So excite! *in Borat accent*

The first of many events happening in the next 3 months has passed and I'm getting more and more excited for the events to come! Our schedules are going to be crazy for the next few weeks up until December. I'll be heading to Hawaii in a few weeks just to veg out and get some quality r&r. After coming back from Hawaii, I'll be attending wedding 2 of 3. Then it's a Bachelorette Party for my sister from another mother. Then it's her bridal shower. After that is my birthday celebration and Drake concert. And to finish the year off is wedding 3 or 3.

For my Hawaii trip, I'll be on Oahu from 5 days, 4 nights. We'll be staying at Aulani one of the nights and in Waikiki for the other nights. We're hoping to get a few hikes in but if anyone has any suggestions on things to do on Oahu, please let me know! I've been trying to gather a list from various friends of things to do and places to eat. Mostly places to eat lol :P. My friend wants to try the Koko Head and Pill Box Hike. I'm scared for the Koko Head one :/. Again, leave comments below of places you guys recommend! Working on a ton of posts and will try to get them out ASAP! Love and miss you all! Toodles! (for now).

Sunday Sounds: Zedd

We'll be fist pumping to this song this week! Can't wait! Love me some Zedd.

Sunday Sounds: Chris Brown

Currently repeat one-ing.

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 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.

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 :).

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!