MIMM: Indulge (pizza, wine, sushi, sweets galore)

Friday night dinner plans were cancelled so I made new ones. I spent an hour making a list and must say, I'm super accommodating because in the end, my friend wanted pizza/pasta and we just went to Mama D's Italian Kitchen in Newport Beach. I love pizza but just had it, and I just don't like pasta... yeah, call me weird!

I ate 2 slices of this MARVELOUS small meatball, pineapple, & tomato pizza. My family ate the leftovers. My tummy felt uneasy after though. :(

Saturday, Julie and I were ready for the big day: Indulge L.A.

Julie squared - I'm on the right.

There was more MARVELOUS wine, champagne, and liquor than chocolate...

There might have been more savory than sweet too! Sushi?

Turkey meatloaf in a bao?

Valrhona chocolates, truffles, Breadbar, and the best of the day: MARVELOUS Dirty Tequila (cinnamon and pineapple infused tequila) margaritas! They hooked us up with several drinks!

We spent 3 hours there and then noticed that Clementine was across the street. Like we needed more sweets...

Joy the Baker introduced this bakery in Bonkers Awesome so I had to go!

I picked up a chocolate chip cookie to try.

Our day was not over. It was barely 5 PM so we started driving home and stopped in Long Beach. I planned to take her to The Federal Bar (again!), but it was booked for a holiday party. We should have said we were part of the company/our "boyfriends/husbands" were waiting for us.

Instead, we walked up and down the area until we ended up at District Wine. The area around District Wine is much more artsy - there was a crafts fair that evening and a cute coffee shop. All day, we didn't eat a real meal so we had [more] wine and shared a tapas of 3 meatballs. So much for real food!

(source)

I slept in on Sunday, did very little yoga, and started baking eggnog thumbprint cookies!*

*The frosting has rum!

I headed to a Meetup group cookie exchange. I had a coconut macaroon from Blackmarket Bakery, a glass of white wine, and played Apples to Apples with some great ladies.

For lunch, my aunt (thanks!) picked me up MARVELOUS healthy roll from Full Moon sushi.

Tuna, salmon, white fish, and crab wrapped in soy paper. I want some more!

I got some MARVELOUS packages in the mail. I love snail mail and can't wait to share what I got!

I spent my evening on homework finally and writing MARVELOUS cards to send this week.

Did you finish your holiday cards?
Did you get cards done? I bought these last year at Target on clearance!

MIMM: Nightlife, Day Tripping, and... Errands

This weekend had a little bit of everything: nightlife, day tripping, and the usual errands. I'm not much into staying out late anymore, but this was fun and more "mature" - we met up with some people from my friend's new office job.

Friday night was my friend's work party. She started this week and hadn't met anyone yet. They held it at the MARVELOUS The Federal Bar, an old bank turned restaurant and bar!

Upstairs was huge - a long bar where the tellers must've been, tall tables with stools, and then booths.

The private party was held downstairs and the food was set up in the old vault. They served MARVELOUS food: salmon, chicken, brocollini, salad, and new potatoes, cheeses, and I got 3 drink tickets - I got champagne.

In the vault is a door to an old speakeasy!

We played Blackjack and I learned to play craps, and received raffles for prizes. I won a... breakfast basket. It wasn't a very good basket, but I still won something.

Of course I made friends. :) We played pool at [almost-empty] The Port and then went dancing to island music at a crowded Hawaiian-themed Mai Tai.

Saturday was Unique LA, a holiday show that features local artisan goods and edibles. I love seeing all the creativity and MARVELOUS creations.

Beautiful venue too! We got 360 views of downtown LA.

On my way home, I stopped by The Pizza Press for a late lunch/early dinner. The location is hard to find, embedded between some motels. The pizza was MARVELOUS though - I built my own with sausage, salami, artichokes, pineapple, onions, and roasted red peppers.

I was tired and decided to stay home, drink wine, and finally watch "Despicable Me." It made me laugh and cry!

I considered going to the Rose Bowl Flea Market on Sunday but didn't want to make the drive. Instead, I ended up doing what I usually do on Sundays: shop.

TJ Maxx was my first stop. I love it during the holidays - they have so many good things!

North Carolina-based Moon Rabbit Foods coconut flour

I don't eat many doughnuts but when I do, I go to Sidecar Doughnuts. It was on the way and they had new flavors.

Butter & salt, which was unassumingly MARVELOUS

Huckleberry apple

Has this ever happened to you? I walked out of Whole Foods with a pint of ice cream & a bar of chocolate!

Ciao Bella Pumpkin Sea Salt Caramel & Theo Nutcracker Brittle

Despite all my extravagant & MARVELOUS food purchases (not pictured), I made a mid-day green smoothie for lunch.

Afterwards, I headed over to visit family... they wanted to go shopping too.

MARVELOUS "Popular on Pinterest" cheetah print flats (and a pair of red suede flats) for $15

Mom bought me some MARVELOUS Clarks' mocassins/slippers from Ross for $12.99!

What was MARVELOUS about your weekend?
What kind of shoes do you wear on a day-to-day basis?

MIMM: Escape (and bake)

I still woke up early on Saturday and headed to MARVELOUS Old Towne Orange.

My friend told me about these MARVELOUS pita chips - this was the very last bag!

I stopped by Total Wine for an hour to peruse their selection of MARVELOUS beers for the BBQ.

We BBQ'ed (I didn't eat) then walked downtown to see MARVELOUS "Escape Plan." Andrew was the assistant to the director and his roommate Denton is in the movie!

We went to a MARVELOUS bar, Oldfield's Liquor Room, afterwards. Lots of walking, and I would've been okay with it if it wasn't so darn cold! We then went by our friend's apartment till 2 A.M.

I had a pretty good time - I met some fun people though I was super tired. :(

In the morning, I headed to MARVELOUS Larchmont for a walk.

I picked up a MARVELOUS new-to-me tonic from Erewhon market.

I came home & made MARVELOUS mini pumpkin pies (egg-free, dairy-free, gluten-free).

They turned out MARVELOUS and perfect!

I craved Seasons 52's MARVELOUS chili I had last Sunday and found the recipe online. I used a chocolate stout beer.

Finally, I made this MARVELOUS key lime pie (without the booze). I already ate 1/4 of it!

Meal Plan Monday

Breakfast: oatmeal protein pancakes all week long
Lunch: chili (above) [4 meals]
Dinner: I have no idea yet!
Snacks: almond bread w/ cookie butter & cocoa spread, key lime pie (above)

This week seems rough already. I'm hopeful though!

Where do you escape to on weekends?
Did you bake anything? Any pumpkin or apple flavored foods?

High Five: 50/50 + survey

HIGH FIVE for getting called back for a second interview with the principal. This means I have a 50/50 shot?! The interview is on Wednesday at 10 A.M. Remind me!

HIGH FIVE for a self-prescribed workout.

Jill Coleman's "How to Lean Out Your Legs" was meant for me! I took her tips and headed the gym yesterday to do a LiveFit-esque workout.

• Sprints - 1 min on, 30 sec off (5 rounds)
• Leg extension - 70# x 15 (3 sets)
• Wide stance barbell squat - 55# x 10 (3 sets)
• Squat press - 250# x 10 (4 sets)
• Seated calf raise - 210# x 10 (3 sets)
• Leg curl - 50# x 10 (2 sets)
• Leg press - 210# x 10 (3 sets)
• Deadlift - 75# x 10 (3 sets)
• Stair climber - 5 minutes

HIGH FIVE for Thirsty Thursday! After a dull day at work, I met up with my friend Sara for drinks in Long Beach. First stop, Rock Bottom Brewery. I ordered the beer flight.

The White Ale was my favorite. The stout tasted like straight up coffee.

Nope, we weren't done. We went to Congregation Ale House as well where we "shared" a Black Market Brewing hefeweizen.

I headed home, texted or messaged a bunch of friends for no reason, and was lulled to bed by the sounds of Pandora.

HIGH FIVE for waking up early the next day. I headed to yoga and boy was it tough today! We worked into side crow and I can get my top leg straight!

Like this but I probably don't look as put together

Today's my day off so I'm taking a midday luxury nap & I'm hoping going to study after I finish this fun survey. :)

A. Attached or Single?

Single.

B. Best friend(s)?

Yancey, forever and ever even if we're near and don't talk sometimes.

C. Cake or Pie?

Best cake I've ever tasted from MILK in Los Angeles.

So cake it is. Unless it's pumpkin pie, but I mostly like the filling. Unless the crust is unconventional pie crust.

D. Day of choice?

Thursday and Saturdays. Thursdays because it's almost the end of the week and sometimes Fridays are a disappointment. Saturdays are always a good time.

E. Essential item?

Q-Tips, the paper kind. Plastic bends so easily! I can't recall how many times I've regretted forgetting them.

F. Favorite color?

Retro pistachio (KitchenAid mixer color), the exact orange in this picture, and ice blue

G. Gummy bears or worms? 

Bears, but right now, these are my favorite:

H. Hometown?

Huntington Beach, CA, but I lived on the interior.

I. Favorite indulgence?

Traveling

 and getting a mani-pedi.

J. January of July?

My birthday is in July and even though it's hot and sometimes dull (yes, I said it), I meet new friends and go hiking.

K. Kids?

None at this time. Right now, I don't foresee myself having kids because I could never give enough [time] to my kids and to my students at the same time.

L. Life isn't complete without...

My students. That's the first thing I could think of... and my phone!

M. Marriage date?

Maybe one day. I'm more partial to this than having kids at least.

N. Number of brothers/sisters?

None.

O. Oranges or Apples?

Apples! I'm pretty sad it's not apple picking season right now!

What's your favorite? Fujis, Honey Crips, and Pink Ladies are my favorite

P. Phobias

Heights combined with water.

Q. Quotes

Everyday.

 
R. Reasons to smile

#1: Possibility of getting a teaching job!

 Hanging out with old friends and new friends

S. Season of choice

T. Tag 5 people

U. Unknown fact about me

I can't swim.

V. Vegetable

Sweet potatoes

Grilled corn

W. Worst habit

Picking at my nails.

X. X-ray or Ultrasound?

Neither sound good. I did get an ultrasound once to see if there was anything wrong with my belly.

Y. Your favorite cereal?

No joke.

Z. Zodiac sign 

Okay, fine. This is true too.

Take this survey or answer any part in the comments!