Hi!  My name is Sara, and I’m so glad you stopped by!

californyinz is the ultimate mash-up of two places that have my heart, that I call home – California and Pittsburgh, PA.

This is a lifestyle blog with a hip-hop influence (something most of you know I am VERY passionate about) highlighting things I’m doing, places I’m going, concerts I’m attending, products I’m loving, and anything else that tickles my fancy.  It will feature pieces of my day-to-day life with experiences and influences from my incredible friends and epic family.  As a lover of all things digital, I wanted to create an online space where I could connect with friends and family from both coasts (and those in between).

Started from the East Coast, now we here.  Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, my family and I would venture to the West Coast for our annual summer vacations every year since I was a little tot, so the thought of living in The Golden State was always in the back of my mind.  It wasn’t until I became more immersed in my public relations major at Westminster College (Go Titans!) that I realized I wanted to live in a city like LA that could offer a multitude of opportunities in the PR world.  The thought of living near the beach didn’t sound like a bad idea either.  With much support from my friends and family in Pittsburgh and MAJOR support from my aunt and uncle who already reside in CA (I really cannot thank them enough), I was able to make the move in July 2011 and now call Redondo Beach my home.

When I’m not perusing social media platforms or trying to find out Drake’s next location, you can find me in the South Bay on the beach (or at a dive bar), at a hip-hop dance class (yes, Wally), or simply on the couch watching an unhealthy amount of reality television – yes, that includes Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

Most of all, I hope californyinz will help inspire those who have ever considered or who are thinking about moving to a new location to do it.  Whether it’s 30 miles away from home or 3,000, I encourage you to take the leap (or car ride or plane ride).  If it’s something you’re passionate about, do it.  As my mom always told me, “You can always move back home.”

With that being said, I’m really looking forward to sharing my life happenings with you, and I hope you enjoy reading californyinz.  I’m excited to use this blog as another platform to stay connected with my friends and family and to hopefully meet some new people along the way!

Peace aht*.

*How someone from Pittsburgh would pronounce “out”

All opinions and pictures on californyinz are my own, unless otherwise noted.