset

 

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Mom Stuff: The Writing Is On The Wall! 

Writing on the wallSeriously, I mean the writing is literally on the wall! Elliot’s bedroom wall to be more exact! Giving the boys the freedom to choose how they wanted to decorate their new rooms, Elliot chose whiteboard wall paint as his main design element and I must admit I didn’t think it was all that exciting, after all its basically just another white wall, but it’s his room and it was his choice… Good choice Elliot! Turns out  writing on the walls is a fabulous stress reliever! “Why does an 8 year old need a stress reliever?”

TOO MUCH HOMEWORK!

Writing on the wall

That’s right, Too much homework!!! Three weeks into the new school year and we are doing our best to settle into a routine, but I must admit we are hitting a few road bumps. Balancing the need for play and down time with all the homework is becoming a real challenge in our home. I know I’m not alone here!!

Can I vent for a minute?

The Writing Is On The Wall

Earlier this week my third grader broke down in tears of despair after more than 90 minutes of studying (he wasn’t even done). This was more than heartbreaking, it was unacceptable! I keep thinking what are we doing wrong? Did we miss something? I thought he was right on track in school? What’s worse, is that if I’m privately thinking these things, what must be going through his 8 year old mind?

Recently I attended Back to School Night where we were told that family time, outdoor play and after school activities are paramount to a child’s success. That there is no proof of homework being academically beneficial and it’s more about building a routine, yet it still keeps coming, day after day, pages and pages of it… with no end in sight…… Why?

Knowing there will always be homework, my first priority is to help my little guy find ways to deal with the burdens and stress he feels after long days at school and what seems like a mountain of homework waiting for him. How do I do this? He’s only 8 so It’s not like he can jump on a spin bike, or pour a glass of wine, or any of the other more grown up activities I sometimes engage in when feeling overwhelmed? Okay, often engage in…

Art Graffiti Therapy?

The Writing Is On The Wall-As it turns out Elliot discovered a way all on his own, and it wasn’t an electronic device! The whiteboard wall in his room is more than just a good time! After throwing his pencil down in defeat after the marathon study session I found him tearfully drawing on the wall in his room. I decided to join him and pretty soon all of us were happily writing and drawing on the walls!

The writing is on the wall and I look forward to seeing a lot more of it!

#vision

SAMSUNG CSC

The Writing Is On The Wall