Thuters

Seattle - Rain, Shine, SNOW!

2012-01-18T13:07:00.000-08:00

For those living outside of Seattle and are not aware of Seattle culture - snow in Seattle is epic, even moreso than sunshine or the Blue Angels. People here talk about snow the same way they would talk about winning the lotto. The anticipation, predictions, and preparation leading up to the snow are most crucial and can be a bit ridiculous, but fun. It may never happen but is still worth talking about. This year it happened. It started on Sunday and faded away yesterday, but as predicted, we all woke up to a butt load more of snow today. Here are my top few reasons why I know it is snowing or is going to snow in Seattle:

- Cliff Mass predicts it every day, and so does Steve Pool.

- If we talk about it for a good week before it snows, it makes it even more promising that it will snow. Also if we talk about it at work, it is guaranteed we will not have to work when it snows.

- My nephew and niece packed more snow gear than I would for a ski trip for a weekend stay at our beach cabin. They even packed a snowball maker. Unfortunately for them, it did not snow at Thorndyke (Port Ludlow, WA) during their entire stay this past weekend. Better safe than sorry.

- We find ourselves watching King 5 or Komo starting at 6 am in the morning, watching the same clip of a car/bus slide down a hill and crashing into another car repeatedly, even though the clip is from several years ago. Also we look out for school closures even though we do not currently attend school. Why? So we can manage a conversation about school closures at the check out line of course, which leads to my next reason.

- We rush to the stores, especially Costco, to stock up on a month's worth of food, even though the snow never lasts more than a couple of days. And while at the store, we constantly wonder if it is snowing outside even as we speak and discuss it with random people in line.

- We give random people updates (still no snow) that do not have a window to the outside world (for example - underground parking attendants and employees at Costco).

- Coco holds herself for long periods of time. When she finally relieves herself, she goes on the snow covered deck instead of the lawn.

- This is the only time when an inch can be a foot, depends on whom you are talking to and which neighborhood they are from.

- The hood (Central District) is a ghost town - completely silent.

I hope everyone is safe and warm in Seattle! Please feel free to add your "I know it is snowing in Seattle when...." stories.

New Year...Same Old Me

2012-01-12T13:45:00.000-08:00

Instead of making new or old resolutions, this year I am going to refrain and just stick with being good old me. I recently watched a classic Korean Drama, My Lovely Sam Sook, where the main character reminded me a little of myself. She came across a saying one day, which I also like to live by:

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

Dance as though no one is watching you.

Love as though you have never been hurt before.

Sing as though no one can hear you.

Live as though heaven is on earth.

-Father Alfred D' Souza

Lines 2 and 4 are especially true of myself. Besides being me, it would be nice to hear from you this year! Please post comments if you fancy what you are reading...or not. I would still like to hear from you!

Happy New Year!

Happy Xmas (War is Over)

2011-12-17T11:19:00.000-08:00

On December 15, 2011, the US war in Iraq was officially declared over. Several years back around the same time, the photo above was taken of my buddy, Kelly Burmeister, and me. Although the war is over, Kelly will be spending yet another Christmas in Iraq. He has been spending the past few months moving around and with intermittent internet access. So for this holiday season, I have one wish for those who like to write, please drop an old fashion note to my favorite soldier, Kelly Burmeister.

Kelly R. Burmeister

WRMKU

APO AE 09855

I Am Legend - Part Deux

2011-12-03T16:54:00.000-08:00

While I am on the subject of New York, I might as well divulge the other great Cunningham - Merce Cunningham. Who knew a child born in Centralia, WA in 1919 would go on to be the legendary father of modern dance. I had the honor of traveling to New York in 2003 to witness his brilliant Split Sides project at the Brooklyn Academy of Music featuring Radiohead and Sigur Ros. It was definitely a unique experience. It was split sides in real time because they picked the music, back drop, costume, dance number, and order of performance at the roll of the dice. There was a possibility of 32 different outcomes. I admit, I was there for Radiohead, but of course I was beyond awestruck by the legend and the performance. At the time, Merce Cunningham was 83 and here he was playing with laptops (he used technology to help him choreograph) and rock bands to create art, while his buddy Robert Rauschenberg was rolling a dice to determine the actual performance. I pretty much went to art heaven that night.

Merce Cunningham passed away in 2009 and his dance company has spent 2011 doing a legacy tour - one final dance. They came to Seattle for two nights in October and so of course I jumped for tickets. The performance was not quite the same without all the excitement of Merce Cunningham but it was still amazing and intricate. The company will end the tour in New York City on New Year's Eve to a sold out crowd. Tickets were only $10 - just the way Merce Cunningham wanted it.

-Photo taken by yours truly of Repetto in Paris in 2009 - not by Merce Cunningham or Bill Cunningham. From now on I will try to post my own photos if relevant or possible.

I Am Legend - Part 1

2011-12-03T16:04:00.000-08:00

I have spent the past month trying to do as little as possible, hence my absence from postings. I think I succeeded, but I promised myself December will be more productive. After finally watching Bill Cunningham New York, I cannot imagine a better way to start my first weekend of December. Bill's life is an absolute testimony of passion and humility. This documentary moved me to tears and I feel so inspired. In my early 20's I never left my house without my camera. I have never taken a single class in photography and have always told people I shoot by luck, but I couldn't help but feel insecure and a bit of a nuisance every time I whipped out my camera to snap my friends, concerts, architecture, scenery, or anywhere in public. Regrettably, I have used my camera less and less over the years. I have switched out bigger cameras for smaller digital ones. Thanks to Bill I am realizing nothing else should matter as long as you are in love with what you do.

On a side note, I recently visited Philadelphia to help a good friend move back to the West Coast. I did not document the trip as much as I would have liked to, but I did try to take a picture of a panhandler selling a million paper bags out of a shopping cart. He saw me and threatened to take my life if I did not erase the picture. I cannot help but feel if I was shooting with film, erasing would not have been an option. So sadly, that picture is only in my mind now, but you can expect to see some amazing shots of the Midwest sunset soon.

On another side note, the image above was taken by me in Paris in 2009 - not by Bill Cunningham.

As the World Turns

2011-11-10T12:40:00.001-08:00

From Spanish, we now move onto Korean - Korean Drama that is, or K-Drama as it is known in the infamous world of Asian drama series. My dear friend has been encouraging me to watch Boys Over Flowers, so with some free time, I finally did. Embrace yourself for some serious heartache and addiction - everything I have ever wanted in a TV series. American dramas will become a complete meaningless bore once you have entered the world of K-drama. I am finishing up my third drama and still find them charming and meaningful. I enjoy the twists and turns, the rags and riches, the love and heartache, and the hope and philosophical depths. I am convinced the writers for Crash studied Korean dramas.

The best part is you can watch these dramas for free at Hulu or an affiliate such as Drama Fever. You will have to read subtitles, but at least you will learn a new language. Here are the few series I have watched so far and highly recommend:

Boys Over Flowers/Boys Before Flowers: Move over Ryan Gosling. You have been replaced by Lee Min Ho who plays the bad arse Goo Jun Pyo in this high society, high school Romeo & Juliet like life story. This series reminded me of Gossip Girl but even better. It was so good and well acted to the point where I found myself completely stressed for the characters.

City Hunter: Since I wanted to see more of Lee Min Ho, I started City Hunter immediately after Boys Over Flowers. He does not disappoint and proves how versatile his acting is. It is action packed with conspiracy twists. I highly recommend this one for male viewers.

Dream High: I am just finishing this one up. It is not a musical, but has a lot of singing and dancing in it - very Glee like. It is also not as stressful as Boys Over Flowers, yet still has a great story line. Although Lee Min Ho is not in this series, it does not lack in the attractive actors department.

Say que?

2011-10-15T17:34:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite sites is www.katespade.com. All the bright colors and retro design makes me simply happy. I was sad to see the Spades exit years ago, but I continue to be hooked on all things Spade. The vocalist futured in this video is Carla Morrison and the song is Este Momentos. I have no idea what she is saying, but she has the most beautiful voice. I quickly bought her album, Mientras Tu Dormias after viewing and have been listening to it ever since.

I want this. Isn't it adorable?

And here is a sneak peek of what to expect from Kate Spade for Spring of 2012, for those who live on a New York/Paris/London Fashion Week schedule. I can't wait!

Date with Paris

2011-10-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

If I can't be there than I can live it through the movies and food. My husband and I saw Midnight in Paris last weekend and it was so charming and scenic, but then again I can easily be charmed by any scenes of Paris...or any Wilson brother. It reminded me of one our trips to Paris where we stayed in the St. Germaine, once a retreat for all the famous artists and writers of the 1920's and beyond. If you would like to live Paris while in Seattle, I recommend visiting our very own French Quarter (Madison Valley).

You could dine here or here. We prefer the service and smallness of Voila, but we recently enjoyed a perfect meal at Luc. The chicken liver mousse was smooth and divine. The moules were big and succulent and my steak frites was so tender it tasted like tuna. Also their in season dessert of pumpkin pie was a nice "welcome back to America" from all things French on the menu.

Bakery Noveau may be the pride of West Seattle but one does not have to travel across the bridge to sample authentic French treats. At the entrance of the Arboretum on the Madison side, you will find Belle Epicurean. Their bacon maple macaron is brilliant and if you really want to feel France, you can have buttered escargots at this little sweet shop.

Bon le weekend!

A La Mode

2011-09-21T22:14:00.000-07:00

For my wedding I got to register for anything I wanted. Of course we cared most about presence and not presents, but most insisted. So happily, we received some much desired gifts for our kitchens. There is something about being married and wanting to cook and bake. Yes it sounds old fashion, but I don't have a wedding to think about anymore so I want to move on and start my married life...in the kitchen. So far my husband has been putting our new tools to use and I have enjoyed his meals. I do hope to try some recipes and not just admire the pictures. One new blog I plan to turn to for inspiration is Blueberries & Cream. Not only are the sweet treat recipes a good culmination of the best, but the pictures are crisp and delicious, and the writing is relatable and fun. This new young blogger is down to earth and motivates me to try new things. Bon Appetit!

Bad Arse

2011-09-18T21:57:00.000-07:00

We took this past week off to not think about anything, a mini-moon of sorts. So we took this opportunity to do the things we love doing but have put off doing, such as watch movies. To my joy, I had at least two Ryan Gosling pictures to see (Crazy, Stupid, Love and Drive). Yes I think Ryan Gosling is hot, but more importantly he is incredibly talented. I can honestly say he is my favorite actor and in these two movies he brings it. He is what Samuel L. Jackson would proclaim a bad arse. Warning, Drive is like a modern day Pulp Fiction. There are some unbearable scenes. On a lighter note, Crazy, Stupid, Love is hilarious yet touching. Both are must sees.

I also highly recommend the soundtrack for Drive, especially the first few songs. They are unexpected yet set a cool sexy tone for the movie, very fitting to the pink font of the movie title. Just watch it and you will see.

I am off to purchase a pair of driving gloves now!

Congratulations!

2011-09-17T21:13:00.001-07:00

As one wedding whirlwind ends, another journey begins. Congratulations to our dear friends Jeff and Desiree! I couldn't think of a better way to end a 6,448 mile bike ride. You may read about this incredible story here.

Oh Happy Days

2011-09-17T20:33:00.000-07:00

Thank you family and friends for the time of my life! We had an amazing and fun wedding weekend in Ojai, CA! I am especially grateful for Seasons for Cake for making our wedding the most beautiful. I have been on a wedding hiatus from this blog, but hope to share the past few weeks with you soon. One problem with being a bride though is not being able to take many pictures, so I will post as much as I gather.

In case you are curious, the wedding cake was banana on two layers and white with fresh strawberry filling on the other layer. Thank you Siblings Bakery in Ventura for our wonderful treats. I usually am not a fruit mixed with desserts kind of person but it was seriously B-A-N-A-N-A-S. Amazingly delicious! We also had chocolate ganache cakes for those biased to white cake. Why? Because it was our wedding and we were able to do everything we wanted to.

American Pie

2011-06-07T23:26:00.000-07:00

In my long absence, I have had some time to ponder some major events in my life, while another dear friend of mine embarked on a major journey of his own life. I have never been prouder to call him the Crazy Guy and you can read Between the Ends of America to find out more about his amazing trek. There are some really good blogs out there, but this one has moved me to start my own again, lean healthier, dust off my camera...and even restored my faith in Americans. His writing reads like a great American classic. We miss him and would like him to come home safely, yet at the same time we do not want this story to end.

Cult Member

2011-04-12T22:17:00.000-07:00

A good friend profess tonight that I was a club kid. True, I used to go out to every possible concert I wanted to, but I was not that kind of club kid. I have never ordered an alcoholic beverage or wore glow sticks, but I have had my fare share of chain smoking inhalations and dance offs with no competitors to match. I was off in my little world at the front of the stage feeling the music and snapping a million shots of the dark. These days, the band has to be pretty darn loveable or catchy to get me out, especially on a Monday night. Cults came to the Crocodile last night and it was worth the rally. Yes, they played more than the three songs we know of. Judging from last night, we are really excited for their full length album due out in June. Happy birthday to me!

You know you are old though when:

-The "cool kids" smoking outside need to show you the entrance of the Croc is now on the side rather than right on 2nd Ave.

-You make sure to show up right before the main band goes on and leave as soon as the house music goes on.

-What there are two opening bands?! You mean I could have napped longer before the show?

-You walk up to the bar and order a coffee and the bartender says they have to brew some. Then they give it to you for free for being the only person in the venue ordering coffee.

-You look around and do not recognize anyone because everyone looks like they are 12 at the 21 and over show.

-In between sets you try to find a bench to rest your feet so you can play Word With Friends with miller0703.

-And finally you know you are old when you don't even cheer or holler when the song is really good or for an encore. You are fine the concert is over because at 11:55 pm you got really nervous it was going to go past midnight.

Chloe for OC

2011-03-03T21:55:00.000-08:00

After all these years of watching Big Love, I forget how cool Chloe Sevigny is. I admire her vintage sense of style and how she put indie on the map. I remember watching Kids when it first came out and wondering what would come of her and Rosario. Well now, I can dress like her thanks to Opening Ceremony...for a small fortune that is. Call me Thuters from 2004 but I want those shoes!

Cults

2011-02-24T21:27:00.000-08:00

MTV Shows

No, not the controversial C ult. I am talking about the catchiest band of the year. They currently only have three songs public, yet I cannot get them out of my head. To hold me over until the release of their full length album (supposedly in May), I came across this new music video yesterday. It stars none other than the princess of indie, Emma Roberts (gorgeous) and a Zac Efron look alike, which just so happens to be James Franco's younger brother, Dave Franco. Yes, he has a younger brother, who in my opinion is better looking than the elder. No offense to fans of James Franco.

Parlez Vous?

2011-02-15T22:33:00.000-08:00

EF - Live The Language - Paris from Albin Holmqvist on Vimeo.

As you may know, I am happiest when in France. My best friend emailed me this video ad today and it is exactly what one can experience in the city of love and lights. I certainly will have macarons at my wedding and maybe even an Eiffel Tower...most likely not the Eiffel Tower.

Sneak Peek

2011-02-10T22:51:00.000-08:00

Joy, Joanna, and Emily have all posted a few pics of their exclusive BHLDN (Beholden) viewing (pic provided by Emily). Yes I am that excited. So far, I like dress #3 (or at least the back as far as I can see) but I can't wait to see the rest!

A few more wedding blogs I have been siting:

oncewed: Filled with DIY weddings and so inspiring. They even have a section for dress resales.

Style Me Pretty: The pictures are gorgeous on this site. I can only hope my big day will look so crisp and fresh.

Seasons for Cake: This site is a new contender to the wedding world. The posts so far are thoughtful and well written. Plus the visuals are beautiful. I look forward to seeing and reading more from this photographer.

The girls at Hello! Lucky along with Martha Stewart Wedding's senior style editor, Shana Faust, have put together this helpful DIY wedding book. If you do not want to purchase the book, some of the ideas are printed in this month's Martha Stewart Wedding. Even if I do not craft any of these ideas, the purchase was worth it just for the pictures!

Perfect Timing

2011-02-03T22:13:00.000-08:00

I was thrilled to receive this announcement in my inbox the other day. Everyone else seems to be doing it, so why not my favorite, Anthro, too. Wish me luck in planning the biggest day of my life!

PDX for Life

2011-01-20T22:56:00.001-08:00

Speaking of quirky, the first episode of Portlandia starts tomorrow on IFC at 10:30 EST. Just watch it!

New Siting

2011-01-20T21:46:00.000-08:00

My dear friend rung in the new year with a new blog, jeffarnim.com/daily. His mission is to take a picture a day, providing us with a bit of color through his world. I value our friendship not only because he is talented, likes indie rock-n-roll, has a good sense of humor and so on and so forth, but mostly because we share a passion for quirks and exploration and plus he found me a hot dog truck when I really wanted one...I still do. It is just the kind of thing true friends do for one another. Also it helps that my dog loves him and his mate, who is also really sweet and cool, and will soon be a hedgehog momma.

And if you like all things bike, or just want to live vicariously, you can follow his crazy journey here. Crazy as it may be, I am proud of him for following his dream.

The Power of Light

2011-01-17T21:44:00.000-08:00

I am usually a sucker when it comes to products with a good story, especially when on sale, but I have to admit, I have yet to get into Glassybaby. I pass by the store all the time when in U-Village, but have never felt compelled to look inside. I came across this video on the Central District Blog, highlighting their infamous sale on January 22nd. I normally do not like to post things I am not into, but this video intrigued me...maybe because the interviewer sounds a little like me, or maybe just because I felt less like a hoarder compared to some of these people.

New You, New Me

2011-01-10T21:45:00.000-08:00

I am not going to make resolutions or provide a montage of 2010 (rough year). I am, however, going to introduce you to Marshall Reid, my new hero. He is the epitome of "where there's a will, there's a way." I saw him the other day on the Nate Berkus Show and he wins the award for best surprise reaction of the year, so touching. You can learn more about him and his mission at http://www.portionsize.me/. He also has a whole series of videos on youtube.

Blog Her

2010-12-15T22:38:00.000-08:00

Tis the season for guest blogging. For a few of the season's favorites, I turned to my dear sister, the expert and new general manager of Restoration Hardware at University Village. When it comes to certain things in life, we can be very different, but when it comes to home decor and style, we definitely share happiness in all things fine and cute.

Here is what she had to say about her favorite things:

As an insider and in the know of some of the coolest merchandise for gift giving this year, I find that it's the natural instincts of what I would want for myself that makes the best gifts. With that being said, I have now purchased about four of these delectably soft and warm cashmere scarves for all the women in my life. It's functional yet lightweight enough that you can essentially wear it for 3 out of the 4 seasons in Seattle! Offered in several different colors, you may just find yourself purchasing additional ones for yourself.

My other go to gift which I will say has probably provided me with the most BANG for my buck is the ultimate plush throw available in seven colors. Not only is this the softest thing that I've ever laid my body on but it is also practical and low maintenance! You can easily throw this throw into the washing machine for easy cleaning!

Finally, for any garden lover or an inexpensive and chic hostess gift, I would recommend these bulb kits. I've given these in the past, but this year RH has outdone themselves with these reusable Guy Wolf pots of hand thrown clay. I love the natural color of the pots which would allow to simply acclimate to any existing decor. I have several teachers in mind who may just being seeing Amaryllis and Narcissus' in their near future!

To read more of my sister's musings, please visit Seasons For Cake.

Do You Realize?

2010-12-06T22:33:00.001-08:00

I lost a dear friend recently. Her death has left me pretty speechless. No words could ever justify how much of an impact she made in this world, but I realized the best way to honor her would be to write. She lived a pretty private life, yet everyone knew her well as a listener and she made a difference in every one's life she encountered. For the past several years, on every Sunday, she has gathered with her friends to write. More recently, they completed a book, Sunday Ink, a compilation of short stories and poems. I was fortunate enough to attend their book reading and signing a few weeks ago. I always knew my friend, SEJ, to be amazing, but that night I really saw her shine. It was not a surprise that the space was completely packed to standing room. Only someone so charismatic and brilliant could draw such a crowd.

My St. Bernard

2010-11-07T21:04:00.000-08:00

I do not know why I have not learned my limit with new workout regimens. This past week, I tried a couple of different strenuous workout videos with my office mates, and now I know what it feels like to be paralyzed from the waste down. Just when I thought I would have a relaxing weekend, I woke up on Saturday morning with thighs of steel. Have you tried walking around with armor on? Well it is painful and hard, especially down a steep staircase. The sweetest thing though is I have Coco, who carries the weight of our lives and the house on her thick fur. She takes very good care of me when I am ill...and now it is her time to rest.

And of course tea in bed, provided by my mate, always helps too...but I am sure Coco thought of it.

Not A Paper Mag

2010-11-07T20:57:00.000-08:00

I have seen some of my favorite publications come and go these past few years. Domino, I still think you more worthy than Lucky. But with modern tech these days, everything can exist online and even in the clouds, making it even easier for the environment, magazine renewal time, and the pocket book. My mate's design savvy sister recently buzzed about Gifted Mag. I could not help but view every single page of this online mag. Just like walking into a colorful gift shop, Gifted made me very happy. And if you are still yearning for Domino like me, you should visit Lonny Mag, brought to you by ex Domino contributors.

Tis the Season...for Favorite Things

2010-10-25T22:54:00.000-07:00

As you have noticed, my blogging has been lacking lately. I have been taking a mental break and trying to take a physical one too, but society is hard to ignore. The easiest way to ease back into sharing my thoughts with you is to honor the last season of Oprah by not sharing Oprah's favorite things, but mine instead. For the next couple of months, leading up to Joyeux Noel, I will glorify the things I simply adore. Last Christmas, my sister gifted me a nice, light, yet fluffy scarf from Restoration Hardware. I am still receiving compliments for it. I never considered buying a scarf from Resto, but like with everything at Resto, this scarf felt luxurious and sold out very quickly. I was happy to see today the return of the scarves on their site. I want one in every color now.

I Gotta Feeling

2010-10-20T22:17:00.001-07:00

When I was younger my sister had me convinced I was adopted. I had a feeling it was not true. We are pretty different people but sometimes the hint of family relation shines through. And for whatever reason, we love dance routines. I have to admit, we were the life of the party with our improvised dance moves during our early 20's. Something about people chanting in a circle encouraging us to go, made us hit the dance floor like nobody's biz. More recently, inspired by Oprah, my sister recently performed the mob dance routine to the Black Eyed Peas for her dear friend's birthday celebration. You can view the video here. I have to say, she still got it!

One Stop Holiday Shop

2010-10-18T20:46:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about elementary life for me was the holiday bazaars. Magically during the holidays, a "bazaar" would appear at school, for which some times I volunteered for, and got to play store. We would sell random items like yo yos, rulers, stationary, stickers, and of course coloring books. Now that I think of it, it was quite medieval of us to have a marketplace at school. Whatever the case, it was something to look forward to and even then I was plotting and dreaming about what I could buy...all day at school. Flash forward to modern times and we have Etsy. I would have to say Etsy is far more progressive than any elementary bazaar and auction combined and might be the best thing that has ever happened to previous kindergarten daydreamers. Etsy is where you can now find the jewelry from my Exercising Accessorizing post from a few months back. Happy holiday shopping!

Yoshimi Not Yakima

2010-09-27T23:40:00.000-07:00

People may measure "life lived" by travel destinations or food digested...I am certainly one of those people, but after tonight I can also add, you have not lived life until you have lived a Flaming Lips concert. We have been under a lot of stress and sadness lately, and the concert provided us a great escape and therapy for the night. It is the most visually stunning organized party I have ever been an honored guest of. Some have compared it to a 4 year old's birthday party, but I don't know any 4 year olds that surf crowds in giant balloons and has a crew of talented indie rock musicians. Wayne Coyne is my kind of quirky, whose mission in life is to help you let loose and have a ridiculous amount of fun. Mission accomplished. Warning, if you are prone to being a fun hater, heart attacks, or blindness, than this party is not for you. The strobe lights alone are powerful enough to light an entire city.

And if you are unaware of the Lips, but would like to dig them, here are my top favorite songs:

1. Race for the Prize

2. Do You Realize

3. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robot, Pt. 1

4. Fight Test

5. She Don't Use Jelly

Couture At My Fingertips

2010-08-30T22:39:00.000-07:00

Life's luxuries do not have to come in the form of a perfect tweed suit that is declared vintage within a year. For $23, you can have a little bottle of Chanel joy without forfeiting your home. Chanel being Chanel though, these paints are very limited so do not hesitate. No, I am not brave enough to splash the dragon red, but I was fortunate enough to snatch up last season's popular Nouvelle Vague and this fall's Paradoxal. Most colors are still available here and your local Nordstrom may have a few too. And for backup, at $9 a bottle, Sephora in partnership with OPI, has almost the exact same offerings.

Deal of the Day

2010-08-18T22:32:00.000-07:00

Free overnight shipping anyone?

http://twitter.com/zappos

Scram Scam!

2010-08-12T23:12:00.000-07:00

Guaranteed, the people who swear against using credit cards online because of fraud, have purchased magazine subscriptions online. I enjoy magazines and subscribe to an endless amount of which I do not remember how I subscribed. Lesson learned. I recently noticed a $43 charge on my credit card made by O Magazine. I figured maybe I had registered for 3 years worth of subscriptions, but thought it better to double check. After searching a few different pages, I finally found their customer service number. The person on the other line told me that I would need to contact a different number because the purchase was made through a third party. I asked how many years did I subscribe and the service rep told me one year. I would never pay $43 for a one year subscription! I then called the number O Magazine gave me and it only offered automated services in the form of a hard multiple choice test, which went on to try to scam me out of more unwanted subscriptions for a ridiculous amount of money. Worst of all, they can get away with this simply by saving my credit card info from some god knows where online purchase. It was pretty much the psychic hotline of scams. Why O why Oprah?

New Wave

2010-08-10T23:10:00.000-07:00

The year is not over yet, but I have my picks for the two top albums of the year. And the awards go to - The Suburbs by Arcade Fire and Congratulations by MGMT. Beyond the heartache of the Twilight albums, Arcade Fire and MGMT came through like they do. Both are another level of genius, concept albums perhaps. They listen like reading a book or would be perfect as movie soundtracks in their entireties. Each song unfolds another and they all blend well, very conhesive. This latest Arcade Fire album is more mellow than I thought it would be, but I like it. Regine, the mother of the group, could easily stand on her own, so I am glad to see that she has more play time on this album. I cannot wait for the concerts (Seattle, Vancouver, PDX anyone?)!

MGMT's sophomore efforts do not disappoint. I only managed to gather two songs from their previous album, but now I think I will go backward and give that album another shot. Rarely do I listen to an album this much without having witnessed the live experience. Sadly, MGMT has come and gone a few times through Seattle and I have missed them.

Baby's Mama

2010-07-19T22:16:00.000-07:00

I am at that age where everyone around me is getting married or having babies. I have yet to join either clubs, but I have become more accustomed to everything baby and more comfortable with the thought of becoming a parent someday. But just because I do not have a human child does not mean I cannot be envious of all the gear. In 2001, Jessica Seinfield of Jerry Seinfield fame, launched her own nonprofit, Baby Buggy, helping those in need of baby gear. Recently, she partnered with Target to offer this adorable line to support her cause.

Another irresistible partnership with Target is Dwell Studio. This line of modern yet reachable baby gear is my absolute favorite! This is the only line I have found that is actually comparable to the designer made items.

Thank you Target for making designer affordable!

Home & Garden

2010-07-13T22:43:00.000-07:00

When the house is in complete disarray and I am frustrated with the lack of progress, I have one thing I can be proud of - my mate's greenest thumb. We purchased this rose bush last year and I gave up on it because it started to look diseased. As with everything else in life, my mate assured me it will be fine. And sure enough, a year later, it is thriving along with everything else in our garden. Now I understand how a fresh bloom can work wonders. Thank you mate.

The Soundtrack of Our Lives

2010-07-07T21:28:00.001-07:00

After the books are read and the movies have been watched for the millionth time, the heartache can live on through the music. I recently purchased The New Moon soundtrack and for the second week in a row, it is still on the top of my playlist.

Dutch, Holland, The Netherlands!

2010-07-07T21:07:00.000-07:00

I admit it, I have not been watching the World Cup religiously, but I do have a newfound admiration for the Orange team - not only because of V. Persie (my favorite Arsenal), but also because the coaching staff have the most top notch matching suits. If the players can wear the most unique color on the pitch, I guess the coaches can be the best dressed...like they are going to hit the clubs after the match.

Strawberry Hills Forever

2010-06-27T22:32:00.001-07:00

When it comes to dessert I am pretty particular. I like my fruits separated from my sweets. In the summer months it is a challenge to order dessert since everything is in season and ripe. So instead of denying myself sugar, I have tried to overcome this phobia by ordering any kind of crisp, hoping that there is more crisp than fruit, tartes because they are French, and strawberry shortcake simply because they are beautiful and good. Tonight my mate picked some fresh organic strawberries, whipped some cream, and sliced some pound cake to create a tower of deliciousness. Just like with ice cream, I picked off the strawberries and ate them first as if they were going to melt. Even if the skies are grey in Seattle, this was a sure good sign of summer.

And if you are unable to make your own at home, I highly recommend the strawberry shortcake at King Fish Cafe. I don't like to share, but the size of this dessert at the famed southern restaurant is gigantic, so ordering one for the table is a must.

Do you have other favorite places you go to for your strawberry shortcake fix?

Self Portrait Part Deux

2010-06-24T22:51:00.000-07:00

I love photography. A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of viewing an amazing Henri Cartier-Bresson exhibit at the MOMA. I used to have turrets of the finger when it came to snapping pictures, but lately I have been more shy about pulling out my "tourist" or "paparazzo" self. This exhibit was just what I needed to remind me to fulfill my urge because the results are always rewarding and some times even empowering. Admittedly I am clueless when it comes to the technology and technique, regardless I strive to be the best amateur photographer I want to be. My dream some day is to have an exhibit displayed at my own home.

C'est La Vie

2010-06-22T22:27:00.000-07:00

Au revoir les Bleus. I cannot explain the breakdown of France, but the chemistry definitely has not been there for this World Cup. There was a feeling of sudden loss after Zidane in 2006 - just like with Henri leaving Arsenal in 2007. But after Henri there was still Van Persie. And after France there is still the Netherlands! The world's game must carry on. Allez les Oranges!

Au Tennis

2010-06-19T23:03:00.000-07:00

When I was younger, there were a few things I associated with the beginning of summer - flag day, field day, my birthday, and Wimbledon. I used to stay up with my older brother to catch the NBC nightly recap of Wimbledon with Bud Collins. I have not tuned in in recent years, but as an adult, anything is possible with DVR. Wimbledon begins June 21st.

I love tennis (I don't play as much as I would like to), but I especially love tennis gear. As odd as it sounds, I used to try to fit it into my normal wardrobe, Royal Tenenbaums style. I found this dress while cleaning out my closet the other day. It is a definite French Open dress, not a Wimbledon dress. I would pair it with skinny dark jeans and tall bright red wedges. Imagine that!

Self Portrait

2010-06-19T13:12:00.000-07:00

I am never the one to say I look like any celebrities because it just would not be true. I try not to be vein nor boastful, but seriously, I believe I am the inspiration for Miss Marc.

License to Ill

2010-06-17T20:03:00.000-07:00

I hope your inquiring minds have not suffered too much from my hiatus. I have had quite the bout with my my awful cough, which went from highly potential whooping cough to the flu - and the travel bug. In between illness and after, I managed to pull it together and hop from coast to coast. So for my first post, back from sickness and good travels, I would like to highlight the things I appreciated while being sick.

(Wow, I just figured out how to add pictures in the middle of text! I am back with a whole new look!) I love Orla Kiely and I especially loved Orla Kiely for Target. This tray made it so much easier to lounge and have everything organized right beside me (e.i. hot tea, cough drops, magazines).

When in France, I like to stock up on these teas. Tea is certainly a beverage I always want to make time for but usually lack the effort, so it is my best friend when I am sick. These teas are amazing and can also be found at local boutiques stateside. The varieties Mariage Frere offer provide aroma therapy in itself.

I did not grow up a cough drop person, but lately I cannot survive without it due to serious gag reflex. My friend always offers me her Halls cherry cough drop, so I finally went out and bought my own bag but I found these strawberry ones. The flavor makes the burn of Halls so much more soothing.

The thing I rely on the most to surpass sickness of the lungs is Herbal Expec. I find that this works better than any other cough syrup I have tried or have been prescribed. Plus I do not even need a prescription for this syrup. You can find my "liquor" of choice at PCC.

And finally, nothing beats having good friends, family, Coco, and a mate when ill. The thought of lounging at home and not working sounds desirable, but it gets pretty boring as well. Thanks for taking good care of me!

Chicken Soup for the Soles

2010-05-22T23:43:00.001-07:00

I used to be one of those girls - thigh hugging bell bottom plaid pants, vintage fur trimmed leather coat, and platforms, hiking all over the university campus. As much as I tried to be "me", it took a lot of effort, and my feet were in Steve Madden hell. These days I do not mind sacrificing looks for comfort.

I have been meaning to bring preppy back long before J.Crew discovered loafers were cool. Back in the day, my parents could not afford real penny loafers. I remember going to Payless and purchasing a pair of "fake" loafers trying to convince myself they were close enough. Even then I knew the huge difference between synthetic and real leather. The Payless loafers were just not the same as the quality of Bass loafers. Then one year, my mom finally made the commitment to purchase me the real thing. It was a huge stretch and a lot to ask for. We finally agreed on a pair of tassled Dexters, which I think were $30 at the time. I loved them because they were different, but they still were not the real loafers I desired. Nonetheless, I wore those loafers like nobody's biz.

Today, I fulfilled my childhood dream of owning my very own pair of Bass loafers. I am an adult now so why not? Instead of purchasing them online, I headed to the outlet mall and bought a pair of black actual penny loafers. Best of all, they had an amazing promotion where you buy one and get two free. Yes two! Also when I asked what the return policy is, the sales rep told me that you have 30 days to wear them and return them, but if you do not wear them, you have a life time to return them. Yes, they actually allow you to wear them for 30 days before returning! The whole experience was too dreamy. So now I have three pairs of loafers. I wore a pair to dinner tonight and they are luxurious indeed. They are now the most comfortable pair of shoes I own.

Amazing Race

2010-05-12T22:31:00.000-07:00

After one flight and a long drive, we reached mystic, majestic Halong Bay. Located in Northern Vietnam, Halong is the most serene place I have ever visited. The boat journey, weaving through the isles of Halong was calmer and quieter than silent prayer at church. The bay is gifted with about 2,000 floating islands. Thanks to our very accommodating travel agency in Hanoi, we were able to have a custom sea trip designed specifically with our time constraint in mind. We had three days up north with no time to spare. They planned and mapped everything perfectly. Our trip consisted of a total of five boat rides, some kayaking through secret coves and caves, and an overnight at the Ocean Beach Resort, and long drives through the country side and Cat Ba National Park. I ventured more in Halong Bay within a weekend than I ever have on a two week holiday anywhere.

The more I reminisce about Vietnam, the more I miss it, and the more I leave things out. There is so much to see and to be said about our great journey. My blog is simply not enough. This mini tour has stretched across quite a few American days now, so for the sake of blogging about everything in life, I think I am ready to move on, back to reality. I hope you have enjoyed the amazing race!

Da Lat

2010-05-09T21:52:00.001-07:00

When the rest of Vietnam is too hot and overwhelming, Da Lat is the perfect place to retreat to. Located almost 5,000 feet above sea level, Da Lat is a bit cooler and quite different from the rest of Vietnam. The first time I visited, I was enamored by this lush wine region, fresh fruits, and Frenchness. After all, this area was the stomping grounds of the French elites before the war. Chalets adorn the hillsides of Da Lat. At the center, there even is a radio tower that emulates La Tour de Eiffel. Here are a few things you may not know about Da Lat:

1. The last emperor of Vietnam lived here.

2. The road to Da Lat is quite treacherous from our village. It is pretty much an uphill battle for about 3 hrs on a narrow winding road. If you are not staying overnight, celebrating your honeymoon or flying in, I am not sure if it is worth the trip.

3. Everything is a little more expensive here.

4. Besides being the coffee and wine country, fruits, especially strawberries are famous here. Blackberries are simply known as black strawberries. Raspberries do not exist.

5. The market place is a food poisoning pit. Sadly, this visit was one of the highlights of our trip, yet also the worst downfall of our trip. My sister got violently sick after lunching at the market.

6. Vietnamese people love places where everybody is and they love kitschiness. As lovely as Da Lat is for its natural beauty and French influences, there are a lot of tourist traps located in Da Lat, including a place called the Valley of Love. All of these places are man made with their man made lakes.

Well, I guess the downfall of our trip was greater than the highlight. Judging from the 5 facts above, I think it is safe to say I am a little over Da Lat.

Next stop, Halong Bay.

Squid Economics

2010-05-09T21:28:00.000-07:00

Beware of the squid ladies. They are everywhere in Vietnam. They may look innocent, but they are the toughest hagglers working the streets, can say "squid for sale" in several different languages, and do not give up. You may think dried squid sounds disgusting, but it is the beef jerky of the sea and makes a decent appetizer or snack. Plus the squid lady's determination is hard to refuse.

Nha Trang

2010-05-04T22:06:00.000-07:00

Now I understand why my family never settled in the midwest. They are water people by birth and would never survive without fresh seafood.

Located about an hour north of our village is the beach resort town of Nha Trang - famous for the 2008 Miss Universe pageant. People are still proud and still talk about it. The road to Nha Trang, which my parents refer to as I-5, to which we refer to as the 101, is very picturesque and reminds me of the Riveria, surrounded by cliffs, white sandy beaches, and islands. There are plenty of luxury resorts to choose from too. Hawaii has nothing on Nha Trang. Once we were in Nha Trang, we rented a boat for about $30/day, which holds at least 15 people, and cruised to about 5 different islands. Each island is different and charges a docking fee. We decided to not dock at a lot of places because they obviously catered to foreigners and foreigners' fees. There are also floating restaurants that charge exuberant amounts for fresh seafood. Back in 2001 I had one of the best meals ever in Nha Trang but in 2010 that same meal would cost at least triple the amount. It is so worth it but not. I think I will be fine with my Costco lobster tail. After the boat ride, we decided to settle on the beautiful mainland beach, which was free and had wifi. We swam, sunbathed, picnicked, enjoyed some laughs, got harassed by pushy old English speaking woman trying to sell us dried squid, and napped and then napped some more.

Home Sweet Maison Rouge

2010-05-03T22:15:00.000-07:00

Funny how things remind me of home when I am away - no matter how far away I am and how opposite the lifestyle could be.

As joyous as my trip was, I was pretty sick the entire time I was in Vietnam with an awful cough. I fought it as much as I could and powered through. Unfortunately, I brought that cough home with me and was bedridden this weekend in fear it would spread to others, so my blog suffered. I was not able to join you on a mini tour this weekend. Good news - turns out it is simply just a cough, so this week I plan to begin the mini tour as promised. As sweet as home can be, sometimes it grounds you with all the comforts and expert opinions...I guess for all the necessary reasons.

Tomorrow, our first stop will be Nha Trang!

11 Things You May Not Know About Vietnam

2010-04-27T22:44:00.000-07:00

In no particular order, here are a few interesting observations.

1. The president of South Vietnam from 1967-1975, Nguyen Van Thieu, is from my village. To this day, a painting of my village hangs in the Presidential Palace in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).

2. The Vietnamese, especially the school children, love foreigners and giggly Vietnamese-American girls.

3. In Hanoi (North) and Saigon (South) the citizens are accustomed to speaking English. In my village they do not know what a baguette is, but they sure know what a banh mi is.

4. On the other hand, when we asked about dessert, they said, "ah you mean gateau?" Parle vous francais, n'est pas? Our cousins explained a gateau as a birthday cake, meaning they only eat dessert during someone's birthday, not every night after dinner or during lunch when times are rough.

5. Even though it may be 100 degrees outside, the women of Vietnam dress like they are participants in a paintball tournament or bee keeping. They do this to shield every inch of their body from the sun. Have you seen Jessica Simpson's, The Price of Beauty?

6. A family of four can live on a dollar a day in Vietnam and most times even less.

7. What is the word for "Hello" in Vietnamese? It is Hello or Chao, just like Ciao!

8. The resorts may look like they are for the wealthy, but you can pay $1 and swim and lounge beside the luxurious pools and empty, clean beaches for as long as you like. Beats the Y any day.

9. Always ask how much before you pick up and purchase.

10. When in doubt, tell them you are going to go home and figure it out later (good advice for stateside residents too).

11. The best advice my father offered us on the trip was - always bring your own roll of toilet paper. You never know when you are going to need it.

*Up next - a mini tour of Vietnam.

Good Morning Vietnam

2010-04-26T23:14:00.001-07:00

The last time I was in Vietnam was nine years ago. A lot of time has past, which I regret, so I spent the past two and a half weeks revisiting and reconnecting with what I left behind nine years ago. At least I am old enough now to be able to see the differences in the past and the present. Vietnam has entered the modern world. The town where my family is from, Phan Rang, is small but now dense with resorts, electronic stores, wi-fi cafes, and department stores. Even smaller is the actual village my family resides in, Tan An, located on the coast of Phan Rang. It is so small that it is barely googleble, but what the village certainly has is faith. As you can see from the picture above, the massive structure that resembles a Chinese temple is actually our Catholic Church. It used to be a good old fashion, traditional French stoned church, but many parishioners felt the need to preserve it before it crumbled, so they pimped it and gave it some cultural flare in the redesign process. I admit, it is pretty gorgeous when you see it in person. Also after so many day trips in the hot Vietnam sun, I found solace in seeing the church from afar as I approached "home." And I do intend to return more often now.

Time Travel

2010-04-25T01:39:00.000-07:00

I did not fall asleep until 3am Saturday morning and now once again, on an early Sunday, I am up, completely restless, ready to start my day. Traveling these days are unlike the days of red eyes to NY where the first day of excitement was the day where I would hit the ground and ran as hard as I could. These days, it takes a day or two of rest at my arrived destination before exploring anything. I returned on Friday night from an amazing journey to Vietnam and for the first time I am giving myself a couple of days to ease myself back to reality. So please excuse me while I adjust, but I do hope to keep you "posted" on my time away this coming week.

I-Life

2010-04-03T22:40:00.000-07:00

Today will go down in history as the day UPS employees were the most anticipated people in the United States. It is also the day where many tech nerds were left speechless for most part of the day and mesmerized by the sheer genius of an object. And finally, it was also a day where I could have probably asked for anything I wanted and the answer would have been yes without any kind notion of what I asked for. Remember my post about being sold on this object? Well, when it came to making a decision, I forgot how slow the left side of my brain is when it comes to change. So my mate purchased one and I withheld. As he has been tinkering around with it in excitement, I have been trying to convince myself that it is just like a laptop but only has one side. Or it is just a bigger ipod touch. And it is heavier than I thought it would be. It actually reminds me of a digital picture frame. So it is not all that right? Now after being ignored for hours, I kind of want one. The ease of having everything in perfect view, at my fingers tips is empowering and still very attractive. It is really sleek and shiny too. Okay, I really want one.

App of the day: The Kindle app is amazing. You can download this app on the tab (I rather call it a tab than the Ipad) or iphone and you will be able to read and view all your Kindle purchases. You do not even need to own a Kindle. If you do not own a Kindle, this app allows you to purchase books on your tab or iphone for the same low price as Kindle owners. Thank you Amazon!

Mostly Not Martha

2010-04-01T22:39:00.001-07:00

How did I choose to spend my Holy Thursday? After mass tonight, I wanted something fast and easy, so we stopped and grabbed pho to go. This Vietnamese staple is best enjoyed fresh and hot at Vietnamese hole in the wall establishments, but it can be done to go as well as long as you reboil the broth when you get home. Just like the restaurants we also were given ample amounts of sprouts and greens. I have no idea why they always pile on the green/white accoutrement. I certainly have never seen anyone, including my family members, eat them all. My soup was perfect for this cold Holy Thursday night though. Even though this was not exactly the feast to be had for the last supper before Easter, I satisfyingly slurped away while finally watching Mostly Martha (or Bella Martha). This movie has been added and taken off of my queue several times for years. I love foreign movies for the chance that I assume what is going on, but then I am proven wrong as the story line unfolds. There is always something deeper going on than just a foreign romance. I am not the one to be a spoiler when it comes to plots and endings, but I would have to say that this movie certainly inspired me to return to cooking after a week of debauchery in eating out. Also, for those who have watched this movie, I actually wanted Martha and her neighbor, Sam, to be together.

Breakfast of Champions

2010-03-28T22:08:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite parts of our weekend is brunching. We usually spend Sunday brunch with my family at my parents', but since we had bingo night with them on Saturday, we took Sunday off. So this weekend, we had two days of brunching on our own. Two items I always desire for brunch - duck confit, which I can usually find, and chicken waffle, which I never find. On Saturday we went to Mistral Kitchen (our 2nd time within this month) and the menu had already changed. I prayed for duck confit and thankfully it was on the menu. This was the best confit I have had - perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. C'est magnifique! The surprising thing about this menu too is it is the least expensive brunch I have ever had (ok besides Denny's). All items are under $12. A couple of weeks ago I had their steak and eggs for $12. Imagine that.

Instead of mom's good old Vietnamese home cooking today, we spent brunch at Taste at the SAM. I have been in search of chicken waffle in Seattle forever and today I reached my goal. I have always liked the Taste menu - very versatile, good, and 69% of it is local/organic. They only serve brunch on Sunday though. The portion is kind of small, but perfect for my diet. The chicken looked dry on the outside, but was really juicy in the inside. It was served on a bed of gravy and with some greens, which I did not care so much for. The waffle added a nice sweet to the savory. I did not miss mom's home cooking too much today. For $14 though, I might have to choose Mistral over Taste as my new favorite brunch of the moment, especially since Taste only has brunch on Sundays.

Iron Chef Superstar

2010-03-20T22:44:00.000-07:00

My favorite restaurant in New York is Crema. Whenever I am in NY, I enjoy almost all of my meals here. It is the best Mexican food I have ever had. Chef Julieta Ballesteros is very talented and original and her restaurant was voted #1 Mexican restaurant in NY on opentable.com recently. Gordon Ramsay also has proclaimed her the best Mexican chef in all of New York, and on Sunday she will display her skills on Iron Chef America at 10pm Pacific Time. Go Julieta!

Spring Forward

2010-03-18T22:47:00.000-07:00

Nothing says spring like a walk/jog along Lake Washington with my bear dog leading the way. She is pretty shy around humans and bikes, so we favor this route because as you can see, there are rarely any of the above in sight. Except on this warmer Seattle day, there were a few more people out and about than normal. It is beginning to look like summer.

Exercising Accessorizing

2010-03-18T22:01:00.000-07:00

As much as I love clothes, shoes, and handbags, I lack a certain je ne sais quois to pull my entire look together. I have been failing to accessorize. Accessorizing is perhaps the easiest thing anyone can do to make an outdated outfit look new again and refined. The older I get, the more I desire to accessorize, but I am pretty clueless when it comes to picking out necklaces, earrings, belts, and whistles. Also those little intricate trinkets can cost a fortune. Luckily for me, my mate's sister is a jewelry designer. Her creations are handmade, attractive, simple yet unique, and most importantly - reasonable.

LIVESTRONG

2010-03-17T18:03:00.001-07:00

While we are on the biking subject, I would like to express my support for a family member who will be riding in the 100 mile challenge of his life to raise funds for cancer research through LIVESTRONG. He will be riding in honor of his grandfather. I normally shy away from asking for donations, but since I do not have the drive to ride or run anywhere for anybody, I am happy to donate and spread the word, so he can do it for me. If you would like to donate, please visit http://bit.ly/dartanyon.

Cruisin USA

2010-03-15T19:58:00.000-07:00

As much as I loved being on a bike when I was younger, I currently do not own one. Ok full disclosure - the bikes I had when I was younger were for the most part broken or remained stationary. I always grabbed a ride on the back seat or on the handlebars of an older sibling or relative. They were way more skilled at riding up and down hills than my fearful self could ever be. So the adult me would really like a bike but does not need anything fancy with gears even. I just want to ride straight and on flat surfaces. I have been having my eye on the red Schwinn 3-wheeler for a few months now. Yes I said it, a three-wheeler. I figured it would give me the confidence to ride anywhere, and more importantly, to make turns without falling over or going too wide. I explained this to a few friends and they immediately said that I could not purchase a tricycle. Yes, technically it is a tricycle, but to me it would be a road warrior. If I decide to conform a little, my second option is the cream colored Schwinn I noticed at Target. It is less expensive but has one less wheel. It has that classic look to it that reminds me of the movies. I know it is not realistic, but I imagine myself riding down the boulevards (which boulevards, I have no clue) with a sundress on and some phatty sunglasses with Coco sitting in a front basket on this bike.

What do you think? I would love to hear your vote on my "welcome to spring" present to myself.

Give Me Liberty...of London For Target

2010-03-14T22:49:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air when the blossoms are in bloom at the Quad, when Coco gets to spend more time at the dog park, when we spring forward, and when Target has a new colorful line out. The latest Euro collection from Target is Liberty of London. This may be my favorite yet, but as with any couture for Target line, things are going fast. I visited Target at Northgate to check it out and the ads are up, but the shelves are practically empty. I do not understand why a high volume chain store is so limited when it comes to supply. Does Target not underst capitalism? I was able to pick up a few office items that are ultra chique and some floral rain boots, but they did not have what I came for - the cruiser. When I looked online, many things were already sold out except the bike. As usual, I decided to sleep on it. I just checked online again, and have not slept yet, but to my dismay the bike is now sold out too!

The Price of Beauty

2010-03-07T22:12:00.000-08:00

Jessica Simpson was recently on Oprah to promote her new reality show, The Price of Beauty. While I find Jessica Simpson the least bit intriguing, her show does look fascinating. Maybe the Oprah factor and the Lisa Ling effect helps a lot, but all women do share the desire to be beautiful, yet interpret it in so many different ways and go through such extremities. There is a lot of talk about what women do. Chris Rock even made a documentary about Good Hair recently, but I swear I could have my own show about what dogs go through. I am just beginning to learn the lengths a dog owner endures to take good care of their most loved. This past Sasturday, we took Coco to the groomers for the first time. Apparently we are bad parents for ignoring the matts that formed behind her ear (remember the benign dreads?). Besides her nappy hair, she also loves rolling around in the mud or splashing around in the puddles at the dog park. So we had a consultation with Dog Mania in the quaint Mt. Baker neighborhood the other day and we set her up for a 10 am appointment on Saturday. Five hours later and more than what I have ever paid for my own hair, Coco came out fit for the Westminster dog show. Her coat was nicely coiffed and cleaned. The matts were gone. Her blond highlights were even more present. She looked fantastic but was very tired and crashed as soon as we got home. According to the groomer however, she was a bit of a problem dog. She took longer than normal and they did not even complete her the way they wanted to. It was vague if they were even willing to see her again or if this even built her confidence. It certainly helped our confidence to not have a pig pen dog, and just like with any haircut, now we have to take her back every 8 weeks for more.

Wynner

2010-03-01T22:30:00.000-08:00

There is truly something for everyone in Vegas, and many places to stay. For me, there is no other place I would rather stay than the Wynn (not just because it is very similar to my name). It is supposedly the only casino resort in the world to receive a 5 star, 5 diamond, and so on and so forth. Sounds expensive and luxurious right? It can be, but if you plan a couple of months in advance, anything can be had or bought in Vegas for a good deal. Packages including airfare and hotel can be as low as $300 at the Wynn. So when it feels impossible to spend the night a the Ritz in Paris, I settle for the Wynn without having to exactly settle.

Normally it takes me half an hour to get ready at home, but at the Wynn I take full advantage of my bathroom, which is the size of a small NYC apartment, and even comes with a television. It becomes a mini spa for me. I spent over an hour in there during my last stay. I read my kindle while taking a bath, then took a shower while sitting down, gave my hair a decent blowout, then curled my hair, tweezed my eyebrows and applied makeup, all while watching MTV. None of these things I ever do at home, but within the comforts of the Wynn bathroom, this is all possible. Boy did I show up to brunch looking appropriate, while David Spade sat a table away in sweats and a beard. Perhaps he was not staying at the Wynn.

Eraser

2010-03-01T21:19:00.000-08:00

Does this look familiar? You may recognize it from the Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle, but we were not at home anymore. I was walking along in an unrealistic world, admiring modern architecture, when this typrwriter eraser reminded me of home and reality. I love Seattle and home, but when possible, I like to spend a few days each year in an accessible fantastic world. In France, Louis XIV had his royal stomping grounds at Versailles. In America, we have...Las Vegas. I do not drink, am intimidated by card tables, and could care less about the club crowd, but as tacky as many may think it is, I love Vegas. No other place in the world can I escape to and have the entire world at my fingertips. If you would like a little bit of Paris, Venice, or ancient Athens and apparently the Typewriter Eraser from home, without the long hours on a plane, high expenses, and time travel machine, Las Vegas is perfect. Stay tuned for a few of my favorites.

Seared Scallop Fettucine

2010-02-21T22:16:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago we had a lovely dinner with our good friends (the Millers) at the Waterfront Grill in Seattle. We took advantage of the $30 for three courses deal, which I highly recommend. The menu was quite desirable and the service was good. I usually do not order pastas without red sauce, but I ordered the seared scallop fettucine with butternut squash, and was really happy with my selection. It was delicious and well worth it, but it was simple enough that I felt I could recreate it.

So a week later, I made the dish with prawns and to my amazement, it was excellent. Tonight I made it again and this time I had scallops (pictured above). Here is my version and first time writing a recipe for anyone, so please forgive my portions if they seem incorrect or exuberant:

(Serves 3)
1/2 lb. of scallops
3 tbs. butter
3 cloves of garlic
2 tsp. of lemon pepper (or as desired)
salt (as desired)
pepper (as desired)
a quarter of a butternut squash (or half, depending on how much you would like)
2 tbs. brown sugar (or as desired)
fettucine pasta for three (add olive oil if desired)

Dice the butternut squash into 1/2 inch cubes. Heat up small pan adding 1 tbs. butter on medium heat. Add butternut squash, sprinkle brown butter on top and let sizzle for at least 10 minutes or until lightly brown or slightly caramelized. Boil water on medium high heat and add pasta once water is boiling. Add 2 tbs. butter into medium or large pan. Add garlic and let sizzle for a minute. Add scallops and cook scallops for a few minutes on each side. Sprinkle lemon pepper, salt, and pepper on top of scallops. Be careful to not over cook scallops. Scallops are best when a little undercooked.

Strain and plate fettucine when finished cooking. Add squash and scallop on top. Use juice with garlic and seasoning from scallop pan for sauce. Bon appetit!

Slowly But Surely

2010-02-21T22:10:00.000-08:00

Closet update - It is Sunday night and my closet has been slightly dented. I realized that it will take more than a weekend to complete this project, but I am proud of myself for at least getting started. I did however, complete the latest O Magazine and found inspiration. The theme of the latest issue was decluttering your life.

What the Feature Holds

2010-02-18T22:49:00.000-08:00

I am already rethinking what I stated in the "September Issue." For all my friends out there, this is what my horoscope at www.seattleweekly.com today had to say:

"Honoring your commitments doesn't mean you have to go through with everything you say you'll do, every time. You always have choices, and it's important to remember that. The way to be honorable is simply to clearly communicate what's about to happen, with as much notice as possible, so you don't leave anyone hanging or in the lurch. That's all. It's not that hard, which is why it's all the more astonishing when people can't always follow through. Don't be that flaky. Just figure out what you're going to do (and what you won't), and let people know."

The September Issue

2010-02-18T21:58:00.000-08:00

I know it is not very clear from this blog, but I love fashion and clothes more than I love the Olympics. I have amassed a collection of brands, sizes, and colors to spread across the universe. Some of the items are in boxes, some have been forgotten, and some have never been worn, and then there are the millions of articles being displayed like a disarrayed museum. You may not find my style attractive or preferable for yourself, but my style over the years is something I have been confident about and comfortable with. My clothes are very me. Hence the reason why I kept everything, whether it be in archives or overflowing my closet. Tonight however, I realized that the worst part of my day involves dressing and then stuffing my clothes back in my closet. This makes the art of clothing less enjoyable. Why ruin the pride and joy for myself? Just like with the September Issue - fashion needs to be narrowed down to fit in the greatest issue of the year. Only the in season, best cuts should make it. For all the ladies and gentlemen out there that can relate, I challenge you to reclaim your closet and make it your dream closet. I plan to make this a priority this weekend and hopefully by Sunday night, I will only have the articles I can still fit and love hanging with ample space to spare. The end result should be like Musee de l'Orangerie - at least half the size of a normal Parisian museum, but still have quality works of art and very me. If I put it out there, I will achieve...

...This is going to be hard. I just looked up at my closet and saw a sweater peeking out that is a size too small, but that I absolutely adore.

Whistler, BC

2010-02-15T19:17:00.001-08:00

During the Opening Ceremonies, there was a lot of talk of how the Canadians are the nicest people and puns made of how they are too nice to trash talk their competitors. I would have to agree. I have only spent a few spring/summer days in Whistler, but would have to say that the people I have met in Whistler and BC in general (although Richmond is questionable) are perhaps the most humblest and nicest people. For example, I commented to hotel staff how nice Canadians are during one of my stays, and instead of accepting the compliment, they in turn told me that the people from the Sunshine Coast were even nicer. The Sunshine Coast must be Shangri-La. Here are a few of my favorites of Whistler:

The Four Seasons: This resort is an amazing home away from home. The rooms are gigantic and feels more like a mini lodge. The staff also practices the Canadian charm and exceptional service. They did not hesitate one bit to valet my rusted 1991 Camry.

Wild Wood Pacific Bistro: Although this lodge like restaurant is located at Whistler's Racquet Club, you need not be a member to dine here. This place is great for outdoor brunching. Their views are gorgeous and their crab benny is delicious. I would love to play tennis here some day too.

Bearfoot Bistro: This is my favorite restaurant in Whistler and perhaps in all of BC. My vote may be biased however because the chef is a woman and one of the dishes consists of crab and pop rocks. Yes homemade POP ROCKS - a childhood delight and wonder.

Zog's Dogs: Before hitting the mountains or after a tiring run, you can always rely on Zog Dogs for some relief. This grill stand is located right at the base of the mountain. You can rely on them for good hot dogs and the Canadian staple, poutine.

Kayaking: Whistler is known for its world class snow sports, but during the spring/summer it boasts many other outdoor activities. As you know, I am hardly an athlete and I am not brave. Out of all the outdoor sports Whistler offers, I like kayaking the most. It can be a lot of work, but it is low impact and pleasant.

Roots: We have the Gap, Canada has Roots. When in Whistler, I actually do not shop much, but I do like checking out the selection of organic tees and hoodies at this chain. This shop is also reliable for Olympic country gear.

Where In The World...

2010-02-15T18:44:00.000-08:00

..is Matt Lauer? Other than the athletes, he is the main man at the Olympics. America not only wakes up to this fine man every morning, but every year we get to see where in the world he has traveled to, and every two years we get to see and hear his full commentary on the Olympics. I especially enjoy his Opening Ceremonies play by play with Bob Costas. They have the most interesting yet humorous facts of each athlete/team and sarcastic remarks to match.

Click here to read an article on Matt Lauer's special role he played for this Olympics.

Torch Light Parade

2010-02-14T23:10:00.000-08:00

Some day I will overcome my personal issues and plan far enough in advance to attend my dream events (The Olympics, World Cup, the French Open, Wimbledon, etc). I am far from being a world class athlete, but these athletic performances give me goosebumps, to watch and hear their stories of perseverance and how they achieved. On Saturday I watched a recording of the Opening Ceremonies that took place on Friday night in Vancouver, BC. I was moved by the performances and artistry of special effects (the whales gliding across the arena floor was magic). Although the Olympics was struck with tragedy, the ceremony was a glorious tribute to the athletes of the world and to Canada's past and present. My heart goesout to the family and team of Nodar Kumaritashvili.

I Have A Feeling

2010-02-09T23:27:00.000-08:00

I have refrained from bringing up the O subject. I cannot imagine an afternoon without her - Oprah. Over the years, I have grown to respect and appreciate her outlook and her investigative nature, whether it be the lives of celebrities, the Texas state fair, her favorite things, or a world crisis. I religiously watch her show and I cry or laugh and gain wisdom and inspiration. It is the only show I know that can help me be a better person yet make me realize I am a hoarder all in less than one hour. One of the things I like best about the Oprah show is her posse. Dr. Oz has helped me understand health and medicine in a non-intimidating way. And what is their not to love about Nate?

This past year we have seen a new addition to the Oprah crew - Lisa Ling. According to Oprah, Lisa Ling is the show's secret weapon - she will go anywhere. I remember in high school, sitting in math class and watching Lisa Ling for the first time, thinking her news crew, including Anderson Cooper, were really neat. I wanted to just be like her. I wanted to go anywhere. To this day she seems to have a way of communicating with people where they want to tell her everything. I still want to be like her - I have grown in shape and mind these past 10+ years and she has not aged one single bit. As a matter of fact, Anderson Cooper has not either. I am convinced Channel One was the fountain of youth.

And The Winner Is...

2010-02-07T21:50:00.000-08:00

My mate and I are not football fans, not of the American kind at least. Every year though, we watch the Super Bowl like any other patriot, but mostly for the commercials. This year, with all the fanfare, we were just excited about the Saints as much as we were excited about the commercials. And by now we all know the Saints are still marching! Congratulations New Orleans and the Saints!

As for the winner of the commercials...

The other day I was flipping through a magazine and saw a picture of a socialite couple I recognized. I remembered the couple from our amazing dinner at L'Arpege this past December in Paris. They had sat right next to us for dinner. During dinner I tried to guess in my head who they could be. Well, it turns out that this couple is Marissa Mayer and Zach Bogue. Yep, Google's first woman engineer and her new husband.

And tonight it just so happened that Google aired their first TV commercial during the Super Bowl. My favorite commercials are usually made by VW. This year the VW commercial was even more brilliant and I laughed hysterically at the ninja inspired Doritos commercial. But then the Google commercial came on and the competition was over. The subject matter? Paris. You can never go wrong with anything French in my world. We are known to give commentary to everything, but for 53 seconds we were speechless. It is a "priceless" ad.

Can love be found on leashes?

2010-02-03T22:32:00.000-08:00

The following is an email I recently received from City Dog Magazine. I am thinking about taking Coco. Anyone else interested? It sounds like a good opportunity for the single people so if anyone wants to use Coco as their wing dog, she is game!

Puppy Love is in the Air!

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, what better way to spend this time than with the furry, four-legged love of your life? You and your shaggy significant other are invited to join CityDog Magazine and fellow dog lovers to mix and mingle, sip cocktails and swap doggy tails at our fifth annualPuppy Love Muttmixer.

Are you single? Even better! Puppy love will be in the air, so who knows...you might just meet that special two-legged someone to add to your pack!

Please RSVP to rsvp@citydogmagazine.com

(If you've already RSVP'd, thank you!)

WHO
CityDog Magazine +
W Hotel Seattle

WHEN
Wednesday, February 10
06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Attire: Cocktail casual

WHERE
W Hotel Seattle
1112 4th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101

WHY
Why for the love of dogs, of course!
Cost: FREE

Photographer extraordinaire J. Nichole Smith of dane + dane studioswill be on hand to snap portraits of you and your furry friend (available for purchase) plus there will be swag bags to make tails wag, courtesy of CityDog's awesome advertisers -- many of whom are located right here in the Pacific Northwest!

The event is FREE to attend; we just ask that you bring a donation of canned and/or dry pet food and CityDog will deliver it to the West Seattle Food Bank to help feed hungry pets in our community.

What am I, 30 going on 10?

2010-02-01T22:19:00.001-08:00

I finally worked up the courage to do something I despised my sister for years for doing - I cut my bangs (I don't know why I always let her use me as a guinea pig growing up). I have been on the fence about growing out my bangs. I am beginning to think my commitment disorder has gotten worse - I have been putting off making an appointment to see my stylist. Watching the HBO version of Grey Gardens (Drew Barrymore deserved the Golden Globe) did not help either. So it got to the point where I built up the confidence to just do it myself. Tonight, I stepped in front of the mirror and went at it with a pair of Ikea scissors. My stylist would be mortified, but crooked and all, I am proud of myself. Thanks to my sister for the inspiration.

...or I will be the laughing stock at work tomorrow.

Road Rage

2010-01-30T13:40:00.000-08:00

Often times worse than Seattle drivers are the roads of the "emerald" city themselves. I am not sure about your commute but mine is quite bumpy. I especially despise the city when they only repair a tiny block of the road when the stretch needs way more help. Wouldn't it be more cost effective to repair the entire stretch than to do patches here and there? The crew of 100 people are already there. The ones standing around can work on the rest of the road. I am always confused by the presence of police officers directing traffic too. Are they there to arrest the person that rebels and takes a detour into the wet tar/cement?

Connecting my hood to my hometown of the Westies is the Alaskan/Marginal Way whatever you call it. It predates my birth. It is ancient and should always remain. Heading over to the Westies the other day, we saw a sign that stated, "4th Ave S. ramp closed." We continued along to discover that the ramp being closed was quite the understatement. The ramp was actually blown up and is now a pile of rubble. And of course under the ramp was a police officer, directing one way traffic. I am not sure what is to come of the ramp, but I was a bit sadden that yet another exit was taken away from us.

PS - Yes, I am against the tunnel. I am already claustrophobic enough when driving.

I'm a Mac

2010-01-27T20:34:00.000-08:00

With how much I talk about food, I am sure you are assuming a big mac (that's a whole nother post), but I was referring to the Apple commercials. No one loves commercials, but given the commercial involves any of Apple's latest genius innovation, the commercial becomes captivating. What did I just spend the past two hours doing? Not crafting, not watching tv, movies, not reading books, nor even magazines. I was productive in viewing Steve Job's state of the ipad presentation and Coco joined me. Like mother like puppy. We were sucked into the iworld. I was SOLD! The thing is, I am not even tech savvy. I barely use my iphone to its potential as is, but once I saw the iphone commercial I had to have it. ibook, iphone, ipad - I want it all. I am not a nerd, but I love gadgets. I am mesmerized by having access to my photos, music, and the web at my fingertips. You would think I just watched a feel good movie with how excited I am about this latest "i" product. I do not know Steve Jobs but he is my new hero. I know, it's a bit too too but I am thu thu afterall.

Showbox Showdown

2010-01-26T22:59:00.001-08:00

Seattle is the home of grunge and the various venues where we go to get grunged. I pretty much missed this period of music epitome, but I certainly rode the coattails. Out of all these venues, the Showbox in downtown Seattle is my favorite. I have witnessed quite some amazing acts at this particular venue, grunge or not -Pearl Jam, The Melvins, Mudhoney, Elliott Smith,Stephen Malkmus, M.I.A., Fischerspooner, Modest Mouse - just to name a few. I am happy to announce that my good friends, Black Daisy, will soon be added to that list. They will be opening up for The Presidents of the United States of America on February 12, 2010 (please click to purchase tickets, these shows do tend to sell out). They have gained quite some notoriety this past year. They have been featured in the Stranger a few times, played shows around town and have completed a couple of DVDS. I could not be prouder of them. This definitely will be a fun show!

PS - Yes those are wigs.

PPS - Another feat in my blogger world, I just figured out how to change my font.

Finger Lickin

2010-01-24T22:22:00.001-08:00

And how did I wrap up my 2010 food fest weekend in Richmond? With the best fried chicken of course. The place is called Wo Fung Dessert, located in the food court of Aberdeen Mall, but there is really nothing dessert that I noticed about it. Their fresh hot chicken wings are basically the dessert. And yes they are that good that they can call it whatever they desire, and they have a long line everyday to prove it. I vowed to myself to conquer this line before I left Richmond. I got there half an hour before they opened, so I was the first one in line. Immediately after staking my position, a line started forming. It got longer and longer. They decided to open ten minutes early. I placed my order for their chicken wings and calamari. Then I formed another line to wait for my order. I waited another half an hour before my food was ready, and to think I was the first in line. Was it worth it? Absolutely.

Shanghai Redemption

2010-01-24T22:04:00.000-08:00

I know and love foods, but I seldom explore on my own. When I travel, I have my traditions of visiting the same restaurants over and over again. Once I like something, I love it. My mate tries to set us on a two week rule. We cannot eat at the same place within two weeks, so when I travel I repeat dine as much as possible. In New York we have Joe Shanghai, here at home we have Shanghai Garden, and now in Richmond I have Shanghai Wonderful. They all have the amazing soup dumpling in common (Joe's is the best), but something wonderful about Shanghai Wonderful is their pork belly. Since Chinese cuisine is family style, we were served the biggest slab of pork belly I have ever seen. They do not skimp. And yes, it was wonderful. For this, I had to order rice.

Dim Sum and Then Some

2010-01-24T00:29:00.000-08:00

I caught the cold (perhaps from the two darling children I spent my MLK weekend with) so I apologize for leaving you hanging with much more to desire about Richmond, BC. So what about Richmond? How bout we start with some dim sum. When in doubt about what to eat or where to eat for brunch, dim sum is never a bad idea, unless you are allergic to deep fried or steamed food options. In the Aberdeen Mall we tried a restaurant called Fisherman Terrace. To my disappointment they did not have dim sum carts, instead you had to order specifics from a Chinese menu (English menus upon request). To my delight though one of the items ordered, by my sister-in-law's in the know cousin, was deep fried chicken cartilage. Sorry veggies. This dish may sound horrific, but was so good and impressive. It was served with deep fried garlic shavings. It almost fulfilled my dream of being able to order a plate of chicken skin.

Chinatown

2010-01-18T16:48:00.000-08:00

For this MLK Jr. weekend I immersed myself in diversity and family and headed to Hong Kong. Okay, not really, but close enough. I had the opportunity to tag along to Richmond, BC with my older brother, his charming wife, and two darling children. We only stayed overnight, but had quite the adventure, especially in foods. Located outside of Vancouver, BC, Richmond's population is more than half of Asian descent, mainly from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and mainland China. This picture is of Aberdeen Mall. All the stores in the mall are very Hong Kong and the food court consists of various Chinese foods. I could have spent all my meals at this food court. Chinese food heaven!

Here are the top few things I did not know about Chinese culture or food etiquette:

-They may ignore you. Good service is not exactly priority.

-Expect dirty looks if you ask for soy sauce. I know, shocking! Apparently this would by like asking for salt/pepper at a Michelin rated restaurant.

-Since there is no soy sauce, there is no need for water. Tea will do.

-And for all the flavorful foods, rice is not an automatic.

Perhaps I should stick to this diet.

Mad About Anthro

2010-01-12T22:14:00.000-08:00

Since there is a winter slump in the TV world right now (Chuck Bass must be lounging with Vanessa on a beach somewhere not in NYC), I returned to updating my Netflix queue. I finally started watching Mad Men and am of course addicted. I am anxiously awaiting my 2nd disc. As twisted as the 50's were, I am completely fascinated by the style of everything during this period. Women dressed up to wake up in the morning and dressed up to go to sleep every night. I definitely do not embody that kind of effort, but lately I do find myself most comfortable in my workout gear of course...and oddly enough - dresses. Inspired by Mad Men, I visited my favorite store, Anthropologie, recently and purchase the dress pictured above. I haven't worn it yet but love the plaid print and flare of it. Most importantly, it has pockets. I am a sucker for the work of real Mad Men (advertising) and pockets on dresses. These two things, Anthro does well. When I visited Anthro this past weekend, the strip on my bank card was worn out and was not working properly. The girl at the Anthro counter assured me that my card is just well loved. For whatever reason, her comment made me feel better. As twisted as Mad Men, a subliminal message of perhaps over consumption made by the counter girl, I translated into comfort. Yes, I admit it - consumption brings me comfort and so does Anthropologie.

Joy Of...Sunday

2010-01-11T22:07:00.001-08:00

Even though it falls too close to Monday, I would have to say Sunday is my favorite day of the week. I like the pace of Sundays, where everything seems to slow down a little and I feel relaxed and at ease. I try to do as little as possible on Sundays, except spend time at home and with my family. This past Sunday, we continued our culinary expedition and invited my siblings, nephews, and nieces over for dinner. Once again, we were inspired by another Miller family favorite - pot roast. This was our first ever attempt and I am very happy to report it was a huge success. We purchased six pounds of chuck roast and it fed seven adults, one teenager, and five kids. The children usually do not eat salads or "foreign" foods, but they ate everything and even enjoyed it. My sister-in-law prepared a smoked salmon salad that was so delicious, I even ate it. My mate prepared and cooked the roast for about three and a half hours using the Joy of Cooking recipe. It came out moist and amazing. For dessert, my brother and sister-in-law brought over their new favorite from QFC - strawberry shortcake, which I was quite impressed by. I also made Giada's apple zeppole (pictured above), which is a common favorite of mine. Although this was more than enough food, my family always desires more (the more the merrier means people and food) - an aspect of my family which I truly appreciate. So at the last second I threw together my infamous Doritos Ranch nachos. My siblings took good care of me growing up, so I was happy to be able to host such a dinner for no particular occasion. It is all for the fun of family.

PS - At the next dinner there will be pigs in a blanket (everyone asked where it was, you make it once and it becomes an automatic).

PPS - I promise my next post will not be food oriented.

Carnivore

2010-01-07T21:06:00.001-08:00

I can't help it, I am a meat eater. I can pretend to like salads, but I think they are a bit unnecessary and take up stomach space. I actually am not a huge dessert eater either, but became one for social reasons.

We are off to a successful start with our home cooked meals - not entirely healthy meals, but I am enjoying spending time at home rather than in the company of waiters. One of my favorite home cooked meals (made famous by the Millers), is Rocco DiSpirito mamma's meatballs. Besides my mom's beef meatballs with Prego sauce, spaghetti and meatballs never tasted better.

Blog about Blogs

2010-01-04T22:40:00.000-08:00

Just because I blog does not mean I am tech savvy. 2010 is already a successful year because I just figured out how to add blogs that interest me onto my page. Feel free to browse.

The Year of Coco

2010-01-03T22:29:00.000-08:00

Despite the many unfortunates and turmoils to 2009, it is the best year yet for me because of my Coco bear. This year, I spent my life in a new home, driving a newer car, reached a new age of adulthood, witnessed a few beautiful weddings, became an "auntie" (not an aunt), travelled to a placed I never imagined, introduced my blog, and so on and so forth, but all the things I experienced this past year were made all more joyful with the arrival of Coco. I am very grateful to complete my life with my puppy, and have shared another year full of good memories surrounded by wonderful friends and family.

Here are a few pop culture best ofs:

Best Album: It's Blitz! by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (decision based upon how many times I have listened to this album nonstop compared to others)

Best Song: Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z w/Alicia Keys

If I am not listening to It's Blitz!, I am listening to this song on repeat. If you have have not checked out Alicia Keys performing with Stephen Colbert, you must.

Best Entertainer: Lady Gaga. So what if she wears plastic shower curtains, she is da bomb.

Literary Favorite: What inspired me to read this year?

Hands down, the Twilight Series.

Movie of the Year: Not Avatar.

Best in Netflix: The Wire

It is a shame this series is no longer on. Many have told us and we agree that it is perhaps the best drama series of all time.

Best current TV series: Gossip Girl, but Ugly Betty is a close runner up. What am I 13? Well yeah...ok not really, but the sophistication of dialogue and sarcasm and not to forget high fashion of these two shows are tres advanced compared to everything else on the tele these days. Also they take place in ah New York. And by the mere chance the CW is reading, I want more Chuck Bass!

This is my short list. Please feel free to share yours. In 2010 I look forward to spending more quality time with those dear to me, actually writing correspondence and crafting, spending more time at home cooking and decorating, making an effort in overall appearance (my partner wants to outlaw the workout gear with Uggs weekend look), focusing on being healthy, and welcoming a new niece into our family!

On Your Mark, Get Set...

2009-12-29T21:38:00.001-08:00

...and we are off to a bad start. The Bar Method, which incorporates strenuous palates and ballet bar movements and holds, proved to be quite challenging - so challenging I am not sure if I can show my face on the east side again. The 1st minute of class I was still excited and thinking I could handle some light weights, but then it never ended. It was movement, after movement and holds after holds. 15 minutes into class and I thought I was going to walk out because I started to see stars and feeling faint. 3o minutes into class and after extending my legs on a bar that was too tall for me, I was ready to hurl. Nonetheless, I powered through along with my partners in crime (shout out to Lin and Tob, thanks for being supportive, attending class with me, and exchanging maddening glances to show you feel me). I will have to say though, the staff were really nice and encouraging. If I was in better shape, I would have loved the class. I am very afraid for tomorrow morning. I fear I will not be able to move. Note to self, if celebrities are doing it - I am not a celebrity.

After class Tob and I regrouped and refocused with deep fried bacon from John Howie Steak. After all we were on the east side and it is not a new year yet. After some deliberation, I decided I will be kicking my butt back to Greenlake, the tennis center, and dance class. Up next, maybe some boxing even. Anyone have other suggestions?

New Old Me

2009-12-28T22:28:00.000-08:00

One of my good dear friends recently told me, if I put it out there, I have to do it. As some of you may know, I have serious issues with seriousness. I fear being confined and trapped. I do not like to discuss it, but realized that as much as I do not want to commit to anything, let alone a weight loss activity, my weight in a sense has confined me. I used to be a hip to be fit kid. Gym was my favorite subject and I am the only girl I knew in high school that took it every quarter just for fun. I never thought I had to be concerned with weight, but my belly is definite proof of all those good foods and Michelin Stars. As I have published previously, I miss colorful clothing and heels. Also, I think I would even enjoy good foods more if I did not have to worry about my weight. So for the new year, I am putting it out there. I will enjoy a physical activity at least 3 days a week, and certainly more. I will not dine out or drink Cola during the week. If you would like to join me for meals during the week, it will have to be home cooked at your house or mine. Of course there will be a few exceptions for special occasions. Wish me luck as I enter into my first challenge tomorrow - The Bar Method. I am scared, but with your support and focus, I believe I can achieve.

Silent Night

2009-12-28T21:57:00.000-08:00

My favorite American Christmas song is O Holy Night, to me made famous by Mariah Carey. My family would say my favorite is Silent Night, which I have sung or at least tried to sing to all of my nephews and nieces as babies because I know the words and because I think it makes a great lullaby. Now that I am older, Christmas is not quite the same, but the best will always remain - a) The birth of Christ (yes, I have faith),

b) Spending time with family no matter the disfunction, and

c) Good wholesome meals. After mass at a beautifully decked St. James Cathedral, we enjoyed a traditional French meal on Christmas Eve. In France, they have the Le Reveillon, a long luxurious dinner with family. We did not have as luxurious foods, but my mate made his best yet coq au vin and my personal favorite potatoes au gratin. Dipping some Essential Bakery Rosemary Diamante bread into the coq au vin is quite essential. O holy night it t'was.

Bon Anniversaire

2009-12-28T21:11:00.001-08:00

With the holidays and returning from across the world, I regret not keeping up with my postings. It has taken me longer to adjust from this trip than any other. I am still tired as we speak, but I must back up and write a proper tribute posting for my dear mate. His birthday was on December 15th. Since we had just returned, I pretended I had no plans except maybe a casual dinner, but I surprised him with reservations at Mistral Kitchen, which is a new old restaurant. Our favorite restaurant was Mistral, but it closed back in 2008. Chef William recreated his dream kitchen and recently opened Mistral Kitchen. This restaurant houses three kitchens with options for every one's picking, from casual to elegant. One of the chefs at Mistral Kitcken is Yutaka Saito, formerly of Saito's. Saito's was where my mate invited me out on our first dinner together and was one of the best sushi restaurants in Seattle. Feasting on the foods of our two favorite chefs made this evening even more special. For the birthday, we chose the tasting menu, which was about 8 or 9 courses and included the foie gras pictured. Chef William's tender scallops could rival one of the scallops dishes at Paris' famed Pierre Gagnaire, but even though this would be our top restaurant in Seattle, it cannot compete with Paris' Michelin class. Although the staff was nice and gave excellent service, it still lacked refine service you would find in France. I will make the excuse for it that it is still new. On this week night it was filled with local food celebrities. The Wilsons were found dining at the bar.

The following night, we carried on with tradition and headed to the Outback. Yes, the Outback. Once a year we make this trek to feast on bacon cheese fries and perhaps the best dessert ever, The Thunder from Down Under. I would have to say that I enjoyed this dessert more than a couple of the dishes that Chef William had to serve. Unlike Seatac Customs, this was a great welcome back to America.

Top Ten Things I Did Not Know About India

2009-12-16T22:31:00.001-08:00

Unfortunately my external hard drive is having issues, so I am unable to post more pictures of my India trip, so the No Parking picture is all I have for now. For avid readers, I hope to pull together a slide show gathering some time in the near feature. Here is my top ten Letterman style in actually no particular order except for #1:

10. Exposing shoulders not ok, but baring midrift is completely cool.

9. If your driver does not speak English, he will continue to speak to you anyhow even if you looked confused.

8. No parking means it is ok to live here and park your goat here.

7. Adult men hold hands freely in public but it does not mean that they are gay.

6. They call it fog. We call it smog.

5. Honking is polite and means move out of my way, you are driving too slow, I am on your left/right, I am passing you, and a million other things.

4. There are no stars in India. Everything is spicey and way more flavorful than Indian food in the States.

3. Camels and elephants are fair game for modes of transportation.

2. Three lanes actually mean 10 lanes and 11 if you are on a bicycle.

1. Elephants can cross those 11 lanes of traffic and over a median on a major instate to get to the other side of the interstate. Imagine that on I-5.

Coca Normale

2009-12-13T23:01:00.000-08:00

I have been on hiatus and apologize for my lack of postings. I have just returned from a whirlwind trip across the world and back. We had the great pleasure of attending our dear friends' wedding in India and also took advantage of our distance and stopped in Paris as well. For the next few days I will be updating this blog with my anthropological observations of India and Paris. First observation, overseas when ordering a Coke, you must mention normal or light, otherwise they will bring you diet (light). I was happy to learn while away, that Costco has reached an agreement with Coca Cola and are back in business. Although, for the New Year, I would like to drink less of the normal stuff.

Costco Part Deux

2009-11-18T22:44:00.000-08:00

Say it ain't so Costco! Yep, I am back to the hate part of my love hate relationship with Costco. I do not drink alchohol or coffee, smoke, do drugs, or drive while doing all the above...but I do have the guiltiest pleasure of sipping on ice cold Coca Colas whether it be diet, 100% sugar, slurped, or the Classic kind. I will take what I can during a nice or casual meal or on a drive. My Cola habit is versatile and portable. I enjoy it at all times. So as you can imagine, the news of Costco no longer carrying Coke products today was quite upsetting to me. Their reasoning seems unjustified too, since every store in America carries Coke products. They have an advantage though because they sold the Mexican (100% pure sugar) Cokes by the case. Where else am I going to find my dealer? Perhaps it is time for rehab...or dare Costco to start selling Jones Cola to win my love back.

Sell the Sale

2009-11-12T23:07:00.000-08:00

The holidays are rapidly approaching and the forecast for the economy has been pretty rotten all year, but I cannot help but think about all the things I want for myself. Sure, it is selfish of me, but this is a confession from a shopaholic to another. There is something about this time of year that makes the things I have always wanted become more the things that I have always wanted. And with the economy being the way it is, whatever way it is really, I prefer to boost it by taking advantage of all the discounts available. I gravitate to the additional offs. Now more so than ever, it is not proper to purchase an item without free shipping, or at least 20% off, or I am definitely a Friend & Family of someone. Here are a few deals available to you as a consumer currently (please email or get in touch with me if you need me to forward you any of these "coupons").

Restoration Hardware: 20% for Friends and Family from now until 11/16/09.

The Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic: 30% Give and Get Program until 11/15/09.

J.Crew: Free shipping on all orders $150 or more. Coupon code is 150SHIP.

West Elm: Take an additional 15% off all sale items until 11/16/09.

Nordstrom: Free shipping on orders $100 or more and the Half Yearly Sale is still going on until Sunday.

L'Occitane: 25% Friends and Family until Sunday.

Do you have any deals you would like to share?

Foo Fighters

2009-11-12T22:43:00.001-08:00

It has been a week since I saw the Raveonettes at Neumos in Seattle's Cap Hill and I am still in awe of their talent and stage presence. Both Sharin Foo and Sune Wagner evoke such rock legend swaggers. Forget about the songs on the albums that I do not care much for; I care when it is live. It all sounded so good. I could have listened to them forever, but now that they have quite a few albums under their belt, some favorites had to be left out. It was still amazing! Some things were definitely different though from a few years back.

The crowd (at least the front rowers) appeared to be all nouveau Ravers. They did not seem to recognize the older songs. They only sang to the new birds. Sadly, I no longer recognize the crowd.

If you are more concerned about taking facebook pictures at a show, you do not belong there. I got stuck next to a few wannabe hipsters (worse than hipsters) that constantly turned their backs to the bands to take pictures of themselves all night.

Instead of arriving early and standing right in front of the stage ready to dance my butt off, I now show up right as the band plays the first song and am happy to be out of the way to the side of the stage.

The Raveonettes began with just Sune and Sharin and then they added a couple bandmates. Now they are back to just the two of them with a couple of different, not worthy of introductions, bandmates. The drummer plays along to a drum machine.

Albeit these small details, the band still hold their charm. In the early years, they really connected with the audience and even hung out with us afterward. Over the years they became a little more disconnected, immediately retreading to their tour bus prior and after the shows. Last Friday though, they appeared to return to their grounded selves.

Cheese Please

2009-11-09T22:42:00.000-08:00

I have a love hate emotional roller coaster fondness for Costco. I hate it for the sometimes you see it sometimes you don't. I love it when I see it though. And today to my amazement, I saw the return of the cave aged gruyere which I thought had disappeared for good. I guess I should know by now with Costco nothing is for good. Perhaps this cheese has really been sitting in a cave for the past 12 months, aging away, just waiting to end its hibernation at Costco.

Drabarama

2009-11-09T22:35:00.000-08:00

Goal - lose weight and bounce back into color. Time to diversify the color spectrum.