Coffee Love

Ever since my Dad visited I've been drinking more and more coffee. I usually don't need it in the mornings since I'm pretty wide awake then, but I still love it. I guess my obsession really started in college with the Third Place, which I sadly just discovered is no longer in business.

Everything about it draws me it. The smell, the warmth, the variety of tastes, the mugs, and the comforting color. Wait...I'll be right back. All this talk about coffee and I have yet to fill my cup!

Ok. I'm all set.

Melting Pot or Mixing Bowl

If you don't already know this about me you should know that I love ethnic food. Mexican, Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Native American, Greek, Ethiopian, Italian, Japanese, etc. I could go on and on! Since America is supposed to be a melting pot of culture I feel that this is not an un-American trait. But are we more of a mixing bowl, where we accept those who are different but do not blend who we are to incorporate their diversity? I think that some of us are lost to the fact that almost everyone immigrated to America. At the same time how do we balance an identity based on a convergence of many beliefs, ideals, and cultures with pride as one entity.

This is not necessarily a pro-America speech, although I'm proud to be one. I just like that almost everyone came from somewhere else and we are a combination of culture (even though at some points in our history, we forgot that). I'm also proud that just a tiny bit of me is Native American.

Back in the Habit

Its hard to get back into the habit once you've missed a week. I wasn't feeling well last week so I skipped ballet, but I am glad I went back. I have that pain in my calves that is on the good side of feeling that at any second I could get a charley hoarse, but I know I won't. My back aches a little but its good to actually be so aware of my muscles again. I am going to continue with ballet on Mondays, but on Tuesday's soccer is going to start up again and I will be in a world of hurt (good and bad).

Red Velvet Cake Balls/Truffles

Thanks to my new favorite baking blog Bakerella, I found a new delicious treat Red Velvet Cake Balls, also known as cake truffles. I modified the recipe by making my own red velvet cake from scratch and used my brother's birthday cake recipe instead. His birthday is right after Christmas so we have a very special recipe that we use. I think I'm going to include either cake balls or pops in the Holiday Baking I usually do.



I didn't have any candy melts so I used dark chocolate chips melted via double boiler. I added a little cooking oil to thin the chocolate down like you would if you were using it for fondue. They turned out absolutely delicious and addicting! I had to take them to work so I wouldn't eat them all!

Financial Planning

Retirement....Life insurance....Roth IRA's...what does it all mean?? I have no idea, which is why I have a financial planner to help guide me to making sound financial decisions. Right now my plan is to be out of debt by the time I'm 30 and to start building my retirement. What are your plans?

Christmas Newsletter?

I have a new project. Since I live 1500 miles from my nearest family member (and most friends), I decided to write a Christmas newsletter. I know, I'm turning into my mom! Anyways it seemed practical and that's what I'm all about. I know my family misses me, but I can't afford to fly home for Christmas this year so a newsletter will have to do. It took awhile, but I finally found a Microsoft Template that was decent. I like to do all my Christmas stuff in themes (I think it's the tiny bit of Martha in me). So my newsletter template determines the cards I will pick and the paper I will wrap all my gifts in. Usually I like snowflakes, but this year I'm going all out Brick Red and Inchworm.

Dad came to visit

Dad came to visit and I took him to Ocean beach for the famous fish tacos. We had a fun weekend. He helped me fix stuff which is very typical. He also is a social butterfly and made a few friends at a beach bar that he rode my black and pink bicycle to while I was working.

I can grow things!

Dear mum sent me a few seeds and pictures of this pretty "peacock plant". So I decided to give it a go. I cut the tips off the seeds and soaked them. I was only supposed to soak them overnight, but it ended up being more like a week. ooops! So I was a little surprised when a tiny green stalk sprouted.

Endurance

“Look me in the eye. It's OK if you're scared. So am I. But we're scared for different reasons. I'm scared of what I won't become - and you're scared of what I could become.

Look at me.

I won't let myself end where I started. I won't let myself finish where I began. I know what is within me, even if you can't see it yet.

Look me in the eyes.

I have something more important than courage. I have patience.

I will become what I know I am.”

Gifts

I think that it is very rare that people are given awe-inspiring talents. Most people are given some talent or an inclination towards something and it takes passion and dedication to make them great.

Soccer, o why do you hurt me?

Ok sorry for the long hiatus but I got crazy busy at work and had a frenzy weekend of wedding planning and I've been really tired the whole week. Tired of everything...

I've always loved soccer and even though I completely suck now, I still love it. I play once a week and usually don't get too injured but last night was brutal. We got creamed and injured...I got hit REALLY hard in the face by a guy that was trying to score a goal. I saved the ball but my face was completely numb for at least 5 minutes (no exaggeration here). After that I went for a header but couldn't get there in time so instead of hitting the 'header spot' it hit me square on the forehead. I also blocked a shot with side of my arm right below my shoulder but that wasn't so bad....and finally the worst injury of the night...dun..dun..dun...I was going for the ball and this girl tripped and took me with her. My shin fell on her foot and her weight fell on the base of my knee (yeah the one I had surgery on in highschool). So I am praying to God that she didn't tear anything and hoping everything will be ok and I just need to RICE it.

Chopino (sp?) a.k.a. my Valentine's Dinner

Oh my goodness...I think I am drooling.....it was soooo yummy.

The bond

I'm starting to realize more and more that the silly little group I made with my high school friends was probably one of the best things we ever did. It is like our own sorority except super small. Its something that bonds us for life. When you are friends and part of a group I think it creates a whole new dimension to your friendship. I'm not sure if I'm explaining properly, but even those in the group that weren't my BFFs, I feel completely loyal to them. As we grow old and as distance and life separates us, I know that we will always be there for each other.

Sidenote:
Gooj- I came across some docs the other day... do you remember OPP - our amazing fake sorority? Those were excellent times. Too bad we never made shirts.

To infinity and beyond....

FACT

There is nothing but fried food in Mississippi...

Marble Room delights

Restaurant week is the most wonderful time of the year. Dozens of the best restaurants in San Diego have great menu choices for $30. I've heard many stories about great eats during this time so I decided it was time to bite the bullet of downtown traffic and try it out. I went with a couple people from my work and our restaurant of choice was the Marble Room. Aside from it's sketchy name history (which can be found on their about us page) it was a pretty cool place.

Now for the food:


I started with the Bib Salad (my second choice would have been the ahi tuna wraps which looked delicious).


You can see from this picture that I dug right in forgetting to document my dish...oops. For the main course I ordered top sirloin and prosciutto Mac & Cheese.


I had been sick for the past 2 days so I didn't want to overdo it on dessert so I ordered the cheese plate. They accidentally screwed up my neighbors dessert so we received an extra gelato sampler:


As eye candy, this is the last dessert, which I did not get to try but looked yummy:

To spare you

I really want to blog on weddingbee.com so I have created a separate blog for all things wedding. That way if you are interested you can head over there. Otherwise I will spare you sordid details!

Dressed!

I found a dress! I really love it so I don't care if my mom isn't crazy about it. She likes poofy princess dresses anyways and we all know that I am not pretty pretty princess-like. I didn't want a dress style that I couldn't dance in. Movement is the most important thing to me, well besides looking good in the dress. Going dress shopping was a tortuous experience. I even have a scratch on my back to prove it! (Broken zipper on a sample - thank you very much Demetrios!) I'm not going to post a picture yet, and besides, there aren't any pictures of my dress in Ivory so it really wouldn't be the same.

It's so crazy how expensive these things are! No offense to David's Bridal fans but I think every dress there looks the same, or is made of the same material. All the dresses with personality cost upwards of $1000. I'm glad its over though.

Photoshoot

The one I like has a sunspot but I think they look ok considering my ghetto-camera and lack of skill. I had a really neat shot on a post but they didn't turn out. I will try again after I get my ring cleaned.

the bug...

So the wedding planning bug hit me today along with anxiety about how much time I wasted and how much I still need to do. Not to mention that I'm stressed out about the budget. I don't even have a DRESS yet AND the Demetrios Bridal Outlet CLOSED! So I've tried to find one on craigslist and I have a few leads but I think I'm just going to go try some on by myself at a store.

Here's my Status List:

Venue - TGC
Caterer/event planner/rentals - Mershon Catering
Menu - Picked out
Photographer - Brooke Jared
Brides Cake - Ludger's Cakes and Catering
Favor - picked out
Invitations - picked out not ordered
DJ - Phone Meeting tonight
Rings - Done
Dress -
Flowers -
Videographer - Do I need this??


Still need to pick out wedding cake design, venue design, venue lighting, reception decor, estimate alcohol,and a bunch of other stuff I can't remember at the moment....

The Surreal Life

Its funny when things happen in your life that make you feel like you are going in slow motion. Or you come into knowledge of something tragic that happened to a friend from your past that gives you a "sliding doors" moment. Not regret in the least bit, but a realization of how different your life would be if you made different choices. I love my life and there is nothing I would change, because I feel that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be, but I chose a different path than most people. I chose to move away from everyone I ever knew to have an adventurous life. So it is very surreal to watch from a distance all of my friends from college and high school living in the town I grew up in.

Camera Shy...

I am on the quest for a new camera. My is a little old and I have a new technology itch. I've always wanted the Sony Cybershot, but I've been tempted by the Nikon commercials. Obviously, I have yet to do some research on the cameras themselves before I let Ashton woo me.

Does anyone have suggestions? Right now I have a FujiFilm Finepix z1 and it's just not cutting it.

Happy New Year!

So my New Year included a Greek tradition. They bake this sweet bread/cake with a coin. Whoever gets the coin gets the luck for the year. The coin ended up in the bottom of the pan after all the pieces were cut so we all get the luck.

Now...its time for my new years resolutions.

1. Cook at least 2 times a week.

2. Organize my house completely and create a cleaning schedule (and stick to it)

3. The obvious get-in-shape-for-the-wedding resolution.

Goals for next year:
1. Run at least 5 5ks. I've decided to make a marathon one of my to-do-before-30 things. So not ready for that yet.
2. to be continued....