Sunday, September 29, 2013

Sunday Sounds: Chris Brown


Currently repeat one-ing.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Concert: M83 w. special guest Phantogram

waiting at the el monte bus station for the hollywood bowl shuttle

Absolutely love going to concerts at the Hollywood Bowl. The sound is amazing and just the vibe of the place is fantastic. I'd highly recommend including a show at the Hollywood Bowl for any bucket list. Probably one of the best venues for a concert. We took a tram from the El Monte Bus Station to the Hollywood Bowl so that we wouldn't have to drive. Concert started at 7pm and we left the bus station around 5:30pm. We got to the bowl a little after 6pm and had a little time to lounge around in the picnic area to drink and be merry. Twas good times!






Phantogram




M83
















Sunday, September 22, 2013

Sunday Sounds: M83

In honor of us attending the M83 concert tonight at the Hollywood Bowl, I would like to make this weekend's music M83 related. This song is off the Oblivion soundtrack and it's absolutely beautiful and powerful. I hope they end up performing it tonight.


Tuesday, September 17, 2013

San Diego Restaurant Week 2013: Amaya at The Grand Del Mar





For our first Fall Restaurant Week pick, we went with Amaya at the Grand Del Mar. The meal was $40 or you could choose to have the wine pairings as well for $65. Our overall experience was superb. They seriously treat you like royalty. Our reservation was at 7pm booked through Open Table. Not sure if they had self parking but we couldn't find it so we just did valet instead. Upon walking into the lobby, there were 2 hotel staff that opened the double doors. Seriously felt the urge to curtsy lol. The hotel felt a lot like going into Aulani for some odd reason. The restaurant is downstairs so we headed there. We chose to sit indoors and in a booth (versus a table). Their booths are HUGE. Tony and I could have seriously both laid out and we both still would've had room.

Here's the menu: (what we ordered is italicized)

Cocktails:
L: San Diego Mule (Belvedere Vodka, Canton Ginger Liqueur, Ginger Beer, Strawberries, Lemon Juice)
R: French Kiss (Stolichnaya Razberi Vodka, Chambord, Pineapple Juice, Raspberry Puree, Champagne Floater)



First Course Choices:
Carpaccio of New Caledonian Prawn
Greek Yogurt, Roasted Summer Melon, Basil



California Stone Fruit Salad
Goat Cheese, Marcona Almonds, Poppy Seed Vinaigrette

Huckleberry-Glazed Beef Short Rib
Carnaroli Rice Risotto, Corn, Manchego




Entree Choices: (sorry I was too busy scarfing down the food to take pictures lol)
Seared Sea Bass
Sweet Corn and Fava Bean Succotash, Pickled Grape Tomatoes, Lobster Bordelaise

Half Rotisserie Hen
Lightly Smoked, Local Roasted Root Vegetables, Bourbon-Thyme Glaze

Grilled Prime Beef Filet
Loaded Baked Potato Croquettes, Broccolini, Truffle Bearnaise


Dessert Choices:
Caramelized Apple Bar
Shortbread with Dulce de Leche, Caramelized Apples, Vanilla Ice Cream, Apple Cider Reduction

Pumpkin Cheesecake
Snickerdoodle Crust, Spiced Rum Ice Cream, Cranberry Compote



Maple Pecan Pie
Chocolate-Covered Maple Whipped Cream, Baileys Creme Anglaise




Highlights: Appetizers and entrees were absolutely delicious. I rarely give out 5 stars on Yelp but this place definitely gets 5 stars in my book (the only other place that has gotten 5 stars in my book is Sushi Ota). The pumpkin cheesecake was pretty good but the pecan pie was just ok. I'm not a big fan of nuts in general but Tony wanted to try it out. The sea bass was seriously at the thin line between cooked and raw (which is tastier to me). The top tasted almost raw in texture while the bottom was cooked but still extremely melt in your mouth good. The filet was also very good but I loved the sea bass more. The prawns were also super good. So refreshing with the summer melon! As for the cocktails, I would highly recommend the San Diego Mule. I mean wow. I don't think this will be for everyone but if you usually like mules and you like ginger, then bam! this drink is for you! It definitely tasted like gingery goodness with strawberries. Yumes for sure! Tony got the wine pairings with each course so I also go to try. The ones that we liked the most were the Maison Roche de Bellene, Pinot Noir, Bourgogne, France 2010 and the dessert wine, Bersano, Moscato d' Asti, Piemonte, Italy 2011. The Bersano was SO EFFING GOOD. Wish I could've had an entire bottle lol.

Overall, I would highly recommend this place, whether for restaurant week or for special occasions. It's a great place for making that special someone feel even more special :).

Monday, September 16, 2013

Sunday Sounds: Paramore


Coming to you a little late since I did have to work yesterday.

The Paramore self-titled album came out awhile back and I had it on my computer but hadn't really listened to it until now. I've been a long time fan of Paramore so hearing this new song definitely brought me back to the Riot! days. What I love about this song is that it's not your typical rock/alternative love song. Most songs are about break ups or the one that got away but this song talks about the reality of being with someone where you have your ups and downs but at the end of the day, you still love them.





Lyrics:

Can't count the years on one hand
That we've been together
I need the other one to hold you.
Make you feel, make you feel better.
It's not a walk in the park
To love each other.
But when our fingers interlock,
Can't deny, can't deny you're worth it
Cause after all this time.
I'm still into you

I should be over all the butterflies
But I'm into you (I'm in to you)
And baby even on our worst nights
I'm into you (I'm into you)
Let 'em wonder how we got this far
Cause I don't really need to wonder at all
Yeah after all this time
I'm still into you

Recount the night that I first
Met your mother
And on the drive back to my house
I told you that, I told you that I loved ya.
You felt the weight of the world
Fall off your shoulder
And to your favorite song
We sang along to the start of forever
And after all this time.
I'm still into you

I should be over all the butterflies
But I'm into you (I'm in to you)
And baby even on our worst nights
I'm into you (I'm into you)
Let em wonder how we got this far
Cause I don't really need to wonder at all
Yeah after all this time
I'm still into you

Some things just, some things just make sense
And one of those is you and I
Some things just, some things just make sense
And even after all this time
I'm into You
Baby not a day goes by that I'm not into you

I should be over all the butterflies
But i'm into you (I'm in to you)
And baby even on our worst nights
I'm into you (I'm into you)
Let em wonder how we got this far
Cause I don't really need to wonder at all
Yeah after all this time
I'm still into you
I'm still into you
I'm still into you


Enjoy!



Sunday, September 08, 2013

Sunday Sounds: Hanson


This week I'd like to feature a song from a band that is very dear to my heart. Hanson was the first band I ever listened to and also the first concert I ever went to. I was seriously obsessed back then lol. My cousin recently came to stay with me and let me listen to this song. Very catchy. I hope you all enjoy it too :).






Friday, September 06, 2013

NYX Cosmetics Labor Day Haul


A few days ago I saw that NYX was having a 30% off sale their entire site O_O. My Target recently started stocking NYX which seriously got me so excited! I would usually have to go to Ulta for NYX and it's just really out of the way. Ulta still has way more selection but Target has enough to keep the cravings at bay... for now lol. They actually gave me at puff for free! Gotta love free stuff (even if I probably won't use it lol).



So the NYX Butter Glosses came in a pack of 3 called "Enchanted Kiss". I pretty much bought the entire thing for the middle one in Creme Brulee. The Apple Strudel color looks like it would've been a good color for Summer but we'll see what the color looks like on my lips.

l to r: merengue, creme brulee, and apple strudel

l to r: merengue, creme brulee, and apple strudel

Black eyeliner is a staple for me so I wanted to take this opportunity try the different finishes. I've been using the Matte Black Liner. I feel like I may like the Glossy one better so that's why I bought it. The Matte liner feels kind of rubbery when you're trying to put another layer on so that's the only thing I didn't like about it.



This is by far my favorite NYX product that I bought. It's the NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Beige. O. M. G. Seriously, you can apply this lip gloss without looking at mirror and it'll look perfect and the way it catches the light is just perfect. Love love love! I actually heard about this product from both Claire (from heyclaire) and Ingrid (missglamorazzi). Love their videos so if you have some time, please check them out.

nyx mega shine lip gloss in beige
 
So when I went to Target, I got one of their powder blushes in Terra Cotta (top right). Love this blush! I use it for contouring sometimes it really gives you a summer glow. I was really surprised when Bethany (macbarbie07) mentioned it in her August Favorites video! Twinsies! Haven't tried the other colors out yet but all the ones I did get were matte shades.

l to r, top to bottom:  mauve, terra cotta, peach and amber

I have yet to add a concealer in my daily routine so I decided to try this one out. It's their concealer stick in medium with olive undertones. I always feel like concealer makes my foundation look cakey so that's why I've never used it. I think the next concealer I will invest in will be the Bobby Brown Corrector that again both Claire and Ingrid use.

concealer stick in medium beige with olive undertones


And that's it for my haul! 
Happy Friday everyone and I'll talk you guys soon!

Wednesday, September 04, 2013

July 2013: Month in Review Part 2


July 21st: Peach Cafe, The Grove, The Block and Urban Seoul

Started the morning off with brunch at one of my favorite spots, Peach Cafe.


peach cafe benedict (from their weekend specials)

i don't quite remember what tony ordered lol. I want to say it's the Breakfast Skillet also off their weekend menu.


After grubbing, I wanted to visit the Topshop store at the Grove. I ended up getting 2 pairs of pants for work. Didn't have much luck finding anything else at The Grove so we started the trek back to San Diego. I wanted to stop at a Off 5th so we went to The Block at Orange. I found this shirt and I just couldn't resist taking a picture. Freakin' hilarious.



Didn't end up getting anything but we started getting hungry so we decided to stop for BCD Tofu House. Unfortunately, there was seriously 20 people ahead of us on the list so we decided to try Urban Seoul. Reminds me of Kogi BBQ truck but more Mexican inspired.

urban 3b (aka bibimbap)

urban 3b

japchae mari (my first time trying this. very interesting)

pork belly tacos (the bomb dot com)


July 22nd-26th: Work

After work on the 23rd, I ventured out to "explore" San Diego. I headed over to UTC to try Tender Greens. I had heard so many good things and it did not disappoint. I believe I got the Simple Salad with Marinated Steak. The steak was super good. I didn't have to add anything to it which in my book means it's really good lol.



For dinner we went to check out Dumpling Inn. It has super high ratings on Yelp with over 1,000 reviews and ever since I moved to San Diego, I've been looking for places with good Asian food... specifically, dan dan noodles and dumplings like the ones at Din Tai Fung. This place has a hella line. We went around 7:30p on a weekday. There were about 10 people ahead of us and they even close the wait list before their closing time. I think on that day they closed it at 8pm when they actually close at 8:30p. Some people leave and they check the wait list every 10 minutes or so and cross your name off if you aren't there so I wouldn't recommend leaving to do other stuff after putting your name on their. This isn't an American restaurant lol.

Anywhos, the dan dan noodles were ok. Not spicy at all for me. The real hidden gem that I found which I didn't even expect to find was the creamy corn soup. OMG! Seriously if you love corn (which I do) you MUST try this soup. It's absolutely delicious. So when we were ordering the lady asks us if we want the large or small bowl of soup and encourages the two of us to get the large. When it came out, my eyes seriously O_O pooped out of their sockets. This bowl was freakin' huge. We could have gotten the small but I'm so glad we didn't because the soup was SOOOOOOOOOOOO good. Everything else was good but nothing to write home about. I would say it's authentic and compares to food in SGV.

dan dan noodles

creamy corn soup

hung pao (insert some kind of fish) lol


On the 24th, Tony's parents invited us out to Veranda Fireside Lounge and Restaurant at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. The ambiance is super nice. We sat out on the patio area facing the golf course and saw the sunset. Super great place for brunch with the gals or a birthday dinner. Very good for larger groups as well. They also have a lounge-y area where you can get drinks from the bar and just chill.

tomato bisque (?)

never ending prime rib!

tiramisu


On the 26th, we went out with Brandon to the Bay Park Fish Co. If you enjoy food that has a curry type taste, you will love the steamed mussels (I guess it tastes that way 'cause of the coconut milk and lemongrass lol). The pasta that I got was in the same sauce as the mussels but it was still delicious! Me and repetition is A-ok!

steamed mussels




July 27th: Donna's Bridal Shower/John's Birthday Party

the bridal shower area

the food. yumes!

the girlies



July 28th: JT/JZ Concert & Beef rolls

Heading the the Justin Timberlake and Jay Z concert in Pasadena, CA. We decided to stop at McDonalds and I got the last minion in my collection! Here he is partying like a rock star.


the rose bowl.... the rose bowl

before the show started



beef rolls at 101 noodle express after the concert. yumes!



July 29th:

Monday morning started with breakfast at Julienne. The gazpacho was so refreshing!


open faced egg salad sandwich with white truffle oil and tomatoes on toasted pumpernickel
with a side of gazpacho

grilled mahi mahi tacos (off their summer menu)

sprinkles ice cream

look at these two g-nomes (lol i know how these are pronounced but apparently not glocks)



July 30th: Bruno Mars Concert

Sorry, I don't have anything up from this concert yet. We were literally 5 rows from the back of the place so there's not much to see anyways. Great energy and overall great concert!




July 31st:

Best day ever! NOT! haha. Got written up twice in the same day but let's leave work at work. I got this lovely package from Tanya in the lovely Hawaii!


all my goodies!!

my meal at phil's bbq. 


Until next time folks! Talk to ya'lls soon!



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