Weekend Wrap-Up: Sweet Sundays with Suzanne

{Sundays with Suzanne (my mom) on the Venice Boardwalk}

This Friday commemorated my dog's birthday who passed away in February after 15 loving long years with our family. This Sunday my mom decided to come up to visit my sister and I to visit, catch up, and have a lunch full of laughs, interesting encounters, and sharing of memories from our relationships with our sweet puppy.

Mom also mentioned that she had gifts for my sister and I: a very sweet, caring woman, my mom tends to give very interesting (and sometimes weird) gifts even though she doesn't always fully get how creepy she can get. My sister and I jokingly speculated that she got us mini urns with the dog's ashes (or more morbidly pieces of her fur, or her paw on a key chain like a rabbit's foot). The gift was a very thoughtful dainty silver ring with our dog's name engraved on the inside of it. It is something that I will wear every day, and a great reminder of the great relationships that we have formed with both the present and the past.

{Sangria at the Venice Ale House - a necessity in our family}

{A dainty silver bangle as a gift from my mom}

{The Venice Boardwalk - quite the culture shock for my mom}

Happy Friday, Klouchebags

{Klouchebag.com measures your level of internet douche baggery}

Happy Friday, and oh what a happy Friday it is. Here's a little internet gem: Klouchebag.com. It tells you how much of an ass you are on the internet. It measures you in anger, retweet abuse, social aps, and English misuse.

According to Klouchebag, I have a score of 71: this is because I post my FourSquare activity onto twitter, abbreviate my tweets (who doesn't? It's only 140 characters), and use old fashioned RTs in order to add my opinion (that's what twitter's for right?).

However, this app is nothing to take too seriously and it is all in good fun. Mostly it's a retaliation against all of the companies and executives that hire or don't hire people based on their Klout scores.

Soapbox moment: while Klout can measure your level of influence in some topics, I think that it almost perpetuates internet activity to move towards popular topics. It doesn't stimulate innovation and creativity on the internet, rather perpetuates "hating" and non-useful topics (like the name of Justin Bieber's member - I wish I was kidding).

So have a great weekend, friends, and check out this new "social tool." It's incredibly funny and reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously.

America's Oral Fixation

{Ross, I can see your teeth}

Number 1: Get your head out of the gutter.

If you're a child of the 90s, you remember that famous episode of Friends where Ross Gellar bleaches his teeth so white that they become glow in the dark. Today, when I was shopping for toothpaste, this episode of Friends came to mind and got me thinking...

Traveling Vicariously: Frankfurt, Germany

{Along the Main}

As you may or may not know, the other half has been sent to Frankfurt on business. Despite my whining and complaining, I could not accompany him on his first trip to Europe (even though I do have the vacation saved up at work). So I have decided to share my brief trip to Frankfurt from 2008 in order to quench my thirst to go back to Europe (especially since I am completely jealous that someone I know is going there without me).

Four Ingredient Authentic Pizza Margherita

{Cheese, cheese, cheese}

Ever since returning from Coachella, I have been craving pizza, and only pizza. Earlier last week I had to do a repeat offender of my butternut squash and arugula pizza (except with an added goat cheese and prosciutto), but I only used half of my dough. Woe is me. So, since I have a slight obsession with mozzarella cheese, I decided to return to the basics: the perfect cheese pizza but grown up a.k.a. pizza Margherita. If you've never made pizza the authentic way, I highly recommend trying this recipe.

Los Angeles Spotlight: Orochon Ramen

{Orochon Ramen, Little Tokyo}

This past Saturday morning my boyfriend looked at me and said: "What do you want for breakfast? Coffee? Eggs?" My response: "Orochon and beer." It may not be my classiest moment, but it was quite the moment of glory that added to my credibility as a girlfriend.

Orochon Ramen used to be nothing more than a "cult classic" that my boyfriend and his friends used to obsess over. And then I tried it. Orochon may be the most delicious bowl of noodles that I have ever tasted in my life - and that's saying a lot for me, I don't typically enjoy just a bowl of noodles.

You may recognize it from the Travel Channel show Man vs. Food. Orochon is no joke. You can order how spicy you want your broth from 7 (mild) to -2 (yes, that's negative 2 and it will probably burn your esophagus all the way down to the toilet). If you can eat a whole bowl of -2 Orochon, then you are a champ. However, you may pass out before the sheer volume of food before you realize how spicy it is.

We always order a miso #4 (4 is spicy but not too spicy - we always add a little bit of hot oil). There are three broth options, but I haven't even bothered trying anything other than the miso because miso is the best. Don't forget to order a few eggs with your Orochon (which makes it even more decadent). The basic bowl comes with noodles, broth, veggies, and pork. I tend to add an egg or two, double meat, and garlic to that.

There is no dainty way to eat Orochon. You just really have to dig in, and wash it down with a nice pitcher of Kirin or Asahi. There really is nothing better to cure a hangover or a craving for a great bowl of noodles in Little Tokyo than Orochon Ramen.

{The only way to eat Orochon: shovel it like a beast}

Friday Favorites: Cuteness Overdose Edition

{Hooray for Friday}

After a hard week of adjusting back to real life after my weekend of Coachella miracles and a visit to the Justice set at Club Nokia, this weekend could not have come faster. I plan on a relaxed weekend in and catching up on sleep - thrilling, huh? After my last two weekends filled with Beer Fest and Coachella, a relaxing weekend in sounds just perfect. Maybe I'll even head out to Topanga Canyon for their annual Earth Day Festival (but only if I need another excuse to pretend that I'm a hippie).

Here's a little dose of cuteness for you to start your weekend. It's a perfect way to get through your Friday and push into the weekend. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy my friends. I promise I'll have much better posts next week with more delicious recipes and interesting non-Coachella related things.

However, I have to admit that I'm envious that I'm not there for Coachella weekend two...

{I'm utterly obsessed with tiger hugs}

{Husky kisses are the best kisses}

Coachella Miracles

{More Coachella, please}

Four things you may be thinking: (1) Is this girl done obsessing over Coachella yet? Never. (2) Did she coordinate her teal ombre sunglasses to match her teal ombre hair? Actually my style was pure coincidence. I'm just that good. (3) Why won't she retire that ratty old jean vest? Because I love it dearly like a childhood blanket. (4) What's a Coachella miracle? Well I'm glad you asked.

You see every year we camp with this ever-growing-eccentric group of people from all walks of life, and every year there are Coachella miracles (so they call them). Coachella miracles can range from finding an extra roll of toilet paper, to finding your vodka hidden deep inside the cooler when you thought you drank it all, to the angelic voice of Florence Welch, to a hologram resurrection of Tupac Shakur (yes, I went there). This year the Coachella miracles were bountiful - so bountiful that I cannot remember all of them. It's more of a believing over seeing type of thing anyways (kind of like Santa Claus but with a lower standard of hygiene).

Here are the last of the Coachella pictures that I will share with you. Coachella 2012 weekend 1 was definitely a Coachella miracle in itself and a weekend that will never be forgotten. I highly recommend getting together a fun group of low-maintenance people and camping under the stars for the best music festival to ever hit California (and maybe the United States).

{Grouplove - my new favorite Coachella discovery}

{Cold-chella under the Ferris Wheel (waiting for the Black Keys, mind you)}

{Car camping day two}

{Beware of landsharks}

{Day three and still standing}

{Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre}

{"Playing House" at the campgrounds}

Coachella Blues (Hair Edition)

{Too much of a risk to dye the hair blue for Coachella?)

Coachella is all about taking style risks. Or at least that's what I tried to convince myself when my roommate, sister, and boyfriend all agreed it would be a great time to finally dye the tips of my hair a vibrant color. With my roots heinously grown out, and my hair in desperate need of a nice cut, I decided to go for the ombre teal tips for Coachella. Plus, I've never really experimented with my hair. Straight, blonde, maybe a bang. Boom. Meet teal hair dye.

You only live once - and it's just hair... right? I have made the pledge not to make this blog incredibly self-centered, but this is an experience I just had to share with you. I'm extremely proud of the cajones that I grew in order to go for it and do it myself.

Do you want to see pictures of the results? Do you? Keep reading...

(Long) Weekend Wrap-Up: Coachella 2012 via Instagram

{Coachella 2012 in a nutshell}

Coachella 2012 seems like a blur - we loaded up our tiny hatch back and headed out to the desert this weekend to partake in one of the best music festivals out there right now. We camped, we drank, and we were merry. It was quite the weekend, and I am still recovering. My body is sore, slightly sunburned, but overall very happy.

This week I plan to recap all of the amazing festivities that I had the opportunity to take part in. If you follow me on twitter or instagram, you probably are already bored with how obsessed I am with this weekender. Nonetheless, from dying the ends of my hair blue (and then chopping it all off), to the resurrected Tupac, to the unexpected weather changes (for which we were not prepared for whatsoever), this festival is one of those life experiences that you must experience or just live vicariously through me.

To keep you satisfied, here are my top 5 favorite performances of Coachella 2012:

1. Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre
2. Florence + the Machine
3. Grouplove
4. Martin Solveig
5. Awolnation

Stay tuned...

Coachella Inspiration (the time has come...)

{Flower child}

One more day of work until I can sink my feet into the Coachella grass, soak up the sun, and sway like a child to the sweet sounds of the world's best musicians. (Do you think that I've lost my mind yet?) Not only have we waited since June 2011 to go to back Coachella, but now we are waiting impatiently for the set times (to make sure I can make it to both Justice and Florence) and for our short caravan drive into Indio. We will be camping with a large group of fun-loving friends and partaking in as many Coachella festivities as we possibly can. Get ready for a weekend of filth, fun and free love (in the millennium sense, not the 1960s sense...).

{Carpoolchella}

In order to satisfy my Coachella craving (and half deter my Coachella anxiety that will only grow until I reach the sacred fields), I have found some beautiful photos that help describe the look that I will be going for at Coachella this year. There are three styles people can adopt: neon and hipster, flowy and boho, or high-waisted and retro. This year I have decided for a retro-boho look complete with flowy dresses and even teal hair (yes! I will post photos!). I simply just cannot wait any longer for Thursday to be here!

{Unexpected teal tips to give an edge to a blonde 'do}

{Flowy, sheer patterns to stay cool in the desert heat}

{Indian headdress may look ridiculous to you, but it's Coachella friendly}

{Kate Bosworth, the ultimate Coachella style inspiration and I feel like I run into her at every concert I go to in LA}

{Playing in the fields of grass}

Banana Bread (with Extra Bananas)

{Yum - moist, delicious banana bread held by my beige nails}

Just because I call them "nanners" does not mean I'm not grown up enough to edit and make my own banana bread when I'm bored on a Saturday afternoon. Now, I tried to follow this recipe, but unfortunately I had way too many bananas and not enough of the other ingredients... so in true "Amy fashion," I improvised...

You're not really supposed to improvise with baked goods, but hey, come on, who could it hurt? Just my sensitive stomach. So whatevs. Instead of granulated sugar, I used brown sugar. Instead of sour cream, I used plain Greek yogurt. I nixed the walnuts, and didn't have any vanilla (to my surprise). Shh... I also doubled the bananas - instead of using two bananas I used four. Yes, four bananas. And voila, the most moist and delicious banana bread that I have ever made.

{Moist banana bread over-populated with extra bananas}

{Prepare for your close up, bread.}

Los Angeles Beer Fest

{Cheers to Beer Fest}

This weekend a handful of my oldest friends came up for the day on Saturday to frequent the amazing Los Angeles Beer Fest. Aside from a horrible sun burn and a terrible rendition of 'Rock Me Like a Hurricane' while waiting in line for a tap that ran out, it was overall an amazing time and a great way to celebrate my friend's birthday and recent engagement. The best beer, the best city, the best time.

What is this amazing Beer Fest? Well, for one low flat rate you get a 3 oz. adorable mug and let loose to stumble around in the Paramount Pictures Studio to drink as much beer as you can for three hours. 

They also invite some amazing food trucks for you to soak up the ever so dangerous three hours of all-you-can-drink-beer including the Border Grill truck, Greasy Wieners, Komodo, and the Bun Truck. My favorite beers this time around (yes, we went last year too): Red Trolley Amber Ale, Hollywood Blonde, and Big Daddy I.P.A.

Plus, did you know if you say "beer can" in an English accent, it sounds like you're saying "bacon" in Jamaican?

{Paramount Pictures Studios}

{Drink, Eat, Play - the motto of the event}

{The lot was lined with beer vendors handing out free samples}

{Hollywood Blonde on a Hollywood set}

{Cheers, Governor}

{Frothy and fresh Red Trolley Amber Ale and Pale Ale}

{The boyfriend, me, and the (recently engaged!) birthday boy}

{I chose lunch at the Border Grill food truck - best carne asada quesadilla I've ever eaten}

Apartment Trinkets

{The good karma corner of my room: complete with wine-bottle turned candle, sweet scented candles, and a mini Buddha}

It's important to surround yourself with things that make you consistently happy. For me, it's the little trinkets that remind you of family members, of good times, and to stay positive. I like to fill my room and my apartment with candles, pictures, and plenty of reminders that we do live a very fulfilling and beautiful life. Taking a step back and realizing what's important in your life really can make a difference when you're having a hard day (or week... or month).

On another note, one of my best friends from Arizona was in town last night and we had a mini-dinner party. I was in charge of the vegetable side dish and decided to make this ratatouille recipe. I really wish I had taken pictures because it turned out beautiful and tasted fantastic, especially for a "peasant food" dish. It's always refreshing to catch up with old friends with a nice home-cooked meal, and a bottle few bottles of wine even if it is on a Thursday.

{A vintage photo of my father as a kid, vintage green glasses, sweet scented candle}

{Our Mad Men inspired, fully-stocked mini-bar that was the selling point in our apartment}

Baked Garlic Parmesan Kale "Chips"

{Baked garlic Parmesan kale "chips" - held by my beige nails}

It's official: I've fallen in love... in love with kale. First, it was the kale quiche; then it was the kale smoothie; now it is the kale chip. I had read about the mythical kale chip, how this once unpopular vegetable crisps up in the oven to absorb flavors and create some airy sort of munchie  that resembles our favorite junk foods. These baked garlic Parmesan kale chips will rival your favorite junk food and (yes ladies) it's nearly free of calories.

Who Said Beige Was Boring?

{Beige is beautiful}

Lately, I have been in full blown arguments with my sister lately about whether beige is refreshing or whether it is a boring color for boring people. Back and forth, back and forth. While I enjoy powerful pops of color like orange and green, she prefers the neutrals like black. Who would stick to the neutrals when you can really express yourself with colors?

I confess... I now see her side of it. (Savor this moment, sister.)

I have recently began incorporating more beige into my wardrobe starting with (of course) the shoes. I have an adorable pair of Steve Madden patent leather nude pumps that I bought on sale that started my obsession with beige. From there, I bought sweet silk tops, embellished blouses (for a little bit of excitement), and flowing blush skirts. Beige tends to make a statement without being over-the-top. I even bought a cheap bottle of beige nail polish (that I covered with my gold sparkles). Okay... I digress.

{Beige rhinestone blouse which reminds me of sparkly champagne c/o Piperlime}

Quick Fix Meal: Quinoa Chicken Salad

{Quinoa Chicken Salad}

It's always difficult to pull together a healthy meal that doesn't take too long to cook. This past weekend my boyfriend and I decided to stay in and make dinner, which usually is some mish-mash meal consisting of random sides like shrimp cocktail and balsamic tomatoes (or whatever else looks good to him at the store).

This night we actually planned it well - I had quinoa and broccoli, he picked up chicken and aromatic veggies and herbs. It turned out delicious - the chicken was moist, the flavors meshed together extremely well, and the dish was hearty and still healthy.

Tiger Hugs (and other animal love)

{All I want is a tiger hug}

Who needs a bear hug when you can get a tiger hug? I am honestly obsessed with tigers (my dream is to meet a tiger - could be cub, could be a grown adult, but I really need to meet a tiger before I die).

You can say that animals are my obsession in general. I love meeting exotic animals, and can't remember a time when I didn't have a pet. At one point I had a dog, a bunny, a guinea pig, a rat, two finches, and a fish tank. Only about 10 animals at once (I don't know how my mom did it). Growing up with animals gives you an appreciation and understanding of them (kind of like speaking another language gives you an appreciation of another culture).

What interesting animals have you met? I've met giraffes, dolphins, elephants, camels, porcupines, snakes... and the list goes on. I've even pet Shamu at Sea World, and at my (male) cousin's birthday party I was the only girl who wanted to hold the boa constrictor. I love animals! Here's a collection of some of my wonderful animal friends that I've met throughout my life.

{Stanley the Giraffe - age 23}

{Nicki the dolphin - age 14}

{El Gato the horse (in Mexico) - age 4}

{At the petting zoo - age 3}

{Riding a camel - age 2}

{Riding an elephant with Dad - age 2}