Bear likes corn

nomnomnom...

Forecast: Smoke

Crazy mushroom cloud/a-bomb looking cloud of smoke above the La Canada fires. For perspective, La Canada is over 30 miles away...

Ding Dong Ping Pong

one schweet door

30 First Dates

My cousin vicki, being the pimp she is, tried to set me on a date with this dude who's making a documentary. As sketch ball as my cousin is for trying to get me to meet up with some random man and have it videotaped, this date guy actually has a really interesting idea.

As yall know Jet Blue has that "Jet Pass" where you pay $600 and get to fly as much as you want where ever you want for a whole month. This documentary guy, James, bought himself a pass and set out to find his soulmate while documenting the whole journey. He plans on going to 30 dates, in 30 cities, in 30 days.

Now, I am not really one voluntarily go on a date and have it video taped - it is not my goal in life to (purposely) make a fool of my self publicly. But some of you all may be! And the poor guy doesn't have any confirmed dates yet. Check out his calendar on the home page of his site and you can get deets on where he's going to be when.

And turns out, James is a friend of a friend and is not sketch at all and is actually a nice guy, and he'll pay for the date, so it may not be an entirely bad situation.

Anyway, interested to see how this all turns out. Here's his site for more info:
www.30days30cities.com

Ultimate Camo

reminds me of tricia and her elephanaticism

...Too soon?

This makes me lol

Great Ballz of Fire

Weather forecast for LA today is "Smoke". "Smoke"!! Blame the 5 fires a blazin in socal...

ae

Owl you doin?

so cute!

Brighest Crayon in the Box

I want.

When I was a kid I used to have closets full of crayons. I had 3 crazy crayon holders:

One was a circle holder and spun around. The second was a case in the shape of the crayon (and the back end of it sharpened the crayon). And the third was this briefcase-like then that when opened turned into a crayon stand.

#3 reminds me of a bebe version of this wall.

Michelle & Julia

As yall know, I like cooking. I think my love for cooking is primarily driven by my love for eating, but it's also SUPER fun. Plus I subscribe to the "use-no-measuring-tools" philosophy, so there's a lot of eyeballing, intuition (or should I say "intuition"), and taste-testing that goes down. I like it that way better. Even if things usually end up a bit saltier than they should be (mmm... sodium).

Tonight was a bit more interesting -

Our rep for Martha Stewart Living mag (Joe - he's awesome) sent our team out on a mission. He provided us with a recipe and raw food items. Then there were 3 challenges:

1. SPEED: First person to email us a picture of your dinner.
2. STYLE: Best "Plating" or Presentation of your dinner (email us a picture)
3. EXTRA FEATURE: Best additional dish that you came up with on your own to go with your meal. It can be a salad or side-dish. (email us a picture).

We had a couple options (pork, shrimp, pasta). I had the pasta dish. This is what I started with:

And off we go! I was totes at a disadvantage. Didn't leave work till 7:30, and then didn't get home until 9:15!! (buying 1969 GAP jeans with Nick... I've never been able to fit into Gap jeans properly - i don't know who could possible have such a small waist yet such square thighs - but now they are AWESOME! this should be a completely other post...). Anyway, I doubt I won the SPEED challenge.

Here's the pasta in the pot:
And here it is plated:
It is SO freakin yummy. Joe got us organic tomatoes or something and they are SO sweet. This recipe is super easy and delish - I'll post it at the bottom!

Then I started making some sides...

I tried for this cauliflower/swiss cheese/gratin thing.
I used gruyere, which apaprently does not melt? Or I did something wrong (likely), and it turned out a bit juicy. But still yums!I put some bread crumbs on the top so that's why it has that tasty looking warm crust.

And THEN I made my most favorite dish ever, balsamic brussel spouts. I started making it earlier this year and kinda winged the recipe. I know brussel sprouts get a bad rap, but I promise it is yummy in the tummy.


And with that, the Italian flag! I hope I get some Martha points for creativity. Totally going for the Style/Extra Feature double whammy here.
Plus, I didn't finish cooking until 11!! It was amazingly fun though.

(Which worries me, because cooking and talking to my cat are becoming highlights of my day. I am turning into a crazy cat lady grandma, aiyah! )

As promised:
(as you can see, what I made serves 4. I dont even have enough tupperware to hold all the leftovers!!! downfalls of living along :( )

Not sure when Joe will annouce the winner but I'll keep you posted! I'm up against some iron chefs, so we'll see.

xoxo,
Michelle channeling Julia Child

Whacha Doing?

oh you know...

HANGIN'!

(get it!)

Must Pass Go

My norcal friends have been playing this "Go Game" which sounds SO COOL:

www.thegogame.com

What is it?
The Go Game is a cutting-edge company that helps other companies succeed through innovative, technology-driven team building games. At the core of all of our products is the belief that technology should facilitate real, meaningful interactions that foster creativity, collaboration and above all, fun. Our patented software is the play-dough that our writers and game gurus mold to create experiences that will make a lasting impression with real results for your company. Whether you're planning a team-building experience for your department, an offsite training for your sales staff, a product launch for a conference, or a creativity training session for your producers, The Go Game will work tirelessly to blow your expectations out of the water. We invite you to take your company to new levels of creativity and cohesiveness with our next generation of team building activities. Since our launch in March 2002, we've made superheros out of companies like Microsoft, Verizon, and Toyota. Find out how you can get in on the game.

BAAAAAASICALLY, it's a game that involves a team getting missions which involve local food venues. They're given an assignment and/or theme, they document their experience via photo or video, and submit against other teams. (right guys? Liz?)

It sounds awesome.

The San Francisco homies have been playing with the team name of Fatty Boombatty. Not quite sure where that name spawned from... But they're doing really well in the game!

My favorite submission from them is this:
They were tasked to go to this restaurant with painted birds on the ceiling, take a picture, and make a movie poster out of it. I believe they came up with the Drunk Knight theme on their own. Very clever. You all know how I feel about puns and word play.

They also had this creme brulee rap:

Krystle's such a G

Vote for Fatty Boombatty here!

Anyway this whole situation just makes me extremely jealous they don't have an LA version. I feel like they should. This thing totally sounds up my alley and would give me a crap more to blog about.

Nom Nom Truck - Let it begin!

A while ago I posted about my friend Misa's new food truck, nom nom (re: The Nom Nom Truck). Well they just had their soft launch, kick off with a friends and family launch party last saturday! They had it in west la and served up some yummy bahn mi sandwhiches and tacos.


In case you're curious, this is what their chicken taco looks like:

and this is what the bbq pork sandwhich looks like... IN MY MOUTH! YUMMMMM

I tried to take a shot of the menu, but it's pretty dark. They have a nice range of options and even have a vegetarian dish which according to Nick was pretty good. My favorite part is their pickeled carrot/daikon salad which ends up on everything. yum.

They also have a great drink selection: Tea's tea and vietnamese coffee which if you never tried before YOU HAVE TO. it's really great tasting coffee with sweetened condensed milk on ice... mmmm...

The event was really fun and had a great turn out! I ran into a bunch of people I know from UCLA... like a mini reunion! They also had Beard Papas sponsoring and this giantic cake:
The three hapas you see in the picture are the three founders. Misa is on the left - I'm so happy for her! This truck thing seems to be working out well! They're getting a ton of press and just got written up by Urban Daddy yesterday.

And here's the truck/their logo in the day light (super cute and SOOO totally misa):

If you're in the LA area and hungry for vietnamese, you can track the truck on their site or via twitter: nomnomtruck.com

... but why?

Sooooooo I've been seeing a lot of this Vampire Diaries billboard lately...
particularly when I'm stopped at a light. The show looks stupid, but something else that looks awry is the guy on the right....
...'sssss pants. There is totally a situation happening down there.
WHAT IS THAT BUMP?? Is that really on a billboard??

What did the pen tool say to the gradient fill?

bahaha. especially funny since pete v just educated me as to what a kern is.

15 Movies

My friend Marshall posted this note on fb:
Rules: Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen movies you've seen that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes.

there was also some other stuff about passing it along, sending it to 15 friends, etc yada yada, but since I'm against chain letters i'm going to make it optional to forward me your 15 movies. i'll post it here (for serious) if you do tho!

my 15 below:

ok the rules say jot down your 15 movies within 15 minutes. i'm pretty sure i did mine in 3, abiding by the whole "first thing that comes to mind, no crossing outs, no take backs" mentality.

some interesting things i noticed (being the great media planner i am, what else was i to do but analyze the findings to yield trends... oh boy):

# of Musicals
4 - Moulin Rouge, Singin' in the Rain, 500 days of summer (that one scene), enchanted

# of Disney films
5 - Enchanted, The Incredibles, National Treasure, Finding Nemo, Pirates
(5. that's 30%. surprisingly high?)

# of Kids films
7 - in addition to the above, Lemony Snickett and Harry Potter
(that makes it almost 50%. goodness)

# of films from 2009
2 - (ONLY!) 500 days of summer, harry potter 6

# of rated R films
3 - Life as a House, The Jacket, Milk
(guess i'm a peachy keen kind of movie watcher)

Films that prob should have made the list
Elf
Star Wars
Ratatouille
Run Fat Boy Run
Love Actually
Amelie

what's on your list?

Bobbing for Big Apples

Just booked my tickets to New York for Halloween! So far the friend count for this trip is:

• Liz
• Nick Luck
• Nick O
• Alex Farv
  

woot party in new york's pannnts.

So naturally I'm thinking about costumes already. I have an idea for me which hopefully will turn out sweet, but I don't want to jinx it by placing it here so I'm not. However, these are pretty amazing back up ideas:

narhwal

homer simpson

...although we all know how face/body paint ended up last time:
(creeps red nick face)

or if we're real lazy we can be jabbawokeez
(just add mask, dance skills not included)

boo! i just posted this cuz the baybay is a cutie

Makes me think...

I came across MMT - makes me think - a spin off site of FML. definitely not as hilarious/ridiculous as FML, nor does "MMT" have the same ring as "FML", but it *what else* made me think. thinking is good. sometimes. i think?

http://makesmethink.com/top

some big thinkers:

Today, I was in my car approaching an intersection where a white Ford F-350 was blocking both lanes at a flashing yellow light. Just as I was about to honk and scream obscenities out the window, I realized the truck was purposely blocking traffic so an elderly man could safely cross the street. MMT

Today, I was working in a coffee shop when 2 gay men walked in holding hands. As you might expect, heads started turning. Then a young girl at the table next to me asked her mom why 2 men were holding hands. Her mom replied, "Because they love each other." MMT

Today, I was walking along the boardwalk in Pacific Beach when I saw 4 teenagers heckling a homeless beach bum. He laughed and said, "I'm not crazy! 'Crazy' is spending 40 years of your life hating 40 hours a week." MMT
(ironically this one makes me think FML)

Beamer me up, scottie

oh you know, just one of the new cars in my gigantic fleet of cars. definitely one of the better benefits of having the parents move to hong kong.

i *haaaad* to (very carefully and slowly and CAREFULLY) drive it while my POS jetta was in the shop. drove it for a few days and LOVED it... now back to the jetta and thoroughly depressed (although happy the damn thing is fixed).

things i miss about the bmw:

1. the nifty little radio controller on the steering wheel
   
   
2. everything is automatic - the headlights turn on when its too dark, the seat automatically adjusts to me, it's like magic!!
   
   
3. looks baller
   
   
4. drives baller
   
   
5. doesn't sound like it's going to crinkle into a million pieces
   

wish i could drive it more, but it's my dad's like, favorite thing on the planet so not worth risking any sort of breakage/scratchage

Rollingstone Rock the Roof Partay

Last thursday I went to Rollingstone mag's Rock the Roof party at the Andaz hotel. It was awesome! And here's why:

1. penthouse view of the city; spectacular

2. went with katie and tasha, my ladyloves

3. amazzzzzing food - mushroom risotto, chicken/tomato stew, shrimp cerviche, lox, caprese... mmmmm

4. the best picture ever with finn and the gLee "L" (thanks addy for kicking out the other b trying to get in my shot!):

(bootleg "picture of a picture" style for now... katie's too lazy to upload for me)

gLee "L" re:

4. comp vodka mojitos

5. met the bitchy queen of media (he was NOT very friendly...)

6. live band with a lead singer who didn't suck (not that you'd expect anything less out of RS)
http://www.elizabethandthecatapult.com/

7. ice sculpture with shot coolers built in

8. cast of dollhouse

10. found free parking on sunset with a broken meter so we didn't pay anything!!

11. goodybag with gLee buttons


this is when my job rockssss :)

o hai!

some squirrel got all up in this person's picture. he's all "huh?!" ohhh chuckles


**UPDATE: MORE SQUIRREL PICTURES!!!**


this is like kill bill style yeeesh