moving | Left Coast Contessa

The theme of the day Saturday was running around completing errands. I am going to Boston on Tuesday night for a week to see one of my college besties get married and moving the week I come home from Boston so I have a lot to do this weekend.

I ran 8 miles.

I worked on packing and unpacking.

(Some) of my cookbooks have a home!

I also ran to Venice to get my hair done.

Like it? It’s going to be long and bang-less for a while! I kind of love it. I haven’t had long hair since early 2009. It’s time for a change.

Then I went to the tailor and picked up my dress for the wedding I’m going to in Boston! It had to be taken in and it turned out great! With the help of my mom personal shopper I am accessorizing with a pearl necklace. It’s a bit prep but I think it kind of has a funky west coast twist.

Opinions? Don’t worry, I’ll get an actual picture at the wedding (after I have HENNA!) Oh yes, I am psyched.

Finally I ran to Whole Foods to pick up dinner and hopped in the car and drove to San Pedro to see Shakespeare by the Sea!

Kaitlin’s roommate Mark is in King Lear this summer. Shakespeare by the Sea puts on FREE plays every summer all over Southern California. They were playing in San Pedro for a while and now they are traveling all over So Cal. Check it out because Mark might be coming to a city near you!

Like the title of the company suggests, we were by the sea…

It was nice and cool by the water.

It took me about 5 seconds to break into my dinner. My house is in chaos right now from moving so I stopped by Whole Foods for my dinner.

Mediterranean Orzo Salad

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad. Apparently I was really in the mood for Mediterranean?

Plus roasted butternut squash with caramelized onions, for something sweet!

I also packed my new go-to treat drink: Pellegrino and Lemonade in a jar!

Last week I had this with a little nectarine squeezed in. It was so delicious. Seriously, lemonade with a nectarine squeezed in. So freaking delicious.

And then the show started! I took a Shakespeare class in college and we actually both read King Lear and saw a production of it that our professor was in (he fancied himself an actor- I promise it was as amusing as it sounds). I really like Lear. Obviously, being a tragedy it is super dramatic. Mark was awesome and provided some comic relief in the middle of the play.

Overall, I had a great time. The actors were great and really committed to their roles. It was also fun seeing a friend in a production! You should check out Shakespeare by the Sea if you’re in LA this summer. You will not be disappointed.

Do you like Shakespeare? What is your favorite play? I also like Measure for Measure, Midsummer Night’s Dream and Taming of the Shrew.

What with marathon training and enjoying my summer I am all over simple dinners that I can bring to work for lunch. I found this gem when going through back issues of Real Simple.

One Dish Bulger, Asparagus and Lemony Salmon

Ingredients:

1/2 cup bulger
3/4 cup water
1 bunch asparagus, ends trimmed
2 salmon fillets
1/2 lemon
Olive oil, salt, pepper

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375. In a baking dish combine water, bulger, salt and pepper in the bottom of the pan. On top, layer the asparagus in a thin layer. Salt and pepper the salmon and place them on top of the asparagus. Squeeze lemon on top and place the lemon, just like so…

Cover the pan with foil.

Place in the oven and back for 30 mins. When you take it out you will have two perfectly cooked meals!

In the words of Ina, “how easy is that?!”
So easy. You have no excuse not to make a fantastic dinner tonight. I don’t cook a ton of meat but salmon is my protein go-to. And the reheated lunch was delicious and didn’t have that fish-ey thing that you get with shrimp.

Apartment Update!

If you follow me on Twitter you already know that my application was accepted for apartment #2! I sign my lease on Saturday and my lease starts on July 2. I am totally getting a celebratory treat on Saturday from Tavern, since I can WALK there from my new apartment! Oh yes. You thought there were a lot of Tavern and Susie Cakes and NY Bagel on the blog last year. Just you wait.

In the meantime, here are some other pictures from the apartment for interested parties…

Living Room

The other side of the kitchen. Words cannot adequately express how excited I am to cook in this kitchen. Seriously people. See the counter space near the oven? That’s what I’m working with NOW and I don’t have a full size oven either. And there is a window. It’s love.