Thursday, September 30, 2010

Salmon, Cupcake, and Football

I love family evenings with a good meal surrounded by pleasant conversation.  These are the kind of nights I live for.
If you haven't already tried Cupcake wine and you have a Costco membership, I high recommend you splurge on this $8 bottle of heaven.  It's FABULOUS!




Failed and Completely Embarrassed

I couldn't even bring myself to post what I ate yesterday.  I have been such a horrible example.  Now that I finally start paying attention to what I eat I feel like it's getting worse than what it normally is.  Maybe it was always this bad but I never really took the time to pay attention to what I put in my mouth.  Maybe it's a blessing in disguise that I have started doing this for the sake of the blog.  It seems like the purpose has changed for the sake of my health.
My scale has turned into my worst enemy and I am honestly embarrassed to be telling you guys this but I had
12 Macarons
Custard Filled, Chocolate Glazed Donut
Ooey Gooey Bar
Red Velvet Cupcake
Twix
And I can't even remember the rest.

I'm slightly mortified.
Today has been on the up and up though.  After yesterday's eye opener, I kicked myself in the butt and am really focusing on consuming the right foods.

Hopefully I come to you guys tomorrow with better news.

P.S. I really really want to do a giveaway.  I have some super cute designer purses, thanks to my aunt, that I would love to give away along with some other great stuff.  So, if you already follow my blog and haven't clicked the follow button, go ahead and do so.  If I hit 100 followers by Sunday, I'll do an awesome giveaway on Monday!  




Wednesday, September 29, 2010

There Are Seriously Some Weird People In This World

Greatest word in the American Dictionary!
Hallelujah US of A
Saks Fifth Avenue in Mission Viejo is closing.  It's seriously a sad story.  And what's even worse is that they are filling the mall with stores like Wet Seal.  Yuck!
But the great news is that EVERYTHING in Saks is 40%-60% off.  Let's just say that I got an $800 sweater for $86.  I pretty much feel like a master shopper at this point.

But that wasn't the point of my story.  Anyways, for two hours I was followed by these two women who ended up taking pictures of me at the Nordstrom's Cafe.  When my mom approached them and kindly asked what they were doing they responded with,
"Oh, we're taking pictures of that tall girl in the blue shirt.  She's our cousin."
My mom almost lost it but quietly asked them to stop and to leave us alone.
With that both women completely snapped and began screaming the most absurd things like....

"WE JUST CAME FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY TO AMERICA AND THIS IS HOW YOU GREET US?!"
OR
"WE CAME TO AMERICA TO SEE AMERICANS IN THE USA AND YOU'RE NOT EVEN AN AMERICAN!!! YOU ARE A RUDE LADY AND REAL AMERICANS ARE INDIANS!"

I am seriously in denial right now after their last comment.  I just feel like I don't know where I belong.  I mean clearly I am not an Indian, and I just learned today I am not an American, so I am feeling a little lost.
As my mother taught me, the best way to deal with being upset is retail therapy.
Soooooo I bought these,
And these...
....in two colors...
And these....
....oh, and these...
I think I am starting to feel like I belong again, even if it's at Pay Less or Nordstrom's shoe department.
Regardless, I feel like I belong, American or not.




Still 165.5. Crap!

I mean honestly, after what I ate yesterday I can't be that upset that I maintained the weight from the previous day.
Regardless of the massive amount of food, the night was full of family and friends and an incredibly pleasant time.  My parents just returned home from multiple weeks traveling around the country.  I guess it's the empty nest syndrome.  Plus, I felt the night's festivities necessary due to my parent's need to travel which will be overlapping with my dad's birthday.  I wanted to do something special for him before they departed to go gallivanting all over the country again.

Bacon Guacamole
This is not healthy so I am conflicted by posting this recipe but it is seriously amazing!

Ingredients
4 Large Ripe Avocados
10 Strips Bacon
1/2 Medium White Onion cut into 1/4-inch pieces or smaller
1/4 Cup Finely Chopped Cilantro
3 Canned Chipotle Chiles stemmed, slit open, seeds scraped out, and then finely chopped
1 Large Tomato chopped into 1/4-inch pieces
2 Tablespoons Lime Juice
2 Tablespoons Tapatio
2 Minced Garlic Cloves
Salt and Pepper to taste
Directions
Using cutting board, cut bacon into 1 inch slices.  Place bacon in frying pan and cook until crispy.  Drain into paper towel and let cool.  Set to the side.
Cut avocados in half, dislodge the pit, and remove flesh from the skin.  Place avocados in a large bowl and mash together with fork into a coarse puree.  Add onion, tomato, chiles, cilantro, tapatio, and garlic and gently mix to combine all ingredients.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Crumble the bacon into smaller pieces and add to avocado mixture along with the lime juice.  Gently mix to combine all ingredients.
Place in a bowl and enjoy!

*Helpful Hint
Refrigerate all ingredients before and after cutting.  Guacamole tastes better cold.




Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Secret To Sun-Kissed Skin

The benefits of a gorgeous bronze without the UV rays!
Favorite Beauty Product #1
I'm telling you, this stuff is incredible!  I use it every other day when I am feeling a bit fair-skinned.
It does smell a bit funky but it doesn't bring enough funk for me to care.
There is just something about a tan that makes you look healthier and it also hides all blemishes and any other unwanted spots on your face.
The best part is I am going to use this for the rest of my life and it won't cause sun spots or wrinkles like the sun!
Thank You Technology!




Summer Finally Came!

Better late than never.  I have been craving the heat and now it's finally time to get beach body ready!
Sep 28
Partly Cloudy
Partly Cloudy
88°
67°
0%

88°F
Sep 29
AM Clouds / PM Sun
AM Clouds / PM Sun
86°
66°
0%

86°F
Sep 30
Partly Cloudy
Partly Cloudy
83°
66°
0%

83°F
Oct 1
AM Clouds / PM Sun
AM Clouds / PM Sun
84°
66°
0%

84°F
Oct 2
Partly Cloudy
Partly Cloudy
82°
64°
0%

82°F
Oct 3
AM Clouds / PM Sun
AM Clouds / PM Sun
79°
62°
0%

79°F
Now what can I do this week?
Beach?
Grand Canyon? (I've never been)
Rent a Duffy Boat and scoot scoot around the bay?
BBQ and make S'mores with the family?
What do ya'll think?




Let's Try This Again

This tortilla crusted tilapia is amazing and it comes frozen from Costco.  Pop it in the oven for 20 minutes and Voila, dinner.  It doesn't even taste fishy.
A few weeks ago I wanted to lose a couple lbs and I falsely claimed that I would post what I ate everyday along with my weight.  I think my ambitious goal only lasted 4 days.
But as they say, try, try again.

Beginning weight 9/27: 167

Current Weight 9/28: 165.5
Asparagus Recipe

Ingredients
1/4 Cup Water
1/4 Cup Olive oil
1-2 Cloves Garlic
1/4 Cup White Wine
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Pepper
3 Tablespoons Butter
30 Asparagus Spears
1 Lemon

Directions
In a large frying pan, mix all the ingredients (except asparagus and lemon) together on high heat until it comes to a simmer. Lower to medium/high heat and place asparagus in pan.  Cook the asparagus until it can easily be pierced with a fork (roughly 5-8 minutes).  Remove asparagus with tongs and squeeze lemon wedge on top.

Serves 3-4




Monday, September 27, 2010

My Adorable Niece!

Isn't she just the cutest!?!
You can't blame me for having baby fever.




WARNING!

I learned an incredibly valuable lesson today when I decided to be brave.
1. Don't ever do this by yourself.  Go get it done.
2. Don't ever be brave again Morgan!  You idiot!

I will be sitting on my sofa the rest of the day.




Weekend Dilemmas

Most people look forward to the weekends so they can catch a break from life or just a few seconds to themselves.  Maybe it's just the need for a breath of fresh air and a day outside of the office away from their co-workers.
Clearly as most of you have noticed, I am not like most people.  
I am that annoying friend who looks forward to the weekends because that means all of my friends do not have obligations such as work which, for me, means HUMAN INTERACTION!!! 
Yesssss!
So even though you wanted a free day or just some "you" time, I am that friend who will deny you of that luxury and make you hang out with me.
Needless to say, this weekend was a Blast!
I had friends, a boat, and summer finally came!
Better late than never.
We scooted around the bay and docked at a restaurant to grab a quick bite of breakfast.
Popular menu choice was the breakfast burrito.
Have I mentioned how much I love where I live?
We made friends with the locals.
Then Lindsey and I did a little shopping on Balboa Island.
And I finished the day off nicely by devouring seven cupcakes.

Now the next step is figuring out how I can do this every day....
Beginning with getting someone to quit their job.




Sunday, September 26, 2010

I Wish...

haha Don't we all wish...
Round 2

So this week has been a bit of a hard one for me to get through.  I have been slightly panicking on what direction my life will go and how I can further nudge it along down the right path.  
Problem?  
What exactly is the path I am supposed to take?
There needs to be some sort of handbook to life.
I have been dead set on putting in my one month on October 1st so either way, at the end of October, I will be leaving on a jet plane to somewhere other than here.

So this week I wish....

1. To hear back from Korea asap so I can plan my life
2. If I don't get the job in Korea then I want to move to NYC and seriously pursue my modeling career
3. Or have modeling go amazingly well here
4. And if it does, then I want to purchase a house.....
....like this....
Okay, well I am not completely serious about purchasing a house like this one in particular but this is my wish list.
5. If Korea is a no go then I also want to get a job here.
Bonus: Book the Esprit job.

Told you my wishes were a little out there :)




Nike

The Nike commercial finally came out!
It is a really short clip of me (#3 "spiking" the volleyball) but hey... I made it! :)




Thursday, September 23, 2010

Online Shopping ~ My Guilty Pleasure

Just bought these gems from Victoria's Secret!!
It's always such a nice surprise to get a present in the mail from yourself.
It was even better in college when you would get that package and not even remember ordering that bright pink, metallic jumpsuit you wanted ever since you were a little girl or the designer handbag that you generously paid three months salary for.
This often resulted in the typical response, "Oh me.  Thank you!  You just know me so well."
Long Sleeved Minis are so hot this year!  Love them!
No matter how much time I spend trying to talk myself into buying a patterned bra, I can never do it.  However, there was a really cute zebra one AND I managed to get it into my shopping cart
 But I always feel a little bit like a hoochie when I go to check out and I look down to my right at the Maxim catalog sitting on my coffee table and see the girl on the cover wearing the same glittery, zebra patterned bra.
I mean, I don't really plan on showing it to anyone so I just stuck to the boring black and nude.
Black can be sexy right??

*images via




Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Welcome To The Fish Bowl

I just realized that I haven't shown you guys around my place.
I absolutely LOVE where I live.  It's so spacious and open with lots of great natural light.
It has been deemed the fish bowl because half of the walls in our place are actually windows.
See Olive's new kitty tree on the left?
It is a little on the older side which we don't mind too much.
I do, however, wish we could paint it so it was a little less white.
The pictures make it look much more like a hospital than it does in person.  I promise.
And Yes, those are red metal chairs at our kitchen table.  We are that cheap.
I <3 my TOMS
My favorite place in the world.  It's just so comfy.
Last but certainly not least, 
the view.
We get to watch all the boaters go by as well as the walkers on the island frantically race around the boardwalk the mornings (which is that body of land on the other side of the water)
At the front end of the yacht directly in front of our place is a little beach too!
I seriously wish these places would go up for sale.




I'm Obsessed!





"You Can't Hit A Home Run If You Don't Get Up To Bat"

The wise words from my husband regarding my callback for GNC.
It was such a long day and needless to say I spent four hours at my callback and didn't get the job.
-Insert sad face here-
But always leave it to my husband to bring some light into my negative line of thinking and make everything better.
So this morning to make things better
I BROKE MY FAST!
Yippee!  It was seriously miserable and I could not stop shaking.
I also went on a beautiful walk with my husband around Balboa Island this morning.
I love calling him my husband.  It just doesn't get old (for me at least)

Just wanted to share a few of my favorite things about walking around the island.
I love these little gates.  They remind me of Nantucket.
Separation between tranquility and chaos.
The sense of humor required for island life.
Everyone is so proud of their gardens and each house has an exquisite blend of colors.  I additionally love the reflection in the glass.  How perfect!
Walking with him xo