My Dream Closet Come True!!

For my whole life, like many of us who LOVE fashion, particularly shoes, I have wanted a gorgeous closet.  I was definitely tired of sharing a tiny walk-in with my husband, trying to squash all my clothes on two hanging bars (one time one of the bars came flying down), and both were always sunken in the middle.  For Mother's Day, my husband (assistant to uncle) and uncle completed this beauty for me!  Let me take you through the process.  First, I will show you the full panoramic, and then show you all the hard work it took to get there.

This was a very long process  that began with removing the wood paneling off of the lower half of the walls, including the base boards.  Then hubby and uncle sanded down the wall, placed mud over it, and sanded it down again.  Ideally, new dry wall would be put up, but that is an even bigger project.

My hubby woke up before work to paint and came home after work to paint.  The teal color always seems peaceful.  He replaced the baseboards (from Home Depot) and painted them white.  We put up the chandelier from Ikea.

Then came the structures, which were purchased from the Container Store (Elfa closet solutions). The Container Store representatives were super helpful, as we changed the schematics several times. We also got a quote from Home Depot for $8000 ($1,000 of which was for installation) for free-standing closet solutions.  I'll leave it up to the reader to decipher why I chose the Elfa system. One caveat to the system is the instructions do not specify how far apart to put the two structures. Luckily, uncle is a pro. Usually these structures go on sale in December, but that is a bit far so hubby used coupons and gift cards to receive discounts. 

Then came the fun part!!  Organizing it!! Sneakers, pumps, sandals, boots! Shirts and sweaters!

Dresses!  Jackets! More pumps and boots!

Then I added my "Queen" chair that I purchased from Joss & Main.  I also included a rocking, small ottoman that was given to me by my good friends.  The side table was DIY by my hubby and me (two Ikea Lack tables spray painted and glued together) + nailhead design.  Placed personal touches, including Bazaar Magazines, which always has artistic, beautiful covers, and magazine storage (below). 

A great find was this large mirror from Home Goods!  My close friend and hubby installed this, which provides a great finishing touch.  The mirror was $100--what a steal!  I went to Ross, Home Goods, and Kohl's for finishing touches at great prices as well (e.g., jewelry organizers, pretty storage boxes). 

How to dress the baby bump!

Pregnancy has led to me wearing my clothes in a creative way.  It is always a challenge to figure out how I will dress my (baby) bump! The first rule of thumb that I have lived by is to not buy too many new clothes that I will never use post-pregnancy.  My close friend gladly gave me all of her pregnancy clothes once she had her second child so I've been able to get by with a combination of her clothes + my old pregnancy clothes + dresses.  Some women love their clothes to hug their baby bump tightly, but for me, my second rule of thumb is to be comfortable.  As such, I tend to wear more loose fitting clothes.  Here is the development from 4-7 months:

4 months

My saving grace has been jeggings (given to me by my close friend)...they stretch and can accessorize with any dress that I wear.

5 months

This dress was given to me by one of my best friends.  Free-flowing dresses have been very comfortable so as to not to restrict the bump.  Again paired this with jeggings.

6 months

This dress is near and dear to my heart because I have worn it for two pregnancies.  This was from H&M, purchased over 2 years ago for $10!!  It was such a find and it is one of the most comfortable dresses that I own.  The great things about this dress is that you can wear it post-pregnancy because you can adjust the waist-line with the string.

7 months

This was a shirt recently given to me by my close friend.  As you can see, the baby bump is happily growing. 

7 months

There is nothing that I have loved more than wearing this transparent, cobalt shirt (of course with a loose tank underneath).  These stretchy bootleg pants from NY&CO have also been worn through two pregnancies.  They are comfortable for the weekend and at work.  Now that I am in the home stretch, I have to shelve my heels for a few months, but if you can see, I am wearing some sparkly, gold flats (my compromise)

Now let's see where 8 & 9 months will lead me...

Food Review: Gold Mirror Family Italian Restaurant, San Francisco, CA

This Italian restaurant has been around since 1969, and I wonder why it has taken me so long to eat here?!  It is located at 800 Taraval Street, San Francisco, CA.  I went here for lunch at the recommendation of a friend.  I knew exactly what I wanted to try: the lasagna!  It is a bit pricey for lunch and dinner ($14.50 and $17) respectively, but totally worth it!  The decor reflects the aforementioned, looking more like the interior from Hogwart's in Harry Potter.  It is dimly lit--so don't take a date here that you don't want to talk to!!  There is a bar and a small television in the corner.  However, this is not the focal point of the restaurant.  All the servers are dressed in a black tie fashion.  The bread is warm and toasted, a big plus in my book.  There is nothing worse than cold bread, no matter how fancy the bread.

When the lasagna appeared on the table, I was thinking, "This is the most flat lasagna that I have ever seen?  Is there even any meat and cheese in it?"  The answer is Oh yeah!  The cheese and meat melts in your mouth and although it looks flat, it is quite filling.  As you can see, we scarfed it up!

Things to do in Maui, Hawaii

The greatest aspect of Maui is that you can be as active as you want in engaging in activities and/or eating!  I'll first describe some of the activities and end the post with my favorite topic, food!

Dolphin's Point.  This little cove is on private property, but many non-residents come here to snorkel with the giant turtles!  A caution is that getting into the water can be slightly dangerous, as there is a narrow passageway into the water.  Bring your own snorkeling gear, and for those that aren't great swimmers, use a life jacket so you can enjoy the view!  

Napili Beach has got to be one of the cleanest and gorgeous beaches that I have been to thus far.  While, Cayman Islands still reigns as #1 for the most beautiful, this was a close runner up.  Bring a tent if you are planning on napping in the sun, as it can get pretty warm.  It was very peaceful and not overly crowded.

Road to Hana is at least a day-long trip.  It is a windy road that has several stands and sights to stop at on the way to the top.  It is suggested that if you are only going to spend a day going up to Hana, leave very early!  We made a mistake by starting our journey in the afternoon and driving back to the hotel at night.  At many points on the road, it only allows one car to pass, although traffic flows both ways.  Also, it is hard to see anything beyond the curves.  The trip is worth it though, snagging banana bread, ice cream, and seeing waterfall after waterfall!

Haleakala Summit has many areas of exploration, and therefore, you can easily turn this into an all-day activity.  It costs approximately $10 to enter the national park, but the pass lasts for a few days.  Most people travel to the very top for the sunset.  We went in the afternoon.  The best piece of advice that I got from a friend is: Wear a jacket!  It is very windy and cold towards the top!  You can hike so wear comfortable shoes!  If you prefer, you could drive to the top as well.

A foodie at heart, I compare food to the standard of San Francisco food.  Therefore, the Asian/Asian-fusion restaurants that were very popular were OK and didn't wow me (only my opinion =).  What did wow me were the desserts!

Leoda's Kitchen and Pie Shop probably has the best pie I've ever had.  The pies range from $8-$9 and they are definitely a vacation splurge.  However, every bite is worth it (see below...lol).  The two purchased were banana cream pie and chocolate mac nut pie.  We ate the savory pies as well, chicken pot and beef pies, which were tasty, but doesn't rival the dessert pies.

Maui Specialty Chocolates has the hot commodity: dark chocolate truffle mochi!  We were naive tourists and casually strolled into the shop on the afternoon expecting to fill our tummies with the mochi.  The owner noted that it is usually sold out by morning.  He stated, "No problem.  Just order it and pick it up tomorrow." I highly recommend pre-ordering to ensure you reserve the delicacy.  We bought one pack for us and one pack to bring home; they can be frozen, but taste the best fresh.

Ululani's Hawaiian Shave Ice: On a warm day, this melt in your mouth shaved ice is all you need!  Choose any combinations of flavors, including a variety of ice creams.

Bistro Cassanova.  I wanted a change from eating mounds of rice and fried meats.  I stumbled upon Bistro Cassanova and I was so happy that I did!  I got my pasta carbonara craving taken care of!  We also ordered a strawberry crepe.  The carbonara was definitely the highlight.  The server was also very knowledgeable and friendly.  

One disappointment that I will share is that Maui did not have a masubi shop like Oahu.  The best masubis are surprisingly at a Chevron gas station, and the spicy pork one is the most delicious one.  Again, these sell out in the morning and they don't always make the spicy pork one so scoop them up when you can!

Popular spots

Flatbread Pizza Company and Da Kitchen (pictured below)

Beyonce Concert: Mrs. Carter Tour

As you slowly scanned SAP Center, screens were lit with a simple symbol: B.  Anticipation was growing as it approached 9:00 PM for Queen Bey to step onstage.  Then the stadium went dark, and the video began with her dressed in royal garments.  Her dancers were dressed in Gaga-esque clothes--circular, white, wired skirts; they floated around in a circle, setting the stage for the Queen to appear.  Then you see the blond hair flying everywhere.  The song progressively gets more intense, as Queen Bey asks, "Who runs this motha?"  The answer that she is looking for is girls, of course.  We all know that it also means her, as she is definitely a boss, a power-house, and a kind soul. 

Queen Bey's voice did not disappoint.  Unlike some pop concerts that I've been to, she was actually singing, while dancing in her 4-5 inch stilettos; you know this just takes stamina and years of practice.  She was a lot smaller than she appears on television.  Her passion is evident as she performs, balancing swag with a care-free attitude.

However, I couldn't help but feel disappointment, as the set only lasted approximately 90 minutes.  This reflected avant garde video clips.  I would have preferred to have non-stop performing.  The last concert I went to was JT/Jay-Z so I recognize that the bar has been set.  I also paid $550 for two tickets and just wanted a bit more.  Most of the set list was from her recent cd, sprinkled with Survivor, Irreplaceable, Single Ladies...

Despite my disappointment, I have to acknowledge that she zip-lined from the main stage to the Bey stage, giving many fans an opportunity to get an up close and personal view.  She hugged and high-fived many.  She threw her sweat towels to fans, which on a side note, I've never quite understood what people do with (a sweaty towel).  I guess it is an unique souvenir.  The best part of the show  was towards the end when she sang Happy Birthday to a fan.  They put him on the jumbo-tron and she threw him a towel, stating, "You know who I am throwing this to," and no one tried to grab it.  Despite her general interviews and soft-spoken public persona, Sasha Fierce is a G and has swag in her mannerisms and words.  Who can't respect that?

Food Review: Evvia Estiatorio, Contemporary Hellenic Cuisine, Palo Alto, CA

During a rough day, you want to treat yourself to a nice lunch.  After all, work can be hard =)  After an attempt to go get Burmese Food at Rangoon Ruby, making a rookie mistake by not making a reservation in Palo Alto at 12:00 PM, we wandered into Evvia Estiatorio.  When you walk into the restaurant, you are greeted with a pleasant aroma.  You cannot quite put your finger on it because there are so many dishes blending together.  The hostess and host are equally pleasant, asking us if we had a reservation.  Since their faces didn't drop immediately, I knew we had a chance to be seated.  As I waited 2 minutes, I surveyed the restaurant.  There appeared to be intimate lunches (e.g., families) and business lunches.  There was a small furnace lined against the wall of the bar.  The wine was gorgeously stacked in diamond shaped slots.

Seating includes the most comfortable booths I have ever been in.  I wanted to take a nap before and after lunch!  The cushions were soft and allowed you to sink in.  They felt like what you would imagine clouds feeling like.  There are many people that dine here, but the noise level isn't unbearable.  You can carry on a conversation.  I ordered the Moussaka which is described as a "baked casserole with eggplant, lamb ragout, potatoes, & yogurt bechamel."

The Moussaka melts in your mouth!  If you enjoy lamb, this casserole is for you!  I devoured the entire helping.  It was warm and was loaded with ingredients. Although there was an abundance of ingredients, the yogurt bechamel gave it a light feel.  I savored every bite, finishing last.  Let's just say I cleaned the dish for Evvia staff.

Here is the business card for reference.  The bottom picture is another one of their restaurants in San Francisco.  If I ever have a bad day, particularly on a cold day, I'm going to get out of the office to go to Evvia!!

American Music Awards (AMA): Katy Perry's Racial Boo-Boo, Nelly & FGL, Macklemore/Ryan Lewis!

It has been several days since the American Music Awards, but the opening act still gets me thinking.  First off, the AMAs was one of the best awards shows in awhile.  I actually watched every performance and award presentation.  What served as a cue to watch the show was Yahoo.com that applauded Ariana Grande for her flawless performance.  I turned on the television in anticipation, and then my stomach dropped...Katy Perry, Ms. California Girl, a person who I said can do no wrong, as she pumped out hit after hit, appeared as a Geisha!   Let me preface this by saying that this is solely my opinion and perspective.  I have made several presentations on multi-cultural diversity and what Katy Perry presented to the world maybe perceived as a racial insult.  Thinking of the history of people painting their faces to look like other ethnic groups, I always hoped that we were past this.  I would at least hope that a famous celebrity would have someone on her team to say, "Hey, I'm pretty sure people may take offense to this!"  Gwen Stefani danced with Harajuku girls, but Katy Perry took it to another level.  Dressing up as a Geisha perpetuates the stereotype that Asians are exotic or in their own right "quirky."  By no means should she present a parallel between her quirky persona and her performance.  Now, there is a distinction between a racial insult and racism.  I obviously don't know Katy Perry to know her perspective on other cultures, but she definitely needs a consultant on multi-cultural diversity issues (I would have definitely told her that would not be well received, and what the implications are of dressing this way).

The rest of the night was fantastic.  What I love about Macklemore is that when he wins awards, he sends a message of social justice.  This time, he quoted MLK, Jr., "An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere!"  This is ironic considering Katy Perry's performance.  Mark Anthony also provided us with an inspiring quote, You maybe alive but you're not always living (paraphrased).  Performance after performance captivated me...Ariana Grande with her velveteen voice should be crowned the young Mariah Carey.  FGL and Nelly performed their hit "Crusin," but the best part of it all was when Nelly went throwback on us, performing "Ride with Me."  TLC also performed with Lil Mama rapping Left Eye's part. It was an awkward performance, but always good to see them remembering Left Eye. Breakout band, Imagine Dragons rocked it with their two hits! Rihanna was awarded an icon award, and I always forget that she is only 25 y/o.  Her voice is so unique.  Her movements on the microphone looked like she was possessed, but I guess this is the look she was going for.    Lastly, Miley Cyrus performed with an enlarged app on the big screen; every time she sang, the mouth of the animal sang.   Oh what a great night of pop culture.