Free Giveaway!!!

Hey Everybody!!

Who likes free stuff? I do.. even when I was still living in an apartment in Westwood, I would always be on the lookout for furniture and miscellaneous items that other people didn't want, whether it be on facebook marketplace or the street. But an easier way to get fill your kitchen to cook a delightful meal for yourself would be to simply buy it. Whether it be kitchen tables, knives, dining ware, or stools. We all need them.

The people at CSN Stores have sponsored this Giveaway. A $40 gift card is up for grabs to their websites such as www.grillgoods.com, www.cookware.com, and www.allmodern.com. It does not include shipping, but some specials offer free shipping. US and Canadian residents are eligible to enter.
All you have to do is simply reply to this post and let me know what you might be interested in buying or would love to purchase if you had no budget limit. Make sure your Google Friend Connect or Blogger account has an email that I can respond to if you're the winner or simply add it in your post. Submissions will no longer be accepted after September 20, 2010. 11:59pm PDT. A random post will be selected as the winner. Odds of winning are contingent to the number of entrants.

Don't worry, this isn't a scam. I have a friend that has worked with them before and everyone has nothing to lose. Good Luck and Happy Shopping!

BTW, I haven't made Spam Musubi for awhile, so I might post a video up. Honestly, it's not that hard.

This is a photo from the VSU banquet I made this for back in May. Got good feedback =)

LA County Fair on Labor Day

Monday, September 6

For the opening Labor Day weekend, the LA County Fair had a special of $1 admission tickets entering before 1pm along with other stuff. So why not go aside from $10 parking.
If you've never gone before, it's a great way to spend a day eating fried and BBQ foods. There are also a bunch of carnival games and animals to check out. I also like to visit the convention halls filled with shopping, home and garden, and art. There really is a variety of activities to do and see. Although, you should bring an umbrella or sunblock, because can get hot.

$8 blooming onion. Is lightly fried and suprisingly tastes a bit healthy.

$7 mountain of fries w/ chili. wasn't a fan of the chili on these fries, but it is definitely a huge brick!

$8 pork pulled sandwich. delicious

$9 tri-tip sandwich. Dad loved it

saw a joey, it was adorable scratching itself

emu, ugly looking thing. made sure not to keep my distance and not get pecked

this vulture, flashing the bird in front of it

what my sister won from a mini basketball shoot-$5

what I won for my sister from a quarter toss-$2

It was a great time overall. I'd go back just for the BBQ...maybe....
Be sure to check back next week and look for a giveaway I'm hosting.

Bye Bye NorCal

Sunday, August 22

Before departing NorCal and Iris, we got some breakfast first at Hobee's. This place was really good! Their portions were sizable and very filling. The coffee cakes were tasty as well. Although their mexican/breakfast tortillas was far from authentic, it tasted like a fulfilling breakfast.

my quesadilla w/ chorizo

blueberry coffee cake

country style hash browns on the side.

Unfortunately, when we arrived at Cupertino, my bus had decided to leave... =( We tried to catch up to it in San Jose before it left it's last stop, but the GPA was to slow and we ended up driving in circles.
We headed back to the dorm to figure what we were going to do for the rest of the day.
We ended going to BevMo for the first time and were happy. I recognized a lot of the wineries I looked up but didn't get to go to. We were also shocked that most of the wines at the wineries may have charged more than at BevMo.
Afterward, we went to watch Inception! I'm behind and I know almost everyone has seen it. It was pretty good. I have my own opinions on it, but it'd take more of a discussion to explain it.
We went home and I had to spend the next few hours figuring out how I'd get to cupertino on my own because Iris had to go to work super early. I made the best of what I had and that's all that I could ask.

NAPA Valley

Saturday, August 21

After planning the itinerary for this day all week, we ended up doing only half of the things on my list, but we still had a great time and learned so much more about wine.

Relative Itinerary:
9:00am leave Stanford dorm
11:00am-12:30pm Beringer Heritage Tour ($35/person)
12:30-1:30pm sober up/wander around Beringer Vineyard
1:30-2:30pm lunch at V. Sattui's deli ($10/person)
2:30-4:15pm Premium wine tasting at V. Sattui Vineyard ($5/person w/ two for one coupon)
4:15-4:30pm drive to Downtown Napa
4:30-5:15pm wine tasting at Wineries of Napa ($10/person including BBQ)
5:15-5:35pm got lost walking around
5:35-5:55pm drive to Uncorked at Oxbow
5:55-8:30pm eat and wine tasting at Uncorked at Oxbow(FREE!)
8:30-9:30pm drive to Wisherman's Wharf
9:30-10:00pm order seafood
10:00-11:00pm drive to Stanford dorm

A day trip to Napa = 4 wine tastings + 1 tour + 1 lunch + 1 dinner + gas + toll road + fun = $90/person for two people


came late to the vineyards, but still made it

the five different wines we tried. Iris really loves the oak flavor

got to do our tasting in an awesome place in the mountain

do not enter?

the deli selection: so hard to choose

prosciutto panini: very salty, but still good nonetheless

lasagna: not fully reheated, but tastes like lasagna!

cod crockett: so good!

wine tasting inside V. Sattui, the pourers (Jordan and Lisa) were so entertaining and knowledgable. Loved finishing with the Port and Madiera! That dessert Zinfandel was amazing as well.

driving to the next destination! with a BAC under .08 of course

the "BBQ" that came w/ our food at the 3rd place... disappointed...

loved the free meatballs and wine! got several glasses of Cabernet Franc

crab bread @ Fisherman's Wharf

Crocodile!!

finished clam chowder and fried shrimp: delectable late night snack

clam chowder in the car results in spillage... Sorry Iris!

Lessons Learned:
Dessert Wines are amazing. I'll be looking out for more Ports, Madeiras, and Sherries.
Make sure food is secure in car before driving.