On Thursday summer nights, Santa Monica Pier plays host to a series of Twilight Concerts. They have a variety of musicians perform and you get to enjoy the concert from the pier or bring a blanket and listen to the music on the beach below all for free.

If you're in the area, they also have a place you can park your bike. Otherwise, I opted to Uber over. They've also got a lot of vendors there with fun photobooths and games, as well as food for sale.

Some of their night's are also themed. The night we went was "Australia Rocks the Pier" theme. We were able to get as close as possible to the stage and enjoyed Ben Browning of Cut Copy's performance which included Sid the koala character that came on-stage (actually my favorite part).

They have their calendar of performers on their website here, including tonight's! (Spoiler alert: tonight Sister Nancy is playing — it's reggae night.)

Bonus: Santa Monica Pier is a prime location, because it's a beautiful setting for just walking around, and you can explore Pacific Park, take a ride on the ferris wheel for $5 or go across the street and play at Tongva Park (my favorite park in Los Angeles).

CLICK THROUGH TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE NIGHT...

Yep, you read that headline correctly. I am moving to Nashville, Tennessee. Or rather, probably the surrounding area of Nashville. And it's happening in exactly three weeks — September 2nd. To be more specific, I will be driving to Nashville and am not actually going to be there until September 23rd. I'll be doing a Route 66 road trip from here to Chicago and then visiting some friends and family in Ohio before staying in Charleston, WV for a couple nights and finally arriving in Nashville.

No, I am not moving for a job. No, I am not moving for a person — nor do I know any people there. I am moving because I simply love the area of Nashville, and it's the right time.

READ ON FOR MY FULL DECISION-MAKING PROCESS

Because ice cream is always a good idea. Especially this place.

CLICK THROUGH TO KNOW WHY...

I'm spending some time reminiscing on past memories. Because exciting news and all that coming soon for the future. For now, this experience from the winter of 2013 when Whitney was visiting from Kansas City, MO, and my friend Kelsey was in town and I realized that not every hiking trail in Palos Verdes is worth driving to. Isn't there a quote though that you either win or you learn? #fbf

READ ON FOR MORE ABOUT MY "LEARNING" EXPERIENCE ...

Almost three years after the space shuttle Endeavour was moved to the science center, I finally made it a point to go and visit. I wanted to see for myself this thing that was in space and the journey it took from here to there and back. In any case, I'll take any reason to go to The California Science Center.

The California Science Center in Exposition Park is a great place to visit and discover. Aside from the fact that it's next to/part of USC's campus #BruinPride (haha JUST KIDDING rival USC folks – it's only semi-personal), it's a really great place to go on any afternoon and learn about science in an interactive and fun way. Plus, it's free to the public which is always a plus.

Some things you might have to pay for:

• Parking – $10 (unless you take the metro which is lots cheaper and a short walk from the station to the entrance)
• IMAX movie – around $8.25 (for 18 years and older) this is an experience worth getting tickets for though. The IMAX movies aren't like the 3D movies you see in a theater; they really make you feel like you're part of the ocean or in Jersualem (depending on what movie you choose to see). Right now you have three different films to choose from: Hubble 3D, Jerusalem 3D, or Humpback Whales 3D. We chose Jerusalem in lieu of the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit.
• The Endeavour – this can actually be "free" too if you buy a ticket to one of the other exhibits or IMAX movie, otherwise it's a $2 processing fee when you make an online reservation (a reservation is required through September 7)
• Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit – you can get a combo deal with the IMAX movie purchase – $26 (for 18 years and older), but the exhibit alone is about $20 (for 18 year old and older). This is one thing I didn't get to do when we recently went, but Yelp gives it a four out of five star rating.
• There's also attractions like the high wire bicycle (where you're riding a bicycle on a wire at the top level), a small rock wall, and a motion-based simulator which you can buy an "attraction pack" for all at $7. 

Basically you can really choose how much or not at all you want to spend. The point is that this is one of the coolest museums for all ages in LA and is right next to a rose garden,

California African American Museum and the Museum of Natural History. Just throwing that in there.

CLICK THROUGH TO READ MORE ABOUT WHAT SCIENCE-Y THINGS OCCURRED

A long short story of the hair I changed after so many years. And why it matters but not really...

Welcome to my childhood dream in real life: visiting the Watts Towers.

We had a hands-on-art project in elementary school where we learned about these towers and used wires and beads and clay to pretend like we were replicating their sheer amazingness. My "art" piece is long gone now, but the desire to see the towers in real life remained.

Fast forward about sixteen years and I finally made it a priority. 

READ ON TO FIND OUT MORE...

Daybreaker is a "morning movement that will start your day off unlike anything else." This Los Angeles to-do has been on my list since I read this article back in November. Wild party with dancing, food, some yoga, and no drinking? That's the definition of my kind of party.

I would say getting up at 5am to get to Marina del Rey and participate in a dance party on a boat before my regular work hours is definitely an abnormal start to my day. And huge kudos to the guy who dressed like a sun/sunflower. Hands down best costume of the Daybreaker experience.

CLICK THROUGH TO READ ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE...

Land of the free, home of the brave: "AMERICA!" — said in a very loud, definitive tone, with a slight southern twang. Just cause.

That's how I say it anyways when fourth of July is rolling around. The festivities are slightly different every year, but I ended up doing what I did last year which was baseball game in the morning (the most American way as I'll explain further) and BBQ in the evening wrapping it all up watching firework shows from the beach.

READ ON FOR ALL THAT DAY-OF-AMERICA-CELEBRATION GREATNESS

In addition to jumping off rocks, people also go rock climbing in this area as shown in this photo.

These warm days are reminding me of this Malibu Creek State Park adventure that felt like a much-needed girls getaway at the time, on a beautiful Saturday morning almost two years ago. Don't worry, the rock pool is still there, and so are the rocks we jumped off of. I would check the water levels though — I don't know if it's any different with the drought. If anything, this area is a great hiking choice.

I conquered some fears on this little excursion, and I still vividly remember the experience even today.

READ ON FOR THE JUMP...

Above is me. In probably my happiest captured form: open road, blue skies, friends, adventuring, and just being completely in love with where I am.

I love road trips. Maybe because I'm from LA and having a car symbolizes freedom a bit more than in other cities. There really is something freeing to me about being able to take your car and go to some place new. Even more so than flying. Sometimes flying doesn't feel as far away — it feels more about the destination: you're in one place, and then all of a sudden you're in the next.

With a road trip, there's a journey. There are stops, there are things to look at, to observe. There are long hours, lots of snacks, and "are we there yet?" moments, but it's all part of this random journey. You know that eventually you'll get to your destination, but might as well be flexible, take the time to explore and have fun along the way.

And the road trip I'm highlighting today is one of many that I've taken from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and back.

Our stops included:

• Bottle Tree Ranch
• World's Tallest Thermometer
• Alien Beef Jerky
• Las Vegas (which was semi our destination too so I'm not counting this)

and back

• through the Mojave desert — attempted to look for a cave that we didn't find
• Cross-eyed Cow Pizza

READ ON FOR ALL THE RANDOM DETAILS...

Go. Experience this event.

Tickets go on sale today at 9am Pacific time for the Rise Festival. I went last October with some friends, and it was truly the most magical — and then one of the most challenging — experiences of my life. But let's focus on the magical. They've implemented changes this year, and they moved locations from the Jean Roach Dry Lake Bed to the Moapa River Reservation, which sounds more promising. They are also hosting it in Pheonix if you can't make it to Nevada.

Find out more about the event and buy your tickets here. Seriously, this is an event you would not want to miss if you have the opportunity to go.

READ ON to get my personal experience of the event, and to see photos, and a video. Also, look out this week for the road trip there and back. I mean, might as well make the journey fun too, right?

My last full day in Seattle was comprised of:

1. Gum Wall — our mark was still there! 
2. Walk down to the Harbor Area (watch out for construction)
3. Ride on the carousel at Miner's Landing
4. Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour using my City Pass
5. Pike Place Market
6. Bike Ride via the Burke-Gilman Trail
7. Gas Works Park {En route}
8. Fremont Troll{En route – kind of}
9. Full Tilt Ice Cream {En route}
10. Ballard Locks & Fish Ladder {En route}
11. Zayda Buddy's Pizza for dinner {En route back}
12. Bike through the sunset
13. Watch Sleepless in Seattle

For the details of sweet foods, random decisions, bike off-roading, and unexpected adventures, read on.

It's like I've got the whole world in my hands... but actually it's the glass paperweight I made in Seattle at the Seattle Glassblowing Studio.

As I mentioned in my previous post, it was a bit pricey ($150 for a private 30 minute lesson, including the end result of the paperweight) — especially for my budget — but I just felt like while in Seattle, it was something I wanted to learn more about. It was my very big splurge. I was even more motivated and excited after I went to the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit. Who knew glass could be so creative and inspiring?

Let's walk through some of the exhibit and the glassblowing process together, shall we?

Day two in Seattle was equally exciting, but unlike the previous day, there was a lot of impulsive buying and money spending. Mostly on food, attractions, and experiences.

1. It was #NationalDoughnutDay, so obviously a trip to Top Pot Doughnuts was in order
2. Chihuly Garden and Glass — phenomenal/inspiring/amazing/fantastic/favorite etc. etc.
3. Learned glass-blowing at the Seattle Glassblowing Studio
4. Artist's at Play Playground — so fun! Even if you're not five years old
5. EMP Museum / Experience Music Project Museum 
6. Seattle Space Needle — where I caught a fish? 
7. Olympic Sculpture Park
8. Giant Shoe Museum
9. Owl 'n Thistle Irish Pub for some of the "best fish 'n chips" — agreed
10. Kerry Park to watch the sunset

READ ON FOR ALL THE DETAILS — like how I caught a fish at the Seattle Space Needle, and what places I would skip or not spend as much time at...

It's been awhile since I've explored a place I have never been to before. A place that I have little to no expectations or previous images of how it's going to be. When my stepmom provided a means of Southwest transportation and essentially a low-cost ticket to anywhere with a deadline of June 16th, I chose Seattle. Because, why not?

I spent three full days there, arriving at 9am on Thursday, June 4th, and leaving 10:30am on Sunday, June 7th.

My lasting image of Seattle is green and blue. Those are the colors I primarily saw from above, and below. I expected the green — actually even more green than I saw — but I didn't expect all the blue.

This trip I really tried to not plan too much, but leave some time to discover. However — because I'm me and love to plan— I ended up doing a lot of research beforehand to have in case there were specific places, tours, or events I'd be disappointed if I didn't see or take advantage of. So basically, each of my three days there ended up being jam-packed. In the best way possible.

The first day in Seattle was a combination of planning and wandering.

First day itinerary:

1. "Free" Walking Tour @ 11am (I say "free" because they ask to contribute whatever you feel at the end of the tour, and they did such a great job that I contributed/paid as much I would on a regular tour, but technically you could contribute nothing). 
2. Pike St. Press where I picked up a couple of cards, including the one above
3. Taxi Dogs for lunch at the Victor Steinbrueck Park
4. Pike Place Market
5. Gum Wall in Post Alley where my friend and I made a sticky mark
6. Columbia Tower — 40th floor Starbucks and a {free} view
7. Seattle Art Museum [SAM] — {free because of First Thursday}
8. The first Starbucks store at 1st & Pike
9. Watched the sunset back at Victor Steinbrueck Park
10. Went to sleep! (Especially after only getting four hours the previous three nights)

READ ON FOR ALL THE PICTURES & DETAILS...