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I have some exciting news to share! After twelve years together, Alex and I made it official on May 31st! Insert exploding confetti balloon here. Our beautiful, magical wedding in the Lost Sierra mountains was captured by Blue Kite Cinema and is going to be featured as the season finale on their new TV show ‘Our Wedding Story’ on the UP Network THIS FRIDAY!!! To say we were honored to have this crew film our wedding is an understatement for the ages! Their collective talents are truly immeasurable. They are some of the most creative, wonderful spirits we have ever met and we cannot wait for you to see their handiwork! They are one-of-a-kind videographers, producers, and creators and have talent that will blow your damn mind. The bonus? We have met forever-friends, I’m sure of it. ☺ We heart you BIG TIME BKC Boys (+Girl)! Once the episode has aired I will give you my full download of the entire experience and share some of my favorite snapshots from the week-long extravaganza! It’s one I will hold right next to my ooiest, gooiest, most lovey-dovey places forever and ever and ever. I haven’t seen the episode yet so I’m a mix of excited and terrified at the same time! If you happen to give it a watch this Friday, let me know what you think in the comments below! Here’s to hoping I’m not super awkward on camera! Cheers, LF

There are few things I value above my friendships and last night was a perfect example of why. The past several months have been a bit rough, life isn’t always easy and that’s okay. Sometimes you end up in a completely different place than you thought you’d be and that’s okay too. There are lessons to be learned, after all, and no one gets to decide how or when life will dole them out. In those moments I have found that it can be so difficult to hold onto your sense of self worth but a total walk in the park to be consumed by everything that’s going wrong. And that is decidedly not okay. Luckily, there are sweet, sweet souls out there called friends to pick you up, dust you off and give you the confidence boost you so desperately (but probably unknowingly) needed! Here’s the highlight reel from my night of Girltalk Realness: Stop giving a crap. Immediately and completely. Then once step one has been accomplished, do that thing. You know, the thing you’ve wanted to do forever but can always find a million and one reasons why you shouldn’t or couldn’t do it. DO IT! Remember that every experience, every job, every decision, the good and the bad, have lead you to where you are now. Don’t forget to look back and take every ounce of wisdom you’ve gained from them and then directly apply that knowledge to your future success. (See step 2.) Know your value. Own it. Wear it like a badge of honor then strut that shit down the runway like the #girlboss you are. Lastly, you really can do whatever you set your mind to; you just have to have the courage to do it. (See #1, then #2. Rinse and repeat, as needed.) Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, it’s impossible to get back in the groove on your own. Sometimes your groove needs to be served to you on a silver platter filled with short-rib tacos and guacamole. Moral of the story is when you’re in need of a pick-me-up grab a friend, some tacos and a glass pitcher of sangria…in that order.  Then go there, get into it, and I promise you’ll walk away with a pep in your step and a grateful heart. I know I did. xo, LF

#10 This may seem rather obvious, but there isn’t a convenient/close place to get firewood or any other type of supplies in the park so be sure to stock up on everything you need before you enter. (Water, propane, batteries and wood usually tend to go fast so pack more than you think you’ll need.) #9 Layer, layer layer! The best time to visit Joshua Tree is during the winter months and temperatures then tend to plummet suddenly! Pack for temps in the 30’s and very high winds. At certain points I had on three long-sleeved tops, a jacket, two pairs of socks, two pairs of pants and was wrapped up in blankets while sitting fireside. Seriously, pack for Antarctica. #8 There’s little to no cell phone reception anywhere in the park so you may want to think about getting walkie-talkies, especially if you plan on separating for a solo hike. Let’s try to avoid any repeats of 127 Hours, mmm’kay?! #7 A word of caution, if you’re bringing small pets be very, very careful and leash ’em an hour or two before dusk (if not at all times). We had a coyote come right up to our site while we were sitting around the campfire! We also had an adorable bunny and several teeny, tiny chipmunks. #6 If you plan on visiting Joshua Tree more than once in 365 days opt for the year pass at the visitor’s center for $40 instead of the $25 day pass at the park entrance. #5 …..while you’re there ask the ranger for a map. It will be invaluable! Also pick their brain on any cool tours or events in the park for the time you’re there. #4 Joshua Tree is at it’s most beautiful when the Milky Way galaxy is visible above the horizon. You’ll have to go between February and October to catch a glimpse. (It will blow your mind!) #3 Try to plan your trip around a new moon. You will be in awe of how many more stars appear when that big ‘ole ball of light isn’t trying to take center stage. #2. All of the first come, first serve campgrounds will have a FULL sign out front. Drive through anyway. Always. #1 Since nobody wants to camp in the desert in the middle of summer when it’s 120 degrees outside the colder months are when Joshua Tree really heats up in terms of visitors! There are only a few campgrounds that offer reservations, you’re best bet is to plan early enough to make one and then once you arrive drive through the park to see if you can find a better spot at one of the first come, first serve sites. If you do though, be sure to pay it forward. Once your new site is secured, call and cancel your existing reservation so someone else can snag it. (Otherwise people like me end up sleeping in a parking lot outside the park even though there are empty sites available.) Be sure to check out Part I and Part II of my photo diary to this majestic desert! Also learn How I Found the Best Campsite in Joshua Tree so you can avoid sleeping in a parking lot like I did, I mean, unless that’s your thing. And then, by all means… Follow my journey on Instagram @lindseyfoard!

I’ll be honest, we were not fully prepared for how busy the park would be. With over 500 campsites to choose from, I didn’t think we’d run into any trouble getting one. I was wrong, every site was taken. Like every single one. So we had to resort to plan B (we didn’t have a plan B) which meant that we had to set up camp in a glorified parking lot outside of Joshua Tree for the first night. (All the airbnb’s were full too, we checked and then checked again.) We made the best of it with a yummy dinner and drinks around the campfire but fulfill our expectations it did not. SO, the next morning we quickly packed up camp and got our butts back to the park early so we could snag a site. As we were driving through the Jumbo Rocks campground we got out of the car to check out a few spots that were open when a man who was hiking nearby yelled out to us “Get that site, it’s the best one in the park”! And that’s how we discovered #79, the best campsite in all of Joshua Tree. The site is completely private, you can’t see or hear any other campsites. (Although, you do get a few people walking through as there are trails and amazing hikes behind it. We didn’t have any problems though, everyone was super cool!) The desert doesn’t care who you are, and neither does anyone or anything who lives in it. -Deanne Stillman We had the best time hiking and exploring our new terrain. It was like having our own, private extraterrestrial playground. Though, when you’re surrounded by such a strange assortment of plants and enormous rock formations like that it really does make you feel like you’re on another planet. It kind of messes with your sense of reality, in a detached-feeling sort of way. Like home could be light years away. It’s a very odd sensation; I guess its part of the beauty of Joshua Tree. That night we knew the sky was going to put on a show and we wanted front row seats. So we filled my backpack chairs with libations and extra layers of clothing, grabbed the Farkle (a rad dice game) and hiked up one of the many rocky outcrops behind our site. We settled at the top of the world, busted out the dice and some M83 while we watched the sun slowly sink below the horizon. Without getting too deep here, being out in the middle of nowhere under the open sky like that procures a certain lightness of spirit. You let go of pretenses you didn’t know you held onto and a feeling of tranquility washes over you that is hard to come by living in the city, especially one as busy as Los Angeles. It turned out to be a wildly magical evening, one I won’t soon forget. Be sure to check out Part I and Part II of my photo diary to this majestic desert and 10 Things You Should Know Before You Go Camping in Joshua Tree. Follow my journey on Instagram @lindseyfoard and be sure to tag me if you go to Joshua Tree, especially if you luck out and snag campsite #79.

SaveSave SaveSave SaveSaveSaveSave Be sure to check out Part I of my photo diary to this majestic desert and 10 Things to Know Before Camping in Joshua Tree!  Also, learn How I Found the Best Campsite in Joshua Tree so you can avoid sleeping in a parking lot like I did, I mean, unless that’s your thing. And then, by all means… Follow my journey on Instagram @lindseyfoard!

SaveSave SaveSave SaveSaveSaveSave Be sure to check out Part II of my photo diary to this majestic desert and 10 Things to Know Before Camping in Joshua Tree! Also learn How I Found the Best Campsite in Joshua Tree so you can avoid sleeping in a parking lot like I did, I mean, unless that’s your thing. And then, by all means… Follow my journey on Instagram @lindseyfoard!

It’s safe to say that if I’m at home, there is at least one candle burning at all times. I love everything about them, the flame, the fragrance, the flicker of light. My name is Lindsey and I am a candle-o-holic. There, I said it. Enter designer Lisa Marie Todd who I meet in a poolside cabana on the rooftop of the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills. I know, fancy right? Her aquamarine eyes instantly captivate me. They are the Mediterranean Sea personified. Seriously, they are that striking. Before I can make a fool of myself (maybe) introductions are made. Lisa has added 4 new signature scents to her ever-expanding line of candles, Marie Todd Collection and I am here to smell them, not gape at their maker. Added to the lineup are Fresh Mint, Rose & Clove, Jasmine & Cedarwood and “there’s a Vetiver & Sandalwood that is a little more unisex, which I actually prefer myself, it’s one of my favorites”, says the designer. Also new to the collection is the larger 32oz option and her bright, cheery packaging “inspired by gemstones”. It’s so beautiful, in fact that I have decided to reimagine the box as a home for the straws on my bar. What scent is Lisa Todd herself currently burning at home? “I’m into the Blue Agave & Cacao which is a fragrance I’ve had for a while because I’m an avid gardener and cook and I’m growing a ton of blue agaves in my backyard right now. I got rid of all my grass, I’m being conscious of the drought but I still need pretty things!” Amen to that! For more masculine fragrances, look no further than Lisa’s men’s collection, M Todd. If you’re like me, you’re constantly on the hunt for fresh gift ideas for the opposite sex and these candles are just that. The line offers scents like leather, black pepper and tobacco leaf. With monikers like ‘The Bad Boy’, ‘The Adventurer’ and ‘The Artist’ there’s sure to be one for every kind of man in your life. Oh and one more thing! I learned something new about diffusers from Lisa: flip your reeds every two weeks. The dry ends will soak up the oil and reinvigorate your scent! xo, Lindsey SaveSave SaveSave

Did you know the Salton Sea is California’s largest lake and not only that but its entire existence was a complete accident? Yeah, it was a diversion of the Colorado River gone wrong. The geological blunder was in 1905. Fast-forward 45 years and the Salton Sea was a thriving resort and yacht club for the wealthy in the 50’s and 60’s. At that time, it attracted more than half a million people annually, among those were Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack. What happened between then and now is awful. When I pulled into this historic beach town the first thing I noticed was not a beach full of sunbathers but rather the distinct smell of putrid, rotting fish. Oh and salt….in the air, in the water, on the ground, everywhere. The entire town itself has been leached of any of its color because of it. When I think of the Salton Sea the words bleak, desolate, and decay are the first that come to mind. So in looking at these pictures it’s difficult to imagine that it used to be such a magnetic and glamorous tourist attraction, but indeed it was. The now post-apocalyptic Bombay Beach, where these photographs were taken, has largely been abandoned save for a few offbeat residents who traverse the grounds in electric golf carts. (The nearest gas station is 20 miles away.) Trés bizarre but fun to check out if you happen to be in the area.

As I’ve mentioned, I’ve made it my personal little goal to do a bit more exploring in the downtown area of Los Angeles. I even went as far as to ride the subway on this particular adventure, which to be honest wasn’t my cup of tea. It really wasn’t any faster than driving, which I still had to do to get to the subway from my house. But I digress. What I’m really here to divulge is the exquisite treasure I discovered in Little Tokyo in the form of Ramen. Oooooh how I love ramen! Although unbeknownst to me I had never experienced REAL ramen. There are many, many restaurants in and around LA that claim to be authentic ramen, they are not. I would venture to guess if it’s not located in Little Tokyo, it’s faux ramen or fa-men as I like to call it. Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen however, may as well be in the heart of Tokyo. Once inside I was instantly transported into the hustle and bustle of what I imagine this restaurant would be like on the streets of Japan. There was a flurry of activity, a whirlwind of waiters shouting orders and greetings, it was hot, crowded, and aromatic and everything happened in fast-forward. Luckily we were seated at the bar, which was really fun because we got to watch the chefs prepare the broth and noodles in vats the size of my apartment. It was awesome. Here’s what I ordered: Hakata Ramen 1/2 bowl Pork Cutlet Bean Sprouts Curry Bomb Sides: Seaweed Wonton Spring rolls This was the final result and what an explosion of flavor it was! They top the ramen with a plethora of sesame seeds and green onions. But my favorite part was the combination of the snappy bean sprouts and soft noodles. It was delightful. Their spring rolls were made out of the thinnest, crispiest rice paper I’ve ever had. I dunked mine in a mixture of soy sauce and chili pepper oil. Is your mouth watering yet. I’m a total sucker for anything curry but next time I might hold off on the curry bomb but only because the broth can easily stand on it’s own. I could have chugged it but I didn’t want to embarrass my dining companion. You’re welcome, Jacqueline. Post ramen invasion we walked across the street to the courtyard where children were running through the crowded path, their tiny hands full of red bean donuts a very in-demand dessert in Little Tokyo. Brightly colored paper lanterns are strung between the shops and in the balconies above old men smoke their pipes and peer down on the courtyard below like watchmen. It’s beautiful. We continued the tour and walked just a couple blocks to the arts district to check out some of the cool graffiti before taking the metro back to Union Station. I walked through the depot in the late afternoon when the sunlight was pouring through the windows. If you’ve never been, go. There’s another ramen spot right down the street that apparently always has a line out the door and around the corner. If I can wait, next time I might try it. Maybe.

I’m embarrassed to admit that after living in this city for 11+ years I’ve barely set foot in the concrete enigma that is Downtown LA. Why you ask? Mostly because of her tricky one-ways, the wafting smell of urine and the dark alleys where obviously there lurks a monster of one kind or another. For me, DTLA was the shadowy place the light didn’t touch and so I heeded Mustafa’s advice and steered clear whenever possible. But honestly 10 years ago she was unattractive. After decades of abuse and neglect the beautiful art deco facades of downtown began to crumble and slowly she became a shell of her former glamorous self when the well to do and celebrities flocked to her theaters, restaurants and hotels in the 1920’s and 30’s. I have wistfully poured over pictures and articles of that magical time in the city’s history. She was so spectacular! The reality however, the morose state of her disrepair always just bummed me out when I walked around the city. And so I would trek back up the 101 like the good little Valley Girl I am, leaving behind my dismal mood and an untold amount of unfulfilled adventures. But over the last few years I’ve witnessed a visible difference, a major revolution. Every time I visit there’s new construction being done or renovations completed or a grand opening for whatever new bar or restaurant has moved in. The change is incredible! This city is dusting off her flapper dress and rising again, albeit slowly, into the dazzling metropolis she once was. Think less of the 20’s glitz & glamour, though, and more urban vitality. There’s a new, contagious energy in DTLA that was missing before but that you can’t deny has taken over the city. I suppose I should give credit where credit is due. I have my fabulous friend Jacqueline to thank for my new adventurous relationship with Downtown. She, like me, is from Minnesota. When she told me she was moving out here and that she wanted to live downtown I was mortified! I thought, oh god, she’s going to hate it and move back immediately! But my words of hazard luckily did not pay off and she and her boyfriend Emmanuel moved there two summers ago. Because of Jax Downtown Los Angeles is not as much a concrete enigma to me anymore as she is an artsy, culinary jungle ripe with an unlimited amount of fun! I’m very much looking forward to getting to know her better…and soon. Rules for Visiting Downtown LA: #1. Go in off-traffic times or you’ll regret ever getting in the car at all. #2. Know where you’re going and where to park ahead of time. #3. On that note, bring cash for parking, as most of the lots don’t accept debit cards. #4. Go hungry. The food options down there are plentiful and worth the drive alone. #5. Finally, and this one is really important, those aren’t homeless people, they’re hipsters. Apparently there’s a difference. SaveSave