Love Aujourd'hui

2010-10-12T23:42:00.000-04:00

Video Games

2010-09-04T02:51:00.002-04:00

While the boys play SC2, I finally have time to blog...

Let me just say, I love love love working at home. While it may not be the most efficient way of getting your work done, you actually have time to do things like laundry, cook & clean. (I know, when did I ever start being domestic... and liking it??) I cannot believee it is September already! Time begins to fly when you work full time. Sighs. A few things I stumbled upon today that I just love...

The ladies of joielala have a wonderfully dreamy photographic style & what a pretty and whimsical name.
I barely allow myself to buy anything these days, especially with a ridiculously high sales tax here in California... and I try really hard not to look at anything that I might want for this specific reason... I neeed this.
I even had time to YouTube today! I had heard about this little songbird before and thought whatever another YouTube sensation but she is really good! Such a full bodied voice that's naturally beautiful. Loves.

This is kind of random but it's part of my Google searching lately. We watch a lot of Cupcake Wars in our apartment and I've been thinking of challenging Best to a cupcake war. I have been searching for a Red Velvet Cheesecake cupcake recipe! One of our good friends is a big fan of the Cheesecake Factory version much like this one. But it's not good for a cupcake. This might work in the shape of cupcakes and I'm a little skeptical about the one on this site because I don't want the batters to marble. But hmm... wonder when I'll have time for this idea.

Waiting for Change

2010-08-02T16:12:00.003-04:00

Yeah, I'm tired of looking at my Fireworks & Food post all day everyday too. I'm not really hungover but it's our roommates birthday & we have a friend visiting so we drank last night. While I got a decent night's sleep, I just don't feel like doing any work whatsoever.

Not that I'm a Tisdale fan but I already decided that I was going to grow out my hair super long and perm it for my next look/persona. But then I came across this InStyle look of the day & I love it! I love the natural looking blend of the chestnut & espresso with a twist that makes it a little bit edgy. Can't wait for my hair to be nice & long again. That is, if I can make it through the horrible in between stage!

Fireworks & Food

2010-07-06T15:20:00.012-04:00

I love love love the 4th of July and one of the biggest reasons being that you get to watch fireworks! I love sitting outdoors, whether in a park, field or beach, waiting for the sky to light up in beautiful colors and patterns. It's really a moment that is magical and I'm so happy that I finally got to share it with my someone special this summer. Wish I took some pictures at Berkeley Marina but it was too cold and of course nothing beats seeing it in person. I'm just glad the sky wasn't cloudy and we had a clear night to watch the pretty fireworks. :)

One of my most favorite things about summer are the backyard barbeques. I miss being back East where the heat comes in waves and you're forced outside to enjoy some refreshing beer & juicy watermelon. The best barbeques are hands down over 4th of July weekend. Sometimes, you'll plan a beach barbeque before the fireworks or all your friends will gather at someone's house. There are even times you'll have to decide which invitations to take to enjoy the best food you'll have all year. I remember having some of the most delicious chicken, corn, skewers... all made fresh and hot off the grill at summer barbeques.

This year was a little bit different, my first 4th of July out West. While it was nice & sunny and we had our hearts set on grilling, it was too windy to be outside all day so we didn't quite make it to the pool. Even though it was a 4th different than I'm used to, I enjoyed the company and we got to share our new apartment with our friends. I surprised myself by playing hostess & cooking up a whole batch of yummy barbeque foods! It made me really happy and felt natural somehow to be in the kitchen preparing everything before our guests arrived. I wanted to share the homemade creations of our delicious feast because it turned out great!

I'm kind of lazy about getting every exact ingredient when I find recipes online so these are all my own adaptations. :)

Deviled Eggs

10 hard boiled eggs, peeled
1/4 cup mayo
2 tbs hot sauce
1 tsp dijon mustard
salt & pepper
ziploc bag
cilantro, for garnish

1. Combine mayo, hot sauce, dijon mustard, salt & pepper in a small bowl.
2. Halve the eggs and scoop out the yolks, adding of the 6 yolks into the bowl with the prepared mixture.
3. Mix the yolks and mixture until smooth and spoon into a ziploc bag.
4. Arrange the egg halves onto a serving dish.
5. Cut a small corner of the ziploc bag and pipe into the eggs.
6. Finely chop a small amout of cilantro and garnish!

Super easy & gives your guests something to munch on while you fire up the grill! Very simple crowd pleaser.

Sweet Potato Salad

I lovee sweet potato lately so I thought this would be a nice way to mix things up.
Not bad but I think I prefer warm roasted/fried sweet potatoes.

2 sweet potatoes
1/3 cup of mayo
2 tbs cajon seasoning
2 hard boiled eggs, peeled
4 green onions
1/2 white onion
4 strips of bacon, cooked & chopped

1. Peel & dice sweet potatoes into small cubes.
2. Boil until tender and then drain & cool.
3. Chop white & green onions.
4. Mix mayo & cajun seasoning.
5. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and serve.

Stuffed Burgers

Stuffed burgers are so much yummier because they have all the flavor already packed inside them.
Another plus is that you don't have all the extras sliding in your bun and making it a mess to eat!

20 burger patties
4 bacon strips
1/2 white onion, chopped
shredded cheddar cheese

1. Cook bacon and chop into small pieces.
2. Sweat onions out until tender in bacon grease.
3. Combine bacon and onions in a bowl and set aside.
4. Taking 3/4 of each burger patty, roll and flatten into thin round patties on a baking sheet lined with foil.
5. Spoon 1 tbs of bacon and onion into eat patty and top with some cheddar cheese.
6. Cover with another thin rolled patty and seal the edges.
7. Grill for a few minutes on each side.
8. Eat with bun & ketchup, it's all you need!

Please don't mind the poor quality photo & squished burger bun!
I didn't get to have one until much later in the evening, it's even yummy after being reheated in the microwave!

Strawberries with Sweet Cream

4 oz cream cheese, about half a package
one box of strawberries
powdered sugar
ziploc bag
vanilla extract (would have been even yummier with this but I didn't have any)

1. Rinse strawberries and cut the ends, placing them flat on a plate.
2. Cut cross wise for almost the whole length of the strawberries.
3. Combine cream cheese and powdered sugar to taste until smooth.
4. Put mixture into a ziploc bag, cut off a small corner & pipe into center of strawberries.

Et voila! Everyone will be surprised at how you can whip up something that looks fancy in just minutes while they are all chatting away.
Perfect amount of sweetness without being overindulgent.

We also had some yummy Italian sausage (which goes great with dijon mustard I must say), chicken legs & corn (try grilling it before removing the husks, mmm!).

10 Things I Can't Wait To Do in SF! Part II

2010-06-22T19:10:00.009-04:00

Just wanted to do an update on this... make sure I'm putting enough time into my personal goals. I totally didn't even notice that I numbered this wrong the first time. And, note to self: take more pictures!!

10. Go to the Farmer's Market at the Ferry Building and pick up some fresh flowers & baguettes! I'm actually dying to go to the Fresh Flower Market!
9. Replacing ~~That Takes the Cake~~ with a trip to Carmel by the Sea in Monterey! It looks dreamy!
8. ~~Binge on an In-N-Out Burger! Animal style! Nom nom!~~ Nom nom indeed when B came to visit 05.12
7. Hunt for the yummiest egg tart and pork buns in San Francisco's Chinatown! Must make an attempt #2!
6. Stroll across the Golden Gate Bridge. :)
5. Find a pilates class or a tennis court so I can stay fit! I found the perfect workout! Now I just have to get myself to go! :P [still not accomplised, bleh]
4. Take a class at the Culinary Institute in Napa. Mmm!
3. Create some DIY art for my future apartment. [can't wait to show you this upcoming DIY! withheld it from my design inspiration series & keeping it a surprise hehe]
2. ~~I still haven't ridden a cable car yet!~~ Got to do this with Little! ♥ 05.04

1. ~~Spend a day at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.~~ Done! With my other half & Kx2 over Memorial Day weekend!

Bonus: Maybe try learning some samba or rhumba! Totally not realistic but I can dream. :)

10 Lessons for the Kitchen

2010-06-22T16:01:00.007-04:00

Vietnamese Curry
Thai Pad See Ew -- one of my faves!
Korean Ddukbbokki
Hollandaise Sauce & Poached Eggs
Vietnamese Spring Rolls -- sometimes I think I want pho just so I can get this as an appetizer
Moules Frites a la Leon de Bruxelles
Camarones al Ajillo a la Cafecito -- I cannot find a recipe for anything like this!! :(
Kimchi Bokkeumbap -- I just can't seem to get this one right. Hmmph.
Baguettes -- how awesome would it be to have warm, homemade bread fresh out of the oven!
Tarte Aux Pommes

Some foods only taste yummy when you're out eating, the food's tastes are somehow enhanced by the atmosphere. But some foods are soo yummy that you want it all the time and you'll do anything to figure out how to make it for whenever your tummy might fancy. And for some of these, it seems to be a mother's touch that make these dishes perfect. :)

Design Inspiration II

2010-06-21T18:01:00.003-04:00

Chalkboard

Love.

Design Inspiration

2010-06-21T01:37:00.002-04:00

The Bedroom

Simple, Clean & Neutral

Taylor Inspired

2010-06-20T23:57:00.006-04:00

Still looking for a dress for Biggie's Hawaiian wedding... came across these two looks that reminded me of InStyle's Look of the Day. Her shoes look similar to the nude heels I was planning on wearing and I love the look combined with soft chiffon & a pretty flower in her hair.

Also liking this one, in my latest favorite color -- the one on the left.

10 Products I Want To Try

2010-05-07T14:02:00.004-04:00

I've always been a magazine buff but lately I've been reading Self magazine because I love the great eating tips and that it's more focused on well-being which has been my priority these days. This month's issue featuring the gorgeous Zoe Saldana listed the season's best new beauty buys with products for hair, body & face. My hair and skin have been unruly since I've moved to California so I'm hoping some of these products can help tame them!

1. Best Finishing Hairspray - Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Anti-Humidity Hairspray $4

2. Best Smoothing Cream - Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly Finishing Touch Cream $5 Please help my crazy baby hairs. I feel like they're getting worse as I get older!

3. Best Fragrance Free Body Cream - St. Ives Intensive Healing Body Cream $6 Perhaps it's the lack of humidity here but I hate being itchy!

4. Best Hand Sanitizer - Bath & Body Works HandiBac Anti-Bacterial Hand Spray $4 I love that it's a spray!

5. Best Pore Refiner - Clean & Clear Finishes Pore Perfecting Cleanser $7

6. Best Mask - Murad Pomegranate Exfoliating Mask $23

7. Best Oil-Fighting Moisturizer - Formula 10.0.6 Seriously Shine Free Mattifying Oil-Free Moisturizer $7 I wish this was easier to find! Seems like you can only buy it online!

8. Best Firming Face Cream - Garnier Nutritioniste Ultra-Lift Pro Gravity Defying Cream $17

9. Best Self-Tanner - Jergens Natural Glow Foaming Daily Moisturizer $9 Would love to find a great self-tanner for the face too! I hear Clinique Face Self-Tanning Formula is amazing!

10. Best Foundation With SPF - Origins Youthtopia SPF 15 Skin Firming Foundation With Rhodiola $27

A Girl's Girl

2010-03-16T23:26:00.005-04:00

Women's Wear Daily quoted Victoria Beckham saying,

"I'm an open book. I don't mind what anyone asks me. I'm a real girl's girl."

While I totally agree, that I aspire to embody all things womanly--a classic style, poise, & charm--I will be the first to say that I'm not that girly. I love girly things like fashion, manicures, shoes... but I just never learned about those things early on. I can't put up my own hair or do my make up beyond eyeliner and mascara. Much like how I love food and cannot cook for my life.

So like any girl, I love being pampered. Shortly after I chopped off all my hair, I visited the Nars counter at Saks. It was part of my resolution for this year to create a new look for myself, especially since I was moving to California. I explained to Victor that I was a real novice when it came to cosmetics and as I attemped to answer his questions about what I like to use or what kind of look I wanted, I was relieved when he finally got the hint that I really didn't know what was good for me. He picked out colors that I would never choose myself and patiently taught me how to take a look from day to night. I was amazed that even I could pull off a smokey eye! Make up really does wonders! He wrote down everything he used and drew a diagram of where to use what.

I even asked him to jot down the tools he used because I thought they really made a difference. While Victor didn't push me to buy any of these fancy things (he knew I had just come looking for a new eye shadow, and plus he wanted me to perfect using that first), I wanted remember the exact brushes so that I could get them whenever I was ready. As I mentioned in my last post, he used a flat liner brush and a domed smudge brush. I know that Nars isn't cheap but being that I'm unemployed and until I'm really making bank, I don't plan on shelling out almost $60 for two make up brushes.

So I began a search for some more affordable brushes. I turned to Sephora, of course, and found these two at basically half the price. Not bad. But then! I found this!

Sephora Double-Ended Smokey Eye Brush $18

For just a few bucks more I could have both brushes in one! The liner end might be angled but it's okay, the brushes are purple! I was excited about my find and had to share!

10 Things I Can't Wait To Do in SF!

2010-03-12T18:09:00.009-05:00

10. Go to the Farmer's Market at the Ferry Building and pick up some fresh flowers & baguettes! My Ferry Building visits have been nicer than I imagined but I never make it during market hours.

9. Try a tasty cupcake from That Takes the Cake! I've only tried Cako on O'Farrell and it is pretty scrumptious!

8. Binge on an In-N-Out Burger! Animal style! Nom nom! :D

7. ~~Hunt for the yummiest egg tart and pork buns in San Francisco's Chinatown!~~ I made an attempt at this one day but I'm not sure I found the 'yummiest' yet!

6. Stroll across the Golden Gate Bridge. :)

5. ~~Find a pilates class or a tennis court so I can stay fit!~~ I found the perfect workout! Now I just have to get myself to go! :P

6. Take a class at the Culinary Institute in Napa. Mmm!

7. Create some DIY art for my future apartment.

8. I still haven't ridden a cable car yet!

9. Spend a day at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. I've walked through the park, but haven't made my way through the garden.

10. Maybe try learning some samba or rhumba!

San Francisco is my opportunity to pursue all the things I've wanted for myself. Hobbies and interests, this is my time to do me.

[Edit]: I totally forgot about posting this and now I'm sad that more than a month has past since I originally wrote it. What's even more depressing is that I haven't been able to do most of that yet! I actually started a post about my favorite things in SF when I noticed this one, so stay tuned for that one! 04.23.10

10 Things I Love... Right Now!

2010-02-18T18:30:00.003-05:00

1. Newest sister company to Free People, Leifsdottir, a beautiful little online shop with lovely clothing! (via the Free People blog)

2. I love shoes and I love macaroons... Louboutin for Laduree -- absolutely genius. (via Club Monaco Culture Club & Vogue/UK)

3. Chloé's signature fragrance. Refreshingly feminine, sensuously addictive! (via Saks Fifth Avenue)

4. Prereleased Marsha Dress coming up in the March collection, currently available only at the 57th Street flagship store in New York City. (via Club Monaco)

5. Nars cosmetics -- Key Largo eye shadow duo, Party Monster eye shadow, Sin Blush, Chihuahua lip gloss, Eye Liner Brush & Brush #13... who knew I could pull off the smokey eye? ;) (via Saks Fifth Avenue)

6. Sarah and Bendrix framed 'heart art'... perfect idea for a DIY project! (via Etsy)

7. Valentine by Kina Grannis... won't you be my honey bee? (via YouTube)

8. Super cute Poomstyle stationary! Sweetly whimsical but not at all childish. (via Artbox)

9. Aprons -- hehe so I can learn to roast a chicken in it, Ina Garten style! Perhaps I'll be inspired to make/sew one instead. (via Anthropologie)

10. White cotten Luca Blazer from the February collection, a chic-ly cool look for a California bound girl! ;) (via Club Monaco)

Top 10 Crave-worthy Foods

2010-01-29T11:30:00.022-05:00

It's really no surprise that the next Top 10 post for me would be all about food. I love to eat out, try new things and although my stomach may not be large, I have the cravings of any true fatty. :) So many of the photos in my Facebook albums are food pictures so putting this together was easy. It's quality bonding time with friends and this list has some of the things that always have me coming back for more!

Hope you're ready to sit through some of the yummiest foods you've ever seen! Try not to drool all over your keyboard, k? ;)

10. As a kid, I never really had a sweet tooth. I preferred savory over sweets any day. It was probably in college that I started to indulge in things like chocolate covered strawberries from Godiva, pistachio macaroons from Paul, cheesecakes, fruit tarts... And then the cupcake craze took over the world. But still, just like all the times when I was a kid eating birthday cake or cupcakes, I'd leave the oh too sweet icing behind and just eat the yellow cake inside.

Last summer, Geo took me out for some ramen at Ippudo and we stopped by a teeny bakery called Chikalicious. She said I just HAD to try it. They had the cutest cupcakes but they weren't your typical oversized, topped with heavy buttercream frosting kind of cupcake. They were the perfect, fit in your hand, not too sweet, uber delicious cupcakes with the lightest, whippiest icing ever. With flavors like red velvet, s'mores and mocha, you just can't help but try every one. I'm in total agreement that Chikalicious is a must try. It will change the way you eat cupcakes -- forever!

Red Velvet Cupcake from Chikalicious {New York, NY}

9. Coming in at #9 for me is seafood. When I go out to eat, steak and chicken are usually the last thing I choose to eat if I'm at a new restaurant. Steak is too heavy and chicken gets boring. The first thing I always look at on the menu is seafood. I love salmon and white tuna sushi/sashimi, scallops, shrimp, lobster, crab... you name it. So if there's a dish I've never tried before, that's probably what I will choose.

I have two extremely yummy seafood dishes that I would highly recommend to anyone.

I'm a big fan of Spanish tapas and Cuban food so I was happy when our Kappa family dinner was at Cafecito in the city. I had never been there before and actually that day I wasn't all that hungry. I thought maybe I would have a sandwich. But BB convinced me to get an entree and I chose Camarones al Ajillo - shrimp with garlic, citrus and butter served with yellow rice and sweet plantains. I can't tell you how glad I was to have gotten that dish. It comes in a really delicious yellow soup. The pieces of shrimp come sitting on top of a piece of bread soaked in the sauce. If I had a bigger stomach, I would have eaten every bite, it was so good.

Camarones al Ajillo from Cafecito {New York, NY}

This next dish was something I ordered at Geo's birthday (shoutout x2 in the same post already! :P) at Basso56. It's really like nothing you've ever tried before. Faggotino alla Polpa di Aragosta - homemade crepes filled with a confit of fresh lobster, oven baked and served with a tomato and chive velute sauce. I was so surprised at how good it was and I was terribly sad when I finished. Haven't had a chance to go back again but cannot wait until the next time I get to indulge in this lobstery deliciousness.

Faggotino alla Polpa di Aragosta from Basso56 {New York, NY}

8. So I'm going to guess that most Asian people... or at least my Asian friends know what a 'dan ta' is. If you don't know it by name, it's definitely the most recognizable Chinese pastry out there and easily available at any bakery or dim sum restaurant you go to. I love egg so of course I like dan tas, Chinese egg custards.

Last May, when I went to Shanghai, I had no idea there was like an "ultimate dan ta" out there. Seriously, I thought they were all made the same and that was how they were supposed to be. They're usually cold when served and the custard center is a gelatin-y, semi sweet, with a sort of egg like taste to it. Room took me to the mall where we found a Lillian's. Queen of all dan tas, not even joking, you'll be flabbergasted that you were subjected to eat the crappy dan tas in the States. It's warm and sweet with the flakiest and fluffiest consistency... I love contrasting the sweet but salty flavor and the crispy but smooth textures. I'm telling you, your mouth will thank you. We went back there as many times as we could during my time in China, knowing we wouldn't be able to find it elsewhere.

Dan Ta from Lillian's {Shanghai, China}

7. I know that I said that chicken gets boring, but don't get me wrong, I like chicken... when it's made the way I like it. :) My favorite kind of chicken is wings! While I don't have any pictures to share, I've tried many a chicken wings so I can definitely give you some recommendations. I'm sure many of you have heard about the popular Korean fried chicken. It's good. I've tried them all -- Bon Chon, Kyo Chon, Chicken & Beer... The garlic soy at Bon Chon is yummy and the crispy skin at Chicken & Beer is addictive. Flavored wings are some of my faves! I've had Buffalo Wild Wings in Orlando. Pluckers in Austin was num, spicy ranch! Not to mention their fried pickles! Co and I are known for making chicken runs randomly... wherever we are (and over ordering!). Garlic parm is our fave!

Chicken and Beer {Cliffside Park, NJ} & Pluckers {Austin, TX} -- Photos courtesy of touch of sunshine & c'est la vy

6. Although I was never crazy about baos, I've had pretty big cravings for different kinds of baos lately so I'll share them with you. I'll start with the infamous Shanghainese xiao long bao. Joe's Shanghai is the most popular and I've known people who will find any excuse to make day trips to NYC just to have it. These soup filled dumplings can take a couple tries to learn to eat but you have to be careful too as usually they come piping hot and also in two varieties, pork and crab. When I was in Shanghai, Room took me to Din Tai Fung which is world renowned and on New York Times' Top 25 restaurants of the world! A little more petite than I'm used to, the skin is the perfect thinness while keeping all the juices in.

A second addictively yummy find in Shanghai was Yang's Fried Dumplings, also known as shen jien bao. Although these buns get pretty oily, this vendor is supposed to be famous and super cheap so the line during lunch gets wicked long. Luckily, I went during a shopping pit stop and not many people were out eating.

Bao is the Chinese term for bun. And while roast pork buns are quite common, Ippudo has the most amazing Hirata buns. It's moist and tender with just the right amount of flavoring, wrapped in the softest rice cake. It's probably what I crave most because it's not fried or oily at all. Just delicious!

Recently, when I went out for dim sum at Jade Asian Restaurant in Flushing (and while I was trying to avoid an awkward situation), I think we mistakenly ordered chicken meatball buns rather than roast pork buns because they look exactly alike. Once we tried the chicken bun, everyone wanted another one and sharing bites of the tiny bun wouldn't suffice. It seemed to be mixed with a bunch of things but I definitely think I prefer it over the more regular kind. Sorry roast pork bun! :P

Xiao long bao from Din Tai Fung & Shen jien bao from Yang's {Shanghai, China}

5. Finally halfway through the list, noodles come in at #5. I love noodles! Ramen noodles, Thai pad see ew noodles, Chinese crispy pan fried noodles, Vietnamese pho noodle soup... My favoritest noodle ever is Chinese-Korean jjajangmyun! It comes covered in a black bean sauce with chunks of beef and some chopped up veggies. Usually, the noodles are made fresh in house at the restaurant. While jjajangmyun jips are hard to find in NYC, (they tend to easily come and go for some reason), it's something I'll go out of my way to find and eat.

Last week I met up with S and C to do some catching up and they were nice enough to allow me to satisfy my jjajangmyun craving at Te Min Quan in Palisades Park, NJ. This variety was the spicy kind and although I'm not used to these noodles being spicy, it was indeed still just as delicious. Oh how I wish we could have jjajangmyun delivered, just like they do in the Korean dramas. :P

With S at a restaurant whose name I forget {Seoul, South Korea}

4. So in Boston, there is this one hot pot restaurant that is FAMOUS. Everyone and their mom, dad, brother, friend, sister and dog goes there. You will always see someone you know there and Kappas especially are very well known to have every birthday and get together at Shabu Zen. The waiters are used to our super specific orders of veggies and sauces. Whenever you visit Boston, you know you have to get your shabu fix. Those of us who don't have the luxury of Shabu Zen whenever we want crave the fish paste, sesame sauce, spicy kimchi broth... I actually never had hot pot before Shabu Zen but it's hard to beat when I go anywhere else.

Except, when I went to Shanghai and met up with my sisters... we tried Dolar Shop. Ah-mazing! The have a sauce BAR! You can choose any or everything! There's like 40 different options and no having to bug your waiter to bring you anything. Their meat/veggie menu is extensive. Pages and pages of fish and cuts of meat that I've never even heard of. And they have the BEST fishball! Our table was covered with plates of food. It was quite ridiculous but definitely delicious.

Sesame sauce with fried onion and Barbeque paste + sesame oil + hot oil + cilantro & Roe stuffed fishball {Shanghai, China}

3. My favorite thing about weekends is most definitely brunch. Any good weekend must include brunch in one form or another. Whether it's dim sum or IHOP. I love getting together and relaxing with friends after a night out or a long week to catch up and eat yummy. The best foods are served at brunch -- eggs and crepes! I love savory crepes, sweet crepes, eggs benedict, eggs over easy, quiches, you name it! All scrumptiously delicious to me! Here is a photo of my two most favorite things. This was at News Cafe in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. The crepe was stuffed with yummy mushrooms and a bechamel sauce and I swapped with S to try some of the eggs benedict with salmon! Even the salad, perfect with its fresh olive oil, pepper and shaved parmesan was a great complement!

Mushroom crepe & eggs benedict with salmon at News Cafe {Georgetown, Washington, D.C.}

2. As I already mentioned, I LOVE seafood. I especially love things like fresh raw oysters and steaming hot crab legs that I can break open and dip in butter. I went to my first clambake at my last co-op and it was the best thing ever, serving us New England clam chowder, corn, mussels and clams, chicken, strawberry shortcake and of course a whole lobster for each of us! It was so much food but you couldn't not eat all of it. And while I tend to love crab more than lobster, I never thought I'd find something I love even more!

On our August trip to Orlando last year, our friends took us to New Orleans Seafood for crawfish. I was a little anxious I have to admit because I get kind of weary about having a full bodied animal ready to eat in front of my eyes. I don't even like breaking the legs off shrimp and would prefer to have it shelled before served. I even request this with my lobster, that it be broken up for me so I don't have to do it! Fish, I can deal with and crabs aren't bad because you usually just get the legs. But with crawfish, it comes whole face, body, legs and all. And the only way to eat it is if you just break apart the poor thing. I have to say though... it is sooo good. Two pounds sounds like a lot but I actually got through all that by myself in the first sitting that I ever tried it. It takes a while to learn how to get down to the little piece of meat but it's so worth it. It is messy though and probably not a good date food. Something that you have with someone that you're comfortable with. I had hot oil and garlic ALL over me. It was quite the scene. Now everytime I'm back or think of Orlando, I can't help but crave this flavorful deliciousness!

Crawfish at New Orleans Seafood {Orlando, FL}

1. Okay, here we are! We finally made it down to #1. I'll keep it simple. Flor de Mayo. Chicken & Green Rice. My absolute favorite thing ever in the whole world. Every time I came down to New York City from Boston, my first stop would be to this restaurant. It's owned by a friend's family and is a fusion of Chinese and Peruvian food. We never really order from the Chinese menu and we've tried everything, even a few things made special that aren't on the menu. They have a yummy appetizer eggs with spicy sauce that we like with our bread, shrimp with garlic or red sauce... Ceviche and calamari, lomo saltado, porkchops and steak, seafood soup... It's all SO good. If I had to choose my one last meal ever in life, it would be at Flor de Mayo. Hands down, no doubt about it.

Chicken & Cilantro rice, Flor de Mayo {New York, NY}

Okay, so I know this is supposed to be a Top 10 list. However, after putting together my post, I realized I had 11 things! (There's actually more than that because some posts feature multiple things, too!) Anyway, I couldn't settle on taking one out so I'm just going to give you a bonus #11 crave-worthy food.

11. Burgers! Who doesn't love a good burger? Burgers are probably one of the best comfort foods. You have them at summer barbeques, McDonald's, Sonic, In and Out, Five Guys... I've tried them all! While you can't go all that wrong with a burger, there are plenty of ways to get 'em oh so right. For instance, with an egg -- it's just genius! Or you could pair it with a heart clogging fried portabello mushroom oozing with mozarella a la Shake Shack style. Yum! Or, my favorite burger craving comes from Cheeburger Cheeburger where you can customize your burger any way you like... ranch sauce, bbq sauce, sauteed onions, bacon, guacamole, jalapenos, anything! And they have the best milkshakes in the funnest flavors like bananas foster or oreo mint! Everyone will surely find something to satisfy that craving. Mmm, delicious!

Top - Cheeburger Cheeburger {somewhere in Maryland}, Bottom Left - Shake Shack {New York, NY}, Bottom Right - Kraze {Seoul, South Korea}

This post was exhausting! Took me ALL day... actually it's been a week! The things I do for food. :P Happy weekend!

Top 10 in 2010

2010-01-27T20:56:00.008-05:00

Hello blog world! It's a late start to my year (I can't believe it's almost February!) but I thought it would be fun to do a Top 10 series being that it's 2010. Corny, probably. But hey, it's something new to try. Plus, I'm not good at favorites so being able to choose the 10 things I like is the next best thing!

{I couldn't decide which blog to post this on... so it's on both! :P}

Thought I would kick things off with my Top 10 favorite moments of 2009!

10. After I graduated last May, I was lucky enough to have the chance to travel a bit. My favorite part about traveling isn't always the sightseeing. I don't like doing things that are cliche and even worse I'm not a fan of crowds of tourists. What I do love, is eating where the locals eat, walking around doing things that locals do and discovering something I never expected. I was definitely well taken care of in Seoul and loved every minute being in my motherland. One of my favorite moments was finding Ssamziegil. The cutest little shops with a couple of the sweetest girls I know.

9. In addition to Korea, I also spent about 3 weeks in Shanghai. Room moved there to be with A and I got to help her adjust and visit my girls R & P at the same time. We ate yummy & cheap and saw a lot of great sites. But there's something about kicking back and just hanging out with my girls that I just love. Sometimes the greatest things are the things unplanned. We were in a dingy and probably very dirty dormitory but a couple of cheap pijiu's and we were good to go. Nothing beats qt and laughs with my girls.

8. Okay, so maybe I traveled a LOT more than I had planned in 2009. Much of my time was spent with my newest little sis, a charter from the University of Texas. To get to know her better, I went and visited her in Austin. We got down and dirty and they treated us to the greasiest, most delicious food you can find in the South. We had a blast with them! Poor litto was on her detox diet, but Rudy's was a must and she was a trooper as she sat by and watched us all eat.

7. Last winter was my first time trying snowboarding. It was a bit of a painful experience but nonetheless absolutely exhilarating. It's the kind of pain that you know is worth it. To be speeding down the hills and to feel the fresh cool air hit your face, it was something I knew I would keep trying and grow to love. This particular time was at Camel Back during one of my better runs. We stayed on the green trails but went up high as the sun set. I made it down feeling good and catching a beautiful view.

6. I have always wanted to visit California and I've really been wanting to move there for the longest time. We have a couple of friends in San Francisco so there was no doubt that we would visit the first chance we got. It was the quickest, most eventful, inside joke happy, craziest sightseeing packed two days ever. While I can barely remember every single thing we saw or did, I remember every moment we laughed with each other and I know it's because I was with the best company you could ask for.

5. While there are just so many days and hours that S & I spent together this past year, each moment, though trying and exhausting at times, brings us closer and closer together. I will always cherish our culinary endeavors, playing titanic, karaoke nights, chicken & beer with best friends, discovering Georgetown, endless days and nights driving everywhere... she's my other half. ♥ you S!

4. Things don't always go as you might expect and I definitely didn't expect to meet (or be with) someone like him. He was a refreshing breath of air and I felt much happiness in getting to know him and spending time with him. We didn't make it into the new year like I might have hoped. If things were different, then perhaps we could be different. It could be for the best or maybe not but either way we remain there in each others' lives. And I always said that we weren't perfect but that might have been what I liked most about us. Such a handsome and sensible guy, he was my guy and a big part of my 2009.

3. Ever since I saw photos from a wedding that Tony shot in Jamaica, I had been dying to go. It was the perfect destination for our senior year spring break, a great way to celebrate the end of our college years. We got plenty of warm sun and R&R and made sure to take advantage of the inclusive all you can eat and drink portion of our package. I was happiest when we finally got to take a tour of the Rockhouse Hotel, which is where we saw breathtaking sights from the cliffs of Negril. And remembering the pictures where I first laid eyes on these gorgeous views, it was even better than I had imagined.

2. I spent a lot of 2009 in the sunny state of Florida. My little brother moved down there for school and of course I had to fulfill my big sister duties and help him get acquainted. I have some of the prettiest and happiest friends I know down in Orlando so I was excited to get so much quality time in with them making sure that R felt comfortable and had people to turn to. But the best part about Florida was making the trip down with R & my best friend P. It wasn't the most exciting roadtrip ever but we had our share of laughs and silly moments. The most important part was that I was with two people that I love unconditionally. I know that it will be hard to find time with them like that again. They mean the world to me and I honestly don't know what I would do without them.

1. Many of the moments in this list are post-graduation moments. It hasn't been an easy road for me since I graduated from Northeastern even with all the traveling and fun I've had. Growing up and figuring out what I will be doing in life hasn't been as simple as I once thought. It's been a challenge to start a career and my motivation has faltered more times than someone with my ambition is supposed to. But I have hope that this year will bring clarity and reassurance. And although I always thought of college as a very normal and expected step in my life, what I didn't expect was the gratification of finishing school and getting a degree. I was overjoyed in the last days of class and finals. Feelings of relief and fulfillment kept a smile on my face, a constant happiness that I hadn't known for so long. It was bittersweet and things since then haven't been the same but it's what's to come that keeps me going each and every day.

Note to self: Do not include less than + 3 signs in blog posts and attempt to edit your html. *Smacks forehead* Anyway, I didn't think it would be a difficult post but narrowing down an entire 365 days to just 10 moments is a lot harder than you would think. I was even thinking about doing a two part best moments post, one for more sentimental events and then the crazy fun memories. In most cases, you can see what made each of these memories so special are the people that helped to make them happen. But along the way, I've come up with a few more ideas for future posts so keep a look out for those!

I Want

2009-12-10T01:24:00.001-05:00

This.

J'adore

2009-11-30T15:04:00.004-05:00

I cannot tell you how much and for how long I have loved this dress. I know I twittered this dress once before but I still can't get over it. Looks like you're about to be sold out and permanently far from my reach.

Sue Wong Strapless Dress with Ostrich Feathers

Love Michael Kors

2009-11-29T17:37:00.006-05:00

A tad annoyed that Michael Kors handbags are excluded from Macy's promotions. Hmph! Absolutely LOVE the Astor tote! And it seems that everyone has a crossbody bag these days, how convenient!

Uptown Astor Shoulder Tote

Webster Crossbody Bag

Thinking of My Guy

2009-11-20T15:10:00.004-05:00

Sometimes my posts get a bit wordy and long. It's just that I have a lot in my head and I feel a need to express how my thoughts come about. I am known to be simple at times and I'd love be able to post ideas in a much more minimal way and let things speak for themselves.

Anyway, my guy loves Mraz. He once played his guitar and sang Bella Luna for me. So this is for my guy. It's my favorite.

And it takes no time to fall in love
But it takes you years to know what love is
And it takes some fears to make you trust
It takes those tears to make it rust
It takes the dust to have it polished

Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle
Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful.

We always talk about when he gets his own place in the near future. I think this would make for the most perfect coffee table book.

Available at the Jason Mraz official online store. Click image for a link.

Secret Santa '09: Shoes!

2009-11-20T13:40:00.008-05:00

You can see I've got the holidays on my mind with all of my posts. My girls and I always do a Secret Santa every year and recently, we decided to have themed gifts. Last year, we did hoodies and this year will be shoes. It makes it quite exciting knowing we will all have something that is the same yet unique to each of our personalities. I've been thinking of what shoes I need since I have enough black shoes, special occasion shoes and I finally bought the over the knee boots I've always wanted. Then I thought, hmm... I really need to treat my body better.

I'm sure we've heard of all the different leg toning sneakers there are these days. I know Sketcher has at least a couple of designs but I noticed that they are all kind of chunky and didn't seem all that appealing to me. Then I saw Reebok's EasyTone sneakers. It has a great design and comes in different styles and colors. Their tagline in the item description is "Get a better butt and and better legs with every step." Don't really know how it works but what woman wouldn't want a pair of these?

Photo Courtesy of Reebok.com

Holiday Gift Wish #1

2009-11-19T23:30:00.008-05:00

Late this past summer, I tagged along to a sorority sister's birthday picnic. She had a beautiful spread of delicious food she made herself and a bunch of her close friends with her in the middle of Central Park in New York City. We were hanging out when S and I found H unni's Instax camera! It's Fujifilm's version of the Polaroid! *squeals!* What was extra cute was that this was the Mini version. We prepped ourselves since we knew we only had one chance to really get it right. As we waited for our photo to develop, we wondered if we got our faces in the picture because self-taken shots always tend to cut someone's left eye out or something.

Here is what came out... how adorable! We even got the balloons!

Afterwards, I knew I had to get me one of these! I never had a Polaroid myself but was so heartbroken when they stopped making them. But I was wrong, nostalgia is here to stay! The perfect thing to have at gatherings with friends and family to make sure everyone's having fun! A little something extra to make your event that much more special and a way to hold on to the memories forever...

So here's my holiday wish #1: Dear Santa, I would really really love to have one of these nifty Instax cameras. I promise I will use it as much as I can and I know that it will be a lot of fun for not just me but also my friends and family as well. Okay, well talk to you soon Santa! Love, Sarah

Fujifilm Instax mini 7

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com. Available for purchase.

The Holidays Are Coming!

2009-11-19T21:51:00.010-05:00

On my recent trip to Florida, I've had a lot of time to myself... waiting for the boyfriend to come home from work, sitting through a delayed flight due to the shitty Jersey weather... I picked up a few magazines to pass the time. I have always loved my magazines and found endless amounts of inspiration from them.

I found something today that really got me excited! Essie just released the sweetest shade of green for this holiday season! I can't wait to try new Minty Candy Apple! This color reminds me of my trip to Seoul this past May when S and I got manicures!

Photo Courtesy of Essie.com

AND, the kicker of the day is that Essie started a new blog just yesterday! Looking forward to reading her future posts! Learn more about the birth of Essie cosmetics and about the founder herself here: http://www.essie.com/essieblog/

Shopping Made Simple

2009-06-24T19:18:00.006-04:00

I know we all love Forever 21. Such cute finds for so cheap. But sometimes I get overwhelmed. There are just SO many items in the store that it can be difficult when I see something I like online and I try to find it in the store. There are so many times that I wish I just can place an order to my nearest store so that I can go in and try on the clothes before purchasing them. Wouldn't that be so convenient?

Aren't these tanks fun and fresh... paired with a high swing skirt or high waisted shorts? I really liked these retro glasses one of their models sported too. If only shopping were this easy. :P

Ideeli

2009-06-24T13:42:00.004-04:00

I'm sure a lot of us have heard of sites like Gilt Groupe and Rue La La where you can get designer items at a deep discount. Recently I got an invitation to Ideeli. I figured I'd check it out to see what kind of items come up on their sales events and how much of a discount there is.

It's probably not a good time for me to be shopping, being a recent graduate and having no source of income. I feel like all I do these days is shop. Maybe it's the Jersey girl in me or maybe it's because of all the great sales there are this time of year. I went to the Mall at Short Hills yesterday. I saw a darling Longchamp satchel that I wanted once before, it was originally $1200 and on 'sale' for $800. Sigh, don't worry, I didn't buy it. And while my mom was the reason we went into Victoria's Secret to look at some bras, I was the one who came out of the store with two shopping bags! I got a couple of bras, a handful of panties, a swimsuit and a yoga outfit... all for $130! Not bad right? Well, that's what I'm telling myself.

So anyway, I was looking at the Ideeli site today, and I saw this amazing sale on ABS dresses at prices up to 90% off! I saw a couple that I liked but my size was all reserved/sold out already. The sale had just started this morning! It's amazing how quickly things happen on the internet. I put myself on the waiting lists and before you know it I got an email saying they had some dresses in my size available. I immediately placed an order because I knew how quickly they would be gone. So I am now a proud owner of yet another little black dress, one that I paid $52 including shipping and tax that used to cost $328. Pretty decent deal if I say so myself.

To check out these designer discounts, visit these invitation links:
Gilt Groupe
Ideeli
Rue La La

Tea Parties & Dresses

2009-06-16T09:14:00.007-04:00

I've seen a lot of inspiration surrounding tea parties these past couple of days so I thought I'd write a post about it. It started with this dress that I bought from Forever the other day. It's called the Tea Party Dress and I didn't bother trying it on because the line for the dressing room was a bit long and I was feeling lazy.

{Source: Forever21}

It's really cute and has a fun A-line with a natural waist. I am thinking of returning it though because it's quite short and seemed somewhat inappropriate for my age. Perhaps girls younger would look adorable. I think I also would have wanted something less plain, maybe some kind of pattern to make it more festive.

Yesterday, I went to the dentist's office with a friend and while I waited I picked up a copy of last month's FamilyFun. There was an article about celebrating Mother's Day with your daughter and other mother/daughter friends. They had sweet ideas for decor and suggested treats like cupcakes and petit fours. While this seems a tad far into the future, I do envision my bridal shower themed as a tea party/brunch... But that won't be anytime soon either. :P

{Source: Beaucoup}

And finally, as I was checking my daily reads (and I forget exactly where I saw it) but I came across Etsy seller sohomode, who makes these uber feminine and whimsical tea dresses. I thought of my dear friend and fellow blogger Beautiful Day who loves tea parties. I hope we can plan one together someday! :) I thought you might like her dresses so I definitely had to post this.

{Source: sohomode}

Before I go, I did want to ask for some help from my girls who follow this blog. I bought this super fun, ballerina-esque skirt when I was in Korea. It is much like the one pictured below with the black band but in a lighter ballet pink color. I just can't think of what to wear with it. Korean girls tend to wear oversized tees with this but I don't think I can do that. I was thinking a simple black tank or maybe even my leotard with leggings? I don't know if all that black would be too much against the skirt. And it is a bit see through even with the satin lining underneath.

{Source: Forever21}

What do you girls think?

For the Love of Food

2009-06-13T13:28:00.007-04:00

For another 6 weeks and couple of days, I am trying my best not to eat any meat. This isn't really for any religious or dietary reason. It's because I'd like to be supportive of a friend and share in the pains of not eating meat. I think I can be strong and go without for just a little while. I don't think I'll be perfect considering the traveling I'll be doing and the family gatherings I have to attend and while it won't make much of a difference, I hope the effort means something. It hasn't been too difficult as of yet. I don't really crave meat or eat it in large portions to begin with, it just gets a little hard because your food options are lessened greatly.

So today, I wanted to share a couple of food blogs that I love. One is a favorite of my roommate who is now in Shanghai and I believe she can no longer see the photos because Flickr is blocked in China. :( She's tried so many of her great recipes which all turn out lovely. It's a must visit, smitten kitchen. It even has a fun surprise me! link which randomly directs you to one of her delicious recipes. Her photos are so inspiring, even to the undomesticated kind, like myself.

Martha's Mac & Cheese

Something so great about the blogging community is that you are somehow attached to some of the blogs you read even if you may not know the author personally. When they share news of an engagement or relocation to a new home and in this blog's case, news of a baby on the way, you can't help but be really happy for them and it's exciting to follow their updates as well.

The next blog, I just found today on Snippet & Ink, it's called La Tartine Gourmande and just the name itself drew me to the site because my favorite dishes from France were les tartines! Another site with great photos, there are also gluten-free and vegetarian recipes. I love that everything looks not too indulgent and proportioned for a tummy like mine.

Tartelettes Aux Pommes et Aux Coings

{photos credited to blog authors}

Oh, and please do remind me to do updates from my past Restaurant Week adventures. I always tell myself to do so when I look at the notes I keep in my phone but they never seem to make it onto my blog!

AE's Ruffle Dress

2009-06-11T21:40:00.008-04:00

I've barely shopped at American Eagle since high school but I still get their occasional e-newsletters. I randomly check to see if there is anything worth checking out on their website and today I came upon this. AE's #3 on their Top 10 Must Have List.

The Ruffle Dress.

I've been looking for a white summer dress for quite some time. I saw a couple at Forever that I liked but they never had my size. And again, AE doesn't have my size on their website. I'll have to keep my eye out when I go shopping to see if they have any in stores.

One of our cousins is throwing an uber chic white party for his housewarming and this would be perfect for the occasion! Paired with flat leather sandals, it's a look that is absolutely effortless!

Sexy Summer Suits

2009-06-02T11:31:00.004-04:00

Summer is here and I saw a post on WeddingbeePRO that was not so wedding-related and it got me thinking about swim suits. It featured a retro one-piece much like this first suit. I love the shape, so classic, very Marilyn Monroe.

I began to realize how little we all wear when we go out to the beaches these days and how crazy women get trying to get in shape for summer. It's one of my goals to eat healthy and get in shape but not for the reason of looking good in a swim suit. While I'm young, I figured I have to start maintaining a better lifestyle that will help me stay fit as I get older.

While I don't see myself in these kinds of suits quite yet, I'm so glad that there are stylish options for all body types and ages. I tend to be extremely self conscious and critical about my body even when I am still lucky enough to be considered thin and walk around in skimpy suits myself. I would kill for a body like Adriana so I could look good in a glamorous suit like this. But wouldn't we all?

I've been wanting a one piece much like this last one and since it's on sale, I might get it. It's very modern and flattering with the cut outs at the waist. I think I would feel less exposed in something like this and yet still sexy for summer.

Photos courtesy of Victoria's Secret.

Barbie Update

2009-05-29T01:22:00.006-04:00

Sorry it's been so long. I was in China where they're not allowed to see the light of day... just kidding, more like they're not allowed to see the writings of Blogger. I don't think this will be a long post just because it's been a little difficult for me to blog these days for some reason. I just wanted to share something I loved at the Barbie store.

It's just like the pictures but it's not as lively as I had hoped. Perhaps if they staged little girls to be running around and squealing I would have been happier. Although, there was an escalator that had a soundtrack of girly laughter and I thought it was real so when I found out it was a recording, I was hella creeped out. Room pointed out that it would be perfect for a little girl's birthday party but too bad it's all the way in Shanghai. We were in and out of there in less than 25 minutes even after wandering all 6 floors. The one thing I wanted was this simple retro sketched shirt. For 500 yuan that I don't have (about $75), you could rock this cute tee...

I've never really dated the nerdy type but if Barbie likes em, why can't I, right?

Happy Birthday Barbie!

2009-05-06T23:20:00.006-04:00

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Mattel has opened up a flagship Barbie store in Shanghai. And for those of you who don't know yet, I will be traveling to Shanghai this month so I'll definitely have to stop by! It is a little girl's dream... six stories of fun, complete with a spa and cafe. Check out some of these pictures from their website!

The 'Dream Lobby'

The Spa & Nail Bar for girls all ages

Larger than life Barbies!

The Barbie Design Center

Girls get to design their very own custom made Barbie. How fun does that sound! What girl didn't dream of having her perfect little Barbie? I'm not sure if this is something even I could pass up!

They have a runway where girls get to dress up and get made up so they can strut their stuff and strike a pose.

And at the very top is the Barbie Cafe where you can enjoy afternoon tea or even a Barbie-tini!

Makes me wish they had something like this when I was a kid. It's like a LegoLand or Baseball Hall of Fame for girls. But even at my age, who says I can't relive a little childhood fun. I'll have to see it in person and let you know if it's as amazing as it looks. :P

Lovespun

2009-05-03T23:58:00.006-04:00

In love? Can't really say but tonight, I'm feeling extra sappy and I just can't stop listening to my favorite love songs.

Here's my list:
1. Everything - Michael Buble
2. I Just Want You - AJ Rafael
3. Lemonade - Passion
4. Every Woman (Cover) - Zay & Kiel
5. Something Special - Usher
6. You & I - Michael Buble
7. I'm Yours - Jason Mraz

Simple post for the simplest emotion of pure joy.

The Death of a Camera, Part II

2009-05-02T18:10:00.003-04:00

Best Buy really stinks. The day after I order my pink Fujifilm, I get a call that my Nikon has been sent back and check this out, I got approved for an effin exchange! ARGH! Since I could only exchange it for a camera in store and they didn't have my Fujifilm, I had to choose yet another. It was cheaper than buying the 2nd camera all together. I did have to buy insurance again. And now, I'll have to return the Buy.com camera. I got to use my new Samsung for graduation and I have to say I really like it. It's not a fun color, more simple... the way Room likes it. But I also am starting to think it's classy and like the way it works. So here's to my new Samsung TL100. Please be good to me. And check out Samsung's microsite for this camera, my favorite story is Lisa's.

The Death of a Camera

2009-04-23T14:39:00.005-04:00

Remember how I needed a new camera after my vacation to Jamaica? Well, I got one.

The Nikon S220 in Plum. I had issues at the store because I thought the screen looked grainy and the sales people at Best Buy assured me that it wouldn't be like that when I viewed it on the computer. In some cases, they were right but for me that's just not good enough. The Nikon S220 also has this tendency to make everything seem yellowy which I can't stand and no setting you change it to makes any bit of a difference. Add the fact that the screen totally died because of some 'pressure point'. Lame. So now it's being sent off to be fixed, luckily covered by insurance, but now I can't even exchange the model for a different one. I think that is total poop! I was so mad at Best Buy and the clerk handling my damaged camera.

I was contemplating whether or not I should spend the money on this expensive Canon that I wanted. It was at least $100 more and I would be losing money from the insurance and having to pay for another memory card. I thought about it for a while. Then, this past weekend, a friend let me play photographer with his camera that he never remembers to bring out. I had a blast all night taking photos as if it were my own. I loved the large screen and the turn wheel playback. It also had a sliding cover just like my last camera. I looked online for the camera and found that the 10MP version of this camera is going at a decent price. The pink was the cheapest. So cute! I couldn't pass up on an offer like this so even though I don't know what I'll do with the poopy Nikon, I got it anyway. So bad. Oh well. Here she is, Fujifilm's Finepix Z200.
Love it! :)

Make Me A Dress!

2009-04-20T11:12:00.004-04:00

I'm in love. I was visiting my daily read Weddingbee, when I came across this amazing dressmaker and etsyseller, Sarah Seven.

(Photo source: Beaus and Arrows)

Her designs are feminine and whimsical and I love her waistlines. I've found that when you wear a dress fitted through the natural waist, it's extremely flattering even for someone my height at 5'3". Although it takes a bit of getting used to since I find that it restricts my diaphragm a bit. You can see more of her designs on her blog at Beaus and Arrows.

Melissa Sweet and Sexy

2009-03-14T11:16:00.006-04:00

My roommate and I stopped by Shaw's grocery store after dinner at Legal Seafoods yesterday. I perused the latest Modern Bride while pushing the cart for C. I have to admit I started to miss the days when I spent hours poring over wedding magazines. I still check my favorite blogs but there is something about kicking back with a magazine and feeling informed/inspired that makes me believe that the magazine industry, even with all the new technologies of the world, can never completely disappear one day.

I saw an ad for the new Priscilla of Boston collections and there was one dress that I could not get out of my head. It's not the typical wedding gown but I love any dress with a great back. Here she is, flirty as can be, Melissa Sweet's Mari.

Made of silk shantung, this dress has an uber low cut back with the cutest bustle! What excuse could a girl like me find to where a dress like this? But with graduation right around the corner, think of how fun it would be to celebrate in this sexy yet classy outfit! Ah, I want!

Audrey Highlights

2009-03-12T10:48:00.013-04:00

I work at the Asian American Center on campus and we have subscriptions to magazines like KoreAM and Audrey. This month's issue of Audrey caught my eye. I went to check out their website and blog. I've always dreamed of working for a magazine and if you know me, know that I have stacks and stacks of them even though I never subscribe.

Here are some of my favorite things from the Audrey:

Freida Pinto of the award-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire graced the cover of the magazine. Her fresh face is beautiful and natural. I've heard such great things about the movie and can't wait to watch it.

Look familiar? Audrey's Dec/Jan issue featured Jamie Chung, former Real World star and now the lead of a miniseries called Samurai Girl. It's cool to see where reality stars are now... makes me want to try to get on Real World too. :P

The next find is a fanciful cuff by Judith Ripka, the Aurora. I love the combination of soft pink and golf. I've always been a fan of big, sparkly statement cuffs.

And finally, meet Daniel Henney. I've never heard of him before but looking at this photo makes me wonder how I hadn't heard of him. He's quite the hottie.

A Cinderella Feeling

2009-03-10T09:07:00.024-04:00

Lately, I've been thinking about our sorority banquet. This is probably going to my last formal for a while. During my college years, I've gone to many formals and it's always so much fun getting all dressed up, sipping champagne with your close friends and looking back on the memories you shared.

Along with trying to figure out whether or not I'll take a date (this is the first time I have to ask!), I've been looking into what I might wear to our formal. I had a few things I wanted to try. I don't usually put too much thought into these kinds of things but being my senior year, it's extra special.

Perhaps a full-length dress since I've never worn one to formal before or even prom in fact.
I've always wondered how I would look in a one-shoulder dress.
And for a while now, I've wanted to wear a white dress but never found the right occasion.

David Meister, Nicole Miller

JS Boutique, BCBGMAXAZRIA

David Meister - I love the modern bow on the shoulder and the deep navy color.
Nicole Miller - The print on this simple silhouette is so glamourous.
JS Boutique - Graceful and white, it comes in petite so no hemming needed.
BCBGMAXAZRIA - This strapless yellow gown makes looking beautiful a breeze!

These are bit more than I would typically spend for a dress but it's something to think about. I definitely want to go for a classy and sophisticated look. I had a few other dresses I liked but they were very young and flirty. The dresses I like tend to be different and unique. I don't like to wear something somebody else would. And I also think it'd be really fun to go dress shopping with my little sis, C. So I'll be looking forward to making time to do that! :)

Here is one last dress that would be my dream dress. It's a total splurge, a Donna Karan from Saks. It's not full-length but it's so chic! It's the perfect shade of off-white with a bow so whimsical. The neckline and hemline are both tres sexy. And who doesn't love a dress with pockets! This sweetly feminine dress flows around your body so that you don't have to worry about a thing. You can eat all you want and then dance the night away!

Dreamy, isn't it?

Elephant Art

2009-03-10T01:04:00.009-04:00

Can you believe? {elephantart.com}

Gadget Overload

2009-03-07T15:27:00.008-05:00

I'm back! from Negril... It was a much needed getaway with the beaming Jamaican sun and the warm waters of the Caribbean but I'm glad to be in the States again. However, sadly, I return sans my camera. It was lost to the chlorine demons of our resort pool. No matter, I'm not terribly upset. Just a bit of a shame. The good news is: time for a new camera! Huzzah! I was never too pleased with the quality of images that my Sony shot. I've been thinking of Canon ever since and have my eye on this...

Canon PowerShot SD790 IS

It's a 10 megapixel which is pretty standard these days. It has a few flaws. It only has a 3x optical zoom and the video capture apparently isn't so great, especially the sound. It's not as cool as the Nikon Coolpix which has the touchscreen viewer along with other fun features like doodling on your images. I happen to love their red S60 like the one Ashton Kutcher sports in their commercials. But to me, the quality of my images is most import along with the price. At $199.99 MSRP, it's not too bad since I can probably find it somewhere for cheaper. And I like this model because it has the 3" screen in back and it's design is sleeker than other Canon point and shoots.

___________________________________________________________________

Since before spring break, I was looking into getting some sort of camcorder. I'm a firm believer that videos can help you relive moments in life and photos don't always give you that same feeling. I had seen a promo for the Flip and thought it was quite nifty with its USB port that flips out and makes for an easy upload. It captures up to an hour of video and is compact and easy to use. Since the Canon I'm looking at doesn't have a strong video feature, I went to take another look. This JDK design is my favorite.

Simple and a good reminder for someone like me to keep her chin up. I actually saw this on woot.com one day for $79.99 and I'm kicking myself for not getting it. At the time, I had just bought all my snowboarding gear and figured my account could use a little rest. Steph brought one on our trip to Negril that she had gotten for Christmas and I got to see it in action. Especially after not having a working camera, I really wished that I had gotten the Flip.

Looking Forward

2009-02-16T15:02:00.005-05:00

This wedding is what inspired my dream to visit Jamaica. The bride used to blog on my daily read, Weddingbee. My friend Tony, who is an amazing photographer as you can see, was lucky enough to go to Negril twice! Now it's my turn!

In just two weeks, I'll be basking under the sun and splashing in the clear waters of the Caribbean for the very first time. Excited is an absolute understatement!

One Step At A Time

2009-02-16T14:10:00.004-05:00

Just looking for another reason to post.

I've been looking for the perfect pair of Mary Jane heels for the longest. I really love these Boutique 9 pumps I saw on Zappos although I had never heard of the brand prior to my find. The three straps with the buttons are charming yet sexy and I think the color is rich and unique. I don't know why but I'm starting to think purple is my favorite, even though I usually don't have favorites.

Farewell Domino

2009-01-31T13:20:00.002-05:00

I blame the economy for this. If I ever had my own magazine it would look and read just like Domino. I was even looking to get an internship with them. Such a shame it had to be this one. Conde Nast couldn't pick any other magazine to stop publishing? Hmmph.

Te Quiero

2009-01-25T11:03:00.002-05:00

Moi, Je Joue

2009-01-20T20:24:00.001-05:00

Prettiest Commercial Ever.

More to Life, More to Love

2009-01-13T15:39:00.010-05:00

I have been finding life to be seemingly disappointing and all the while, I have been losing bits and pieces of myself. I lose my sense of direction and I can't tell where to put the ambition that I have in my heart. Either way, time to post up something that I am looking forward to!

Roxy Silhouette Snowboard

And I LOVE these too! Roxy Torah Goggles! White or Black?

Snowboarding is pretty tough your first time. You are on your butt the entire way down the mountain and you can't move for the next few days. But once you find your bearings and you start flying down the mountain, you just can't get enough.

I'm In Love With A Computer

2008-12-04T17:55:00.004-05:00

Life has been way too crazy. And with the way the economy is right now, I shouldn't even be looking at something like this. But I have to have it. I say that about a lot of things but this is totally blog worthy. :)

Everyone, please say hello to the HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam edition Clutch.

Isn't she beautiful? :)

Less than 1" thick and just 2.45 lbs... and she's ENERGY STAR® qualified!

August Restaurant Review

2008-08-19T08:38:00.006-04:00

Spice Market [Meatpacking District, NYC] 08.08
Ordered: Tasting Menu, Lychee-Raspberry Bellini, Orchid Oolong Tea
Review: My first taste of the renowned Jean-Georges. Great Ambiance. Loved the exotic feel. Good timing in serving each dish. The tea is served by the pot so it's good for sharing. Overall fun experience.
Must Try: Shrimp Tod Mun Pla, Ginger Fried Rice, Ovaltine Kulfi for Dessert

Hill Country BBQ & Market [Midtown, NYC] 08.09
Ordered: 1/4 lb Brisket Moist, Small Mac & Cheese, Small Green Bean Casserole
Review: Fun, Western cowboy atmosphere. You go up to each counter and order your own meat and sides. The meat was delish! Not a good idea to go in a dress.

Rayuela [Lower East Side, NYC] 08.10
Ordered: Benedict a LaMaga
Review: Earthy and chic. A yummy brunch! I ate every bite!

Toro [South End, Boston] 08.14
Ordered: 1 order of pinchos per person, 8 tapas dishes for 3 people
Review: Easy-going vibe with cozy decor. Communal tables. Good amount of food.

Terramia [North End, Boston] 08.18
Ordered: Soup, Crostata, Pork Tenderloin + a glass of Pinot Grigio
Review: Cozy and comfortable. The service is very nice. The hummus in old that comes with the bread is very good. Decent food and for my first time in the North End -- a cute and quaint experience. I'll definitely have to visit the area again.

Mike's Pastry [North End, Boston] 08.18
Ordered: 2 chocolate chip cannolis and 2 eclairs
Review: Very large pastries and very rich. A bit touristy. I was done after two bites but I've never had a big sweet tooth. Def not bad. I think I'm just biased and I miss my French pastries.

Aquitane [South End, Boston] 08.24
Ordered:Brioche French toast, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Blueberries & Crème Fraîche
Review: An upscale yet cozy French eatery, perfect for a Sunday brunch. The service is proper and the food in the right portions. Not too sweet or too rich. A classy find.

Breakfast

2008-08-11T09:56:00.002-04:00

I don't buy breakfast everyday but it's true that unless you've had the 'most important meal of your day' you can't function as well. Today, I woke up half an hour before I was supposed to be at work. I didn't make it in until about an hour later than usual. But I don't really mind because I was lucky enough to grab a bite to eat. I know I was late but I had just missed a train that I didn't want to run for so I took my time and stopped into Au Bon Pain. Usually, I'm a Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts depending on my mood. ABP can get expensive but it's no doubt their baked goods are top notch.

The first thing I see when I walk in is a sign for a banana wildberry smoothie and wow! It is so much better than your generic strawberry smoothie! Then, I decided to go with an asiago cheese bagel since I knew I was getting a sweet beverage. I had a tough time deciding which cream cheese to pick but I grabbed a sun dried tomato since I thought it'd be nice to try something new. I must say that although it is such a simple thing--breakfast, I am thoroughly enjoying it and hopefully, I'll remember to do so more often.

Haute Joaillerie

2008-07-24T16:46:00.004-04:00

I know I haven't been posting much lately. I've been uber introspective so I've posting private on xanger. :P But I came across this today. I'm really not sure how but hot damn, I fell in love before I could even exhale!

Take a look at this beauty! What I love most is not the size of the diamond but rather the cut and setting of the ring. The attention to detail in the prongs is absolutely to die for. Drool away ladies!

I was telling a friend that I would never wear this big of a rock for the fear of being too heavy on my hand and getting robbed. It probably looks better in the picture than in real life anyway. Hehe.

This Chopard ring is from the "Haute Joaillerie" collection and features an extraordinary 31 carat "D" color, "IF" Ashoka cut diamond.

Listed on Lussori

More Stationary

2008-06-20T13:52:00.003-04:00

I was catching up at {Snippet & Ink} when I saw this picture in one of the inspiration boards. I love the design of this letterpress invitation at {Linda & Harriet}. I think they would make for great personal note cards.

For Whenever Summer Gets Here

2008-05-22T12:07:00.005-04:00

So it seems that I have returned to the Artic! I kid! But it is surprisingly cold here in the US for May. This weekend should get very warm though! While planning for the summer and thinking of the beach, I can't help but also think about the tiny little pockets of jiggly goodness that someone has devilishly sewn to my stomach and thighs during my time in France. :(

It's a bit of a splurge but I'm a little bit desperate. I'm willing to try whatever just to see if I can save myself some time at the gym because I have to admit I'm a little lazy.

Bliss has an entire collection of cellulite fighting products! I'm not sure which to try first or if they will even work. But if it means helping me get rid of the flub, I guess why not try, right?

FatGirlSlim $29
What it is:
A lean, mean circulation stimulating, slimming cream for the body.
What it does:
With caffeine and QuSomes (a proprietary delivery enhancer that helps penetration), this rich cream helps smooth the skin as it firms, trims, tones, and energizes.

Slimulator $22
Massage away cellulite and smooth the surface of the skin with this hand-held, nubby massager. Simply soap up, slide on the Slimulator, and glide over thighs, buttox, back of arms, and tummy in a circular motion. Repeat daily.

High Thighs Slimmer Scrub $32
Use 2-3 times weekly to soften the skin's surface, enliven circulation, and obtain a perceptively better bum. An all-angle, tingling strategy.

Serious Seaweed Cellulite Soap $14
Serious Seaweed Cellulite Soap is like having an extra set of hands in the shower to cleanse, slim, tone, and fight cellulite. This seaweed and sweet almond oil soap is stuffed with stimulating granules and massage bumps to help get under the skin.

Available for purchase at sephora.com

Saint Veran

2008-04-11T19:23:00.005-04:00

On a recent trip to the Beaujolais, a wine producing region in Burgundy, our group took a tour of the famous Georges DuBoeuf winery. We were able to taste a couple of different wines and the first was Saint Veran. It has a medium body and has notes of apple and pear. Saint Veran is made with Chardonnay and comes from the Maconnais region which is known for growing these kinds of white grapes.

I am not an avid wine drinker but I have been trying to acquire a taste for wine while studying here in France. I can drink any wine but I don't always enjoy it. This was one that I really enjoyed from start to finish. The texture and flavor were just a delight. Lucky for me, they sell Georges DuBoeuf in the States! I can't wait to find some and share it with everyone!

Everything Changes in Paris

2008-03-29T20:01:00.005-04:00

Okay, so I didn't go to Paris again (yet) but I did get to watch the latest episode of The Hills! I don't know how long it's been out but it's nice to watch TV that you can understand, even with the same commercial every 10 minutes. Lauren and Whitney get sent to Paris by Teen Vogue to assist with the lavish Crillon Ball, where debutantes are presented in French haute couture gowns. It was a very glamourous episode and definitely inspires you to take a trip to Paris.

The thing that I wanted to share was one tiny little detail from this episode: Whitney's adorable headband! I'm not usually a fan but I absolutely love it. Now, I'll be on a mission to find one just like this!

Beauty Review!

2008-03-27T11:15:00.009-04:00

So after a bad experience getting a manicure in France, I was left to fix the mess on my own. I stopped by Sephora on the way home from the salon... Yeah, it was THAT bad. I'm not good at doing my nails... or anything girly actually... like hair and make-up. I didn't want to spend a ton and I didn't want to have to get a base coat, color, and top coat. I opted for their {Vernis Couleur Multi-Action} in Blanc N°3. I love it! It is tres naturel. Very sheer just like I wanted it and shiny! It goes on smoothly and it didn't clump. Phew! I liked it so much I just had to blog about it.

Another beauty update... I have a rendez-vous "appointment" at the coiffure "hair salon" tomorrow. Hmm... Here is what I'm thinking. Your thoughts please? Short notice, I know. Sorry!

J.Crew

2008-03-24T22:00:00.003-04:00

Wow, I am so head over heels for everything at J. Crew. I never really considered myself a J. Crew kind of girl. I'm not exactly the preppy type and I don't think I even own anything from there. I might receive e-mail promotions from them but I'm not sure why. I've been obsessed with shoes lately... not that I always wasn't... but if you only knew. I came across the online Spring Accessories catalog. It is amazing! There is not one piece that I wouldn't get! Love the outfits as well. It's so bright and colorful, which isn't exactly my style either. I'm a sucker for great layouts and photo ads so maybe that's what it is. But perhaps that's why I am in marketing. I love being inspired. Tell me you don't love this...

A Serious Developing Sweet Tooth

2008-03-23T14:45:00.002-04:00

I have always considered myself a savory kind of a girl. Hands down, no doubt about it. But I'm not sure if it's being in France that has changed me... being surrounded by the sensuous aromas of the boulangeries and patisseries. It's hard to stay away. I am constantly craving something sweet now. Before, a perfect meal would be a big savory dish and a bite of something sweet at the end. Now, I could easily prefer a light entree and jump into a big bowl glace "ice cream" or sorbet, a fruit tart, un gateau chocolat... or maybe all of the above!!

Especially when it came to being hungry, nothing could satisfy my empty stomach like something salty... Except today I noticed that when we tried the renowned {Paul} bakery, instead of getting a mini quiche like I usually would... I went with a macaron!

I haven't found a Laduree yet and I've been dying to try a macaron but it's a bit scary. When you get really hyped up hearing about something, you don't want to be disappointed. Mon cheri chose some viennoiseries and I chose a pistachio macaron. Lucky for me, it was larger than at some of the other places I've seen them. I was hoping it wouldn't be too crunchy outside and it wasn't! Every bite of this creme filled pastry was melt-in-your-mouth delicious! Je suis amoureuse!

And then there was Calligraphy...

2008-03-22T23:36:00.001-04:00

With a deep love for stationary, it only makes sense that I would have an equal fondness for calligraphy. Sometimes, I even dream as far as trying it myself but perhaps I should save myself the trouble and leave it to the pros. If that is ever the case, enter {Laura Hooper}. I've seen many a calligrapher's services across the wedding boards and each is very unique. Laura's style is very easily adaptable to many different styles from traditional and classy to flirty and chic. I especially like the personality you see in her writing. It might seem frivolous to you but if you know me... it's all in the details, honey.

This is what really makes me wish I could do it myself.

Cotton Idea Studio

2008-03-19T20:56:00.007-04:00

I was checking in on one of my favorite inspiration blogs {snippetandink.blogspot.com} when I found this site in one of the darling boards: Cotton Idea Studio. The California entrepreneur-ess, Mindy Gayer, has a style that is really to my liking. It is simple/contemporary but has an old-fashioned/retro flair to it. And of course, like all heavenly stationary, it's letterpressed.

Here are some of her goodies:

Set of 10 Cotton Monogram Initial {$15.00}

Set of 50 Cotton Lined Notes {$20.00}

Set of 10 Elum Pinstripe Postcard {$12.00}

It's not a bag. It's a Birkin.

2008-03-05T11:36:00.008-05:00

I created this blog because I wanted to keep in sight the things that I wanted one day or did not want to forget. There are very many things that motivate me and I am constantly striving for bigger, better things. I've been taught to be practical but I can definitely feel potential for a more materialistic me.

I am not a huge celeb trend follower nor am I a designer whore. But if there is one thing that I will get as soon as I make bank... it will be a bag. I'm not talking about a Vuitton or Gucci. I want a Birkin. I passed the Hermes store the other day and I remembered it once again. It boggles my mind that Victoria Beckham has one of these in just about any and every color and size. These bags run upwards of $7,500 and can easily reach 6-digits.

I remember seeing this red crocodile skin one with diamond accents in a Bazaar magazine? I think this is when I first fell in love with it and little did I know that it would be one of the most expensive and infamous bags ever. I would definitely get either the red or black first... then perhaps a white.

You might think it is absolutely ridiculous to want. Of course, I would never get it unless I could afford it. I'm not gonna be a fool and take out a loan for just a bag... This will be the one thing that will let me know that I am doing well for myself. I'm not sure when but one day... No doubt about it.

The Sweetest Kiss

2008-02-01T15:52:00.001-05:00

I discovered Laduree, a 'luxury' patisserie, while reading one of my favorite blogs Weddingbee a long time ago. I tried to remember to find this place when I got to France but of course I forgot. Lucky for me, I was reminded with plenty of time to still look!

The Laduree family is known for having founded the first tearoom which was established during a time when women were banned from cafes. It is absolutely adorable and you can tell it was made for women. Laduree is famous for their unique flavored macaroons!

The baby soft color of the Rosanis flavor caught my eye and I found this picture on this very sexy and chic French blog, Une Vie de Reve, "A Dream Life".

I would really love to go for petit dejeuner "breakfast" and get Le Pain Perdu Tiede Laduree "French Toast" et lait chaud "and hot milk"! Then I could finish off with a Baiser "Kiss": moist coconut sponge, compote of exotic fruit, raspberries, light vanilla cream filling... Tell me that doesn't sound amazing!

Caught My Eye

2008-01-24T12:25:00.001-05:00

First post of the not so new year. I don't have much of an excuse except that I am currently studying abroad in France! :)

I just wanted to share this little find. I am in Lyon and here we have this place called Bellecour. It is a square with a statue of Napoleon and a giant ferris wheel. Off the streets of Bellecour you will find a great shopping district, sort of like New York City's SoHo. I passed this little shop and couldn't help but snap a photo.

Isn't it tres chic? I love the style and it has all the right pieces. Sia is a home 'fashion' store as they say on their website. And it seems that they have locations all over the world so I'll be in luck whenever I buy my first place. I am so happy I took a picture when I did because I went there just a couple days later and the window was different! After looking at all of their collections, I can't find many things I don't like. I could probably buy the whole store. It's that beautiful! I am IN love! So much so, that I would kill to work for a company that makes such fabulous products!

These Things Take Forever

2007-12-28T08:38:00.001-05:00

Here is a video for a song called "The First Day of My Life". The message is very simple yet touches your heart. The video portrays exactly the feeling that you get when you hear this song. You see people with their loved ones and smiles appear on their faces when they listen to this feel-good song.

So if you wanna be with me
With these things there's no telling
We just have to wait and see
- Bright Eyes

Holding on to the Holidays

2007-12-27T00:17:00.000-05:00

In my attempt to hang on to the spirit of gift giving, I wanted to share something that I got for my coworkers a couple weeks ago at the end of my internship. I really loved my team and wanted to give them something they could all enjoy. The girls all love to have a cup of anything with them at all times during the day to keep them going whether it be coffee, tea or our team hot chocolate sessions. They really LOVE their hot beverages.

Some months ago, I was in the city with my girlfriends when we went to grab some dessert at Max Brenner in Union Square. While the rest of the group indulged in banana crepes and molten chocolate cakes, I decided to go with a nice simple cup of hot chocolate. Enter... the hug mug. Yes! It's really called that!

The picture explains it all. I knew when thinking of a gift for my team that this was perfect for them! A little harder to use while at work but I'm sure they'll put it to good use at home!

A Tiny Bundle of Joy

2007-11-20T14:33:00.000-05:00

I desperately want a puppy or something to play with. (I saw the cutest homeless kitty yesterday in the subway station!) I just don't have the means or time to give it the attention it deserves. :(

My Dream: Baby Peanut

I'm gonna spoil him with oodles of love!

Too cute to chew!

When puppy gets hungry!

Mama's gotta stay informed!

And still looking for my princess Coconut!

moved from an old blog

a new find on a related topic... saw this store on E!'s Keeping up with the Kardashians and they have the cutest bunch of teeny puppies ever! http://www.poshpuppy.info/

Color Inspiration

2007-09-18T09:16:00.000-04:00

I am in search of inspiration for a theme for my portfolio (in case I ever decide to apply for design school). I want to include different styles and designs for the clothes but I want a cohesive look to the whole book. I have really loved navy blue lately so I thought perhaps a dusk/midnight would work well and it has such a nice contrast of soft and strong colors. I used a little help from a color palette generator and here is what I came up with.

I was hoping for a little more coral/pink to come out. I also like the look of midnight and a silvery moon so I played around some more. Unfortunately the moon image didn't work as well with the generator so I couldn't pull my perfect silvery white.

I made my own set of colors in Powerpoint and here is my final palette.

A Guide to Quality, Taste & Style

2007-09-18T08:41:00.000-04:00

As a huge Project Runway fan and a blossoming interest in fashion design, I went online to see what I could dig up about one of my favorite reality shows. As I am beginning to figure out ways to start a portfolio (in case I decide to apply for design school), I have started to look for sources of inspiration and was happy to come across this! Tim Gunn's book A Guide to Quality, Taste & Style. This is now a must-read on my book list! I'm definitely excited to see what Tim has to say and how I can 'make it work'!

P.S. That Tipping Point book... that's going on the backburner too. I haven't wanted to pick that up in days. Bummer.

It's You, It's You

2007-09-09T19:39:00.002-04:00

And I can't believe
Oh that (you're my man)
And I get to kiss you baby just because I can
Whatever comes our way
We'll see it through
And you know that's what our love can do

And in this crazy life
And through these crazy times
It's you
It's you
You make me sing
Your every line
Your every word
You're everything

A Whole Lotta Yum!

2007-09-07T13:32:00.000-04:00

I was always planning to share my favorite places to eat or any unique finds that I might want to try. I had to write about this place first because I have been craving this place for weeks! It's a place my girlfriends and I found on a whim, a little more than a year ago. We knew we wanted to try a new kind of food so we headed over to Little Brazil. We decided to go with Emporium Brasil after walking up and down the street a couple of times. The food was good and we like the Guarana, a Brazilian soda. I don't remember what I had the first time we went. My girlfriends went back a few times after and eventually we all went together again.

This is from their website. I'll have to remember to take a picture next time I go. Hopefully soon!

This time I decided to try their Prix Fixe Dinner. The bread was good, including the cheese balls that we found in the basket. The salad was nothing special... actually kind of bad. Next time, I'll probably just tell them not to bring it out. Not much of a salad fan anyway. For an entree, I chose the BBQ Short Ribs with Butternut Squash risotto.

Oh my god... I can't even begin to describe how good it was. The meat comes sizzling on a hot plate and its so juicy and fatty... but it's so delicious that you don't even care how bad it is for you. This isn't even an exaggeration... I said, "oh my god, this is so good" from start to finish, after every single bite. And I don't have a large appetite. I rarely ever finish my whole plate when I eat out. Let me tell you... my plate was licked clean. You really have to try it. I'm actually kind of scared to have it again because I have been craving it so much and I know how good it was the first time. I'm beginning to think there is no way that it can be as good again.

Oh, the dessert was good too. It comes with this strong Brazilian coffee, which was alright. (I'm not too good at knowing how to taste the difference between good coffee and bad. For me, it's either creamy and sweet or just bitter. This coffee... was just bitter. *shrugs* Sorry. I digress.) The dessert was this tiny ball of brown goodness, no bigger than a ping pong ball. At first, you're thinking "a little stingy with the chocolate, no?" But definitely not, absolutely decadent. It's not quite a truffle because it's sort of warm and very soft. There's a chocolate layer that surrounds this creamy caramel filling. If you had more than what they gave you, your teeth would fall out in the morning.

Emporium Brasil
15 W 46th Street
New York, NY
Rating: Highly Recommended!

Thank the Stars

2007-09-07T11:49:00.001-04:00

Entwined
all that we are is defined
by each others shipwrecked hearts
and I shiver to think
what would have been
if I wouldnt have seen you in time..
would we pass by?

like parachutes and air balloons
or satellites and lonely moons
we'd still be drifting far apart
but thank the stars we are
entwined..

- Jason Reeves

Currently Reading

2007-09-06T13:14:00.000-04:00

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell

I didn't put this on my reading list because I'm reading more because I think it would be in my best interest because I am a Marketing major. I actually wanted to read Blink which is by the same author but figured if I read that first I would never get around to reading this one. So I'm kind of using this as motivation to read the other one.

I have these two books on the back burner. I bought them in early July when I first started my co-op. The Marketing Associate suggested that anyone who wants to get into finance should read these books to really get an idea of this industry. I started one but I don't think I have any real passion about these sorts of things to want to finish.

When Genius Failed: The Rise and Fall of Long-Term Capital Management by Roger Lowenstein

Liar's Poker: Rising Through the Wreckage on Wall Street by Michael Lewis

One Day but Not Today!

2007-09-06T09:40:00.000-04:00

I think I made this label just because I wanted to share these finds. I was walking down into the subway at 59th and 5th when I saw this bright pink magazine in the newstand. I walked over and saw this adorable magazine! Baby Couture magazine with a Hottest Celebrity Dads article and stylish spreads of children's fashions. Not your typical Parenting magazine. I wasn't going to be silly and buy the magazine. What would my mom think with me bringing home a baby magazine?! Wedding magazines she can tolerate... but I don't think I want to push it any further.

I noted the website written on the cover and discovered that they have a blog! (Who doesn't these days?) And that's when I found these!! Whimsical little pettiskirts for girls by Kaiya Eve Couture. I know I had my share of days prancing around in tutu outfits, I took ballet classes for years. One day, when I have a little mini-me skipping across my yard, she'll definitely be sporting one of these Kaiya Eve pettiskirts!

Food for Thought

2007-09-06T09:09:00.001-04:00

So, I've recently taken up reading. (Haha, I make it sound like a sport.) It's nothing to be proud of but I sort of am! I can't tell you how long it's been since I read a book for leisure. Since I started college 3 years ago, I think I've read one book and that was Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. I didn't want to watch the movie without reading it first. (Note to Self: Save book from Mom's bottomless sea of books in storage... before it's too late.)

In July, I started co-op in Manhattan and have been commuting from home in New Jersey. This commute offers a ton of time to do absolutely nothing each day. Magazines just didn't cut it anymore since I could finish one in a single train ride. Why not make some better use out of that time, right? After all, you can only ignore the 20 bookstores I pass in Penn Station every day for so long. I've found that it really helps you block out the rest of the world during the commute and you are definitely less irritable with your nose in a book. It's quite calming actually.

My Reading List:

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert

Finished - Review coming soon

Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl by Debra Ollivier

Fabulosity: What It Is and How to Get It by Kimora Lee Simmons

Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell