East Buffet & Place d'Armes

New thing of today, ate at East Buffet in Simi Valley.


We were completely exhausted from yesterday's whirlwind outings. Somehow we had breakfast and then all of a sudden it was 5pm. I was craving seafood, so we decided to give our local asian/seafood buffet a try. Husband and I really like LA Buffet in Northridge, so we were hopeful, and boy were we happy.


Yum, yum, yum! It wasn't very busy. The buffet was very clean and nicely decorated. The food was a lot better than I expected.


Notable mention - the sushi/Japanese section. Very good stuff. They had the basic rolls and a few creative ones that were quite good. Salmon, tuna, mixed rolls all good. Sashimi was great. There was a cut/fried roll which was especially tasty and restaurant quality, that I was pleasantly surprised was part of the buffet. The Japanese section of their buffet had a lot more variety and better quality then other buffets I've been to.


As for the Chinese section - excellent! They had tasty chow mein. All the veggies we tried were tasty. They had these salt and pepper chicken wings which were amazingly tasty and awesome. Also, great salt and pepper crab and shrimp. They had a really great salmon in sweet garlic sauce. There were only a few items that I didn't care for, and I tried a number of items. There was a deep fried sushi something, the whole thing dipped in batter and fried, that I didn't recognize what I tasted and didn't really like at all. The crab stuffed shells, egg custard and hot and sour soup weren't that great. One thing I really liked was that the fried food wasn't oily, just cooked very well and everything we liked had a lot of great flavor. Absolutely loved the sesame ball I had for dessert, smaller portion size which was good for a diet. Also I really enjoyed their tapioca pudding.


We really enjoyed it there. Stuffed ourselves, not realizing how hungry we were when we showed up. The only thing we didn't try was the Mongolian section where you choose your food and sauces and they cook it for you. We will have to try it next time. Staff excellent, polite and very quick to respond. Great place! We're going again and bringing friends and family. Plus unlimited seafood at $9-$12 a person, what a deal! Go visit and try it out!


Another new thing of the day, we booked our HOTEL for New Orleans! That may have been why time went so quickly this afternoon. I was scouring for deals and looking for nice places to stay, affordable, yet good location and something I wouldn't regret spending a week in. We've stayed in cheap/bad hotels - so not fun. I've stayed in luxurious hotels which felt partly like a waste since not sure how long we'll be in our room. Also spent time in noisy places and dirty/creepy places and fine places. 

Anyway, taking all the reviews, the statistics, the costs, location into consideration, finally decided to book - at the Place d'Armes by Jackson Square - as smack dab in the middle of the French Quarter as you can get. It's a fantastic location. It's not by Bourbon street which will prevent loudness and drunk craziness hopefully. It's family friendly but I'm hoping there will be no kids in the area at that time. Plus they have a great pool/inner courtyard area which basically stole my imagination and sealed it. The rooms look awful gaudy and atrocious. Quite possibly the ugliest room photos in New Orleans, but like a cruise ship or Vegas, how long are we going to be in our rooms anyway? 

Best thing of all, we got a cheap yet cancelable booking. If we find a better deal or a better hotel, we can change our reservation. I'm just glad we have something booked/set. Didn't want to wait until later when all the rates were ridiculously high. At least this way, we have something good (hopefully good) booked, and will keep an eye out for great/better deals. Plus the hotel guarantees their rate is the cheapest, and it's true because we looked at other sites for better deals for a few days - and the hotel listing had the best/same one. So we booked directly through the hotel. If they do have a better deal later, we can always request that one - for the week we're there.


I just really really really hope this is a good hotel room. Some of our last ones have been sketchy. Our honeymoon room on the cruise ship was located right underneath the galley, so I heard loud clatter of pots, pans and cleaning at about 2-4 AM. Most nights I was so exhausted I heard it but slept through it. One night it woke me up and I couldn't go back to sleep, so it was awful and I had to go to the front desk and argue with the clerk over it. They refunded one night because of the sleep missed, but it still sorta ruined that room for us, the noise every night.


Then Gilroy for the Garlic Festival - stayed in a very icky dirty creepy Gilroy Inn - so not even redeemable and I felt like cleaning the place and doing laundry before even sleeping. That was pretty gross. 


Our anniversary hotel room in Santa Barbara Ramada was ok - no issues. Our Vegas hotel room in Palace Station was a bit dingy but the bathroom was nice. We weren't in there much anyway so it didn't matter. They weren't fancy or great, but descent, but not cushy. Maybe it's me getting older, but I'm getting way more picky about hotel rooms. Perhaps in my old age I'm wanting something more fancy or feeling more pampered. I want a room to feel and smell clean, and for me to feel like I'm on vacation. I think the Gilroy dirty trauma was especially scarring. I just really want a nice room, but I don't want to pay a ton of money. Put into perspective, 70% of our conscious time we'll be outside the room. Plus, we can always change our reservation, right?


Those were our hotel rooms in 2010. I really hope 2011 has something better in store. So that is my big hesitation/reservation about reservations. Are there any affordable/fabulous rooms in New Orleans? Maybe I'll split the reservation and stay somewhere else a few nights.


Anyway that's it. I'll be dreaming of New Orleans. Goodnight :) 

Spooktacular!

New thing of the day, partied up Halloween in style.

Most Halloweens I am not really into dressing up or getting too festive. It's fun, but I don't get excited. This year, we were very festive and in the mood to celebrate.

It started out by getting Halloween costumes. New thing - I was Rainbow Brite! Below is my costume and accessories. I had the blue dress and blue/red earrings. The rest is new. Got the hair tie/shoelaces from Hot Topic. Found the awesome rainbow leg warmers that I wore on my legs and arms at Spencer Gifts. The found the rainbow socks, necklace and fingerless gloves from Sidecca. Got my cranberry colored converse from Famous Footwear. The only thing I didn't have in my outfit is the wand and the rainbow belt.

I love this costume because I can wear all the accessories again and again. LOVE rainbow stuff. Plus I got a lot of admiration and kudos from other girls who were Rainbow Brite fans. We saw another Rainbow Brite walking around and we were like "DOUBLE RAINBOW!".

Saturday was a whirlwind of stuff. Did homework/studying in the morning. Went to lunch at 3pm at Philippe's, legendary home of the French Dip sandwich in downtown LA. We ordered beef french dips with macaroni salad and chili - the chili being the new thing! We've had the French dip sandwiches before. I'm not a huge fan of them. I think they're good, not great, but like the nostalgia and legendary status it holds. Loved the chili. Very hearty and warm and tasty. We got it with melty fresh oozy cheese and onion. I thought it was a bit pricey coming to $19 for lunch, but overall a yummy but late lunch.

   

Next we had season passes at Universal Studios so decided to wander around checking out the park, City Walk and people watch if they had costumes or decorations up. Very fun and relaxing, but overall I had a food coma and not a lot of energy. Good times though.

At City Walk they have a Pink's hot dog outlet, so decided to try TWO new hot dog dishes. I personally love the location at City Walk because it's close by and we can get a limited menu of Pink's without lining up for an hour in Hollywood. Just having a plain stretch dog with nothing on it (Betty White dog) is delish.

I got the Mulholland dog - with nacho cheese, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms and bacon. That was DELISH! I was too full from lunch to finish my dinner, but it was amazing and I highly recommend it.

  

We also tried the CityWalk dog. Some ladies were commenting when we got our plate like - WOW that looks amazing. It's got onion rings topped with BBQ sauce. Very messy but good. The husband really liked that one. I had a few bites and it was sweet and savory, but not a fan of the mess. Also quite large and unruly to eat.

 

So after that, got in our costumes and met up with some friends in Santa Monica at a new place Finn McCool's. A very cool place, lots of party revelers and people dressed up. They had a Beatles tribute band playing all dressed up - very fun. I'm not a huge fan of the music for dancing, but still had a good time. We walked around that area people watching. My favorite costumes of the night - a Charlie Brown and Lucy couple, a Tiger Woods and Elle couple and of course the other Rainbow Brite! Some honorable mentions, McGruber, a girl wearing/doing the "walk of shame", Mad Hatter via Tim Burton Alice, Hulk Hogan in skin tight leotards, some other wrestlers the husband recognized. 

Didn't want the night to end so decided to walk around West Hollywood - another new thing. Never did that before and Wow. There's a lot of skin and sexuality there and not as many fun costumes as I thought there would be. Just a lot of showing off the goods and trying to score. One awesome thing we did see - very new - a fully loaded kickass Ghostbuster car! Sorry the pic is sorta blurry but I took it quick on the fly. Sooooo cool!

So we went home after that, driving through/on Hollywood just to see the action. I think Hollywood had the best costumes and masses of people. If we have the energy or willpower, we might go there tonight to wander and check out costumes, if we can find parking. Last time I was there I was in college with some friends. I definitely want to go again and check it out, just not sure if we'll do it this year. Hollywood was amazing with the creativity of costumes, with a lot more normal people just walking around trying to have fun, and not necessarily show skin or get laid as in West Hollywood. We saw a Cobra Kai couple, and the husband was like "That was so his idea so much more than hers". I'm all about the spirit of having fun and dressing up to be goofy/silly! Plus the creativity! 

Apparently in the UK, at universities, per a friend of ours - she says about once a month they dress up in costumes for themed parties or clubs - and that she missed that. Here we only dress up to party once a year. There, they do it regularly once a month, with various cray themes. Awwww!

Anyway lots of new things of the day. Food, dressing up and fun! If only the nights didn't have to end or our feet get so tired. Alas :) Happy Halloween!

The Great Holiday Plans Charlie Brown

New thing of the day, as a married couple, deciding how we're going to split and spend time with the families during the holidays.

This is not our first holiday season as a married couple. We were newlyweds in 2009, so we had holiday season 2009 to spend with the families. Thing is, they're all local and it was super easy to figure out plans.

This year, 2010, we have quite a few relatives living up in northern California, and now we have to consider driving up north for the holidays. This means scheduling time to drive up north and drive down home area LA to spend it with the families. Plus splitting it between our two families, and also between time off work and such.

It was so much easier planning this stuff as a single person. No easy way out or in. Ugh. Plans may or may not work. That's all. The joys of marriage. It's rough - am welcome to any suggestions on planning.

Never seen "Four Christmases" before, but I assume it sorta feels like that. Being torn between multiple families, trying to see everyone in one day.

PS: I've also never seen The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown or A Charlie Brown Christmas. Something to add to new thing of the day.

Vote by Mail

New thing, voted by mail.

I registered to vote by mail at the last election. I figured I wasn't very good at going to the polls, and voting by mail just seems easier. You have more time to think about your choices, research them independently online, and there's no time pressure to finish so someone else can vote. You just vote, yourself.

It was fairly easy and painless. I didn't know much about the issues, and I didn't research them very well. I know my vote is supposed to be essential and important, but in the grand scheme of things it doesn't really feel like it. I'm really disillusioned with government and politics. There are probably more things right than wrong, but these days, I don't know. Healthcare, taxes, laws, etc. My vote feels like a drop in the ocean.

I just took a superficial glance at the candidates and issues, and picked one. Perhaps my picks were completely unbiased because I had no prior influence or sway to vote one way or the other. I took a look at what was in front of me, and voted.

The system, probably needs an upgrade. It's a shame that, most voters are completely uninformed, and base most of their votes on ridiculous ads. Some watch skewed TV news or talk shows that influence voters one way or another. Some use their heads and read things on their own and try to look at all the issues, and come up with their own answers. I hope I'm the latter.

Anyway I was eager to vote because, if you don't return your ballot/vote 2 elections in a row, they force you to go back to the polls. I think that's odd. Oh well, I suppose there are good reasons for that. Anyway this is a nice preferred method of voting. It's just a shame you have to do it in advance. Now that I've done it the first time, I'll probably pay more attention at the next election. I'll research the issues and initiatives and candidates ahead of time, and do some research at home before I fill in my bubble.

New Orleans here I come!

New thing of the day, booked flight to New Orleans!!!!!!!!!!!

I heart Southwest Airlines. They're having this kickass travel deal I found out Thanks to a coworker.

Of course I may feel differently after I fly. Although this was an AMAZING deal. I was planning on traveling to New Orleans for my 30th birthday in 2011. I was looking at flights and being the frugal person I've been lately, do not enjoy the look of spending for flight and hotel. Overall it looked really expensive and wasn't in the mood to spend the money or book the tickets.

Coworker - who I now adore - sent me a link to Southwest's website for travel deals. Holy smokes, so the travel deal now saves us like $200-$400 on round trip tickets for two people. Plus, the deal fits in with our work/school schedules, so we jumped and bought.

I am so unbelievably excited! It's different when you're just planning for a trip, then actually having one booked. In an effort not to swear, I am not swearing, but I would. Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!

Ok so, we have this trip to New Orleans with discount off-season flights. It will be nice since the prices will be low and the place won't be packed with drunk college kids or hoards of people. Although, in the off-season, I hope there's enough open or to-do in New Orleans. I wish we could have gone for Mardi Gras or Jazz Fest. Although, I hope we get a better flavor of the city, by visiting when it's just being itself versus being a tourist mecca. It will be quiet when we go, which I hope is a good thing and doesn't bore us to pieces. Any things to do recommendations?

Still hunting and looking for great hotel deals. I bought a Frommer's New Orleans travel guide a few months back, and want to maximize our hotel stay. Possibly stay at a cheap/descent place a few nights, then live it up and spend it at a nice/fancy hotel room the other nights. We shall see and scout for better deals as the days/months go by. Any recommendations for travel deal scouting?

Anyway - I can't believe my dream might finally be coming true. I wanted to go to New Orleans for my 25th birthday, but Katrina hit so we cancelled. Now we have a chance to go! Weeee!!!!!

So travel plans for 2011. New Orleans. Then we have a family reunion in St. Louis later in the year. Then I talked to my Dad and they want us to visit Manila Philippines for Christmas 2011, and I think it would be nice so we might do that. Some friends are doing a kickass trip to Europe this summer, and although it is so unbelievably cool, we just can't get the time or money to do it. One day, we'll be making the dollars and we'll be able to go. For now, we're scouring for travel deals and visiting places off-season to make the most out of our hard earned cash.

Sooooooooo excited! I hope I can get to sleep tonight :) Off to the books/internet for deals!

Weights

New thing of the day, tried out the weights and weight machines at my gym.

New member of 24 Hour Fitness and loving it so far. Decided to add one new workout piece to my regimen every week. This time it was weights. Did a quick and easy 30 minute walk on the treadmill (I'm not in shape yet) and then did some free weights and 3 or 4 machines. Did the lightest weights with 3 sets of 8. I want tone and I want to ease into my workout.

My strategy is "save some for tomorrow". It seems to keep me from burning out and motivates me to go the next day. If I don't do that, I usually end up worn out and resistant to go because I already worked so hard. This way, I am motivated to go again and continue burning calories and building muscle.

Overall I enjoyed the workout. The machines/weights area seems to scare me more than other parts of the gym. The treadmill/cardio people are in their own little space, their own little zone for awhile and seem to mind themselves. The weights area, there's a lot more room for hanging out in different areas/machines and getting some roided guy who wants to chat me up. Personally I just like doing my thing and being left alone. I do NOT like getting noticed or flirted with. Plus you'll see the occasional bulky small dick insecure guy who insists on staring at himself while working out.

Anyway I conquered my fear of the weights section of our gym and am now friendly and open to it. Viva la workout!

Got the giggles

New thing of today, got the giggles at work and started crying at my desk.

Monday, tired and not the most fun day of the week. Was flipping through some Fail Blog posts in between tasks, when the funny started building up. Not sure what it was, but you know, when you find things uncontrollably funny, but you know they're not.

Anyway this was the post that put me over the edge.

I started laughing out loud, uncontrollably at my desk. I could tell my coworkers were like, what's wrong  with her? They came over and looked at what I was looking at, and weren't all that impressed. I just kept laughing out loud for a good 5 minutes. Then I started tearing. Forced myself to calm down and focus on something else. A few minutes later I was laughing uncontrollably again. A few minutes later I decided to get up and leave the room, because I seriously had the giggles and just could not contain myself. Went to the bathroom, my face was red, I looked like I was crying and I was, with tears of laughter. Then took some deep breaths, went outside for a bit, and came back more composed. The coworkers were mainly jealous they weren't as giddy as I was :) I'm just glad I didn't run into any executives in the middle of my giggle fest.

Ahhh... that was fun. I wouldn't mind doing that again. It's more fun when you're not at work, but I always get the giggles in the worst places. Had it at a memorial once - long story but not a mean one. I've had it at church. I've had laughing fits with my cousins. It's a lot of fun but comes out of nowhere. Not sure what came over me, but, alas - Thank Goodness for giggles!