A BITE FROM BITE

We tried BITE for the first time. The decor is simple and cute. The wines are nicely displayed on the shelf and the fireplace gave a nice cozy feeling. In the middle of the table, they have a built in light in the hole which is really pretty. Some of the food were either too salty or sweet but overall the food was all right. My favorite was the Eggplant with beets salad and stuffed dates.
The Sangria was not that great thought- they had put too much guava juice and you can totally smell it. After dinner, we headed to
Extraordinary Desserts. What a great Kona coffee and the pastry!









From top left to bottom right: Eggplant w/beets, Duck Confit,Stuffed dates, cheesecake, kona coffee, pastry, chocochip cookie.

HIKING HIGH: TORREY PINES STATE RESERVE

Torrey Pines State Beach is one of my favorite places to go hiking in San Diego. I love hiking through their trails. This location is so convenient- less than 10 min. drive from my house.

(Yes! I'm almost there!)

(View from the Top)

HAND-MADE BY ME!

I have been addicted to making earrings lately. Once I start, I can't stop. I love putting different colors and types of beads together and create something different every time. I've been going all over San Diego to look for new beads store. I think my next project will be necklaces! These are made with my new beads from BEADS & MORE in Pacific Beach.

SUSHI & YOGURT B-DAY

Yes, it's my Busuday!(fobby Korean accent) I'm older and wiser. I decided not to really celebrate my birthday this year. I am waiting couple of more years to celebrate my BIG 30. Until then.. I'm laying low... Don't be offended if you think you weren't invited because there was no party! However, there WAS a party in my taste buds and stomach. I tried SUSHI OTA for the first time. Unlike most of Sushi restaurants in San Diego, this is owned by Japanese people not Koreans. And let me tell you.. This was one of the BEST sashimi I've ever had in San Diego. You can tell this restaurant is real "Japanese" because most of the customers were Japanese. We ordered CHIRASI bowl which has all kinds of fresh sashimi on top of sushi rice. I loved their TORO. It is little bit more pricey but it was definitely worth it. You get what you paid for. Since it was my birthday, they gave me a free ice cream. OMG, the red bean ice cream was sooooo goooood!












When I was shopping for beads in PB the other day, I found this new franchise yogurt joint called YOGURT LAND. So after Sushi, we decided to go try out this place. Their Plain Tart was one of the best I've had. My other favorite was Vanilla. I don't like my yogurt too soft like some yogurt places. But their yogurt consistency was just perfect for me. My birthday cake, well, cupcake was from SPRINKLES.(Thank you Janet!)

MY DREAM ROOMS

I love how this Bedroom is classy yet contemporary.
I can't wait to decorate!
My sanctuary..I could sit here all day and craft!

THE LATEST DIY

My latest to the collection of earrings.

WINERY TRIPS: NOW & THEN

Every year, Joe and I have been taking trips to Wineries in the coast of California. This year for my birthday, we took a trip out to the closest winery from us, which is Temecula. Wineries bring me back so much memories.. well, at least what I can remember before getting too drunk. I don't have a favorite area. They are all unique in their own ways.

Temecula, 2008

Santa Barbara County, 2006

Paso Robles 2005

Napa Valley 2004

WIENS, Temecula / MUMM, Napa Valley

Black Jack, Santa Barbara /Tablas Creek, Paso Robles

Pala Mesa Resort 2008/ Paso Robles 2005

("Not on my back swing!"- Joe)


(I love driving the golf cart!I got yelled at by the golf course people for driving too near the green. hehe)

TASTE OF DOWNTOWN SD!

The Taste of Downtown was a lot of fun! You pay $30 and you can taste sample menu from 60 different restaurants in SD downtown including the areas of Little Italy, East Village, Financial District and Gaslamp. We were so full by the end of the tasting. They even provided shuttle buses so we didn't have to walk too much. My favorite was St. Tropez. They have UNLIMITED Mimosas and Crepes on Tuesdays! I am definitely coming back for that!


This is from La Gran Tapa- European Tapa bar. From top left: Grenache wine grapes, Vegetable Ratatouille, Shrimp salad, Beets salad, Risotto.

DANGLE DANGLE

OK. I'm addicted. This is more addicting than Scrapbooking!

MY FAVORITE WEBSITE OF THE DAY

Bargain Hunting!
Bensbargains.net
This website has all kinds of products from home/apparel/electronics.
It finds you all kinds of bargain all over the web and stores.

For Pooches!
www.dogswell.com
This dog/puppy treat is all natural! I am definitely taking Mocha down to the store tonight to buy her these all natural organic treats.
Since she is getting older she needs bone & heart supplements. Yay! I just love how they packaged the products too.

FOOD FOR FACE: HOMEMADE FACEMASK

I love making my own face mask.. It's a home remedy that my mom has been doing for decades and I grew up watching my mom putting FOOD on her face. My favorite is cucumber face mask. Cucumber is rich in vitamin C (so does the orange, but orange is too acid-like) which is good for sunburned face after a day at the beach.

Here's how:
Ingredients- one small cucumber, 1/2 cup flour, 1 egg york.
Directions- Grate the cucumber with a vegetable grater and add the flour and york and mix them together in a bowl then put in on your face. Leave it on for 20-30 min and wash it off with warm water. ** You can also substitute flour with oatmeal**
TIP from my aesthesian: Before you start the mask, it's good to open your pores with a steamed-towel.(wet a towel and put it in a microwave for 20 seconds and pet your face with it)

FRENCH BREAKFAST

This is one of the best breakfast we had in Paris. We randomly went into this cafe while waiting for the line to get shorter for St. Chapell. What a pleasant surprise! I could not stop eating and drinking.

Ham&Cheese Sandwich & Wine

French Vanilla, Chocolate Noir, Pistachio all in one.
We searched all over Paris for this Chardonnay and crepe wafers that we had for breakfast.

CAMERA-SHY MOCHA

Mocha hates Camera for some reason. I can't get her to look straight into the camera.. No one believes that she is almost 10 years old! She still looks like a puppy.