I get so much joy from sharing food features with you, no joke! “Food, like a loving touch or a glimpse of divine power, has the ability to comfort” – Norman Kolpas. This feature of course may be a tad bit late as I’ve been MIA for quite some time and ultimately have a bit of catching up to do.
With that cleared up and out of the way, let’s get to the meat of the matter. It was February 14th, known to most as Valentine’s Day. Jason and I decided to visit somewhere out of the ordinary for dinner. After days of searching both high and low for somewhere that “tickled our fancy”, we came across Oceanaire. “A Superior Dining Experience”, this of course coming from their website. Before you say it, yes I know … I do a lot of research via the Internet. After all, a girl can’t be too certain now can she? A bit of inquiry has to go into it before final decisions are made.
Oceanaire, voted one of the best seafood restaurants in the country, is a sleek and sophisticated restaurant, offering the perfect setting to enjoy the freshest seafood flown in daily from around the world. They pride themselves on the exceptional service provided by their knowledgeable staff, and delight me they did. When we got there, we found that valet parking was free for customers. How cool was that?! This was a definite plus for me, especially on such an occasion. Upon entering, we were greeted and taken to our seats. Our waitress was very welcoming, and took the time to explain everything to us. The food prepared, was wonderful. It spoke for itself, and the service provided had surpassed expectations.
The menu items ordered by Jason and I included Stuffed Flounder Florentine - Spinach, Shrimp and Crabmeat Stuffing with Tomato-Chive Butter Sauce, and Shrimp Scampi - Served with Tomatoes, Garlic, White Wine & Olive Oil Linguine. As for beverages, we had Patrónarita - Patrón Silver, Cointreau, fresh lime and simple syrup, The Oceanaire - Stoli O, Cointreau, Blue Curacao, Peach Schnapps and fresh lime juice, and for dessert we had a Baked Alaska (please see video below)
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I have been so behind in my delivery of this specific feature on my blog and for that I must apologize. Now that I’ve cleared the air, here goes. We have gone pass yet another Wednesday, known to most as “hump day”. I’m sure most of you doing a 9 to 5 is like *woot woot*, Lolol! Any who, this week’s OOTD features an ensemble I wore this past Sunday (15/04), to my hairdresser’s baby shower.
This getup was an easy one, and allowed enough room for whatever “trouble” I could think to get myself in. And of course, trouble I did find! or did it find me?! Hhmmmm, Lol! There was the introduction of a specific game at the shower. From this activity, we were to write three actions we wished to have Tiana (my hairdresser) do in her current state. As outlined by the instructions, these actions could have been anything under the sun. With that said, Jason and I decided that we wanted to see Tiana touch her toes, moonwalk, and to spice things up a bit, kiss her tummy. Sure enough for those who haven’t taken part in this game before, there was a twist. The list was handed to her, and she now had the responsibility of assigning one of the three desired actions to the person who wished for same. I’m sure you guys can guess that she wanted me to moonwalk *face palms*. OMG, how embarrassing!! Being the good sport that I am however, I got up and entertained everyone with my horrible rendition of the dance.
I now share with you, images below. Enjoy!!
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OMG guys! I don’t even know where to begin. My sister and her boyfriend finally came to visit me in Orlando!
I can’t imagine myself being any happier during that time. Despite the short duration of their trip, it was still a very heart-warming visit because I had missed her ‘oh-so-much’. So, without further ado, let me give you guys a “run down” of her trip and the activities we decided to partake in.
RENEE and Stefan landed surprisingly early on Friday. This was particularly funny because Jason and I thought we arrived at the airport long before they cleared customs & immigration. Upon arrival, we proceeded to baggage claim and waited for approximately 15 minutes prior to receiving an unexpected call from Renee. With this call, my hopes of capturing a movie moment of her coming down the escalator went up in flames :(. They were both waiting right outside the whole time.
When Jason and I finally made it through the exit doors, Stefan was inconspicuously sitting to my right (if you look closely you can spot him in a yellow shirt in the video I have posted). I didn’t see him right away as I was still scanning the surroundings for my little sis. By this time, we were a little irritated because we STILL didn’t see any of them and then, all of a sudden, I spotted Renee. I sprinted over to her and gave her the biggest hug ever. In that moment, my soul felt complete.
After spending another 15 minutes trying to find where we parked the car, we decided to go straight home rather than find something to eat. Of course, one of the first things Renee requested was the wifi password so she could get her devices hooked up to the internet. She can’t live without her BlackBerry and could possibly die of separation anxiety. They were both exhausted from the entire day of travelling and decided to stay indoors for the rest of the night.
SATURDAY was a brand new day and we had a mall to conquer. As anyone knows, these short trips to the “U.S. of A” are always filled with shopping. We headed to Florida Mall and spent the entire day there trying to find whatever items Renee had on her list of must-haves. Later on, we (PJ, Evon, Renee, Stefan, Jason and I) headed to a little club called Lime-Light that played Jamaican music on a Saturday night. This turned out to be an EPIC FAIL in my eyes but I guess, you win some / you lose some. We came home smelling like a pack of cigarettes and had to get ready for bed right away because we had to attend Church in the AM.
EASTER Sunday (the focal point of the trip) was finally here. I had been telling Renee for weeks that she had to go to Church with me and I was so excited to finally share my place of worship with her. In addition, the Church I attend is nothing like the ones back home (it’s definitely not traditional to say the least). The service lasted an hour long and then we jumped in the car and headed straight to brunch. We were all famished. The original plan was to dine at Crave but when we arrived, they were only accepting reservations for regular seating and we had forgotten to make them. It wasn’t all bad though, because we had brunch at another restaurant I had never been to before (which I will share with you in a future “Food Feature” blog post) YAAY!!!
The next stop on the agenda was to head to a mall for some more shopping. To our surprise the mall was closed for Easter Sunday. Unheard of!.......the mall is never closed!....or so I thought. What were we going to do? Luckily, Jason suggested that we try the outlets and sure enough they were open. *Smiles* the day had been saved. After about four hours on the mall we headed home to take part in Amelia’s Easter Sunday Dinner. On the menu was scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole and a honey glazed ham, yum!
MONDAY was definitely more of a relaxation day. We stayed home for the first part of the day and then we went to Mall at Millenia to pick up the last minute items that were still on their lists.
TUESDAY morning treated us to a good old American McDonalds breakfast before heading back to the airport. The whole ride to the airport I told myself that I wouldn’t shed a tear but I couldn’t help it. It felt like a piece of me was being ripped away and I was trying so hard to hold onto it. No matter how hard it was to say bye though, I am ultimately glad she came.
Love you Renipooh
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How was your weekend?! I hope you had a blast doing whatever you did *smiles*
For you my avid readers, I spent my weekend thinking of ways in which to revamp my blog. With that said, I’ve decided to add a new feature on my blog called “Fab Findz”. From this feature, I will share with you all, items I may come across from week to week that I consider cute, fab, gorge, amazing, etc. I’m literally bouncing of the walls with excitement as I create this post. Why you may ask? One reason being I’m a girly girl and I just love new things. After all, who doesn’t?! *giggles* Now here goes the first of many such features …
On this lovely Monday morning, I will have known to all, three things that I so happened to have found sometime last week.
E.O.S Lip Balm Sphere – OMG! I am so in love with this egg-shaped object. I have heard a lot about this particular lip balm, and have wanted to try one for the longest time. Well on Friday I finally got my chance when I came across the product in Target. At the time, they had two flavours available. That is, “Honeysuckle” and “Sweet Mint”. I don’t know about anyone else, but to me, at the then present moment, honeysuckle sounded a whole lot like watermelon. Point to note, I absolutely hate watermelon. As such, the decision was made right then and there to go with Sweet Mint *twirls*.
This lip balm smells so amazing!! It was just as the name suggested, a sweetened minty scent with the mint not being too overbearing. The product is made with 100% natural ingredients, 95% of which are organic. The balm itself is not super moisturizing, but it does a pretty good job and since it’s a big egg-shaped ball, I’m almost certain that it will be harder to lose. This comes as great news to me, as I have a knack of losing lip balms time and time again.
C.O Bigalow Lip Shine Holder – Now I was extremely happy, when I found this item in Bath and Body Works on Friday of last week (13/04). It’s similar to the cute jelly holsters, made for their line of miniature hand sanitizers, except of course, that this one holds lip gloss. How cool is that?! I’ve said it to those close to me, and I’ll share it here … This product, I honestly believe was developed just for me. As previously mentioned, I lose my lip glosses probably in a similar fashion to how I or anyone for that matter may lose hair pins. OMG!! The “Lip Balm Gods” have finally heard my cry, Lolol!! The idea here is that with this “gadget” on hand, my lip balm/gloss will stay pinned to my bag of choice, and I will always know where it is. Yay Me!!
Elf Powder Brush from the Studio Line – I know, I know, I may be super late; however I find this brush to be sooooo incredible! While I was in Target, I saw two different lines of elf brushes. One being silver and the other black, nonetheless I still wondered what the real difference could possibly have been. The silver ones were US$1 and the black US$3, so I thought to myself, “what the heck, I'd just buy the two”, Lol! I had bought one E.L.F. Essential Total Face Brush (silver), and one E.L.F. Studio Powder Brush (black). When I got home I tried them both, and to be absolutely honest with you, I really didn’t care for the silver one at all. The black powder brush on the other hand felt great. It was so soft!! This brush literally feels like velvet on your face. The black brushes have synthetic hair (Taklon) and are cruelty free. I must say that at US$3, it’s worth every single penny. Give it a try!! I promise you won’t be disappointed one bit.
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This past weekend was such a hectic one for me. Whew, I thank heavens its over!! How does the saying go? “There is no love sincerer than the love of food” (George Bernard Shaw). With that said, here I am with yet another food feature #yum!!
In keeping with my promise to visit different restaurants from hereon, the place of choice for Jason’s birthday brunch was “Crave”. This is an American restaurant offering fresh and innovative cuisine, along with an impeccable wine selection brought to life in a chic, casual and vibrant atmosphere. I considered this the ideal spot as his birthday fell on a Sunday, so a day activity would have been more suitable than one at night as he had work the following day. Separate and apart from this fact, they had a Fabulous Family Sunday brunch that was $15.95 per person. Now how cost effective was that?
At such an “amazing” price for food at superb restaurant, one would get a generous serving of scrambled eggs with Tillamook smoked cheddar, house made baked hash browns, off-the-bone ham, applewood smoked bacon, savory sausage links, whole wheat toast and jam, fresh fruit, and cinnamon rolls all served on large platters for your table to share and replenish as you desire. How incredible was that?! For those of you who don’t know, I am a little “foodie” by nature, so pardon me if I get excited when I become familiar with terrific deals at gorgeous food places *twirls*.
The stated price also includes: A French Toast Bar with Gourmet Toppings, and a glass of Mimosa, Champagne, or Orange Juice (as outlined on the restaurants website). For me, this was all fine and dandy. It sounded so great, I got famished just thinking about it, but as usual my eyes are evidently way bigger than my stomach, SMH! In total it was four of us that had gone out for this merriment, and of course, we could hardly make it through the FIRST plate!
After this experience, I drew the conclusion that “all you can eat” buffets are definitely not for me. I was actually kind of disappointed in myself because the food was so good and I had nowhere to put it *face palms*. Despite this fact, I loved everything about Crave, from the service to the décor, it was simply astounding. It got me to the point where I am really considering having my birthday dinner there this year. I now share with you images below.
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What’s on and poppin?! I hope that everyone had a whimsical Monday! *twirls*
So just to clue you all in a bit more on who I am, I can be considered a big “movie head”, and just to put it out there, I absolutely love my TV shows too. I don’t know about you, but I know for me, time and time again, it’s proven difficult to find decent shows on TV. With that said, I decided share with you all, the TV shows that I’ve categorized as “good”. I’ve become so caught up in them all, I just can’t skip a beat and anticipate the episodes of the following week. Leave it up to me, and I’ll watch reruns of the shows on occasion. I kid you not! I consider them all noteworthy, and dependent on your taste in series, recommend them all for your viewing pleasure. Point to note however, is that I am not really a comedy person, so if you are, then this post is not for you *halo*.
Game of thrones – This series is back for its second season on HBO, so if you’re going to watch, best believe you have some catching up to do, as the first episode of the second season aired last night.
Seven noble families fight for control of the mythical land of Westeros. Robert Baratheon, King of Westeros, asks his old friend Eddard, Lord Stark, to serve as Hand of the King, or highest official. Secretly warned that the previous Hand was assassinated, Eddard accepts in order to investigate further. Meanwhile the Queen's family, the Lannisters, may be hatching a plot to take power. Across the sea, the last members of the previous and deposed ruling family, the Targaryens, are also scheming to regain the throne. The friction between these clans, and with the remaining great Houses Greyjoy, Tully, Arryn, and Tyrell, leads to full-scale war. All while a very ancient evil awakens in the farthest North. Amidst the war and political confusion, a neglected military order of misfits, the Night's Watch, is all that stands between the realms of men and icy horrors beyond. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0944947/plotsummary)
Breaking Bad – This series I’ve been hooked on, and can’t seem to stop talking about. It took me a while, but I eventually caught on, having taken the time out to watch all past seasons. The show is getting ready to go in to its fifth and final season, said to be aired in July of 2012.
When chemistry teacher, Walter White, is diagnosed with Stage III cancer and given only two years to live, he decides he has nothing to lose. He lives with his wife and teenage son, who has cerebral palsy, in New Mexico. Determined to ensure that his family will have a secure future, White embarks on a career of drugs and crime. He proves to be remarkably proficient in this new world as he begins manufacturing and selling methamphetamine with one of his former students. The series tracks the impacts of a fatal diagnosis on a regular hard working man explores how a fatal diagnosis, how that effects his morality and transforms him into a major player of the drug trade. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903747/)
Awake – The series premiered on March 1, 2012, and airs on Thursdays at 10:00 pm (Eastern) on NBC.
After a car accident takes the life of a family member, a police detective lives two alternating parallel lives, one with his wife and one with his son. Is one of his "realities" merely a dream? (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1839683/)
Suits – This series I became familiar with sometime last year. After what seemed like an eternity of waiting on its return, it finally is coming back to TV, for its second season in June 2012.
Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) is a brilliant college dropout. Mike's childhood dream of becoming a lawyer was derailed after he was caught selling a math exam to the Dean's daughter. Naturally intelligent and with an eidetic memory, Mike makes a living taking tests for other people, particularly LSAT’s. Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) is one of New York City's top attorneys who has recently been promoted to senior partner at his firm, and is forced by company policy to hire an associate. After an accidental interview with Mike, Harvey is impressed by the younger man's quick wits, his encyclopaedic knowledge of the law, and his genuine desire to be an attorney, and hires him. Due to the fact that Mike lacks a law degree, and because the firm prefers Harvard alumni, they both pretend that Mike is a Harvard graduate. Mike and Harvey often come into conflict over Mike's naiveté and ethical scruples and Harvey's hard charging and seemingly uncaring demeanour. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suits_(TV_series))
Teen Wolf – This series I consider to be a less serious one hen compared to the others but still a good watch in my opinion. They will also be back for their second season in June 2012.
The series revolves around social outcast Scott McCall, a young lacrosse-playing student at Beacon Hills High School. His life drastically changes when he is bitten by a werewolf one night. Upon discovery that he is a werewolf, with the help of his best friend, Stiles, and the mysterious werewolf, Derek, he is forced to learn to balance his newfound identity among the many dangers that it presents with his teenage life. He must keep his loved ones safe and balance the relationships he shares with each person around him. Scott is also having trouble with keeping his secret from the girl he loves, Alison, and later finds out she is part of a family that hunts werewolves. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teen_Wolf_(2011_TV_series))
Alcatraz – This too is one of my current watches, with the first season just ending last Monday (26/03), a two (2) hour finale.
On March 21, 1963, over 300 inmates’ and more than 40 guards disappeared from the Alcatraz island prison without a trace. To cover up the disappearance, the government invented a cover story about the prison being closed, due to unsafe conditions, and officially reported that the inmates had been transferred. However, federal agent Emerson Hauser (Sam Neill), a young San Francisco police officer tasked with transferring inmates to the island in 1963, is one of the first to discover that the inmates are actually missing and not transferred. In present-day San Francisco, the "63s" (as the missing inmates and guards are called) begin returning, one by one. Strangely, they haven't aged at all, and they have no clue about their missing time or their whereabouts during their missing years. Even more strangely, the government has been expecting their return, and Hauser now runs a secret government unit dedicated to finding the returning prisoners; this unit was set up long ago in anticipation of the prisoners’ returns. To help track the returning prisoners down and capture them, Hauser enlists police detective Rebecca Madsen (Sarah Jones) and Dr. Diego Soto (Jorge Garcia), a published expert on the history of Alcatraz and its inmates. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcatraz_(TV_series))
So there you have it, my top TV shows at present. I hope I have given you enough insight that would encourage you all to take a peek for yourselves. I promise you, that you shan’t be disappointed, as they’re all really good. Feel free to watch and provide me with your respective feedback.
Please don't forget to comment and/or click that like button. Until next time guys, thanks for reading!!
