What do bougie twenty-something girls like more than anything? Iced, chai, soy milk lattes, of course
Let the tubing adventures commence!
Steph and Yen tubing together–skinny little ladies barely moved over the waves.
Boater Lauren takes to the seas
Me and Lauren doing the tubing thing
Once again with the ice cream (this time a malt, of course)
Tannin’
Dinner and wine on the beach
August 20, 2014: 270 days to continue the adventures of fisherman Lauren
The many adventures of the 20-somethings in Tahoe continue!
First, a day full of boating fun, including skiing, tanning, tubing, and generally frigid water.
Lake, desert, and mountains all in one place
Dinner out for Mrs. Gardanier’s birthday!
August 19, 2014: 271 days of wine on wine on wine
Back to the beautiful views of Emerald Bay
This house is apparently the finest example of Viking architecture in the United States. It was utterly beautiful, made of stones and wood, surrounded in wild flowers and trees.
My gorgeous suitemates. We find it quite irritating that Lauren’s head glows like that…
Late afternoon ice cream break–all day, every day 
Big girls go grocery shopping! Grocery shopping with friends actually requires maturity and planning–to have red wine and pasta or fruit and white?
We spent the night watching the drama unfold in Ferguson, MO. Our hearts and support go out to the families and protesters. Since my summer working with the Council, I have a much better understanding of racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal justice system. While St. Louis is not Minneapolis, I know that these institutional discriminations exist, as do the societal implications and assumptions.
And then the sunset
August 18, 2014: 272 more days to be that traveling college girl
True roommie love ❤
I look strangely like the pimp in this situation…
The many adventures of boater Lauren begins
Our gorgeous lunch view–although, I must say that the best part isn’t the lake and the mountains but the all the fresh food. California is good for some things
Throwback to yesterday, my first time trying the water skis. I had more trouble getting them on than getting up (thanks for the help, Lauren)
Perfection.
Our visit to Emerald Bay! We climbed to the old fort on the top of the rock. Because we had to jump into the water to get to the island, we couldn’t bring our phones to take pictures of the incredible view.
Sleepy boater Lauren
August 17, 2014: 273 more days to live up to my preppy East Coast surroundings
I just happened to wake up in time to see the sun rise above Lake Tahoe. It was both frigid and incredible.
We stopped by a local arts fair in town–it was full of jewelry, art, and flowy dresses.
Ladies reading on the beach
Crossing Albert Camus’ The Stranger off of the reading list!
My first Chevys–apparently a California classic
Ladies doing dinner on the beach
…romantic dinner during the sunset
Lauren is giggling while watching Pocahontas
August 15, 2014: 275 more opportunities to see the sun rise over campus
The suite’s a little unhappy about my early morning photography (see the bagel sandwiches and coffee? Always coffee…)
Lauren’s secret rose garden
Her terrace also overlooks the mountains and forests–a nice respite from the heat and cacti of Southern California
So the roadtrip begins…
Made it to Tahoe just in time for the sunset
August 14, 2014: 276 days to call these girls my suitemates
In other words, the blond-San Francisco part of our suite. Stephanie’s dad drove us up to Lauren’s apartment in LA, where we met her dad, packed up her apartment, met her, and then drove up to her house in San Francisco for the night. The California Adventure continues!
Lauren driving (unhappily) up to San Fran!
We open the freezer and we see this… Yep, definitely Lauren’s apartment (it was also delicious by the way)
Steph desperately trying to get the detailing off of Lauren’s wall, while I pack up some of her other things. We all underestimate how much stuff we accumulate whenever we settle somewhere… I know the packing to go to California (and the repacking at the airport) just reminded me how much JUNK I carry with me everywhere and that I could definitely minimize the stuff in my life. Although, let’s be real, I like clothes. And jewelry. And shoes–I love shoes.
I am FINALLY reunited with In-N-Out! It has been over a year since I have made it to California to taste the classic good-food-fast joint, which serves only fresh food, all cut and cooked in the location. The burgers are amazing, but the fries with their “animal” sauce and the milkshakes are incredible… I literally dream about this place when I’m on the East Coast (Shake Shack cannot compare).
So begins the loooong drive up to San Francisco. It took us a little while pack up, so it was a long drive in the dark.
August 13, 2014: 277 more days to call Lauren my only blond-math/science inclined-suitemate
Aaaaand here’s Stephanie–such a pretty roomie!
A delicious Cantonese dinner with Steph’s family. Her parents are so amazing and cannot thank them enough for taking care of me for these few days. They are wonderful hosts and tour guides!
LYCHEE! I haven’t had it since Vietname and I missed it
Real burritos from Southern California… It had cabbage and guacamole and was incredible
Gelato on Laguna beach ❤
This is what Steph and I do when we’re together…
Laguna beach at its finest
August 12, 2014: 278 days of food adventures
After a long night of packing and several hours on a cramped plane, I have arrived in LA!
My gorgeous roomie and I are finally reunited after a long summer
What’s even better than being reunited? Spending the day poolside
Dim sum, because what would a trip to California be without lots and lots of Chinese food?
The famous Laguna beach, 5 minutes from Steph’s house. The area was adorable, the shops unaffordable, and the food outrageously expensive, naturally.
The Laguna harbor
August 11, 2014: 279 days to go on trips with my “roommie”
Charlie wrote his name on the hummus container because, according to him, I am “a pig” who ate all of “his hummus”
Cousin brunch at my Aunt Terri’s house! My cousin Frida just arrived from Denmark and I wanted to see her before I left. I stayed with Frida and her family in Skorping for a week two summers ago–it was lovely to see her and catch up. My other cousin, Cristiana, is starting to look at colleges and had a lot of questions about Yale, which she loved (of course).
Frida ❤
I learned how to do a fishtail braid!
What my suitcases looked like when I left the house on Tuesday morning… It was all supposed to go in one bag… oops
The last Minnesota lunch: corn on the cob and a BLT
Stopped by my cousin Ann’s house to say goodbye to sweet little Aiden, who then forced my to watch several episodes of Tom and Jerry with him.
The perfect summer day
Annie’s backyard. We had a busy afternoon of doctors appointments and a busy night of packing, but it was perfect late afternoon, relaxing in her backyard.
August 12, 2014: 280 days of East Coast cold and rain
365 Images: A Year in the Life 