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: Almost too marvelous

Let's get it out of the way, I lost my phone, and that is NOT MARVELOUS. There was no reason to lose it either - I wasn't under the influence, I just lost it getting out of the car and to the parking meter.

At least the evening was MARVELOUS.

We started with a MARVELOUS Duffy boat ride in the Newport Harbor, swinging by mult-million dollar homes and the Balboa Peninsula... while drinking champagne.

The lowdown on Duffy boats: So you rent the boat for an hour or more, you are on your own with driving, and you can bring drinks with you. We were all bundled up but it wasn't too terribly cold. Each of us only paid $10. Too bad not everything was lit up yet for the holidays...

Our next stop was at one of my favorite restaurants, the MARVELOUS SOL Cocina. I got the hot & raw tropical ceviche again, and a grande organic slim margarita. :) They make the best margaritas ever!

I also picked a spot next to two MARVELOUS and cute guys.

Finally, we went to downtown Huntington Beach where I lost my phone. I thought it was just in the car but probably fell out of my bag on the way to the bar.

Everything was packed so we went to the least packed, BJ's Brewhouse, for some beers. I chose a taster of 4 beers, not realizing that they had 5 ounce pours.

And in the end, it was MARVELOUS because I snagged 2 numbers (friend's friends) [on paper] and was asked by a third person to make bath salts with them. Huh... it's very innocent - they're into alternative medicines.

We talked about Enrique, but I fell in love with this brother at a Macy's Day Parade.


My music tastes have really changed...


I've been craving MARVELOUS carrot cake. This is perfect... I just need some cream cheese.


Okay, since we're talking food... I agree with the guy. Sorry.


What are your thoughts on the video?
What's one of your favorite desserts?

MIMM: Fun at the time...

It's Monday and I've spent all day in bed with a hangover. I was definitely still drunk this morning after a gin and tonic and several Jagerbombs with long-lost family members and no food whatsoever. Fun at the time, not fun right now...

Sure, I missed work and it's the last week with my kids, but I caught up on sleep and blog reading, and maybe some homework later.

MARVELOUS sweater I found in my mom's closet!

MARVELOUS sweaty workout Sunday morning (2 rounds), some strength, & yoga

(Bonnie Lang Fitness)

Getting the hard stuff out of the way first with a MARVELOUSly organized to-do list

Some of my favorite pieces from MARVELOUS Patchwork Festival in Long Beach. I might need to buy that shirt for someone, and I need a female best friend...

Of course, I bought mom some MARVELOUS Santa Monica-based pop candy brittle. This is a seasonal carrot cake flavor.

 MARVELOUS fall weather in the most beautiful neighborhood ever! This may be the only street in Southern California with a hint of fall.

Next stop, MARVELOUS Belmont Shores.

I ate teeny $4 Dutch ice cream while walking up and down 2nd Street. Not that amazing...

Last stop, MARVELOUS Retro Row: furniture stores, vintage shops, consignment stores...

MARVELOUS. If only I could roller skate. Hm...

Anandamide : Psychedelicatessen for a MARVELOUS raw s'more. The shop has chocolates and other raw goodies. Yum.

Came home, got dressed, drank a beer. I mentioned this beer and bought it. Sadly, I wasn't a fan.

Mom & I ready for the wedding

Twin sisters (mom on left, aunt on right)

My cousin & her mom

Well, back to nursing my headache with lots of water and food.

Have you taken a day off for a hangover?
Has fall hit your area yet? It was a bit cooler here... which reminds me of my co-worker saying, "The last El Nino, my palm tree fell down." Hah.