Threads n Breads

If you know me… then you know i’m a HUGE Simpsons...

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 20:16:36 -0400

If you know me… then you know i’m a HUGE Simpsons fan. I love the classic episodes and we all know the new ones haven’t been that great, but this last week’s new episode (The Food Wife) was amazing!!

Watch the full episode here!

So many great things all rolled into one episode. It’s got E3, food blogging and Breaking Bad all rolled into one! Check it out and laugh with me fellow hipsters! :) The jokes in the food blogging song is the best part!!

Watch just the clip of the rap here.

Here are some of the lyrics (from the Simpson’s Wiki):

We’re Bloggin’ a food blog, Marge and Bart and Lisa,
As one now, we’re having fun now.
Throwing down mad foodie game, knowing all the chefs’ names,
Rolling into K-Town, bibimbap and bulgogi,
The hotties I chill with are sriracha and kimchi,
Homemade terrines, my ducks always confit,
I braise with a billion more BTUs than I need,
I cook a Thanksgiving turkey in a trash-bag, sous vide
,A fumatore in Brindisi Fed-Exes me salami,
Don’t scoop gelato unless it’s got umami,
I’ll be “Frank” like Bruni, “Ruthless” like Reichl, “Wiley” like Dufresne, and when I take the mike,
I’ll Rhyme about radicchio, criticize Colicchio,
Every pub is gastro, and all my beef carpaccio,Throw it in the Pho Yo ,
And don’t you call that Pho “Foe”,
Talk about broth-squirtin’ dumplings, dumplings, dumplings, dumplings.
We’re bloggin a food blog,
Uploading pics with our fun mom, fun mom, fun mom.

Happy Shoes Day, Tuesday!! As part of my Spring Cleaning,...

Wed, 02 May 2012 01:17:00 -0400

Before...

After!

Happy Shoes Day, Tuesday!!

As part of my Spring Cleaning, i’ve decided to finally do it, a shoe wall!!! :)

Most girls dream to have a shoe room like Mariah Carey’s featured in her Crib’s episode, but this is te best i can do for now on my budget and space.

As you can see, in the “before” picture, i had a very inefficient way of storing my shoes… but now, a simple bookcase can turn that eye-sore into something much more appeasing to the eye. It definitely makes me smile :) This book case of course only shelves my prettiest heels. My flats and other miscellaneous shoes have a home in the random boxes and space in my closet.

Happy Earth Day: April 22! Today’s a good day to plant a...

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 02:49:00 -0400

Happy Earth Day: April 22!

Today’s a good day to plant a tree and spread some good vibes to mother earth.

Having plants around me always makes me happy. It’s a great to bring some color and a touch of nature into a room. I went to the hardware store recently and loaded up on some plants. One day, when i have my own space, i would love to get an herb and vegetable garden going. I’m still learning, but i’ve got some rosemary, basil and even a ghost chili plant in my backyard that I’m testing my green thumb on.

Today’s post for Earth Day is the ever so popular Terrarium. I’m sure that you’ve seen these trending lately on Pintrest. And what’s not to love?! Small plants arranged inside of tiny vessels, like a mini ecosystem! I especially love succulents, they’re so interesting looking, like alien plants!

Terrarium 101:

Materials needed:

Plants ( i chose succelents/cactus)
Soil (I choose cactus soil for mine)
Activated Carbon (I picked some up at the pet store)
Small rocks/Pebbles (pet store or michaels)
Sand (gardening center)
Moss (Michael’s)
A Vessel (clear glass containers allow for viewing :))

1.) Start with a clean vessel. I got my glass containers from Michael’s and Homegoods.

2.) Place rocks at the bottom on the container (about 1 inch), this allows for the soil to drain.

3.) Add the activated carbon (charcoal), about 1/2 an inch. The charcoal will help filter the water in the terrarium, as well as absorb odors.

4.) Add your soil, about 3 inches worth, or enough to allow for you to plant your plants.

5.) Decide how you want to arrange your terrarium, be sure to contrast the heights of the plants and think about how the colors of the plants work together. I like to have 1 main focus plant and add in a smaller funkier plant.

6.) Take the plants out of their containers and gently let the roots breathe. You can remove some of the excess dirt from the plants’ roots and place into the soil in your terrarium. Add soil around the plant to “plant” it. Continue with the rest of your plants the same way.

7.) I like to add sand to the top of the soil to make it look “deserty”.

8.) You can also add some moss to the top for decoration. I also added in a small Panda in some of them. These are just small erasers that you can get from the Japanese market.

And that’s it! :)

Succulents need lots of sun, so make sure that you keep these near a window that will be getting lots of sunlight. As for watering, depending if you have an open or closed terrarium, i water mine about once every 1-2 weeks.

HAPPY EARTH DAY! :)

The Crosby’s Chef’s Menu is back!! As soon as i...

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:18:39 -0400

The Crosby

New Chef's Menu @ The Crosby

New Small Bites Menu!

My Staple: Truffle Fries

Amuse Bouche

Signature Red Sangria

Hamachi Collar

Duck Breast

Dessert!

The Crosby’s Chef’s Menu is back!!

As soon as i heard it was back, i HAD to check it out! Aron Habinger, the Executive Chef, and the rest of the Crosby chefs are always coming up with new exciting dishes for these specials. If you’ve ever been with me to the Crosby, you would know how passionate i am about their food. People are always surprised that this hipster bar can pump out some amazing dishes fit for a foodie like me. :) My go-to is always The Starving Artist, a Grilled cheese sandwich with gruyere and mushrooms and a shot of tomato soup to dip it in, and the best part, it’s only five bucks! They have also updated their entire menu, so now there’s plenty of new things to try!

Here’s what I did get on this visit:

Truffle Fries: This is always a staple for me, i love the mesh of truffle flavor and tons of garlic on top of the fries. Yum!
Appetizers: we got to try a little sample of appetizers. Homemade pretzels, pickled quail egg, and watermellon radish with honey-lavender butter
My go to drink: the Red Sangria. I’m not even a big wine drinker, or drinker at all, but i LOVE the Sangria from the Crosby, it’s got just the right amount of fruit.
Hamachi Collar: this is one of my favorite things in the world to order, and it was nice to try it prepared in a different way than the traditional grilled Japanese style I’m used to. The fish skin had a nice crisp to it with a sweet glaze. The Apple slaw was a nice touch to balance the fish. I also loved the use of Shiso in the sauce on the plate.
Duck Breast: Bread + Tomato Sauce + Duck Breast + melted Fontina Cheese + Frisee + Duck Skin CHINCHARONE!!!! YUM!! It looks deceiving, but this was definitely a fork and knife dish. The duck was super tender, and the best part, the duck skin chincharone! So light and crispy!
Dessert: Chocolate creme brulee with double salted chocolate topping + blue cheese ice cream with a cranberry reduction. The double chocolate dessert = AMAZING! Ice cream… interesting.. haha at first taste, it does remind me of cheesecake. It was very rich though, so i couldn’t have a whole lot of it without getting over of the flavor.

What I’m really looking forward to is their next venture The Grilled Cheese Spot

COUNTDOWN TO COACHELLA: 1 DAY!! Artist Spotlight: Miike...

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:08:00 -0400

COUNTDOWN TO COACHELLA: 1 DAY!!

Artist Spotlight: Miike Snow

One of my favorite artists is playing and i couldn’t be more excited!! Calling all hipsters, Miike Snow is closing out the Outdoor Stage on Saturday night. I had the pleasure of seeing this band at Ultra and they were great! They are a Swedish Indie Pop band with electric influences. I’m sure that if you haven’t heard of them before, you may definitely recognize some of their songs because many other artists have remixed them before.

Other favorite songs by the band:

Also… SET TIMES were released yesterday! Time to plan your schedule!

COUNTDOWN TO COACHELLA: 4 DAYS Artist Spotlight: The Black...

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:08:00 -0400

COUNTDOWN TO COACHELLA: 4 DAYS

Artist Spotlight: The Black Keys

This band… how do I even summarize my feelings towards them. They are amazing. Bad-ass. So much sexadocuous soul. :) Best new band with an old school feel! The Black Keys is Grammy-winning American rock band duo from Ohio that has blown up in the last couple of years. I’ve has the pleasure of seeing them live before and can i just say, their music definitely makes you feel… i mean really FEEL, all sorts of emotions. This is real Rock ‘n’ Roll. Real Music.

Some of my Favs:

Lonely Boy
Next Girl
Too Afraid to Love You
Your Touch

The Black Keys will be headlining Coachella on Friday. I can’t wait to hear their amazing performance!

I also just downloaded the Coachella 2012 Festival app for my iPhone. We’re just 4 days away!!

Countdown to Coachella - 7 days to go Artist...

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:38:10 -0400

Countdown to Coachella - 7 days to go

Artist Spotlight: GROUPLOVE

You might recognize this song as the one featured on the iPod Touch commercial. Everything about it makes me smile. I just want to grab my best friends and start dancing. GroupLove is an American indie rock band that i recently discovered that I’ve been loving. They’re debut album Never Trust a Happy Song is pretty damn amazing. It features fun lyrics and upbeat melodies which is why i love the title of their album so much.

Other songs to check out from the band:
Colours

Slow

Itchin’ on a Photograph

They will be at this year’s Coachella playing on Friday. i can’t wait to check out their performance and see what this up and coming band has to offer.

Who are you excited to see at Coachella?

Summer Festival Wear With summer coming up, there are tons of...

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:27:00 -0400

Festival Trippen Polyvore moodboard

Day 1 Outfit

Day 2 Outfit

Day 3 Outfit

Day 1 Outfit

Day 2 Outfit

Day 3 Outfit

Summer Festival Wear

With summer coming up, there are tons of festivals on the horizon. Coachella, being one of the biggest if one of the one’s I’m the most excited for is coming up in less than 2 weeks! I just experienced my second Ultra Music Festival in Miami this year and thought i would share with you the outfits and some tips for looking great at which ever adventure you choose.

Outfits worn to UMF:

Day 1: H&M sheer yellow tanktop, Hot Pink Victoria’s Secret Retro Push-up Bikini top, thrifted high-waisted denim cutoff levi’s, F21 Necklace

Day2: Sheer Solemio Patterned top, Cobalt Blue Victoria’s Secret BioFit Bikini top, American Apparel High Waisted Tap shorts, H&M Feather Necklace

Day 3: Floral Print exposed zipper back tunic, denim cutoff shorts, H&M Gold Necklace, H&M Fringe Bag

TRENDS to SPOT:

Check out my moodboard i put together on Polyvore: Festival Trippen

1.) Fringe/Feathers

2.) Neon

3.) Flowy Sheer Fabrics

4.) Prints (Flowers/Aztec)

5.) Frayed cut-off Denim Shorts

6.) Lace/Crochet

7.) Tie-dye and dip-dye

8.) crop tops

9.) Asymmetric Skirts

Tips for Festivals:

1.) Drink a lot of WATER! It get’s hot when you’re our there dancing away all of your calories. Most festivals have water refill stations, so save the planet and bring your own water bottle to refill.

2.) Wear SunBlock. Those UV rays in the dessert are intense! constantly reapply if you want to avoid aging your skin quick!

3.) Wear lightweight fabrics. You’ll catch me in a sheer number with sleeves, because if you’re like me, i’ll be 10 shades darker within an hour of being at the festival. My shoulders get dark quick if i give them too much of the sun’s rays.

4.) Plan a meetup spot. With that many people in one area, cell phone service is not always reliable. Designate the same meet up spot for the entire duration of the festival. Last year’s spot for us was the red/orange/yellow pagoda. It was right in the middle and also offered shade while you waited for others to show up.

5.) Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll be walking around in dirt/grass/concrete. wear shoes that will stick to your feet and wont get too hot. i usually opt for some kind of flat that zips or buckles on to my feet. No losing shoes in the crowd here!

6.) HAVE FUN! Dress up! It’s one of the few times when you can really wear whatever you want to wear. Any crazy trends you’ve been dying to try out, this is the time. Neon Feather Headdresses, crazy fringe accessories, long sheer maxi/fishtail skirts. Experiment and DIY!

Being a redhead is an expensive and high-maintenance...

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 21:37:00 -0400

Being a redhead is an expensive and high-maintenance addiction… It’s got it’s ups and downs. Freshly dyed hair makes me happy 😊 #red #hair #manicpanic #vampirered #dye (Taken with instagram)

EDIT//

How to get and maintain red hair

1.) When i’m want to get my natural black hair lighter, I use L’oreal Excellence HiColor Highlights in Magenta to take care of my roots. I’m able to make my hair a bright red with pink tones without pre-bleaching my hair.

HiColor Highlights

2.)Red hair is notorious for fading out, when i used to have my hair a dark burgundy, it would be brown within a week because the red never stayed. Well with a hair color like this, when you hair fades, it goes to a weird orange, pinkish brown. About every two weeks, i refresh my hair color with Manic Panic’s Vampire Red semi-permanent gloss.

Manic Panic- Vampire Red

This product doesn’t damage your hair, but actually acts as a conditioner and has restorative properties adding moisture back to your hair. WARNING: it does make your hair bleed when wet… So i usually avoid wearing light colors when it’s raining.

3.) Sounds gross… but don’t wash your hair everyday. Water and Shampoo will strip the color from your hair. You’re also washing out essential oils from your hair. I can’t afford to go more than shampooing every other day, but i know people go can do it for longer. My hair is prone to getting oily, so inbetween washed i use Dry shampoo. Currently, I useOscar Blandi Dry Shampoo. It helps absorb the oils and doesn’t smell bad either.

4.) Shampoo and Conditioner It’s very very important the kinds of hair products that you use with dyed hair. The kind that i use is sulfate free, which prevents the color from being stripped out. L’Oreal everPURE This is my favorite shampoo and conditioner line to use which is also color-safe. They also have a great deep conditioner that I use at least once a week.

_________________________________________________

I think that’s about it for hair maintenance tips! I love having red hair, it’s fun, but it is a burden keeping it up. It’s like a part time job!

Spring is for colors. Today’s shopping haul. @hmusa #zara...

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 02:52:39 -0400

Spring is for colors. Today’s shopping haul. @hmusa #zara #pastels #floral #fashion #spring (Taken with instagram)

Me and my temple buddy!!! Chuc mung nam moi! Chuc mung tan xuan!

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:41:57 -0500

Me and my temple buddy!!! Chuc mung nam moi! Chuc mung tan xuan!

TET”chúc mừng năm mới“ Pictures: my HUGE family on...

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:29:08 -0500

TET
”chúc mừng năm mới“

Pictures: my HUGE family on Tet last year, traditional new years flowers, our offerings to our ancestors, traditional dragon dance

Vietnamese New Year, Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year... whatever you want to call it, it’s here!! January 23 is the date this year, and those who celebrate it have many traditions surrounding the holiday.

There’s a long list of dos and don’ts, traditions and superstitions that people choose to follow. Whether it be because they actually believe in them, or like me, like to keep the culture by following some of the traditions that my parents taught me at a young age.

Everything you do on New Years will set the tone for your luck for the rest of the year. (i.e. wake up early, be a model citizen of society, forgive, give and receive) These good habits are to be kept up for at least the first 3 days when we invite our ancestors into our homes to celebrate the new year with us (and when our parents can’t scold us! :)).
Start fresh - wear new clothes, have a clean house before the new year, no cleaning on new years day (no sweeping because it is thought that you will sweep your good fortune/luck out the door)
xông đất - the tradition that the one who enters the house first on new years day will bring their luck for the whole household. Thus, the most honorable person in the family should be the one to enter the house first after midnight.
Visiting family and friends with gifts to practice the act of spreading compassion, which includes our favorite little red envelopes, li xi. Elders traditionally give these envelopes filled with lucky money to the younger generation (always fresh new money — bankers always look at me strange when i deposit 18 brand new $2 bills, but the $2 bills are considered lucky since they’re “rare”). In our family, we are continue to receive money until we start having kids of our own, where we start to give our own li xi and our children are able to collect it. In order to receive these, one must wish their elder with good luck, health, and prosperity for the year.
go to temple - There’s something at temple called “Xin Sam” which is similar to getting your fortune told for the year. There’s a bamboo cup filled with little numbered sticks, you shake it until a stick falls our. Then you find your corresponding paper with the fortune on it. I wonder what i will get this year…
stay tuned for the traditional foods we eat…

Jc #spiked #litas for my Dassah Pasta #jeffreycampbell #shoes...

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:42:24 -0500

Jc #spiked #litas for my Dassah Pasta #jeffreycampbell #shoes #platforms (Taken with instagram)

Keeping it edgy on a casual Friday with some finger armor.

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:29:00 -0500

Keeping it edgy on a casual Friday with some finger armor.

What chu know about stripes on stripes? Today’s outfit....

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:05:00 -0500

What chu know about stripes on stripes? Today’s outfit. #ooth #fashion #sperrys #rings #jewelry

ROBOTS OR DINOSAURS?

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:54:15 -0500

RARRr.. Dinosaurs!

Good morning #Breakfast #Smoothie (Taken with instagram)For a...

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:08:00 -0500

Good morning #Breakfast #Smoothie (Taken with instagram)

For a healthy on-the-go breakfast, try this smoothie mix:

1 Handful of Frozen Berries (i used strawberries this time around)
1/2 a Banana
1 Large spoonful of Greek Yogurt (I use Fage)
1 Tablespoon of Flaxseed
1 Teaspoon of Honey
a splash of milk

BLEND!! I use my magic bullet, it’s perfect for an individual serving and an easy quick cleanup!

The Greek Yogurt is a great source of Protein and Calcium. The Flax Seed provides fiber. Honey adds sweetness, and the Fruit has great vitamins also. Of course, you can substitute certain items for what you have or for preference.

Jason Wu collaboration for Target!! I can’t wait for this...

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:33:44 -0500

Jason Wu collaboration for Target!! I can’t wait for this to come out :)

Homegirl Café http://www.homegirlcafe.org/ We came here for...

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:57:02 -0500

Open Kitchen

Angie's Green Potion

Saturday Brunch Menu

Homegirl Potatoes

Open Torta

CHILAQUILES

Homegirl Café

http://www.homegirlcafe.org/

We came here for Saturday Brunch during one of our recent visits to downtown LA at the suggestion of one of our friends who had heard of it’s great reviews, but never had a chance to try it. Not knowing anything else about it, but seeing that it had 4 stars on yelp, I didn’t mind trying something new. Located in Chinatown, Homegirl Café is part of the Homeboy Industries Organization (we later found out).

Their Mission: Jobs not Jails: Homeboy Industries assists at-risk and formerly gang involved youth to become positive and contributing members of society through job placement, training and education.

Homegirl Café offers a one year training program within the food and service industry, empowering young people to turn their lives around and providing them with hope for their futures. Everyone who works here was genuinely nice and extremely polite.

Looking over the menu, I was glad to see that they had vegan options. Two of my friends i were with are non-meat-eaters (i know…crazy, right?). Their menu was modern and had a Latin twist on it. After looking over some yelp reviews, i ordered ANGELAʼS GREEN POTION (spinach mint limeade), it was different and quite refreshing! For my meal, i got the OPEN TORTA (toasted baguette, jalapeno pesto spread, tomatoes, onions and eggs any style (i got over easy), topped w. chipotle cream & avocado slices). Presentation for this plate was beautiful, and it tasted amazing! I also got a side of the Homegirl potatoes. It wasn’t as good as i had hoped, but it tasted great when dipped in the chipotles sauce that came with the open torta. One of my friends had the CHILAQUILES (choice of red or green salsa, choice of black beans, potatoes or salad, with the option to add eggs any style) — it was basically nachos — chips mixed with the salsa of choice with the toppings of choice. It was really good, but not something that i would normally order for a meal.

Overall, the food was pretty good and unexpected from a place like this. They definitely used high quality ingredients and it was very fairly priced. They even have a bakery within the location where we were able to try samples of their breads. I was too full to buy some, but they all tasted great. It was nice to experience something different like this on this visit.

#mesecca #coraline navy velvet #shoes (Taken with instagram)

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:38:24 -0500

#mesecca #coraline navy velvet #shoes (Taken with instagram)