SOS
Friends, I could use your help in a few areas. I submit myself to your superior knowledge and wisdom. [Edited to add: here's an update on everything!]
Things to do or see and food to eat in Sacramento
In a couple of weeks, I’m going to Sacramento for a work conference, and I will have a bit of free time to wander. I try to squeeze in some sightseeing and at least 1 good meal, so, what should I see and eat? What’s unique and cool about Sacramento? I won’t have a car, but I’m staying at the Sheraton Grand.
Things to do or see and food to eat in Anaheim
See above. A month after I get back from Sacramento, I’m going to Anaheim for 4 days over a weekend. Blurg. And no, I am not going to Disneyland by myself, because that is just pathetic. Sooo, what else is in Anaheim? Something Mighty Ducks-related, I assume? This time, I’ll be at the convention center.
In-N-Out Burger
The plus side of all of this California travel is that I will be in the land of In-N-Out! I have never been there! I missed my chance during the 1 time I was in Los Angeles, so I am making it a priority this time around. Sacramento and Anaheim people, would it be ridiculous if I ran to the nearest location? Like physically ran? If I showed up all sweaty and out of breath, only to order a burger, eat it, and jog back, would that be weird? Or like, understandable? Oh, um, would it be safe? Alternatively, does anyone want to come with me? By which I mean, swing by my hotel en route?
A real carry-on
I have a small rolling suitcase, but it’s in that slightly bigger size that everyone eyes up as not able to fit in the overhead compartment, and it doesn’t help matters when I can barely hoist it above the seats and bean somebody on the head in the process. I refuse to check luggage for work travel, so I think I need to get the super smallest size for my own sense of guilt (and public safety). Can you recommend one? Or a brand? I don’t travel that much, so it doesn’t have to be super duper nice, but I would like it if the handle didn’t fall off on the first use or anything.
Night cream
At Becky’s wedding, one of the bridesmaids did everyone’s make-up because she is a Mary Kay girl. It was very convenient, but I ended up with some Scary Eyes. Anyway, as she was applying my foundation, I said, “So, my skin is pretty clear right now, but I’m turning 30 next year. Should I be wearing a night cream?” And she looked at my very gravely and nodded. I need to replace the dead skin cells! Nighttime is healing time! It’s never too late to fight aging effects! So, now I’m all freaked out about my dying face. The flip side to this is that I am totally cheap when it comes to face stuff and totally negligent in that I wash my face about every other day, if I remember. I absolutely refuse to spend a fortune on something that has virtually no observable effect. That said, I have no idea what that effect would be, so who am I kidding? With that in mind, can anyone recommend a night cream that I can get at a drug store without busting my wallet, is fragrance-free, and is beneficial for basically non-problematic skin?
Cranberry colored jeans
I’m on the hunt for skinny jeans that are a cranberry color. Not this orange-y fire engine shade that’s around now: I specifically want cranberry. I might settle for a brick red or burgundy, but they are not ideal. Any finds out there?
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Last fall I got cranberry skinny cords at JCrew outlet. They’re not jeans, but I love them! Maybe check there.
Can’t help on the night cream (I turn 30 in 3 weeks- my face is dying as we speak), but if you’re looking for an eye cream too I love this: http://amzn.to/PDhL28
For a carry on – look for something that is 20″, not 21″ or 22″. That is the difference between it always fitting vertically into the overhead compartment and not. (Did I ever tell you I sold luggage at a department store in college?)
Mine is 20″ and expandable — when expanded, it becomes more of the “pushing the limit” carry on size, but it’s nice to have the option if you’ve done some shopping or something.
This is a nice option, TravelPro is a good middle of the road brand: http://www.ebags.com/product/travelpro/crew-8-20-wide-body-rollaboard/201566?productid=10101812
I’m interested in hearing the comments on the night cream. I turned 31 this year and I do own some eye cream but I honestly don’t remember to use it. I should start using some and hopefully will get a good recommendation from your readers.
You are Asian. You are not going to look 30 until you are at least 75. I say just use a light-weight daily lotion on your face. I think Mary Kay people are a little crazy.
This is my fav reply ever. I agree, probably best bet is to just use an spf face lotion during the day!
Sacramento has a lovely river front with beautiful old ferry boats (some as restaurants, some as museums, one was a hotel) and a fantastic bridge on the river called Tower Bridge. We went at night and the lights were lovely, but most things were closed.
The only other thing of note I’ve done in Sacramento was to paddle a canoe up the American River to Folsom Prison….which sounds kind of crazy when I think about it, but it made for a lovely morning.
When you go to In and Out order your burger “Animal Style.” They put grilled onions mixed with this delicious sauce on it. It’s not on the menu, but lots of people order it this way. Animal Style fries (same onions + sauce) are not nearly as awesome.
xox
So I’ve been to Anaheim. I know you say you don’t want to go to Disneyland/California Adventure alone, but it is quite possibly the only thing to do in walking distance. They are smaller parks — way smaller than Disney World — and it’s pretty neat to walk around them at least. You can see Sleeping Beauty’s castle, which is so much smaller than Cinderella’s. The park is interesting in that they created everything to look much taller than it is because they didn’t have the space to create massive anything. Also you can go on the Matterhorn, and that would make me extremely jealous, because it was closed when I was there! I feel like Anaheim can get weird the more you venture away from the Convention Center/Disney World area. And, the closest In-n-Out Burger is over an hour walk.
I haven’t been there, so I can’t vouch for it!
Just looked this up: http://www.anaheimgardenwalk.com, which is right across the main blvd, and would be a place to kill some time
Your quest for In-n-Out Burger may be dashed, unless you can get to the one that is right outside of LAX. I personally think it’s well worth the effort
I don’t have any Sacramento recommendations, but maybe there were some places mentioned on Man v Food, or The Best Thing I Ever Ate. Colin and I find some great places when we travel because of the Food Network and Travel Channel.
I use eye cream every night and most mornings. I’m not completely convinced that it’s doing very much for wrinkles or bags, but it does soothe the skin around my eye area which is nice. I’ve used some eye cream, and a very soothing eye roller serum thing from Garnier, and I’m currently using something from Neutrogena. If you’re not into remembering or the hassle, I highly recommend the roller because you don’t have to do any dabbing with your finger. http://www.amazon.com/Garnier-Renew-Anti-Puff-Roller-Fluid/dp/B001DPMETG
Good luck!
My husband traveled to California this year and was also super exited to try In and Out, but was sadly disappointed with his burger. He only found out after the fact that there is apparently a secret menu (or basically that there are many things you can order not actually listed on their menu), and therein lied his mistake. That is all I know on the subject, but look into it! I’m sure others will know much more than me (I’m an East Coast girl, after all).
For a good, yet not-too-expensive carry-on bag I would recommend one from Swiss Army. They are sold at Target and have multiple sizes, and each lists whether they comply with carry-on rules or not. I’m not a luggage expert by any means, but we’ve found them to be super sturdy and good quality. Plus, the one we have is expandable.
I’m curious about your night cream responses as well. I’m turning 31 this fall, and although I don’t look it now, I suppose it’s important to think about the future, right? I’m kind of like you though – daily face washing, maybe a light moisterizer (if I remember, that is), and… that’s about it. Should I be doing more?
I was born and raised in California, so naturally I am a huge fan of In N Out. Definitely asked for grilled onions; you can also ask for mustard instead of spread, which cuts down on the fat (although the animal style burger uses the sauce, so the mustard subsitution won’t work if you want to get that). The shakes are awesome, made with real ice cream.
In Anaheim you could go to Downtown Disney. It’s an area with tons of shops and restaurants within the whole Disneyland/California Adventure complex, but you don’t have to pay any entrance fees.
Of course a Mary Kay consultant is going to tell you you need a night cream! I agree with Sherry, those people are crazy and they scare me. I’m super skeptical of expensive cosmetics; it’s all the same goop, just packaged differently. I’m sure whatever you can pick up in the drug store will work just fine.
My faves in Sacramento:
One Speed Pizza (but might be too far)
Capitol Garage (for brunch)
Tower Cafe (for the ambiance)
Cafe Bernardo (never actually been to this location, but I love the one in Davis)
Sadly, I don’t think there’s an In-N-Out in downtown Sacramento.
Also, I think you should extend one of these stays and come to the Central Coast!
I use ROC Multi Corrextion Skin Renewing Serum at night. I think it does something? I don’t actually know. But I found it at Wal Mart and it wasn’t too pricey and now I can pat myself on the back for using a retinol at night.
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod2300067
My dermatologist said no on the night cream, and to creams in general, unless you have really dry skin.
When I first got my job, I had a giant LLBean bag that I liked but was totally inappropriate for work travel (huge and bright purple.) I ended up getting another LLBean bag http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/63923?feat=904-GN1&page=quickload-upright-duffle-medium. It’s been awesome. I think at last count it had 175k miles of travel on it, I’ve never had any issues with overhead space (HATE checking bags), and while the bottom corners are a little worn, it’s still in great shape and I see no reason to replace it anytime soon. Since I bought it, several other coworkers have purchased the same or similar one.
Second on the LL Bean bags. And if the handle does fall off, the first time or the 1000th time, you can return it.
I saw some fun brightly colored skinny jeans at target this weekend. Possibly more magenta than you are looking for, but the color was toned down enough that I was considering buying them.
Yes, run to In and Out. Animal style. (The burger, not the running. Though, I mean, do that if you’d like. I’d almost pay to see you galloping like a horse or cavorting like a bear.) I hear all that special night cream/eye cream stuff is bunk.
I have no advice to give, but interested in these comments on night cream. I don’t use any myself, but now that I’m 31 maybe I should!
No opinion
No opinion
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I like an llbean backpack as a carry-on
You can go with something old-fashioned like Ponds or Oil of Olay. I liked using Ponds ok, but I am similarly lackadaisical about my face, with the one difference that I an aversion to STUFF ON MY FACE in general, and have really internalized the need to wash my face nightly. But I rarely remember to apply any product, ever, beyond that. So Ponds, which is pretty heavy, took me some overcoming of my aversion. Now that it’s fall & you’ve reminded me, I might get back in the habit.
There may have been a dark magenta/cranberry-ish pair at Old Navy. I was surprised by how many colors they had, and their Sweetheart fit (NOT LOW RISE YAAAAY!) is my favorite.
PS: My understanding is that using SPF lotion daily is the one best effective defense against aging. Unfortunately, that makes for a heavy feel & a sunscreen-y smell, so I’m very bad about putting on lotion during the day.
I use a face lotion with SPF. I quit washing my face about two years ago. I don’t get zits anymore and my skin is fine. I just turned 30. Go to In ‘n’ Out if you can, but in Sac I’d rather eat at one of Guy Fieri’s places. Sac is big so not having a car will be a disadvantage. In Anaheim, do downtown Disney. Disney tickets are pricy, so unless you have people to go with, it’s not going to be much doing it by yourself…