Norma "Normita" R.'s Profile

One of best friends had been going to core power yoga since she lived in Colorado and would occasionally invite me out here in San Diego--- well I finally had my free week about a year ago-- I did it early in the am-- a C2 class when I had never done yoga before, I felt great and loved the heat... the problem was that it relaxed me so much that I was floating through the rest of the day--all spaced out and didn't try it again until half a year ago and I have never looked back, I am ridiculously hooked-- I have done C1 (the  beginner not super heated class), the C2 (hotter and harder yet awesome), the Hot Fusion (slower and super relaxing good for beginners) and am addicted to Yoga Sculpt (yoga plus weights and fast paced music-- its FANTASTIC-especially because I am an adrenaline junkie and only get my fix running or doing cardio at the gym), and even accidently went to a C3 once (that is a HOT class with people doing some crazy awesome advanced yogi moves which I am nowhere close to doing quite yet)... the price is a bit much but with good instructors, great facilities and great classes its hard to complain--- I am currently doing the trade and am addicted to Corepower Yoga---its helped tone me and with my balance (I basically had none before corepower) I officially feel uniquely "southern cali." I am originally from the central valley and its funny to sometimes see my "vegetarian, yoga practicing, runs-on-the-beach" self :) but I digress- go to Corepower its stellar! The minus star is from overcrowded classes and the high price which I wouldn't be able to afford if I wasn't doing the trade :(  I have no idea how there are people on here that gave negative reviews

Loving Hut--- sooo good! I am so glad I stumbled upon this place! I was feeling sick today-- stupid cold probably brought on by congestion- but I digress-- I typed in "vegetarian pho north park" and hit the gold mine of yelp reviews on this place! I saw the words: vegetarian, and good prices and got all excited. I went in intending to order the veggie pho but got side tracked by one of the other stellar soups--- I shared this and a veggie dish with soy chicken-- both dishes were huge-- the large size and it only came out to $15!!! For vegetarian and non-vegetarian alike, you will not be disappointed!!! I am excited to come back and try all the other yummy sounding stuff on the menu! Oh and bonus points for super friendly staff!

It's Monday night and I march in with two girlfriends in tow, we are grad students and our weekends aren't really weekends because it seems that we are working all the time.. anyhow, beers are necessary tonight! I look around for something dark and chocalety- double chocolate stout-- DELISH! my friend ordered a hefeweizen of some sort and the other ordered a black butte porter I think? ANYWAY-- the beer was fantastic and Monday night its $3 pint for anything night!! It was super crowded but the crowd seemed fun--]now there is something to look

I just moved a few blocks away from Señor Mangos and was excited to try it after friends had told me how awesome this place was. After a power walk through North Park with a friend we decided to check it out, as soon as I walked in I was in love with it- It totally reminded me of little puestos and tienditas in Mexico! The prices were affordable and my friend and I decided to share a Mango Banana-OMG,it was fabulous, prices are also totally reasonable! The second time I went I was a little hungover and a smoothie did the trick! I totally recommend this place for a yummy relatively healthy pick me up anytime of the day! :) Magical!

My love of El Dorado started a few months ago- some friends and I decided to go out on a Wednesday night for kicks! I thought that this place was going to be downtown so was braced for the d-town feel but nope, this dive bar is chill and awesome! The drinks are amongst the best I've had! They peel the lemon slices for your drinks and add fresh lemon juice- the Jalisco daisy is my favorite drink there- a not super sweet margaritasque slushy of deliciousness... I have gone back two other times and had a blast both times- their specialty drinks (which includes the Jalisco Daisy) are $9 dollars but they are double shot drinks that don't even taste like alcohol-- careful or you might drink yourself into oblivion without realizing it!!!! Plus points for the cute bartender there! Oh and one of the nights I went they had old school hip hop mixed in with new hip hop- perfect combo!!! GO THERE NOW!!!

We had a blast while we were here! Our first night in Maine, my hotel roomie Winnie andI had sushi and made friends with the waitress, she told us to hit up Bubba's that friday night for 80's night! Oh man, it was awesome! The only thing that sucked was that I thought I had dressed passably 80's- black and white polka dot mini skirt, platforms, and a side pony tail,but nope! It was not enough! However, I understood why, because once I walked in with the crew, I saw that in Portland, Maine, people take 80's dancing VERY SERIOUSLY! :) haha! People were decked out in spandex, leg warmers, lace, neon shorts, the whole bit! The music was awesome that night- 80's music, with hip hop remixed into them!!! HECK YES!!!!!

Pizza so good, I'd do anything for it, almost!!!! WE were ravenous after a looong day, before our healthcare action in Augusta, Maine the next day! The organizer for Maine People's Alliance, recommended this little shop across the street from the office, and I fell in love!!!! Slices of awesomeness!!! basil tomato and zucchini with potato!!! I mean who does this? it was SOOOOO DELICIOUS! They also had perfect tasting pink lemonade that was not too tart or overwhelmingly sweet- honestly, I know its just pizza, but it was probably one of the best things I had in Portland Maine!!

Ahh, White Heart- how much fun were you?? LOTS!! I came out to Portland a couple of weeks ago, to organize for Healthcare Reform with the Maine People's Alliance, during the nights, we hit the town! One of our last nights, we hit up White Heart and had a blast!!! Maine is mostly white and our crowd of Minorities always stood out, it was fun to walk into bars and have people do double takes! The music was decent, and the dancing crowd was pretty odd- a mix of people that really really didn't know how to dance, but didn't give a damn and danced anyway!! It was sooo ridicioulously awesome, I also found it hysterical that when I asked for my staple dance music "raunchy, bad hip hop" the dj gave me a clueless look and tried, but putting on an Usher song and some new poppy song. Yes, my staple dance music is bad hip hop, especially after I have had a few! All in all, a rock star place, with good yummy drinks- cranberry/vodka please!

I had been contemplating a tattoo forever! I finally found the perfect thing I wanted a few months ago! I knew that the tattoo had to be a) meaningful and b) in the right place. Using the initial design for Ollin- the aztec symbol for movement,  I redid part of the design and then made it more decorative and pretty. I decided to go with Tower tattoo after I saw my friends tattoo, and loved the style, she told me she had gotten it here. When I went in to Adam, he told me that the tattoo might have too much detail, but he would mess with it. About 20 minutes later, he had a really great version of it, which included all of what I had wanted, just slightly simplified. I don't know what other people were talking about, Adam was super friendly and funny. He initially quoted 130 or so. When he realized It was my first tattoo he made some jokes but then told me I would be fine,  to just breathe normally and relax. Thats just what I did, and an hour later, I had my tattoo, just like I wanted. It was on the inside of my right wrist and wrapped around to the top. He then told me it would just be a 100 since he took less time than he though- YAY! I totally recommend Adam, he rocks!

F*cken good food. Its all either vegetarian or vegan but don't let that stop you, meat eaters!!! My friend and I were out here doing some research from San Deezy. Right before we left our hotel to find some food, I did a quick perusal of restaurants around the area and came across Avanti. It was perfect for what we were looking for: healthy, and delicious, everything we had there was both! The Riviera pizza its so good, it'll make you slap someone!! The olive and cheese Salad with miso dressing, also amazing! She and I split both and to top it off, vegan, raspberry chocolate cake and an almond chocolate cake/tartlet thing, which were stellar!!! Seriously, one of the best meals I have ever had, I am coming back with the boyfriend, and any possible time that I can escape down to Newport! :) YUM! Seriously, if you like haven't gotten in the car and are driving there now, do it!