TWENTY SIXTEEN

Happy New Year! It's finally 2016! I cannot wait to see what this year has in store. I just wanted to share what I had in mind for the year. I made some broad goals to give myself some space to work with so that way I won't "break" the resolution or forget about it mid-year. So here's to starting off the year right!

Be positive

FERRERO ROCHER HOT CHOCOLATE

Nothing beats a hot chocolate on a cold, snowy day. I also love a good Ferrero Rocher. Together, it's like the best snow day you can have. Perfect for listening to Michael Buble's Christmas album with. Or for sitting by the fireplace while watching some Christmas movies. Whatever it is, this hot chocolate will definitely warm you up with holiday cheer. Here's what you will need to make your next classic hot chocolate...

-2 tbsp of your favorite hot chocolate mix
-Spoonful of Nutella
-1 tbsp hazelnut creamer
-1 cup milk
-Ferrero Rocher (for snacking)

HAPA SUSHI GRILL & SAKE BAR

I was in the mood for some Japanese food - one of my favorite cuisines. Hapa Sushi sounded like the ideal place. Hapa translates to "half Asian" which is definitely found on their menu. I got the Shumai which had shrimp and ginger in it along with chili oil and soy sauce drizzled over the top. The mixed green salad also added a fresh touch to the dish. They were perfect bite size morsels.

 For the entree, I ordered the "Statue of Liberty Roll". It had a bright pop of apple, fresh tuna, crab, creamy avocado, nori, and sesame seeds laced around the sushi.

I hope you will pay a visit to this modern fusion sushi place!

Hapa Sushi Grill & Sake Bar

1117 Pearl St

Boulder, CO 80302

AUGUST FAVORITES 2015

These are a few of my favorite things...

Mystery Show

Podcasts are no longer for classroom learning. This podcast features one unusual conundrum for each podcast. It makes you think, "Wait what?". "Why hasn't this been solved?" As a lover of mysteries, I liked it right away. The logo may look a bit different from your normal podcast, but most of the stories are light hearted and worth listening to.

The host, Starlee Kine, is super easy to relate to; it's nice listening to someone that has that "girl next door" persona. Mystery Show can be found on iTunes.

Papermate Flair Pens

Is it a marker? Is it a pen? It's a flair pen! I've wanted to get these pens for a REALLY long time. I never knew why I didn't, but just before school started, I took the leap and bought these pens.

They truly have vivid colors and crisp lines as mentioned on the package. It makes taking notes more engaging and fun to study from. They may be on the pricey side, however, they are simple to write with and a great way to add a pop of color to your notebook or wherever you jot notes down.

MY CURRENT PLAYLIST

Hello! I hope you're enjoying your Thursday afternoon! I compiled my favorite songs of the summer into a nice, compact list. Take a listen and maybe one of these songs will end up on your playlist!

SUMMER TOAST FOR TWO

These two toasts are great for breakfast, brunch, or even as a snack. They're light, fresh, and perfect for summer!

Avocado and Poached Egg Toast

-Sourdough bread

-Half of an avocado
-Eggs
-Mini sweet peppers
-Olive oil

-Salt and pepper

First, toast the slices of sourdough bread for about four minutes. Four minutes is the perfect amount of time for crunchy yet slightly chewy toast. In the meantime, fill a small pot halfway with water. Then, add a tablespoon of white distilled vinegar. This helps the egg stay intact when you're poaching it.

MINI CANADA HAUL

Hey guys! These items were bought from recent trip to Canada. I don’t think this can even be classified as a haul because I bought less than five items, but if you guys are curious to see what I bought, then keep reading this!

White Lace Skirt-Olivia $9.99

When I saw this skirt, it just caught my eye. It’s so simple and graceful. This lace skirt can be paired with a nice cardigan or even a utility jacket. Perfect for spring!

Tulip Back Tank-Loft $39.50

I absolutely love the color of this top. The pale pink color is classy and sophisticated. I love the feel of the fabric because it’s light and airy. My favorite detail about this tank is the back. It’s two layers that overlap each other. As they always say, “Business in the front and party in the back”. I know, I’m cheesy. I would wear this top with dark washed skinny jeans and a pair of flats or flip flops.

Silver Midi Rings-Aldo $8.00

I’ve been looking for midi rings for quite a while now. When I saw this set of rings at Aldo, I had a “Eureka” moment. I just like simple designs. No mess, no fuss. So when I saw this, I knew I had to get it. The rings come in gold and silver in sets of four. It’s great for those that don’t like to wear heavy jewelry like me.

Neutral Eye Shadow Trio-Inglot 5 for $5

I love neutrals when it comes to makeup and nail polish. The two light shades are great for everyday makeup. You can even go for a smoky eye look with the dark brown mixed with the rest of the shades. This palette is very versatile.

I hope you guys gained some inspiration from my first haul!

KEM COBA

One of my favorite things about summer is being able to enjoy frozen treats such as ice cream! After our picnic, we planned our next stop which was Kem CoBa. It's hard to miss this ice cream shop because of its pink awning and lengthy lines. The line basically went around the block. Why? Because this shop is not your typical ice cream shop. They offer exotic, gourmet flavors such as Orange Cardamom, Passion Fruit, and Strawberry-Lychee. It's ice cream and sorbet made with a French-Vietnamese twist. Literally. The owners are both French and Vietnamese.

Kem CoBa translates to "third aunt's ice cream",
but technically CoBa is the second aunt in the family.
Vietnamese kinship terms are confusing!

The atmosphere just brings you back to your childhood - eating ice cream on a hot summer day. I had the strawberry sorbet which was super fruity and refreshing. Just what I needed after those Schwartz sandwiches! Kem CoBa was the perfect way to end the day. That rhymed!

Kem CoBa
60 Avenue Fairmount Ouest
Montréal, QC H2T 2M1
Canada

FAIRMOUNT BAGELS

The bagels that we had in Montreal were not like your typical Einstein Bros. bagels. I remember seeing the customer in front of us walk out with a LOT of bagels. Like a lot. The oh so popular bakery is just a couple of steps away from Kem CoBa. How convenient is that? This family operated bakery has been going strong for almost a century! You can tell they’re dedicated because they never close. The bakery’s open 24/7 all year long.

As we stood in line, I spied behind the counter to see what was really happening. I love me some behind the scenes. I saw a wood fire blazing away which was cool. The bagels at Fairmount are handcrafted and baked in a wood fire oven. Their sesame bagels were slightly sweet and perfectly crafted. Almost every spot on the bagel was conquered by a sesame seed.

Freshness is clearly the key to their success because the bagels that we bought were still nice and hot. We even brought some along with us back home. Louie, my Chihuahua, seemed to enjoy it as well. The bakery also claims that their bagels are the best in the world and I concur.

Fairmount Bagels
74 Avenue Fairmount Ouest
Montréal, QC H2T 2M1
Canada

VIEUX PORT STEAKHOUSE

Located in Old Montreal, this steakhouse does it right. I was pleased with every single course. I even got offered wine twice! No, I did not drink any.

I ordered the Caesar Salad as my appetizer and the salmon as my entrée. The pre-appetizer was your standard bread and butter which was pretty good considering it was ciabatta rolls. The second pre-app was fried calamari which was too die for. I promised myself to save some room for the actual appetizer, but I couldn’t help but eat the little fried morsels. I also had a forkful of my cousin’s salmon tartar. It was my first time eating raw fish, but I do have to say, it was pretty good.

My Caesar Salad was nicely prepared. I’ve gotta say the salmon was the star of the night. It was well seasoned and grilled to perfection. The spinach wasn’t overpowered by the garlic either. My favorite part was the wild rice; it made the dish healthy yet very filling. Overall, it was a perfect, light entrée.

Comfiest chairs ever!

For dessert, we shared a crème brûlée. It wasn’t overly sweet and the sugar crust was caramelized to the point it should be. The night ended on a sweet note with the crème brûlée and chocolate mousse cake which disappeared within seconds (hence no picture). It was a great way to celebrate my uncle’s birthday and wedding anniversary.

Vieux Port Steakhouse
39 Rue Saint Paul Est
Montreal, QC H2Y 1G2
Canada

SCHWARTZ'S

One of the well known foods in Montreal is smoked meat. This is a must have on your "To-Eat List" for when you visit Montreal. At Schwartz's, they specialize in deli meat. They sell them by the pound which is perfect for impromptu picnics like the one that we had.

While we were there, we managed to find a gazebo type of thing and set up a picnic. We bought loaves of bread and two packs of freshly sliced smoked meat. Everyone was in charge of making their own sandwich. I do have to say, my makeshift sandwich was really satisfying. You really don’t need any accompaniments for your sandwich. No condiments, no filter. It's a beauty in itself. Sometimes simplicity is the best. Overall, it was a nice snack to fulfill my hunger for the rest of the day.

Schwartz's
3895 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Montreal, QC H2W 1X9
Canada

TOI, MOI & CAFE

This cute little café was located near my aunt’s place so we took the opportunity to soak up the sunshine and walk there. When we arrived, the place was absolutely packed. I've never seen that many coffee drinkers in one room. Okay, there weren't that many diners, but it was still pretty busy. It was Sunday morning and there were a lot of locals there which indicated that this was a usual morning hangout spot.

"Toi et moi" means "you and me" in French.

My favorite elements of the café were the overhanging steel garage door and the chalkboard piece. It gave the café an old, industrial feel. Plus, it added a nice homey touch to the place.

So many choices! Thank goodness for those English translations.

I was in the mood for something sweet so I went with a plain crepe with a side of fresh fruit. The crepe was not too thick and not too thin. It was just right. Having the crepes was a great way to start off my day.

Toi, Moi & Cafe
2695 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest
Montréal, QC H3J 1N9
Canada

CASA-IMPERIAL FINE CHINESE CUISINE

Don’t worry, this isn’t Mexican and Chinese fusion. Although that does sound kind of good. The name may be misleading, but the dim sum sure isn’t. Now, I’ve had dim sum from San Francisco to Denver and it’s not that easy to find proper dim sum, but I've gotta say, the food at this restaurant was not too shabby.

We pretty much had everything that I would ever desire when it comes to dim sum. Lucky me. We had the traditional chow fun (Stir Fried Noodles), siu mai (Steamed Pork Dumplings), lotus leaf wraps, and so much more. But my favorite would be the short ribs. It was glazed in a mixture of honey and soy sauce. I couldn’t help but spin the Lazy Susan back to the ribs. They were pretty good or hen hao as they say it in Chinese.

Dim Sum is basically Chinese tapas.
They are small dishes usually shared with others.

My favorite aspect about this restaurant is the setting. This restaurant is actually set in an old Victorian house. It felt more like a mansion because of the high ceilings and exquisite details. Another aspect that I liked was the mood. This is going to sound cheesy, but I truly felt like royalty when I sat down at the table. The tea pots and chandeliers and chairs made me feel like I was attending a tea party. It's probably the most luxurious, classy restaurant I've ever been to. I kinda want to have my wedding here in the future too.

Casa-Imperial Fine Chinese Cuisine
4125 Steeles Ave E
Scarborough, ON M1W 3T4
Canada

BUN SAIGON

On our first night in Toronto, my family decided to take a vote on what type of cuisine we should have for dinner. The two candidates were Vietnamese and Chinese; we unanimously chose Vietnamese. After the short election, we walked about 20 steps from our hotel and discovered Bún Saigon.

Bun Saigon simply means “Noodle Saigon”.

At Bún Saigon, they offer traditional dishes like the classic Pho (Noodle Soup) and Bún Thịt Nướng (Grilled Meat Noodle Bowl). I usually order something that my parents barely make at home whenever we go out to Vietnamese restaurants. Smart huh? I ordered the grilled meat combo dish. It’s basically grilled chicken and pork with rice on the side as well as some vegetables (lettuce, tomato, and cucumber). I also had some samplings of the Cảnh Chưa Cá (Sweet and Sour Soup with Fish) as well as the Cá Kho Tộ (Braised Fish). Both were equally delicious.

Overall, the staff was friendly and they made us feel right at home. The atmosphere was super casual and family oriented which reminded me of the Vietnamese restaurants back in California. If you’re searching for traditional Vietnamese fare in Toronto, then Bún Saigon is the place! This little gem is located right next to a Chinese bakery (one of my guilty pleasures).

Bún Saigon 252 Spadina Ave
Toronto, ON M5T 2C2
Canada

PREMIERE MOISON

Première Moison is a quaint little bakery tucked behind a farmer’s market that is known for its artisan delicacies and pastries. We were taking a morning stroll and halfway through our trek, we decided to stop at this bakery.

You know it's good when the place is packed with locals and the line arches to the other side of the bakery. There were dozens of pastries and treats to choose from, but I decided to go with the classic croissant. I mean, I am in Montreal - the second largest French speaking city in the world.

Choosing the croissant was not a bad choice at all. It was the best croissant I’ve ever had. And no I am not exaggerating. It was beyond flaky and buttery. You can definitely tell the goods are fresh because they come straight from the cooling rack to the case. I can’t even imagine what the croissants in France must taste like.

So next time you’re in Quebec or Ontario, check out their lovely croissants.

Première Moison
3025 St-Ambroise St.
Montréal, QC H4C 2C2
Canada

JUNE FAVORITES 2014

These are a few of my favorite things...

Chocolate Brownie Clif Bar

Now I don't know about you, but I LOVE chocolate. Clif Bars? Not so much. I was never a huge Clif Bar fan, but when I saw this bar, I just gravitated towards it. It's basically a healthy brownie. How bad can that be? This energy bar is perfect for emergencies or as a snack for whenever. It's oh so decadent and healthier than the typical brownie; there are about 76 less calories. It doesn't taste healthy or good for you because of the chocolate chunks mixed within it.

This bar is a great alternative for your chocolate cravings. It definitely defines indulgence. I highly recommend this energy bar!

Psych

When I first heard about Psych, I was a bit reluctant to watch it. It didn’t sound that interesting to me. I didn’t understand why the series finale was so important or why everyone was so obsessed with pineapples. A self proclaimed psychic solving cases? Hmm okay. Well that all changed after my friend reintroduced me to Psych. You know who you are.

After watching the pilot episode, I was hooked. The script is amusing let alone the actors. I’ve been watching episodes back to back, that’s how good it is. Round of applause for James Roday and Dulé Hill for making this TV series hilarious!