Pho Green Papaya
2000 W 3500 S

Cà phê s?a nóng - My favorite coffee! If you haven't had Vietnamese coffee, you've got to try it!

Appetizers: Dumpling Chiên (Pork), Goi Cuon (Fresh spring rolls), Tôm Chiên (Shrimp rolls), Thit Nu'o'ng (Pork skewers)

Steak and lean brisket Pho

Singha is a great Thai beer, but don't be afraid to try Hue a Vietnamese beer.

Finish up with one of my favorites...Sweet mango over coconut sticky rice!

Beerhive Pub
128 S. Main St.
If you like German food and beer, this is the place for you. I actually wanted to try some of their handmade sausages, but the sausage machine was broken that night. I had the Chicken Roladen instead and was not disappointed. I loved the spatzle and the blaukraut reminded me of the Danish red cabbage my mom makes. The beer menu is large and they also have a full bar. The only downfall would be parking, because it is downtown. Plan to park and walk a bit or even better, take Trax.

Free-range chicken stuffed with speck and gruyere cheese, topped with a rich mushroom cream sauce and served with spatzle and blaukraut. Beer: Pyramid Hefeweizen.

Coffee Garden
878 E 900 S
Coffee Garden has been a favorite of mine for a while. I love their hot coffees, especially the latte, but their iced/frozen coffees leave a lot to be desired. The cupcakes are always unusual and delish. The 9th and 9th location is great, especially since Cahoots is right next door. After this trip I stopped in at Cahoots and got the most awesome SL,UT and Salt Lake temple shot glasses! They also carry SL,UT t-shirts, which I must get one of these days.

Red chai cupcake and Latte

Diva’s Cupcakes and Coffee
1560 E 3300 S
The only place better for coffee than Coffee Garden is Diva’s and now they also serve beer and wine. I’ve never had any of their food items, but the quiche and soups look fantastic. The coffee is incredible and the cupcakes are TO. DIE. FOR! And yes, cupcakes do go quite well with a good Pinot Grigio or Cabernet Sauvignon Rose.

Cupcakes and Wine

Mimi’s Cafe
5223 S State St
The only reason I went here was because I heard about the fried pickles. Something I used to get in Georgia. We only ordered the pickles and fried cheese, but were great.

Fried Pickles, fried cheese and Pinot Grigio

Look what I got in the mail yesterday! It’s beautiful!
It is also taking all of my energy to restrain myself from driving to the airport and taking the first possible international flight out of here.
And never stop.

PS – Dirty boys can be awfully sexy. But, that’s just my opinion. Then again, it’s really fun to get a dirty boy clean too.

Coral drawing the design on my back.

Using my necklace as a guide to include an Om in the design.

Working on the outline.

A little bit red and irritated, but done!

Every tattoo has a meaning. This one is no exception. So why did I choose this design?

The lotus flower is the symbol of rebirth, awakening, strength and perseverance. It starts as a small bud down at the bottom of a pond in the mud and muck. It slowly grows its strong stem up towards the waters surface, continually moving towards the light. Once it comes to the surface of the water the flower begins to blossom into a life of great beauty. People also grow and change into something more beautiful (hopefully!)

You can’t see it very well in these pics, but the over all color of the flower is done in gray tones with a hint of periwinkle blue within the shading of the petals. A blue lotus is a symbol of the victory of the spirit over the senses, and signifies the wisdom of knowledge.

The Om (or Aum) symbol ghosted onto the lowest petal has many meanings. According to the Mandukya Upanishad, “Om is the one eternal syllable of which all that exists is but the development. The past, the present, and the future are all included in this one sound, and all that exists beyond the three forms of time is also implied in it”.

~ Anais Nin ~

Another item crossed off my FuckIt List!

Waiting.
Impatiently.
(taps fingers)

But, still have to wait.
Until…

Fuck!
Hurry up.

I need this to be done.

Stupid self imposed gag order.