As a southern belle, especially in bama, there isn’t much to ride home about in terms of food, attractions and entertainment. I’m a simple girl with a sophisticated wallet so money ain’t never an object. That being said, me and my girls decided Erewhon was a non-negotiable!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anybody who knows that store already surrenders themselves to $20 hard-boiled eggs (4 of those per case to be exact), $20 Hailey Bieber smoothie, and $35 mac and cheese, to say the least.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now of course you’re probably thinking “this is an outrage, capitalism must be destroyed and we need to sink some more tea in the ocean off the coast of Boston!!”. <\/em>To which I may say, why yes! But-but-but maybe if you took a sip of the smoothie and a bite of the cheesy goodness, you may come to realize you’re not you when you’re hungry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Honey…I can’t believe I’m admitting this but…that was the best $55 I’ve ever spent. It’s crazy I know, sue me, sedate me, slap the shit into me. But omg…I see why Cali folks think they the shit foreal.<\/p>\n\n\n Naturally, I had to try the infamous Hailey Bieber Strawberry Glaze Smoothie\u2014a blend of almond milk, dates, collagen, strawberries, and rich wellness girl delusion. And you know what? I loved it. Yes, it\u2019s $19. And yes\u2026 I kinda get the hype. It tasted like a creamy strawberry cloud mixed with skincare goals. It\u2019s giving wellness girl, but make it delicious. Is it overpriced? Absofuckinglutely. Would I buy it again? Si se\u00f1or. Would I try recreating it at home and spend even more money doing it? Absolutely not. I\u2019m not saying I\u2019d buy it every day\u2014but I\u2019m not not<\/em> saying it either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While basking in bougie Erewhon glory, I spotted the infamous mac & cheese sitting under a heat lamp like it knew it was special. Now based on pictures alone, it doesnt look like much; and to add to it, the parts I come from we don’t do soupy mac & cheese, it’s baked only<\/em><\/span><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That delicious plate right there cost <\/strong>35 doubloons. You’re probably wondering dou-damn, for $35 I can get more than that cafeteria plate right there! To which I would respond, why yes! However…capitalism and novelty made lightning strike twice that day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The mac and cheese was so creamy, luxurious, subtly truffle-y, and made me question everything I knew about comfort food. Though it may look like the adult version of kid cuisine, it was thee most delicious, and outrageously priced meal I’ve ever tasted (thus far)! Was it worth the price? Emotionally, yes. Financially\u2026 we don\u2019t need to talk about that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We carved out a day for the Santa Monica Pier, and it was pure California magic. Just as magical as if we were under a spell that made us believe we didn’t have bills to pay when we would return home from this 15 thousand, 700 million dollar trip \ud83e\udd74…but anywho! <\/p>\n\n\n\n From street performers to $30 funnel cake, skateboarders, to end-of-time preachers, it was like stepping into a nostalgic teen movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s something healing about the sound of waves while the world spins around you. Of course I watched the sun set over the ocean while riding the Ferris wheel, and for a moment, time slowed down. There\u2019s something healing about the waves crashing and laughing at the high point of the wheel with your friends while the world just spins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I will say it was pretty dern cold in California! The sun wasn’t giving per se, but I guess she came out every now and again, its the thought that counts right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again, being from the south has its jerks more than perks. But my friends and I were able to catch the critically acclaimed film Sinners<\/em> in the movie theaters when it came out. We read that the IMAX 70mm experience came with complimentary souvenir film strips and we had to get our hands on them. Lo and behold, God’s favorites were able to catch a showing of the movie in IMAX 70mm, and it was an experience<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This wasn\u2019t just watching a movie\u2014it was being swallowed whole by it. I really believe I was in a room with approximately 500 people, which is crazy to conceptualize coming from smaller theaters in the good ole Bible Belt. I now understand how the cast of these films are able to line up at the front, that place was HUGE. Bigly even! The detail, the grain, the sound\u2014every moment felt like a masterclass in literary devices, AP Literature and foundational Shakespearean engineered storytelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re a film nerd or just love being emotionally wrecked in high definition, add this to your must-watch list. LA theaters know how to do movie magic the right <\/em>way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I wrapped up my LA days at Community Goods, and WOW\u2014I had the best matcha I’ve ever had in my life. This place was completely and unexpectedly incredible. This spot is a hidden gem tucked into LA\u2019s coffee scene. I had their matcha and regret not getting a secondary. Now grant it, my girls and I don’t have kids, so we don’t have to go as hard and have no cares in the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I say that to say, we waited 45 mins<\/em> in line to try this locally famous matcha brand– and we were not disappointed! Myself and friend #2 tried the matcha einspanners matcha, a smooth, earthy, yet not grassy, toasted, sweet, and perfectly balanced (no chalky aftertaste!) taste of healthy well-being meets nutty goodness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Friend #1 tried their <\/strong>iced coffee einspanners which had that deep, bold flavor without being too acidic and bitter but resembled black opium in a beverage. Sweet, toasty, chocolately and most importantly, caffeinated!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The shop was cozy, clean, and so<\/em> aesthetically pleasing\u2014think soft indie playlists, secret garden-esque, and sunlight pouring through the windows. It\u2019s the kind of place that makes you want to write poetry, scrapbook journal or relax, relate, release!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, to the main event: seeing Beyonc\u00e9\u2019s Cowboy Carter tour live. Ever since I was a little girl, my dream was to attend a Beyonce concert. From watching all her documentaries, to practicing her dance routines, and daydreamining the day I would finally see her in person, I recieved that fateful notification: my code to a night liberation and awakening. Between praying to God, and taking my work lunch break earlier and longer than usual, I was sweating bullets! But God don’t play about me and mine and we secured the bag and began Pinteresting our outfits! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once we got to the arena, and paid $100 for parking (yea Bey, we gone we need to talk because wtf is that about??) we got to our seats and awaited for the Queen to arrive. After downing $9 sodas, $20 hotdogs, the lights go dim and a subtle “looka there looka there” and dancers in red cogic and handmaids tale inspired clothing appeared. After the prologue, the stage opens up and she appears. I had chills from the second she stepped on stage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n CowBoy Carter was more than a concert, it was a movement. Beyonce combined elements of religion, history, sensuality, and culture into the stage. She began the show with a black church inspired wardrobe. Seeing her background dancers masqueraded and veiled in in bold red choir robes, kickstarted the genesis of country music. <\/p>\n\n\n\n From the visuals to the stage engineering, flying cars and horse shoes gliding through the air, Beyonce took us on journey through the lens of her world, her brain child of Renaissance Act II. Witnessing her utilize her platform to acknowledge the forgotten, excluded, and uncredited black country artists who made contributions to the genre was iconic, awe-inspiring and powerful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Though I have two left feet, and move like an 80 year old in a nursing home when she hears ABBA (I don’t but hopefully you get the picture) I felt alive, joyful, and privileged to partake in this once in lifetime–hopefully there will be more to come– out of body experience!<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was fringe, rhinestones, cowboy hats, and more denim than a Levi\u2019s commercial. The vocals? Ethereal. The vibe? Somewhere between a southern revival and a cosmic rodeo. Hearing her blend country, soul, and fierce storytelling live was unforgettable. There\u2019s something powerful about being surrounded in a crowd of thousands scream-sing about freedom, pride, sensuality, and power. Beyonc\u00e9 didn\u2019t just perform\u2014she preached<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The entire night was a cultural reset. I’ve never felt so inspired, entertained and fulfilled from someone who doesn’t even know I exist. Yet performs so everyone feels something different or unique to their own life, experiences, challeneges, victories and interpretations. I wore my favorite boots, sang like no one was watching, and left the stadium feeling like I could conquer anything in my field. That’s what makes her such an inspiration and powerhouse. She embodies determination, vision, fun, discipline, confidence, and is overall apathetic to petty criticism. This was an unforgettable experience and the entire stadium was vibrating with energy. This wasn\u2019t just a concert\u2014it was a movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From country concerts to cinematic artistry and indulgent Erewhon snacks, this LA trip was the perfect mix of glam, grit, and golden hour moments. I came home with a full heart, a lighter wallet, and a craving for matcha that probably won\u2019t go away anytime soon. All except my one earbud…RIP to my baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n LA taught and introduced me to so much and more. Now that traffic, yall can miss me with that, but as far as a life-fulfilling experience, I’ll never trade it for anything in the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This trip was indulgent, soul-filling, and everything I didn\u2019t know I needed. From concert highs to smoothie runs, I got to experience LA through a new lens\u2014one where glam meets grit and even your lunch can cost more than your jeans \ud83d\ude02<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019re a Beyonc\u00e9 stan, a matcha snob, or just dreaming of your own California escape, I hope this inspired your next adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Until next time, LA. \ud83e\udde1<\/p>\n\n\n\n xo,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your resident scrapbook girl with a taste for luxury snacks<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Y\u2019ALL. It’s alot I need to tell you about my most recent excursions. So much happened I could barely keep up with myself. So let’s recap shall we: Flewed Out I just got back from … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":854,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,30],"tags":[70,71,72,75,76,73,74,77,37,45,24,56,41,25,23,59,22,28],"class_list":["post-853","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-travel","tag-californiadreaming","tag-cowboycarter","tag-erewhon","tag-imaxvibes","tag-latravelblog","tag-matchamoments","tag-santamonicasunset","tag-scrapbooklife","tag-beauty","tag-blackgirlmakeup","tag-blogger","tag-bloglife","tag-blogstyle","tag-keepingupwithkenzie","tag-make-up","tag-subscribe","tag-travel","tag-travel-blogger","has-single-img"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/keepingupwithkenzie.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/853","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/keepingupwithkenzie.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/keepingupwithkenzie.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/keepingupwithkenzie.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/keepingupwithkenzie.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=853"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/keepingupwithkenzie.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/853\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":925,"href":"https:\/\/keepingupwithkenzie.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/853\/revisions\/925"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/keepingupwithkenzie.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/keepingupwithkenzie.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=853"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/keepingupwithkenzie.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=853"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/keepingupwithkenzie.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=853"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/keepingupwithkenzie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_2949-768x1024.jpeg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\ud83e\uddc0 $35 Mac & Cheese (Yes, I Did It)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\ud83c\udfa1 Ocean Vibes at Santa Monica Pier<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\ud83c\udfac Sinners in IMAX 70mm \u2014 Fellowship and Love<\/strong> and Plenty of Bleh Bleh Bleh<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u2615 Hidden Gem: Match(a) Made in Heaven + Coffee at Community Goods<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\ud83e\udd20 Cowboy Carter Live in LA \u2014 The Western Renaissance We Needed<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFinal Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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