Summer is officially in full swing! I finished finals two weeks ago, and I am officially back in LA after spending a week in Orange County with family. I live in LA full-time now, but I grew up in south Orange County, near Laguna Beach. It was a great place to grow up, but I have always preferred city life to suburbia, and I don’t ever see myself leaving the magic of the city. My parents recently moved to Texas, so it felt so good to spend some time just the three of us. I miss them very much, but I am excited for their next chapter. While we were all in Orange County, we spent quality time with family and friends, did some relaxing, and visited some of my favorite restaurants. I do not go home very often, but I always make sure to go to Avila’s El Ranchito when I do. I cannot begin to express how much I absolutely love this place! We are definitely long-time customers, and the owner knows my family at this point. It is a small, family-owned chain, and we often go to the Laguna Niguel location. They have the best salsa around, and their fajitas make me hungry just thinking about them!
Now that I am back in LA, I have a full summer ahead of me! I will be studying for the LSAT, taking a summer course for my major, and working at my part-time internship. It sounds like a lot, but my summer plans all changed very suddenly, and these new plans are definitely the right fit for me. While I may be spending my days studying at my desk or working in the office, I will still have plenty of free time in the evenings and on the weekends to take advantage of my summer in LA. Last year, I didn’t move back to LA until August, so I was only able to catch the tail-end of the summer festivities. This year, I plan to fully participate! I have even created a summer bucket list of the things at the top of my to-do list. I especially want to check out the free jazz concerts at LACMA on Friday evenings, see a movie at the Melrose Rooftop Theater, and I already have my tickets to see two movies at the Hollywood Bowl with a full orchestra. I always say that spring is my favorite season until I have a really good summer. There is an energy about summer that is rather infectious. I feel like it has something to do with the the longer days and warmer weather. I think it makes everyone a little more happy and carefree.
This lightweight jumpsuit will be perfect for all of your summer festivities! Personally, I don’t like wearing tight pants or shorts. I will almost always opt for a pretty dress or loose fitting bottoms instead, and I recently picked up this flowy jumpsuit at Anthropologie while I was home in Orange County. The playful boho vibe makes this the perfect little day jumpsuit that can easily transition into any summer night plans. I love to wear it with a denim jacket and espadrille wedge at night for an outdoor concert or a late night movie. Most recently, I wore it with some simple sandals to a showing of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix at the Hollywood Bowl. I have always been a little bit of a Harry Potter nerd, and I was really looking forward to watching the movie at the the Bowl! When you see a movie at the Hollywood Bowl, not only is the movie outside, but all of the music is also performed by a live orchestra! It really is a wonderful way to experience a movie, and I plan to do the same for Jurassic Park later this summer. I absolutely love going to the Hollywood Bowl, but there are definitely some handy pointers you should know before you go. First, be sure to get a shuttle pass! Parking at the Bowl is absolutely insane, and I can assure you that you won’t want to drive in it. Fortunately for me, there is a shuttle that picks up near UCLA. It is so close that I can even walk to it! Second, I recommend packing a dinner. You can buy food at the Hollywood Bowl, but most people pack sandwiches they picked up from Subway or Jersey Mike’s and then eat them in their seat before the show. It’s a lovely evening, usually with some cooler summer weather, and I highly recommend eating outside. Continuing along the lines of food and drink, be sure to buy a bottle of wine when you get there, and enjoy the night!
I may have started off my summer with some time in Orange County and a night at the Hollywood Bowl, but I have plenty more adventures ahead of me this summer. I also have a lot of work ahead of me too, but I can already tell that this is going to be one of my better summers in a long time and I cannot wait to enjoy the good times ahead.
xx
Emily
