Flashback Friday: Laguna Beach Father’s Day 2014

I grew up and went to high school in Orange County, CA. This county is just south of Los Angeles County. Laguna Beach is in Orange County and it is where I currently live when I am not living in NYC. For Father’s Day this year I was with my family and grandfather, not my father for reasons I won’t go into. My grandfather is a father to me so it is only appropriate that I spent Father’s Day with him.

So let me tell you a little bit about Laguna Beach. When I was younger they made a reality TV show called Laguna Beach based off some teenagers who went to Laguna Beach High School. It was on MTV and had a few seasons before the kids graduated.  Some of you know of this show or even watched it. It basically got Laguna Beach famous, or identifiable to those who have never heard of this small beach town. Whenever I say I am from Laguna Beach people usually ask me about the TV show, and if I know or like anyone who was in it.  I don’t, they are older than me. Laguna Beach is a really beautiful beach town that never seems to change. It’s the home of many art galleries, the Sawdust Festival, and the Pageants of the Masters (live art), which I performed as cast member one summer. It’s a town that mixes the old with the new on a rocky, picturesque coastline, with a lot of surfers and sun.

This is main beach. 

It is located in downtown Laguna. Downtown Laguna has a lot of surf shops, bikini and souvenir shops along with some unique dining venues.  If you ever visit, I would recommend dinning at 230 Forest Café, Nicks Laguna or Carmelita’s. Downtown is the only place to go out at night in Laguna Beach because there are a few bars, everywhere else in Laguna is quiet at night. In the summer it is always packed, a lot of tourists come here for some beach time. Pacific Coast Highway runs right along all of Laguna and is a beautiful scenic drive.

I live in south Laguna Beach, which is closer to surrounding cities in Orange County such as San Clemente (another beach town), Laguna Niguel (inland more) and Dana Point (also on the beach). South Orange County is a beautiful place and if any of you reading this ever get the opportunity to visit, you will not regret it. Laguna is where I spent my Father’s day and it was lovely.

I am still wondering where the missing Malaysian plane is? My theories on what could have happened.

 It gives me, and probably others, ANXIETY knowing that a commercial flight can go missing with no trace, especially as I am about to board one. How could something so crazy like this happen in an age where technology is at such an advanced stage that even our phones talk to us. This missing Malaysian plane has lost a lot of media attention but there is still coverage, because WHERE IS IT?! Very concerning. I was reading a NY times article discussing new search areas for the plane and I decided to share my theories on what could have happened to the plane.

So my theories are as follows:

The plane went into time travel

• This meaning the plane is lost somewhere in a time travel, now there is no proof of time travel but I think this is possible.
•  The plane is somewhere else in time and will eventually show up in say 10-15 years from now.
•  The passengers, pilot and crew will all have great stories of their travels.
•  The plane could literally be anywhere in time, future, past or even present.
•  Realistic? Decide for yourself.

The plane is apart of some secret conspiracy.

•         Someone was after a person or persons on that plane, had someone who was after them.
•         It was all planned that the plane would “disappear” leaving no trace.
•        The head of the conspiracy now has the targeted person or persons.
•        What they are doing with the targeted person or persons? Unsure.

The plane exploded leaving no trace.

•       There was an explosion in the plane that caused everything and everyone to disintegrate.
•      This could’ve been an accidental explosion or a planned explosion
•      No traces were left, hence we can’t find it because there is nothing to find.

So those are my three theories. Hopefully none of this happens on the plane I am about to take.

Xo,

Melody 

The Fault In Our Stars, Opinion post.

The Fault In Our Stars, Opinion post.

I am reading The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, currently a major motion picture in theaters, which  I will see and give, yet another, opinion comparing the book and movie. I enjoy reading books and am grateful to have the opportunity to have the time while traveling. It's exciting to find a book that captivates your attention so much you cannot put it down.  I have gotten about half way through the book in less than 24 hours ONLY because it is so good. This novel is so far amazing. It is about a young girl, Hazel, 16, who is dying of lung cancer. She meets a boy in her support group and falls absolutely in love with him. This is unexpected because who would fathom a romance to transpire during a death sentence? She mentions dying a lot, but this is almost expected considering she will be overcome with cancer and pass on. But the fact that she can find some happiness during such a tragic time is inspiring. So far I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good love story. Even though I suspect a sad ending, it is nice to read about something finding happiness and love in an unfortunate situation.

This is what the book looks like. 

Reading is a great way to spend time traveling. I find it relaxing and enjoyable, especially on vacations.

Xo,

Melody

Flying, and Anchorman Two Reviewed

Flying, and Anchorman Two Reviewed

Traveling around I have a lot of time to catch up on movies and TV shows I don’t normally have time for. This is especially true when you travel coast to coast and the flights are long. 

I decided to watch a movie on my plane flight up to northern California. Although this was a short flight I was able to watch Anchorman Two. I saw Anchorman One a long time ago and thought this would be a good choice to pass time in the air. Now if you have seen Anchorman One or Two you would know it is a comedy. Now for those of you who haven’t seen these movies you need to know it is pretty funny.  The movie stars Will Ferrell, one of my favorite comedians. The movie also stars Steve Carell, another great actor and comedian.

I was attracted to this movie for a number of reasons. First I saw the first movie and thought it was pretty hilarious. Second Will Ferrell is just awesome. And even better,  will Ferrell and Steve Carell are a great combination together. Third it didn’t do too badly on IMBD with a 6.5/10. But Anchorman Two dissapointed. I would’ve given it a flat 6. It didn’t absolutely suck but it was a disappointment compared to the first Anchorman movie. Overall I got a few laughs in and would recommend it to other Will Ferrell and Steve Carell fans.

Xo,

Melody

3 Easy Ways to Travel Light and Easy

As I am packing today to go to NYC I would like to share some great tips for packing that I find very useful. As a bi-coastal traveller, or for anyone else traveling a lot, these tips are very helpful. 

1. Downsize. Less is more. Remember when packing that it is always easier with minimal items. When packing think about taking only the necessary items and outfits you will be wearing. Always remember you can wear something twice. It's also nice to have a little bit of room for souvenirs on your travels.

2. Plan more time for travel. I find myself rushing last minute before I travel. So instead I have decided to add 30 minutes to my preparations. An example is today I had a 4 o'clock flight out of LAX. I told myself 3:30 to allow for traffic and possible errors. Time is key and allowing extra can never hurt.

3.  Headphones. BRING THEM. It makes a world of a difference when traveling and is a great way to pass time. Especially in airport security, on the plan, train, bus, or even car. Don't forget your iPod or music/video device!

So fellow travelers! Take note of these easy steps.


Xo,
Melody

I had an OMG moment, I ran into Kendall and Kylie Jenner, plus some political stuff going on about Beverly Hills Hotel

So yesterday I was casually hanging out at the Beverly Hills Hotel with my good friend. This was my first time at this hotel and I know it is known to be crawling with famous people. 

There is also a huge issue going on with this hotel I will go into detail after I share my OMG moment with you all. As the caption states, I was casually walking up the stairs from the pool. I look to my left and walking shoulder to shoulder with me (no joke) was Kendall and Kylie Jenner with their crew of boys. Now this was a long staircase it took me a sec to realize it was them so I slowed down to see if my friend behind me saw and realized he was at the bottom putting on sunscreen still. I turned around and went up to him and quietly said look it’s the Jenner girls. Now I am not going to say that I am some massive obsessive celebrity fan but this was pretty cool for me. I mean I follow them on Instagram so I know exactly what they look like and I’ve been keeping up with the Kardashians for years. Seeing celebrities that are some of the most famous people at the moment made me feel cool…aha.  I wanted to take a pic because now they are waiting for their table and I have looked a few times and they def saw me. I refrained from taking any pictures although that would’ve been epic for my blog but I didn’t want to seem like that person who acts like that in front of them. I was really trying to keep my cool. After my friend was done applying sunscreen we walked and talked about it. Seeing mega celebrities was a true LA moment.

Okay now on to why people are currently boycotting the Beverly Hills Hotel, one of the most iconic places in the city. The owner of the hotel is a Sultan, the richest man in the world (apparently), and prime minister of Brunei. Sultan has made a recent decision to phase in sharia law, which calls for the stoning of gays and adulterers. Since that decision there have been protesters and people avoiding his hotel because of this law. Basically the hotel was really empty except for some families and old people. So I guess a good spot for celebrities to find some peace. I didn’t see any protestors the day I went to the hotel but it has been going on now for a little over two months. People are unsure of what will happen because of this boycott, but only time will tell.

Xo,

Melody

A Day In Beverly Hills

I am going to share an experience I had staying in Beverly Hills last week. If you have ever been to Beverly Hills you may recognize some of the famous things about it.

I was staying at the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills, located in the heart of Beverly Hills and its area is shopping capital of California. Some of the most famous and high-end stores are located here. Famous Rodeo Drive is a block away from the Montage. I did some shopping there, but not that much considering everything is overly priced. It is fun to walk around, though I felt like a major tourist. In a place like Beverly Hills sometimes its better to blend in, but who wants to do that if it requires spending so much!

Living between New York and California naturally makes one want to compare them. One thing I noticed about Beverly Hills is that almost all of the cars are flashy and expensive. There are not many taxis in Beverly Hills but they are everywhere in NYC. I noticed a lot of black cars in Beverly Hills with drivers in them, especially at night around the high-end restaurants. Some restaurants I recognized before from dining in NYC. One in particular was next door to my hotel called Bouchon. There is also one in the Time Warner center in NYC. It is a personal favorite of mine with an American and French twist menu. I spent most of my day walking around and observing people and the city around me. This was not my first time in Beverly Hills but this time I looked at it with a whole new perspective. I was now looking at Beverly Hills through the eyes of a New Yorker. After my day of shopping my friend and I had dinner at a high-end restaurant called CUT STEAKHOUSE, right in the heart of Beverly Hills. It was fabulous and reminded me of something out of a movie. 

After my day of shopping and sightseeing I rested at my hotel. It was a good day indeed. Some positives I must say in comparing Beverly Hills to NYC is that Beverly Hills was very clean. NYC is dirty. There are trash bags piled up, rats scuttling around, thick city air and bright lights at night. Beverly Hills is just one of the areas I will be comparing in the Los Angeles area. It is even amazing to see how one city can have neighborhoods so drastically different from one another. 

Xo,

Melody