Category Archives: Food

My Milkshake Brings All The Boys To The Yard…

Posted in Explore, Food, Fun, Treats by

Location: 8910 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood

Week 2 into the Fall season and the L.A. heat wave continues. A few days ago, a great idea came upon my boyfriend and I as we were running some errands in West Hollywood that momentarily (and I mean momentarily!) made me grateful for the heat: a more than justifiable pit stop to Millions of Milkshakes.

{Menu.}

Of course, I’ve been to Millions of Milkshakes before, but this was my first time visiting the original location that opened in 2008. Aside from the loud music (must every L.A. establishment give off the “we’re so hip party vibe” by making you scream your order at the cashier?), the air-conditioning was welcomed and the menu continues to be fun. You can get creative however you choose by customizing a creamy treat to your exact liking, ordering from their popular shakes selection; or if you really want to be creepy and channel your favorite celeb in an intimate way, you can order from the celebrities menu where an A-lister (but most times a total D-lister) has created and endorses their own personal concoction. P.S. I know we are all human and have worth, but why is Ocotomom on this list?

{Toppings, toppings, toppings.}

I went with “The Million Dollar Shake” from the most popular shakes menu, made with Ferrero Rocher chocolates and fresh strawberries. It was too hot to get cute, I’m still reeling from my obsession with mixing chocolates and strawberries together in anything, and I thought the idea of saying “I’ll take a Miley Cyrus to-go” was silly. My guy didn’t follow the leader at all, and went customized – vanilla ice cream with peanut butter M&M’s.

Worth. The. Hype. Now I understand why milkshakes bring all the boys to the yard!

{The Million Dollar Shake, customized vanilla ice-cream with peanut butter M&M’s.}

Highlights: Farewell September

Posted in DIY, Food, Fun, Inspiration, Treats by

The last Friday of the month has arrived. As we bid adieu to September, this last week was filled with lots of smiles in the simple things:

{A little peek at a recently finished wall at home. I’ve always been a fan of wall quotes and finally got an opportunity to put up one that I love to remind myself of everyday. How appropriate this phrase seemed under my new vintage-inspired wall clock.}

{Pink roses.}

{My first homemade cup of coffee using the just released Pumpkin Pie Spice seasonal edition creamer from International Delight. Yum!}

{Finally had one of the decadent chocolate bars I stocked up on from my recent visit to Dylan’s Candy Bar. Grade: A+}

Farewell, September.

The Halloween Project

Posted in Books, DIY, Explore, Film, Food, Fun, Treats by

Believe it or not, October is just around the corner. T-minus 3 days people! I’ve decided to make Halloween a big deal this year. Why should the kids and drunk college students have all the fun? Sure, I’ve done the big West Hollywood Carnaval down Santa Monica Boulevard, your typical costume party, the Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor, the L.A. Haunted Hayride, and carved a pumpkin here and there – so I’m not a total party pooper. I manage to try to do something festive every year, but I’m committing to the festivities more hardcore to have a bit more fun celebrating this unique season by creating some “must do’s” to accomplish through-out the entire month of October. I’m dubbing it…

The Halloween Project:

1. Bake a gluten-free pumpkin pie.
2. Carve a pumpkin (naturally).
3. Decorate my apartment (which at the very least means putting up my beloved pumpkin shaped lights).
4. A scary night out with the girls. We’re still planning where, but seem to be headed to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios.
5. Scary movie night at least once a week – complete with a big bowl of popcorn and all the lights turned out.
6. Finally, I came across this list of the 10 scariest books to read for Halloween. I’m going with Midnight, by Dean Koontz. (Don’t judge!)

Happy Halloween my pretties! May all your October nights be full of terror 🙂

How to Survive A Plague at The Nuart

Posted in Breakfast, Documentary, Explore, Film, Food, Fun by

Location: 11272 Santa Monica Boulevard, West LA

Just past the congestion of the infamous meeting of Sepulveda and Santa Monica Boulevards, under the ramp of the 405 freeway, and immediately to your left – rests one of my favorite L.A. movie theaters, The Nuart.

Though it’s apart of the Landmark family, The Nuart keeps that off-beat theater vibe well in tact from the marquee down to the strictly independent and documentary focused programming you’ll find here.

It was a more “fall-esque” Monday evening. The weather a bit chillier than it had been and the sun setting a little earlier than in recent weeks, a small indication that Autumn is slowly making its way to Los Angeles. After a quick and cheap breakfast for dinner stop at what used to be Delores’ Restaurant right down the street from the theater (that’s changed menus twice and now its name – spawning a much more mediocre dining experience), we headed back to the theater to learn “How to Survive A Plague.”

{Breakfast for dinner – always a good idea.}

What a powerful and thought-provoking way to start the week. The documentary chronicles the New York activist scene fighting the lack of attention from the US government, hospitals, and drug companies to the raging AIDS epidemic stealing the lives of millions in the gay community beginning in the early 1980’s and until a treatment was discovered to survive. Most impressive about the film is that it’s mostly compiled of and told through the use of archival footage of old Act Up and TAG activist meetings, media coverage of protests/demonstrations across the country, and personal home video.

I left the theater feeling like I had a solid understanding of the struggle it took to get medication, education, and compassion towards what was a modern American plague only 30 short years ago. I couldn’t help but think about how a similar uprising could benefit the millions of people in Africa as I type this sentence battling the same disease, among arguably even worse circumstances.

I highly recommend this film for anyone who wants a crash course (for lack of a better phrase) into a hard-fought battle over basic human rights and the AIDS virus, or for anyone who just needs some inspiration to go out there, follow your beliefs, and “Act Up.”

You’ll be surprised what you can do when you don’t give up.

American Rag Cie

Posted in Accessories, Breakfast, Brunch, Explore, Fashion, Food, Fun, Handbags, Shoes by

Location: 150 South La Brea Avenue, Mid-City

American Rag. This place is bittersweet for me. On the one hand, I love the idea of killing some time sifting through vintage clothes looking for that perfect one of a kind piece that I can throw on and say, “look what I found!”

Unfortunately, the handful of times I’ve been to American Rag I usually kill some time sifting through the clothes thinking, “I can’t afford this crap!”

Don’t get me wrong, I admitted it’s a love hate relationship with this shop. The place screams “trendy” just in the clientele that’s perusing the aisles next to you. It’s pretty clear that stylists from all over town are looking for special outfits for that next photo or film shoot; while you’re simply looking for something that you like, can afford, and actually fits. If your wallet doesn’t quite expand so far as to justify spending $100 for a shirt, the best times to visit this place seems to be when things go on sale. What fun it is to try on sweaters during the hot sticky summer days to save 30% on something you can’t wear for another three months anyway.

Unfortunately, a notorious reputation looms over American Rag (and I share a somewhat similar distaste) with some of their staffing choices. At times, it’s been great, no problems. Hooray! Other times, that LA hipster vibe is alive and well. I recall buying a belt once and the guy at the register acting like he was doing me a favor because I was shopping in the almighty American Rag and got to leave with something.

As with any vintage shopping trip, the key is just to decide to head in and look around but for not anything specific. You might find something that appeals to your fancy, you might not. My experience has been the latter here and it has much more to do with the over-pricing versus the selection.

I have consistently better experiences when I wander next door to the connecting Maison Midi boutique. Still expensive, but ultra-cool to take a peek in if you’re looking for something on the home front. Awesome perk? Seeing huge plates of food walk past you from their in-house cafe. I’ve never eaten at the Midi Cafe, but not to worry, it’s on my bucket list and you’ll be the first to know when it happens. Stay tuned.

As for American Rag, take this place and its hype with a grain of salt. It can be a great experience or not. Either way, you’ve been warned.

Blu Jam Cafe

Posted in Food, Treats by

Location: 7371 Melrose Avenue, Mid-City

Blu Jam is an awesome place for breakfast if you have some time on a leisurely Saturday to wait up to an hour for a table during their busiest time, but I was in a rush on my way to the office and decided to perk up my Monday morning not too long ago with a quick stop here for the best latte fix on Melrose! I don’t know what it is that they do differently to their caffeinated beverages, but I suspect is has something to do with that blender behind the counter. It’s the last place the mixture of espresso beans, milk, and vanilla powder meet before the perfect shade of tan hits my not so eco-friendly plastic cup. Rich in taste, creamy, and cool. $4.50 well spent. And while not much cheaper in theory, a superior alternative to those who are currently pissed upset with Starbucks for screwing over disappointing their Gold Rewards members last week by removing soy milk and syrup on the house to its most loyal caffeine addicts. Here’s to supporting local small businesses and sticking it to “the man.” 🙂

(Shhh – don’t tell “The Bucks” but Blu Jam’s coffee is better anyway).

T’was a happy dance on a Monday. Well, as happy as you can be for a Monday morning (strike 1); sitting in traffic (strike 2); contemplating what you want to do for the weekend, but realize you still have 5 days to go (strike 3).

Have a great week and may it be full of caffeine!

Autumn

Posted in Beauty, Fashion, Food, Treats by

Fall officially joins us tomorrow. Unfortunately, in Los Angeles, it couldn’t be further from the truth. Summer seems not to want to let go in harsh protest from the 100+ degree weather we’ve been enduring for the last few weeks.

The transition from Summer to Fall is always bittersweet for me personally. I’m a California girl through and through. I love summer dresses, warmer temperatures, sunglasses, beaches, iced lattes, shorts, flip-flops, sunlight until 8:00pm, and days when you can roam the city streets without lugging a sweater around. Gratefully, Fall brings equally fond happenings as well: boots, scarves, pumpkin spice lattes (pumpkin everything!), Halloween, Thanksgiving, and a mellow coziness to the air.

While it may take a few more weeks for the weather to catch-up with the calendar, I’ve been making a few special preparations to enjoy the upcoming shift in the climate:

On the make-up front, I recently stumbled upon Bobbi Brown’s Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks and found the perfect new warmer tone for Fall. It’s my first time using a cream blush, as opposed to powder, and I’m really enjoying the versatility of it. Color: Milk Chocolate.

{Photo Courtesy: Cupcakes and Cashmere}

Thanks to the great taste always highlighted on fellow blogger Emily Schuman’s addicting Cupcakes and Cashmere site, I’ve found my first new wardrobe splurge for Fall. Sweater: Free People.

I cracked my coffeepot a few days ago while hand-washing it in the sink. It was a very kind second-hand gift for my new apartment, which really bummed me out. The bright side was that I went out and bought a new one earlier this week and didn’t break the bank. This coffee maker is programmable to brew at any time (so I’ve been waking up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee every morning), is perfect for one person, and the carafe is stainless steel – so there’s no way I can break it in the near future. Here’s to many cups of delicious homemade coffee in celebration of Autumn temperatures.

Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall….eventually.

Dylan’s Candy Bar, Los Angeles

Posted in Explore, Food, Fun, Treats by

Location: 6333 West Third Street, Mid-City

Boy, was I like a kid in a candy store a few days ago. Literally! Welcome to the newest addition to The Farmer’s Market at The Grove, Dylan’s Candy Bar. I’ve never been to the popular New York flagship location so I didn’t know what to expect other than wall-to-wall candy. I was not disappointed. The well-designed, brightly lit, and colorful interior couldn’t have been more perfect. You’re instantly in sugar land from the moment you walk in the door. The smell of fructose is overwhelmingly alive in the air. The chocolate fountain is a sight to see. Endless bulk candy and chocolate choices are all around for the taking spending.

{Chocolate fountain.}

{Bulk candy.}

At $12.99 a pound for bulk selections, the price is steep (especially since candy is naturally pretty heavy). While the different packaging options were cute and a nice souvenir, they were also on the pricey side. Don’t expect to leave with a spiffy Dylan’s branded container filled with any candy of your liking for less than $15.00. Somehow this didn’t bother me so much. The point of stores like this is to splurge and enjoy the environment, so go in with that mindset. All of this stuff is overpriced!

{Regular packaged candy selections.}

{Interior, Hot Tamales bin (yay!), specialty packaging options, goodies for sale.}

I managed to leave with 4 chocolate candy bars and only $10.00 less in my bank account. It’s funny how in stores like this you’d be willing to spend a bit more on candy, but would blow a gasket anywhere else at the thought of spending so much on sugar. The lady next to me at the register racked up $52.00! As of writing time, I have yet to try any of the candy bars (I know, I know) but I’m really looking forward to indulging in the 4 Belgian chocolate choices I walked out with: Red Velvet Cake, S’mores, Brownie Batter, and Milk Toffee Crunch.

{My purchases.}

{Halloween.}

{Registers.}

{Full store view.}

Strawberries and Chocolate

Posted in DIY, Food, Fun, Treats by

Strawberries and chocolate are always a good combination. Recently, and more often than I’d like to admit, I’ve been satisfying my sweet tooth with this timeless meeting of flavors. I’ve fine tuned a method (the lazy way) that works to enjoy this as an easy, quick, and healthier late night snack. What I love about this as dessert is the melted warm chocolate against the cool sweetness of the strawberries. I find you only need a few because of the richness of this treat. All you’ll need are clean fresh strawberries, chocolate chips, and eager taste buds.

{Place a small pinch of milk chocolate baking chips in the microwave for about 2 minutes.}

{Stir the warm chocolate until smooth and creamy.}

{Serve.}

{Enjoy.}

Highlights

Posted in Books, Dinner, Film, Food, Fun by

Can you believe that we’re halfway through September already? I could have sworn I just paid rent! My goodness, how time flies. Thankfully, there were a few moments from this week that made an ordinary day, pretty extraordinary:

{FOOD.}

Is it me or does pasta taste better on the second or even third day? Monday night’s dinner was a huge highlight and success, in part because I dined on leftovers from my recent visit to Osteria Coppola. I warmed up the chicken lasagna in the oven, as opposed to throwing it in the microwave, to let it cook slowly and develop a bit of a crunch to the top layer. Things always taste better from the oven. I must remember this mantra when I don’t have the patience to wait. A quick homemade side salad and a glass of ice tea and I swear I was in Italy in my own house.

{FILM.}

By far, one of the greatest experiences this week was seeing Celeste and Jesse Forever. It’s an awesome off-beat dramedy, with a nice salute to Los Angeles. Rashida Jones (could she be anymore gorgeous?) and Andy Samberg do a superb job bringing the highs and lows of a complicated and deteriorating relationship, but an everlasting friendship to the screen. I LOL’d, felt my eyes water, and had a smile on my face the whole time. I also fell in LOVE with the music in this film and was on Amazon.com within an hour of getting home looking to purchase the soundtrack. Unfortunately, no soundtrack exists, but thanks to another fellow blogger I was directed to a playlist created on Spotify with all the film’s songs. “Drifting In and Out” by Porcelain Raft is my new chill out song. This will be added to my collection later this year when it’s released on DVD for sure!

{FUN.}

I’ve been doing a lot of reading this week, which is a nerdy love of mine. I’m currently reading The Cider House Rules by John Irving. I still have quite a way to go before my next book club meeting. I’m very much enjoying it, but it’s 561 densely packed pages!

Have a great weekend!