Diva Destination: 24 hours in LA
Written By: Kristen & Taylor
#divadiaries destination: Los Angeles
This last semester, one of our best friends, David (also known as BigBootyDave), left us to study abroad in Vienna, Austria. We got to keep in touch through video chats, iMessages, and e-mails, but we missed having him around to boots and sass. Nobody can make us laugh like Dave does.
As his arrival date back to the U.S. approached, we became anxious to see him and schemed a way to surprise him at LAX when he landed. We arranged with his mom and sister to meet at the airport. We started our journey to Los Angeles the day before Dave arrived so that we could spend some time exploring this city made for divas.
We ended up spending exactly 24-hours in LA! We documented our favorite moments from the trip below.
6:22 pm: Departure from Young Hall parking lot, PLNU, San Diego.
8:35 pm: Arrive at Lauren Raney’s adorable home, and our crash-pad for the night.
9:37 pm: The stars aligned, God smiled, and we scored a premo parking spot at the top lot of Griffith Observatory.
11:01 pm: Got in the lengthy line for the highly desired and affordable treat of Diddy Riese ice cream cookie sandwiches.
11:28 pm: Witnessed a struggling flash mob in the intersection of Westwood.
12:00 am: Enjoyment of cookies. Candy cookie + chocolate chip cookie + choc chip cookie dough ice cream = Taylor. Candy cookie + snickerdoodle + cookies & cream ice cream = Lauren. Candy cookie + snickerdoodle + mint chip ice cream = Kristen.
12:12 am: Ignored Dave’s FaceTime call in an effort not to reveal our location to him.
12:53 am: Bedtime in the marshmallow bed.
7:30 am: Taylor’s morning alarm blared while Kristen was already up and at it.
9:46 am: Pulled into Reality LA for Sunday morning church.
10:20 am: Talked sports at church.
11:08 am: Considered reenacting a number from Glee on the steps of Helen Bernstein High School, the campus of Reality and film spot for the TV show.
12:35 pm: Finished off our delicious pancakes, omelette, breakfast burrito, and to-die-for bread pudding at The Alcove.
1:01 pm: Learned that carrots cure cancer? (carrotssaveboobs.com).
2:15 pm: At the bottom of the hiking trail.
2:55 pm: Sang Drake’s lyrics “Started from the bottom, now we here” as we made it to the top of the Hollywood sign!
5:36 pm: Began uncertain, long, stressful, and fast-paced walk to the airport.
5:59 pm: SAW DAVE.
7:21 pm: Returned back to Ashley (Kristen’s car) to head to dinner with Dave, mom, and sister.
8:12 pm: Kristen snagged someone’s cheesecake leftovers.
8:26 pm: Ordered a Mac n Cheese Burger.
9:15 pm: Said so long to David. It was so special to reunite after 5 long months.
10:32 pm: McDonald’s potty break and soda stop on the drive home.
11:38 pm: Back at Loma.
Wow this is such a coincidence but there’s 24 items on that list. like 24 hours. CRAZY.
Although short, this trip was filled with so many laughs and memories. Us divas can’t wait for our next travel adventure!
Summertime and the reading’s easy…
Written by: Taylor
A good book is like a good vacation. Whether getting swept away in a story or slipping away to a different state of mind, books offer the opportunity to lose or find yourself, relax, and return. Summer vacation warmly invites this kind of adventure.
By the time May was underway, both Kristen and I had reads we were eager to get to. So I asked for recommendations, checked my book shelf, placed a couple Amazon orders, and drafted a plan. I am very aware of the fulfillment I find in making and achieving goals, which keeps me motivated in my reading and makes the whole thing that much better. (Of course, it’s still summer, so I was sure to give myself permission to bend the rules when needed). As I cracked the first cover, I penciled in “finish book” on my calendar 2 weeks out.
I’ve successfully checked off two books so far:
I intermittently picked up and put back down a couple other titles until coming upon the next worthwhile read. I’m currently enjoying a book recommended by mine and Kristen’s dearly beloved manager, Emily Gallentine:
Alongside our personal reading pleasures, Kristen and I were inspired by Emily to begin a book club based on Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In. As we flip through the pages while sipping lattes with our female friends, we’ll be sure to share our thoughts here, as well!
Looking for a recommendation? This was Kristen’s first read of the season, and one of my favorites:
“I’m not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things,” so I’ll tell you that I was enthralled by The Fault in Our Stars. “I fell in love [with this book] the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.” Hazel and Augustus are introduced to love and living while grappling with the fact that “there is no shortage of fault to be found amid our stars.” It’s also brimming with wonderful one-liners, and, yes, I also crammed three of them in here.
The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.
-Dr. Suess
A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Cookies Taste Better
Written by: Kristen / Pictures by: Taylor
Last Friday, Taylor and I packed our weekend bags and headed up north to the Raney Residence (aka Mocha Bed & Breakfast). Something you should know about Taylor and I is that we both L.O.V.E. dessert. For example, last Thursday night, at 9:45 p.m., we drove over to Chick-fil-a at a desperately fast speed to get cookie sundaes. Running, we barely made it past the worker wiping down the front doors before the restaurant closed at 10:00 p.m. Embarrassing, yes. But, so worth it in order to get our cookie fix.
So, back to our diva weekend at the Raney Residence. Out of all the things we were looking forward to doing, we were most looking forward to baking. We took to Pinterest for some edible inspirations, and that’s when we came upon a recipe for chocolate chip salted caramel cookie bars that we could not pass out on. Imagine a layer of salted gooey caramel sandwiched between two layers of amazing chocolate chip cookie dough. The recipe is simple and oh so delicious. We served it up right out of the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
In addition to these heavenly cookie bars, we also baked my mom’s famous Super Cookies. It’s a recipe my mom has used since as long as I can remember. I’ve always loved baking, and I hope to post more of my favorite recipes soon!
Dear Diary
Welcome to our blog #divadiaries! Our names are Kristen Raney and Taylor Roy. We are both Juniors at Point Loma Nazarene University and roommates in San Diego, CA. Our shared passion to live creatively, adventurously, and faithfully brought us together and inspired us to create #divadiaries. Here’s a little more about us:
About Kristen: “I am 19 years old and grew up in Lake Forest, CA. I am currently living in San Diego and working for PLNU’s Fermanian Business & Economic Institute. I am living in a cozy dorm on the beach with my fellow diva, Tay, and wonderful friend, Hillary. In this blog, I am hoping to share with you people, books, and adventures that inspire me.”
3 Words to describe Kristen (according to Taylor): “Genuine. Purposeful. Hilarious!”
About Taylor: “I hail from the North: Folsom, California, and have spent the last couple years way down in San Diego, attending Point Loma Nazarene University, where I study Graphic Design. I like to have cookies, a camera, and my krew close by. The divas find extraordinary in the ordinary, and I’m looking forward to sharing our fun and findings along the way.”
3 Words to describe Taylor (according to Kristen): “Thoughtful, Creative, Enthusiastic.”
Thanks for visiting our blog! We are excited to share with you ❤
#divadiaries 