Three things for February

I have so many pictures on my cameras to upload. There were so much photo-taking over the weekend I had to switch cameras when one ran out of battery. Yikes! I better migrate more things over to the external.

I believe I am a fan of Valentines day... but for all the wrong reasons. Who doesn't like hearts and the color pink and nerdy valentines (You're hot like capsaicin! Goodness, I didn't even have to think to get that one.) and seeing heart-shaped balloons and starbucks cards with pretty designs and cheap chocolate the day after... see where I'm going?

So here are some happy things to get you ready for the month of February. 

1. All There Is: Love Stories from StoryCorps

Have you seen the Danny and Annie animated short?

 

StoryCorps aim is to collect stories from everyday life, I believe they set up a recording booth in Grand Central. Little gems from ordinary people. I love hearing bits on the radio. This book will focus on some love stories that were reported. Too bad the tour isn't passing through the bay.

To be released: Tomorrow, February 2!
Website.

2. Cafe Fantasia

I tried a new drink in SF before my morning drive back home.

Mocha + Almond Flavoring

It might be my new green tea latte.

3a. Garden of Love Forever Stamps

Buy now.

3b. Jason Wu for Target

I couldn't help adding this in too.

I am a sucker for ruffles and pleats. I really like these Target collaborations.
Can you ever have too many dresses?
I think not.

Keep posted for more.

Three things to smile at

It's been awhile.

Some things I've come across recently that made me smile.

1. Fish-shaped Fish Bowl

Setting fish bowls to a higher standard.

orig $67.99 Amazon

2. Smash Journal

I have been wanting one of these since I saw a display in Michaels while purchasing Christmas craft supplies. Paper craft items are 30% off at Joann's this week. Score! (Still cheaper on Amazon, oh well.) Also picked one up for a friend that could use a pick-me up. I hope she likes it as much as I do.

Orig $12.99. Amazon.

3. The Welcoming Mat

Friendly. Welcoming. Practical.
Nice to meet you Mat.

Orig $24.98 Amazon

Three things for your head

1. Floppy Hat

I want a floppy hat. The floppier the better.
I saw this one at Old Navy and it looks lovely with anything. I feel like you can find similar hats elsewhere for cheaper. This week Target has some on sale for $14 (but they just aren't as floppy).

Floppy Felt Hat, Old Navy, $19.94

2. Alligator

I am very excited about my new orleans cookbook. If I bought this alligator meat I could make the Alligator Creole recipe. Too bad it's $40. (This applies to the mouth region of your head.)

Alligator Fillets, 5lb, $39.95

3. Helmet

I just bought a bike helmet (REI is having a labor day sale!) and was so close to buying this one helmet. It was mistakenly marked on sale for $40 (why is everything $40 these days?) and everything. I think it's so adorable I'd wear it anywhere. Too bad unless I had roller-blades on my feet (I can't skateboard) people would probably assume I am prone to seizures.

Star Bright Multi-use Helmet, Nutcase, $60

All Things Aqua

Currently obsessed - all things must be aqua.

1. Orly - Frisky

I searched for this everywhere!
And eventually found it at Ulta.
Guess I should have looked at Amazon.
(now if only I could find neon yellow)

ORLY Happy Go Lucky collection 2011 FRISKY

2. Flash Drive

Who needs 16gb anyways?

Sandisk Cruzer 4gb Color USB Flash Drive, Walmart, $8

3. Zigtechs

Strangers always seem to compliment my Zigs. 

Actually, not always, so far just twice. 

Just for that, pet store girl, I bought a scoop of peanut butter treats that gave The-Puppy-Formerly-Known-As-Prince diarrhea. Sorry... doggy.

Reebok Women's Zig Fuel Running Shoe, Amazon

July 4 Discoveries

[Oh so late. I've been preoccupied with my new bundle of joy.]

Hope everyone had a wonderful July 4th weekend and found some place to watch fireworks.
I saw some after a soccer game, driving past the local theme park, and some (most-likely illegal ones) people in my neighborhood were putting off (all night).

SOCCER
I didn't know soccer was such a big deal over here. Maybe I'm used to peewee soccer games so I went to a San Jose Earthquakes game with low expectations. A grassy field where people brought lawn chairs and maybe there would be some rickety bleachers and hopefully a food stand selling churros. When we approached the stadium the stomping and roar of the crowd reminded me of scenes in Gladiator as fighters entered the arena. There were over 31,000 in attendance at the game. So much for lawn chairs.

The game was just like FIFA video game, guys really do make a line in front of the goal and cover themselves with their hands, except better because there were people walking around selling cotton candy and kettle corn and the players kept getting into fights.

Afterward, they turned off the stadium lights and there was a fireworks presentation complemented with music. Fireworks remind me of the part in Little Mermaid where Sebastian sees some in the sky and exclaims "Jumping Jellyfish!". Beautiful.

GRAN VINA SANGRIA

I'm not a huge fan of the stuff. But someone brought this kind brand from Whole Foods and it was so good!

KITCHEN MAT
Jbear got a new kitchen mat. Very squishy. Almost as squishy at my housemates' yoga mats. I pulled it to the place I chopped and skewered vegetables for a few hours since my knees were already feeling wobbly and sore after baking a cheesecake. Fantastic! I thought my footprints would be stuck in there because they were so deep. But the magical mat swelled up back to its regular surface.

Three things - Birthday edition

Bad things tend to happen on around my birthday.

But that is okay because since I know which day it is, I can try to prepare myself in advance.

Luckily, there are some good things associated with birthdays - like free stuff!

Not the free quantity-over-quality chinese buffet dinners. I mean cool stuff I'd actually want.

Here are some things I took advantage of this year 

(and maybe you could do when it's your birthday)

Sephora - Beauty Insider free birthday gift

Sign up to for Sephora's Beauty Insider free rewards program and receive a birthday gift from them within 14 days of your birthday. Add it to your purchase on sephora.com or pick it up at a Sephora retail store during the same timeframe. No purchase is necessary to receive your gift at a Sephora store.

I've never done this before but happened to be at the mall picking up a rosebud salve tube (did you know it comes in tubes?) and was surprised to get a small bottle of Philosophy's Vanilla Cupcake. This will be perfect for the gym.

Rules.

World Market - Reward Member $10 off coupon

I think my roommates can attest that World Market is one of my favorite stores since I'm always bringing back bags of goodies (I just became mayor of my local store on Foursquare!). They always have those $10 off $30 coupons that suck me into think I'm getting a great deal when in reality their food is rather overpriced. I don't care. I love their blood orange soda, international snacks, 99 cent spices and colorful kitchenware. 

Sign up for World Market Explorer free rewards program. For your birthday you get $10 off your purchase (no $30 minimum). I bought two tins of nyakers gingersnaps (my favorites!) on sale 2 for $10. I used my coupon. There was no tax. So I basically walked out the store with two free tins of cookies. Happy cookie monster day! Hooray!

Smashbox.com - free birthday gift with order

Use code: BDAY2011

I like smashbox foundation primer. I haven't tried too many of their other products because I feel bad spending a lot of money on makeup and usually go for Clinique when they have their free gifts. My mom used to take me around the cosmetics area of department stores shopping for free gifts rather than the actual products. I am all for freebies.

This is what the email said the birthday gift includes. The email said not to be combined with other offers and deals like "Lets Do Lunch". I am most excited for the cheek color because after I started using Benefit's Posietint I am on friendlier terms with cheek color.

Lets Do Lunch is pretty awesome. Every online order submitted Tuesday and Thursday 9AM-2PM pst you will receive a free full-size product that changes each time. Also with every order you get free basic shipping and free deluxe size samples. Samples is one area where ordering online beats buying something in the store. They also have a clearance section.

Other goodies I have done before:

GAP/BR/ON - if you have their credit card they send you a $10/$15 reward.
Dairy Queen - bogo any size blizzard. they are strict on only allowing you to print the coupon once.

Red Robin - join red robin club and get a free hamburger on your birthday

Loehmann's - insider club members get 15% off your birthday month

A massive list of other birthday goodies:

http://hip2save.com/category/freebies/birthday-freebies

Three Things

It's hot. I want to sit indoors and drink banana shakes all day - hot.
Three things that make it better.

1. Beach

An impromptu trip to the beach for boardwalk snacks, enjoying the sun because no ski jackets required, and running barefoot among the seagulls in wet sand. I wish I lived there and could start everyday with sand between my toes.

2. Banana pudding

I made some banana cream cupcakes. A cool dessert perfect for warm weather. Unfortunately, I in lieu of making the frosting I cut corners and bought a can of french vanilla whipped cream. Sounds good. Tastes good. But falls flat into a watery mess within 10 minutes. Next time I shall stick with the original recipe.

Whip cream slowly melting

3. Opera

Lately I've been listening to opera on pandora. I'm not sure why, but it is incredibly soothing. I don't know what they're saying and that doesn't matter. It's the perfect background music for working or stretching or a night of baking.

(FYI: I've also been listening to the soundtrack to The Book of Mormon but it's not good background music because I end up singing along. Hello!)

 

basically an episode of South Park on Broadway

Three Things - GAP

Did you know GAP has been running a THANK YOU sale in-store?

If you have a ON/GAP/BR card you can get 40% off EVERYTHING!

That includes clearance. Thank YOU GAP!

Apparently, it is baby season. 

I commented to my stepdad before that there sure are a lot of summer babies.

He replied "we get cold".

Being a teenager, I said "ewww, I didn't ask."

I can't wait till my parents are here to visit!

I got some pretty awesome things for a pretty awesome price.

If you know people getting to that phase in life, it's a great time to stock up!

1. Nautical

The nautical look never goes out of style.

GAP baby. Adventurer bodysuit.

2. Knotted hat

This is hard to pull off later in life.

Gap Baby. First knotted hat.

3. Feet

Who doesn't like playing with baby feet?

GAP baby. Logo socks.

Tip: If you are at a store with all the Gap stores connected - check out at the Gap Baby register.

a) there usually isn't a line

b) bags are adorable

c) if you get a gift bag they give you adorable tissue paper and a sticker

Three things - urban outfitters

I try to do this on Tuesday but Memorial Day weekend mixed me up.

Thank you UO with all your very cute random novelties.

(not that I'd actually want one, but there are some very creative product designers somewhere)

Three things that made me smile lately. 

1. These papers are making me hungry

No chopsticks required.

Urban Outfitters. Sushi stapler. $8

2. Hello beautiful

Ready for a night on the town?

Urban Outfitters. Car lashes. $30

3. Not quite the same

Multitasking at its finest.

 

Urban Outfitters. Butt Station. $18

Three Things for your Tum

1. Mrs. Barry's Kona Cookies

http://konacookies.com/

Avoid distractions and go straight for the chocolate dipped mac nut cookies.
I don't have any pictures of the ones I brought back because they didn't last very long...

2. Loco Moco

I had a super loco moco at the Big Island Grill made with 3 different meats.

Why have I never considered venturing beyond hamburger beef or spam?

Chicken katsu was delicious!

Ingredients: cooked white rice, meat (usually hamburger patty or fried spam, but try chicken katsu!), fried egg, gravy.

You can figure out the rest.

3. Mango Salsa

We pretty much had mango salsa with everything. Every day.

 Dinner our first night (mostly from Costco!): seaweed salad, hawaiian style potato salad, sweet bbq ribs, mango salsa, chicken, and rice. Yum!

Three Things

1. Rompers

They aren't just for kids anymore. Perfect comfort summer/resort wear.

I always thought they looked a bit silly when they sold them at tropical tourist spots.

Take away the giant Hawaiian flowers and add some ruffles or detail and voila!

You are suddenly in this season.

 

2. Pleated/Linen Shorts

I am a dress fanatic but when you are doing something active
or in the vicinity of gusts of wind, shorts is the way to go. 

Bermuda shorts provide coverage but still feel constricting.

 I am so over this daisy dukes fad.

I like the look of pleated shorts and mid-thigh linen shorts.

Versatile, comfortable and perfect for hot weather.

It seemed everywhere I looked they were out of my size.

I even tried to convert a cheap skirt into my perfect pair of shorts.

I should just leave that to the experts.

3. UFC Trainer

This game comes out June 21.
I wonder if it will be like P90x for XBOX.