Gothic Chic

I don't know what it is about the encroaching fall/winter season but, during this time, I constantly fall in love with what I like to call Gothic Chic. I was never that angsty adolescent shrouded in all black (though I did express my fair share of angst) but I did dabble a bit in punk rock music and fashion ect. Maybe trending toward the darkened pallet has something to do with the doom and gloom I feel when thinking about the coming Vancouver winter season, or, maybe it's just that it looks hella sexy....

Above: from TopShop

ecote eliana double zip boot; urbanoutfitters.com

sparkle & fade starry night legging; urbanoutfitters.com

dark plum lip; how to:

http://christycoleman.com/blog/makeup/how-to-wear-a-dark-lip-and-love-i

Gucci worn by Emma Stone

Nina Ricci

Marchesa

xoxo, Sarah

Waldorf Food Cart Fest

Today the gals and I headed to the Waldorf Hotel's Food Cart Fest which consisted of several street food trucks from around the city. There were a ton of people, and the lines were most definitely tedious, but a great experience for sure. I really enjoyed the speedy service of the European truck where I had both deep fried risotto balls and braised pork belly bites with homemade chips. Each were delicious choices! Sorry there will be no photo as I ate them before I realized I should be snapping a shot…oooops. Next up beer garden! Were on tap brews could be had for as little as $4.50. Then off to try some more tasty morsels at the naan kabob truck and the ice-cream stand. The naan kabobs took a long time being delivered to my eagerly waiting hands; we’re talking 35 minutes plus for a half piece of naan with some butter chicken and cucumber slapped inside. For $7, the lengthy wait and the under 1.5 minutes it took for me to scarf it down I would have to say I was thoroughly regretting my choice. And oh what choice: there were 5 taco stands (which is a bit overboard for my taste), grilled cheese, gourmet hot dogs, the pig truck (think everything oinky), fresh juices and coconuts, and French pastries. The salted caramel and hazelnut whiskey ice-cream were delicious and the other flavors, including strawberry basil, smoked peach with whiskey nuts, and cardamom all looked equally enjoyable. The only sad thing about the Waldorf Food Cart Fest is that this Sunday was the last in the 6 Sunday series. Fingers crossed the popularity of this event inspires an extension! Here are some snaps from the day….

San Diego: Fun, Sun and Family

This post is a little late both in terms of the complete lack of posts on my part (bad blogger) and in terms of this trip occurring over a week ago. I would really like to get into the habit of regular blogging but it seems life is always happening at warp speed and I'm always playing catch up. Plus I’m lazy…but let’s not go there. New goal: one post per week at least! I thought I would start out with a blurb about San Diego. I travel to SD often to visit my mother, stepfather and, because they’re insane, eight little Chihuahuas. It’s a good time to relax, sit by the pool, get licked to death by cuddly dogs and hit up the beach….oh yes, and shop.

Those who know me know I am a vintage fiend and therefore my mother was subjected to many a thrift and antique store.

Hillcrest is a great neighbourhood for thrifting and there's also an urban outfitters. There's a farmers market on saturdays that I would love to check out next trip.

adams avenue and north park are known as antique alley

Another intersting place to visit is old town SD. Considered the birth place of SD, old town became a spanish settlement in 1769. Here you can find a gorgeous church, rustic buildings, old ice cream parlours, fantastic mexican food and stores selling themed and mexican wares.

Obviously, being me, I NEED to talk about the food! Regents Pizza is sooo delicious! It doesn’t look like much but, as per my native new yorker stepfather’s opinion, it’s just like the pizza in brooklyn. We always get the plain cheese - and also, being me, the pizza must be washed down with an ice cold beer.

Mom made swedish pancakes from scratch, sour cream waffles from a family recipe and eggs benedict with pan fried potatoes for breakfast while I was here. My stepdad even bought my favourite lox and bagels. Spoiled I know.

And here are the "mexican shit hounds" as the chihuahuas are so lovingly referred to as.....

From left: Chloe, Cheetah, Chico and Chewy

Not shown are Castro, Kya, Kedo and Cheya

Until next time!



Summer Sunsets and Patio Dinners

Me and the man friend were in the patio mood last night so, because we're both trying to save some moola, we decided there was no better plan than to take advantage of the building's rooftop patio and enjoy the sunshiny weather. We made pizzas, had drinks and some much deserved R&R.

Pizzas: Baked in the oven on Naan Bread (best if cooked on the BBQ). Toppings: heirloom tomatoes, bocconcini, and fresh basil. Sicilian olives on the side. Joel made a cooked to perfection, pan fried steak.

Wine: I was drinking the very reasonably priced Barefoot Moscato ($9.99) which was both tasty and refreshing. Be warned that it is on the sweet side but, for the price point, it's a killer bargain!

Then it was off to Fantacity (745 Thurlow) for some shinanigans with friends and crazy karaoke!

Sarah

Light At The End Of The Tunnel...

This semester is FINALLY coming to a close and I feel both the anticipation and excitement of being on a real vacation with no classes, no homework, no clinical in Port Moody (grrrr), and absolutely no work for 3 bliss filled weeks! 3 exams left to go and I'll be finished! How to spend this vacation you ask? Well, a few date days with my man, trying new restaurants and maybe even the aquarium, then off to Nice, France for 18 days!!!

As a lot of you know, I have had my clinical experience working at Eagle Ridge Hospital in Port Moody this semester. It's been hell to say the least, with 4am wakeups and 4pm returning home, but it's over now! To celebrate, me and the gals went to Pago's Fish and Chips followed by ice cream and a nice gaunt down the pier. It was a beautiful day and a perfectly wonderful end to the 10 week practicum.

What I wore: boat hat-H&M, body suit and striped shorts-Urban Outfitters, necklace-gifted

Pajo's



frozen treats

 That's all for now. Have a great weekend everyone!

Sarah

Homestead

So lately the BF and I have been discussing the big and scary "let's explore the possibility of moving in together" idea. Lucky for me, being with him feels like the right thing so, although I feel anxious because I haven't lived with anyone in the past, I don't feel unsure of our feelings for each other or moving forward when the time comes. There is, however, one thing that I am most anxious about; that happens to be whether or not there will be enough closet space and, if not, will I be forced to get rid of more clothing?! I have gone through my apartment high and low and already have 5 garbage bags of clothing/shoes and an entire dining room table top full of house hold item that are destined for the yard sale. I'll post when the yard sale will be happening in case anyone wants to check it out!
In the mean time, here are some decorative photos of the type of apartment I would like to move towards. Right now my apartment has a very traveled, Southeast Asian and Buddhist influence. I would like to see more vintage pieces mixed with modern elements. Hopefully Joel approves :s

urban outfitters

What do you guys think?

Holy Hanna! I'm actually making a post #2

Sorry folks for the complete and utter lack of any sort of posting! I have the two worst sorts of characteristics a person can have: procrastination and laziness. Both have been a contributing factor to the stagnant state of my blog. I guess school 5 days a week and working the other two doesn't help either "sigh"

Well enough excuses; besides the busy schedule I've been to some great restaurants lately and had an amazing 25th birthday weekend - which was now quite a while ago (June 26th). Here's a review on the spots I checked out:

Bao Bei (163 Keefer Street) is a great date restaurant and also the first stop on the weekend Birthday stay-cation! It has a wonderful Asian meets French vibe that completely works. It's cozy and low lit with a fantastic assortment of delicious cocktails. The cuisine is considered to be Asian brasserie style but it was hard to distinguish where the French influence came in; everything seemed to be very traditional Chinese. The food was very tasty but, for the price/portion ratio, you could easily eat at many places in Chinatown and receive similar quality for less with a bigger portion. That being said, I would return to Bao Bei for the winning combination of ambiance, stellar drinks and food that I really had zero complaints about. We had the marinated eggplant ($4) which I very much enjoyed! Followed by Mantou, which is steamed buns with braised beef short rib, hoisin, scallions, pickled cucumber, and roasted peanuts ($9), Steamed prawn and chive dumplings ($7.5), and Pearl Bok Choi with ground pork and black bean ($7). We ended the meal with the Almond Panna Cotta with lemon gastrique, mandarin slices and salted cinnamon almond brittle (7). Although the panna cotta had delicious almond flavor, a bit too much gelatin was added making it quite firm when it should be soft and velvety.  Everything must have been good though considering we ate too quickly to take a decent picture:

 Yummy Bevies!

http://www.bao-bei.ca/

Next stop on the Birthday dining train was $12 brunch at Twisted Fork Bistro (1147 Granville Street). This place was a very pleasant surprise. The food was so delicious and far removed from the typical eggs and bacon brunch used to squelch a Saturday morning hangover.  I started with a lovely raspberry mimosa and the man drank beer. We decided to share two mains as everything looked too delicious to decide on just one.

We had the Gruyere baked eggs with sourdough toast, bacon, rosti and baked beans as well as the Bacon, Caramelized Onion and Brie Frittata filled with potato and fresh basil, served with fresh greens and sweet corn relish. C'est Magnifique! I can't wait to try the $8 pound of mussels and frites they have on Tuesdays!

The last dining excursion was the evening of my Birthday. We had spent the whole sunny afternoon at the beach with friends, food and wine and were now ready to get a little dolled up and have a fantastic $35 six-course meal at Mis Trucos (1141 Davie Street). Chris, the owner and chef, has an intriguing and well executed sense of imagination when it comes to the dishes that he creates. The only word I can think of to describe the dishes we tasted that night is decadent.

spot prawn and oyster consume

    Chris's version of cannelloni: avocado puree in a mango wrapper with spot prawns

sardines on a watermelon salad

foi gras

pork belly

 Sorry for the dark pics. Mis Trucos has a beautiful patio where we enjoyed our meal by candlelight. I'm embarrassed to say this but, since this meal was a while ago, I can't remember every ingredient on our plates. Not pictured here was the delicious, and properly done, panna cotta. It was melt in your mouth with crunchy pralines.

Side Note: If you have time before September, check out the Vancouver Art Gallery's Surrealist Exhibit. It's splendid!

Until next time.....