thomas

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{Surf City}

{A Day in Huntington Beach,CA}

Keith and I spent one afternoon in Surf City-Huntington Beach the other day! Although I was not in anyway dressed for the beach, we still enjoyed the sunshine, ocean breeze, summer atmosphere, and a yummy lunch at Fred's Mexican Cafe (receive 90-minutes validation for the Pierside Pavilion parking structure by dining here)! If ever you find yourself traveling to California, visiting iconic HB is a must! And I definitely want to come back on a Friday for the Art-a-Faire and Farmer's Market!

Look of the Day

Sunglasses & Tank/F21

Necklace/Thrifted

Faux Leather Jacket/Freedom 2be

Drape Top/Poetry

Pants/F21

Heels/Calvin Klein

{HB Menu}

{Images via Amanda & Keith/Nikon D7000}

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{LA Affair}

{DIY with Aimee of SwellMayde & Thread Affair...Tiny Bandit Pop Up/Sample Sale}

Thursday night consisted of DIY-ing, shopping, snapping photos, and repeating. I made a trek up to Palihouse in West Hollywood for a DIY sesh with Aimee of Swellmayde & online boutique the Thread Affair, as well as to shop the huge pop up/sample sale hosted by Tiny Bandit. Light and bright colors, pretty prints in the form of jewelry, sweaters, dresses, tees, and sheer and soft fabrics lined many racks and tables throughout the space. I picked out a silver collar necklace from the Thread Affair table, and Aimee showed me how to apply colorful embroidery thread and matte silver spikes to it for an edgy flair. Check out the Thread Affair's blog for highlights from their pop up sale and DIY event, as well as Swellmayde for creative, fashion DIY projects, and Tiny Bandit for the next pop up sale!

{Images via Nikon D7000}

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Food| Burger Wars at Hyatt Regency Irvine

{a delightful afternoon tasting gourmet burgers @6ix Park Grill/Hyatt Regency Irvine}

I was beyond thrilled when Shaun from the Hyatt Regency Irvine contacted me about joining him and another blogger at the hotel's restaurant, 6ix Park Grill to taste 5 specialty burgers that are currently apart of an ongoing contest. 

Between now and April 9th, each burger that is purchased receives an entry into the 'Burger Wars' contest. The Prize? 2 Nights in the Presidential Suite or 20,000 Gold Passport Points, and the drawing for the winner will be held on Tuesday April 10th at Noon!

Tasting all 5 specialty burgers was definitely a treat since each burger had it's own unique presentation and composition of flavors. Sous Chef Bill brought out all 5 platters of the specialty burgers at once and explained the process, approach, and inspiration that went into creating each burger. Initially, the hotel and restaurant team had submitted their burger ideas, which were then made into the real thing! Twelve burgers were created, tasted by all, voted on, and the end result consisted of the Chipotle Peanut Butter, Parmesan, Portabella Mushroom, Salad Stack, and Hawaiian Style ''Loco Moco'' burgers. Alongside my burger eating escapades, I enjoyed a Pomegranate as well as Vanilla Infused Ice Teas. Read what I thought about each burger below! Also take a look at 6ix Park Grill's Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Menus! Stop in and grab a burger by April 9th! I promise it will be a satisfying time! Also try the $3 $4 $5 @6ix  HAPPY HOUR on Fridays from 5-7:30! $3-5 Food & Drink Specials, 1/2 OFF WINE BOTTLES, and Buy 1 Get 1 Entree! I don't think anything beats that! ***All burgers are made with Meyers Natural Angus beef patties; certified humane, no hormones or antibiotics, vegetarian fed, and Angus breed

Flavor Infused Ice Teas (my fave is vanilla!)

{The Burger Menu}

{Burger Salad Stack}

By far the most intriguing presentation that I have ever seen for a burger; the ingredients are stacked on top of each other in a vase, then the chef or server lifts up the vase and out come the Boston leaves, cherry tomatoes, and avocado pieces drizzled in bacon vinaigrette and topped with cornbread croutons on a juicy patty. You definitely want to slice up the salad and patty into more bite-size portions and enjoy all of the meat and salad flavors together in one bite.

{Chipotle Peanut Butter} I had tasted this burger first, and it was a great way to start off the burger tasting. Don't be intimidated by the words 'Chipotle' and 'Peanut Butter' used in the same title because this burger definitely packs a lot more 'bark' than its 'bite'. The in-house made jalapeno jam is more of a hint of spicy taste (since it is applied to the patty before being cooked) that perfectly complements the beef , pepper jack cheese and King's Hawaiian roll bun. It's quite aromatic and a perfect balance between sweet and spicy. The fruit and celery with peanut butter are a great side dish with the burger. The other blogger noted that this could be a 'kid-friendly' meal, which I agree since you don't really taste full jalapeno flavors in the burger, and everything is naturally sweet.

{Hawaiian Style "Loco Moco"} I was no foreigner to this dish, although I had never actually had a 'Loco Moco' in Hawaii before, my parents used to make eggs with sausage or spam over rice. I think I would have more thoroughly enjoyed this burger if I hadn't been in 'Lunch' mode at the time because it's the perfect breakfast dish for me. And the buttermilk biscuits were the BEST that I had ever had, perfectly toasted and buttered. An interesting, but delicious compendium of Asian flavors and traditional breakfast favorites.

{Parmesan} This burger was my fave; it was like a chicken Parmesan dish, but reinvented into a beef burger.There was just enough marinara sauce, and more than enough mozzarella cheese (I'm an Italian food and cheese fanatic, so fine by me) saturated and melted into the patty and garlic ciabatta bun. And I enjoyed the little bites of crunch from the panko crumbs layered between the cheese and bun. Like the other blogger stated, it was 'reminiscent of a meatball  sandwich without the mess from the marinara'.

{Portabella Mushroom} I had mostly been looking forward to tasting this burger, there was just something so enticing about the Portabella mushroom and fried leeks.The bleu cheese was a palatable touch to the burger but sometimes delectably disagreeable when I got a full bite of cheese. The pretzel bun kept the burgers juices and flavors intact, and the sweet potato fries (also another fave) were a good contrast with the savory burger.

{Wine/Beer List and Food Pairings at your fingertips}

Want to get tech savvy when it comes to dining? Use the restaurant's iPad and browse through the vast wine list. Search wines by type, price, grape, or region. And expand on specific wines to see the origins and specifications of each wine as well as food pairings. Not a big wine drinker? You can also browse the beer menu! And remember which wine you ordered by emailing and or sharing your selections to Facebook! This app, developed by Tastevin is not only an easily accessible resource for the restaurant's wine/beer menu but also a great way to get into drinking and gaining knowledge about wines; it really enhances the dining experience.

{Images taken by Me w/Nikon D7000}

***All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

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{The Last of Winter @the Met}

{Last Winter Look/A Day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art}

I was so glad that Trang had her camera with her when we visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art while we were in NYC. My camera had run out of batteries, but she was able to take a couple snapshots of my outfit that day. So here's to my last winter outfit post until next winter, since today marked the first day of Spring. Enjoy the photo collage (I was playing around with Picasa) of my wanderings around the museum.

Look of the Day

Jacket/Material Girl @Macy's Scarf/Ebay Gloves/Urban Outfitters Skirt/Max Studio Leggings/F21 Knee High Socks/Urban Outfitters Boots/Dana Buchman @Kohls Fringe Bucket Bag/H&M

{Outfit Photos taken/edited by Trang Bui/Other Images by Me with Coolpix L110}

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{Westward Ho!}

On our last day in Arizona before heading back out west to California; we had a family BBQ at Keith's parents' home. We enjoyed a menu of burgers, hot dogs, chicken, baked mac n cheese, potato salad, apple pie, and red velvet cake (from what I can remember, I know there was more food). Post eating was spent lounging around the pool, catching up with family members that we don't get to see or talk to very often; not a bad way to conclude a weekend vacation! 

Look of the Day

Necklace/Dee Lux

Top/Thrifted Jaipur

Denim Capris/Michael Stars

Belt/F21

Booties/Thrifted INC International Concepts

-------------------------

{Images via Android Infuse}

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{Queens Thrift/Momofuku}

{Some items from a thrifting trip in Queens + dining @Momofuku Noodle Bar/East Village}

I've slowly been pushing out the rest of the photos from my NYC trip back in January. I wanted to share photos of items I picked up from a thrifting trip in Queens with Tessa of Couturelust and Chris of The Tiny Tierant; as well as photos from a late night dinner at Momofuku Noodle Bar in East Village.

I have to say that (although not all items are pictured below) thrifting in Queens was the best thrift sesh I had ever experienced. I met with Tessa and Chris at a Goodwill distribution center, and I had arrived (after some subway troubles) a couple hours later than expected, BUT just in time for more bins of NEW items to be put out. I left with a gigantic bag of goodies, which I paid a mere $15 for!

{Banana Republic Skort worn here}

----------------------------------  The evening before, Trang, Jessica, and I opted to have a late dinner at Momofuku Noodle Bar since we had consumed a heavy lunch from Shake Shack. Known for it's pork buns and ramen, I have to say I left with a full stomach. I just had a bite of the pork buns, but from the look and the taste of it, the pork was too inundated with fat for my liking. My Momofuku Ramen was delicious and quite filling; the Chilled Spicy noodles (first photo, a dish that I did not try), I was told was too spicy but also filling. All three of us thought the lychee slushis were quite yummy! A great way to start off a looong (but exciting) night!

{pork buns}

{Lychee Slushi}

{Momofuku Ramen}

 {Images via Coolpix L110}

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{Waiting Game-Look of the Day}

 The morning of Brenna & Patrick's wedding, I had gotten my hair done with Keith's mom and aunt. I decided to go with curls all over, and pinned back in the front. Before getting into the nitty gritty of preparing for attending the wedding, I had some time to kill. Keith and I walked around the neighborhood checking out the various cacti and desert flowers. I was sporting my thrifted skort that I had picked up from my Queens,NY thrifting trip with Tessa of Couturelust & Chris from The Tiny Tierant. I only brought 1 pair of wedges with me during this weekend trip, so I wore them multiple times. My outfit was perfect for the heat; my blousy top and silk skort kept me cool :)

Look of the Day

Top & Sunglasses/F21

Necklaces/Dee Lux & Lulu's

Skort/Thrifted Banana Republic

Socks/Target

Booties/Thrifted INC International Concepts

{Images via Coolpix L110}

[ptrmya01201-blog]

{I heart Sushi}

 {Kickin' back @Kura Sushi/Costa Mesa}

One of my all time favorite sushi joints happens to be right down the street from my house. Kura Revolving Sushi Bar is, as the name implies, a sushi bar and restaurant featuring a revolving (conveyor belt) sushi service. There are over 35 different types of sushi; rolls in servings of 4 and sushi in servings of 2; and each dish placed on the belt is monitored for freshness! Want something other than sushi? Tempura, Teriyaki, and Udon dishes are also available, as well as pastries, cake, and fruit for dessert! What I love most about this place is the price ($1.25+); I can spend $20 and have tried a variety of sushi and rolls! Overall, yummy and fresh sushi; friendly and prompt service; fun atmosphere; and affordable!

212 E. 17th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 

949.631.3200

 {Images taken by Amanda w/Canon 30D}

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{Desert Shade-Look of the Day}

{Staying cool in Arizona's desert heat}

I just got back from a weekend trip in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was definitely a nice change of scenery; don't get my wrong I love the beach and mild temp of so cal, but it's so fun exploring different environments!

Look of the Day

 Necklaces/Dee Lux, F21 & Dogeared

Sweater & Shorts/F21

Wedge Booties/Thrifted INC International Concepts

{Images via Coolpix L110}

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{The Getty-Photo Diary}

{A Day at the Getty Center-Los Angeles}

I was so excited to visit my friend Hanh in LA a few weeks ago. We decided to check out The Getty Center since I had never been there before. Although admission is free, parking is $15; but here is a quaint tram ride from the parking structure to the actual center. After getting off of the tram we were immediately enthralled by the majestic stone brick buildings. We walked through a photography exhibit then grabbed lunch from the food/coffee cart outside 'The Restaurant'. We sat down at one of the outside tables and enjoyed our food and beverages under the warmth of the sun. A majority of the afternoon was spent frolicking around the Central Garden, admiring the perfectly circular trimmed hedges in front of a waterfall, and the abundance and variety of flowers and foliage. We immersed ourselves in the rest of the numerous sculpture, painting, drawing, and photography exhibits the rest of our visit; and even got to observe and take a couple snapshots of Van Gogh's Irises! This is a definite stop when visiting LA!

{Images by Amanda taken w/Canon 30D}

[ptrmya01201-blog]

{Afternoon Delight}

 {An afternoon @Woodbridge Community Park/Irvine, CA}

I've always passed this lake and park when going to the dollar movie theatre or Ruby's Diner in Irvine. I decided to stop by one late afternoon and check it out. The park and lake are just so calming, and it's nice to just take a stroll along the waterside. It would be nice to have a picnic here, and feed the ducks! Check out the Look of the Day below! I'm flying out to Arizona this Friday, so I gotta start packing! I hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend!

 Look of the Day

Denim Button Up/Thrifted

Striped Tank/F21

Cargo Pants/Piko 1988

Bucket Bag/Urban Outfitters

Sunglasses & Sandals/F21

{Images via Coolpix L110}

[ptrmya01201-blog]

{Dip Dye}

 {Experimenting with my first hair dye job...}

I had been seeing the ombre hair dyeing trend in colors like pink, blue, and purple all over Pinterest. I was going to try this hair chalk to start off since I had never dyed my hair before. But since I had grown out my hair longer than usual, and my friend Ariel was more than willing to help me, we decided to dip dye my hair ends purple (when I need a change, I can just cut off the ends). We didn't actually dip dye it, but that's the effect we were going for. I used Splat's Hair Color Kit in Lusty Lavendar from Rite Aid for $11 which came with a lightening bleach set and purple hair dye. The entire process took about 3 hours (dyeing, waiting, washing, drying), but well worth it! The color has kind of faded from purple to a reddish pink, but I still like it!

Look of the Day

Sweater/Thrifted Eileen Fisher

Fabric used as scarf

Tank/Michael Stars

Jeans/F21

Flats/H&M



[ptrmya01201-blog]

{Photo Diary-Olivia Li's RED EGG Celebration}

 {Baby Olivia's Red Egg Celebration - marking her 1 month}

A Red Egg Celebration is a tradition derived from ancient Chinese culture; when a baby reaches his/her One month mark, a party or gathering recognizing this occasion is hosted for the baby's friends and family! Everyone was so excited to get to celebrate this moment and see Olivia (some for the first time) at her Red Egg Celebration. We enjoyed Chinese food, sweet treats, the company of loved ones, and of course being in awe of little baby Olivia. Weighing in at a little over 5lbs; Olivia although small still had an overwhelmingly vivavious and infectious personality that had everyone smiling. Check out the photos below, and enjoy the rest of your weekend :)

{Images via Coolpix L110}

[ptrmya01201-blog]

{MMS GIVEAWAY & Product Review}

  {A Product Review & Giveaway for My Memories Suite Software} Have you always had a fascination with scrapbooking, and really wanted to get into it; but didn't want to spend the money to purchase various papers, embellishments, and such?

Well, you can now explore your creative side and get your scrapbooking fix through the My Memories Suite software; rated #1 in scrapbook software and a best seller on Amazon.com, MMS allows you to create digital scrapbook pages/albums....without having to fuss over colored paper and knick knacks.

I had the pleasure of getting to play around with MMS and created some fun digital scrapbook pages!

Unfortunately, my computer decided to crash on me so I can't share my most recent digi scrapbook pages, but you can see my two holiday pages below, and check out the MMS gallery here.

Pros

A vast selection of digital solid and patterned backgrounds, embellishments such as ribbons, bows, brads, etc.

Easy navigational right sidebar

Numerous amounts of templates to get started if you do not want to create from scratch

Able to have your digital scrapbook printed into an actual book, or imported onto your computer as an image

A variety of scrapbook theme packages available for purchase

Great community base for MMS users

Lots of freebies and scrapbook 101 features sent weekly by MMS

Great help and support as well as tutorials available

Affordable ($39.97), and definitely cost efficient compared to paper scrapbooking

No Mess, but I wouldn't go as far as saying that it is less time-consuming

Cons

Takes up a bit of memory space on the computer

At least 2 minutes for the software to start up and load

Software sometimes lags (even when all other programs are closed on the computer), there's a delay in moving objects or clicking an object on the digital scrapbook page

Some graphics look too 'clip-art' like, simple pixel images

You would think that not having to work with tangible photos and pieces of paper, and instead just uploading and moving these objects around on the computer screen would be less time consuming, but I would say that an average scrapbooking project of 2-pages would come out to the same duration; because of the lag time in the software. Maybe it would be different if I had a lightning speed computer and a huge harddrive?

 Created from Scratch:

ENTER to WIN My Memories Suite!

Open to International Readers; ends March 26th, 12pm (PST)

Complete the Following Steps to Qualify:

-Visit MyMemories.com and pick your fave digital paper pack

-Comment this post with the name of your fave digi paper pack, your name, and email

Extra Entries (+1 for each completed step, leave a SEPARATE comment for each)

-Follow MMS via Twitter

-'Like' MMS on FB

-Follow the MMS BLOG

-Follow FFF via Twitter

-Like' FFF on FB

-Join FFF's Google Friend Connect

-Follow FFF on Bloglovin'

-Tweet about the giveaway, include @feastfashionfav & @mymemoriessuite

-Post a FB status tagging Feast.Fashion.Faves & MyMemories

Winner will be chosen at random using random.org, and the software will be downloadable straight onto your computer!

{Images via My Memories Suite}

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{Look of the Day-Old (sweater) with the New (dress)}

{Weekend Outfit}

 I have this BB Dakota blue cut out maxi dress that I had been wanting to wear for the longest time, but the straps are too long, so I haven't been able to do so. One morning while getting ready to attend Angel's baby Olivia's 1 month {Red Egg} Celebration, I decided to throw a sweater over the maxi, belt it together, and I was good to go. I grabbed my Deux Lux floral handbag and was on my way! Stay tuned for photos from Olivia's 1 month celebration!

Look of the Day

Sweater/Thrfited Eileen Fisher

Belt/F21

Maxi Dress/BB Dakota

Wedges/Target

Handbag/Deux Lux via Anthropologie

{Images via Coolpix L110}

[ptrmya01201-blog]

{Pearls & Pastels}

{Can't get enough of Chanel...}

I don't even know where to begin when it comes to Chanel's S/S 2012 Ready-to-Wear collection. As if the fresh-faced models, clad in pretty pearls and pastel colors didn't get me swooning enough; the textures, lines, shapes, and patterns of every look are absolutely exquisite. And definitely 'classy and fabulous'; Coco would be proud. On a side note, my laptop has crashed, and I am unable to access my files for the time being! As I get everything situated, I will try to post as much as I can! Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

  {chanel-news}

[ptrmya01201-blog]

{Spring-ing Forward}

 {Happy V-Day! & Spring Purchases at Work} I stumbled upon these dainty lace bandeaus on sale at Urban Outfitters for $4.99 each, so had to get a few in different colors to add to my spring wardrobe. I had also been on the lookout for some easy skinny belts and colored jeans...which I finally found (not surprised) at Forever21. Both belts were under $5 and I got a fantastic khaki colored and aqua colored jeans. I mean, it's not a huge stretch in wearing bright colors, but I got to start somewhere right? I'll be looking for a bright orange or purple pair next! Happy Valentine's Day :)  {Oh La La....Lace}

 {A Metallic Belt & a Studded Belt}

 {Look of the Day} Lace Bandeau/Urban Outfitters Tank/Piko 1988 Belt & Jeans/F21 Flats/H&M

{Images via Coolpix L110}