LA LA land day 2

Not sure how to pronounce this place…yass or yaz or y.a.s?

But I went to a spin class there on Saturday morning because #wheninLA right??  I was there early, because it was a 2 minute walk from our rental, and I am one of those people who is still early everywhere, even on vacation. I had reserved a spot in advance the night before (to keep me accountable).  I sweat like craaaazy but it was the best!

I showered and got ready back at home and then we walked down to Abbot Kinney for breakfast at the Butcher’s Daughter.

They had a wait, so we sat on the steps next door so P could eat his breakfast (thus keeping his OIT dosing on schedule).  Kyle had already gotten a coffee earlier, so I ordered the coconut cardamom chai “wellness latte”.  It was delicious, but for $5.50, it was ridiculously small.  It was more like a shot.  Oh LA.

Vegan apple spice muffins for my man (with a syringe of diluted milk on the side – ha).  Nothing like toting a cooler around the westside…

I’m hardly exaggerating when I say there is at least one juice bar per block these days.  I could throw a rock and hit four from one spot on Wilshire.  If they weren’t $$$$ I’d hop right on board that juicing train.

May go back for one of these…

These were pretty drool worthy too.

The kids weren’t keen on the wait, once we were seated…

Fortunately, after we ordered (which took a long time) our food arrived pretty fast.

I got P a fruit bowl, since he’d already had two muffins.

Kyle got a breakfast burrito, which he said was good but not big enough, especially since it didn’t come with any sides.

V got her “own plate” of scrambled eggs, and some of my potatoes. “I wah my own pate” is her favorite vacation phrase.  <–  Eye roll.

I won the award for best order with my avocado toast on GF bread.

Yolk porn comin’ atcha.

I shared some bites with Kyle because it was the best thing ever and I knew he HAD to try it.

Obviously there was not a drop left behind.

After breakfast, we walked along the beach, stopping a few times to play at the beach parks.

At the Santa Monica pier, we all went on the Merry Go Round.

And not long after, they passed out as we arrived on the Promenade.  P was in the stroller, but V was in Kyle’s arms.  !?!?!?!??!  This girl doesn’t snuggle for anyone or anything, so for this happen…wow…she must have been so tired. We went back to Ocean Ave to find a bench to relax on while they got some zzzzzs.

And once they woke up we carried on further North, to Montana Ave for a lunch date at Kye’s.

I’ve been wanting to go here since I first heard about nori wrapped burritos.  But the message behind the restaurant is also something I believe very strongly in. I swear I could have been the mom who started this place.  Much like Jeanne’s son, Kye, P is a fun loving dude who eats kale and hemp and thinks that’s the way the world eats. Real food!!

The hardest part was choosing which to get!  They all sounded SO GOOD.

I brought a sun butter and jelly on a whole wheat bun for P, which he shared with V.  I also had dried mango and apple slices for them.

What’s a kyerito you ask?

Per the site: It’s the NEW sandwich, without the bread!  A handheld bowl or salad, naturally wheat free, easily vegan or Paleo — get your recommended daily allowance of tasty goodness no matter which KyeRito you crave. With its artfully designed packaging and patent pending slip-wrap technique, the KyeRito stays fresh and crisp, making it perfect for on the go, delivery, and catered events.

Kyle got the chicken pesto wrapped in lettuce and I got the nori lox with almond cauli in place of rice and added avocado.

This was the best!  Each bite was so heavenly. The sauce – mmmm.  The avo and salmon – mmmm.  The almond cauli puree – mmmm.  All wrapped in a yummy seaweed packet.  And sice they showed us how to open them, I ate it with V on my lap, without a single piece falling out or dropping.  So easy!

Met up with a friend after.  Then high tailed it back to Venice (ON FOOT!!!) to get the car and drive over to UCLA.

The walk back to Venice was insane (who were we kidding thinking we could walk 10 miles with two toddlers with any urgency) and then we hit a bit of traffic getting to campus (because duh, it’s LA).

But we made it!

And then the kids played together while we hung out, and my heart felt so full because we were with our buddies and our kids were instantly hitting it off and we were on our old stomping grounds.

I didn’t even dream that one day my kids would be romping in front of the Wooden gym…

Or fishing on top of the Janss steps.

Naturally, we took them by the Student Union desk, where Kyle and I met at our on campus jobs.  <3

Bruins forever.

Once the sun started to set, we said goodbye and headed back to Venice.

We had to go to Charcoal to order food in person because they don’t take phone orders, which is super annoying. Any idea why that would be??  I fed the kids food I made back in the rental while Kyle drove back to pick it up.

Continuing the best day of food ever, I got short ribs, Kyle got trip tip, and we got Brussels sprouts and carrots to share.  HOLY MOLY.  It’s as if every meal kept topping the last.  This was definitely our best day of food in LA.  I couldn’t even decide which bite to end the meal on because it was all so insanely good.  The yolk and sauce on the brussels was to die for, but the short ribs basically melted in my mouth.  And then the roasted carrots with sheep milk cheese!!!  Gah!  All too good.

I was so stuffed I couldn’t even eat dessert!!  WHAT!?!?

Per Kyle’s phone we walked 14 miles this day, which explains why we were so exhausted.  My feet were aching beyond belief and I had blisters from the new sandals I decided to break in that day (rookie move much?).  But it was such a productive day in LA!  We saw every neighborhood on the Westside that we wanted to!!