Eats - Cowgirl Creamery

Delicious artisan cheeses -- Cowgirl Creamery is always a stop on my scenic route trips to Petaluma. Located in Pt. Reyes Station, with a satelite store in San Francisco's Ferry Building, their full-flavored cheeses are ones I could eat by themselves. Yes, just a big hunk of cheese.

My personal favorite is St Pat, a cheese wrapped in nettle leaves (the sting is gone from freezing them before use.)

(Photo via Neeta Lind on Flickr)

Lifestyle News - SFiS Style

I don't plan on doing beauty posts back to back, but this fell into my lap, almost literally (they were handing them out on my way to work).

The San Francisco Chronicle has revamped their Style section, even giving it a new moniker: SFiS Style. There's the tangible details: glossier, and the photos are very clear. But there's some content changes as well. "The new glossy section will feature high-end fashion, home design, lifestyle stories and profiles of well-known Bay Area personalities," states a PR release.

In the debut, there's a great story about the family behind Benefit Cosmetics, which is based in San Francisco.

Nonfat Soy Half Caff

The drink sitting in about three-fourths the cars on the 405 during the morning commute. A clever name and great light pink color, it's my favorite polish this Spring.

Found at all Sephora stores.

Valley Girl - "That techno-rock you guys listen to is gutless."

Ok, like this isn't the most accurate movie of Valley life, but like I totally love it...

Hands down my favorite Nicholas Cage movie.



Year: 1983

Filming locations: Los Angeles, Torrance, and the mall scenes were filmed in Stockton (who knew?)

Summary Quote:  "She's cool. He's hot. She's from the Valley. He's not."

(Still: Via Visitstarshallow. Trailer: Via Youtube.)

Playlist - California

"If you think you might come to California, think you should." - Counting Crows

The Eagles - Hotel California

The Beach Boys - California Girls
The Mamas & Papas - California Dreamin'
Carole King - Back to California
Kate Wolf - Here in California
Joni Mitchell - California
Kathleen Edwards - Goodnight, California

And although it doesn't necessarily "fit the track list," my favorite California song may actually be Counting Crow's "Long December."

Also, did you know we have a state song? It's true, we do.

(Playlist image from Wikipedia.)