Fatty's Food-venture

Hello again,

It's me Minna. It's been a while, hasn't it? Read about my Fatty Food-ventures over at my other blog, Glut with Guts, recently updated after my trip to the Chicago Food Film Festival.

Yes, indeed. My photo taking/shopping skills need work...

just because~

<3 <3 <3 <3

World View

I saw this hilarious illustration on how various countrymen view Europe.

Europe according to the French

Europe according to the Brits

Europe according to Americans

Find the rest of the hilarious illustrations of stereotypes here.

new destinations to venture to...

I'm adding to my list of places I want to travel to...

Brazil.. all of it.

Santorini, Greece

Damascus, Syria

Banyan Tree Resorts in Ungasan, Bali

... adventure keeps trying to pull me away from this sensible thing I've become....

urge to move

Call it watered down and a light-fare read, but I am and will always be loyal to the NYTimes and writers who've inspired me through each transitional phase of my life. ANYWAYS.

Back in May 2010, an article titled, "Confessions of a Soukaholic" was published... leaving me lusting for more travel.

One of the many roads leading to my apartment.

One of my favorite post-work stops, the olive store!

A Nougat Stop Near Moulay Idriss

Leading the Caravan into the Sahara!

It's amazing, the powers that travel writing can hold. When I first read the "Soukaholic" article, a wave of memories washed over me. Reminding me of the steps I would take through foreign Souks, and yet feeling completely involved, very much a part of the soul of the souk.

Not too long ago, I started reading "Bread of Angels" by author Stephanie Saldana, a tale of her life in Damascus, Syria right after 9/11 as a war waged on in neighboring Iraq. Although of totally different backgrounds, as I read her writing I feel as if I am her, traveling across cities, moving up mountains, a normally quiet and shy woman in the states, but a liberated adventurer in a world so different from hers.

Wanderlusting for the Middle East of days long gone, once more....

)*&^!@)*&!

day 2 of the most stressful work week ever....

and the ladies I work with bring in mini-cupcakes from swirlz.. again!

What's the opposite of "blessing in disguise?" oh yea.. THIS.

blah the torture of fattening cupcakes.. screw it.

I'm eating it as I type this..... hahahahahhaa

cupcake monday

Morning, Monday Mavens! This is the way to start the week right, a mini cupcake from Sugar Bliss Cupcakes, thanks to the lovely ladies I work with. 

Clarity

aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem

-Horace 

m. first

re-evaluating things. needed a little reminder:

m.first

..that's all

Dinner with Z

Last night, I went to dinner with my friend Z, who is always hip to the new trends. hahaha Just saying "hip" makes me seem so... old. haha

Anyways, we shared an awesome meal at the French-Asian Progressive American inspired RUXBIN, by head chef Edward Kim. Read my review!

Tuesday Tumble of Thoughts

Happy Tuesday, world!

hehehe love her hair, it reminds me of ice cream! all my fat ass thinks about all day is food. hahaha

On that note, today I'm heading over to nobel square with my friend Zoe to try Ruxbin!!! I'm so excited to try this place out, since Chef Edward Kim apparently studied under Thomas Keller! I'm a fan of Keller and DREAM of going to French Laundry one day!

Back to RUXBIN... Here's what I pulled from their site!

"Food

Progressive American.

Chef Edward Kim crafts a simple, yet progressive American menu drawn from his culinary influences from French, Pan-Asian, and Latin American flavors and techniques. He delivers thoughtful, exciting, and approachable dishes that are ultimately underlined by the comfort of our favorite American foods. We place a heavy emphasis on preparing our meals from scratch and use locally sourced ingredients when possible, including micro greens and fresh herbs that are grown in house."

  

Yay! Countdown to dinner tonight!

Happy Monday, world!

What an exhausting weekend. Friday, A and I were supposed to head to the Shedd. We made a quick stop into Jewel on Roosevelt thinking we can pick up some food and drink (wine juice boxes? in cognito public drinking? hahaha) for after the Shedd, thinking we could share a nice little picnic and enjoy the views from out there.

Weatherchannel.com lied. Despite hourly check-ins on my iPhone, the weather was NOT what was predicted and we were stuck outside in a wind-storm of what felt like 30 mph which literally knocked me off my feet! We trekked back to my place and ended up watching a movie and falling asleep, far from the fun activities we had planned on.

I spent the rest of my weekend at home, acting as resident chauffeur to the little one, maid to my dad, and sous chef to my mom who had a party over the weekend. I think I'll forgo my usual workout today, because i'm exhausted from the weekend!

I leave you with one of the smartest doodles... hoping I can live by these! haha

wanted:

a suga daddy to take me to Alinea

empire state of mind

on another note...

Apparently I've been neglecting this blog way too much and way too often!

So sorry for keeping you hanging (all TWO readers, ahem... S and my computer illiterate mother...)

hahahaha

ANYWAYS, Summer 2010 is upon us once more, which means one very important tradition has come alive once more...

S.L.S.F.



For the records, SLSF came wayyyyy before the song.

수원이 고모

imsorrythankyouyouchangedmeiloveyou.

no word seems to suffice.

Thank you for being my teacher. We already miss you dearly.

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."
- Mahatma Gandhi

want want want.

I know this is so cheesy and so cliche, but I saw this ring on etsy and absolutely thought it was adorable!

{click on image to link to the etsy store}

I hope spring is coming to Chicago soon!  All this dreary weather is making everyone I know so sad, gloomy and moody (or do I just rub off those emotions on to others?). hahahah

"The country ever has a lagging Spring,

Waiting for May to call its violets forth,

And June its roses--showers and sunshine bring,

Slowly, the deepening verdure o'er the earth;

To put their foliage out, the woods are slack,

And one by one the singing-birds come back.

Within the city's bounds the time of flowers

Comes earlier. Let a mild and sunny day,

Such as full often, for a few bright hours,

Breathes through the sky of March the airs of May,

Shine on our roofs and chase the wintry gloom--

And lo! our borders glow with sudden bloom."

- William Cullen Bryant, Spring in Town, 1850

Future Travel Plans

In the next decade, I want to travel to:

Goa, India

...

Beirut, Lebanon

pretending

shabu shabu

Last night, my last meal at home, my mom made for us shabu shabu.  I had no idea how simple it is to make!  This was that last good meal I will have for a while, as I am going to try and stop (or at least dial down) the gluttonous side of me this year.

Sitting at work, depressed I'm no longer on break, wishing I could have more shabu shabu now!

broke.

I know I shouldn't spend any money, aka SHOPPING.  My new year's resolution is to save more, spend less.  I spoke with a friend this past Sunday who is currently a freelance lawyer assisting the elderly and non-native speakers file bankruptcy forms and etc.  She was telling me about these people who were in their 60s, hundreds of thousand of dollars in debt and have no idea what to do anymore.

I am part of the fortunate few, to have a job right out of school.  I should take this opportunity to start saving for the future, possibly a future home?

I, however, am a shopaholic.  Not in the sense that I squalor all my money on brand-name clothes and accessories, but in the sense that I don't mind spending a significant portion of my hard-earned money on lavish meals and unnecessary items (ie. the expensive box of white strips I thought "I NEED, NOW!" which have been gathering dust.. I think somewhere under my laundry in the hidden corners of my closet?).

It's going to be a difficult feat, attempting to put away a large portion of my earnings into saving, but knowing the statistics of the American public, I feel this is necessary. No one argues against the necessity of preventative care when it comes to health... shouldn't my financial health be the same?

Still... lusting is such a large part of my being.  PLUS, I figure I am in need of a "good" work tote?

Balenciaga - Short Neoclassic - $1,895.00

PRADA - Large Saf + Tess Briefcase - $1,495.00 

Marc Jacobs - Quilted Bruna Tote - $1,295.00