Best of LA: Good Eats, Good People, Good Things to Do

I Made My Very First Diaper Cake!

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 02:35:00 +0000

The front and back of my first diaper cake!
When I was pregnant with Chase, my girlfriend made me a diaper cake for my baby shower. The diapers really came in handy as we went through so many of them during those first few months. I knew I'd want to pay it forward someday and that day came when we celebrated my girlfriend's coed baby shower this past weekend.

I used a big Costco sized box of #1 diapers and a smaller box of newborn diapers for this cake - over 250 diapers in total. And with all those diapers, this cake weighed a ton! I wrapped a square cork bulletin board with cute fabric to use as the base. Then added a few goodies throughout - a couple of books, Motherhood nipple cream (so silky smooth!), and a cute onesie.

Playing Corn Hole in LA

It was funny that so many people thought the cellophane-wrapped cake was a real cake with frosting and were disappointed to find out that it was a diaper cake! But the real fun was reconnecting with old friends, sharing stories of life and our little ones (when applicable), playing competitive corn hole in the backyard, and toasting to the new soon-to-be parents with some good home-brewed beer!

Drinking home-brewed beers

Now I'm not much of a beer connoisseur, but I did enjoy their Cream Ale. Refreshingly light and absolutely perfect on a warm, sunny LA afternoon.

I'm inspired by them to try a new hobby of my own one day - winemaking! I wonder if we can grow grapes in our backyard? (Going on the bucket list!)

Celebrating Baby Mojo!Oh, happy babies!

Out&About > Annual Terminal Island Picnic

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 03:52:00 +0000

Annual picnic sign with kiddie race prizes below

I grew up going to the annual Terminal Island picnics with my family down in San Pedro. I remember the bento lunches that my grandmother used to make, the fun races and water balloon tosses, the old time Japanese enka singers, and the mochi being tossed off the stage for everyone to catch. I also remember going out to the rocks and catching small crabs with other young kids I met at the picnics.

Families picnicking

I don't know when the picnics moved from San Pedro to Buena Park, but the spirit of the Terminal Island picnics remains the same - with generations of families eating homemade bento lunches, races and games for the children, old timers singing in Japanese on the stage, and ending the day with the annual mochi toss. And I was so happy to introduce this family tradition to MS and my own little man.

It was wonderful to see my grandmother chat with her longtime friend who was the emcee for the day. She confided in me that he's 91 and looks really good for his age. For someone who's only a couple years younger, I think my grandmother looks really great!

"I love my baba!"

Here she is with my little man. And I know she's absolutely smitten with him, as he is of her.

The picnic has been around for years, for those who lived in Terminal Island to reconnect after the war and to share those connections with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. My own grandmother was born in San Pedro, but went to live with her grandparents in Japan while she was young. She and her brother were educated in Japan, while her parents and younger sister were sent to Manzanar. (I wrote a post about my great-grandparents and Manzanar back in 2006.)

I can't fathom what it was like for them, being separated by distance, years and a devastating war that spanned the world. But I know that I come from a family of strong survivors, and I hope to pass on as much as I can of our family's histories, traditions and legacies to my own son.

The races are about to begin!

My grandmother stood by me as we waved to MS, Chase and our other family members getting ready for the games to begin. The first running race was for the little "chibis" - who were 1-4 years old. And although my little man didn't understand the concept of racing, I think he enjoyed watching the older kids running across the field, including his cousin who's three.

"I may have come in last place, but I won a brand new blue chair!"

I'm hoping for more years of Terminal Island picnics with my grandma and family! Four generations of family fun, good food, and wonderful memories!

Happy picnicking!

Terminal Island - a history and overview
http://www.terminalisland.org

George Bellis Park
Picnic Grounds in Buena Park, CA
http://www.buenapark.com/Index.aspx?page=85

Out&About > Wine Weekend Away

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 06:10:00 +0000

Succulents at the Succulent Cafe

My first overnight trip away from my little man and husband was last weekend, and I was a wee bit nervous.

Was there enough food in the fridge? Extra pancakes, leftovers, milk - check.

Would I be missed? Call when I arrived at our destination - check.

When we arrived at Succulent Cafe in Solvang for lunch, I called MS to find that little man was eating a rice ball with Daddy, having fun with Grandma and Grandpa, and getting ready for an afternoon at the zoo.

He didn't miss me at all.

Beef Dip Sandwich with au jus & side of root vegetables

But I missed him. So I drowned my sorrows with a delicious sandwich, getting ready for an afternoon of wine tasting.

I ate the whole thing in less than five minutes. All but the pickle, that is. I hate pickles and usually give mine to MS who loves them. But alas, he was having fun with our little man over nigiri balls and elephants at the zoo.

Wine & Cupcake Pairing = Genius!

So when it was time for wine tasting at Saarloos and Sons in Los Olivos for my girlfriend's bachelorette weekend, I was ready! Too bad someone standing next to me wasn't, and somehow... a bottle of red wine crashed to the floor, leaving a pool of what looked like blood and shattered glass all around. I stood in my wedges, frozen to the scene of the crime. The evidence seeped onto my shoes, leaving red marks of shame for the guilty culprit who never owned up to the accident. (I swear, it wasn't me!)

At Saarloos & Sons, Los Olivos

Thankfully, Keith Saarloos who conducted our wine tasting was ever so gracious - he cleaned up the spilled glass and wine, and didn't make us feel too bad about the mess.

We spent the next hour or so with Keith sharing his story with us, as he poured wine into our glasses. He spoke of his family, of his daughter and son - Hunter and Cash. And of his grandparents and great-uncle who lost his life while defending this country in WWII. And why he loves what he does. It was awesome, and many of us found ourselves with a huge man-crush on this family loving, wine-making, fun talking guy.

Enjoy Cupcakes: The Weekly Menu - YUM!

Each of us left with extra bottles of wine, and some of us- with much more. I bought five and signed up to be in their wine club family which got me three more bottles of wine. I'm hoping that all our business helped erase the earlier accident.

I also bought an extra flight of cupcakes - all of which were quickly devoured once home. My favorites? ALL of them! It's a shame that Enjoy Cupcakes is a two hour drive away! I'd go every day if I could! (Update: I finished one whole bottle of wine myself in two days. Yes, it was that good.)

Pretty Green Salad, Root 246

We ate dinner at Root 246, the restaurant at our hotel. Perhaps it was the large number in our party (12), but it took a while to get our food. And at the end of wine tasting, we were super hungry. I shared the green salad that was nicely split in two bowls for us, but in hindsight, could have eaten the whole dish myself.

Braised Short Rib, Root 246

So when my main course arrived, I waited no time at all and cleaned the plate of every morsel. I probably could have eaten a second helping, if it were a meal cooked at home. Thankfully, my girlfriend shared her fries with me and I left happy and full.

We left the hotel with our driver, Mark and his Silver Cloud van, to end our evening out in Santa Barbara. Mark was nothing less than top notch! He went beyond our expectations by being friendly, professional, and one step ahead of us - with snacks during our wine tasting, hassle-free handling of all our bags and boxes, and refreshing cold waters at the end of our evening. I'd hire him again in a heartbeat!

Bacara Resort

The weekend ended with lunch at the Bacara Resort Spa Cafe in Santa Barbara. The day was overcast, but the resort hotel was bright and cheerful with fresh flower and fruit displays all around. The above was one of my favorites of bright orange and moss green.

Ahi Tuna Tartare, Spa Cafe at Bacara Resort

Refreshingly light, we started with the tuna tartare with avocado in a soy ginger marinade. I stuck with an Asian menu and ordered the soy glazed chicken breast with basmati rice, broccolini, oyster and shiitake mushrooms pictured below.

Soy Glazed Chicken, Spa Cafe at Bacara Resort

The chicken was tender with a sweet and savory bite with its glaze and side of mushrooms. Again, I must have been hungry because I ordered an extra side of white rice to finish the dish.

It was a fun weekend with the girls, full of good eats and good drink. But once home, I was glad to be with my little man and MS again!

Happy travels!

Succulent Cafe & Trading Company
1555 Mission Drive
Solvang, CA 93463
(805) 691-9444
http://www.succulentcafe.com

Saarloos and Sons Winery
2971 Grand Avenue
Los Olivos, CA 93441
(805) 688-1200
http://saarloosandsons.com

Silver Cloud Transportation, Mark
(805) 617-8742
http://www.yelp.com/biz/silver-cloud-transportation-services-solvang

Bacara Resort & Spa Cafe
8301 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA 93117
(855) 968-0100
http://www.bacararesort.com/Best-Santa-Barbara-Dining/Healthy-Restaurant-Cafe

BoLA Musings > Happy Mother's Day!

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Tue, 14 May 2013 06:08:00 +0000

Mom & Me, circa 1979

A friend asked, "Is this you and your mom, or you and your son?"

I love that she asked, because I never get told that I look like my mom.

My mom is beautiful, with big round eyes, a petite frame and a dazzling smile. I have my dad's nose, his small almond shaped eyes, and have inherited my family's premature gray (really, it's like salt and pepper) hair. I always get told that I look just like my dad.

But here, maybe it's the vintage Kodak print, the oversized 70s sunglasses or her downward glance... I see a little bit of me holding my son in her loving hold of me.

Do you see a resemblance?

I think it's pretty clear from my baby photos that Chase looks a lot like me - something that makes me laugh inside. Knowing that there's a mini-me in the world. I can only hope, though, that he grows into a tall, handsome man - much like MS. (Especially since I'm 5'2" and I'm one of the taller ones in my family!)

So on my second Mother's Day weekend, we celebrated with our families, homemade cards and comforting eats of Thai and Chinese food. My white chocolate dipped fortune cookie fortune from Panda Inn?

"Enjoy the good luck a companion brings you."

So true. Thank you MS for being my companion and love in life! We got lucky when we were blessed with our healthy, beautiful and silly boy!

Our Little Family

Happy Mother's Day, every day!

Out&About > Scoops, a Parklet & a Park

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 16:55:00 +0000

Ice cream for me. Ice cream for you.
(But mostly, for me.)

A few weeks ago, MS and I took Chase to York Boulevard in Highland Park. We had to go to the Post Office to deliver a package and some mail, so we decided to make an excursion out of it.

After a quick line at the post office, we walked over to Scoops for some ice cream. There's really no storefront sign in bright neon lights to indicate that it's an ice cream shop, or any real sign at all. But we found the small store and sampled a few flavors before we chose our preferred combinations. In all honesty, I completely forgot which two flavors I chose, except that one was some kind of caramel but both were deliciously sweet. Just means, we'll need to go back for more soon!

What's a parklet?
Not a park, not a parking space; but a space to park yourself by the sidewalk.

We walked across the street to the Highland Park Parklet and enjoyed our scoops of ice cream while sitting on the recently built parklet benches. That is, until the guy from behind the counter of the car parts store in front of the benches came outside and lit up a cigarette. Totally unnerving, especially since it was clear that we had a child with us. It was as if he was telling us to leave. Before that happened, I was planning to go in for a car part after we finished our ice cream. The shop reminded me of something I needed, but unfortunately, once he started smoking, I couldn't wait to leave. Maybe next time, he'll think twice about lighting up a cigarette and just maybe, I'll buy something from the store.

Peek-a-boo!
And before heading home, we stopped at a favorite neighborhood park in Mount Washington - the Cleland Avenue Bicentennial Park. There's a lot of green space for kids and dogs to run around, and a nice sized play area that Chase loves. This time, though, he wanted to play peek-a-boo and with a smile like his - who can resist?

Happy days!

Scoops, Highland Park
5105 York Boulevard | Los Angeles, CA 90042
Mon-Sat: 2pm-9 pm, closed on Sundays
Cash only

www.yelp.com/biz/scoops-los-angeles-3

Cleland Avenue Bicentennial Park

4800 Cleland Avenue | Los Angeles, CA 90042

Eating Out > The (Little) Oinkster

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 06:36:00 +0000

He's my little oinkster!

As much as I love that my little man is quite the eater, I know it's oftentimes a gamble. Sometimes, when something new is tried, it comes straight out of his mouth and on to the floor. Or when he's being generous, he'll hand it back to me so I can finish his half-chewed mess. And yes, I do.

A few weeks ago, MS and I took Chase to The Oinkster for an early dinner out. Now that we're on the east side of LA, Eagle Rock is just a quick drive away.

Reminiscent of days of yesteryear

When we pulled in to the driveway, flashbacks of a gluttonous taco run and an excursion to The Oinkster for some pulled pork and pastrami from years ago came flooding back. Those were the days of old school food blogging friends and late night eating. If memory serves me well, I had about 12 tacos and part of an oinkster. By the time we got home, I could barely roll into bed. Never. Again. Will I eat that much. Well, maybe if it was some really good sushi, I could do it.

This time around, we ate a respectable amount. I had half the below sandwich and no tacos whatsoever.

Slow cooked pulled pork sandwich with fries

I was pleasantly surprised that they had a few high chairs for little oinksters - although there's not a whole lot of room to put one by a table inside. I'm not even sure if we were supposed to have our high chair on the side of the table next to the order line, but it was too cold to eat outside and nobody said otherwise.

So it was a good thing that we got there a little early. Once we sat down, the order line went out the door! Young people, older people, couples, friends, families - everyone wanted some of The Oinkster that evening, and a number of them commented that our little man was such a cutie! Love!

Although, they probably wouldn't have thought he was so cute had they seen our food spectacle at the table. The soft pulled pork was not a hit. Neither were the fries. Instead, I gave Chase some cheese and crackers that I packed in my purse for him.

MS and I enjoyed our food, especially when paired with their house-made chipotle ketchup and garlic aioli. Hopefully, Chase will grow out of his chew-and-spit phase soon! Here's hoping!

Happy eating!

The Oinkster
2005 Colorado Boulevard | Los Angeles, CA 90042
P: 1.323.255.6465
Su-Th: 11a-10p; F-Sa: 11a-11p

www.theoinkster.com

BoLA Musings > Good Advice for Purchasing a Home

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 01:20:00 +0000

Our Little Family

I mentioned in a previous post that the home buying experience had been an emotional roller coaster of a ride. We started our search in 2010, and began seriously looking in the last year or so. We even placed several offers on homes, only to be outbid on each one. But as MS would remind me throughout the entire process - it just meant that a better place was out there for us.

We probably looked at several hundred properties online and visited over 50 open houses before finding "the one." And it was my girlfriend, JT, who gave me the best piece of advice that made all the difference in getting our offer accepted. She told me that we should write a letter of introduction and add it to our offer. She also mentioned that it helped her sister-in-law as well as another girlfriend when they were purchasing their homes.

And in all honesty, it makes sense. If I were selling my home - one that I loved and raised my family in for many, many years - I'd want to know that the house would be going to a good family, if possible. Sure - I'd want to get as much return as I could for the property, but if it's between two good offers, I'd choose the person or family who wrote me a nice letter.

So we wrote a brief letter of introduction and included the above photo with our offer. Here's what we wrote:

Thank you for considering our offer to purchase this property. We are a young family looking for our “forever home” to raise our son, Chase, who recently turned one.

[We] love to cook and spend time with family. Chase is a budding musician who loves to read books and play with his toy cars. We’re hoping that as he gets older, he’ll enjoy cooking with us as well. We can already envision him rolling out cookies on the kitchen countertops and baking them in the oven.

Wishing you well!

In the end, our real estate agent told us that the letter played a big factor in our accepted offer. So, thank you to JT who shared this piece of advice with me! And hopefully, this "good advice" may help someone else in their home buying process. And if it's meant to be, as MS continued to remind me through it all, it will.

As we continue to unpack and settle into our forever home, we've been able to set up a reading and music nook for Chase, eat at our small dining table as a family, share meals with relatives who have come to visit... and we look forward to when Chase is a little older to bake those cookies!

Happy home!

Eating Out > Takamaru, formerly known as Mishima

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 05:37:00 +0000

How cool is this Japanese bento lunch box for kids?

This Valentine's Day, my little man and I treated my grandmother to a family favorite - the restaurant formerly known as Mishima. My grandmother especially likes the mugicha (iced roasted barley tea) here and was happy that they still had it. Thankfully, the menu seemed to be the same and we ordered a couple of bento lunches with salmon and cod. Both were satisfying with a variety of sides, including shrimp and vegetable tempura, California rolls, miso soup, and salad.

How did Chase enjoy his lunch? At 15 months, he's become quite the little foodie. He'll try anything you give him without fuss which is great. But you know right away if he doesn't like something - it comes right back out.

Guess what's in my mouth!

So when his space shuttle bento lunch box was placed in front of him, he went straight for the fruit. The verdict? Well, he didn't like the melon balls but ate the kiwi and berry. He also devoured all his rice (and then some of mine), a bit of avocado, the insides of a couple of fried chicken karaage, and all of my tofu in my miso soup. Sadly, the potato salad was not a hit.

My grandmother and I laughed when he tried to stuff the entire strawberry into his mouth. (Somehow, the above photo I snapped of him makes me want to sing, "Mahna Mahna!" from The Muppets.)

A Surprise Valentine from Kennya!

Our Valentine's Day celebrations continued as we went to a nearby park in the afternoon. While running around, Chase was approached by a young boy who gave him a Valentine's goodie bag from his little sister - which was super cute! The boy was sitting with his mom and younger sister on a picnic blanket, eating an after school snack. The two children laughed as Chase smiled back at them and waved. Unfortunately, he's still too little for the candies and some of the other goodies in the bag, but the warm gesture by these strangers is something I'll remember for a long time.

May every day be like Valentine's Day - full of love, laughter and kindness!

Takamaru
street: 8474 West 3rd Street #108 | Los Angeles, CA 90048
tel: 1.323.782.0181

BoLA Musings > New Beginnings in a New Neighborhood

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 21:51:00 +0000

Home Sweet Home

It's a new year and with it, our little family has moved!

Goodbye West LA, Hello Mount Washington!

In this Northeast LA community, we have found a little oasis in the bustling city. It's difficult to imagine that the above photo was taken in Los Angeles, but that's what I love about this city. There's such diversity in what makes up LA, even in the types of landscapes you can find. It's incredible to wake up with such beautiful views - of snow-capped mountains in the distance and rolling green hills... and truly, I feel incredibly blessed.

But getting here has been such a roller coaster of emotions - not knowing if our offer to purchase the home would be accepted (especially after being outbid three times before), and then not knowing if the loan would go through (until all the papers were signed and the keys to our new home were in our hands)! And now that we're homeowners, the list of "to-do's" continues to grow.

Boxes remain unpacked, the house still needs some baby-proofing, and Summer (our orange tabby cat) is very slowly acclimating to her new environs. Amidst all the shuffling, it's just great to look around and know that this is more than a house, but it's a new beginning and a new adventure - a place to call our "forever home."

Happy living!

BoLA Musings > On Turning One

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 23:01:00 +0000

Twelve Months of Chase

Our house has been plagued with the stomach flu and winter colds this month, and we're all slowly on the mend. But before the bug caught us, we celebrated my little man's one year birthday!

In planning Chase's first birthday party, I originally thought that we'd have our immediate families to join in the festivities. But my family's pretty big and before long, we had a list of 40 close relatives to invite.

Chase Sugar Cookies

Since my mom is a party planning guru, I enlisted her help and I was so happy that she already had a few things in the works, including the above cute sugar cookies with Chase's face on them. They were almost too cute to eat!

Originally, my mom spoke with the manager at King's Hawaiian about having our get-together there for roughly 40-something people and was told something to the effect of:

"No problem. We usually don't make reservations on the weekends, but we can do something for you. The large space in the back would be good for about 44 people. Just connect with me one week before so we can make arrangements. Pupu platters ready for guests? Sure, we can do that too."

So I ordered his cakes from King's - a large sheet cake that was half chocolate dobash and half paradise flavors as well as a round peach bavarian just for Chase. I also took about two weeks to create the homemade invitations that followed up our save-the-date email.

The Homemade Invitation

Yes, I hand cut white card stock, shiny gold card stock, each photo into a square, along with the car and its parts. I drew a car template to a piece of cardboard and traced each body onto light blue card stock. My heart punch was used for the door decoration and circle punches for the wheels. After I had all the pieces, including my scrapbook supplies of stickers, double-sided tape, and washi paper tape, I started my assembly line. With my sewing machine, I stitched the photos first and followed that with the car body and heart.

As MS put it, these invitations were my "labor of love" for my little one.

With a story that starts with "originally," there's got to be a big BUT in there somewhere. And well, one week before the big party, my mom left a message with "news" to call her back.

OH. NO.

"I love cake!"

Apparently, she went to King's and met with the same manager who told her that there wouldn't be any problems having the birthday party there... only to find out that there WOULD be some problems. First of all, they don't make reservations for any parties on the weekend. No exceptions. Where was the type of service and courtesy shown months before?

Regardless, my mom was told that she would have to go to the restaurant the morning of the party at 9am and put her name down with the number of guests for an 11am party. She would then have to wait and stay at the restaurant. If we wanted pupu platters ready for guests as they arrived, she would then have to order them off the menu at 10 or 10:30am.

And my mom's a total sweetheart because she said she'd do it, but seriously, why would I make my mom do such a thing? Even if she volunteered to do it?! To wait two hours before the party to try and get our party in at 11am {with what I expect would be no guarantee}, is just plain ridiculous!

At this point, I was completely disappointed, utterly frustrated, and completely furious with their lack of transparency. The manager should have been entirely honest with us about their policy and without the pretense of being able to accommodate us. It would have saved everyone a lot of stress and headache.

Two months before the party, I let everyone know that we were celebrating at King's. I even purchased the cakes well in advance since we love their cakes and it would have been convenien to have them ready at the event.

Homemade Birthday Banner

But I was done with King's. I asked my mom to call Back Home in Lahaina in Carson to see if we could have our party there instead. We also had a few other restaurants in mind just in case they were booked already. Thankfully, they were more than happy to host our party and I made the calls to everyone with the venue change.

We had our wedding reception there as well as my sister's wedding reception there, and loved the food and service both times... so we knew we'd have a good experience with them for Chase's birthday party.

They were kind to let us come in early to set up the space for our lunch, and I was able to hang my homemade birthday banner. I used the same golden card stock as the invitations, black and white checkered duct tape, my Cricut machine for the letters, and some yarn to string them. I especially loved how the letters looked like they were part of a road.

Yes, the banner was another labor of love that took about two weeks to make too.

"I'm a Big Kid Now!"

Since I paid for the cakes already, I couldn't do anything to change them. In all honesty, I wanted to go with a different bakery but went with King's because we were supposed to have the party there. With all the drama and needless headache, I'm not sure if I'll ever go back to King's Hawaiian.

In any event, the lunch party at Back Home in Lahaina turned out to be a fantastic place for Chase's first birthday! The service was incredible, the food was delicious - even better than King's, in my family's and my own opinion - and the company of loved ones made the day absolutely perfect!

We had a blast playing games and laughing at Chase's silly faces. {He has this "kiss kiss" face that's hilarious when he puckers up his lips}. Everyone was able to get seconds and thirds of food - I had about three plates worth of Lahaina fried chicken, spam musubi and kalua pork! So ONO {Hawaiian for delicious}!

It's hard to fathom that my little man is already a year old!

Many more happy birthdays to come!

Back Home in Lahaina
519 East Carson Street | Carson, CA 90745
1.310.835.4014
www.backhomeinlahaina.com

Coming Soon > Sasabune Beverly Hills

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:33:00 +0000

It will be interesting to try the new location when it opens! In the meantime, I enjoyed watching this video clip of sushi chef, Ei Hiroyoshi and getting to know the man behind the sushi bar.
Happy eating!

Out&About > "Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part II" Premiere

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 19:45:00 +0000

"I'll love you forever."
Backdrop scene from Bella and Edward's honeymoon.

I love my girlfriends and I love that they invite me to such fabulous events such as the premiere of "Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part II" at LA Live earlier this week. I am truly blessed!!!

For some reason, I thought we were only going to watch the movie on Monday night so I wasn't prepared (mentally or in dress) for the movie premiere's after party. Had I known, I probably would have donned all black, popped in my contact lenses, and put on some makeup. Ah well... maybe next time???

In any event, it was a blast - filled with a bounty of deliciously catered foods {from prime rib, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, paella, empanadas, chocolate bread pudding, and more!}, creative designs from each of the films and books around the tented party, scenes from the movies projected onto a large screen, and a few of the beautiful wolves outside the tent with their trainers... such a memorable night for my very first movie premiere and after party!

From the Patron Photo area, cheers to reunited friends!

I enjoyed watching the last movie of the Twilight saga... although, I'm still shocked with the "twist" ending I never saw coming for the film. All I kept thinking was, "This is not in the book. This is not in the book. How can they do this? Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. No! No! No! They can't do this!" Without writing any spoilers, I left with some mixed emotions. The end tribute, however, was nicely done and a great way to close the series.

One of the highlights of the evening was running into my girlfriend from New York City. We met in graduate school in Michigan and it's been years since we last hung out. I knew she was in LA for "Twilight" but didn't think we'd be able to see each other. So I was beyond happy that she spotted me and we got the chance to take this photo together!

"Twilight" opens nationwide this weekend on November 16th.

Happy movies!

Giveaway > Joe Wright's "Anna Karenina"

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 21:11:00 +0000

Keira Knightley stars as "Anna Karenina"

One of my bucket list items is to read a number of books per year, including some of the classics in literature that I may not have read before. Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina was on the list and a couple years ago, I was able to cross it off after weeks (and weeks that turned into months because it's quite the Russian tome) of reading it on my Kindle.

"You can't ask why about love."

So when I was asked to help promote the upcoming release of Joe Wright's "Anna Karenina," I was happy to do so, especially since I enjoyed reading this tragic love story... I absolutely adore Keira Knightley and Jude Law... and well, I love these period pieces!

The film is a "bold, theatrical new vision of the epic story of love, stirringly adapted from Leo Tolstoy’s great novel by Academy Award winner Tom Stoppard (Shakespeare in Love). The film marks the third collaboration of the director with Academy Award-nominated actress Keira Knightley and Academy Award-nominated producers Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, and Paul Webster, following their award-winning box office successes Pride & Prejudice and Atonement."

Check out the Official Site (http://annakareninathemovie.com) before the film premieres on November 16th and watch the below trailer for a sneak preview.

So here are the goodies I'm excited to give away:

Prize provided by Focus Features & valued: $54 per pack

Two (2) winners will receive:
· Copy of the book (movie tie-in edition)
· Official Soundtrack
· Votivo Candle with Bookmark

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BoLA Musings > Happy Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 04:59:00 +0000

Halloween 2011

Our little pumpkin arrived just a week after the above photo was taken last Halloween...

Halloween 2012

And here is our pumpkin this year!

It amazes me how much he's grown, especially when I think back to our first doctor's appointment when our little guy was just a little bean with a fluttering heartbeat. Children are truly miracles of life!

Happy Halloween!

Out&About > Jasper Fforde in the Mysterious Galaxy

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 06:20:00 +0000

Jasper Fforde signing

Oh, I love this man. Well, his writing, at least. That and his brilliant sense of humor. {Sorry MS, but don't worry... Jasper Fforde is happily married and lives all the way in Wales.}

When I pick up one of his books, I'm transported to another world because his books are filled with colorful characters and crazy plots.

I will forever be indebted to my girlfriend CG who introduced me to his books. She's an avid reader and Fforde is one of her favorite authors.

So when I saw that he was in the LA area to promote two of his latest published works - The Woman Who Died A Lot: A Thursday Next Novel and The Last Dragonslayer, I knew that I wanted CG to be my date for this event at the Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore in Redondo Beach.

The event was to start at 7:30pm and after inquiring how early we should be at the store, I was told to get there at around 6pm. The store anticipated that it would be standing room event by the time Fforde spoke.

Since CG had to work until 6pm and she was coming from Los Feliz, we decided to meet there with me saving us seats. So I got there with plenty of time and saved two seats in the third row for us - the first two were already taken by the time I got there.

Now, I haven't been to too many author speaking events, but seeing Fforde in person was amazing! He was candid, funny, and very personable. And I loved hearing about the characters he created, what projects are upcoming, and getting a glimpse of Jasper Fforde, the author as well as the person.

Thankfully, we were in the third row in a filled bookstore of Fforde fans and only had to wait 10 minutes or so to meet him in person. I hope CG doesn't mind, but what she wrote on her post-it note to Fforde was so moving. She wrote:

"Hi! My name is C__ and I think you're awesome! Your books made me smile while I was in chemo. {Smiley face}"

Fforde's reaction was heartfelt as he thanked my dear friend and made it a point to write a touching inscription in her books.

We ended up catching up a bit over some delicious muffins {the last two in the counter} and coffee. She is one of the bravest, strongest, most positive people I know, and I thank God every day that she is a survivor. She reminds me to enjoy life and stay optimistic, and I am truly blessed to know her and have her as a friend.

After an hour or so, we were amazed that Fforde was still graciously meeting his fans and signing books as we were calling it a night.

I hope that when he publishes his next books, he'll continue to visit Los Angeles. I'm sure CG and I would love to see him again.

And yes, I've already finished The Last Dragonslayer and am currently working on finishing Shades of Gray.

Happy reading!

Jasper Fforde website
www.jasperfforde.com

Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore & Catalina Coffee Company
address: 2810 Artesia Boulevard | Redondo Beach, CA 90278
tel: 1.310.542.6000
url: www.mystgalaxy.com

Eating Out > Coffee Tomo

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 04:38:00 +0000

Latte speckled with red beans

Red bean lattes?

Sure... I'll try it at least once.

For all the times I've walked to Sawtelle, I never once thought to stop in to Coffee Tomo. So I was glad that my girlfriend CL suggested we stop in for a warm drink after our dinner.

We continued our conversations of engagements and weddings - she's the next one to say "I Do" out of my friends, and we each ordered the red bean latte. The first few sips were warm and comforting, but I had to keep stirring to distribute the azuki beans that eventually would settle at the bottom of the cup. And towards the end of my drink, I had enough red beans and could drink no more.

Not sure if I'd order this one again, but am glad I tried it.

An unusual combination that's sweet and salty.

And were we too stuffed to share a pretzel? Not at all. Not. At. All.

The salty cheese oozed with sweet red beans in this soft pretzel, and before we knew it - we had finished the crescent shaped pastry.

So thankful for wonderful friends and great conversations! Even if months {and sometimes years} go by between our visits with one another, it's great to know that we can pick right up as if no time has passed at all.

And a special thank you to MS for giving our little man a bath and putting him to sleep that night!

Happy eating!

Coffee Tomo
street: 11309 Mississippi Avenue | Los Angeles, CA 90025
tel: 1.310.444.9390
hrs: M-Th 7:30a-10p; F 7:30a-10:30p; Sa 9a-10:30p; Su 9a-9p
url: www.coffeetomo.com

Out&About > Pomona Pumpkin Festival

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 05:28:00 +0000

"My First Pumpkin Festival!"

My in-laws live in Walnut and were excited to take our little man to his first ever pumpkin patch at the Cal Poly Pomona Annual Pumpkin Festival.

The two-day free event was last weekend, and we opted to head out on Sunday afternoon - mostly because I had a class on Saturday and we wanted to make sure that we had plenty of time to enjoy the festivities. {More on my class in another post!}

"I want this one!!!"

Little did we know that this pumpkin festival was HUGE and there were people EVERYWHERE! Thankfully, MS found a close parking spot across the street in one of the office building lots and we headed over to check out the many food and game booths.

Festival Hot Dog with the works!

There was a line for everything: parking, food stands, pumpkins... so we ended up getting lunch at what seemed like the shortest line - the hot dog stand. The lines at the BBQ, taco, and burger stands were way too long, and the combination of grilled onions, bacon, barbecue sauce, mayonnaise and a spicy sausage sounded really good - and it was!

Next year, we'll head out super early to try to beat the crowds and try some of the other activities like riding a pony and sitting in the tractor. But for now, we're excited to celebrate our first Halloween with our own little pumpkin!

Happy Pumpkin Patching!

Cal Poly Pomona Pumpkin Festival
street: 4102 South University Drive | Pomona, CA 91768
url: www.csupomona.edu/~farmstore/pumpkin-festival.shtml

My Bucket List > Being on Wheel of Fortune

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 23:36:00 +0000

My 15+minutes of Fame

How did it feel to see myself on TV?

Well, I laughed pretty much the entirety of the show, reminiscing the highs and lows of the day, including all the nervousness. I could hear the nerves as I called and enunciated each letter, syllable.

There's something about WOF that's super exciting. From the colorful wedges on the wheel to Vanna's stunning dresses and Pat's witty banter and encouraging words... to shouting out "WHEEL! OF! FOR-TUNE!" at the beginning of each show, it's easy to get caught up in the fun!

And that's what this experience was - fun!

I've always loved watching both Jeopardy! and Wheel! growing up - usually during our after dinner TV watching. The trivia questions with Alex Trebek were always challenging and our family would compete to see who {if any of us} could answer Final Jeopardy correctly. Then it was on to watch Wheel and see who could solve the puzzles first.

Now, it may be obvious... but solving puzzles on WOF from the comforts of home is completely different from solving puzzles ON the Wheel of Fortune show itself.

You've got the lights, the cameras, the prompts that you've been given to really enunciate and project those letters. The Wheel is deceivingly small but ridiculously heavy - it took all my strength I could muster to grab a spoke, pull and push the wheel off to spin. Whenever it was my turn, I'd mentally tell myself, "GRIP! PULL! PUSH!" {Phew! No easy feat, especially for someone who's not even 5'2" or someone who's not so physically fit! Yikes!} It's also the luck of the draw - where you end up and what the Wheel lands on that may help in your success against the Wheel.

In the end, I was hoping to solve a couple puzzles - which I'm happy to say that I was able to do. And at one point, I meant to call an "E" and ended up calling the "U" and I totally blame the nerves! When I looked up at the vowel board, my eyes landed on "U" and well, that's what came out of my mouth even though in my mind, I was saying "E! E! E!" Oh well... it happens to the best of us.

So how did I end up on the show anyway?

The process of getting selected, in itself, was all pretty exciting.

I was about five months pregnant when I auditioned with other LA locals. We played a few oral and written games, and the large group got smaller as people were selected/not selected to continue. Then, towards the end of the process, polaroid photos were taken of the remaining people, group games were played and brief introductions were made. I practiced my 30-second bio and was super confident that I did well in the audition.

At the very end of the audition, we were told that contestants selected for the show would be mailed a letter of congratulations in two weeks. So for 14 days I was on pins and needles, checking the mail and hoping, hoping, hoping that I'd get a letter! And when I did, I cried in all the excitement!

But it ended up being many, many months before I would get the call to serve as an alternate contestant - something local contestants do before being taped on a real show. Basically, there are two local alternates for every day of taping. A day wraps up six shows - multiply that by three contestants, and you've got 18 contestants + 2 alternates. The alternate's job is to be there in case any of the 18 don't show for some reason, get sick, or who otherwise can't be on the show. It's a nice way to see what happens before the real deal which probably helps ease the nerves {or at least, some of the nerves anyway}.

My call came earlier this year in January when Chase was three-months old {that's about 8 months after the audition}. I'm guessing it took a long time because as a pregnant mom-to-be, there's just NO way to spin the incredibly heavy wheel... and three months seems to be a good time for new moms to be back to work {or on a television show}. Except that I was still nursing. Thankfully, I wasn't on the show that day, and I was able to pump throughout the day thanks to the accommodations made by the gracious Contestant Department.

After talking with other local contestants that day, I figured that I would be called back in a month or two like they were to serve as a true contestant. Nope. I watched the other alternate's show air a couple months later, and thought... maybe next season!

I got the call a few months later in July, and made it a point to go shopping for the show since there are a lot of do's and don'ts about what to wear on Wheel. {Beware of ill-fitting bras, whites, patterns, silks, tight shirts that make muffin tops!}

The actual day of the taping went by so very quickly and the taping itself seemed to be over just as soon as it started! I competed against two very good players, Missy and Adam, and am glad that we all got to leave the show with some money. Adam, winning lots!!! {Yes, I'm totally envious!} But second place with $5,600 in cash? Not bad, not bad at all. And all for playing a game I love!

Another memorable moment? Having a WOF crew member recognize me from this blog and waving "hello" to a BoLA follower!!!

Bucket List item: ~~Be a Contestant on the Wheel of Fortune~~ can now officially be crossed off!

Happy WHEEL! OF! FOR-TUNE!

My Bucket List > Wheel of Fortune Contestant

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 15:34:00 +0000

Watch me play Wheel of Fortune on KABC7 tonight at 10pm PST

Oh my gosh! There's a brief clip of me on this week's "Southern Hospitality" video on the Wheel of Fortune website which is too funny:

http://www.wheeloffortune.com/showguide/thisweek

The above is a screenshot I took on my computer.

The show I'm on airs tonight after the Presidential Debates at 10pm instead of the usual 7:30pm time slot. I was super nervous the day of my taping, and am nervous about seeing myself on screen tonight. More details of my experience tomorrow.

Happy viewing!

Eating Out > Seoul Sausage Food Truck

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 00:12:00 +0000

Seoul Sausage's Small Fry Fan

As we walked to the Seoul Sausage Food Truck, we could see a line had already formed and it was just about 1:30pm this afternoon.

Good thing our little man had a good nap and ate a healthy lunch of tofu and broccoli before our own lunch from the food truck. As the lady in front of us mentioned, "He's such a good baby!"

Ready to Take LA!

While the truck was getting ready, the Seoul Sausage guys welcomed everyone, introduced themselves and the menu for the day, and thanked the small crowd for coming out. They won the Food Network's Great Food Truck Race, making them instant food celebrities but without any pretentiousness. They were super friendly and incredibly likable. So much so that the wait for food was not so bad at all.

We were told that they'll be taking the truck on the road starting November 1st and that "Big Mama" {the truck's affectionate name} will be getting a makeover soon - one that will have her match their stylish gunmetal black matte car.

Sexy Balls of Fire

So we were lucky to get a sneak peak, and were excited to try the three items featured today: the Seoul Sausage Kalbi Burger, the Spicy Pork Sausage Burger, and the Fried Kimchi Flaming Balls. With plain buns, the meat in the burgers truly stood out with bold Korean flavors. {My favorite of the two was the Kalbi Burger.} And the rice balls were soft and moist on the inside, crunchy and crisp on the outside with a burst of kimchi flavor that didn't overpower. I usually don't eat kimchi, but these... I loved!

I hate to say the following to my old favorite burger joint... but I'm sorry Umami. There's a new stud in town and he's all kinds of sweet, savory deliciousness! His name is Seoul Sausage and with sexy balls of fried kimchi rice, how can a girl resist?

Happy eating!

Seoul Sausage Company
street: 11313 Mississippi Avenue | Los Angeles, CA 90025
tel: 1.310.477.7739
url: www.seoulsausage.com
hrs: 11:30am - 9:30pm*

The guys mentioned opening tomorrow at noon so I'm not sure if they'll be open at 11:30 or 12:00. Regardless, we'll be checking out more great food at Seoul Sausage in the days to come.

Eating Out > Seoul Sausage Company Finally to Open

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 05:23:00 +0000

Photo Source: Seoul Sausage Co.

I don't know how many times I walked by, wondering in the beginning... who leased this space when the Leased signs were posted on the window... then trying to figure out what kind of place Seoul Sausage would be like as party photos were plastered in the storefront...

And then I saw the season premier of the Great Food Truck Race on the Food Network. From the beginning, I cheered for the guys behind LA-based Seoul Sausage and was excited that they won. I was even more excited that they're the newest additions to Sawtelle's Little Osaka.

We saw their Test Lunch the other day as we walked by, and were excited to hear that their Grand Opening is this coming Saturday, October 6th at 11:30am! And tomorrow, the Seoul Sausage Food Truck will be making a special appearance at their storefront at 1:30pm!

You know where we'll be!!!

Happy to "make sausage, not war!"

Seoul Sausage Company
street: 11313 Mississippi Avenue | Los Angeles, CA 90025
url: www.seoulsausage.com

Out&About > Gymboree Play & Learn Class

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 05:39:00 +0000

I love crawling through this colorful tunnel!

I signed up for a free Play and Learn class at the Westside Pavilion's Gymboree on the second floor of the mall. For 45 minutes, we sang some songs, played with some toys and the play yard, blew some bubbles and practiced standing and walking around.

Yes, my little man is already standing and has taken his first few steps without any assistance! I know that it's just a matter of time before he's running around!

And I love admiring myself in the mirror!

In the meantime, he's a fast crawler and loves exploring! And Gymboree has a number of mats, slides, climbers, and all sorts of fun things for an exploring, crawling, active young boy!

We signed up for a month of classes because they had a special - their new member fee was waived and the first month was discounted to $49 instead of $79. As a member, you can also visit during the Open Gym hours for some free play - of which we've totally taken advantage!

The staff and instructors are very friendly and accommodating. However, I'm not sure how often they clean their facilities and what they do to clean their mats and toys after all the drool, snot, and bubbles throughout the day. I think I'll ask the next time we go...

In all honesty, I'm not sure if we'll continue after this first month. We're on a budget so that extra $80 could be used on something else... like museums, parks and other fun activities. But for right now, we'll enjoy the music, "dance dance" and hopefully, walk with confidence!

Happy playing!

Gymboree Play & Learn
Westside Pavilion
add: 10800 West Pico Boulevard #207 | Los Angeles, CA 90064
tel: 1.310.470.7780
url: http://www.gymboreeclasses.com

Out&About > West LA UMC Annual Asian Cultural Bazaar

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 18:21:00 +0000

Hand pieced with over 6,000 yo-yos

Last weekend, we stopped at the West LA United Methodist Church's Annual Asian Cultural Bazaar. In their parking lot, booths were set up with a variety of food items and kid-friendly games. I picked up a few peaches and Asian pears at their produce stand while MS played a round of putt-putt golf. Usually, we'd buy a teriyaki plate or bowl of chili like the ones they had for sale, but we had just eaten a late breakfast and weren't too hungry. Instead, I enjoyed a watermelon slushy with boba tapioca pearls and MS had a snow cone.

Lots of family fun activities

We watched a couple of cultural performances such as the Hawaiian hula dancers, and made our way to their sanctuary and classroom areas to check out the other activities happening at the Bazaar - such as the arts and crafts area which included face painting, the second-chance store, the quilt exhibit and silent auction.

In the children's arts & crafts area

While I perused their store of second-hand items for sale, MS took our little man to draw and play in the children's area. I ended up buying a few wooden toys for Chase, including a vintage snap-and-go train set. Since he's still in the "I have to taste everything stage" and sticks everything in his mouth, I'll save them for when he's a little older.

"Sue for All Seasons"

What I loved most about the Bazaar, though, was the Quilt Exhibit in the church sanctuary. There were many lovely designs, but a few really grabbed my attention.

The above quilt was an interesting scene that depicted the four seasons and reminded me of my 2002 Japan trip with my grandmother. We visited Mt. Fuji, saw the cherry blossoms, went to temples and shrines, and enjoyed some time with our relatives in Wakayama-ken. And I love anything that brings to mind family or somehow evokes a sense of nostalgia.

Admiring the amazing quilts!

Even my little man knew to "Ooo" and "Aaah" at these beautiful works of art!

The quilt behind him was absolutely stunning - made from over thirty-six thousand pieces of half-inch squares! Yes... more than 36-THOUSAND little squares, all hand-stitched together to make this incredible quilt!

Over 36,000 hand-pieced and sewn half inch squares in this quilt!!!
"Postage Stamp Quilt" by Shirley Takeuchi

I didn't get to meet Shirley Takeuchi that day, but I wanted to ask how long it took her to make the above quilts {the Yo-Yo Quilt and the Postage Stamp Quilt}!!!

And although I'm still a novice sewer myself, I see a future sewing project in the works!

Happy quilting!

West LA United Methodist Church
street: 1913 Purdue Avenue | Los Angeles, CA 90025
tel: 1.310.479.1379
url: www.gbgm-umc.org/wlaumc
Annual Asian Cultural Bazaar in September

Worship Services
9:30 AM (In English)
9:45 AM (Sunday School)
11:00 AM (In Japanese)

LA Wedding > The California Club

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 17:23:00 +0000

Saying I Do

Last month, MS and I were privileged to celebrate our friends' wedding at the historic and beautiful California Club in Downtown LA.

Out on the Deck

It was the first time being away from my little man for an extended period of time. We packed up the car full of his night away from home - complete with portable playpen to sleep in, sheets, portable booster seat to play and eat, lots of toys, food, clothes, diapers, wipes, bath essentials, toiletries and medicines for "just in case" and I'm sure a lot of other little things that we use on a daily basis - and headed to Walnut early in the morning to visit grandma and grandpa.

View of Downtown Buildings

Thankfully, there wasn't too much traffic that Saturday morning and MS was able to make his groomsmen's lunch back in LA. I was already missing my little man at this point, but knew that he was probably having a great time with his grandparents.

Prosecco & Crabcake

Across from the LA Downtown Library and neighbors with the Standard Hotel, The California Club is an older brick building that calls to mind a different time. Established in 1887 as a private club for the wealthy and elite of Los Angeles, there's still an aura of mystique and exclusivity to the place. {Just check out the ballrooms, large powder rooms, and long hallways lined with antiques and art pieces.}

Once I arrived, I was greeted by a doorman and a guard on duty who pointed me in the right direction. From what I was told, the groom knows a member of the club and it's all about who you know when it comes to The California Club.

Cocktail Hour Bites

The ceremony was intimate and lovely, and the afternoon weather was warm and beautiful - absolutely perfect for a terrace wedding in Downtown LA. The food was delicious - from the warm crabcake bites to the cool seafood hors d'oeuvres and an amazing dinner menu as well. I don't have the photos from dinner, but I cleaned off my bowl of Sweet Corn Lobster Bisque with chunks of lobster and plate of Herb Crusted Filet Mignon with forest mushroom ragout, Cabernet wine sauce, squash gratinee and potatoes au gratin.

Here were a few photos from the evening...

Beautiful Table Arrangement

The First Dance

Wedding Cake filled with strawberries

The bride and groom also had a Krispy Kreme donut table - of which we didn't partake as there was a long line for donuts and we were completely full from dinner. But once we finally made it to the donut table at the end of the night, nothing but crumbs were left. A definite hit, but loss for us!

It was an amazing night of food, dancing and celebrating. Yes, I missed my little man immensely and teared up whenever I thought of him. But in the end, it was nice having a night away from changing diapers and spending some time with MS and friends. We wish the newlyweds a lifetime of happiness, love, good eats... and lots of babies!

Happy days!

The California Club
street: 538 South Flower Street | Los Angeles, CA 90071
tel: 1.213.622.1391
url: www.californiaclub.org

Wednesday Wares > L.A. Fall Harvest

noreply@blogger.com (BoLA) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 18:05:00 +0000

Long Shirt / Rachel Zoe Flare Jeans / Steve Madden Shoes / Shoulder Handbag /
Drop Earrings / Kenneth Jay Lane Ring / Etsy Crocheted Scarf

With the advent of fall, I love the orange hues all around - from beautiful autumn leaves and sunsets to pumpkin patches and warm apple cider with cinnamon. I absolutely love the color combination of orange and blue, so when I spied the orange and blue crocheted scarf spotlighted on an Etsy blog the other day and it was only $20, I went ahead and purchased it. Not sure if I'll keep it for myself or gift it as I often do with Etsy finds... but for now, it has served some inspiration for what to wear this fall season.

Happy Fall!