For those who know me well, or even stepped foot in my room, know that I’m one of those people that absolutely love love love inspirational and motivational quotes. My mirror is adorned by 25 multi-colored post-it notes with quotes, sayings, and words of wisdom. They remind me to be better, stronger and smarter.
This week’s quote by Mia Hamm (A Worldwide Soccer Legend) is important to me because I have to report to school is in less than three and a half months. The countdown has begun and my teammates and I have started to prepare for next season. Similar to most other college-athletes, we were given a Summer Packet to aid in our training for the Fall. Although I’m not cleared to run yet, it’s been critical for me to do my PT exercises and bike to increase my cardio. Today, however, was an awesome day in the recovery process since my “3000 mile knee tune up”. First, the bottom-most incision has had a hole that hasn’t closed, and we figured it was just a stitch which was being stubborn – today it finally came out so I’ll be able to jump in the pool in a few days! Second, I was cleared to squat which means I can start dancing on tables again (just kidding!). But really, today has been awesome and I know that before I know it I’ll be able to run and play again 🙂
In the meantime, here’s the quote of the week, hope your inspired as I am!
“I’ve worked too hard and too long to let anything stand in the way of my goals. I will not let my teammates down and I will not let myself down.” – Mia Hamm
They say that music is the sweet medicine to life and I couldn’t agree more. There’s nothing better than belting out your favorite songs while driving with the windows down, hair blowing, with good company. Although I often have Music ADD and can’t listen to a song more than a minute and half, here’s my top ten songs for summer 2012. Hope you enjoy these whether you find yourself at the beaches or in the city this summer.
“All I want to Do” by Sugarland – The lyrics to this song are exactly how I feel during summer, plus Sugarland is my favorite country band. Everything is perfect in this track.
“Boys in the Summer” by Jessie James – Probably my favorite summer anthem of all time! I love everything about this songs because it’s all so true, plus who doesn’t love the cute guys in the music video?
“No Faith in Brooklyn” by Hoodie Allen – Maybe it’s because it has “Brooklyn” in the title which makes me think back to the city but I love this song. On the boat the other day it kept showing up on Shuffle, and I instantly fell in love. It’s got a great beat and laid back vibe.
“Give You More Remix” by Sucka Free CJ – This song takes back to cruising the Coronado strand with not a care in the world. You should definitely check out the rest of Sucka Free CJ’s tracks they’re pretty sweet.
“Payphone” by Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa – I don’t care how many times I hear this on the radio, I will never get sick of this song. Maybe it’s just me but putting Wiz Khalifa in there was a good choice.
“Good Day” by Greg Street Presents Nappy Roots – Everyday is a good day! Shout out to Miss Couture for showing me this song en route to Australia.
“Wide Awake” by Katy Perry – I’m not completely sure how I feel about this song, but there’s something that caught my ear in this song. Twist, my sister, always has great music and she showed me this one, so I’m gonna trust her on this one.
“Drive By” by Train – This band has always been one of my favorites and when they came out with this song at first, I thought it was too “pop-like” for them, but it actually fits them nicely.
“Buzzin” by Shwayze – This song is the epitome of a summer jam. Shwayze has never produced a song that I don’t love, plus the lyrics have a chill flow to them.
“If You Ain’t Here to Party” by Luke Bryan – For all y’all Country haters out there, just take a listen to Luke Bryan or head to the nearest country concert and you won’t be able to turn back. This is a summer classic that’ll be forever on repeat for me.
So there’s my top ten favorite summer songs. Comment if you have any recommendations or additions to this list.
Summer is my absolute favorite season. I mean, who doesn’t love summer? It’s perfect in almost every way possible, but maybe that’s because I live in one of the best places to enjoy it. No School, Soccer everyday, great weather, waves crashing on the beach, cruising down the 101, enjoying a breakfast burrito, tan lines, hanging with friends, going on the boat, and simply living life up. It’s the perfect mix of ingredients for the best time. Here’s my list of top five things to do with friends during a summer in San Diego.
Coronado – Also known as Crown Town, this place is the crown jewel in my heart and I spend a ton of my free time here. In between riding bikes around the island, 4th of July, and the #1 beach in the country, Coronado is the place to be.
Indulge yourself in some Mexican food – Aside from being my all-time favorite, Mexican food is bomb here in San Diego. My top picks include: Miguels, Chili Peppers, Tio Leos, Don Panchos and Rubios (Hello Fish Taco’s). If you ever plan on visiting me, plan on going to these places as well.
Go to the beach – Whether it’s Coronado or La Jolla or even Del Mar, San Diego has some of the best beaches in the country. I have so many fond memories at each of them and look forward to making more in the future. The beach is the perfect place for playing soccer, laying out, or catching a few waves. If the Sun and Surf isn’t for you, come after dark and enjoy bonfires – nothing smells like Summer like the Ocean and S’Mores.
Take a Road Trip – L.A. and Santa Barbara are only a few hours away via Car and are such fun places to visit for the day. Along the way be sure to stop at the Rainbow Factory to pick up a pair of sandals – it’ll be worth the visit!
Go to a Padres Game – Yes, they may be last in their conference and the league, but hey, a fan is a fan through thick and through thin. Petco Park is a fun stadium, there are no bad seats in the house and it’s downtown! After the game, hit up the Gaslamp district which is home to some pretty famous bars and restaurants.
Circa 2008
If you’re ever in the SoCal ever be sure to stop by and say Hey! Hope you enjoy 🙂
As a student-athlete, fueling my body is critical to my performance both on and off the field. As a soccer player, I simply just love to indulge in whatever I can find in the pantry after practice. As a a “new” New Yorker, I find myself constantly searching Yelp to try and find the coolest cuisine in the country. Regardless of my excuse, New York City has to be one of my favorite cities to eat in (minus it’s lack of Mexican food). Here’s my top ten restaurants/quick bites/ and places to indulge in the Big Apple.
Eva’s Health Food – For those times when I was missing Mom’s cooking or whenever I felt like a solid healthy meal, I would often find myself in this tiny restaurant adorned with pictures of body builders and other famous stars that have graced Eva’s with their presence. My go to menu-item is the Victory Plate which is Lemon Chicken, Rice and Veggies all mixed up – so yummy! The crowd isn’t half bad either – if you find yourself hungry around 10 at night, you’ll be sure to run into members of the NYU basketball team. Shout out to Xu and JLiss – Eva’s two top customers and my two favorite bball players.
Crepeaway – Whenever I’m in the mood for a crepe there’s nothing better than Crepeaway. The staff is über friendly and the place is open late Thursday through Saturday. My fav is just chocolate chips – simple I know but still delicious.
Washington Square Diner –This is where my friends and I go whenever we are feeling like breakfast whether that’s at 4 in the morning or 6 at night. They get bonus points because their delivery took less than 10 minutes after we ordered.
Ben’s Pizza – Best at about 3 in the morning – I’ve had some marvelous moments here. It’s also a block from where I used to live. The price can be a bit inconvenient compared to the dollar pizza around the corner but if you go there enough the non-english speaking pizza serving men will give you free slices 🙂
Max Brenner – Nothing says chocolate like Max Brenner. I love going their for brunch and getting a bagel and a dessert to share. It’s a must-see if you’re ever in Lower Manhattan.
Insomnia Cookies – This place was open late, like the name indicates. Their cookies were fresh and delicious and have helped me get through many late nights. The box of cookies delivered in a pizza box is perfect for any study group. Just be sure to have plenty of milk for those cookies.
5 Guys Famous Burgers and Fries – There are just those times when you need a burger, some fries and a soda to wipe the worries of life away. This is where I’d just catch up with fellow foodie Shelby (a.k.a. Christmas Elf). Though their menu is simple, their food never disappoints.
16 Handles – By far my favorite froyo place in the whole United States. I used to work at a yogurt shop in high school, which I loved, but this place will forever be number one in my heart. Their countless toppings, 16 flavors, and upbeat vibe cannot be beat.
Dos Caminos – As a native San Diegan, I often craved Mexican food. Although I never truly satisfied my cravings food wise and my pocket was hurting afterwards, Dos Caminos did offer the atmosphere that I missed from a typical Mexican restaurant.
Arturo’s Coal Pizza – This family style old-school Italian restaurant never ceases to amaze me. Their Penne a la Vodka is my personal favorite, but their pizza is pretty good too.
I’m sure I’ll have more updates to this list as I continue my adventure in the city. In the mean time, go out and indulge yourself 🙂
Gone were the dog days of summer, the hours spent on the beach and the times spent giggling late into the night with my best friends. I was playing a whole different ball game. The moment I stepped off that Boeing 747, everything changed. Not only did I have to adjust to the new time change but I had to get used to living with a roommate, paying for things on my own, making new friends, and dealing with the humidity (ughh!).
About ten months ago, I embarked on a journey that not only changed my coordinates on a map, but turned my life as I knew it upside down. I once again packed up my belongings in big cardboard boxes, neatly folded all of my clothes into my two large suitcases, and grabbed a one way ticket to New York City. I was diving head first into a world that I was unsure of. Yes, I had been to the Big Apple before, but I was completely lost on what to expect when I went to school and played soccer there. As I disembarked the plane, the butterflies of nervousness transformed into butterflies of excitement. I really had just moved to New York City.
It’s amazing what can happen in one year. 365 days. 12 months. 52 weeks. But it’s extraordinary how much can happen in less than that time. I would have never in a million years imagined that I would be in college playing two sports, majoring in Sports Management, and interning at a company I had admired for years. I didn’t even know these opportunities existed. New York City is truly the place where dreams come true.
Sitting in the warmth of my house, on the big comfy couches in the living room, it’s hard to imagine that this will be my last summer as a teenager here in San Diego. It’s time to live it up, but in the meantime this blog will serve as a record of my adventures in and out of the city that never sleeps. Moving to the city, going to school and playing soccer at NYU were probably the most monumental decisions I have ever made but I’m sure glad I went with my gut on this one. This year has been magical and I cannot wait to be “Meg in Manhattan” once again.
