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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Food Place: Gaja


It's out first time to try an Okonomiyaki, it's a Japanese version of pancakes. My JA friends recommended Gaja at Gardena, CA. You can find them on Yelp too.

We learned that the batter is from yam instead of flour and mixed with veggies and whatever combination you want. Seafood, cheese, meat, etc. They have a HUGE menu so I will go back again and again to try them all! It's that good. But anyway, you cook the okonomiyaki  on a tepanyaki grill, use flat spatulas to flip them over, then put mayo, sauce, seaweed, etc. on top.

We got Spam and Cheese Okonomiyaki and it's sooo good:
okonomiyaki process :)
We also love Takoyaki, so we got some too. It has octopus inside and rolled into a ball batter of, I'm guessing yam batter again, instead of flour. JA people are very healthy no? We tried the original flavor before and we want to be creative so we went for different flavors this time. Both of them are soooo good!
takoyaki
We loved the place and will go back to try everything on the menu! LOL. The staff were so nice and helpful, they taught us how to cook the Okonomiyakis. :)

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Recipe: Shrimp and Veggie Pasta

I want to share with you a fast and easy way to cook pasta for that "oh no, I don't have enough time to cook lunch / dinner..." days. It's healthy too!
yummy pasta
Ingredients:
1 box (16 oz) whole grain pasta (or any pasta of choice)
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
1/2 small red onion, diced (I used regular onion on this one)
1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted (optional)
1 - 2 tbsp. garlic paste
4 tbsp olive oil
1/3 cup packed basil, thinly sliced
1 tsp crushed red pepper (optional)
15 medium-sized un-cooked shrimp, thawed
1 cup shredded cheese (I use parmesan on this)

Instructions:
1. Cook pasta. Drain, then toss with 1 tbsp olive oil and set aside.
2. Saute peppers and onions in 1 tbsp oilve oil over medium-high heat until tender and slightly carmelized, about 10-12 minutes.
3. Season shrimp with salt and pepper. saute in remaining olive oil over medium heat, 3 minutes per side.
4. Toss pasta with garlic paste, carmelized veggies, shrimp and pine nuts.
5. Sprinkle with basil, crushed red pepper and cheese.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Project: Sham Pillowcases

Oh my goodness! I'm overloaded with projects! 

First, my DH's friend asked me to do 15 pillowcases! Not just pillowcases, it's for shams! The square kind and it's huge! I have to to 9 pcs of 29" x 29", 3 pcs of 24" x 24", and 4 pcs of bolster covers (the round pillows). All must have zippers! And I haven't done pillowcases nor put zippers on! 

Aside from the deadline - which is supposed to be this Saturday (but I managed to ask until Monday, at least) - the fabrics were provided by the client and it's imported. It's one of a kind and exact size. There's no room for error!

Holy crap for a beginner like me! But thank goodness I managed to do it, and so proud of it! I'm self-taught on this one and happy with the outcome.

This is the first batch:
laying flat
put on

two-colored sham case
The zippers are bought at downtown LA. I'm so thankful DH was the one who drove, I hate driving at downtown LA! And he has work that day too and need much sleep, but he helped me look for materials. Lucky to have that guy.

3 down, more to go! Aside from the sewing projects, I also have graphic designing projects! I still have to finish a brochure for Helen! Hope I finish on time! 

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Food Place: Spoon House

This place was recommended both by my esthetician (Helen) and my manicurist (Kimie). They're both Japanese so I trust them to give me good authentic Japanese food referrals! I wasn't disappointed.

My DH and I decided to try the place tonight. It's called Spoon House, by Redondo Beach, Gardena, CA. They specializes in Spaghetti. They mash up Italian and Japanese cuisine. The combination may seem out of this world, but they are super yummy!
Hubby's choice:
~ Squid and Sea Urchin ~
What I got:
~ mixed mushroom in clam sauce ~
We shared dessert of course:
~ Panna Cota ~
 They're super flavorful! If you wanna hang out with family, friends or special someone, this is worth trying. It's something new, different and awesome! They serve bread before meal too. They are open 11am - 9pm.

Oh don't forget to order their $1 salad! :)

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Travel: Mission Tiki

Went at Mission Tiki, a drive-in theater at Montclair, CA.
For Hubby's 31st bday!
Watched The Lorax and Journey 2: Mystery Island.
You can watch 2 movies for $7 (each person)!
It was overcast, but good thing it didn't rain.
The moon was so bright too.
It's nice to experience something new.
The outside venue, was cool.
It's like camping...
only you're watching a movie on big screen.
You can also bring your own food.
We bought mexican food from across the street.
Or you can buy it at their "Tiki Snak House", which has decent varieties.
I got churros and hot choco before the 2nd movie.
Don't worry they also have restrooms.

I didn't get any pictures because it was too dark. I don't want to use flash and be rude to other people who was also watching. Maybe next time :)

Monday, March 5, 2012

Recipe: SPAM Omelette Sandwich

I miss eating Spam, so I made this for lunch. It's DH approved! I'm happy and it's super yummy! :)
~ make you hungry, no? ~
I made this Spam Omelette first:
~ oh deliciousness ~ 
I was originally going to make a plain scrambled egg...but I found it boring. Here's how I made it:
Spam - cut in small cubes
Tomatoes - cut in small cubes
salt and pepper
Eggs
cooking oil

Just mix the first four ingredients and  then fry on a pan with cooking oil.

Next is stack up your sandwich. Mine includes (by order stacked):

  • Bread
  • Mayo
  • Spam (2 1/2 slices)
  • Spam omelette
  • Ketchup
  • Spinach
  • Bread

Cut in half diagonally. Done!
~  Delicioso! ~

Saturday, March 3, 2012

My First Published Layout

My layout got published this month of March!
I was so excited to see my layout to get published! I'm so happy! This is my first official freelance work here in LA. You can see this on BestBuyGuide, a local discount magazine that's mailed in monthly!

Friday, March 2, 2012

Crafts: Kitty Tote Bag

I've been doing a lot of sewing lately, and this is my 2nd hand-made tote bag:
Kitty Tote
 This is made from 100% cotton, outside and inner fabric. Straps are made from webbing, which is very sturdy. It has 2 inner pockets too.  Size: Height: 11", Length: 15.5", bottom: 5.5". It is also padded, so it's not the usual tote bags you see around the stores, which are thin.
nice
I'm also taking pre-orders! US shipping only! The price depends on fabric cost, the fabrics I choose has unique patterns, and I also pick good color combinations :) You can also suggest the colors you want!
Tote Bag Specs
My other tote bag is also on sale for $25. Check it out ---> Butterfly Tote
For more info, just send me a message! Thanks for reading!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

NOTD: Hello Kitty

Woohoo! I got a free facial from Helen at A New Day Spa yesterday, that's why I like to do freelancing! Hehehe.

It's also time for me to fill my previous gel nails (<---click for the link), and since I'm already there I decided to do it. But instead of just filling, I decided to change it. I paid for my gel mani this time though. Kimie did my nails this time.
~ gel nails ~
I went for orange since tangerine is the color of 2012 and Spring is already coming! I'm also opting for something different than always seeing pinks. The manicure plus nail arts costs $50 (tip not included). It is pricey just for a manicure, but it's so worth it!
~ Hello Kitty nails ~
If you haven't tried gel nail polishes, it's safer than acrylic nails and healthier to nails too. They have different kinds of gels: CalGels, SoakOff, etc. Even OPI has them. It won't dry unless treated under a UV light, and it dries quick after treatment, so you don't have to worry about waiting for a few minutes before you can use your hands. 

It also lasts longer than regular nails. It took me 3 weeks and it still looks the same as new, I only need to apply a basic topcoat over it and it'll look as new. I think can go for 4 weeks, I just find my nails too long. I do wash dishes by hand everyday, I wash my hand often, and my nails will still look nice, no chipping whatsoever.