Food Friday: Breaking Bread at Tawla, San Francisco's newest Eastern Mediterranean Gem

Tawla 206 Valencia Street 

Mediterranean is quite possibly one of my favorite cuisines. In fact, there was a point a little while back where I'd visit the same Mediterranean restaurant every Friday night. (La Med, in case anyone is wondering and my standard order is the chicken kebab plate with lentil soup, lol.) That being said, I was excited to be introduced to a new Eastern-Mediterranean spot in the city. Somewhere new to spice things up! Cue the mission's latest gem, Tawla. When people think of Mediterranean, oftentimes they're used to "street food" items like shwarmas, pitas and kebabs, which isn't a bad thing - because all of those things are delicious, in my opinion. That being said, there's a whole other layer of deliciousness that has yet to be tapped: food made at home that you just can't get anywhere else. That's where Tawla comes in. Tawla's founder, Azhar Hashem, wanted to fill a void in the San Francisco food scene by showcasing the comfort food of the Levant and Mediterranean regions. When I thought about this, I realized, I didn't know what home-style, Levant-region food actually was. Thankfully, that would change that evening, as I got a crash course in Levant-style cuisine thanks to Azhar and the Tawla team, who graciously welcomed us into their "home." So, what did I learn? Read more after the jump.

How I Balance It All

Some people ask how I balance it all - work, love, family, friends, my blog, the gym... the list goes on. Truth it, it's hard. There's no universe in which I am able to do everything. Well, not everything all at once. I've taken endless breaks on this blog - just search "I'm back" in the search bar, and I'm sure at least ten posts will pop up (hahaha). I've taken a break from the gym (and had the pounds to prove it, lol). I've gone weeks without seeing my friends (and have some angry "WTF" texts to show for it). I've even gone too long without giving my parents a call (and have the "Hello, where are you??" voicemails saved to remind me of it). Balancing everything is hard (and I'm not even raising a family - it's just me!). There's no secret. But, in between it all, I've found some ways to make things work. Note, I don't claim to be an expert and some days my sanity hangs on by a tiny little thread. But, I figure we're all going through it in various degrees, so we might as well talk about it together.

Stacker Style: The Everlane Day (to night) Heel

I'm not one for believing in big statements (without proof, that is). It's in my nature to analyze everything. In fact, as and English major in college, I found it thrilling to analyze every angle of a 4-word line in a poem. I could write paragraphs out of just a sentence. Point is, I like to challenge things. That being said, I'd still consider myself a healthy mix of both optimistic and realistic. If you say something, I genuinely want to believe you - but I need proof, ha. So, why am I telling you this? Because Everlane just released their Day Heel, coined the most comfortable heel to walk in by scores across the web. Everlane's own website says it's the heel you can walk in all damn day. Now, let me tell you something about myself. I love dressing up. I wish I could lie and say that I'm chic AF and rock the heels 9 to 5 at the office. I'm not. I prefer comfort over style and sometimes forget that the two can go hand in hand. When I was living in LA for college, I trained myself to love heels. (We're talking live, breathe,walk in-them-forever-love). Well, 7 years later, San Francisco has turned me into the sneaker queen. People at work marvel over how I can keep my collection so pristine. But, every now and then I miss the old heel-loving-me. So, when Everlane invited me to their Day Collection pop-up, you know I had to show up. The verdict? Find out after the jump.

Weekend Getaway: Palm Springs

My favorite place to get away is Palm Springs. Despite my San Francisco resident status, my true home is under the sun. And Palm Springs, my friends, is my desert dream under the sun. I venture to PS at least once a year (usually for Coachella), but every now and then I go just for some good ole R&R. This year, because I'm not headed to Coachella (I know, I can't believe it either!), I decided to book a trip to the desert to get my fill. It was also Derrick's first non-Coachella PS trip, so we decided to live like the locals, if only for a weekend. After the jump, catch a photo diary of our trip, along with a list of favorite spots to catch whilst in the city.

Stacker Style: Fits Like a Glove

I'd been looking for a camel coat for years. You might remember this oversized stunner, that I continue to keep in my closet, despite it being extremely too large for me. (It's too beautiful for me to let go of, and I sort of think I might get it tailored one day...) Well, I went on about wanting a camel coat for so long that someone eventually listened. My boyfriend surprised me with this stunner for my birthday back in February and I finally took it out for a spin. Now, had you seen me in this a few days ago and you would have thought I had lost my mind, given the city's hot 70 degree weather. But, never one to stay out of the limelight too long, Karl quickly rushed back and with him so did the cold front. I was just getting used to light jackets and toe-bearing mules. That being said, a chic coat, skinny jeans and over the knee boots aren't so bad either.