Missing those extravagant purchases

Living in Los Angeles has changed the way that I budget my money.  I went from making $200 plus purchases on almost a daily basis to $0 dollar purchases!  The line between necessities and wants has definitely been drawn with a big thick black line.  I never realized how much money I spent on shopping till I stopped shopping.  You would think that getting a raise meant you would have more money.  But it doesn't help that rent is double and taxes are higher!  So in reality, I have less money.  WHAT in the world. 

I have been wanting an espresso maker.  And I came across this one today.  A handheld espresso maker!  I WANT IT!  $169.  I guess in the long run it is cheaper than getting a Grande Americano from starbucks everyday.  But when is the "long-run" ever over?  I live in the hear and now.  The long run does me no good.  HOWEVER - my favorite season IS coming up.  MY BIRTHDAY AND CHRISTMAS all in one swoop.  So...here is what on my list!  And the only thing on my list!  Handheld Espresso Maker!  http://shop.mypressi.com/-strse-Retail-Products/Categories.bok

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Hello Kitty visits Royal/T

This past weekend was the opening of the Fabulous Hello Kitty Exhibit at Royal T in Culver City.  HY and I decided to check it out on Saturday night.  The whole day was filled with Hello Kitty events.  By the time we found out about the opening festivities, all the workshops were filled up like jewelry and bento box making. I was thouroughly upset that I missed out on this opportunity, but obviously it wasn't the end of the world.  We decided to go in the evening when they had a karaoke dance party.  We pulled up to the front of Royal T and the line was out the door!  We had no idea Hello Kitty was so popular.  The diversity of people ranged so much.  There was HY and I in our usual somewhat conservative east coast look, there were mothers and fathers, cute little couples on a date, crazy people dressed harajuku style, artsy fartsy people wearing lace fishnet stockings with short skirts and boots, black, white, hispanic, asian.  Everyone was there.  And I mean everyone!

 I don't want to show too many photos of the Exhibit so for those of you in LA, you can go check it out and see some cool stuff. But I will divulge a few photographs for those of you who are not in LA!

As soon as you walk in you are greeted by this humungous hot air balloon Hello Kitty Style.  In the Royal/T cafe, they even have a Hello Kitty menu complete with Hello Kitty waffles and pancakes.  And what kid would not be enticed by a Hello Kitty gumball machine?

These are for Michi:  I kmow you wanted a pink kitchen, or have one?  The hello Kitty trailer, which will be auctioned off on ebay was there for us to enjoy as well.  This trailer was definitely decked out HK style.

 This is for Dina and Becky.  I took this picture thinking of both you.  Do you love that ball or what!?

This is for Hyoj and Yooj for your appreciation of wierd art

Sungsill - How many awesome teaparties would you have with this!?  Except these are minitures.

Yes - I think I have owned this many phone charms in my life.

Who wears this stuff??  Brittney Spears.  Puhahaha.

 The exhibit ends November 15th.  Definitely check it out if you are in the LA area.  They have events every weekend, but you can look at the exhibit anytime.  The food there is actually pretty good.  I suggest the Katsu sandwich or sliders.  Or to go with the theme, get the hello kitty pancakes.  =D

Stupid Is as Stupid Does

This is straight off Becky's Blog.  It was so funny that I just had to post it.  Click on the picture to enlarge!

Going Bananas for Dina

After I went to Color Me Mine with Dina, I went with HY the next day.  I couldn't post my piece because it was Dina's birthday present.  Now I can finally post it.  I picked a cookie jar which she wanted and painted monkichi on it.  First I tried to do the hear no evil see no evil say no evil monkeys.  But that was just too much detail.  So I had to switch my idea and free handed Sanrio's monkichi.

Here is the final cookie jar after being glazed and fired up in the kiln. 

ENJOY DINA!  I hope you had a great birthday!

Another LOL moment with Mom

Mom: They (company) are giving out so many jobs in Huntsville.
Me: Noooooooooooooooooo.  What is your problem!  You can't go there. There are bad people there.
Mom: What?  Redneck?
Me: HAHAHAHHAHAHA
Mom:  Racist? Is redneck a bad word?
Me:  HAHAHAHA HOW do you know that word?
Mom: Of course I know that word.  My mexican coworker told me not to go there because they have restaurants for only white people
Me: Then why do you want to go there
Mom: Cheaper
Me: Tucson is already cheap.  I think as you get older your brain doesn't work
Mom: My brain may not work but I'm going to keep working
Me: Ok.  Stop talking about Huntsville. Bye Bye.

So...my parents made me go to college in VA and wouldn't let me go to college in any other state.  Then I start my freshman year and a few months later they move to FL then to AZ. 

Now...I move to California to be closer to my family and they are trying to move back to the other side of the country.  Is there a theme going on here?!

888

Will suggested 888 for dimsum. Rating: TRUE REliGION. Service was not good but chinese restaurant. Can't expect much. And we're not Chinese so that makes it worse. I would speak english and they bust out in cantonese and I stare at them like a deer in headlights. But great variety.
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7-eleven brand

7-eleven has their own chip brand. Since when?
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Hi SuSaN!

Susan visited this weekend. We had good conversations of our exciting past lives and catched up on our new ones. And...CONGRATULATIONS to her and kris' engagement. Kris did a great job on the ring.
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WHO DID THIS

It was not there this morning. UGH
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Random Ramblings for the day

1.  Today I got 2 calls about job opportunities in DC/VA.  My resume is probably sitting in half the head hunters' databases in Nova.  Only cause I did a crazy job search a while back.  As I am no longer in the area, I had to refer some other people that I knew.  I did think for a millisecond about interviewing and possibly moving back.  But only a millisecond.  I can't give up on LA just yet.  So then I got curious and did a search for EVMS (my job) on monster.  One for LA and one for DC.  For LA I got one result.  ONE!  For DC there were pages and pages.  WHAT have I done to my career?  Unless I stay at my company for a long long time, or switch industries, a successful career in LA seems gloomy. 

2.  It's very different meeting new people here in LA and there in Nova. 
~In Nova when you meet a new person, they probably have the exact same bkgrnd as you, is friends with people you grew up with, has dated at least 5 people you know, is in the same industry as you are (gov), hang out in the same places you do, you have probably already heard gossip about them, and you just feel like you already know them even if you have never met them before in your life.  You do not have to converse any longer.  You are now friends. 
~In LA.  Well being NEW to LA, when I meet someone new, they are 100% strangers.  They don't know anyone I know, because I don't know anyone.  No one in LA is in the same industry. And I have no clue what they do if they tell me their job title.  They tell me where they live or grew up, and I have never heard of that city before.  They like to hang out in places I have never been before.  And there is just no one to vouch for them not being a psycho killer or not.
~So my final thought on this is that the reason it's hard to make friends in LA is because EVERYONE is 100% stranger. And it really takes 100% effort to get to know that person.  So to make a friend in a new place, you have to get their number and then constantly harrass them to hang out.  And while hanging out, ask endless questions and have awkward silences.  Then finally, you can be friends.  What a headache.  This is why I have .5 new friends in LA.  The .5 stands for all the people I have met so far and have never seen again. 

3.  Another thought on meeting new people: People on the East Coast always ask "WHERE DO YOU WORK."  People on the west coast ask "WHAT DO YOU DO."  I might have already mentioned this in an earlier post.  But this is an interesting thought and run into it constantly.

4.  Cool thing about LA is that you never go to the same place twice.  There's too many cool places to check out.

5.  I have blogged about west coast vs east coast stereotypes before.  Growing up on the east coast, I have always had an unattractive image about CA and the people of CA.  Yesterday I met someone who is from CA, but lived in NY for a few years and hated it.  He went on to tell me all about the flaws of people living on the East Coast.  It's funny because as he was describing what he didn't like about East Coasters, I realized he was describing me.   OHHHH - I had no idea those were bad things.  It is all subjective because everything I do not like about West Coasters, he said was normal and fine.  So - I'll take my East Coast flaws and even flaunt it.  But I will try to be more open minded and nicer when meeting new people now since they probably think I'm snobby. 

6.  Last rambling..TODAY IS MY FRIDAY!  NICE!

LA life in perspective

After the last few weeks I have come to the conclusion that my LA life is all about pursuing things I enjoy and checking out all the fun cafes and stores that LA has to offer.  It has really taken a long time for me to adjust.  I was in a rutt for the first six months here missing my friends and whatnot.  But after going painting at color me mine and going sailing, I think it's time to do what I've been wanting to do!!!

1.  Pottery class.  Where you throw pots on the spinning wheel!
2.  Sailing lessons.  Oh so fun. 
3.  Golf lessons.  I will be asking for golf clubs this christmas
4.  Tennis lessons. I need to put my new Babolot to good use!
5.  Write my book.
6.  Practicing violin and guitar again

I kept talking about doing these things and even looked up prices and everything. But I never followed thru.  I always had excuses. NO MORE excuses.  I need to follow thru.  Enjoy what LA has to offer.  This whole time I just kept trying to find a group of friends like my own back home.  (In home I mean my friends in Nova and my friends from AZ).  Wow it's hard.  Because no one is like them of course!  And i will never have the history I have with them with any new friends.  It takes a lot of effort to build new friendships.  And I have great friends here already which keeps me from being more open to meeting new people. 

But I have a new perspective on life.  It's time to take care of ME!  Like I'm going to the gym everyday. Almost everyday that is.  I've been doing a lot of fun stuff and life is becoming a little bit more exciting.  Now i just need to follow thru.  And also I need to stop church hopping.  I need to pick one and settle down.  Hopefully that will happen soon. 

I'm starting to enjoy LA more and more as the days go by.  I'm going to try and stop thinking about how I will settle down here. And when will I get married.  Or have kids.  I need to really take every day for what it's worth.  What is settling down anyways?

Sailing @ Marina Del Rey

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Ready to tack?  READY TO TACK! 
On Saturday Jackie took HY and I sailing!  She took some sailing classes so we were able to join her on a sailing adventure.  We went on a Capri Sailboat.  It's the exact one pictured above with the UCLA sails and all.  Another girl that took the class with her came too so I got to ride with her and HY rode with Jackie.  These sailboats are for two people so it worked out great.  I had a BLAST.  B-L-A-S-T.
Sailing is no joy ride on the water.  The whole time you are working the sails.  It was so awesome.  I was the crew and Jordan was the skipper.  I sat in the front of the boat maneuvering the smaller sail.  Jordan sat in the back of the boat maneuvering the big sail and the rutter.  Everytime we turned she would say READY TO TACK? (OR JIVE...depending which way we turned).  and I said READY TO TACK!  But really I never said that back. I just said "YUP."  I didn't follow protocol very well.  When we turn, she lets go of the sail and then the bar would swing across the other side, so you have to duck and then jump onto the other side of the boat.  I kept pulling the sail tighter and tighter so we could go faster.  We were tacking and jiving every couple of minutes.  It was the best experience ever!  At one time we almost collided with Jackie's boat.  When we were safetly away from them we began to turn and then I got stuck on one side of the boat.  The boat tilted so fast that I didn't have time to get over.  We almost capsized, but seeing how I had to go to long beach for Roscoe's afterwards, I fought the boat and finally got it to stabilize.  We almost got run over by a big a$$ boat too.  But we made it out of there.  Phew. 

Now I really want to:
ride a single person sailboat source

ride a Catamaran source

 

















and go Windsurfing! source

Thanks so much Jackie and Jordan!  Sailing was one of my dreams.  I always wanted to ride a sailboat.  I finally got to do it and am really inspired to keep sailing.  I will definitely be signing up for those classes!  Hmmm I think I need to take them soon so I can take my December visitors sailing!

Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles

Rating: LEVI'S
http://www.roscoeschickenandwaffles.com/

Wow - I finally had Roscoe's.  After years and years of hearing about chicken and waffles and years and years of visiting California, I finally made it here.  I only made it there with Jocelyn and Teddy's persistence. So I met up with them and Turtle and his sister in Long Beach on saturday.  Later I found out there was one right next to where Teddy and I live!  But i guess we had to meet somewhat in the middle since the rest of them live in OC. 
The lighting was red so my pictures turned out a little funky. 

I don't know what the big deal is about this place.  Yes the chicken with the gravy was really good.  The waffles tasted like any other waffle.  I don't understand the pairing of chicken with waffles.  Maybe it will be more amazing the second time around.  It is worth it to try it out.  But I don't know if I will ever crave it again.

Who needs this much syrup!?

What?

New korean snack.  Speechless
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Jin Patisserie

Rating: TRUE RELIGION
http://www.jinpatisserie.com/

HY and I went to venice on Saturday to check out Jin Patisserie.  I LOVE this place.  They have a tea garden outside.  Sungsill would fall in love with this place.  I got a shrimp sandwich and OH MAN it was so good.  I wanted to eat 10 more!

We actually went because I wanted to get some Macaroons for Dina's birthday.  I yelped to find the best macaroons in town and this was the place.  But in the end I couldn't get them for Dina because they only last three days in the fridge.  That means....no shipping.  Sorry Dina!  It's ok though because I thought the macaroons were way too sweet.  They tasted like pure sugar.  Are they supposed to taste like that?  HY loved them.

We also had this special cake they only have on weekends.  I forgot to take a picture. But it tasted like a GIANT macaroon but with strawberries and pudding in the middle. 

Royal T

Rating: TRUE RELIGION
http://www.royal-t.org/

Hye Young and I call this place Harujuku cafe.  But it's really called Royal T.  It's a harujuku themed cafe that is sort of an art gallery.  The servers dress up in maid outfits.  I've been wanting to check it out and I finally got to on Friday night.  They have exhibits with contemporary/modern artists displaying their work.  They also have a DJ playing some trance/jungle/house music.  Wow...brings back memories.  I really liked it.  And the food was surprisingly good.

I have no idea what this big pink marshmellow man was supposed to represent. But all around it were star wars figurines with the same marshmellow ears.

Yes I am wearing an ice cream hair piece. HAHAHAHA.  HY is wearing a cupcake hat.  I love ice cream and HY loves cupcakes. It was perfect.  We played with these for about ten minutes.  hahaha. But there was no purchase involved.

Yeah I don't know what this is supposed to be.  Are they rice patty men or kungfu fighters?

Pretty cup of cappacino.

Porta-Party!  You have to check out the Royal T cafe to find out what is inside!

Avacado and Tuna tar tar open faced sandwich

Tuna salad

Ok..WHO makes fancy soju?  Is that even possible?  Soju=rubbing alcohol. 

I took a lot more pictures, but I thought I would leave them out so you can go and check this place out and see some cool stuff.  Now I am inspired to go to Japan to check out all the people in cosplay.

Mr. Snowman has made it home!

Mr. Snowman has been glazed and fired up in the kiln.  He is now home with me!  The colors came out great!  I love how the color of the handle came out.  However, I am a little disappointed that there are random sploches of paint on the cup.  =(  That was not my doing either.  Somebody definitely messed up my cup in the glazing and kilning process.  (yes kilning is most likely not a word).  Oh well, there's nothing I can do about that.  I'm not going to bitch.

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