Songs I Love: Comic Strip

Brigitte Bardot was a sex symbol in the 1950s-60s. She was a model, actress, singer, and is now an animal rights activist. I have never seen her movies, but her music is fun and brings you back to another era. I love her song with singer Serge Gainsbourg called "Comic Strip" which is full of onomatopoeias -- SHEBAM ! POW ! BLOP ! WIZZ !

In The Heights

I attended my second Broadway show called "In The Heights" and it was fabuloso. It's about 3 days in the lives of Dominican-Americans living in New York's Washington Heights (upper upper west side Manhattan). It's a mix of hip-hop and salsa-type music and dance, and the show even won a Tony Award for Best Musical!

I could relate to the story of Nina and her immigrant parents who do all they can to give their daughter a better life, and I saw my parents in the characters Kevin and Camila. I also loved the smooth raps of Usnavi and the inspiring/amazing dances by the cast (especially Graffiti Pete)

Although we sat in the rear mezzanine for most of the show (we were allowed to move up at intermission), it was a great show to see. I can't wait for my next one!

"I Gave Up Christ For You"

I'm watching Sex and the City and Charlotte is upset at Harry for not proposing, and she tells him, "I gave up Christ for you and you can't give up the Mets?!"

My bf is Jewish and I'm Catholic, but I will never give up Jesus!
So Booyakasha!

Thursday Night Supper Club: Mexican Night

"I wish we all had like sombreros and parkas or something" -- Courtney

This weeks Thursday Night Supper Club was Mexican/Latin/Fiesta themed and what a delight it was. We always end the night by chatting about more food, wishing for a bed to lay on, and caressing our food babies.

Tonight's Menu:
APPS
- Guac and chips
- Home fried tostones (plantain chips)
ENTREE
- Chicken tortilla soup (and non-chicken)
- Tilapia tacos with pepper relish
- Black beans cooked with lots of onions, garlic, and spices
- Mexican corn salad with red peppers, cumin, cayenne pepper, vegan mayo, and feta cheese
DESSERT
- Mexican chocolate cake with mocha espresso chocolate sauce and mango sorbet
DRINKS
- Homemade sangria

Next week will be a Valentine's Day brunch, but I will not be able to join. I know it will be fabulous though!

What a great group of friends!

Winter Restaurant Week 2009

I've missed at least 5 restaurant weeks since I've moved to NY, but I always have intentions on going. I finally went tonight and boy was it wonderful. My friend Molly and I had a list of places we wanted to go to, but of course they booked up quickly. We ended up going with a latter choice, Town, and ended up loving it. If you don't know what Restaurant Week is, it is the participation of various restaurants throughout Manhattan who offer a 3-course pre-fixe meal for a mere $35. These are some of the best restaurants in Manhattan where one course could cost $30 let alone 3 courses. Molly and I had a lovely night and plan to make this a tradition.

Our Meal:
Amuse Bouche (a small bite before the meal....a chef's "greeting" to the oncoming courses)
- Smoked salmon atop a microgreens salad with a honey-mustard vinaigrette and a dollop of creme fraiche
Appetizer:
- Butternut squash ravioloini / ricotta / puntarella / brown butter (both Molly and I got this and it was amazing!!!)
Entree:
- Spiced duck/ buckwheat pilaf/ gingered endive (me)
- Grilled monkfish/ sauerkraut/ paprika sauce (Molly)
Dessert:
- Gianduja pannacotta / cremeux / candied hazelnuts (me)
- Yogurt mousse / lime sorbet / blood oranges (Molly)

Poor Poopy!

My friend has this photo posted on his facebook and I just HAD to steal it. Perhaps the dog acts as a weight for the woman to gain muscle?

Sammy the Rasta Pup

Sammy has gone from Jew-dog, to Santa-dog, and now he is Rasta-dog. He is a pup of many religions.

Chúc Mừng Nǎm Mới!

Happy New Year! (Chúc Mừng Nǎm Mới is how you say it in Vietnamese.) We call the Lunar New Year "Tết Nguyên Đán" or Tết for short. The festivities are basically the same as Chinese New Year, like giving lucky money, honoring ancestors, eating/preparing special foods, and forgetting the past and moving onto the new year. It is not only celebrated in Vietnam and China, but in many other countries where there has been a lot of Chinese influence (Korea/Thailand/Mongolia/Whereever Chinese are), and can last anywhere from a few days or up to 2 weeks (starting on the first day of the year with a new moon).

It's times like this when I miss my family so dearly.

Thursday Supper Club Love

Not only do I love food, but my friends love food too! Not to sound crazy, but much of our conversations/emails to one another mention food in some way (new restaurants, new recipes, or just chatting about some meal we loved).

So with that said, we are trying a new tradition called "Thursday Supper Club". We will select an apartment to cook our meal as well as a theme (Mediterranean, Asian, Mexican, Nouveau American or maybe even an "Under the Sea" theme). We will all pitch in with a different dish that goes along with the theme, bring some wine, eat, drink, and be merry.

Last night was Mediterranean night:
APPS
* Polenta cakes with sundried tomato tapenade and black olives
* Pretzels and hummus
* Crostini with whole milk ricotta, chives, and amber honey
ENTREE
* Fried falafel with pita and hummus
* Israeli couscous with cilantro, green onion, dried apricots & cranberries, cumin, curry powder, lemon, and olive oil
* Tomato, cucumber, red onion, parsley, and Bulgarian feta (the best feta ever!)
DESSERT
* Homemade red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting
* Vegan brownies

YUMMY!

Tea + Wine (Glass)

Icelandic/German designer Hranfnkell Birgisson has a wonderful collection of vintage tea cups placed on glass stemwear called "Hoch die Tassen". Now do you drink tea from these cups or wine from these glasses? Who cares....I love wine, and I love tea! Maybe I should invent a tea/wine?

Songs I Love: Banana Phone

Ok, so it's a silly internet song, but it's awesome! "Ring ring ring ring banana phone!"

Stella Lola

(Above: "Lemon Drop")
(Above: "Water Balloon Fight")
(Above: "Fruit Bowl")

I found some fun artwork at Etsy Store STELLALOLA where artist Julie Lewis creates pieces of art that are both funny and inventive.

MLK Jr. Day

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!! I was fortunate to have this day off from work, and I am spending it on some "me time" - shopping for movies, thrift finds, and groceries.

This day will always remind me of my junior year in college when my roomie Courtney looked at the calendar and said, "Milk Jr. Day??!! What's That?!"

Fashionable Pantones

Like all clothing companies (other products use this color system also), we use Pantones to determine colors for our upcoming lines. The creative genius Patrick Robinson (Head of Design for Gap) came up with a limited edition Tshirt line dedicated to the Pantone color selections for winter. Me likey!

Featured in NY Times' The Moment - "Bright Idea"

I Love You More Than...

My bf and I have a joke that we got from HBO's Little Britain saying to one another, "I Love You More Than Butterflies" or "I Love You More Than Jelly Beans", etc. etc. So when I came upon this Fill in "I Love You More Than..." (featured in Glamour magazine's Smitten blog online) I got a big grin on my face and a fuzzy feeling in my heart.

Topshop USA

Although I've never been to the infamous Topshop in the UK, I hear it is the BEST place to get an immediate fashion knock-off straight from the latest fashion shows. (No, this is not illegal; think H&M and Forever 21, but MUCH more fashionable.) Topshop is heading stateside and will be located on Broadway in SoHo in SP09 (originally supposed to open Fall08). I anticipate this store opening, but I dread the mad rush of people that will head to the already busy shopping area.

Anywho....I see their SP09 collection is very 90s and uber USA themed with lots of red,white & blue. Of course the models look cool and fashionable, but could a commoner pull off these loud patterns and 90s throw-backs? I guess I will have to try it on and see for myself!

Cake & Chai

The other week I went to Magnolia's Bakery, picked up a fresh piece of Coconut Cake, went to Starbucks for a Chai Latte, and sat inside by myself and watched the snow fall. It was a time to reflect on the past year and to enjoy my surroundings. 'Twas a delightful evening.

"The City"

I will not deny my fond feelings for MTV's The City (The Hills spin-off with Whitney Port). I hated The Hills, but I loved LC's fellow intern, Whitney, and now she has her own show right here in NY.
Maybe it's because it's in NY is why I enjoy it so much, but nonetheless it is recorded on the DVR every week.

I like to envy Whitney/Erin/Olivia's wardrobes, laugh that Whitney (and friends) live in the sickest apartments that would cost at least $3000 a month to rent, wish that I could work at Diane Von Furstenberg , and swoon over Jay's accent. I also love that they display the name and location of each club/bar/restaurant/store they go to in the city......some of which I have been to myself.

Other than the NYC connection, my old roomie Kat is friends with the model/went on a dates with Whitney in the first episodes named Alex (of whom threw a party for a friend, and of which I attended).

One more plus is that my bf likes to watch the show too!

(Photo: Taken at Tenjune in September 07 - Alex is the taller guy in the gray shirt)

Just My Style

I do not typically wear patterns or vibrant colors. Although I stick with mostly neutral and muted colors, I do not consider my wardrobe to be boring. My biggest attraction to clothing are the details (cuts, lines, pleats, designs, etc). I'm not a huge accessories gal, but I do love to wear interesting pieces of clothing (I guess something to distract from the fact I wear the same boring jewelry each day).

Take the above dress for example. It is completely gray, yet the spiral pleats gives it an architectural and design appeal that is interesting despite the blah color. This is just special enough to stand out, and it is exactly something I would wear.

Beard/Moustache Contest?

There's a contest for everything nowadays. Eating contests, baking contests, fashion contests, writing contests....how about a beard/moustache contest? May 23, 2009 will be the World Beard and Moustache Championships in Anchorage, AK, and I am sure it will be absolutely fantabulous!

Florida!!

This week is predicted to be the coldest week we have had this winter, but I lucked out with a trip to Florida for work. My co-worker and I leave tomorrow and I will be back on Friday. We are going on our Spring 09 comparison shopping trip since the Florida stores are set for spring already. I hear Boca will be in the 70s this week so no complaints here!

Must-have Moustaches

Moustaches (or Moustachios as my friends and I call them) are sooo in right now! I remember when my dad had a mustache in the 80s/90s and never did I think the hairy upper lip would come back in. So I don't see a mad rush of men sprouting hairs, but I do see a growth in moustache merchandise. Personally, I enjoy them all!

Tea-rrific!

This little teapot reminds me of a little song.....
Just tea for two and two for tea Just me for you and you for me

My Favorite Food - "Bun"

Bún Thịt Nướng

Bun thit nuong is my second favorite Vietnamese dish (beneath Pho), and I had the pleasure to eat lots of it while I was at home for Christmas. It's a delicious dish made of cold vermicelli rice noodles, a mixture of fresh vegetables and herbs (thai basil, cilantro, mint, cucumber, pickled carrots/radish), grilled pork, crushed peanutes, and nuoc cham (a light and yummy sauce made from fish sauce, lime juice, julienne carrots, sugar, garlic, and a few other things). Actually, the version I had at home was a slight variation, but delicious none-the-less. Unfortunately, I have yet to have a tasty comparison to my mom's bun thit nuong in NYC.

Winter Flea Market

A favorite pass time of my friend Megan and I is hitting up the local flea markets. This is where we find cheap art, antique furniture, vintage shoes, and so much more. Unfortunately we never made it to the very popular Brooklyn Flea; however, the creators of the famous flea market are now putting on "The Winter Antiques Pop-Up Market" in Dumbo, Brooklyn. For 12 weeks in the winter months, you are able to have the treasure hunt for goods indoors.

Megan, let's go!

Winter Antiques Pop-Up Market
76 Front St at Washington St, Dumbo;
Sat, Sun 11am—6pm

Obama Ice Cream

You can feel the excitement in the air for Obama to take his seat in the White House. Everywhere you go, Obama this and Obama that. Anything from Obama t-shirts at Urban Outfitters, mix-tape of Obama speeches by Jay-Z, Obama dolls, and even Obama bottles of wine.

So Ben & Jerry's thought they would jump on the Obama merchandise bandwagon by creating the flavor "Yes Pecan! An Inspirational Blend! Amber waves of buttery ice cream with roasted non-partisan pecans."

Songs I Love: Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love)

Much love for the beautiful and legendary singer, Eartha Kitt! Her songs are timeless and always a joy to listen to. I especially love her rendition of "Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love)". Such a fun, yet ever-so romantic song. I can't help but smile when I hear this song.

A Dainty Pair

Dainty - Delicately beautiful or charming; exquisite.
The dictionary could not have described this pair of Kenneth Jay Lane earrings any better. I love these antique silver and crystal bow earrings, but they are clip-ons. Why is is that antique earrings are always clip-ons? Clipping these onto your ears would be more painful at the end of the day then poking a hole through them. Nonetheless, these little ladies are fabulous and I will still keep them on my "Desirable" list.

Clean Plate Club

You would normally not feel to good after eating a big dinner (especially if it was a rich, heavy meal), but how good would it feel to clean your plate and find "You are beautiful" inscribed on the bottom? I wouldn't feel so bad eating an indulgent meal off this plate.

Random Weekend in Savannah

My boyfriend and I are taking a random weekend (Jan 23-25) in Savannah, GA to attend a boat party for his boss' wife's Birthday. Call me shy, but I do not usually enjoy going to events where I do not know anyone (my bf doesn't count). However, I will go since it is means a lot to him (and because he is paying for the flight). Him and I had dinner there about 2 years ago on our way to his house in Florida and it is a beautiful and historic city. I'm looking forward to the weekend away and pray that it is a lot warmer than here.

Learning My A, B, C's

While I was home over Christmas, I sat with my dad and attempted to learn the Vietnamese alphabet. Although both my parents are Vietnamese, I am not fluent in the language. I can; however, understand 99% of things being said to me in Vietnamese, but I do not know the alphabet and cannot speak back in full Vietnamese (more like viet-english). The only things I can spell are names. My dad says it's because I did not want to learn it when I was younger, but I say what kid wants to learn things outside of school? Nonetheless, I am mostly illiterate in my ancestors' language and am quite ashamed of it. So my attempt to learn the alphabet was not quite succcessful as I am so accustomed at saying letters in the American tongue. I will keep practicing though!

Hootie-Hoo

Why is an owl associated with being wise? Perhaps because there is something regal and majestic about an owl. An owl is calm, composed, and observant. If I were to be reincarnated into an animal, I think I would like to be an owl.

Random Fact

Did you know the youngest parents recorded in history were 8 and 9 years old in 1910 in China?

How, why, and WTF?

A New Barbie Fashion

Remember when mean big brothers (or evil little girls) would rip your Barbie dolls apart; leaving a leg here, a beheaded body there? Well jewelry designer Margaux Lange decided to create a line using the "body parts" of old Barbies. Do you like Barbies bosoms? Why not make it into a heart necklace? Wish you had Barbies long fingers? Why not wear a plethora of them in bracelet form?

The human imagination never ceases to amaze me.