Must Be Nice

Exchange between me and my dad when I called today:

Dad: "Hello?"

Me: "Hi Dad!"

Dad: "Hi Mindy! Happy Friday!"

Me: "It's Thursday, Dad."

Gee, it must be nice to be retired. 

Seriously?

Today on lunch I was waiting in line behind a guy in a business suit at my local Subway sandwich shop. He thought he was hot shit, yakking away on his phone as the line inched forward. When it was his turn to order, however, he made up for his obnoxious behavior by allowing me a front row seat to the following exchange:

Subway Sandwich Maker: "Would you like a six-inch or footlong?"

His reply? "What's the difference?"

LMAO!!

Lazy Lady's App

Shrek is convinced that I need this for this.

If you're too lazy to visit the links, it's an app to turn your iPhone into a wireless air mouse/remote control for your computer/entertainment system. The demo is pretty convincing, as are the reviews and the app's price at $0.99.

No Membership Required Part 2

Yo, you can also stock up on drugs, too, at Costco and the like. It's a federal law: no membership required to get a prescription filled at warehouse club pharmacies. The only catch is they only accept cash.

No Membership Required

For those of you residing in states where Costco carries distilled liquor - California being one of them - good news! I just read in my November issue of Glamour that you can purchase all the Grey Goose and Kirkland Vodka, etc. that you want without having a membership. Couldn't find the original Glamour article online to link, but found this and this. Both very helpful and should be read before you go to pick up your booze sans membership.

On a similar note, I'm ready for a legit vodka tasting; one where we can actually reveal what's what at the end! I've enlisted the "discerning palates" of a few friends (aka enthusiasm for drinkin' vodka!) and we'll be pitting Kirkland vs. Grey Goose vs. Belvedere vs. Ketel One this Friday. Hopefully I'll have some definite results to post this weekend.

Cheers!

Bar Keeper's Friend to the Rescue

It's not just for pots and pans anymore! Tonight I used Bar Keeper's Friend to scrub away a nasty water ring in the toilet. Okay, okay - Shrek scrubbed it away, but it was my idea to try it when nothing else worked. ;)

Movie Mania

My weekend started off social-enough with happy hour, dinner, and a movie double date on Friday. However, the remainder was rather anti-social as Shrek and I took full advantage of our new Netflix account. I managed to watch all 4 episodes of Gossip Girl Season 1 Disc 1 before 8 a.m. on Saturday (Hey, I was up at 5!) followed by the 3 episodes of Mad Men Season 1 on Disc 1. It was then, after blowing through our 2-discs out at a time limit, that I decided to explore Netflix's "Watch Instantly" on your computer feature.

WHOA, talk about movies and TV shows galore! Good stuff, too, with Showtime programming like Weeds. (Thanks for the suggestion, J!) Get this, all 4 seasons of Weeds are available to watch immediately on your computer, episode after episode. All you have to do is click on the little "next" arrow and the next episode starts. No buffering, no lag, and commercial-free. As of tonight at 9:42 p.m., we're already in the middle of Season 2.

For a more comfortable viewing experience, I hooked my MacBook up to our 50" TV and surround sound via a DVI-HDMI cable Shrek got on Amazon.com for $0.99! (Seriously, he paid $3.50 including shipping for a cable that is $40+ at Best Buy.) For the ultimate lazy weekend, I use my wireless mouse as a remote control.

The only downside? I can't surf the internet or blog while my computer's otherwise engaged.... Which explains why no posts went up yesterday!

Tip: to get your Mac's screen displayed on your TV, there is an extra step. After hooking up your laptop to your TV via a DVI-HDMI cable:

1. Go to System Preferences (under the Apple Icon)
2. Displays
3. Detect Displays

 * * *

10/28 update: Only Seasons 1 and 2 of Weeds can be accessed online to view instantly.

Magazines: Not Just For Reading

My secret for storing my boots? I roll my old magazines and stick them in my boots to keep their shape.

Before:

After:

After:

Caught

Call me crazy, but my internal alarm clock gets me up and outta bed at 5 a.m. on weekends due to my Monday-Friday early morning gym habit. However, I've quite grown to appreciate this quirk. 

Shrek and I share our 2-bedroom, 1 bathroom tiny apartment and work for the same company. Working for the same company - this is as far as I will go into ever mentioning work on this blog - translates to us keeping the same work hours, receiving the same holidays off, and, for the most part, taking the same vacation days... Which is nice, but it also means we see A LOT of each other. Now, I grew up an only child. On an island. Meaning, I like my me-time. Hence, I really cherish those early morning hours I get to myself, as I'm sure Shrek cherishes his sleep while I do my thing and the hours he gets to himself after I go to bed. He usually joins me when I go to bed for a snuggle before slipping back out to WOW or whatnot once I've drifted off. This pattern usually translates into each of us getting anywhere from 3-5 hours to ourselves each day which works for us.

This morning was no exception. Up at 5, I emptied the dishwasher, put Gossip Girl on, and started blogging. Shrek wandered out around 6, still half asleep, on a detour from the bathroom before going back to bed.  Shrek, bleary-eyed, asked "What's going on out here? What is that smell?"

I forgot to mention: I'd also baked some Ling-Ling Costco egg rolls to enjoy with all of the above activities ;)

Neat Freak

First, let me start by saying that I love Shrek and am the happiest I have ever been cohabiting. We have been living together for about 1.5 years now. However, Shrek's idea of "organized" and "cleaning up" drives me nutty sometimes. I don't know if it's a boy thing (my dad is the same way) or just a Shrek thing, but Shrek creates little piles of mail, paperwork, discs, empty electronic boxes and manuals all over the apartment and calls it a day. For example, this is what I came out to this morning:

Sure, it's not as bad as it could be, but when you live in a tiny 2-bed, 1 bath apartment clutter just makes the space look smaller. Plus, I'm definitely a clutter-free "find a home for it or toss it" person. Just look at my desktop. Bare minimum. Therefore, I found a home for it all.

Much better! All it took was a minute or two and a $0.99 file holder. And, thankfully, instead of being annoyed with my tidying Shrek actually expressed appreciation.

Note to Self

Note to self: do not watch Gossip Girl before bed. I had nightmares last night. Seriously. The show is so scary ridiculous, but I absolutely LOVE THE CLOTHES, especially Serena's. 

Proof

 I've started taking snapshots of the comments I receive on Facebook regarding my blog and posting them here as proof that I've got readers other than my parents and themaykazine. :P


Some of my faves follow:

Referring to Cozy

Referring to Worth the Wait - and the Price

Referring to Success! and Goody Drawer

Thank you for all the comments and please keep them coming! 

All Clear

Some people love 'em. I can't stand 'em. I'm talkin' thongs. However, instead of going this itty bitty route I have embraced the low-rise hipster. Gap's Ultra Low Lacy Dotted Girl Short, to be specific.

While cleaning out my closet I discovered I've acquired 25+ pairs of these lacy wonders. Seriously, they are wonderful. Instead of a perpetual wedgie, these rarely ride up and they don't cause lines. Imagine! I love my leggings, dresses, and skinny jeans as much as the next amateur fashionista and never have I had to think twice about my undies causing lines.

Cozy

I heart these jackets.

Just tried one on at Aritzia in Valley Fair Mall. (One of my favorite stores!) Unfortunately, I would have to move to Alaska or the like to wear it.

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Comments via FB:

Classy

Me, sipping the 2007 Chateau St. Jean Pinot Blanc I acquired over the weekend and popping Cheetos in my mouth: "Who would've thought white wine and Cheetos go so well together?"

Shrek: "Wine and cheese, babe!"

Mad Gossip

I finally broke down and joined Netflix. It seemed appropriate with Winter just 'round the corner and I have all these TV series and movies to view but really don't want to drop the cash. $114 for Seasons 1 and 2 of Gossip Girl alone? No thank you. $14 per month to check-out unlimited dvds, 2 at a time? Yes, please. Received an email notification that Gossip Girl Season 1 Disc 1 and Mad Men Season 1 Disc 1 should be arriving tomorrow. Love that they're arriving in order, too.

I'm taking recommendations on what I should watch.  All I've got so far is:

TV SHOWS:
-Gossip Girl
-Mad Men
-Curb Your Enthusiasm
-The Girls Next Door
-Entourage Seasons

Curb Your Enthusiasm is 7 seasons so that should keep me quite busy.

Can't wait to curl up and watch!

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Comments via Facebook:

Why Bother

Each day without fail I brush my teeth after lunch only to return to my desk and, mere minutes later, pop 2 - 3 Dove Dark Chocolates in my mouth.

Detox Time

My body is begging for a detox after all that rich food, drink, and McDonalds I indulged in this weekend. Have worked out each morning since I've been back and am currently snacking on 2 hard boiled eggs, hummus, and edamame. Oh, and sipping my Green Tea.

I'm looking forward to grocery shopping tonight (yes, really!) and picking up some healthy snacks like red seedless grapes and cantaloupe. I can't wait for satsuma oranges! They usually appear in our neighborhood grocery stores around Thanksgiving.

Mindy Knows Boots

Received a nice request from my cousins via Facebook this week:

I think they're talking about these boots:

Me with my mom at Chateau St. Jean in Sonoma, CA

October 2009

As I mentioned in my Backyard Tourists post, I may have indulged in a wee bit of shopping while on our weekend getaway.... My "all-weather" boots from last year, a pair of black knee-highs by Steve Madden I picked up at my local DSW for $99, are already a mess. With the way I wear(out) boots and Steve's craftsmanship, I am going to require something more substantial this season.

Enter my new Frye boots from Nordstrom. And by boots I'm talking boots-plural.

Aesthetically they are everything I was looking for - slightly rugged, timeless, flat, comfty and durable - but the price point is steep: $277 and $217 apiece. 

Frye Heath Outside Zip Boot in Maple

 Frye Harness Boot in Black

In the end, I look at it as an investment. Frye's rep rides on creating a solid, classic boot-boot. (View their complete line of boots here.) Therefore, instead of shelling out $100 each Fall, these boots - according to all three Nordstrom sales associates whom assisted me on the three separate occasions I tried them on - should last me at least 29 years. Check back with me in 2038. Plus, they are super versatile which is a must for me. I've already paired them with my skinny jeans, leggings, skirts, and dresses! Another reason it's an investment? My time. I lost count of how many boots I tried on and how many hours I lost to online and window shopping. As I mentioned above, it took 3 visits to Nordstrom alone. 

* * *

If you follow my blog, you already know that I returned a pair. It was the black Harness boots. They were a little too rugged for me -- they were heavy and I couldn't feel the gas or brake pedal while driving which made me avoid wearing them. Not good!

Am still loving the maple-colored pair, probably even more so now after gallivanting around the Sonoma wineries and San Francisco; they're completely broken-in and super comfy. The soles are scuffed up and no longer slippery and I love how Frye incorporated the zipper as part of the design by placing it on the outside instead of the inside of the boot. 

Though have put myself on a little budget, I am still on the hunt for a black pair. Will keep you updated!

 * * *

Comments via Facebook:

P.S. She got Frye's Cindy Tall Pull On Boots from Zappos.com 

Food, Folks, and Fun

I just spent a fantastic weekend in San Francisco and Wine Country with my mom, aunties, and cousin eating the most delectable dishes and drinking the most delicious drinks.

Roy's Pineapple Martini by candlelight in San Francisco

Joseph's Seafood Risotto in Santa Rosa

Joseph's Beef Bourguignon in Santa Rosa

Port Barrel Tasting at Foppiano Winery, Sonoma

Simi's Reserve Chardonnay Flight 

Joseph's Lemon Tart in Santa Rosa

But what do I crave when I get home?


McDonalds. I downed a 10-piece Mcnugget, large fry, and a cheeseburger for dinner last night.

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Comments via Facebook:

Seriously?

It is not okay to "reserve" the same bike at the gym every effing morning by setting your book and glasses on it while you lift weights for 45 MINUTES - especially when it's my bike of choice. Not to mention I only want it for 10 minutes.  

La Dolce Vita

Taking a little mid-morning break to enjoy my rather Italian mid-morning snack:

A little prosciutto e melone, 1 hard-boiled egg, a slice of cheese and 1 homemade biscotti dipped in Nutella.  All while listening to Andrea Bocelli.

And, yes, this is my snack. Breakfast was at 6:30 and lunch is at noon. No wonder my mom always complains that their grocery bill doubles when I visit.

Blue Mango - GO!

Sushi and Thai? In one restaurant? Am I in Heaven?

Discovered a fantastic little hole-in-the-wall sushi/Thai place called Blue Mango next door to Trader Joes on Coleman. When I say it's next door I mean it's in the same strip-mall complex and the two share a wall. Apparently, there is a more established Blue Mango location on Winchester but it doesn't serve sushi, which is too bad because I've eaten A LOT of sushi around here and after 3 visits in just the past two weeks alone, this place is clearly becoming one of my top sushi spots - not to forget the Thai!

My favorite combination for 2 is ordering the Titanic Roll, a large Tom Yum Soup, and Pad Thai Chicken. Shrek is a Tom Yum connoisseur and he thinks this is some of the best around. I heart their Titanic Roll.

My favorite: The Titanic Roll

I haven't yet had a chance to try their desserts because I'm always too full, but the photos and descriptions look quite promising. I've got to try to remember to save room next time! To view Blue Mango locations, menus and pricing, visit their website here.

Call Me Irresthponsthible

Up until Shrek pointed it out, I'd never before noticed Michael Buble's lisp. Now that's all I hear. Thanks a lot, Shrek.

Wanted: Wellies

I am loving all this rain, but coupled with me returning my boots also makes me want these:

"Nova" Boot by Burberry at Nordstrom

PS These are not the boots I returned. These are (in black). I couldn't feel the gas or brake pedals when I drove so I was going to return them anyways.

Tiny Dancer

In the spirit of Halloween...

Me, circa 1989

And please excuse the form. I never had any formal training ;)

Finally Fall

Am loving that it's cool enough to bring out the boots and scarves... and candles!

This also means goodbye AC and hello to crisp, fresh fall air! And hello to cutting down our electricity bill. It was $79 last month due to running the AC so much. It's usually only like $30.

No Fun

Despite my recent raise, probably won't be posting about purchases for a bit thanks to a double-whammy set of payments: car and mouth. True to my word about ramen for the remainder of the month, it was ramen and pot stickers for dinner tonight. Also managed to return $260 worth of recent purchases (buh-bye boots and skirt!) so that'll cut the fee down a bit. Hoping to return a $60 dress tomorrow, too. Am also now wondering why I ever bought these as I haven't yet even worn them. Bah. I hate buyer's remorse.

Ouch

I just dropped my little G35 off at Infiniti for an oil change expecting to pay $60 total for the service. Ha! Turns out it's due for its 45K mile service ($393) AND the rear brakes ($250) have only a couple a hundred miles left on 'em. Since I'm about to take off for a 3-day Sonoma wine tour I figured I may as well get the damn thing done. With a car full of 5 (mechanically-challenged ladies, no less), fully-functioning rear brakes are a must. Though, eff, that's a lot. Especially on top of my notice from the DMV to renew my tabs for $336 by December first. Hello ramen for the remainder of the month...

The only plus out of this (aside from safety) is that I got a brand spankin' new G37 loaner. All I will say is, and I thought my car was zippy...!

Bagelry Revelry

These suckers saved me yesterday!!

Bagels a la Cramer's Bagels/495 El Camino Real across the street from SCU's main entrance

After the vodka showdown I had a rude awakening when my alarm went off for work the next morning. Jetsetter and I didn't call it a night 'til after midnight and I went to bed spinning from one too many Vodka Sprites. Consequently, I woke up feeling a little... off. Fortunately, downing one of these scrumptious carb bombs laden with cream cheese followed by a glass of water did the trick.

Cramers Bagels is located in the plaza across El Camino from the main entrance of SCU. I've been devouring their bagels since I was a freshman. Actually, before. My dad and I flew down to check the school out in January of 2002 and ate at Cramer's for breakfast each morning. Now, at work we have Bagel Mondays and I stop and pick up bagels for everyone. Before me, they'd just go up the street to the local Noah's. After I started, however, they got spoiled and everyone told me just how much better Cramer's is than Noah's. I have to agree! They are hands-down the best bagels I've ever come across. Their bagels are pure awesomeness and you must try them for yourself.

Service
Cramer's is family owned and run, which I love supporting. They get in at 3 am every morning to make fresh bagels for us each day. (Unfortunately, this means they close early. I think around 3 each day but I would need to double-check that.)
I've always found their service to be top-notch and friendly. However, I've heard first-hand from friends and coworkers and read online that the family is unfriendly. Honestly, I think it's a cultural thing. I'm not very good at identifying ethnicity, but I think they are Filipino or Vietnamese and I know that when I first started to going to some of the Korean and Pho places around here I got the same gruff service these customers are complaining about. Trust me, it's an entirely different story once you become a regular and engage them in conversation. I've been going there for 7+ years and each time I go they welcome me with a huge smile and ask where I've been even if I was just there last week. When I'm not with Shrek they ask me, "Where you husband?" even though Shrek and I are not married. Shrek started this, though. He went in awhile ago without me and when they asked "Where you wife?" he didn't bother correcting them. He just said I was off doing something and then held up the line conversing with them about what a "good girl" I am. :D

Selection
Their bagel assortment is impressive as is their selection of flavored cream cheeses and smoothies. I recommend the Asiago and Swiss Gourmet Bagels (seen in the above photo along with a whole wheat bagel). For cream cheese I recommend chive or garlic parmesan. Their Lox Bagel sandwich is reason enough alone to go. I ask for mine without capers but with chive cream cheese.

Price
Not only are these LARGER and more delectable than Noah's, but cost less per bagel!

Vodka Showdown Results (Updated Friday)

I got a text midday from Jetsetter asking what I was up to tonight. Truth was, I had aspirations to recreate last Thursday's evening in with good tunes, a couple a vodka tonics, and blogging. Really.

The current cozy scene in my apartment. Shrek's setup faces left, mine right. Diplo and Sublime are on tonight's playlist.

I've discovered that, despite this #*%^$& keyboard, I am highly productive with a few drinks in me - when it comes to blogging. I don't know if you've spotted it, but if you look closely in some of the photos I post you can play "Spot the drink." Like here and here. Oh, and here. I won't ruin the fun for you and point out the others.

Not wanting to be an alchy or a nerd (the first I am definitely not, the latter is still up for debate), I told Jetsetter I was free tonight and asked what I was free for. Turns out I'm free for drinks at 8. How this fits into my "I found a great deal!" theme? Jetsetter initially suggested Santana Row, which is fine if you want to pay $10+ per not-so-great drink just to feel swanky. However, the desire was not there. (Remember, I was looking forward to sweatpants, not stilettos tonight!) Thus, I invited her over for a little vodka tasting.

* * *

The verdict? The Kirkland Vodka goes down smoooth and this girl can't distinguish a difference from the Grey Goose - when in a mixed drink. I swore they were the same. Jetsetter, having the more refined and less drunk palette, pointed out that when taking shots the Kirkland brand burns a little more. (Or was it the Grey Goose? I thought it'd be fun to perform a double-blind taste test.

Unfortunately, this means we can't say for certain which is better. Though Jetsetter is fairly positive Grey Goose comes out on top.) Since I think I'm past my shot-taking days (Jager shots don't count, right?) and am always looking to save a dollar, or in this case $15, Hello Kirkland Vodka!

Pic posted at 7 am the following morning. 

This was strictly mine and Jetsetter's handiwork as Shrek was out of commission with a nasty sinus infection and kept mostly to himself (and his WOW). He was also kind enough to put up with our Taylor-Miley-Christina-Peas playlist on repeat and drive us to McDonalds at the end of the evening.  Apparently, drinking copious amounts of vodka turns Jetsetter and me into 13 year olds. Gold star goes to Shrek!

Dear Apple

Why can't you make a keyboard that is my Macbook's twin? I am saddened to say that my new keyboard is pissing me off. And it's totally the user. 


I've become so used to having my keys right next to each other as they are on my Macbook Pro (see first photo) that I'm not efficient AT ALL on the *$#&*&@ thing (second photo). 

Why, Hello There

I was totally hankering for a specific Thai garden salad that I've only found at the Thai place near SCU. I couldn't recall the name so I Googled "Franklin Square Santa Clara Thai." Do it and look at the third link!

Ironically, it didn't pull the exact Thai place I had in mind, but I did mention it in the post and thus, had my Thai Garden Salad.

P.S. I must be on carb overload as it's the only time I crave salad. I love that your body lets you know what it needs. That's why it's imperative to give it ice cream, McDonalds, and chocolate when it wants it! ;)

Vodka-off

Last night Shrek and I were making our ritual Tuesday evening Costco run. As we approached the checkout with our Costco-sized Grey Goose in cart, a Costco homeboy (dubbed so by Shrek) dashed by and hollered, "Get the Kirkland brand, man. It's the same as Grey Goose and it'll save you $15 to $20!"

Errrrrrrrk! (That's the sound of our cart screeching to a halt.)

"What's that?" Shrek hollers after the employee. The guy jogs back.

Nodding at our cart, he explains, "I used to buy the Goose, too, 'til I found out the Kirkland brand is the same in our packaging. I mean, I understand if you're giving it as a gift, but if it's just for you who cares about the bottle, you know?"


Amen to that! So we made the switch.

At checkout, not only did we save $15 but the cashier gave us a knowing grin. "So you know this is the same as Grey Goose, right?"

It looks legit: both brands are distilled 5 times over and bottled in the same region of France. Still, looks like a good excuse for a vodka-tasting. ;)

Goody Drawer

Lately I've been something of a beast, devouring everything in sight. I'm attributing my gnarly appetite to the change in weather. Night temps have been dropping into the 40s and my body's furnace needs like 500 times the calories it did during the summer to keep me going.

Here's a photo of my "goody drawer" at work. Dove dark chocolates, oatmeal, Ovaltine Dark Chocolate, Cup O'Noodle, Hawaiian Style Sweet Maui Onion Kettle chips, Caramel Apple Pops, chocolate wafer cookies, Lipton Green Tea and Lipton White Peach Tea, peanut butter, Nutella, honey, and olive oil and vinegar to name but a few of the items I keep on hand... not to mention what I store in the fridge and freezer!

Success!

Received an email reply from Nate Berkus Design Headquarters this morning! The gorgeous chaise with which I'm infatuated is from Ballard Designs. If you follow the link, you'll see that they have plenty from which to choose. Now, to confer with/convince Shrek....

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Comment via Facebook:

Having It All

While I love going all out in the city with Shrek and my friends, I also like low-key evenings with movies and McDonalds. Oh, and ice cream, too. Which is exactly what I got last night. :)

Subscription Prescription

Who says the printed word is going out of fashion? Sometimes I think (mostly come the end of each month when I open my mailbox), that I am single-handedly keeping the magazine industry alive. Due to my reading-at-the-gym habit I subscribe to quite a plethora.

Currently I receive:
Glamour

Lucky

Us Weekly

Women's Health
Marie Claire
Psychology Today
Self

I used to also receive but have since declined to renew:
Elle Decor
Real Simple
InStyle
Sunset
Domino
Cosmopolitan
Fitness
O: The Oprah Magazine
O at Home Magazine
Shape

...in other words, pure fluff. But, hey, that pure fluff gets me through 6 workouts per week! Even so, I know my my mom's gonna freak when she sees this reading list.

The Hunt

Does anyone else run into this conundrum? Something appealing catches your eye online or in print but there's nothing in the caption to indicate how to make it your own.

As mentioned in a recent post, I want this white chaise!

Unfortunately, my curiosity regarding the affordability and availability of this piece has not yet been satisfied. On the contrary, it's only grown since I noticed that the chaise's legs resemble those in Nate's affordably-priced furniture line designed exclusively for the Home Shopping Network (HSN). I started my search there, but no luck. Googling various combinations of Nate Berkus + chaise + Glamour Magazine + studio + interior design? No luck. After searching high and low it finally came down to me calling Nate Berkus Design headquarters in Chicago. Yes, I really did.

I have no idea if they get many like calls or will even take the inquiry seriously. However, they were quite nice and allowed me to leave a voice mail inquiry. Let's see how this goes.

Next up I want to find where and for how much I can make this coat my own.

Though, I have a sinking feeling it's going to be more than the chaise. The interior lining looks awfully Burberry-esque. (Checked their website but it's not there.)