Last week I took the kiddos for a stroll through La Jolla so I could take some photos for my photography class. It was nice to get out of the house during the week and break up our regular routine. Normally I pick up the little missy from school, head home, put the little guy...
BriGeeski's Latest Posts
Learning Photography
One of my goals for 2016 was to learn more about photography and take better photos. My first task on that plan was to get a DSLR camera. Thankfully my sweet hubby found a great deal on Amazon for a Canon Rebel T5 (affiliate) with a whole bunch of accessories and got me one last month. I...
Duke's La Jolla
I was pretty ecstatic when I heard Duke's was coming to La Jolla. Duke's is a popular restaurant in Hawaii and I just love the thought of bringing more Hawaiian food and culture into San Diego. Don't get me wrong, I love the vibe of San Diego but Hawaii just has this added mellowness (is that...
Welcome 2016!
It's a new year! 2015 was magical with the birth of our baby boy and our family size changing from 3 to 4. The business did well and our family is in good health. I couldn't ask for more. There is so much to be grateful for. Life still has its hard moments of course...
Minions Movie Night Party
I put together a super fun Minions Movie Night party idea for you and your kiddos! I made a fresh and tasty white chocolate lemon popcorn and set up all the cuteness to celebrate this super fun movie release. I went with bright pops of yellow, blue, gold and white accents for a fun and...
Under the Sea Party Ideas
Our sweet little lady turned 4 at the end of October and we celebrated with an Under The Sea Birthday party with a few friends and family. I had all intentions of ordering a cake and a pizza and calling it a day. But the closer it got, my party mode kicked in and ideas...
Islands Burgers Happy Hour
Have you ever been to Islands' Happy Hour? It's a great local neighborhood spot to grab a drink, a bite and catch up with friends. Our closest locations are in Mira Mesa and Carmel Mountain Ranch. We love to stop in for their tasty fries, drinks and burgers! Islands Happy Hour Menu I was super...
No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites
I experimented with pumpkin products from Sprouts and came up with these super delicious No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites. These are seriously so easy and very tasty! I really wanted to make a simple cheesecake inspired dessert that has very minimal prep. I found this dip recipe that sounded perfect for what I was looking...
31 Goals for My 31st Year
I had a lot of life goals that I wanted to accomplish before turning 30. I'm blessed to say I achieved all the biggies. After that I kind of stopped thinking about what I wanted to accomplish by any other age. I truly believe that things will not happen to you unless you work on making...
The Ranch at Bandy Canyon
Looking for a relaxing spot to have a staycation in San Diego? Check out The Ranch at Bandy Canyon in the middle of San Pasqual Valley (Escondido Area). You'll love this rustic oasis. My family and I were invited to check out the cabins and enjoy a night stay. We had an awesome time and...
Summer Sides: Mexican Corn Salad
This post is sponsored by Hebrew National. Since we got our “Camper Van” we have been doing a lot more camping and summertime cooking. Last week we stayed at Santee Lakes Campground. I brought a bunch of yummy snacks and meals but my favorite side dish I made was a super tasty Mexican Corn Salad. I served...
Regents Pizzeria
San Diego typically serves up New York style pizza (thin crust). I actually never even had Chicago style pizza (deep dish) till a few years ago. I completely love Chicago style pizza and I wish it was available in more areas of the city. The cool thing is that Regents Pizzeria in UTC serves up both...
Easy Fourth of July Party
I love a good BBQ especially on the Fourth of July. This year I'm keeping it simple and delicious with an easy menu, a fun party playlist and a sparkling drink everyone will love. I'm busting out the Hebrew National All-Beef Franks and cooking up some quick potato fries, a festive fruit salad and a...
A D&C at 6 Weeks Postpartum
I feel the need to tell this story because it is something I wasn't expecting. I spent the day in the hospital yesterday after having some excessive bleeding. The great news is that I am home now and SO happy to be out of the hospital. This may be a little TMI for some but...
Hosting an Easy Summer Kick Off Party with Chicago Dogs
I am so glad summer is here! Earlier this week I hosted a super easy and fun summer kick off party with Chicago Dogs, and I wanted to share a few simple tips for making your next party a success. I love to host parties but I hate to still be in the kitchen cooking...
Baby James has Arrived!
We are so incredibly happy baby James arrived this week. James Robert was born May 12, 2015 at 3:58 am weighing in at 8.64 pounds. He is 21 inches long and is absolutely adorable. If I do say so myself. We went in for an induction on Monday evening and we got to meet...
Anniversary Staycation in Little Italy
I can't believe we have already celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary. Our lives have been pretty hectic lately and a Staycation in one of our favorite neighborhoods of Little Italy is just what we needed! With Mark working all different hours and me planning for baby boy's arrival and catching up with client deadlines...
Check Out Nomad Donuts
Looking to try a new flavor and donut style? Check out Nomad Donuts in North Park for a sweet treat and a unique approach to handcrafted donuts. These little beauties are packed with flavor and amazingly beautiful. The kiddo and I were treated to a sampling to check out the new spot. Their bold...
Future Champions Golf Summer Camps
One of my graphic design / marketing clients is Future Champions Golf and I have been working with them for years. My brother also happens to be the owner/operator and it is an awesome company. Future Champions Golf (FCG) will be hosting summer golf camps for kiddos ages 6-18 with dates from June through August. Check...
Extraordinary Desserts in San Diego: The Best Desserts You Have to Try
Extraordinary Desserts in San Diego is one of the most popular spots for dessert lovers, known for its beautiful presentation and decadent treats. Coffee and Drinks at Extraordinary Desserts Extraordinary Desserts has the best presentation, decadent cakes and unique drinks. It’s a must-visit for anyone with a sweet tooth. We started off with a round...
A Tea Party + Fruit Scones
A morning tea party is just what my friends and I needed. We chatted, nibbled, laughed and relaxed on a Saturday morning. We all enjoyed trying different tea flavors and the Chocolate Cranberry DOVE® Fruit Scones were a bit hit. Before the party started I headed to Walmart for all of my party supplies. You...
Specialty Produce Tour + Cauliflower Soup
I went on a tour of Specialty Produce in San Diego and had so much fun learning their story of fruits and vegetables. The most awesome thing about Specialty Produce is that they provide most of the produce for San Diego Restaurants AND it's open to the public! I loved the variety of fruits and...
Corvette Diner in Liberty Station
Have you been to Corvette Diner in Liberty Station? This location is large with multiple rooms and a lot going on. It has the same feel as their other locations always do: fun, old-fashioned, kid-focused and loud. Our kiddos love going here! Their favorite parts are the balloon animals, milkshakes and game garage. Corvette Diner...
Vintage Chevy Baby Sprinkle Invitation Printable
With a little boy on the way, I have been thinking all things blue! Not baby blue though. I am loving navy! Our nursery colors are navy, mustard yellow and deep red. Since we decided to add a little vintage chevy flare to the room, I thought that would be the perfect theme for a baby sprinkle....
Blackberry Chia Jam
Have you heard about people making jam out of chia seeds? Well it is pretty genius. And probably the easiest thing I have made in a long time! Once the chia seeds are combined with a little warm water they form into a gel like consistency which is pretty perfect for making a natural jelly. Combine...
Protein Packed Mango Dreamsicle
The cravings for anything sweet are enormous these days. I cannot get enough juice, cookies, donuts and ice cream. This does not help my goals of not gaining nearly as much weight as I did during my last pregnancy. (Too much to note). So I have been coming up with different ways of fulfilling my...
2015 Dream Board
Have you created your 2015 Dream Board? This is probably one of my most favorite activities every year. I gather a stack of magazines, cut out the images and text that inspire me and paste those onto a piece of cardboard. I typically look for things that I want to move towards in the new...
Hyatt Regency La Jolla Staycation
Mark and I recently got a taste of the sweet life at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla. A stay at the newly renovated hotel was just what we needed before the rush of the holidays. We enjoyed a one night stay curtesy of the hotel so we could check out all the new offerings and...
Barrio Star
I have been lovin' me some tacos lately! Mark and I recently checked out Barrio Star off 5th Avenue in San Diego. It's kind of in between Hillcrest and Banker's Hill. I was immediately attracted to the decor between the sugar skull logo, bright colors and Mexican inspired interior. The best part was the fresh,...
Le Parfait Paris: Downtown San Diego
Le Parfait Paris, a French Patisserie, has opened it’s newest location in the heart of downtown San Diego. They started off as a bakery / catering service in Mission Valley and now have a storefront for walk-in customers. It is a quaint spot to grab dessert and espresso. They specialize in bright colorful macaroons, tarts, croissants and French savory...
Food Fight Write Blogger Conference in Las Vegas
I flew to Las Vegas and attended the Food Fight Write blogger conference. The conference is held in conjunction with the annual World Food Championship where chefs compete for up to $300,000. This was such a fun and unique opportunity to be a part of. I became a blog ambassador for Food Fight Write which...
Butternut Squash Quinoa with Shallot Vinaigrette
It's recipe challenge time with Melissa's Produce! Every once in a while a group of San Diego Food Bloggers receive a package of produce to come up with a tasty recipe with at least 3 of the ingredients from the box. For the last challenge I made a bacon & brussels quinoa with a leeks...
Whole Wheat Pizza Dough Recipe
This whole wheat pizza dough recipe is a family favorite! It takes hardly any time to prepare and tastes so much better than frozen or store made pizza dough. Have you ever made pizza dough at home? It is way easier than I ever thought. I started making pizza dough at home a couple years...
Baby Number 2!
I have been oh so wanting to share this news for far too long now! We are expecting another little one May 15, 2015! I told my immediately family and close friends as soon as I saw them but it is still strange going places where I know other people and didn't want to share...
A Drive to #FreshSummit in the Kia Forte
Melissa’s Produce invited a few San Diego bloggers to attend their produce preview at Fresh Summit. I had never been to Fresh Summit so I was very excited to learn about the new produce trends and find out what Fresh Summit was all about. Jackie from The Seaside Baker and I headed up to Anaheim...
Fall Crafts + Cooking
I am sure you have already gathered that one of my favorite things to do is cook. And eat. I have also really started to love crafting. I crafted more when I was younger but life seems to get in the way of doing ALL the fun things ALL the time. Anytime crafting comes up...
Chef Showdown Recap
The Chef Showdown benefiting Center for Community Solutions is such an amazing event held annually for a very important cause. The fundraising event is held each year to help bring awareness and build funds to fight domestic violence. This year the event was hosted at the new San Diego Harley Davidson store off Morena Boulevard. Photo...
Just Opened: Panama 66 at SDMA
Panama 66 recently opened in the Sculpture Garden at The San Diego Museum of Art. The new bar and eatery is the third spot by the people behind Blind Lady Ale House and Tiger! Tiger! The menu includes lunch and dinner with weekend brunch and a full bar. I attended their opening party to get a look at the...
Palm Springs in the Hyundai Santa Fe
Every year we head to Palm Springs for the Smeal Invitational (a family golf tournament). In prior years we always went to different destinations but once we found the Palm Mountain Springs Resort we haven’t switched it up. The hotel is awesome and in the perfect location in Palm Springs. We headed out in the...
BriGeeski Turns 1!
I can't believe my little ol' blog + design firm have been in business for a year! I wanted to share my top blog posts and some of my favorite eats from the year. I have been introduced to so many awesome people and learned a TON about blogging, social media, networking, food and business....