Hi there! It's been so long since my last post... really long. I've been sick and can't really look at my computer too long. Sorry for not updating as much as I used to...

Today, I'd like to share a exciting news I got from Mary from Etsy. My Mushroom Dumbo was featured in Parenting.com!! It was chosen as one of "31 baby gifts for $20 and less". That was super exciting for me!

I'm hoping that I'll feel better soon... so that I can get back to blogging world!

Have a good weekend everybody!

Shishito pepper

I'm glad to announce my shishito pepper is finally growing peppers!! Yey! I've never really grow a vegetable before, so I'm super excited! I can't wait to try them!! My tomato is also doing fine. I love this feeling. I think I'm so into growing my own vegetables now... I just bought basil plant. Ah, I wish I had a garden!!

Now, I want to show off my veggie friendliness! (hehe) With this...

(Veggie Tote Bag by EakDesignLtd)

Or this might do it...

(Rare Vintage Georges Briard Enamel Tray by Thewildplum)

Our 1st anniversary trip

Last Tuesday, June 1st, was our 1st wedding anniversary! It's hard to believe it's been a year since the wedding! but at the same time, it's hard to believe it's been only a year... It's been a great year for sure tho!! To celebrate it, we had a little trip up to Santa Barbara, Hearst Castle, and Sycamore mineral springs!

First stop was Santa Barbara!

We had a lunch at Natural Cafe. They had a lot of veggie stuff for me. No photo of the food... I was too hungry!

This is a view from our hotel room at Hotel Santa Barbara. Right above a Japanese flag... haha.

The hotel was great! The location was the best! In the middle of State St (Main Street of SB) so we didn't have to drive anymore. And I like when a hotel have complimentary drinks in lobby. They had iced tea and fruits in the day and hot coffee and variety of teas at night. Everybody could use a coffee break after a long (or short) trip.

Then we walked to the beach and had a dinner at Brewhouse. They have great selection of original beers. Mmmmm.... It's very beachy, hang loose atmosphere in there. Very casual but huge selection of good food!

My dinner, Halibut. It was good!

My hubby's dinner, Tuna, was better... It had a wasabi sauce... so good!!

Sunset.

Next day, we drove up to Hearst Castle!!

Here's a description of the Hearst Castle from their website...

"In 1865, George Hearst, a wealthy miner, purchased 40,000-acres of ranchland that included the Mexican Ranchos of Piedras Blancas, San Simeon and Santa Rosa. In 1919, his only son, William Randolph Hearst, inherited the land from his mother, Phoebe Apperson Hearst. By then the ranch had grown to encompass 250,000 acres.

Originally known as "Camp Hill," its wilderness offered a place for family members and friends to "rough it" on camping trips. Despite elaborate arrangements with separate sleeping and dining tents, Hearst envisioned more comfortable accommodations. His simple instructions to famed San Francisco architect Julia Morgan in 1919: "Miss Morgan, we are tired of camping out in the open at the ranch in San Simeon and I would like to build a little something"

Hearst and Morgan's collaboration was destined to become one of the world's greatest showplaces. As they were planning and constructing his dream home, Hearst renamed the rocky perch from which it rose "La Cuesta Encantada" - The Enchanted Hill. By 1947, Hearst and Morgan had created an estate of 165 rooms and 127 acres of gardens, terraces, pools and walkways."

We took a tour 1 that was recommended for fist time visitors. We parked our car and a bus drive us up to the castle.

A view was amazing.

Famous Neptune pool! I didn't see any leaves in the pool... the water was sparkling.

Perfect garden.

One of a guest rooms. A lot of movie stars actually stayed here! very classy.

Each rooms have bathrooms for their own.

These two Sekmet figures are actually from Ancient Egypt, about 3000 year ago!!! I guess you can tell how rich you're when you use a real ancient art piece in your garden and have water comes out of it...

The castle!!

The fireplace in the Assembly Room . The biggest fireplace I've ever seen...

They used it to have cocktails before the dinner. WOW.

Dining room.

Billiard room.

Roman pool. They used real gold on the floor. Beautiful!!!

That night, we drove to Aliva Beach. It's a very cute little beach community.

We had wine tasting at Wood Winery , the only ocean front wine tasting room in the nation.

Stayed at Sycamore Mineral Springs. They have hot tubs in each rooms and some of them have mineral water. They also have outside tubs that you can use without staying at the hotel. It was very relaxing... little stinky but relaxing...

We had our anniversary dinner at a restaurant in the hotel. We were the first one there...

Halibut (again!) was great!!! With coconut curry sauce... yum.

My hub had a steak.

The last day, we drove through wine country... Stopped by at Los Olivos for lunch.

Cute ponies.

I had a great relaxing long weekend!! After we came home, we exchanged our gifts. Maybe I'll show you the gifts next time. Happy anniversary honeybun!

Last weekend

Last Saturday, we went to Los Angeles County Museum of Art to adapt a tomato pant at Tomato Hootenanny. It's great. You adapt a tomato plant, and when it's harvested everybody will gather all the tomatoes and make salsas with salsa music. I can't wait! I hope I'll be a good foster mother of this tomato plant...

So far, it's looking good! I'll definitely let you know when I go to the salsa party!

Of course all the art we saw at the museum was great. I especially liked Paul Klee's stuff.

Before that, we had a lunch at Umami Burger on La Brea.

(image by umami burger)

(image by Washington City Paper)

I had mushroom and edamame veggie burger. It was good! Their sweet potato fries were awesome. But we didn't get full, even after a ice cream sandwich for the dessert... Especially my hubby was not full and said he could easily eat another one. I think it's good for a light lunch or if you don't eat too much. The burger size totally reminded me of Japan. When I came here I could only eat half of a plate and thought I was going to die because I was so full. But now, I can finish a plate all by myself... Maybe it was good reminder...

When we came home, I got a package from my friend in Japan. She sent me a book of stamps from 60's.

It is so cute! I love it! It's very inspiring too for me to look at these awesome illustrations from all over the world. I never thought about collecting stamps but I might be interested now... I think it's more like small piece of art. Look how cute they are!!

Thanks Chie!!!

Theory shirts

New looks from Theory is casual yet so elegant. I think these looks with nice shirts would never go out of the style.

Can you tell that I like those shoes, too?

Ready to take a stage...

Happy Friday everyone! Have a good diva weekend!!

Eating day

Yesterday, I went out and had a lunch with my girl friends on Abbot Kenny, Venice CA. On of my friend is a macrobiotic chef, so we went to check out a macrobiotic deli/cafe called J's kitchen. What the heck is Macrobiotic? Here's a description of it from Macrobiotic guide. " Macrobiotics is an approach to physical and emotional wellness through consuming foods that are balanced energetically (between yin and yang) and nutritionally. It is typically a well-balanced diet with high fibre, low fat, lots of vegetables and grains, vegetable protein, and limited meat, with an emphasis on eating seasonal organic food." It's very deep when you study this macrobiotic stuff. I haven't study like my friend, a chef, but basically the diet is simple. Eat less meat, less processed food, no refined flower or sugar, more vegetables, organic, balanced diet. I eat macrobiotic as much as I can. Or at least I try to be healthy.

I ordered "power bento box". Wow. Was it a lot of food!

It had Hijiki (seaweed), Kabocha pumpkin, Azuki beans, Salad with beans, Gobo burdock roots and carrots, Fried tempe, BBQ seitan, and brown rice. Oh, it came with a cup of miso soup, too. Believe or not, I ate most of it. The BBQ seitan was too salty for me and I couldn't eat the whole thing. But besides that, it was good! And thanks to my dear friend! She bought my lunch for my late birthday... Sweet! I love you!

Then we headed to across the street to Jin Patisserie to have some tea and sweets. They had a nice outside sitting area. Great for nice sunny afternoon... ahhh.... They have lunch stuff like sandwiches and salads, but I think they're famous for their chocolates and macaroons.

They also have good variety of teas.

I was full, but I had to try their macaroons... I just had to. I got raspberry, yuzu, and chocolate. Yum!! I've had their chocolates before and they're in very cute box and really yummy, too. Great for a gift.

Then we went and got foot massage. That was good too. What a nice day!! I was so relaxed... Until I was stuck in a traffic on the way back to my house for 1hr and half. I used to do the drive everyday and I really don't miss a bit. I hate it!

That night, my hubby "needed" to see Los Angeles Lakers play so we went to our favorite sushi restaurant in Pasadena, Oba. We don't have a cable TV and the game was on TNT. He "needed" to go somewhere to see it. It was actually really fun. They always have good food and a lot of customers were there to see the game also. Oh, and Lakers winning made our night better I have to say.

I had a great day!